Official NFL Thread: 2014-2015 Season

[South Pender]

NFL Week 5 game previews:

1. Sunday, October 5, 10:00 a.m. PDT

Bears at Panthers: http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201410050 ... ab=preview; odds: Panthers by 2.5

Browns at Titans: http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201410050 ... ab=preview; Titans by 1.5

Rams at Eagles: http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201410050 ... ab=preview; Eagles by 6.5

Falcons at Giants: http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201410050 ... ab=preview; Giants by 4

Buccaneers at Saints: http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201410050 ... ab=preview; Saints by 10

Texans at Cowboys: http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201410050 ... ab=preview; Cowboys by 6.5

Bills at Lions: http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201410050 ... ab=preview; Lions by 6.5

Ravens at Colts: http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201410050 ... ab=preview; Colts by 3.5

Steelers at Jaguars: http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201410050 ... ab=preview; Steelers by 6

2. Sunday, October 5, 1:05 or 1:25 PDT

Cardinals at Broncos: http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201410050 ... ab=preview; Broncos by 7.5

Chiefs at 49ers: http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201410051 ... ab=preview; 49ers by 5.5

Jets at Chargers: http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201410051 ... ab=preview; Chargers by 6.5


3. Sunday, October 5, 5:30 PDT

Bengals at Patriots: http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201410051 ... ab=preview; Bengals by 1

4. Monday, October 6, 5:30 PDT

Seahawks at Washington: http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201410060 ... ab=analyze; Seahawks by 7

Bye Week: Dolphins, Raiders
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Big test for the Cardinals' defense in Denver. The point spread looks too great to me; the Cardinals have been playing lights-out D so far. I guess we'll see whether they're a legitimate threat to the Seahawks and 49ers. I think that the Bears-Panthers game could be a good one too. The Panthers look down at the moment, but they're playing at home. The Sunday night game would have looked good on paper before the season started, but the Patriots really seem to be in disarray. Still, the game is in Foxborough, and Brady could come up big. Probably worth watching. Hard to say about the Monday nighter. The Seahawks should win (and are heavily favored to do just that), but they are not the best road team.
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Some additional analysis and breakdown of the Seahawks-Washington game by ESPN reporters Terry Blount (Seahawks) and John Keim (Washington):

http://espn.go.com/blog/washington-reds ... ns-preview

[Robbie]

Third, the leading sales of a jersey might not really indicate rooting for such team at all. It might be indicative of an NFL player who was either born in or had a high-profile college career in a non-NFL state, and his NFL jersey is leading the way in sales in his birth (or alma mater) state. I don't follow the NFL or NCAA closely to know any clear instances of this, but it wouldn't surprise me, for example, if the Colts drafted a UNLV player in the first round in the last draft and he's making an immediate impact with Indy so his NFL jersey is selling like hotcakes back in Nevada. Or likewise the Raiders might have a high-profile former UofMontana player. In each case, it would be more a matter of people in a state rooting not so much for the team but a player on said team to which they have a pre-existing connection. Such players could shift teams in their NFL careers and take their jersey sales with them back "home".

While it's possible because of a high-profile college player, I'd say it's minimal at most. Taking a quick look at the Colts' roster http://www.colts.com/team/roster.html none of them attended UNLV. And taking a quick look at the Raiders' roster http://www.raiders.com/team/roster.html there's only one player on the practice roster from Montana. And I'd say there were very few if any residents in Montana who wore a Lions or Stampeders jersey in honour of a Montana native and graduate who certainly made a impact in those teams - Dave Dickenson. There might be an impact from that alma mater if he was a Heisman Trophy winner, but minimal at most as in Texas there's probably a limited amount of Redskins jerseys even though Robert Griffin III attended Baylor University. I don't know if there's Redskins jerseys in Okinawa though since that's where he was born.

