NFL 2021 Season

[nickagneta]

If Pats win out they are AFC East champs once again.

Now, I'm not expecting it but it does give you an idea how well they have played this year, regardless of record.

[Phantom255x]

This has already been a very wild week of football. Cowboys, Raiders and Bills upset. Falcons getting a big road win though Saints now don't have Winston which is definitely a factor going forward.

The good news is, as I've said for a while I don't see any "invincible-looking" AFC teams like some of those Ravens and Chiefs teams between 2018-2020. The Bills are still great, but definitely a team that can be beat. I'm sure the Chiefs are going to improve, but they have flaws too.

The Patriots continue to improve each week and if they can stay as healthy as possible, then I definitely think they can make the playoffs and at least give the Bills a run for their money for the AFC East. Buffalo should still win the division but the Pats I think have a great shot at the 6 or 7 seed in the AFC.

Mac may be looking "meh" the past few weeks but I'm also encouraged that he hasn't had to do too much lately which frankly I think he had to do the first few weeks of the season when the O-Line and defense were shaky. That's asking a lot from a rookie and I think that's why he made some mistakes early on because he felt he had to. Mac is still making the plays when he needs to in the big moments which has been all we've needed lately.

Good win today. 3 in a row now, and we're 4-0 on the road (and 1-4 at home!). Lets keep it going! 

[Moranis]

Current AFC Playoff Standings are crazy

1. Tennessee (will drop to 2 if they lose)
2. Baltimore
3. Los Angeles
4. Buffalo
5. Las Vegas
6. Pittsburgh
7. New England

Kansas City and Cleveland are currently 8 and 9 and were the preseason projected AFC Championship game by many experts.  Cincinnati is 10th and also above .500 making all 4 AFC North teams 5-4 or better.  Pretty late in the year for a division to be able to say that.

[ozgod]

If Pats win out they are AFC East champs once again.

Now, I'm not expecting it but it does give you an idea how well they have played this year, regardless of record.

It's also a very even division right now, there's really no outstanding team. I think we've got as good a chance as any.

[Phantom255x]

Current AFC Playoff Standings are crazy

1. Tennessee (will drop to 2 if they lose)
2. Baltimore
3. Los Angeles
4. Buffalo
5. Las Vegas
6. Pittsburgh
7. New England

Kansas City and Cleveland are currently 8 and 9 and were the preseason projected AFC Championship game by many experts.  Cincinnati is 10th and also above .500 making all 4 AFC North teams 5-4 or better.  Pretty late in the year for a division to be able to say that.

Crazy thing is, the Chargers are 3rd and have a 5-3 record. Only 0.5 ahead of NE and there's basically a sizable mix of teams between 5-3 and 4-5.

Titans had an impressive win last night but overall the AFC just feels wide open. Like I expect KC will still get hot and finish with a Top-3 seed in the AFC, but they have flaws too for sure. 

[Phantom255x]

Also just wanted to add, so I was one of those people who thought Darnold would thrive with a change of scenery and that he would be better on a better team with better structure/coaching.

It's becoming pretty clear though that this dude might just be trash. Had a good start to the season but since then he's really fallen off a cliff. Belichick owns him it seems ("Darnold sees ghosts all the time playing the Pats") but also, whenever there's even a little bit of adversity or pressure in a game Darnold collapses.

Like, CAR's O-Line yesterday wasn't that terrible but Darnold looked like a deer in headlights. And even when he escaped and moved outside the pocket he was terrible, such as when he threw that pick 6 to JC Jackson (or as the commentator said, "Bethel" lol) and also when he danced around and then threw another easy INT to JC Jackson in the endzone.

His facial expressions also come across like a guy who gets defeated very very easily.

Carolina's in a bit of a pickle but it seems to me Darnold might not even last in the league much longer at this rate.

[SparzWizard]

Current AFC Playoff Standings are crazy

1. Tennessee (will drop to 2 if they lose)
2. Baltimore
3. Los Angeles
4. Buffalo
5. Las Vegas
6. Pittsburgh
7. New England

Kansas City and Cleveland are currently 8 and 9 and were the preseason projected AFC Championship game by many experts.  Cincinnati is 10th and also above .500 making all 4 AFC North teams 5-4 or better.  Pretty late in the year for a division to be able to say that.

Crazy thing is, the Chargers are 3rd and have a 5-3 record. Only 0.5 ahead of NE and there's basically a sizable mix of teams between 5-3 and 4-5.

Titans had an impressive win last night but overall the AFC just feels wide open. Like I expect KC will still get hot and finish with a Top-3 seed in the AFC, but they have flaws too for sure.

If Aaron Rodgers play yesterday, KC gets blown out in Arrowhead, effectively ending their season.

Patriots might be able to host a playoff game. But I rather they play on the road, as that's how they play well this year.

[nickagneta]

Some talking heads on ESPN this morning, mostly Ryan Clark, are saying New England can definitely make it to the Super Bowl this year. Others were saying the Pats should make the playoffs.

Now maybe he means if things go perfectly right for the Pats, but he didn"t outright say it. He said the AFC is wide open and with the way the Pats play and with Belichick as the head coach, New England can make the Super Bowl this year.

Still, how many here ever expected to hear this type talk this year?

[johnnygreen]

OBJ's release is pending. Apparently they have reworked his contract to make it more palatable to whoever claims him on waivers. Any interest? I think he could provide value on a team who is starving for wideout play.

I may be in the minority with this, but I would like to see OBJ sign with New England. By becoming the #1 receiver, I feel like it would move Meyers, Agholor, and Bourne into a more natural roll where their not going against the opponents top three corners. I like Meyers chances a lot more if he's going against a #2 corner, rather than a #1 corner. Not to mention the safety help OBJ could demand, which could also help the tight ends. Plus if he does sign, odds are it would only be the remainder of the season, which you would think would put help keep him in line. After all, he needs to reclaim his image in hopes of getting a new contract.

[boscel33]

I'm in the minority with you.  I'd like to see him land here, maybe BB has the same type of influence on him that he had on RM84!

[Moranis]

I don't see OBJ going to New England to play for a rookie QB on a team that is a fringe playoff team. 

It has already been put out there by people close to him, that Green Bay is first choice.  I think Kansas City and Seattle make sense.  If he wanted a place where he could potentially be a #1 receiver, then Baltimore seems like a much better spot than New England as Baltimore is better than New England, has a MVP at QB, and in which said QB is great at improvising and making things happen which fits OBJ's style (that is the main reason he never worked in Cleveland with Stefansky especially, as his offense is geared to precise route running, something OBJ just isn't very good at). 

[Vermont Green]

OBJ is free (not claimed).  Rumors are he wants Green Bay but they don't want him so much.  Patriots are in contact and in the mix.

I am glad they are going for OBJ.  What really do they have to lose?

[Cman]

I don't see OBJ going to New England to play for a rookie QB on a team that is a fringe playoff team. 

It has already been put out there by people close to him, that Green Bay is first choice.  I think Kansas City and Seattle make sense.  If he wanted a place where he could potentially be a #1 receiver, then Baltimore seems like a much better spot than New England as Baltimore is better than New England, has a MVP at QB, and in which said QB is great at improvising and making things happen which fits OBJ's style (that is the main reason he never worked in Cleveland with Stefansky especially, as his offense is geared to precise route running, something OBJ just isn't very good at).

I'd love to see him on Baltimore or Tennessee. Don't get me wrong, i'd welcome him on the Pats, but boy him on either of those teams would put them over the top.

[nickagneta]

Cam Newton signs with Carolina and will start this weekend pending passing a physical.

[nickagneta]

OBJ to the Rams.