Football season is here!!!

[sensei8]

17 hours ago, bushido_man96 said:

Just because Dak hasn't been to a Super Bowl yet doesn't mean he can't make it to one.

I'd also go back to my previous question...what's the answer?

Brian makes many solid points in his last post here.

Cowboys already had their chances. Let us remember back to the 2016 season when the 13-2 Cowboys loss to the Packers in the Divisional Playoff 31-34 at home.

Cowboys window closed. NFC teams haven’t gotten any better.

Jerry Jones let Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells go. Wouldn’t sigh Dak until the last minute. Wouldn’t sigh CD Lamb until the last minute.

All Cowboys coaches, except Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells, are nothing but “yes” men.

What’s the answer?

As long as Jerry Jones won’t let the coach coach and make personnel decisions about the roster, etc., the Cowboys will never ever get to a NFC Championship game, let alone the Super Bowl.

Imho!!

Edited December 11, 2025 by sensei8

[bushido_man96]

On 12/10/2025 at 5:46 AM, DarthPenguin said:

As a Bills fan i must admit i would like to see the Chiefs eliminated! Remove any chance of "playoff Mahomes" causing an issue!

Is it "playoff Mahomes" that beats him, or is it "playoff Allen" that loses...????

Only time will answer that question, I guess.  This could be the year we find out.  Allen doesn't have a great defense to rely on, and I'm not sure even he can carry that team through to the AFC title.

[sensei8]

Mahomes seems to me that he’s the most dangerous when he’s forced in a corner. I sure am not counting the Chiefs out as of yet.

How about them Chiefs!!

(Normally I end my posts in the football thread by supporting the team from Arlington, TX but not until next season…maybe!!)

[sensei8]

According to The Sporting News:

My Cowboys:

• Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys (-6) 

Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC Peacock 

“The Cowboys had extra time to prepare for the Vikings. JJ McCarthy threw three TDs for the Vikings in Week 15 against the Commanders, but he also took four sacks. Dallas receiver CeeDee Lamb is in concussion protocol. Dallas needs this one to stay in a tight playoff race, and the Cowboys are 4-2 ATS at home.” 

Pick: Cowboys 28, Vikings 20 

 

My Wife’s Raiders:

•Las Vegas Raiders at Philadelphia Eagles (-12.5)

Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox

“The Raiders can’t score. Las Vegas has averaged 12.8 points per game in the last five games, and Kenny Pickett replaced Geno Smith (shoulder) in Week 14. Pickett would get a chance to start against one of his former teams, but the Eagles will not be accommodating coming off a short week. The Eagles are 0-3 ATS when favored by seven points or more - but they get the message here.”

Pick: Eagles 30, Raiders 16

We will see how The Sporting News predictions pan out.

[KarateKen]

On 12/11/2025 at 9:33 PM, sensei8 said:

Mahomes seems to me that he’s the most dangerous when he’s forced in a corner. I sure am not counting the Chiefs out as of yet.

How about them Chiefs!!

(Normally I end my posts in the football thread by supporting the team from Arlington, TX but not until next season…maybe!!)

Problem is that KC does not control their own destiny.  Even if they run the table, that would not be enough, they need some other things to fall into place.  

Edited December 14, 2025 by KarateKen

[KarateKen]

Chargers defeated the Chiefs on Sunday and Mahomes suffered a knee injury.  With KC now eliminated from the playoffs Mahomes might sit the rest of the season, though we do not know the extent of the injury at the time I am writing his.  KC drops to 6-8 and will miss the playoffs for the first time in Mahomes career. The Bills will remain the only team to play in the Super Bowl four years in a row.  It just was not the Chiefs year from the start.  They began 0-2, then 2-3, and were trying to play catch up all season.  The run of three Super Bowls in a row and five of the last six likely took a physical toll on many of the key players who have been there.  They basically have played seven seasons over the last six years because of all the playoff games.  KC might need to do some rebuilding in the offseason.  Kelcie is in the final year of his contract and will likely retire. They still have an elite coach/QB combo, so I expect they will bounce back next year.  

