NFL Football

[Vrede too]

That was a fun interception.

Would have liked to see him rumble a few more yards.

Tough to tackle. Not sure what that one Brown was trying to do at the end, but there was no way he'd bring down Pierce solo.

[O Really]

Big guy might have been afraid of a fumble. I'd like to have seen him rumble for a bit.

[Vrede too]

Play Barkley for the individual record? Look what the Bears have done to the Packers so far:

Packers' Christian Watson carted off; Jordan Love hurts elbow

This was not an ideal way for the Packers to head into the playoffs.

On the same drive in the second quarter of Sunday's regular-season finale against the Chicago Bears, the Packers lost receiver Christian Watson to a right knee injury, and three plays later, quarterback Jordan Love sustained a right elbow injury.

... Packers coach Matt LaFleur chose not to rest his starters in Week 18. While they had already clinched a playoff spot, the Packers began the day with the possibility of being either the No. 6 or No. 7 seed in the NFC. A win combined with a Washington Commanders loss at the Dallas Cowboys would give the Packers the sixth seed.

DC is beating Dallas, so the effort may have been moot. Even if not, is the difference between visiting the Eagles or Rams big enough for the risk? Now, the Bears are leading with 6 minutes left in the 4th. Guess it will be the Eagles, perhaps with a significantly depleted roster.

Edit:
DC drive and TD with 0:03 left, 23-19. Packers did not have a shot. Then, to add insult to injury the Bears win 24-22 with a walkoff 51 Yd Field Goal.

[GoCubsGo]

HOW BOUT THEM BEARS?

[GoCubsGo]

Play Barkley for the individual record? Look what the Bears have done to the Packers so far:
Packers' Christian Watson carted off; Jordan Love hurts elbow

This was not an ideal way for the Packers to head into the playoffs.

Cmon man.

[Vrede too]

Play Barkley for the individual record? Look what the Bears have done to the Packers so far:

Packers' Christian Watson carted off; Jordan Love hurts elbow

This was not an ideal way for the Packers to head into the playoffs.

Cmon man.

https://x.com/TrainIsland/status/1875978914335723689

Formatting fixed, just to make it clear that the snarky sarcasm isn't mine.

[O Really]

So with the pathetic Panthers on the Falcons 10, tied score in OT, the CBS assholes cut over to the Traitor-Raider game. Booooo! But good on the Panthers for their win. Yay for the Bucs. Bears! Cowboys are worthless and deserve Jones.

[Vrede too]

Wow, that sucks, O Really. Can anyone say, 'Heidi game'? Ditto on the rest.

1-1 so far.

TV here:
4 daytime games on TV, yippee! Otherwise, several meaningless games today, as usual for the last weekend.

1:00 PM

FOX
Go @Buccaneers 9-7 (-14) > eliminated Saints 5-1
Beat the Falcons for the NFC South title. Then, host the Lions or the Vikings. Ouch TB takes care of business, 27-19. Buh-bye, Falcons. Final play of the game WR Mike Evans ties Jerry Rice's record of 11 consecutive 1000 yard seasons, albeit in a 17th game that Rice didn't have.
9 REC 89 YDS 9.9 AVG, LONG 14
31 years old, set the record next year?
Opps, if the Rams lose to the Seahawks, which is happening in the 2nd, the Rams will be #4 seed and host the Lions or the Vikings.

CBS
Go eliminated Panthers 4-1 > @Falcons 8-8 (-7.5)
Go home, Birds. Wild game, 44-38 in OT. Falcons were plucked by the Buccs, cooked by Carolina. Bryce Young:
25/34 251 YDS 7.4 AVG, 3 TD! 0 INT 0 SACKS, RTG 123.5!
5 CAR 24 YDS 4.8 AVG, 2 TD! LONG 11
5 TDs

4:25 PM

FOX
Go Dolphins 8-8 > Kaaron and the eliminated MAGA Jets 4-1 (-1, seriously?)
I prefer the Broncos, but then want the Fins > Bengals. Good luck, O Really. Kaaron's last game ever? Good riddance, but I fear we may hear even more from him than now. 20-32. Honorable effort, but the Broncos ended the Fin season right out of the starting blocks.

