Gameday – Battle of the Birds
Posted: December 20th, 2015 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 221 Comments »Normally an Eagles-Cardinals game has me worried about the guys in red pulling off an upset. This year is a bit different. Carson Palmer has a legit shot to be the league’s MVP and the Cards can make an argument that they are the best team. I know the Panthers are undefeated, but Arizona has been pretty dominant this year.
I wrote my preview for PE.com.
As far as intangibles, you can make a case for both teams.
Arizona has a 7-game win streak. That works against them. Why? The longer a streak goes, the closer it is to ending. This is the NFL. Most games are decided by a handful of plays. One week those plays are going to go against you. Could be dropped passes or missed tackles or a field goal hitting the upright.
Lots of individual talk. This one goes against the Eagles. Will Sam Bradford sign a long term deal with the Eagles? Will Walter Thurmond return in 2016? Who is worthy of the Pro Bowl? And more of the DeMarco discussion. The players didn’t bring this up on their own. They simply answer questions brought up by the media. Still, you wonder if those questions affect the focus of the players.
Elements. This one works against Arizona. They are a dome team in a warm-weather state. The coldest temperature at kickoff for them so far this year was 45 degrees in Pittsburgh. Tonight should be down in the 30’s for an 830pm kickoff in an outdoor stadium. Cold, crisp air isn’t the best for throwing deep balls, which is what the Cards love to do.
The Cardinals are the better team so the Eagles need to play at a high level tonight or they need a few things to go in their favor in order to win.
I don’t really have a strong feeling one way or the other.
*****
Zach Berman went behind the scenes with the guys from NFL Matchup to take a look at this game. A couple of thoughts from Jaws on Bradford and the Eagles passing attack.
He broke down some of the Eagles’ deep pass attempts last week. On Nelson Agholor’s 53-yard touchdown catch, Jaworski raved about Bradford’s pocket presence and Agholor’s catch. But there was another opportunity when Bradford didn’t make the right throw, and another time when Agholor didn’t run a good enough route. Jaworski counted 21 dropbacks on which the Bills did not have a deep safety.
Jaworski was optimistic about the way Bradford has played recently, pointing out how calm his feet have been because “if their feet are calm, their mind is calm.” Bradford’s performance against the blitz could determine whether the Eagles keep pace with the Cardinals.
Good piece by Zach.
*****
One of the biggest arguments for the Eagles winning tonight is just 2 words…Fletcher Cox.
If you like fletcher cox or you're an @Eagles fan- check out this 2 min clip of his dominating effort last week https://t.co/6iuB5t3QPf
— Mike Mayock (@MikeMayock) December 20, 2015
That’s some impressive game tape.
_
Giants clearly are not a good team. I know the Eagles are watching this and I hope,they make sure to take advantage of the plays that are available tonight instead of blowing it like,the Giants.
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ODB drops an easy TD pass
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ODB acts like an idiot and is busy fighting Josh Norman while ODB has been taken out of this game.
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DRC drops what could have been the easiest pick 6 of his career
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Then Rashard Jennings lets old man Peanut Tillman punch the ball out like he has a made a career of doing, forcing the Giants to fumble it away.
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Under rated Offensive Coordinator Mike Shula answers by dailing up a play action pass on 3rd and 1…”TD PANTHERS!!
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Giants sure showing a lot of the signs of a bad team today
ODB is a top 5 WR but he’s also a whiny b1tch…. he is even worse than he was last year. But he made “that catch” so the media ignores it.
fuck, washington coming off a blowout is not how i want to face them next week, they’ll have a lot of momentum
if that was us, we’d be worried about being complacent and a trap game.
I think that Washington game is going to tough no matter what. That team is better than people give them credit for
And thryve got one heckuva dynamic reciever big deep threat
looks like it’s eagles /skins for the season
Carolina is legit. If we don’t go to the Super Bowl lol, hope Carolina does, because they give me the best chance of not seeing seattle, Bruce Arians, or Rodgers/mIke McCarthy reach the Super Bowl…. panthers are a lessor evil. Id really want,to see MIke Zimmer vikings go to Super Bowl, but they aren’t good enough. so Panthers provide the most realistic hope…..
