If you checked out my Twitter pick, I'm right again for my Thursday night pick. As for last week's picks, let's just not talk about them.* Instead, I will try to redeem myself.
Ravens v. Bills: Ravens. The Bills will make it interesting, but in the end, the Ravens will win.
Cardinals v. Buccaneers: Buccaneers. I don't know much about either of these teams. But that's why I try to surround myself with people smarter than me. According to sources, the Buccaneers have a helluva corner in Darrelle Revus.** So on advice of counsel, I'm going with the Bucs.
Steelers v. Vikings. Vikings. All kinds of interesting happening in this game. The Steelers are looking tired, sluggish, and like they just don't want it. The Vikings benched their QB and are giving the formerly-overrated-1st-round-draft-pick Matt Cassel the helm. If nothing else, it should be a doozy to watch.
Giants v. Chiefs. Chiefs. Alex & Andy are now riding on the chips AND momentum. Plus, here's a fun fact for you. The Chiefs' defense is number one in the league right now, with 15 sacks. 15!!! Sir Manning better watch his back...and his front...and the blind side. My prediction is that he'll be seeing an awful lot of turf.
Colts v. Jaguars. Colts.
Seahawks v. Texans. Seahawks. Don't take this pick as any indication that I'm at all sold on the Seahawks. I just think the Texans are still injured. The Seahawks on the road? Not amazing.
Bengals v. Browns. Browns.
Bears v. Lions. Lions. And this isn't even a spite pick. I think the Lions are better, and in the NFC North, the tendency is to split the games, and usually the win is at home. And, the Lions are better.
Jets v. Titans. Jets. Geno Smith runs the read option, and apparently no NFL coach can defend against it. Also, they seem to run every formation known to man -- did you see that they ran the wild cat last week!?
Redskins v. Raiders. Redskins.
Eagles v. Broncos. Broncos. Broncomania continues.
Cowboys v. Chargers. Cowboys. I'll be honest...I flipped a coin. I have no idea on this one. :)
Patriots v. Falcons. Patriots. The Falcons seem to have lost their magic.
Dolphins v. Saints. Dolphins. The Saints at home are amazing. But listen...the Dolphins defend the pass like the Americans against the British. Meanwhile, the Saints got rid of Reggie Bush eons ago and are still looking for someone to take his place. If nothing else, this will be an interesting game. I'm going to go with the Dolphins, just for giggles -- but it's just as likely that the Saints will win.
*How the hell did the Giants go scoreless against the Panthers?! And furthermore, my colleague that's a Vikings fan lied to me about their chances against the Browns. And the Packers? Don't even get me started. Argh!
**Side note? The Jets did Darrelle dirty. He may have the same kind of chip on his shoulder as Alex & Andy -- maybe he oughta head to KC.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Week 3 Predictions
So, my record for last week was 11/16. That's not bad. If you checked me out on Twitter @pumpsnpigskins you saw I was right about Thursday's game* (which also means I have a perfect record on Thursday nights!). But enough about me, do you agree with my picks for week 3**?
Texans v. Ravens: Texans. The Ravens just seem to have lost that X factor when their number one motivator retired. Plus, I'm not quite sure why people got all twitterpeated*** over Joe Flacco in the first place.
Giants v. Panthers: Giants. Listen, the Giants might start slow, but they aren't THAT slow.
Lions v. Washington: Lions. I'll say it again. Megatron + Reggie Bush = monster offense. DeAngelo Hall is going to have his work cut out for him. In any event, RG3 seems to have come back too early -- or isn't surrounded by the right people anymore. Or something. Anyway, Washington is losing.
Chargers v. Titans: Chargers.
Cardinals v. Saints: Saints. Who dat!?!?
Buccaneers v. Patriots: I would have picked the Patriots no matter what, despite the disconnect that's been happening between Tom Brady and his receivers. But, did you hear that Josh Freeman is no longer a team captain? That's serious indication that there's something a-brewing down in Tampa. That's like a no confidence vote -- and you know who the team needs to have confidence in? The QB.
Packers v. Bengals: Packers. My co-worker told me to stop voting with my heart, but eff that noise. Packers all day on this one!
Rams v. Cowboys: Cowboys.
Browns v. Vikings: Vikings. This doesn't require explanation, but word on the street is that the Browns traded Trent Richardson. So, who's in charge of taking the ball into the end zone for Cleveland, now? Nope, I can't answer that either.
Falcons v. Dolphins: Falcons.