CBS
@Broncos 9-7 (-11) > Chiefs 15-1
Win and they snatch WC #3 to play @Bills. 38-0 vs KC subs . good to know about the bench.

Go football:
1:00 PM
Eliminated Bears 4-1 vs @Packers 11-5 (-9.5)
I like both. Good luck, GoCubsGo. Congrats! 24-22.

GO:

1:00 PM

DC 11-5 (-6.5) > @Cowboys 7-9
I don't care whether DC or GB wins WC #2, but I do hate the Cowboys.
23-19! DC visits the Rams rather than the Eagles. GoDCGo!

https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/401671840

Marcus Mariota threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin with 3 seconds left, lifting Washington to a 23-19 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday and clinching the sixth seed in the NFC playoffs for the Commanders.

Mariota threw for two scores and ran for a TD after replacing Jayden Daniels. The Commanders (12-5) sat their dynamic rookie quarterback at halftime since playoff seeding was the only thing on the line, and the move ended up sparking an offense that produced just 64 yards before the break.

It turned out Washington didn’t need the rally to keep the sixth seed because Green Bay lost to Chicago on a late field goal.

I've liked Mariota since he was a Duck.

The Commanders will visit either Tampa Bay or the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round next weekend....

4:25 PM
@Eliminated Raiders 4-12 > LA Traitors 10-6 (-7)
GoSteelersGo! GoJasmineGo! GoO ReallyGo!
20-34 Steelers forced into WC #2.

EDIT:
Opps, I didn't think that Seahawks-Rams has an impact. Turns out that it does for the Rams vs the Buccs in seeding. I don't have a Rams-Buccs favorite, but I still would have picked my longtime favorite Seahawks.
GO Seahawks 9-7 (-7.5) > @Rams 10-6
Full disclosure: It's 17-10 near halftime as I post this.
30-25 I'm happy, but can't count it in my tally . Rams knocked to #4 seed and get a visit from the Lions or Vikings.


Historic finale:
8:20 PM NBC/Peacock
@Lions 14-2 (-3) > Vikings 14-2. Go Motown!
Winner gets a bye, loser stomps the @Buccs
Wow, 2nd half rout, 31-9 . Game not quite over but 2nd most TDs in a season, 68, behind Miami, 71.
You've read me before - Ravens > Lions in the SB.

5-2 today, 6-3 this week.

Wild Card Playoffs

Saturday, January 11

4:30 PM CBS/Paramount+
5 LA Traitors 11-6 (-3) vs @4 Texans 10-7. Go football, I dislike both.

8:00 PM Prime Video
GO @3 Ravens 12-5 (-9 ) > 6 Steelers 10-7
Steelers have to figure a way to reverse their recent slide if they want to have a prayer.

Sunday, January 12

1:00 PM CBS/Paramount+
7 Broncos 10-7 vs @2 Bills 13-4 (-8.5). Go football, I like both.

4:30 PM FOX
7 Packers 11-6 vs @2 Eagles 14-3 (-3.5). Go football, I like both.

8:00 PM NBC/Peacock
GO 6 DC 12-5 > @3 Buccaneers 10-7 (-3.5 )

Monday, January 13
8:00 PM ESPN/ABC/ESPN+
GO Lions or Vikings 14-3 > @Rams 10-7

[GoCubsGo]

This is cool.

I hope Evans takes the Saints D out to dinner.

And it TIED an NFL all time record! (Glad he didn't get hurt ).

[GoCubsGo]

HOW BOUT THEM BEARS?

Wow, plus Happy 102nd Birthday Virginia McCaskey!

[GoCubsGo]

GO LIONS!

[GoCubsGo]

Ruh roh,

Vrede might have to get a Prime trial offer.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/schedule/_/wee ... asontype/3

[Vrede too]

Ruh roh,

Vrede might have to get a Prime trial offer.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/schedule/_/wee ... asontype/3

Fuck Bezos, especially after:
https://www.blueridgedebate.com/viewtop ... 98#p206498

[Vrede too]

NFL Week 18 contract incentives: Marquee names could land big money
Baker Mayfield, DeAndre Hopkins and other stars could be in line for a big pay bump this weekend

WR Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Evans earned a $3 million bonus in dramatic fashion, crossing the 1,000-yard receiving yardage mark on the final play of the season. The 9-yard catch in a win over the New Orleans Saints triggered a massive celebration by Evans and teammates.

