The NFL Thread (with added College Football)

[cdbearsfan]

BEAR DOWN!

[OCD]

Had to be in work for 5:30am so watched the game and wished I hadn't bothered. It's starting to get like watching Villa. All due respect to Bears fans but we shouldn't be losing games like that. 2 key moments were Lacy's fumble and the officials stopping play to award us a penalty when we would have been through for a TD. Our Receivers aren't good enough, it's been highlighted by Jordy Nelson's injury and then everything else has fallen apart - Aaron's not been making passes, our offensive line haven't been as good at protecting Aaron and our running game hasn't been good enough. After last year's play-offs I thought we would have a real chance at the SB this year but our weaknesses have been exposed and we'll be lucky to make the play-offs at this rate.

[DaveD]

It's a really tough year to call. There is no outstanding team. Even the Patriots are losing key players at an unsustainable rate. Wide open.

[UK Redsox]

The Irish lost, so they're now out of the playoff mix.

Clemson had a close win but I doubt that they'll be marked down for that.

The Sooners win, so they're in.

I'm now predicting

Clemson
Bama
Sooners
Winner of Sparty v Hawkeyes

[UK Redsox]

Odell Beckham Jr does it again

Spectacular catch against the Racistmonikerdeleteds

[AV82EC]

The Irish lost, so they're now out of the playoff mix.

Clemson had a close win but I doubt that they'll be marked down for that.

The Sooners win, so they're in.

I'm now predicting

Clemson
Bama
Sooners
Winner of Sparty v Hawkeyes

Yep looks pretty nailed on.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Had to be in work for 5:30am so watched the game and wished I hadn't bothered. It's starting to get like watching Villa. All due respect to Bears fans but we shouldn't be losing games like that. 2 key moments were Lacy's fumble and the officials stopping play to award us a penalty when we would have been through for a TD. Our Receivers aren't good enough, it's been highlighted by Jordy Nelson's injury and then everything else has fallen apart - Aaron's not been making passes, our offensive line haven't been as good at protecting Aaron and our running game hasn't been good enough. After last year's play-offs I thought we would have a real chance at the SB this year but our weaknesses have been exposed and we'll be lucky to make the play-offs at this rate.

The stopped TD was the correct call, as it was an illegal shift apparently (taken straight from the NFL UK Forum).

Rodgers was outplayed by Cutler! Worst ever performance for him at Lambeau. Luckily the ridiculous penalty on the Porter interception which led to a Lacy touchdown didn't cost us.

Our DEF was superb, although we still need to improve against the run.

Oh and the Patriots lost as well - fantastic week in the NFL.

[CT]

Not a Patriots fan by any means, but even in defeat Tom Brady is just so good!

I reckon if all he had was some of us on here as his receiving unit, he'd still move us up the field with ease!

[ADVILLAFAN]

Was joyous seeing the Patriots lose, but they have got a lot of key injuries at the moment:-

Edelman
Amendola
Gronkowski?
Lewis
Quite a few on the OL I think
Hightower
Collins

[OCD]

Unbelievable.

[DaveD]

That facemasking call on the previous play was harsh, looked to me like he grabbed his shoulder pad. But yes - astonishing finish.

[UK Redsox]

just watched the highlights of the Packers @ Lions........wow, what a finish.

However I agree that the facemask call was harsh. the tackler's hand grazed the facemask before bringing Rodgers down by his shoulder pad. Probably it was technically the correct call but it was still harsh

[OCD]

I have absolutely no impartiality on this but I thought when Rodgers was on the ground that his face mask had been twisted around. I think the commentary team and the official in the studio said that there was enough contact for it to be the right call but only just.

I watched the first quarter and the first drive in the second quarter over breakfast. At 17-0 down I decided I wasn't going to watch it if we were crap and lost again (I have enough of that with Villa). So I looked up the score before continuing. I was surprised when I saw the score but it was still hard to believe watching it. I don't think we got on the scoreboard until late in the third. We still had to score 2 TD's in the last 4 minutes without reply too. Watching the last few seconds I was still jumping up and down and in disbelief - and I already knew what the score was. That normally only happens with live games. That ending was a great advert for the sport.

[UK Redsox]

I've just been messaging with Dennis Moss, who is attending a game at all 31 NFL stadiums during this season

http://www.thewrongshapedballs.com

Seeing as I've done all 30 baseball ballparks in 32 days, I'm in a pretty good position to relate to what an epic, rewarding and yet tiring challenge he's taken on.

[UK Redsox]

College Football semi final lineup

Clemson v Oklahoma

Alabama v Michigan State