THE 2026 NFL PREDICTIONS NFL WEEK ONE DONE THE WILD SHAMROCK WAY

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NFL opening week is like being a kid on Christmas morning. Every team has a chance. Your fantasy team is looking well. The team you root for is looking well as you have high hopes it will be your season. Then the first whistle of week one, all your thoughts and dreams go into the crapper as reality sets in. It’s going to be a very long season. Once again I have high hopes going into the season with my first set of weekly picks. Just wait a few games and all these picks will end up in the crapper. We will then say there is always next week which is true. Because we have 18 weeks of saying that. Cross your fingers. Even cross your toes as week 1 top picks are out and about.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

The NFL some day will want to have full control of the entire week to display one of their games. The first game of the year features the rematch of last year’s Superbowl in which Seattle gave New England an ole fashion beat-down. This game will be played on Wednesday night while the NFL will have its regular Thursday night game in operation as well. I have never seen an NFL game on hump day. A future Wednesday night game could be played on the night before Thanksgiving. Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel made news in the off-season with his affair with ESPN reporter Dianna Russini. Bad things will happen to bad people as in Vrabel, who is carrying on the torch of this Evil Empire franchise who just were a dynasty it seemed not too long ago. The Patriots were lucky last year playing the easy schedule. Then playing a back up QB in a snow storm in Denver in a championship game to get to the Superbowl. Seattle exploited their weaknesses as a team that should have never been there. Look for another beat down by Seattle over a Patriots team who will implode this season.

OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS

THURSDAY NIGHT GAME IN KANGAROO COUNTRY

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT LA RAMS (AUSTRALIA)

Right off the bat the NFL will have it’s first international game. It will be the first NFL game played in Australia. I expect Crocodile Dundee to be on hand to sing the Aussie National Anthem. This is a great game between two NFC power houses that play in the same division. The Rams added the defensive player of the year in Myles Garrett this off-season in a trade with the Browns. Then Aaron Donald came out of retirement to play this season with the Rams. He’s another guy that collected defensive player of the year awards. San Francisco is very good when they are healthy. For week 1 they are healthy. The Rams are the sexy pick to win it all. On a neutral field, this contest could go either way. This should be a close game. Sean McVay, the head coach of the Rams, has a different approach to overseas games that have worked as he gets his team there the night before the game. While the 49ers will be on hand in Australia for a week. McVay dots his I’s and crosses his T’s so I’m not going to question something that has great results for this Rams franchise.

OUR PICK: RAMS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

ATLANTA FALCONS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The Falcons will not have their off-season splash free agent signing, Tua Tagovailoa the former Dolphins QB, starting in week 1. He’s injured. The former number one pick of the Falcons Michael Penix Jr. is still not healthy. The Falcons have to rely on Cooper Rush as their week 1 starter. Rush was a Raven last year when he went 0-2 as the starter for Baltimore with 4 interceptions. His best season came in Dallas in 2022 filling in for Dak Prescott as he went 4-1 as the starter. In 2024 he went 4-4 filling in for Dak once again. The Falcons are 0-7-1 all-time in Pittsburgh. I can’t see the Falcons even inking out another tie here either. Aaron Rodgers is 12-6 in week 1 starts in his career. Rodgers has thrown 32 touchdown passes to only 10 interceptions in week 1 action in his entire career. The Steelers would be a good survivor pick to roll out week 1. I just don’t see the Falcons leaving Steel Town with a W.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

BALTIMORE RAVENS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

These are two teams that collapsed like a ton of bricks last season. The Ravens are always a power house threat in the AFC. A lock for the post-season. However they crumbled with a bad defense and their stud questionable QB, Lamar Jackson, does not like to play a full game. For the Colts last year they were really not expected to make the post-season.

The Colts found their quarterback by signing former Giants starter Daniel Jones. He won the starting job. They nicknamed him Indianapolis Jones for his play as he had the Colts 8-2 until he got hurt. He was Danny Dimes throwing perfect dimes to his receivers. The Colts folded up like a cheap card table the rest of the season and missed the playoffs without their starter. John Harbaugh is out as Ravens head coach. They brought in the Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to be the new head coach. I expect the Ravens defense to return to their old ways. Not so fast. The Colts offense can keep up with many teams like the Ravens because of Jones and their star running back Jonathan Taylor, who had a great season last year. The Ravens are favorites in this one by slim margin. The Colts being at home and a team that is well prepared. Minter will have his defense fixed. Has he fixed the mind set of the Jackson? That is a tall task. My first upset is a gut feeling.

OUR PICK: COLTS

CHICAGO BEARS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS

Can both the Panthers’ and Bears’ young QB’s make the next step in their careers? For the Panthers it looked like their number one draft pick Bryce Young was going to be a bust. Last year he turned his career around and got the Panthers in the post-season. Young went 8-8 as the starter. His first season of his career without posting a losing campaign. Then Caleb Williams earned the nickname Ice-Man for his splashy last minute and second half big time come backs.

Only knock on Williams last year was the Bears got off to too many slow starts in the first half. The Bears offense could be one of the best in the league this season with their head coach Ben Johnson, who is a genius on that side of the ball. Williams has weapons. The Bears have a double headed monster in the back field. However the Panthers could exploit the Bears weakness on defense with their running game. Bears run defense was horrible last year. They really did not address it in the off-season. The Bears defense can get the takeaways. Young should be good for a few mistakes that should help the Bears leave Carolina with a victory. I think the Ice Dude will start off hot and stay hot most of this game durin which Young will not be able to match the Bears with scores.

OUR PICK: DA BEARS

BUFFALO BILLS AT HOUSTON TEXANS

Can Josh Allen beat the Houston Texans? Allen is 0-4 vs the Texans and last year was sacked 8 times in that game. Houston is one of the top defenses in the NFL. The Bills have been held under 20 points in all 4 of those games. Is anything different this go around for this match up? Allen is still one of the top QB’s in the league. The Texans defense may be better than they were last year. This year the Bills have a new head coach. This year the Bills have changed their style of defense and added new talent. The Bills defense is going to attack opposing teams and that may not be good for Houston’s QB, CJ Stroud. Remember his last game in the post-season with multiple interceptions in New England. This new defense now takes pressure off Allen as he does not have to carry this entire team on his shoulders on every offensive series looking to do something big. He can just flow with the game and take whatever the Houston defense is giving him. The Texans get out of the gates very slowly. I like the Bills chances to break the curse and give Houston the problem.

OUR PICK: BILLS

CLEVELAND BROWNS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

The great citizen of Cleveland pleads not guilty to a speeding ticket this week. Mr. Innocent, the sexual predator Deshaun Watson, is probably better off starting on the road in his latest comeback than at home. The Jaguars were a playoff team last year. Liam Coen enters his second season as the head coach with the Jaguars. Coen had that Jaguars offense humming last year. The Jaguars defense needs to be mentioned here. Down the stretch they were a lights out unit. The Browns defense is still intact from last year even after losing their Myles Garrett, their number one defender. The Browns defense will have to keep this team close in almost every game to get Cleveland a victory. Browns usually don’t start the season off very hot. I don’t trust Watson to take this team on his shoulders to earn this victory like how every QB in the league should do so. The Jaguars defense will force the sexual predator into mistakes.

Then eventually exterminate the beast. I think Trevor Lawrence will get off to a solid start for Jacksonville and wear down the Browns defense with long drives.

OUR PICK: JAGUARS

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT DETROIT LIONS

I think the Saints and Lions could both make it to the post-season. The Lions had a winning season of 9-8 last year. In a season they lost both their top coordinators to head coaching jobs. Both teams will benefit from playing weaker schedules. Let’s face it the Saints should thrive in their own division. The Lions offense with Jared Goff as their starting QB and all his weapons means they should be right in the thick of things in a tough NFC North. I loved how last year’s rookie starter, Tyler Shough, did when he took over as the team’s starter behind center. He went 5-4 in 9 starts. The Saints won 4 straight of his starts down the stretch. Saints made some nice additions to their offense in the draft and free agency. The Lions defense will be the big test for them right out of the gates. I don’t see Shough matching every score from Goff and that Lions offense. I think the Saints will start the season off slowly & then gain momentum as weeks go by. I feel the Lions will come out swinging like they always do. They are tough to beat in Detroit as well.

