NFL Times

AFC Wildcard

2006-12-09T10:13:00.000-08:00

We are heading into week 14 of the NFL season with the playoffs right around the corner. The AFC Wildcard spots are going to be tough to get. Let's take a look at who is still in the running and who I think will represent the AFC.

Division winners are clear for now with the following winners:

AFC East: NE Patriots
AFC North: Bal Ravens
AFC South: Ind Colts
AFC West: SD Chargers

As for the wildcard spots, there are only two spots left with the following teams who are trying to qualify along with their remaining schedules:

NY Jets (Buf, @Min, @Mia, Oak)
Cin Bengals (Oak, @Ind, @Den, Pit)
Jax Jaguars (Ind, @Ten, NE, @KC)
KC Chiefs (Bal, @SD, @Oak, Jax)
Den Broncos (@SD, @Arz, Cin, SF)

All of these teams above have a 7-5 record with just four games left. Whoever can win at least three of the four is virtually guaranteed a spot. That is easier said than done, so we will start with the first team on the list, the NY Jets.

The NY Jets are the team I like most because their schedule is the most favorable. They should beat Buf at home considering Buf is 2-4 on the road. Then, heading into Min should not be tough, because Min is no longer strong and they have lost five of the last six games with the only win coming against Arz. The game at Miami might be tough because Mia is playing better as of late. Even if they lose this game, they still get Oak at home the week after, which should be a breeze for them. So, I see the Jets going 3-1 down the stretch.

I really like the Bengals making the playoffs, but they really have a tough schedule all year. The first game is a breeze with Oak coming into town. Next, they travel to Ind, which they have been able to play tough. I do not see them winning this game though, with Ind still having to play for home field advantage. Next, going to Den should be a tough battle, but Cin is more well rounded then Den and should pull this game off. Finally, they get Pit at home, and this is going to be a big revenge game for the Bengals. The team who eliminated them last year from the playoffs could do so again, but Palmer will be motivated to beat them since they injured him last year. So, I see the Bengals going 3-1 down the stretch.

The Jaguars are not playing like the team from last year. They have lost some crucial games against unworthy opponents, like Hou twice and Buf. Their first game against Ind will be a low scoring affair, and if Ind did not lose last week, I would have picked the Jags. However, I do not see Ind losing back to back, and they will beat the Jags in a very close game. Next, the Jags head into Ten, a team who is playing like the best team in the league right now. The Jags have not been playing well on the road this season and Ten will beat them. They face the Patriots the week after, and I can see the Jags winning this game. They play good at home against tough opponents. Finally, they go to KC and will find it tough to win at Arrowhead Stadium. They will lose this game also and go 1-3 down the stretch.

The Chiefs will face the Ravens first. They will get beaten up physically, but will find a way to win this game at home. Next, they face the Chargers in SD, they have no chance of winning this game. The Chargers D will be bringing the pressure, and KC will not be able to move the ball. Next, they go to Oak which will not be a breeze for them. Being that this is a division game, the Raiders always play the Chiefs tough, and this could be the game that prevents the Chiefs from making the playoffs. But nahhh, I see the Raiders blowing it and the Chiefs will come out alive. Finally, they get the Jags at home and I already picked the Chiefs in this one. So, the Chiefs will be 3-1 down the stretch.

The Broncos probably did everyone a favor by starting Cutler, thus ending their season early. I see them getting hammered at SD. Then, they will get by the Cards in Arz. They will lose to Cin as described above. Finally, they will beat SF, but a little too late. They will be 2-2 down the stretch.

This puts the Jets, Bengals, and Chiefs tied at 10-6 each to end the season. The tie breaker is simple, head to head, the Bengals beat the Chiefs in week 1 and the Chiefs also have the worst AFC record with both the Jets and Bengals better against AFC opponents. Thus, the AFC Wildcard spots will belong to the NY Jets, and Cin Bengals.

Week 12 Round up

2006-11-25T14:34:00.000-08:00

Well, I went three for three on the Thanksgiving games. The rest of the field predictions are below:

Baltimore over Pittsburgh
Cincinatti over Cleveland
San Francisco over St. Louis
Minnesota over Arizona
New York Jets over Houston
New Orleans over Atlanta
Carolina over Washington
Jacksonville over Buffalo
San Diego over Oakland
New York Giants over Tennessee
New England over Chicago
Indianapolis over Philadelphia
Seattle over Green Bay

Early season predictions

2006-11-22T18:34:00.000-08:00

I made the following predictions before the season started. Let's see how well I'm doing...

AFC East
1. Miami2. New England3. Buffalo4. New York JTS
Let's see if Miami can keep it going.
AFC North
1. Cincinnati2. Baltimore3. Pittsburgh4. Cleveland
I don't see the Bengals catching the Ravens.
AFC South
1. Indianapolis2. Jacksonville3. Houston4. Tennessee
This division is too easy to predict.
AFC West
1. Denver2. San Diego3. Oakland4. Kansas City
LT, what the heck is going on??
NFC East
1. Dallas2. New York GTS3. Philadelphia4. Washington
Wow, this might actually be right too.
NFC North
1. Chicago2. Detroit3. Minnesota4. Green Bay
I don't think Detroit is gonna make a push anytime soon.
NFC South
1. Carolina2. Atlanta3. Tampa Bay4. New Orleans
Marques Colston from where, Hofstra? Drew Brees, can you keep it up.
NFC West
1. Seattle2. Arizona3. St. Louis4. San Francisco
Why didn't I know about the inconvenient truth before the seaon?

AFC East Champ
Miami(11 Wins)
AFC North Champ Cincinnati(10 Wins)
AFC South Champ
Indianapolis(12 Wins)
AFC West Champ
Denver(11 Wins)
NFC East Champ
Dallas(11 Wins)
NFC North Champ
Chicago(10 Wins)
NFC South Champ
Carolina(12 Wins)
NFC West Champ
Seattle(13 Wins)
AFC Wild Card #1
New England
AFC Wild Card #2
San Diego
NFC Wild Card #1
New York GTS
NFC Wild Card #2
Atlanta
AFC Wild Card Winner Team 1
New England
AFC Wild Card Winner Team 1
Cincinnati
NFC Wild Card Winner Team 1
New York GTS
NFC Wild Card Winner Team 1
Chicago
AFC Divisional Winner Team 1
Indianapolis
AFC Divisional Winner Team 2
Cincinnati
NFC Divisional Winner Team 1
Chicago
NFC Divisional Winner Team 2
Seattle
AFC Champ
Cincinnati
NFC Champ
Seattle
Pro Football Champion
Seattle

Thanksgiving

2006-11-22T18:14:00.000-08:00

With Thanksgiving around the corner, a new tradition of three games will be played. The NFL Network will be featuring their first NFL game live and more to come the rest of the season. Sometimes, a tradition should be broken. Much like the addition of a third game, the NFL needs to reconsider the tradition of Dallas and Detriot always playing on Thanksgiving. I'm not too enthusiastic about waking up to see the Lions take on the Dolphins even with the twist of Harrington playing his old team. It seems like every year this happens, so what is the big deal with all the free agency in the league??

Anyway, on to the afternoon game, what a bummer! We get to see the Cowboys take on a Tampa Bay team that offers no excitement whatsoever. Parcells himself tends to be very conservative and by this nature alone the game will be close. I do not see him attempting to blow out a team which he knows he can control and win just by playing the clock. The only hunch I have of Tampa pulling it out will be where Parcells was burned by Santana Moss on that classic MNF game where Brunell threw two late TD's while down 13-0 until midway of the 4th. Washington ended up winning 14-13. The correlation is with Galloway this time arond, because it seems like Gradkowski is finally getting him the ball. I guess we will wait until tomorrow to see if it happens.

As for the final game on Thanksgiving day, the Broncos head into Arrowhead Stadium. This will be a good game because it is a divisional matchup that features two playoff bound teams. When I think about the outcome, I really do not see Denver winning this game. The game they should have won was last week against the Chargers but they blew the lead and their load. The Chiefs fans are going to be rockin' and they will be a huge factor. Gonzalez should be healthy enough to come back, and if he is not effective, he surely will get a lot of attention to open things up for others. Meanwhile, the Broncos will have a QB controversy if they do lose this game, because they will fall from 1st to tied for second in the division. I can hear Jay Cutlers name already...

Well, have fun this Thanksgiving watching football all day, and like Gonzalez said on his commercial "Don't forget to bring the stuffing."

Super Bowl XL Sunday February 5, 2006

2006-02-05T12:11:00.000-08:00

Here we are, finally at the conclusion of another epic football season. This is the game that everyone comes to watch, some for the game, some for the commercials. As we sit back and enjoy the company around us and the game, us football fanatics also have this sick sort of disgust that we will not see another game for 7 months. This is the time where everyone feels like a gambler too. From office pools to straight bets, the Super Bowl is the most wagered on single event in the world, recording somewhere in the billions of dollars.

Well, as for the game, I really see this game going either way. There is no clear cut favorite, although Vegas is bluffing a Wildcard team as a four point favorite. What is ironic is the actual Super Bowl games themselves I can never seem to remember. I can recall the regular season and playoff games leading up to the Super Bowl much better. The collective gathering of a bunch of hooligans to watch a game distorts the memory of what actually happens and the focus is more on the party at the house and the commercials that stuck out.

Pittsburgh is coming into this game cocky and with high emotions. From Bettis playing his last game in Detriot to the terrible towel fans who follow them everywhere, they speak with a sense of assurance that there is no other ending aside from the one with them holding the Vince Lombardi trophy at the end of the day. Added to that, the backing of the oddsmakers with a four point favorite to really screw with peoples minds to make them think, will they win by four? The whole thought of Seattle winning is out the door at this point. Seattle who? Is that their opponent? Seattle, on the other hand is just making their first Super Bowl appearance ever with good talent on both sides of the field. What I really liked was how Hassleback took over and won that Washington game without Alexander. I believe his performance in that game will be indicative of how the Super Bowl will be played out. If Pittsburgh stuffs the run, which I think they are capable of, then Hassleback has shown us the courage to make it happen through the air against a stout defense before. As for the Steelers, the only drawback I see to them winning this game is they rested an extra week. It's like waking up with a cold shower after a good dream, you sit back and reflect on that dream before you play it out. When it comes down to it, Roethlisberger is still going to manage the game and keep the lead or keep them close the whole game. The question is can they fall behind by two scores, because if they do, they are not a good comeback team. I do not trust Roethlisberger in a come from behind game, I can see him throwing it away by trying to make things happen, rather than taking what is given to him when they are in the lead. Just as they have struggled to run in the playoffs, I see Pittsburgh trying to force feed Parker, Bettis, and Haynes the football. Boy I hope they do not have the lead cause this game will be boring, a la Ottis Andersen and the NY Giants in their Super Bowl win against the Bills.

My prediction is Pittsburgh 27 Seattle 24.

Have fun watching the game, and see you all next season!

Playoff Pick' em

2006-01-22T11:39:00.000-08:00

Look for a good matchup here in the early game. They both love to run the football but when your playing in Mile High, the gas runs pretty short and the bus might be left stranded. I like the Broncos over the Steelers in a defensive struggle 16-10.

When the two NFC opponents duke it out this will be a heavyweight bout of the strongest survives. With a first round punch on Alexander again, look for him to throw in the towel early. As for Steve Smitty he will continue to throw punches late in the final rounds racking up some huge points in a decision. The Panthers D will hold its own as for the Seattle D, they will fall asleep on a couple plays allowing just enough difference for the Panthers to defeat Seattle 23-21.

Playoff Pick' em

2006-01-14T11:02:00.000-08:00

Last week's playoffs were good. This week's games should be great. I went 3-1 last week, missing the Bengals game. Boy, if only Carson did not get injured who would have known? Check out this week's pick' em which should be really exciting.

Seahawks over Redskins
Patriots over Broncos
Colts over Steelers
Panthers over Bears

Have fun watching the games.

Look back at the 2005 season prognostications

2006-01-07T23:05:00.000-08:00

Back in Week 4 I had already made my predictions for the year. For those who do not remember I will attach it below along with updated comments on how I did.

This week, I will separate the teams in particular categories of who to look out for that are surprises this year, the usual contenders, pretenders, and the teams that have no chance. We are a quarter of the way through the NFL season.

