Football season is here!!!

[sensei8]

My Wild Card picks were quite sour as I ended up 3-3. My divisional picks aren’t looking promising either…1-1 so far. In the remaining divisional games, I’ve…

Eagles over Rams

Bills over Ravens

I’ve one question to ask…What gives with the Commanders??

Commanders man-handled the Lions to a score of 45-31. A win I never saw coming in a million years considering the recent years past. They made me a believer.

Let’s look at the Commanders records year past, just to 2015:

>2015…1st place…9-7…Head Coach Jay Gruden…Lost Wild Card to Packers

>2016…3rd place…8-7-1…Head Coach Jay Gruden…No playoffs

>2017…3rd place…7-9…Head Coach Jay Gruden…No playoffs

>2018…3rd place…7-9…Head Coach Jay Gruden…No playoffs

>2019…4th place…3-13…Head Coach Jay Gruden then Bill Callahan…No playoffs

>2020…1st place…7-9…Head Coach Dan Quinn…Lost Will Card to Buccaneers 

>2021…3rd place…7-10…Head Coach Ron Rivera…No playoffs 

>2022…Washinton Redskins become the Washington Commanders…4th place…8-8-1…Head Coach Ron Rivera…No playoffs 

>2023…4th place…4-13…Head Coach Ron Rivera…No playoffs 

>2024…2nd place…12-5…Head Coach Dan Quinn…WON Wild Card against Buccaneers…WON Divisional against Lions.

A mediocrity focus before 2024. This is what gives with the Commanders, imho.

1) Commanders got a QB in Jayden Daniels

2) They’re fast like a track team

3) Ownership stays out of the way

4) GM signed the talents

5) The Coach, namely Dan Quinn, allowed to coach the way he wants

6) Coach Quinn plays who he wants to 

These are the keys to what gives with the Commanders that I can see.

Will the Commanders keep their winning ways in the Championship game?? Anything is possible.

 

Edited Sunday at 05:52 PM by sensei8

[KarateKen]

The Lions, Vikings, and Packers had a combined 40 wins in the regular season, and a total of zero in the playoffs. 

Unfortunately, officiating continues to be a problem for the league.  We see time and time again at playoff time that fans are irate about questionable calls that go one way or the other, often times game changing calls.  We saw that on full display in the Chiefs Texans game.  The NFL seems unable to fix their officiating controversy that goes back many years.  Some might remember the Cowboys Packers game about a decade ago when Dez Bryant thought he had a TD, and it was not called a catch.  This has been an ongoing issue for the NFL and in some cases, officiating becomes the storyline more so than the game. 

[KarateKen]

snow picking up in the Rams Eagles game, just in time for the 4th quarter.  Eagles lead 19-15 about 13 minutes left

[KarateKen]

Eagles advance and will be at home against Washington in the NFCCG at 3pm eastern on FOX

Bills beat the Ravens and will visit Kansas City in the AFCCG at 630pm eastern on CBS/Paramont+

 

The NFL final 4 is ready.

[DarthPenguin]

As a Bills fan i am daring to dream this year! Is such a shame that the Chiefs, Bills and Ravens are all in the same conference as i think both Jackson and Allen deserve at least one superbowl each! It kinda reminds me of tennis where Andy Murray could often beat one other of the big 4 in a grand slam etc but usually the second one was  bridge to far for the final. Hoping that isn't the case for the Bills this year - saw off Jackson but can they get past Mahomes and the Chiefs?

[ryanryu]

As a Commanders fan, I still can't believe the turnaround. I didn't think they'd have a winning season, let alone make to through several rounds of the playoffs! But with a new owner, new GM, new coaching staff, and 60% turnover of the roster from last year... plus the 2nd overall pick and a ton of other draft picks... plus the most salary cap space in the league going into this year... I just don't think any other franchise has ever been in the position of having THAT much change in a single year. And it worked! 

Absolutely a fun team to watch, win or lose. I think they have a great chance against the Eagles! It's really the Bills that scare me. They just seem like the most complete team left.

[sensei8]

My picks for the Championship games:

Eagles over Commanders

Chiefs over Bills

SB: Chiefs over Eagles