14 minutes ago, bitbased said:

I think defenses are finally catching up to offenses in terms of scheming and athleticism. There's definitely less big plays happening now so teams are forced to trot down the field which really exacerbates the problem if a team has an underperforming offense.

Other problem is that a lot of teams aren't built to run the ball so they have nothing to fall back onto. The teams that have a more balanced offense seem to weather the storm better.

Yep. Defenses have gotten smaller and faster, keeping safeties back, conceding the run b/c most teams don't have the kind of OL and power back that can grind out 200 yards - and they'll trade a couple rushing 1st downs to get teams into 3rd and long with a stuff or two. Faster back sevens mean smaller windows to throw, taking away the big play means you have to execute for 10-15 plays to keep a drive alive, and more athletic DL means more intense pass rush.

I don't think QBs are worse, colleges are producing more QBs with passing skills, but as defenses get faster and more sophisticated in pass defense, the mental demands on QBs rise.

The old guard at QB has fallen off a cliff - Brady/Rodgers/Wilson/Ryan/Stafford.

The mid level was never that good - Carr/Cousins/Tannehill/Jimmy G/Dak/Wentz.

The new kids are struggling to establish themselves - Fields/Lawrence/Mac/Lance/Wilson/Pickett.

The young QBs who are established have issues:

• Mahomes - No #1 WR.

• Herbert - Awful Head Coach.

• Jackson - No weapons at WR.

• Burrow - No O-Line.

• Allen - No run game.

• Watson - Enough said.

Hurts and Tua have a unique opportunity to succeed in the current landscape of the NFL.

10 minutes ago, D-Shiznit said:

The old guard at QB has fallen off a cliff - Brady/Rodgers/Wilson/Ryan/Stafford.

The mid level was never that good - Carr/Cousins/Tannehill/Jimmy G/Dak/Wentz.

The new kids are struggling to establish themselves - Fields/Lawrence/Mac/Lance/Wilson/Pickett.

The young QBs who are established have issues:

• Mahomes - No #1 WR.

• Herbert - Awful Head Coach.

• Jackson - No weapons at WR.

• Burrow - No O-Line.

• Allen - No run game.

• Watson - Enough said.

Hurts and Tua have a unique opportunity to succeed in the current landscape of the NFL.

Fields has played better of late but it’s really been his legs that have been elite and not his arm as much. Passing has been better then it has been though  

I’d add herbert has a team that’s basically decimated by injuries right now. Lost his LT who is one of the best in the league and best OL on that team with linsley. They are down Mike Williams and Keenan Allen at WR. Not that effects herbert and how the offense functions but jc Jackson and bosa are on IR. 

51 minutes ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

Fields has played better of late but it’s really been his legs that have been elite and not his arm as much. Passing has been better then it has been though  

Agreed. I think he needed up with more rushing yards than passing yesterday didn't he?

He's definitely played better and he's showing improvement but he's got a long way to go. I guess he's giving chicago fans hope but how far he can take them remains to be seen. 

 

10 hours ago, metal said:

 

I'm not a betting man... but I think that line is too big.  

10 hours ago, Nivraga said:

They need pitching and a leadoff hitter

Agreed.  But those will have to come via outside acquistions.  To me an 'ascending' team is when young players are ascending individually and as such raise the level of the whole team.  For example, the 2006 Phillies were an ascending team.  They didn't add major pieces around their nucleus to get to the next level.  The players on the team got better and as a result the team improved.  This team doesn't have much in that way.  Marsh, Stott and ??? And frankly, I don't see those 2 being the type that can ascend to future All-Star level.  

9 hours ago, eagle45 said:

I'll be flying during the Eagles/Commanders game...I hate missing Eagles games, but when it's for vacation, it's an acceptable sacrifice.  This one shouldn't be close.  I'll DVR it and watch when I get home.  Please refrain from discussing the game on the blog for 1 week afterwards.

Still a division game.  I don't see how it isn't close.  Our best hope is that they are up 2 scores late and then Washington scores late to bring it within one score, but I see this as a one score game.

7 hours ago, LeanMeanGM said:

Vrabel was juuuust far enough away to not completely get the Belichick stink all over him.

Fortunately for him, he's wasn't an inbreed Patriots guy.  He never coached with Belichek.  Went to OSU, went to the Texans and then to the Titans.  He only played in New England, but also played in Pittsburgh and KC.  

