IBC

We need a general NFL 2016 topic so here it is.

After three weeks, I don't know how long the Vikings can keep playing like they are, but they sure are a lot of fun to watch. Ditto the Eagles (mostly Wentz).

Vikings are definitely surprises to me, as are the Eagles.

Additional personal surprises. I didn't believe for a second the Patriots would be 3-0, and I didn't believe the Broncos would be 3-0.

Rockies wrote:Vikings are definitely surprises to me, as are the Eagles.

Additional personal surprises. I didn't believe for a second the Patriots would be 3-0, and I didn't believe the Broncos would be 3-0.

Anyone who claims they expected either of those two teams to be 3-0 at this point in the season is lying or a deluded fanboy that nobody should ever take seriously. Actually, that could reasonably be said of all four teams.

I just want Edelman to start at QB so bad this week

Giants wrote:I just want Edelman to start at QB so bad this week

I think everyone does, especially Bills fans, though not for the reason you might think. The inevitable loss would surely liberate Bills fans from the Rex Ryan Reign of Error.

Padres wrote:

Rockies wrote:Vikings are definitely surprises to me, as are the Eagles.

Additional personal surprises. I didn't believe for a second the Patriots would be 3-0, and I didn't believe the Broncos would be 3-0.

Anyone who claims they expected either of those two teams to be 3-0 at this point in the season is lying or a deluded fanboy that nobody should ever take seriously. Actually, that could reasonably be said of all four teams.

No love for the Ravens being 3-0?

And some of the 0-3 teams...woof to the Saint's defense when they have a high scoring offense like that.

All of this talk about the Vikings' success right now is going to make their inevitable playoff gaffe that much more heartbreaking for those of us who still suffer with this team.

The Eagles beating the Browns and Bears - even with a rookie QB is not weird. Crushing the Steelers is. Shows just how much Chip Kelly suppressed a talented team.

Angels wrote:

Padres wrote:

Rockies wrote:Vikings are definitely surprises to me, as are the Eagles.

Additional personal surprises. I didn't believe for a second the Patriots would be 3-0, and I didn't believe the Broncos would be 3-0.

Anyone who claims they expected either of those two teams to be 3-0 at this point in the season is lying or a deluded fanboy that nobody should ever take seriously. Actually, that could reasonably be said of all four teams.

No love for the Ravens being 3-0?

And some of the 0-3 teams...woof to the Saint's defense when they have a high scoring offense like that.

The Ravens will be 3-1 after this week. Raiders started to figure it out on D last week. Any time you replace half your defensive backfield and your MLB in the offseason it takes a few games to sort things out. The offense is only getting better.

Why.... WHY.... the fuck are the DOLPHINS in full body orange uniforms while the fucking BENGALS wear white?!?!?
Please... For the love of God, will somebody shoot Roger fucking Goodell and end this batshit ridiculous insanity?
And get me another beer, mine is almost gone. Just saying.

And it's in goddamn Cincinnati...
And those Dolphin unis are such a horrendous color, they look like they are outlined in black on the screen. My fellow barflies concur, so it's not just me.

Cincinnati is having exactly the kind of game against the Dolphins that they needed to have. Well, almost exactly, there's been a lot of offensive FGs for 'nati.

Wow, that roughing the kicker penalty... Wow. So fucking stupid. So costly. Miami is so inept as a team. Surprised the coach didn't just send him to the Kickstarter room and pack his bags. That was some amazing incompetence.

Houston is now fucked, JJ Swat out rest of year...so sad

Royals wrote:All of this talk about the Vikings' success right now is going to make their inevitable playoff gaffe that much more heartbreaking for those of us who still suffer with this team.

Couldn't agree more! We could just as easily be 0-3, but somehow we've managed em up.

Perhaps hell will finally freeze over this season!

Angels wrote:Houston is now fucked, JJ Swat out rest of year...so sad

Definitely a bummer, he was fun to watch, even if his commercials were starting to get to me.

Well that was fucking ugly.

On the plus side, TB12 returns today. And the Buffalo victory yesterday might mean Bills fans will have to suffer through even more of Rex Ryan's jackassery.