….
NFC will never be so wide open, be a real shame If we don’t make the playoffs And see what happens.
The way Washington O is trouncing the Bills makes me uneasy in so many ways.
uh oh Shady down and hurt
Get pumped:
http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2015/12/20/10629728/eagles-cardinals-hype-video-brian-dawkins-watch-philadelphia
Normally, Im a big believer in continuity and the patience it requires, but I’m going to have a lot of respect for Bills owners if they are smart enough and have the Balls to fire this carnival barking Charleton Rex,Ryan before he can do further,damage to a team with a Talented Roster. I don’t know who has become the bigger joke, Rob, or Res Ryan?
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Undiscaplined Bills team, answers last weeks loss by laying down during crunch time of an NFL season and make the skins look like some world beater?
..
Where is Marcel Dareus and his 100mil deal?
Where is Mario Williams and his huge bank account?
Where is jerry Hughes after securing his big contract?
Didn’t they give high paid shady a raise? Where is shady?
ISNT Incognito a top ranked Guard? Where is he, still traumatized by what Fletcher cox did to him?
Where is Sammy who they paid two first round picks for like morons?
Where is the “great” lol T-Mobile?
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It’s December, how the hell can you respond this gutless after last weeks loss?
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Fucking-annoyed by what Rex Ryan has done with that talented roster. Doubt he ever gets a hedcoaching job again once bills owners remove the tumor that is Rex…
…
Turns out Rexy is nothing more than Rob Ryan with a haircut…
well shady just got hurt and it looks like it could be serious, but for the defensive players……that has been a huge complaint from the Buffalo fans all year, the whole defense has regressed and he has players playing away from their strengths and being asked to do things they don’t normally do
Shady And Mariota are out with a knee injury.
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finally T-mobile and Sammy Watkins decided to make a play
ODB,continues to crP the bed
djax w/ a 71yd td.
wow, that was a pathetic attempt at tackling, might as well have been flag football
Did you see it? Pathetic. Looked like,bills just quit and let Desean run 40yards
15/18 259 3tds for cousins against bills.
i wonder if people in the lockerroom watch djax make plays and get salty. 6 games played 500yds 4td
80 yards and less than a td a game… Don’t get me wrong, I would love his talent on the team but he is a brat that may not be worth the headache
Those stats translate to 1300+ yards per season and 10-11 TDs. He’s still very good.
When did WAS/BUF become a game?
When did BUF D start to suck?
whole year it’s been going down hill
Probably a result of losing Kiko.
Around the time that Bruce Smith left in free agency.
love seeing Beckham getting rattled
it happens very easily
Beckham is out there trying to hurt a player….neeeds to be thrown out
Hahaha this is awesome, ODB and the Giants are completely Embarressing themselves and the best part is how Troy Aikmen can’t stop talking about what a disgraceful scumbag Beckham is..
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Refs,are a joke for not ejecting Him yet.
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Feel bad for all the fantasy football peiple who started ODB in the playoffs TODAY lol
If i am a Carolina defender i would go after ODB’s knees, he has gone helmet to helmet and thrown punches to Norman’s head all game and the refs are just letting it continue……make an example of ODB and this bullshit half-ass officiating
He’s being a fucking baby, would love to see him lit up.
Absolutely not. Not only is that obviously wrong, but Carolina has everything to play for going forward. Suspensions and fines won’t make it worth it. Let the league deal with this nonsense upon film review. A one or two game suspension is in order for that intentional helmet-to-helmet hit.
you don’t need a starter to do it
Yeah, a carolina backüp needs to atleast punch him in his mouth..
.l
Disgrace that Tom COUGHLIN HASNT said a word to him
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Disgrace refs don’t have the balls to eject him after 3 personal Fouls
L
If they don’t Toss him today, the league better suspend him, he could have broke Normans Jaw with that cheat shot and ruined the Pamthers playoff run..
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Giants completely unraveling and are disgracing themselves today. media Mile must be shedding Tears of joy watching these scumbags Embarress themselves
cousins 300yds + 5tds today. Is bradford a “game manager”?