Bills v. Jets: Bills. Did you SEE the ending to the Bills' game last week? It may be a battle of mediocrity, but I'll bet an extra $3 that it's more interesting to watch than all of last week's games combined.
Colts v. 49ers: 49ers. Begrudgingly, but the 49ers.
Jaguars v. Seahawks: Seahawks. If the 12th man threw off one of the best teams in the NFC, it's surely going to be a problem for the Jaguars.
Bears v. Steelers: Bears. I went back and forth on this one. I started to see a glimmer of the old Steelers last week, but I'm not sure the offense has a rhythm yet. The last two weeks when I've been on the fence, I went with the home team and I was wrong. This week, I'm going against that instinct and going with the visiting team.
Raiders v. Broncos: I shouldn't have to say it. But just in case. Bronco. Mania. Continues.
*Never underestimate the power of bitterness.
**HA. I'm a poet and I don't even know it.
***Overly excited. Enthused. Bouncy-happy-sugary-smiley excited.
Texans v. Ravens: Texans. The Ravens just seem to have lost that X factor when their number one motivator retired. Plus, I'm not quite sure why people got all twitterpeated*** over Joe Flacco in the first place.
Giants v. Panthers: Giants. Listen, the Giants might start slow, but they aren't THAT slow.
Lions v. Washington: Lions. I'll say it again. Megatron + Reggie Bush = monster offense. DeAngelo Hall is going to have his work cut out for him. In any event, RG3 seems to have come back too early -- or isn't surrounded by the right people anymore. Or something. Anyway, Washington is losing.
Chargers v. Titans: Chargers.
Cardinals v. Saints: Saints. Who dat!?!?
Buccaneers v. Patriots: I would have picked the Patriots no matter what, despite the disconnect that's been happening between Tom Brady and his receivers. But, did you hear that Josh Freeman is no longer a team captain? That's serious indication that there's something a-brewing down in Tampa. That's like a no confidence vote -- and you know who the team needs to have confidence in? The QB.
Packers v. Bengals: Packers. My co-worker told me to stop voting with my heart, but eff that noise. Packers all day on this one!
Rams v. Cowboys: Cowboys.
Browns v. Vikings: Vikings. This doesn't require explanation, but word on the street is that the Browns traded Trent Richardson. So, who's in charge of taking the ball into the end zone for Cleveland, now? Nope, I can't answer that either.
Falcons v. Dolphins: Falcons.
Bills v. Jets: Bills. Did you SEE the ending to the Bills' game last week? It may be a battle of mediocrity, but I'll bet an extra $3 that it's more interesting to watch than all of last week's games combined.
Colts v. 49ers: 49ers. Begrudgingly, but the 49ers.
Jaguars v. Seahawks: Seahawks. If the 12th man threw off one of the best teams in the NFC, it's surely going to be a problem for the Jaguars.
Bears v. Steelers: Bears. I went back and forth on this one. I started to see a glimmer of the old Steelers last week, but I'm not sure the offense has a rhythm yet. The last two weeks when I've been on the fence, I went with the home team and I was wrong. This week, I'm going against that instinct and going with the visiting team.
Raiders v. Broncos: I shouldn't have to say it. But just in case. Bronco. Mania. Continues.
*Never underestimate the power of bitterness.
**HA. I'm a poet and I don't even know it.
***Overly excited. Enthused. Bouncy-happy-sugary-smiley excited.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Defense! Defense! Defense!
Bears fans are fond of saying that offenses win games, defenses win championships. Rightfully so, the last time they won a championship (cough cough 1985 cough cough), it was on the back of a great defense. Conversely, teams such as the Patriots and the Packers subscribe the exact opposite of this school of thought, with neither really having a fully functional defense in each of their last trips to the Super Bowl, relying instead on the arm of the quarterback.
It's hard to decide who is right. No matter how good your defense is, at some point your QB is going to have to throw it to someone in the end zone, or hand it to a running back powerful enough to cross the plane or the pile-on. Otherwise, it's going to be an awfully boring game. Which is what we had for the entirety of week 2. Defenses may be powerful, but they really are a snooze fest, aren't they? Unless you've got a linebacker pile driving a quarterback into the turf, it just isn't that exciting to watch extremely large men push against more extremely large men on the line. Similarly, cornerbacks just aren't that thrilling unless they're leaping over the wide receiver to grab a pick.
