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.
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.
Brian Kelly is just a snake oil salesman wearing headphones. Once again the Collegiate level of the coaching carousel has coaches abandoning ship and not even finishing out their season. Do the Universities in College football have any say under contracts that prevent these guys from packing up their boxes & riding off-campus in a U-Haul for an even bigger payday? Coach Brian Kelly is leaving the University of Notre Dame to head down south and take over the LSU program. Louisiana State University plays in the S.E.C (Southern Eastern Conference), the MECCA of College football. LSU gives Kelly a ten year commitment which probably does not mean anything as he will never finish the contract that is worth 95 Million. Throw in potential bonuses and the king of snake oil is the highest paid coach at any public University.
Brian Kelly’s first job in College football as a head coach was at Central Michigan. After three seasons, Kelly went 19-16 and then bounced. Kelly went on to the University of Cincinnati. Kelly went 34-6 in regular season with three bowl games for the 4 years he walked the sideline there. Another stepping stone. Kelly said when he was hired, that he imagined his next gig would be his dream job and that was Notre Dame. I’m shocked Kelly lasted 12 years at the University of Notre Dame. Kelly did a solid job as his record over 12 years on the job was 113-40 and had the University in ten bowl games… quite impressive. Early on I thought Kelly would jump at an opportunity in the pro game. Maybe another University with more money. Perhaps Kelly was thinking it. Kelly probably even knew he wanted something else. Waited patiently until something he liked came along. Once you fly first class, no way would he go back to coach small potato universities or a disarrayed franchise in the NFL. That’s where LSU comes in.
What has LSU got that Notre Dame does not have? Notre Dame is an independent school that has never played in a conference. Not that there is anything wrong with that. LSU plays in the SEC which most people will say is the powerhouse conference in College football. The schools you face every week compared to Notre Dame. LSU faces Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Georgia and many other southern schools that have high profile football programs. Not saying Notre Dame’s schedule is easy as they face tough Big Ten schools every year. Notre Dame has restrictions on players they recruit. LSU academic-wise you can sign all the meat-heads you want down there while at Notre Dame academics comes into play. Kelly said the resources at LSU are incredible. I bet recruiting down in the south is like a football factory taking linemen right out of the warehouse.
The bottom line is Brian Kelly’s mind thinks he can win a National Championship at LSU before Notre Dame. Notre Dame has made the final four with Brian Kelly more than once. The results are not very Irish-like. LSU won the National championship in 2019. Remember Joe Heisman Burrow? Burrow was the number one pick in 2020 by the Cincinnati Bengals. Burrow led LSU to that National championship win over the University of Clemson. Since 2018, LSU has the 2nd most players suiting up in the NFL. Notre Dame is not number one. The Irish produce talented players that go on to play in the NFL. LSU has far more. This should tell you the tale of the tape just talent-wise of both programs. This is the reason Kelly believes his easiest path to win the National Championship is through the Tigers, not the Leprechauns of South Bend, Indiana.
Should LSU have anything to worry about with Brian Kelly leaving their program in years to come? If Kelly succeeds at LSU, would the next stepping stone be the pro game of the NFL? It’s a shame guys like Kelly leave a prestigious University with great history like Notre Dame having the most wins as head coach in Irish history. Kelly passed up legend Knute Rockne in wins at the University. Rockne probably bled Irish blood putting his life’s dedication to the cause of making Notre Dame a powerhouse football program. Kelly born in Massachusetts suddenly has a Southern accent just in time for the LSU introduction press conference. Like a chameleon, that Kelly is a dirty lizard who adapts to his new background immediately. Not everyone is buying the Brian Kelly act. LSU starting quarterback Max Johnson wants out. Max Johnson, son of a former Superbowl winner, who led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their first title ever, is Brad Johnson. I know life is all about the next challenge. Kelly had a challenge and failed at Notre Dame winning a National title. I can easily bring up the name of Lou Holtz who was able to get the Irish a National Championship, decades ago but still got it done. Yes, Brian Kelly was successful in South Bend, but when you put it in his terms of getting that next challenge… the easy path to a title. Then he is the ultimate failure for not getting it done at Notre Dame. Maybe Kelly will end up getting eaten up by a gator. Florida University gator. An actual gator would spit out that snakeskin oil salesman that would poison the poor reptile with that Kelly venom. Do you blame St. Patrick leaving one snake in Irish country not eradicated? Notre Dame is better off in the future without the head of a snake leading them.
