NFL 2018 Week 4 Picks

Hello readers! Another week of the National Football League is upon us! By week's end, there will be a quarter of the season being played, crazy right? Sorry for no Week 3 recap, didn't really feel like making one after all the upsets that took place last week. In this column, I will talk about the upset in sports, specifically in the NFL and will get into talking about the picks. As well as a cool video, that much is given.

There were two games last week that ended in the underdog's favor. The Bills being a 17-point underdog against the Vikings as well as the Lions being a 7-point underdog to the Patriots. Granted if your team is the underdog by a few points by Vegas, it's not necessarily called an "upset." Anything above 3-points can be considered an upset, especially if the result is against the spread.

The history of the NFL has been made by the "upset." Whether its the Jets beating the Colts (a huge favorite by 18 points) in Super Bowl III, or the Giants beating the Patriots (favorite by 12) in Super Bowl XLII. Anytime being an underdog is a huge motivating factor going into a matchup. The whole "No One Believes In Us, So We'll Show How Much of A Somebody We Can Be!" is a huge motivator, a confidence booster.

Some notable upsets in sports history include the 1980 U.S. Men's Hockey team beating the Soviet Union in Lake Placid, Notre Dame beating UCLA in Men's basketball in 1974, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Oakland Athletics in the 1988 World Series, the Detroit Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2004 NBA Finals.

The cool video of the week is a song called "Sunday Morning" by Maroon 5, the act that will headline this year's Super Bowl. Not quite the choice I would've had in mind, but the song is a reminder that they had some great songs when they first started.

Week 4 in the National Football League starts in Los Angeles, California, and ends in Denver, Colorado. FOX will have the single game, and CBS will carry the double-header. There will be 15 games on the slate this week. The Carolina Panthers and the Washington Redskins are on bye week. There will be a Thursday night game, eight early games, four late games, a Sunday night game, and a Monday night game. Here are the picks!

Minnesota (1-1-1) @ LA Rams (3-0) (FOX): TW: Rams, CV: Rams
The Vikings lost to the Bills and the Rams beat the Chargers last week respectively. The week starts off with a good matchup on both sides of the ball for both teams. The last time these two met was last year, a game which the Vikings won by a fair margin. The Vikings looked flat and lost against a Bills team that looked awful so far in the season. The Rams won't be so easy on them as they have a lot of weapons on the offense and defense if the Rams make it a two-score game, the Vikes have a little chance to get back in it.

Buffalo (1-2) @ Green Bay (1-1-1) (CBS): TW: Packers, CV: Packers
The Bills got a win against the Vikings and the Packers lost to the Redskins last week respectively. The Bills looked good, like really good against a far superior team that they would beat in their own house. The Packers should win the game based on Aaron Rodgers' arm but don't be surprised if the Bills win this game, I certainly won't if they do either.

Cincinnati (2-1) @ Atlanta (1-2) (CBS): TW: Bengals, CV: Falcons
Both teams took losses last week as the Bengals lost to the Panthers and the Falcons lost to the Saints. Andy Dalton had a terrible game against the Panthers last week and I feel they'll have a rebound game based on Joe Mixon and the Bengals running game is better than the Falcons I feel. The game could be a shootout, who will make the most stops?

Detroit (1-2) @ Dallas (1-2) (FOX): TW: Cowboys, CV: Lions
The Lions got a win last week against the Patriots and the Cowboys lost to the Seahawks last week. The Cowboys have looked bad offensively so far this season and the loss of Dez Bryant has to be the reason why I feel. The Lions carry a bit of a chip on their shoulder getting an upset win against New England, torching the Patriots defense. The Cowboys defense so far this season is ranked 3rd overall despite having a 1-2 record. I'll take the Cowboys in this game as I feel the home-field advantage and the 'Boys solid defense will keep the Lions at bay.

Houston (0-3) @ Indianapolis (1-2) (CBS): TW: Colts, CV: Texans
Both teams took losses last week as the Colts lost to the Eagles and the Texans lost to the Giants. The Texans have looked more of a disappointment so far this season than a contender in the AFC South. The Colts have looked alright, despite playing well against the Eagles. This game could be a trap game for the Colts who have to host a very hungry Texans team that is desperate to find its first win of the season. I'll take a risk and take the Colts, probably will backfire haha.

Miami (3-0) @ New England (1-2) (CBS): TW: Patriots, CV: Patriots
The Dolphins got a win against the Raiders and the Patriots lost to the Lions last week. The Dolphins have looked pretty good so far this season despite playing teams with a losing record. The Patriots, on the other hand, look a bit rusty and old with an inferior offense and the defense hasn't been functioning properly. It has been a while since the Patriots have lost three in a row (you'd have to go back to 2002 for that factoid, they would go on a 4-game losing streak).

NY Jets (1-2) @ Jacksonville (2-1) (FOX): TW: Jaguars, CV: Jaguars
Both teams got a loss last week as the Jets lost to the Browns and the Jaguars to the Titans. Another not talked about upset was the Jacksonville Jaguars only putting up 6 points against Tennessee. I feel the Jaguars will have a bounce-back game and get back into being the talk of being the top of the AFC class. The Jets look to be a promising team to win but c'mon you lost to the Browns!

Philadelphia (2-1) @ Tennessee (2-1) (FOX): TW: Eagles, CV: Eagles
Both teams got a win last week as the Eagles beat the Colts and the Titans beat the Jaguars. The Eagles looked good, not great against the Colts last week but they were without a few pieces in the game that should come back for this game. The Titans only put up nine points against the Jaguars and will need to put up more against an Eagles team who won a Super Bowl last season.

Tampa Bay (2-1) @ Chicago (2-1) (FOX): TW: Bears, CV: Buccaneers
The Buccaneers got a loss last week against the Steelers and the Bears got a win against the Cardinals. The Bears look to keep up in the NFC North as the top dog or bear in this case. The Buccaneers have a tough task going into Soldier Field to play against a tough defense headlined by Khalil Mack. If Ryan Fitzpatrick outduels Mitchell Trubisky then I'd say the Buccaneers can win this game.

Cleveland (1-1-1) @ Oakland (0-3) (FOX): TW: Browns, CV: Raiders
The Browns got a win (finally) against the Jets on Thursday night and the Raiders lost to the Dolphins. The late games get started with a Browns team that won its first game in almost two years and a Raiders team that is desperate to get a win. This game could very well be a game where the Raiders get their first win (yeah that does sound weird saying that). I'm still upset that the Raiders haven't played up to expectations so far this season, sort of a revenge pick.

Seattle (1-2) @ Arizona (0-3) (FOX): TW: Seahawks, CV: Cardinals
The Seahawks beat the Cowboys and the Cardinals lost to the Bears last week. The game used to be a marquee matchup for the NFL for quite a while and now its just a meh game. A primetime matchup. Both teams will probably be looking at a high draft pick come next April but I feel the Seahawks will get a win because of their offense is still a bit better and defense (despite being a shadow of their old selves) can still hold an opponent to fear.

New Orleans (2-1) @ NY Giants (1-2) (CBS): TW: Saints, CV: Saints
Both teams got a win last week as the Saints beat the Falcons and the Giants beat the Texans. The game is a classic NFL on CBS matchup, CBS having an all-NFC matchup. The game could be a shootout, with the Saints being not quite the team that they were defensively last season, they still have Drew Brees at quarterback and their offense is still quite good. The Giants are much of the same as well. The game could very well end up being in their favor as they do have quite an asset in running back in Saquon Barkley. I'll take the Saints in a safe bet.

San Francisco (1-2) @ LA Chargers (1-2) (CBS): TW: Chargers, CV: Chargers
Both teams took losses last week as the 49ers lost to the Chiefs and the Chargers lost to the Rams. The game could've been a bit more favorable to the 49ers but the loss of Jimmy Garapallo would spell certain doom for the 49ers. As for the Chargers, they look to get back to .500 ball as they have stability in a quarterback. Probably a lost season for the 49ers, sorry San Fran.

