Football Archives - Page 8 of 41

Pitch that game: NFL Week 1, 2015

Hello everyone and welcome to America’s favorite game show that… has never actually happened before and no one has heard of it… it’s Pitch That Game!

Here’s how it works. As your host, I have one minute to pitch a sporting event to someone who is not a sports fan. If, after my pitch, they’re interested in watching, I get a point! That’s it! Why would we play such a game? Well, it’s a good way to quickly learn about a set of games to see if you’re interested in following any of them. It’s also a great way for me to learn from you about what may or may not make a sport interesting to a layperson.

During this episode I’ll be pitching the fifteen NFL football games that will take place during the first weekend of the NFL season on Sunday September 13 and Monday September 14. Our guest is Max Nisenbaum, a New York City resident, rock climber, and cognitive behavioral therapist.

Enjoy the show!

What do I need to know about the 2015 Washington Redskins?

National Football League (NFL) previews abound at this time of year. We’re close to the start of the 2015 NFL season and basically everyone in the sports world is in a tizzy, anticipating another great season of the country’s favorite sport. Whether you’re a beginning NFL fan, the family member, friend or partner of an NFL fan, or simply someone who doesn’t follow the league during the offseason, our team previews should get you ready for the season to begin.

If you’re curious about the history and culture surrounding the team, and not just the plot and characters of this edition of the team, read What’s special about the Washington Redskins?

How are Washington Redskins fans feeling heading into the 2015 NFL season?

Pissed off

When are the Washington Redskins on national television?

Use this to know when you should host a party with locally (or favorite team-ily) themed food!

Week 3 – vs. the New York Giants on Thu, Sep 24 at 08:25 PM.
Week 13 – vs. the Dallas Cowboys on Mon, Dec 7 at 08:30 PM.
Week 16 – vs. the Philadelphia Eagles on Sat, Dec 26 at 08:25 PM.

When is the Washington Redskins bye week?

Use this to know when to plan that camping trip you’ve been wanting to go on.

Week 8

What was the Washington Redskins record last season, in 2014?

Expressed as: wins – losses – ties (if any).

4 – 12

Who are the Washington Redskins most important departed characters?

Although he’s officially still on the roster, Robert Griffin III, the once and future hope of the Washington Redskins at quarterback for the past handful of years is seemingly gone. After oddly annoucning that he would be the starter this spring, coach Jay Gruden recently announced that he would be going with Kirk Cousins for the entire season instead. Once thought the complete package as a quarterback, RGIII is now a discarded delivery on the side of the road.

Who are the Washington Redskins most important new characters?

Offense, as terrible as it was, wasn’t even the biggest problem for the Redskins last year; that would be defense. The team’s defense was unrealistically bad, something which Redskins fans hope they addressed by bringing in cornerback Chris Culliver from the San Francisco 49ers. Culliver is better than anyone they had before, and entering the second year after an ACL tear, a prime prospect to improve even more.

Who are the Washington Redskins most important characters?

Owner Daniel Snyder is the cloud that looms over all of the dysfunction that Washington generates. Oh, sure, he can’t be blamed for Congress but his finger seems to be in every pot of ugly as it relates to football. The whole RGIII saga may have been over two years ago if it weren’t for Snyder who was either bamboozled into thinking RGIII could recover the excellence of his first year or furiously trying not to admit the trade Snyder pushed to acquire RGIII was a mistake.

What is the most pivotal pivot point for the 2015 Washington Redskins?

A quiet 3-13 season would actually be a success for this team. Anything, even 0-16 would be fine if they could, once and for all, figure out how to operate like a business instead of a reality show.

How will the 2015 Washington Redskins fare?

Too talented to go 0-16. Too messed up to win more than four games.

What do I need to know about the 2015 Tennessee Titans?

If you’re curious about the history and culture surrounding the team, and not just the plot and characters of this edition of the team, read What’s special about the Tennessee Titans?

How are Tennessee Titans fans feeling heading into the 2015 NFL season?

Guarded

When are the Tennessee Titans on national television?

Use this to know when you should host a party with locally (or favorite team-ily) themed food!

Week 11 – vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thu, Nov 19 at 08:25 PM.

When is the Tennessee Titans bye week?

Use this to know when to plan that camping trip you’ve been wanting to go on.

Week 4

What was the Tennessee Titans record last season, in 2014?

Expressed as: wins – losses – ties (if any).

2 – 14

Who are the Tennessee Titans most important departed characters?