Last week we did better than the week before. Still felt like we were run over by a 40 ouncer.
SEASON STATS
OVERALL RECORD (117-77)
THURSDAY RECORD (10-5)
MONDAY NIGHT RECORD (8-5)
WEEK 14 PREDICTIONS WE ARE ALL ABOUT THE DEMARYIUS THOMAS WAY OF WINNING THE BIG WEEK.
THE THURSDAY NIGHT AFFAIR
PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Both the Vikings and Steelers are desperate teams trying to hang on to their playoffs lives. Ravens gave the Steelers a Christmas gift last Sunday in a botched two point conversion to try to win the game instead of kicking the extra point to try for overtime at the end of regulation. Meanwhile the Vikings were in giving spirits giving the Lions a victory. No Grinchy heart wearing purple this Holiday season.
A short week should give the Vikings inspiration to get back in the win column. The return of Dalvin Cook running the ball should be the inspiration this team needs. The Shower Curtain defense has too many holes to stop this Viking high octane offense.
OUR PICK: VIKINGS
THE SUNDAY SLATE
DALLAS COWBOYS AT THE WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM
The Fat Boy Head Coach Mike McCarthy is back from being sidelined with the Covid virus. McCarthy had some words in his return saying, “when we win this week,” referring to beating the Washington Football team. Is the Cowboys head coach throwing up his own Hail Mary to rally his team with words to the press? The Washington Football team is sizzling right now. The Team, just like last year at this time, are marching like the Nazis into Poland which would be the post-season.
Cowboys are walking wounded in their back field coming into the Nations Capital. Dak Prescott to me does not have the accuracy on his passes like he has in the past. The Team is playing like a team on both sides of the ball. The team is red hot, so watch them stun the Cowboys this Sunday.
OUR PICK: THE TEAM
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT TENNESSEE TITANS
Every little kid wants a train set for Christmas. Every Titan fan wants a team they can beat. As long as the opponents are not the Texans or the Jets. The struggling Jaguars are perfect medication for the Titans to break their two game losing streak especially coming off a bye week. If the Titans can’t beat a pathetic Jaguar team that has nothing left in the tank, just give the division title to the Colts. Let’s not waste our time covering a team in a constant funk.
OUR PICK: TITANS
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT HOUSTON TEXANS
The Texans are waving the white flag as Davis Mills will take over duties the rest of the year behind center. The Tyrod Taylor being a spoiler for all these playoff teams has come to an end. Meanwhile the Seahawks get a win against their rival 49ers which may be their World Series of the season. Russell Wilson and the Seahawks offense should be able to bury the Texans defense. Davis Mills may engineer a drive or two but not enough to get by the Seahawks.
OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Which Raider team will come to play this week? You can probably say that about the Chiefs as well. Chiefs offense has been bipolar this season. The defense of the Chiefs has done a 360 in good way. Chiefs are still winning games even if they don’t have the style points we are custom to seeing. Raiders coming off a loss means nothing because this team has no track record. Raiders decide if they are going to play well in the spur of the moment. I like Chiefs at home here.
OUR PICK: CHIEFS
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT NEW YORK JETS
Jets have played better the last three games and are notching a victory versus the Texans. Last week Taysom Hill’s first start this season versus Dallas was better than what they had weeks prior. Alvin Kamara’s due back should help the Saints offense. Jets will give the Saints a respectable game throughout most of the afternoon. Saints defense make a stand or two late in the game to see Kamara find his way to the end zone for a much needed Saints victory. As they break the forever it seems losing streak that we have not seen in New Orleans in years.
ATLANTA FALCONS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS
The Falcons & Panthers rematch. The Panthers won the first one. In the first meeting Cam Newton was not back in the fold for Carolina like that makes any kind of difference. Will this be the last meeting between Matt Ryan and Cam Newton in these uniforms facing each other? Matt Ryan is like a whack-a mole these days.
Sometimes he pop his head out and the Falcons will score some points and a possible victory. I think the Soft Cam Newton should be able to pretend he’s Superman for this Sunday only and give the Panthers fans something to cheer for. Panthers defense is a better unit than what the Falcons have.
OUR PICK: PANTHERS
BALTIMORE RAVENS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS
Browns coming off a bye week and yet will face the Ravens once again. Ravens won the last meeting with the Browns by one score. The Ravens should have beat the Steelers last Sunday. Instead of tying the game, the Ravens went fancy trying to win the game with a two point conversion and failed. Baker Mayfield has been like the board game, Operation.
