I’m getting mixed data on the number of punt or kick TD returns last year. The AI overview said there were a total of 32 in 2024, with 7 by Ihmir Smith-Marsette alone which is clearly wrong. But it looks like there were only 13 total - 7 kickoff and 6 punt. I went with the odds and said no, but you’re right that it should increase with the new rule change.
.
Thursday
EaglesFriday
ChiefsSunday early:
Jets (GOTW: 2 points)
Saints
Dolphins
Raiders
Commies
Panthers
Bengals
FalconsSunday late:
Seahawks
Titans
Lions
RamsSunday night:
Ravens (GOTW: 3 points)Monday night:
BearsChamp’s Choice:
No
For reference:
The main 2025 NFL kickoff rule change makes the “dynamic kickoff” a permanent rule, moving the touchback spot for a free kick from the 30-yard line to the 35-yard line to encourage more returns and create more exciting plays. Additionally, the rule now allows a trailing team to declare an onside kick at any point in the game, not just in the fourth quarter.
Right. So I imagine kicking teams would try to avoid kicking it through the end zone as much because that would give the receiving team the ball at the 35 now. And if they kick it as if it would land in the field of play, then receiving teams may be more likely to run it forward after the catch to try and score.
Thursday
Eagles
Friday
Chargers
Sunday early:
Steelers (GOTW: 2 points)
Cards
Dolphins
Patriots
Commies
Jags
Bengals
Bucs
Sunday late:
Niners
Broncos
Lions
Rams
Sunday night:
Ravens (GOTW: 3 points)
Monday night:
Vikings
Champ’s Choice: : Will there be a special teams kick return, either kickoff or punt, for TD? (Y) +/- 1 point
Kickoff three nights from tonight, get your picks in.
I would suggest having a prop bet ready to submit in the event you land atop the week 1 podium. There’s always the possibility of a tie (or thee or more tied) for first so we may have multiple Champ’s Choices to choose from and I want to have the next week’s pick thread up by Wednesday mornings at the latest.
@scorpio516 and others are still missing on this thread.
Thanks again for doing this. I know there’s some work involved for you.
3 Likes
I’m ready
Thursday
Cowboys at Eagles
Friday
Chiefs at Chargers
Sunday early:
Steelers at Jets (GOTW: 2 points)
Cards at Saints
Dolphins at Colts
Raiders at Patriots
Giants at Commies
Panthers at Jags
Bengals at Browns
Bucs at Falcons
Sunday late:
Niners at Seahawks
Titans at Broncos
Lions at Packers
Texans at Rams
Sunday night:
Ravens at Bills (GOTW: 3 points)
Monday night:
Vikings at Bears
Champ’s Choice: : Will there be a special teams kick return, either kickoff or punt, for TD? (Y/N) +/- 1 point YES
[quote=“sphere, post:1, topic:1292232”]
Thursday
Cowboys at Eagles
Friday
Chiefs at Chargers
Sunday early:
Steelers at Jets (GOTW: 2 points)
Cards at Saints
Dolphins at Colts
Raiders at Patriots
Giants at Commies
Panthers at Jags
Bengals at Browns
Bucs at Falcons
Sunday late:
Niners at Seahawks
Titans at Broncos
Lions at Packers
Texans at Rams
Sunday nightstrong text**:**
Ravens at Bills (GOTW: 3 points)
Monday night:
Vikings at Bears
Champ’s Choice: : Will there be a special teams kick return, either kickoff or punt, for TD? (Y/N) +/- 1 point …No
GOTW impact news:
Could be Bears new HC coming from being OC for lions?
Line favors Chicago by 1pt presently. That’s surprising.
Thursday
Eagles
Friday
Chiefs
Sunday early:
Steelers (GOTW: 2 points)
Cards
Dolphins
Patriots
Commies
Jags
Bengals
Bucs
Sunday late:
Niners
Broncos
Lions
Texans
Sunday night:
Bills (GOTW: 3 points)
Monday night:
Vikings
Champ’s Choice: : Will there be a special teams kick return, either kickoff or punt, for TD? YES
Thursday
Eagles
Friday
Chiefs
Sunday early:
Jets (GOTW: 2 points)
Saints
Colts
Patriots
Commies
Jags
Bengals
Falcons
Sunday late:
Niners
Broncos
Lions
Rams
Sunday night:
Bills (GOTW: 3 points)
Monday night:
Vikings
Champ’s Choice: : Will there be a special teams kick return, either kickoff or punt, for TD? (Y) +/- 1 point
Thursday
Eagles
Friday
Chargers
Sunday early:
Steelers (GOTW: 2 points)
Cards
Dolphins
Patriots
Commies
Jags
Bengals
Bucs
Sunday late:
Seahawks
Broncos
Packers
Rams
Sunday night:
Bills (GOTW: 3 points)
Monday night:
Bears
Champ’s Choice: : Will there be a special teams kick return, either kickoff or punt, for TD? (Y/N) +/- 1 point
NO
Welcome to the party.
First game of the 2025 season is tonight. We’re up to 27 players this year, double our number from last year, should be interesting.
I think it’s safe to say we have the potential for multiple first place finishers every week, meaning multiple prop bets to choose from. As they’re win/loss props, you don’t have to choose any or all, but can pick and choose what you want to bet on if there are multiple. It’s a good idea to follow the format of our first week’s bet and make it universally applicable, but don’t be afraid to get creative with it so long as it resolves by the end of the week’s final game and it’s a binary answer. Questions that don’t fit the format will be tossed or revised by the commish.
My google spreadsheet has infinite rows so there’s always room to join between now and tonight. The gate closes at kickoff, 8:20pm eastern.
Sorry just saw that the new game has arrived. Still waiting for my tailend charlie booby prize award[quote=“sphere, post:1, topic:1292232, full:true”]
Here we go.
Make your picks by copy/pasting the games below into your response and bolding or underlining your picks, or by deleting the losing team’s name, just make it obvious who your choice is. The three point GOTW as determined in the last thread is Buffalo-Baltimore, two point GOTW will be Steelers-Jets.
The prop bet at the end of the list, Champ’s Choice, will be chosen next week by this week’s winner, worth 1 point. The choice must be binary, unambiguous, and resolved in this week’s play so that the point tally is finalized by the final game of the week. I will message the week’s winner asap to ask for their submission so it will be included in the following week’s picks post. Keep an eye on your inbox.
GOTW voting will be done via polling function as in the last thread. I don’t have access to that feature so please wait for @ironclm to post the poll in the thread before choosing. First choice will be next week’s 3 point game, second will be the 2 point game. You will have three games to choose from.
All are welcome to play, though contestants who do not submit picks in week 1 will not be added in subsequent weeks.
Good luck and get your picks in. Hitting send hoping for the best. advise if incomplete.
Thursday
EaglesFriday
ChargersSunday early:
Steelers (GOTW: 2 points)
Cards
Colts
Raiders
Commies
Jags
Bengals
FalconsSunday late:
Seahawks
Broncos
Packers
RamsSunday night:
Bills (GOTW: 3 points)Monday night:
VikingsChamp’s Choice: : Will there be a special teams kick return, either kickoff or punt, for TD? (N) +/- 1 point
Vote your choice for GOTW for week 2 in the poll posted further down the thread:
A) Eagles at Chiefs
B) Commies at Packers
C) Bears at Lions
[/quote]
That’s great! I knew there were a bunch of entries this week but I didn’t realize it was that high.