Before the 2019 NFL regular season began, many people in Chicago were thinking Superbowl. With the great defense in place. A young quarterback ready to take the next step. An offensive guru coach ready to open up the playbook. Kicker was the only problem. Then the whole team regressed. Mitch Trubisky did not take a step forward, rather just a few steps backwards. Looked good at the end of the season, but the jury is still out on Trubisky. The league figured out Matt Nagy’s offense. The defense was just okay.

The defense was not that scary like they were in 2018. Chuck Pagano calling the plays seemed like quarterbacks had all day to throw. If the Bears want to keep their window open and rebound next season, they will have to make some changes. They will have some tough choices. One of the big decisions is what to do at the middle linebacker position. Nick Kwiatkowski or Danny Trevathan? Two talented players. Both are free agents. Both called the plays on the defensive side of the ball. Field generals out there making sure everyone is lined up correctly. Being able to adjust on the fly at times. An important position like Brian Urlacher and Mike Singletary did when they were here.

Danny Trevathan was drafted by the Denver Broncos. Helped Denver win the Superbowl versus Carolina years ago. He’s a hard hitting linebacker that has played in the league for 8 seasons. One of the best linebackers in the league. Has been the back bone of the Bears defense and before that the Broncos, Trevathan has play making abilities and is the field general out there. Great against the run. He will be 30 years old in March. Injuries are the biggest problem when it comes to Trevathan. He has missed 18 games total for the Bears. Three out of the last 4 seasons he failed to play in all 16 games. In his eight year career, he only has two seasons he played the Full Monty. How many more years can you get out of him? The team will have to make sure you have somebody as a backup plan with his history.

Nick Kwiatkoski’s stock is on the rise for his play last season subbing in for the injury of Danny Trevathan. Kwiatkoski had 68 tackles during that 7 game stretch. Add in 3 sacks, an interception, and a safety versus the Vikings in the last game of regular season. Plus football focus stats say Kwiatkoski in coverage is allowing only 4.0 yards per target which is ranked the tops in the league for those who qualify. Kwiatkoski was born in Pittsburgh where linebackers are made from the old steel mill factories. He was drafted by the Bears from West Virginia University. He has played for the Bears for 4 years. During the Fox era I thought his play earned him a starting position on the field. Bears brought in Trevathan which had Kwiatkoski playing special teams in filling in for injured players. At 26 he’s at the prime of his career. He’s a grinder type of guy as well. Nothing flashy, just plays the game and makes the solid tackle.

Both these guys are variable commodities to have. Both will get paid. Bears can only keep one of them with all the issues they have going on. With the sudden retirement of Luke Kuechly, the Carolina Panthers may look at Kwiatkoski to fill in their vacancy. Nick Kwiatkoski will probably get a longer deal than Danny Trevathan who is 4 years older and has injury history. Even though football contracts are not guaranteed it’s that signing bonus which is the biggest factor. The NFL has a salary cap so it could be the money that makes the Bears’ decision who to keep with so many things the team needs to do. Would Trevathan take a discount to stay in Chicago? I could see him going back to Denver and joining his former Bears coach Vic Fangio, who is the head coach of the Broncos. If the money is not right. Bears do not have anybody else on their roster now that can replace either guy in that position if they both bolt to another town. Bears have no first round pick. Drafting a middle linebacker after the first round most likely will not be able start from day one.

Bears need to address the tight end position. They should bring in another veteran quarterback.The offensive line needs help. Bears still unsure if Mitch is the future behind center? I would love them to add another pass rusher and get rid of Leonard Floyd. With Khalili Mack locked up. Roquan Smith is still in his rookie contract. The Bears just extended Eddie Jackson. Bears are assembling a nice core on defense. They should bring back Nick Kwiatkoski and give him a long term deal and let him take over the middle linebacker position. Let Danny Trevathan go. Kwiatkoski is younger and is durable. Plus being only 26 years old he can grow with the core they have signed. This defense can be good for a very long time keeping these guys intact. When is the offense going to catch up? Bears should not weaken one side of the ball to try to get the offense even with the defense. They can get created and rid themselves of the expensive back up teacher in Chase Daniel. Trey Burton is another guy you can cut to free up some salary. Offense needs tinkering and the defense just needs to stay together the best they can. Going younger at a position with a guy that can do better than the older guy, is a better plan for the future. Nick Kwiatkoski has the nose for the football. Johnny on the spot on many plays when he’s out there. Now we just need a better scheme on defense. Then what Chuck Pagano has done would help them recapture that domination of 2018.

Could the Patriots’ early exit from the playoffs mean the end of the Evil Empire’s dynasty? Is Tom Brady going to be the quarterback for the Patriots next season? Brady and his trainer put their property up for sale in the New England area. The rumor circus has Brady wanting to play closer to his home in California. Tom Brady was seen recently chatting it up with the Raiders owner in Vegas. Could the sour relationship between Tom Brady and Bill Belichick come to an end like that? Who would prevail out of this relationship without the other? Was the trading of Jimmy Garoppolo from the Patriots the final dagger in this dynasty coffin? Would the Patriots beat the Rams last season in the Superbowl with Jimmy behind center? Jimmy Garoppolo is in the Superbowl with the 49ers and the Patriots may have made a big mistake in trading him. I think Bill Belichick knows that. Mr.Kraft does not see it that way as the man is distracted by boobs in his face from his help from the Florida hookers. Is the owner love for Brady too deep?