Every tackle on Baker Mayfield sends shards of pain through his body that may make his nose turn red. Like some nervous Nellie playing the board game of Operation when you were younger always making the nose turn red with touching the metal with the tweezers. Ravens defense will contain the Browns running game. Look for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense to look more crisp than the ugliness we have been seeing in last few weeks.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
NEW YORK GIANTS AT LA CHARGERS
Those are the Chargers we thought we’d see almost every week this season that blew out the Bengals.
This is what happens when Mike Glennon is your quarterback. Any questions?
OUR PICK:CHARGERS
DETROIT LIONS AND DENVER BRONCOS
I just can’t see the Lions winning two straight games. Especially having to go on the road.
I think the Football Gods with the news of the passing away of Demaryius Thomas and the Broncos will have a moment of silence for their former player the organization lost. Thomas passes away at a young age of 33 which is way too soon in life. Thomas was a great wide receiver for the Broncos for years. Imagine a great person as well. All this news & the game will go on. I have the Broncos coming out with a win at home this Sunday from a team that could be inspired because of the passing away of Demaryius Thomas. Rest in Peace…
OUR PICK: BRONCOS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS
Both the Bengals and the 49ers were doing well until last week. Both teams need to rebound this Sunday. The 49ers have more pressure on them than the Bengals. This is a game that can go either way. I like the Bengals overall edge with their offense and defense to beat a California team traveling from the West coast to the Midwest. The 49ers have been running on fumes for awhile & this will be the week where it will sting.
OUR PICK: BENGALS
BUFFALO BILLS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
The GOAT Tom Brady owns the Buffalo franchise. Bills lost to the Evil Empire Tampa Tom’s ole stomping grounds, the Evil Empire Patriots. Bills have not lost two in a row after bad losses. Buccaneers have been almost close to firing on all cylinders. Bills have an axe to grind. Tom Brady will be overconfident. Josh Allen will have a big game. UPSET… YES, INDEED. Bills bounce back to show the league they are for real.
OUR PICK:BILLS
CHICAGO BEARS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS
Can someone tell Aaron Rodgers, the owner of the Bears from a different mother, to fire Matt Nagy and the entire Bears front office. Horrible game to have the Bears on Prime Time. Justin Fields will be back behind center for the Bears. Means nothing. Packers at home is the Bears’ nightmare once again.
THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME
LA RAMS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS
Another great Monday night match up two weeks in a row. Are the Rams and Cardinals the preview of the NFC conference game? These two teams play in the same division. Cardinals have something wrong with them, but they don’t know it yet. They have been winning anyways. Rams have been scrapping living the bad days & finally won a game last Sunday, I think the Rams will have their division rival in the second game of the series and give the Cardinals a wake up call and expose them that they are not the team to beat.
I don’t blame you for ripping my head off and shitting down my neck with the picks we did in week twelve.
SEASON STATS
OVERALL RECORD (109-71)
THURSDAY RECORD(9-5)
MONDAY NIGHT RECORD (8-4)
LUCKY WEEK 13 HERE WE GO
We’re skipping all the way through week 13 whistling Dixie …
THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME
DALLAS COWBOYS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Combined, both the Cowboys and the Saints have lost six in a row. The Saints have 4 of those losses. Cowboys have lost people due to the Covid virus. Head coach for Dallas, Mike McCarthy, will miss this game due to Covid. Saints will be without their star running back, Alvin Kamara, once again. Taysom Hill is expected to start behind center for the Saints, making his first start of the year. Cowboys will have play maker Amari Cooper back in the fold; a guy returning from Covid. Taysom Hill will give the Saints a better shot than Trevor Siemian at quarterback. I feel the Saints will battle the Cowboys most of the game. Cowboys will have Dan Quinn take over the head coach duties for McCarthy. He has experience from his Atlanta days and knows a little bit about the Saints playing them twice a year. Dak Prescott will be a big part of getting the Cowboys off their skid. Hill will be rusty and that gives Cowboys the edge.
OUR PICK:COWBOYS
THE SUNDAY SLATE
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS
Last time these two teams met, Buccaneers put up 48 points on Atlanta earlier in the season. The Falcons have won 5 games beating basically bottom-feeders throughout the league. Tampa Bay, back on track, won two in a row beating a very good Colts team last week. Tampa Tom will not have any problem putting up his usual Brady numbers. Will the Buccaneers run the ball? Leonard Fournette has turned into a force in the back-field the last few games. Fournette has 7 rushing touchdowns this season.
