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NFL
Jan 6, 2020 13:57:40 GMT
Post by kds on Jan 6, 2020 13:57:40 GMT
As a Ravens fan, it was a little strange sitting back and waiting to find out who our first playoff opponent would be. This is the Ravens' 12th playoff appearance in their 24 season history, but only the third time we've had a first round bye.
I like our chances on Saturday night against Tennessee, especially when you consider they're the only AFC playoff team who has not yet played against our fast offense. My only concern is the rust factor, considered we rested Lamar Jackson, Mark Ingram, and Mark Andrews, among others, in Week 17.
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NFL
Jan 6, 2020 21:06:02 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 6, 2020 21:06:02 GMT
Mike McCarthy to the Cowboys. Wasn't quite what I expected. Oh well, we'll see.
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NFL
Jan 11, 2020 17:20:35 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Jan 11, 2020 17:20:35 GMT
Another tough day ahead for the Vikings: on the road in San Francisco with even more injuries than last week! We add another DB to the "out" category, with Jayron Kearse joining Mackensie Alexander and Mike Hughes. And Adam Thielen might not play, apparently having gotten stitches in his foot or something.
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NFL
Jan 11, 2020 17:30:05 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 11, 2020 17:30:05 GMT
Another tough day ahead for the Vikings: on the road in San Francisco with even more injuries than last week! We add another DB to the "out" category, with Jayron Kearse joining Mackensie Alexander and Mike Hughes. And Adam Thielen might not play, apparently having gotten stitches in his foot or something. I don't know specifically about Thielen's injury. I just heard/read that he injured his ankle at practice earlier in the week and got stitches. If getting stitches in his ankle is the worst part of the injury, I wouldn't be overly concerned. In 2020, there has to be a way to...protect it. Maybe we'll have another Curt Schilling bloody sock game!
I was more concerned with Digg's illness. He didn't practice most of the week. An illness can drain you substantially unless you're Michael Jordan.
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NFL
Jan 11, 2020 17:34:58 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Jan 11, 2020 17:34:58 GMT
Diggs has been such a frustration for me this season, I actually tune out his very name! I know that's stupid, but it's true: he has been such a prima donna this year, which is really unusual considering his exceptional history. But between his earlier whining and pouting, his occasional sideline drama, and frankly the fact that he has been dropping balls this season (far more than ever before), I'm just not in the mood for him!
But he is still the most legitimate, consistent deep threat. So he absolutely matters.
The Theilen stuff seemed odd to me, too. Stitches? I get that it might hurt like hell, but I'd have to think he plays.
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NFL
Jan 12, 2020 13:12:13 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Jan 12, 2020 13:12:13 GMT
Well, my NFL season ended disappointingly. The downside of high expectations or hopes is that even a nice little 1-1 postseason feels disappointing. Realistically another road game at either Seattle or Green Bay was likely to end our season anyway.
I no longer have a horse in the race. I would have rooted for Baltimore because I love Lamar Jackson, but despite his 500+ yards, they're out, too. So it's all basketball for me now, at least until Gopher football's spring camp.
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NFL
Jan 12, 2020 13:59:16 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 12, 2020 13:59:16 GMT
Well, Kapitan and kds, I couldn't have been more wrong about your teams' games.
After the way Minnesota handled New Orleans, I thought the Minnesota defense would've stopped the 49ers running game (Coleman, Bleida, and Mostert are good but they're not a Dalvin Cook) and put the game in the hands of Jimmy Garappolo, but it wasn't to be. The announcers kept talking about the short week for Minnesota and the bye week for San Francisco. I don't know...
I also thought the Baltimore defense would handle the Tennessee offense, and Lamar Jackson would've done just enough to pull that one out. Derrick Henry is a stud, but I thought he was the only threat that could beat the Ravens. I guess not.
