2024 Season Thread

[AceKeptic]

Sorry, guys, but I think we may be OFFICIALLY finished this year.

Aside from getting hurt last night (which is unfortunate), Geno just can't find a receiver in the end zone. He's been picked off in there more times than anyone in the league (yes, he IS a league leader), the kind of incompetence we haven't seen since the days of RICK MIRER. He may have even surpassed Mirer.

Defense doesn't know how to do their job. Period. I get tired of new DCs still using plays out of Ken Norton Jr's old playbook...that's how it feels.

Injuries, sure we all get 'em, but who's got the guts to step up in the absence of those we're missing?

This is really showing signs...and the signs are not good.

 

[JMR]

With a win vs Vikings this week, decent playoff hope would remain alive -- best shot w/o help would be to win the final 3, including week 18 vs Rams that *may* end up being the division championship game. If we lose to the Vikings, we would need the Rams to stumble in 1 of the upcoming 2 weeks to keep that divisional title opportunity in place. They play @ NYJ, vs AZ. And because the Rams beat us earlier, they would have the h2h tie-breaker if they beat us again in week 18 so even if LAR drops 1 of these next 2, we lose the division if we lose week 18.

A couple unrelated notes:

• Michael Penix is getting the start this week for Atlanta. In addition to just being excited to see him play at this level, I'm curious what the future of Cousins could be with the Falcons. Might he be available in the off-season? It would be a Mt Rainier size cap penalty to swallow, but they might be tempted to rip the band-aid off while Penix costs next to nothing. From OTC:

Cousins counts for $40 million against the Falcons salary cap in 2025. Because the Falcons frontloaded his contract with $62.5 million being paid in 2024, his salary in 2025 is only $27.5 million. That salary is already fully guaranteed and is owed to Cousins whether cut or not. The cost to cut Cousins on the cap would be gigantic- $65 million in 2025.

The Falcons could choose to use the post June 1 designation option and cut Cousins right at the start oif the 2025 league year. This is similar to what the Broncos did with Russell Wilson this past season. If the Falcons did this Cousins’ cap hit would remain $40 million in 2025 and the team would then defer $25 million to 2026.

• I'm unsure of the validity, but I've seen a rumor circulating (Brock & Salk mentioned it yesterday) that Quinn Ewers may have a $4M NIL offer from a B10 school. If true, that's one less QB in a class that might already be a little light at that position. Ewers is probably not a day 1 draft prospect, but I think he's worth the risk of a mid-round pick. $4M is also a lot more than he's going to make in any season of a rookie contract in the NFL, so that's pretty wild how this whole NIL thing is changing the college game.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

 

[JMR]

That is a heck of a pill to swallow. People questioned the logic behind drafting Penix so early, but at the time what I said was the real mistake Atlanta made was not drafting Penix but instead it was giving Cousins that enormous contract.

I think Cousins is (or can be) a good NFL starter, but he needs help. Atlanta seems to have quite a few weapons, but I haven't watched enough of them this year to get a feel for what the issues are there. Maybe they're one of many teams with OL problems.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

That is a heck of a pill to swallow. People questioned the logic behind drafting Penix so early, but at the time what I said was the real mistake Atlanta made was not drafting Penix but instead it was giving Cousins that enormous contract.

I think Cousins is (or can be) a good NFL starter, but he needs help. Atlanta seems to have quite a few weapons, but I haven't watched enough of them this year to get a feel for what the issues are there. Maybe they're one of many teams with OL problems.

He's been a statue in the backfield and only completed 3 passes out of the box total for the season. Has thrown 16 picks already. He's cooked. Doubt we see him on the field ever again but who knows.

 

[JMR]

He's been a statue in the backfield and only completed 3 passes out of the box total for the season. Has thrown 16 picks already. He's cooked. Doubt we see him on the field ever again but who knows.

Yeah, he's not played well. He's also coming off a torn achilles, which is a really tough injury and probably at his age is a full year before he's back to 100% and maybe never will be fully what he was prior to the injury. I believe Cousins is 36. I tore mine at age 33, and I never really fully healed.

I would be surprised if he isn't on an NFL roster next year though. Quite a few teams out there will need QBs or at least don't have one that they are fully committed to.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

Yeah, he's not played well. He's also coming off a torn achilles, which is a really tough injury and probably at his age is a full year before he's back to 100% and maybe never will be fully what he was prior to the injury. I believe Cousins is 36. I tore mine at age 33, and I never really fully healed.

I would be surprised if he isn't on an NFL roster next year though. Quite a few teams out there will need QBs or at least don't have one that they are fully committed to.

You never know but I doubt he'll want to continue his career and the interest (if any) would be minor and more out of desperation. Possibly if a contender loses their starter during the season next year it could be the right set up for Cousins. Maybe, but I doubt he ever returns to the field. He's set for life and should want to remain healthy enough to enjoy life post football.

 

[Screamin12th]

Yeah Cousins looks like he just took that one step backwards this season. I expect there will be another one next season. Hell Cousins had a nice career, nothing to be ashamed of by him thats for sure. People forget he was in that Luck, RGIII and Wilson draft and he ended up better than all but Wilson.

His career was wierd though how teams really liked him but never felt like they wanted to commit. You know what i mean?

 

[JMR]

You never know but I doubt he'll want to continue his career and the interest (if any) would be minor and more out of desperation. Possibly if a contender loses their starter during the season next year it could be the right set up for Cousins. Maybe, but I doubt he ever returns to the field. He's set for life and should want to remain healthy enough to enjoy life post football.

One thing is for sure: dude is absolutely set up for life if he does want to call it a career. I think he's made just shy of $300M.

 

[Screamin12th]

The Seahawks are 0-5 ATS against teams with winning records this season. With a loss to the Vikings it would be their worst home record since going 2-6 in 2008.

The Vikings have played the 3rd hardest schedule in the NFL and only have 2 loses. This Vikings team is better than the Greenbay team we faced.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

The Seahawks are 0-5 ATS against teams with winning records this season. With a loss to the Vikings it would be their worst home record since going 2-6 in 2008.

The Vikings have played the 3rd hardest schedule in the NFL and only have 2 loses. This Vikings team is better than the Greenbay team we faced.

Yah, they're a bit similar, still... but Minnesota has a far better pass rush. Both teams are pretty stout against the run. If Green Bay made our OL look like swiss cheese (even when Geno was in - don't get me started on Sam 'I can't decide' Howell), Minnesota is going to rip through it like Kraft singles.

That said, Minny is far worse against the pass rush than Green Bay. Love (coupled with the run game) is almost impossible to get pressure/sacks on. Different story with Darnold, so there should be greater chances to force some turnovers or get him to the ground.

If Geno is 95%+ I don't think our odds are terrible this game. And we have a decent enough secondary to cover their WRs, although Hockenson could be a problem as we routinely seem to get beat by competent tight ends.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

After last week game it's hard to be confident against the Vikings. As mentioned the Seahawks have lost against playoff caliber opponents all season. So I'm bracing for the worse but hoping for the best. A win here sure would be uplifting for morale.