Kevin Wilson

I'm not real sure how to feel about the "hang out" but I can see the appeal to people that really get into the roleplaying aspect of these games. In a lot of games you romance someone, get in a relationship, whatever but in the gameplay there are no changes. You have the little cut scene and from then on its business as usual which isn't "realistic" until there may be a special end game cut scene. So I figure the same people that actually try to make their character a "real person" (so to speak) that sleeps regularly and has long extra dialogues instead of just hitting all the checkboxes of what makes a video game exist, I can see why they'd enjoy the feature. For me, none of that is really appealing, I'm not the type of person that turns on "must eat" and "must sleep" in hardcore mode for games like Skyrim. I don't need my video game characters to have a realistic day to day existence, but to some its part of the immersive fun.

I don't have any stats or evidence but my gut feeling is that defenses finally caught up after the rule changes in the last decade to help the offenses. Defensive coaching has gotten better, players have gotten better, and they are learning how to scheme to give defenses the advantage. That's why the main teams having consistent offensive success either have over the top talent at the skilled positions (Miami, 49ers) or are doing creative things (Eagles, also Miami). Or play in bad divisions. That's not to say any given week a team can't 'click' and do great but I think week to week the only explanation I can really come up with is defenses have adapted. I'm just curious if in the offseason there will be more changes to make it harder to defense, such as removing the hip drop tackle. Not that I like tackles that injure people but giving defenders one more thing to think about when tackling always takes a year or two to get used to.

I'm in favor of players having options and getting paid, just for the record, but as a fan I really hate the way the transfer portal works and when players can declare for it. Between players opting not to play due to the draft and being in the transfer portal, outside of the teams in the playoffs (as I assume most of their major players will play) its really a crapshoot on the quality of the games and who is going to actually be playing. Course, I say this just from a fan perspective that wants to watch fun and competitive games, I know that the players are doing what they feel is best for their career and I don't hold it against them. On a related note, Dillon Gabriel is in the transfer portal.

I'm really excited to dive back in early 2024. I played it at launch and beat it/liked it, but I recognize it wasn't a polished game then. Sounds like now its almost a totally different game with how much they've added in the meantime, along with the DLC of course. I did think it was funny they said the 2.1 patch will make the final boss harder, he kicked my ass the first time as he was. I better get gud in the meantime.

Yea I hate to say this right before they play the Bills as its bad luck (and I'm not declaring a guaranteed Bills win or anything crazy), but the Chiefs really haven't looked great this year and are running out of time to figure it out. They are really good but something isn't clicking with the offense. Their WRs just aren't great and nothing at this point is going to fix that, it is what it is. The AFC is still wide open for the Super Bowl, I really have no idea which team is the best, may just be whichever one is healthiest come January.

I wish the commentators would give up on the "was that pass interference???" on the Hail Mary like they've been harping on this year. I am sure every Hail Mary has either defensive/offensive holding and/or pass interference, the league has been very consistent over the last millennia on not calling it and just letting things go. Which I think is the right call unless someone does something over-the-top obnoxious like tackle someone (rather than doing something that could be seen as going for the ball). What's really going to piss me off tho is the one time in the future they do call it and it makes a team I hate win. But I'll cross that rage bridge when we get there.

I was wrong! 1. Michigan 2. Washington 3. Texas 4. Alabama

I am watching the reveal show which is very embarrassing for me to admit but even the ESPN guys are really not on the same page on who should be in. Booger and whoever is next to him had totally different takes on how the committee should decide. Its definitely a tougher decision than usual, I certainly have my own take as everyone does but its not as clear cut as they'd prefer. Someone gonna be mad.

I just can't see them leaving out FSU. The back-up will be back by the playoffs so it won't be the 3rd string in there and FSU was the #4 seed going into weekend. I can't imagine them having both Alabama and Texas (#7 and #8) leapfrog them even after FSU beat the #14 team in the ranking, that would be pretty crazy to me. So the big question to me is who is the #4 seed, Texas or Alabama. I'd lean Texas since they beat Alabama in the head to head. So my prediction would be Michigan, Washington, FSU, and Texas in the last spot.

This game is hard for me as on one hand, I rarely root for Alabama but on the other hand, I am a lover of chaos and Alabama winning would definitely encourage some chaos tomorrow.

Seth immediately went into "work" mode to get that WM main event spot, gotta love it.