Jake Locker, the hyper mobile, athletic quarterback from a West Coast college who the Titans selected high in the draft and pinned much of their hope on is gone, having failed at his task to lead the Titans to the playoffs.

Who are the Tennessee Titans most important new characters?

Marcus Mariota, the hyper mobile, athletic quarterback from a west coast college who the Titans selected high in the draft and pinned much of their hope on is here! Drafted second overall from Oregon, Mariota is the new guy in town and the season’s (and perhaps the coach and general manager’s jobs) outcome are riding on his shoulders.

Who are the Tennessee Titans most important characters?

Marcus Mariota was compared endlessly to Jameis Winston throughout the last year of college football and in the months preceding the NFL draft. The consensus is that he’s a much better person and a slightly worse football player.

What is the most pivotal pivot point for the 2015 Tennessee Titans?

Surprise, surprise, Marcus Mariota is the pivotal pivot of this season for the Titans. Just like with Tampa Bay, when you break the bank for a rookie quarterback, how he plays is the most vitally important piece of information for your team’s season.

How will the 2015 Tennessee Titans fare?

Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but I imagine Mariota doing well in the NFL. Oregon quarterbacks have been criticized in the past for having developed in an environment that’s too dissimilar to the NFL but the NFL has been copying so much from Oregon and other college teams like them that that criticism may no longer be valid.

What do I need to know about the 2015 Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

If you’re curious about the history and culture surrounding the team, and not just the plot and characters of this edition of the team, read What’s special about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

How are Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans feeling heading into the 2015 NFL season?

Guilty

When are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on national television?

Use this to know when you should host a party with locally (or favorite team-ily) themed food!

Week 15 – vs. the St. Louis Rams on Thu, Dec 17 at 08:25 PM.

When is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers bye week?

Use this to know when to plan that camping trip you’ve been wanting to go on.

Week 6

What was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers record last season, in 2014?

Expressed as: wins – losses – ties (if any).

2 – 14

Who are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers most important departed characters?

Three defenders, defensive end Michael Johnson, linebacker Mason Foster, and safety Dashon Goldson are gone. Bucs fans won’t miss any of them — they didn’t play very well last year, but they should hold judgement until they see who they’ve been replaced with…

Who are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers most important new characters?

With the number one overall draft pick this year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected quarterback Jameis Winston. Winston was the subject of a colossally bungled investigation that resulted in no formal charges being brought against him for sexual assault while simultaneously providing little doubt that Winston had assaulted someone. His position as the NFL’s number one draft pick and the presumptive face of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise is not a good thing.

Who are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers most important characters?

Jameis Winston. Grrr.

What is the most pivotal pivot point for the 2015 Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

Jameis Winston. Gahhh!

How will the 2015 Tampa Bay Buccaneers fare?

Alas, being good at football is not correlated or even perceptively affected by being a good person. The Bucs will improve this year, perhaps even to around 6-10.

What do I need to know about the 2015 St. Louis Rams?

If you’re curious about the history and culture surrounding the team, and not just the plot and characters of this edition of the team, read What’s special about the St. Louis Rams?

How are St. Louis Rams fans feeling heading into the 2015 NFL season?

Relieved

When are the St. Louis Rams on national television?

Use this to know when you should host a party with locally (or favorite team-ily) themed food!

Week 15 – vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thu, Dec 17 at 08:25 PM.

When is the St. Louis Rams bye week?

Use this to know when to plan that camping trip you’ve been wanting to go on.

Week 6

What was the St. Louis Rams record last season, in 2014?

Expressed as: wins – losses – ties (if any).

6 – 10

Who are the St. Louis Rams most important departed characters?

The Rams drafted number one overall in the 2010 draft and have treated him like their franchise quarterback ever since. It never really worked. Injuries were a big problem for Bradford. Aside from various angle and shoulder issues that he mostly played through, he tore his ACL in 2013 and than again in 2014. Despite his pedigree, Rams fans were fed up with waiting for him to get healthy and play well. So, they couldn’t have been too sad when he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles this summer.

Who are the St. Louis Rams most important new characters?

The player who the Rams got back in return for Bradford is Nick Foles, another quarterback, and he’s expected to start the year as the Rams primary quarterback. Foles will be a fan favorite, at least at the start of the season, simply because he’s not Sam Bradford. Foles has only ever played in Philadelphia though, under coach Chip Kelly, who is thought to be an offensive mastermind. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if Foles crashed and burned in a new setting… but, if the alternative was another season with Bradford, Rams fans would still take that outcome.

Who are the St. Louis Rams most important characters?