So, let's talk about defensive players that are exciting to watch. Washington has a great cornerback in DeAngelo Hall. I said it once, I'll say it again. They forgot to tell him that he's not a wide receiver -- he's on the ball better than the wide receivers he's defending. I think he secretly does a Jedi Mind Trick on opposing quarterbacks in every game. Another awesome defensive player? Troy Polamalu. Yes, the guy on the Head and Shoulders commercial. The past couple years he was injured, and I was worried that he lost his edge. But in last week's game against the Bengals, he seemed to have the old pep in his step that we're used to seeing.
All that said, a game that's full of defense and no offense usually has a score like 6-3, 7-3, 9-0. ZZZZZZZZZZZZ. You'll know you're watching a game that's all defense when you find yourself starting to make a grocery list in your head; talking about topics not at all related to football, or playing Candy Crush Saga on your phone. Hey, it happens to the best of us. And frankly, it happened for the entire day this past Sunday. I took more naps on Sunday than a cat in a sunny living room.
Here's hoping that we'll see some high flying action this week! Stay tuned for Week 3 predictions.
It's hard to decide who is right. No matter how good your defense is, at some point your QB is going to have to throw it to someone in the end zone, or hand it to a running back powerful enough to cross the plane or the pile-on. Otherwise, it's going to be an awfully boring game. Which is what we had for the entirety of week 2. Defenses may be powerful, but they really are a snooze fest, aren't they? Unless you've got a linebacker pile driving a quarterback into the turf, it just isn't that exciting to watch extremely large men push against more extremely large men on the line. Similarly, cornerbacks just aren't that thrilling unless they're leaping over the wide receiver to grab a pick.
So, let's talk about defensive players that are exciting to watch. Washington has a great cornerback in DeAngelo Hall. I said it once, I'll say it again. They forgot to tell him that he's not a wide receiver -- he's on the ball better than the wide receivers he's defending. I think he secretly does a Jedi Mind Trick on opposing quarterbacks in every game. Another awesome defensive player? Troy Polamalu. Yes, the guy on the Head and Shoulders commercial. The past couple years he was injured, and I was worried that he lost his edge. But in last week's game against the Bengals, he seemed to have the old pep in his step that we're used to seeing.
All that said, a game that's full of defense and no offense usually has a score like 6-3, 7-3, 9-0. ZZZZZZZZZZZZ. You'll know you're watching a game that's all defense when you find yourself starting to make a grocery list in your head; talking about topics not at all related to football, or playing Candy Crush Saga on your phone. Hey, it happens to the best of us. And frankly, it happened for the entire day this past Sunday. I took more naps on Sunday than a cat in a sunny living room.
Here's hoping that we'll see some high flying action this week! Stay tuned for Week 3 predictions.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Week 2 Predictions
Well, last week I did oooookayyy. But there were far more upsets than I thought there would be. Let's see if my picks are closer to target this week.
Jets v. Patriots: Jets. Just kidding. Patriots, all day long. Tom Brady and Co may wait until the end to start turning up the heat, but Geno Smith just doesn't have what it takes to beat the Pats. And, with Mark Sanchez injured, there's no back up plan. Plus, I heard that Coach Rex Ryan lost his fire -- that is NOT a confidence booster.
Rams v. Falcons: Falcons. The Falcons are at home, and the Georgia Dome is a notorious 12th man (although not quite as notorious as the Seahawks' field). Plus, like I said before, the Falcons are prone to choking, they usually save it for big games.
Chargers v. Eagles: Eagles. After what I thought I saw in the Chargers last week, I might have given the Chargers a fair shot. And then I remembered that they blew a 3 TD lead against the Texans. Plus, Vick, McCoy, and Jackson were on FIYAHHHHH last week. Both teams have the sort of momentum that sticks around like an ex-boyfriend that you broke up with.
Cowboys v. Chiefs: Just for fun, I'm going with the Chiefs. Sure, the Cowboys are a better team, and Dez Bryant is back on the line, and sexy sexy Miles (and Miles) Austin seems to be cured of the dropsies. However, I still say that Andy Reid and Alex Smith have matching axes to grind. That kind of pisstivity should take them at least into Week 3. Besides, I need more than one upset pick.
Dolphins v. Colts: Colts.
Titans v. Texans: Let's go with the Texans. That was a great comeback last week.
Washington v. Packers: Packers. I know I said the Packers have struggled against the read-option, and RG3 runs like a little kid during recess. But did you see what the Eagles did to Washington last week? I'm just counting on Washington's D not being able to hold 4 receivers.