Tom Brady has been on the decline the last two seasons. Patriots have leaned heavily to the running game over the passing game. The team installed a rushing attack with a variety of backs sharing the load each game. It was no longer Tom Brady stepping back and throwing the ball on almost every play when the offense took the ball. No longer were those Patriots running up the scores on their opponents like the Harlem Globe Trotters. It was running the ball and playing good defense that helped this team win games in the last two years. Tom Brady just became an ordinary game manager like a Trent Dilfer who won a ring with the Baltimore Ravens. Many other quarterbacks have done it as well.

Jimmy Garoppolo in Bill Belichick’s mind was probably going to be the guy that Tom Brady passed the torch to. Like when the Patriots discovered Brady, when he was filling in for the injured Drew Bledsoe. Imagine the Patriots owner was not a fan of replacing his son Tom Brady for Jimmy Garoppolo. Kraft blinded by the shiny Superbowl trophies and female flesh, he might not see the big picture. Tom Brady is probably family in his mind. The prodigal son. In the media it sounds like the goal number one is bringing back the 42 year Tom Brady. You know Kraft wants Tom Brady to end his career with the Patriots. Plus who do the Patriots have now as a back up plan if Brady indeed goes with another team? Kraft still wants to squeeze the remaining pulp out this orange that has seen better days and represents the dynasty of the Patriots.

Tom Brady went 12-4 as a starter for the Patriots this season. Brady threw for 4057 yards with 24 touchdown passes and 8 interceptions. Jimmy Garoppolo went 13-3 as a starter for the 49ers. Garoppolo threw for 3978 yards with 27 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. Both pretty close in numbers. If you look at completion percentage Jimmy Garoppolo has 69.1% completion percentage compared to Tom Brady’s 60.8%. Jimmy Garoppolo has 8.4 yards gained per pass attempt. Tom Brady is only 6.6 and I’m sure we can find another six somewhere to confirm Tom Brady is indeed Satan. Age wise Jimmy Garoppolo is 28 and Tom Brady is 42. Then Garoppolo’s 49ers played in a tough division, the NFC West, with last year’s Superbowl hangover Rams. Seattle a power house and an upcoming Arizona team. Tom Brady’s Patriots have the easiest route to the playoffs with the AFC East. Usually a bye to the playoffs. Buffalo is up and coming. The rest is hot garbage and they still lost to the Dolphins in the last week of the season in a game that meant a higher seed for New England.

Patriots can probably squeeze one more playoff berth bringing back Tom Brady. They might even win their division again with Brady in the fold. Can they go further in the playoffs or will it be another one and done? I always wanted to see how a Bill Belichick would do without Tom Brady. Like in the NBA how would Phil Jackson have done with a expansion team? He came into places that had Michael Jordan in place and Kobe Bryant and Shaq. Would Belichick be a coach similar to his days when he was head coach in Cleveland? I think it all depends on who his quarterback is. Can he find another Brady? How would Tom Brady do without his Coach Belichick? I think Tom Brady could do what Joe Montana did and get a team in the playoffs how Joe did it for those Chiefs teams in the 1990’s. Some city will be very excited. They will have Superbowl sugar plums dancing in their minds like on Christmas Eve. Then they see Tom Brady and that team lose in the first round or perhaps second round.

If the Patriots did pull the plug on Tom Brady a few years back, maybe both the Patriots and Tom Brady would be in better situations. Bill Belichick and the Patriots perhaps would have never missed a beat with Jimmy Garoppolo leading the Evil Empire and the new order.

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OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW

Garoppolo is only 28 years of age in his prime. Jimmy is 21-5 as a starting quarterback and is in the Superbowl for the first time. Tom Brady could have been established with another team and had a few years under new coach and offense. The team could be adding missing pieces to help their new old quarterback Tom Brady.

Tom Brady still could help a team next season. His window is about to close though. Could the Chicago Bears and a defense they have with all sorts of play makers on offense be the solution for both parties? Brady needs to be the final piece of the puzzle. Tom Brady would not be the final piece to the puzzle for Vegas. They need other things on their roster to make them an instant Superbowl winner. That would be exciting though to see Tom Brady working side by side with Chucky Jon Gruden. Great for the city of Vegas having Brady be the first quarterback to lead their new team.

Most people will want the Patriot dynasty to be over for good. Then all of them to go their separate ways and fail miserably without each other. Meanwhile could Bean Town experience another trade that will affect this town for a decade to come. The day the Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees. They better hope that Jimmy Garoppolo is not the next Tom Brady or Joe Montana. A guy that could have kept the dynasty alive for the Evil Empire for another decade. Instead you held on to your legendary quarterback too long which may have impaired your vision like the boobs in the Patriots’ owner’s face.

PLAYOFF RECORD IN STRAIGHT PICK-EM 4-4

LAST WEEK RECORD IN DIVISIONAL ROUND 2-2

DOWN TO THE FINAL FINAL FOUR

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CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-TIME RECORDS

HOUSTON OILERS / TENNESSEE TITANS 1-1

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 2-2

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 6-9

GREEN BAY PACKERS 5-4

SUNDAY JANUARY 19, 2020

THE ROAD TO SUPER BOWL 54

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

TITANS(11-7) AT CHIEFS(13-4)

This is a number six seed versus a two seed. The Titans are a very scary number six. Titans have earned their stripes so far during these playoffs. Taking down the Evil Empire which could be the end of Tom Brady in a Patriots uniform. Patriots were last year’s Super bowl champions.Then they upset the Ravens which everybody had winning this whole mess they call the playoffs. By far the Ravens are the best team in the league.