The Skins are playing well the last few weeks, but I think Blaine GAbbert could light the Bils defense up with how little effort they are playing with today
Wrs drop too many balls for Bradford to put up those kind of numbers
Just means the WAS team will have to shell major money to keep him this offseason
Lol reporter said ODB is having a mental breakdown on the sidelines Bwahahahaha
dont look now… giants coming back.
F**k Dallas.
Thread wouldn’t be complete without one of those.
this isn’t b24/7
You mean Bleeding Green
what are you? 15 yrs old
I wish.
chiefs at 9-5 marcus peters has like 7 picks
So the refs in the Giants game basically aren’t calling late hits and personal fouls, apparently
That crew needs to be fired
Charging with helmet first like a missile at a player is apparently not enough for ejection
Where is the overlap between spearing and helmet-to-helmet contact? ‘cos that play was both penalties
Cheap on Cam, no flag.
if beckham comes back w/ a td catch right now….
Eli Face!
Eli can only get away with his trademark chuck’n’duck so many times before the dice don’t fall his way
That pass was a heat check
I’m glad the Bills decided to play hard against the Skins. /snark
what is happening in this giants game holy god.
Panthers turning back into the Panthers
you mean the team that hasnt lost in the last 17 regular season games?
Yep.
what is it with the Giants and playing terrible until late in the season when they get hot, especially if playoffs are on the line?
Ok, Sean Opie Cunningham McDermott. Time to earn your keep.
If the Giants win today, we may be in trouble. But it’s no one’s fault but the team. Inconsistent play throughout the whole year has them at this point.
I’m willing to eat crow, but I don’t see the Eagles winning tonight. I know I felt that way against NE, but AZ is coming off a Thu night game and have a couple extra days rest/prep for the Eagles.
With the Redskins winning and the Giants pushing for one, I’m not having a good feeling about today.
I don’t have a lot of confidence in a win tonight either. Arizona is very good. But… a turnover or two, it’s a different game.
We don’t need the game though… we need to beat Washington (is now a mathematical must-win), and either the Giants or Arizona. Washington sure looked a lot better against the Bills than we did. Hopefully playing on the road will be different for the Redskins.
JPP shouldnt be allowed to wear that club lol, how do we know he didn’t add,like a a piece of wood at the end of it to make his arm longer than it really is?
Ummm I’ve been watching this Giants/Panthers game for one play. Who is this officiating crew?
all the crews are pathetic
Well the Giants had a false start, but no call.
LOL this crew has been terrible. They don’t call much of anything. They don’t call personal fouls so I don’t think false starts are that high on the list
There’s an officiating crew? Couldn’ tell.
Beckham should have been ejected by now. Lots of non-calls. Pathetic game by the refs.
Disgraceful that he wasn’t ejected
GAME!
nevermind obvious incomplete.
Incomplete pass.
josh norman w/ the recovery
Talk about the weakest call over a big play by joe buck
shoudl be IG THEN
Watch them score a TD on 4th down
*cough*
they better fucking call intentional grounding
It’s Eli, and these refs are even worse than usual, so I give it 5% chance
Eli always does this shit. and he gets away with it too so smart by him
I know just right…. All Qbs should throw into the defenders knees to avoid a sack after that
On Eli? He wouldn’t do that. There was a receiver on the field, somewhere.
should be intetnional grounding
need to blitz
Sigh
Of course.
surprise…
GD I hate the giants
lets see what other bullshit the refs can let the giants get away with in the overtime.
Convenient that their best receiver was not ejected earlier despite blatant dangerous fouls
Disgraceful that he wasn’t ejected… Seriously disgraceful that he is allowed to come back like this after disgraceful behavior worst than like Ndomunkong Suh type scumbaggery
it’s clear why they didnt eject him. best game of the season
What I would give to see Cam rip the Giants hearts out right here!
I like that Cam Newton guy. He’s pretty good.
I want to see the stupid Cowboys screw up their draft spot and beat the skins the last week of the season… It would be such a cowboy move to win the one game they should lose
Gano FTW
those running qbs, they’ll never be successful in this league.