The NFC is such garbage this year... 3 teams outside of the East have a winning record in their last 5.  Vikings, Seahawks  and Niners.  ALL 4 teams in the NFC East have a winning record in their last 5.   Just crazy.

How bad was the passing game for the Titans last night?

 

 

 

So bad that nfl.com's stats line didn't even show the individual passing category!

It’s still comical that Clyde Edwards Helaire was compared to Westbrook coming out of LSU. They even quoted Brett Veech saying he was better than Westbrook. I never took that quote real seriously because teams overhype players all the time publicly but even a poor man’s Westbrook would do better than 4 carries for 5 yards in a big game. 

7 hours ago, LeanMeanGM said:

They cannot start Willis anymore. My god.

Tannehill was a game time decision. Tennessee basically tackles every WR on each pass play hoping the referees will stop calling it. 

51 minutes ago, EaglePhan1986 said:

It’s still comical that Clyde Edwards Helaire was compared to Westbrook coming out of LSU. They even quoted Brett Veech saying he was better than Westbrook. I never took that quote real seriously because teams overhype players all the time publicly but even a poor man’s Westbrook would do better than 4 carries for 5 yards in a big game. 

CEH is a below-average back. Chiefs passed on Taylor, Swift and Dobbins for CEH. Opps.

So if NO loses we are picking #6 and if they win #16… that’s a swing.

Woof

Packers are cooked. 

Call me a homer but I don’t see how these other teams can compete with the Eagles for 60 min. If they have a great defense they can’t score and if they can score it seems they give up 30. The Eagles have offense and defense (though Gannon drives me crazy) 

 

Anything can happen. The Eagles have been the better team before and lost. So obviously nothing is guaranteed but as far as favorites I’d say it has to be the Eagles right now. (Jordan Davis please be ok) 

18 minutes ago, Waiting4Someday said:

So if NO loses we are picking #6 and if they win #16… that’s a swing.

Lots of sucky teams in that 3 win area.

11 minutes ago, Estasi said:

Call me a homer

OK...

That's you ^.

Dicker the Kicker with the game winner and looks like a raving lunatic.  Apparently he was going to a Carrie Underwood concert in Austin, TX before he got the call from his agent telling him to jump on a plane to the game.

10 minutes ago, Estasi said:

Call me a homer but I don’t see how these other teams can compete with the Eagles for 60 min. If they have a great defense they can’t score and if they can score it seems they give up 30. The Eagles have offense and defense (though Gannon drives me crazy) 

 

Anything can happen. The Eagles have been the better team before and lost. So obviously nothing is guaranteed but as far as favorites I’d say it has to be the Eagles right now. (Jordan Davis please be ok) 

Bills have a good D and O. Cowboys can too but they're hit or miss. 

My biggest concern is our DL. The pressures and run D can be great but have had some moments of weakness too. 

25 minutes ago, garingovt2000 said:

Dicker the Kicker with the game winner and looks like a raving lunatic.  Apparently he was going to a Carrie Underwood concert in Austin, TX before he got the call from his agent telling him to jump on a plane to the game.

Kicking game winning kicks is the easy part for Dicker. Getting to see Carrie Underwood live is the hard part. 

12 minutes ago, DEagle7 said:

Bills have a good D and O. Cowboys can too but they're hit or miss. 

My biggest concern is our DL. The pressures and run D can be great but have had some moments of weakness too. 

I'd also add that as much as Hurts has done to improve his game this year, he has yet to have a drop off game where he consistently misses open receivers. OR maybe he's not that guy and is always ready. 

2 hours ago, DEagle7 said:

Bills have a good D and O. Cowboys can too but they're hit or miss. 

My biggest concern is our DL. The pressures and run D can be great but have had some moments of weakness too. 

WAS can make it interesting - willingness to run, QB with some mobility that can extend plays/drives, some big play threats that will likely dictate that Gannon calls a conservative game.

On defense they get Young back and Jordan has looked a bit dinged/shaky - their front seven on paper should be OK against the run. They held Curt to 20 points despite Jefferson, Hockenson and Theilen having good production (comparable to what you might expect from AJ, Goedert and Smitty). 10.5 seems a bit rich for a division game where everything typically doesn’t go right…