The Rams defensive line doesn’t have a nickname but it could be coming. Lost in the many odes (deserving, for sure) to Texans lineman, J. J. Watt, the Rams are quietly almost as fearsome. Led by pass rusher Robert Quinn, second year beast, Aaron Donald, and Chris Long, son of famed defensive end and Fox Sports analyst Howie Long, the Rams are loaded with talent and personality on the defensive line.

What is the most pivotal pivot point for the 2015 St. Louis Rams?

This year is all about seeing what Nick Foles has to offer. If he’s good, the Rams have a shot in a weakened NFC West to challenge for a division title. If he’s bad, they’ll be stuck down in the cellar where they’re used to being.

How will the 2015 St. Louis Rams fare?

By the middle of the season, Rams fans will be wondering if Nick Foles and Sam Bradford are twins who were separated at birth. That’s not good news.

What do I need to know about the 2015 Seattle Seahawks?

If you’re curious about the history and culture surrounding the team, and not just the plot and characters of this edition of the team, read What’s special about the Seattle Seahawks?

How are Seattle Seahawks fans feeling heading into the 2015 NFL season?

Still reeling

When are the Seattle Seahawks on national television?

Use this to know when you should host a party with locally (or favorite team-ily) themed food!

Week 2 – vs. the Green Bay Packers on Sun, Sep 20 at 08:30 PM.
Week 4 – vs. the Detroit Lions on Mon, Oct 5 at 08:30 PM.
Week 7 – vs. the San Francisco 49ers on Thu, Oct 22 at 08:25 PM.
Week 10 – vs. the Arizona Cardinals on Sun, Nov 15 at 08:30 PM.
Week 14 – vs. the Baltimore Ravens on Sun, Dec 13 at 08:30 PM.

When is the Seattle Seahawks bye week?

Use this to know when to plan that camping trip you’ve been wanting to go on.

Week 9

What was the Seattle Seahawks record last season, in 2014?

Expressed as: wins – losses – ties (if any).

12 – 4

Who are the Seattle Seahawks most important departed characters?

The Seahawks success has been built on the back of their almost supernaturally good defense. So you’d think it would be a big problem for them to have lost their defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn, to a head coaching job in Atlanta. The thing is, Seattle’s defense has been great because it has amazing players, not because its scheme is complex or surprising. The Seahawks should be fine.

Who are the Seattle Seahawks most important new characters?

Tight end Jimmy Graham comes over from the New Orleans Saints where he blossomed into one of the biggest receiving weapons in the league. Last year was a down year for him but it’s easy to chalk that up to his having had a divisive battle with the Saints over his compensation. What we don’t know is how well he’ll fit in Seattle and what role they will ask him to play. Graham is basically a very large wide receiver but Seattle may need him to be closer to a hybrid receiver/offensive lineman than he’s used to being.

Who are the Seattle Seahawks most important characters?

There’s nothing like a good crisis to upend the giant pot of discontented squabbling that’s been simmering under control. That’s what happened when the Seahawks missed their chance at a second straight Super Bowl title this past spring. The three biggest characters on the team, running back Marshawn Lynch, coach Pete Carroll, and quarterback Russell Wilson all blamed themselves and each other with varying degrees of bitterness.

What is the most pivotal pivot point for the 2015 Seattle Seahawks?

This season’s plot is all about how the team reacts to the giant, incomprehensible mistake they made at the end of the Super Bowl last year. All it would take is a couple bad games in September to start the snipes sniping and the ball rolling towards a lost season.

How will the 2015 Seattle Seahawks fare?

With all the other teams in the division going backwards, the Seahawks will still be able to win the division, albeit with a worse record than last year.

What do I need to know about the 2015 San Francisco 49ers?

If you’re curious about the history and culture surrounding the team, and not just the plot and characters of this edition of the team, read What’s special about the San Francisco 49ers?

How are San Francisco 49ers fans feeling heading into the 2015 NFL season?

Preparing for the worst

When are the San Francisco 49ers on national television?

Use this to know when you should host a party with locally (or favorite team-ily) themed food!

Week 1 – vs. the Minnesota Vikings on Mon, Sep 14 at 10:20 PM.
Week 5 – vs. the New York Giants on Sun, Oct 11 at 08:30 PM.
Week 7 – vs. the Seattle Seahawks on Thu, Oct 22 at 08:25 PM.
Week 15 – vs. the Cincinnati Bengals on Sun, Dec 20 at 08:30 PM.

When is the San Francisco 49ers bye week?

Use this to know when to plan that camping trip you’ve been wanting to go on.

