NFL 2019 Week 17 Recap

Hello readers! The final week of the regular season is finished. What happens now is the National Football League's second season: the playoffs. In this post I'll talk about: an NFL 100 spotlight on the 1972 Miami Dolphins and a recap of the week's games. Let's get to work!

NFL 100 Spotlight

In sports, the word perfect is hard to come by. There's the perfect punch that knocked Joe Frazier out by Muhammad Ali in 1968, the perfect putt by Jack Nicklaus in the 1986 Masters, or Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series. Only one professional sports team in North American sports achieved a season without a tie or loss was the 1972 Miami Dolphins.

The story of the 1972 Dolphins began on the evening of January 16th, 1972. In only Don Shula's 2nd season as the Dolphins head coach, he lead the Dolphins to their first Super Bowl appearance. The Dolphins were held to 3 points in a 24-3 thrashing by the Dallas Cowboys. It had been Don Shula's 2nd Super Bowl loss in three years. He was the losing head coach in Super Bowl III as the Baltimore Colts head coach.

Don Shula's focus for the 1972 season was clear. The team wouldn't have a loss like that in that Super Bowl and if they had to go undefeated, they would do that such of a thing. As far as actually going undefeated, it probably was the farthest thing from their minds. Winning a championship was their goal.

The closest that the Dolphins came to losing was in a Week 3 match-up against the Minnesota Vikings on the road. Miami was down by 5 points in the closing minutes of the 4th quarter. Quarterback Bob Griese marched the Dolphins down the field and threw a 3-yard pass to Jim Mandich for the game-winning score.

During a Week 5 match-up against the San Diego Chargers, Bob Griese would be lost for a couple of months due to injury. The offense was now fronted by 38 year-old Earl Morrall. He was older than some of the Dolphins head coaches. In fact, they put up a rocking chair beside Morrall's locker. The hardy veteran kept winning games for the Dolphins.

The playoffs for the Dolphins were daunting. In the divisonal round, they would squeak by the Cleveland Browns 20-14. The NFL playoffs rotated by division at that time. As a result, the Dolphins would have to play on the road at Three Rivers Stadium against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The week before the AFC championship game was the "Immaculate Reception" play.

The offense struggled during the first half of the AFC Championship Game. Don Shula would make a quarterback change at halftime. Bob Griese would give life to the Dolphins as they would beat the Steelers 21-17 enroute to their consecutive Super Bowl appearance.

Super Bowl VII was Don Shula's 3rd Super Bowl appearance in 5 years. Another loss would be heartbreaking for the coach, but a win would seal the Dolphins place in history. The "No Name Defense" (named after Tom Landry) would hinder the Washington Redskins offense helpless. They forced three turnovers and held Redskins running back Larry Brown to 72 yards. The Dolphins offense scored enough points with two touchdowns: A 28-yard pass play from Griese to Wide Receiver Howard Twilley and a 1-yard rush from Jim Kiick.

In a play that would've made the game 17-0 in a 17-0 season. Garo Ypremian would have the kick blocked and attempted to throw a pass and would misfire. The gaffe would be returned by Redskins player Mike Bass for a 49-yard fumble return for a touchdown. While the Dolphins chance of having a shutout was dead, any chance for the Redskins to win was far from it. Don Shula's redemption was achieved and the Dolphins had completed their mission to go undefeated.

The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only team in NFL history to win every game in their season without a loss or tie. The team wasn't necessarily the best when it came to strength of schedule. The Dolphins in 1973 would win the Super Bowl again but would finish the season with two losses. While they did lose a few games, they played better opponents. You could certainly argue that the 1973 Dolphins were better than the 1972 Dolphins but I feel you have to look at the record.

What made the team special was they were good in every area of a football team. They had one of the best offensive lines in NFL history nicknamed "The Expendables" and had a great defense. It would have to be their running attack that made them special. While they had Larry Czonka and Jim Kiick, they also had a great running back in Mercury Morris. Both Czonka and Morris would get 1000 yards rushing. What made the team special was that they won together, as a team.

Week 17 Recap

In 2017, the first season in the Blogspot era (4th overall season as a blogger) Cardinal Viking (my former roommate) won in picks. In 2018, both me and Cardinal Viking ended up with a tie. As for the 2019 season, we shall see who won in picks this year. Let's get started:

Green Bay 23, Detroit 20: TW: Packers; CV: Lions

The game was fairly ugly but somehow the Packers got some luck and won. Aaron Rodgers finished the game with 323 yards with two touchdowns while throwing an interception late in the 4th quarter. Aaron Jones had a stellar day with 100 rushing yards. David Blough finished the game with 122 yards with an interception. Danny Amendola would throw a 19-yard pass to David Blough for a touchdown. Ty Johnson was the leading rusher for Detroit with 65 yards but Kerryon Johnson ran the ball for 53 yards with a touchdown. With a first-round bye, the Packers needed it.

All-time series: Packers lead 102-72-1

TW: 1-0; CV: 0-1

Cleveland 23, Cincinnati 33: TW: Browns; CV: Browns

The Freddie Kitchens era is over. Baker Mayfield would finish the game with 279 yards with three touchdowns but threw three interceptions. Nick Chubb wouldn't get a lot on the ground game as he finished with 41 yards. Andy Dalton finished with 190 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The leading rusher for the game was Joe Mixon with 162 yards with two touchdowns. Andy Dalton would get 10 yards with a rushing touchdown as well. Cleveland will have to hire their 8th head coach since 2009.

All-time series: Bengals lead 51-41

TW: 1-1; CV: 0-2

Chicago 21, Minnesota 19: TW: Vikings; CV: Bears

Da Bears finish with an 8-8 season. Mitchell Trubisky threw for 207 yards but wouldn't throw for a touchdown nor an interception. Devin Montgomery had a solid day on the ground as he ran for 113 yards with a touchdown. Sean Mannion would start for Minnesota. He finished with 126 yards with two interceptions. Mike Boone would start the game at running back, finishing with 148 yards with a touchdown. It was a fairly meaningless game for the Vikings which have a tough road ahead going into the playoffs, traveling to New Orleans in the Wild-Card round.

All-time series: Vikings lead 60-56-2

TW: 1-2; CV: 1-2

LA Chargers 21, Kansas City 31: TW: Chiefs; CV: Chiefs

The crowd made more noise when the Dolphins beat the Patriots than their own team beat the Chargers. Philip Rivers threw the ball for 281 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Certainly less than their previous meeting in Mexico City. Melvin Gordon finished the game with 46 yards with a touchdown. Patrick Mahomes threw for 174 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Mahomes also ran for 21 yards. Damien Williams was the leading rusher in the game with 124 yards with two touchdowns. Kansas City will have a 1st-round bye. 