OUR PICK:LIONS

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS

This will be the first time Baker Mayfield faces the Bengals wearing a Buccaneers uniform. Mayfield has stated 8 games versus the Bengals in his career. He is 6-2 in those games. He was 6-1 wearing the Browns uniform against the Bengals. He went 0-1 when he played for the Panthers. He had 4 of those match ups vs Joe Burrow and he went 3-1 against him. The Bengals have struggled the last few years getting out of the gates very poorly. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor in his tenure in Cincinnati has gone 10-17-1 in weeks 1 through 4. Mayfield has racked up 16 touchdown passes to only 4 interceptions vs the Bengals. The Bengals are favored in this one. The Buccaneers finally completed a contract extension with Baker keeping him in Tampa for a few more years. Watch him make the front office look like geniuses in the first week by knocking off the Bengals in another one of my upsets in week 1.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

NEW YORK JETS AT TENNESSEE TITANS

The Titans may already have their franchise quarterback in Cam Ward while the Jets will be looking to bank on their future starter in a loaded 2027 draft. Let’s face the facts: The Jets and Titans will be two bottom feeder teams this season. The Jets have their former QB they drafted listed as their starter for this season. Geno Smith was terrible with the Raiders as he may have led or was in fact one of top leaders in interceptions thrown. The Titans have a new coaching staff inserted and Brian Daboll, former Giants HC, who helped develop Josh Allen in Buffalo before he took the head coaching job in New York. I expect better things from Ward in his second NFL season. Look for Ward to click with the Titans’ top draft pick from this year in Carnell Tate. The Titans defense will be able to keep Smith in check. Maybe get an interception or two. The Jets defense did not get one interception last year as this team should be tanking games for the future QB next year. This game may be the ugliest on the docket.

OUR PICK: TITANS

ARIZONA CARDINALS AT LA CHARGERS

The Chargers are a 10.5 favorite in this match up. This game will rack up plenty of passing yards. The Chargers unleash a entire new offensive scheme for Justin Herbert. In the off-season, the Chargers hired former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniels. Look for a solid running game by the Chargers and Herbert going deep for big plays. It was TUA time when McDaniels racked up all kinds of passing yards and plenty of scores in Miami. Now just being a offensive coordinator, he can help the Chargers offense be explosive-like instead of conservative. The Cardinals are going with veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett as their starter. He started 12 games last year, threw 23 touchdowns, and only 8 interceptions. The Cardinals offense was good and will score points this year as Brissett has some solid weapons in Arizona. However Brissett was 1-11 in those 12 starts. The Chargers have a defense which the Cards do not. It could be a high scoring affair for most of the game until the Chargers defense tightens up and wins their home opener by about 10 points. Both teams will score some points. In the end the Chargers will light up the scoreboard just a bit more. I thinking the final will be something like 34 to 24.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

The Dolphins roster may have more holes than a brick of Swiss cheese. Their salary cap has plenty of dead money from cleaning out their pool last year and during the off-season.

The water is murky and the season is grim if you’re a Dolphins fan. They have to rely on their swamp thing, Malik Willis, who is 3-3 all-time as a starter in the NFL. He was a bust with the Titans. Willis won some games with a talented Packers team in the last two seasons. He is a guy that can run. Who does he have to throw to? Meanwhile Kirk Cousins will get the starting nod to start the season for the Raiders while their number 1 QB in last year’s draft holds the clip board and learns the game. Fernando Mendoza is the Raiders future. Coming off being the Heisman winner and winning the National Championship with the Hoosiers, it will not take long until the Raiders plug him in. Look for the Raiders new head coach, Klint Kubiak, who was the O-Coordinator on last year’s Superbowl winning Seattle Seahawks, to have a big impact on both QB’s. I think Cousins who comes off the scrap heap will be a productive bridge QB for Mendoza. Against the Dolphins, he should have a big game. Cousins, like Mad Maxx Crosby who was traded to the Ravens in the off season & then had to come back, because of the physical. They have chips on their shoulders. Look for Crosby to make a statement right away as he mangles the Dolphins new starter. Making him wish he never signed with Miami.

OUR PICK: RAIDERS

GREEN BAY PACKERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Sour cheese in Green Bay and they have not even played one game yet. First, the Packers lost one of their top wide receivers last year in free agency. Romeo Doubs signed with New England. Then their top defender Micah Parsons is on the NFL PUP list. Guys unable to perform due to an injury. Parsons will definitely miss the first 4 games of the season. Now their top running back Josh Jacobs had some trouble with the law. Facing charges of battery as he beat up his girlfriend months ago. He is on the Commissioner’s exempt list and will likely face a suspension. Meanwhile the Packers visit a Vikings team that got hot at the end of the season. The Vikings did finish with a 9-8 record. They have a new QB looking for Kyler Murray, the former Cardinal, to do what Sam Darnold did a few seasons ago for Minnesota. Murray has the weapons of mass destruction. The Vikings also have a solid defense. They are at home. All these NFC North games are tight. Murray will answer the prayers of the Vikings fans and win his first game as a Viking. Beating a hated rival at the same time will give him some love in Minnesota. It will be a well fought close affair, but the home team survives.

OUR PICK:VIKINGS

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Can Jayden Daniels stay on the field this year for the Commanders? The Eagles will still have that solid defense and an offense with a balanced attack, even though they traded away one of their top play makers AJ Brown. Daniels in his rookie season had the Commanders going deep into post-season. Last year he only managed to play in seven games due to injuries.

Daniels may be the ghost of RGIII who was a duel threat quarterback that took on the big hits. Robert Griffin was basically a 1 year wonder in Washington. After that great season, he turned into a fragile QB. Right now with the Commanders you just have too many questions. Will Daniels stay healthy? What’s the state of the offensive line due to the injury of Laremy Tunsil, their top guy in the trenches? What can we expect from that defense that was not really that good last year? I have to go Eagles because of their defense. Because they can run the ball. Which will open up the passing game for them.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

DALLAS COWBOYS AT NEW YORK GIANTS

Every year the football world has to throw the Cowboys down our throats. I’m not buying that they are America’s team either. The Cowboys had one of the top offenses in the league last year. Which I expect the same this season with the talent they have. Can the Cowboys play defense? Last year was not good for the Boys on defense. Meanwhile the Giants have a new head coach in John Harbaugh, the former Ravens HC. Which is a move that should get this team better than what they were last year. It could be a slow process or things will happen quickly. Harbaugh is relying on the growth of his QB Jaxson Dart, who started 12 games last year in his rookie season. Dart played in 14 games total. He beat the Cowboys in the one start he had against them. His record was 4-8 as a starter. He’s a duel threat QB who dealt with his own injuries and some of his top play makers were sidelined multiple weeks. The Cowboys added some pieces to their defense that surrendered about 30 points per game last year. The Cowboys are 11-1 in the last 12 meetings in New York. Dallas has a perfect 8-0 record vs the Cowboys on prime time games. Dak Prescott is 14-3 life time vs the Giants in his career. Give me the Cowboys in this game. They will win but it will not be easy this go around.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

DENVER BRONCOS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

The Chiefs are coming off a season last year where they missed the post-season. The Broncos reclaimed the AFC West as they were the number 1 seed in the post-season. Each team has their starting quarterback coming back from a season ending injury. Patrick Mahomes went down in week 15 of regular season. Bo Nix did finish the game in the Divisional round of the AFC post-season but did not play in the championship game. Are the Chiefs dynasty done? It will not be easy for the Chiefs because of the improvement in the AFC West. The Broncos and Chargers you can say are better than KC. The Raiders will show improvement this season as well. The Broncos had one of the top defenses in the league last year. The Broncos swept the Chiefs in the two game series. Shiny new objects for both teams. The Chiefs added the MVP of last year’s Superbowl in Kenneth Walker III, who helped the Seahawks beat down of the Patriots. Then Broncos added Jaylen Waddle who was a big part of the Dolphins aerial attack the last few years. Is Patrick Mahomes still Patrick Mahomes? That will be the biggest question this season? Will he be able to mobile coming off the knee injury? I think the Broncos are the better team here. Mahomes will need to shake out some rust which could come in a few weeks. That Broncos defense is the key.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

2026 NFL SEASON & PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

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Here at Wild Shamrock Headquarters, we are a garage with a bar inside it and bucket for the bathroom. This season we are going scientific with our predictions. No injury reports. No bar graphs. No data. Straight out picking how each team does from a hat. Obviously we need the most luck we can get, beside the luck of the Irish. Who knows what the real NFL script has in store for us simpletons this season. Nothing is stuck in glue and permanent with our records and selections. We have not done very well in the past with our selections. For funzies we throw our hat into the ring and pick each NFL team’s record in regular season along with a division record. Then we select 7 playoff teams from each conference. We then have a set of conference championships. Then finally a Superbowl match up with a prediction. Hope you enjoy it!! P.S. If we have your team doing poorly, no worries they might do the total opposite.