Week 10

What was the San Francisco 49ers record last season, in 2014?

Expressed as: wins – losses – ties (if any).

8 – 8

Who are the San Francisco 49ers most important departed characters?

This offseason was a time of dynastic change for the San Francisco 49ers, who lost just about every type of part in every way imaginable. The team soft-fired coach Jim Harbaugh, whose ability to win was only matched by his ability to piss people off. Their star linebacker, Patrick Willis, retired, which wasn’t completely unexpected, but the retirement of his heir apparent, 24 year-old Chris Borland was. Talented defenders, Aldon Smith, Justin Smith are both gone, one due to off-the-field crimes and the other to retirement. Their running game is hurt by the loss of beastly offensive guard, Mike Iupati and long-time running back Frank Gore.

Who are the San Francisco 49ers most important new characters?

Who’s coming in to try to pick up the pieces and fit them together again? New head coach, Jim Tomsula, who had been the defensive line coach for the 49ers since 2007 with only a brief break to serve as interim head coach in 2010. Tomsula is not the most inspiring of choices but fans should give him… say, three and a half games of a honeymoon period before they truly start to criticize.

Who are the San Francisco 49ers most important characters?

49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, may not know what hit him. Two years ago, he was the hottest commodity out there – an athletic, hard-throwing, quarterback of the future. Now he’s coming off a year in which he played poorly and facing a year in which he’ll be asked to do more than ever, leading a team that will be playing from behind more than ever before.

What is the most pivotal pivot point for the 2015 San Francisco 49ers?

Just how much of a flaming mess will this season be?

How will the 2015 San Francisco 49ers fare?

A giant flaming mess.

What do I need to know about the 2015 San Diego Chargers?

If you’re curious about the history and culture surrounding the team, and not just the plot and characters of this edition of the team, read What’s special about the San Diego Chargers?

How are San Diego Chargers fans feeling heading into the 2015 NFL season?

Puzzled

When are the San Diego Chargers on national television?

Use this to know when you should host a party with locally (or favorite team-ily) themed food!

Week 5 – vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers on Mon, Oct 12 at 08:30 PM.
Week 9 – vs. the Chicago Bears on Mon, Nov 9 at 08:30 PM.
Week 11 – vs. the Kansas City Chiefs on Sun, Nov 22 at 08:30 PM.
Week 16 – vs. the Oakland Raiders on Thu, Dec 24 at 08:25 PM.

When is the San Diego Chargers bye week?

Use this to know when to plan that camping trip you’ve been wanting to go on.

Week 10

What was the San Diego Chargers record last season, in 2014?

Expressed as: wins – losses – ties (if any).

9 – 7

Who are the San Diego Chargers most important departed characters?

When the Chargers drafted running back Ryan Matthews in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft, they were hoping they had found their replacement for eventual hall of fame running back LaDanian Tomlinson. Although he showed flashes of great play, Matthews’ years in San Diego were sprinkled liberally with injuries that kept him from realizing his potential. Now he’s gone and most fans feel this is addition by subtraction.

Who are the San Diego Chargers most important new characters?

In Matthews’ place is the next hope of the San Diego Chargers at running back, rookie draft pick, Melvin Gordon. Gordon was a record-setting running back at the University of Wisconsin but scouts are not sure his success in college will translate to the NFL.

Who are the San Diego Chargers most important characters?

The biggest stories of the offseason for the Chargers were the twin rumors that the team would be moving to Los Angeles and that their long-time quarterback, Phillip Rivers, would be traded to the Tennessee Titans. Neither one has happened yet, but neither are the stories completely resolved. The team could still move to Los Angeles and they will eventually move on from Rivers when his age starts to affect his game. The question is — is this the year?

What is the most pivotal pivot point for the 2015 San Diego Chargers?

San Diego was in the bottom third of the year last year in most defensive metrics and yet they didn’t make many moves to bring new players in on that side of the field. Is this a case of a team not helping itself? Or of a team having the patience to let their current players improve over time? The Chargers need to improve on defense to have a legitimate shot at advancing in the playoffs.

How will the 2015 San Diego Chargers fare?

Rivers has one more year of good football in him but it’s not this year and it won’t be with the Chargers. Look for things to start falling off the car early.

How can my household survive football without going crazy?

Dear Sports Fan,

My husband is a giant football fan — not of the Giants though, of the Miami Hurricanes and Dolphins. And of course he plays fantasy football too. I like football just fine, but I don’t want it dominating my living room every day for the rest of the year. He gets pretty annoyed when I suggest not watching a game. How can my household survive football without going crazy?