Baltimore (2-1) @ Pittsburgh (1-1-1) (NBC): TW: Ravens, CV: Steelers
Both teams got wins last week as the Ravens beat the Broncos and the Steelers beat the Buccaneers on Monday night. A rivalry in the AFC North is renewed as the Steelers host the Ravens. The Steelers are still a hot mess with the distractions of Antonio Brown and Le'veon Bell. The Ravens seem to be a safer pick in this game as they do have some stability in the offensive game and defensively a bit better than the Steelers I feel. I'll take the Ravens.

Kansas City (3-0) @ Denver (2-1) (ESPN): TW: Chiefs, CV: Chiefs
The Chiefs got a win last week against the 49ers and the Broncos lost to the Ravens. The Patrick Mahomes II train will probably continue to roll in this game but it could very well be a trap game for the Chiefs against a Broncos defense that is looking to lick its chops at a new quarterback. For the Broncos this game is probably a must win since it is in the division and I'd take Case Keenum in the game but Patrick Mahomes just looks way too good to be true.

Local TV Schedule (courtesy of 506sports.com, subject to change):

FOX Single:
Philadelphia @ Tennessee
Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston

CBS Early:
Buffalo @ Green Bay
Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts

CBS Late:
New Orleans @ New York Giants
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

For more information on which game is being played in your area check out: NFL Maps: Week 4

2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Week 3: 8-8Overall: 24-22-2

Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Week 3: 5-11
Overall: 22-24-2

See you guys possibly on Monday, if not Wednesday, have a good weekend and enjoy the games!
-Tom

NFL 2018 Week 3 Picks

Hello readers! The time has come again to do another picks column. The 3rd week of the National Football League is fast approaching us! In this column, I will do picks, as well as my take on the roughing the passer rule implemented this season and the sudden surprise of Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Buccaneers and Patrick Mahomes II of the Chiefs. Let's get to work.

An early change... is needed.

Last season, during a Green Bay-Minnesota game, Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr would cause a hit on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, ultimately Rodgers would have to leave the game with a broken collarbone. Before the 2018 regular season would begin a new rule would be implemented to attempt to keep the quarterback intact, however, this new rule has its controversy.

The "Body Weight Rule," is that if a defensive player drives a quarterback to the ground with most or all of his body weight, then it is a 15-yard penalty. Roughing the passer has been called 21 times so far this season. Such notable fouls were on Myles Garrett of the Browns and Clay Matthews of the Packers. What would normally be a sack or a quarterback hit in most seasons, it is called "Roughing The Passer" this season. It should be noted that during last week's Vikings-Packers game both sides were called for the same penalty. Certainly, something has to change.

Rule changes during the season and the NFL don't necessarily go together. It is the ineptitude of the NFL to decide on whether or not to keep a rule during the regular season. One such league, the National Hockey League, is noted to change its rules during the regular season. In other words, they get stuff done. One of the reasons why the NFL lost viewers over the last few seasons (not because of players kneeling) is the fact that the rules aren't just and fans feel that the game is turning more into a game of flag football (which still isn't, but this rule makes it feel like it though). Whether or not the league will listen to its fans this is will be true, the rule will probably stay at least until the end of the season. If they do change the rule before then, I'd be shocked.

The Veteran and the Young Gun

Two of the bigger stories so far this season are Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Buccaneers and Patrick Mahomes II of the Chiefs. Fitzpatrick, a 13-year veteran out of Harvard, has played for the Rams, Bengals, Bills, Titans, Texans, Jets, and Buccaneers. Quite a lot of teams. Definitely would make Josh McCown blush a bit with the number of teams he played for.

The Buccaneers and Fitzpatrick have been a pleasant surprise this season because of Fitzpatrick's arm and the receiving corp that the quarterback has. Such weapons like Mike Evans, Desean Jackson, and O.J. Howard has proven to be one of the more devastating air attacks in the NFL. It will have to be seen whether or not this hot streak that the Buccaneers have started can continue as the season wears on but it has to be nice to see such buzz for a Harvard man.

Patrick Mahomes II of the Kansas City Chiefs was one of the more unproven quarterbacks in the NFL before the season began. The 2nd year man out of Texas Tech, became the starter to Andy Reid's Chiefs this season while being a backup to Alex Smith last season. Having thrown four touchdown passes against the Chargers in week 1 and six against the Steelers last week, Mahomes has proven to be quite the quarterback that could be a star in the league for years to come. I was probably one of the critics of Mahomes, saying that he was an unknown, an unproven quarterback to be in the NFL, and I was wrong (as usual). As such, if Mahomes can continue his success this season, the Chiefs look to be a contender in the AFC with the Patriots and the Jaguars.

Cool video of the week

This week's cool video of the week is a sort of a throwback to a simpler time of one's life. As I was looking through Twitter, I happen to see the hashtag #GreatestThingsOfThe90s, and I immediately thought of this week's video. The video is of the NFL on NBC theme, back when NBC had the AFC package, from the 1995 season to their last season carrying the AFC package in 1997. I could write a column discussing how this theme is way better than what NBC has right now and my general feeling of it. Anyway, enjoy:

Week 3 of the regular season consists of 16 games, no teams on a bye week. The week gets started in Cleveland, Ohio and ends at Tampa, Florida. There will be a Thursday night game, 10 early games, three late games, a Sunday night game, and a Monday night game. CBS will have the single game and FOX will have the doubleheader. Hopefully no hurricanes either. Uff da! Let's get to the picks!

NOTE: TW is me, CV is my roommate. Will also include the network the game will be on.

NY Jets (1-1) @ Cleveland (0-1-1) (NFL Network): TW: Browns, CV:
Both teams took losses last week as the Jets lost to the Dolphins and the Browns lost to the Saints. The Browns have not won a game since 2016, let alone win a game on a Sunday. The Browns winless streak could possibly end on Thursday as they host the Jets to kick off Week 3. If it wasn't for the play of Browns kickers, they could easily be 2-0 on the season. I'd go with the Jets but I want to see the Browns win an ugly game, a win is a win. Give the people of Cleveland something to cheer about since Lebron James left the Cavaliers.

Buffalo (0-2) @ Minnesota (1-0-1) (CBS): TW: Vikings, CV:
The Vikings took a tie against the Packers last week and the Bills lost to the Chargers last week. It's somewhat of a no-brainer. The Bills have very little stability in the quarterback position and their offense is very inept. Both things will spell doom to them. The Vikings have stability at both offense and defense. I like the Vikes in this game. Sorry, Buffalo.

Cincinnati (2-0) @ Carolina (1-1) (CBS): TW: Panthers, CV:
The Bengals got a win against the Ravens on Thursday night last week and the Panthers lost to the Falcons last week. Two very good teams so far this season. Both offenses have good passing attacks and ground games that are very even. I'll take the Panthers because they're at home and they need to get a win to keep up with the NFC South. The Bengals could very well win the game too on solid defense.

Denver (2-0) @ Baltimore (1-1) (CBS): TW: Ravens, CV:
Denver got a win last week against the Raiders and the Ravens lost to the Bengals on Thursday night. The Broncos haven't looked too particularly great so far this season. a 3-point win against the Seahawks and a 1-point win against the Raiders last week are the two wins for the Broncos this season. The Ravens had a 44-point win against the Bills while having an 11-point loss against the Bengals. Kind of a tough choice but I will take the Ravens based on home-field advantage and the offensive play of the Broncos has been sporadic at times.

Green Bay (1-0-1) @ Washington (1-1) (FOX): TW: Packers, CV:
The Packers took a tie against the Vikings and the Redskins lost to the Colts last week. The game could be a close one but the Packers offense should have enough weapons to give the Redskins defense a field day. As long as Aaron Rodgers and the running game has a decent game then Packers will win the day. As long as the refs let the players play, that is.

