The Syndicate

I figured we could make one thread for all NFL-related discussions rather than create new ones each year (if people want to talk American football that is).

So, who is everyone cheering for in the Super Bowl? I'm okay with either team winning but I'll be cheering for Carolina.

I have no preference. I probably won't even watch it.

The Bears or bust!

The Panthers are going to win. Neither Seattle nor Arizona could stop Cam, and as good as the Denver D is, I don't see them stopping him either. Peyton won't be able to keep up.

I got really good numbers in a score change Super Bowl pool, 7 & 4. Hopefully I do OK with them. My regular pool is 6 & 4, which is not too shabby.

Turnip Head wrote:The Panthers are going to win. Neither Seattle nor Arizona could stop Cam, and as good as the Denver D is, I don't see them stopping him either. Peyton won't be able to keep up.

If this were Peyton Manning in his prime, I'd say there was a chance this game could be a tight affair. Denver's got a stellar D but Peyton is more of a game manager than a gunslinger anymore. He may have only won one Super Bowl, but he's playing in his fourth. That's special.

In fact, Peyton has the second-most Super Bowl appearances for a QB in the last 15 years. Just look at 15 years of AFC champions:

2016: Peyton Manning
2015: Tom Brady
2014: Peyton Manning
2013: Joe Flacco
2012: Tom Brady
2011: Ben Roethlisberger
2010: Peyton Manning
2009: Ben Roethlisberger
2008: Tom Brady
2007: Peyton Manning
2006: Ben Roethlisberger
2005: Tom Brady
2004: Tom Brady
2003: Rich Gannon
2002: Tom Brady

The NFC could only dream of this kind of repetition (though one could argue that this means the NFC is more competitive).

Aaron Rodgers has made 3 Super Bowls (or is it just 2?) I don't know if any other QB has made that many in that span.

Kurt Warner perhaps? Oh and Eli Manning. But neither have more than two.

Oh and Russel Wilson the last 2 years as well.

Metalmarsh89 wrote:Aaron Rodgers has made 3 Super Bowls (or is it just 2?) I don't know if any other QB has made that many in that span.

Kurt Warner perhaps? Oh and Eli Manning. But neither have more than two.

Rodgers has only been to one Super Bowl.

G-Man wrote:

Metalmarsh89 wrote:Aaron Rodgers has made 3 Super Bowls (or is it just 2?) I don't know if any other QB has made that many in that span.

Kurt Warner perhaps? Oh and Eli Manning. But neither have more than two.

Rodgers has only been to one Super Bowl.

You are correct. I thought he had at least made it to 2.

Metalmarsh Super Bowl commercial sighting.

We have been discussing thst in the random thread too

I saw that commercial and immediately thought of Marsh

I do really like Marmot products too.

Defense wins championships. Not a very exciting game. Not a very exciting halftime show either. Don't get me started on the commercials. This year's Super Bowl was more of a Super Bust.

The Panthers coaching staff wanted Cam Newton to refrain from running so much. In doing so, they removed one of their biggest weapons from play. It was, "It's 1st and 10? Let's have Jonathan Stewart run it up the middle."

Really bad offensive coordinating in this one.

Yeah I really don't understand why they're weren't more designed runs for Cam. What exactly was their offensive gameplan? Denver's defense played well and I'm happy for Peyton, but that was disappointing.

What were they saving Cam Newton for? Next Sunday?

Epignosis wrote:What were they saving Cam Newton for? Next Sunday?

The 2029 Super Bowl. Gotta keep him fresh so he can keep winning, even when he's Peyton Manning's age.

I was rooting for Denver, so I am happy. Glad Manning got that last win.

Did the Bears win? Did Leo?

I thought it was a totally boring game. Guess that's what happens when it's almost all defense. I'm glad Peyton got that last? win even though i was rooting for Carolina.

An oldie but goodie:

Green Bay Packers are going all the way next year!

The draft has started - the Rams picked Goff. Turn it on and pick up from here! Football has started!!

juliets wrote:The draft has started - the Rams picked Goff. Turn it on and pick up from here! Football has started!!

And NBA is just ending...I don't have the energy for all this madness.

http://dailysnark.com/weighing-options- ... ds-retire/

Why did the NFL change the touchback rule? I don't get it. I mean, fine, sure, put the ball at the 25, whatever. But what's the rationale behind that decision? Did they just feel like doing it?

They want to discourage kick return plays since that's where a lot of injuries happen.