The Chiefs are the number two seed. They were awarded with a First round bye. Then the Texans piled up 24 points and led 24 to 0. Chiefs I guess spotted the Texans 24 points because they scored 28 to take the half-time lead. Like the big brother spotting little Johnny 20 points in ping pong and then losing 21 to 20. Chiefs make the championship round for the second straight year.

REMATCH

Both teams met in week ten Titans won 35-32 in a shoot out.

This should be a really good game. Can the Titans go another game on the road again and knock off another power house? Can the Chiefs contain Derrick Henry? Chris Jones defensive line for the Chiefs may not play. How will the Titans plan to stop Patrick Mahomes? Will the Titans’ Ryan Tannehill have to make the big throw to win this game?

I think you can just flip a coin in this one to determine the winner. Andy Reid’s record as a head coach in championship games is not that good. Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback left. From the experience last year being in the championship and losing to New England, it will benefit Mahomes and the Chiefs in this one. The Titans will run out of gas right before the finish line.

OUR PICK

OUR PREDICTION:CHIEFS 31-28 TITANS

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP

PACKERS(13-3) AT 49ERS(14-3)

This is a number two seed versus a number one seed and both had first round byes. Packers last year fired their head coach for not making the playoffs. Then the Packers this year have won the NFC Central and find their way back to the championship game. That has to sting if you’re the old coach. No worries that coach resurfaced in Dallas. Packers fought in an intense war versus the Seahawks last week to move on from the divisional round. Now they need to get over their west coast phobia and try to beat another NFC West opponent to Super bowl 54.

The 49ers clinched the number one seed in the very last game of regular season.With that win obviously they won the division as well. Last week they demolished the Vikings. A Viking team that took down the New Orleans Saints who I thought would be in the NFC Championship and beyond. They say “Any Given Sunday” for a reason. Can the 49ers sweep through another NFC Central opponent to get to Super bowl 54?

REMATCH

49ERS beat up on the Packers 37-8 in week 13.

Can the Packers get over their west coat woes with losses to the 49ers and a bad Charger team? They blame that on being hungover, the Charger loss. This game has Packers doom written all over it. Besides playing away from Green Bay and on the west coast. The 49ers are touch against the run. Put the Denver boot on running back Aaron Jones and that is the key to the ballgame. The 49ers pass rush will get into Aaron Rodgers’ grill and he hates that. It makes him uncomfortable and he turns into a cry baby. Then Richard Sherman could take out Devante Adams the really only passing threat the Packers have.

With these playoffs, common sense does not work. You can break down all the numbers as well and just toss them out the window. It does not make sense. The Packers defense I believe is overrated as well. The 49ers are the better team on paper and in everyone’s minds. Aaron Rodgers’ experience and having that freaking lucky horse shoe so far up his ass probably from his agent will find a way to some luck break. Some lucky play will send the Packers to the Superbowl.

OUR PICK

OUR PREDICTION: PACKERS 23-21 49ERS

When I was a kid growing up in the 1980’s, Bears trading cards and posters were a big deal among the circle of friends I ran with. Sounds like the beginning of a Goldberg’s episode. 1985 was the year the Chicago Bears were legendary. The Super Bowl shuffle swept the nation. In one of our grammar school classes we did a version of that shuffle and called it the rainbow shuffle. I went to Catholic school on the South side of Chicago so it had to do something with religion I imagine. The Poster above well, I liked the Black- n-Blues brothers which was the 1985 offensive line for DA Bears wearing the Blue Brothers hats. They had one for defense called the Junk Yard dogs. To get these posters back then you had to go to a certain car dealership. Who knows because I came from a family with no cable. Those cable subscribers probably had the intel on the posters before the parents test drove a Buick. I Don’t remember no internet, no emails, no cell phones etc etc back then. It was the 80’s and sports is what I cared about. With the news of Jim Covert getting enshrined in Canton, Ohio it made me think of that cool poster that hung on my wall. Number 74 is on the right side of it. Well deserved and you could say about time as well as maybe Canton finally has the cable technology presently to come up with a choice like this decades later.

Jim Covert, nicknamed “Jimbo,” is the fifth Bears player to get in the Hall of Fame from that great 1985 Bears team. If you count the Da Coach from that team it’s six. Mike Ditka got in the hall for his play at the tight end. Walter Payton is the greatest running back of all-time still to this day in my opinion. Following him are Dan Hampton, Richard Dent and Mike Singletary from one of greatest defenses of all-time. Jim Covert will be the second player from the ’85 Bears offense to make it to the NFL Football Hall of Fame.

Jim Covert was born in Pennsylvania. In high school Jim Covert played football and wrestled.

His wrestling dream came true going into the ring for Wrestlemania Two. Covert after High School went and played football for the University of Pittsburgh. Covert has the full Pennsylvania pedigree of football in his blood or steelworker. One or the other for males back then. Then the Bears drafted him in 1983 in the first round as he was sixth pick overall in that draft that had many great quarterbacks.

Jim Covert became the enforcer for Jim McMahon protecting his quarterback’s blind side at the left tackle position. He immediately made an impact his first year in the game as he made the rookie NFL All-Pro team. He helped open holes for guys like Matt Suhey and help blaze trails for the greatest back of all-time, Walter Payton. Covert was one of the anchors in the trenches of that Bears Superbowl XX championship team. He played 8 seasons 111 regular season games in a violent sport scrapping with guys his size and bigger and mean as hell. He played in 11 playoff games. He made two pro bowls. Bears led the league in rushing with his play from 1983-86. He helped the Bears win the NFC Central six times. Back issues caused him to leave the game earlier than he liked.

