If you're not a fan of either team, it's this weeks crap fest

[Moab]

On tap this weekend is the Jags visiting the Raiders. I understand being a fan of a bad team, I really do, and I also understand being spoiled by having over 30 years of at least being competitive other than a couple years. That stated these 2 teams play in a game that means nothing other than the loser gets or maintains a better draft position. Honeslty, that's ok, there is nothing wrong with being a fan that shows up week after week and hoping something good happens, even if good really means a competitive loss.

There are also some other bad games, 49ers at Dolphins, it's not a division game like the Browns/Bengals or other games, where division rivalry usually means something in a historical sense. Unfortunately for the 9ers and fins, this game doesn't mean much as both teams had actual expectations at the beginning of the year, but key injuries derails those hope and now they're in an odd purgatory.

We get more in the last 2 weeks, just wanted to give a shout out and if your team isn't playing and there isn't really a game that your team or you don't have an interest in, I'd consider checking these types of games out, sometimes they can be fun as hell.

Special shout out to the showdown of Mason Rudolph vs Anthony Richardson happening in Indy. Game means nothing, but with the idiocy that happened in the games these 2 played last week it could be an unintentional comedy show for the ages.

 

[Southieinnc]

On tap this weekend is the Jags visiting the Raiders. I understand being a fan of a bad team, I really do, and I also understand being spoiled by having over 30 years of at least being competitive other than a couple years. That stated these 2 teams play in a game that means nothing other than the loser gets or maintains a better draft position. Honeslty, that's ok, there is nothing wrong with being a fan that shows up week after week and hoping something good happens, even if good really means a competitive loss.

There are also some other bad games, 49ers at Dolphins, it's not a division game like the Browns/Bengals or other games, where division rivalry usually means something in a historical sense. Unfortunately for the 9ers and fins, this game doesn't mean much as both teams had actual expectations at the beginning of the year, but key injuries derails those hope and now they're in an odd purgatory.

We get more in the last 2 weeks, just wanted to give a shout out and if your team isn't playing and there isn't really a game that your team or you don't have an interest in, I'd consider checking these types of games out, sometimes they can be fun as hell.

Special shout out to the showdown of Mason Rudolph vs Anthony Richardson happening in Indy. Game means nothing, but with the idiocy that happened in the games these 2 played last week it could be an unintentional comedy show for the ages.

The rematch!

Super Bowl XIX - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Moab]

The rematch!

Super Bowl XIX - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The 49ers kind of put it on the Dolphins in Marino's only Superbowl appearance in that one.

As it stands, both are still in the hunt, but it's going to take lots of help from the teams in front of them and more importantly, themselves.

 

[molsaniceman]

you left out Penix vs Lock

 

[Moab]

you left out Penix vs Lock

To be totally fair, Atlanta is still playing for something and at this point Penix is a total unknown. We will get to find out if he has potential. I'm not expecting him to be an pro bowler in his first game, but we will find out if he's been working at becoming a pro QB.

 

[Iggloo]

You have to know how to watch these tank games: It's all about finding a way to LOSE.

There are quite a few bottom-feeding teams this season vying for the top pick, so some of these trash bowls actually have great significance. It could be the difference between getting a Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, and not having a starting QB once again.

 

[Anointed One]

The 49ers kind of put it on the Dolphins in Marino's only Superbowl appearance in that one.

That was a sad day. I was a huge Marino fan and was so excited to see Dan Marino go to many more Super Bowls after that. Marino found out it wasn’t that easy to go to the Super Bowl after all. He didn’t go after his second year in a season. Sad times. I really wanted to see him go to a few more and win one.

 

[socaljim242]

Rams- Jets- So much to lose if they ( the Rams) fall into this trap of a game. Hopefully they aren't looking ahead to next week against the Cardinals. But I wouldn't pout it past them to have a stinker after winning tight games against better teams.

 

[Moab]

We do actually have what should be some good games from fairly evenly matched teams.

Thurs - Broncos @ Chargers
Sat starts a mini in-season round robin, Texans @ Chiefs and Steelers @ Ravens
Other games of more evenly matched teams are Browns @ Bengals, Titans @ Colts, Eagles @ Washington, Vikings @ Seattle, and 49ers @ Dolphins. They're not all what I would call even teams, but close enough to peers. I already mentioned Jags @ Raiders...so relax

Since the thread title is about crap, how about the below games are the "don't crap yourself by not taking your opponent seriously".
Giants @ Falcons - Falcons still playing for something, Penix gets the start so don't blow it in this game.
Lions @ Bears - We all know the Lions are missing lots of guys, but you can't lose this one, can you?
Rams @ Jets - Rams look like the better team by a lot, but early game in coldish weather? hmmm
Cardinals @ Panthers - Cardinals still have something to play for, Carolina has been playing better lately, early game for western team....hmmmm
Patriots @ Bills - This game should be a Bills walk over after being tested the last 2 weeks, just the kind of game to not crap yourself.4
Bucs @ Cowboys - Bucs have wins against full strength Eagles and Lions, so they can play with anybody, Cowboys are hurting. hmmm
Monday Saints @ Packers - This is the exact kind of game that bad stuff happens as the Packers are reading friendly press and think they're good.

