2023-2024 NFL Season

[irishrb]

I know I’m a little crazy but I swear the NFL is fixed. Every time I watch it the calls always go towards one team and are dramatically missed for the other. This happens most definitely every time I watch KC and I am a huge fan of Andy Re

I saw something the other day that said the NFL has profited roughly 350 MILLION dollars from Taylor....Definitely makes you wonder....

 

[arrowryan]

The Lion’s 2nd half choke job and Dan Campbell’s coaching ineptitude on 4th downs needs to be studied

 

[NDRock]

The only call I really questioned, was bypassing the FG when SF was rolling. You have to stop the momentum and take the crowd out of it for a little bit.

I would have kicked to go up 17 as well. I always want the points if it puts me up 3 scores, but if that's how Campbell has been all year then I'm not going to question it. Guy has obviously been successful.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

The Lion’s 2nd half choke job and Dan Campbell’s coaching ineptitude on 4th downs needs to be studied

I'm split on it; I live in MI and the fans on social media seem pretty split on the issue as well. On one hand, you lost by 3 and passed on a FG twice in the second half that would've at least somewhat slowed the 9ers momentum. On the other hand, the Lions played aggresively like that all season behind Campbell's leadership and is a big reason why they got where they are. I can see both arguments.

Personally, I would've opted for a FG I think, particularly the second time when the game was tied. When they had a 7 point lead, I get it, Campbell was trying to flip the game and extend a drive to go back up 14, and their kicking game isn't the best.

Hard to totally blame DCMC after what he's done in three quick seasons. We'll see how the Lions handle that first place schedule and a target on their backs for once, I'm looking forward to seeing what they do next year.

 

[IrishLion]

I saw something the other day that said the NFL has profited roughly 350 MILLION dollars from Taylor....Definitely makes you wonder....

I'm a Bengals fan. I'm intimately familiar with the rate at which Mahomes benefits from beneficial calls at crucial times in seemingly every big matchup...

But as hard as I try, I can't fully buy in on the "The NFL wants Mahomes in the Super Bowl" conspiracy.

I think, much like Tom Brady, Mahomes and his receivers get the benefit of the doubt far more often than other teams/receivers. I think part of that is his reputation as the best big-game QB in the league, and part of it is simply the inconsistent nature of officiating in the NFL right now in general.

The Chiefs also benefit from missed holding calls quite often... but I think that's another thing that's just inconsistent in the league, and it's more noticeable in the prime time games. The Bengals probably benefit just as much when Burrow is healthy and scrambling. I know defenders are getting yanked in weird directions once Burrow decides to take off through a gap that they defense wasn't accounting for, but you rarely see it called.

Myles Garrett gets held nearly every single play, and it's almost never called. It's like he's so dominant that the NFL can't justify throwing a holding flag on every third down, when it is probably warranted. Aiden Hutchinson had a similar stretch early in the season, where it got so bad that a highlight video was going around of all the times he got held and it wasn't called.

NFL officiating is just poor... and when that's the case, it's probably easier for them to err on the side of the big names and consistent favorites.

Having said all that, yesterday was just the Ravens playing with an alarming lack of composure at key times. I don't think you're gonna see the NFL working overtime to get Mahomes a huge leg up over Lamar and Harbaugh. It was just the Chiefs doing Chiefs things at key times, and Lamar not using his legs nearly enough/early enough.

 

[greyhammer90]

Chiefs were the more disciplined football team and were +2 in turnover differential. It would be weird if they hadn't won.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I think if you can take a one lead to a two score lead, you kick the field goal. It really seems like a no brainer.

That OL Taylor on the Chiefs is the most penalized player in the NFL. Clearly this is a clever diversion of misdirection.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I'm not sure about a "no brainer," certainly worth a discussion and you're entitled to your opinion 100%, but that's not how Campbell coaches, FWIW.

 

[NDdomer2]

I'd like to know what the analytics all take into account.

 

[Irish#1]

Having said all that, yesterday was just the Ravens playing with an alarming lack of composure at key times. I don't think you're gonna see the NFL working overtime to get Mahomes a huge leg up over Lamar and Harbaugh. It was just the Chiefs doing Chiefs things at key times, and Lamar not using his legs nearly enough/early enough.

Yep, he had a number of plays where he could have pulled it and had big gains. Not sure why he didn't.

 

[arrowryan]

I'm split on it; I live in MI and the fans on social media seem pretty split on the issue as well. On one hand, you lost by 3 and passed on a FG twice in the second half that would've at least somewhat slowed the 9ers momentum. On the other hand, the Lions played aggresively like that all season behind Campbell's leadership and is a big reason why they got where they are. I can see both arguments.

Personally, I would've opted for a FG I think, particularly the second time when the game was tied. When they had a 7 point lead, I get it, Campbell was trying to flip the game and extend a drive to go back up 14, and their kicking game isn't the best.

Hard to totally blame DCMC after what he's done in three quick seasons. We'll see how the Lions handle that first place schedule and a target on their backs for once, I'm looking forward to seeing what they do next year.

Opting out of points when the defense couldn’t stop a bloody nose was an interesting choice

 

[NDohio]

I'd like to know what the analytics all take into account.

