NFL Week 4 thread

No I think the 18 games is pretty much dead, but I think an 18-week regular season would be a way to get more from the networks.

 

Those two years when the Browns came back and before the Texans were born, one team actually had a bye in Week 1.

 

I do not remember that. Great nugget.

 

If I'm remembering right, Texans-Bengals were forced to take an early bye a few years back after Reliant Stadium was damaged. Week 2 maybe.

 

Three years, actually (99-01). And some team had a bye every week (obviously). For their first two years back, the Browns had the bye in Week 17. Must have been the league giving it to a team they were pretty sure wouldn't also have one in the first round of the playoffs.

 

Ah, you're right. I was thinking the Texans were born in 2001, but it was 2002.

 

I actually didn't know how many years until I looked it up.

 

The Bears had a bye week in Week 3 or so in 2003 before they re-opened Soldier Field.

 

Greg Bedard on the 49ers, headlined "A Season Slipping Away? A Team Slipping Away?"

http://mmqb.si.com/2014/09/22/san-francisco-49ers-loss-arizona-cardinals-week-3-trouble-ahead/

I would not be surprised to see something really crazy like Harbaugh rage-quit in the middle of the night during the season.

 

If they win this weekend, I think they'll be OK. If they lose, I would not be surprised at them finishing 6-10, Harbaugh quitting during the off-season and have them in rebuilding mode after this nice 3-year run.

When healthy (they're not) they're a top 5 team. But this team has a lot of problems.

 

The bigger question is whether or not the Niners are good enough to overcome Arizona's strong start to the season. The Niners could easily be a team that finishes with a good record, but misses the playoffs anyway, similar to how Arizona missed the playoffs last year despite going 10-6.