In the last few weeks I’ve read three interesting stories that involve off-the-ice situations that involve the NHL. Two of the stories involve NHL players. One story involves an equipment manager for one of the teams. All three stories I have labeled the Good, Bad, and Ugly. Starting with the ugly, then bad, with the good news as the caboose. These stories show you hockey players are human beings as well. It shows society today can be the same ordeal: good, but very bad and man, people can be ugly.

THE UGLY

PATRICK MARLEAU

Last season, Patrick Marleau, wearing a Sharks sweater, broke hockey icon Gordie Howe’s record for most games played in the NHL. Marleau was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the NHL 1997 draft. Marleau has played most of his career with the San Jose Sharks racking up over 500 goals and dishing out over 600 assists. This season Marleau is a free agent at the age of 42. Will he retire or will he find his way back on the ice at some point? The ‘Ugly’ part of this story is about Patrick Marleau’s son, Brody.

Some of the Marleau family were in the city of New York. Patrick Marleau’s son Brody is 12-years-old and left his sunglasses at the pool of the hotel. As would most parents, his let him go back down to fetch the sunglasses, and come right back up. When Brody was approaching the pool, a couple started to follow him. The woman of that couple started to ask Brody some questions as they were getting kind of close. The woman then was seen reaching for Brody and trying to get the young boy to go with them. Thank God another family saw what was going on and saved this from getting uglier. It was ugly with stranger dangers trying to lure the kid to go with them. Hotel security was called in by the couple that saved Brody from a potential lingering nightmare. Mrs. Marleau was called from the room and came racing down. The Headlam’s were the heroes from Louisiana, a couple who watched this unfold and intervened in this sticky situation. Would have been great if Patrick Marleau was there, a hockey player dropping the gloves on two evil kidnappers. Brody is the second in age out of the Marleau children. Brody may never forget his sunglasses ever again. Anything involving kids in some plot like kidnapping is just ugly. At least this story has a happy ending and hopefully they put those sick bastards away behind bars for a very long time.

THE BAD

CALEB JONES AND CONNOR MURPHY

Downtown Chicago these days has been overrun with rats. Chicago is the murderer’s capital of America. Maybe even the world. Chicago is where carjackings have been running wild. This story involves two Chicago Blackhawks players going out for dinner. Caleb Jones and Connor Murphy picked out a place to eat and even got their vehicles valeted. While Jones and Murphy were inside eating, thieves approached the valet as they had an unknown object on them & were demanding the keys.

The thieves made out like bandits as they got away with both Caleb Jones and Connor Murphy’s rides. Murphy’s ride is a 2017 Porsche Panamera worth $100,000. Jones, who came over form the Edmonton Oilers in the off-season, was driving a 2021 Jeep Trackhawk that is worth $90,000. Street value-wise… your guess is probably better then mine. Do you think Jones and Murphy had to pay for their meal? Car-jackings are becoming the norm like shootings in Chicago. I would have liked to see this story end with the thieves approaching both players and perhaps the thieves end up in the penalty box of the meat wagon. Perhaps bloody or at least a black eye. Glad no one was hurt in this incident. If crime numbers keep escalating, it might be hard for a Chicago sports team to land free agents. No one will want to come to the city where your life is at stake when getting a meal out. What a shame.

THE GOOD

NADIA POPOVICI AND BRAIN “RED” HAMILTON

This story happened in October when the Vancouver Canucks were visiting the brand new expansion team, the Seattle Kraken. The details of this story made headlines recently. The story involves a Kraken fan, a 22 year graduate of the University of Washington University, named Nadia Popovici. She was sitting behind the Canucks bench during this first ever match-up between Vancouver and Seattle. While she was sitting taking the game in, she noticed something on the Canucks’ equipment manager’s neck. Popovici knows what it is on his neck and used notes app on her phone to warn Brian “Red” Hamilton, the Canucks equipment manager. The message read, ” The mole on your back of your neck is possibly cancerous. Please go see a doctor.”

What would you think if you were on a visiting hockey team, the enemy, and a fan wrote you this? Is this fan twisted going to that level of bringing up possible cancer? Why would a fan flash this type of message to the equipment manager just to rattle their cage? Fans would rather want to rattle a player than a equipment manager. Brian Hamilton did get the mole checked out just in case when he arrived back in Vancouver. The mole was removed and was biopsied. The mole was in the beginning stage of cancer that had cancerous cells attached. If Hamilton would have ignored the fan, in the long run he would have had life-threatening cancer invading his body.

What makes this such a great story is Brian “Red” Hamilton did a search for the good Samaritan because she did saved his life. The Kraken organization helped track the 22-year-old girl down.

Both Nadia Popovicki and Brian Hamilton were reunited. Hamilton thanked Popovicki in person. The story even gets better. Popovicki, even before spotting the mole on Hamilton’s neck, was planning to go medical school. The Kraken and the Canuck organization, along with fans, have raised $10,000 dollars for her medical education. Now the pressure will be on Nadia to make her dreams come true as she was already headed in that direction. I give Nadia Popovicki credit because many younger people, who know about something, might not speak out. Being unsure about something could hold people back from giving out their opinion. If she was wrong, it would have only wasted about an hour or even less of Hamilton’s time getting it checked out. She was right and it became a huge deal, a game-changer & a life-saving call. Nadia Popovici has made her first mark on the world medical-wise and could be a great asset to many people in the years to come after she graduates from medical school.

The Las Vegas Raiders are living the movie, The Hangover, in the 2021 season. The Raiders season has been up and down like a roller coaster when it comes to playing the games on the field. The Raiders’ troubles off the field have been so bizarre. The death of Chucky as the Raiders lose their head coach, Jon Gruden, from emails he wrote in the past. Emails he wrote when he was a football announcer. Gruden stepped down. Raiders players racking up the DUI’s . One of those driving DUI incidents killed an innocent person. Throw in some social media outbursts by one player and Raiders have one dysfunctional family in the locker room. Raiders’ play on the field so far this season has been good, bad, and just ugly. How many times did experts paint the picture that the toe tag is on this Raiders season, because they looked horrible? If the Raiders win next week versus the Chargers, they could get in the playoffs for only the second time in their last 19 seasons. This Hangover movie may have a thrilling ending that might involve a Tiger. Maybe Mike Tyson playing the piano.

Only the Raiders would trade their coach to have it come back to haunt them in the next upcoming season. It seems like it was many blue moons ago when Raiders sent Jon Gruden to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gruden built the Raiders up and were a playoff team on the rise. Tony Dungy had the Buccaneers built up as a playoff team as well and a team on the rise when he was fired. In 2002, Gruden led the Buccaneers over his former Raider team in the Superbowl. Ain’t that a kick in the “Pirate” ship? Years and years later, Raiders pry Gruden out of the broadcast booth and sign their former head coach to a ridiculous ten year deal worth a lot of cheddar. Gruden’s arrival in Oakland cleans house trading veteran guys for draft picks. It is the plan and gets the team moved from Oakland to Vegas as painlessly as possible. This was going to be the year for the Raiders as they did get out of the gate winning some games. Then the skeletons of Chucky’s past come back to haunt the former coach. The league was investigating former Washington Redskins President, Bruce Allen, on a workplace misconduct investigation. Gruden was an analyst at the time for the Monday Night Football booth. Gruden for years exchanged emails with Bruce Allen that the league found. Gruden’s emails involved anti-gay slurs, racist comments and sexual remarks about NFL higher-ups, players, sideline reporters, & just anybody he did not care for that worked in the league. Out of the 650,000 emails the league found, only Jon Gruden’s were leaked. He had to step down. It seemed like the Raiders were starting to come together. Interim coach went to Rich Bisaccia. Raiders won the first game under Bisaccia’s leadership. I have a feeling we have not heard the last of Chucky.