LOOK OUT FOR...

Miami Dophins: This team has a realistic chance of winning their division. Their defense has remained solid from previous years and they have an offense to boot. They have become an exciting story for the Dolphins fans thur far. Wow, I was almost right on this one. The Dolphins were winners of their last six games and next year might be their year. I can't believe they ended one game from the Patriots and a possible division title. Overall, good prediction.

Cincinatti Bengals: Wow, what a cinderella story this has become. Marvin Lewis is displaying his true genious this year as he has the Bengals playing at their highest level. I see no reason their success will fade considering they are dominating the field on both sides. Hit this one right on as the Bengals ended up winning their division. Although I am a bit concerned about how their defense dropped down the stretch which will hurt them in the playoffs.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Right now they are hovering around in the middle of the pack. But they are not a team you want to face any given week because of their physical play and I rest their fate on the arms of Leftwich. Their defense is solid but they will only go as far as the health of their young quarterback. Very good call once again. The Jags were very exciting this year ending at 12-4. Although their quarterback did go down, they still found ways to win.

San Diego Chargers: I put them in this category because I feel many people wrote them off after a shaky 0-2 start. I knew they would be dangerous and it seems as if this giant has awaken. Look for them to win the AFC West once again. Well, you can not be right on everything. The Chargers had their chances but just could not win the big games. Very disappointing year for this club, probably the best team ever to not make the playoffs.

New York Giants: They are a team with a whole new look with Plaxico in the lineup. He spreads the field and opens things up for Shockey and company. Eli is coming into his own and will take this team far. Hit it right on the spot once again as the NY Giants ended up winning the division. They were a huge surprise this year and played well enough to win a competitive division.

Carolina Panthers: After a year absence from the playoffs, the Panthers look solid once again. They are in a very tough division, but they have experience on their side. The offense has all their key players back and the defense is holding its ground. Right on! The Panthers tied the Buccs at 11-5 but lost the division title due to a tiebreaker. However, they did make the playoffs and are a very tough team to play against.

Seattle Seahawks: Although they will be without the two starting receivers this week, the Seahawks benefit from a soft schedule. They should be able to run the tables in their division. The defense has been playing better lately and Alexander is back to form. Could not have put it any better as the Seahawks went 13-3 and clinched homefield advantage throughout. I really like the Seahawks especially playing at home.

THE CONTENDERS...New England (correct as they won the division), Pittsburg (correct as they made the playoffs), Indianapolis (correct as they clinched homefield advantage throughout), Denver (correct as they won their division and got a first round bye), Philadelphia (incorrect, wow I would have never guessed how much of a distraction the loss of TO made to this team as they kept falling one by one with McNabb and Westbrook going on IR), Tampa Bay (correct since they won their division and went 11-5). and Atlanta (incorrect, boy did they blow it going down the stretch losing key divisional games and three straight to end the season at 8-8).

THE PRETENDERS...

Buffalo Bills: Until coach Mularkey realizes that Losman is not the right guy this team is just a pretender. The prospect of putting in Holcomb will dramatically raise the value of this team because Holcomb can air it out like he did in his days at Cleveland. (Hit the spot right on as Buffalo just tanked down the stretch going 5-11. Not only did Losman hurt them early on, McGahee was horrible to end the season).

Baltimore Ravens: No passing game, no go. Everything else is well tuned aside from the brain of this team which is the quarterback. Not even the return of Boller will help them. (Right on since Baltimore went 6-10 and missed the playoffs. They need some help in the draft this year to even make them an average team next year).

Kansas City Chiefs: I called this one too. After they crushed the Jets and beat the high powered Raiders in Oakland, I knew this team was still a fluke at 2-0. Right after they were blown out on Monday Night against Denver and blew a huge lead at home against Philly. The collapse has started earlier than I thought. (I pride myself on picking this one right because year in and year out people think the Chiefs will be contenders. They are nothing more than pretenders and have never won the big games when they counted as they missed the playoffs at 10-6).

Washington Redskins: This team is undefeated now at 3-0 but just like last year I see them going on a skid of many losses in a row. To start, they have two tough away games at Denver and Kansas City, I will reevaluate their character after that. (Well, well, well, the Redskins needed to win five straight to make the playoffs and they did just that. I give them credit because I was wrong here thinking they would have crumbled).

Dallas Cowboys: This is a good team now, but the season is 16 weeks long. Bledsoe has gotten off to fast starts before, but once he stumbles there is no turning back for him. Sorry tuna, this ship is starting to sink. (I was right on here. Bledsoe did begin to struggle and the Cowboys missed the playoffs).

The Whole NFC North Division: Chicago has no quarterback. (Incorrect, I guess someone had to win the division right? Grossman coming back will help them immensely). Detriot can not be taken seriously with Harrington. (Correct, perfect call as even some of his teammates criticized him as being the cause this year). Minnesota is a shell of their former self. (Correct since the Vikings struggled this year, even though they got some life back when Brad Johnson stepped in but it was too little too late). Green Bay is old and plagued by injuries, with Ahman Green being the latest victim. (Correct, perhaps the biggest disappointment this year with Favre throwing 26 interceptions, ouch).

NO CHANCE:NY Jets, Cleveland, Tennessee, Houston, Oakland, New Orleans, St. Louis, Arizona, and San Francisco. (Correct on ALL of these teams. Wow, from Week 4 on, none of these losers surprised us and continued to be horrible the rest of the year, some teams got even worse than they were).

Well, I hope you enjoyed the 2005 season, and as I mentioned before no matter how much things change they still are the same in the NFL. I was right on for all but 6 teams, but the sad part is the teams that sucked I was perfect on. Those were the teams that I hoped would have surprised me and made things interesting, however, they all just rolled over.

Playoff Pick' em

2006-01-07T22:59:00.001-08:00

To end the regular season I went 11-5 in Week 17. That put my overall mark to 186-70. The playoffs are here. Take a look at my picks for the playoffs.

Washington over Tampa Bay
New England over Jacksonville
Carolina over NY Giants
Cincinnati over Pittsburgh

Good luck to all.

Week 17 Pick' em

2005-12-31T12:23:00.000-08:00

After going 13-3 last week, I am now 175-65 overall. This is the final week of the regular season and games are not necessarily ended the way they should because many teams are resting their starters. Let's see how it goes.

Chargers over Broncos
Giants over Raiders
Colts over Cardinals
Ravens over Browns
Bills over Jets
Panthers over Falcons
Vikings over Bears
Chiefs over Bengals
Steelers over Lions
Patriots over Dolphins
Buccs over Saints
49ers over Texans
Jaguars over Titans
Packers over Seahawks
Redskins over Eagles
Cowboys over Rams

Well, it has been a great season. The postseason should only get more exciting as the quality of the teams who made it this year is very good competitive. Should make for an excellent finish.

Week 16 Pick' em

2005-12-23T23:25:00.000-08:00

Last week I went 12-4. My overall total is now 162-62. Check out this weeks picks.

Buccs over Falcons
Bengals over Bills
Panthers over Cowboys
Lions over Saints
Jaguars over Texans
Redskins over Giants
Steelers over Browns
Chiefs over Chargers
Rams over 49ers
Dolphins over Titans
Cardinals over Eagles
Seahawks over Colts
Broncos over Raiders
Bears over Packers
Ravens over Vikings
Patriots over Jets

There you go.

Week 15 Pick' em

2005-12-17T10:40:00.000-08:00

Well, last week was another great week going 14-2. My overall total is now 150-58. Take a look at this weeks picks.

Patriots over Buccs
Giants over Chiefs
Broncos over Bills
Cardinals over Texans
Panthers over Saints
Redskins over Cowboys
Dolphins over Jets
Steelers over Vikings
Colts over Chargers
Seahawks over Titans
Jaguars over 49ers
Bengals over Lions
Raiders over Browns
Rams over Eagles
Bears over Falcons
Ravens over Packers

Good luck to all this week.

Week 14 Pick 'em

2005-12-10T17:02:00.000-08:00

Here are the week 14 picks. Last week I went 13-3, so I am currently at 136-56.

Steelers over Bears
Bengals over Browns
Titans over Texans
Colts over Jaguars
Patriots over Bills
Jets over Raiders
Vikings over Rams
Panthers over Buccs
Giants over Eagles
Seahawks over 49ers
Redskins over Cardinals
Broncos over Ravens
Cowboys over Chiefs
Chargers over Dolphins
Packers over Lions
Falcons over Saints

Week 13 Pick' em

2005-12-04T00:03:00.000-08:00

After going 12-4 last week, I stand at 123-53. This week poses some tough matchups with many divisional battles.

Panthers over Falcons
Bills over Dolphins
Steelers over Bengals
Giants over Cowboys
Bears over Packers
Ravens over Texans
Jaguars over Browns
Vikings over Lions
Buccs over Saints
Colts over Titans
Cardinals over 49ers
Rams over Redskins
Chiefs over Broncos
Patriots over Jets
Chargers over Raiders
Seahawks over Eagles

Week 12 Pick' em

2005-11-26T16:25:00.000-08:00

Last week was a terrible week. I went 8-8 to take my overall record to 111-49. Let's make this a better week.

Falcons over Lions
Cowboys over Broncos
Bengals over Ravens
Panthers over Bills
Buccs over Bears
Vikings over Browns
Chiefs over Patriots
Chargers over Redskins
Titans over 49ers
Rams over Texans
Jaguars over Cardinals
Raiders over Dolphins
Eagles over Packers
Seahawks over Giants
Jets over Saints
Colts over Steelers

Week 11 Pick' em

2005-11-19T22:42:00.000-08:00

Last week I was 10-4. My overall record stands at 103-41. Take a look at this weeks pics.

Redskins over Raiders
Dolphins over Browns
Steelers over Ravens
Cowboys over Lions
Jaguars over Titans
Rams over Cardinals
Patriots over Saints
Giants over Eagles
Falcons over Buccs
Panthers over Bears
Seahawks over 49ers
Broncos over Jets
Chargers over Bills
Bengals over Colts
Chiefs over Texans
Packers over Vikings

Good luck to all this week.

No more Bye Weeks

2005-11-16T22:53:00.000-08:00

We can finally get back to a full schedule of football. At this point in the season, any team with a winning record is playing in a must win situation. All the playoff spots are starting to get defined and some "used to be good teams" are showing signs of wear and tear. Most notably the Philadelphia Eagles who had the best choke job interpretation of the Monday night game earlier in the year by their opponent, the Cowboys. Must of felt sweet for Parcells to get that win back, the one against Washington that they lost in the last minutes.
On another note, I do not want to hear the initials T.O. the rest of this season unless it is to announce he joined another team. I've never seen one player in any sport ever receive so much publicity, it is amazing. He has already accomplished what he wanted without even playing football, he has his name out there so everybody knows who he is even if you do not watch football.
What do I think about this weeks games? I really love the matchup between Indy & Cincy. I remember in 2003 when the red hot Chiefs went into Cincinnati with a record of 9-0 and I called the upset of Cincinatti winning. I have that same feeling two years later with a more potent Colts team coming to town, but I still like the Bengals coming off a bye week well prepared to take on the Colts and that electric crowd to keep the rush going and motivate Cincinnati to a win. Carolina versus Chicago is another game I love. What a matchup between two teams headed in the right direction. The only mute point is the Bears passing attack, but they will play conservatively on offense. I think Steve Smith will burn the tough Chicago secondary but Chicago will also take some back the other way as Delhomme is known to throw a pick or two. Another great game is Tampa Bay at Atlanta. I do not see Atlanta losing back to back games at home. Additionally, I do not see Tampa Bay coming back to their senses after pulling off a victory that they should not have had, not to mention the gutsy call by Gruden to go for the win with a two point conversion rather than tie it with less than a minute to go.
Who would I put my money on this week? Nobody really. But I do have some hunches that could bring home some money with little down taking some dogs. I'd take the Titans +4 against Jax cause they seem to struggle against teams they should put away. Take the Dolphins +2 against the Browns, because the Dolphins should control the clock and run all over Cleveland. I love the 49ers +11 1/2 against the Seahawks, and I might even suggest the moneyline at +650. The Seahawks just won the biggest game of their season and are feeling a bit comfortable while the 49ers are playing some good defensive football, especially at home. Finally, the Texans +6 1/2 against the Chiefs at home on Sunday night. Just seems like they have something to prove while the Chiefs are fitting into my prediction just well, falling apart as I suggested. Nothing will seal the deal more than not being able to handle a miserable 1-8 Texans team on the road. Go ahead, put some money down and just tip me when you win.

