2019 Opponents

[chuck]

Right. I'm going to worry about Lamar Jackson once he's shown me that he is an NFL QB. As much as I like watching him play, he doesn't concern me at all.

What interests me, though, is whether the Chargers and the Saints can continue this year's success next year. The Chiefs are going to be really good for a while, but of course their coach is Andy Reid and he is more than adept at finding ways to screw things up.

[HPF Bob]

First blush, that looks like 10-6 (potential losses to NE, IND, KC, NO, SD, BAL). Of course, they'll win a few upsets but they'll also screw up a few easy opponents too). All this presumes Watson and Hopkins stay healthy and we get some studs for the OL.

[HPF Bob]

There's a good chance that we will have one away game in an international location. Five teams (Jacksonville, Oakland, Tampa Bay, Chargers and Rams) have agreed to host an international game (i.e. London or Mexico City) in 2019 and the Texans have three (Jaguars, Chargers, Buccaneers) on their road schedule. The Raiders are on the home docket so they won't be a candidate.

Of course we all remember the Texans debacle in Mexico City a few years ago where the refs were fed tequila until they couldn't see straight. And didn't one of the Texans get robbed off the field too?

[chuck]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

There's a good chance that we will have one away game in an international location. Five teams (Jacksonville, Oakland, Tampa Bay, Chargers and Rams) have agreed to host an international game (i.e. London or Mexico City) in 2019 and the Texans have three (Jaguars, Chargers, Buccaneers) on their road schedule. The Raiders are on the home docket so they won't be a candidate.

Of course we all remember the Texans debacle in Mexico City a few years ago where the refs were fed tequila until they couldn't see straight. And didn't one of the Texans get robbed off the field too?

Well, you now have a passport after all these years, Buford, so maybe you can go to one of these international games and see the Texans play in person for once, after all these years, Buford.

Feliz ano, by the way.

[HPF Bob]

Feliz nuevo ano to you too. I have no desire to fly to Londonabad and little reason to fly to Mexico City. Seeing a game against the Saints in New Orleans sounds interesting though. Good cajun food is always a plus.

We could always set up a Deshaun Watson Annual Bus Trip to J-ville. That would be a great promotion.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

We could always set up a Deshaun Watson Annual Bus Trip to J-ville. That would be a great promotion.

That's a damn good idea! You know, I've been to Skynyrdville to see games many times, and although it is not the liveliest of the NFL cities (nor is it the least lively...), it's not a horrible place to weekend. There are always tons of Texans fans at the game (if you care about that), and since they overhauled the stadium I have to say that it is a perfectly enjoyable facility.

If the Chargers are still playing in that soccer stadium next year that might be a trip worth taking. I'd kind of like to see an NFL game in a high school sized venue.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by chuck

If the Chargers are still playing in that soccer stadium next year that might be a trip worth taking. I'd kind of like to see an NFL game in a high school sized venue.

That's it, I knew the Chuckster would step up on this and with his Learjet (or Gulfstream, I forget what he's flying these days, he trades them nearly every year you know), but the IntheBullseye crowd could go into that rinky-dink stadium and take over as if we owned it.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by chuck

Right. I'm going to worry about Lamar Jackson once he's shown me that he is an NFL QB. As much as I like watching him play, he doesn't concern me at all.

What interests me, though, is whether the Chargers and the Saints can continue this year's success next year. The Chiefs are going to be really good for a while, but of course their coach is Andy Reid and he is more than adept at finding ways to screw things up.

The Ravens scored 2 points per game more with Jackson then they did with the terrible Joe Flacco. Their defense was just hot and they won games that Jackson started. It always amazes me that mediocre QB play on a winning team is cheered but mediocre defense on a good team is mocked. Nobody says the Chiefs defense is great and "winners" for winning games 42-38, but QBs get credit for 17-13 wins. Jackson beat 1 playoff team this year and it was when his defense held the chargers to 10 points in week 16. Today that defense gave up 23 and they lost. The offense was about the same in each game.

So yes, I agree, I fear the Ravens defense like I fear the Jags, and I fear Jackson about like I feared Bortles when they made the AFC championship game.

[chuck]

That's a pretty apt comparison, Bortles and the Jags in their 'heyday.' Although I always knew that Bortles was showing us his ceiling. I would like to think Jackson can and will improve because I like him as a guy and I'd like to see him play well. But who knows, maybe we're seeing his ceiling now too.

Oh, nunu, you're invited to fly with me any time. I get some of the boys to put a hose on her and she cleans up real nice:

http://www.askthepilot.com/wp-conten...ak40atROB1.jpg

The flight attendants that come with the charter can be a little abusive, sadly, and I do hope you enjoy potted meat and hot mustard.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by chuck

That's a pretty apt comparison, Bortles and the Jags in their 'heyday.' Although I always knew that Bortles was showing us his ceiling. I would like to think Jackson can and will improve because I like him as a guy and I'd like to see him play well. But who knows, maybe we're seeing his ceiling now too.

Oh, nunu, you're invited to fly with me any time. I get some of the boys to put a hose on her and she cleans up real nice:

http://www.askthepilot.com/wp-conten...ak40atROB1.jpg

The flight attendants that come with the charter can be a little abusive, sadly, and I do hope you enjoy potted meat and hot mustard.

I think Jackson obviously has a much higher ceiling, but at this point he is a guy who can run who they are willing to use up physically. Bortles' NFL QB traits stopped at looking good in shorts. Jackson has obvious athleticism, a solid arm, and a good deep ball. But right now he is a guy who is dangerous in low scoring games but is worthless when a team falls behind early (like the Ravens did yesterday). Next year will bring adjustments to Jackson (like this year brought to Wentz and Watson), and Jackson will need to show something more than occupying the backside end to allow Baltimore to rush for 200 yards a game. He will need to show he can throw the ball. He never showed that in college where he hit deep balls on bad teams and got crushed by any decent defense.

[chuck]

Apparently Buford gets his wish, Texans at Jags in London.

Eight miles high.....

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by chuck

Apparently Buford gets his wish, Texans at Jags in London.

Eight miles high.....

Not *MY* wish. I hate 8 a.m. kickoffs. Interesting how a lot of churches in Hawaii switched to evening services because morning services conflicted with NFL coverage.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Not *MY* wish. I hate 8 a.m. kickoffs. Interesting how a lot of churches in Hawaii switched to evening services because morning services conflicted with NFL coverage.

Mormons are flexible. We've seen that down through the years.