KC's championship pedigree showed up for sure. They looked like a team that knew what it took, had been there, done that, even though it was on the road, but they had clearly been in AFC Title games before and brought their A game. Baltimore....wah, wah, wah. I really don't like how the Lamar post season failure narrative will be stronger now, but he really didn't play good. Beyond that, the whole team just wasn't not championship level, at least they didn't play like it. The penalties, turnovers, immaturity...at home. They blew it.
I have no problem with the Chiefs. I like Mahomes, I'm always kind of surprised to hear that people don't like him. Say 'oh he's whinny' - they all are!
Will say when it first started the Kelce and Taylor Swift thing did annoy me, now, I kind of like it! Kelce had a hell of a game vs the Ravens. Well done!
@nebish This Chiefs team reminds me of mid 2000s Pats - they get done what they have to in the regular season and don't bet against them in the playoffs.
The Swift thing is fine, another celeb like Jack or Spike Lee at NBA games or another NFL wife/gf they cut to in the crowd. Not sure why people get their undies in a bundle over it. Maybe they want to date Kelce and are jealous.
Lamar will get over the hump, I think maybe people compare it to Mahomes or even Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers who all had postseason success early in their careers. Elway was a similar type of QB.
Wow McMichael:
Battling ALS for the past two years, McMichael has lost the ability to speak, along with his motor skills. McMichael recently was admitted to ICU after he fell unconscious, suffering from bouts of sepsis and pneumonia. But his wife, Misty, told the Chicago Sun-Times that she believes McMichael's HOF run has helped extend his life.
"He would have died at home if it wasn't for the nomination," she told the Sun-Times. "He was dying in front of us. We ripped up the DNR (do not resuscitate orders) because of the nomination. He has to live to see this."
Art Powell was a senior finalist who didn't get in. Ken Anderson, Maxie Baughan, Roger Craig, Joe Jacoby, Albert Lewis, Eddie Meador, Sterling Sharpe, Otis Taylor and Al Wistert were among the group of 12 seniors up for consideration that didn't make it.
They keep showing what's left of McMichael on the local news, and it is really sad. ALS is brutal.
ALS is awful, really feel bad for the McMichael family. At least he knows the fans still love him.
Sterling Sharpe is a tough one, I don't think he will ever get in and it's a shame because he would have been the best receiver of the 1990s and a first ballot HOF selection had his career not been cut so short. He went down just as the Favre era was beginning, Favre never had another great receiver while in GB except maybe Donald Driver.
Looking forward to the game tonight. I hope we get a good game and that KC loses. I don't need them on TV commercials any more than they already are. 
Hopefully I win in one of my square number things. I have a couple of good ones: 3&4 and 7&8. Then there is the 2&5 though.
I also need McCaffrey to score A LOT.
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
Good game. We liked it. The FGs kept the drama and suspense up. Don't need each team scoring 5 TDs for it to be good.
What can you say, the Chiefs and Mahomes - when the game is on the line, when they need to get it done, it's what they do.
Both defenses played strong games, Niner's D in the 4th Q and OT definitely was not as good as they had been in some other spots of the game, or was that just KC in "go" mode?
I like Mahomes, strange that I learn more and more people don't like him. Certainly is an over-exposure of him and the team and all. More and more these days I respect consistent winners. I used to root against them when I was younger.
Thought Purdy played a good game as well. KC's D effected some of this throws in what could've been game changing moments. Chris Jones!
We are getting spoiled by all these really competitive and good Super Bowls the last several years. Remember all the blowouts in years gone by before?
Was a fun year. This was the first season Ohio had legal sports betting for a full season (went live January 2023). Odd that when it is finally legal here, I had to go offshore for my FCS college betting. But for NFL I really enjoyed live betting. I did have SF 1H and game, but was able to get in-game plays on the Chiefs +pts and good number on the total. Right up until the final play of the game, the game winning TD catch, I literally put a bet in on KC one second before they took the odds down, I look up and TD Chiefs! Live in-game betting is a total game changer and makes pregame picking less and less important unless you are trying to grab a certain number before it moves one way or the other.
I enjoyed the game, you can't really ask for anything other than a blowout. Though I guess a 3-0 game might be tough to get through. And old people are always going to yell at a cloud during the halftime show as if it's ever meant for them.