Week 10 Pick 'em

2005-11-12T21:10:00.000-08:00

Last week was the best week of the year, going 13-1 with an overall record of 93-37. So much for picking Green Bay to upset Pittsburg. Take a look at this weeks picks.

Detriot over Arizona
Jacksonville over Baltimore
Indianapolis over Houston
Buffalo over Kansas City
NY Giants over Minnesota
New England over Miami
Chicago over San Francisco
Denver over Oakland
Carolina over NY Jets
Atlanta over Green Bay
Seattle over St Louis
Washington over Tampa Bay
Pittsburgh over Cleveland
Philadelphia over Dallas

Good luck.

Week 9 Pick' em

2005-11-06T09:57:00.000-08:00

I went 10-4 last week putting my overall mark to 80-36. Here are this weeks picks with two big upsets.

Atlanta over Miami
Carolina over Tampa Bay
Cincinnati over Baltimore
Minnesota over Detriot
Jacksonville over Houston
Kansas City over Oakland
San Diego over New York Jets
Cleveland over Tennessee
Chicago over New Orleans
New York Giants over San Francisco
Seattle over Arizona
Green Bay over Pittsburgh
Washington over Philadelphia
Indianapolis over New England

Good luck.

Week 8 Pick 'em

2005-10-29T11:56:00.000-07:00

Last week I was an average 8-6 taking my overall record to 70-32.

Cowboys over Cardinals
Lions over Bears
Texans over Browns
Bengals over Packers
Jaguars over Rams
Panthers over Vikings
Raiders over Titans
Giants over Redskins
Chargers over Chiefs
Saints over Dolphins
Broncos over Eagles
Buccs over 49ers
Patriots over Bills
Steelers over Ravens

Good luck this week.

Turning Point Games

2005-10-26T12:07:00.000-07:00

Week 8 provides five key games that could turn the season around for some teams.

1. Washington @ New York Giants
This division features four teams with winning records. New York, Philadelphia and Washington all stand at 4-2 while Dallas is 4-3. The winner of this game will get an early edge for the inside track lead in this division. The win is more crucial if Washington is victorious. The Giants are expected to win at home, and a loss could be more devastating to them, considering they still have to play at FedEx Field. The Redskins are looking really impressive at this point. The addition of Santana Moss has resurrected Brunell's career, considering how Coles last year did not help Brunell's cause at all. Meanwhile, the New York football Giants are now the talk of the town with Eli being a great hero. I can't believe I am saying this, but this game will be good. They are no longer running teams, we will see an aerial attack in this game.

2. Chicago @ Detriot
This divisional matchup will finally produce a winner with a winning record. Both teams come in at 3-3 with Minnesota at 2-4 and Green Bay at 1-5. I am starting to like both teams. The irony here is they are both defensive teams. Chicago is playing really good defensive football setting up a short field for their offense. Jones is running great, allowing Orton to play conservative and win football games. Detriot is doing really good against the run. They also have some ball hawks who pick off passes and take them to the house, just ask the Buccs. The return of Garcia will make this team a contender. Look for the winner of this game to be in the drivers seat, especially if the Bears win.

3. Kansas City @ San Diego
I have no problem picking the winner of this game, it will be San Diego hands down. Now let's take a look at the division with Denver at 5-2 Kansas City at 4-2 San Diego at 3-4 and Oakland at 2-4. Denver proved how vulnerable they are away from Mile High. Kansas City has been catching all the breaks, but they are in for a bumpy ride in San Diego. If Kansas City wins, they will make it a two team race. However, if San Diego wins, I see them being the more stable team down the stretch. Look out for the super chargers.

4. Philadelphia @ Denver
Two winning football teams in competitive divisions. Philly can not afford to lose because their rivals have all caught up with them. They also have five more division games left to go, so each game in the second half of their season is that much more crucial. The Broncos can not afford to lose at home because that is their comfort zone. If they lose this game also, they have allowed the division doors open, and who knows, maybe the Raiders can even move back into the picture with only four losses if they play like they did against Buffalo.

5. Buffalo @ New England
Wow, do I love this game. Another matchup for the lead in the division. I will give you the outcome again, hands down New England. This division features New England at 3-3 Buffalo at 3-4 Miami at 2-4 and New York Jets at 2-5. The only guarantee is that the Jets are out so far. The Bills will continue to play .500 football and the Pats seem to be in the drivers seat again. Too bad its in Gillete Stadium, Buffalo does not stand a chance. If the Bills do pull off a win, they still only go up half a game and make it an exciting race, but that is a big IF.

News & Notes

2005-10-21T21:52:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been able to download and watch complete games of the NFL without commercial delay. Some important things I learned from watching these "other" games each week that are not televised is how exciting some of them really are. Additionally, how little time the athletes actually play the game, roughly 23 minutes of constant game time that does not include the time between the huddles where they are inactive. Some things I learned from watching these games will be listed below. These items I feel are important in considering the true outcome of a football game.

* Penalties: After watching countless games, I am in awe of how many bonehead penalties have caused crucial drives to stall, important defensive stands to be cancelled out, huge offensive plays to be called back. The saying is true, the teams with the worst records are the ones who committ the most penalties. Some of these penalties are worse than turnovers, cause they continue to reoccur and shoot the same team in the foot. I don't know if you blame the players or yell at the coaches for stressing the importance of each and every penalty. Prime example: the Raiders. They should not be allowed to play another game unless they keep their penalties under double digits, otherwise they are putting themselves at a big handicap.

* Blown calls: The official NFL standings would be nothing like they are now if you consider how many ill advised calls are made that change the complexion of a game. Secondly, I have seen play after play where the refs give an unusual spot on the same drive that results in a punt because of a 4th and 1. These are spots that are a couple yards off that do not get reviewed because the coaches are afraid of losing their timeouts. Also, how many horrific calls that are made that result in the outcome of a game. Example: Lions at Buccs week 4. The tight end for Detriot clearly scores a touchdown at the end of the game as he is sitting on the ground with possession of the ball then slides out and the initial call was a touchdown. I saw no irrefutable evidence to suggest why the ref overturned the call.

* Clock management: Considering these games are so quick and easy to watch you can give more of a focus on other things, simple things as how well the clock is managed. You will be so shocked to see how many times on kickoffs or after timeouts or through penalties the clock manager forgets to start the clock immediately when the player catches the ball on a kick return, etc. Literally, it happens four or five times a game with each infraction being about five to ten seconds.

Well, I just want to leave my readers with some information I thought was vital to each games outcome. Knowing that they say the NFL is a game of inches and how each and every second counts, don't you think they should be more consistent during the game to make sure the inches and seconds are being counted properly?

Week 7 Pick 'em

2005-10-21T21:32:00.000-07:00

After completing a terrific 13-1 week last time, my overall mark is now at 62-26. Check out this weeks picks:

Dolphins over Chiefs
Browns over Lions
Packers over Vikings
Colts over Texans
Saints over Rams
Bengals over Steelers
Eagles over Chargers
Redskins over 49ers
Seahawks over Cowboys
Bears over Ravens
Raiders over Bills
Broncos over Giants
Cardinals over Titans
Falcons over Jets

Have a great week.

Week 6 Pick' em

2005-10-16T10:21:00.000-07:00

This weeks pick' em hopefully is better than last weeks results. I had 7 picks right last week.

Pittsburg over Jacksonville
Chicago over Minnesotta
Tampa Bay over Miami
Dallas over NY Giants
Baltimore over Cleveland
Carolina over Detriot
Cincinatti over Tennessee
Kansas City over Washington
Atlanta over New Orleans
Buffalo over NY Jets
Denver over New England
San Diego over Oakland
Seattle over Houston
Indianapolis over St Louis

Good Luck this week.

Week 5 Pick' em

2005-10-08T16:46:00.000-07:00

Another good performance last week going 10-4 has put my mark at 42-18. Check out this week's picks.

Lions over Ravens
Bears over Browns
Dolphins over Bills
Patriots over Falcons
Packers over Saints
Rams over Seahawks
Buccs over Jets
Texans over Titans
Colts over 49ers
Panthers over Cardinals
Eagles over Cowboys
Broncos over Redskins
Jaguars over Bengals
Chargers over Steelers

Good luck and see you next week.

Week 4 Synopsis

2005-10-06T16:54:00.000-07:00

This week, I will separate the teams in particular categories of who to look out for that are surprises this year, the usual contenders, pretenders, and the teams that have no chance. We are a quarter of the way through the NFL season.

LOOK OUT FOR...

Miami Dophins: This team has a realistic chance of winning their division. Their defense has remained solid from previous years and they have an offense to boot. They have become an exciting story for the Dolphins fans thur far.

Cincinatti Bengals: Wow, what a cinderella story this has become. Marvin Lewis is displaying his true genious this year as he has the Bengals playing at their highest level. I see no reason their success will fade considering they are dominating the field on both sides.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Right now they are hovering around in the middle of the pack. But they are not a team you want to face any given week because of their physical play and I rest their fate on the arms of Leftwich. Their defense is solid but they will only go as far as the health of their young quarterback.

San Diego Chargers: I put them in this category because I feel many people wrote them off after a shaky 0-2 start. I knew they would be dangerous and it seems as if this giant has awaken. Look for them to win the AFC West once again.

New York Giants: They are a team with a whole new look with Plaxico in the lineup. He spreads the field and opens things up for Shockey and company. Eli is coming into his own and will take this team far.

Carolina Panthers: After a year absence from the playoffs, the Panthers look solid once again. They are in a very tough division, but they have experience on their side. The offense has all their key players back and the defense is holding its ground.

Seattle Seahawks: Although they will be without the two starting receivers this week, the Seahawks benefit from a soft schedule. They should be able to run the tables in their division. The defense has been playing better lately and Alexander is back to form.

THE CONTENDERS...

New England, Pittsburg, Indianapolis, Denver, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Atlanta.

THE PRETENDERS...

Buffalo Bills: Until coach Mularkey realizes that Losman is not the right guy this team is just a pretender. The prospect of putting in Holcomb will dramatically raise the value of this team because Holcomb can air it out like he did in his days at Cleveland.

Baltimore Ravens: No passing game, no go. Everything else is well tuned aside from the brain of this team which is the quarterback. Not even the return of Boller will help them.

Kansas City Chiefs: I called this one too. After they crushed the Jets and beat the high powered Raiders in Oakland, I knew this team was still a fluke at 2-0. Right after they were blown out on Monday Night against Denver and blew a huge lead at home against Philly. The collapse has started earlier than I thought.

Washington Redskins: This team is undefeated now at 3-0 but just like last year I see them going on a skid of many losses in a row. To start, they have two tough away games at Denver and Kansas City, I will reevaluate their character after that.

Dallas Cowboys: This is a good team now, but the season is 16 weeks long. Bledsoe has gotten off to fast starts before, but once he stumbles there is no turning back for him. Sorry tuna, this ship is starting to sink.

The Whole NFC North Division: Chicago has no quarterback. Detriot can not be taken seriously with Harrington. Minnesota is a shell of their former self. Green Bay is old and plagued by injuries, with Ahman Green being the latest victim.

NO CHANCE:

NY Jets, Cleveland, Tennessee, Houston, Oakland, New Orleans, St. Louis, Arizona, and San Francisco.

We will see how true this assessment is at the midpoint of the season.

Week 4 Pick 'em

2005-10-01T21:31:00.000-07:00

After going 11-3 last week, I have a season Pick 'em standing of 32-14. Let's see what we have in store for this week.

Buccs over Lions
Seahawks over Redskins
Bengals over Texans
Jaguars over Broncos
Colts over Titans
Chargers over Patriots
Saints over Bills
Giants over Rams
Ravens over Jets
Falcons over Vikings
Chiefs over Eagles
Raiders over Cowboys
49ers over Cardinals
Panthers over Packers

Good luck and have fun watching the games.