I'm not saying of course he is glad he got injured, as getting injured sucks for a number reasons, but there must be some part of Aaron Rodgers that is like 'well thank goodness I don't have to play for this team.' The Jets are more than just an "Aaron Rodgers" away from being a serious playoff contender, the WRs are as bad as we thought (besides Wilson) and the OL is awful (injuries haven't helped). Their defense is very good, but even a very good defense gets gassed after being on the field so much. This offseason will be very interesting for them, just to see what they do to the offense to build it up some for a (in my opinion) final Rodgers run and if all the coaches survive.

I'm not incredibly sure that the Jets will score today. While Zach Wilson was clearly A problem I don't think he was the whole problem. They just are offensively stunted.

Nah its just the Waxing Gibbous causing them to lose, no matter how good the Lions are they can't escape the moon.

Well this game is rather ridiculous. The whole "what can go wrong will go wrong" thing for the Lions so far.

Apologies for this random rant but it still bothers me that somehow the Nemesis System was patented and can't be used by other game developers. It came up in my brain this week as I played two BLATENT rip-off games: WILD HEARTS and Coral Island. One copying Monster Hunter, the other being a basic 1:1 copy of Stardew Valley. I'm not mad at the companies making the copies, as long as they make them fun, but I don't understand how those two games can take so many aspects from another game, and yet WB Games was able to patent the Nemesis System. Which is really cool, but doesn't seem that "outside the box" of an idea that it can prevent everyone else from using it for a decade. Has a developer ever in the past patented a game mechanic? It just feels so weird considering how many copycat games there are.

How sad. Obviously not their plan but since no one is buying the game anyway, at least they can try to get a little money from Microsoft or Sony. I'd give it a whirl if it appears on GamePass.

Zach Wilson benched in the 3rd, since Boyle isn't exactly setting the world on fire in relief I dunno if he'll lose his job long term though.

I think the hit was worthy of a penalty, but I'm not generally a fan of suspensions being given out for "bang bang" plays as the kids would say. If a QB slides and a defender hits him helmet to helmet its going to be a flag too, sliding players always get the benefit of the doubt. But suspensions should be saved for more malicious/intentional acts and of course repeat offenders.

I'm not going to shed any tears over Dorsey, but I'm surprised they made a non-bye week change. As someone that has watched way too many Bills games I could theorize as to why now. The run game has worked but not been used. Allen has clearly been told by coaches to run less even though that's a big part of his game (was it Dorsey or McDermott?). James Cook being benched for multiple series last night when he was their most dynamic player (again, was that Dorsey or McDermott). The seeming unwillingness to call and/or execute short passes over the middle/screens that tend to work but aren't called on often. Its been a frustrating year. I wouldn't support firing McDermott mid-season or probably at all, after the season the brains can get together and see if they can figure out the source of the problem. I think McDermott is a good coach, sports fans always want coaches fired and then complain when the next coach is worse. If you ask Bills fans they haven't had a good coach since Levy (winning = good, no other criteria), but no one ever considers "will the next one be better?". Bills fans complained about Daboll, then complained about Dorsey, its a never ending story. But making an OC change is easier, and with the weapons they have they have to do better. Time will tell if it helps or not.

Aside from Adam forgetting how to play fantasy football, as he tends to do every year, the DVDVR league probably has the most parity this year than I've ever seen. Ten teams within two games of each other, still wide open.

Saying the quiet part out loud, jesus. Getting injured is part of his game hahaha

I forgot to pick Usually I do it on Tuesday but for some reason I didn't and I never thought of it again. I would have picked Dallas so now I hope they lose.

If he was smart, soon as the final game ended he'd announce he is retiring to spend more time with his family. Then next year they will give him a big ceremony and Brady will be there and everyone will hug and cheer. But if I've learned anything about football players and coaches, instead he'll act like nothing is wrong (either due to arrogance or wanting to break the all time coaching win record) and we'll just have to see if Robert Kraft will force him to move on or due to everything he has done just let him continue as long as he wants.

Caleb Williams is still the easy betting favorite to be the #1 pick in the draft next year, but he is making it more interesting than it should be. He just isn't playing consistently at that level this year so far (still having a great statistical year, to be clear). I could see it being an example of a young player trying too hard/trying to do too much and his OL seems to be doing him no favors but it'll be interesting come February if another player gets in the mix. (Course, no guarantee the top picking team will need a QB, but that's another story)