I don't get the Mahomes haters, this Chiefs team is fun to watch. I wouldn't bet against them in big games. They had a rough 1st half and turned it around. Good for them. It's also kind of fun to see all the Taylor haters squirm.
I'm happy for Andy Reid too. After all the years coming up short in Philly, and a lot of personal heartbreak, it's great to see a genuinely nice guy finally see so much success as a head coach.
@nebish My oldest teenage daughter has taken an interest in Football this season and watches games with me so I can explain the rules and what is going on.
She was rooting for the Niners because she said she is sick of seeing Mahomes in all the TV commercials. Her reasoning was if the Chiefs lose maybe sponsor's will stop offering him so many TV commercials.
So I get how people maybe start to dislike the guy due to overexposure even though he seems like a humble person who doesn't say or do anything controversial otherwise.
Also could be the winning factor with the Chiefs being in so many Super Bowls recently. Living an hour outside of Boston I witnessed that with the Patriots where fans of other teams grew to hate the Pats due to them always winning and their fans getting cocky and obnoxious the more they won. As a Yankee fan also witnessed this when they were winning all the WS rings in the mid to late 90's. Fans seem to hate a consistent winner if it is not their team and the fans of the winning team start getting a bit cocky the more they win.
Good game overall. Even with the low scoring there were enough impact plays to make it interesting for me. I was rooting for the Chiefs as I like Mahomes and Andy Reid plus I dated a Niners fan off and on for 10 years, before I got married to the current wife, and she was one of the most obnoxious fans I ever met so really turned me off to that team.
Not like it was any surprise, but Reid was the play caller and losing Bieniemy didn't matter. Don't think any of the Chiefs struggles this year were related to Bieniemy not being there. Nobody will mention it now, them doing it without him, but if they hadn't then they certainly would've.
Hard to judge Bieniemy with one year at Washington with an ok young QB on a team that was mostly in disarray this year. Will have to see where he ends up, maybe he already has, I lose touch with the coaching moves after the season.
You know, I forgot, I did not like that Travis Kelce moment with Reid when he got physical and purposefully bumped him / ran into him. I can see yelling at the coach and being angry and passionate. For a player like Kelce with the head coach, he has that ability to get away with it. But not running into him - that was too much disrespect and out of control. If you remember, he was made that he was taken out on a running play, the play were Pacheco fumbled in the 2Q pretty sure. Like he thought him being in the game would've not led to that fumble, run blocking isn't exactly what he is known for.
Kelce was never a player I liked all that much. He bothered me a lot less this year, I think being a little off, seeing him humbled a little, I guess that kind of reset my view on him. But the exchange was Reid was over the top. Had the Chiefs lost or not comeback I think that would've got more attention than it will now.
I never really like these halftime shows and while I don't care for the music that was played, I thought it was a good enough performance. Lots of cameo appearances where my wife and I kept asking eachother who that person was. Sometimes one of us knew, sometimes we didn't. But I've seen way worse halftime shows, that one was fine really.
So I get how people maybe start to dislike the guy due to overexposure even though he seems like a humble person who doesn't say or do anything controversial otherwise.
I get the overexposure, it's why I couldn't stand the Manning brothers. And those two are still on TV. And I guess the Kelce brothers have been media darlings this past year too. But I don't really watch commercials anymore so doesn't really register.
Mahomes is kind of in that Steph Curry zone where he was an exciting young player who helped resurrect an old franchise. Then defeated LeBron for a title. And then that matchup repeated 4 years in a row and people seemed to turn on him a bit.
@nebish regarding Kelce and Reid, you never really know what was going on, I bet it looked worse than what it was. But this isn't college, these are two grown men who have known each other for years. Kelce might have just been trying to get Reid's attention during a very frustrating 1st half. I'm sure they patched things up.
yes, I don't think it is exaggerating to say that Kelce clearly crossed a line there. But then I suppose it shouldn't really matter to anyone except for Coach Reid and Travis themselves. It will be something I remember when I feel like calling him an ass or something though.
@nebish seems like they're both cool with it.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39510362/andy-reid-travis-kelce-vow-return-chiefs-next-season
[Reid] said afterward he appreciated the veteran tight end's passion.
