Success

Everyone is underestimating Belichick on that one, imo. The Pats aren't as talented as other WC contenders - but teams always beat themselves against BB. It's really hard to watch.

I really can't stand the Patriots. Can't they just take their 20-year run and lay low for awhile? They're going to get the WC, and BB is going to pull out all of the tricks if they play the Bills.

I mean, Dallas got the TD on 3rd down there. The refs have been HORRIBLE that game.

Giants should have picked Mac Jones.

I mean, I know from watching BB that he's going to stack the line against the run every time on 3rd & 4th and short. McCarthy didn't know that?

The Giants have really had it rough - EXCEPT for 2 crazy SB runs over the past 15 years or so. I'm surprised they have this kind of continued futility. That's good ownership that they have in general.

The Chiefs forum is almost inexplicable to me. It is the definition of toxic. You can't judge a fanbase just by what's on the internet, but that board is so far removed from every other fan board I have visited. The Pats boards are nothing like that. It's the most negative board I've been to, going even beyond sports.

I always think of the "Terminator" series watching him. You may think you've got him beat, but the molten droplets start to move toward each other again...

My bad. Lost track of the moves.

I still like Sammy.

I still remember the exact spot I was when I heard Darby and Watkins were traded. At the time, those were 2 of our best players, and I was both shocked and disheartened. I didn't know what they were doing. Turns out, we have a visionary who knows exactly what he's doing. I will never doubt or question Beane again. I honestly think he's the best GM in the league. I lean homer in most of my judgments, but think that one is sound.

We're in a perfect position to flip the script on that team. Watching BB throw the phone in that 2nd game last year was a pretty healing thing for me. I think had Brady stayed, we still would have won. Maybe we'll get a chance to exorcise ALL of the demons if we make it to the show & the Bucs are there waiting for us. It would be nerve-wracking, but I'd have to embrace that opportunity to beat Brady in the biggest game.

This is it for me. Every time we get the season schedule now, it's like those Pats games have a spotlight on 'em. We're the better team now. I want sweeps, as far as the eye can see. I need to repair my damaged soul.

I mean, since the beginning of the internet, this has happened. There isn't a single player who should be called a bust until at least year 3. Snap judgments in a player's first season or 2 are practically worthless. And we've seen the same with Epenesa, Oliver, Edmunds - and really, countless others over the years. Some guys really do turn into busts or disappointments (obviously), but you have to give players time. Knox is amazing now. Has he even dropped a pass? What a revelation this year. No one is thinking of Ertz now.

They're really close. Both are so much fun to watch. They're great for the league. With Mahomes - I don't see his play as a regression, at least yet. It seems like it's more a failure of the coaching staff so far. I'm not big on "the league found the blueprint!" pronouncements about any QB. But right now, that D we ran and that the Bucs ran in the SB IS the blueprint to slow down Mahomes & Hill, and the Chiefs have yet to adjust to that effectively.

Seems kind of gimmicky. I like tradition - playoff weekends are some of the best sports weekends that we have. That 1st weekend when there is a full slate on Saturday & on Sunday. It's probably not my wife's favorites weekend, but it's fantastic for football fans. Adding a game on Monday isn't a huge deal, but I don't like it.

It's nothing but hot takes now. There are still a few good reporters out there, but the "big names" all seem to have gotten there with really bad hot takes, taking "controversial" positions, and picking at least one great player to constantly argue "he's overrated!" about. It's pretty sad, but it's all about clicks now. When I come across good journalism, I really appreciate it.

I haven't watched enough KC - I know they dropped a couple of close ones, but he was still doing Mahomes-y things in the game last night. Some of the key turnovers were little flukey. I was nervous every time he got the ball, right until the end. That team has quite a few weaknesses, but I still feel like that guy can score every time. I'm sure you can remember a few seasons where people were questioning Brady early, and then he went on to win an AFCCG or SB....

Lamar IS fun to watch. But c'mon Colts.

That almost seems impossible. No one seems to think 2 seconds in advance anymore.

I watched more baseball than I usually do this season, and I heard announcers say more than once that a borderline strike call can depend a lot on what the count is. I'm sure they do that kind of thing in the NFL. It's all in the context of the game, and keeping people tuned in.

Maybe - we've seen it a few times that some assistant stepped in and emerged as a good or great one.

Well.....NOW. Yeah, that looks bad. I think if the league office was on the fence or anywhere near it, the new stuff will likely tip the scales...

I will, and if it's not, it's not - if it's part of a pattern, that's a much more valid criticism. But there were a million snap judgments when the story came out, when nothing else was known. That's how it is every time.

Another poster mentioned it - "pattern" is so important in these situations. As is intent. There is real racism out there, obviously. One isolated comment ain't it.