Patriots, Raiders and week 3 notes....

2005-09-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

Quick notes from ESPN....

I've seen both Patriots victories this season, and in both Richard Seymour (left) was the best player on the field. Before the season, Scott Pioli, New England's vice president of player personnel, said he expected Carolina's Julius Peppers to hit "rare air" this season. That phrase comes to mind when assessing Seymour's play so far in his fifth season. He is a regular visitor to the opponents' backfield. A lot of people like to call Indy's Dwight Freeney the best defensive player in the league, but I'm sorry, he's no more dominant than Seymour and definitely not against the run.

Seymour is a monster, and Tedy Bruschi made a lot of big plays, but the real heart, soul and brains of that defense the last two seasons has been safety Rodney Harrison (left). He was carted off Heinz Field early in Sunday's game after suffering a nasty-looking left leg injury. I'd venture to say the loss of Harrison is more devastating to the defense than that of Bruschi or Ted Johnson, because New England has veteran outside linebackers who could pick it up.

When the Patriots were picking up guys off the street -- or from the offense, for that matter -- to play in the secondary, the constant was Harrison. Plus, the Patriots make their defensive adjustments from the backfield forward. They survived Sunday, but it will be a lot harder going against a real passing team without Harrison.

The Patriots haven't lost consecutive games since 2002.

• Oakland is 0-3 for the first time since 1992. Yes, I picked them to win the AFC West. Time for Turner to go.

• If Chad Pennington's shoulder is in such bad shape, why on earth was he attempting a deep out in overtime? The Jags' Rasheen Mathis picked it.

• Maybe folks were a year early on Jacksonville and Seattle. The Seahawks have put together back-to-back impressive wins since dropping the opener to -- who else? -- Jacksonville, which could really be a force in the AFC with that defense and Byron Leftwich firing daggers from the pocket.

• Ben Roethlisberger lost for the first time in 16 regular-season starts, and Pittsburgh's 17-game regular-season win streak came to an end. Nice runs.

• Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison have teamed for 9,568 yards, the most ever by a quarterback and receiver. I'd still take Jerry Rice taking passes from (Any QB He Played With).

• The rookie coaches are doing a heck of a job. Romeo Crennel, Nick Saban and Mike Nolan are a combined 5-4 and all have their teams playing competitive ball.

• Jacksonville is not good enough on offense to blow anyone out. They are going to win a lot of "ugly" games this year with their defense carrying them.

• I don't know if Steven Jackson will ever reach his potential in St. Louis, because under head coach Mike Martz there is no commitment to run the ball.

• Its time to lay it down: Rookie or not, the "Cadillac" -- Carnell Williams -- is one of the best backs in the NFL. Williams has more rushing yards in his first three games (434) than any player in league history. Great running back. Head down and hits hard toward the end of his run. Love the guy.

Week 3 Pick 'em

2005-09-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

Panthers over Dolphins
Vikings over Saints
Jets over Jaguars
Eagles over Raiders
Bills over Falcons
Bengals over Bears
Buccs over Packers
Colts over Browns
Rams over Titans
Cowboys over 49ers
Seahawks over Cardinals
Patriots over Steelers
Chargers over Giants
Broncos over Chiefs

Did a great job last week getting 12 picks right. Let's continue to pick 'em right.

Week 2 Roundout

2005-09-21T16:35:00.000-07:00

AFC East

The AFC East features a four way tie for first place after two weeks of play. In Week 2, we saw the J E T S get back on track defeating their divisional rival Dolphins. Pennington showed some poise in that game staving off the Dolphins defense as he had a nice long drive in the fourth to ice the game. As for New England, they just ran into a team who really wanted to beat them badly because of the Superbowl. The Patriots made some mistakes, nonetheless, they still lost in impressive fashion. Do not count them out by any means, and look for Belichick to reestablish the ground game which has been none existant. Buffalo played very poorly. Unfortunately for you Bills fans, I project a similar outcome anytime they face a tough defense like that of the Buccs, but they can control and win against other mediocre teams. Miami is still a team you do not want to face. They have the potential to keep games close with their defense, but will need a better performace from Frerotte if they are going to compete for the playoffs.

AFC North

This division is already dividing. Cincinnati and Pittsburg will compete while Cleveland and Baltimore will stay in the cellar. Pittsburg played another Cowher type of game, hard nosed, running the football down your throat. Kudos to the Steelers as they have won 16 games in a row, with Roethlisberger being 15-0 as a starter. The Bengals are looking great. I like how their offense is finally clicking with Palmer leading the way. Look for Houshmanzadeh to excel with Chad Johnson absorbing most of the attention. The amazing part is Rudi has not even blown up yet, when he starts dominating the Bengals will be even better. Cleveland had an emotional win with Dilfer. That guy is really good when it comes to pulling off victories. However, they will be hard pressed for more victories. Baltimore's fate rests on Jamal Lewis' legs. With 10 carries and 9 yards last week, they will have a long season ahead of them.

AFC South

Looks like the Colts will run away with this division once again. I knew the Jags would play them tough, but the Colts found a way to pull it off. That is all that matters. I will predict Manning will have five or six touchdowns this week. The Browns come in to town, and they are not Baltimore or Jacksonville, so look for Manning to finally explode in Week 3. Jacksonville is the toughest team I've seen. They all have heart and they always play to win. They lost with class in Week 2, and Leftwich was amazing in the final drive, to bad they ran out of time. Darius is out for the year, hopefully that does not affect them much. Tennesse had their victory, now you can bet against them for a while before they win another one. Houston has been the biggest disappointment thus far. Wow, the big three are looking awful as they can barely put up any points.

AFC West

The Chiefs are 2-0 and Denver is 1-1. Look for these teams to falter down the stretch. The Chiefs are still not that impressive on defense and they will suffer as a result of it. They beat the Raiders in a close one, but I still see them as being weak and falling apart in the middle of the season. Denver beat San Diego at home, something they are very good at doing. They won't win too many away from home though. The Raiders are building themselves a big hole. Their offense looks very good, but they have to make some stands on defense. The Chargers had another tough loss. They still are playing good football and I could see them winning the division.

NFC East

The Giants and Redskins are 2-0. What a joke. The Giants have played two pretenders thus far and the Redskins have been in a coma except for the last couple minutes against the Cowboys. Bet against the Redskins from here on out and you will end up on the winning side. Dallas seemed primed to take this division until they fell apart against Washington. Parcells will bounce them back. Philadelphia is good at beating up weak opponents. We will have to wait to see until they play another contender before we can make further judgement.

NFC North

Do I have to say anything about this division. The Lions proved to us who they really were as the Bears defense exposed Harrington once again. Look for a quarterback change soon. Chicago is solid on defense and might make the playoffs as long as Orton has a couple more games like he did beating the Lions. Green Bay, I feel for you. No way should Cleveland be able to beat them, especially in Lambeau. Their offensive line and lack of defense will keep them playing catch up for most of the season. Minnesota, the good part of all this is you still only lost two games. See, it makes no difference if you get blown out and embarrased or lose in a tough battle. So on the bright side, they can go out with nothing to lose and might play better football.

NFC South

Tampa Bay is smoking hot right now. They are a complete package with Cadillac running like he is and the defense back to normal. Griese scares me though, because he will lose the close ones. Atlanta was just on a natural high after beating the Eagles on national television. When they finally got their act together they almost still won. Vick, just stay healthy will ya. Carolina played the most inspired football I've seen in some time. They kept bringing the Patriots back in the game with mistakes but they were not going to lose. They are looking dangerous and hard to beat even with some early injuries. I was right about the Saints, even though they are a feel good story, that will not even motivate this 'big easy' team to succeed.

NFC West

Wow, another division that is just outright horrible. With San Francisco tied for first place, they were a laughing stock against the Eagles. Make sure you play whoever you have in your fantasy team when they face the 49ers. Seattle bounced back as I thought and will look to control this division with their powerful offense. The defense just needs to make some plays to help this team out. The Rams survived the desert. Man, Warner did them a huge favor in that last drive not knowing how to manage the game clock. The Rams offense and defense needs to wake up and realize they can steal this division, but the Martz fire seems to be wearing down the team a bit. Arizona is back to being the cellar dweller. Did not take long. They have no chance winning an away game, and will end up losing half of their home games, so there you go.

Well, hope you enjoyed another eventful series. Till next time.

Minnesota Vikings fans are furious...

2005-09-19T08:22:00.000-07:00

The Minnesota Vikings started the 2005 NFL season with high expectations. With the addition of Darren Sharper, Fred Smoot and Pat William the Vikings defense was considered now one of the best in the league. But Minnesota Fans will always remember the biggest trade in there history. The trade that sent Rand Moss to the Oakland Raiders.

The day after the Vikings traded Moss and his 90 touchdown catches in 104 games to Oakland, Mike Tice made this idiotic quote: "We will be excellent on offense. That's one thing I can stand here ... and promise you. I know offense." Now some of the fans want Mike Tice out.

We are officially the worst team in the NFL.

I'm going to continue to beat this drum all year.

Tice, Cottrell, Loney, et. al. need to be fired immediately.

Question: When you have more talent on both sides of the ball than 80% of the teams in the league and your are playing the worst football in teh league, what is the most likley cause?

Answer: Coaching.

FIRE TICE and HIS WHOLE STAFF!!!

Fans were not to happy with the performance of Danta Cullpepper either

I hope it does, that was awful yesterday. Culpepper looked like a rookie!

cullpepper is basically a rookie, going a full season without moss

It did not help when Randy Moss had two huge games with the Raiders. One fan screamed...

I'm sorry but if you think Moss not being in that game was any kind of a factor you didn't watch the same game I did!

This was one of the worst blocked games I have ever seen in proffesional football! our offensive line was OWNED! we did not open a single running lane all day long with the exception of the semi hole on the first play from scrimmage. Daunte had one of his worst days as a Viking and made poor decisions on top of being severely harrassed all day long.

Every time we made a significant play it was nullified by a penalty, Daunte scrambled out of trouble for significant gains on 4 occasions and had 3 of them brought back by penalties, some of our penalties will not show up because we had 3 or 4 off setting.

Yes the receivers dropped some passes today but our team was discombobulated from the start.

Week 2 Pick 'em

2005-09-17T21:21:00.000-07:00

Here are my favorites for Week 2:

Ravens over Titans
Steelers over Texans
Colts over Jags
Bears over Lions
Bengals over Vikings
Eagles over 49ers
Buccs over Bills
Patriots over Panthers
Seahawks over Falcons
Rams over Cardinals
Jets over Dolphins
Packers over Browns
Broncos over Chargers
Chiefs over Raiders
Giants over Saints
Cowboys over Redskins

To recap last week, I went 9-7. I will build on that performance as the season progresses. See ya next week for some more pick' em.

Week 1 Reflections

2005-09-14T10:58:00.000-07:00

Week 1 reminded us of how much things change in the NFL from year to year and how some things still stay the same.

Starting with the Raiders Patriots game, the Patriots proved they are still worthy contenders. Toying with the Raiders for the whole first half, they finally pulled away in the second half and came out winners once again. The Raiders proved they were game and that their offense was something to be proud about.

Washington and Chicago game showed us how some things still never change. How Washington still has a stout defense and plays to win ugly against a Chicago team who still has no offense. Chicago leads the league in most quarterback changes in the last decade and they still do not have a solid starter.

Cincinnati's win over Cleveland was not all too impressive. However, the Bengals did show they are still in sync from last year and look for that offense to be hitting on all cylinders. Meanwhile, the Browns are just miserable. They are turning into the Bengals of old, but I have confidence in Crenell to slowly start changing things around in the dog pound.

Miami proved how quickly things can change. A new coach, Ricky's back, and a whole new attitude to boot has made this team a contender again. Remember, even last year when they were pitiful the defense kept them in most of their games. As for the Broncos, ouch!!! Some people never learn. Plummer was never a winner in Arizona and has not shown it yet in Denver, do not expect him to start all of a sudden this year. They will continue to suffer with him at the helm.

