NFL 2020: Week 1

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So it begins.

Week 1 schedule.

TV broadcast maps. Looks like most of us will get Brady-Brees in the late Sunday game. The parts of Cali and Oregon that aren't on fire will get ARI-SF.

That's all I've got.

Oh, here's something: Predict your team's record and why. I'll start.

Panthers: 3-13.

Pretty much every position took a step or two back (esp LB, CB and TE). The only position that improved was QB, and that's because Teddy B is (a) not too bad and (b) not any of the stiffs Carolina threw out there last year. I see Carolina scoring no points for about a month, then scoring 30+ once Joe Brady figures a few things out. Problem is, the defense will give up 40+ a week (and 50 or more against everyone else in the NFC South).

This isn't going to be a Jimmy Clausen or George Seifert season, but it's sure going to feel like it.

11-5.

Some might think that's a good record but Packers kinda have a soft schedule and the NFC North is probably actually pretty trash.

Under 5 covid positive tests also.

Go Ravens

Bucs: 3-3

Then the season's canceled.

Heyooooooo.

Full season . . . 10-6.

Washington Football Team

4-12

Niners, 13-3.

49ers: 12-4. Returning almost the exact same team, and the 2019 team did not run high in any of the metrics that red flag regression the following year (ie. they did not overperform in 1-score games, did not overperform on 3rd down, had below-average turnover luck, had below-average injury luck, etc). Also in a COVID year, that team consistency seems to be a benefit compared to teams with higher turnover that will be hurting from the truncated preparation time. Still giving them 1 more loss than last year because 13 wins is just a hard mark to reach in the NFL.

Jaguars: 6-10. Confounding tank expectations, I expect the team finishes just outside the top 5 in the draft, driven by Minshew continuing his growth trajectory and working in a Jay Gruden offense that doesn't ask more of Minshew's arm strength than it can deliver. Other than Calais Campbell, most of the departures have been overstated in terms of their impact. If Minshew doesn't fall flat, there's enough weapons in the passing game to keep the team out of the basement. (If he does turn back into a pumpkin, though, then this projection drops right down to 2-14 and Trevor Lawrence time.)

Ravens 16-0 Speed kills.

Browns 16-0 Myles "Head Hunter" Garrett. Nuff said.

I think it’s hilarious y’all think that they will play 16 regular season games.

garion333 wrote:

Ravens 16-0 Speed kills.

Browns 16-0 Myles "Head Hunter" Garrett. Nuff said.

I can't wait to see how two teams in the same division both go 16-0.

Ravens 12-4, top of the AFC North.

*Legion* wrote:
garion333 wrote:

Ravens 16-0 Speed kills.

Browns 16-0 Myles "Head Hunter" Garrett. Nuff said.

I can't wait to see how two teams in the same division both go 16-0.

It's 2020! Anything can, and will, happen!

UpToIsomorphism wrote:

I think it’s hilarious y’all think that they will play 16 regular season games.

I think it's hilarious yall still seem to think they won't.

IMAGE(https://thumbs.gfycat.com/EmbarrassedPassionateGelada-size_restricted.gif)

garion333 wrote:
*Legion* wrote:
garion333 wrote:

Ravens 16-0 Speed kills.

Browns 16-0 Myles "Head Hunter" Garrett. Nuff said.

I can't wait to see how two teams in the same division both go 16-0.

It's 2020! Anything can, and will, happen!

UpToIsomorphism wrote:

I think it’s hilarious y’all think that they will play 16 regular season games.

I think it's hilarious yall still seem to think they won't.

IMAGE(https://thumbs.gfycat.com/EmbarrassedPassionateGelada-size_restricted.gif)

exactly. If they have to limp across the Superbowl finish line with a covid riddled Jason Campbell coming out of retirement because everyone else is on a respirator, they'll do it because...... profits.

I'm sure the NFL is out there getting cozier with Vegas more than ever to try and get a bigger piece of the betting pie. They know folks are gonna be at home looking for stuff to do and if we get another stimulus (we likely won't) then all bets are truly off. They'll be raking in the cash to make up for loss of stadium revenue. I would be surprised to see that sports teams got a bunch of stimulus funds already through intermediaries and subsidiaries.

Paleocon wrote:

exactly. If they have to limp across the Superbowl finish line with a covid riddled Jason Campbell coming out of retirement because everyone else is on a respirator, they'll do it because...... profits.

I didn't think a full, on-time season would happen, but once the NFL was able to conduct training camp without any real incident league-wide, doubt about the season started to vanish.

That's the difference between the NFL and college football. College teams couldn't even begin practicing without turning into an infection hot zone. But the NFL has succeeded beyond reasonable expectation. I've watched Hard Knocks, Brick by Brick (49ers YT) and Building the Browns (Browns YT) and seen the extreme measures all of those teams have taken.