Why don't they just get rid of kickoffs and do like a Soccer kickoff at the 20 yard line?

Turnip Head wrote:They want to discourage kick return plays since that's where a lot of injuries happen.

It's fun because it's caused some coaches to call for kickers to use diagonal trajectories to avoid touchbacks.

JaggedJimmyJay wrote:

Turnip Head wrote:They want to discourage kick return plays since that's where a lot of injuries happen.

It's fun because it's caused some coaches to call for kickers to use diagonal trajectories to avoid touchbacks.

Yup :P I mean, leave it to some of the most competitive people in the world to figure out how to exploit the rules to their advantage. I think the NFL said they would reevaluate after 4-ish weeks to see if it's working as intended.

The Panthers and Cardinals are each at a surprising 1-3 record thus far, but how they've each gotten there (and where they came from) is eerily similar.

Fivethirtyeight seems to think it's time to panic in Carolina. What say you Rob?

Metalmarsh89 wrote:The Panthers and Cardinals are each at a surprising 1-3 record thus far, but how they've each gotten there (and where they came from) is eerily similar.

Fivethirtyeight seems to think it's time to panic in Carolina. What say you Rob?

I've never panicked over a real sports team and I'm not about to start now.

I think Carolina could find its way back into contention just by virtue of their division. The only serious competitor right now is Atlanta, and they're not going to be scoring 40 points every week.

I love ties...

Metalmarsh89 wrote:I love ties...

It's the first time there's been two tie games in the same season since 1997. Coincidentally, the tie games in 1997 came a week apart as well.

Curious to see if either Tampa or Oakland can win their game.

G-Man wrote:

Metalmarsh89 wrote:I love ties...

It's the first time there's been two tie games in the same season since 1997. Coincidentally, the tie games in 1997 came a week apart as well.

Curious to see if either Tampa or Oakland can win their game.

Another interesting stat. Only one AFC team has finished a game in a tie in the last 14 seasons: the Bengals. Yet they've now managed 3 ties over that span.

Yep, all those ties came against NFC teams: Eagles, Panthers, Redskins.

I put a poll up- vote for which two teams you think will make the Super Bowl!

Here's how I rank the four potential Super Bowl match-ups:

1) New England v. Green Bay
2) Pittsburgh v. Green Bay
3) New England v. Atlanta
4) Pittsburgh v. Atlanta

No offense to Atlanta but they don't have the national pull as the other three teams. Patriots-Packers would be billed as a duel of NFL elite quarterbacks. Steelers-Packers would be billed as a sort of rematch of Super Bowl 45. Patriots-Falcons would be billed as David against Goliath even though Atlanta's offense tore lots of teams up this year. Steelers-Falcons would be just blah but I doubt that's going to happen because I can't see Pittsburgh getting past New England.

My pick is that it'll be Patriots/Packers. Three of the four teams are a giant snoozefest though and the only one I will be rooting for is Atlanta.

Screw the Steelers.

Pittsburgh and Atlanta.

I think it will be Patriots v. Packers but I'd rather see Patriots v. Falcons.

I agree on New England. Pittsburgh couldn't get a touchdown last week, so I don't see how they hope to beat the Patriots. I'm torn between the Packers and the Falcons. That could be a wild game.

Half-time and the Falcons are looking good! Never know about Aaron Rodgers though...

It would be a miracle if they come back to win.

Now tonight's game will determine if I'll root for the Steelers or the Falcons in the Super Bowl.

I was right about the Falcons (probably). Woot!

I doubt I'll be right about the Steelers, but we'll see I guess.

Looks I'll be cheering on the Falcons. After today's game, I think there will be much more excitement for the Super Bowl. Atlanta looks like they're capable of beating Tom Terrific's band of merry men.

G-Man wrote:Looks I'll be cheering on the Falcons. After today's game, I think there will be much more excitement for the Super Bowl. Atlanta looks like they're capable of beating Tom Terrific's band of merry men.

As a life-long Falcons fan: glad to have ya, and RISE UP. Time to deflate Brady's dreams

I've picked against the Falcons in both of their games so far this postseason. My brain is telling me to pick against them again.

I don't really feel any hatred toward the Patriots. I don't really care about the Patriots. I will be rooting for Atlanta though, because it warms my hear to see downtrodden franchises pull out of the shitter and get a title. The last examples were New Orleans after the 2009 season and Seattle after 2013.

Things like that give a poor Bengals fan hope.