Browns v. Ravens: Ravens. In this rivalry game, I've gotta go with the better team. Grant it, Joe Flacco is a mediocre QB disguised as an elite QB (thanks to the Super Bowl ring) -- but I can't tell you one weapon that the Browns are wielding right now. They're a lovable team but they seem to be managed like a business rather than a sports team. Which rarely ever works (see: Bucks, Milwaukee.)
Panthers v. Bills: Panthers. Why? Because I think Cam Newton is hot*. Get off me.
Vikings v. Bears: Bears. I wish there was a way for both of these teams to lose. But since a tie is rare, I'll go with the home field team. With any luck, AP will run all over the Bears just to make their beloved defense look bad.**
Saints v. Buccaneers: Saints.
Lions v. Cardinals: Lions. Megatron + Reggie Bush = magical offensive numbers. Side note, if you can get either one of these workhorses for your fantasy team, do it. Also, send me an invitation to that team because you've clearly got a league full of people who don't watch enough of the game. I could clean up!
Jaguars v. Raiders: Raiders. This pick is based totally off of one singular comment a colleague of mine made, with regard to the Colts/Raiders game last week: The Raiders aren't good, but Pryor is f#cking amazing.***
Broncos v. Giants: Broncos. Need I remind you of Broncomania last week? Also, the Giants we are still in the "start slow" portion of the Giants' season. Plus, the rookie RB seems to have a severe case of the dropsies....and without the saving grace of speed and power like AP in Minnesota. Word on the street is that Brandon Jacobs is back...but even still, he needs to get integrated back into the team.
49ers v. Seahawks. 49ers. This is my second upset pick. The Seahawks have the most notorious 12th man in the league. But the 49ers are on a roll.
Steelers v. Bengals. Bengals. The Bengals are at home, and the aging Steelers just looked sluggish last week.
*Check out his picture here. And THAT isn't even a good picture of him. Had I put a good one up, your internet might have melted, and I care about you too much to let that happen.
** That, my friends, is pure inter-conference rivalry spite. And I'm not ashamed to admit it.
*** To which I responded, "who is Pryor?" After giving me a blank stare for a good 5 seconds longer than necessary, my colleague informed me that he is the Raiders' QB. To which I said, "oh. So they don't have Carson Palmer anymore? Sad. He was my fantasy QB a couple years ago during Brees' bye week and he did AWESOME." I was met with another blank stare. Shrug.
Jets v. Patriots: Jets. Just kidding. Patriots, all day long. Tom Brady and Co may wait until the end to start turning up the heat, but Geno Smith just doesn't have what it takes to beat the Pats. And, with Mark Sanchez injured, there's no back up plan. Plus, I heard that Coach Rex Ryan lost his fire -- that is NOT a confidence booster.
Rams v. Falcons: Falcons. The Falcons are at home, and the Georgia Dome is a notorious 12th man (although not quite as notorious as the Seahawks' field). Plus, like I said before, the Falcons are prone to choking, they usually save it for big games.
Chargers v. Eagles: Eagles. After what I thought I saw in the Chargers last week, I might have given the Chargers a fair shot. And then I remembered that they blew a 3 TD lead against the Texans. Plus, Vick, McCoy, and Jackson were on FIYAHHHHH last week. Both teams have the sort of momentum that sticks around like an ex-boyfriend that you broke up with.
Cowboys v. Chiefs: Just for fun, I'm going with the Chiefs. Sure, the Cowboys are a better team, and Dez Bryant is back on the line, and sexy sexy Miles (and Miles) Austin seems to be cured of the dropsies. However, I still say that Andy Reid and Alex Smith have matching axes to grind. That kind of pisstivity should take them at least into Week 3. Besides, I need more than one upset pick.
Dolphins v. Colts: Colts.
Titans v. Texans: Let's go with the Texans. That was a great comeback last week.
Washington v. Packers: Packers. I know I said the Packers have struggled against the read-option, and RG3 runs like a little kid during recess. But did you see what the Eagles did to Washington last week? I'm just counting on Washington's D not being able to hold 4 receivers.
Browns v. Ravens: Ravens. In this rivalry game, I've gotta go with the better team. Grant it, Joe Flacco is a mediocre QB disguised as an elite QB (thanks to the Super Bowl ring) -- but I can't tell you one weapon that the Browns are wielding right now. They're a lovable team but they seem to be managed like a business rather than a sports team. Which rarely ever works (see: Bucks, Milwaukee.)
Panthers v. Bills: Panthers. Why? Because I think Cam Newton is hot*. Get off me.
Vikings v. Bears: Bears. I wish there was a way for both of these teams to lose. But since a tie is rare, I'll go with the home field team. With any luck, AP will run all over the Bears just to make their beloved defense look bad.**
Saints v. Buccaneers: Saints.
