NFL 2020: Super Bowl!

The Game Room
1

Well, it’s finally here. Super Bowl Week. I honestly did not think the NFL would be able to handle the coronavirus well enough to get here, on time, without missing any games. Kudos to them. A report indicates that the owners lost out on roughly 3-4 billion dollars in revenue this year. Which should easily be made up with the next round of media rights selloff coming up. And, so far, neither team in the Super Bowl has a player or coach with a positive test.

In other news, the Lions and Rams swap QBs with the Lions giving up a couple future 1st round picks in addition to Goff. Clearly the Rams are in “win now” mode, and the Lions … well they’re the Lions. While I was amused by their new head coach’s first press conference (“we’re going to bite a kneecap off”), I’m not sure he’s the guy to take over the development of Goff, but those picks will certainly come in handy. Seems like a win/win. And it should be the herald of a series of QB changes in the NFL. And finding out what is going to happen to Deshaun Watson should be eductional. Will a team be willing to pay the massive price the Texans have set for him? Should be fun.

Also, what the hell is up with Eric Bienemy? Did he kill a hooker? Date a racist owner’s daughter? Here’s hoping he gets an opportunity to be a head coach sometime soon. Because when guys like Campbell and Staley, guys without nearly his resume, get head coaching jobs and he doesn’t, it becomes even clearer that the NFL continues to have a race issue in coaching.

As the minds of the fans of the 30 teams that aren’t in the Super Bowl turn to the NFL draft, they had the Senior Bowl this past weekend. Names like Demetrius Felton, Quinn Meinerz, and Cameron Sample are now in the zeitgeist. The road to the draft has started to ramp up. Too bad there’s not a ton of game tape on a lot of guys this year.

Here’s your game:

Sunday, Feb. 7, 5:30 CST kickoff

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3, 56.5)

Color me surprised that the Bucs are only 3 point dogs. I’m guessing the home field advantage is a thing to bookmakers and bettors.

I expect a pretty good game. The Bucs defense is ranked 8th in scoring defense this year. Who wants to guess how many Super Bowls Tom Brady has won without a top 10 scoring defense? That’s right, none. Dude sure knows how to pick em. I think the Kelce v. David/White will be fascinating to watch, as well as PFF’s #5 ranked offensive line v. Chris Jones/Frank Clark. There’s a lot of interesting matchups, and while Arians is no slouch, I think Andy Reid is one of the best ever at finding and exploiting those matchups. Give me the Chiefs.

Meanwhile, it will be a chicken wing/pizza roll/nachos/little smokies fest at the Hamlethouse to celebrate. It sure would have been a lot nicer with the Packers playing, but it’s a once a year occurrence, so I’m going to enjoy it. I hope you guys do too.

2

I was totally rooting for Kansas City last year but they have already become rather Golden-State-Warrior-ish now. I will reluctantly root for the Bucs.

3

I assume you meant the Rams had to give up picks.

Eric Bienemy seemed like the sure fire next head coach hire and I’m stunned he got snubbed.

4

Yep. The team that gave up Goff also gave up a couple future 1st round picks.

5

Anyone else a little unenthused about the SB this year because of COVID? No parties to go to. No squares or prop bets at work. Not even a crappy pro bowl to keep our attention on football. I keep having to remind myself that it’s this weekend.

6

I don’t do Super Bowl parties, in fact I’ve never been to one. A couple of times I’ve had one or two relatives at my house to watch the game but generally it’s just a Sunday to stay in and watch a game. So this year isn’t really that different.

However, I’m unenthused because on one side it’s the Chiefs again, and on the other side it’s Brady again. I almost feel like I’ve kind of seen this game already. So I’m pretty “meh” about it.

7

That’s true. I would be far more excited if the Bills or Browns were on one side. And I’m not going to root for the Buccs to get their first SB in nearly 20 years because I only root for Brady when he’s going against the Packers.

8

Same here, plus my own disappointment about the Packers falling short of the game yet again. I’m sure I’ll watch it, because I always do, but I don’t have any particular preference or interest.

9

I mean, how many Super Bowls has any quarterback won without a top 10 scoring defense? According to this SI story just 7 out of 54. And actually only 12 losing teams have shown up without top 10 scoring defenses, also according to that story. It’s almost like a stingy defense is important to winning in the NFL playoffs.

10

You’re really into something. Let’s come up with a slogan, like “defense wins championships” and see if it catches on. What do you all think?

11

The thing I like best about this year’s game is Belichick is at home nursing a grudge.

12

The Broncos proved that by dragging broke-ass Manning across the line.

13

I bet he dresses really sharp at home in coordinated bespoke outfits and saves his nasty old ratty clothes for when he goes out in public.

14

The Chiefs have 2 guys in the protocol even though they haven’t yet tested positive.
Two Chiefs players clipped by barber’s positive COVID-19 test (nfl.com)

I think this is an overreaction. There’s a long history of Super Bowl coaches getting passed up simply due to timing. Teams don’t like sitting on their hands for 4 weeks waiting for a candidate to finish his season up. It puts them in a really difficult position for negotiations, if the SB coach interviews poorly or has unreasonable demands and your 2nd choice accepts another gig while you wait you can be stuck in a bad situation. I’m also not convinced Bienemy is a no-brainer coaching hire. Yes the Chiefs offense is amazing, but Reid is calling the plays and scheming things up. We see how it worked out with Matt Nagy.

15

Yeah, all the people under Andy’s tree who have achieved real success are on the ST/Def side. The only Offensive guy who’s had real success was Doug Pederson.

16

And that’s a little on the iffy side after last season. Might have been a fluke (or all Frank Reich).

17

86.7% of winners had a top ten defense. 81.1% had a top ten offense. Maybe the say should just be “good teams win Championships”.

18

Also, good offense begets good defense. Good defense begets good offense (unless you’re the Bears).

19

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations is inspecting incoming packaging for a wide variety of fake gear that is being shipped to Tampa this week ahead of Super Bowl LV.

“More often than not, that’s in a foreign country and you are supporting a foreign corrupt organization, criminal organizations, and even terrorist organizations, so the money you are going to look to save here you are really sending to a criminal organization and potentially you are supporting terrorism overseas,” said Homeland Security Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Sibley.

20

Aww, man! I should’ve known Tom only has one D in his last name. :weary: