The new NFL Season

Who do you look at Ditch, as your biggest or even most unlikable Division rivals ?.
Chicago used to be the best in there for a long time, and it was usually down to Green Bay or Minnesota as runners-up. And Detriot, were always nowhere to be seen.

 

A couple of decent games tonight I'm staying up for.

 

Chargers @ Texans is a battle of attrition so far, but a fascinating game with the defences being so on top.

Hoping to make it through at least some of Steelers @ Ravens. They absolutely hate each other, so it will have an edge to it.

In other news, I'm still fuming from yesterday's announcement of the home teams for next year's London games. We know we're getting the Jags each year, but adding the Jets and Browns to that is an absolute piss-take. They know the games will sell out regardless, so they're not even trying any more.

 

Chargers games gone wild.

I've only done one London game, Raiders v Dolphins a few years ago - found the crowd to be poorbso l haven't bothered since.

 

N,E. Patriots. Always have done, it's in the name and for that reason alone. As I have no connections re the US.

 

Been every year love it no matter who comes. You see some of the finest athletes in the world and the atmosphere is incredible.

 

Ahh so we do actually have some fans on here who are interested, after all ehh.
The Nfl moves onto the Play offs (Wild card) R1 weekend.
And as a Dallas fan myself this is hard, after the disappointing season we've just had. And especially with this absolute nonsense regarding our Coach Mike McCarthy!.
Also, seeing Washington over achieve like they have, and the likes of Philadelphia looking like possible Superwbowl contenders as well ehh!.

 

No I'm not having that Andy kid.
But hey, I do still think of them as the Redskins... none of this Commanders stuff and nonsense eh h lol.

 

And that's what I've also been saying each year now Sheriff, it disgusts me that Jacksonville keep getting at least one game here every year.
Nobody gives a toss about them, but some Nfl Uk stuffed suits keep on insisting that they come here, to try and drum up some business!!.

 

The Jags one is understandable to an extent, as it has long since been seen as a move to get them as a UK franchise, particularly with Shad Khan owning them and Fulham, given them a tenuous London link already. The ticketing for their games is now done separately to the White Hart Lane ones and they're currently in a 5 year contract to have games over here each year, from memory. It's 'priced in' as far as them having the Wembley game every year.

It's the choices for the other 2 games that are annoying. Jets played here in 2024 as an away team, so that's a lazy pick and the Browns are in turmoil once again (albeit thankfully no chance of Deshaun Watson playing, with all the baggage that would bring). Ticket prices went up significantly in 2024, and I expect they'll hike them again in 2025 for 3 garbage home teams. For the first time, I'm seriously considering not renewing my season tickets and instead just buying re-sale tickets in future for any games that I do want to go to. I might re-invest the money saved on a pilgrimage trip to the Linc to see the Eagles play a home game.

The other issue is that they've started scheduling the games on 3 consecutive Sundays, which is a real pain for anyone not living locally to get to. I've never had a problem re-selling the tickets I didn't use, but I'm not sure I can be bothered with the effort of doing so. Much will depend on what others in our group want to do.

 

And we have to do it all again this weekend, albeit with a significantly lower chance of success this time.

 

So now we move onto the Play offs R2, which is now effectively the seasons Qtr finals.
(* my predictions)

AFC
*Kansas v Houston
*Buffalo v Baltimore

NFC
Detroit v Washington*
*Philadelphia v L.A Rams

 

Chiefs tonight.

The Wrexham of the NFL, hope they get battered. Can't see it though but surely the Ravens or Bills will be too much for them

 

Btw, all 4 of those AFC teams won their divisions, which is a fair way of deciding it this weekend.
Buffalo and Baltimore could go either way, and Kansas should beat Houston easily, of course!.

 

Hope you're right, @Acido Tyke. I'm gonna try and catch 40 winks before the game - 1am kickoffs do not suit me.

 

As a Dallas fan, I'm always more interested in the NFC. And even more so with these games involving our division rivals Washington and Philadelphia.
Detroit have been excellent this season and they deserve the no1 ranking. But I think they're going to 'choke on it', to use an American type expression.

 

I'm hoping that Washington's experience of coming through a number of tight games this season will stand them in good stead. That's assuming of course that they can keep it tight.