Jim Covert is one out of two seniors that will be finally enshrined in Canton later in the year. He is the final member of the all 1980’s decade team to be selected to Canton. The story I loved about Jim Covert was they came to him to tell him he won offensive player of the week with his play in the game. Bears exploded for over 200 yards that game. He turned it down and wanted it to be the whole offensive line to receive the award instead of just him alone. He was a team guy and knew success should be awarded for the results of the team. Perhaps if he took the merit like that he may have been enshrined earlier. Jim Covert is what you want from a left tackle in the game of football with the quarterback being the most important position on the field. A fierce competitor that would protect the quarterback like how a secret service agent would protect the President of the United States is the definition of a Jimbo Covert. With Jim Covert and Ed Sprinkle going into Canton, Ohio this year, the Bears now have 30 players in the Hall of Fame. That is the most by any team. Welcome to Canton “Jimbo” we are all glad you finally made it.

The Baltimore Ravens looked unstoppable. The team went 14-2 during regular season and had the best record in the entire league. They won 12 straight. They clinched homefield advantage with a first round bye. Some say it was Baltimore’s best team ever. Lamar Jackson took the league by storm. He was like John Rambo, a one man army just putting up video game numbers and destroying the competition. Destined to be this year’s MVP, Lamar Jackson wanted to go further and bring his team to the Superbowl and win it all. On Saturday the league caught up to Lamar Jackson. The Tennessee Titans exposed a few weaknesses in Jackson’s game. These are some big reasons why the Running Man quarterback self destructed.

The first thing I noticed on Saturday about Lamar Jackson is the man’s psyche. The first interception he threw out of the gates he got so pissed off and tried to rip the Titans defender’s head off on the tackle. It did not look like a bad pass as it went through the receiver’s fingers and then fell into the defenders  arms. Perhaps last year’s playoff game memory has entered the young quarterback’s head right then and there. The Chargers ousted the Ravens last season in round one with ease. Then to show your frustration on the tackle and get flagged for it that early in the game with no score. Obviously it’s a 15 yard penalty but your teammates have to scratch their heads and think is this our leader. Quarterback in football is the most important position on the field for your team. They handled the ball on every play. Most times the team will go as far as the quarterback can bring them. You need skills to play quarterback. The biggest thing is if you make the other ten guys believe you in the huddle, they will run through walls for you.

Running quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson that rely mostly on their legs instead of their arms do not last that long in the league. Mostly because they can hit a lot more than the quarterbacks that stay in the pocket. Especially guys that have the good pocket awareness or a quick release. Lamar Jackson likes to take off. He is a young guy. He has plays designed for him to take off. Lamar Jackson made defenders look foolish all year with his highlight reel weaving through defenses for big runs. Many touchdowns. The Titans defense filled the gaps on Lamar Jackson on Saturday. They had a spy as well. Most of the game Jackson was running lateral instead of North and South. The Titans contained him most of the game. The Titans did give up some big chunks of yards to Jackson as he ran for 143 yards. Many of those yards were too late and the damage was already done.

The Ravens won most of their games this season when they had a lead and kept building on it. That way the defense could mostly attack the passing game of the opponent trying to get back into the game. Saturday the Titans built a lead on the Ravens. Lamar Jackson had to use his arm to get back in the game. Titans turned the tables on the Ravens. Ravens looked like a complete different team trailing. Lamar Jackson threw the ball 59 times. He then had  Phillip Rivers numbers 365 yards two interceptions and fumbled one time. That is good for a 63.2 quarterback rating if you’re keeping track at home.

Some will say the Ravens do not have good receivers. Did not hear that when the Ravens won twelve in a row. In 2018 the Ravens Receiving group was different than in the 2019 regular season. Wide Receivers left Baltimore because the Ravens were going to be the majority of time a running team. Plus Lamar Jackson lacks arm strength. The Titans exposed this on Saturday as Lamar Jackson could not put the ball outside the numbers. Sideline passes had no zip on them. Plus Jackson’s inaccuracy on simple short hitch routes. His comfort zone is the middle of the field which the Titans took that away from him.

The league always catches up with the running first quarterbacks. Mike Vick, RGIII, and some say the great Colin Kaepernick with their blinders on were such talented quarterbacks. At one point these guys were all electric. The league caught up to all of them.  All of them took too much punishment by running. All of them lacked the arm strength to make all the throws on a football field. Defenses knew that and keyed on that and challenged them to beat them with their arm. Lamar Jackson can improve his arm strength. Can he improve his accuracy? He is one hit away that could derail his football career. All quarterbacks are one hit away from derailment.  The Ravens will not lead in every game to make his job easier. He will have to learn how to throw the ball in the pocket. He will have to make all the throws to keep defenses on their toes. Plus he will have to put things behind him. Forget about the last throw. If not he will be another running quarterback that will live through a small window of a myth on how they were the best by some. Look at the Colin Kaepernick believers. By most though he will be just another guy that did not have all the tools to be the man behind center.

LAST WEEK’S RECORD IN WILD CARD WEEKEND IN STRAIGHT PLAYOFF PIC-EM (2-2)

YESTERDAY RECORD (1-1)

OVERALL PLAYOFF RECORD (3-3)

MORE ROUND TWO DIVISIONAL GAMES

HAPPY SUNDAY FUNDAY!!!!

WE MAY NEED ANOTHER ONE WHEN WE FINISH THAT ONE, HOLY COW!!!