Indianapolis (1-1) @ Philadelphia (1-1) (FOX): TW: Eagles, CV:
The Colts got a win against the Redskins and the Eagles lost to the Buccaneers last week. The Eagles offense will get a boost with Carson Wentz returning at quarterback for the first time since December 2017 in a game against the Rams. The Colts could make it a game but I just think the Eagles have defensive weapons that will rock Andrew Luck all day.

New Orleans (1-1) @ Atlanta (1-1) (FOX): TW: Falcons, CV:
Both teams got wins last week as the Saints beat the Browns and the Falcons beat the Panthers. A classic NFC south showdown this week. Both teams haven't looked particularly great so far this season, the Saints offense has been stagnant and the Falcons offense looked a bit off. This game could go off to be a shootout if this is the case. I'll take the Falcons as I feel that they want to get off to get a good start and they're at home. Saints could very well beat them, who knows.

NY Giants (0-2) @ Houston (0-2) (FOX): TW: Texans, CV:
Both teams got losses last week as the Giants lost to the Cowboys and the Texans lost to the Titans. The Giants have a pretty versatile passing defense in the NFL, however, they're terrible on defending against the run. The Texans have quite a good rushing offense with Lamar Miller and Deshaun Watson. I'll take Houston in this one, could be a good game, offensively.

Oakland (0-2) @ Miami (2-0) (CBS): TW: Raiders, CV:
The Raiders lost last week to the Broncos and the Dolphins beat the Jets. The game is a classic AFC showdown. You remember the classic games the two teams had in the 1970's. The season has been somewhat of a disappointment for Gruden and company and I feel that this game is a make or break situation for the Raiders. I want to see them win.

San Francisco (1-1) @ Kansas City (2-0) (FOX): TW: Chiefs, CV:
Both teams got wins last week as the 49ers beat the Lions and the Chiefs beat the Steelers. The game will have two golden boys at quarterback with Jimmy Garoppolo of the 49ers and Patrick Mahomes II of the Chiefs. It will depend on which defense can stop the opposing team's offense. I feel that will come down to the Chiefs keeping up with the momentum on passing offense.

Tennessee (1-1) @ Jacksonville (2-0) (CBS): TW: Jaguars, CV:
Both teams got wins last week as the Titans beat the Texans and the Jaguars beat the Patriots. The Jaguars look to be quite the legit team this season and beating the Patriots had to be quite the confidence booster. The Titans have been somewhat of a lackluster team so far with no Marcus Mariota.

LA Chargers (1-1) @ LA Rams (2-0) (CBS): TW: Rams, CV:
Both teams got a win last week as the Chargers beat the Bills and the Rams beat the Cardinals. The Battle For LA. The Rams look to be the team to beat and it seems that taking on a Chargers team won't change that much. I feel good taking the Rams in this one as the Rams have a lot of weapons on offense and defense.

Chicago (1-1) @ Arizona (0-2) (FOX): TW: Bears, CV:
The Bears got a win against the Seahawks and the Cardinals lost to the Rams last week. It could be possible to see Josh Rosen of the Cardinals in this game but that's the least of the Cardinals problems at the moment. For the Bears, Khalil Mack is a huge asset on the defense. Defense is a huge part of the game and the Bears have a great tradition on defense. I'll take the Bears.

Dallas (1-1) @ Seattle (0-2) (FOX): TW: Cowboys, CV:
The Cowboys beat the Giants and the Seahawks lost to the Bears last week respectively. The late game of the week is a rematch of a late-season game against the Seahawks and the Cowboys. The Cowboys played alright to good last week with the arm of Dak Prescott and a good game for the wide receivers.

New England (1-1) @ Detroit (0-2) (NBC): TW: Patriots, CV:
Both teams took losses last week as the Patriots lost to the Jaguars and the Lions lost to the 49ers. The Sunday night game features Tom Brady against the Detroit Lions. The Patriots should win this game since Bill Belichek has a good record against his former assistants/coaches and that the Patriots are looking to get back on the winning side of things with a win. More offensive weapons than the Lions.

Pittsburgh (0-1-1) @ Tampa Bay (2-0) (ESPN): TW: Steelers, CV:
The Steelers lost to the Chiefs and the Buccaneers beat the Eagles last week respectively. The marquee game of the week (which is odd for a Monday night game) is the Steelers and the surprise Buccaneers. If there was a game where the football gods decide to take Ryan Fitzpatrick down a notch, it would be this one. The Steelers need a win and will try to desperately win this one. They need to be focused. If they lose this one, I don't know, I might yell at Yinzer Nation and not pick the Steelers for the rest of the season.

Local TV Schedule (courtesy of 506sports.com, subject to change):

CBS Single:
Buffalo @ Minnesota
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

FOX Early:
Indianapolis @ Philadelphia
Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston

FOX Late:
Chicago @ Arizona
Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth

For more info on what game is being played in your area, check out: NFL Maps, Week 3, 2018

Record:

2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Overall: 16-11-2

Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Overall: 17-13-2

See you guys on Monday and have a good weekend!
-Tom

NFL 2018 Week 2 Recap

Hello readers! The dust has finally settled on another intense, exciting week in the National Football League. The games held tons of drama, on the field, off the field, and even in the locker room. There were blowouts, tight contests, and once again for a consecutive week... A TIE! In this column, I'll go through my thoughts on what the NFL could do to change itself from having fewer ties, why ties aren't necessarily a bad thing and a recap of all the games.

A tie or draw in professional sports is a rare occurrence in North American sports. A tie means neither team scored enough points to give themselves a victory. It also means that neither team is good enough to play. In many 1000's of scenarios, ties are one of the least common occurrences in the NFL. So why do we already in post-Week 2 do we have already two games that ended in a tie? Numerous factors include, in my opinion:

• The 10-minute overtime period is very short when you consider that teams take 3-4 minutes each of drive time to get in a position to score. By the time that its over at least each team would've had the ball once during that period.
• The amount of pressure that the team that receives the first possession of overtime is staggering. The current overtime rule is that if the opening possession results in various scenarios: A touchdown wins the game for the team, a field goal doesn't. Let's just say that the team that possessed the ball first tried for a field goal but miss it. The team that gets the ball for the next possession ultimately can win the game on a field goal or touchdown. 
• It's just not that exciting for a team to drive down the field after playing a game for nearly three hours. It has to be tiring. The eye test for the fans watching it on TV can see how exhausted they are. 

There's a couple of ideas that I suggest that the NFL could try. Some of these are a little farfetched but the current system needs to change. Don't get me wrong, the whole "Drive down the field to kick a field goal to win the game" rules were stupid and should never go back to that... EVER!

• A shootout involving kickers where they have to make the field goal from 40, 45, 50, 55+, the team that gets the most field goals at the end of the shootout wins the game. If the NFL prefers the "player safety" side of things (which is very farfetched as well) then this could be very good. 
• Both teams have 3-4 turns to get a touchdown from the 25 or 30-yard line. Both teams could do hail mary's, draw plays, or trick plays. The most points that each team has at the end of it, wins the game. No field goals. You have four chances to score it. Probably my favorite out of the two ideas, fans would be for it too. 

I know what you're saying "Tom! Why would ties be good when you just made an argument against them?" Understandably, I get that. The beautiful thing about ties are just that, they're terrible. As long as the score doesn't end up as a 0-0 tie then you definitely put on a good effort for yourself, the fans, and your bosses. Despite all the changes to keep American Football a safer game for everyone to play, it is still pretty violent. If you want to see your favorite players still playing after the game is over, then ties are actually good. It keeps coaches from making terrible decisions, players making mistakes, and bosses from firing coaches (though I don't know about the last one, they could still be fired after a tie... who knows). Yes, you didn't win the game, but you didn't lose it either. A loss hurts more and it has more implications on the postseason picture than what a tie would. 