All-time series: Chiefs lead 63-56-1

TW: 2-2; CV: 2-2

Miami 27, New England 24: TW: Patriots; CV: Patriots

For the first time since 2009, the Patriots will play on Wild-Card weekend. Ryan Fitzpatrick threw the ball for 320 yards with a touchdown. Fitzpatrick would also get 15 yards rushing with a touchdown as well. Patrick Laird was the leading rusher for Miami with 21 yards. Tom Brady finished the game with 221 yards with two touchdowns with an interception. Sony Michel ran the ball for 74 yards with a touchdown. The Patriots will play the Titans next weekend. 

All-time series: Dolphins lead 56-53

TW: 2-3; CV: 2-3

NY Jets 13, Buffalo 6: TW: Bills; CV: Jets

It was a meaningless game. Sam Darnold threw the ball for 199 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Le'Veon Bell was the leading rusher in the game with 41 yards. Matt Barkley started for Buffalo and finished with 232 yards with two interceptions, Josh Allen would enter the game but would only get 5 yards passing. Ian McKenzie ran for 30 yards on two carries while Frank Gore ran for 26 yards. Buffalo will go to Houston next weekend. 

All-time series: Bills lead 63-56

TW: 2-4; CV: 3-3

New Orleans 42, Carolina 10: TW: Saints; CV: Saints

They may have not gotten a first-round bye but they're quite possibly an underrated team heading into the playoffs. Drew Brees threw for 253 yards with three touchdowns. Latavius Murray ran for 61 yards while Alvin Kamara ran for 39 yards with two touchdowns. Kyle Allen started for Carolina and threw for 295 yards while throwing an interception. Will Grier would see some action as well but would only throw for four yards with an interception. Christian McCaffrey ran for 26 yards with a touchdown while gaining 72 yards. The Saints will host the Vikings next weekend.

All-time series: Saints lead 26-25

TW: 3-4; CV: 4-3

Atlanta 28, Tampa Bay 22 (F/OT): TW: Falcons; CV: Buccaneers

The Buccaneers season finished much like how it started: with an interception. Matt Ryan threw for 313 yards with a touchdown. Devonta Freeman ran for 58 yards while not scoring a touchdown. Jameis Winston threw the ball for 201 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Ronald Jones ran for 106 yards with no touchdowns. Deion Jones put the icing on the cake with a pick-six into the Overtime period. 

All-time series: Falcons lead 28-25

TW: 4-4; CV: 4-4

Washington 16, Dallas 47: TW: Cowboys; CV: Cowboys

The Bruce Allen Era is over in Washington but it doesn't help that they got hung 47 against the Cowboys. Case Keenum threw for 206 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Adrian Peterson ran the ball for 78 yards. Dak Prescott had a good game with 303 yards with four touchdowns. Ezekiel Elliot ran for 122 yards with a touchdown. Where was this Cowboys team a week ago? 

All-time series: Cowboys lead 73-45-2

TW: 5-4; CV: 5-4

Indianapolis 20, Jacksonville 38: TW: Colts; CV: Colts

Minshewmania returns! Jacoby Brissett threw for 162 yards but didn't throw a touchdown pass in the game. Marlon Mack ran for 77 yards while scoring two touchdowns. Gardner Minshew turned in one of his better performances of the season, finishing with 295 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Ryquell Armstead ran for 33 yards but didn't get a touchdown. Give Gardner some defense next season!

All-time series: Colts lead 24-14

TW: 5-5; CV: 5-5

Arizona 24, LA Rams 31: TW: Rams; CV: Cardinals

It was a winning season for the Rams, at least. Kyler Murray threw for 325 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Kenyan Drake ran the ball for 60 yards with a touchdown. Jared Goff threw the ball for 319 yards with three touchdowns. Todd Gurley was the leading rusher for the Rams with 68 yards while Malcolm Brown ran for 26 yards with a touchdown. Final game at LA Coliseum for the Rams. 

All-time series: Rams lead 43-38-2

TW: 6-5; CV: 5-6

Oakland 15, Denver 16: TW: Broncos; CV: Raiders

Bittersweet moment for the Raiders but they move to better pastures in Las Vegas next week. Derek Carr threw the ball for 391 yards with a touchdown. DeAndre Washington ran the ball for 77 yards. Drew Lock threw for 177 yards with a touchdown pass. Philip Lindsay ran for 53 yards. Not much else to say about this one. 

All-time series: 65-54-2

TW: 7-5; CV: 5-7

Philadelphia 34, NY Giants 17: TW: Eagles; CV: Eagles

It was a beautiful moment to watch Jerry Jones turn away from the television knowing his team won't be in the playoffs. Carson Wentz did fine in the game with 289 yards with a touchdown. Boston Scott ran for 54 yards with three touchdowns while Miles Sanders ran for 52 yards. Scott would also get 84 yards receiving. Daniel Jones threw for 301 yards with a touchdown while throwing an interception. Saquon Barkley ran for 92 yards with a touchdown. Philly hosts the Seahawks next week.

All-time series: Eagles lead 87-85-2

TW: 8-5; CV: 6-7

Tennessee 35, Houston 14: TW: Titans; CV: Texans

Mike Vrabel gets to play/coach against his former team in the Wild Card round next week. Ryan Tannehill threw for 198 yards with a couple of touchdowns. Derrick Henry had a stellar day on the ground with 211 yards with three touchdowns, his longest run was from 53 yards. AJ McCarron would get the start for Houston with DeShaun Watson resting for next week. McCarron threw for 225 yards with an interception. McCarron ran for 39 yards with a touchdown while Taiwan Jones was the leading rusher with 40 yards. The Titans go to Foxboro next weekend. Houston will host the Bills next weekend as well

All-time series: Titans lead 19-17

TW: 9-5; CV: 6-8

Pittsburgh 10, Baltimore 28: TW: Ravens; CV: Ravens

It was an icing on the cake to a great season. Devlin Hodges didn't do much as he threw for 95 yards while not throwing a touchdown. Benny Snell ran for 91 yards with a touchdown. Robert Griffin III would get the start, as to be expected, and threw for 96 yards while throwing a pick. He would also get 50 yards rushing. Justice Hill would get a rushing touchdown while getting 39 yards. Gus Edwards had a great day on the ground with 130 yards. Baltimore has the first-round bye.

All-time series: Steelers lead 28-24

TW: 10-5; CV: 7-8

San Francisco 26, Seattle 21: TW: 49ers; CV: Seahawks

The final game of the regular season was entertaining. Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 285 yards with zero touchdowns or interceptions. Raheem Mostert ran for 57 yards with two touchdowns while Deebo Samuel ran for 33 yards with a touchdown. Russell Wilson threw for 233 yards with two touchdowns. Travis Homer ran the ball for 62 yards. The game also saw the return of Marshawn Lynch to Seattle as the veteran ran for 34 yards with a touchdown. As well as a bag of skittles to go along with it. San Francisco will have a first-round bye while the Seahawks will travel to Philadelphia. 