The ONLY thing that gives me any real pause is the teams that are letting fans into the stadium. The physical distance that an NFL field imposes on the fans from the team should help mitigate issues spilling over to the teams themselves. Still, I expect we're gonna see fans at a stadium get each other sick, and quite possibly trigger a shutdown of the "let fans in" experiment, because risking the TV money for reduced ticket sales is 100% Not Worth It.

But when the fans aren't around, all 32 NFL teams have shown they can conduct business in a way that (so far) has prevented outbreak amongst themselves, even in the states whose populaces have their head in the sand over COVID. And that evidence has required me to reevaluate my previous pessimism.

What Legion said. The California wildfires could literally be in the Levi Stadium parking lot and you're still getting a full 16 games.

Rat Boy must be busy because there's NFL player gossip that I would have expected to be posted by now.

I think this season ends up with a bunch of nobodies playing in the Super Bowl which somehow means the Patriots will win another one because they will find a way to cheat and field a bunch of super powered robots in disguise.

And Legion is smocking something if he thinks Jimmy G is playing more than 2-4 games the way that guy lives his life.. he'll be sitting on a beach somewhere by Halloween clapping his hands like Jason Garrett.

Enix wrote:

Panthers: 3-13.

This isn't going to be a Jimmy Clausen or George Seifert season, but it's sure going to feel like it.

That's a little harsher than I would predict. I think the offense is better than that. Defense, yeah, is rough in the back 7, but on the front 4, I like Brian Burns, I think Derrick Brown helps stop the run game bleeding even if I didn't like him drafted quite THAT high, Kawaan Short still has some in the tank, and we'll see if Gross-Matos can offer the kind of impact in year 1 that someone like Burns did, but he at least gets to avoid unfavorable matchups with Burns also on the field.

*Legion* wrote:
Enix wrote:

Panthers: 3-13.

This isn't going to be a Jimmy Clausen or George Seifert season, but it's sure going to feel like it.

That's a little harsher than I would predict. I think the offense is better than that. Defense, yeah, is rough in the back 7, but on the front 4, I like Brian Burns, I think Derrick Brown helps stop the run game bleeding even if I didn't like him drafted quite THAT high, Kawaan Short still has some in the tank, and we'll see if Gross-Matos can offer the kind of impact in year 1 that someone like Burns did, but he at least gets to avoid unfavorable matchups with Burns also on the field.

The D line is the one decent Panthers unit that doesn't include guys named "Teddy" or "CMC." Overall, though, the D has way too many rookies, there's not much depth and oh my god the DBs. When you bring in Eli Apple as an upgrade over what you've got and then he starts the season on IR, ewww.

Here are the QBs Carolina is facing this year: Derek Carr, Tom Brady (twice), whoever the Chargers are starting, Kyler Murray, Matt Ryan/Julio Jones (twice), Matt Trubisky (OK, there's a win), Tiny Brew Drees (twice), MAHOMES, Matthew "Matt" Stafford, Kirk Cousins, Drew Luck, Aaron Rodgers and whoever DC starts.

I count about 12 400-yard passing games in there. I think your boy Carr is a lock for 300 even though he's playing at 10 a.m. Vegas time Sunday.

PS: Most NFL-knowing people think Carolina will win 4 games this year. I'm taking the under because I've seen this before. I also don't think Bridgewater makes it to October without a serious injury or two, and the Panthers' backup QBs are absolutely worthless.

*Legion* wrote:

Rat Boy must be busy because there's NFL player gossip that I would have expected to be posted by now.

It's all Blade Runner 2049 memes on my timeline today.

garion333 wrote:

I'm sure the NFL is out there getting cozier with Vegas more than ever to try and get a bigger piece of the betting pie. They know folks are gonna be at home looking for stuff to do and if we get another stimulus (we likely won't) then all bets are truly off.

I'm confused about whether all bets will be on or off in that situation.

Unrelated to my Panthers-bashing above:

If any of y'all remember WR Josh Bellamy from Louisville and five different NFL teams (most recently the Jets), he has been charged with ...

... nope, not assault
... not drug possession
... not drunk driving
... nope, he was busted for wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud for *ahem* "alleged participation in a scheme to file fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $24 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act." (link)

Yes, that's a link to a DOJ press release. Wonder if you can get Red Zone in federal prison?

Enix wrote:

Here are the QBs Carolina is facing this year: Derek Carr

OK you're right, they're f*cked.

Rat Boy wrote:
*Legion* wrote:

Rat Boy must be busy because there's NFL player gossip that I would have expected to be posted by now.

It's all Blade Runner 2049 memes on my timeline today.

OBJ, my friend. It was today's Draw Play.

Well, sh*t.

"Football is a microcosm of America" is going to get a f*ckton of traction for the reasons the NFL was too stupid to see coming when they decided to use that clip.

NBC's audio people are realizing they've made a horrible mistake.

Ah yes, the NFL. The league that tries to end racism with fans who boo a moment of silence and perform the tomahawk chop.

Anyone watching this on the NBC app? The stream is going on and out of quality for me.

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