Whether you like ties or not, one thing is for certain. The current NFL rules are final, there'll always be an overtime. Gone are the days where you play for 60 minutes and not a minute more. Whatever the league decides to change its overtime rules, one would hope that it would have both in the players and the fans mindset. 

Week 2 of the NFL regular season featured: the Thursday night debut of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, a rivalry renewed in Green Bay, and a shootout in Pittsburgh. The season is 1/8th finished already. Let's get to the recap! Reminder, TW is me, CV is Cardinal Viking, my roommate. 

Baltimore 23, Cincinnati 34: TW: Ravens, CV: Bengals. 

The Bengals have scored 34 points a game and have allowed 23 points a game. How do I know this? This game and last week's game against the Colts were both the same score. The biggest factor in the game was Joe Flacco's two interceptions in the game and that he put up 376 passing yards while his running game was subpar. The highest rushing yards were from Alex Collins who rushed for 35 yards on 9 carries. Still, it was weird to see Joe Buck and Troy Aikman calling an AFC matchup, much to the same whenever CBS calls an NFC matchup like they used to back before FOX took over in 1994. 

TW: 0-1, CV: 1-0

Carolina 24, Atlanta 31: TW: Panthers, CV: Panthers.

The game was a close one. With the Panthers on the road and Hurricane Florence on their mind, the Panthers still put up quite a fight. Both teams put up quite the offensive numbers with Tevin Coleman of the Falcons rushing for 107 yards and Christian McCaffrey of the Panthers gaining 139 (102 receiving, 37 rushing) all-purpose yards. Sadly one of these teams had to win and the other had to lose. 

TW: 0-2, CV: 1-1

Cleveland 18, New Orleans 21: TW: Saints, CV: Saints.

The game should've been a blowout by quite a margin. I think it speaks more to the Saints than it does to the Browns. Tyrod Taylor had a solid game for the Browns (despite throwing one interception in the game), Drew Brees for the Saints as well. If the Browns had a staple at kicker they'd probably won the game. Instead, they have yet to break their winless streak at 19 games. 

TW: 1-2, CV: 2-1

Houston 17, Tennessee 20: TW: Texans, CV: Texans.

Another close one. The sophomore slump for Deshaun Watson continues as the Texans go 0-2 to start the season. The Titans had to start Blaine Gabbert in relief to the injured Marcus Mariota and put up good numbers against a volatile Texans defense. Kevin Byard, the Titans defensive back also threw a touchdown in the game for 66 yards. 

TW: 1-3, CV: 2-2

Indianapolis 21, Washington 9: TW: Redskins, CV: Colts. 

The Redskins looked to be quite the formidable team last week against the Cardinals. This week was kind of a complete 360. The rushing game which was the bread and butter for the Redskins last week looked inept to get much of a rhythm. For the Colts to walk away with two touchdowns (while throwing 2 interceptions) from Andrew Luck, they have to be looking good. For me, looking like a fool. 

TW: 1-4, CV: 3-2

Kansas City 42, Pittsburgh 37: TW: Steelers, CV: Chiefs.

The game lived up to its billing, a shootout. Patrick Mahomes II threw for 4 touchdowns last week against the Chargers, he would throw 6 touchdowns this week. James Conner of the Steelers put up only 17 rushing yards for the Black and Gold, not quite the numbers he had last week. Ben Roethlisberger would throw for 60 times in the game, not quite the formula you're used to seeing in the Steelers. Chiefs win a game at Pittsburgh for the first time since 1986. 

TW: 1-5, CV: 4-2

Los Angeles Chargers 31, Buffalo 20: TW: Chargers, CV: Chargers. 

The Chargers had a rebound game in Buffalo. Philip Rivers of the Chargers threw for 256 yards with three touchdowns. The bigger story in this one would be the sudden retirement of Vontae Davis of the Bills. Davis would retire at halftime of the game. A rarity in the NFL these days. Not much to say, other than that Buffalo is terrible. 

TW: 2-5, CV: 5-2

Miami 20, New York Jets 12: TW: Jets, CV: Jets

The NFL can be a cruel thing, one week it can give you joy, then the next week it gives you horror. The same can be said to Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold. Two interceptions from Darnold would spell doom for the Jets in this one when the Dolphins would capitalize on 14 points off of turnovers. Still, you have to give Sam Darnold a bit of a benefit of the doubt. The Dolphins are a surprise 2-0 coming out of the stretch. 

TW: 2-6, CV: 5-3

Minnesota 29, Green Bay 29: TW: Packers, CV: Vikings.
The game for Green Bay was very productive on the offensive front during the first three-quarters of the game. Then all of a sudden forget how to chew clock and play conservative in the 4th. Quite honestly if you blow a 23-14 lead with seven minutes left to go, you don't deserve to win. I would've been happy with a loss or a tie. Very back and forth game. Ultimately both teams have a 1-0-1 record. Me and Cardinal Viking both get ties once again.

TW: 2-6-1, CV: 5-3-1

Philadelphia 21, Tampa Bay 27: TW: Eagles, CV: Buccaneers.
A very close game for both teams. Ryan Fitzpatrick having a Cinderella season with a four-touchdown performance for a consecutive week. The Eagles just looked rusty and played poor defense to keep Desean Jackson out of the end zone. Fitzpatrick's postgame conference outfit though. Conor McGregor would be proud.

TW: 2-7-1, CV: 6-3-1

Arizona 0, Los Angeles Rams 34: TW: Rams, CV: Rams
The Rams pretty much off went through the roof in this game. All aspects of the game were dominated by the Rams. Jared Goff had a good game, Todd Gurley and Malcolm Brown had quite a day on rushing. Brandin Cooks had quite the game gaining 159 receiving yards on seven catches. The Rams are off to their best start since 2001, back when they were the St. Louis Rams. For Arizona, it's another bad loss and there's no light at the end of the tunnel so far for them so far this early in the season.

TW: 3-7-1, CV: 7-3-1

Detroit 27, San Francisco 30: TW: 49ers, CV: 49ers
The biggest takeaway from the game was Marcus Breida of the 49ers having a day on the ground with 138 rushing yards on 11 carries. Both teams played it close to the gullet but ultimately it would be the 49ers that would win to avoid a 0-2 hole. Unfortunately for Detroit, its another 0-2 start to a franchise that is all too familiar with the term "bad starts."

TW: 4-7-1, CV: 8-3-1

New England 20, Jacksonville 31: TW: Patriots, CV: Patriots.
The rematch of the AFC championship game somewhat lived up to its billing. Unfortunately for Brady and company, they couldn't quite handle the 90+ degree (Fahrenheit) heat in Florida. The Jaguars had a game plan ready for the Pats and unfortunately, they just didn't have it in them. Could be a passing of the torch, who knows.

TW: 4-8-1, CV: 8-4-1

Oakland 19, Denver 20: TW: Broncos, CV: Raiders.
A story of two halves for both teams. The Raiders dominated the 1st half, the Broncos the 2nd. The 2nd half collapse of the Raiders was more or less about you giving an opportunity to give the Broncos a way to get back into the game. You have to remember that Denver was down 19-10 by the time the 4th quarter started. For Jon Gruden and company its a start they would've rather not have.

TW: 5-8-1, CV: 8-5-1

NY Giants 13, Dallas 20: TW: Giants, CV: Cowboys.
It was a rough day to be a Giants fan in this game. Eli Manning of the Giants was hammered by quarterback hits and sacks. It was a solid win for the Cowboys who got a lot of help from Wide Receiver Tavon Austin who set the tone very early in the game for the Cowboys. Ezekiel Elliot had a solid 78 yards rushing. Not a promising start for Big Blue.