Buffalo is a team I like rooting for because they survive off the defense. The quarterback is not much too celebrate about, but if the defense continues to play as they do and Willis continues to stay healthy, they can win the close games. Do not get down on Houston just yet, they just ran into a road block in Buffalo. They will bounce back and that offense will be kicking in no time. Houston's defense is what you need to worry about.

The New Orleans Carolina game proves how much division rivals can beat each other any given Sunday. The Saints will never become a powerhouse team as they have their shining moments each season sporadically. Do not be fooled by their impressive win, once again, we have a quarterback at the helm who is not a proven winner and the team will go down with him as long as their faith rests in his arms. The Panthers really were disappointing in Week 1. Look for them to bounce back strong and be contenders because their offense still has firepower. Losing Jenkins was not a good note but they are still strong enough on defense to step it up in his absence.

Kansas City did not prove a thing to me with that Week 1 domination of the Jets. That is what happens when you travel to Arrowhead stadium, you get run on, just ask the Falcons from last year. Trent Green was not impressive at all and when they play away, they will have a hard time replicating that success. As for the Jets, that loss should not damage their reputation. They are well coached and will compete for the playoffs.

Jacksonville is a team to watch out for. I said it last year and will say it again. They should build on their 9-7 record from last year and continue to win in close games. The defense is very impressive as they crushed Hasselback making him committ four turnovers and sacking him twice. Seattle does have an easy division so look for them to try and run the tables in the NFC. Their offense is high powered but will their defense help them out?

Tampa Bay has changed their offensive tune with the sound of Cadillac. This kid has potential, however, he had only put up average numbers until that last play on fourth down where the Vikes crowded the line that allowed him to scamper for 70 plus a touchdown. I like the new additions none the less, including Smith the tight end. Defense is still awesome. As for the Vikings, how sad was that. The crowd was booing incessantly as the game wore on and Daunte's inferno kept turning it over. Randy put a big hole in their offense. The defense did show tenacity and will win games for them down the road.

Pittsburg has not changed a bit. Cower power is in full effect. Run the opponent over and keep them honest with some Roethlisberger. They looked good on both ends of the Heinz field, just hope that Staley and Bettis continue to recover slow cause this Parker guy speeds up their offense a bit. Remember, it still was only the Titans they beat so do not bet your mortgage on them just yet. The Titans will just be a team filling a spot in the NFL's schedule this year, don't mind them they are just suffering from big losses on both sides of the field.

Could the New York Football Giants be for real? Did not see the game, but one thing I do know is they beat up on the Cards in the Meadowlands, which does not account for much. The offense will be tested heavily against the likes of tougher opponents. Arizona can not be taken seriously if they do not show up for games outside the desert. Warner will have a couple good games with the young receivers. Ultimately, he is not going to get the job done. So much for that defense, better luck next game. Just shows us how Arizona continues to struggle to be a contender.

Dallas did a superb job in Week 1. If they can play like that each week, I will tip my hat to them. Bledsoe and the passing game was on, liking that new kid Crayton because he opens it up for the older Johnson and Glenn. Julius is marvelous and gives them an added strength to keep people from sacking Bledsoe. San Diego is still a tough opponent. They usually have a couple let downs a season so consider this one of them. They have to mix LT in more often if they want to win. The defense will have their better days and is still a very strong unit with many good tacklers.

Detroit won in a remarkable way. I was expecting this game to be in the twenties on both sides. I do not know whether to give credit to a whole new Lions team or just discredit the Packers for playing the worst offense game of Favre's career since 1992. The Lions have amazing young talent at receiver but a joke at quarterback. How long will this last, probably till kickoff for Week 2. I can not even comment on the Pack, that was despicable. The offense will be even worse without Walker and the defense is nothing special.

San Francisco showed what a new coach can do for a team, actually make them feel they can win. They did just that, won a game against a hated rival. Unfortunately for you niner fans, you know there will not be much more to celebrate. The offense is not all that, they just played the open door policy Rams defense. The Rams should hide until next week in which a win could wipe away the disgrace of game 1. Rams continue to try and come back the last minute of the game and continue to find out the hard way it does not always work. The offense can put up points fast but the defense is abysmal.

Indianapolis showed how much the preseason is worth. They came out cold in the first half and renewed in the second. More impressive than Mannings regrouping at halftime to pick apart the Ravens in the second half was how great their defense played the entire game. They will once again compete for the AFC crown. The Ravens just do not get it, that Boller can not move any offense unless it is by ground. The minute he gets injured, the Ravens are actually moving the football downfield. Mason and Wright should put up some good numbers and help get points on the board while Boller recovers and keep this team competing. The defense just got worn down, but look for them to be aggressive each and every week.

Atlanta played a great game against the Eagles. I expect that the rest of the way from the dirty birds. Vick always has a chance to move the sticks with his legs. Is he really just that much faster than everyone else? Their ground game is still the strong spot with a splash of Duckett and Dunn to go with some Vick. The best receiver is Crumpler cause no one else seems to get open. Falcons D was also good, but they slack off on the road. The Eagles got a good spanking to start off the season. They will still win the majority of their games but I do not like them representing the NFC. The passing game was better, but McNabb made some costly mistakes and looked off on some passes. The Eagles D will be better with Trotter in the middle, as long as he keeps the scuffles during the game.

Well, if you are still reading this, I hope you enjoyed my commentary. Until next time.

Week 1 Pick Em

2005-09-11T00:40:00.000-07:00

The first week of great football is upon us once again. Here are the scheduled picks for Sunday's games:

Redskins over Bears
Bengals over Browns
Broncos over Dolphins
Texans over Bills
Panthers over Saints
Jets over Chiefs
Jaguars over Seahawks
Buccs over Vikings
Steelers over Titans
Giants over Cardinals
Chargers over Cowboys
Packers over Lions
Rams over 49ers
Colts over Ravens
Falcons over Eagles

Hope you can make some money off these picks, until next time.

Busts for 2005 season

2005-07-06T10:42:00.000-07:00

Tennessee and Carolina had to be major disappointments in their respective conferences for 2004, although they should rebound this year. Just curious as to which heralded teams you think will flop in 2005? Throw us one from each conference, if possible.

For me, I think the Denver Broncos are just ripe for a fall, considering all the questionable replacements they have in-house now, moves that almost seem of desperation. Denver didn't seem to get a lot of help from the draft or free agency, have aging issues in some key areas (especially OL), and don't really seem to have upgraded much on defense. Add a few key injuries that always seem to happen before the season starts, and this team could really be hurting come October. They also have a QB who makes too many mistakes and an unsettled RB situation. Shanahan seems incapable of letting others make the right personnel decisions, meaning it's all on him like it was for know-it-all Mike Holmgren in Seattle.

My NFC flop for 2005 are the Detroit Lions. I am not a big believer in their collecting of so many offensive tools around a QB who is so inconsistent like Harrington. He seems to be the NFC version of Jake Plummer, someone who makes too many dumb mistakes under pressure. The Lions are being hyped for all their offense, but their defense still needs some more playmakers, IMO. Their schedule, which includes matchups against the AFC Central, is also not favorable to the big turnaround that some NFL experts have already predicted for them. So who are your dogs for this season?

Super Bowl XXXIX @ Alltel Stadium - Jacksonville, FL

2005-02-05T18:13:00.000-08:00

Another year and another splendid season have passed leading up to the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl is almost an afterthought of another brilliant season of different teams, players, and coaches that had their break out year. Every year I am impressed with how a new team steps up to the challenge and takes themselves one step closer to becoming a dominant force in the NFL. Some teams have already reached that plateau and are either sustaining their dominance or achieving higher ground year after year. That brings us to the match up we have for tomorrow at Jacksonville between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots.
Although both teams are deserving of their positions, this game really seems to favor the New England Patriots, as such they are seven point favorites. I thought about this game long and hard, and I have come to the conclusion that Philadelphia is a team of destiny; however, they will need help from external forces to be able to compete with the New England Patriots. Such forces include a tipped pass that gets intercepted; the right bounces on a fumble they recover, a bad or missed call from a referee. When you think back to the Eagles path to the Super Bowl, they had a fairly unchallenging season with an early season clinching division, and then they pounced on a Vikings team in the first round who should not have even qualified for the playoffs. The game against the Falcons was a well played and well coached game, but the Falcons are not as well rounded as the Patriots.
When you have a team as good as the Patriots, the only chance of beating them is getting on top early. The Patriots have not been behind much and are not used to playing catch up, putting them in unfamiliar territory. There is a reason why they do not fall behind much, because the Patriots do not underestimate anyone. Even with the addition of Terrell Owens, the Patriots have prepared a scheme to face him. I like the mentality the Patriots have coming into the game and their strict discipline on the field to not commit many penalties leaving very little room for error. The Eagles are more carefree and tend to make mental mistakes. I see the Patriots winning this game comfortably.

Patriots 27
Eagles 16

Take the Patriots -7 and under 47 1/2

Media Day

2005-02-01T23:27:00.000-08:00

As we get set for Super Bowl XXXIX, media day proved to be full of action, at least from the Eagles side. Never have we seen such contrasting styles as the Eagles and Patriots before that the media is sure having a field day making the players aware of it. The funny thing is that the Patriots know they are a boring team to cover and the media keeps shunning that in their face. Hearing remarks made to Bruschi, Johnson, McGinest and Vrabel that you guys are so boring from the media was quite lame considering the media is the one who should spice things up and ask the Patriots players controversial questions. If they are boring, the media is not doing their job, right? Well, at least Freddie Mitchell has been running his mouth and making things a bit more interesting. The return of Terrell Owens has also been a spark on media day. He is a charismatic individual and brings his best at all times and his presence alone seems to have rubbed off on his Eagles teammates because their confidence has been growing, just ask Freddie. The real guy who I want to hear from on media day is the master himself, Bill Belichick. The unfortunate part of the whole media day thing is that the media chooses to show us the clowning around and outspoken few, whereas the game planning and strategy is left out. Come on media, we do not want you asking Givens about a prediction, rather, what he will do with the newly assembled secondary of the Eagles. Well, for what its worth, enjoy another week of nonsense as the NFL builds more hype before the biggest game day in any sporting event, Super Bowl Sunday.

“Special Edition” Playoff Pick ‘em & Beat the Spread

2005-01-22T20:44:00.000-08:00

On the eve of the conference championships, we have two intriguing match ups to look forward to as the Steelers face the Patriots and the Eagles face the Falcons. Both home teams are from Pennsylvania where the weather is going to be extremely harsh. Let us first examine the AFC Championship game.

Patriots vs. Steelers

In this game, do not look for a repeat performance from their previous match up on Halloween. Pittsburgh will still bring their same game style, nothing but hard nosed football as they attempt to run the football over the Patriots. The Steelers front line is very good and I do continue to see success in their running game, however, New England will be able to cheat and bring Harrison up into the box to stop the run. Why? They probably noticed much like everyone else that Roethlisberger’s hand is still not 100%, as he almost threw that game away against the Jets. If the Patriots do bring the pressure, I do not see Roethlisberger beating the Patriots secondary. Cowher would rather play field position than risk any interceptions this time around. As for New England, I see Belichick confusing the Steelers D by throwing for a whole series before establishing Dillon. This will be a dogfight, and the team that commits the crucial turnover will be going home. Will the Steelers special teams not lose it for them this time, that proved to be their Achilles heel last time when the Patriots went on to the Superbowl. So my prediction, classic Patriots style, last second field goal by Mr. Clutch in the snow.

Patriots 16 Steelers 13
Take the Steelers +3 ½ and under 34 ½

Falcons vs. Eagles

Will the loss of T.O. really be that big of a difference in this game? I did not see it last week against the Vikings; then again the Vikings should not have been in that position to begin with. Atlanta’s D has not been solid lately; however, they make the big plays when it counts. As long as they contain the Eagles receivers and punish them at the line, they should make this game really interesting. Thanks to Westbrook, guys like Pinkston, Mitchell, and Lewis have been receiving one-on-one coverage. Westbrook will be the key man once again in this game and it will be up to the veterans on the Falcons D like Brooking to keep him contained out of the backfield. McNabb has been making good decisions of late and I do not see him losing the game this time around, but will their defense be able to contain Super Vick? If it wasn’t for Michael Vick, the Falcons would be another boring team to watch, with no chance of ever reaching the playoffs. His presence has been so crucial that opposing defenses have to prepare a brand new scheme whenever they face Vick. Knowing Jimmy Johnson, he will not change his scheme much and will continue to use his men to blitz Vick incessantly. Will Vick stay composed and make the right decisions, that much I do not know. I do see Vick burning the Eagles on some blitzes as he scrambles out of the pocket. The underlying factor here is the experience, and the Eagles have it this year. Trotter and the defense will contain Dunn and Duckett forcing Vick to the air. That is where the question mark is, and I err on the side of the Eagles secondary led by the veteran leadership of Dawkins. Eagles finally pull it off with an emotional victory.