Except that his passing is prrtty dam excellent .. and they noted that he started really improving once they let him no huddle and call plays at the line . He is not a 1 trick qb
Yay!
SUCK IT GIANTS
SUCK IT BECKHAM
All that comeback for naught
Question, if the Refs didn’t eject ODB for his antics, will he get additional punishment once the replays get tv time?
i doubt he gets any
given it’s goodell’s nfl, hard to see him sitting the last 2 games of the season. i’m sure he’ll have to write a check
you are correct….no way the NFL is sitting a teams best player during a playoff race whether its deserved or not…i expect a decent fine
yeah I can’t imagine sitting the most electric player in the NY market during the playoff race, even if it would be completely justified.
He should definitely get a lighter wallet courtesy of the league. Question is whether they suspend him for that helmet-to-helmet. It was obviously intentional.
I assume the Panthers will make a formal complaint. NFL might have to suspend him with how Aikmen and Buck were talking about how Terribke his actions were and Perriera even went on the broadcast and said he needed to be ejected.. It’s going to look bad if they don’t suspend him, but he def is getting Fined..
“Formal Complaints” . . .
Only for one team to accuse another of conduct intended to obtain a competitive advantage.
Not available to complain about officials’ decisions.
Panthers couldn’t argue that ODB was headhunting and trying to injure another player….to gain a competitive advantage?
Maybe. That’d be the argument
it’s amazing how good beckam is. imagine if they had a normal receiver, how bad they’d be. cruz is back next year too.
Hahahaha that was the best finish EVER.. That scumbagg Jackass ODB celebrating with the crowd, and then Cam rips their hearts Out! YES! yes, YES?
!
The end of your post looks a little like the end of Agholor’s TD catch.
That was the drive that secures Cam the MVP!
14-0. Hats off to Ron Rivera and the Panthers.
Giants should be emotionally flat after that loss
Go Broncos!!!!
??
Steelers are among my top disliked teams.
There’s a real possibility that O’Dell Beckham could be suspended next week, or even against the Eagles. So many fineable late hits and cheap shots by him.
He should have been kicked out of that game for that head shot to Norman after the play.
He’s a whiny ass puss bag.
how did the packers clinch a playoff spot when the giants lost?
Because up until then, there existed a bizarro parallel universe wherein Washington, Green Bay, and New York all finished 9-7. In that world, Washington wins the East, Minnesota wins the North and Seattle takes the top wild card spot. Then, New York beats GB on a tiebreaker for the final wild card spot. That would have meant the NFC East sent 2 teams to the playoffs.
That future is no longer intact.
In this universe, but we know there’s an awful parallel world where the Giants sneak in, get lucky and beat Tom Brady for another Lombardi.
How funny is it that after sucking for the Cowboys all season, Weeden came in today and got the crucial win for the Texans against the Colts?
Didn’t know someone else picked him up. That is funny.
I want to win tonight so bad…
https://twitter.com/BrandonGowton/status/678689774614536193
I don’t think that is completely correct. Eagles & Washington could finish 7-8-1 and Giants could finish 8-8. So, Giants would have to hope for an Eagles-Lolskins tie. Unlikely yes…
Off Topic, but nice to see Blake “Bulldozer” Bell make an NFL team and now getting playing time for the Niners…..i thought the Eagles should have taken a look at him during the draft since he was sorta Tebow-like in college and Chip was rumored at that time to maybe signing Tebow which he did obviously. I always thought Bell was the better QB out of the two and was unselfish guy in college when he gladly accepted the role of moving to TE when Oklahoma decided Trevor Knight was going to be their QB….Bell proved himself as a pass-catcher and good blocker and now he’s playing in the league, good for him!
If the Eagles win their next two games, we are in the playoffs.
https://twitter.com/BrandonGowton/status/678694137135280133
Mostert almost broke a kick… forced out by the kicker
What did ODB do? I just could grab bits and pieces of the game, and noticed the Giants managed to blow another close one, but predictably gave a good team a good show.