TW: 5-9-1, CV: 9-5-1

Seattle 17, Chicago 24: TW: Bears, CV: Seahawks.
The week wrapped up with a Monday night showdown in Chicago. Both starting quarterbacks threw three combined interceptions in the game. I feel it proves that the Bears are a worthy team to fear. They have a solid defense fronted by Danny Trevathan and Khalil Mack and good offensive talent with Mitch Trubisky and a formidable running game and receiving corp. The Seahawks look like a shell of what they once were, much like the Bears now.

TW: 6-9-1, CV: 9-6-1

Record:

2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Overall: 16-11-2

Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Overall: 17-13-2

See you guys on Wednesday/Thursday!
-Tom

NFL 2018 Week 2 Picks

Hello readers! The first week of the National Football League passed us by like a whirlwind. Full of drama, controversy, and an overall good feeling that football is back! I know I mentioned in the recap post that I would write a picks post on Wednesday, and I apologize.

In this post, I will be talking about the upcoming games for week 2 in the NFL regular season. I will also attempt to include my pick for the game as well as Cardinal Viking, my roommate, pick for that game as well. I will also include the record of the teams as well.

When it comes to Hurricanes and the NFL, they are no two strangers to one another. One example would be Hurricane Katrina and the New Orleans Saints. Or last year's Hurricane Irma and the Florida teams that were affected by the hurricane. Not also to mention Hurricane Harvey and the Houston Texans. As Hurricane Florence inches closer and closer to making landfall in North Carolina, my humblest thoughts are to those who are braving the storm and helping those people once the storm passes. Certainly, a few games could be affected by the storm but so far (as of 10:51 am CDT) no games have been moved or canceled.

For this week's cool video of the week, I felt something comforting would be nice to hear. Something that can comfort the people who are in the path of Hurricane Florence. The song is called "Cavatina" by John Williams (no not the composer John Williams). Made famous on "The Deer Hunter" soundtrack it offers itself as a theme to the movie. Sad and peaceful at the same time:

Week 2 of the NFL regular season kicks off in Cincinnati, Ohio and ends in Chicago, Illinois. There is a Thursday Night Football game, eight early games, four late games, a Sunday Night Football game, and a Monday Night Football game. CBS will have the doubleheader and FOX has the single game. There will be no teams on a bye week. Let's go to the picks!

Baltimore (1-0) @ Cincinnati (1-0): TW: Ravens, CV: Bengals. Both teams picked up wins last week as the Bengals beat the Colts and the Ravens beat the Bills. The game will be on NFL Network. The game will be a rematch of the 2017 Week 17 game where the Bengals handed the Ravens a loss that took them out of the playoff contention. Somewhat of a revenge game for the Ravens. I feel the game will come down to whichever defense can provide the most stops as both teams have good offensive attacks. Ultimately I like the Ravens in the matchup as I like the Ravens defense a bit more than the Bengals. Should be a good one.

Carolina (1-0) @ Atlanta (0-1): TW: Panthers, CV: Panthers. The Panthers last week got a win against the Cowboys and the Falcons lost to the Eagles on opening night. The Panthers did enough to get a win against the Cowboys which didn't have a lot of offensive weapons. For the Panthers, the loss of Greg Olson for another season could be a factor in the game. Olson who broke his foot last season reaggravated the same injury last week. If the Panthers defense can hold down Julio Jones and company I feel they can win.

Cleveland (0-0-1) @ New Orleans (0-1): TW: Saints, CV: Saints. The Browns would get a tie against the Steelers and the Saints lost to the Buccaneers last week respectively. The Browns are off to their best start since 2004 and almost won their game against Pittsburgh. The Saints got embarrassed last week against Tampa. I feel the Saints will have a bounce-back game as their division will be tough again this season. With Drew Brees and the Saints rushing attack, I feel safe. It won't be a shootout. I hope. :-|

Houston (0-1) @ Tennessee (0-1): TW: Texans, CV: Texans. Both teams took losses last week as the Texans lost to the Patriots and the Titans lost to the Dolphins. The game will be a matchup between Marcus Mariota and Deshaun Watson. If Watson wasn't injured last season, Houston would've been in the playoffs as a possible wild card or division winner. I feel the Texans have more offensive weapons than what the Titans have and I generally like the Texans in this matchup based off of quarterback play.

Indianapolis (0-1) @ Washington (1-0): TW: Redskins, CV: Colts. The Colts took a loss last week against the Bengals and the Redskins got a win against the Cardinals. It would seem that the Redskins got their answer at quarterback in Alex Smith who had a good game as well as Adrian Peterson on the ground. The Colts just are a mess that is built around Andrew Luck who will probably have to throw 40+ times again. Eventually, Luck's arm will probably fall off. I feel good about the team in Washington. HTTR.

Kansas City (1-0) @ Pittsburgh (0-0-1): TW: Steelers, CV: Chiefs. The Chiefs got a win against the Chargers and the Steelers took a tie with the Browns last week respectively. This game will be very entertaining to watch. Two offenses with a lot of attacks from the air and ground. The Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes II and he proved himself to be a worthy quarterback in the NFL. I'm picking the Steelers based off of the fact that they had a bad game last week and they'll have a rebound game. Still no Le'veon Bell for the Steelers.

LA Chargers (0-1) @ Buffalo (0-1): TW: Chargers, CV: Chargers. Both teams took losses last week as the Chargers lost to the Chiefs and the Bills lost to the Ravens. With the loss of Tyrod Taylor in the offseason for the Bills, they struggled to find a rhythm in the quarterback position. I like the Chargers in the matchup based on the fact they have a better defense and Philip Rivers and Keenan Allen are a staple on the air attack.

Miami (1-0) @ NY Jets (1-0): TW: Jets, CV: Jets. Both teams picked up wins last week as the Dolphins beat the Titans and the Jets beat the Lions on Monday night. The Jets played very well on the arm of Sam Darnold and good defense played a part in their win against Detroit. The Dolphins could prove to be a worthy underdog in this matchup but I'll go with the Golden Boy in Sam Darnold.

Minnesota (1-0) @ Green Bay (1-0): TW: Packers, CV: Vikings. Both teams got wins last week as the Vikings beat the 49ers and the Packers beat the Bears. The bigger question will be whether or not Aaron Rodgers will play in this game. The Packers quarterback took a shot to the leg on a Khalil Mack pile up but would return to last week's game. Sort of Willis Reedesque. BAH! I won't pick the Vikings. Rodgers or not, I'll take the L if it comes to that.

Philadelphia (1-0) @ Tampa Bay (1-0): TW: Eagles, CV: Buccaneers. Both teams got wins last week as the Eagles beat the Falcons on opening night and the Bucs beat the Saints. Personally, I like the Eagles based off of their defense that can hold down the fort while the Eagles offense does what it has to do. Air or ground attack I like the Eagles as they are the defending champs. Buccaneers could provide a fight for them but they'll pull it off.

Arizona (0-1) @ LA Rams (1-0): TW: Rams, CV: Rams. The Cardinals lost last week against the Redskins and the Rams beat the Raiders on Monday night. The Rams looked like a great team last week with good offense and defense. Even my roommate is going with the opposing team, that's how he feels about this game. I feel the Rams will win on good balanced offensive attack and solid defense to keep Larry Fitzgerald from getting far into the end zone.

Detroit (0-1) @ San Francisco (0-1): TW: 49ers, CV: 49ers. Both teams picked up losses as the Lions lost to the Jets and the 49ers lost to the Vikings. If last week was anything to the 49ers, it was that Jimmy Garapollo was brought back down to earth, vulnerable. Some of his throws were really awful throwing into double or triple coverage. I'm taking the Niners in that they'll figure themselves out. The Lions could get a win, I have been wrong before about Matthew Stafford.

Oakland (0-1) @ Denver (1-0): TW Broncos, CV: Raiders. The Raiders lost to the Rams on Monday night and the Broncos got a win against the Seahawks. The Raiders had an embarrassing game against the Rams and Jon Gruden will need to get a win in the Mile High City to prove that last week was a fluke. I like the Broncos defense keeping the Raiders offensive attack from getting far and Case Keenum will have a good game again.

