AmishBengalFan

For the record, here are the last international dates for all 32 teams: 2023: ATL BAL BUF IND JAX KCC MIA NEP TEN 2022: ARI DEN GBP MIN NOS NYG SFF SEA TBB 2021: NYJ 2020: --- 2019: CAR CHI CIN HOU LAC LAR LVR 2018: PHI 2017: CFT 2016: WAS 2015: DET 2014: DAL 2013: PIT Another way of looking at the JAX/PHI opponents is that at least one of NYJ/GBP will be tapped, as CFT can't play in both games. NYJ hasn't been in 3 seasons, GBP went 2 seasons ago, so for "fairness" that makes more sense, which only reiterates CFT playing at PHI (in Brazil). Of course, the league could decide to throw divisional balance out the window and have PHI play an NFC-E opponent, or fill Tottenham stadium with back-to-back NFC-N games, or something equally as stupid. But unless there are some behind-the-scene deals being made (which I don't for a moment doubt there are), the parings I have settled upon seem to make the most sense.... which is why I'm certain they're all wrong.

Rationale for my predictions: My assumptions are: 1 - Except for JAX, no team will play TWO international games. 2 - If JAX plays two, they will be back-to-back and BOTH must be in London (like 2023) 3 - Divisional games are not desired (though they have happened) 4 - Cross-conference games are desired as they don't impact tiebreakers as much. 5 - Games against a team's previously-unscheduled "Game 17" opponent are highly desired as the visitor still plays 8 domestic road games, including every team already on their schedule due to rotation. 6 - NFC hosts against PIT and AFC hosts against GBP or DAL are unlikely (those home teams likely want the extra revenue that the visiting bandwagon will bring, and they only get one shot at that money every 8 seasons). Here are the 'home' games each of the locked-in International Series teams will play: JAX: HOU IND TEN NEP NYJ CFT GBP MIN CHI: DET GBP MIN LAR SEA CAR JAX TEN NEP MIN: CHI DET GBP ARI SFF ATL HOU IND NYJ CAR: ATL NOS TBB DAL NYG ARI KCC LAC CIN PHI: DAL NYG WAS ATL CAR GBP CFT PIT JAX The first three are division opponents The next three are conference opponents The next two are cross-conference opponents (desired under assumption 4) These are ITALIC The ninth one (if there is one) is the "Game 17" opponent (highly desired under assmuption 5) These are UNDERLINED If we throw out CHI/MIN/CAR/PHI as a visiting international team (assumption 1), non-London JAX-as-a-visitor (assumption 2), division opponents (assumption 3), and NFC/PIT AFC/GBP/DAL (assumption 6), we're left with: JAX: --- --- --- NEP NYJ CFT --- --- CHI: --- --- --- LAR SEA --- JAX TEN NEP MIN: --- --- --- ARI SFF ATL HOU IND NYJ CAR: --- --- --- DAL NYG ARI KCC LAC CIN PHI: --- --- --- ATL --- GBP CFT --- --- The following teams played Internationally last year - I see no way they'll go again this year: NEP KCC BAL ATL MIA TEN IND BUF (I've taken JAX off this list, for obvious reasons) We now have: JAX: --- --- --- --- NYJ CFT --- --- CHI: --- --- --- LAR SEA --- JAX --- --- MIN: --- --- --- ARI SFF --- HOU --- NYJ CAR: --- --- --- DAL NYG ARI --- LAC CIN PHI: --- --- --- --- --- GBP CFT --- --- With PHI going to Brazil, I see that as ideal for an NFC v AFC game, so they get CFT. And that leaves NYJ as the only team JAX can host. We now have JAX: --- --- --- --- NYJ --- --- --- CHI: --- --- --- LAR SEA --- JAX --- --- MIN: --- --- --- ARI SFF --- HOU --- --- CAR: --- --- --- DAL NYG ARI --- LAC CIN PHI: --- --- --- --- --- --- CFT --- --- The only AFC opponents for CAR are LAC and CIN. LAC would fly from West Coast, CIN is a desired "Game 17" opponent. That one seems simple. MIN can host HOU (AFC, preferred) or an NFC team from the West. That one also seems simple. We're left with: JAX: --- --- --- --- NYJ --- --- --- CHI: --- --- --- LAR SEA --- JAX --- --- MIN: --- --- --- --- --- --- HOU --- --- CAR: --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- CIN PHI: --- --- --- --- --- --- CFT --- --- I know JAX *could* play CHI and get the back-to-back London games like in 2023. But LAR haven't played Internationally since 2019 (SEA was 2022), so even though it might make more sense for CHI to draw JAX (AFC), my guts tell me the NFL would prefer the higher-profile Rams in London. This makes the games: Wembley: Jets at Jaguars Spurs: Rams at Bears / Texans at Vikings Allianz (Munich): Bengals at Panthers Sau Paulo Brazil: Current Browns at Eagles Of course, Jags at Bears (Spurs) would be okay too.