SUNDAY JANUARY 12, 2020

AFC GAME

TEXANS(11-6) AT CHIEFS(12-4)

Andy Reid will be coaching in his 27th post season game. Only three coaches have coached in more. They are Tom Landry, Don Shula, and the devil himself, Bill Belichick. The Chiefs were on a first round bye which will rest up their players. Last time the Chiefs played the Texans, Kansas City had many injuries. Meanwhile the Texans came from behind in the wild card weekend down 16 at one point to the Buffalo Bills and came away with an over time victory. Texans welcomed back JJ Watt back in that contest who was out several weeks of regular season & made his presence known last week with a few plays. Overall the Bills shot themselves in the foot in my opinion, rather than the Texans outright winning that contest.

HISTORY

ALL-TIME RECORD BETWEEN THESE TWO TEAMS

CHIEFS LEAD THE SERIES 6-5

PLAYOFFS THESE TEAMS MET ONCE: CHIEFS PREVAILED.

Deshaun Watson versus Patrick Mahomes, I know are two great quarterbacks the Chicago Bears passed up on. These two quarterbacks drafted in the same year could be the new Brady versus Manning rival in the AFC for years to come. Texans and Chiefs met during regular season and the Texans prevailed on the road in Arrowhead. Lots has changed since. Chiefs are back to full strength. They had 5 players out in that first meeting. Patrick Mahomes played on a gimpy leg. The Chiefs defense has stepped up their game and is playing solid. The Texans welcomed back JJ Watt.  Deshaun Watson has a playoff victory under his belt. Will the Texans’ playoff woes come back to haunt them? Will the Chiefs get to their second consecutive AFC championship?

The Texans need a fast start. Last week they were down 16-0 at halftime which should have been more. Bills settled for field goals instead of putting the ball in the end zone. The Texans playoff history even when they advance to the next round they are always starting off slow. The Texans will welcome back one of their deep threats in Will Fuller. The Chiefs defense will have to contain Deshaun Watson. Watson escaped last week being hit and not put to the ground by the Bills. His escapes create big plays for the Texans. The Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu is a guy that can create some big plays in the secondary. He could force a turnover or help keep the Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins in check. The X-factor for the Chiefs is Terrell Suggs, former Raven. Can he show up like he does when it comes to playoff football? I can see him making an impact. Especially because the Texans have a shaky offensive line. Texans will need to do a better job of pass protection as well.

The Texans defense is better with JJ Watt’s presence on the field. He showed some play making abilities coming off his injury last weekend. Patrick Mahomes can not turn over the ball like he did versus this Texans defense earlier in the season. Chiefs need to establish some kind of running game with Shady McCoy and Damien Williams to keep giving the Chiefs a balanced attack. It will be harder to cover Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins and Tyreek Hill if the Chiefs are able to run the ball on the Texans defense.  Texans defense will have to stop Patrick Mahomes from extending plays and coming up with a big play with his feet as well.

I think the Chiefs will get off to a very fast start versus a slow starting Texans team. The Chiefs being healthy, the Texans will be unable to take advantage of the Chiefs weaknesses like they did in that first game earlier in the season. Texans will make a comeback in the second half to get this game closer than it looks. The Texans offensive line will eventually cave in at the critical junction of the game and the Texans playoff woes will resurface. I like how Andy Reid prepares his team on bye weeks. He is right up there with Bill Belichick when it comes to taking advantage of free time and building up the ultimate game plan.

OUR PICK:

OUR PREDICTION:CHIEFS 37-28 TEXANS

NFC GAME

SEAHAWKS(12-5) AT PACKERS(13-3)

Seahawks could have had a first round bye but lost the very last game of the season to San Francisco which sent the birds to Wild card weekend. Matt LaFleur took over the Packers as head coach and the team responded with a complete turn around. The Packers won the NFC Central. They got a first round bye going 13-3 in their head coach’s rookie year. Seahawks last Sunday and ended any Eagle magic they like to pull out of their hats with a victory on the road.

HISTORY

ALL-TIME RECORD WHEN THESE TWO TEAMS MEET

PACKERS LEAD THE SERIES 13-9

PLAYOFFS PACKERS ALSO LEAD THAT SERIES 2-1

Packers are at home and have the weather. Seattle once upon a time ago could not win on the road. Seattle now has become Road Warriors as they don’t flinch at all when they come to your stadium. We know Green Bay as the great Aaron Rodgers. It’s been the other Aaron who has made more noise then the State Farm pitchman. Aaron Jones and the running game have been the biggest reason why the Packers are 13-3 this season. Seattle on defense have moved on from their days with the Legion of Boom. The Seahawks defense can get after the quarterback. Jadeveon Clowney and company beat up on the Eagles quarterbacks last weekend knocking one out of the game. The other had to play with a torn hamstring. Seattle will have to stop the run. By putting constant pressure on Rodgers he will have a hard time delivering the ball to his favorite target, Davante Adams. If Adams has a big game the Seahawks will be in trouble. If Aaron Rodgers gets hit multiple times you will be able to force turnovers on him and stop his magic moments like at the end of halves.

Green Bay defense has improved over this season compared to 2018 when they were horrible. I think the Packers defense is a tad overrated though. A pretty good unit but not a top five unit. It is a unit that can give up the big play. Russell Wilson and the Seahawk offense can deliver. Big play guys like Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf suddenly appear and deliver with a crazy catch or broken down coverage they are wide open and Wilson finds them. Russell Wilson can play a few different ways. He can escape the pocket throw on the run or just take off. He can settle down in the pocket all day if he can and pick your defense clean. Packers’ Kevin King, a corner back, needs to deliver what he is capable of. He could shut down one of Seattle’s targets to limit the field for Russell Wilson.