If you have your own designation of the games, I'd read it and maybe comment.

 

[Moab]

I mentioned a few weeks back that you'd all be sick of the Packers being in prime time, and Monday night's game is the last of the 4 in a row.

Here are my thoughts on this game.

Packers are suddenly being stroked all over the place as some special kind of team. I hate that crap, it's a week to week league and any given week you can lose to what people see as in inferior opponent. The Saints fit that bill perfectly. Rattler is a rookie QB starting, the Saints have plenty of guys missing and are a dome team heading to a cold weather game. I see this game as a "reading our press" game or the Pirate's "fat little girlfriend game", to many people pissing in their ears that they're good. They're a young team that needs to understand that every week is an important contest and you need to bring your A game weekly, not weakly.

Any thoughts on your teams game?

 

[Debbie Does]

I still remember one atrocious Pats-Colts game before the Brady-Belichick era. I think it was Tony Eason vs. Bert Jones. Both teams were 2-14 and first round pick was on the line. It was actually funny watching each team trying to out-tank the other.

And I hate night games. Being an East Coaster, it sucked when the games started at 9 PM and didn't end until after midnight. I had to get up early so I just didn't watch late gams.

 

[Iggloo]

The games I think are the worst are not the ones where both teams are trying to lose, but the ones where one team is no longer trying to win and it affects the playoffs. The Eagles famously screwed the Giants a few seasons ago by tanking a game late in the season that would have put the Giants in the playoffs, if Philly won. They complained like crazy about it.

The Eagles played a dirty trick on the Giants. But the NFL is a squalid place

Whatever you think about the Philadelphia Eagles conceding a meaningless game for draft position, the pearl-clutching it has aroused is far more cringeworthy

www.theguardian.com

The Eagles went from 9th to 6th in the draft by tanking this game, and selected Devonta Smith with the pick.

How the Eagles' tanking the last game affected the entire NFC East in the draft

There was one loser from the Eagles losing the regular-season finale, and that was the team that actually won the game and made the playoffs.

www.delawareonline.com

 

[Moab]

I still remember one atrocious Pats-Colts game before the Brady-Belichick era. I think it was Tony Eason vs. Bert Jones. Both teams were 2-14 and first round pick was on the line. It was actually funny watching each team trying to out-tank the other.

And I hate night games. Being an East Coaster, it sucked when the games started at 9 PM and didn't end until after midnight. I had to get up early so I just didn't watch late gams.

I don't want to nitpick, but Jones' last season was 82 and Eason's first was 83, so I'm guessing it was old neck roll, Steve Grogan.

 

[Moab]

I still remember one atrocious Pats-Colts game before the Brady-Belichick era. I think it was Tony Eason vs. Bert Jones. Both teams were 2-14 and first round pick was on the line. It was actually funny watching each team trying to out-tank the other.

And I hate night games. Being an East Coaster, it sucked when the games started at 9 PM and didn't end until after midnight. I had to get up early so I just didn't watch late gams.

I just checked and it looks like the Pats played 2 QBs in the game, Matt Cavanaugh and Tom Owen, the Colts played Bert Jones. Jones was a very good QB, not sure what happened that year to the Colts. I think the next year he suffered a career ending injury.

Here is the box score. If you want a good reference about QB stats back then, check out box scores in this era. Totally different style of play back then.

New England Patriots at Baltimore Colts - December 20th, 1981 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

New England Patriots 21 at Baltimore Colts 23 on December 20th, 1981 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[msgkings322]

The 49ers kind of put it on the Dolphins in Marino's only Superbowl appearance in that one.

As it stands, both are still in the hunt, but it's going to take lots of help from the teams in front of them and more importantly, themselves.

My wife was in the halftime marching band for that game

 

[Clayton]

The games I think are the worst are not the ones where both teams are trying to lose, but the ones where one team is no longer trying to win and it affects the playoffs. The Eagles famously screwed the Giants a few seasons ago by tanking a game late in the season that would have put the Giants in the playoffs, if Philly won. They complained like crazy about it.

The Eagles played a dirty trick on the Giants. But the NFL is a squalid place

Whatever you think about the Philadelphia Eagles conceding a meaningless game for draft position, the pearl-clutching it has aroused is far more cringeworthy

www.theguardian.com

The Eagles went from 9th to 6th in the draft by tanking this game, and selected Devonta Smith with the pick.

How the Eagles' tanking the last game affected the entire NFC East in the draft

There was one loser from the Eagles losing the regular-season finale, and that was the team that actually won the game and made the playoffs.

www.delawareonline.com

FWIW, Giants still had an excellent draft position. They couldve drafted 3 or 4 impact players and instead took Kardarius Toney who I figured was going in the 30s.

 

[Iggloo]

I really hate that the only highlights Toney has in his career basically came against Philly in the Super Bowl, like his big punt return.