Lions v. Cardinals: Lions. Megatron + Reggie Bush = magical offensive numbers. Side note, if you can get either one of these workhorses for your fantasy team, do it. Also, send me an invitation to that team because you've clearly got a league full of people who don't watch enough of the game. I could clean up!
Jaguars v. Raiders: Raiders. This pick is based totally off of one singular comment a colleague of mine made, with regard to the Colts/Raiders game last week: The Raiders aren't good, but Pryor is f#cking amazing.***
Broncos v. Giants: Broncos. Need I remind you of Broncomania last week? Also, the Giants we are still in the "start slow" portion of the Giants' season. Plus, the rookie RB seems to have a severe case of the dropsies....and without the saving grace of speed and power like AP in Minnesota. Word on the street is that Brandon Jacobs is back...but even still, he needs to get integrated back into the team.
49ers v. Seahawks. 49ers. This is my second upset pick. The Seahawks have the most notorious 12th man in the league. But the 49ers are on a roll.
Steelers v. Bengals. Bengals. The Bengals are at home, and the aging Steelers just looked sluggish last week.
*Check out his picture here. And THAT isn't even a good picture of him. Had I put a good one up, your internet might have melted, and I care about you too much to let that happen.
** That, my friends, is pure inter-conference rivalry spite. And I'm not ashamed to admit it.
*** To which I responded, "who is Pryor?" After giving me a blank stare for a good 5 seconds longer than necessary, my colleague informed me that he is the Raiders' QB. To which I said, "oh. So they don't have Carson Palmer anymore? Sad. He was my fantasy QB a couple years ago during Brees' bye week and he did AWESOME." I was met with another blank stare. Shrug.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Cheers and Jeers
I'm suffering from a football hangover. It's like I went on a football bender -- and now I'm laid out on the floor of my bathroom, caressing the cold tile and hugging the porcelain goddess -- thanks to the extra servings of sacks, runs, touchbacks and fair catches*, and field goals.
In any event, each week I plan to highlight the most awesome plays, and the worst plays ever. Grant it, I'm not the Rain Man of football, so I probably won't see all the games. Annnnd, despite the awesomeness of the NFL players, some weeks, there might not be anything worth mentioning. But, as this was opening week, of COURSE there was some great action on the field, and hilariously bad plays as well. Without any further ado, here we go.
CHEERS!!!!
First up, Broncomania. Okay, admittedly, this isn't an awesome "play." But, did you SEE Thursday night's game?!? Holy hell, Peyton Manning had 7 touchdowns. Go back and read that again. He had SEVEN TOUCHDOWNS. That's more than some quarterbacks get over the span of 3 games (*cough cough Christian Ponder cough cough*). And those that drafted either Peyton, or his target-o-choice Broncos TE Thomas for their fantasy teams collectively rejoiced.
Second, Jordy Nelson against the 49ers....call it a Superman catch. Because that boy superman'd it better than Soldier Boy Tell 'Em ever has:
(seen at http://larrybrownsports.com/football/jordy-nelson-sidelines-michael-floyd-one-handed-catch/203269)
JEERS!!!!
First up, Danny Trevathan of the Broncos. Yes, the Broncos again. But this bonehead move was SO BONEHEADED that it deserves the Idiot of the Century Award:
(seen at http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nbc-yahoo-sports/sportsdash-trevathan-joins-likes-lett-premature-celebration-154147883--ocid.yahoo.html)
Second, Bucs linebacker Lavonte David pops Geno Smith after the play was over (and he was out of bounds) with 7 seconds left on the clock. It would be stupid anyway, yes, but it is colossally stupid here because the Buccaneers were winning, and without that penalty, the Jets had no hope of turning it around. But thanks to the penalty, the Jets ended up in FG range, and pulled out the win on the leg of their kicker. And Buccanners fans everywhere began throwing things at their TVs.
So -- did you see anything noteworthy this week?
*Seriously. With the touchbacks and fair catches. Is anyone planning to run the ball back anymore?
In any event, each week I plan to highlight the most awesome plays, and the worst plays ever. Grant it, I'm not the Rain Man of football, so I probably won't see all the games. Annnnd, despite the awesomeness of the NFL players, some weeks, there might not be anything worth mentioning. But, as this was opening week, of COURSE there was some great action on the field, and hilariously bad plays as well. Without any further ado, here we go.
CHEERS!!!!
