by Tony | Oct 7, 2022 | Hall of Fame
When the NFL schedule maker set out to make the 2022 schedule, clearly they had the same thought that many fans had–the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos looked like two teams that just needed a little help–ideally in the form of quarterback upgrades–to take the next step in challenging for an AFC title. The Broncos only finished 7-10 last year, but played in arguably already the most difficult division in the league–and had a stingy defense that only allowed 322 points against. The Colts finished 9-8 and just missed the playoffs after choking against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17–a loss (and end of season slide) that many attributed directly to Carson Wentz.
Enter Russell Wilson and Matt Ryan–a matchup that led to the NFL making the week 5 matchup between the Colts & Broncos the prime time, Thursday night matchup. And led to many social media posts like this one, seen on Facebook actually this morning–after the…lackluster performance by both teams:
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by Tony | Feb 16, 2022 | Hall of Fame
So we’re just a few days removed from Matthew Stafford leading riding Cooper Kupp’s coattails in the Lions Rams’ Super Bowl victory, and as with all first-time QB Super Bowl winners, the Hall of Fame questions have started.
Unlike two years ago, when I think it was mostly parody asking about Patrick Mahomes (who may well be on his way, but was only in his second full year as a starter), Stafford actually has a resume built up that can be analyzed:
- 13 years in the league
- 49,995 yards passing (12th all-time)
- 323 touchdowns (12th all-time)
- 91.1 career rating (21st all-time)
- 34 comebacks, 42 game-winning drives
- 1 Super Bowl victory
Of course, he also has a few other career highlights:
- One Pro Bowl appearance (which shocks me…even this year he didn’t make it)
- Zero All-Pro selections
- 7 losing seasons (out of 12 years that he started at least 8 games)
- Only four playoff appearances, and zero wins before this season
Richard Sherman weighed in on Twitter:
“I’m gonna talk about it on the podcast but the HOF bar is incredibly low now. Like a participation trophy. No all decade team. No All pro. No MVP. 1 Pro bowl. Not even MVP of the SB. Never considered the best in any year he played. At least M Ryan has an MVP.”
“There is no measuring stick that makes Stafford a Hall of Famer other than playing in the most passer happy decade in NFL history. Inflated numbers make ever QB that starts 10+ years a ‘hof.’”
So did Michael Robinson, for what it’s worth:
“Yes he’s a gold jacket, ABSOLUTELY. The ultimate team goal, to win a Lombardi, Matthew Stafford actually has, and he was a huge part of winning this Super Bowl.”
And like many other players and coaches of late, his wife chimed in on it:
“And now … the debate on the HOF? We shouldn’t be talking about the HOF because he isn’t done playing the game yet. If you don’t believe he is a HOFer … I can’t wait for him to prove you wrong in his remaining years … just like he did IN ONE YEAR to everyone who said all the things listed above. So let’s table this talk until he actually retires? Thank you.”
The question even came up in the comments here on Zoneblitz already.
So what say you, the Zoneblitz faithful? Leave your thoughts in the comments below…
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Photo by Mike Morbeck
by Tony | Jan 2, 2022 | 2021 season, NFL Picks
Something something something…with no Thursday games this week, we got picks done, but forgot to get them posted.
Pretty sure we tied last week, despite an atrocious start to Tony’s picks — Andy missed a bunch at the bottom to make up for it.
| Week 16 |
Tie: 8-8 |
|
| Season |
Tony 120-119-1 |
|
Here are the picks.
1) Andy – Patriots over Jaguars – New England stumbled against Buffalo last week, but the Patriots are still playoff bound. Jacksonville lost James Robinson last week, a terrible individual result for the team as it winds down yet another terrible season. All hope should be about lost.
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by Tony | Nov 11, 2021 | 2021 season, NFL Picks
One week after possibly the most lopsided loss in this segment (a 12-3 shellacking by Andy), and we’re right back to … tying. Not a typical tie where we both nailed all our picks, of course — no, an ugly tie that featured misses on the top three picks. Ugly indeed.
| Week 9 |
Tie – 7-7 |
| Season |
Tony 71-65 |
1) Tony – Steelers over Lions – Despite Big Ben looking to be 103 years old, the Steelers have quietly remained relevant in a muddled AFC, currently sitting in the 2nd wildcard spot. The Lions are coming off a bye week that had many NFL Meme sites posting that they unfortunately lost to the bye week, 27-24.
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by Tony | Sep 16, 2021 | 2021 season, NFL Picks
Some big talk last week from Andy, who failed to back it up in the picks or straight up, with Tony winning picks 10-6, and winning straight up picks 9-7 vs 8-8. Admittedly, it was a case of both of us getting several wrong in picks, rather than one of us nailing things–as our straight up picks can attest to. And the only difference we had in straight up picks was the final game choice of the week, with the Dolphins giving me the slight edge.
Week 2 finds still not a lot of games to feel great about, especially after the clunkers put on by the Packers, Titans and Falcons (who were never going to win a lot of games, but…6 points against an NFC East team). On to the picks!
1) Tony – Buccaneers over Falcons – Three games with double digit lines this week, but I’m not comfortable enough with the third one to to go 2-3 in the picks. I’ll take the Super Bowl champs on three days extra rest against a team that looked absolutely hapless on Sunday against a team that I thought might be in line for the first overall pick.
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Most likely Paul he gets eliminated in the cut down from 15 to 10
Eli made final 15 last year so clearly has support among voters-doubt he advances further but don’t see a step…
Eli made final 15 last year so clearly has support among voters-doubt he advances further but since a step back…
I hope ur right on Wiz and Webb ... The Greatest Both you and Paul think Eli will advance ...…
Willie Anderson Drew Brees Jahri Evans Larry Fitzgerald Frank Gore Torry Holt Luke Kuechly Eli Manning Steve Smith Sr Terrell…