"He caught me off balance," Reid said, indicating the contact was worse than it looked. "I wasn't watching. He was really coming over [and saying], 'Just put me in, I'll score. I'll score.' So, that's really what it was. I love that. It's not the first time. I appreciate him.
"The part I love is he loves to play the game and he wants to help his team win. It's not a selfish thing. That's not what it is. I understand that. As much as he bumps into me, I get after him and we understand that. He just caught me off balance."
Kelce said his emotions got the better of him.
"I didn't care about my catches," he said. "I just wanted to ... I wanted the score to be different. Coach has asked us to speak our minds and I just wanted to let him know how much passion I had for this team.
"He's one of the best leaders of men I've ever seen in my life. And he's helped me a lot with that, with channeling that emotion, with channeling that passion. I owe my entire career to that guy and being able to kind of control how emotional I get and just love him."
Nope. Not cool at any level for a player to get up in a coaches (or ref's) face like that. I understand passion, but fine his a$$. He can afford it!
Well, another year in the books for our pick'em pool. I may have gotten last place in the college pool, but won the NFL pool pretty handily. I won 6 of the last 8 weeks in the regular season, locking it up during the playoffs. Thanks again to @DanB for getting drunk and forgetting to make his picks - he was still leading up to week 14, when he forgot the early games and then put in picks for the rest of the slate - and missed them all ... 🤣
Final stats: (all against the spread)
Sangsters of the Midway 148-118
Where's My Mule (Lee) 137-128
Nebish 134-132
DanB 121-143
Be nice to have more players next year ...
So I get how people maybe start to dislike the guy due to overexposure even though he seems like a humble person who doesn't say or do anything controversial otherwise.
I get the overexposure, it's why I couldn't stand the Manning brothers.
They (the Mannings) are still on TV all of the time but I agree with you. There is a saturation point when enough is enough. Kind of like Shaq. For some reason he doesn't bother me quite as much as the four brothers. And I can't stand the NBA. Go figure.
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
@lee I kind of like that Shaq doesn't turn down an opportunity to shill for something, he doesn't take himself seriously at all. The TNT crew are the most entertaining sports studio crew, I can watch them all day.
So what did everyone think of the playoffs this year? Other than the Lions blowing a winnable game, I thought things were awesome. I caught almost everything and the games were exciting for the most part. A few blowouts and surprises but all in all, very entertaining.
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
@lee I kind of like that Shaq doesn't turn down an opportunity to shill for something, he doesn't take himself seriously at all. The TNT crew are the most entertaining sports studio crew, I can watch them all day.
True about Shaq. He is funny. My wife and I have mentioned that we hope these guys are putting all of this money to good causes. Goodness knows they don't need it!
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
What did you guys think of the legal tampering day, or whatever they call it now? I've never seen so much action in one day. So many moves.
Atlanta getting Cousins.
Giants signing Barkley.
My Lions trading for a CB. They really needed that! They also resigned one of their starting offensive lineman.
Philly trying to keep their team together with two key players retiring.
Miami lost a few key pieces and they are going to have to give their QB more money.
Dallas doing absolutely nothing.
The QB market totally drying up for Fields. They totally screwed up not trading him last year when they had a chance. He has nowhere to go and The Bears won't get much for him. I would LOVE to see him in Minnesota but there's no way they will trade him there.
The Packers basically swapping running backs. I feel bad for Jones. He was on fire at the end of the season. Someone will pick him up on a cheap deal.
Many more I am probably not thinking of.
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
Cousins was having a solid season last year before he went down, but Atlanta is still way overpaying him. But they've been pretty desperate for a QB ever since Ryan ran out of gas. Probably give them a decent season or two.
I'm good with the Pack's moves. Jones has been really fun to watch and a joy to have, but he is going to be 30 and that's typically when RBs hit the other side of their career. Not worth the $10M he was going to be paid. I think he benefited from fresh legs late in the season, but as usual, the Vikings are there to take our scraps. Glad he found a home.
I was surprised the Steelers signed Russel Wilson. I don't see that working out very well.
Ravens signed Derrick Henry which might take some of the bruising off of Lamar in the playoffs.