Fourth, the correlation may in fact be quite good, but I wouldn't necessarily take it for granted that jersey sales are an exact proxy for rooting for a team, even after controlling for alma mater and other effects. Some people will root for a team without buying their jersey and the figure wouldn't reflect this.

It goes back to the thread I created one time about sports team apparel for fan vs. fashion reasons. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but from what I know, I think the only case of an NFL jersey that became popular for obvious fashion purposes was that of the Raiders given their street gang associations.

As for SoCal you might see some Raider sales based on their LA years that would give them an edge in that area. The Chargers probably don't resonate once you get outside the San Diego area.

But in Southern Los Angeles I don't think St. Rams apparel is common there despite their past association as the LA Rams. And for sure, in the streets of Vancouver I rarely see Memphis Grizzlies apparel, and in the streets of Seattle I rarely see Oklahoma Thunder apparel.

I see TONS of 49er jersies locally here in Vancouver.

Yeah, I'd say for sure that the most popular NFL team apparel in Vancouver would be the jackets and jerseys of the San Francisco 49ers. It's a great marketing research question as to how and why certain sports team apparel become more popular than others outside of the local region. It's not necessarily the performance of the team as although the 49ers were the powerhouse in the 1980's they haven't won the Super Bowl since 1995 and other teams have won more since then. And I wouldn't say it's because of a personal affinty towards a former Lion as I can't think of any ex-Lion who went on to become a 49er. In Vancouver while Raiders jackets were fairly common I'm certain it's because of the macho reasons given their street gang associations and not because Mervyn Fernandez became a Raider. And I'm sure lots of Lions, Stampeders, and Argonauts fans loved Doug Flutie but that said are were many Bills or Chargers jerseys in honour of him on the streets of Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto? I don't believe so. After his first stint as a Lion, I'm sure there were more than a few who adored Casey Printers. But were there lots of Kansas City Chiefs jerseys in Vancouver after Printers went there? No. Finally, I'm sure there's still a lot of Lions fans who have fond feelings, thoughts, and memories for a short-term but otherwise an excellent and one of the best defensive Lions - Cameron Wake. But I don't see many Miami Dolphins jerseys in honour of him.

[sj-roc]

While it's possible because of a high-profile college player, it's minimal at most. Taking a quick look at the Colts' roster http://www.colts.com/team/roster.html none of them attended UNLV. And taking a quick look at the Raiders' roster http://www.raiders.com/team/roster.html there's only player on the practice roster from Montana...

Those were only two examples off the top of my head; there are probably other schools in those (and other) jurisdictions that could be checked (or players that were simply born or grew up there and played NCAA elsewhere). But regardless the point remains that in some of these non-NFL states the population is small (Montana has about the same as Ssk) and the data only pertain to a short period of time from one retailer. If one could establish that several players — as opposed to perhaps just one or two, current or former, for whom there are obvious ties to the area — are driving sales over a longer period across all retailers then that might say something about a state's affinity for a particular team. It's not clear to me that this is the case for any of these sparsely populated states.

If this retailer had similar graphics for previous years a comparison might be instructive to this end.

[notahomer]

Can not believe a 1/4 of the season has flown by..........

Lots of interesting stuff out there too......

#1-Read in todays Province about what a THUG one Russell Wilson admits he was at one time.
http://www.theplayerstribune.com/lets-talk-about-it/

(I was amazed to read this and my respect for Wilson grew as a result. Its weird because you don't want to come across as being happy he used to be a bully, I'm not. I just think it takes courage to admit you were wrong and trying to do something about it while recognizing YOU are the one thing you really CAN change.....)
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2. Again it seems like GROUPTHINK impacts the NFL. A guy like Bridgewater has a bad day and WHAM, look out below his draft value SUCKS. Thankfully ala (Dan Marino, Aaron Rodgers etc....) one team said 'what minute here' and made themselves an investment in what is looking like an under-valued player.
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3. The domestic violence issues that headlined the first couple weeks of the season seemed to have faded a little but are NOT going away. There are too many people watching and the NFL knows it messed up its first try and needs to get it right (to paraphrase the VIkings Ownership ). IMO, Goodell is still NOT out of the woods on this one. On issues like spygate, bullygate, bountygate, IMO, Goodell came down like a HAMMER with SEVERE penalties for the teams/players involved. Guess we'll see how this turns out......

