The One-Eyed Man is King: 2024 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season Preview (and Open Thread)

2023 PREDICTION: 4-13 2023 REALITY:  9-8; not good, but good enough for the NFC South title The 2023 season was a good one for the Bucs, mediocre record in a trash division notwithstanding. They exceeded expectations. This was down to two (and only two) factors: Baker Mayfield emerged from his cocoon as

Meet The New Boss, Same As The Old Boss: 2024 Carolina Panthers Season Preview

2023 PREDICTION: Bad (6-11) 2023 REALITY: Worse (2-15) Truly a testament to the power of the human will, these Panthers. "Parity" has been the battle cry of the league since the salary cap was introduced in 1994. "Offense Über Alles" has been the official NFL religion almost as long. And yet the Panthers

An Ant Has No Quarrel With A Boot: 2023 Buffalo Bills at the Bye (and Open Thread)

MAYHEM'S 2023 PREDICTION: "12-5, tied for AFC East crown. As always, the injury factor will be dispositive, but we have reason for Hope." HOW'S THAT LOOKING?: I mean, I was right. Injuries have decimated the Bills. Pro Bowl cornerback Tre'Davious White? Pro Bowler Matt Milano? Pro Bowler Dawson Knox? All of the Safeties (except

….. Tuesday Open Thread

Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity. -W.B. Yeats, The Second Coming So

FISH SPA! Tuesday Open Thread

Hi kids! Back from DFOCon 2023, and boy is my liver tired. We laughed, we cried, we watched one of our own basically have kittens during Eagles-Cowboys. It was glorious. Tough week out there for many in the pretender/contender category, with teams like the Bills, Dolphins, Seahawks and Cowboys all undermining

Paradise By The Dashboard Light: 2023 Carolina Panthers at the Bye (and Open Thread)

MAYHEM'S 2023 PREDICTION: "6-11. It’s not going to be a pretty 6-11 either, and without a first rounder next year, I wouldn’t hold out much hope there either." HOW'S THAT LOOKING?: Even Worse! The Panthers are 0-6, showing almost no signs of life on either side of the ball. So: meatloaf. Or

“So Far, So Good” Said The Skydiver With No Parachute: 2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Bye (and Open Thread)

MAYHEM'S 2023 PREDICTION: "4-13. Look for Ryan Tannehill or Kirk Cousins to sign here next year if they don't have the draft position for a top-tier QB." HOW'S THAT LOOKING?: Not great, Bob! The Bucs are currently 3-1, and that is their best-likely-case scenario. Sure, a radioactive cheese steak could have

Burdened with Glorious Purpose: 2023 Buffalo Bills Preview and Tuesday Open Thread

2022 PREDICTION: 9-8 2022 REALITY: 13-3! (No record for Cincy game, on account of Damar Hamlin temporarily dying) From last year's Preview:   There is nothing more depressing to a Bills fan than an expectation of success. We can't cope with it, because of our near-religious faith in The Narrative. The Narrative has taught us