NFL 2026

James

Been watching some random late 90s-early 2000s football during the week. It's wacky how hindsight allows you to see everything....

Remember how Jon Kitna came out of nowhere and was supposed to set the league on fire? He never truly ignited.

How about Gus Frerotte? I will say this about him...there was some potential there. Bad timing, wrong teams. Testaverde is the poster boy of this.

Here's another doozy I had forgot....David Gerrard. Coughlin was right...THIS guy should've been the successor to Brunell. It's still a damn good team at that point. Coughlin gets fired, they draft Leftwich...also a good QB...and the Jags fall into that rut that happens with average/mediocre teams where they can't figure out which guy is the present/future of the team.

They wind up twiddling their thumbs while their Super Bowl window gets quickly painted shut.

I've always felt bad for the Jags.... specifically the late 90s Jags. That was their moment. Unfortunately for them, they couldn't seize the opportunity and had no idea Manning and Brady were about to dominate the AFC.

Feel the same about the Titans from that period. They don't see the massive shift coming so there's no real pressure to win NOW.

Watching the late 90s/early 2000s Dolphins with hindsight is bizarre. You can see what they're doing...Johnson/Wannstedt are building an iconic defense to prepare to dominate. The problem is everything else is going to shit and now isn't the time to be running in place...the Pats are about to completely own this division.

The Bills are worse...their window was wide open in 98-99...they shit the bed benching Flutie...and the aftermath is a team with a handful of major pieces but they just rot while the Pats ascend. One more thing....Bledsoe was NOT the answer.

The Jets were the Jets.

It's an interesting division in this timeframe. You can see step by step how Belichick/Brady were quickly able to dominate the division to the point their Super Bowl window would be open for a virtual eternity.

It's reminiscent of the 1980s NFC West....where the 49ers are so far ahead of their division rivals that it's practically a bye into the playoffs.

When you can throttle the entire division at will, you only need a few more wins to get into the playoffs.

Edit

One more thing....

Broncos...

What a fuck up starting Griese after Elways retirement instead of letting Bubby Brister have a shot.

He earned a chance IMO....went 4-0 as the starter when Elway was out during 98... keeping the machine turning.

That team was still too good to just throw it in the hands of someone completely untested and hope for the best. If not Brister, bring in someone else.

James

Crazy morning/afternoon....

Upset of the week...

Redskins shock the Seahawks.

Bengals no longer undefeated...praise Jesus. Love it when the Bengals lose on Burrow turnovers.

The Pats are in BIG trouble. They need to figure out their issues quickly.

Jets almost came away with the upset. I was praying for it. With the Bears currently in some limbo, Lions and Vikings need to lose for awhile.

Browns beat the Panthers. If the Browns can miraculously go on a run, that division will become a 4 way bloodbath.

The Chiefs machine continues turning. Not good for the rest of the league.

Chargers failed their first obstacle in the gauntlet. In their defense, they came close. I wanted to watch this whole game but there were too many close games going on.

Those Bills alternate uniforms/helmets are AWFUL.

Colts barely beat the Texans...who are now 0-3.

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