The NFL Thread - Root for your favorite team (or laugh at the Browns, whichever's easier)

[Blue Gem Kosher Queen]

Has anyone here switched teams? How did you pick one. I'm kind of leaning toward Buffalo because I love their fans, uniforms, players, and plays. I just want a team that's actually involved in the discussion , Arizona has always had 0 identity and Stockholm syndrome fans.

I did pick the Lions.

I've no ties to Michigan, much less Detroit. I don't even remember why, it just clicked for me. I can't even say I got the see the true suck for the franchise as I can't remember a year without Megatron or Stafford. There's so many Steelers fans here you would believe its W PA. My dad and grandpa claim to like the Niners but neither follow the sport that closely, I only ever liked the Niners in the Harbaugh years when they suddenly stopped sucking and that was because I knew they sucked for most of my life. I think I don't like them precisely because of my family. I have had a soft spot for the Chargers when they were still in San Diego, Indy before it killed Luck and Buffalo. I will always have a special place in my heart for Philly because I won a bet and donated to a children's hospital and I kinda like the Vikes because they get it.

The Detroit Lions are a Charlie Brown that snapped and will only fall by tripping on his own foot, on his own terms. How can I not root for that?

 

[Americunt]

I will always have a special place in my heart for Philly because I won a bet and donated to a children's hospital

That rules, which Philly game did you bet on?

 

[Blue Gem Kosher Queen]

That rules, which Philly game did you bet on?

What other game would a non-American ever bet on?

I was on my first job as a wagie. It was a cold day and I remember I knew it was the Supah Bawl but I didn't learn the teams involved until I saw a pub near the restaurant I worked at with the logos. So there's this guy I worked with, a Pats fan I assume, and he manages to convince me to bet. Not a lot, but we were wagies. I remember the first quarter was about to end when I get on break but I couldn't see the game. I just said to God, 'if I win, I'll give this to charity' with the innocence of someone who still doesn't count every penny they earn or has debts but a little extra money. My shift ends shortly after. I get home, turn on the telly and get to see this beauty about 4 plays later. For a sec it felt like I myself was taking down the Evil Empire. I don't think the Supah Bawl ever made me feel as much bliss as that time, or anything else made me fall in love with football since the first time I ever saw a Lions game.

Guy didn't pay me, not even the first time. So about a month later I get some cash I donate to charity myself. Funny thing is I've more reasons to root for Boston teams but everyone I know hates the Patriots.

 

[Americunt]

View attachment 6431502
What other game would a non-American ever bet on?

I was on my first job as a wagie. It was a cold day and I remember I knew it was the Supah Bawl but I didn't learn the teams involved until I saw a pub near the restaurant I worked at with the logos. So there's this guy I worked with, a Pats fan I assume, and he manages to convince me to bet. Not a lot, but we were wagies. I remember the first quarter was about to end when I get on break but I couldn't see the game. I just said to God, 'if I win, I'll give this to charity' with the innocence of someone who still doesn't count every penny they earn or has debts but a little extra money. My shift ends shortly after. I get home, turn on the telly and get to see this beauty about 4 plays later. For a sec it felt like I myself was taking down the Evil Empire. I don't think the Supah Bawl ever made me feel as much bliss as that time, or anything else made me fall in love with football since the first time I ever saw a Lions game.

Guy didn't pay me, not even the first time. So about a month later I get some cash I donate to charity myself. Funny thing is I've more reasons to root for Boston teams but everyone I know hates the Patriots.

Maaaaan, that's awesome, great story. Philly Philly! (To think a really cringe bud light ad campaign from that year lives on in NFL history as one of the most iconic plays of all time)

 

[Drama Fan]

(Then again, it was technically a Philly home game so maybe that's appropriate).

The prior 2 Packers foreign games were in Europe and were "home "games which sucks (I also couldn't blame the fields for those games). At least Sao Paulo is in the right time zone. I'm surprised they don't try to do more games in Canada where there's at least another football league and Mexico which I guess is one of the bigger NFL following countries. Last I checked at least Canada and Mexico can grow grass for a proper field.

At least flag a franchise that's never even made it to the Superbowl to job to the chiefs

I was super high on the Lions last post-season for this. The script writers/refs could have done something cool if they wanted to instead of the same old same old.
E: @Blue Gem Muslim Queen The Nick Foles Super Bowl was amazing for everyone outside of the greater Boston area. I'm glad you could share that with us.

 

[Americunt]

The prior 2 Packers foreign games were in Europe and were "home "games which sucks (I also couldn't blame the fields for those games). At least Sao Paulo is in the right time zone. I'm surprised they don't try to do more games in Canada where there's at least another football league and Mexico which I guess is one of the bigger NFL following countries. Last I checked at least Canada and Mexico can grow grass for a proper field.

Canada has their own league, though I don't know how popular it is compared to the NFL as far as football fans over there are concerned. Besides Hockey is king for them anyway, so why bother.