This is a game that should go all the way down to the final whistle. It could be won in overtime as well. Green Bay you think Aaron Rodgers in snow at home is invincible and no team can waltz in there and win. Seahawks are 8-1 on the road this year which includes last week versus the Eagles in a very tough environment in Philadelphia. This is a great match up between two elite quarterbacks, Rodgers versus Wilson. Both can pull out a lucky horseshoe and win. I hate head coach Pete Carol but he’s been here before. He knows what the NFL playoffs are all about. He’s a guy that can out coach the best in the league. The one edge I think Seattle has is the coaching. Matt LaFleur has done a great job. I can see Pete Carol making the one call that will benefit his team. My X-factor is Marshawn Lynch. He’s back and he was bulldozing through the Eagles last week.

OUR PICK:

OUR PREDICTION:SEAHAWKS 24-21 PACKERS

 

 

 

NFL PLAYOFFS DOWN TO 8 TEAMS

BILLS, PATRIOTS, SAINTS, & EAGLES

DIVISIONAL ROUND PLAYOFF POWER RANKINGS

#1.BALTIMORE RAVENS (14-2) SAME  By far the Ravens were the best team in the league all season. Now they finally have their first opponent versus the Titans. Lamar Jackson is by far the MVP of the league this season. He found some experience in last year’s playoff berth versus the Chargers. This time Ravens have home field advantage. One thing that is not being talked about a lot is the coaching of John Harbaugh.

Not his first rodeo in the playoffs.

Head Coach John Harbaugh has won a Superbowl with Joe Flacco as quarterback. He always finds a way to get his team in the playoffs almost every year. Could this possibly be the best team he has ever had?

#2.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (12-4)  SAME  The Chiefs defense did better last season in the playoffs than regular season. That defense this season got better in the middle of the season and since then have been one of the best units in the league. Now they play the Texans in a rematch of a regular season game when these two met. Houston won that one as Patrick Mahomes had a sore ankle but still chucked three TD passes. What would part two of Mahomes versus Watson have in store for us? Was that Chiefs defense at the time playing like they are now? Chiefs to me are a more complete team this year than last year. Last season they had one bad call that cost them a trip to the Superbowl.

#3.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (13-3) UP 1 SPOT  The 49ers are a well-balanced football team. They can win a few different ways. They have the home field advantage. They have some guys that know a few things about the playoffs as well. Two things and two X-factors when it comes to the 49ers for them to win are broken down in two simple questions. How will Jimmy Garoppolo do in his first playoff game? My second question is has the 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan learned from his play calling days in the Superbowl when he was the OC for the Falcons? The 49ers have a very good running game to wear down their opponent and kill the clock, which Atlanta did not have.

TWO HEADED MONSTER 49ER RUNNING ATTACK

#4.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (12-5) UP 1 SPOT

Seattle won the battle out of the birds last weekend. They won on the road and broke a home playoff record set by teams with a bird name over teams with a bird name on the road. So in the battle of the birds in the  playoffs, they were the first team on the road in the playoffs to win in this type of a match up. Pete Carol continues to be a cockroach and never dies on first smack down on his insect body as he and the team wiggles to yet another second round. Russell Wilson continue to win these playoff games. Seahawks had a little Legion of Boom defense going. Knocking out Carson Wentz. Then taking it to Josh McCown with a torn hamstring the Seattle defense gave him.

Wentz left the game with a concussion. Looks like a typical cheap hit from the Legion of Boom’s old time defense.

#5.GREEN BAY PACKERS (13-3) UP 2 SPOTS Packers have a weapon of mass destruction for their first play off opponent.

Can the Seahawks fly in SNOW? Aaron Rodgers in snow at home in Green Bay. It’s just hard to go into those conditions and win. Plus Packers have a running game in this snow fight.

Will Aaron Rodgers even have to pass the ball? Hope somebody hits Pete Carol with a snowball.

#6.TENNESSEE TITANS (10-7) UP 3 SPOTS

If you are the Tennessee Titans and you brought down the Empire, what do you do next? Why should they even face the Ravens? Titans should just go somewhere warm and enjoy themselves. Call it a year. Be like George Costanza and walk out of the room on a high note.

Ryan Tannehill has been like Han Solo coming in as a long shot. He led the Titans to the playoffs and they overcame the Empire. Now we know something bad is going to happen.

See!!! Looks like a Lamar Jackson sighting. Greedo is alive and well. Poor Tannehill should have walked away when he had a chance .

#7.MINNESOTA VIKINGS (11-6) UP 4 SPOTS

Dalvin Cook to me is one of the best running backs in the game when he is healthy. The key to the Vikings is Dalvin Cook. If he runs through you and up and down the field, Vikings have a really good shot at beating you. If you can stop Cook you win that game. Stopping him is the key to the gatekeeper.

#8.HOUSTON TEXANS (11-6) UP 2 SPOTS     I was not impressed with the Houston Texans. The hype of JJ Watt blah blah blah. The Buffalo Bills shot themselves multiple times in THE FOOT this game. Heck the Texans stupid head coach let the Bills tie it to send the game into overtime, not kicking the field goal. Texans will be minced meat after their meeting with the Chiefs.

I CALL IT TEXAS HASH !!!

