NFL 2020 competition

[Pies4shaw]

No Pats v Kansas today. In 2020, Cam Newton has a new team, a new coach and a new virus.

[Pies4shaw]

The Pats v Chiefs game has been rescheduled and will be played today as an early Monday Night game (10.05 this morning, AEDT). The big Packers game is at 12 pm, AEDT. Kayo has added the Pats game to its schedule but now lists the starting time for the Packers’ game as 1 pm. I hope that’s a joke, because I don’t think too many people will still be wanting to watch Brian Hoyer at QB for the Pats by halftime.

[Pies4shaw]

Hoyer was taken out of the game by BB - but the change did no good. The Chiefs are 4:0. Meanwhile, with all of his receiving weapons sidelined, Rodgers still threw 4 TDs in the Packers’ dismantling of the Falcons. Robert Tongan, the Packers tight end became just the third tight end in Packers’ history to catch three TDs in one game. In his previous 27 games, he had caught just 2. Packers 4:0 and atop the NFC, for the time being.

In the NFC, the Seahawks are also 4:0. Brady has Tampa Bay 3 and 1. The Rams and Bears are also 3:1 but will be chasing the Seahawks and the Packers to try to top their Divisions. In the AFC, the Bills are also 4:0, while the Ravens are 3:1. The Ravens are probably still the second best team in the AFC but they’ve played the Chiefs early. The Colts and the Browns (no, that’s not a typo) are also 3 and 1. Meanwhile, the Steelers and the Titans both remain 3:0 - their game was postponed for COVID reasons. Even at this early stage, only the Patriots and Raiders (both 2:2) look capable of making the playoffs.

We are a quarter of the way into the season (Steelers and Titans aside) and realistically, the Bengals, Chargers, Dolphins, Broncos, Jaguars, Taxans and Jets will not make the playoff on the AFC side of the draw. On the NFC side, the Falcons, Vikings and Lions probably will not make the playoffs. The 49ers, Cardinals, Saints and Panthers are all still in with a good chance. The biggest intrigue is in the NFC East. The Giants are 0:4 but if they could get going could still make the playoffs. That's because the Division leader is the Eagles, with just 1 win and a tie (after overtime). Washington and Dallas are both on 1:3. One of those 4 teams will finish no lower than 4th in the Conference Standings. That will be fascinating to watch.

The Texans have fired their head coach.

[K]

"Not everyone was pleased. Broncos defensive end Shelby Harris wrote on Twitter: “Why are we getting punished when we did nothing wrong[?]” He pointed out that the Patriots have a bye week after Monday’s game while the Broncos will have shorter preparation time for their next game, and asked to “help it make sense.”
...

If further positive tests prevent the Titans-Bills game from being played Tuesday, there would be no spot on the schedule for the NFL to conveniently place it. The league’s options at that point could include a forfeit by the Titans, a cancellation of the game or the addition of an 18th week to the regular season."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/10/08/titans-covid-cases-nfl-schedule/

[Pies4shaw]

The Jets are now in COVID quarantine. I should think that not having to watch them play for a bit would be a great relief to their fans.

Update: Turned out to be a false positive. The Jets will play the Cardinals on schedule this weekend.

[K]

Titans, Patriots close facilities again after more positive tests; Patriots-Broncos postponed

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/10/11/patriots-facility-shut-down-coronavirus/

[Pies4shaw]

The Chiefs’ perfect start to the season has ended and Patrick Mahomes has ended his run of most starts all-time not beaten by more than 7 points at 40. The Raiders came to Arrowhead Stadium and won 40 to 32.

[Pies4shaw]

Seattle, though, moved to 5:0, with a big comeback win over Minnesota. 27 to 26 with Wilson throwing a TD pass on 4th and goal, 15 seconds to play. Green Bay had the bye, so they remain 4:0. Only Seattle and Green Bay remain undefeated in the NFC.

After the Chiefs’ loss, only Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Tennessee are undefeated in the AFC - but they’ve all missed games because of COVID.

[Pies4shaw]

Drew Brees is stinking it up, today. Chargers lead New Orleans 13:3 and should lead by more in a moment.

[Pies4shaw]

They do. 20:3, now - 4 and a bit minutes before halftime.

[Pies4shaw]

After all of that, the Saints came back to win 30:27 after overtime.

[Pies4shaw]

So, despite my best superstitious attempts not to interfere with Green Bay's winning ways, they have contrived to lose to Tampa Bay in the NFC Championship Game at Lambeau Field this mrning. So, Brady goes to his 10th Super Bowl, at the age of 93. FMD.

[Pies4shaw]

It will be Tampa Bay playing the Chiefs in the SB. The old GOAT v the new GOAT. At, hilariously, Tampa Bay’s home field (because that’s where the Super Bowl was scheduled for this year).

It isn’t even the end of the third quarter in Kansas City - but these Bills can’t beat Mahomes.

[Pies4shaw]

And the Chiefs it is - 38 to 24 over the Bills. Mahomes with a chance to go back to back. Bready with a chance to win his 7th Super Bowl. A big day in Tampa in a fortnight.

[What'sinaname]

Not that anyone doesn't think so already, but Brady is the GOAT.