Damon Arnette was drafted by the Raiders in 2020 in the first round, 19th overall. Arnette played football at the Ohio State University where coaches stood by him as good character references when the Raiders came calling. Raiders used the draft pick they received from the Chicago Bears they got in the Khalil Mack deal. Arnette has not played like a number one draft pick in a Raiders uniform. Arnette is another Raider that has had car problems. Arnette is still involved in lawsuits from a car accident in October. Raiders cut the troubled corner back for going on social media brandishing a firearm while making death threats. Maybe Arnette’s belief was what is done in Vegas stays in Vegas. The rule does not apply when you go on social media, which everyone can see. This is a wasted pick. Not a good guy to have on your team as he was not even a starter. Arnette is obviously a guy who’s troubled and not playing with a full deck.

Then last Sunday in the wee hours of the morning, technically Monday, police in Vegas find rookie corner back Nate Hobbs sleeping at the wheel parked on an exit ramp by a parking garage. The Raiders had a big win versus the Colts in Indianapolis, a game they needed as to stay alive in the playoff chase. Hobbs was two sheets in the wind as he failed the sobriety test. Nothing wrong with celebrating a big win. Why is this cat driving? Especially being intoxicated the way he was, he could have killed someone. Has Hobbs forgotten about his former teammate Henry Ruggs III, who killed someone from his actions going out after a game only weeks ago? Hobbs was maybe going by the saying inside his head, “This will never happen to me.” Vegas Police I take it are not on the same page as the Raiders about what is done or said in Vegas stays in Vegas.

I have not forgot about the wide receiver Henry Ruggs the 3rd. Ruggs will never play professional football again. Ruggs III driving his Sting Ray Corvette up to the crazy speed of 156 MPH as he was half in the bag. Ruggs’ actions with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit killed a 23-year-old girl. Then Ruggs had his girlfriend, the mother of his one year old daughter, in the car when he lost control of the Corvette. He caused an accident that involved injuries to his woman and his own self while now having to live with the death of a innocent girl who had her whole entire life still in front of her. Many would say what Henry Ruggs is a waste of the sperm that created this guy. When you kill someone being that stupid, no way this kind of incident would stay in a certain circle. The Vegas motto should not be used in this situation because it’s just heartbreaking.

The Raiders top brass and head coach Rich Bisaccia need to set a tone with this dysfunctional team. The Raiders need to bring down the gauntlet on this off-the-field behavior that can not be tolerated. This is not Oakland, this is Las Vegas. Plenty of temptations for the players playing in Vegas such as gambling, drugs, legal prostitution, and getting bush-whacked at the night clubs with the best booze. This is sin town. You could say Rich Bisaccia had done a very good job coaching this Raiders team with all the off-the-field headlines this team has made. Something needs to be done with the Raiders organization to put the scare into younger players or anybody on present and future teams that this behavior will not be tolerated. I’d love to see the Raiders make the post-season. They have players I like that work hard and put in the effort to win games. If the Raiders beat the Chargers this Sunday night, do you consider a guy like Rich Bisaccia to be coach of the year with the headlines his guys made? Bisaccia did not ask for this job. He did accept it though. After the Henry Ruggs situation, another DUI arrest would make me go berserk. Part of the coaching is getting a hold of these off-the-field actions. These guys are adults and should police themselves. However these adults make a lot of money and play a violent sport. Management has to do some of their own policing. I’m sure the Raiders may have other offenders involved in breaking the rules off the field where they were able to use the motto, “What is done in Vegas stays in Vegas,” like passing some tickets to the victim of the situation like old time hush-hush money. With social media in a city with so much temptation, Raiders need some serious rules to get ahead of future incidents so they don’t happen. Players would be scared to get caught driving intoxicated, not from the police but from the organization. Nate Hobbs may need to make a statement so this kind of shit does not keep happening. Bisaccia is keeping the train on the tracks for now, but the post-season if the Raiders make it, could be a derailment. Especially if this Raider team invades another town in the post-season. Head Coach Bisaccia may be in over his head and whatever outcome happens, he may want to leave town to do something less stressful. The sequel of any Hangover movie are usually worse than the original. Reality will bite down hard the next time.

WEEK 17 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

LAST WEEK’S RECORD: (14-2)

We used our Iron Head and crushed week 16 in our picks.

SEASON STATS

OVERALL RECORD: (153-87)

THURSDAY RECORD: (12-6)

SATURDAY RECORD: (3-0)

MONDAY NIGHT RECORD: (11-5)

TUESDAY RECORD: (2-0)

We are flexing our muscles for this week 17 of the NFL.

THE SUNDAY SLATE

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM

Eagles running back Miles Sanders is out in this contest with an injury. The Team has been invaded by the Covid-19 inside and outside their locker room, following them around like a cloud.

Bears former running back Jordan Howard will be activated by the Eagles in this one. Can Washington get over the beat-down they had by the Cowboys last week? Covid or not, it was an embarrassment. Eagles have not traveled to far places in the second half of this season. Eagles will still be able to get their running game in high gear with big chunks of yardage.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

LA RAMS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS

Rams so far have made Odell Beckham Jr. happy as he scored another touchdown last week. That makes Papa Beckham Sr, a happy camper, and gets him out of the film room. Ravens are having a problem with the corner back position. Is Lamar Jackson going to play and test that injured ankle? How will Tyler Huntley feel back from the Covid list? Rams are playing well right now as they are averaging just south of 30 points per game. Ravens on defense will be shorthanded as well. Too many questions for the Ravens as they are a team right now sliding down the slide in the game of Chutes and Ladders. On the big slide as well.

OUR PICK:RAMS

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT NEW YORK JETS

Tampa Tom Brady is being served up another meatball as an opponent this week, the Jets. Buccaneers still have many play-makers injured. Does it really matter who Tom Brady has on the field with him? Jets have been playing better of late. Beating a bad Jacksonville team and giving the Dolphins a run for their money. This is like old times for Tom Brady playing a bad Jets team late in the season. Results will give the Buccaneers a push for a better seed in the post season.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT TENNESSEE TITANS

In the movie Speed, the bus could not go under 50 mph or it would blow up because of the bomb that was planted. For the Miami Dolphins, under 50 degrees weather playing outside, will the Dolphins self implode on impact? If Titans win, then they clinch the division. Dolphins have been one of the hottest teams in the league. The Titans have been riding a roller coaster all year. I like the X-Factor in this game. The X-Dolphin, Ryan Tannehill, will not let his X-team come in and beat his. I know it’s been years since Dolphins traded Tannehill to the Titans. The Dolphins probably did him a favor. Feelings linger. No way Tannehill will have his X waltz into town and leave feeling better.

OUR PICK: TITANS

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Lets face it, Bill Belichick does not lose to rookie quarterbacks. Surf Nazi Trevor Lawrence, has still struggled since the firing of Urban Meyer. Patriots quarterback Mac Jones has been the best rookie QB of last year’s draft. The Patriots defense will confuse Trevor Lawrence all afternoon making him sweat like a hog in Boston weather.

Make all the noise stop! Yes, indeed the season is almost over, young man. Patriots break their losing streak.

OUR PICK: PATRIOTS

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

The Raiders have started to make a little noise. Like a playoff push late in the season. Carson Wentz is activated off the Covid list and will play for the Colts this Sunday. It’s too late for the Raiders their season dies this weekend which was a house of horrors. Colts defense is playing well. Even if the Colts were without their starting quarterback, could the Raiders defense stop Jonathan Taylor? The answer is a fat NO.