LAST WEEK’S RECORD IN THE WILD CARD WEEKEND (2-2)

OUR BIGGEST PICK WE GOT RIGHT – THE FALL OF THE EVIL EMPIRE TO THE TITANS.

OUR DISAPPOINTMENTS

We were disappointed as we had the Bills and they had a 16 point lead in the second half to blow that versus the Texans did not go over well.

The Saints versus the Vikings, who saw that one coming? I think Viking fans did not see that one happening.

ROUND TWO DIVISIONAL

WE ARE BRINGING IN THE BIG GUN FOR ROUND TWO

JANUARY 11, 2020  SATURDAY GAMES

NFC GAME

VIKINGS(11-6) AT 49ERS(13-3)

The 49ers are the number one seed in the NFC. They had a week to chill out. 49ers clinched home field in the very last game of the season versus Seattle on Sunday night. Vikings are the lowest seed in the NFC playoffs. They will go on the road once again after doing so in round one winning in the Saints dome last Sunday. Kirk Cousins picked up his first playoff victory behind center. Can Jimmy Garoppolo do the same thing?

HISTORY

ALL-TIME RECORD BETWEEN THESE TWO TEAMS 23-23-1

ALL-TIME PLAYOFF RECORD BETWEEN THESE TEAMS

49ERS 4-1 VIKINGS

The Vikings were able to get two of their playmakers back for the Saints game last week. I thought if they did play they would be extremely rusty. Vikings offense ran Dalvin Cook a lot versus the Saints wearing that defense down to the nub. Vikings as a team ran 40 times compared to 33 passing plays. I expect more of that this weekend. 49ers defense encounters with rookie defensive line Nick Bosa. They have a guy that we all hate in Richard Sherman. The Dickhead Sherman with experience coming out of his pores being one of those A-holes from the Legion of Boom a few years back. This is a defense that can limit your strong suits.

Vikings on defense will have their hands full. The 49ers are very well balanced. Jimmy Garoppolo has a slew of weapons to choose from. Vikings I’m sure will try to stop the 49ers tight end George Kittle. Which could leave receivers like Emmanuel Sanders freed up. Vikings will have to keep their eyes out for rookie Receiver Deebo Samuel who has been emerging as a big threat. 49ers have a nice running game where they have two backs averaging over 5 yards a carry. Vikings can make things happen on defense and force some turnovers. Safety Harrison Smith could be assigned to take down Kittle. Vikings are geared to stop the run. They have a shaky pass defense but they did well versus the Saints offensive juggernaut.

49ers can win time of possession style of games. They can win a shoot out, but that’s not their style. These are two evenly matched teams that like to do the same thing. Like looking in the mirror at each other. I like the 49ers being at home. I think Jimmy Garoppolo will have a smooth transition to his first step into playoff football. Can Kurt Cousins win another big game on top of another big game? I see Kyle Shanahan coming out with a great scheme to beat the Vikings. His way of making up for the bad calling in that second half of the Superbowl where he was OC for the Falcons. Who allowed the Patriots to stampeded them back in that game. The coach is the X-factor which will help the 49ers dispatch the Vikings.

OUR PICK

OUR PREDICTION:  49ERS 27-17 VIKINGS

AFC GAME

TITANS(10-7) AT RAVENS(14-2)

The Ravens are the number one seed of the AFC conference. Titans just made the playoffs in the final week of regular season. Then last week they knocked out the Evil Empire, last year’s Superbowl champs the New England Patriots. In which could be the game that ends the Patriot dynasty. The Baltimore Ravens will be a different animal. The Ravens had the best regular season record in the entire NFL. They have this year’s MVP quarterback in Lamar Jackson who can run and pass.

HISTORY

ALL-TIME RECORD BETWEEN THESE TWO TEAMS

RAVENS 12-11 TITANS

PLAYOFFS RAVENS 2-1 TITANS

The Titans are a very well rounded team. Defense, offense and special teams… all three units do very well. The Titans could easily have a different record and seed if they started the season with Ryan Tannehill at quarterback. The Titans made the switch near mid season from Mariota to Tannehill and took off. The Titans offense has a stud back in Derrick Henry. Ravens defense which is not talked about a lot because of what Lamar Jackson does on the field. They will need to gang tackle Henry. Earl Thomas the safety will have to help stop the Titans’ deep passing game as well. Titans need to get a early lead. Ravens defense is used to having the early lead and never have to adjust and just attack the quarterback passing attack after they build a comfy lead.

The Titans defense have to figure out how to contain Lamar Jackson. Ravens have a great running back in Mark Ingram, former Saint that can do damage. The Raven running attack sets up the passing game for Jackson. Lamar Jackson has improved his passing game this season and is a guy that does not throw interceptions. If LamarJackson runs for more than 70 yards his record this year is unbeatable. Titans defense made the big play versus Tom Brady last week. Brady is a guy that does not run. Lamar Jackson can escape pass rushing blitzes and find the open guy or just run like Forest Gump. The Titans will need to force a fumble or two. The Titans will need to get in good licks when the Raven receivers catch the ball and hope for the ball to bounce out of their arms for an interception or two.

This is match up I thought a lot about.  Thought about are the Titans an elite team or just a good team? Sometimes you see a team win so many games in a row and not see who they beat. Titans lost to the Saints late in the season. They lost to a Texans team late in the season when the division was in play and lost at home to them. They did beat the Texans in the last week of the season. The Texans had their back up quarterback in as they had nothing to play for. The Texans even though they won last week versus the Bills, I don’t think are a very good team. Maybe the worst remaining. The Patriots is a team on the decline so I pictured the Titans going into New England and winning. I can’t see the Titans doing that this weekend. Ravens’ Lamar Jackson will learn from the Chargers loss last season as he got his first playoff experience in that contest. I think the Ravens are just the better team in this contest overall.