The Houston Texans, how bad are they really?
I see a lot of dogging on Houston around the interwebs, but honestly, I don't really buy it. yes, New England and Minnesota made them look bad, but right now they're arguably the two best teams in the NFL, that's what they do. And the 13 points Houston scored on Minnesota are actually slightly more than Minnesota has allowed on average this season. Houston's three other games they've won by a touchdown on average.
That said, they're schedule the rest of the way is kinda rough, they have denver, Oakland, GB, Cinci and the Colts twice still to play.

The Colts are terrible so I wouldn't worry about Houston having to play them twice

Padres wrote:The Houston Texans, how bad are they really?
I see a lot of dogging on Houston around the interwebs, but honestly, I don't really buy it. yes, New England and Minnesota made them look bad, but right now they're arguably the two best teams in the NFL, that's what they do. And the 13 points Houston scored on Minnesota are actually slightly more than Minnesota has allowed on average this season. Houston's three other games they've won by a touchdown on average.
That said, they're schedule the rest of the way is kinda rough, they have denver, Oakland, GB, Cinci and the Colts twice still to play.

Supposedly it is the offensive scheme that is the issue against any good defense because Brock cant make the reads.

Cardinals wrote:The Colts are terrible so I wouldn't worry about Houston having to play them twice

They are, but it's a divisional game and I have a lot of respect for Luck (no pun intended).

A little concerned about the Raiders home game vs KC on Sunday. They're on a high with the 4-1 start, especially since 3 of those wins were 4th quarter comebacks orchestrated by silver and black wunderkind Derek Carr. Andy Reid's record coming off a bye is something ridiculous, division game and the Raiders have honestly been mediocre to bad over their last 10 in Oakland (beating SD there last week was a step in the right direction I guess).

The last time KC was in town Carr tossed 3 picks (none to former Chief and current teammate CB Sean Smith) en route to a 34-20 loss that included a couple of Alex Smith to Jeremy Maclin TD passes. On the other hand, Carr has unquestionably gotten better, as has his offensive line. DC was sacked 4 times in that December game vs the Chiefs, whereas he had only been taken down twice this season before the Chargers got to him 3 times this past Sunday.


Prediction: 31-27 Raiders

Jamaal Charles has been known to give the Raiders fits, as have opposing TEs of Travis Kelce's caliber, so unless Khalil Mack goes apeshit and racks up a handful of sacks on Alex Smith, I expect another high-scoring affair for a Raider D that's still struggling a bit to integrate new/ inexperienced personnel. However, I think the difference again here is the improved Carr, as he connects with Cooper for more than one TD and takes control of the game in the 4th quarter yet again.

BlueJays wrote:A little concerned about the Raiders home game vs KC on Sunday. They're on a high with the 4-1 start, especially since 3 of those wins were 4th quarter comebacks orchestrated by silver and black wunderkind Derek Carr. Andy Reid's record coming off a bye is something ridiculous, division game and the Raiders have honestly been mediocre to bad over their last 10 in Oakland (beating SD there last week was a step in the right direction I guess).

The last time KC was in town Carr tossed 3 picks (none to former Chief and current teammate CB Sean Smith) en route to a 34-20 loss that included a couple of Alex Smith to Jeremy Maclin TD passes. On the other hand, Carr has unquestionably gotten better, as has his offensive line. DC was sacked 4 times in that December game vs the Chiefs, whereas he had only been taken down twice this season before the Chargers got to him 3 times this past Sunday.


Prediction: 31-27 Raiders

Jamaal Charles has been known to give the Raiders fits, as have opposing TEs of Travis Kelce's caliber, so unless Khalil Mack goes apeshit and racks up a handful of sacks on Alex Smith, I expect another high-scoring affair for a Raider D that's still struggling a bit to integrate new/ inexperienced personnel. However, I think the difference again here is the improved Carr, as he connects with Cooper for more than one TD and takes control of the game in the 4th quarter yet again.

Clearly you were right to be concerned. On the other hand, looks like Vegas is happening, so that's a win for the Raiders.

I'll believe Vegas is happening when the owners vote for it and not a minute sooner. Not so much about the gambling issue as about the market size (too damn small) and Mark Davis's personal wealth (not enough to handle it if things fail, this is why Stan Kroenke got the nod over the Raiders/Chargers plan in LA). Ratings are down for the first time ever, and that means literally anything can happen (except for a publically funded stadium in the Bay Area of course).

If they have an NHL expansion team in Vegas, I can see football happening quite easily.

https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-expands-to ... -281010682