OUR PICK: COLTS

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS

Could the Bengals and Chiefs replay this game somewhere in post-season? The Chiefs have been red hot after everyone had written this team off. The Bengals have been on the rise and with a win at home, they would win the AFC North. When was the last time that has happened for the Bengals? I can see Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrows in a shoot-out. Both defenses have played very well. I’m taking a wild stab at this outcome. The way the NFL has been all season, I like the Bengals doing the unthinkable and taking down the Chiefs. Look for Joe Mixon to run wild on the Chiefs defense. The Bengals can run the ball better than the Chiefs in cold weather that will come up big for Cincinnati.

OUR PICK:BENGALS

NEW YORK GIANTS AT CHICAGO BEARS

Bears activate Andy Dalton from the Covid list and he gets the start despite Nick Foles leading the team for a victory in Seattle last Sunday. Giants have rookie Jake Fromm who did not have a good debut last week at quarterback. The Giants also have an X-Bear in Mike Glennon and he is horrible. Justin Fields is injured so this game will be all Andy Dalton. I like Dalton over what the Giants are serving up. This is when Matt Nagy gets his team hot in games at the end of the regular season, which may save his job.

Matt Nagy is notorious for winning games that don’t really mean anything and goes on streaks that influence the Bears ownership to change their mind and bring him back. Oh the agony!!!

OUR PICK: BEARS

ATLANTA FALCONS AT BUFFALO BILLS

The Falcons are 5-3 on the road this season. Will the Buffalo Bills have one of those let down games this Sunday in front of the home crowd? The Falcons wins have feasted on bad teams this season. Bills came off a huge win on the road in New England. This is a game the Bills have to win to keep ahead of the Jones’s of the Patriot ship who are playing Jacksonville. Bills will have the weather advantage here bringing a dome team out of Hot Atlanta into the frigid cold conditions of Buffalo. Right now, Josh Allen has the eye of the tiger.

OUR PICK: BILLS

HOUSTON TEXANS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Do the 49ers get to use the line, “Houston we have a problem,” without Jimmy as our quarterback? Jimmy Garoppolo is out for the 49ers. This game will feature two rookies, Davis Mills for the Texans and Trey Lance for the Texans. Lance did not play well earlier in the season when he had chances to showcase his talent. Davis Mills has taken his lumps. Mills is now improving in each start. 49ers have playoffs hopes on the line. The Texans are playing spoilers. Texans have won two in a row and gave the Chargers a beat-down last Sunday. I like the Texans defense. They are getting turn overs and should be able to force the rookie Trey Lance into mistakes.

OUR PICK: TEXANS

DENVER BRONCOS AT LA CHARGERS

Both the Chargers and the Broncos had bad losses last week. Broncos without Teddy Bridgewater will try to exploit the Chargers’ weakest link, their run defense. Chargers not kicking the ball in some key situations to score points versus the Chiefs weeks ago may come back to haunt this team. Broncos will be heading for massive changes once again in the off-season. I see Justin Herbert with a nice rebound game avoiding mistakes like he had last week and coming up with a big day from his arm.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

DETROIT LIONS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Seahawks are being invaded by the Lions and Tigers and Bears. Last Week, the Bears pulled off a last minute touchdown drive adding the two point conversion to seal the deal. No tigers have made it to Seattle this year in football. Unless you count the Jaguars. Lions coming all the way from Detroit with nothing to play for. Is this Seattle’s quarterback Russell Wilson’s last home game in a Seahawks uniform?

Jared Goff is out once again for the Lions. This game may also mark the ending for Seattle’s head coach Pete Carol. Look for Wilson to have that final monster game and give the Seahawks fans one final thrill ride.

OUR PICK:SEAHAWKS

CAROLINA PANTHERS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Panthers are playing very badly at this time of the season. Saints have been dealing with the Covid virus on a weekly basis. Panthers face a big issue protecting the quarterbacks. Saints thrive up front on the defensive side. Taysom Hill, back from the Covid list, over rookie QB Ian Brook will give the Saints that extra juice on the offense to deliver a week 16 victory.

OUR PICK: SAINTS

ARIZONA CARDINALS AT DALLAS COWBOYS

Cowboys crushed the Washington Football team last week sending them back to the dark ages. For the Cardinals, history is repeating itself. Cardinals struggled late last season to get a victory due from injuries. Kyle Murray’s biggest weapon is out in DeAndre Hopkins for the rest of the season. AJ Green is too old to be living his Bengal days as the number one guy. Cowboys defense, the forgotten unit, has played very well this entire season. Cowboys will be eyeballing Kyle Murray trying to run and take away it away from him. Cardinals will continue their slide. Look for Dak Prescott to slice and dice the Cardinals secondary and pile up the points.

OUR PICK:COWBOYS

MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS

Minnesota won the first match up between the Packers and Vikings. This is a big game for both teams. Vikings need this one to stay alive in the playoff race. Packers are trying to improve their playoff seed. Kirk Cousins does not do well in big games. Cousins is out with Covid so that hurts what has worked well for the Vikings, their offense. Look for Aaron Rodgers to deliver a final dagger in the Minnesota coffin to start the BBQ of the Viking funeral.

Viking Brats and cheese are on the menu in Green Bay.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

CLEVELAND BROWNS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Is this Sitting Bull’s last stand? For Ben Roethlisberger? The Dawg pound is sending out death threats to the Mayfields.

Is this Baker Mayfield’s last stand? Both Roethlisberger and Mayfield have struggled this season, although in some moments they look good. The Steelers’ slow start will doom them once again. The Browns running game will get big chunks of yards versus a defense with multiple injuries which the Steelers are dealing with. Browns defense seems more healthy to me and will be the X-factor in this.

OUR PICK:BROWNS

The Buffalo Bills have been haunted by the Patriot way, the Patriot Demon for decades. Seeing Tom Brady every year just rape you. Year after year just demoralizing your team in a two game series. One game in front of the home crowd. Then the year’s annual trip to Boston just knowing the outcome before the Bills players even got on the plane. Then that SOB in the hooded sweat shirt, the Maestro of the Patriot way, that makes you want to puke. Bill Belichick. Buffalo has bad history with Belichick from back in the 1990’s when he was just a defensive coordinator for the Giants. The Belichick plan that he set up to contain Jim Kelly and that K-Gun offense, in the first Superbowl ever the Bills got to. Then to see a Buffalo native get drafted by the Evil Empire Patriots, Rob Gronkowski. Years of the Gronk at the tight end position like an imperial walker just crushing Bills forces as he caught the ball carrying them to the end zone. Then Tom Brady leaves town and just for a moment you think finally this dynasty is over. The pain will go away because the tables have turned. Then the Patriots retool with a rookie quarterback and run the ball down your throat on your own field. Even the weather went their way, the Patriot way, as they took over first place. Then a week later Tom Brady, now Tampa Tom, beating you with his Buccaneers. A massive comeback in that one that gave you hope. Hope just for a second as Brady wins once again in overtime. The demons are out and are still haunting you.

