NFL 2020 Divisional Recap

Hello readers! Another week of National Football League action has come and gone. The best weekend in the NFL slate is over and the eight teams that started this weekend is now down to the Final Four, NFL style. Only the Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers remain after this weekend. We'll recap the four games in this post, let's get to work!

Divisional Recap

LA Rams 18, Green Bay 32: TW: Packers; CV: Rams
There were at least 9,000 fans in Lambeau Field but it certainly felt there was at least 90,000 in it. Jared Goff would start again as John Wolford was still out with a neck injury. Goff played well enough despite all the injuries that were inflicted on him. He threw for 174 yards with a touchdown pass. You could question his ability but you can't question his heart. Cam Akers was good in this game as he rushed for 90 yards on 18 carries. Aaron Rodgers proved to be dominant in this game as he threw for 296 yards with two touchdown passes. Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams were masterful in the ground attack as both rushed for 99 and 65 yards respectively. Jones rushed for a touchdown. For the Rams, it was an end to a remarkable season that you could certainly build upon. The core is still there for a run but health is a question for this team going into the offseason. Green Bay lives to fight another day. 

Next week:
LA Rams: idk go star in a Hollywood movie or something
Green Bay: vs Tampa Bay

Baltimore 3, Buffalo 17: TW: Ravens; CV: Bills
Well this turned into a bruiser than a shootout. Lamar Jackson threw for 162 yards in the game with an interception. He would leave the game with an injury that would send Tyler Huntley into the fray. He finished the game with 60 yards. Baltimore's running game was modest as JK Dobbins rushed for 42 yards, Gus Edwards rushed for 42 yards, and Lamar Jackson rushed for 34 yards. Josh Allen threw for 206 yards with a touchdown pass. Devin Singletary rushed for 25 yards in the game. The star of the show was cornerback Taron Johnson who intercepted a Lamar Jackson pass in the redzone that went for a 101-yard touchdown. It was a game-changing play. For the Ravens, it ends a hopeful season that Ravens had hoped meant them hoisting a Lombardi trophy. Lamar Jackson has the playoff win but now comes his biggest challenge, reaching a Super Bowl. Buffalo fights on and goes to Kansas City.

Next week:
Baltimore: put Lamar Jackson in a bubble
Buffalo: @ Kansas City

Cleveland 17, Kansas City 22: TW: Chiefs; CV: Chiefs
It looked bleak for the Browns but an injury to Mahomes and a near failed 4th down conversion almost made it a Cleveland-Buffalo AFC Championship game. Baker Mayfield threw for 204 yards with a touchdown pass but also threw an interception. Nick Chubb rushed for 69 yards and Kareem Hunt rushed for 32 yards with a touchdown run. Patrick Mahomes started for the Chiefs and threw for 255 yards with a touchdown pass. He would leave the game in the 3rd quarter due to a possible concussion or nerve injury. Chad Henne would come into his stead and throw for 66 yards with an interception in the game. He would also run for a near first down and then throw on an agressive 4th down and inches pass play that sealed the deal for the Chiefs. Cleveland shouldn't need to hang their heads on low after this season. This Browns team is not the "Same Old Browns" that I grew up. Next season will tell how well they can build off what they learn. That no-call on the helmet-to-helmet hit towards the end of the 1st half though. 

Next week:
Cleveland: live at FirstEnergy Stadium like Baker Mayfield
Kansas City: vs Buffalo

Tampa Bay 30, New Orleans 20: TW: Buccaneers; CV: Buccaneers
Third time's the charm. Tom Brady threw for 199 yards with two touchdowns in the game. He also showcased his running ability as he rushed for a touchdown as well. Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones rushed for 63 and 62 yards respectively. Drew Brees started for the Saints and had 134 yards passing with a touchdown but also threw three interceptions in the game. He would leave the game to let backup Jameis Winston play in the game. Winston threw a pass for a 56-yard touchdown. Alvin Kamara was good in the game as he rushed for 85 yards in the game. A lot of questions surround the Saints after another season not reaching a Super Bowl. Will Drew Brees retire? Time will tell. Tom Brady and the Buccaneers move on to play in their first NFC Championship game since 2002. 

Next week:
Tampa Bay: @ Green Bay
New Orleans: idk eat gumbo or something.

2020 Week by Week Record: 

TW's record:

Week 1: 8-8
Week 2: 15-1
Week 3: 9-6-1
Week 4: 11-4
Week 5: 9-5
Week 6: 7-7
Week 7: 12-2
Week 8: 7-7
Week 9: 10-4
Week 10: 10-4
Week 11: 7-7
Week 12: 11-5
Week 13: 10-5
Week 14: 7-9
Week 15: 12-4
Week 16: 8-8
Week 17: 14-2
Total: 167-88-1

Cardinal Viking's record:

Week 1: 10-6
Week 2: 11-5
Week 3: 8-7-1
Week 4: 7-8
Week 5: 8-6
Week 6: 9-5
Week 7: 11-3
Week 8: 7-7
Week 9: 9-5
Week 10: 11-3
Week 11: 8-6
Week 12: 9-7
Week 13: 11-4
Week 14: 11-5
Week 15: 13-3
Week 16: 9-7
Week 17: 11-5
Total: 163-92-1

Previous Picking Records:

Cardinal Viking:

2017: 167-89
2018: 156-98-2
2019: 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: 161-94-1

I'll see you guys for the Conference Championship picks post on Thursday/Friday.

