MichiganCardinal

Bad football, but somehow competitive. Bread and butter of NFL football.

I like Mike McDaniels, but he has been a liability as offensive play caller today for Miami.

I'm still holding out hope that week 18 is inconsequential and the starters won't play. Teddy for a half, Hooker makes his debut for a half.... And we still win, because f*** the Vikings.

We should have made a magic number thread weeks ago, like we had for the Tigers of yesteryear.

NFC North Power Rankings from Week 14 1. Bears 2. Lions 3. Packers 4. Vikings

Take care of the ball and chip chip chip it in

Here is their chance.

ffs

The Dolphins and Packers both look awful tonight. For being some offensive mastermind, McDaniels red zone play calling has left me stupefied. His team is also completely lacking in discipline.

I wish Goff had half as much mobility as whoever Tommy DeVito is.

"bUt ThE pAcKeRs DoN't Lo$e iN dEcEmBeR!" - ESPN, probably

He ran off the field right after it happened, hyping up the crowd. If Tennessee keeps it close, I could see him going back out there in the second half.

I've been watching Dolphins/Titans for fantasy implications, and I think I'm literally watching Mike Vrabel losing the will to live for every minute he has to watch Will Levis be his QB.

I think they re-signed him last offseason to a two-year deal, so his contract will expire after this season. But, I think they depended on him to the extent that they did not address the position at all this offseason. I was wrong about Anzalone. He's been great (notwithstanding yesterday). I was right about Harris though. Dude's a bum.

I think the Lions do too, but I think it's done behind closed doors. I seem to remember the Rams/Seahawks game that cost the Lions a playoff berth had numerous questionable (or worse) calls in it, and that it came out after the fact that Lions brass had privately complained to the NFL about it. If you take yesterday for example though - could Campbell have complained post-game about Fields' intentional grounding that led to a touchdown? Yes. But that's an uncontrollable factor and wasted breath, the officials don't answer to him. His energy is better saved for privately chewing out Hutch for the bone-headed penalty that directly led to the touchdown. That's a controllable factor (or it should be if you're a good coaching staff).

Warnings are for when your OT is maybe just a little too far off the line. Not when your WR is so far across the line that the wing official is screened from even seeing the ball. That would get called in high school JV, let alone the NFL.

I'm not sure what all the public complaining about officiating accomplishes, or what the end goal is. Despite all the mistakes, these are humans at the end of the day. Just like a human athlete is going to line up offsides inexplicably, or jump the snap on 4th and 13 inexplicably, sometimes a human official (who is making significantly less than those athletes) will miss a blatant pass interference, or err on the side of not throwing an intentional grounding penalty that should be called. It's all a part of the game. There are arguments to be made that at least some contingent of the officials should be full-time year-round NFL employees... But I have a hard time believing these aren't the best individuals in the world at what they do. Those with a long-term memory still have nightmares from how badly their replacements stunk up the joint ten years ago or so.... It's just a really hard job, and I don't think Patrick Mahomes acting like a toddler on the sideline after a clearly correct call helps make it any easier.

As we enter the final four games of the season, are we going to revert back to the first four, or maintain the gradual downward trend we have seen in the most recent four? I think there are reasons to believe we could return to form. If we get Ragnow back, we will have all five starting offensive linemen again, which is clearly vital to Goff’s success. Along with getting CJGJ and Houston back. At the same time, there doesn’t seem to be any sense of urgency with the coaching staff. It’s status quo for better or worse.

I don’t think these have to be together. I’m not necessarily pessimistic but I think it’s fair to say that water is finding its level. When they won 8/9 to finish last season, and then went into Arrowhead and beat the Chiefs, I think I had pegged them as a top three team in the NFC and a top 5-7 team in the NFL. And now, as Goff has come back to earth and the defense has continued what it’s done as long as Glenn has been the DC, it’s fair to temper expectations some. I still think they have a puncher’s chance against anybody in the NFC. But it probably wasn’t fair to expect Goff to maintain a historic trek, or the defense to magically improve.

Get outta here with that ‘voice of reason’ schtick and grab a torch or pitchfork!

This may serve them well if they back into the playoffs. Everyone will be counting them out again expecting a first-round loss.

He has nothing to complain about either, Toney was egregiously offsides. To tell them not to call that is to say ignore the rules and allow him an advantage because.... vibes.

This thread title has really aged like a fine wine, hasn't it?

vs. Setting: 12/16/2023, 8:15pm on FOX Site: Ford Field in Detroit, MI Weather: Climate Controlled Opening Spread: Lions -4 All-Time Series Record: Broncos lead, 9-5 Last Meeting: 12/12/2021, Broncos won 38-10 Denver Broncos (7-6) Head Coach: Sean Payton (16th Season: 158-95) Projected Starting QB: Russell Wilson (12th Season: 115-70-1) Last Week: 24-7 W @ Los Angeles Chargers (5-8) Looking Ahead to Week #16: Sunday Night v. New England Patriots (3-10) Your Detroit Lions (9-4) Head Coach: Dan Campbell (3rd Season: 21-25-1) Projected Starting QB: Jared Goff (8th Season: 63-49-1) Last Week: 28-13 L @ Chicago Bears (5-8) Looking Ahead to Week #16: Sunday @ Minnesota Vikings (7-6) Elsewhere in the NFL Primetime: Chargers @ Raiders (TNF), Ravens @ Jaguars (SNF), Eagles @ Seahawks (MNF) Saturday: Vikings @ Bengals (1:00pm), Steelers @ Colts (4:30pm) 1:00pm: Falcons @ Panthers, Bears @ Browns, Jets @ Dolphins, Buccaneers @ Packers, Giants @ Saints, Texans @ Titans, Chiefs @ Patriots 4:05/4:25pm: 49ers @ Cardinals, Commanders @ Rams, Cowboys @ Bills