2024-2025 NFL Season (1 Viewer)

[Robert Crawford]

I'm starting this new NFL thread since we're on the verge of the new season opening this Thursday night.

 

[Robert Crawford]

This will be the first NFL season in which I don't have the Sunday Ticket since 1995.

 

[Walter Kittel]

Pretty entertaining first game of the season this evening. Tough way for the Ravens to lose the game, but clearly Lively was out of bounds. Despite being out of bounds on that crucial play, Lively had a heck of a game for the Ravens this evening.

I thought the refs were way too stringent on the Illegal Formation penalties, flagging the Ravens at least three times early in the contest. I will be curious to see if the other crews call this as tightly during this weekend's games.

It is early, but it sure looks like the Chiefs and Ravens are going to be meeting again sometime in January. I thought both clubs were pretty impressive this evening.

- Walter.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Pretty entertaining first game of the season this evening. Tough way for the Ravens to lose the game, but clearly Lively was out of bounds. Despite being out of bounds on that crucial play, Lively had a heck of a game for the Ravens this evening.

I thought the refs were way too stringent on the Illegal Formation penalties, flagging the Ravens at least three times early in the contest. I will be curious to see if the other crews call this as tightly during this weekend's games.

It is early, but it sure looks like the Chiefs and Ravens are going to be meeting again sometime in January. I thought both clubs were pretty impressive this evening.

- Walter.

Yup, an entertaining game. The first 3-4 games for each team is always sloppy because the starters rarely play much in exhibition games. I expect plenty of penalties in those games.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

I only watched the first half, but it definitely was entertaining. Games involving Mahomes or Jackson at QB usually are entertaining. All the teams that passed on both those guys in the draft have to be kicking themselves. Although, you have to wonder how each would have done had they landed with other teams. Each seems to fit so well with their coach's system.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

Yes, fun game. It used to be coming out of the preseason that defenses tended to be ahead of offenses, mainly because the offense needed to gel, get timing down, blow the rust off, etc. Now it seems the opposite. The offenses come out of preseason ahead of the defenses and the defenses are working to build their endurance, and come together as a unit. It is like the defenses are not ready for the full speed of an offense and are not back into full contact and having to really keep up with the offensive players. So, we get more offense now at the start of a season.

This does make for more entertaining games, offense is fun to watch and I wonder if it is on purpose. It would seem the NFL prefers offense over defense and has for a while.

Mahomes was excellent last night. Jackson kind of is the majority of the Ravens offense. I mean, he is the leading passer obviously, but also the leading rusher. I still find that a risky way to use your QB in the NFL. He is the guy that makes that offense go though and he does it playing the way he plays. Both of these guys are MVP type players for their franchises.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Yes, fun game. It used to be coming out of the preseason that defenses tended to be ahead of offenses, mainly because the offense needed to gel, get timing down, blow the rust off, etc. Now it seems the opposite. The offenses come out of preseason ahead of the defenses and the defenses are working to build their endurance, and come together as a unit. It is like the defenses are not ready for the full speed of an offense and are not back into full contact and having to really keep up with the offensive players. So, we get more offense now at the start of a season.

This does make for more entertaining games, offense is fun to watch and I wonder if it is on purpose. It would seem the NFL prefers offense over defense and has for a while.

Mahomes was excellent last night. Jackson kind of is the majority of the Ravens offense. I mean, he is the leading passer obviously, but also the leading rusher. I still find that a risky way to use your QB in the NFL. He is the guy that makes that offense go though and he does it playing the way he plays. Both of these guys are MVP type players for their franchises.

We'll see if the other games this weekend follows that pattern because I think it has more to do with Mahomes and Jackson being MVP type QBs. We'll see if other less talented QBs have the same type of offensive output.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

We'll see if the other games this weekend follows that pattern because I think it has more to do with Mahomes and Jackson being MVP type QBs. We'll see if other less talented QBs have the same type of offensive output.

Yes, I don't think every QB is Mahomes or Jackson, but I think the top QBs probably run their offenses at a high level.

Robert, I ended Direct TV in 2020, instead I subscribe to the NFL service through NFL.com which has their own channel on ROKU and you get all of the games, just not live, but you can watch them condensed and from different views. It's pretty great and only costs about $100.00 for the season. I actually have really enjoyed it and can watch a lot more football with it at a far lower cost than I did with the Direct TV package...now Youtube package. Have you considered trying that? I mean, if you want a football package.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

Also, all the games remain available all season to watch again, and I think if you stay subscribed you also have access to games from previous seasons. It is easily the best deal to watch NFL games at the lowest price.

NFL+ is what it is called and you can get it in three different ways, one package at 9.99 per month with less features, the premium package at $14.99 a month, or buy it for the year in one payment and get an additional discount I believe. Can't beat it really.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Robert, I ended Direct TV in 2020, instead I subscribe to the NFL service through NFL.com which has their own channel on ROKU and you get all of the games, just not live, but you can watch them condensed and from different views. It's pretty great and only costs about $100.00 for the season. I actually have really enjoyed it and can watch a lot more football with it at a far lower cost than I did with the Direct TV package...now Youtube package. Have you considered trying that? I mean, if you want a football package.

Also, all the games remain available all season to watch again, and I think if you stay subscribed you also have access to games from previous seasons. It is easily the best deal to watch NFL games at the lowest price.

NFL+ is what it is called and you can get it in three different ways, one package at 9.99 per month with less features, the premium package at $14.99 a month, or buy it for the year in one payment and get an additional discount I believe. Can't beat it really.