[South Pender]

Read in todays Province about what a THUG one Russell Wilson admits he was at one time.
http://www.theplayerstribune.com/lets-talk-about-it/

(I was amazed to read this and my respect for Wilson grew as a result. Its weird because you don't want to come across as being happy he used to be a bully, I'm not. I just think it takes courage to admit you were wrong and trying to do something about it while recognizing YOU are the one thing you really CAN change.....)

Great read, nota. I was as surprised as you were about Wilson being a bully when younger. Sounds as though finding religion was the catalyst in his transformation. Unlike many black players in the NFL, Wilson had a very solid middle-class upbringing. His father was a lawyer, and his mother was a legal/health-care professional. His family had a number of high-achievers in it, and, compared with many, he had a somewhat privileged early life. This makes his bullying behavior a little harder to understand. I don't know much about this, but I wonder whether he was a little smaller than his age-mates and fought to show he could stand up to them. The "small man" syndrome, maybe, although, as noted, I don't know that this was the case.

In any case, this latest "Pass the Peace" initiative (part of his "Why Not You Foundation") of his on behalf of victims of domestic violence is impressive. This is the stuff the NFL really wants from its players. Wilson is something of a hero in Seattle now, like Drew Brees in New Orleans (for all the good works he performed there, starting with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina), and this kind of altruistic outreach by players is immensely helpful in building the stature of the game. Wilson should hook up with Travis Lulay, given their close geographical proximity and efforts on behalf of the same cause.

[notahomer]

Seen some more of the Cowboys today.... UH-OH, maybe Jones is not going to be quite as unhappy as he has been. These guys keep playing like this and they'll be hosting a playoff game as the NFC East division winner.

ITS AMAZING WHAT A SOLID O-LINE CAN DO FOR YOUR OFFENCE, thereby impacting your DEFENCE (due to offensive success and sustained drives) etc.....

Certainly NOT a Cowboys fan but have to call a positive when I see it. Whats next Colin Kaepernick going to turn into the next Peyton Manning in terms of passing?

[notahomer]

The Cowboys stumbled a bit after my post saying they had seemed to turn the corner. They came back to win in overtime over the Houston Texans.....
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The Patriots have rebounded. Looked solid in a beatdown of the last unbeaten team, the BENGALS. Both teams looked good at points but the Patriots WERE CLEARLY the better team tonight. Broken down, old man Brady? At bit too soon for that, IMO. In fact, he hit the 50K mark in yards passed for his career!
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Day of the comeback I'm guessing. Didn't see these games, just reporting on the highlights. I don't have faith in highlights because a highlight package OFTEN leaves out some of those BIG plays that happened that NOT NECESSARILY everbody wants to see in the highlights. I learned this by watching enough Lions games and seeing the news 'highlights' of the game and feeling it DID NOT due the storyline of the game justice (rant over)

So, the Browns came back and beat the Titans. Cleveland was due a win....

Panthers really clawed back to be DaBears, down 21 points at one point, IIRC, Panthers win

Saints trailed much of the game but were able to beat Tampa bay.
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Said it before and hope it doesn't become REALITY. The 'NIGHTER' games (Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays) have been dogs, IMO, this season. I can't recall one that made it late into the 4thquarter before being a full scale blowout. I enjoy watching the Seahawks but in some ways I hope the Washington/Seattle matchup will go later into the game before a clear winner is determined.....