Dude was non-existent last year. When we played the Bills, I kept looking for him but only saw him once of twice. Turns out he barely took 1/3 of the defensive snaps (34%), but that number was HIGH for Miller, he only beat that 5 times in 2023. Overall, he barely played 20% of their regular season snaps. Even a reduced $8.855M for less than 1/4th of a season is a TON of cashola for very little actual work. He's ripping them off.

I find no direct flights from CVG to MUC, but the four least-inconvenient ones I've found (assuming travel in late October, departing on a Wed and returning 6 days later): United to ORD, 51m layover, Lufthansa to MUC Air Canada to YYZ, 3h layover, Lufthansa to MUC United to EWR, 53m layover, United to MUC United to IAD, 1h6m layover, United to MUC Of the 4, I would prefer the longer layover in Toronto, if only to have a better chance of making a connection that likely involves changing terminals and passing thru Security a 2nd time (ORD, EWR and YYZ guaranteed, IAD likely). Plus the YYZ connection lands at 10am, the others at 7am. Much easier to check into your hotel room after a long-ass flight when you get to the front desk at noon rather than 9am. Trust me, even with my hotel "status" and early check-in guarantees, showing up in London mid-morning on both prior NFL trips meant a significant wait for my room. A noon show-up would've meant avoiding that wait. I presume MUC would be similar.

Nice to see the NFL catching up to what the XFL had 4 years ago.... 2/29/2020 - BattleHawks vs Sea Dragons - "The XFL down-and-distance markers are digital AND they communicate with each other. The first down marker displays the distance between it and the line marker. Which is pretty cool."

I could give my reasons, but I'll just cut to the chase.... here are my predictions for the five 2024 international games: Wembley: Jets at Jaguars Spurs: Rams at Bears / Texans at Vikings Allianz (Munich): Bengals at Panthers Sau Paulo Brazil: Current Browns at Eagles I'm probably wrong. I always am.

^ Gawd..... those optic-nerve-searing lime-jello-green shirts the Thunder wore were an abomination. Our threads were so much better...

It's official...

WTF KC?!?

Adding.... Per Howard Balzer (the St Louis equivalent of Paul Daugherty).... "QB AJ McCarron asked to be released by the Bengals (team announced it today) so he can re-sign with the UFL's St. Louis Battlehawks, where he played last season when they were in the XFL. Hearing that he will officially sign Thursday."

As the Board's BattleHawk rep, the phone lines in St Louis are already lit up with the news of AJ's avaialbiity. His contract with the Bengals precluded him from being rostered by any UFL team, but the BattleHawks retained their rights to him if he were available and expressed interest in playing. But as far at the team and fanbase are concerned, they're already welcoming him back with open arms. AJ was, hand-down, the best player across both spring leagues, having him back would instantly launch St Louis into the #1 slot and make them the prohibitive favorites.

