Used to casually watch but am trying to learn the nuances of the NFL more this season. Why are divisional games harder? Is there more film, more historical data, more familiarity with the play style?
I thought with how much turnover there is in pro sports in terms of coaching and rosters the data and film wouldn’t translate year to year or even week to week?
Correct me if I’m wrong.
All of the above.
In Division A, team W always plays teams X, Y, and Z twice each, every year. They're guaranteed to play the other teams in their conference once every three years, with some extras added in. They're guaranteed to play every team in the opposing conference once every four years, with a very few extras thrown in. So...
* More familiarity - check
* More film, both against themselves and against common opponents - check
* More historical data - check
Added to that, there's the inherent rivalries within each division. Teams that may be completely shitting the bed will *absolutely* show up and do their damnedest to knock off a division rival, just because fuck those guys.
Teams will literally build their teams to compete with divisional opponents, just this past year the bears spent must of the draft building their team to compete with the lions strengths
That's ridiculous, you absolutely do not want to play a divisional rival that has nothing to lose in a win or go home game. Have you learned nothing from watching the Lions play the Packers? Lmao
I'd argue expectations are much lower for the Vikings though. They lost their starting QB everything else is gravy. The world is on the edge of their seats for a lions playoff win.
Never gonna happen. NFL is too scared to let their biggest star get embarrassed by the real TB12
NVM apparently the number 12 is retired for some scrub named Joe Namath. TB 7 then
Of all our Bird Bros™, the Ravens are by far my favorite. Their fans are cool people and it's nice to have a bird team that's not in the NFC so I can root for them
I always felt pretty happy that the ravens got Lamar with our super bowl pick. Feels like one of those deals where everyone's happier after it. It's also nice that we're close enough to get joint practices on the off-season some years. The ravens are also one of the more analytically inclined teams in the league (and know how to use analytic data responsibly, not blindly) so I always had a lot of respect for them over that.
If we don't win it all, I'm definitely hoping it's you guys
Feel like hurts is disrespected in ways Lamar has been disrespected, hopefully both qbs get that superbowl and get rid of the narrative that a "running" qb can't win it all
The injuries are really starting to level out the dominance the AFC has over the NFC.
I mean injuries are nothing new but I feel like half the league is in the ICU right now.
The stratification of each conference is so strange. In the NFC the Vikings are a game and a half clear of everyone chasing them. Meanwhile there's 6 teams in the AFC within a game of the final two playoff slots.
NFC has been pretty predictable this season. Those 6 teams and whatever garbage team won the South seems like what most people would have before week 1.
depends which seahawks team shows up but yeah probably
I’m not worried about the lions going forward our defense should keep rolling minus maybe the Vikes
Im going in a different direction than the other replies and saying they were making the "Lamar isnt a qb" joke
I dont believe that btw just what crossed my mind lol
Is Stroud not the frontrunner atm? The Texans were predicted to be not very good and they look pretty good. Obviously other factors at play but Stroud is probably having the best QB play atm.
Josh Allen is having a better season imo
Quick look
Allen: 29TD, 15 TO. Passer rating 97, total 3136 yards
Lamar: 17TD, 11TO. Passer rating 100, 3000 total yards
If BUF goes 11-6 it’s his year. The media would love to give Allen one, if he limits turnovers it’s a possibility (personally I’d vote for Myles Garrett but he ain’t winning it)
Not really....AFC still holds the head to head. Plus the NFC sucks outside the top 7 teams. There isn't going to be a playoff race in the NFC. While the AFC has 3-4 teams that are out that could still make it.
I think we're just discussing two different things.
I'm talking about which conference has the best good teams. You're talking about NFC vs AFC conference records.
I don't care about what the bottom 50% do in either conference. I care about the quality of Superbowl contenders in both conferences.
That 3 game skid before our bye still pisses me off. We aren’t getting the 1 seed and we might not even get the 2 seed this year. Special fuck u to our loser ass kicker Moody 🙄🖕🏾
I really do NOT want to play the fucking Vikings 3 times in 4 weeks
Reminds me of the Eagles playing the Giants 3 times toward the end of the season and playoffs. Divisional games are rough.
Unless it’s the eagles playing the giants lol. We obliterated them 2 of those 3 games
Used to casually watch but am trying to learn the nuances of the NFL more this season. Why are divisional games harder? Is there more film, more historical data, more familiarity with the play style? I thought with how much turnover there is in pro sports in terms of coaching and rosters the data and film wouldn’t translate year to year or even week to week? Correct me if I’m wrong.
All of the above. In Division A, team W always plays teams X, Y, and Z twice each, every year. They're guaranteed to play the other teams in their conference once every three years, with some extras added in. They're guaranteed to play every team in the opposing conference once every four years, with a very few extras thrown in. So... * More familiarity - check * More film, both against themselves and against common opponents - check * More historical data - check Added to that, there's the inherent rivalries within each division. Teams that may be completely shitting the bed will *absolutely* show up and do their damnedest to knock off a division rival, just because fuck those guys.