Happy with the Packer picking up McKinney. He was supposedly the best Safety available. He better be as he was not an inexpensive contract. Seems like a perfect fit for the new DC defensive scheme. Still expect another low cost safety FA or use a premium draft pick on day 2 of the draft on a safety.
I have mixed emotions about the Jacobs signing. He is a good RB who had a down year last year but he is young and may thrive with an elite QB and OL. He is well rounded as a runner and receiver so we will see how it shakes out. I would bet the Pack drafts one of the primo RB's on the second day of the draft and depth on the third.
Hate to see Jones go as he was a leader as well as a quality RB. I guess they couldn't come to an agreement on a reduced contract but hard to believe they couldn't have matched the Vikings one year $7 Mill deal.
Aaron Rodgers might forego football to become RFK Jr’s running mate
Jesse Ventura has also been mentioned
hehe - it’s just what I’ve read
this is more of a losing proposition than playing for the Jets could ever be - Joe is already the nominee for pete’s sake
Like Joe, Aaron is of retirement age - but a VP candidate??
stay on the gridiron big guy
this is more of a losing proposition than playing for the Jets could ever be - Joe is already the nominee for pete’s sake
RFK jr is running as an independent, Joe is a Democrat.
I actually think it would a great benefit to the Jets to ditch the drama. It would be a really stupid move by completely unqualified Rodgers, but he's proved himself a giant knucklehead. Nothing surprises me these days.
What about Jake from State Farm? I might consider voting for him over either of the geriatrics!
this is more of a losing proposition than playing for the Jets could ever be - Joe is already the nominee for pete’s sake
RFK jr is running as an independent, Joe is a Democrat
Repub, Dem, Ind - Aaron, The Body, yeah good call Rusty, that guy on the State Farm ads
….the idea of Aaron Rodgers, candidate for the vice presidency - nope nothing surprises me anymore either
….you mentioned comedy gold in another thread - this is more of it😆😵💫🇺🇸
Jr obviously wants his candidacy taken seriously alright
where’s Pat Paulson when we need em😵💫
-
he was a good player at LB & Jerod Mayo should prove a good coach too - see some rebounding years ahead under Mayo
he replaces a legend, & happy retirement coach B
I think Cousins was on pace to have his best season statistically last year before the injury. Given what players make, I don't know if they overpaid or not, but perhaps. On the other hand, they are probably in the worst division in the league. Isn't he better than Mayfield and the Bucs? Atlanta has some nice toys to play with.
Jacobs should be a solid addition for Green Bay.
I really hope somehow Chicago trades Fields to Minnesota. It sure would make the NFC Central an awful lot of fun! 
I think I've made my opinion about Rodgers known. Sorry, but I think he is a joke. Certain Hall of Famer on the field but still comical.
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
Yeah, like I said Cousins was having a solid season. If Cousins hadn't gone down last season, Vikings probably make the playoffs instead of the Packers and maybe he re-signs with them. But he did go down, and I think that's a lot of money to give a 35 yo coming off an achilles. Still, an upgrade for Atlanta in a weak division. Mayfield had a solid year in TB, though. The winner of that division always seems to be which ever team gets to last place last.
Not sure to whom you are apologizing to about Rodgers. Like I said, he's become a total knucklehead. If he stays healthy this season, I bet he gets really stupid and the Jets become an ever bigger mess than they were in 2023.
I think I've made my opinion about Rodgers known. Sorry, but I think he is a joke. Certain Hall of Famer on the field but still comical.
If this is true, he's much worse than a joke. Forget VP, this won't go over well with CT Jets fans.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/13/politics/aaron-rodgers-sandy-hook-conspiracy-theories/index.html
Brown was covering the Kentucky Derby for CNN in 2013 when she was introduced to Rodgers, then with the Green Bay Packers, at a post-Derby party. Hearing that she was a journalist with CNN, Rodgers immediately began attacking the news media for covering up important stories. Rodgers brought up the tragic killing of 20 children and 6 adults by a gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary School, claiming it was actually a government inside job and the media was intentionally ignoring it.
UPDATE: Rodgers refutes this report. I certainly hope he has always thought this way and not Alex Jones' ugly theories, but he's done himself no favors by promoting bunk theories the past couple years.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39731276/jets-aaron-rodgers-sandy-hook-was-absolute-tragedy