All-time series: 26-17

TW: 11-5; CV: 7-9

The Records (By Week & Year):

Cardinal Viking:

2017: 167-89

2018: 156-98-2

2019:

Week 1: 11-4-1

Week 2: 10-6

Week 3: 10-6

Week 4: 7-8

Week 5: 9-6

Week 6: 7-7

Week 7: 10-4

Week 8: 11-4

Week 9: 8-6

Week 10: 2-11

Week 11: 12-2

Week 12: 9-5

Week 13: 8-8

Week 14: 9-7

Week 15: 10-6

Week 16: 11-5

Week 17: 7-9

Overall: 151-104-1

My record: 

2012: 164-90-2

2013: 162-92-1

2014: 172-83-1

2017: 164-92

2018: 156-98-2

2019:

Week 1: 12-3-1

Week 2: 10-6

Week 3: 11-5

Week 4: 8-7

Week 5: 5-10

Week 6: 9-5

Week 7: 7-7

Week 8: 14-1

Week 9: 8-6

Week 10: 5-8

Week 11: 10-4

Week 12: 10-4

Week 13: 10-6

Week 14: 9-7

Week 15: 10-6

Week 16: 12-4

Week 17: 11-5

Overall: 161-94-1

Looks like I won this year in picks! When it comes to prizes, there are none, just bragging rights. In truth, win or lose, I still technically kind of win since I write the blog. Sorry Cardinal Viking, better luck next year. Anyway, look out for the Wild Card Picks post on Friday. 

-Tom

NFL 2019 Week 4 Picks

Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action is coming soon! There's a few decent matchups this week compared to last week but hopefully they will all be good games to watch. This post will have a NFL 100: A Spotlight and my picks to the games. Let's get to work!

NFL 100: A Spotlight

In the previous post I talked about the greatest defense I ever saw, the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. In this spotlight I'll talk about the greatest offense I've ever seen. This particular offense was one of the greatest ever, they put the vertical passing scheme to perfection, with a quarterback that had one point was stocking groceries at a Hy-Vee for a wage of $5.50/hour. With a head coach who was known for being a hothead who had also lost a Super Bowl before. I'm of course talking about the 1999 St. Louis Rams.

The 1999 Rams seemed like a team that was from a fairy tale. The team had been in Los Angeles for 48 years and then moved to St. Louis in 1995. They made an appearance in the 1989 NFC Championship Game against their rival San Francisco 49ers. They would lose the game. The team would spend the rest of their years in LA in the cellar. When they moved to St. Louis, they would see much of the same.

In 1997, the Rams hired Dick Vermeil as their next head coach. Vermeil would have some success as a coach, leading the Philadelphia Eagles to their first Super Bowl in Super Bowl XV. He would resign after the 1982 season, citing burnout. He also lead the UCLA Bruins to a Rose Bowl victory in 1975. His first two seasons in St. Louis fared no better than the previous years the franchise had.

In 1999, the Rams traded to get two quality players, Trent Green from Washington and Marshall Faulk from Indianapolis. Vermeil finally got a quarterback to work with and a running back that he desperately needed to replace Lawrence Phillips (who ended up being a bust and cut mid-1997 season). In the 1999 preseason, Green would suffer an injury that would keep him out for the rest of the season. All seemed lost for the Rams. Until his backup came along and would lead the Rams to an unprecedented season.

Kurt Warner's journey to that moment was a long one. He was an undrafted free agent in 1994 that would get a tryout with the Green Bay Packers. He was cut before the regular season started. To keep an income while awaiting a call from the NFL, Warner was stocking groceries at a Hy-Vee in Ceder Falls, Iowa. With no call, Warner got a gig playing for the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League and would lead the league in passing and touchdowns. His play would garner an offer with the Rams and he would sign a futures contract. In 1998, he was sent to play for the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe, once again leading the league in passing yards and touchdowns. He would return to the US and gain a spot on the Rams roster for the 1999 season, backing up Tony Banks. By 1999, he was #2 on the depth chart at quarterback. Once Trent Green was sidelined for the season, the rest was history.

In a press conference after the game, Vermeil would name Kurt Warner as their starter, stating "We will rally around Kurt Warner, and we'll play good football." The 1999 Rams were picked to finish last in most experts eyes. Lo and behold, they would shock the world.Even worse than the expansion team Cleveland Browns. 

What made the 1999 Rams special was the use of the vertical pro offensive scheme. The scheme was successful during the Don Coryell years in San Diego. It was a passing scheme that featured two wide receivers, a tight end, a fullback and a halfback. It utilized on timing and rhythm and putting receivers in motion. It forced defenses to cover the entire field, making them play more zone defense, than man coverage.

The Rams would jump right out of the gate strong, winning six of their first eight games before finishing the year at 13-3. They would put up 32.9 points/game with a total of 526 points that year, finishing 1st in the NFL, while their defense (which was arguably underrated) allowed only 15.1 points/game. Kurt Warner threw the ball for 4,353 yards for 41 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Insane numbers. Marshall Faulk would have a great year running the ball, finishing with 1,381 yards and seven touchdowns. Isaac Bruce would get 1,165 receiving yards for 12 touchdowns that season.

They would be dubbed "The Greatest Show On Turf" and in the playoffs is where the offense shined like no other. They would beat the Minnesota Vikings 49-37 in the Divsional playoff game. They would only need to score 11 points to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a score of 11-6 to advance to their first Super Bowl in 40 years as a franchise. In the Super Bowl they beat the Tennessee Titans 23-16 to win their first and only (as of 2018 NFL season) championship. The game would also be dubbed "The One Yard Short" game.

In the aftermath, Vermeil would resign as head coach and Mike Martz would take over his duties. The Rams would return to another Super Bowl in 2001 where they were the heavy favorite against the New England Patriots. They would lose the game. The Rams would never quite reach that point while in St. Louis. Kurt Warner would spend time with the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals, leading the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl in Super Bowl XLIII, losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The 1999 Rams were a story like no other, with a fairy tale ending. Their place in NFL history is one for the ages. However, much like all good fairy tales, they must end.

The last bitter memory for my dad, who had been a Vikings fan since day one, would be the 1999 NFC divisional playoff against the Rams. He had some good memories and mostly bad ones being a fan for over 38 years. He would pass away a couple of months after this game in March 2000. Fortunately he never got to see the horrible 41-0 loss to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game. Cheers dad!

Week 4 Picks

The 4th week of the NFL regular season starts in Green Bay, Wisconsin and ends in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The San Francisco 49ers and the New York Jets are on a bye week. There will be a Thursday night game, eight early games, four late games, a Sunday night game, and a Monday night game. CBS will have the doubleheader and FOX will carry the single, regional game.

Note: TW is me, CV is Cardinal Viking, my roommate

Philadelphia (1-2) @ Green Bay (3-0) (FOX/NFL Network): TW: Packers; CV: Eagles

The Eagles lost to the Lions and the Packers beat the Broncos last week. The matchup will be the Eagles wide-receivers vs the Packers defense. If the Packers can shut down the Eagles passing game, forcing them to go to their running game, Green Bay has a chance to get a victory. The Eagles defense is banged up and I trust Aaron Rodgers. Packers offense needs to play well all four quarters to get a win as well.

