Be honest: What did you think our record would be?

[burgold]

With a rookie QB, a new HC, DC, and almost 60% roster churn and a really sketchy defensive backfield, no pass rushers except Luvu, and an offensive line that looked like it had been addressed in patchwork style... Burgold at his most optimistic thought we'd still get 50% more wins than 2023. I predicted 6-11. Okay, I hoped for 6-11, but could easily imagine another top five draft pick. So at 9-5, this season far surpasses what I thought this team could produce. So, even thought it was a rough win, perspective reminds us that no matter what else happens this season we are winners.

How about you? What was your realistic prediction? What was you optimistic prediction?

 

[HOF44]

I thought 7-10 would be a great year.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

7-10, with an outside shot at 10-7 if the division craps the bed like in 2015 and 2020. Division is fine, so my guess would have reverted to 7-10.

To put it mildly, we have exceeded expectations.

 

[DD5K]

I honestly (and very homeristicly, because that is definitely a real adjective) predicted 9-8. My homies and I do a yearly season prediction the day before game 1 and keep tabs on it all season.

I am ECSTATIC that we have reached at least that relatively ridiculous prediction, and now maybe beyond that: the very real possibility of hitting double digits.

My burgundy-colored take away - Winning will be ingrained in all of our young guys, and the older core (terry et al) will be thirsty for it now that they've had it. The culture will be hating losing more than loving winning.

My non burgundy-colored take away - the exact same.

DYNASTY LOADING

 

[RedWolf]

9 wins at most. My expectations were low.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I thought likely 7-10 or 8-9, outside shot of 9-8, possibly 6-11 if things went really poorly.

I did think they were going to start slower with a rookie QB and then get better as the season went on. Which hasn’t been the case. They started basically gang busters and now they’re kidof hanging on for dear life.

But they should get to 10 wins. Maybe 11.

That would be awesome.

 

[SkinsOrlando]

Think there was a prediction thread prior to the season I was 6 but took under as well

 

[Conn]

7-10, with an outside shot at 10-7 if the division craps the bed like in 2015 and 2020. Division is fine, so my guess would have reverted to 7-10.

To put it mildly, we have exceeded expectations.

This would have been my exact answer. 7-10 on average if this season was played out multiple times, with an outside shot at 10 wins in the most lucky/over-performing scenario. Which could still come to pass, and I was well aware that we had an “easier” 4th place schedule. But I still have faith we can now win 11-12 games which is unbelievable! Especially since a couple of our losses to this point really pissed me off and shouldn’t have happened. The idea that I truly believe we “should” already have 11 wins right now, and I’m mad that we aren’t, is absurd.

We’re so far ahead of schedule. And we’ll possibly/probably regress next season, and that’s okay as long as we get more talented and see sustainable productivity from our new core of players and playcallers. Development is not linear, especially when you start in as deep a pit as we did.

 

[skinsmarydu]

I recall someone posting that our schedule next season is going to be brutal.
That's what's worrying me.
All I ever want is a winning season, and the last 20 years have only seen a few.
More wins? Yes, please. Just keep in mind that if we win just one playoff game, I may not recover.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

We’re so far ahead of schedule. And we’ll possibly/probably regress next season, and that’s okay as long as we get more talented and see sustainable productivity from our new core of players and playcallers. Development is not linear, especially when you start in as deep a pit as we did.

I don’t see a regression, per se.

The question will be, can we replace some of the one year guys with new one year guys as draft picks develop and take over.

I could really see Peters taking a few bigger swings in FA this year. He just took one at CB.

I see something coming at WR and probably rush end.

I think record wise, we might be really similar. Between 10-12 wins.

But I think they’re going to be a better team next year than this year. Just a hunch.

 

[Conn]

I don’t see a regression, per se.

The question will be, can we replace some of the one year guys with new one year guys as draft picks develop and take over.

I could really see Peters taking a few bigger swings in FA this year. He just took one at CB.

I see something coming at WR and probably rush end.

I think record wise, we might be really similar. Between 10-12 wins.

But I think they’re going to be a better team next year than this year. Just a hunch.