Was throwing punches and taking cheap shots, plus whining like a 4-year old most of the 1st half and good parts of the 2nd. Had several incidents which could have gotten him ejected if he’d been caught.
Thanks guys. WTF? He doesn’t know there are television cameras on?
neither did the refs apparently
Had a lot of cheap shots to other players. They were even talking about it in the Fox studio. All four guys basically said that the only reason he didn’t get ejected is because he’s a superstar.
Ridiculous he didn’t get ejected.
The biggest incident was him launching himself helmet first right into the side of Josh Norman’s head
Re: ODB’s On-Field Mis-Behavior vs. Carolina – Disciplinary Process
Regarding any post-game discipline for ODB’s on-field behavior today, the CBA provides that only Goodell can impose the sanction . . . either a fine — based on a CBA-bargained schedule — or a suspension.
The reason only Goodell can impose discipline against ODB — and not a person selected by the NFL and the NFLPA, which is what typically happens — is because ODB was, apparently, *not* flagged for any penalties regarding his on-field conduct today. Of course, Goodell also hears any appeal.
If ODB, or any player is flagged for an in-game penalty, then whomever the League and NFLPA have already pre-selected to dole out penalty-related sanctions will impose the discipline. After which an appeal can be made to the Commissioner.
_________________
Anyone think Goodell’s going to suspend ODB?
i think he was flagged at least once?
3 times actually.
So if the only conduct at issue was penalized each time, then Goodell will *not* be the person making the disciplinary decision . . . just the appeal
Well Beckham will absolutely be fined for his helmet to helmet hit on Norman after the play was dead and honestly could be suspended based on the other thrown punches he launched.
FYI:
Helmet-to-helmet fine (1st offense): $23,152.
Striking another player (1st offense): $8,681.
Understood. Do they at all factor in the fact that he was flagged 3 times for unsportsmanlike conduct?. I feel the possibility of human decision could take those factors into consideration.
TD:
The decision-maker has complete discretion to do whatever he thinks appropriate . . . subject only to Goodell’s judgment on appeal.
No lawsuit available to challenge suspensions for on-field conduct because the CBA explicitly contemplates the possibility.
To your question, you’d like to think a cumulative process will guide the decision.
I didn’t see the game. Going by comments in the blog.
The penalty is only relevant as to the disciplinary process for the penalized conduct.
Unpenalized conduct is Goodell’s domain.
i gotcha….i appreciate you presenting all this information, good stuff ; )
Welcome.
No.
Suh would have been arrested.
Suspending ODB would end the Giants’s season. LET IT HAPPEN.
So would beating Arizona tonight. Let THAT happen.
Seal the deal by suspending ODB. Maxwell could use a break before the beating he’ll get in the playoffs.
Fitzgerald vs Eagles (7 career games)
47 catches, 827 yards, 11 TDs (including 1 TD in every game)
Certified Eagles’ killer.
He and Fletcher
I figured his numbers were good but not that good:
Per game
6.7 catches, 118.1 yards, 1.6 TDs
Over 16 games
108 catches, 1891 yards, 25 TDs
Browns WRs are letting Johnny down today
Offsetting personal fouls for unnecessary roughness are pointless.
Miami continues to be an awful team because they still don’t have a franchise QB. If there’s anything that we can learn from them is that sometimes you have to move on from mediocre QBs.I guess not making Cox the most paid DL in the league is a good one too.
Yeah, but look at the Chargers giving the home fans a nice goodbye gift in their last San Diego home game ever.
Bad defense. Good offense (sort of).
Is that whole thing figured out now? SD, OAK and SL…. who’s going to L.A.?
We find out in a few weeks, but everything I’ve seen points to the Chargers being the most likely to move. I suspect the Rams are going, too. Oakland will then decide whether to go to San Antonio or not in a year or so if the city of Oakland doesn’t cough up some dough.
Miami’s only married to Tannehill through 2016, and it would take them that long to find a better option anyway.
Their main problems are cruddy coaching and a talent deficit at multiple positions.
That sounds just like the Eagles!
Emmanuel Sanders reminds me of Maclin circa 2012. Self-tacklin’
I think he had a concussion 3-4 weeks ago.