Thanks,
Joe

Dear Joe,

Your dilemma is not an unusual one. For many people, the start of football season is an exciting time. For non-football fans who happen to live with housemates, friends, partners, spouses, parents, or children who are football fans, it can be a difficult time. There is a solution!

Once upon a time, football followed a predictable and limited schedule. High schools played on friday nights, (thus Friday Night Lights), colleges played on Saturdays, and the NFL played on sunday afternoon. Even the most die-hard of football fans were only occupied by their favorite sport for a somewhat reasonable percent of the weekend. Things are different these days. As of 1970, the NFL featured one game on monday night. In 1987, it added a game on sunday night. Beginning in 2006, the league colonized Thursday night, first only half the time, but now for the entire season. Meanwhile, college football has spread from Saturday to Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. It’s not just easy to watch football every day or night of the week in 2015, with dozens of sports channels on television and almost infinite availability of sports on the internet, it’s almost unavoidable. Football every night is not a recipe for domestic tranquility.

Luckily for football fans and for their families, friends, and loved ones, the steady march of time has not brought only the sports-entertainment version of middle-aged spread but also an approach to ameliorating its effects: the small screen! Televisions are no longer the only device capable of showing a football game. Games are available on computers, tablets, and even phones with close to no depreciation in quality compared to a television. At worst, you end up a minute or two behind — a slight annoyance that also carries a benefit as it forces you to get off twitter and stop obsessively checking your fantasy football scoreboard and actually enjoy the game. I find watching a football game on my laptop, particularly using the live TV app through my cable company, is almost exactly as enjoyable as watching it on television. The benefits for my partner are many. Using the small screen means that the living room (and dining room, because our apartment has an open floor plan) is still available for her use. It also conveys the message that I don’t think football is any more important than reading a book, doing a puzzle, sketching, or doing any of the other solitary activities that one might do while sitting in the same room as a family member.

As a member of a mixed household, it’s important for both (or all) sides to take peaceful cohabitation, or not going crazy, as you called it, seriously. The small screen is a valuable weapon in this fight. Use it wisely!

Thanks for reading and let me know how things go this season,
Ezra

What do I need to know about the 2015 Pittsburgh Steelers?

If you’re curious about the history and culture surrounding the team, and not just the plot and characters of this edition of the team, read What’s special about the Pittsburgh Steelers?

How are Pittsburgh Steelers fans feeling heading into the 2015 NFL season?

Normal

When are the Pittsburgh Steelers on national television?

Use this to know when you should host a party with locally (or favorite team-ily) themed food!

Week 1 – vs. the New England Patriots on Thu, Sep 10 at 08:30 PM.
Week 4 – vs. the Baltimore Ravens on Thu, Oct 1 at 08:25 PM.
Week 5 – vs. the San Diego Chargers on Mon, Oct 12 at 08:30 PM.
Week 13 – vs. the Indianapolis Colts on Sun, Dec 6 at 08:30 PM.
Week 16 – vs. the Baltimore Ravens on Sun, Dec 27 at 08:30 PM.

When is the Pittsburgh Steelers bye week?

Use this to know when to plan that camping trip you’ve been wanting to go on.

Week 11

What was the Pittsburgh Steelers record last season, in 2014?

Expressed as: wins – losses – ties (if any).

11 – 5

Who are the Pittsburgh Steelers most important departed characters?

Three long-time Pittsburgh Steelers defensive players retired during the offseason, legend in hair and in football, Troy Polamalu, cornerback Ike Taylor, and 27 year-old pass rusher, Jason Worilds who retired for religious reasons.

Who are the Pittsburgh Steelers most important new characters?

The Steelers tried to fill some of the holes of their departing defensive players by drafting a handful of defensive players in the draft. Of them, pass-rusher Alvin Dupree and defensive back, Senquez Golson should begin the year in the starting lineup.

Who are the Pittsburgh Steelers most important characters?

The Steelers start and end with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Giant, raw, and talented in his first few years as a professional, Roethlisberger has evolved into a solid quarterback whose success seems inevitable and effortless. He had two six touchdown games last year for a Steelers team that increasingly relies on the pass to score.

What is the most pivotal pivot point for the 2015 Pittsburgh Steelers?

The Steelers need to survive early suspensions to a couple of their most important players: running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receiver Martavis Bryant.

How will the 2015 Pittsburgh Steelers fare?

Without two of their important offensive weapons, the Steelers stumble out of the gate and never quite get it back, just barely missing the playoffs.