I agree, I expect us to absolutely keep improving, the roster will be much better imo. I was purely referring to record. I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see us be a better team but earn a worse record. It’s gonna be tough.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I agree, I expect us to absolutely keep improving, the roster will be much better imo. I was purely referring to record. I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see us be a better team but earn a worse record. It’s gonna be tough.

As you know, I’m absolutely against playing the opponent/schedule game. That said, if my source is correct, we play the NFC North and AFC west next year + games vs NFC West 2nd place and NFc South second place. I can’t figure out who the 17th game is against yet.

That would look to be a little more dicey schedule than we had this year. Of course, who knows. The Vikings could crater and the Chiefs might have to pay back the deal with the devil they made to get the threepeet.

But I could see a small step back in record, or stay even with a better team.

 

[Knightingale]

The optimist in my had them around 7-9. There were so many factors to think about pre-season. So much was new that while I was thinking it would take a while to bed in and I was really looking forward to the 2025 season.

To have already exceeded the 7 wins makes me a very happy camper.

Have to admit that I'm worried after yesterdays game that this is where we top out. Under ordinary circumstances I'd expect us to beat the Cowboys and Falcons and end up 11-6. But we took a beating yesterday for some key injuries, which I think is why we stumbled in the 2nd half.

Already down Eckler and Brown, suddenly we lose Ertz too. The offense really needs to find a new second option or we're going to see more JD5 runs. Losing Chinn on Defense hurt too.

Fingers crossed maybe we see Eckler back for the Eagles. Chinn too. But I do feel yesterday really showed us how thin the depth is in the Receiving corps and how delicate our balance for winning is. Going to be a very interesting last few games.
I can't see us beating the Eagles (yet stranger things have happened!) and all being well we should beat the Boys (but we know what happened last time!) and the Falcons (but who would put it past Cousins to have a revenge game against us?) so who knows.

I'm hoping to a 2-1 finish, but prepared for a 0-3 skid to end the season.

 

[DazedSkinsFan]

I'm like most here thinking we would have been around the 7 win mark for the season. Definitely ahead of schedule and no matter how this season ends I'm excited to see what Adam cooks up in the off-season. Games like today and the Dallas game shows our lack of talent in key areas such as oline, WR, edge and the back end of the defense. I feel like we are at least two more off-seasons away from having a talented enough team to make a championship run.

 

[burgold]

I think I have to applaud all the people who believed 10 wins was possible at the start of the season. I'm not sure if I believe you, but I admire that kind of optimism.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I had them at 8 wins. I believe they were much improved and their QB would pan out. Happy to be a bit low.

 

[Boone]

I probably had them at 9 wins, because I am a homer and I always want good things for my team

 

[Riggotoni]

Throw me in the 7-10 crowd. I was more interested in evaluating Jayden Daniels than the team's record this year, and in some ways I still am.

 

[Gooseneck]

I had them at 9 and 5 at this point after beating the Saints 20-19. Okay, I really cannot remember, I think 7-10 or 6-11;

 

[Chris]

The optimist in my had them around 7-9. There were so many factors to think about pre-season. So much was new that while I was thinking it would take a while to bed in and I was really looking forward to the 2025 season.

To have already exceeded the 7 wins makes me a very happy camper.

Have to admit that I'm worried after yesterdays game that this is where we top out. Under ordinary circumstances I'd expect us to beat the Cowboys and Falcons and end up 11-6. But we took a beating yesterday for some key injuries, which I think is why we stumbled in the 2nd half.

Already down Eckler and Brown, suddenly we lose Ertz too. The offense really needs to find a new second option or we're going to see more JD5 runs. Losing Chinn on Defense hurt too.

Fingers crossed maybe we see Eckler back for the Eagles. Chinn too. But I do feel yesterday really showed us how thin the depth is in the Receiving corps and how delicate our balance for winning is. Going to be a very interesting last few games.
I can't see us beating the Eagles (yet stranger things have happened!) and all being well we should beat the Boys (but we know what happened last time!) and the Falcons (but who would put it past Cousins to have a revenge game against us?) so who knows.

I'm hoping to a 2-1 finish, but prepared for a 0-3 skid to end the season.

Ekeler was placed on IR and has to miss a minimum of 4 games to be eligible to return. That means the season finale at the earliest.