The key for the Buccaneers is stopping the Falcons’ Cordarrelle Patterson. He is the heart, soul, and Swiss Army knife of the Falcons offense. Head Coach Matt Nagy did not know how to use Patterson last season with the Bears. Patterson has 4 rushing and 5 receiving touchdowns. That’s nine total touchdowns if you’re counting at home. Buccaneers will focus on Patterson and win the game relatively easily.
OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS
ARIZONA CARDINALS AT CHICAGO BEARS
Once upon a time ago, both of these teams hailed from Chicago. Bears played on the North side of the city. The Cardinals played on the South side of the city. If both teams stayed in Chicago, the Bears would still have one Superbowl win in two appearances, while the Cardinals would have no Superbowls in 1 appearance.
Best running back of all-time, Sweetness aka Walter Payton, doing his part in the Bears’ Superbowl Shuffle. Times have changed. The Cardinals moved to St. Louis and now have found a solid home in Arizona. Cardinals are hoping their Superbowl Shuffle will be this year. Cardinals expecting Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins back from injury. Bears struggle to beat the Lions on Thanksgiving. This one should get ugly really fast for the Bears.
OUR PICK:CARDINALS
LA CHARGERS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS
Justin Herbert versus Joe Burrow might be the best air and water show of all-time. This match-up between these two quarterbacks may be a staple in the AFC for the next ten years in regular season and post season. Bengals right now are on solid ground. Chargers are too erratic for me to pick them to win. The Bengals running game with Joe Mixon, gives the Bengals the edge on offense. Defense goes to the Bengals as well instead of that roller coaster act LA has on that side of the ball.
OUR PICK:BENGALS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT DETROIT LIONS
Vikings offense is one of the best in the league. Lions always shoot themselves in their own paw every game.
Especially late in the game, the Lions step on their own land mine like clockwork. Viking defense should be able to tame this lion from the Wizard of Oz. Vikings will score a bunch and climb their way back to the 500 mark.
OUR PICK: VIKINGS
NEW YORK GIANTS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS
Dolphins are actually one of the hottest teams in the league right now.The fins have won 4 straight. New York’s defense were a Giant pain in the arse for sizzling the Eagle offense last Sunday. Dolphins defense is forcing a lot of turnovers like they did last season. Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is out for this Sunday’s game with an injury. The great Mike Glennon will get the start for the Giants behind center, which equals the 6th victory of the year for the Dolphins. The Dolphins defense will be licking their chops in this one.
OUR PICK:DOLPHINS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW YORK JETS
Jets won last week. Is that right? The Eagle has not landed for me at all this season. Whether I pick them to win or lose, they never listen. Eagles are living the movie Groundhog Day. Last week, they played the Giants in New Jersey. This week they play the Jets in New Jersey.
Will the Eagles have some punch to them this week on offense? Jets beat Houston last Sunday so their track record means they will not win another game until three weeks from now. Eagles offense should be able to run through this Jets defense and score more than 7 points. Since I’m picking the Eagles, it may not happen.
OUR PICK: EAGLES
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT HOUSTON TEXANS
Did the Colts forget to give the ball to their running back, Jonathan Taylor, last week? Coming off the big game versus Buffalo, Taylor did not have many carries versus the Buccaneers last Sunday until it was too late. Houston beat the Titans two weeks ago and do a belly flop last week versus the Jets. I expect the Colts feed Taylor the ball like it’s a pie eating contest.
Is the lard ass last year’s Ezekiel Elliot of the Cowboys. Taylor will get his fill and run all over the Texans. Colts defense will force a turnover or two off the arm of Tyrod Taylor. Texans will stay in the hunt of a top pick in the 2022 draft.
OUR PICK: COLTS
WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM VERSUS LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Raiders are untrustworthy & too unpredictable this season. The Team has won three straight. Raiders looked hot, cold, & then hot again on Thanksgiving versus the Cowboys. The Team of Washington only scored 17 points off a poor defense Seattle brings to the table every week. This game will come down to the Raiders offense or Washington’s defense. Who shows up? I like Raiders at home with Derek Carr finding his groove using different weapons as he spreads the ball around. It will be a close game. Raiders somehow find a way at the end of the game to pull out the victory.