First up, Broncomania. Okay, admittedly, this isn't an awesome "play." But, did you SEE Thursday night's game?!? Holy hell, Peyton Manning had 7 touchdowns. Go back and read that again. He had SEVEN TOUCHDOWNS. That's more than some quarterbacks get over the span of 3 games (*cough cough Christian Ponder cough cough*). And those that drafted either Peyton, or his target-o-choice Broncos TE Thomas for their fantasy teams collectively rejoiced.
Second, Jordy Nelson against the 49ers....call it a Superman catch. Because that boy superman'd it better than Soldier Boy Tell 'Em ever has:
(seen at http://larrybrownsports.com/football/jordy-nelson-sidelines-michael-floyd-one-handed-catch/203269)
JEERS!!!!
First up, Danny Trevathan of the Broncos. Yes, the Broncos again. But this bonehead move was SO BONEHEADED that it deserves the Idiot of the Century Award:
(seen at http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nbc-yahoo-sports/sportsdash-trevathan-joins-likes-lett-premature-celebration-154147883--ocid.yahoo.html)
Second, Bucs linebacker Lavonte David pops Geno Smith after the play was over (and he was out of bounds) with 7 seconds left on the clock. It would be stupid anyway, yes, but it is colossally stupid here because the Buccaneers were winning, and without that penalty, the Jets had no hope of turning it around. But thanks to the penalty, the Jets ended up in FG range, and pulled out the win on the leg of their kicker. And Buccanners fans everywhere began throwing things at their TVs.
So -- did you see anything noteworthy this week?
*Seriously. With the touchbacks and fair catches. Is anyone planning to run the ball back anymore?
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Week 1 Predictions
If you checked out my Twitter (@pumpsnpigskins), you'll know that I was right about Thursday night's game. I didn't predict that the Broncos would annihilate the Raves, but I did predict the win. As for the rest of the games:
Packers v. 49ers:
Long. Sigh. One of our hardest, if not the hardest, games this season. Listen, last year, the 49ers had our ticket -- we couldn't defend against the read option, and they wouldn't let Rodgers do what he does -- that is, throw it a mile to one of five receivers. This year? Well. Let's just hope someone pissed Clay Matthews and AJ Hawk off last night, so that all Kaepernick can do is hit the deck. I hope.
Bears v. Bengals:
Bengals. The Bears are in a rebuilding year -- new coach, new theory. They may actually try to play offense this yera. But while they're trying to figure it out, the Bengals will be stomping on them. With any luck, HARD.
Buccaneers v. Jets:
Buccaneers -- Josh Freeman showed some promise last year. And well, goodness only knows what's going on in New York.
Vikings v. Lions:
Lions. This morning I found out that the Lions picked up Reggie Bush at running back. He's a powerful running back, and that's a great pick up for a team that had no running game. Meanwhile, you may remember Calvin Megatron Johnson from a record-breaking season last year at WR. The Lions have a more complete offense -- and the dirtiest defensive player in the league. Even though AP is going to run his ass off today, I doubt the Vikings have enough power to stop the Lions' train.
Raiders v. Colts:
Colts
Chiefs v. Jaguars:
Chiefs. Andy Reid (coach) and Alex Smith (QB) both have massive chips on their shoulders. That bitterness is bound to come out on the field and against the unsuspecting Jags.
Falcons v. Saints:
Saints. As much as I like Tony Gonzalez,* the Falcons have a tendency to choke when it matters, the Saints are at home, and oh-yeah, I'll pick Drew Brees over Matty Ice any day. (No matter how cool Matt's nickname is.)
Titans v. Steelers:
Steelers
Patriots v. Bills:
Patriots
Seahawks v. Panthers:
Panthers. For my upset pick, I'm going with the Panthers. It's Cam Newton in his 3rd year, versus Russell Wilson, who will be facing the sophomore slump.
Dolphins v. Browns:
Dolphins
Cardinals v. Rams:
Cardinals. Frankly, for no other reason than I like Larry Fitzgerald.
Giants v. Cowboys:
Cowboys. Why? Because my resident Giants fan told me last year that the Giants always start slow. A fact that was later confirmed by Michael Strahan on my favorite pre-game show (Fox NFL Sunday).