I've been thinking about NFL+ for a couple of years. Yesterday, I decided to take the plunge and subscribed to it. The only complaint I have so far, it only allows you to choose one favorite team. Another thing I noticed is that I prefer using my Roku unit over my AppleTV unit when it comes to fast forwarding games.

 

[Walter Kittel]

After two games, it is pretty safe to say that Offense is leading Defense. Of course as was noted, it feels like this is what the League prioritizes. I didn't watch all of the Packers & Eagles contest, but both teams had their share of big plays. I was tired and didn't complete the game, so I did not see Jordan Love's injury at the end of the game.

I expect that the scoring will drop off a bit this weekend, as an aggregate, as some of the weaker teams get into the mix. It usually takes me a while to get into football each season, but this year I am kind of already primed. ( Having a decent Houston Texans team this year probably helps. )

- Walter.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

After two games, it is pretty safe to say that Offense is leading Defense. Of course as was noted, it feels like this is what the League prioritizes.

The vast majority of rules that the league has implemented over the past few decades have been an advantage for the offense, especially the passing game. Any rule that is more advantageous for the defense is pretty much due to safety issues, such as the crack back block, etc.

 

[Jeffrey D]

The new kickoff rules- any thoughts?

 

[Scott Merryfield]

The new kickoff rules- any thoughts?

Too early to say, IMO. The formation certainly looks odd, though.

 

[Robert Crawford]

After two games, it is pretty safe to say that Offense is leading Defense. Of course as was noted, it feels like this is what the League prioritizes. I didn't watch all of the Packers & Eagles contest, but both teams had their share of big plays. I was tired and didn't complete the game, so I did not see Jordan Love's injury at the end of the game.

I expect that the scoring will drop off a bit this weekend, as an aggregate, as some of the weaker teams get into the mix. It usually takes me a while to get into football each season, but this year I am kind of already primed. ( Having a decent Houston Texans team this year probably helps. )

- Walter.

I went to bed at halftime but caught most of the second half on NFL+ this morning. My fear is that Love sustain a major leg injury. When they start talking about hearing a pop, that could only mean a tendon or ligament.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

The new kickoff rules- any thoughts?

Well, I certainly have not adjusted to them. As Scott says, it looks strange to me, almost giving me a feeling I am watching an exhibition game rather than a real NFL game. If it leads to fewer injuries then, sure, I think that's fine. It has changed what is a spectacular kicking play. Like watching last night's game the Green Bay kicker on one kickoff got raves from the announcers because he placed a ball perfectly in the "drop zone" so that the Eagles player had to return it. I mean, had they not said that was an amazing kick, I would not have thought it was. So, it is like learning a new aspect of the game to me. Like what is a good kick now. How will an onside kick attempt look now? I mean, in the new formation the kicker is way back behind everyone. So, do they go to a more traditional look for an onside attempt? Or is an onside kick now also supposed to land in the "drop zone" and it is a free for all trying to recover it?

 

[Malcolm R]

Under the current rule, the "good kick" is a kick that lands in the drop zone so it can be returned.

• If the ball reaches the end zone in the air, the receiving team can return it or opt for a touchback and possession at the 30.
• If the ball hits the landing zone and then goes into the end zone, the receiving team can return it or opt for a touchback and possession at the 20.
• Any kick that hits the landing zone (but doesn't go into the end zone) must be returned.
• Any kick out of bounds or short of the landing zone places the ball at the 40.

I think the onside attempt would be closer to the traditional lineup, because the team must announce it. There is no "surprise" onside kick anymore. They need to let the refs know they are going to attempt an onside kick so they can adjust the alignment. Also, onside attempts are now only allowed in the 4th quarter.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

Under the current rule, the "good kick" is a kick that lands in the drop zone so it can be returned.

• If the ball reaches the end zone in the air, the receiving team can return it or opt for a touchback and possession at the 30.
• If the ball hits the landing zone and then goes into the end zone, the receiving team can return it or opt for a touchback and possession at the 20.
• Any kick that hits the landing zone (but doesn't go into the end zone) must be returned.
• Any kick out of bounds or short of the landing zone places the ball at the 40.

I think the onside attempt would be closer to the traditional lineup, because the team must announce it. There is no "surprise" onside kick anymore. They need to let the refs know they are going to attempt an onside kick so they can adjust the alignment. Also, onside attempts are now only allowed in the 4th quarter.

Thanks for that explanation, Malcolm. They did show during the games that the official drop zone is from the 20 to the endzone line. So, should be pretty easy for a kicker to land the ball in that. I guess a great kick then is one you can get to die inside the 5.

I listened to some guys on NFL radio last week have a discussion of the new kickoff rules and the majority take on it was, just have your kicker kick everything out of the endzone and don't allow a return. So, the ball would always be coming out to the 30. They felt that was less risky than allowing a team a chance to return the ball unless I guess, your return game is terrible, then trying to force you to have to return it was the way to go. I don't know, will have to watch it for a season and see how it goes. Funny, they did not discuss onside kicks in the discussion I heard.

 

[Malcolm R]

I listened to some guys on NFL radio last week have a discussion of the new kickoff rules and the majority take on it was, just have your kicker kick everything out of the endzone and don't allow a return. So, the ball would always be coming out to the 30. They felt that was less risky than allowing a team a chance to return the ball

That was Bill Belichick's perspective when they interviewed him about the new rule. He said he'd want his kicker put it through the end zone every time and would live with placement on the 30 rather than risk a big return. He thought this might be the case once regular season began.

 

[Jeffrey D]

The question is, if the % of touchbacks don’t significantly drop from last season, what’s the next step the league will try? I have heard that the new rules are designed to bring back the possibility of the big play on the kickoff. How many returns for a TD were in the league last season? Not many.