New England (1-0) @ Jacksonville (1-0): TW: Patriots, CV: Patriots. Both teams picked up wins last week as the Patriots beat the Texans and the Jags beat the Giants. The marquee matchup of the week is the Patriots and Jags meeting up in a rematch of last year's AFC Championship game. The Jaguars defense kept the Patriots from mounting a lot of points in that game but Tom Brady would end up doing Brady things and let a comeback to beat the Jaguars at Foxboro. This game will be different since it is at home but I still like the Patriots in this one. I don't know why.

NY Giants (0-1) @ Dallas (0-1): TW: Giants, CV: Cowboys. Both teams got losses last week as the Giants lost to the Jaguars and the Cowboys lost to the Panthers. I like the Giants in this game based on the fact that they have more weapons on the ground and air than the Cowboys do. The loss of Jason Witten and Dez Bryant in the offseason will hurt them for a while. Dallas has Ezekiel Elliot but I couldn't name one other stellar Cowboys player that made an impact for them. Okay, maybe Cole Beasley.

Seattle (0-1) @ Chicago (0-1): TW: Bears, CV: Seahawks. Both teams would end up in the loss column last week as the Seahawks lost to the Broncos and the Bears lost to the Packers. The week wraps up in the Windy City as the Seahawks take on the Bears. The matchup is somewhat decent. The Bears had a 20-0 lead at one point last week and that was off of the fact that the bears had solid defense and good quality offensive play. I'll go on a whim and take the Monsters of the Midway.

Local TV Schedule (courtesy of 506sports.com, subject to change):

FOX Single:
Minnesota @ Green Bay
Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis

CBS Early:
Kansas City @ Pittsburgh
Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts

CBS Late:
Oakland @ Denver
Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Bruce Arians

For more information on which game is shown in your area, go to 506 Sports - NFL Maps: Week 2

Record:

2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1

Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1

I'll see you guys on Monday for the recap, enjoy the games and stay safe if you're in the path of Hurricane Florence!

-Tom

EDIT #1: Baltimore @ Cincinnati, not Cincinnati @ Baltimore. Changed the sentence "Week begins at Baltimore, Maryland" to "Week begins at Cincinnati, Ohio"

NFL 2018 Week 1 Recap

Hello readers! You were probably not expecting a post on a Monday evening/Tuesday morning. This is essentially a recap column of the week's action. I used to do these kind of posts back when I started doing picks in 2012-2014 ish, then stopped because I kind of got bored with it. With these kind of posts you'll get what I picked, what Cardinal Viking posted, and my reaction to the game(s) that happened this week.

The week that was Week 1 in the National Football League was an interesting one full of blowouts, close games, and somehow or another a tie! I said it... A TIE! Aaron Rodgers coming back from injury to lead the Packers to victory, the Browns not losing a game (but not winning a game either), and 88 combined points in a game. Let's go to the recap!

NOTE: I will use the abbreviation TW for me, and CV for Cardinal Viking in terms of who we picked and our record for the week so far.

Atlanta 12, Philadelphia 18: (TW: Eagles; CV: Falcons)

In the rematch game of the NFC Divisional playoff game this past January, this game was pretty much a continuation of that game. Slower paced game with tough defense with not a lot of offense. The kickoff time was pushed due to thunderstorms in the area so that could've played a factor. The biggest factor was Atlanta's inability to score in the redzone. Julio Jones had quite the game with 169 yards receiving with 10 catches. Perhaps I could be wrong about the Eagles but they dug in deep and stood though against a team that has quite the weapons on offense.

TW: 1-0, CV: 0-1

Buffalo 3, Baltimore 47: (TW: Ravens; CV: Bills)

Okay, so I knew the Bills would be bad this season, and the Ravens gave it to them. Nathan Peterman and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills combined for 11-33 for 100 passing yards and 2 interceptions (the two were from Peterman). For the Ravens, it was a return to the old Joe Flacco with 236 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. Not much else to say about this one, maybe the Bills will knock some sense into themselves and figure this out.

TW: 2-0, CV: 0-2

Cincinnati 34, Indianapolis 23: (TW: Bengals; CV: Bengals)

The game was a QB showcase with Andy Dalton and Andrew Luck giving the crowd an air attack show that even the Blue Angels would smile. As I said on the post on Wednesday, I would think that Andrew Luck would throw at least 40+ times in the game, and he would throw for 53 times, while completing 39 of those passes. The Colts are a mess and will probably see a losing season. For the Bengals though, this game was much more balanced on the offensive attack with Andy Dalton throwing the ball 28 times and Joe Mixon would rush for 95 yards.

TW: 3-0, CV: 1-2

Houston 20, New England 27: (TW: Patriots; CV: Patriots)

This game felt a lot more distant than what the final should've been. Tom Brady would throw for 3 touchdowns and Lamar Miller of the Texans would rush for 98 yards. Defensive game for the most part as the previous meeting was a shootout. Really weird game. Still, it was nice to see Jim Nantz and Tony Romo back in the booth again.

TW: 4-0, CV: 2-2

Jacksonville 20, New York Giants 15: (TW: Giants; CV: Jaguars)

The Jaguars hung tough against a Giants team that would see the return and debuts of Pat Shermur, Odell Beckham Jr., and Saquon Barkley. Barkley had a debut for the ages with 18 carries for 106 yards. The Jaguars stuck with their formula of tough defense and took advantage of turnovers by the Giants. Not much else to say, blah!

TW: 4-1, CV: 3-2

Pittsburgh 21, Cleveland 21: (TW: Steelers; CV: Steelers)

I'll put this recap to the beautiful art of GIF's.

Steelers:

Browns: 

They didn't win... but they didn't lose either. Best start for the Browns since 2004. YAY!

TW: 4-1-1, CV: 3-2-1

San Francisco 16, Minnesota 24: (TW: Vikes; CV: Vikes)

Up to this point, Jimmy Garappalo of the 49ers had not lost a game in his career. The Minnesota crowd was loud and the three interceptions by the 49ers quarterback had to have been a factor in the game. The game wasn't too spectacular but the Vikings defense was on point and Kirk Cousins had a decent debut for the Purple Eaters. 

TW: 5-1-1, CV: 4-2-1

Tampa Bay 48, New Orleans 40: (TW: Saints; CV: Saints)

This game was a shocker to me as the Saints defense was one of the cornerstones to the season they had last year. In this game, the Saints defense made Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Buccaneers, look like Tom Brady. Drew Brees had a great game as well with 439 passing and 3 touchdowns, but a loss is a loss. 

TW: 5-2-1, CV: 4-3-1

Tennessee 20, Miami 27: (TW: Titans; CV: Titans)

This game was an ugly one, not game wise but weather wise. It was a 1:00 Eastern Time start at kickoff but the game would not end until 8 p.m. If you were a Dolphins fan it was quite the game to attend with two lightning delays and a Dolphin victory. You also get to walk home happy. The Titans looked a bit off in this one with no touchdowns for the quarterbacks and three interceptions combined. The game would be the longest game played in NFL history with a game time of 7 hours, 8 minutes. 

TW: 5-3-1, CV: 4-4-1

Kansas City 38, Los Angeles Chargers 28: (TW: Chiefs; CV: Chiefs)

The game was defined by the debut of Patrick Mahomes II and boy did he not disappoint. With 256 passing for 4 touchdowns, it was a worthy debut for a quarterback that had been given the lowlight and an unknown tag tied to him. For the Chargers, its a same old story with another season opening loss for them. Perhaps they can get together and figure it out. Can't afford to go on another 0-4 start and expect to make the playoffs. 

TW: 6-3-1, CV: 5-4-1

Dallas 8, Carolina 16: (TW: Panthers; CV: Panthers)

A sleeper of a game with the Cowboys not doing a lot on offense and their defense not doing enough to keep Cam Newton from torching the Boys down the field. Cam Newton would have 58 rushing yards and 161 yards passing, vintage Cam Newton. 