Eagles v. Washington:
Tough call. Injured QB vs. prone-to-injury QB. Basically, my pick is that whoever has the best line -- the best defensive line -- is going to win. Both these QBs run like hell, but I predict there will be a little tentativeness from both of them. Plus, where Michael Vick had to tryout to keep his starting spot, RG3 has something to prove coming back from an injury. Outside of the quarterbacks, we've got DeShaun Jackson burning up the field by catching footballs thrown a minimum of a zillion yards -- whenever Jackson runs, there's a sonic boom because he breaks the sound barrier getting down the field. But, for Washington, we've got D'Angelo Hall at corner -- a cornerback that no one told that he was a defensive player. He's got his eye on the ball and INTs are part of every game. So who to pick? Hmmm...Washington. If anything, there's gotta be something to home field advantage, right?
Texans v. Chargers:
Texans. Last year, the Texans were the crown jewel of the AFC. They had a great offense, defense, and special teams. They were a total package -- not necessarily great at everything, but dangerously complete. No reason why that can't continue this year.
*Uhhh...because he's FAH-REAK-ING HOT. What? You don't know? Google him. Right now. I'll wait. See??!!?
Packers v. 49ers:
Long. Sigh. One of our hardest, if not the hardest, games this season. Listen, last year, the 49ers had our ticket -- we couldn't defend against the read option, and they wouldn't let Rodgers do what he does -- that is, throw it a mile to one of five receivers. This year? Well. Let's just hope someone pissed Clay Matthews and AJ Hawk off last night, so that all Kaepernick can do is hit the deck. I hope.
Bears v. Bengals:
Bengals. The Bears are in a rebuilding year -- new coach, new theory. They may actually try to play offense this yera. But while they're trying to figure it out, the Bengals will be stomping on them. With any luck, HARD.
Buccaneers v. Jets:
Buccaneers -- Josh Freeman showed some promise last year. And well, goodness only knows what's going on in New York.
Vikings v. Lions:
Lions. This morning I found out that the Lions picked up Reggie Bush at running back. He's a powerful running back, and that's a great pick up for a team that had no running game. Meanwhile, you may remember Calvin Megatron Johnson from a record-breaking season last year at WR. The Lions have a more complete offense -- and the dirtiest defensive player in the league. Even though AP is going to run his ass off today, I doubt the Vikings have enough power to stop the Lions' train.
Raiders v. Colts:
Colts
Chiefs v. Jaguars:
Chiefs. Andy Reid (coach) and Alex Smith (QB) both have massive chips on their shoulders. That bitterness is bound to come out on the field and against the unsuspecting Jags.
Falcons v. Saints:
Saints. As much as I like Tony Gonzalez,* the Falcons have a tendency to choke when it matters, the Saints are at home, and oh-yeah, I'll pick Drew Brees over Matty Ice any day. (No matter how cool Matt's nickname is.)
Titans v. Steelers:
Steelers
Patriots v. Bills:
Patriots
Seahawks v. Panthers:
Panthers. For my upset pick, I'm going with the Panthers. It's Cam Newton in his 3rd year, versus Russell Wilson, who will be facing the sophomore slump.
Dolphins v. Browns:
Dolphins
Cardinals v. Rams:
Cardinals. Frankly, for no other reason than I like Larry Fitzgerald.
Giants v. Cowboys:
Cowboys. Why? Because my resident Giants fan told me last year that the Giants always start slow. A fact that was later confirmed by Michael Strahan on my favorite pre-game show (Fox NFL Sunday).
Eagles v. Washington:
Tough call. Injured QB vs. prone-to-injury QB. Basically, my pick is that whoever has the best line -- the best defensive line -- is going to win. Both these QBs run like hell, but I predict there will be a little tentativeness from both of them. Plus, where Michael Vick had to tryout to keep his starting spot, RG3 has something to prove coming back from an injury. Outside of the quarterbacks, we've got DeShaun Jackson burning up the field by catching footballs thrown a minimum of a zillion yards -- whenever Jackson runs, there's a sonic boom because he breaks the sound barrier getting down the field. But, for Washington, we've got D'Angelo Hall at corner -- a cornerback that no one told that he was a defensive player. He's got his eye on the ball and INTs are part of every game. So who to pick? Hmmm...Washington. If anything, there's gotta be something to home field advantage, right?
Texans v. Chargers:
Texans. Last year, the Texans were the crown jewel of the AFC. They had a great offense, defense, and special teams. They were a total package -- not necessarily great at everything, but dangerously complete. No reason why that can't continue this year.
*Uhhh...because he's FAH-REAK-ING HOT. What? You don't know? Google him. Right now. I'll wait. See??!!?
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Sophomore Slump
According to Wikipedia, the sophomore slump refers to "an instance when the second effort fails to live up to the standards of the first effort." In other words, when your second year kinda sucks as compared to your first year.