In addition to the $3M, he also cashed $666,666 by finishing top-10 in the NFL in receiving touchdowns, with 11.

QB Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
Smith cashed $6 million in total bonuses in Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Rams by reaching a career high in passing yards, completion percentage and helping Seattle to 10 wins. Not bad for a day's work.

QB Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mayfield picked up an extra $2.5 million by finishing top 10 in the league or top five in the NFC each of these five categories: passer rating, touchdown passes, passing yards, completion percentage and yards per pass attempt. Those stats were worth $500,000 each for Mayfield.

+

LB Von Miller, Buffalo Bills
Miller recorded an early sack agains the Patriots, which brings him to six on the season and earns him a $1.5 million bonus.

+

WR Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
Sutton received $500,000 bonuses for reaching 500 and 750 yards receiving, then added an additional $500,000 by eclipsing 1,065 yards (personal best) on the season during Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

WR Mack Hollins, Buffalo Bills
Hollins caught two passes early against the Patriots and hit 30 catches on the season, earning a $50,000 bonus.

P Sam Martin, Buffalo Bills

That's right, punter incentives! Martin needed one more punt downed inside the 20, and he got it. Payout: $100,000

Longshot: RB Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans
Guess not.
Longshot: WR DeAndre Hopkins, Kansas City
Guess not, may not have even played.
Got that money: RB Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Got that money: OLB Kyle Van Noy, Baltimore Ravens
Got that money: TE Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals
Got that money: RB Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
Got that money: TE Zach Ertz, Washington

for all, plus any not listed.

[GoCubsGo]

Ruh roh,

Vrede might have to get a Prime trial offer.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/schedule/_/wee ... asontype/3

Fuck Bezos, especially after:
https://www.blueridgedebate.com/viewtop ... 98#p206498

That's why I was hoping you could get a free trial offer.

Win-win.

[O Really]

Or just head for the sports bar.

[Vrede too]

Fuck Bezos, especially after:
https://www.blueridgedebate.com/viewtop ... 98#p206498

That's why I was hoping you could get a free trial offer.

Win-win.

Nah, I don't even want to boost his free use line, or get on his spam list.

Or just head for the sports bar.

[Vrede too]

HOW BOUT THEM BEARS?

Good game, but:

Steelers receive great news as Justin Fields trade conditions finalize

Steelers fans rejoice! Omar Khan—AKA 'the Khan Artist'—has officially outsmarted the Chicago Bears for the second time in just over two years.

While the outcome of the Chase Claypool trade was clearly one-sided in Pittsburgh's favor, the winner of 2024's Justin Fields trade seemed debatable.

However, as the trade became official last night, the Steelers will only need to send a 2025 sixth-round draft pick to the Bears. Fields would have needed to play in 51% of the Steelers' snaps for the conditional sixth-round pick to escalate to a fourth-rounder—and Russell Wilson's emergence as the Steelers' QB in Week 7 put an end to that.

While it remains to be seen if the Steelers will re-sign Fields this upcoming 2025 offseason—and properly develop him—no one can deny that acquiring a player of his caliber for just a sixth-round draft pick is an absolute steal....

Ouch.

Background:

Justin Fields

... Fields was selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, with whom he set the single-game regular season record for quarterback rushing yards and became the third NFL quarterback ever to have a 1,000-yard rushing season. After three seasons with the Bears, Fields was traded to the Steelers in 2024....

Fields was selected 11th overall in the 2021 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, who traded up with the New York Giants in exchange for the 20th overall pick, their fifth-round pick in 2021, and their first and fourth-round picks in 2022. A top quarterback prospect in the draft, Fields was one of five taken in the first round. He signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $18.8 million fully guaranteed, on June 10, 2021....

Oh well, maybe the Bears will get a really really good sixth-round draft pick.

[GoCubsGo]

Oh well, maybe the Bears will get a really really good sixth-round draft pick.

Da Bears are where 1st round quarterbacks go to die.

Fields
Trubisky
McNown
Grossman

We're hoping to buck a trend.

[GoCubsGo]

No, No, No, No No, No, No, NoNo, No, No, No No, No, No, NoNo, No, No, No