NFL 2024-2025 Season

MNF
Chargers 23 - 30 Ravens
Point of difference Derrick Henry with 24 carries for 140 yards, & a strange counterpoint with Lamar only 15 yards on 8 runs which is rare for him to be so unproductive on the ground.
The Ravens allowed themselves the luxury of a 10 point deficit. If you don't stop Henry at the line, then good luck, you usually see 2 or 3 players hanging off him.
Although the Chargers kept the game close you always had the feeling that the Ravens had the edge & maybe just got warn down as the Ravens pulled away in the 4th quarter, despite a late Chargers TD.
A relatively clean game in many respects, although the Ravens had 9 penalties to the Chargers 7. No turnovers & very few punts. The Ravens D managed to sack Herbert 4 times with Jackson giving up just one. The Ravens ere also more efficient on 3rd down conversions.
This should be the template for the Ravens going forward & more importantly into the post season, dependent on the style of opposition, complementary football is what is required, there's been a tendency at times to lean on Jackson too much which is understandable given his talents & overlook Henry to a degree. The Playoffs will be a time for a heavy dose of Henry, which will make the play-action pass option more dangerous. You only have to take the Chiefs as an example, Mahomes doesn't try to win every game by himself, or more to the point the coaches don't draw it up that way.

Week 13 Live on Sky Sports NFL

TNF - Thanksgiving

Bears @ Lions 17.30
Giants @ Cowboys 21.30
Dolphins @ Packers 01.20

Black Friday
Raiders @ Chiefs 20.00

Sunday
Steelers @ Bengals 18.00
Eagles @ Ravens 21.25
49ers @ Bills 01.20

MNF
Browns @ Broncos 01.15

Bears @ Lions , top versus bottom in the NFC North, the Lions are rampant & on a 9 game winning streak, the Bears are on a 5 game losing streak, but have lost some close games, if the Lions get off to a fast start it could all be over by halftime.

Next up Giants & Cowboys, doesn't really catch your eye. I wont quote directly but a reference to expected quality/interest to this game & the saying "you can't polish a turd" summed things up nicely. Both teams are gone despite watch some are saying from the Cowboys camp, I guess the will have the most incentive.

Dolphins @ Packers looks the pick of the games, forget the records, the Dolphins are a different team when Tua is hot & on a 3 game winning streak, this is most likely to provide a competitive game with some hope that it is still alive come the 4th quarter.

Interesting that Paul Merson has been invited into the studio as a guest to join the regular Sky Sports NFL presenting team....Which reminds me, I need to get some beers in for halftime.

Lions 23 - 20 Bears

Turned out to be a compelling game, & a Shaboozey halftime show set the right tone.

Bears completely stuffed up in the dying seconds. Chances to win the whole game, & then not to get a chance to attempt a kick to tie the game. Very poor clock management. Yet another heart-breaking defeat for the Bears.

The positives to take from this is that Williams has a bright future, going toe to toe with stella Lions team, he has a very bright future.

Oh for f***ks sake

(28-11-2024 17:41 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  Interesting that Paul Merson has been invited into the studio as a guest to join the regular Sky Sports NFL presenting team....Which reminds me, I need to get some beers in for halftime.

Well Phoebe Schecter this evening reminded me not to put the central heating on she's made me very hot & bothered in her skintight AmberPants (veteran babeshow watchers will know what AmberPants are)

Cowboys 27 - 20 Giants
A brave effort from Lock who was battered all game, under pressure on almost every snap, he was sacked 5 times, threw an interception, but did manage a rushing TD as he scrambled for 57 yards on 4 carries.
The Giant took an early lead & were up 13-10 at halftime. In the 3rd quarter the Cowboys pulled away with 2 touchdowns, the second of which was a 4 yard run from the impressive Dowdle, who had 112 yards on 22 carries.
The Giants suffered 13 penalties for 98 yard which is hard to overcome.

Packers 30 - 17 Dolphins
The Packer held a 27-3 lead deep into the 3rd quarter, before Tua eventually got it going, all too late, by that point the Packers D were playing some soft coverage.
Love had very tidy numbers, the Packers stuck with the run game with 19 carries by Jacobs yielding just 43, but it served a purpose. With the Dolphins trailing the run game featured less & Tua was sacked 5 times.

The Bears have fired Matt Eberflus
That clock management at the end of the game was horrific
The Bears have the pieces, they just need to find the right coach to help them in critical situations. They've had some real heartbreakers this season