New England (3-0) @ Buffalo (3-0) (CBS): TW: Patriots; CV: Patriots

Both teams got wins last week as the Patriots beat the Jets and the Bills beat the Bengals. We will learn a lot about the Bills in this game, if they are a playoff contender or a pretender. Tom Brady has a great record against the Bills and I can't see that changing a whole lot in this game.

LA Chargers (1-2) @ Miami (0-3) (CBS): TW: Chargers; CV: Chargers

Both teams took losses last week as the Chargers lost to the Texans and the Dolphins lost to the Cowboys. The game itself could be a shot for the Dolphins to get a win as the Chargers haven't played particularly well in the last few weeks. I feel that the Chargers will get back on track this week by beating a team that is tanking so hard.

Oakland (1-2) @ Indianapolis (2-1) (CBS): TW: Colts; CV: Colts

The Raiders lost to the Vikings and the Colts beat the Falcons last week. Jacoby Brissett keeps getting better every week it seems. The Raiders defense is very suspect after that loss to the Vikings. If the Raiders offense can get something going against the Colts defense, they could make this interesting but I like the home team in this one.

Tennessee (1-2) @ Atlanta (1-2) (CBS): TW: Falcons; CV: Falcons

Both teams lost last week as the Titans lost to the Jaguars and the Falcons lost to the Colts. The matchup looks like a Falcons win on paper and I tend to agree with the paper. If the Falcons defense shuts down the Titans rushing attack, they should come out with a victory. I trust Matt Ryan enough to carve up the Titans defense. Especially when Julio Jones is in the lineup.

Washington (0-3) @ NY Giants (1-2) (FOX): TW: Giants; CV: Giants

The Redskins lost to the Bears and the Giants beat the Buccaneers. Daniel Jones is getting his 2nd start of his young career. Both teams have terrible defense and I feel the team that can get the ball rolling on defense can get a victory as this game could be a shootout. I feel the Giants will get a game-winning touchdown. Saquon Barkley will be out for this game and the Redskins could get a rollin' with their running game. I feel okay with picking Big Blue.

Kansas City (3-0) @ Detroit (2-0-1) (FOX): TW: Chiefs; CV: Chiefs

Both teams got wins last week as the Chiefs beat the Ravens and the Lions beat the Eagles. The game will come down to one thing: can the Lions slow down Patrick Mahomes? If they can and can take advantage of a poor Chiefs defense, they got a shot to win. Otherwise good luck Detroit. I'm taking KC.

Cleveland (1-2) @ Baltimore (2-1) (CBS): TW: Ravens; CV: Ravens

Both teams lost last week as the Browns lost to the Rams and the Ravens lost to the Chiefs. It comes down to experience and I feel the Ravens have a bit more experience than the Browns. Both teams are really even on paper. It will be a close game by less than a touchdown but I feel the Ravens will come out of the scrum with a win.

Carolina (1-2) @ Houston (2-1) (FOX): TW: Panthers; CV: Texans

Both teams got wins last week as the Panthers beat the Cardinals and the Texans beat the Chargers. The two teams are pretty even on paper. If the Panthers can pressure DeShaun Watson they got a good shot to win the game. I feel the Panthers have an edge in running back with Christian McCaffrey. Hopefully Kyle Allen can repeat his performance from last week.

Tampa Bay (1-2) @ LA Rams (3-0) (FOX): TW: Rams; CV: Rams

The Buccaneers lost to the Giants and the Rams beat the Browns last week. Jared Goff hasn't gotten off to the start that most have expected compared to last year. Huge test for the Rams offense against a decent Buccaneers defense. I don't trust Jameis Winston to not throw an interception in the game. Rams defense will keep them out of the endzone for sure. Give me LA!

Seattle (2-1) @ Arizona (0-2-1) (FOX): TW: Seahawks; CV: Seahawks

Both teams lost last week as the Seahawks lost to the Saints and the Cardinals lost to the Panthers. I pretty much made a pact to not pick the Cardinals for a while but this game could be one of those games where the Cards have a shot to win. A small shot but something. If the Seahawks can pressure Kyler Murray then they have a great shot to win. Steep mountain for the Cardinals to win.

Jacksonville (2-1) @ Denver (0-3) (CBS): TW: Jaguars; CV: Broncos

The Jaguars got a win against the Titans and the Broncos lost to the Packers. Minshewmania is in full swing as the Jags go to Denver. Denver hasn't played well on both sides of the ball, especially their defensive front with 0 sacks. Jacksonville is 9th best in sacks allowed. If the Broncos have any sniff of a chance to win, they need to get to Gardner Minshew. Otherwise I'll take Jacksonville.

Minnesota (2-1) @ Chicago (2-1) (CBS): TW: Vikings; CV: Vikings

Both teams got wins last week as the Vikings beat the Raiders and the Bears beat the Redskins. The Vikings need Kirk Cousins to get out of his funk and play well in this game. They can't rely on the running game of Dalvin Cook, let alone be one-dimensional. It's time for Minnesota to escape the "can't win in Chicago" mindset and win on the road.

Dallas (3-0) @ New Orleans (2-1) (NBC): TW: Cowboys; CV: Cowboys

Both teams got wins last week as the Cowboys beat the Dolphins and the Saints beat the Seahawks. The Saints will need a great start from Teddy Bridgewater to win this game. It's a steep mountain to ask for a guy but I feel the Cowboys will pull off a victory on the road.

Cincinnati (0-3) @ Pittsburgh (0-3) (ESPN): TW: Steelers; CV: Steelers

Both teams lost last week as the Bengals lost to the Bills and the Steelers lost to the 49ers. The two teams are winless so far in the 2019 campaign so certainly one of them has to win this game. I feel the Steelers have the chops to win it as the Bengals are just banged up on both sides of the ball and not very good either. I'll take Mason Rudolph to finish week 4 with a win.

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

FOX Single:
Kansas City @ Detroit
Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis

CBS Single:
New England @ Buffalo
Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts

CBS Late:
Minnesota @ Chicago
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

For more information on which game is being played in your area, check out: NFL 2019: Week 4 Maps

Cardinal Viking:

2017: 167-89

2018: 156-98-2

2019:

Week 1: 11-4-1

Week 2: 10-6

Week 3: 10-6

Overall: 31-16-1

My record: 

2012: 164-90-2

2013: 162-92-1

2014: 172-83-1

2017: 164-92

2018: 156-98-2

2019:

Week 1: 12-3-1

Week 2: 10-6

Week 3: 11-5

Overall: 33-14-1

See you guys on Monday night after the game for the Week 4 Recap. Enjoy the games!
-Tom

NFL 2019 Week 1 Picks

Hello readers! The wait that has existed since the first few seconds after Super Bowl LIII is nearly over. Never fear, by the time that you are reading this, the National Football League season will descend upon us like a wave of joy. The NFL is celebrating its centennial season and surely there will be a means of celebration to be had throughout the league during its season. In this post I'll talk a little bit of my thoughts on the tanking situation in Miami, a NFL 100 spotlight, and of course the picks of the Week 1 games. Let's get to work!