Earlier this year on Sunday Night Football, the Buffalo Bills got revenge on the Kansas City Chiefs. It was the Chiefs that knocked off the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship last season. The Bills faithful from that win had thoughts of going all the way. Finally the Bills have a quarterback that can take this team to the promised land. It took a very long time to replace Jim Kelly of the 1990’s. Josh Allen has been the savior. Allen is still a young quarterback, but he has improved every year since being in the league. Nothing would stop the Bills from prevailing. The Bills suddenly hit a few speed bumps on the 2021 regular season road after that Chiefs win. They screwed up a game versus the Titans which they should have won. Quietly the Patriots were slowly crawling out of the bottom of the AFC East standings. Last season the Buffalo Bills easily beat up the New England Patriots. The Patriots were without Tom Brady who left bean town & signed with Tampa Bay. Patriots lost some players in free agency. Some of their players elected to sit out due to the arrival of the virus floating around invading the states. Bills had the Patriots buried and forgotten. Bill Belichick had a very busy off-season. Adding multiple defensive free agents. Belichick loves the tight end position & added a veteran free agent to the mix as well. A rookie quarterback, Mac Jones, fell to the Patriots in round one of the draft. Patriots were 2-4 to start the season, and they strung some victories together, went on a tear, and even took out the Bills on their home field. Bills looked bad before even facing Patriots when getting steam rolled by the Colts at home.

The sky was falling if you were a Buffalo fan. The rematch would be played for all the marbles last Sunday when Bills would meet the Patriots for a Sunday date in Gillette Stadium. The Bills rebounded after the failed comeback versus the Buccaneers, and beat the Panthers while the Patriots enjoyed a bye week. Then after the bye week Patriots were very sloppy in a loss to the Colts that broke their winning streak. Last Sunday, whoever won would be in the driver’s seat for the division even though the Patriots were one game better in this week 16 showdown. Bills had the tie-breaker & the better division record. Would history repeat itself? Once again everyone would be expecting a diabolical plan from the evil genius, Bill Belichick. The Patriots own the Bills like Aaron Rodgers owns the Bears. Something about playing that uniform where certain teams just melt like butter.

The tables finally turned in favor of the Buffalo Bills. Sometimes it takes a leader to rise above all the things at stake. First place on the line, playoffs, division rival, and getting over the bully next door that has tantalized you since you came out of diapers. Josh Allen had the eye of the tiger even with having some of his weapons grounded from the Covid virus. No Cole Beasley or Gabriel Davis. Josh Allen had the game. Allen had that Tom Brady-like game that Bills fans just got sick of being torched over and over and could not do anything about it. Allen and the Bills offense looked invincible and made Bill Belichick’s defense just look silly. Allen threw for over 300 yards with three touchdown passes. Allen rushed for 64 yards with his legs as he bulldozed his way for first down on a key 4th down play making shifty moves to get by the first defenders. Great quarterbacks can make any of their weapons around them better. Isaiah McKenzie caught 11 balls for 125 yards with 1 touchdown catch. Allen put the ball perfectly in spots where only McKenzie could get it. McKenzie may be indeed another big weapon emerging for the Bills down the stretch making diving grabs converting big time third downs. The Allen and McKenzie combination was just inspiring football. It was the David overcoming Goliath. It was Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson. Josh Allen is now 3-1 versus the Patriots in the last two seasons. The first match-up between the Bills and the Patriots, Buffalo did not capitalize on all those red zone trips coming away with no points and to lose by 4 points. Last Sunday, Josh Allen formed a new legend that Patriot fans may not like seeing. Allen might be the Tom Brady thorn in the side of the Patriots for years to come. Skywalker has arrived, he’s in Buffalo, and has taken a mighty swing at the Evil Empire that is nowhere close to having their Death Star fully operational.

Some moments in sports should be frozen in time. Last Sunday, Chicago Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy, with nothing to lose, went for the go ahead two point conversion instead of electing to tie the game up with the extra point versus the Seattle Seahawks. Under a minute left on the clock, the safe way would be kicking the extra point and taking your chances in overtime to win the game on the road. Nagy’s coaching future with the Bears is hanging on by a thread. Bears and Seahawks are both teams that will not making be making the post-season this year. Nagy has used 8 out his 9 lives even though some would say he has received more from the Bears front office who are hanging on by thread. Last Sunday with the Bears third string quarterback ,who is Nick Foles, who engineered the touchdown drive and converted on 4th and goal to get the team in the position to tie the game or take the lead. Foles hits wide receiver Damiere Byrd with the pass in the end zone on an unbelievable catch for the two point conversion to take the lead, and eventually it becomes a Bears victory. That moment in time when the referee has signaled the two point conversion is good if Matt Nagy could call a time out like Zack Morris on the sitcom Saved by the Bell and freeze time.

Freezing time would stop what will be coming for the future of Matt Nagy as head coach of the Bears. This kind of win versus the Seahawks defines Matt Nagy as a coach during his tenure with the Bears.

How many Bears quarterbacks does it take to screw in a light bulb? Sounds like a joke, but seriously how many quarterbacks does Matt Nagy need to run his style of offense? The only reason the Bears beat Seattle is because Nick Foles was the team’s third string quarterback. Foles is a third string quarterback, you’re thinking? Foles is not a third string quarterback who is being paid starter money in this league. Foles is the back up that can win you a few games, especially if he gets hot. Only in the Bears world is this kind of thing going down. Bears could not trade Foles’ contract in the off-season, so they were stuck with him. The Bears went out even without knowing they could not unload Foles and signed Andy Dalton to a contract. Then the Bears traded up and landed Justin Fields in the first round of last year’s draft. Fields is dealing with rib issues and Dalton out with Covid means Bears still have a third option as a starter on a very bad team. Saints on Monday night had a rookie start an important game against the Dolphins who would have loved to have a Nick Foles. It takes multiple guys to know how to run a Matt Nagy offense due to the protection. Weakest link is the offensive line. Last Sunday had the perfect recipe for Matt Nagy. Starting with a quarterback knowing his system. Then sprinkle in the fact that Seattle does have a winning record. Nagy’s team thrives in these easy bake oven recipes.

The Bears should just fire Matt Nagy right now & let him walk away on a high note after this road win in Seattle. Last Sunday it snowed and looked like the game was being played in Chicago, not Seattle, Washington. Bears weather we say in those kinds of conditions. When the Bears played the Vikings on Monday night right before flying to Seattle, the Bears looked dreadful in the red zone. Matt Nagy elected a numerous amount of times to go for it on 4th down instead of kicking it and be denied by the Vikings defense. Bears were able to squeeze in a touchdown versus the Vikings on the last tick of the game. Sunday versus Seattle it was 4th goal for the Bears with under a minute left. Bears were backed up as they were not on like the goal line so they needed to throw the ball into the end zone and score the touchdown. They wasted money on Jimmy Graham, a former Seahawk who has been MIA most of the season, and is a big chunk of the salary cap. Graham who had 8 touchdowns last season for the Bears this year had two touchdowns coming into the Seattle game. Foles throws it high as Graham is like a skyscraper in height. He caught the ball flat-footed with arms extended to give the Bears the choice to tie the game or go for the win. Graham has 12 grabs now for the season with his third touchdown of the season. Using Jimmy Graham in this situation adds to a perfect day in Matt Nagy’s world of offense on square wheels. The front office led by Ryan Pace the Bears General Manager was probably all chesty at this magic moment as he is the one that signed Graham by giving him a few Brinks trucks to play for this sorry arse look of team. Nagy loves tight ends as Bears collect them like they are rookie baseball cards worth hundreds of dollars.

