2020-2021 NFL Season Thread

[tbayrgs]

For the first time in a looooong time, Bucs fans have much to look forward to this season. I'm not sure Tampa Bay has been so stoked about Opening Day as this year. Years past it was "how big of a dumpster fire will Jameis be?" or "when will the Glazers start looking for a new coach?" But now it's "can the Bucs actually play the Super Bowl in their home stadium?". Who'da thunk it...

Realistically, Brady is on the wrong side of 40, Gronk has been rebuilt so many times he's like Steve Austin, and who knows what Fournette will bring. But with the other skill position players and the defense, a playoff run isn't a pipe dream this year, and hopefully next, too. Time to quit prospecting and start playing, figure it out on the field.

It's a good time to be a Tampa Bay sports fan, best it's been in a long time. I'm not a Bucs fan first (grew up in Buffalo and have kept my allegiance to the Bills) but I'm actually excited to watch them this season. My youngest son is a huge Brady/Gronk fan so he's over the moon that he'll be able to watch them every week this year.

 

[fridayxiii]

Speaking of crowds...

The Denver Broncos will be allowing 5,700 people to come watch their second home game. In a stadium that normally seats 76,000 this is only a 7.5% occupancy rate.

What is your home team doing?

Word is the Bucs won't allow spectators in Raymond James Stadium until Week 6, Oct. 18 vs Green Bay. That'll be their third home game. Unannounced capacity as of yet.

 

[fridayxiii]

It's a good time to be a Tampa Bay sports fan, best it's been in a long time. I'm not a Bucs fan first (grew up in Buffalo and have kept my allegiance to the Bills) but I'm actually excited to watch them this season. My youngest son is a huge Brady/Gronk fan so he's over the moon that he'll be able to watch them every week this year.

Yeah, the Lightning are having their usual success, the Rays are in first in the NL East, and the Bucs have serious aspirations this year. 2020 sucks for most things except sports in Tampa Bay 🙃 😂

I'm a transplant as well but follow the Bucs out of local interest, much as I did the Panthers when I lived in Charlotte. Not my first favorite, but I'd rather see them win than lose. Rooting for Carolina was sometimes hard though, being in the same division as TB, but seeing them reach the SB was fun, and really energized the city.

 

[bigjnyc]

For the first time in a looooong time, Bucs fans have much to look forward to this season. I'm not sure Tampa Bay has been so stoked about Opening Day as this year. Years past it was "how big of a dumpster fire will Jameis be?" or "when will the Glazers start looking for a new coach?" But now it's "can the Bucs actually play the Super Bowl in their home stadium?". Who'da thunk it...

Realistically, Brady is on the wrong side of 40, Gronk has been rebuilt so many times he's like Steve Austin, and who knows what Fournette will bring. But with the other skill position players and the defense, a playoff run isn't a pipe dream this year, and hopefully next, too. Time to quit prospecting and start playing, figure it out on the field.

I spent a month in Tampa and got the impression that nobody cares about the NFL football team lol. All banners, flags, player posters and promotions at businesses were all about the lightning... It's as if the Bucs don't even exist.... the only time I saw any Bucs paraphernalia was near the stadium.

 

[44267547]

I think I’m most curious to see how the teams perform, given that there’s either a major reduction of a fan base or no fans at all. It’s been pointed out many times, players perform based on the momentum from the fans, so I’m curious to see how the performance/effort levels from a player standpoint. What was interesting during the NBA playoffs in Orlando, they were piping in fake ‘fan chatter‘, which I thought was hilarious, but it obviously was to give the sense of ‘realism’ to the players for the playoffs.

So given the changes with the fan attendance, I won’t be placing any bets this year (Given my streak from last year was less than stellar).😁

 

[TheIntruder]

The fan element can't be discounted, but their absence won't (or really shouldn't) affect how a player is going to run their routes, their throwing/catching/blocking technique, body positioning/footing, or the plays being called.

Those fundamentals are established in practice, meeting rooms, and the conditioning rooms, and the disrupted schedules, lost OTAs, and altered routines forced by COVID are going to have the most direct impact on the quality of play. Rookies, and players who have switched teams already need additional work to integrate with the team, and that has also been disrupted, or lost. With no preseason games, the units will not have had a chance to play together against live competition, even minimally, and some expect the first few games to resemble that look.

The mental game, including the fans, is important, too, but it's going to be easy for some to use it as a crutch, to mask other shortcomings.

 

[44267547]

I am a Minnesota fan personally, but Rogers was really impressive today. At 36, he just plays with such ease, he makes it look so effortless, I think that holds true to a real vet quarterback at the caliber he is.

[It’s such a eerie sight seeing no fans in the stadiums, even piping in faux chatter, there’s no sense of realism that can replace the true decibel level of Solider field or Mercedes-Benz stadium. But at least we have the opportunity to watch football given it was highly questionable three months ago.]

 

[JamesMike]

My 'Home team' Seattle won, Wilson, played well. Watching the Tampa Bay/Saints game with two of the best quarterbacks to play the game.

 

[honestone33]

My 'Home team' Seattle won, Wilson, played well. Watching the Tampa Bay/Saints game with two of the best quarterbacks to play the game.

You took the words right of my mouth regarding the Hawks! Apparently Russell Wilson had just about a perfect game, and the defense played well enough. Only "negative" was the lack of a "decent" running game, one of Pete Carroll's requirements. But the victory was convincing.