Yep. Analytics aren't measuring the emotional impact. Extending the lead to 17 vs giving up a drive in the other direction cutting the score to 7 is not measured analytically at all. That was a monumental momentum shift.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I'm not sure about a "no brainer," certainly worth a discussion and you're entitled to your opinion 100%, but that's not how Campbell coaches, FWIW.

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I'm a grown up. I don't require being told I'm entitled to my opinion. I understand why this feels necessary to be said, but I'm not that audience my friend.

You win with Dan Campbell and you lose with Dan Campbell. I'm not about to second guess the guy because if they make those conversions he's a genius, and I know nothing about their kicker's ability, but for myself personally I like putting the other team against the clock.

These guys see their kickers day in and day out in practice. They know what they're capable of. I'm not a one of these anti analytics social media bros, but I'm also a huge fan of putting the opponent in a position to have to need as many possessions as possible to get to OT and or beat me. If I can take a one score lead to two, a two score lead to three, etc. then I'm going to kick. Especially in the second half when time is of the essence.

In real time, I actually thought that Campbell was in line with the numbers while also being meatheaded at the same time, if that makes sense. The run on third down at the end that resulted in a time out, however, was inexcusable.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Ravens were psyched out of this game before it kicked off.

I don't know if this is truly the case, but I was stunned at how they were bullied in the trenches because more often than not they are the bullies. It's been part of the fabric of that franchise for over 20 years.

They really got pushed around in that first half and I don't think they ever recovered.

 

[IrishLax]

I'm not sure about a "no brainer," certainly worth a discussion and you're entitled to your opinion 100%, but that's not how Campbell coaches, FWIW.

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My opinion is that given game situation you take the points… especially the first one where you can make it a 3 score game… for psychological reasons.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I'm a grown up. I don't require being told I'm entitled to my opinion. I understand why this feels necessary to be said, but I'm not that audience my friend.

Okay...

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

My opinion is that given game situation you take the points… especially the first one where you can make it a 3 score game… for psychological reasons.

Which is completely fair, and I tend to agree with that approach as well. He opted for the FG to end the half to go up three scores, and probably should've done the same in the third quarter.

I just don't know if the Campbell criticisms are completely justified when he stayed consistent to their identity, which is what helped get them to where they are in the first place. Not to mention the analytics are literally a coin flip on it.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Okay...

Which is completely fair, and I tend to agree with that approach as well. He opted for the FG to end the half to go up three scores, and probably should've done the same in the third quarter.

I just don't know if the Campbell criticisms are completely justified when he stayed consistent to their identity, which is what helped get them to where they are in the first place. Not to mention the analytics are literally a coin flip on it.

Which ultimately surprised me at the time. From a situational standpoint, I thought it made sense despite the break in character. It was a gimme kick for what turns out to be a journeyman kicker that is anything but automatic.

He's being criticized because they lost and had a 17 point lead at halftime. Playoffs are a zero sum game. Nevermind the 49ers had one of the most ridiculous catches since David Tyree in the Super Bowl that was ultimately incredibly random and lucky that no analytics could have seen it coming.

The 4th down calls were not the reason they lost. They're within the context of the loss. Huge difference.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Just lol Lions

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

 

[ulukinatme]

At one point ESPN had the Lions with an 86+% chance of winning the game at the end of the 1st half (I didn't see the updated number after the FG). That's some impressive choking.

 

[NDdomer2]

were both field goals from this distance. I thought the first one would have been from a bit closer.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

were both field goals from this distance. I thought the first one would have been from a bit closer.

I believe they were at the Niners 28 and Niners 30 on those fourth down calls. Per Irish Bloke's post above.

 

[zelezo vlk]

If that's the case, I guess the real question is why would the Lions, who were trying to contend, have a kicker that bad?

 

[NDdomer2]

If that's the case, I guess the real question is why would the Lions, who were trying to contend, have a kicker that bad?

49ers who were considered SB favorites all offseason and majority of season dont exactly have a stud kicker either.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Holy cow, the longest FG the Lions kicker made this year was 41 yards. That's pretty significant

 

[ulukinatme]

If that's the case, I guess the real question is why would the Lions, who were trying to contend, have a kicker that bad?

Lions have been from Bad to Mediocre since the coming of the Super Bowl. Only one other time they made it to the Conference Championship and they lost that too. It was an unprecedented year for a historically bad team. Having a good kicker isn't on the checklist when you're the Lions lol. Maybe they'll change that next season.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

If that's the case, I guess the real question is why would the Lions, who were trying to contend, have a kicker that bad?

You could ask GB the same exact question, unfortunately. Could argue a complete lack of a kicking game cost both teams a road victory at Levi Stadium.

Holy cow, the longest FG the Lions kicker made this year was 41 yards. That's pretty significant

Edit: They did make a 53 yarder against LAR at home in the WC round, IIRC.

 

[zelezo vlk]

You could ask GB the same exact question, unfortunately. Could argue a complete lack of a kicking game cost both teams a road victory at Levi Stadium.



Edit: They did make a 53 yarder against LAR at home in the WC round, IIRC.

I don't think GB was expecting to compete on the level that Detroit was. To make it clear, the Lions attempted a single kick over 40 yards this year, and only 4 total from 30+.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

If that's the case, I guess the real question is why would the Lions, who were trying to contend, have a kicker that bad?

Bingo.

Priority one of their offseason now. Don't forget they have an indoor stadium to play home games in, too.