OUR PICK: RAIDERS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT LA RAMS
Both the Jaguars and Rams have lost three games in a row. Rams have not won a game since they picked Odell Beckham Jr. and Von Miller. Blame it on the new guys. Matthew Stafford has turned into Jay Cutler throwing a Pick Six it seems every week. It’s simple – make mistakes & keep the kittens from Jacksonville in it. Rams will find a way to lose this one. Rams need to limit the mistakes they should be able to throttle the Jags and land back in the win column. The Surf Nazi at quarterback might be in for another rude awakening from the Rams defense that will be out to prove itself.
OUR PICK: RAMS
BALTIMORE RAVENS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Reports out of Pittsburgh suggest this will be Big Ben Roethlisberger’s last season. Does not help this season as Big Ben is like that statue behind center, ready to fall. Either by wind, force, or the big bad wolf huffing and puffing to blow Big Ben down.
Steeler fans can yank Big Ben down like the troops did to the Saddam Hussein statue in the town square. Big Ben’s play, the offensive line, and defensive line are all in disarray right now for the Steelers. Injuries meant the foundation is cracking and the paint is chipping. Only way Steelers win is if the Ravens gift-wrap an early Christmas gift to them.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Seahawks have not won since back up quarterback Geno Smith guided the team to a victory over the Jaguars. Meanwhile 49ers have won 4 out of their last 5 games. Lets face it. Seahawks have called it a year.
Big changes on the horizon for Seattle. The 49ers are fighting for the post-season. A win over their division rival evens up the two game season series and gets them 2 games over 500 and better chances to make post-season play especially with a tough Bengal team after this Sunday.
OUR PICK: 49ERS
DENVER BRONCOS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Chiefs are well rested coming off a bye week. Denver won a rare game versus a winning opponent at home last week facing the Chargers. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs defense were playing much better going into the bye week and have won 4 straight. Broncos will show up to Kansas City and really they might give the Chiefs a game. They might not. I like Andy Reid’s record coming off a bye week as head coach. A man with a plan.
OUR PICK: CHIEFS
THE MONDAY NIGHT AFFAIR
NEW ENGLAND AT BUFFALO BILLS
This is battle of the Rebel Alliance of Buffalo versus the Evil Empire of the Patriots.
The stakes are high as AFC East is on the line as the Bills and Patriots rivalry is back on. Patriots have won six in a row. Bills, who swept the Patriots last season, took the AFC East by storm and made it all the way to the conference championship. Because of this guy.
The Bills finally found a quarterback in Josh Allen. It did not take the Patriots that long to find a new quarterback as Mac Jones, the rookie, meets the Buffalo Mafia for the first time.
When was the last time both the Bills and the Patriots had stud quarterbacks at the same time? This rivalry might not be lopsided as it was when Tom Brady held court all those years. Was it a rivalry when Jim Kelly ran the decade of the 1990’s? Patriots have won six in a row. Bills won four in a row after losing the opener of the year. Bills have won 3 out of their last 5, but took on some bad loses. I like the Bills having home field advantage with a defense that has played most of the year very well. Mac Jones will have his work cut out for him. Josh Allen has made many mistakes the last several weeks. Will Bill Belichick and a good Patriot defense come up with a scheme to throw off the Bills quarterback and that high octane offense? Bills get healthier on the offensive line this week and Josh Allen has done very well at Monday Night Football. I do like them at home. I think the Patriots’ luck runs dry.
In every sport, some teams have a Woody Woodpecker on their team. What I mean by this is the old red-headed woodpecker cartoon bird was an agitator. In the NBA, when Dennis Rodman was not on your team, you just hated this guy. Rodman was one of the best defenders during his time on the floors in the NBA. Rodman had that Woodpecker mentality where he could get in your head & throw your game off. When Rodman was with the Bulls and they faced the Utah Jazz in the finals in the 1990’s, Karl Malone fell into his traps more than once. Last Saturday, the LA Kings in the NHL had their own version of agitator. Left winger Brendan Lemieux is not paid to score goals. Lemieux’s job on the ice is to get penalties drawn from the other team. Help his team get into the power play and use the extra man advantage. These guys that do this type of work probably do whatever it takes. Words can hurt.
Sticks can break bones. Maybe even goon it up with a cheap shot or throw down the gloves and go Blades of Steel on the other guy. Some of these goons’ jobs are to protect their own play-makers, the guys that can score goals and get all the glory.
