NFL 2024

[motley]

Hell of a game between the Rams and Lions.

 

[Texas Proud]

New KO rule is one of the dumbest rules ever. No idea what they were smoking when they came up w/that. You're going to see a ton of kicks out of the back of the end zone.

Interesting that the stats say not...

From memory and not paying too much attention today it was like 22% returned last year and 78% returned this year...

I did see one where it was on the 20 instead of the 30... they said if the ball hits in the field before the end zone and goes through it is on the 20... if in the end zone the 30... so now kickers are supposed to place the ball in the right spot..

To me the bad part is no surprise kickoff... there was a college game where the first kickoff was a pouch kick which was recovered by the kicking team... you will not see that in the pros anymore.. nor any other surprise kickoff attempts...

 

[motley]

If you say so....I watched several games and almost all were boring non-returned kicks.

And yeah you have to let the world know if you're going to try an onsides kick lol.

 

[Exchme]

NFL.com says there was one KO return TD (there were only two all last year). There were two other returns over 50 yards. Trouble is, unless there are also chances to pin offenses deep with good coverage, kickoff teams will quickly decide they don't want to get beat by a big return and will go back to kicking touchbacks.

 

[pb4uski]

I wonder if the kicker might be able to do a line drive kick that lands in the landing zone to surprise the receiving team. The kicking team would know that it is coming and get out of the way. It might surprise and hit one of the kicking team blockers and/or be hard for the receivers of the kicking team to field.

Given how close the kicking team is to where the ball would be fielded the advantage of a kickoff with a lot of hang time is no longer such an advantage.

There would be a risk in that if the ball hits the ground before the landing zone the receiving team would get it at the 40-yard line.

It will be fun to see what teams come up with.

BTW, onside kicks are still allowed, but they can only be done in the 4th quarter by the team that is trailing and the kicking team must declare their intention to do an onside kick.

 

[Winemaker]

New KO rule is one of the dumbest rules ever. No idea what they were smoking when they came up w/that. You're going to see a ton of kicks out of the back of the end zone.

It's still early with the new rule. Like everything else, there will be unintended consequences and smart FB people will figure out a great strategy. One of the pregame show analysts said everything will be touchbacks until that happens.

 

[motley]

Except if kickers kick it out of the end zone, there is no strategy. It would be interesting to hear the % of kicks out of the end zone next week.

 

[Midpack]

I'm just glad the NFL regular season is back. I watched WAY too much football yesterday, but I don't regret it at all.

 

[motley]

I like college much better, but yeah, glad football is back.

 

[aaronc879]

I'm just glad the NFL regular season is back. I watched WAY too much football yesterday, but I don't regret it at all.

Too much football? I don't understand.

 

[easysurfer]

Hell of a game between the Rams and Lions.

Was kind of a signature type loss by Stafford. Rams up and could have went milking the clock, Rams decided to help Lions by passing (and thus stopping the clock). Plus, the one play where runner ran out of bounds didn't help.

Also, for the coin flip, did the Rams win toss but elect to kick the ball? If so even worse and the Lions ran the ball for the winning TD and Rams never touched the ball in OT.

 

[GenXguy]

The only game I watched yesterday was the Bears - Titans. The Bears managed to pull out a 24-17 win against the Titans despite terrible offense with only 148 yards and no offensive touchdowns. Their number 1 draft pick quarterback didn't look so good, either.

 

[Jerry1]

Also, for the coin flip, did the Rams win toss but elect to kick the ball? If so even worse and the Lions ran the ball for the winning TD and Rams never touched the ball in OT.

No. Detroit won the coin toss and took the ball.

 

[motley]

Was kind of a signature type loss by Stafford. Rams up and could have went milking the clock, Rams decided to help Lions by passing (and thus stopping the clock). Plus, the one play where runner ran out of bounds didn't help.

?? Stafford had a hell of a game and this despite boatloads of injuries along the OL and then one of his star WRs getting knocked out. He was making Mahomes-level throws under pressure. They passed more because the run was doing absolutely nothing (I don't get why they didn't give Corum a shot or two). This is if anything a little on McVay but mostly credit where credit is due, Lions delivered when they had to.

Also, for the coin flip, did the Rams win toss but elect to kick the ball?

No team ever does that Because if the first receiving team scores a TD, game over, like last night. Which is stupid IMO. It should be more like college, where each team gets a chance.

 

[motley]

NY/SF was not the prettiest game, but a close one until the end.

 

[mistermike40]

Except if kickers kick it out of the end zone, there is no strategy. It would be interesting to hear the % of kicks out of the end zone next week.

On MNF tonight they mentioned a stat... I think 73% of kickoffs were touchbacks last year, and something like 65% the first week this year... not much of a difference. I think the main driver for this rule change is to avoid concussions, but if they want more returns they should go back to kicking off from the 30-yard line.

Regardless, I don't think I'll ever warm up to this new kickoff format.

 

[marko]

So we changed the kick off rules to make it safer but punt returns are ok?

 

[Car-Guy]

NY/SF was not the prettiest game, but a close one until the end.

I don't know, last year during the first game of the year, the Bills handed Aaron Rodgers his Achilles tendon. This year first game of the season, the 49ers, handed him his Gluteus Maximus. It was a blowout IMO.

 

[aaronc879]

NY/SF was not the prettiest game, but a close one until the end.

What? The Thursday and Friday games were close and you said they weren't and now this game was not close at all the entire second half and you think it was close until the end?

 

[aaronc879]

I don't know, last year during the first game of the year, the Bills handed Aaron Rodgers his Achilles tendon. This year first game of the season, the 49ers, handed him his Gluteus Maximus. It was a blowout IMO.

It wasn't a close game. It wasn't Rogers' fault though. He played pretty well. His receivers dropped a few balls and the 49ers defensive stopped several passes from being completions. I think Rodgers will prove to still be a top 15 QB at least but SF was just too good on defense.

 

[Car-Guy]

^^^^^^
I sort of agree, my earlier post today was a joke for the most part... However, I'm not a Aaron Rodgers fan.

 

[aaronc879]

^^^^^^
I sort of agree, my earlier post today was a joke for the most part... However, I'm not a Aaron Rodgers fan.

I don't like Rodgers as a person but as a player he is one of the best to ever play the game. Even as the oldest player in the NFL I think he will still be above average if he can stay healthy.

 

[easysurfer]

The only game I watched yesterday was the Bears - Titans. The Bears managed to pull out a 24-17 win against the Titans despite terrible offense with only 148 yards and no offensive touchdowns. Their number 1 draft pick quarterback didn't look so good, either.

I watched the first couple of drives then turned the tv off saying this is pitiful of the number 1 draft pick. I did check later in forth quarter and see the end.

 

[motley]

What? The Thursday and Friday games were close and you said they weren't and now this game was not close at all the entire second half and you think it was close until the end?

? I never said the Thurs/Fri games weren't close and for the majority of the game, yes, the Jets were within a couple of scores if that. Then in the 3d the 49ers took over. "Until the end" probably wasn't the best wording though.

As for Rodgers, top 15 means he's middle of the pack; I can see that but not much more.

 

[motley]

I watched the first couple of drives then turned the tv off saying this is pitiful of the number 1 draft pick. I did check later in forth quarter and see the end.

Rookie QBs usually take awhile to settle in. Some of the best ever had weak rookie years....