Eagles 31 Falcons 27
Take the Falcons +6 and over 37

Playoff Pick ‘em & Beat the Spread

2005-01-15T11:17:00.000-08:00

Here we are folks, in the Divisional Playoffs with some outstanding match ups, a couple rematches to say the least. Get your cell phones ready and your bookie on the line, here we go again. If you listened to me last week, you will be spending your profit on the games this week, as I went 6 for 8, only missing two over/under calls. Check it out!

Steelers 23 Jets 13
Take the Steelers -9 and over 35 ½

Falcons 27 Rams 24
Take the Rams +7 and over 48 ½

Eagles 23 Vikings 17
Take the Vikings +8 ½ and under 47

Patriots 26 Colts 21
Take the Patriots -1 ½ and under 52

Commentating is an art

2005-01-11T23:20:00.000-08:00

Why is it that NFL television commentators have to be so politically correct and bland. Joe Buck epitomizes what the NFL wants in a commentator, one who can articulate and illustrate the game in a professional manner. However, football fans are predominantly interested in just watching the game and not the nonsensical correlations and straight faced approach that the guys like Joe Buck bring to the table. NFL fans love and appreciate the color commentating of guys like Myron Cope of Pittsburg and Merrill Reese of Philadelphia for their unique voices. Who doesn’t love that guy from ESPN radio with the deep voice, similar to the voice of the guy who does the highlight clips for Inside the NFL on HBO. What about the liveliness and personality that Howard Cosell had or that of John Madden and how he spices up the game with his X’s and O’s all over the TV screen. Rather, you see the NFL bring these intellectual clowns in to do the job which makes you just want to watch the game in mute or with the radio on instead. Remember the failure of Dennis Miller, what a disaster! Every time an athlete comes up with a creative approach to express himself, the NFL gods crack the whip and sponsor guys like Buck to humiliate the athlete. They have come a far way to control attitudes of athletes and the intervention is becoming a bit too annoying. The elimination of group celebrations, the fines for creative performances, and the negative publicity towards those celebrations is too much intervention. How much harm can Owen’s sharpie, Horn’s phone, or Moss’ fake mooning do to the public, what is the NFL afraid of, that someone is going to go as far as stage a full blown fireworks one day after they score?

Romeo Crennel - Somebody hire the guy already...

2005-01-11T08:55:00.000-08:00

It sounds like the Clevland Brown are finally heading in the right direction. Signing Romeo Crennel as head coach would be a huge boost for the Brown organization. He brings discipline and winning attitude that is much needed in Cleveland. Don't underestimate his offensive coaching skills either.

Four Super Bowl rings in his jewelry box and 24 years of NFL coaching under his belt, no one can claim to have more experience. Having spent 23 of those 24 years coaching alongside Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick , no one can claim to have better role models. The best assistant coach in the NFL is Romeo Crennel. He should have been a head coach a long time ago. Browns in the playoffs next year if they get him. Case Closed

Media condemns Moss as the Anti-Christ

2005-01-10T13:29:00.000-08:00

Randy Moss's TD celebration warranted Joe Buck, James Brown, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, and Jimmy Johnson to spend almost the entire post game savaging Moss as if literally beat and raped an old lady on the 50 yard line. Isn't this the same network that brought us "Who's your Daddy" and "Who wants to marry a milliionare”?

Chris Berman and Tom Jackson then continued onslaught on NFL primetime.

I have never seen such holier than thou reactions to a pretend moon. FOX sports and the rest of the medias reaction so overblown, and manufactured.

ESPN is not even telling people what actually happened. They're using generalized terms and just telling the audience that he did something "distasteful" or "classless". This leaves it up to the audience to either go look elsewhere for information, or leave it up to their imagination. This shouldn't be the case. As a news organization, it's your job to report events as they happened. It's one thing if you don't want to show the actual video because you believe that children might be watching or that your audience simply might not wish to see it. You could still describe the act in the most clinical of terms.

This absence of description also does Moss a disservice, because viewers who don't have the internet and don't know what actually happened may assume that he did something much worse than he did. They may assume that he actually exposed himself to the crowd, simulated a sex act, or made a gesture such as the one that Jake Plummer made a few weeks back. This is akin to a reporter talking about a criminal charge being filed against someone, and simply saying, "They are being charged with a serious crime." What crime? Murder? Rape? Child molestation? Grand theft? Drinking and driving? What's considered "serious"?

And why can't ESPN differentiate between a commentator and a news reporter? It's one thing for Tom Jackson or Sean Salisbury to have a negative opinion about Moss. They're paid to give their opinions. But Berman and Scott should be there simply to deliver the facts of the story, before introducing Jackson and Salisbury for commentary. Instead, Berman has to sit there and lay into Moss, providing us all with his view about the need for more class in Moss's attitude. What happened to "just the facts"?

I'm getting tired of the tight-wad, "old fashioned" football analysts who think anything outside of the Bart Starr mold is disgusting or disgraceful to the game. A little flare and a little taunting never hurt any body.

Playoff Pick ‘em & Beat the Spread

2005-01-08T01:39:00.000-08:00

Time to make some money fellas, this chance comes around once a year so jump on these picks and put some extra cash in your pockets!

Seahawks 27 Rams 24
Take the Rams +4 and over 50 1/2

Chargers 19 Jets 13
Take the Jets +7 and under 42

Colts 34 Broncos 20
Take the Colts -10 and under 56

Packers 26 Vikings 24
Take the Vikings +6 and under 50 1/2

Wild Card Playoff Predictions

2005-01-05T21:22:00.000-08:00

Saturday, January 8, 2005

St. Louis at Seattle – This is the 3rd time these 2 teams have met, and Seattle has the Rams to thank for sending them on a downward spiral earlier in the regular season. The Rams have a banged up Marc Bulger leading their offense, against a Seattle defense that seems to stop opponents by accident. I think maybe Mike Martz will be the difference, and again pull one of his patented bonehead moves, which will prevent the Rams from winning the trifecta. Seahawks 30 Rams 28

NY Jets at San Diego – Everyone has been wondering when the Chargers smoke and mirrors show will come crashing down. It appears Marty-ball has taken root, and the Chargers have responded. I think this will be a very close game, hotly contested, and fun to watch. I give a slight edge to San Diego at home. Chargers 31 Jets 21

Sunday January 9, 2005

Denver at Indianapolis – The Broncos beat the Colts in Week 17 in Denver to secure a playoff spot, and have said they fully remember the embarrassing defeat they suffered at Indy in the playoffs last year. I don’t think they’ll need to remember last year’s playoff debacle, as they will get a repeat performance this year. I pick the Colts in a blowout. Colts 38 Broncos 10

Minnesota at Green Bay – This is the 3rd meeting between the 2, the previous games resulting in 34-31 Packer victories. The Vikings are lucky to be in the playoffs, but can be a dangerous opponent. They would have an advantage if playing in the Humpty Dome. Since this game is outdoors, in what may be an ice storm, I give them no chance. Packers 28 Vikings 14

2005 Mock Draft

2005-01-04T23:18:00.000-08:00

About.com just released the first NFL 2005 mock draft I have seen thus far. Interesting how this years crop of players is not even close to the talent of last. Still some good ones out there...

1. San Francisco 49ers- Aaron Rogers*, QB CaliforniaIf the 49ers lock up the top slot, they should take a potential franchise quarterback to build around, but I would be surprised if they didn’t trade out of the pick to avoid paying the salary a quarterback would command from the top slot. If they do move down, they could be targeting an offensive tackle, or even a running back.

2. Miami Dolphins – Matt Leinart*, QB USC The Dolphins have a second-round pick invested in A.J. Feeley, but with a new regime coming in, look for them to bring in their own guy to groom. Leinart has said he will return for his senior year, but if USC wins a national championship, he would have little left to accomplish at the collegiate level and could very well change his mind. A running back like Cedric Benson, Ronnie Brown or Carnell Williams are possibilities as well.

3. Carolina Panthers – Alex Barron, OT Florida StateThis may be a bit high for any of the offensive linemen in this draft, so the Panthers could be looking to move down as well. The addition of a left tackle like Barron would allow Jordan Gross to move back to the right side where he is more effective.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Carnell Williams, RB AuburnThe Bucs are near the bottom of the league when it comes to running the ball, so a running back makes sense here, especially if they can have their pick of Williams, teammate Ronnie Brown, and Cedric Benson out of Texas. These three prospects rank very closely in overall talent, but in my view, Brown’s skills translate best to the NFL. I wouldn’t be surprised, however, to see any of the three picked first at their position.

5. Tennessee Titans - Derrick Johnson, OLB TexasThe Titans could use someone to fill the hole left by Jevon Kearse at defensive end, but if Johnson is still available at this point, they would be foolish to pass on him. Keith Bullock is a tremendous playmaker on the right side, and Johnson would likely step right into a starting role opposite him, giving the Titans a devastating combination on the outside. Johnson looks to me like one of those special players that come along very rarely, so he may not be around this long.

6. Washington Redskins – Matthias Kiwanuka*, DE Boston CollegeThe Redskins have played very well on the defensive side of the ball, but they are missing a speed rushing defensive end that can consistently get to the quarterback. If Kiwanuka comes out, he would be Washington’s best option. He is very quick off the ball and has amazing agility to go along with natural pass-rushing skills.

7. Dallas Cowboys (from Buffalo) – Antrel Rolle, CB Miami (Fla)Injuries have exposed a lack of depth in the Cowboys secondary, and Terrence Newman has struggled at times this year. The addition of Rolle would take some of the pressure off Newman and give Dallas a solid pair of young corners to work with. Other areas of concern that could be addressed with this pick include a pass rushing defensive end, a nose tackle to take the pressure off La’Roi Glover, or even an outside linebacker if Johnson should happen to still be on the board.

8. Oakland Raiders – Cedric Benson, RB TexasThe Raiders have a lot of question marks, so there are a lot of directions they could go here. But Benson is a perfect fit for Norv Turner’s power running style of offense and the Raiders could mask some of their deficiencies on offense with his abilities. Auburn’s Ronnie Brown would be a good fit here also.

9. Dallas Cowboys – Erasmus James, DE WisconsinSomewhere during the first round, the Cowboys must address their pass rush by either adding a speed-rushing defensive end or picking up a nose tackle that can occupy blockers. James is the type of player that can single-handedly alter a game. He has a great first step combined with power and athleticism that make him a challenge to handle one-on-one.

10. Kansas City Chiefs - Marlin Jackson, CB MichiganThis could be a tough decision between two Michigan products with Braylon Edwards still on the board, but the Chiefs have got to do something to address their defense this time around. Jackson is a very versatile player with great size and athletic ability.

11. Cleveland Browns –Corey Webster, CB LSUThe Browns really need an upgrade at left tackle, but unless Barron is still available, they won’t pick one here. Webster would be a nice addition to their secondary, and he’s an experienced play who should make a quick transition to the NFL.

12. New Orleans Saints – Ahmad Brooks*, OLB VirginiaThe Saints are one of the most inconsistent teams in the league, and they lack playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. Should Brooks, who is a draft-eligible sophomore, come out this year, he would be a great addition to the linebacking corps.

13. Arizona Cardinals – Ronnie Brown, RB AuburnThe Cardinals have the 35-year-old Emmitt Smith starting with Troy Hambrick backing him up, so obviously they need to think about bringing in a potential franchise back. Brown is a very versatile player and is one of the most complete backs in the nation. He can run inside or outside, is an excellent receiver out of the backfield, and is very effective as a blocker. Denny Green might also consider a quarterback here as well if one of the top juniors is available.