Plus he’s about 20-25 lbs lighter.
Coaches may be telling him hit the dirt rather than fight for 2-3 extra yards.
Fair points. He is clearly avoiding contact whenever possible.
I’ll still take him though. Hell I’d even take back Djax at this point.
Might be available this offseason
It’ll be a cold day in hell before Chip takes back Djax.
Could you imagine the circus though?
Djax: Sorry Chip I didn’t know how good I had it here. Take me back mannnnnnnnn
Chip: Letting you go was a mistake.
Philly media: Chip doesn’t apologizes to Desean Jackson. Why is he such an asshole?
Chip: what? (death stares at Sal Pal)
Even if they both appeared at a press conference arm in arm and giggling together, the media would just start talking about how Chip was now giving Shady the cold shoulder.
Dave Spadaro had a really good point today and that the Eagles need 1 or 2 red stops to win this game today:
Worst defense in the NFL at preventing red zone TDs (68%) vs NFL average of 55%
https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/opponent-red-zone-scoring-pct
For some perspective . . .
Since the 2010 Eagles set the record for RZ defense futility — 78% TDs allowed — only 3 teams have had a worse RZ % than the 2015 Birds’ 68% (through 13 games).
That’s 186 team-seasons (over 5.8 seasons). And the Eagles 2 of the 5 worst RZ defenses in that period.
FWIW, 2 of those teams made the playoffs (and 2015 Birds may):
– 2010 Eagles
– 2014 Colts
(The other 2 teams were the 2012 Chargers 7-9 and 2012 Bills 6-10)
Great addition. Thanks.
Don’t get why the line has moved down all week and now down to 3.5/4 now
Where did it start?
i saw it open at 3.5?
5/5.5
where do you see that? i saw it jump to 4 a few days ago and then come back down to 3.5…..to be honest i would be happy if it was at 5.5 then shot down a few points…a lot of bettors on Arizona
Wouldn’t the Eagles be favored (-3) with the standard home field advantage? Seems like it is about a TD for the Cardinals over “normal”.
Your right.,
I still think the line’s too close though. Cards are for real and the Eagles still haven’t played a complete game all year.
me too, i feel like the line is suspiciously low
I get that home teams are rarely big underdogs, but for the Eagles to cover you basically need:
A. The Eagles’ O to suddenly stop stinking.
B. A ton of points from ST and D, or
C. AZ to lay an egg.
None of these things seem likely.
Yeah, AZ’s the favourite (unless things changed wildly in the last 24 hours), so adjusting for homefield means they’re basically favoured by a TD.
Boykin sighting.
Duke Johnson threw Earl Thomas at the end
Duke probably wanted him to be in an Eagles uniform too.
I wanted him, Abdullah, the RB the bears got or the RB the Falcons grabbed after the Shady trade.
I cant say I knew Murray would be bad…. but I never wanted that guy here
http://images2.citypages.com/imager/u/original/6589252/superbowl_simpsons.jpg
Cards win and cover the 3.5.
Stone cold mortal lock? bet the house?
Yeah, I’m afraid the Thanksgiving week Eagles are going to reappear against this Cardinals team. Not a lot of confidence heading into the game tonight. But, we’re all black, so that counts for something.
we’re all black
FML, Chip’s gonna hate that.
Fix My Lighthouse?
This is premium interwebs. Good work.
Have the Eagles had a 100 yard reciever in a game yet this year?
Matthews has done it at least once
Youre right. I stopped being lazy and looked it up. 102 yards vs Atlanta and 133 vs Cowboys
wr or person catching balls?
Celek did it, didn’t he?
yeah
J-Matt twice and Celek (if we’re counting TEs) once I think.
Celek vs MIA. Ertz had 98 vs BUF.
Kinda nervous about the Skins game. People keep saying they suck but they have looked pretty competitive recently. :/
I think you should be nervous
Ive got my change of pants ready for next Saturday.
Yeah. I’m thinking the Skins are a little better than us.
they don’t suck at all, not a great team but pretty solid
new game thread!
ummmm, was that a dropped td?