TW: 7-3-1, CV: 6-4-1

Seattle 24, Denver 27: (TW: Broncos, CV: Seahawks)

A lot of this game was focused on the two quarterbacks: Russell Wilson of the Seahawks and Case Keenum of the Broncos. Both quarterbacks had monster days on passing yards and touchdowns, while throwing for 5 combined interceptions (3 for Keenum, 2 for Wilson). Kind of an ugly game if you wanted concise, mistake free football. Still Denver has a win, and Seattle will need to look for answers. 

TW: 8-3-1; CV: 6-5-1

Washington 24, Arizona 6: (TW: Cardinals; CV: Cardinals)

It was a return matchup for the Redskins running back, Adrian Peterson, who played for the Cardinals last season. It would be a field day for the former running back as he would rush for 96 yards for one touchdown in a game where the Cardinals got snuffed out on offense. BLAH!

TW: 8-4-1; CV: 6-6-1

Chicago 23, Green Bay 24: (TW: Packers; CV: Packers)

In one of the weirder games that I've ever seen, this one had drama. Like crazy. Aaron Rodgers getting injured, Bears going up 20-0 in the 3rd quarter, Rodgers coming back, Packers going on a 24-3 scoring run to down the Bears. Very scary game to watch if you were a Packers fan. Next week comes Minnesota... o.O

TW: 9-4-1; CV: 7-6-1

New York Jets 48; Detroit 17: (TW: Lions; CV: Lions)

The early Monday Night Football game was a blowout of epic proportions. Kind of a tale of two quarterbacks. A rookie and a hardy veteran. Sam Darnold would outduel the Matthew Stafford in this one. Darnold would throw a pick-6 early in the game but he would recover nicely. A complete 360 for Matthew Stafford as he would have four interceptions. Probably going to be a rough season for the Motor City's football team. 

TW: 9-5-1; CV: 7-7-1

Los Angeles Rams 33, Oakland 13: (TW: Rams; CV: Rams)

The game was less than a honeymoon for the return of Jon Gruden to Oakland. The Raiders offense stunk up the place with three Derek Carr interceptions. For the Rams it was a necessary win to prove how good they can be, and the first game was probably a sign of things to come. 

TW: 10-5-1; CV: 8-7-1

My record: 

2018:

Week 1: 10-5-1

Cardinal Viking's record:

2018:

Week 1: 8-7-1

See you guys for the week 2 predictions on Wednesday! 

-Tom

NFL 2018 Week 1 Picks + Predictions

Hello readers, it is that time again. The time when the days get shorter, the baseball season is in the final stretches of the regular season, pumpkin spice coffee is out, and of course American Football is in the air. Of course I'm talking about the National Football League. Indeed, the league is entering its 99th season of operation since its foundation in 1920. In this column I will be discussing my picks of the week 1 action as well as my predictions on who gets in the playoffs, wins the super bowl, awards, etc.

The start of a new season has many promises to many teams in the NFL, many hopes and wishes to see their teams win the Super Bowl come February. While only 12 of the 32 teams make it out of the regular season and into the playoffs come January, every team starts out at 0-0. Of course if you're the Browns then... there's always next year. Just kidding. Here are my predictions on who gets in:

AFC:
East: Patriots
North: Steelers
South: Texans
West: Raiders
Wild Card: Chiefs, Ravens

NFC:
East: Giants
North: Vikings
South: Saints
West: Rams
Wild Card: Packers, Cowboys

Super Bowl:
Unbiased: Raiders over Saints
Biased: Packers over Raiders

MVP:
Derek Carr, Raiders

Coach of the Year:
Mike Zimmer, Vikings

Rookie of the Year:
Saquon Barkley, Giants

Well with these predictions, I'm just going off what seems well in my head. Probably the biggest gamble is going with the Raiders to win the AFC West. A lot is riding on how well Derek Carr can do with Jon Gruden's system, which isn't a walk in the park. Maybe the Raiders could have better luck next season in the second year of the coach's system. Other than that I feel that this is a solid prediction.

For this week's cool video of the week, I'm going with a selection that most Philadelphians know all too well. Once the Eagles take the field against the Falcons Thursday night on NBC, the memories of last season will pass away and the new season will begin. Enjoy Eagles fans, you've earned it. 

The new season will kick off with a Thursday night game then will proceed to Sunday where there will be eight early games, four late games, a Sunday night game, and two Monday night games. CBS will have the single game, and FOX will have the doubleheader. The week will begin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and it will end in Oakland, California. Truly from sea to shining sea. 

The first few weeks of the season are the toughest to predict since each team has new players, new schemes and everyone is a bit older than where they were last season. Along with me picking I will happily bring back, Cardinal Viking, my roommate, to be my competition again for this season. Rules are pretty simple, if you get a pick right, you get a win, you get it wrong then its a loss, and if its a tie, then its a tie. The time of World Cup, spicy politics, eating tide pods, and weird memes is over. HERE ARE THE PICKS:

Atlanta @ Philadelphia: Eagles. The scene in Philadelphia on Thursday will be very loud. You have to remember that the Eagles had not won a championship since 1960, way back when there was no Super Bowl, when there was a such thing as an NFL championship. The Falcons could play spoiler as the visitor like the Chiefs did last season to the Patriots but essentially the Eagles still have their key pieces back and should win the first game of the season. I mean you have to defend your home turf, right?

Buffalo @ Baltimore: Ravens. Kind of a revenge match for the Ravens. In week 17 of last season the Ravens had to win their game against the Bengals while the Bills had to win against the Dolphins to get in. The Bills got in, and the Ravens didn't. The Bills lost a few players during the offseason such as Tyrod Taylor, the guy who practically lead them to a 9-7 record to their first playoff berth since 1999. I feel the Ravens are out there to look for blood and they will get it in the Buffalo Bills. 

Cincinnati @ Indianapolis: Bengals. Andrew Luck will get the start for the Colts who should be fine with his foot injury that he sustained in the preseason. Luck hasn't played a game since 2016 and didn't even take a snap in 2017 and will likely have to throw 40+ times in this game. Bengals seem to be a bit more balanced on offense and defense. I'll take my chances. 

Houston @ New England: Patriots. The two teams played last season and it was a very good game. The game was a coming out party for Deshaun Watson and the Texans but the Patriots would be final say in the game in which they would win. Watson should be ready to go and lead the Texans to have a good season but to go against the Pats at home is a tough task. I'll take Brady & Company. 

Jacksonville @ NY Giants: Giants. Probably one of the better matchups that should've been on the late slate of games but I'd be drooling over this one. Both teams have good quarterbacks, legit defenses, and running backs that can run. I like the Giants in this one with Saquon Barkley running the ball and controlling the clock. Could be a close game, I'll take the G-Men. 

Pittsburgh @ Cleveland: Steelers. One of the more bigger surprises last season was the Cleveland Browns going 0-16, 1-31 in two years. I feel the Browns will get a few wins this season but I don't like their chances against a Steelers team that is loaded on offense. It'll be a tough task for Tyrod Taylor to keep up with the Steelers. Sorry Cleveland. 

San Francisco @ Minnesota: Vikings. Jimmy Garoppolo has not lost a start in his career (with the Patriots and the 49ers) as his 49ers head to Minnesota to take on the Vikings. This season will have a new quarterback at the helm for the Vikes in Kirk Cousins. Could be a huge gamble in bringing in Kirk Cousins but I don't see the Vikings coming out of this game with a loss with their beast of a defense. Then again... I wouldn't mind if they lose. Whatever. 

Tampa Bay @ New Orleans: Saints. The Saints were a surprise team with Drew Brees having a great year with the running back tandem in Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. Along with a better defense. Tampa comes into this season having failed to reach expectations for the past few seasons and I would be surprised to see them win 7 games this season. Geaux Saints!

