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NFL
Dec 30, 2023 1:56:20 GMT
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carllove likes this
Post by kds on Dec 30, 2023 1:56:20 GMT
I'm telling you, the fans here in Baltimore are sick.
The Ravens just made a huge statement, beating the 49ers on the road on Christmas Night to improve to 12-3, the NFL's best record. We have Miami coming to town to battle for the #1 seed in the AFC on Sunday.
What's the hot topic in town? Joe Flacco. Joe was one of my favorite Ravens. I'll never forget his historic playoff run in 2012. His comeback in a nice story.
But, we have our own QB playing at a very high level, perhaps even better than his MVP season in 2019.
And, we actually have Ravens fans rooting for Joe to come into Baltimore to beat the Ravens in the playoffs. Ravens fans are saying this!!!
Sick I tell you.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 31, 2023 15:38:56 GMT
Somehow during this vacation I'd lost track of things, and specifically that tonight is an important game for the Vikings. They host the Packers with both teams at 7-8 chasing wild card spots. The loser is for all practical purposes an elimination game from playoff contention.
Minnesota is returning to rookie QB Jaren Hall after journeyman Nick Mullens's struggles, which followed journeyman and temporary celebrity Joshua Dobbs's struggles, which followed Jaren Hall's brief appearance and concussion, which followed the big loss of Kirk Cousins (ironically injured in the previous Green Bay game).
We're banged up, but so is everyone this time of year. Even though I think our chances of making any noise in the playoffs even if we get there, we're far enough out of contention for those high draft picks that it makes sense to really go for it.
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NFL
Dec 31, 2023 18:02:11 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Dec 31, 2023 18:02:11 GMT
I saw this " big news" that the XFL and USFL were merging and rebranding as the UFL (United Football League), and my immediate reaction was this: "The XFL and USFL were still around to unite?" I guess I knew both had made some kind of comeback at some point, but I didn't even know either was still solvent. Maybe they weren't, and that's why they merged. When I was 12, 13, this would have been so exciting to me. I watched the WLAF religiously its initial season, in spring 1991. But as the years and decades passed, it just became too obvious that the quality of play in minor leagues was just not consistently decent. Fans don't care, and I don't think there is or will ever be the culture of a minor-leaguer in football the way there is in baseball and basketball that keeps players active: the sport is too punishing if there isn't serious money and support.
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NFL
Jan 1, 2024 1:52:29 GMT
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Kapitan likes this
Post by kds on Jan 1, 2024 1:52:29 GMT
The Ravens clinched the AFC North and the AFC's number one seed with a dominant 56-19 win over Miami in Baltimore today. A very nice way to end the calendar year.
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NFL
Jan 1, 2024 5:59:22 GMT
kds likes this
Post by carllove on Jan 1, 2024 5:59:22 GMT
The Ravens clinched the AFC North and the AFC's number one seed with a dominant 56-19 win over Miami in Baltimore today. A very nice way to end the calendar year. Congratulations kds. I guess the Chief’s clinched the AFC West and a playoff spot. Woo Hoo! At least the offensive woke up a bit this afternoon.
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NFL
Jan 1, 2024 13:31:44 GMT
kds likes this
Post by Kapitan on Jan 1, 2024 13:31:44 GMT
Congrats, KDS. Meanwhile, the Vikings very nearly clinched a season of failure with that train-wreck of a game last night! That. Was. Bad.
Rookie Jaren Hall got another chance, and wow, did he look terrible! To be fair, the line wasn't giving him much protection, but he was late on throws, he rushed throws, he made poor throws ... and he only threw it 10 times before getting the hook at the half. 5-10 for 67 yards and 1 INT, sacked 3x for 28 yards. Yikes.
The defense can't be let off the hook, either. It gave up almost 300 yards passing and 3 TD, and 177 yards rushing and 1 TD.
I'm curious what the team will do in Detroit next week. Will it be one of those games where half the starters have sudden, mysterious "injuries" that let backups and rookies get some game reps? Or will we go all-out in the hopes of both a win in Detroit and the help we need (which is significant: a Green Bay loss, a Seattle loss, and either a New Orleans or Tampa Bay loss). It's such a long-shot that I wonder how a lot of the vets, especially those not under contract next year, will be feeling.