Tanking in Miami

The case for the Miami Dolphins to finish possibly 2-14 on the year was assured when the team traded offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Kenny Stills to the Houston Texans for high draft picks. If there was a message sent to Dolphins fans, surely the message was, we're gonna tank and hope for the best with the draft next year. First year head coach Brian Flores is going to have a tough season ahead, as well as the rest of the team.

Laremy Tunsil was a first round pick by the Dolphins in 2016. Tunsil coming out of college was considered to be a high first round draft prospect. A video surfaced of him in a gas mask while smoking a substance in a bong. The video made some teams question him and thus he dropped to #13 where the Dolphins picked him. He has played and started in 44 games in his career.

Kenny Stills was a fifth round pick by the Saints in 2013. He was picked #144th overall. He would spend two seasons in New Orleans and was traded to the Dolphins in 2015. In his career thus far he has 298 receptions, 4,138 receiving yards while accumulating 32 touchdowns.

The trade was a bold one for the Texans, whom have no general manager. Bill O'Brien, the Texans head coach and general manager, who's certainly feeling some heat in that seat made it a point to get his team some offensive line help while getting his quarterback, Deshaun Watson, a weapon in the offense. If the trade doesn't work out for Houston, you have to feel that O'Brien is out of a job.

For the Dolphins its a strange trade, you bring in Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen to the team and you do that to them. I don't believe the Dolphins will go winless in 2019 as they do have some decent pieces in the secondary and wide receivers. It would be crazy to think that the Miami Dolphins would hold a record of being a team that had a perfect record in 1972 and a winless record in 2019. For the rest of us football fans, let's just hope that's not the case.

NFL 100: A Spotlight

Something new and different this season will be a spotlight of the last 99 seasons of the NFL. The spotlight will feature players, head coaches, teams, etc. some you've heard of, some you haven't heard of. This will take place of the "Cool Video Of The Week" feature that I have done in the past two seasons since I started doing picks.

I felt it was fitting to do something with the first week of the regular season coming upon us, to do a feature of an athlete that gave the National Football League some credibility and the league's first star, Jim Thorpe.

Before Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders made playing two sports cool, Jim Thorpe played many sports. Thorpe played baseball, football, basketball, and is most famously known for being an Olympian. He was the first Native American to win a gold medal for the United States, while competing in the decathlon in the 1912 games in Stockholm, Sweden. 

His baseball career lasted for six seasons. He played for the New York Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and Boston Braves. He achieved a lifetime batting average of .252 while compiling 176 hits, 82 runs batted in, and 3 home runs. 

When the NFL was formed in 1920 it was known as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) and Thorpe was nominally named the first president of the new league, which he served the position until 1921. The league would change its name to the National Football League in 1922. Thorpe played for the Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians, Oorang Indians, Rock Island Independents, New York Giants, Tampa Cardinals and Chicago Cardinals. He would never play in a championship game but his greatness helped the fledgling APFA turn into the NFL that we know and love today. 

The Picks!

Week 1 of the NFL regular season will start in Chicago, Illinois and end in Oakland, California. The week features a Thursday night game, seven early games, five late games, a Sunday night game, and two Monday night games. FOX will carry the double-header while CBS will have the single game. No teams are on a bye week. Let's get to the picks! 

Note: CV is short for Cardinal Viking, my roommate. TW is me. 

Green Bay @ Chicago (NBC): TW: Packers; CV: Bears

The 100th season kicks off on Thursday night as two old-time rivals renew their rivalry on the grandest stage of them all. It's somewhat fitting to have these two teams play on this night instead of the New England Patriots (typically the previous Super Bowl winner got the chance to play the Opening Night game) as these two were formed right when the NFL was in its infancy in the 1920's. As for the game itself, I feel the Packers defense will be put to the test against a Bears team that looks to get back into the postseason again. I feel the Packers have an edge in the game as Aaron Rodgers has more freedom in the offense and pick apart the Bears defense.

Buffalo @ NY Jets (CBS): TW: Jets; CV: Jets

The Jets have new uniforms this season and have some new toys on offense to play with. I feel the Jets will win based off a balance of run and pass that Sam Darnold never had last season. The Bills offense could give some fits to the Jets but I'm gonna go on a whim and take the Jets in a close game. Good test for Le'Veon Bell who is coming in fresh.

Baltimore @ Miami (CBS): TW: Ravens; CV: Ravens

The AFC North champions Baltimore Ravens take on the tanking Miami Dolphins. Ryan Fitzpatrick will be starting for the Dolphins and certainly if you watched last season, it could mean a hot start for him and the Dolphins but I can't think the Ravens defense will let that happen. Good game for 2nd year quarterback Lamar Jackson to get his feet wet for the season. 

Kansas City @ Jacksonville (CBS): TW: Chiefs; CV: Chiefs

Probably one of the better match-ups in the week. The Patrick Mahomes train looks to continue putting up numbers while the Jaguars look to shut the offensive juggernaut down. Nick Foles era in Jacksonville starts in earnest. I feel the Chiefs will win if they keep the opposing offense off the field long enough to give their defense rest. That and the Chiefs are the sexy pick. 

Tennessee @ Cleveland (CBS): TW: Browns; CV: Browns

A new beginning in Cleveland as the Browns take on the Titans. I feel good with the Browns in this game as they have good players on both sides of the ball. The Titans offense just seems scrambled to me and while their defense can help out when needed, ultimately I feel the Browns will gain a W. 

Washington @ Philadelphia (FOX): TW: Eagles; CV: Eagles

I don't in general trust Case Keenum to play at a high level, especially when his offense is very poor. Philadelphia looks better on offense and certainly on defense. Good game for Carson Wentz to gain some confidence and help lead his team to a victory. Hopefully he can stay healthy for a season.

Atlanta @ Minnesota (FOX): TW: Vikings; CV: Vikings

The game will probably be a offensive showcase for Kirk Cousins and the Vikings offense as the Falcons defense was pretty terrible last season and I feel that will remain the same for this year. If the Vikings defense does its thing and slow Matt Ryan down, I feel the Vikes will get 1-0 on the season.

 LA Rams @ Carolina (FOX): TW: Rams; CV: Panthers

The Rams look pretty good on both sides of the ball. The Panthers on offense could do some damage but I don't know about their defense. This could very well be a trap game for the Rams as they are traveling far from Los Angeles to Raleigh. Sean McVay should have the team ready for this one. I'll take the Rams. 

Indianapolis @ LA Chargers (CBS): TW: Chargers; CV: Chargers

As far as the Colts go, I feel they will lose this game based off of the quarterback matchup. As much as I think Jacoby Brissett can put some good numbers, Philip Rivers still has the cards with some really good offensive weapons. Could be a close one. The Colts do have Marlon Mack at running back and the Chargers don't have Melvin Gordon. Could be a shootout as well.

