2025 NFL Season Thread: Can Uncle Rico save the Broncos or will they be Nixed?
Greetings friends.
Those of you who know me know me as a Niners fan full of fantastical levels of vitriol and rage. I hav
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE POWER RANKINGS - WEEK FIFTEEN1. Rams (11-3)2. Bills (10-4)3. Broncos (12-2)4. Seahawks (11-3)5. Texans (9-5)6. Pats (11-3)7. Lions (8-6)8. Eagles (9-5)9. Niners (10-4)10. Jaguars (10-4)11. Chargers (10-4)12. Packers (9-4-1)13. Bears (10-4)14. Steelers (8-6)15. Ravens (7-7)16. Bucs (7-7)17. Cowboys (6-6-1)18. Panthers (7-7)19. Colts (8-6)20. Chiefs (6-8)
The Broncos should be one.
The Lions should be around 11.
I'd put the Jags ahead of the Eagles.
The Bears should be higher but I do wonder what happens when they stop forcing a ridiculous amount of turnovers.
I'd put the Ravens over the Chargers and Packers. The Chargers and Packers are all but eliminated based on their key injuries.
I would put the Texans ahead of the Seahawks. Stroud is getting it going and the Texan D is scarier than the Seahawks D. I don't trust Darnold in the playoffs.
The Athletic's Power Rankings - Week 16 - *top 12 only*
1 - LAR
2 - DEN
3 - SEA
4 - BUF
5 - NE
6 - SF
7 - HOU
8 - GB
9 - JAC
10 - CHI
11 - LAC
12 - PHI
Bears are really well coached but feels like they don't have the all round talent to make actual noise.
Jim Harbaugh is just the sixth coach in NFL history to win 10 or more games in five of his first six seasons
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TLaw has gone three straight games without a turnover for the first time in his five-year career
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Las Vegas is now the first team to be shut out twice in the same season since the 2000 Browns
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Down 21-0 in the first quarter, then 24-7 at halftime, the Bills rallied for the biggest comeback victory by a visiting team in the 23-year history of Gillette Stadium
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T.J. Watt has never won a playoff game
Parsons injury kills the Packers SB equity for me. Brutal loss.
Back in the thread after a win I see. No, they can't. Who in the top 10 do you think they're better than? Other than the Lions, of course.
What is your hard on for the Lions?
I dunno... a definitive top 3 offense if not the best one? The only team averaging over 30 points a game? This stuff is usually pretty predictive. Unlike the Bears sunrunning with 30 turnovers.
I have a hard on for the Ravens fwiw, not the Lions.
Back in the thread after a win I see. No, they can't. Who in the top 10 do you think they're better than? Other than the Lions, of course.I dunno... a definitive top 3 offense if not the best one? The only team averaging over 30 points a game? This stuff is usually pretty predictive. Unlike the Bears sunrunning with 30 turnovers.I have a hard on for the Ravens fwiw, not t
Well yeah after a win 😀 Didn't expect you'd raise them after a loss (a very well played loss in enemy territory). But after a very decisive win when the 2 divisional rivals lose putting them clearly in first place of arguably the toughest division in NFL?
Detroit offense is definitely good but there is more too football than that they give up more points and yards than Bears). Bears are top ten (9th) in points and 6th in yards. I never realized takeaways were PURE luck? There is luck involved for sure but they make it a key point of their defense and coach it and stress it every game and every play. Every practice the dbacks don't get 4 interceptions they have to run laps. They are stressing takeaways as part of team culture.
Who would I have them ahead of? Packers, Chargers, Lions, Niners, Eagles, Jags, Texans.
Bears have like average QB and average defense and below average skill players, maybe really good run blocking. 12th or so seems fair.
Bears have like average QB and average defense and below average skill players, maybe really good run blocking. 12th or so seems fair.
All that average gives them 10 wins so far, top 10 in yards and points, 2nd in rushing yards, 1st in takeaways. Just imagine what they would do if they weren't just average!
Bears clearly also have elite coaching (at least so far we will see if they get figured out in 2nd season). That counts for at least something.
Agreed
To both
don't tease me, Ruxin
sorry newguy
Broncos made it work with Russ' contract.
Cowboys ranked above 3 teams they have lost to H2H (Panthers, Vikings and Cardinals) OK Probably don't lose to the Cardinals today but they did at the time.
Cowboys defense is hot garbage and only guessing Bengals could be worse. (Maybe I'll do Bengals later) QBs they have faced this year as follows.