14. Chicago Bears – Mike Williams, WR Unless the light suddenly comes on for David Terrell, he is likely to be jettisoned after the season. And even if he is not, the Bears are lacking playmakers on offense and would have a tough time passing on Williams in the middle of the first round. He doesn’t really fit their style and Chicago will most likely look to add a veteran receiver during the off-season, but with his talent, the Bears can make Williams fit. I wouldn’t rule out an eventual move to tight end in this offense.

15. Houston Texans – Rodrique Wright, DT TexasThe Texans missed out on a chance to grab a nose tackle last year when they passed on Vince Wilfork, but if Wright decides to throw his hat in the ring, they probably won’t pass on him if he is still on the board. He is the only true nose tackle worth picking in the first round and if he is not available, Houston will likely look in another direction.

16. Cincinnati Bengals – Anttaj Hawthorne, DT WisconsinThe Bengals defense has started to come on strong, but John Thornton and Tony Williams are adequate at best at defensive tackle. Hawthorne has a great first step that allows him to consistently get penetration, and he also has the strength to overpower blockers. He would probably start immediately for Marvin Lewis.

Week 17 Paradise Pick’em

2005-01-02T01:12:00.000-08:00

Here is the final week, I see many potential upsets so go get your money and play the dogs:

Bengals trample the Eagles
Texans showdown the Browns
Titans devour the Lions
Bears feast upon the Packers
Ravens shut out the Dolphins
Redskins sneak past the Vikings
Panthers heartier than the Saints
Rams confuse the Jets
Bills rumble past the Steelers
Patriots finish off the 49ers
Seahawks show up the Falcons
Buccs in a toss up against the Cardinals
Broncos survive the Colts
Jaguars excite the Raiders
Chargers thrill the Chiefs
Cowboys entertain the Giants

Week 16 Preview

2004-12-25T13:54:00.000-08:00

Baltimore at Pittsburgh

The last time Pittsburgh rookie Ben Roethlisberger walked off the field a loser was in Baltimore more than three months ago.

He'll have a chance to avenge that defeat, extend his record winning streak as a first-year starter to 13 games and clinch home-field advantage for the Steelers throughout the AFC playoffs when the Ravens visit Heinz Field.

And if that isn't motivation enough, Pittsburgh can also knock Baltimore out of serious contention for a playoff spot.

For Baltimore, a win is almost a must. The Ravens are one of four 8-6 teams fighting for the AFC's final wild-card spot.

This will be a huge defensive battle with Ray Lewis and company roughing of Big Ben and the Steelers. I feel like this will be a weekend of upsets starting off with Baltimore defeating Pittsburgh on the road.

San Diego at Indianapolis

Peyton Manning may get a record, but the team that wins the showdown in Indianapolis could end up having a bigger reason to celebrate.

If the Chargers have one weakness, its stopping the pass. I think Drew Brees and company will keep up with high powered Colts for my second upset of the week.

New England at N.Y. Jets

The New York Jets are to eager to prove they belong with the elite teams of the NFL. A victory over the defending Super Bowl champions would go a long way toward making believers out of themselves and the rest of the league.

The injuries for the Patriots are starting to have an impact and i don't see them recovering from there crushing defeat to the Dolphins last week.

Philadelphia at St. Louis

The Philadelphia Eagles have spent the past few days wondering if they'll have Terrell Owens back in time for the Super Bowl -- and if they can make it there without him. I think the Owens injury has become more of a distraction then anything and with Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson back the Rams might be able to pull off the upset.

Week 16 Paradise Pick’ em

2004-12-23T23:34:00.000-08:00

This week is a tough one to call given the injuries and clinched playoff spots, but I’ll call em like I see em:

Vikings outduel the Packers
Chiefs arrow the Raiders
Broncos brawl with the Titans
Saints shock the Falcons
Lions den-t the Bears
Bengals take advantage of the Giants
Bills skin the 49ers
Seahawks survive the Cardinals
Redskins pound the Cowboys
Steelers redeem the Ravens
Jaguars escape the Texans
Colts light up the Bolts
Patriots turn around the Jets
Panthers stuck the Buccs
Dolphins splash the Browns
Rams TkO the Eagles

Fantasy Nightmare

2004-12-21T19:46:00.000-08:00

Just when you figure you can do no wrong in Fantasy Football, the shocking reality of poor performances, injuries, ill advised manager decisions, and plain obscurities hit your lineup. No better example comes to mind than the one my team endured this past Sunday. My lineup features a starting roster of 1QB, 2RB, 2WR, 1TE, 1RB/WR, 1K, 3IDP. At quarterback, I feature both Griese and Pennington; my running backs include Tomlinson, Dillon, McGahee, and D. Davis; my wide receivers include C. Johnson, D. Jackson, Muhammad, R. Smith, and Fitzgerald; my tight end is Shockey; my kicker is Stover; my defensemen include Trotter, Vilma, Harrison, and the injured Z. Thomas. From this lineup I decided to start the following players:
QB: Griese
RB: Tomlinson
RB: Dillon
WR: C. Johnson
WR: R. Smith
TE: Shockey
RB/WR: McGahee
K: Stover
D: Trotter
D: Vilma
D: Harrison

Thus, my first rant has to deal with poor performances, namely C. Johnson’s. With a stat line of 2 receptions for 10 yards, I don’t know what to think of this so called stud. Clearly unacceptable considering he plays his best games against the toughest match ups such as Champ Bailey and Chris McAllister who he burned this year.
Second, the injury by McGahee could not have been timed any worse, since it happened during the playoffs. He has played so well up till now that he is also a part of the reason most teams made it to the playoffs, but against the Bengals, one of the worst rush defenses just hurts so much more.
The ill advised manager decisions have to deal with me not consistently leaving Muhammad in the lineup, but R. Smith going against K.C. and knowing they are horrible against the pass while Atlanta being very stingy at home against the pass made so much sense. However, logic continues to mean nothing for the N.F.L. as we look at the last category of plain obscurities.
Someone explain to me how Griese, one of the hottest passers this year, puts up a stat line of 118 yards 1TD 1Int against the worst defense this century has seen? The Saints almost let you score at will, it was a match up made in heaven, but not when you have a fantasy nightmare week, it happens to all of us. To add insult to injury, most of my starters were outscored by their counterparts on the bench including Pennington, D. Davis, Muhammad, and Fitzgerald.

Well, now since I have vented and seen my fantasy championship game wash away, the fantasy nightmare well be left to haunt another team come next Sunday. Feel free to comment on this story or write on a similar story about your fantasy nightmare.

NFL highlight clips

2004-12-20T08:37:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for some of the best NFL highlight clips check out this page.

NFL Highlights

Some of my favorites

Dante Hall doing his dance around the broncos

Roy Williams knocking out Shawn Alexander

T.J. Ducket running over John Lynch

T.O doing the Ray Lewis dance in Baltimore.

Week 15 Paradise Pick’ em

2004-12-18T14:10:00.000-08:00

This week’s pick’ em has some teams who can clinch their division or a playoff spot, check it out:

Steelers rumble thru the Giants
Redskins devour the 49ers
Falcons a bit better than the Panthers
Bills take down the Bengals
Eagles too good for the Cowboys
Chiefs get by the Broncos
Texans shoot down some Bears
Vikings survive the Lions
Chargers light up the Browns
Jets fly by the Seahawks
Buccs burry the Saints
Rams stumble past the Cards
Packers ice the Jaguars
Titans sink the Raiders
Colts pluck the Ravens
Patriots show up the Dolphins

Thank You Eli Manning

2004-12-15T08:44:00.000-08:00

Ouch, this was posted by huge Charger fan in the NFL forums....

Thank you Eli Manning, it was because of you that we traded you away and got Phillip Rivers. It was because you did not want to come to the Chargers, and you did not want to play.

Thank you Eli Manning, it was because when we traded you away and got Phillip, it was that Trade that lit a fire under Drew Bress, and its that Fire that has made Drew a MVP Candidate, and it has put the Chargers in the hunt for the playoffs

But then actually Eli Thank you, my Team has all ready suffered enough, Ryan Leaf was the biggest mistake a NFL Team could make.

That was until Yesterday your Quarterback Rating of 33.8 is right up there. I am sure you make your daddy proud. I am sure you are doing your best, I am sure you are really trying. BUT, your best is not good enough.

Thank you Eli for disrespecting the Chargers, and making us look like the ass while you got your way and went New York!

Thank you for not putting us through hell again!

Do you need any help Spending any of that 54 Million, I need to borrow some, I need to buy Playoff Tickets, and with Christmas and everything, I am strapped for Cash right now.

Monday Morning Notes - Week 14

2004-12-14T16:47:00.000-08:00

Week 14 was an important week for teams looking to solidify there positions before the playoffs. I thought Seattle, Baltimore and Green Bay showed they belong.

Don’t give up on Eli Manning yet Giant fans. The kid has talent. Only a matter of time till he wins the big one.

Mike Tice contract is up at the end of the season and don't expect the Vikings to resign the retarded, I mean respected head coach. Having Randy Moss throw a pass with over 2 minutes to go was probably the worst call anyone could have made against the talented group of corners that Seattle possesses. The Seahawks are week at stopping the run yet for some reason Mike decided on a pass, an odd decision that will cost the Vikings the season.

When you look at some of the top performing football players week in week out, year in year out, one characteristic stand out, passion. Guys like Jerome Bettis, Ray Lewis and Curtis Martin have a passion for the game that is unmatched, you can’t teach it, but it separates the good from the best. When I own a football team it will be the first thing I look for in a player.

I’m tired of all the injuries this year. I can't think of one team that has had a star remain injury free throughout the year. I know its part of the game but it seems like it’s been more abundant this years.

The playoff picture looks like it's finalized through out the league. Let's start the playoffs already. Case Closed.

Week 14 Paradise Pick’ em

2004-12-11T20:55:00.000-08:00

In this weeks pick’ em, we call it home sweet home except for one big upset:

Jaguars feast on the Bears
Patriots hunt down the Bengals
Bills blank the Browns
Colts in a shootout against the Texans
Cowboys lasso the Saints
Ravens stomp on the Giants
Falcons soar over the Raiders
Vikings spoil the Seahawks
Broncos freeze the Dolphins
Jets upset the Steelers
Packers tame the Lions
Cardinals trip up the 49ers
Panthers roar the Rams
Chargers bolt up the Buccaneers
Eagles control the Redskins
Chiefs dance around the Titans

NFL Playoffs Part II (NFC)

2004-12-11T13:19:00.000-08:00

NFC East
The playoff hunt in the NFC has become musical chairs where only a non factor such as the music coming to an end and whoever is nearest to the chair determines who ends up with a spot. We will first dissect the NFC by taking a look at the NFC East. Within this division, only one thing is certain that the Eagles are in the playoffs. Another certainty perhaps is that the New York Football Giants will not make the playoffs and are content with allowing Eli face a rough schedule in order to only make him a better QB of the future. As for Dallas, you can pretty much write them off too, however, their star is shining brighter than most with the resurgence in the running game by J.J. Washington is out of contention, but poses to be a dangerous spoiler for their defense can keep them in the game.

NFC North
The NFC North division is the only division that can still be won by any of the four teams. Rationally the favorite here are the Packers. A devastating loss to the Eagles will not keep the Pack from making the playoffs. A weak heart might keep the Vikings out of the playoffs. They better not leave the decision to the last game of the year again this year because I am certain they will not win at Washington, but a two game lead now is a good cushion for them getting in the playoffs. Detroit and Chicago will continue to be inconsistent and are promising future contenders.

NFC South
The NFC South should have three teams making the playoffs, but one team will end up just short. The Falcons will clinch the division this week when the Raiders come to town, and they should not play Vick again until the playoffs roll around. I have to see him play the Eagles if that match up ever materializes and he is too much of a risk to run around on the field until then. I really like the next two teams. If it wasn’t for their head to head match up in Week 16, they both would make the playoffs. The Buccaneers have a tougher schedule in that they play at San Diego this week, I really would like to see them win that game but they do not have good protection on the o-line and Griese will get sacked several times because the run game will be tough against the Chargers. For that reason, I see the Panthers coming out of nowhere and finishing strong to make the playoffs. It’s all about confidence and if the Buccs lose to the Chargers, they won’t be able to beat Carolina who has their number thanks in part to Gramatica, even though he’s been released. As for the Saints, the only thing they are good for is providing good fantasy numbers for their opponents.