Next Sunday night, though, will be a real challenge. Cam Newton played well for the Patriots, and he has always given the Hawks fits when he was with the Panthers. Should be a great Sunday night game, even without fans in the seats. That will be another crucial test for the Hawks: how they do without the 12th man.

 

[44267547]

My 'Home team' Seattle won, Wilson, played well. Watching the Tampa Bay/Saints game with two of the best quarterbacks to play the game.

Watching currently as well. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve been watching Brady for years, and he looks like he’s having way more fun than he ever did with the Patriots. I don’t know if it’s because he has a lot less ‘overhead‘ from leaving New England or if he’s just riding out his career realizing that he wants to make the best of it with a positive demeanor. Either way, at 43, the guy is a freakin’ legend.

 

[honestone33]

Well, it looks like Brees out dueled Brady. Not really surprised, given how good a team the Saints have been for the past number of years.

 

[44267547]

Well, it looks like Brees out dueled Brady. Not really surprised, given how good a team the Saints have been for the past number of years.

No, he didn’t. Brees passed for ~160 yards/2 TDs, whereas; Brady passed for ~239 Yds/2TDs/2In. If Brees had passed for the same yardage or more with over two touchdowns without interceptions, then you could post he was ‘Out-dueled’. Brees passed for less yards and had two touchdowns, that’s not Out-dueling, with [or] without the interceptions being a factor, they both shared the same TD tally, with the latter to Brady for a higher Pass rate.

Sure the win goes to the Saints /Brees, there defense is also something worth noting. Either way, it was a solid game.

 

[honestone33]

But 1) the Saints won the game by a decent margin, 2) Brady had 2 interceptions, and Brees none, and 3) Brees had a QBR of 72.0, definitely superior to Brady's 34.6 (in fact, more than double).

 

[44267547]

But 1) the Saints won the game by a decent margin, 2) Brady had 2 interceptions, and Brees none, and 3) Brees had a QBR of 72.0, definitely superior to Brady's 34.6 (in fact, more than double).

I see you edited your post twice to be a bit more defensive, which; you’re basically reshashing What I already iterated above that the interceptions already noted, Plus, I already acknowledged Brees/Saints ‘won’ the game, so I’m not sure why you need to over state again. Either way, Numbers aside, he wasn’t out-dueled, at least not in the context of how interpreted it.

 

[honestone33]

I see you edited your post twice to be a bit more defensive, which; you’re basically reshashing What I already iterated above that the interceptions already noted, Plus, I already acknowledged Brees/Saints ‘won’ the game, so I’m not sure why you need to over state again. Either way, Numbers aside, he wasn’t out-dueled, at least not in the context of how interpreted it.

But you started the defensive theme with the underlining. Hence, the editing was necessary. The underlining is not acceptable, nor necessary. Remember, what goes around comes around.

Maybe out-dueled is not the exact phrase to use. OK, I'll say more honestly: outplayed. While you did "acknowledge" the 2 interceptions (just adding them to Brady's state line), whoop-de-doo! It's still a difference maker. And of course you failed to acknowledge the vast difference in the QBR.

I'll take the more efficient game by Brees over the 2 Ints thrown by Brady. Again, Brees outplayed Brady, plain and simple.

 

[JamesMike]

Well, it looks like Brees out dueled Brady. Not really surprised, given how good a team the Saints have been for the past number of years.

I would have been surprised if Brady's team won, still working out the bugs, Brees has a well-oiled team.

 

[honestone33]

I would have been surprised if Brady's team won, still working out the bugs, Brees has a well-oiled team.

Yeah, that is accurate. But wonder how long it's going to take Brady to get things going. Not that he had a horrific day, but if the Bucs are to improve, he needs to do better.

 

[JamesMike]

The death of Gale Sayers reminded me of what a great runningback he was, his running style was unique and was a think of beauty.

 

[honestone33]

The death of Gale Sayers reminded me of what a great runningback he was, his running style was unique and was a think of beauty.

Yeah, he was an inspiration. And I really like the original movie, "Brian's Song". Definitely worth watching!

 

[Gregg2]

I grew up watching him on TV every Sunday. He made amazing moves on the field. ...a class act in life.

 

[ucfgrad93]

a class act in life.

Agreed. A great RB, but more importantly a great person.

 

[rhett7660]

Agreed. A great RB, but more importantly a great person.

Amen to that...

 

[honestone33]

Amen to that...

Yes, and it was certainly evident in the excellent movie "Brian's Song".

 

[44267547]

Not to self:

Do NOT bet against Rodgers/Packers ever again=Lost revenue.😁

Anyways, Sean Payton and Company need to figure out the penalties they’ve racked up last two weeks. It’s cost them now two games to put them at 1-2. And this is a team that was predicted to possibly look at a Super Bowl win this year, but I would not put them at that point given the start.

 

[honestone33]

How about them Seahawks? Wilson is definitely having a heck of a season. But it's funny that the defense of the Hawks, once the cornerstone of the team, is not doing so well this season. Yet the offense is definitely stepping it up.

The next game will be a good test, as 1) Miami is also coming off a victory on Thursday might, 2) the Dolphins will be well rested, 3) the Hawks have a lot of key injuries, and 4) the Hawks will need to travel cross country to the team that is the farthest away from Seattle, with an early start and the 3 hour time difference.