OUR PICK

OUR PREDICTION:RAVENS 31-23 TITANS

 

 

 

The Buffalo Bills could easily be playing football next week in the second round of the playoffs. We know they blew a 16 point lead in the second half that cost them a victory in the wild card round. The team had some opportunities they did not capitalize on. Especially on the offensive side of the ball. We know the Bills defense is far more superior than their offensive unit.  The BiIls’ offense is lights years better than the 2018 group. Do we even want to go down that road with Nathan Peterman? Bills made some nice improvements on the offensive side of the ball. Giving Josh Allen somebody to actually throw to in veterans John Brown and Cole Beasley. They added a new group of backs, tight ends, and rebuilt the whole offensive line. Josh Allen played in every game this season  and now has some playoff experience as he has another year under his belt. One thing the Buffalo Bills need to add to this group is a bigger target for Josh Allen to throw to.

Josh Allen is 6’5″ tall. He has a power arm and can use his tree trunk legs and get chunks of yardages running the football. Most of the year all his receivers have been under six foot tall. Duke Williams, a former CFL star, was activated recently and played versus Houston. He had the ball thrown up high to him and could not pull it down as he stands at 6’3″ vertically.  One missed opportunity in that game that cost the Bills points. Duke Williams is a guy who is still trying to establish himself in the NFL. Maybe he will get better. Cole Beasly is a nice slot guy to get the yards over the middle on third downs. John Brown, normally just a speed guy, has done a lot this year for the Bills. He has run all the routes and has made many catches. Led the team in all the receiving stats. One play that involved John Brown catching the ball down the side line where he could not get his feet down but caught the ball versus Houston on Saturday. If he gets his feet down, Bills are set up first and goal instead of an incomplete pass. A taller target in that situation can probably bring the ball down and get his feet down. He perhaps even walks into the end zone for the touchdown.

I’ve seen quarterback Jay Cutler for years take advantage of his inaccuracy and toss many touchdown passes to tall play-makers like Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall. You could say it padded Cutler’s numbers as he is one of the inventors of the pick six. Josh Allen has that power arm where he can throw it a mile. Sometimes he is off target. But to have a speed threat on one side in John Brown. Then to have Cole Beasley in the middle of the field. With an established taller play-maker on the other side, it could be the difference in making this offense into something like their superior defense. Josh Allen would complete more passes. Plus the team would score more points in the red zone on the jump ball. Not sure the Bills can address this need in free agency. Perhaps Justin Jefferson, a 6’3″ skyscraper with a big frame of 192 lbs from LSU could be the answer. A big time mismatch to defensive backs when it comes to length. His 102 receptions with 18 touchdowns gaining 1,434 yards has helped his quarterback Joe Burrows look better. A guy who you can throw a deep ball to and in the red zone that can grab it out of sky and bring it down. Another guy from UCF, Gabriel Davis, who also stands at 6’3″ had 12 scores and 72 catches. One of these guys would give Buffalo a weapon of mass destruction. Plus make others even better around him as John Brown can burn you deep or Cole Beasley over the middle. Plus it converts field goals into touchdowns which is simple math. If Buffalo could score 24 points or more per game, what would have been their record this year? Plus they’d be heading to Kansas City this week instead of calling it a year.

NFC PREDICTIONS SUNDAY JANUARY 5,2020

NFC (WILD CARD ROUND)

GAME THREE

MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Everyone remembers Case Keenum’s pass January 14, 2018 where he connected on a 61 touchdown strike to Stefon Diggs. It was the final play of the game and the Saints defender Marcus Williams dove at his legs instead of wrapping him up and that was a touchdown that sent the Saints home. Another crazy ending that eliminates the Saints from post season.

The Saints are on a mission to rightfully correct things that have gone wrong versus them in recent years in the playoffs. They have the complete team and have the better record in regular season. Minnesota has some key injuries and a few playmakers that are doubtful to play. This is a playoff game and Kirk Cousins does not do well in big games when the spot light is on him. Plus he seems like he will have to carry his team in this contest and do most of the heavy lifting with an injury to the Vikings starting runningback. One key is I just don’t see the Viking defense slowing down the Saints passing game.

OUR PICK

OUR PREDICTION SAINTS 34-20 VIKINGS

GAME FOUR

SEAHAWKS AT EAGLES

Eagles again found their way to the playoffs with a winning streak at the end when they looked they were on life support. They won four in a row and win the NFC East. They come in at 9-7 and have the worst record in the NFC conference of playoff teams that have qualified into the tournament. Meanwhile Seattle finds their way to the wild card weekend losing to the 49ers in the final game of the season. If they would have won they would have won the division and had a home game instead of venturing off to Philadelphia this weekend.

The Eagles have too many of their playmakers sidelined in this contest. Eagles basically feasted on NFC East opponents to get to this weekend. Carson Wentz does not have that Nick Foles magic this team really needs right now. Seahawks history on the road was very bad in recent years. This year Seattle did better on the road than at home. The flight across the country will not affect them. Russell Wilson in my opinion could be the MVP this season. This guy is the Derek Jeter of football and does all the small things and finds a way to beat you. Seattle will end Philadelphia magic this Sunday.

OUR PICK

OUR PREDICTION SEAHAWKS 27-23 EAGLES