The Frankish Reich

The thing is that Payton is more responsible for the Broncos falling out of the playoff race than Wilson or anyone else. Horrible clock management in last week's loss to the Pats after Wilson actually had two 4th quarter TDs (with successful 2-point conversions on both) to tie the game. The Pats were ready to run out the clock and go to OT (2 rushes with less than a minute left) and Payton used Broncos timeouts in a stupid effort to try to get the ball back. Result: one nice Zappe pass, one 56 yard FG, one more Broncos loss. And it wasn't just that game - Payton made a lot of questionable decisions in a lot of games. Wilson was awful last season with Hackett, but he was about what any reasonable person could have expected at age 34/45 when the Broncs traded for him and gave him that huge contract before last season. Payton has been itching to move on from him, so we have an unusually big contract for Stidham as backup (maybe he'll surprise like in garbage time last year?) but no realistic way to bring in a potential game-changer at QB next season. You could waive Russ and try to bring in Geno Smith (second go around following Russ?) or someone like that, but that's really unlikely to accomplish anything. Payton is a man with a huge ego, a huge contract, and no reasonable plan.

You mean other than Nathan Peterman getting the start over Tyrod Taylor?

Yes, if he'd come out of the game with a stinger.

When they're behind by 21 with 7 minutes left?

Amazing Sam Darnold Fairytale Ending Ends.

Damn real grass injuries piling up!

IF they score ... I really want to see something better than today's onside kick rules to give a team a fighting chance to get the ball back. Just for fan service.

I've always liked Sam. I do think he'll have a second act somewhere. Hey, maybe starting right here!

I am actually hoping they cut away from the game action to a full 10 minute Corgi replay.

Right now, I'd agree with you. Not because the Rams are what they were a couple years ago, but just because the rest of the NFC "leaders" look like paper tigers. In SF: Sam Darnold time?

But are all of those teams in the AFC? Who is stopping them in the NFC? The Lions with their D? The Cowboys D that James Cook shredded for 240 yards? The fading Eagles?

I can't really believe it, but Flacco is playing better now than at any point since his weird/outlier 2012 Super Bowl playoff run. They would be toast if Watson hadn't been injured again.

He's just having an awful night all around. That's always been the reason for hope for the rest of the flawed NFC competitors - Purdy against a good D, particularly when playing from behind, is still very much unproven.

Because it's so much more fun to go for the big hit. The one that Deebo bounces off of.

Weirdly boring for a game between teams with the best records and various explosive players. I don't know if I'll stick around much longer.

Agreed. I've not given up on him as a player. There's always next year. But I have given up on him as anything other than a rotational JAG this season.

First, Merry Christmas! To answer your question, let's think about what happens now: - The Appeals Court (likely) denies Trump's immunity claim, he appeals that to the Supreme Court. - The Supreme Court has to decide all over again whether to jump in now (rather than earlier) and is seen as a political body seeking to rescue Trump - Or they decline to hear the case now (applying the usual "wait for the judgment on all issues," particularly since Trump could be acquitted at trial) and we may get a guilty verdict that is subject to being overturned AFTER the election. All of those are worse scenarios than deciding it right away. There's no strict rule on when the Supreme Court takes jurisdiction. Right now, it's about trying to resolve issues fairly and as early as possible. That's my take.

I'll save our fair readers 1:19:09 of their valuable Christmas Eve time. Scroll to the end. You'll find loser Kari Lake's money pitch. As for what Kari Lake says when she's under the microscope: "never mind my claims of an electoral official injecting false ballots into the stream; everyone knows that was just hyperbole." https://www.azmirror.com/2023/12/19/lake-lawyers-say-her-claims-about-richer-were-hyperbole/

So here's what's really happening: - Trial Court Judge Chutkan ruled "no immunity from criminal acts committed while serving as President" - TRUMP's team (TRUMP's team) filed an interlocutory appeal to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, asking them to rule on that issue before he goes to trial. - Jack Smith filed a petition straight to the Supreme Court, saying "let's settle this once and for all before the highest court in the land before going to trial." The Supreme Court said: Sorry. Not this time. - The DC Circuit has accepted the interlocutory appeal and set a briefing schedule. A pretty fast one. They'll decide the issue quickly. Point of interest: it's a panel of 3 judges. One appointed by Bush 41, two by Biden. Pretty much nobody thinks that any panel, regardless of who appointed them, would rule that he has general immunity forevermore. The best you could get is "immune from acts that primarily/significantly/something like that stem from his official Presidential duties." So it'll go back to Judge Chutkan to hold the trial. - What happens then? Well, the tables are turned! It'll be TRUMP asking the Supreme Court to intervene by (you guessed it) filing an emergency petition for an exceptional interlocutory appeal ("a writ of certiorari during the pendency of a proceeding.") Any defendant prefers delay if he's not in custody. Always and everywhere. And that's doubly true for a guy who could escape answering charges for 5 years if he's elected again.

It was a pretty damn good one ... had me just a little bit Wychecked there for a second or two.

But are we allowed to say that he got a lucky bounce on that one that went out of bounds on the 3?

Ouch. Meanwhile ... I just realized that my "home" team (Broncos) is a late kickoff! I get Cowboys-Dolphins after all. I'm resting up for that one.

I will admit reality: I'm enjoying this NFL season! Sure, it's great when the Bills are rolling. But guess what? We're in the thick of it, and I have no idea what's going to happen the next couple weeks, much less the next month and a half. That will keep me engaged. It's supposed to be entertainment, and I'm entertained. Merry Christmas!

Agreed. AFC is wide open. Objectively the Ravens look the best overall, but we'll see how they handle playoff football. The NFC is different, as the Niners are clearly the class not just of the NFC but the whole NFL too. But it'll be a first for playoff Purdy, so who knows.

I agree in general. A lot of it is just situational luck evening out. Basically the same good/solid but flawed team all year long, remarkably healthy on the offensive side (the line has been together all year, and really only Knox has missed significant time; Damien Harris too but he's totally forgotten as other RBs stepped up), remarkably unhealthy on the defensive side. Who's clearly better in the AFC? Chiefs? No. We've seen that. Dolphins? Same (and they've been remarkably healthy up till now). Bengals? They were looking the part until Burrow went down. Jags? Obviously not. Ravens? Maybe, but we'll see ...