MichiganCardinal

"Windows" are different in the NFL than they are in other sports. It's not like we have a rotation of aces and a lineup of bats that will need to be locked up on decade-long contracts that will either (a) cripple the team in seven years with mediocre performance we can't afford to cut or (b) cripple the team with replacement level players when they are all traded. In the NFL, it's all about winning 10-11+ games and being hot enough in January to win 3-4 in a row. A lot of that is talent, absolutely. But a lot of it is also just health and cohesion and everything working in synch at the right time. I think it's something this year's team understands on a fundamental level, and it's why a guy like Decker is taking an extra game off against an opponent like the Chiefs. I bet you he plays on Thanksgiving against the Packers. For as fun a run as 2023 was, I think 2022 could have been special in its own right if the refs didn't bungle the ending of the Seahawks-Rams game. That team was hot and they weren't going to just roll over against the 49ers in the wildcard round. Likewise, the Rams were hot in 2023 when they came into Ford Field. If a couple 4th downs went their way and they squeezed by us, it wouldn't have surprised me to see them go the distance as a 6-seed. As a final example, the Commanders were probably the least talented team on the NFC side last season. But they caught the Bucs on a walk-off field goal and then the defensively depleted Lions flat footed. Just like that, a game away from the Super Bowl. Football is just different. We can ride this wave a long time if the front office does it right, which they are.

No, but we are overdue for someone to announce that we control our own destiny.™

I can’t imagine it would even qualify as a surprise retirement now. Ragnow was 28, missed one game, and was second team All Pro. Decker is 32, has missed two games already this season, and doesn’t look like his old self when he is out there.

Started and finished The Pitt in about a week. Fantastic. Normally I watch the Emmy winners and don’t get why people are so enamored, but this one I get.

Me either, but to @gehringer_2 point, I don’t think these are individuals approaching LSU and saying “I will write you a blank check to fire your coach.” More likely, the Athletic Department is approaching the individuals they know who could do this and propose them being the impetus behind a new direction. To that end, those individuals are not likely be to be seriously swayed by the description of the ask. Whether it’s “we want $52MM to fire our coach” or “we want $52MM for a new hard sciences wing” — even to the extent they would, someone willing to spend $52MM to fire Kelly would probably be willing to spend $25MM on an indoor field house for non-revenue sports…. But maybe not $77MM to both fire Kelly and build that indoor field house. I generally don’t think a state university paying any(!) employee tens of millions to do nothing and go work elsewhere because they were deemed to be a bad hire in the first place is a bad use of funds, regardless of the spin used to sell the use of those funds after the fact.

This gives them some more financial certainty as well, should any attractive trades present themselves.

It shouldn't be understated the amount of impact good coaching can have towards turning high-level talent into superstars. Looking at Jacksonville, Trevor Lawrence was primed to be a superstar. Bad coaching seems to have killed his potential career trajectory. Maybe Hutch would have been just as game-wrecking in Duval, but I doubt it. Likewise, I'm willing to bet Travon Walker would have been a much more impactful here. All the same, I'm glad it worked out how it did.

Really good job locking up Hutch. That’s a fair deal.

Injury report will be more interesting for the Vikings than the Lions today. Both starting offensive tackles and their center are hurt right now, but will have had 10 days to rest since Thursday Night... Hutch and McNeill are going to feast on ole JJ if they aren't back. Combine that with Goff's success against the blitz and the Vikings inability to stop the run this year, and this train may be headed for a double digit win if we can take care of the ball.

Someone named Max Brosmer is the Vikings backup QB on Sunday. UDFA out of Minnesota.

vs. Setting: 11/02/2025 1:00pm on FOX Site: Ford Field in Detroit, MI Weather: Climate Controlled Opening Spread: Lions -8.5 All-Time Series Record: Vikings lead, 80-45-2 Last Meeting: 01/05/2025, Lions won 31-9 Minnesota Vikings (3-4) Head Coach: Kevin O'Connell (4th Season: 37-21) Projected Starting QB: JJ McCarthy (2nd Season: 1-1) Last Week: 37-10 L @ Los Angeles Chargers (5-3) Looking Ahead to Week #10: Sunday vs. Baltimore Ravens (2-5) Your Detroit Lions (5-2) Head Coach: Dan Campbell (5th Season: 44-30-1) Projected Starting QB: Jared Goff (10th Season: 86-54-1) Last Game: BYE, preceded by 24-9 W vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2) Looking Ahead to Week #10: Sunday @ Washington Commanders (3-4) Elsewhere in the NFL Primetime: Ravens @ Dolphins (TNF), Seahawks @ Commanders (SNF), Cardinals @ Cowboys (MNF) 1:00pm: Broncos @ Texans, Bears @ Bengals, Falcons @ Patriots, Panthers @ Packers, 49ers @ Giants, Colts @ Steelers, Chargers @ Titans 4:05/4:25pm: Saints @ Rams, Jaguars @ Raiders, Chiefs @ Bills BYE: Browns, Jets, Eagles, Buccaneers

I have not. And the reason I have not is likely the same reason it will take more than $1.5MM to recruit the #1 high school player.

Right! $52MM buys a playoff team. Just ask Texas A&M. I don’t know about him at MSU though. They’re not that far removed from a disastrous HC. Brian Kelly isn’t very “safe” as an institutional pick. It feels like he is always one snowball away from an avalanche. I think James Franklin would be perfect at MSU.

Yet. I am okay with a 16-7 Steelers lead at the half.

I hate Rodgers so much. I can’t wait for Kerby to pick him off another three times in December.

I don’t blame Sarkisian for seeking NFL offers. Even if it’s a fake report from his agent meant to renegotiate his contract and up his buyout. The NFL is so much easier than the NCAA right now. You’re managing a locker room of men, but at least you’re not managing the emotions and knee-jerk reactions of unrealistic and borderline delusional university systems. At least the majority of the NFL understands how hard it is to win games in a competitive league. NFL teams don’t fire coaches midseason because they’ve lost three games to the #7, #9, and #3 teams in that league.

**** Brian Kelly, he killed a kid and suffered no consequences. LSU is delusional and thinks they should win a national championship every year. Kids in 2025 want the money. If your best offer to Underwood was 5x less than Michigan’s, it’s a donor problem not a coach problem. That donor problem will not be solved by paying Kelly $52MM for him to not coach your team. **** Brian Kelly, have I mentioned that one yet?

LSU firing Kelly is funny on several counts.

It’s not just that they haven’t played anybody, it’s that the one game they played against a somebody, they weren’t competitive. The Bears have a real chance to go 10-7. Ravens, Bengals, Giants, Vikings, Steelers, and Browns all look like winnable games. Maybe even steal one against the Packers to make up for a loss in there. But I think they would lose by 10+ in a wildcard game against an A-tier NFC team (Lions, Rams, Eagles, etc.). And Ben Johnson would be on his way to the Brian Dabboll trajectory if Caleb Williams isn’t it.

I’m curious to see the Lions plan to stop the tush push. They voted against banning it, so you’d have to think there is some sort of competitive thought to that decision. Unless they just like our best against their best, or see the new rule as being too broad.

Maybe…. But I’m skeptical. They’re playing a 4th place schedule. Wins against the Cowboys, Raiders, Commanders, and Saints. None of those teams are .500. The one game they played against a good team, the Lions, they got trounced. Don’t get me wrong, to be a good team you have to beat the bad teams. But I’m not convinced they’re ready to slug it out with the big boys.

Him and Dan Campbell sharing an affection for ankle biters was not an expected twist.

Hopefully just depth and not an indication on Reed’s progress.