DIVISION RECORDS

THE NFC CONFERENCE

NFC EAST

#1. Philadelphia Eagles (10-7)

#2.Dallas Cowboys (8-9)

#3.New York Giants (8-9)

#4.Washington Commanders (6-11)

I like the Giants improving with the hire of John Harbaugh. The Cowboys continue to be just hype. The Commanders will find out they need a new franchise quarterback. Which leaves the Eagles by default winning the division.

NFC NORTH

#1.Detroit Lions (10-7)

#2.Green Bay Packers (9-8)

#3.Minnesota Vikings (9-8)

#4.Chicago Bears (8-9)

The Lions will benefit from playing a weaker schedule like the Bears did last year. The Bears will be shell shocked from the schedule they have to play this season. While the Vikings and Packers eke out winning records barely in a tough division.

NFC SOUTH

#1.New Orleans Saints (9-8)

#2.Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8)

#3.Atlanta Falcons (7-10)

#4.Carolina Panthers (7-10)

The Saints finish from last year has me hopeful they can win one of the worst divisions in football. The Buccaneers ironed out Baker Mayfield’s contract. The Buccaneers lost a few guys from last year. The Falcons QB situation is horrific. The Panthers shocked some teams the way they played in the second half of last season to make it to the post-season. No sneaking up on teams this year for Carolina.

NFC WEST

#1. LA Rams (14-3)

#2.Seattle Seahawks (12-5)

#3.San Francisco 49ers (11-6)

#4.Arizona Cardinals (5-12)

Everyone in this division could win the Superbowl or make it that far except the Cardinals.

AFC CONFERENCE

AFC EAST

#1.Buffalo Bills (12-5)

#2.New England Patriots (8-9)

#3.New York Jets (5-12)

#4.Miami Dolphins (3-14)

The Bills will reclaim this division. The Patriots will take a step backwards this year. No easy road for New England like they had last year. Same ole Jets and Dolphins. Jets will show some improvement.

AFC NORTH

#1.Baltimore Ravens (11-6)

#2. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)

#3.Pittsburgh Steelers (8-9)

#4.Cleveland Browns (5-12)

The Ravens defense gets back on track. I’m not buying the Steelers reunion with Aaron Rodgers and his former head coach, Mike McCarthy, in Pittsburgh. The Browns have QB issues. The Bengals’ questionable defense and hot and cold streaks will linger once again.

AFC SOUTH

#1.Houston Texans (10-7)

#2.Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8)

#3.Indianapolis Colts (7-10)

#4.Tennessee Titans (6-11)

This division: You never know what you will get at the QB position. Daniel Jones had the Colts at 8-2 before he went down last year. Do you trust Jones having another great season and doing it in back-to-back years? CJ Stroud seems to get worse every season since his rookie year. Trevor Lawrence I think will lead the NFL in interceptions. The Titans will show improvement as they go into their second season with their rookie QB from last year.

AFC WEST

#1.Denver Broncos (12-5)

#2. LA Chargers (11-6)

#3.Kansas City Chiefs (9-8)

#4. Las Vegas Raiders (7-10)

Can the Broncos keep winning close games like they did last year? I truly think Patrick Mahomes’ injury from last year will prevent his Houdini acts in the pocket of his escape abilities. This will haunt the Chiefs. The Raiders will be better. The Chargers still have not won a post-season game with Justin Herbert.

POST SEASON

NFC SEEDING

Number 1 seed: LA Rams

Number 2: Detroit Lions

Number 3: Philadelphia Eagles

Number 4: New Orleans Saints

AFC

Number 1 seed: Denver Broncos

Number 2: Buffalo Bills

Number 3: Baltimore Ravens

Number 4: Houston Texans

WILD CARDS

NFC

#5. Seattle Seahawks, #6. San Francisco 49ers, #7. Green Bay Packers

AFC

#5.LA Chargers, #6. Cincinnati Bengals, #7. Kansas City Chiefs

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

NFC

San Francisco 49ers vs LA Rams

AFC

Buffalo Bills vs Denver Broncos

THE SUPERBOWL

Buffalo Bills vs LA Rams

Buffalo Bills win their first ever Superbowl!!!

THE DYNAMIC DUO OF PASS RUSHERS

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When the LA Rams made that huge trade landing one of the best defensive ends in the game in Myles Garrett, you felt like their was a disturbance in the force. My gut feeling In the pit of my stomach told me just watch Aaron Donald come out of retirement and suit up once again for the Rams. Donald, who played ten seasons in the NFL and helped the Rams win their first Superbowl, being a resident in L.A., is coming back. Donald hung up the spikes in 2023 at the age of 32. From 2014 until he retired in ’23, he was the most feared defensive tackle in the league. Now he will return to the NFL at the age of 35 and team up with Garrett, who has all kinds of defensive awards like Donald had during his career. Could these two defensive studs be one of the best dynamic duos in the NFL of all-time? I’m not talking Batman and Robin. This is like Batman and Superman teaming up to disrupt every offensive game plan in the league.

If you tallied the numbers combined for both Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald, you’d have over 200 sacks by two players on the same team career-wise. Donald has 111 sacks in his career playing his entire career with the Rams. Which started in St.Louis when the Rams drafted him and eventually moved back to LA from Arch-Town. In 9 seasons Myles Garrett has only played with one franchise before heading to LA in a trade with the Browns, that happened several weeks ago. Our apologies playing in Cleveland that long. Garrett has tallied up 125.5 sacks in his career so far and he is only 30 years of age. Now you have two guys playing on the defensive unit that have racked up multiple Pro-Bowl honors. Along with both of them winning multiple defensive player of the year awards. You know that both guys will be enshrined in Canton some day on the first ballot when they are eligible. Don’t be fooled by their ages as well. Garrett is coming off one of the best seasons in his career as he tied the NFL record with the most sacks in one season. Now Donald is 35 years of age and watching his clips him working out, he does not look like he will miss a beat. In ten seasons Donald never had any lower body injuries. I think the few years off have rested the wear and tear on his body, so it’s like if time stood still for him. He’s 35 but coming back as a 32 year old in a 35 year old body. These are two guys that opposing teams plan their game plan around. Now these offensive coordinators have to deal with two of the best defenders of all-time. With these guys getting attention, it will open up plenty of doors for other Rams defenders to have some big games on the field on Sundays. Last year the Rams defense was solid. They were not the best unit in the league but could hold their own.

Could Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald go down in history as one of the best duos on the defensive line and put up numbers as some of the best of all-time ever in the NFL?

In 198,1 the New York Jets defense was called the New York Sack Exchange. Between Mark Gastineau and Joe Klecko, they racked up 40.5 sacks that year.

The other New York team, the Giants, had their own duo. Carl Banks and the great L.T. Yep, Lawrence Taylor who put the fear of god into the quarterbacks’ eyes. The Giants went on multiple championship runs with these guys causing havoc in the 80’s.

The Eagle has landed. I’m surprised those great Eagles defenses, when they had Reggie White in his prime and Jerome Brown, never won a Superbowl in Philadelphia. White would win a Superbowl after his Eagles days with the Packers. In the late 80’s & early 90’s, Brown and White were monsters on that Philadelphia defense.

The Denver Broncos had two of these guys that were the main reason why they won Superbowl 50. It was Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware, who created mayhem on the Broncos defense. It was Miller who earned MVP honors in that Superbowl in which he turned Cam Newton into a soft cookie after his humiliation on the grand stage.

Last year Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. on that Houston Texans defense tallied up 27 sacks between the two of them.