Detroit @ Arizona (FOX): TW: Cardinals; CV: Cardinals

New quarterback, different year for the Cardinals as the Kyler Murray era begins in Arizona. If there was a few games that the Cardinals could win, this game would be it. They won't win a lot of games I feel. If the Cardinals can keep Murray upright, I feel good about this team's chances to get a win. The Lions could win too. Really a toss-up, Toilet Bowl match-up this early in the season. 

Cincinnati @ Seattle (CBS): TW: Seahawks; CV: Seahawks

Let's just say this: I trust the Seahawks on both sides of the ball more than the Cincinnati Bengals. The place will be loud as usual and with a new head coach for the Bengals, offensive miscues will be rampant. Andy Dalton will need the help that he can get if they want to sniff a win in this game. 

NY Giants @ Dallas (FOX): TW: Cowboys; CV: Cowboys

The good news is that Ezekiel Elliot was re-signed to an extension, the bad news is that he won't likely play in the game. Fortunately for the Cowboys they take on a Giants team that will likely struggle on defense. I'd be surprised if the Giants pull off a win in this game as the Cowboys still have some great weapons other than running back like Amari Cooper. I'll take my chances on Dallas.

San Francisco @ Tampa Bay (FOX): TW: Buccaneers; CV: 49ers

The game is a toss-up and a pick-em according to Vegas. I will take the Buccaneers in this game mostly because its a road game for the 49ers and I feel better in the home team to get a win. I feel its also a trap game for the 49ers who have to travel four time-zones away. I don't think the Buccaneers will do a lot of winning on the season but an upset victory against the 49ers is certainly a possibility. 

Pittsburgh @ New England (NBC): TW: Patriots; CV: Patriots

The 20th season of Bill Belichek and Tom Brady begins as they take on rival Pittsburgh. I like the Patriots in the game as I feel they have more weapons on offense and I trust their defense to keep the Steelers weapons off their game. Best game of the week right here. 

Houston @ New Orleans (ESPN): TW: Saints; CV: Saints

The first of the two Monday night games features a good match-up. The two teams have great offenses, especially in the passing game. I like the home team Saints in the game and this game could be a shootout in every way. I do like the Texans defense more than the Saints defense but I'll take the Saints as it is in a loud SuperDome. 

Denver @ Oakland (ESPN): TW: Raiders; CV: Raiders

The final game of the week features a classic AFC West battle. The Antonio Brown era begins in Oakland, whether he wants to play for them or not. The Raiders on offense outside of Brown look decent enough but I feel the Raiders defense has a lot to prove to everyone. The Broncos do have a decent quarterback now with Joe Flacco. I feel the Raiders will win out by a close margin. I just hope they don't let me down like they did last season when I picked them to go to a Super Bowl, I'm a glutton for punishment, I guess.

Local TV Schedule (courtesy of 506sports.com):

CBS Single:

Kansas City @ Jacksonville

Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts

FOX Early:

Atlanta @ Minnesota

Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis

FOX Late:

NY Giants @ Dallas

Joe Buck, Troy Aikman

To see what game is playing in your area, check out: NFL 2019 Week 1 Maps

Cardinal Viking:

2017: 167-89

2018: 156-98-2

2019:

My record: 

2012: 164-90-2

2013: 162-92-1

2014: 172-83-1

2017: 164-92

2018: 156-98-2

2019:

Expect a recap post after the Monday night game, until then, enjoy the football!

-Tom

NFL 2019 Season Predictions + Andrew Luck

Hello readers! The 100th regular season of National Football League is soon upon us. The centennial season will start on Thursday night when the Green Bay Packers visit the Chicago Bears. In this column I'll talk about the retirement of Andrew Luck as well as my season predictions on how well teams will do this season as well as postseason predictions as well. Let's get to work!

Outta' Luck in Indy

When I wrote last Saturday's post, the news of Andrew Luck's retirement came hours after I wrote it. I had thought about doing an update to it but I felt that this news sort of went along with what I plan on talking about, how well the Colts will do without him, if they make they playoffs, etc.

Much like everyone, when I read the news while at a baseball game, I was in shock. After a few minutes of going through the emotions of the news, I realized that Andrew Luck made a pretty decent decision. The timing of it might've been a bit off but you can't really plan on this sort of thing.

Don't get me wrong, the fans deserved to voice their concern over the news of it. He made the announcement less than 11 days before the regular season starts. After hearing podcasts (like the Dan Patrick Show) on the subject, I learn that Luck had pretty much made his choice a week before the announcement. It's very interesting that people compare him to Barry Sanders or Calvin Johnson, when both players announced their retirement after the season, not before.

From Andrew Luck's perspective, its the right choice. He's gone through injuries and rehab that I wouldn't ask upon even the worst people on earth. If injuries and rehab kept me off from the thing that I enjoy, like playing the game, I'd retire as well. Especially when the organization is the ultimate buzzkill in not providing me the means to achieve success.

For the Colts, its another star quarterback that they let slip by. During much of Luck's career, he didn't have an O-line that could keep him upright, give him the time he needed to throw the ball to their pass catchers, and keep him off the Injured Reserve list. You can thank former Colts General Manager, Ryan Grigson for that. The franchise has been cursed since they moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1983. Your owner is more concerned on getting something Rock 'N Roll related than his actual team. As long as the Irsay's control this team, they won't get out of that black hole. Hell I wouldn't be surprised if Andrew Luck goes the John Elway and Peyton Manning route and go from being a Colt to a Bronco and win a Super Bowl.

2019 Predictions

It should be noted that when I post this, Cardinal Viking, my roommate, will have his takes on who will win the divisions, get to the playoffs and then the Super Bowl. As far as predicting the records of all the teams, I won't do that as I can't do the math for it. I'll predict their position in the division though. The team's will be in alphabetical order A-Z for city name.

Arizona Cardinals: 4th in NFC West

The Cardinals have a new quarterback as well as a new head coach in Kliff Kingsbury. Out with Josh Rosen and in with Kyler Murray. They picked up Terrell Suggs in free agency and the defense might be pretty decent but its a lot of question marks on offensive line and limited weapons for Murray to work with. They might win a few more games in 2019 but a new system means another losing season for Larry Fitzgerald.

Atlanta Falcons: 3rd in NFC South

The NFC South is questionable this year. You have the Buccaneers and three other teams that are competing for the division title. The Falcons shored up their offensive line woes with two free agency signings. If they can stay healthy and Matt Ryan and Julio Jones stay do their thing they can definitely find themselves back in the playoffs. Kenjon Barner should help them out with the running game.

Baltimore Ravens: 3rd in AFC North

They added Earl Thomas to an already stacked defense and a good running back in Mark Ingram. The question is how far Lamar Jackson can take this team, and the sophomore jinx always looms for those who are unprepared for it.

Buffalo Bills: 3rd in AFC East

The Bills picked up Cole Beasley in free agency who's a decent weapon for Josh Allen to throw to. LeSean "Shady" McCoy was cut from the team but T.J. Yeldon was signed in his place. Team could be fine as the defense did well in 2018 and looks to be better in 2019. Offense is still questionable though.