I am rooting against Kansas City and especially Andy Reid (overrated), but things are falling their way. The Patriots blew it by losing to Miami the last game of the regular season, thus losing the bye. Then Baltimore and Lamar Jackson, who I thought had the best chance of beating KC, gets knocked out. Now I have to depend on Ryan Tannehill and the Tennessee Titans to come through! And if KC makes it to the Super Bowl, I'm not sure San Francisco, Green Bay, or Seattle are strong enough to beat them.
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NFL
Jan 12, 2020 18:14:35 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Jan 12, 2020 18:14:35 GMT
As had been the subject of recent speculation, Cleveland has reportedly agreed to terms to make Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski their next head coach.
That means the next Vikings O.C. will be the fifth in five years, following Norv Turner, Pat Shurmur, John DeFilippo, and Stefanski.
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NFL
Jan 12, 2020 18:24:21 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 12, 2020 18:24:21 GMT
As had been the subject of recent speculation, Cleveland has reportedly agreed to terms to make Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski their next head coach.
That means the next Vikings O.C. will be the fifth in five years, following Norv Turner, Pat Shurmur, John DeFilippo, and Stefanski.
I'm a little surprised by this move because Stefanski has no head coaching experience, much like the Browns' last coach, Freddie Kitchens, and we know how that worked out. But that seems to be the trend these days - hiring the "hot" coordinator.
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NFL
Jan 12, 2020 18:31:49 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Jan 12, 2020 18:31:49 GMT
Not only no head coaching experience, but a grand total of one season as a full offensive coordinator (plus part of the prior season). He's only 37 years old! But to be fair, he has also worked his way up the ladder slowly, proving himself at every step of the way.
That said, this season the Vikings brought in Gary Kubiak to oversee the offense at the same time they handed the reins to Stefanski ... indicating they weren't entirely confident in the younger man's capabilities.
The idea of getting the hot, new, relatively unproven talent is always exciting and when you strike gold, it's great. But as with drafting talented players, it almost always plays out that unproven potential is less likely to result in brilliance than a good track record. We see it every year. I think the same ends up true of coaches.
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NFL
Jan 12, 2020 18:34:07 GMT
via mobile
Post by kds on Jan 12, 2020 18:34:07 GMT
The Ravens got away from their game early. I wonder if the fact that we barely trailed during our 12 game win streak hurt in the end. It seemed once we fell behind 7-0, we got really pass happy, and played right into Tennessee's hands. What's worse than getting bounced early is missing the chance to host an AFC Title Game for the first time in 49 years.
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NFL
Jan 13, 2020 18:02:39 GMT
via mobile
Post by Kapitan on Jan 13, 2020 18:02:39 GMT
Now the Vikings are in the market for two coordinators: George Edwards, defensive coordinator I think the entire time Mike Zimmer has been here, will not be resigned as his contract expired.
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NFL
Jan 13, 2020 20:52:56 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 13, 2020 20:52:56 GMT
I just heard, and I can't believe this slipped by me, but Kevin Stefanski is the son of ex-76ers' GM, Ed Stefanski. Ed was the GM during the Doug Collins coaching era when they drafted Evan Turner as the second overall pick in 2010. Ed Stefanski was a very popular figure in the Philly area with the players, fans, and media. Whenever I heard him interviewed, he always came across as a very intelligent and likeable guy. I thought he would've had more success. I know practically nothing about Kevin other than he followed in his father's footsteps at the University Of Pennsylvania (playing football not basketball), and of course the Vikings' gig.
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NFL
Jan 13, 2020 21:00:12 GMT
via mobile
Post by Kapitan on Jan 13, 2020 21:00:12 GMT
Yes, I kept thinking of pointing that out to see if you knew but then always either forgot or assumed it might be common knowledge and I’d be stating the obvious. But I only found out before last season (2018) I believe it was.
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NFL
Jan 16, 2020 21:59:56 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 16, 2020 21:59:56 GMT
Breaking news - and it has nothing to do with football - but Demi Lovato will sing The National Anthem at Super Bowl LIV on February 2, 2020. Wow, first J.Lo and Shakira, now Demi!
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