You wonder: How do these teams still have available cap space to fit in a guy like Aaron Donald? He will be paid 20 million in his return. The 35 year old that was drafted out of the University of Pittsburgh where Donald played his college ball, can turn the one year deal into a 30 million value with incentives. Playoff incentives. Obviously for the Rams it is Superbowl or bust here. I wrote when the Rams traded for Myles Garrett, it was a check mate style of move. The Rams last year without Garrett and without Donald made it all the way to the NFC championship. They lost a close one in a thriller. The Seahawks would go on to beat up the Patriots who really did not belong in the big game. Last year you could easily say that Seattle had the better defense. Their defense was nicknamed the Dark Side. With the additions of Donald and Garrett, the Rams may get a nickname and right now are clear favorites to win it all this upcoming season. The Rams have one of the best offenses in the league. Matthew Stafford is one of the better quarterbacks in the league and has won a ring already. The Rams are loaded in playmakers. They have a balanced attack, as their running game is lethal like their aerial attack. The Rams head coach, Sean McVay, is a genius at his position. Many reasons you can pick the Rams to win it all. Donald seeing that, got the itch again to play football. Can the Rams defense be up their with the 1985 Bears dominant D after this season? Right now the Rams have Godzilla and King Kong on their defensive line. That’s scary shit.

BEARS HAVE A BEAST TO REPLACE DEXTER AND HIS TABLE ON THE DEFENSIVE LINE

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Gervon Dexter Sr. had a career year last season for the Bears as he tallied up 6 victims on his table. Six quarterbacks he sacked playing on the Bears defensive line. In 2023’s NFL draft, the Bears selected defensive lineman Dexter Sr. in the second round 53rd overall from Florida University. Last year Dexter was in his 3rd season with the Bears and heading into his last season under his rookie contract, when he was traded to the Atlanta Falcons. The 24 year old defensive lineman netted the Bears in return a 5th round draft pick and a piece for their secondary in Clark Phillips III, who is a corner back. Ben Johnson and the Bears coaching staff think they have a beast for Dexter Sr.’s replacement which is rookie defensive line man Jordan van den Berg who is native of South Africa and played his college ball at Georgia Tech. The Bears head coach describes van den Berg as a beast. Did the Bears make the right decision on this trade? One of the criticisms was the Bears defense lacked guys able to kill the quarterback. Dexter Sr. was coming off a career year.

The Atlanta Falcons were relying on 8 year veteran defensive end 30 year old Da’Shawn Hand who played for the Chargers last year. Hand is a former Detroit Lion who suffered a leg injury in preseason. The Falcons revamped their d-line this off season with their new general manager Ian Cunningham, who was actually the Bears assistant general manager last season. He was a part of the front office when the Bears drafted Gervon Dexter Sr. back in 2023. The Falcons are getting a big physical presence to their defensive lineman who is playing for a contract next year and playing for a multi year deal if he continues to improve his game every year. He however has suffered a hamstring injury last Tuesday and did not travel with the team for their joint practices with the Titans in Tennessee. He obviously missed the preseason finale with the Titans as well. In three seasons, Dexter Sr. has racked up 13.5 table victims on quarterbacks. Which is 13.5 total sacks. His rookie year he tallied 2.5 sacks. In 2024 he tallied 5 sacks. Then six last year. Dexter Sr. has way more sacks then the guy he is replacing, Hand, who has 6.5 in his entire 8 year career. The Falcons in this deal have an upgrade.

Jordan van cen Berg is a massive man weighting 310 lbs and standing at 6’3″. He was drafted in the 6th round by the Chicago Bears in the 2026 NFL draft and he is 24 years of age. He was born in South Africa. He played for three different colleges starting with smaller school, Iowa Western, then moved on to Penn State, and concluded his college career with Georgia Tech. The Bears liked what they have seen in preseason to make this deal by trading Gervon Dexter Sr. Actually Dexter Sr. is bigger than van den Berg as he weighs 326 1bs and stands at 6’6″. The Bears are going smaller, but they think van den Berg will make an impact right away. Last year for the Yellow Jackets he was one of the leading defenders in the conference with 11 tackles for loss of yards. Last year he was the first All-ACC selection. In 2024 he was second team in All-ACC selection. He has shown his dominating skills with the Bears offensive line in all the practices. He has shown he can move bodies up front, has speed, and plenty of athleticism. They love his strength. The Bears think he can pick up the slack or play better than the guy they just traded away. Being called a beast by your head coach is a compliment for any football player working in the trenches.

What will the Bears be getting in cornerback Clark Phillips III? He also is 24 years of age. He was also drafted in the 2023 NFL draft in the 4th round by the Falcons from Utah University. He will provide the Bears with some depth to their secondary. Especially the Bears have some injuries at the position. He is young and could be a rotational piece for the Bears defense. He has played in 28 games and made 7 starts in his career. Last year Clark missed most of the year with a triceps injury. In 2024 he had 1 interception with two forced fumbles and fumble recovery. He defended 5 passes. He racked up 50 solo tackles in three seasons in the NFL. This trade is a gamble on the Bears part. You’re banking on a rookie to replace a veteran who had success playing the position. You get some draft capital out of the deal that could get you a future piece for a rainy day. The corner back you are getting back is questionable. Will he be able to deliver this Bears defense with any kind of success? Dennis Allen. the Bears defensive coach, has had success being a defensive coordinator. The Bears defense were very good at getting takeaways last year. That was really the only thing they did well. The Bears have made multiple changes on that side of the ball this off season. Which they are hoping these moves pan out. The Bears offense can deliver the goods. It will be a tougher schedule for the Bears since they went deep into post-season last year. They need that defense to catch up to the offense. This is a trade they are rolling the dice on. Everything Bears head coach Ben Johnson has touched since taking the job in Chicago has turned into gold. We will see if this move will be golden which we will find out very soon.

THE DAWG POUND IS REVOLTING

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When Cleveland Browns fans heard the news that Deshaun Watson will be their starting quarterback to start the season, their fan base began revolting against ownership. The Jim Brown statue outside Huntington Bank stadium was vandalized with all kind of signs about how they feel about the sexual predator being their starting quarterback. It was supposed to have been an open quarterback competition between Watson and Shaduer Sanders this preseason. It’s obvious the Browns fans were gas lighted by Cleveland’s ownership and new head coach Todd Monken. Sanders had the better numbers than Watson during the preseason. This decision comes right after Watson called out the Dawg Pound once again, which are the home fans that pay for the tickets, that they are disrespectful for booing him. As Watson’s feelings have been hurt once again as he does not believe in the old saying, “sticks and bones will break my bones but names will never hurt.” The Browns ownership admit they took a swing and missed when it comes to the trade that brought Watson from Houston to Cleveland. Somehow they continue to give him the keys to the starting QB job which could result in their younger quarterbacks taking a step backwards in their development.

Do you remember when the former Browns owner Art Modell moved the franchise to Baltimore in the wee hours of the morning in 1996? The Browns became the Baltimore Ravens in 1996. All Cleveland got was they retained their name Browns and all their rights with the history. Then in 1999 the Browns were back as an expansion team. The Ravens would win multiple Superbowl titles while the Browns became a joke. The Browns have not won a division title since 1989. They went 0-16 in 2017. In 2018 they won one game and finished with a 1-15 record. 1964 was the last year the Cleveland Browns have won a championship. In 2012, Jimmy Haslam and his wife Dee purchased the Browns. Under his watch he let his guys in the front office trade all that draft capital to the Houston Texans for Deshaun Watson. Even with all the baggage he came with. Over 20 accusers accusing Watson of sexual assaulting them when he would be getting a rub down from a massage therapist. Jimmy decided to still pay the sexual predator a 230 million guaranteed contract for 5 seasons. Watson has not played a single snap in the NFL since 2024. In 2021 he wanted out of Houston because he did not get the say in who the Texans should hire as their new head coach. He did not play in 2021 because he wanted to be traded and then all the allegations and law suits came out of the wood work. In 2022 he would play in only six games for the Browns because he was suspended by the league because those women filed lawsuits over his bad behavior and got 10 games for those actions. In 2023 his best season in a Browns uniform, it lasted six games. He went 5-1 in those six starts. Then in 2024 he managed to play in seven games and was awful as he went 1-6 behind center. That was the year that the DAWG pound unleashed their happiness seeing the sexual predator’s season end right then and there.