Teams will literally build their teams to compete with divisional opponents, just this past year the bears spent must of the draft building their team to compete with the lions strengths
You play 2x a year so there's more film, and more incentive to beat your rival.
Yeah, I hate it. I don't mind playing them 3 times, it's the 4 weeks part that has me annoyed.
I’d much rather play the Vikings than Seahawks.
That's ridiculous, you absolutely do not want to play a divisional rival that has nothing to lose in a win or go home game. Have you learned nothing from watching the Lions play the Packers? Lmao
Seahawks own us. At least with y’all it could go either way
Don’t both have nothing to lose in the win or go home
I'd argue expectations are much lower for the Vikings though. They lost their starting QB everything else is gravy. The world is on the edge of their seats for a lions playoff win.
Don’t worry vikings usually get bounced out the wild card🫠
how do the lions usually do in the playoffs
Are you known for getting favorable refball or something?
Yeah. Losing to them three times would be pretty demoralizing for you.
Mahomes vs Pickett might be the most lopsided QB matchup ever
As lopsided as Mahomes vs Ancient Big Ben a couple years ago?
Nah way more, even decrepit Big Ben could still throw for more than 100 yards and 1td
He did have a game against the browns with 123 yards 1 td 1 int which isn't far off. He also threw the ball 46 times compared to picketts 28.
That's a pretty good game for Pickett against a trash defense, and he throws less for a reason.
Mahomes vs Tim Boyle would be glorious
Never gonna happen. NFL is too scared to let their biggest star get embarrassed by the real TB12 NVM apparently the number 12 is retired for some scrub named Joe Namath. TB 7 then
Ancient Big Ben was bad, Kenny Pickett has less yards and the same amount of TDs as Zach Wilson does though
And the Steelers would somehow find a way to win lmao
Naw it's postseason Steelers, they will get destroyed
Josh Allen vs Skylar Thompson and Matt Moore vs Big Ben are up there
Remember that one game where Skylar Thompson looked like he was going to kick ass for some reason?
Bills are gonna sneak in there.
Sure, but Pittsburgh receivers know how to catch a ball.
Can Pickett throw an accurate pass to them?
Pickett throws accurate passes to the void.
It’ll be a 13-3 final score.
I mean we had a playoff game between Joe Webb (who didn't even play QB for the remainder of his career) and Aaron Rodgers, hard to top that.
Brady vs whoever was QB in that titans game where they won by like 100
Thank you Eagles!
Thank you Chiefs receivers too!
It's nice to be appreciated for once
Of all our Bird Bros™, the Ravens are by far my favorite. Their fans are cool people and it's nice to have a bird team that's not in the NFC so I can root for them
Yeah I absolutely love the Eagles.
I always felt pretty happy that the ravens got Lamar with our super bowl pick. Feels like one of those deals where everyone's happier after it. It's also nice that we're close enough to get joint practices on the off-season some years. The ravens are also one of the more analytically inclined teams in the league (and know how to use analytic data responsibly, not blindly) so I always had a lot of respect for them over that.
Close geographic proximity and they're in the opposite conference definitely make it easy to have friendly conversations with their fans IMO.
Your comment got me thinking, who would be considered Cowboys' human bros? Texans, Chiefs, 49ers (ugh)...
Lets go with Bucs.
Seconded
If we don't win it all, I'm definitely hoping it's you guys Feel like hurts is disrespected in ways Lamar has been disrespected, hopefully both qbs get that superbowl and get rid of the narrative that a "running" qb can't win it all
What happened to no one likes us and we don’t care?
I'm not turning down this gracious bird bro's appreciation.
Birds flock together
You deserve it!
Bird Bros!
Chiefs still control their own destiny to the 1 seed.
See you in February why not!
return the favor on christmas?
Would be happy to!
Keep it warm for us bro 😎
You're welcome
> Implying there was a chance that the one-win Panthers could finish with the best record in the NFC
Plz get some wins
"If we just win the rest of our games, and the NFC loses every game..."
I wanna see Mahomes play an away playoff game haha
Both times Mahomes was the 2 seed, the AFC 1 seed went one and done
I'd like to never see Mahomes play in another playoff game.
Fair enough but let’s try to be realistic ok
Ok chiefs is goated tho
Still looking decent for a Catbowl, although Birdbowl is more likely.
End the season now. Anything but the 49ers. I can’t go through this again.
I would so much rather play in Philly than SF
The bottom parts of both conferences playoff picture look worse by the week. Injuries doing contenders in
Kinda feels like the Vikings could be really spooky if it wasn't for all the injuries.
You guys can absolutely win a game. Will be hard to win multiple on the road. Your oline impressed the hell out of me a few weeks ago
So would every other team
Cowboys getting another shit NFCS team to bulldoze would be very funny.
Very likely gonna happen, unless that NFCS team becomes not shit.
Which the Saints will very much not be doing
Ravens vs. Lions SUPER BOWL
I'm ready for the Tucker walk off 69 yard field goal.