The Bears have the New York Giants coming up this Sunday. Giants are a team without a quarterback. Could they see their old friend, the awful Mike Glennon, this Sunday behind center? Bears may have Andy Dalton back from the Covid list. I think the Bears can beat the Giants with either Nick Foles or Dalton behind center. If Bears win, that would be two in a row for this team. Then for the final game, Bears go to Minnesota. Bears had many chances to score points off not a very good Viking defense at that last meeting on Monday night. The final score was 17-9 in that Monday Night affair as that last touchdown the Bears got at the end of regulation was not awarded the extra point. If the Vikings fall out of the playoff chase, this last game could mean nothing for either team. Right up Matt Nagy’s avenue. It seems good, bad, or ugly… the Vikings and Bears games are grinding matches all they way to the end. It is possible for the Bears to end the season winning three in a row. Then time will freeze once again. Just like last season where the Bears got into post-season because the Cardinals self-imploded with injuries. The post-season saved Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace’s jobs. Bears can’t afford to let time freeze once again. To encounter a brain freeze and keep these incompetent fools aboard will set this franchise back in dog years compared to human years. The Bears should let Nagy be frozen in time walking away with one of his best games he coached. Doubt that. Luck played some part. Let Boba Fett and the Empire freeze Matt Nagy in carbonite, and sell him off to Jabba the Hut’s estates.

NFL WEEK 16 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

LAST WEEK’S RECORD (13-3)

Last week we finally had a good week at the office.

SEASON STATS

OVERALL RECORD (139-85)

THURSDAY NIGHT RECORD (12-5)

SATURDAY RECORD (1-0)

MONDAY NIGHT RECORD (10-5)

TUESDAY RECORD (2-0)

We are hungry for a great week 16 as we bring you our special Christmas version of our predictions.

WEEK 16 (MERRY CHRISTMAS)

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT TENNESSEE TITANS

San Francisco is the hotter team coming in to Thursday night. The Titans played a very sloppy game last week versus a Steeler team they let hang around too long. Steelers made a comeback late in the second half and prevail over a stunned Titan team blaming the referees. The 49ers running game has a pep in their step with the running of Jeff Wilson Jr. I like the 49ers defense in this one. Titans have not played well in quite awhile.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

CLEVELAND BROWNS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS

Packers, sorry to say, look like the best team in the NFC. Browns are traveling to Green Bay, one of the hardest places to play and on Christmas day. Baker Mayfield returns from his stint on the Covid list. Browns just played on Monday night losing to a bad Raider team. Packers will be playing hard to clinch their division. It will be hard for Mayfield to adjust after being sick & then playing in Green Bay.

This could be a bad day at the office for Mayfield and the Browns. Like leaving the quarterback in Green Bay after a bad game.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS

What do you do when your team loses to the Detroit Lions?

Cardinals will want to get a machine gun for their next opponent to mow down Jonathan Taylor. Cardinals’ biggest weapon, DeAndre Hopkins, is done for the year. Colts may have some key pieces on their offensive line missing due to the outbreak of the current Covid virus that’s sweeping the nation. Colts defense has played well while Kyle Murray has not.

OUR PICK: COLTS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

NEW YORK GIANTS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Giants have found out the hard way that Santa gave them a hot flaming piece of coal as in their back-up quarterback, named Mike Glennon. Giants will start a young quarterback they claimed off the Bills practice squad, Jake Fromm, this week. It’s a better idea then Glennon. The inexperience will benefit the Eagles in this one. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles offense will score points off a pretty good Giants defense. Giants will be finding it hard to score points in this one.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

LA RAMS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS

I was thinking this one could be a shoot-out between the Rams and Vikings. Vikings last Sunday only mustered up 17 points on the Bears defense who had many of their defenders out with Covid. Bears had to rent some Bad Santas to fill holes on their defense. Guys you’ve never heard of.

Rams defense has been playing much better and will be much more difficult than whatever the Bears had last Sunday. Vikings win a game & then usually follow that next game up with a loss.

OUR PICK:RAMS

BUFFALO BILLS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Patriots showed their true colors last week in a very sloppy loss in Indianapolis. This game between the Bills and Patriots has the AFC East on the line. Can the Bills exercise their demons that have been haunting them for decades in Bill Belichick and company?

Can Josh Allen lead this team over the Evil Empire? In the first meeting, weather shut down the Bills passing attack. Bills will make a statement in this one. Mac Jones has played well as a rookie, but mistakes in the Colts game last week mean my feeling will linger into this one. Patriots are on the rise, but they are not quite there yet. Bills avoid the sweep and have played better on the road this season.

OUR PICK: BILLS

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS

Tampa Bay Buccaneers were gutted last week with injuries to many of their play makers versus the Saints. Carolina have lost 4 in a row and are riding the struggle bus.

Last time I checked, Cam Newton is the starting quarterback for the Panthers. The Fig Newton is getting softer with age. Watch Newton melt as the game goes on. Tampa Tom and whatever he has left to throw to, should be able to score some points off a Carolina team packing it in.

OUR PICK:BUCCANEERS

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT NEW YORK JETS

This game is like a bad Santa Claus slasher movie. Why even play the game? The dart throw landed on the Jets.

OUR PICK: JETS

DETROIT LIONS AT ATLANTA FALCONS

Lions with the big upset of the Cardinals last Sunday.

It was a miracle win for the Lions. The Falcons are horrible at home with a 1-5 record. Lions will be without their starting quarterback, Jared Goff, who tested positive for Covid. Falcons have been able to beat the bottom of the league teams this season. I like the odds of Matt Ryan prevailing over a team’s back-up quarterback behind center for a bad Lions team.

OUR PICK:FALCONS

LA CHARGERS AT HOUSTON TEXANS

Chargers are in the thick of things and should have kicked some field goals last week versus the Chiefs to win the game. Instead they chose to go for it on 4th down instead of kicking and adding on three points. Eventually the Chargers fell in over time. Texans took advantage of the doormat of the league last Sunday and beat up the Jaguars. Chargers should rebound and the Texans can go back to their usual way of life in the NFL on Santa’s naughty list.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

BALTIMORE RAVENS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS

Ravens are down to their third wise man behind center.

Bengals took over first place in the AFC North last week. Ravens Lamar Jackson is out with an injury. Back up, Tyler Huntley, is on the Covid list and will miss this game. Josh Johnson, the veteran journeyman who gets around, will be the starter. Last time these two teams met, Bengals destroyed the Ravens in Baltimore. Ravens at the time had Jackson as the starter. Bengals win this one, so they can have a strangle hold on the division. Johnson should keep the Ravens in the game. In the end, Bengals get a huge win.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

CHICAGO BEARS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Bears fans sat on a drunken Santa as they asked him to fire head coach Matt Nagy. The big guy in the red suit did not deliver. Russell Wilson is probably glad that the Seahawks did not deliver and trade him to the Bears before the season started. Bears are rolling out Nick “the Dick” in this late afternoon affair at quarterback.

Nick Foles getting the start. This is my upset of the week. This is when Nick Foles shines. Late weeks of regular season. Foles will have one of his best games to earn a contract for next season with someone else. Seahawks defense is not that good. Look for the Bears to get that lucky ugly victory.

OUR PICK: BEARS

PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Chiefs keep finding ways to win. Steelers are somehow hanging on in the AFC playoff race. Chiefs are one of the hottest teams in the league winning seven straight. Chiefs defense continues to play well while the offense is showing on certain Sundays they are still one of the best in the league. Steelers had a surprising win versus the Titans. Big Ben Roethlisberger is like a broken Christmas sleigh hanging on by a few rusty stripped bolts.