The Dawg pound cheered as they carted dear Watson off the field in hopes they will never see him as their starting quarterback. He is 9-10 in 19 starts in 4 years with the Browns. Teams play 17 games per season now in the NFL. One season and 2 games to be paid all of that money. For what? To see another year of the Browns trotting his arse back on the field to get their money’s worth.

I know Shedeur Sanders is not an answer as the franchise quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. In 7 games he went 3-4 last year as the starter. He was named to the Pro-Bowl as an alternate because of other star quarterbacks that did not want to waste their time playing flag football. Sanders led all quarterbacks in interceptions from week 11 until the end of the season. Sanders looked better in preseason than Watson. In preseason we don’t see full starting defenses out there on the field with a full scheme against the starting offenses in the league. Coaching staffs definitely judge their players in practices as well in the games. Rumor has it when Sanders is not starting, his game prep is very poor. Sanders is only 24 years of age and Watson is 30 years of age. Can a team develop Sanders? He is a duel threat QB with poor arm strength and turns over the ball. Watson is not much better but has the stronger arm. Can you trade one of these guys? Probably not. Sanders and Watson are head cases no other teams will want to deal with. Watson, no team would want his baggage to get their own fan base to turn on ownership. Shedeur being Deion Sanders’ son in prime time did not do his son any favors telling him to tank interviews before the NFL draft. No team wants a kid who has not done anything concrete in the NFL to walk into their locker room like his shit don’t stink.

The Browns also drafted another two quarterbacks in the last two seasons. The Browns drafted Dillon Gabriel in the 3rd round of the 2025 NFL draft. That was two rounds before the Browns drafted Shedeur Sanders who was picked in the 5th round. Gabriel played in 10 games last year and had 6 starts where he went 1-5 in those games. He threw 7 touchdown passes to only two interceptions. Sanders in 7 starts had 7 touchdown passes to 10 interceptions. Dillon had the higher completion percentage than Sanders, but only by a few points being the difference. The Browns also drafted Taylen Green in the 6th round of the 2026 NFL draft. Green is also a duel threat quarterback that stands at 6’6″ and weighs 2151bs. He played his college balls at Arkansas and before being a Razerback, he played on the smurf turf in Boise State. He’s a big dude that did some nice things this preseason.

Deshaun Watson apologized recently for his second attack on fans for booing him. Watson made his apology after learning he will be the starting quarterback for the Browns to start this season. As a fan: Why would you pay the big amount of money for a ticket to see a bum like Watson play football? What kind of role model is Watson for all these younger QBs this team has? Can the Browns keep 4 quarterbacks on their roster? Sure they can keep three and stash perhaps Taylen Green on their practice squad. What kind of year are the Browns going to have? The Browns had to trade their best defender away in Myles Garrett in efforts to get some of that draft capital they lost by acquiring Watson. This is a team that will not make it to the post-season. Watson will have to be top notch best in the league to find someone to take him off your hands. No way Cleveland will bring him back next year. It is a waste to play Watson right now when you can see what you have in these other guys they drafted. Especially next season which the draft will be loaded with a ton of solid quarterbacks. Maybe you keep two of these young guys and draft a franchise quarterback next season. Watson right now could be a bridge type quarterback just to get things started for this new coaching staff for their first season under the microscope. By week 4 we could see one of the other QBs get thrown to the wolves. At least Shedeur and Gabriel have a taste of the NFL game from last year. To get the speed of the pro game down and adjust from the college game. If I’m a fan I would want to see this team lose with the young guys instead of the veteran Watson. If this is a tanking season it will open up doors for the draft next year. Watson, it’s post-season or bust with him. Next season he will not find another team to play on if he looks the same as the 2024 version of himself. He will have to play like the days he wore a Texans uniform to come back in 2027 and be some other team’s cancer in their locker room. He will be blackballed by the owners of the NFL is my opinion. That would be good for all massage therapists throughout the country. I hope the Dawg pound continues to revolt and hope we see plenty of empty seats in Cleveland. When empty seats hurt the owner’s pockets, they finally come to their senses and make the right moves. Jimmy Haslam is a moron who needs to make a right move to save himself from the mob with torches and pitch forks.

JUST HEARTBREAKING HEARING BILLS DEFENSIVE TACKLE, ED OLIVER, LOST HIS 2 YEAR OLD SON

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When you hear a story about any parent losing any of their kids, it’s just heartbreaking. It’s just totally unfair. How it happens you can slice and dice anyway you want, and at the end it’s horrific. On June 28th this year, Bills Defensive Tackle Ed Oliver had to experience something no parent would want. As they say, kids should bury their parents. Not the parents burying their kids. Ed’s two year old son Ed Jr. the III was found unresponsive in the Oliver swimming pool at their home in Texas. Local deputies responded to a life and danger call after the parents found him unresponsive in the pool. Little Ed was only two years old as they pronounced him dead at the local hospital. Like any parent, Ed broke down in tears hearing the news as he most likely prayed some miracle could have occurred at that time when things went hectic. This is why athletes in this world are actually human beings. Most people think they operate with another species out on the court or field. This story shows you why many don’t like the press for the fake or the real news. This sometimes instead of letting the parents grieve and share this horrific event in their lives when they are good and ready.

Ed Oliver is 28 years of age and on the football field he can be a one man Army wrecking crew of any solid offensive scheme in the league. Last year Oliver alone had the forced fumble he stripped out of the hands of Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry in week 1 of the 2025 season. This was the key play that helped the Bills win their opener versus Baltimore coming back from double digits down in the 4th quarter with only a few minutes remaining. Due to injuries, last year Oliver only ended up playing 3 games in regular season. He had 3 sacks, 10 solo tackles and the forced fumble in that short span. He did come back for the wild card round of the AFC playoffs but would not play in Denver during the divisional round. Oliver was drafted in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft 9th overall from the University of Houston. The state of Texas is still his home away from his second home in Western New York, where the Buffalo Mafia love him for his play on the field. In 7 seasons all with the Bills, he has played in 95 total games and has tallied up 30 sacks, 154 solo tackles, and has forced 9 fumbles. He is the heart and soul of this Bills defense.

It was a podcaster who broke the story of the drowning of Ed’s son. Which angered Oliver’s teammates especially Josh Allen, the Bills quarterback. He thanked the local media who did know the story and did not bite on it because it’s the right thing to do letting this family grieve. When something like this occurs, someone will be blamed. Little toddlers especially, someone should have eyeballs on them at all times. However kids will be kids and not think about anything and just do stuff like cross the street without looking both ways. Like jumping in a pool not knowing how to swim. I should have been hit by several cars back when I was a younger lad just having fun and not having a care in the world. Most kids along with toddlers seem to have 9 lives or more. This did not happen in this story. Some couples will finger point believing it’s the other partner’s fault. The authorities concluded in their investigation it was ruled accidental. This is not the first child this has happened to. Many married couples that have a bond rooted in the same pot will find a way to not blame each other and go on while grieving because this is something that does not leave your mindset. Parents will always think about their own child they lost way too early. Especially only two years old. Especially not just the parents. What about Ed Jr’s sister, little Ava? What about all the rest of the extended family that loved this kid? It is gut wrenching is my thought on what they are going through. For the blogger trying to get his claim of fame with being the first to report this. Shame on you!!

I like how the Buffalo Bills organization has rallied around their comrade in this heartbreaking moment in his life. The Bills Mafia is one of the best fan bases in sports. I can see them sending their condolences in masses to Ed and the Oliver family and trying to be supportive of a guy they been following for 7 seasons and cheering at what he has done on the field. Who knows when Ed will put the pads and helmet on and head back to field and play the game he has loved since he was 2 years old watching it. Football could be a nice outlet for Oliver. His heart is broken in a million pieces as football is not the main priority in his life, as family is right now. They should have been the ones that told it. Being MIA from the club house and on the field would have stirred up a hornets nest where the Bills front office may not be able to keep the lid on this during the regular season. Ed may play and dedicate the season to his boy. I’m sure his teammates will make Ed’s nightmare into a mission to be their best and play for him and their friend, brother from another mother, as football will go on. Emotion could only get you so far in the game of football. As Ed Oliver will need the time he needs before he’s committed to rejoin the guys on the field. No one would want to go through what he and his family are going through right now. Our prayers go out to Ed and his family!!!