Carolina Panthers: 2nd in NFC South

Another team to predict in a very difficult NFC South. The Panthers picked up Chris Hogan in free agency which adds to a pretty good receiving corp for Cam Newton to work with. Adding Bruce Irvin to pair with Luke Kuechly will add some versatility to this defense. If Newton stays healthy, I like this team's chances to make some noise.

Chicago Bears: 2nd in NFC North

The Bears added some secondary help in Ha-Ha Clinton Dix and added a weapon for Mitchell Trubisky in Cordarrelle Patterson. I think they'll take a step back this year with the loss of Jimmy Howard. The defense should stay decent though.

Cincinnati Bengals: 4th in AFC North

The Bengals re-signed Tyler Eifert who hasn't played more than 10 games since 2015. Other than that this team looks not that good and a division is stacked against them. Just trade AJ Green and let the tanking begin.

Cleveland Browns: 2nd in AFC North

The Browns were the darlings in Off-season acquisitions as they added Odell Beckham Jr and Olivier Vernon from the Giants. This team looks good on both sides of the ball. The history of this team in terms of expectations are keeping me from putting them at the top of the division. A lot of pressure is on Baker Mayfield to take this team to the promised land but I feel that a winning season in Cleveland is in order for this team.

Dallas Cowboys: 1st in NFC East

Eventually Jerry Jones is going to extend Ezekiel Elliot's contract and all the drama of the offseason will end for the Cowboys who are going to try to compete for a title. They signed Randall Cobb, Tavon Austin and Jason Witten returns to the playing field after a year in the TV booth. Defense is rock solid too. Just depends on if Dak Prescott can take it to the next level and be the quarterback that the Cowboys need him to be.

Denver Broncos: 4th in AFC West

Joe Flacco comes to Denver looking to turn his career around while the Broncos defense will do alright. Quarterback play will come into question this season as I feel that Flacco is out of his prime window. Broncos running game will be fine though.

Detroit Lions: 4th in NFC North

The Lions offense signed C.J. Anderson and Danny Amendola to give their offense some boost and the defense should stay relatively the same. Matt Patricia is under quite a bit of pressure to produce in Year 2 at the helm in Detroit. All depends on what Matthew Stafford has left in the tank.

Green Bay Packers: 3rd in NFC North

The Packers made it a point to better the defensive line and line backing corp to cause chaos for the opposing offense in the draft. Randall Cobb and Clay Matthews are gone and they didn't really add anyone in high value in return. All depends on how far Aaron Rodgers can go with this supporting cast in offense under new head coach Matt LeFleur.

Houston Texans: 2nd in AFC South

The loss of Lamar Miller to injury as well as Jadaveon Clowney via trade to Seattle means this team has pressure to put forth an effort to win the division now that Andrew Luck retired. I like the Watson to Hopkins pass combo. This team needs running back Duke Johnson to have a good start to the season while Miller is out and JJ Watt to stay healthy.

Indianapolis Colts: 1st in AFC South

Jacoby Brissett is now thrusted into a starting quarterback role in the wake of Andrew Luck retiring. Brissett has some starting experience in his belt and has an offensive line that can keep him upright and a defense that can do good things. Taking a huge risk in this, I agree.

Jacksonville Jaguars: 3rd in AFC South

Nick Foles is now a Jaguar and has some weapons to work with and the defense should stay to form as long as they stay healthy and Jalen Ramsey stays off the mic. The offense will be better but not as much as last year which is certainly a benchmark to achieve.

Kansas City Chiefs: 1st in AFC West

The Chiefs on defense last year was rough to watch. Fortunately they traded for Frank Clark to give their defensive line some legitimacy. Their offense was fun to watch and should stay the same for 2019 as they look to get back to the AFC Championship Game.

Los Angeles Chargers: 2nd AFC West

Melvin Gordon's holdout seems to be taking a toll on the team and they need to resolve that situation quickly if they want to get to a good start on the season. They signed Thomas Davis from Carolina to a deal and re-signed Denzel Perryman. Overall, I expect the team to get into a wild card round game and win but not that much farther.

Los Angeles Rams: 1st in NFC West

The team that went to the Super Bowl last season remains in key positions. They added Eric Weddle and Clay Matthews in free agency to a much needed defense. Their offense should continue to put points on the board. Depends on when Todd Gurley gets back into healthy form.

Miami Dolphins: 4th in AFC East

Ryan Tannehill is gone, Cameron Wake is gone, and the Dolphins brought in Ryan "Fitzmagic" Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen. The team doesn't look good on both sides of the ball other than wide receivers. This team is looking like a 2-14 team.

Minnesota Vikings: 1st in NFC North

The Vikings added some offensive line help via the draft and free agency and re-signed Anthony Barr. No more excuses for Kirk Cousins as he enters Year 2 in the Vikings system and their offense remains the same as Adam Thielen and Stephon Diggs look to have another stellar season.

New England Patriots: 1st in AFC East

Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola are gone but they did reinforce themselves with Demaryius Thomas and Bruce Ellington in a deep receiving corp. The Patriots added Michael Bennett on the defensive line as the Pats look to repeat as Super Bowl Champs.

New Orleans Saints: 1st in NFC South

They lost Mark Ingram but they brought in Latavius Murray to tag team with Alvin Kamara. The Saints added Jared Cook to give Drew Brees another weapon. On defense they added Malcom Brown from the Patriots to give their defensive line some help. Expectations are high to get this team to the NFC Championship Game again.

New York Giants: 3rd in NFC East

They lost a lot of talent in the offseason. They picked up Golden Tate despite trading Odell Beckham Jr. Its hard to say who will finish last in the division, whether it be the Washington Redskins or the Giants but at this point, does it matter?

New York Jets: 2nd in AFC East

Le'Veon Bell is fresh after holding out in Pittsburgh in 2018. The defense looks to be improved as they added Quinnen Williams and CJ Mosley. This team could be a wild-card team and a team to challenge the division whenever Brady retires.

Oakland Raiders: 3rd in AFC West

Don't really see this team getting into the playoffs in the final year of them being in Oakland. They added Antonio Brown and quite a bit of defensive talent like Clelin Ferrell. How far this team can go with Derek Carr will be interesting.

Philadelphia Eagles: 2nd in NFC East

The Eagles defense remains the same in the past seasons. Nick Foles is gone and all the hopes of this team returning to the Super Bowl rests on the arm of Carson Wentz. If Wentz stays healthy they can give the Cowboys a run for their money and battle it out for the division. Jordan Howard is an Eagle apparently.

Pittsburgh Steelers: 1st in AFC North

The Steelers look to finally have some composure after last season's drama. They added Donte Montcrief and re-signed Eli Rodgers. I like their defense a lot and their wide receiving corp mostly remains intact as JuJu Smith-Schuster is going to be wide out #1. No more excuses, do what you do best.