Steelers are having problems scoring early in games as they were forced to come back the last few weeks. Chiefs, you can’t afford to go down by ten points early on. Chiefs like to score often and early which will screw the Steelers not getting off to fast start.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

DENVER BRONCOS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

Even Santa Claus gets lucky in Vegas. Broncos lost Teddy Bridgewater to serious injury last week. Raiders went on the road and beat the Browns team that lost key players from the Covid virus. Drew Lock has experience in the NFL with the Broncos, but he is prone to make mistakes. Either team can win this game. I don’t like the Broncos on the road. Not sure which Raiders team we will see this Sunday. I feel Derek Carr is due for a big game.

OUR PICK: RAIDERS

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM AT DALLAS COWBOYS

These are two teams going in opposite directions. The Cowboys are rolling. The Team has fallen on hard times. Washington once again will be missing key players due to the Corona Virus.

The team will feel like they were run down by Santa’s sleigh and reindeer, led by Dak Prescott.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Can the Saints defense play at another high level like they did last Sunday to the Buccaneers? Dolphins are red hot winning six straight. Who is playing quarterback for the Saints? Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian are out with the virus. That leaves rookie Ian Brook as the starting quarterback. Calls from the Saints to Phillip Rivers and Drew Brees turned up

NO-NO-NO instead of HO-HO-HO.

I think this will be good game between the Saints and Dolphins. I think the Fins swim away with a close victory on the road.

OUR PICK: DOLPHINS

Last Sunday night, the New Orleans Saints coming into the game versus the Buccaneers were the 11.5 point underdog. Saints were on the road at Tampa Bay away from their home dome. The Buccaneers needed a victory to clinch the division. The Saints mustered up 9 stinking points total against a Tom Brady team which has maybe the best offense in the league this season. Common sense upon hearing these kinds of numbers mean you would award the victory to the Buccaneers. The Saints defense put on a clinic as if they looked like the 1985 Chicago Bears. The Saints defense had flashes of that Bounty Gate defense of Christmas past as Buccaneers bodies fell to the turf. Saints would win this one 9-0 as they manhandled Tom Brady and tossed him around like a rag doll. No Sean Payton due to the Corona Virus. This Saints attack was led by the defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen. Saints are alive in the playoff chase. The Buccaneers and their walking wounded will have to wait another week to clinch the division.

In the 2009 season, the Saints defense made some extra scratch with their side hustle putting bounties on their opponents.

Bounties on players’ heads is like something you see in the movies. The Saints players and coaches pooled their money together back then and formed a fund they called the Slush Fund. Back then Gregg Williams was the Defensive Coordinator, & the master mind of the bounty gate scandal. I just remember the Saints going after Brett Farve who was then under the center for the Vikings and giving him the beating of a life time. It was the 2009 NFC Championship between the Vikings and the Saints in which New Orleans would prevail in overtime for a 31-28 win. The Saints went after Farve that game like he killed someone’s mother as they hit him high and low.

Farve was one of those annoying quarterbacks back in the day like Tom Brady is today. You get sick of these guys always beating you. Farve showed some grit in that 2009 NFC Championship team as he kept getting up and making plays. It was a close game. The Saints were able to force multiple turnovers on that Viking team led by Farve. That was the niche of that 2009 Bounty gate defense. Their key was forcing turnovers to get the ball back to Drew Brees and the offense. Head coach of the Vikings at the time counted 13 times where Saints defenders were trying to hurt his quarterback. Guys like Bobby McCray and Remi Ayodele made their presence well known. Saints had talent on that defense with guys like Will Smith and Scott Fujita. The bounties elevated their play that year. Saints would pay the consequences later on as head coach Sean Payton was suspended for one entire season. Gregg Williams was fired and would resurface with other teams later on. The Saints would win their only Superbowl.

One of the best defenses the Saints ever had in their history was during the Jim Mora tenure. The same guy who said, “Playoffs!!!” in a press conference.

The New Orleans Saints during the late 1980’s early 1990’s had maybe the best group of linebackers to play the game at the same time. At the time this defense played a 3-4 and were nicknamed the Dome patrol. The Saints deadly linebacker core consisted of Rickey Jackson, Vaughan Johnson, Sam Mills, and Pat Swilling, and they terrorized opposing quarterbacks for years. This group helped the Saints win their first ever division title. The Dome Patrol helped the Saints make 4 playoff appearances. Three straight from 1990-1992. All four Saints Linebackers made the Pro Bowl in 1992.

The Dome Patrol was a defense like Bounty Gate in 2009 and the present Saints team. Turnovers. The Dome Patrol was tops in the league forcing turnovers. The Dome Patrol may be the best Saints defense of all-time. The Saints never would win a playoff game with that group.

On Sunday Night, the present day group on defense for the Saints played one of the best games in their franchise as a unit. Sunday night ended Tom Brady’s streak of 255 games behind center not being shut out.

Defensive line Cameron Jordan had two sacks on Tom Brady with a forced fumble that Marshon Lattimore recovered. Marcus Davenport and David Onyemata were able to bring Tom Brady down with sacks of their own. Then the instigator, C.J-Gardner Johnson, intercepted Tom Brady late in the game. Tom Brady completed 26 passes out of 48 throws for 214 yards with the one pick and no touchdown passes. This Saints unit may have not gotten help from the Saints defenses of the past. This unit did not need any help from those past defenses in Saints history. When you see the Tom Brady’s of the league continue to beat you over and over. Nights like the Saints defense, that rises up against a Tom Brady or these other quarterback menaces that you and I are sick of, come out on top is just PRICELESS!!!! What would make this story even better is if the Saints made it to the playoffs. Then knocking the Buccaneers out of the post-season.

NFL WEEK 15 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

LAST WEEK’S RECORD (9-5)

SEASON STATS

OVERALL RECORD (126-82)

THURSDAY RECORD(11-5)

MONDAY NIGHT RECORD (9-5)

NFL week 15 has been invaded by the Covid body snatchers. Players being sidelined with the virus throughout the league. Some games rescheduled. Games on every night. Which hero of yours will rise up to the challenge or fall down as a victim?

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT LA CHARGERS

Both the Chargers and the Chiefs are red hot coming into a big division game between the two of them. Chiefs defense has done a 360. Chargers offense are firing on all cylinders. Chargers won the first match up in Kansas City. No AFC West team has ever swept a season series on the Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes behind center. Chargers defense can be suspect at times. The Chiefs offense is on the rise looking better as weeks go on in the 2021 season.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

In sports, some teams get all the luck in the world. The New England Patriots are that team. Patriots seem to get that bounce or tipped ball. The Colts have been playing for their playoff lives and riding Jonathan Taylor all the way to the finish line. Thought the Patriots should h s lost in Buffalo. Patriots have won 7 in a row. The Colts schedule this year has been one of the toughest in the league. Colts at home. Carson Wentz has lost only one game to a rookie quarterback in his career. Colts defense is underrated, but is still a top unit in the league. Look for the defense to force Mac Jones into some early game mistakes. Noise level inside Lucas Stadium will be a challenge as well for Jones since it’s a dome and the level of noise will escalate.

OUR PICK: COLTS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

DALLAS COWBOYS AT NEW YORK GIANTS

I thought the Cowboys were going to falter last Sunday versus the Washington Football Team but they played well and won. Giants have Mike Glennon as their starting quarterback and that raises red flags in my head. Giants might get Jake Fromm some action. He’s a young quarterback drafted by Buffalo and snagged off the practice squad by New York. Giants feel or know Glennon is nothing but smoldering hot garbage. Cowboys can get a grip and a stranglehold of the NFC East with a win versus their division rival.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

HOUSTON TEXANS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

The toilet bowl game of the day. Draft positioning for whoever loses. Jaguars just fired their head coach, Urban Meyer. Texans will continue to see what Davis Mills can bring to the table with another start behind center. Who’s tanking?