NFC West
Wow, has this division taken a turn for the worst as the contenders continue to be pretenders. Nobody wants to win this division so they should just give up their right to a playoff spot. Since things don’t work that way in the NFL, the decision is really simple in saying that the Rams will win the division. They both might finish tied when all is said and done but that tiebreaker is with the Rams. Seattle never really did recover from the comeback of the year by the Rams, but the interesting thing is, neither did the Rams. Arizona is too young to make a move. Finally, the 49ers, I think everyone is happy to see them in last after all their glory years at the top.

Divisional Winners: Philadelphia, Green Bay, Atlanta, St. Louis
Wildcard: Minnesota, Carolina

My all-NFL team for the 2004 season

2004-12-08T20:11:00.000-08:00

QB- Peyton Manning, Donavan Mcnabb
RB- Corey Dillon, Shawn Alexander
FB- Tony Richardson, William Henderson
WR- T.O., Randy Moss, Javon Walker, Andre Johnson
TE- Tony Gonzalez, Todd Heap
LT- Walter Jones, Chad Clifton
LG- Steve Hutchinson, Brian Waters
C- Mike Flanagan, LeCharles Bentley
RG- Will Shields, Marco Rivera
RT- Willie Anderson, Mike Williams

RDE- John Abraham, Aaron Schobel
RDT- John Henderson, Shaun Rogers
LDT- Kevin Williams, Marcus Stroud
LDE- Julies Peppers, Patrick Kearny
ROLB- Derrick Brooks, Keith Bulluck
MLB/ILB- Ray Lewis, Donnie Edwards, Nick Barnett
LOLB- Julian Peterson, Boss Bailey
CB- Chris McAlister, Marcus Trufant, Sam Madison, Ken Lucas
FS- Brian Dawkins, Eugene Wilson
SS- Ed Reed, Adrian Wilson

K- David Akers
P- Shane Lechler

NFL Playoffs Part I (AFC)

2004-12-06T22:54:00.000-08:00

AFC East
As the playoffs approach, two things are apparent. For one the AFC is further dividing between good and bad teams. Secondly, the NFC continues to clutter with just about any team having a chance to make the playoffs except for the 49ers. Let’s take a look at the AFC first by starting with the AFC East. This division features three tough teams who all have stout defenses. The division should belong to the Patriots barring any setbacks. The match up against the Jets in Week 16 will be crucial at the Meadowlands, but New England has no other challenges on their schedule. The Jets are a solid Wildcard contender. The Bills might have an outside chance for the last spot with both the Ravens and Broncos losing last week. The Dolphins, better luck next year.

AFC North
The AFC North has one contender worthy of noting, the Steelers. Listening to analysts and announcers every week about how finally Roethlisberger will lose that given week is getting annoying. They should just give it up; he is the real deal showing poise and patience that rookie QB’s generally lack. Hats off to Brian Billick for another contending season with no offense, however, that loss to the Bengals last week was ill afforded. The Bengals are too inconsistent themselves and the Browns, see the Dolphins note above.

AFC South
The AFC South is starting to get decided with Peyton Manning’s arm, embarrassing opposing secondaries while making defensive coordinators’ lives hell. I still believe in Jacksonville, but they have to turn it around starting next week. Their window of opportunity is limited. Houston was a disappointment this year, much like the Bengals they seem like they are still a year away from being contenders. The Titans and the McNair era seem to be coming to an end, the Volek era seems bleak.

AFC West
Gotta love this division, no matter how horrible a team does in this division, they always step it up when they play a divisional game. San Diego is supercharging their way to a divisional title. The Broncos are doing exactly what I predicted, blowing it again with Plummer at QB. How many more years are they going to fool themselves with him at the helm, he just doesn’t have what it takes. The Chiefs and the Raiders are the underachievers this year, so much talent so little heart. Stepping it up once every few games will not cut it in the NFL.

Divisional Winners: New England, Pittsburg, Indianapolis, San Diego
Wildcard: New York Jets, Jacksonville
Stay tuned for Part II (NFC)

Top 5 worst coaches in the NFL?

2004-12-06T19:50:00.000-08:00

I know it's a tough job but a little critism never hurt anybody ;)

1. Norv Turner - Horrible year for the Raiders. I said all along it was a mistake signing him. They should have waited for Romeo Crennel to add some discipline and organization to this group.

2. Mike Martz – Great offensive coordinator, horrible head coach. Makes bad decisions at crucial times during the games that are costly. Weak on defense and special teams.

3. Butch Davis – I know he’s gone now but horror stories coming out of the Cleveland camp are just scary.

4. Dennis Erickson – Go back to college football. Case closed.

5. Jim Haslett – Seems like a nice guy but just can’t seem to put it all together with a talented group in New Orleans. It’s time for a change down there.

Top Underrated players from each team

2004-12-06T17:45:00.000-08:00

I put together a quick list of young, underrated players that would make an impact next year. Let me know what you think.

Arizona cardinals: Adrian Wilson - up and coming SS, maybe the best in the NFC

Atlanta Falcons: T.J Ducket - watch that clip of him running over John Lynch

Baltimore Ravens: Chris McAlister - best cornerback in the game, bar none

Buffalo Bills: Aaron Schobel - underrated DE along a talented buffalo d-line

Carolina - Deshan Foster: Future star in this league if he can stay healthy.

Chicago Bears: Charles Tillman - anyone who wrestles a pick from randy moss has my respect

Cincinnati Bengalis: Willie Anderson - best RT in the game

Cleveland browns: André Davis - playmaker, very underrated MLB

Dallas cowboys: Julius Jones - the only glimmer of hope in the cowboys running game.

Denver broncos: Kenoy Kennedy - more entertaining than Lynch and Bailey.

Detroit lions: Shaun Rogers - one of the best run stuffers in the NFL, best DT in the NFC

Green Bay Packers: Javan Walker - talk about fun to watch...

Houston Texans: Jabar Gaffney - huge skills, plus he’s Lito Sheppard’s cousin

Indy Colts: Bob Sanders - little guy can lay the wood

Jacksonville Jaguars: Byron Leftwich - will be the best be in the NFL... soon

Kansas City Chiefs: Trent Green – Puts up numbers year after year.

Miami dolphins: Sam Madison - better all-around corner than Surtain, top-5 NFL corner

Minnesota Vikings: Ontario Smith - well-rounded back, deserves a chance to be a franchise back

New England patriots: Matt Light - underrated LT

New Orleans saints: Donte’ Stallworth - insane skills, future #1

New York Giants: Tim carter - exciting slot receiver

New York jets: John Abraham - top-5 defensive player in the NFL

Oakland raiders: Napoleon Harris - good young ILB, needs to stay healthy

Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Westbrook – The real eagles MVP.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Hines ward - My prototypical wide receiver, love him and the way he plays the game

San Diego chargers: Quentin Jammer - top-5 cb skills, just now coming around to potential

San Francisco 49ers: Shawntia Spencer - wanted him to be a Ram, has a future as a starter

Seattle Seahawks: Maurice Morris - Mo is overshadowed by the best red-zone runner in the game, but he has a real future as a franchise back.

St. Louis rams: Hawaii 5-0 (Pisa Tinoisamoa) - just about the only entertaining player to watch on the Rams defense.

Tampa Bay: Michael Clayton - future top-10 receiver, absolute stud.

Tennessee Titans: Tyrone Calico - will be better than mason some day.

Washington redskins: Sean Taylor - the poster-boy for the new breed of NFL safeties... total playmaker, hate to have to see him twice a year.

Monday Morning Notes

2004-12-05T20:44:00.000-08:00

Forget about Terrell Owens and Donovan Mcnabb for a second. Michael Westbrook is the MVP of the Philadelphia Eagles.

San Diego Chargers are a good football team. Love their defense. Love their passion all around.

Rookie running backs Steven Jackson and Kevin Jones are for real. Case Closed.

Michael Vick and the Falcons will be back next week. Fear the Falcons in the playoffs.

The Stealers and Jaguars hit hard. Love watching these 2 teams play. That was one of the best games of the year.

Four out of the top five teams in the league are in the AFC. It’s not even close.

Does anyone care about the Seahawk/Cowboy game Monday night? I didn’t think so.

Week 13 Paradise Pick' em

2004-12-03T21:59:00.000-08:00

In the weekly pick' em, I see some potential money makers for you parlay fans out there, check it out:

Lions over Cards in an ugly game
Buccs upset the Falcons
Bills run thru the Dolphins
Saints wake up at home against the Panthers
Ravens too much D for Cincy
Jets hold off the Texans
Vikings a possession better than the Bears
New England babysits the Browns
Rams annihilate the 49ers
Colts pass by the Titans
San Diego supercharges the Broncos
Raiders a blocked extra point better than the Chiefs
Packers a 4th and 26 better than the Eagles
Redskins sleep past the Giants
Jaguars harass the Steelers
Seahawks buck the Cowboys

The St Louis Rams have problems.

2004-12-03T21:28:00.000-08:00

As I watched their 165 pound free safety Little Richard Coady get steam rolled play after play by Green Bay running back Najeh Davenport I came to the realization that their season is officially over. The greatest show on earth has become the greatest joke on earth. And no it is not all Little Richard Coady’s fault. It’s the guy that plays him week after week that is responsible, Mike Martz. Now I have always been a fan of Martz and I appreciate a great offensive mind. But as a head coach he sucks donkey dick. That’s right, donkey dick. You wont here that on ESPN. But it’s the truth. Let’s take a moment and list some of his glaring faults as a coach.

He knows nothing about defense. Losing Lovie Smith and replacing him with the Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator is like the Beatles replacing John Lennon with Jessica Simpson.

For the love of god he will not run the ball. When you have a 245 pound running back with desire and speed on your team you pound the defense with a consistent running attack. You don’t throw the ball 13 straight times. You don’t do that to your offensive line. You don’t let the other defense off the hook like that. You pound it up the middle beat them up a bit and then throw. Thank you!

Special teams is horrible.

Clock management is horrible.

Makes stupid decisions during the game like the pooch kick against the Saints with less then a minute on the clock giving them the opportunity to kick the game tying field goal and eventually winning in over time to the fake field goal in Green Bay that my 85 year old grandma saw coming from a mile away.

Playing Marshal Faulk over Steven Jackson. I love Faulk but his time is done

The Rams are lucky to be 5-6 and will not make the playoff this year. I guarantee it. Unless someone sends this article to Martz and he hires me as a special consultant. For some reason I don’t think that will happen. Oh well. There is always next year Rams fans.

McGahee’s Homecoming

2004-12-03T21:12:00.000-08:00

As if it wasn’t enough that LB Zach Thomas will be injured this week, Buffalo Bills RB Willis McGahee will make his homecoming in Miami to face the Dolphins in a divisional match up. McGahee bought over a hundred tickets for family and friends so they can see the stud he has become in the NFL. Coming into the game McGahee already has five 100-yard games in six career starts; the only non 100-yarder was in Foxboro against the nasty defense of the Patriots.

Miami, on the other hand just won their second game of the year to perhaps the worst team in the league (the forty whiners). Things can not be going any worse for the Dolphins since they might have given up the number one pick overall in the draft by winning when they are not supposed to win. Playing at home will be the only reason to possibly conceive of a close game in this one, but there won’t be any home field advantage for the Dolphins as the real homecoming belongs to the new kid on the block, Willis McGahee.

The Bills have resurrected their season thanks in part to the resurgence of the running game and have won 4 out of their last 5 games. Bledsoe should be indebted to McGahee considering he has calmed the critics about his potential benching. Gotta love the call last week as Bledsoe faked the QB sneak on 4th and 1 to toss the football outside to McGahee and let him scamper in on his third out of his career high forth touchdown on the day. With that kind of play calling on offense and the stingy hard hitting defense, Buffalo poses tough match up problems and will play spoilers for some teams trying to make it to the playoffs. Now with Travis Henry out indefinitely with a leg injury, McGahee stands tall as the lone RB in Buffalo. Is it just me, or has there been a stud sighting in Buffalo? Run McGahee run!