Tennessee @ Miami: Titans. The last time we saw the Titans was in the AFC Divisional playoff against the Patriots. Despite the loss they did shock a Kansas City crowd the week before that in getting a playoff win. The Dolphins will have Ryan Tannehill back starting for them for the first time since 2016, or was it 2015? Either way it has been a while since the Dolphins have had stability in the QB position. I'll take the Titans offense squeaking out a win in Miami. 

Kansas City @ LA Chargers: Chiefs. The first season in Los Angeles felt like a lost ship to the San Die... I mean Los Angeles Chargers (I CAUGHT MYSELF, SHUT UP). A lost ship that had lost course when at times it looked like they found land, but found a maelstrom instead. The Chiefs will have a new quarterback starting for them in Patrick Mahomes II. Mahomes, a 2nd year man out Texas Tech, will get handed the keys to Andy Reid's offense in this game. This game is a head scratcher, a toss-up. Either team could win it. Mahomes could be good as the Chiefs have their key position players back with Kareem Hunt. Chargers could win it on Philip Rivers arm. I'll play it safe with the Chiefs.

Dallas @ Carolina: Panthers. The Cowboys season looked good for a bit then Ezekiel Elliot's suspension derailed any chance of the Cowboys chances to get into the postseason. The Panthers, on the other hand, reached the playoffs despite losing to the Saints in the wild card game. The Cowboys could run up the score on the Panthers but I'll go with the Panthers on Cam Newton's arm and solid defense. 

Seattle @ Denver: Broncos. The Seahawks would see one of the bigger team demolishes in the offseason with a lot of key defensive players going to free agency. The Broncos picked up Case Keenum, who helped the Vikings to the NFC championship game last season, in the offseason. The Broncos seem to have a solid defense that can keep them in games and if the Broncos offense can put up enough points they should win this one. 

Washington @ Arizona: Cardinals. The Redskins got a new quarterback in Alex Smith from Kansas City, who can still put up numbers in the NFL. The Cards picked up Josh Rosen from the draft and Sam Bradford from free agency. Bradford will get the start for this one and should win this one with a balanced offense attack of air and ground. Ground from David Johnson. Washington still looks like a wreck. 

Chicago @ Green Bay: Packers. The Sunday night game features an old rivalry renewed as the Bears head to the "Not So Frozen Tundra... Yet" Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The Packers extended Aaron Rodgers contract and look to be a contender in the NFC. The Bears will have Mitch Trubisky who will be in his first full season of the NFL. Chicago's offensive weapons could pose a threat to the Packers but you can't count out #12 for the Packers. 

NY Jets @ Detroit: Lions. The Jets surprised a lot of people with a 5-11 record, when most people picked them to win lower than 5 games. The Lions ended in another disappointed season for them as they didn't get to the playoffs but in true Lions fashion, they have a lot of question marks but they still have Matthew Stafford so at least that counts. The Jets could be even a bigger trainwreck than the Lions, which is saying a lot. What up Fireman Ed?

LA Rams @ Oakland: Rams. The week finishes off in Oakland where the Raiders play host to the Rams. The Raiders got a new head coach in Jon Gruden who is returning to the sidelines for the first time in a decade. Despite the loss of Khalil Mack, the Raiders still look good to make a contention in the AFC. Los Angeles Rams got a lot of people in the offseason and have thus won the "OFF SEASON SUPER BOWL." Will the Rams be the favorite to win it all? I don't personally think they will, but they should get a win in this game. As long as they stick to their formula that got them the attention last season. 

Local TV Schedule (courtesy of 506sports.com, subject to change): 

CBS Single:

Kansas City @ LA Chargers

Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts

FOX Early:

San Francisco @ Minnesota

Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis

FOX Late:

Dallas @ Carolina

Joe Buck, Troy Aikman

To check what game is playing in your area, go to www.506sports.com. 

Record: 

Cardinal Viking:
2017: 167-89

2018: 0-0

My record: 

2012: 164-90-2

2013: 162-92-1

2014: 172-83-1

2017: 164-92

2018: 0-0

See you guys next week!

-Tom

NFL Offseason Overview

Hello readers, it has been a while! The National Football League is in the height of the preseason. With opening night of the regular season fast approaching, I feel that there needs to be an offseason column.   Overall, this column will highlight what I feel in my mind has been the biggest highlights of the past offseason. Topics like Tom Brady, the NFL draft, a familiar face in Oakland, and Kirk Cousins.

Tom Brady & Gronk retiring

After losing his 3rd Super Bowl in his career, Tom Brady retiring rumors surfaced over the next few months. Questions like "Will he retire?" "When will he retire?" "Can he retire right now because he is just that good even at age 40?" When Peyton Manning retired in 2016, even he knew that it was time to hang up the cleats and call it a career. Athletes like Tom Brady know when it is time to hang it up, when the body cannot give anymore to the team. If you were to ask me how many years he has left in the tank, I would at least say he has two more seasons left in him. You have to remember he threw for over 500 yards in last season's Super Bowl, grated the Eagles offense put up more points with less passing yardage. If Brady was to retire, he would've already announced it and all 31 teams (Pats fans would be devastated by the news, don't kid me) would be rejoicing over it.

Same story with Rob Gronkowski, he will retire when he knows its time. Granted has hasn't played a full 16 game season since 2011, the guy is a bruiser and plays the game the right way, sadly this right way to play has its drawbacks. As he does get injured a lot. Would it have surprised me to see him retire at a fairly young age? No, the guy is 29 years old and is about to enter his 9th season in the NFL. If he can still put together a couple of more solid seasons where he can stay healthy, he could possibly become a Hall of Famer (oof hot take in July).

Jon Gruden back in Oakland

The last time we saw Jon Gruden was in the Tennessee Titans/Kansas City Chiefs playoff game back in January in the broadcast booth with Sean McDonaugh. After the game he bid farewell to television and is now back to coach his old team, The Oakland Raiders. The rumors of Gruden itching to get back into coaching was always a topic of discussion in the offseason for years. The guy coached the Raiders from 1998 to 2001. He would be traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002. He would win a Super Bowl in Tampa in his first season as head coach, he would hold the position until 2008. Overall, its a good move by the Raiders who have looked good but not quite finish the season on a positive note. Indeed the 2016 Oakland Raiders looked to be a Super Bowl contender until Derek Carr got injured and hampered their championship hopes. In 2017, Oakland looked to get back to where they were the season before until offensive and defensive play dropped resulting in a 6-10 finish. With Gruden in charge, it would be expected for the Raiders to finish at least .500 or better going into the regular season. Gruden signed a 10-year $100 million dollar contract with the team. If you do the math, that's 10 million a season. It would be expected that the results would match the contract, don't you think?

QB Controversy in Baltimore

As long as there has been an NFL, there is usually always a quarterback controversy. Some of the notable controversies as been Joe Montana-Steve Young, Terry Bradshaw-Joe Gilliam Jr., and Brett Favre-Aaron Rodgers. The latest controversy has come to the Baltimore Ravens where the incumbent Joe Flacco is faced with the task of keeping his starting job against challenger Lamar Jackson. Jackson, a 1st round pick out of Louisville, has shown flashes of talent with both his arm and his legs. Will I go as far to say that Flacco will lose his job? No, I'm not that crazy to say that. Flacco's last few seasons in Baltimore have been somewhat lackluster. In 2016, Flacco threw for 4,317 yards with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Last season, Flacco only threw for 3,141 yards and 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions while hampered with injury. If controversies make both players better, then the Ravens could make some noise in the AFC for the upcoming season.

Upcoming writing schedule

With Opening Night coming up on September 6th, I will plan on doing a Week 1 picks column before Thursday Night's game. I am not sure if I will do prediction + picks column all in one or do it separate but I do plan on doing picks again for this season, for sure. See you all after Labor Day!