As of today, the Bengals are undefeated.

Truth.

Figure I'd share this random look at our future schedules: Game pairings based on prior end-of-year standings denoted with an * 2024: HOME: BAL CFT PIT DEN LVR PHI WAS *NEP AWAY: BAL CFT PIT KCC LAC DAL NYG *TEN *CAR 2025: HOME: BAL CFT PIT NEP NYJ CHI DET *AFCS-TBD *NFCW-TBD AWAY: BAL CFT PIT BUF MIA GBP MIN *AFCW-TBD .....if we play KCC due to finishing in the same positions in 2024, it'll be at Narrowhead again, but if we pair with TEN then at least - for once - we'll play in Cincy. 2026: HOME: BAL CFT PIT JAX TEN NOS TBB *AFCW-TBD AWAY: BAL CFT PIT HOU IND ATL CAR *AFCE-TBD *NFCE-TBD ....only one game West of Indianapolis, and Houston really isn't "west" IMO. Really nice travel schedule.... but we pay for it in 2027: 2027: HOME: BAL CFT PIT KCC LAC ARI SFF *AFCS-TBD *NFCN-TBD AWAY: BAL CFT PIT DEN LVR LAR SEA *AFCE-TBD ...all but one of our non-division road games are in the Mountain or Pacific time zones, since the 3-year AFC and 4-year NFC rotations give us that once-in-twelve-years double-whammy of playing BOTH western divisions in the same season. Schedules subject to change if the NFL ditches their current scheduling formula, does a realignment, expands, or does anything else fucked-up.

^ btw - as y'all know, I'm a huge St Louis BattleHawks fan, and I loved attending XFL games during the 2020 and 2023 seasons. As soon as things quiet down around here and the Vegas thing slides into the rear view mirror, expect me to start ramping up for the coming UFL season. To quote myself from the Fall of 2022: ".... If you ever get a chance to attend an XFL game I highly recommend it. The players are working their tails off to get noticed by the NFL, the fans are passionate and fun, but the games are laid back because - frankly - it's minor league football. Take in a game if you can. And if you wanna see it done right, go to St Louis. Tickets and concessions and parking are all inexpensive, the games are extremely well-attended by loyal, passionate, and silly fans, and the atmosphere inside the Dome is amazing. Call me, we'll go together. 🙂 Kaw Is The Law! ⚔️🏈"

Only seven weeks until BattleHawk football captures the hearts of all well-informed football fans. Kaw is the Law.

Well, I guess one of us has to be wrong. Glad you volunteered for it to be you.

Lol, Chad!

Easy call for me. SFF This would give them 6 rings, drawing them even with NEP and the bandwagon, helping to shut the yinzer's mouths and setting up another team to pull past them down the road. Plus, I'm getting burned out on Taylor Swift, the resurgence of coverage of the Mahomes Family miscreants, and it'll start to ebb the number of commercials we have to watch with Mr Swift and/or Kermit in it. It's already too much, it needs to end. A KCC victory will only make everything in this paragraph worse and even more insufferable.

Chad is joining Marvin out in Vegas. Let me be the first to say it: "Coach-o Cinco". I think the Raiders have become my 3rd favorite NFL team, behind Cincinnati and whomever the Stealers are playing.

I'm sorry, but I just don't care about the Pro Bowl. Not in the former incarnation, not in the new "video game" incarnation. The players - if they're into it, then good for them! I imagine the draw for them and their wives/family was stronger when it was hosted in Hawaii, since Orlando is such a Mickey Mouse town, but again.... if this is fun for them and they're all happy to be there, that's all that matters IMO.

"There is no tomorrow. You're gonna have to go through hell. Worse than any nightmare that you've ever dreamed. But in the end, you know you'll be the one standing."

I heard that his sister, Lucy, will be assigned as a Special Teams assistant coach, working specifically with the place kick holder specialists.