Brian wolf wrote: ↑Sun Jan 18, 2026 2:12 pm
For 74_75_78_79 ... I did speculate about McDermott possibly losing his job on the wild card thread if the Jags beat the Bills convincingly; especially with John Harbaugh out there as a potential successor, but with the Bills fighting the Jags and Broncos down to the wire, its doubtful his job will be in danger.
Its a perplexing team however ... Beane hasnt necessarily given McDermott enough players to help them get over the hump, but the team has talent and plays well within the systems. Like the Broncos with Elway, this team lives and dies through Josh Allen.
He isnt getting any younger and its doubtful that he can maintain his physical, running style of play, forever. They have to get him the SB he deserves, but even with the NFL's #1 rushing attack, the defense still isnt dominate enough to get them over the hump.
I worked late last night so only caught the very end of the game (and could only stay up for the very beginning of the Seahawks thrashing of San Fran). From what I understand, in this very game, the other players kept things well in-range for Josh to get it done for them. And when I said, "ALL" Josh, I just meant that relatively so. Yes, they got other key-enough players, but overall they should still improve the roster as far as getting to the playoffs in the first place is concerned along with them finally getting over-the-hump in the post-season.
Yes, no Chiefs in the way this time (I'd say Ravens as well, but Bills seemed to be alright against them as evidenced last year, at least). But not too much a disgrace. Denver, with Nix, seemed like a nice-enough 'replacement' to be a good-enough road-block. Even if they did lose at Jax last week, not such a disgrace either.
And I know that you, CSK, will disagree (lol), but Texans/Pats not too shabby either. No, I don't accuse them of being SB-caliber, but I don't know, there's nothing paper-tigerish about finishing 8-0 at home, 14-3 overall, with two of those wins at Buf & TB. Drake seems for real and Vrabel...if his time here in NE is anything like his time in Tennessee (which Pats-fans are
not rooting for, for sure) his team this year, at least, will has enough 'bite' to it as the '19 Titans did (unlike, sadly, the top-seed one-and-done '21 version). And as for Houston, their defense is sure SB-caliber, and what are the chances, really, of Stroud messing up two games in a row or even messing up again as long as they're still in the playoffs?
But we'll see. You may be right in the end. Just like you were about this year's Chiefs.
And those 'Hawks! Man! Wasn't expecting such a romp. Despite the obvious injuries all year, I still leaned on San Fran. Next week, I thought, would be the "as good as it gets" moment instead for Kyle & Co. 41-6 final score...without looking it up, wasn't that the same final score that KC beat them by at home in '97, thus - with me, at least - being the 'heart' of what made me see them as a paper-tiger in that first season under Mariucci?