Rivers started the game for the Colts and threw a TD pass for the first time in five years! Unfortunately for the Colts it was not enough as they lost to Seattle 18-16.

Some other teams that lost on Sunday were the Jets, Giants, Browns, Raiders, Panthers, Lions, Cardinals, Bengals, Titans, and Patriots. The Broncos Packers game is in the 4th; Denver has 34-26 lead. 

Edit: The Broncos beat the Packers and with that win the Broncos are now in the playoffs.  Rams also clinched a playoff spot when they beat the Lions. In the Sunday Night game, the Vikings beat the Cowboys 34-26, making the Cowboys playoff chances very slim. 

Edited December 15, 2025 by KarateKen
updated information

[bushido_man96]

Mahomes suffered a torn ACL, and is done for the season.  Hopefully he'll be back for the start of the 2026 season.  KC definitely has some evaluating to do.  They lost another OL today with Moore getting injured; not sure the extent of that injury.  Now the bookend tackles are both off the practice squad.  It'll likely be Gardner Minshew the rest of the way, and they'll likely have to elevate Victor Oladokun from the practice squad to backup.  At least I think he's the practice squad QB.

[DarthPenguin]

On 12/12/2025 at 3:52 AM, bushido_man96 said:

Is it "playoff Mahomes" that beats him, or is it "playoff Allen" that loses...????

Only time will answer that question, I guess.  This could be the year we find out.  Allen doesn't have a great defense to rely on, and I'm not sure even he can carry that team through to the AFC title.

Very true - this season might decide it! Shame about Mahomes injury too - hopefully he comes back at 100%. He is easily one of the best QBs i have ever seen tbh and will be deep in the GOAT conversation when he eventually retires i think.

For Allen, the key difference for me this season is Cook has been great. When the Bills had the better defences they always lacked a running game from anyone but Allen which hurt then in the playoffs etc i think. Now there is much better balance

[KarateKen]

Looks like Pete Carroll could be one and done in Las Vegas.  Rumors swirling about the Raiders planning an exit strategy after the season.  At 2-12 the Raiders are one of the worst teams in the league and are having one of their worst seasons in franchise history.  They lost on Sunday 31-0 (the second time this year they lost by that score) and only had 75 yards of offense, the lowest yards total by any offense so far this season.  Carroll believes that his job is not on the line and he hopes to return next season saying that the rebuild was necessary but also expected the season to go better than it has.   After Sunday's loss some reporters had impaled that the team quit on Carroll, who was quick to deny and disagree with that. 

[KarateKen]

Everything fell the Broncos way on Sunday which means they have a chance to lock up the #1 spot in the AFC this weekend.  If the Broncos win and the Chargers lose, Broncos win the west, if the Patriots and Bills also lose, Broncos will clinch the #1 position.  

Patriots and Bills are both at over 99% chance of making the playoffs, Jaguars 96%, Texans 94%, Chargers 92%, Steelers 62%, Ravens 39%, Colts 19%.  Everyone else in the AFC is eliminated.  The Patriots will clinch a playoff spot if they win against the Ravens on Sunday. In the fight for that #1 seed, Broncos have a 69% chance, Patriots 11% Jags 9% and Bills 6%

NFC odds break down like this with the Rams being the only team already in.  Eagles and Seahawks 99%, 49ers 98% Packers 87% Bucs 77%, Bears 71% Lions 44% Panthers 23% and Cowboys 1%. Rams have a 51% chance of getting the top seed, Seahawks are 31% 49ers are 14%, Bears 3% and Eagles 1%.

Some big matchups' this weekend for seeding like Thursday night between the Rams and Seahawks.  Also, the Panthers/Bucs, Patriots/Ravens on Sunday night, Jags/Broncos, Steelers/Lions, and 49ers/Colts on Monday night.