[Att-Comp, Yds, TDs, Int, Passer Rating]
Week 1 - Jalen Hurts
19-23, 152, 0, 0, 94.2
Loss - DAL 20, PHI 24
Week 2 - Russell Wilson
30-41, 450, 3, 1, 123
Win - DAL 40, NYG 37 Final in OT
Week 3 - Caleb Williams
19-28, 298, 4, 0, 142.6
Loss - DAL 14, CHI 31
Week 4 - Jordan Love
31-43, 397, 3, 0, 118.1
Tie - DAL 40, GB 40
Week 5 - Justin Fields
32-46, 283, 2, 0, 100.2
Win - DAL 37, NYJ 22
Week 6 - Bryce Young
17-25,199, 3, 1, 114.8
Loss - DAL 27,CAR 30
Week 7 - Jayden Daniels
Injured - Left game with 92.2 rating
Win - DAL44, WAS 22
Week 8 - Bo Nix
19-29, 247, 4, 1, 117.4
Loss - DAL 24, DEN 44
Week 9 - Jacoby Brissett
21-31, 261, 2, 0, 115.1
Loss - DAL 17, ARZ 27
Week 10 - Bye
Week 11 - Geno Smith
27-42, 238, 1, 1, 77.3
Win - DAL 33, LAS 16
Week 12 - Jalen Hurts
27-39, 289, 1, 0, 99.2
Win - DAL 24, PHI 21
Week 13 - Patrick Mahomes
23-34, 261, 4, 0, 129.7
Win - DAL 31 KC 28
Week 14 - Jared Goff
25-34, 309, 1, 0, 111.0
Loss - DAL 30, DET 44
Week 15 - J.J. McCarthy
15-24, 250, 2, 1, 108
Loss - DAL26, MIN 34
RECAP
Cowboys defense has only held opposing QBs under a 100 passer rating 4 times all year, while simultaneously making spare to fair QBs look like Joe Montana in his prime.
Hurts (twice) - 94.2, 99.2 - says more about Hurts than Cowboys defense
Jayden Daniels (injured had to leave game) - 92.2
Geno Smith (LOL Raiders) - 77.3
it looks like they can save $18m if they cut him in the offseason - $3m of his 2027 salary and a $15m option bonus due on 3rd day of league year. (looks like because 'over the cap' has it slightly differently) but yep, they are on the hook for $54m next season anyway
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/...
not saying they should do this, but it feels like it might be similar to the Broncs and Russ?
I wonder if they could trade him - that's their best way to get out of cap hell
I wonder if they could trade him - that's their best way to get out of cap hell
If they trade him doesnt that new team need to take on the contract? Who is going to do that?
The Broncos were able to thrive after releasing Russ because
1) They have by far the richest owners. This has allowed the Broncos to pay more up front money to extend key superstars like PS2, Meinerz, Bonito, Allen, Courtland, Cooper etc. Signing them early has saved the team a ton of money. It's also allowed them to bring in some very productive free agents like McGlinchey, Powers, DJ Jones, Branden Jones, Greenlaw, and Hufanga.
2) They have killed it in the draft with limited draft capital. Nix, Ellis, Franklin, Bryant, Q Robinson, Harvey and Crawshaw are all key parts of this team. This is just the past two year.
3) They nailed their QB in what turned out to be one of the best QB drafts ever. Nix may end up as the winningest QB in his first two years.
4) Great GM. Great coaches etc.
I'd suggest benching Tua and playing Wilson. Tank for Arch next year.
If they trade him doesnt that new team need to take on the contract? Who is going to do that?
The raiders are probably the only team stupid enough to trade for him thinking he’s usable
Other than that I’m pretty sure there’s no team in football in dire enough shape theyd take the cap hit just to collect extra draft capital
Well yeah after a win 😀 Didn't expect you'd raise them after a loss (a very well played loss in enemy territory). But after a very decisive win when the 2 divisional rivals lose putting them clearly in first place of arguably the toughest division in NFL?Detroit offense is definitely good but there is more too football than that they give up more points and yards than Bears)
Bears have allowed 107 more yards than the Lions this year.
Lions have allowed 7 more points than the Bears this year.
Bears defense allows 0.5 more ypp than the Lions.
Bears have a +20 TO differential, Lions are +9.
If the Bears hang on to win the NFCN it is an outstanding season considering the difficulty of their division and preseason expectations. They're still not a top tier team. Calling them the sixth best team is laughable, you should be slamming all your money onto Bears +1 at home this weekend and +2800 to Superbowl.