San Francisco 49ers: 2nd in NFC West

The health of Jimmy Garappalo will be a factor on if this team can get to the next level. The 49ers drafted Nick Bosa to help on defense and picked up Jordan Matthews on offense. I like this team to do some things in 2019 but Jimmy G has to stay healthy to see that reality.

Seattle Seahawks: 3rd in NFC West

The Seahawks traded for Jadaveon Clowney to an already stacked defense but how well Seattle's offense can do will depend on their success. The NFC West has NFC South and AFC North team's this season and that alone is tough to deal with.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4th in NFC South

Much of the depth chard is players that are new to the team as Bruce Arians takes over a team that hasn't seen much success throughout the decade. Jameis Winston is still at quarterback. They added Breshad Perriman to help on offense but I don't see this team getting past that 3rd place mark in the division.

Tennessee Titans: 4th in AFC South

The Titans are placing a lot of faith in Ryan Tannehill who hasn't stayed healthy for quite a few seasons. They did pick up Cameron Wake from the Dolphins. Derrick Henry looks to improve as well as one of the better running backs in the league. The Marcus Mariota era could be soon over.

Washington Redskins: 4th in NFC East

Much of the team's players from last year return like Adrian Peterson. Case Keenum enters into a starting role while Dwayne Haskins is waiting in the wing. The Redskins wide receiving corp is pretty bad and their defense might be alright. They did sign Landon Collins to a six-year deal but I don't see this team to make a lot of noise and that might put head coach Jay Gruden in the hot seat.

Award Predictions

MVP: Baker Mayfield, Browns

Offensive Player of the Year: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald, Rams

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Kyler Murray, Cardinals

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Rashan Gary, Packers

Comeback Player of the Year: Earl Thomas, Ravens

Coach of the Year: Frank Reich, Colts

Postseason Predictions:

NFC:

1st: New Orleans Saints
2nd: Dallas Cowboys
3rd: Los Angeles Rams
4th: Minnesota Vikings
5th: Chicago Bears
6th: Carolina Panthers

Wild card:

Los Angeles over Carolina
Chicago over Minnesota

Divisional:

New Orleans over Chicago
Dallas over Los Angeles

Conference Championship:

New Orleans over Dallas

AFC:

1st: Kansas City Chiefs
2nd: New England Patriots
3rd: Pittsburgh Steelers
4th: Indianapolis Colts
5th: Los Angeles Chargers
6th: Cleveland Browns

Wild card:

Pittsburgh over Cleveland
Los Angeles over Indianapolis

Divisional:

Kansas City over Los Angeles
New England over Pittsburgh

Conference Championship:

New England over Kansas City

SUPER BOWL LIV:

New England Patriots over New Orleans

With the Week 1 games starting on Thursday, expect the picks post to happen on Wednesday night or before the game begins. Hopefully these predictions will stand well heading into January. I don't want to have another "Raiders to The Super Bowl" nightmare like I had last year. See you guys on Wednesday!

-Tom

NFL Offseason Thoughts 2019

Hello readers! Long time, no blogs! The NFL regular season is coming upon us in 12 days when the Green Bay Packers visit their division rival Chicago Bears on Thursday night for Opening Night. This blog will give my take on the Antonio Brown situation, my take on the most intriguing division heading into the regular season, and my planned upload schedule for the upcoming season. Let's get to it!

Oh Woe In Oakland

Last season, the Oakland Raiders, got rid of superstars Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper via trades to the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys respectively. To make up for the losses, the Raiders traded to get star wide receiver Antonio Brown from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brown, known for his antics during the start of training camp. Whether it be coming to camp in a limo, or this year coming to camp in a hot air balloon. As it turns out, the star wide receiver came with a bit more baggage than what the Raiders would expect.

The honeymoon of the Raiders and Antonio Brown didn't last long. The wideout went to France to go through some cryotherapy. What Brown forgot was to wear some protective socks and footwear in the cold. The result was some rather eye appealing visuals on his feet (or not). The drama would only get started.

In the endless quest to make the game safer to play, the NFL would impose rules on helmets to make them safer. Antonio Brown's helmet was deemed unsafe and he didn't like it. Brown would wage war with the league for the past few months on a helmet. Brown claimed that the "safer" helmet was harder to see the ball, and certainly the job of a wide receiver is to see the ball so that you can catch it.

The drama among Antonio Brown, Oakland Raiders, and the NFL will likely continue well into the regular season. It will be hard to see who will win in the end but one thing is for certain. Drama sells.

Remember the [AFC] North?

One of the more exciting divisions heading into the NFL regular season has to be the AFC North. At least in my opinion. You have the division winners Baltimore Ravens looking to build off of what they had the previous season, all the while the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cleveland Browns, and the Cincinnati Bengals look to get back into relevancy.

The Baltimore Ravens won the AFC North for the first time since 2012 when the Ravens won their 2nd Super Bowl. The Ravens traded Joe Flacco to Denver for draft picks. The Ravens put their hope and future on Lamar Jackson who would throw 1200+ yards for six touchdowns and three interceptions. The Ravens bread and butter has to be their defense and they still have the best defense in the division. If the Ravens want to go to the next level in 2019, their offense has to get to that next level.

The division powerhouse, Pittsburgh Steelers, were off to a hot start going 7-2-1 at one point last season. Pittsburgh was under the radar all season due to the holdout of Le'Veon Bell that lasted the whole season. As if that drama wasn't enough, the rift between quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown grew and the team took sides. Eventually Roethlisberger won the battle as Brown was traded to Oakland in the offseason. The 2019 Steelers look to put all the drama the previous year behind them with such players like James Conner and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Those two players will greatly depend on how well the Steelers do this season.

The feel-good story of last year was the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland came into last year with zero wins in 2017, and would win seven games in 2018, matching the same total in 2014. The Browns success has to be given to rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield, a solid running game with Nick Chubb, and a stifling defense. The addition of Odell Beckham Jr from the Giants via trade will surely give the Browns more dimensions in the passing game and a weapon for Mayfield to go for. A lot of expectations are on this Browns team to go far into the season and well into January. This team hasn't had a winning season since 2007 and haven't even sniffed the playoffs since 2002. Anything but a winning season for this team would be a bad season for this team due to expectations. I feel that a winning season is achievable for this team and a playoff appearance would be a plus for them.

Then there's the Cincinnati Bengals. The divsion cellar dwellers last season got rid of their long-time head coach Marvin Lewis and brought in Zac Taylor. Much of the offensive starters remain like Andy Dalton and AJ Green but it has to be questioned on their defense. How well will their defense do in 2019? Much questions surround this team and if they can get a winning season in 2019.

Upload schedule

The coming season is coming up soon. The upload schedule essentially will remain the same. The picks column will be uploaded on Wednesday or prior to the week's games start. A recap column will come on Monday after the Monday night game or possibly Tuesday. I still plan on doing picks for the 2019 season, along with Cardinal Viking, my roommate, our 3rd season doing picks. Expect a preview column come next Friday (August 30th) or Saturday. Then the Week 1 picks column on Wednesday, September 4th. See you guys next week!

-Tom