-Tom

NFL 2019 Divisional Recap

Hello readers! Divisional weekend is over and the National Football League's version of the Final Four is set. We will go over how the four teams got there as well as an NFL 100 spotlight on the great Jim Brown. Let's get to work!

NFL 100: A Spotlight

By the time you're 29 years old, you've got a career set, possibly married with a few kids on the way. When Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown walked away from the game at age 29, he felt he had no more left to accomplish. Who could blame him?

James Nathaniel Brown was born in St. Simons, Georgia on February 17th, 1936. He was the son of a professional boxer and a homemaker. His childhood was that of self-reliance as he was raised by his grandmother in the island of St. Simons, off the coast of the state of Georgia. He grew up unaffected by racism that much of the mainland would experience during that time.

He would move to Manhasset, New York at the age of eight with his mother where he would attend high school at Manhasset, playing football and basketball, and excelling at both. Brown set records in basketball, including 38 points per game, a record that stood until future Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski would break it.

He chose to go upstate to Syracuse University for college. Like high school, Brown would excel in track, basketball, as well as lacrosse. In fact, he would score 43 goals in 10 games for Syracuse in his senior year. Ultimately, it would be football where he would choose his career path.

Ironically, the Cleveland Browns selected Jim Brown with the 6th overall pick in the 1957 draft. His greatness showed against the Los Angeles Rams, rushing for 237 yards, a record that stood for 14 years, and a rookie record that stood for 40 years. He continued his onslaught on the record books.

In 1958, he rushed for 1,527 yards in a 12-game season. The record broke Steve Van Buren's 1,146 yards set in 1949. He scored 17 touchdowns that season and the 2nd closest was Raymond Berry who had nine. Jim Brown would win his first of three NFL MVP awards throughout his career.

In 1964, Jim Brown helped the Cleveland Browns win the NFL championship over the Baltimore Colts. He rushed for 1,446 yards with seven rushing touchdowns that season. The Cleveland Browns haven't won a championship since.

He would win his 3rd MVP in 1965, compiling 1,544 yards with 17 touchdowns scored. Not also to mention his longest run that season was from 67 yards. Much to many people's surprise, Jim Brown retired after the 1965 season at the ripe age of 29.

Jim Brown helped set the standard for running backs in the NFL. His speed and agility matched only by his toughness and strong upper body strength. His 104.3 career rushing yards per game is an NFL record that still stands to this day. He led the league in rushing eight times while becoming the first NFL player to rush for 10,000 career yards. While he last played over 50 years ago, his contribution to the NFL will never be forgotten.

Divisional Recap

Minnesota Vikings 10, San Francisco 49ers 27: TW: 49ers; CV: Vikings

The good news: the Vikings offensive coordinator is going to Cleveland. The bad news: Kirk Cousins will likely have to learn a new system. Kirk Cousins finished the game with 172 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Dalvin Cook wouldn't get much on the ground as he mustered only 18 yards. Jimmy Garoppolo threw the ball for 131 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Tevin Coleman ran teh ball for 105 yards with two touchdowns, getting leading rusher status for the game. The 49ers defense held the Vikings to seven first downs. Pretty impressive. San Francisco moves on to host the NFC Championship game on Sunday night.

All-time series: 49ers lead 24-23

Tennessee Titans 28, Baltimore Ravens 12: TW: Ravens; CV: Ravens

There's bound to be upsets in the Divisional round but that was a shocker. Ryan Tannehill threw the ball for 88 yards with two touchdowns, while running for 13 yards in the game with a rushing touchdown. Derrick Henry would throw a 3-yard pass for a touchdown while getting 195 yards in the game. Lamar Jackson was really a one-man show in the game for Baltimore, throwing for 365 yards with a touchdown with two picks. Jackson also ran for 143 yards in the game. Mark Ingram and Gus Edwards would only muster 22 and 20 yards respectively. Ravens defense and the rest of the offense failed to show up. Tennessee moves on to play on the road against the Chiefs.

All-time series: tied at 12-12

Houston Texans 31, Kansas City 51: TW: Chiefs; CV: Chiefs

By the end of the 1st quarter, it was 21-0 Texans. At halftime, it was 28-24 Chiefs. DeShaun Watson threw for 388 yards with two touchdowns. Watson also ran for 37 yards with a touchdown while Carlos Hyde ran for 44 yards. Patrick Mahomes threw the ball for 321 yards with five touchdown passes. He was the leading rusher for the Chiefs with 53 yards. Damien Williams also got 47 yards with two touchdowns on the ground. The momentum shifter was the bad call by Bill O'Brien to go for it on 4th down in your own territory. The move should seriously cost him his job but no word yet if he will still be employed. Kansas City moves on to host the AFC championship game against the Titans on Sunday afternoon.

All-time series: Chiefs lead 7-5

Seattle Seahawks 23, Green Bay Packers 28: TW: Seahawks; CV: Seahawks

The win was ugly but that's really the story of the season for the Packers. Russell Wilson threw for 277 yards with a touchdown while rushing for 64 yards. Marshawn Lynch couldn't get a lot going on the ground as he finished with 26 yards rushing but did get two touchdowns on the ground. Aaron Rodgers threw for 243 yards with two touchdowns, certainly vintage Rodgers. Aaron Jones was good in the ground game as he ran for 62 yards with two touchdowns. Offense puts up enough points while the defense does the rest, not a bad formula. Seattle had a good season with a great receiving corp potential in DK Metcalf. Green Bay heads west to battle the 49ers in the NFC championship game. 

All-time series: Packers lead 14-9

See you guys on Thursday/Friday for the Conference Championship Game picks!

-Tom