[South Pender]

Definitely an interesting Sunday in the NFL. Tonight's game should put a stop to all the balderdash about how the Bengals are the class of the AFC--and maybe the NFL. They looked very ordinary against a team that might be in decline. Funny how the Bengals seem to regularly choke in big games. Brady was good, but the double tight-end sets were lethal, with more than half the passing yardage going to TEs. Their run game is solid too. The real weakness with the Patriots is still their D, although they were pretty decent tonight.

Lots of very surprising comebacks, as you mentioned nota. And what was it? Three games decided in OT? This Brian Hoyer may be the answer in Cleveland, and Johnny Football may have to wait for a while to see meaningful action. Of course, once Jake Locker went out for the Titans, they were pretty much doomed. Charlie Whitehurst isn't going to win many games for anyone. Didn't see the Bears' meltdown, but was surprised to hear about it. The Panthers really aren't that good. Golden Tate had a very nice day for the Lions in what turned out to be a losing cause against a surprising Bills team.

Well, on to MNF, which I will miss most of....

[notahomer]

....Well, on to MNF, which I will miss most of....

Well, I know that's gotta hurt a little. You and I are both Seahawk fans. I'm really hoping to be wrong but the NFL ____nighters GAMES have sucked so far this season. I know just because they've sucked so far doesn't mean this one will too. I don't know what it is. Maybe one team gets up for it, the other doesn't. Can't figure it out. Patriots SUCKED on Monday Night (okay it was a road game) but looked solid in a Sunday Night game. Maybe it was their beatdown the week before? Just amazed a solid UNBEATEN team would fumble, bumble and stumble their way to a double digit loss to the Patriots considering how NE has looked so far......

I think the Seahawks defence wins it for them but the offence won't be terrible. Just some solid contributions, including points by that Seahawk D......

[South Pender]

Well, as expected, I missed all but the 4th quarter of the Monday nighter. I gather that the Seahawks shot themselves in the foot with penalties, erasing 3 Percy Harvin TDs. Migawd, what the hell was going on? But I also gather that Russell Wilson was brilliant tonight, so they got the W. Here's the recap:

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201410060 ... &tab=recap

Just ran across these videos of Russell Wilson's phenomenal rushing performance tonight. Not really too too surprising given his combine results. Fast (4.53 40), very elusive and agile (4.09 in the short shuttle and 6.97 in the 3-cone)

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201410060 ... tab=videos

[Robbie]

A good recent article about Regina native and alumni and ex-Blue Bomber Jon Ryan:
http://o.seattletimes.nwsource.com/html ... 02xml.html

On Monday Night Football, he made a crucial play on a field goal fake to give the Seahawks a first down.

Going back to the issue of the most popular NFL team and jersey in Canada, given the fact that Jon Ryan is a Regina native and was also a Regina Ram, and punted well for his two seasons as a Blue Bomber with his 50+ yard average - then would it be fair to conclude that the most popular NFL jersey in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba would be that of the Seattle Seahawks in light of Jon Ryan.

[notahomer]

Did watch the game, so I guess I got my wish of a game that still had some meat left on the bone (not to offend any vegetarians ) by the end of the fourth quarter......

Russell Wilson was amazing! Set a MNF record, for over 122 yards rushing. The Beast didn't even come close but he didn't need to be, as Wilson did awesome.

Officiating can often be a frustration for me. I feel bad because I know I wouldn't do any better but it is still a little frustrating. In theory the CALLS were bang on and by the book, fully according to the but if games were ACTUALLY called by that book of , there would be nylon flying every play.

And its also frustrating to see BLATANT fouls NOT called. Gruden griped about a few of these missed ones too.

The score was closer than the game seemed, IMO. The Washington team played well in spurts but Seattle was SOLID in all three phases. At one point, IIRC, there were 14 penalties in total called on both teams. At that point 2 of those flags were on the Seahawks defence and 11 were on the Seahawks offence. Sorry, I realize I'm a Seahawks booster but does ONE team usually deserve 13 out of 14 flags?