THE CLEVELAND BROWNS SHOULD HAVE KEPT BAKER MAYFIELD AT HOME WITH PROGRESSIVE

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I was watching some preseason football yesterday in a game that involved two franchises that have had big issues at the quarterback position. The Chicago Bears were hosting the Cleveland Browns. The Bears finally got their guy as they drafted Caleb Williams number 1 overall in 2024. Last year Williams showed the NFL why he was selected number 1. Williams right now may be that franchise quarterback the Bears have been lacking since the 1940’s when Sid Luckman was the Big Lebowski for the Monsters of the Midway. If I was a Browns fan trying to stomach the play of the sexual predator Deshaun Watson along with Shedeur Sanders, I would be looking for a new team right now. Even Dillon Gabriel looks like your typical quarterback made at a Ohio factory. The last time the Browns have had a franchise quarterback, you have to say Bernie Kosar was the dude in the 80’s and early 90’s. I think the Browns actually had their franchise quarterback in Baker Mayfield who they gave up on after 4 seasons.

Baker Mayfield was originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns number 1 overall in the 2018 NFL draft. Mayfield was going to be the Browns savior at the quarterback position after decades of inferior products at the Ohio factory. Which is a list never-ending and longer than anything Santa had at the North Pole. Mayfield made 59 starts while playing in 60 games in those 4 seasons and had a losing record of 29-30. He threw 92 touchdown passes to only 56 interceptions. In the last three seasons Mayfield now is 31 years of age and has started 51 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has a winning record in Tampa with 27-24 record behind center starting. He has thrown 95 touchdowns in three seasons with the Buccaneers to only 37 interceptions. With age he has gotten better. In 2020 he led the Browns to the post-season for the first time since 2002. Mayfield won his first post-season game that year, but the Browns would lose in the divisional round. Then in 2021 Mayfield tried to gut it out playing most of the season with an injury as he started 14 games and he went 6-8 as the starter that year. The Browns would not make back-to-back post season trips. The Browns after 2021 cut ties with their number 1 pick. It looked like the Browns front office was right in cutting ties with Mayfield. In 2022 with the Panther and Rams combined, he started 10 games and went 2-8 in 10 total starts. In 2023, he signed with the Buccaneers and now has gotten Tampa Bay to the post-season twice in three seasons.

I know it’s only preseason, but I was not impressed with the return of Deshaun Watson who has not played a regular season game since 2024. Watson went 11-15 passes for 126 passing yards. He fumbled the football. He was sacked. He did not look crisp, but more uncomfortable like all his massage therapists after a session with the sexual predator. In 2024 he went 1-6 as the Browns starter. Watson is on this team for one reason – the guarantee money the Cleveland front office forked out in that stupid trade acquiring him from Houston. I really don’t care if Shedeur Sanders made the pro-bowl as an alternate last season because the other real quarterbacks in the league did not want to participate in a flag football game. Sanders is dreadful. He threw an interception and completed 6-11 passes for 79 passing yards for the day. Dillon Gabriel also threw a pick and completed 5 passes out of 8 attempts for 23 freaking pass yards. This is your quarterback room. The Bears second string quarterback Tyson Bagent is better than all three guys Cleveland trotted out there. I don’t know if you could make one decent quarterback out of the three guys Cleveland had if you were a mad scientist.

I’m not sure how many actual quarterbacks Cleveland had trying to right the ship since Bernie Kosar was behind center. It’s a list of number one draft picks and veteran starters and career backups trying to be a starting QB taking their shots behind center for the Brownies. The Browns have shaken the New England tree a few times with guys like Brian Hoyer, Bailey Zappe, and Jacoby Brissett. Derek Anderson was a one year wonder. Johnny Football Manziel and Tim Couch were number 1 round busts. Why did the Browns draft a 28 year old rookie starting quarter back named Brandon Weedon? The Mighty Quinn was not mighty in a Browns uniform with Brady Quinn. Jason Campbell went 1-7 as a starter in Cleveland. Case Keenum is the Bears third string quarterback and he is better than what the Browns have in 2026. Thad Lewis may have been a Cosby kid on the Bill Cosby show. Robert Griffin III aka RG3 was a one year wonder in Washington and did nothing in Cleveland. Cody Kessler went 0-8 as a starter. Then the backups trying to pretend they are starters, the list starts with Colt McCoy, Nick Mullens, and Seneca Wallace. Jeff Garcia has seen better days elsewhere. Ty Detmer was Tim Couch’s mentor as you can see how that worked out. The great Kevin Hogan. DeShone Kizer was 0-15 as starter in Cleveland. Doug Pederson won 1 game in a Browns uniform. Austin Davis completed 48% of his passes. Charlie Frye did have some cooking going 6-13 as a starter. Josh McCown collected every team’s uniform in the NFL, made a stop in Cleveland, and earned his being sacked 41 times. Joe Flacco did well for the Browns in the first stint taking over for the injured Watson to lead Cleveland back to the post-season. I’m sure I’m missing a few names as well.

That is quite the list of quarterbacks that the Cleveland Browns have marched out on the field every Sunday since Bernie left town. That is a factory of recalls in which the three current QB’s the Browns have should be sent back and probably be destroyed in the process. If I was a Browns fan, I would definitely be missing Bake Mayfield. He was a guy you had. He had success on the field. He was a guy trying to play through an injury which you have to respect that type of person. Imagine if Deshaun Watson gets a boo boo he’s out multiple weeks. Mayfield is likeable. How do you like and support a sexual predator? Even Shedeur Sanders how he thought he should go number 1 overall in the NFL draft and fell to the 5th round. How he tanked interviews with teams that his father Deon did not like or think his son should play for. I’m not buying their jerseys. The Browns had to trade their star defensive end Myles Garrett to get back the draft capital they sank on the Watson deal years prior. It is Cleveland and they call their home turf the Dawg pound. I guess you need to stock the quarterback position with some real ugly mutts. If Mayfield stayed in Cleveland would this team be different right now? Garrett may still be on the Browns defense. They could have been the top team in their division. The Bengals have a terrible defense. The Steelers are not winning a Superbowl with the aging Aaron Rodgers. The Ravens can’t hold onto a lead in the 4th quarter and Lamar Jackson does not have the killer instinct in the this league to win the big games. Mayfield is a grinder and a solid leader which you can’t take that away from him.

CAN THE VIKINGS FIND LIGHTNING IN THE BOTTLE WITH KYLER MURRAY?

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The Minnesota Vikings have already made their choice for who will be the starting quarterback to start the season. It is not their number 1 draft pick from 2024, selected 10th overall. This off-season the Vikings signed former Arizona Cardinals veteran quarterback Kyler Murray to a free agent contract. Murray gets the keys to the Vikings car while JJ McCarthy, last year’s starter, will be bumped to the back seat of the Vikings quarterback room. The Vikings have yet to play a preseason game, so the coaching staff must have liked what they saw at the practices to name Murray their guy for QB 1. Seeing Sam Darnold. who the Vikings had as their starting quarterback in 2024, then go Seattle and help the Seahawks win it all last season must be weighting on their minds Enough that they needed to name Murray the starter now rather than later.