Are there any stats that show how these international exhibitions actually "grow the game" I imagine the Ameriboos in those countries who care about our football are as faggy and annoying as Americans who love soccer or cricket. Always a headscratcher to me that a bunch of bongs and krauts are not only excited to see, what I can only imagine looks like a weird version of rugby to them, but are invested in teams and players like they apparently are.

 

[Eadred]

Canada has their own league, though I don't know how popular it is compared to the NFL as far as football fans over there are concerned. Besides Hockey is king for them anyway, so why bother.

Are there any stats that show how these international exhibitions actually "grow the game" I imagine the Ameriboos in those countries who care about our football are as faggy and annoying as Americans who love soccer or cricket. Always a headscratcher to me that a bunch of bongs and krauts are not only excited to see, what I can only imagine looks like a weird version of rugby to them, but are invested in teams and players like they apparently are.

The NFL has been steadily growing in Europe in the past 5 to 6 years.
When I started getting interested in the game, it was pretty niche, usually only the super bowl would be broadcasted, but now it became pretty mainstream (which has its ups and downs).
As a fan of the game I appreciate the growing presence in Europe, but the talks of Europe having their own franchises and whatnot is stupid, I hope they'll never do that.
And yes, if you do not understand the rule set, it's really hard getting into American football. The first match I watched, I was baffled most of the time, and the commentators did not explain anything.
Once I understood the basic stuff, it started to be a really good spectator sport for me (minus the bombardment of ads, that still infuriates me).
Nowadays the local commentators explain the rules so newbies can get into the game pretty easily, which is nice.

 

[AllieKat]

Touch downs thrown through first two career starts:

Zach Wilson - 2
Mitch Trubisky - 1
Nathan Peterman - 1
Jamarcus Russell - 2
Ryan Leaf - 1
Josh Rosen - 2
Brady Quinn - 2

Caleb Williams - 0

 

[Americunt]

Touch downs thrown through first two career starts:

Zach Wilson - 2
Mitch Trubisky - 1
Nathan Peterman - 1
Jamarcus Russell - 2
Ryan Leaf - 1
Josh Rosen - 2
Brady Quinn - 2

Caleb Williams - 0

To be totally fair to this little queer, none of the QBs from this draft class who are starting have thrown a TD yet. Probably more useful at this point looking at how many INTs they've thrown so far to judge them.

Caleb Williams - 2
Bo Nix - 2
Jayden Daniels - 0

 

[Squid Diddler]

Also as an aside, I know it's way too early in the season to actually call it, but my totally schizo theory is KC bumbles and doesn't get the threepeat this year. Their injuries are stacking up and they haven't really faced a decent defense yet, Kelce's barley got the ball this season, and even if I'm wrong on either of those, I think the pressure is too high for them not to choke, and their self-confidence in themselves is too high to see it coming. quote this post in February to call me a retard or a genius.

I really hope you’re right, but KC has never been a team that really relies on its skill players. As long as they have Reid/Mahomes they will always pull off some magical bullshit. And the refs too. I’m pretty sure they are not targeting Kelce as much to test how things will work when he almost certainly retires next year. However if things get tight they will 100% start relying on him heavily again.

Again, I will be first in line to laugh at their misfortune should they fuck up, but it has never paid off to bet against them unless Brady is involved.

 

[Americunt]

The NFL has been steadily growing in Europe in the past 5 to 6 years.
When I started getting interested in the game, it was pretty niche, usually only the super bowl would be broadcasted, but now it became pretty mainstream (which has its ups and downs).
As a fan of the game I appreciate the growing presence in Europe, but the talks of Europe having their own franchises and whatnot is stupid, I hope they'll never do that.
And yes, if you do not understand the rule set, it's really hard getting into American football. The first match I watched, I was baffled most of the time, and the commentators did not explain anything.
Once I understood the basic stuff, it started to be a really good spectator sport for me (minus the bombardment of ads, that still infuriates me).
Nowadays the local commentators explain the rules so newbies can get into the game pretty easily, which is nice.

Could you explain what's so enticing about the game for European audiences? Is it how idiosyncratic it is compared to other sports, what with it's kind of difficult to understand ruleset for beginners? And why do you think it's only started to gain traction over there the past decade or so when, as far as I'm aware, American Baseball, in my mind a much simpler sport, never caught on in the same way?

Also why are you opposed to European teams? If you mean them joining the American teams to play in the regular season, I agree lol. But there's a small but pretty dedicated fanbase for the American professional soccer teams here in the states, I don't see why a regional league running the NFL's ruleset couldn't be succesful if a market of fans already exists. Would make for much more interesting exhibition games than burning the home game of some random American team, and forcing both of them to go to a road game on a 10+ hour flight roundtrip during the regular season. Make it an offseason event or something where a local european gridiron team plays a random team from the league (Don't worry we'd send someone who suck like Carolina or the Giants).

 

[Leaf Wage Slave Jr]

To be totally fair to this little queer, none of the QBs from this draft class who are starting have thrown a TD yet. Probably more useful at this point looking at how many INTs they've thrown so far to judge them.