Dolphins, Browns and Jaguars are on the all-time Tankers list. Texans have mastered the tank in the last few weeks. The firing of the head coach always gets a spark out of the team the following week. Watch Jeff Spocoli, AKA Trevor Lawrence, do well as they dumb down the offense and just let it rip.

OUR PICK:JAGBAGS

TENNESSEE TITANS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS

These are two teams that need a desperate win. Titans won last week but the Colts are in their rear view mirror.

Carson Wentz does not look pretty in the morning, yikes. Meanwhile this Sitting Bull’s last stand is in Pittsburgh. Does Ben Roethlisberger have one gasp of air in him to keep the Steelers playoff hopes alive? Steelers are at home and they really have been battling teams every week. Sitting Bull gets it done at-least for this week.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

NEW YORK JETS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS

The annual dumping of the Jets to the bone yard to let them rust away or sell them for spare parts. What’s a Joe Flacco wing go for on the open market. Once again the Jets have been eliminated from getting into the post-season with weeks of regular season to play. Dolphins have won 5 in a row. Jets will be another notch in the win column for the resurgence of this Dolphin team.

OUR PICK:DOLPHINS

ARIZONA CARDINALS AT DETROIT LIONS

Detroit got their win two weeks ago. The Lions did not look good last week in Denver.

Yes, it is obvious the Lions are making their vacation plans. Cardinals will rebound from the Rams loss on Monday night.

OUR PICK: CARDINALS

CAROLINA PANTHERS AT BUFFALO BILLS

The Cam Newton experiment in Carolina has gone soft. The Bills have no phobias about this week’s opponent. No demons from the past to haunt Buffalo.

No Patriots. No Tom Brady. Panthers have lost three games in a row. Sean McDermott knows the Panther organization really well. Bills have many X-Panthers on their roster. It’s now or never for the Bills to play the entire game; like they did in the second half versus Tampa Bay.

OUR PICK: BILLS

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT DENVER BRONCOS

Are the Bengals turning back into the Bumbles of X-mas past?

The Broncos were expired last week playing at a high level because of the passing of Demaryius Thomas. Broncos feasted on the Lion meat. Can the Broncos continue that Rocky Mountain High level of play? Bengals are in a great position. The Ravens have a tough schedule the rest of the way. Lamar Jackson is hobbling. The Browns are a mess at this time. The bricks are crumbling on Big Ben. I think Bengals need this win versus the Broncos to take that step and get control of the division.

OUR PICK:BENGALS

ATLANTA FALCONS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Falcons won last week. Falcons hardly ever win two games in a row. The 49ers are still in the thick of things. The 49ers got back in the win column versus the Bengals last Sunday. Kyle Shanahan has history with Matt Ryan coaching in Atlanta years ago. That may be a slight edge for the 49ers, but overall San Francisco is playing better than Atlanta. The 49ers defense can stop the Falcons. Falcons defense has played poorly for the last few seasons. Is someone going to fix that?

Falcons have taken it one day at a time trying to fix their defensive unit.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

GREEN BAY PACKERS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS

The Bears gave the Packers a scare on Monday night for awhile. The Ravens find themselves with a hobbled quarterback.

Aaron Rodgers, owner of the Bears, threatened his tenants with a eviction notice during the game. Bears backed off. Tyler Huntley likely get the start for the Ravens behind center with Lamar Jackson hurt. That’s enough said.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

If the Saints win again versus the Buccaneers, they have the hex on Tom Brady.

I would love to see the Saints march into Tampa Bay and bombard the Pirate ship. Sinking it. Buccaneers are playing much better than the first time the Saints and Buccaneers squared off. Saints had Jameis Winston at quarterback for at-least half of that game in the first meeting before he went down. Brady has more weapons to choose from in this second meeting.

OUR PICK:BUCCANEERS

MONDAY NIGHT GAMES

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS

The Browns could have Nick Mullens, the former 49er, be their starting quarterback due to Covid issues flooding their locker room. Which Raiders team will you get? Hope it’s not the one dancing on the opponents’ logo. Both teams are desperate for a win. I think Covid slows down the Brownies. Derek Carr and the Raiders have that explosion on offense that comes out every few weeks like on Thanksgiving versus the Cowboys.

OUR PICK: RAIDERS

MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT CHICAGO BEARS

Another prime time for the Bears. Another disaster in the making. Vikings and Bears always play close games even if one team is up and one is down. Vikings need this game more. Can the Bears contain the Viking’s high octane offense? Bears should be able to score some points on the Viking defense. Bears pulled out all their trick plays last week versus the Packers. Bears have replacement coaches taking over for coaches down with Covid issues. Vikings lose & Green Bay clinches division. My feeling is most of the Bear players have already called it a year. Vikings have a shot at the wild card, but they need to win to stay afloat in the NFC. How about a screaming viking?

OUR PICK:VIKINGS

RESCHEDULED COVID GAMES (TUESDAY NIGHT)

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT LA RAMS

Rams have won two in row. Rams made a statement on Monday night taking down the division rival Cardinals who were perched at the top of the division and the number one seed in the NFC. Seahawks have won 2 in row. Seahawks have been beating up on bottom feeders. Rams now are starting to gel together after stumbling for weeks and after acquiring some players at the trade deadline. Seahawks will mostly likely be without a few of Russell Wilson’s playmakers. Wilson can do a lot. Without some key guys, the Rams defense can eliminate whatever strengths the Seahawks have left.

OUR PICK: RAMS

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Both teams in this match-up season have been up and down like a roller coaster. The Football Team fought back versus Dallas last Sunday but lost. The Team came in red hot. Meanwhile the Eagles are flying high with Gardner Minshew filling in for the hurt Jalen Hurts.

I feel like the WFT will struggle again in this one trying to get that mojo back. Minshew has that mojo and he has something to prove. This reminds me of Nick Foles taking over from an injured Carson Wentz years ago. The porn mustache of Minshew might not go as far as Nick the Dick. Minshew will get the Eagles even up at 7-7 after his second start.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

Urban Meyer might be the biggest Jag-off of all-time when it comes to being a head coach in the NFL. After 13 games in the NFL in his first season, the Jacksonville Jaguars gave Urban Meyer the Axe and it’s about time and definitely well deserved. Meyer will go down as one of the Ryan Leafs of the league… a total bust. Before Urban Meyer signed his name on the dotted line of the contract with the Jaguars he was legend. No myth in what Meyer did at the Collegiate level. People in Ohio are still singing folk songs about him over what he did for Ohio State University. Some gave Meyer lap dances in appreciation. Before Meyer took the pen or put his finger on the computer screen to mark his X, people had him winning the Superbowl. The turn around of one of the worst franchises in the history of sports & it was going to be freaking epic. Everyone will remember Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in the debate that looked like some squabble of my brother’s wife’s screwed my sister on the Jerry Springer show which was a car wreck. This with Urban Meyer was an inferno burning highway car wreck shit show that had many moving parts and sucked many people in and spit them out. The few people that are Jacksonville Jaguars fans should go back to the closet and dig out that paper bag because you will need it to wear over your head..

Where do you start on this shit show that Urban Meyer orchestrated? Jacksonville Jaguars took the Surf Nazi, Trevor Lawrence, number one overall in the draft. Lawrence was going to be the answer to the problems that the Jaguars had at quarterback since Mark Brunell left town. Brunell is still the best ever quarterback Jacksonville ever had. Urban Meyer was going to be the quarterback whisperer. Meyer would be the best guy to develop Lawrence who had the big arm and that can use his legs to make plays. The Jaguars were so confident they even traded their second best quarterback in franchise history in my opinion, Gardner Minshew. Minshew with his porn mustache should have easily been the #1 guy over Jeff Spicoli. Lawrence could have learned on the sideline watching Minshew at work. The failure to develop a number one quarterback is like kryptonite on this Jaguar franchise. No one in the Jacksonville franchise even comes close to Superman.