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NFL
Jan 4, 2024 23:40:32 GMT
kds likes this
Post by Kapitan on Jan 4, 2024 23:40:32 GMT
kds, I see that former Vikings (and most recently, Jets) tailback Dalvin Cook is joining Baltimore just in time for the playoffs. I know he had an awful season in New York, but he's still just 28 and was really very good in 2022 in Minnesota. The Vikings let him go primarily for financial reasons, and because backup Alexander Mattison was considered more durable as well as cheaper. (Mattison has been banged up repeatedly this year, testing that theory...) I didn't see Cook play this year, but last year he was still really explosive. I suspect he could really help the Ravens considering their RB woes right now. www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39242453/dalvin-cook-joining-ravens-going-unclaimed-waivers
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NFL
Jan 4, 2024 23:59:35 GMT
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Kapitan likes this
Post by kds on Jan 4, 2024 23:59:35 GMT
I was hoping the Ravens might take a flyer on him when I saw the NYJ waived him. Gus Edwards and Justice Hill have done well, but I like having Cook as another option more than Melvin Gordon.
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NFL
Jan 5, 2024 0:31:29 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 5, 2024 0:31:29 GMT
I have no idea what happened to Dalvin Cook this year in New York, but the previous couple of years the guy was a stud. I have no problem saying he was one of the Top Three running backs in the league. He got banged up a little bit, but was healthy this year. I couldn't figure out why the Jets didn't run him more, especially when they couldn't throw the ball at all. He's a steal for the Ravens. I'm just glad he didn't go to Dallas or San Francisco.
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NFL
Jan 7, 2024 21:00:01 GMT
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Post by kds on Jan 7, 2024 21:00:01 GMT
Wow.
About a month ago, the Jaguars looked like possible Super Bowl contenders.
They'd fallen off, but could've still clinched the AFC South with a road win today against the 5-11 Titans. But, they couldn't finish the job. With a 28-20, they missed the playoffs.
So, the AFC teams are set. The only remaining question of who'll win the AFC East will be answered tonight when Miami and Buffalo square off.
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NFL
Jan 7, 2024 21:11:24 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Jan 7, 2024 21:11:24 GMT
I actually turned off the Vikings' season finale early in the 2nd quarter when they were down 0-14 and looked awful. I see now Mullens has put up some numbers (a lot to Jefferson), but I just couldn't watch. Down 10 with just a couple minutes to go, it's more or less the end of a really frustrating season: tons of injuries, four different QBs started two or more games, and oddly, an awful home record.
Time to start hoping for a good offseason of free agency and draft, I guess (though I'm afraid we'll break the bank to retain Cousins and lose much-needed talent elsewhere).
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 7, 2024 21:15:27 GMT
The NFL season has become a marathon. Teams' fortunes change drastically over four and a half months. Look at the Philadelphia Eagles - who I'll be watching in about ten minutes.
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NFL
Jan 8, 2024 13:50:40 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 8, 2024 13:50:40 GMT
I didn't know whether to post this in the NBA or NFL thread, but it is interesting:
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NFL
Jan 12, 2024 12:55:03 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Jan 12, 2024 12:55:03 GMT
The local Star Tribune has a nice feature today on former Vikings running back Chuck Foreman, who was named NFL (Offensive) Rookie of the Year 50 years ago this month. Foreman belongs in the Hall of Fame, but he's not there. He was one of the original do-it-all running backs in the league. A five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro (one first team, two second) in just eight seasons--he retired at age 30!--he rushed for just under 6000 yards and caught another 3100. He scored 76 TDs in those eight seasons (53 rushing, 23 receiving). One of the main reasons we made it to four Super Bowls in the 70s, Foreman is widely regarded among the legends of the Vikings franchise. www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/ForeCh00.htm
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 12, 2024 13:10:41 GMT
The local Star Tribune has a nice feature today on former Vikings running back Chuck Foreman, who was named NFL (Offensive) Rookie of the Year 50 years ago this month. Foreman belongs in the Hall of Fame, but he's not there. He was one of the original do-it-all running backs in the league. A five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro (one first team, two second) in just eight seasons--he retired at age 30!--he rushed for just under 6000 yards and caught another 3100. He scored 76 TDs in those eight seasons (53 rushing, 23 receiving). One of the main reasons we made it to four Super Bowls in the 70s, Foreman is widely regarded among the legends of the Vikings franchise. www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/ForeCh00.htmChuck Foreman was, indeed, ahead of his time. Very influential. Hard to believe it's been fifty years, but look at his rookie year salary - $26,000. Do you think things changed big time? Players get $26,000 for a single play now!
It's nice to see Foreman is healthy physically and mentally...and happy.
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