Caleb Williams - 2
Bo Nix - 2
Jayden Daniels - 0

Man, who’d think that the best of the Rookie QB’s would be the one to take himself out of his rookie season. It gives the Viking’s an extra year to hope that they drafted their savior, and will make it funnier if JJ’s just as trash.

Canada has their own league, though I don't know how popular it is compared to the NFL as far as football fans over there are concerned. Besides Hockey is king for them anyway, so why bother.

The CFL isn’t bad per say - has the standard Ref problems, and the limited amount of teams means we see Dynasties way too often - but barring a few changes compared to the NFL (we have 3 downs, Centre Field is technically the 55, the uprights are at the front of the endzone, and there’s a yard between teams at the line meaning 3rd and 1 is practically a gimmie) it’s basically just Spring League. It’s just the player base is either “home grown talent that couldn’t crack the NFL” or “players who washed out of the NFL” - see the time my Bombers almost signed Pac-Man Jones back in ‘09…

Does feature the one good thing about TSN being a National Network - we don’t get CFL games blacked out very often.

 

[Eadred]

@Americunt
Can't quote you for some reason:

As for the rising popularity: there has been a huge marketing push in the past years, less about the sport itself, but more about the buzz around it, super bowl half time shows, Brady/Gronk/Mahomes fellatio, Swift and Kelce. That got the normies interested.
The coverage and availability of the games also got way better, you got mainstream sports outlets reporting any broadcasting games instead of having to find either an unofficial source, or only having the super bowl on TV on a 2nd grade broadcasting station.
Then there is the sporting spectacle of it even if you do not understand the rules, you recognize an unusual and extraordinaire play, which gets a crowd going. And muscle men bashing into each other is a nice change to European football faggotry, you look at a player the wrong way and that player is rolling on the ground crying.
I don't oppose local leagues, there are leagues here. I even wish that they would have been a thing when I was young, would have loved to play it (in hindsight).
What I'm opposed to is the idea of an NFL franchise based in Europe which would include the idiotic globetrotting for an away game, and that is one of the great ideas making the rounds by the NFL marketing team.
Fan culture in Europe is different, it's more based in tradition and not about opening new franchises, or franchises moving place. Just dropshipping a new NFL team into any European city would feel weird. There is no history there, nothing that makes you bond with the team. Just feels wrong lol.

 

[FootballBuff]

Guy didn't pay me, not even the first time. So about a month later I get some cash I donate to charity myself. Funny thing is I've more reasons to root for Boston teams but everyone I know hates the Patriots.

Fuck I bet my coworker a hundred bucks the Pats would win this game, I knew I was fucked after I them pull if the philly special.

 

[Squanto Airi]

What I'm opposed to is the idea of an NFL franchise based in Europe which would include the idiotic globetrotting for an away game, and that is one of the great ideas making the rounds by the NFL marketing team.

They could always try to bring back NFL Europe.

 

[Americunt]

Man, who’d think that the best of the Rookie QB’s would be the one to take himself out of his rookie season. It gives the Viking’s an extra year to hope that they drafted their savior, and will make it funnier if JJ’s just as trash.

The fact JJ and Drake Maye have as many TDs as anyone in this class from IR and the bench respectively is really funny to me, I know it's early in the season and the Broncos and Commanders are clown shows right now anyway but Caleb not even getting one pass off for a tuddy is pathetic with how much the Bears invested in building the team around him in the offseason.

Fuck maybe Justin Fields wasn't the problem, I'm happy he's getting a chance to prove himself on a team that believes in him, and it's endlessly hilarious to me that Russ has to watch the QB nobody believed in this offseason light it up from the cuck chair.

 

[AllieKat]

Russ has to watch the QB nobody believed in this offseason light it up from the cuck chair.

Russ been cucking since he stepped in to raise Future's brat

 

[Americunt]

Russ been cucking since he stepped in to raise Future's brat

Also very funny, it's like a nigger version of that shitty Mark Whalberg/Will Ferrell Step-dad movie.

 

[Blue Gem Kosher Queen]

Mexico which I guess is one of the bigger NFL following countries

As anything else involving Mexico, Mexico is Mexico's worst enemy. Damn Mexicans ruined Mexico.

They exclusively hold their games in Mexico City, which is a logistics clusterfuck compared to how England and Germany have alternated host stadiums. In 2018, they lost the right to hold THAT K.C. v. LA game because the grass was shite. The stadium belongs to the biggest media empire in the country and those fuckers are only rich because people in Mexico still watch TV. If the Jaguars have a second home in London, the Raiders are basically Mexico's team but they will take any team from the Southwest wiling to play there. The push for the sport is a tad more organic because half of Mexico's population worked unclogging toilets in the States and some kickers were Mexican back when they were figuring out how kickers worked.

 

[GnomeofDoc]

OK Jim it’s time to calm down, no need to get biblical with us for week three of the rebuild.