JJ McCarthy had an unfortunate injury in the preseason of 2024 that sidelined him for the rest of the 2024 season. That’s when Sam Darnold got the starting job for the Vikings. Darnold was a former first round pick by the Jets in the NFL 2018 draft as he was picked 3rd overall. In three seasons with the Jets he was labeled a first round bust. His starting record with the Jets those three seasons was 13-25. Then he escaped New York, went to Carolina for two seasons, and ended up with a losing record there of 8-9. After Carolina, Darnold spent 1 season with San Francisco, had one start, and took a loss. It may have been Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers head coach, & the way he ran his offense and what he wanted his QB’s to do in his scheme. Maybe Darnold took some of that knowledge with him to Minnesota. Then being coached by the Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, another offensive genius in the NFL. Perhaps we are all wrong and Darnold sold his soul to the devil to figure out the NFL. Darnold then put up a pair of 14-3 records his last two seasons in the NFL. One with the Vikings. One with Seattle. The Vikings almost had the number 1 seed, but a loss to the Lions in the last game of the season meant they ended up as a wild card. Then were quickly dispatched in the first round of the post-season because Darnold’s two bad games came at the end in crunch time. Those two games the Vikings thought, “Well, we can move on from Darnold as we still have our number 1 pick from 2024 to guide this high octane offense in 2025.” Darnold’s magic season paid off with a nice hefty contract from the Seahawks. Darnold did the same thing in regular season as he did with the Vikings. Then in post-season he rocked it all the way through the playoffs and in the Superbowl. The Vikings did not make the post-season. McCarthy had a 6-4 record overall as a starter. He also missed some games due to injuries. In those 10 games, McCarthy had 11 touchdown passes with 12 interceptions running the Minnesota offense. While Darnold had 35 touchdown passes with the same amount of interceptions in 2024 wearing the purple and white plus played all 17 games.

Kyler Murray comes to the Vikings with a losing record behind center after 7 years in Arizona. Murray has played in 87 NFL games and has a record of 38-48-1 as a starter. Darnold came in to the Vikings the same way. Murray is also a former number 1 draft pick who was selected number 1 overall in 2019. In 7 seasons Murray has only guided the Cardinals to one post-season and has only played in 1 playoff game which resulted in a loss. You can see Murray and Darnold have some things in common. Murray was never labeled a first round bust as Darnold was. Murray started his career off stronger than Darnold as he was named AP Rookie of the year. Murray is also a 2x pro-bowler. The biggest question of them all is: What have you done lately? Murray has a hard time staying on the field. Last year he played in 5 games. Then in 2023 he managed to play in only 8 games. In 2022 he played in 11 games. In 2024 Murray did play in all 17 games for the Cardinals. Murray is a duel threat quarterback who has tallied up 20,460 passing yards in his career. He has thrown 121 touchdown passes compared to only 60 interceptions. With his legs he has rushed for 3,193 rushing yards in his career and has 32 rushing touchdowns. Murray is only 29 years of age.

Two teams from the NFC North made the post-season last year. The Bears and the Packers. The Lions were close. However the Lions made back-to-back post-season play in the 2023 and 2024. The NFC North should once again be a solid division with the Vikings included. Kyler Murray has played in the NFC West for years with great Rams, Seahawks, and 49ers teams playing well at the same time. The Cardinals never had a defense like the Vikings have had the last two seasons. The Vikings have a solid running game. The Vikings have one of the best wide receivers in the game with Justin Jefferson. The Vikings also have multiple play makers. Murray has had some talented pieces he has played with including last year. The Vikings always have had success with signing veteran talented quarterbacks thrown away by their former teams. The Vikings have had a different starting QB every year in the last 4 seasons. Murray is only 29 years of age and he will have lots to prove in his own mindset. He will be playing with a chip on his shoulder. As for JJ McCarthy, his third season he could still be developed as a future asset for the Vikings or could make a nice trade piece as well if they can improve his stock. McCarthy is only 23 years of age and was thrown into the starting role last year which was his rookie year. His first season being injured he just watched and learned. This year he will do the same thing, but he will be practicing while he’s holding the clip board. He will have to be ready because Murray could be hurt as he does have an injury history that could hand the keys right back to him. The Viking philosophy is get everyone on the offense on the same page naming Murray the starter. McCarthy knows his role. Now they can practice this over and over and get Murray up to speed with all his new weapons he will have at his disposal. The Vikings got out of the gates poorly last year even though they won their first game of the season in week 1. The Vikings in the second half got hot and strung together some victories. I expect the Vikings to be back in the post-season picture even with the log jam in the NFC North. Three of the teams may make the post-season. The Vikings just don’t want to be the one at home watching everyone else battle it out in the post-season.

THE NHL IS EYEBALLING SOUTH TEXAS FOR THEIR NEXT EXPANSION TEAM

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The NHL has announced they are looking into putting an expansion team in either Houston or Austin, Texas. The league also has not ruled out bringing a new team to either Atlanta or Arizona in markets the NHL has already been in. The NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has come to an agreement with the Friedkin Family. Dan Friedkin is the CEO of the Friedkin Group & prospective owner of a new NHL franchise. It will be a hefty price of 3.5 million dollars which will be used to help build a new arena in whichever Texas city. Some of that 3.5 billion covers what the NHL calls an expansion fee to become the 33rd NHL team. The league will conduct a six month investigation of the two cities and then decide if either town will get a NHL team. Texas, like Arizona, and Hotlanta, have one thing in common which is they are huge markets. Which is a shame because some of the other options just sound better than adding hockey to a warmer climate in North America.

Other mentioned cities that have been talked about to join the NHL with an expansion team include Indianapolis, New Orleans, Portland (Oregon), Kansas City, and Quebec City. I also have a few cities in my mindset which should be considered for getting an expansion team – especially if some cities get multiple chances. The last two expansion teams, the Las Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken, have been nice additions into the league. The way the Golden Knights make the Stanley Cup Finals and have already won a Cup makes your own city want to ditch their current team and replace them with an expansion team. The Kraken have also made the post-season already in their short history. The old Arizona Coyotes could not get a arena built in the desert for some odd reason. They moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and found a better supporting cast, as in fan base, around the Mammoth. Some times it’s not the fan bases of these cities that make the owner move the franchise elsewhere. These new teams always start with a fan base because the city is usually excited about something new in town. Most of the time it’s the greedy owners that ruin everything and break the hearts of the fan base or just turns them off. Nobody wants to continue lining the pockets of a Greedy Gus. The owner then moves the franchise. The NHL itself is responsible for this kind of foul play. Yes, you Mr. Bettman, the Commissioner of the hockey world should take a look at your ugly self in the mirror. You hope the mirror speaks back and tells him the truth.

What are the pros and cons of some of these cities on the expansion list? Would you want to visit these cities to watch hockey?

AUSTIN, TEXAS

Austin Texas has had some minor league teams in their city. The Austin Ice Bats played in town from 1996-2008. They played in two leagues: the Western Professional Hockey league and the Central Hockey league. The Texas Stars are the current team playing there. The Stars are the Dallas Stars affiliate who play in the AHL. The city of Austin does not have any of the 4 main professional sports teams in its city. The City of Austin you could compare it to Nashville, who now have the Titans in the NFL and Predators who play in the NHL.

HOUSTON, TEXAS

The city of Houston has three professional teams from the 4 main sports. The Houston Texans of the NFL, Rockets of the NBA and those cheating bastards the Astros of the MLB. Houston does have some hockey history. They had the Houston Apollos from 1965-69 which was a farm system for the Montreal Canadiens that played minor league hockey. The Aeros have been the staple of Houston Hockey. The Aeros once won back to back championships in the WHA (World Hockey Association) back in 1974 & 75. That league disbanded. The Aeros would return in 1994 and last until 2013 playing in the IHL (International Hockey League) and the AHL (American Hockey League). Both leagues were minor league hockey.

That jersey with that logo I would love to see in the NHL.

OTHER POTENTIAL LOCATION FOR EXPANSION

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

Atlanta once had the Flames from 1972 through 1980 and then they moved from the state of Georgia to Calgary. To this day they are still the Calgary Flames.

Then Atlanta received another expansion hockey team in 1999 in the NHL. The Atlanta Thrashers lasted 11 seasons and then moved to Winnipeg in 2011. The incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets resurfaced after their city lost their original team in 1996. Those original Jets became the Phoenix Coyotes who then became the Arizona Coyotes.

ARIZONA

Then the Coyotes moved to Utah to become the Mammoth. I would not give the state of Arizona or Atlanta, Georgia another franchise. The NHL has done this did that. You can say bad owners had those franchises. It can still happen again. Even though both are big markets and both have professional teams from the 4 major food groups.

PORTLAND, OREGON

The Buckaroos is a name I would love to see on an NHL jersey. Not in present day, the youth would not buy this name or jersey. Portland has some nice hockey history which includes these Buckaroos who played in the Western Hockey League from 1960-1974. The early Buckaroos which also were later called the Eagles played hockey in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association from 1928-1951. Then we can’t forget about the Portland Rosebuds who played in the same Pacific Coast Hockey Association from the early years of 1914-1918. The city of Portland only has the Trail Blazers of the NBA as their main professional team. A Portland team could be a nice rival to the Seattle Kraken and Vancouver Canucks. Would Seattle and Vancouver lose some fans if Portland, Oregon landed an expansion team?