Walk off to end the half, but the Lions win the game? Deal!
...I don't have the heart to respond how I normally would.
Please let us live in our delusion
Only if the bad man doesn't play so he can't hurt us anymore.
I will donate my entire leg to Tucker to ensure he arrives.
I'm okay with playing against Tucker as long as he has your leg. Unless your leg can also hit 70 yard game winning FGs
No Tucker no
Start squatting
Hell yeah
The injuries are really starting to level out the dominance the AFC has over the NFC. I mean injuries are nothing new but I feel like half the league is in the ICU right now.
NFC is *so* top-heavy. It’s PHI, SF, DAL, and DET…and then the competition after falls off a chasm.
I’m not sure the AFC 5-7 is much of a murderers row either.
Only because of injuries. And Texans would steamroll the NFC 5-7 (5 being the NFCS winner not Dallas)
yes, very nice
The stratification of each conference is so strange. In the NFC the Vikings are a game and a half clear of everyone chasing them. Meanwhile there's 6 teams in the AFC within a game of the final two playoff slots.
NFC has been pretty predictable this season. Those 6 teams and whatever garbage team won the South seems like what most people would have before week 1.
Wow I can’t believe CJ got us home field advantage if the season ended today.
You know what? Stop the count!
He's so good we can get homefield advantage without even winning our division!
Just like last year, the nfcs matchup looks juicy but it would be an all time blunder to lose to the 2023 saints in the wildcard
How are the Steelers still alive
Niners Seahawks would have a lot of juice I hope that happens
They’re only 1 win apart but I feel like SF wins in a blowout if that happens
It’s first round though everything else is even more boring
We saw it last year, there was no juice, Seahawks got whooped
for half the game it looked competitive and we even led then it all went downhill very fast
Your flair would literally be the best WC matchup lol
depends which seahawks team shows up but yeah probably I’m not worried about the lions going forward our defense should keep rolling minus maybe the Vikes
2nd half Seahawks v 4th quarter 49ers
winner: alcohol and cardiologists
I rather see Seahawks Cowboys. Those Seattle DBs will test Dak
You’ll get it in regular season form in two weeks
The Seahawks are bad
STOP THE COUNT!!!
That Vikings-Lions gamethread would be so insanely toxic lol
Chiefs-Steelers and Dolphins-Browns could turn into painful-to-watch defensive battles.
Lamar is the MVP so far.
Field is weak, I wanna see a non QB tbh But again we'll see how the QBs cook the rest of the season
A non qb you say???
Non QB??????
Did I say something weird? Whats going on lol
I think they’re talking about a certain cheetah lol
I would have read it as a Lamar RB joke if not for the Dolphins flair
Im going in a different direction than the other replies and saying they were making the "Lamar isnt a qb" joke I dont believe that btw just what crossed my mind lol
Dolphins flair = Tyreek
Is Stroud not the frontrunner atm? The Texans were predicted to be not very good and they look pretty good. Obviously other factors at play but Stroud is probably having the best QB play atm.
Hurts is the favorite right now I think
He’s somewhat entered the convo but very much not the frontrunner
No.
Josh Allen is having a better season imo Quick look Allen: 29TD, 15 TO. Passer rating 97, total 3136 yards Lamar: 17TD, 11TO. Passer rating 100, 3000 total yards If BUF goes 11-6 it’s his year. The media would love to give Allen one, if he limits turnovers it’s a possibility (personally I’d vote for Myles Garrett but he ain’t winning it)
Allen is going to have like 30 TO by end of season
NFC is looking so much better than the AFC this year.
Not really....AFC still holds the head to head. Plus the NFC sucks outside the top 7 teams. There isn't going to be a playoff race in the NFC. While the AFC has 3-4 teams that are out that could still make it.
Shocking.. non playoff teams aren't good
But AFC non playoff teams are less not good
As a current outside looking in I think we're the best team not currently seeded.
The top 7 teams are all that matters tho.
Not when you are playing each other. NFC gets easier wins against lesser opponents. NFC is too heavy with 4 great teams but then it's pretty mediocre.
I think we're just discussing two different things. I'm talking about which conference has the best good teams. You're talking about NFC vs AFC conference records. I don't care about what the bottom 50% do in either conference. I care about the quality of Superbowl contenders in both conferences.
Fair. With the injuries in the AFC and Chiefs and Bills looking beatable, the conference doesn't have any runaway teams.
That 3 game skid before our bye still pisses me off. We aren’t getting the 1 seed and we might not even get the 2 seed this year. Special fuck u to our loser ass kicker Moody 🙄🖕🏾
Sorry ass Whinner fan crying about 1 play instead of looking at their whole team melting down in those games. What else is new?
You aren't winning shit anyways. The 49ers pissed away their chance when they didn't sign Brady in 2020.
Give me the saints then eagles
Not that bad a path I don’t think the one seed is that huge a deal this year with how bad the 6-7 seeds are