This is a common phenomenon in football. Think Vince Young of the Tennessee Titans, Cam Newtown of the Carolina Panthers, and Andy Dalton of the Cincinnati Bengals. Each of these QBs had amazing years their first year. They came out of the draft, roaring onto the field, kicking ass and taking names. Vince Young broke the record for rushing yards by a rookie quarterback. It would later be broken by Cam Newton, who rushed, threw TDs, and led the Panthers to their best record in years. Setting another record, Cam Newton threw for over 400 yards in his first NFL season opener (breaking a record sent by Peyton Manning. And, Andy Dalton led the Bengals to a playoff run his first year. Despite all of their success, the sophomore years for these guys did not go as well. They threw more interceptions, lost more games, and generally had a horrible season.
Another infamous sophomore? Tim Tebow. Tim Tebow was a rookie in 2010, but only played 3 games. His first full year was 2011 when he played for the Denver Broncos. Most would say that Tebow's success was luck. He has always been underestimated (at least, according to Tim Tebow). But, aside from what was happening on the field, most people would recognize Tim Tebow for his off the field actions. A mormon, Tim Tebow was vocal about his faith. An adamant Christian, Tebow would often "celebrate" his TDs by kneeling in prayer in the end zone.
(Found out http://bleacherreport.com/articles/913212-tim-tebow-sparks-awesome-tebowing-craze-you-must-include-in-your-daily-routine). Eventually, "Tebowing" would become a craze just like planking...Finding people taking pictures of themselves kneeling in random places...even if they weren't Broncos fans....
(Hey -- sometimes you just gotta say a prayer that your defense gets an interception. In the case of this photo? They didn't. Sad).
The buzz about last year's rookies is that they are different. Russell Wilson of the Seahawks (of Fail Mary fame); RG3 from Washington; and Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers all led their teams to the playoffs. Kaepernick would drive the 49ers all the way to the Super Bowl (ironically, after taking the job from Alex Smith). As the new season is upon us, these are the 3 to watch. Interestingly enough, the Super Bowl champs often struggle the second year; rarely making it back to the championship game the next year. So the odds may already be stacked against Kaepernick. And, you may remember that RG3 left the final game (the NFC Wild Card game against the Seahawks) with a knee injury. Although cleared to practice during the pre-season, the question remains: how will RG3 be able to cut and run after having knee surgery? Will he be as explosive?
Fortunately, we don't have to wait long for our answer about these rookies...it's almost here! Are you ready for some football?!!
This is a common phenomenon in football. Think Vince Young of the Tennessee Titans, Cam Newtown of the Carolina Panthers, and Andy Dalton of the Cincinnati Bengals. Each of these QBs had amazing years their first year. They came out of the draft, roaring onto the field, kicking ass and taking names. Vince Young broke the record for rushing yards by a rookie quarterback. It would later be broken by Cam Newton, who rushed, threw TDs, and led the Panthers to their best record in years. Setting another record, Cam Newton threw for over 400 yards in his first NFL season opener (breaking a record sent by Peyton Manning. And, Andy Dalton led the Bengals to a playoff run his first year. Despite all of their success, the sophomore years for these guys did not go as well. They threw more interceptions, lost more games, and generally had a horrible season.
Another infamous sophomore? Tim Tebow. Tim Tebow was a rookie in 2010, but only played 3 games. His first full year was 2011 when he played for the Denver Broncos. Most would say that Tebow's success was luck. He has always been underestimated (at least, according to Tim Tebow). But, aside from what was happening on the field, most people would recognize Tim Tebow for his off the field actions. A mormon, Tim Tebow was vocal about his faith. An adamant Christian, Tebow would often "celebrate" his TDs by kneeling in prayer in the end zone.
The buzz about last year's rookies is that they are different. Russell Wilson of the Seahawks (of Fail Mary fame); RG3 from Washington; and Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers all led their teams to the playoffs. Kaepernick would drive the 49ers all the way to the Super Bowl (ironically, after taking the job from Alex Smith). As the new season is upon us, these are the 3 to watch. Interestingly enough, the Super Bowl champs often struggle the second year; rarely making it back to the championship game the next year. So the odds may already be stacked against Kaepernick. And, you may remember that RG3 left the final game (the NFC Wild Card game against the Seahawks) with a knee injury. Although cleared to practice during the pre-season, the question remains: how will RG3 be able to cut and run after having knee surgery? Will he be as explosive?
Fortunately, we don't have to wait long for our answer about these rookies...it's almost here! Are you ready for some football?!!
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