Next weeks Monday Nighter is Rams/49ers, so I'll be enjoying that one (post Turkey so I might catch some ZZZZ). And the Seahawks are playing the Cowboys IN SEATTLE. I am really hoping the Hawks STOMP on the Cowboys
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One other weird thing due to scheduling and bye weeks etc.....

Both the Lions and Seahawks have not played a home game for weeks. They both play a home game this weekend but then again, back on the road/byes (Lions bye this time). Doesn't mean SQUAT, just that its kinda neat how both these teams are not playing home games right now/near future.........

[South Pender]

A good recent article about Regina native and alumni and ex-Blue Bomber Jon Ryan:
http://o.seattletimes.nwsource.com/html ... 02xml.html

On Monday Night Football, he made a crucial play on a field goal fake to give the Seahawks a first down.

Going back to the issue of the most popular NFL team and jersey in Canada, given the fact that Jon Ryan is a Regina native and was also a Regina Ram, and punted well for his two seasons as a Blue Bomber with his 50+ yard average - then would it be fair to conclude that the most popular NFL jersey in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba would be that of the Seattle Seahawks in light of Jon Ryan.

Interesting, Robbie. I think your conjecture may well be right. One thing about Ryan that I've seen is his ability to put some kind of...what to call it?...back-action on his punts. This when he's trying to get punts close to the opponents' goal line. The ideal thing is to have the punt drop deep, with your coverage guys right there, and to avoid having the ball bounce into the endzone for a touch-back. Ryan is very good at this and may be (I'm not certain about this) the best in the NFL at landing punts inside the opponents' 20 yard-line.
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Just read some more about last night's game (most of which I missed), and saw that Russell Wilson had a quarterback rating of 127.3 in the game, which is pretty phenomenal for "just a game manager"! In the quarterback ratings so far for 2014, he is in 3rd place with 112.9 (over 4 games) behind only Philip Rivers (116.3) and Aaron Rodgers (114.8). He has hit on 70% of his passes. Quarterback rating depends completely on passing statistics and doesn't bring into the equation rushing yards. Given Wilson's great scrambling and rushing performances, he must rate near the top of a more general quarterback quality rating. The reason he keeps getting the "game manager" label is that his passing yardage totals average only 213 yards/game so far, well behind many other quarterbacks. However, given that the Seahawks are a run-first team, this lower yardage figure shouldn't be seen as a flaw, IMO.

Considerable criticism of the refereeing in last night's game. I hadn't realized that it was Jeff Triplette's crew--who are notorious for errors and inconsistency in calling penalties. Not an excuse for the Seahawks' very-sloppy O-line play, but maybe at least one of Percy Harvin's three apparent TDs should have counted. The rough-play penalty on James Carpenter, for one, looked very suspect; just appeared to be Carpenter finishing a block. You can see it in the following video (scroll down a bit). Carpenter, No. 77, is the left guard. He seems, to me anyway, to be simply pancaking the pass rusher giving Wilson time to get a deep pass off to Harvin.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2223 ... washington

[notahomer]

There were a few times Garcon took liberties with Sherman too! Technically I think its okay by the rules to pull a guy like Sherman down by the hair but still........

[South Pender]

There were a few times Garcon took liberties with Sherman too! Technically I think its okay by the rules to pull a guy like Sherman down by the hair but still........

Yeah, that prompted Sherman to state, after the game, that Garcon "doesn't matter in this league." To which Garcon responded today on social media: "Silence, is the best reply to a fool." That's the second week now that a Seahawk has lost a dreadlock in a game (Lynch had one pulled out in the Denver game). Must hurt!

Think I'd like Sherman a lot more if he'd just do his job, let his play do the talking, and keep his mouth shut. But I guess if you've had some hair forcibly removed, you might expect to be cut some slack for sounding off!
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In an interview with Pro Football Talk today, Tony Dungy compared Russell Wilson to Joe Montana (see the following video):

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... e-montana/