Praise the lord. Do I get an Amen? The signing of Tim Tebow. Tebow left the NFL because his quarterbacking days in the NFL were over. Tebow switched sports as he tried baseball and latched onto the New York Mets farm system. Tebow tried and even tried again but never made it in baseball. The almighty man upstairs did not answer Tebow’s prayers. Many experts thought Tebowe’s best shot in the NFL was a position change. That position was one many thought Tebow should switch to, from quarterback to the tight end position. This was after Tebow was drafted or even before any team drafted him. The mindset of Urban Meyer was “Let’s sign Tim Tebow to be a tight end for the Jacksonville Jaguars.” This after Tebow played quarterback in the NFL for years. This after several years of trying the sport of baseball. How do you think that was going to work out? Stupid idea. Yes, indeed. Tebow took playing reps away from other players that probably could have succeeded at that position. Tebow was cut and Meyer looks like an idiot. That is early on when everyone was still drinking the kool-aid because this guy was a legend at Ohio State.

Let’s get to the lap dance. Urban Meyer and his Jaguars were playing the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night. Bengals won that game. Urban Meyer did not take the flight home with the team. Red flag there. Urban Meyer, the Ohio legend, wanted to visit some family and friends in Columbus. That night in Urban Meyer’s restaurant, he was drinking & having a gay ole time like Fred Flintstone would say. The video showed Meyer and a strange girl, not his wife, dancing together. Meyer looks intoxicated but very happy as this girl is stroking his legendary ego. Many people throughout the league thought Meyer should have been fired after that episode when the video surfaced. The owner of the Jaguars, Shahid Khan, gave Meyer a hall pass but he was on thin ice.

More to come on Urban Meyer. Stories came out that Meyer called all his assistant coaches losers. Meyer hired all of his own coaches, so that if tells you something about the porch light might be on, but no one is home in his own brain. The record of the Jaguars is 2-11. Most of those games this season in Jaguar football have not been pretty. Let’s face the facts that Meyer lost his locker room. It probably started after he stayed behind and did not take the flight back after playing the Bengals. The straw that broke the back of Urban Meyer. The kick that was heard around the world. Meyer kicked his kicker for not making a field goal in pre-season. The story broke about Josh Lambo that the Jaguars kicker was in lunge position stretching out at a practice. Meyer came up and said “Hey Dip Shit make your fucking kicks,” and then kicked him.

Josh Lambo responded, “Don’t you ever fucking kick me again.”

Urban Meyer basically said he is the head football coach and he can do whatever he fucking wants to do and he would kick his kicker any time he feels like giving him the boot.

The next Jacksonville Jaguars coach will be the 5th hire for their owner, Shahid Khan. Throw in interim coaches & that is 7 coaches under the Khan watch. Which adds up to one winning season in ten years. One of Meyer’s loser coaches, Darrell Bevell, will take over for the rest of the season. Bevell was the offensive coordinator for the Jaguars this season and used to do the same job with the Bears years ago. I don’t recall anything uplifting in Bevell’s offenses of the past. As long as Bevell gets the team to dress themselves, that will be a high note of this nightmare season in Jacksonville. Getting rid of Urban Meyer should have been done weeks ago. At-least with the firing, the Jaguars, and the NFL new rule, the team can get a head start on looking for their full time replacement instead of waiting until the season ends. Seeing and just watching this Meyer saga unfold is like as if he wanted out of Jacksonville. The Jaguars had to cut ties with this jerk. Who knows what else is down the road that Meyer would have done or has already done and is not out yet. This one year in the pro-game should tarnish this guy’s reputation for life. If I was a University, no way I would hire Urban Meyer to take over my football program. Will Urban Meyer’s legend live on in the state of Ohio after this stint in Jacksonville? Perhaps. In the pros, Urban Meyer and Ryan Leaf should be talked about as the biggest busts in the NFL – one as a player & one as a coach.

It took the coming out of Kyle Beach as John Doe in one of the biggest sexual scandal stories in hockey, to remove the Blackhawks General Manager, Stan Bowman. Bowman should have been shown the doors years ago. Kyle Davidson took over as the acting GM of the Blackhawks and he fired a mistake hire by Stan Bowman in removing Jeremy Colliton as the head coach of the Blackhawks. Colliton should have never been hired in the first place. With the avalanche of all the negative news that came flooding into the Blackhawks organization because of covering up what Brad Aldrich did to Kyle Beach and others. Colliton and the Blackhawks started off 1-9-2 for the season. Derek King took over the duties as head coach and things got better quickly for the Blackhawks on the ice. King’s record now is 11-15 since taking over as leader of the Blackhawks. The team is playing better than when they started and the GM and manager are on the same page. It’s good to be King, when you need something the GM goes out and gets you that piece to make the team better. King wanted an enforcer and Davidson delivered. Blackhawks land 28-year-old forward Kurtis Gabriel from the Toronto Maple Leafs for defenseman Chad Krys.

This is not a major deal between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Blackhawks. Both players in this deal were playing in the AHL, the American Hockey League. Both players had spent more time in the minors than in the NHL. Chad Krys is a 23 year defenseman drafted by the Blackhawks in 2016. In eight games for the Rockford Ice dogs of the AHL, Krys had registered 1 assist. Krys has played in 64 NHL games in parts of 4 different seasons for the Blackhawks. Krys has 2 goals & 13 assists for 15 points at the NHL level. Krys is still a young guy but needs a little seasoning to his game. Blackhawks need physical presence since the loss of Jujar Khaira getting hit in the head from a hit by Jacob Trouba of the New York Rangers.

Jujar Khaira was the Blackhawks physical game on the ice this season.

The Blackhawks get a goon in Kurtis Gabriel who brings his 6’6″ 215 lbs presence to the ice. Gabriel has played in 49 NHL games and tallied 2 goals & 3 assists with the Wild, Devils, and Sharks. This season Gabriel was playing in the AHL for the Toronto Marlies and in 13 games he had 1 goal with 1 assist. Gabriel’s game is not scoring goals or dishing out the puck. In the NHL Gabriel has tallied 5 points total in the NHL and 68 in the AHL. Gabriel brings a serious physical edge to the ice every night. Gabriel, a former third round pick, has 54 total fights in professional hockey during 8 seasons. Gabriel has dropped the gloves for 15 fights total in the NHL. Gabriel has accumulated 153 penalty minutes in those 49 NHL games.

I don’t know if Derek King will be the guy for the Blackhawks for years to come. Not sure the Blackhawks will even make it to the playoffs getting off to such a bad start like they did. King helped this organization when it was sinking from all the negative news and the poor play on the ice. The team started playing better. In sports you can make a change in leadership and the team responds right away to a different voice. For how long? Blackhawks came into the season with high hopes as Stan Bowman made multiple moves trying to get this team better and build something around Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. It was one last hope of salvaging something out of the core that helped bring three cups to Chicago. The hockey season is long especially the full slate of games on the docket this year. I love just the fact that Derek King needs something to help the team & now the new GM Kyle Davidson makes it happen. Unlike with Stan Bowman with his hand up Jeremy Colliton’s rear like a puppet in that relationship. For years the Blackhawks have lacked that physical presence on the ice. If you’re the King and you want to slay the dragon, you bring in the Goon.