MONTREAL CANADA

When the NHL moved the Quebec Nordiques to Colorado, it was a travesty. The Nordiques was part of the WHA World Hockey Association in the 1970’s from 72-79. They won the WHA championship in 1977. Then they were one of multiple teams when the league disbanded went to the NHL. From 1979 to 1995 they played in the NHL. Then they moved to Colorado to become the Avalanche. I always thought the city of Quebec got a raw deal. It’s a city that loved its hockey team. The Jets got their team back the city of Quebec should get theirs back.

Another city that should get their team back is Hartford Connecticut. The Whalers are now the Carolina Hurricanes who just won the Stanley Cup. The Whalers left Hartford back in 1997. The Whalers were one of those teams that played in the WHA from 1972-79 & then transitioned to the NHL. They were the New England Whalers at the time in and then they became the Hartford Whalers in 1979 until 1997 which is 25 years. I know the Hurricanes wear that Whalers jersey a few times a year. The Whalers jersey should be in the NHL in present day. To bring them back to Hartford would be a great idea.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

The city of Indianapolis has some hockey history. One team name, the Racers, who played in the World Hockey Association from 1974-78 has me interested. They obviously named the team after the famous car race that is in the city of Indianapolis every year. The Indianapolis Ice played in the CHL and the IHL from 1988 until 2004. They won two titles in 1990 and 2000. The city of Indianapolis had the Capitals, a team that played in the AHL back from 1939-52 and won two Cups – one in ’42 and the other in ’50. The city of Indianapolis has the Pacers in the NBA and Colts in the NFL. This is an interesting option. I like the fact it’s a colder state and kids growing up probably skate outside on frozen rinks loving the game.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

Once upon a time ago, the city of Kansas City did have a NHL team in 1974 that lasted two seasons. They were called the Scouts and Kansas City likes those Indian names like the Chiefs they have in the NFL. The Scouts then became the first Colorado Rockies which now they have a baseball team named that. Then the Rockies left Colorado to become the New Jersey Devils. The city of Kansas City also has the Royals in the MLB. Other hockey history in BBQ town was the Outlaws who skated in the United Hockey League from 2004-2005. They had the Kansas City Blades from 1990 until 2001 in the IHL as they won the Turner Cup back in 1992. Kansas City is a town from the Midwest that has seasons that the youth would bring out the hockey sticks and net to play on some local frozen lake or rink.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

The city of New Orleans does not have a rich history in hockey. They have two professional teams in the Saints of the NFL and Pelicans of the NBA. From 1997-2002, New Orleans had a minor league hockey team called the Brass. Cool logo with horns and trumpets playing that New Orleans style music. They were in the ECHL (East Coast Hockey League). If the city of New Orleans did get a team in the NHL, you could probably come up with a cooler name involving Cajun, gators, crocodiles or voodoo in the name. The Big Easy is an awesome city. Come on hockey. No way.

WILD SHAMROCK RANKINGS ON WHICH TEAM SHOULD GET THE EXPANSION TEAM FROM 1-10

(1 being the top cities & 10 being no way Jose)

#1. Quebec (It’s time the NHL corrected a wrong.)

#2. Indianapolis (No longer just a basketball state, ask Indiana University that.)

#3. Hartford (Another wrong the NHL needs to address and bring back the Whalers.)

#4. Houston (Only if they are nicknamed the Aeros and can play at the old Astro dome which would be cool.)

#5. Portland (Great craft beer town and a gorgeous state in general.)

#6. Austin (I can see Nashville part two as being a nice destination for a weekend away with lots to do there.)

#7. Kansas City (BBQ, BBQ, and BBQ)

#8. Arizona (Only if they have a pool at the new arena like they have with the Diamondbacks stadium in baseball.)

#9.Atlanta (Did that already twice.)

#10. New Orleans (Do they even know what hockey is down there?)

A honorable mention for shits and giggles: Fargo, North Dakota

Fargo could be nicknamed the Wood Chippers. Yes, that is piece of wood not a wooden leg.

Or the Fargo Ice-Holes

THE RETURN OF PENNYWISE TO THE HOUSTON TEXANS DEFENSE

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Last year the Houston Texans defense was ranked number 1 in the entire NFL. The Texans defense allowed 277.2 yards per game which was number 1 overall. Their defense were only 2nd in points allowed as they only allowed 17.4 points per game. They had the number 1 overall pass defense because of their book ends they have as defensive ends. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter are two guys that can kill your quarterback on any given Sunday. They can wreck havoc on your offensive game plan in the very first series of the game. The Texans defense unfortunately could not overcome all the interceptions CJ Stroud threw on the road in New England in the AFC divisional round, which was 4. The Texans would lose that game 28-16. The Patriots would go on the road and beat the Broncos in the AFC Championship at their place to move on to the Superbowl. The Patriots played the Broncos without their starting quarterback and the snow came down very heavy in the second half of that game. The Texans would be home to watch the best defense in the NFC give Drake Maye and the Patriots a beat down with their defense. In the latest move, the Texans added more teeth to their defense in bringing home their former number 1 pick in Jadeveon Clowney.

Jadeveon Clowney returns home to Houston to where it all started. In 2014 he was selected number 1 overall by the Texans from South Carolina University. Clowney played 5 seasons out of his 12 year career with the Texans. His second stint will be a one year deal as his thought process is he has a chance to chase that Superbowl dream with the team he started his career with. In 2019 the Texans placed a franchise tag on their star defensive end. Both sides could not come up with a fair number in a contract extension, so Houston had a problem with Clowney and traded him to Seattle. After Houston, Clowney has not found a permanent home as he has gone team to team. He has been with six teams since he left Houston. Obviously Seattle, he has also played in Baltimore, Carolina, Cleveland, Tennessee, and Dallas last year. Only in Cleveland he stayed longer there and played for the Browns for two seasons instead of the 1 he played with every other franchise. Last year he played in only 13 games for the Cowboys. He signed late and played his first game with the Boys in week 4. In those 13 games he did create havoc chasing down the other team’s quarterback. He tallied up 8.5 sacks and had three of them against the Giants in the season finale. He had 24 solo tackles and forced a fumble in his lone year in Dallas. In 12 seasons he has tallied up 66.5 sacks and has 296 solo tackles. He has racked up 16 forced fumbles. He is a 3x Pro-Bowler. He has never had a double digit sack season, but his career high was close at 9.5 in 2017 when he wore the Texans uniform. In 2023 he matched that number of 9.5 with the Ravens.

You would have to say that Will Anderson Jr., who had 12 sacks, or Danielle Hunter, who had 15 sacks, would be the Pennywise of the Texans defense. That is 27 sacks your starting book ends had last year. You can always add another clown to the defense. Jadeveon Clowney is 33 years old but could still be an asset to this current Texans defense that could unleash the Killer Klowns from outer space at the edges. Clowney will most likely be used as a rotational piece. He could also fill in if Hunter or Anderson Jr. had an injury. Can the Texans come up with a scheme to have all three of these guys on the same line coming after your quarterback? With Clowney you could keep your other two beasts at the book ends refreshed especially when you want them to be ferocious at the end of the games and in the post-season. The Texans may have the best corner back in the NFL with Derek Stingley. They have a very solid middle linebacker in Al-Shaair Azeez when his head is in the game. If CJ Stroud can get his act together and play like he did his rookie year, this team will be in the post-season and could go beyond the divisional round. They added a number 1 running back this off-season in X-Lion David Montgomery. If they run more. Make less mistakes on offense. The improved running game should give the Texans defense more rest in between series. Guys like Clowney along with Anderson and Hunter will be teeing off on quarterbacks this upcoming season. This Clowney move is an under the radar kind of move. But it is savvy. All the greatest defenses of all-time have a slew of stars that coexist and all help take their game to the next level but in a unit style of play. Right now quarterbacks in the NFL are stuck in the middle with Texans clowns to the right of them and Texans Jokers to the left of them.