Last Saturday, Brendan Lemieux threw down the gloves with Ottawa Senators left winger Brady Tkachuk. Both of them squared off and eventually both fell to the ice. The referees were trying to untangle them as they kept going at it both on the ice with Lemieux on top of Tkachuk. Eventually Lemieux took a bite out of Crime. Took a Chuk out Tkachuk’s hand.
It all started when Brady Tkachuk pushed the Kings’ center, Blake Lizzotle, in the back after the whistle. It was in the third period & the Kings had the lead on the Senators. When the referees finally broke up the tangled web on the ice between Lemieux and Tkachuk, you could see blood on Brady’s hands. Tkachuk immediately complained to the referee that he had been bitten by a guy needing a snickers bar in Lemieux. Tkachuk said the cannibal bit him on both hands when they fell to the ice. Lemieux said Tkachuk’s hands were bloody from punching him in the teeth during that scuffle. Like any car accident, everyone seems to have a different story. Video evidence shows Lemieux having a biting motion on Tkachuk’s left hand. That evidence matches up with the puncture marks on the left hand of Tkachuk after the game in which the Kings held on to a win, 4-2.
After the game, the Senators’ Brady Tkachuk spoke about Brendan Lemieux.
“The guy is just a joke.
He shouldn’t be in the league.
This guy is gutless.
No other teams want him
He’s going to keep begging to be in the NHL.
But no other team wants him.
He’s an absolute joke.
i can’t even wrap my head around it.
People don’t do this.
He’s a bad guy.
It’s outrageous.
Kids don’t even do that anymore.
Babies do that.
I don’t even know what he was thinking.
He’s a complete brick head.
He’s got nothing up there.
Bad guy, bad player, but what a joke he is.”
We get it a joke and a Brick head is the gist of what Brady Tkachuk had to say after the game about his BFF, Brendan Lemieux.
The NHL has suspended the biter, Brendan Lemieux, for five games without pay. All his salary goes to the Emergency Assistance Fund which is money to help players in unfortunate situations. In 14 games this season, Lemieux is ranked number 14 among overall in the NHL skaters with 32 penalty infraction minutes. After the game, someone would miss and be concerned for his guy if he would be suspended. Kings Coach Todd McLellan said,
And if we happen to lose him for any period of time we’ll miss him,
and he has to understand how important he’s become.”
The LA Kings got Brendan Lemieux in a trade in March from the New York Rangers for a 4th round pick. Brendan Lemieux is the son of former NHL player, Claude Lemieux. Brendan Lemieux is 25-years-old and has been in the NHL for 5 seasons playing with three teams: the Jets, Rangers, and now the Kings. This season Lemieux has 4 goals and 1 assist which is 5 points in 14 games for the Kings. Lemieux has 194 games in the NHL and has tallied 27 goals dishing out 25 assists good for 52 points. The dirty work is what Lemieux does well. During the 2019-20 season, Lemieux had 7 penalties in which he was caught and sent to the box while he drew 19 penalties from the opponents that season..
It may take the personality of a brick head to be this type of guy in sports doing things to get the other team’s goat. Hoping cheap shots and not being caught will draw the opponent to attack you to then draw the penalty for your team over something you orchestrated. Mind games have been played in sports since the games were invented. In football these days, roughing the quarterback is a big NO NO. Especially if the quarterback got rid of the ball. Defenders still fall on the quarterbacks on purpose lunging at them in the air. Sure you get caught. The times you do not get caught and hits on quarterbacks, can throw off their timing. When it comes to biting a player that is crazy, but it has been done before. In the sport of football in the trenches many things occurred such as eye gauging, scratching, biting, punching, elbowing, especially during a fumble where players are all piled up on each other. In basketball, players take the charging foul. In basketball, there’s the power of the elbow going for a rebound. Do you compare Brendan Lemieux snacking on Brady Tkachuk’s hand to Mike Tyson gobbling off Evander Holyfield’s ear? Totally different levels of hunger.
Many people love watching fights in hockey. In any sport, especially with violence, someone will take things a bit far like Mike Tyson in boxing. Same with Lemieux and many other guys that used their hockey stick as a weapon of mass destruction. Brendan Lemieux will now always be known, maybe even more now, as a brick head who likes to bite. At the end what comes around goes around and somebody might knock out all his teeth which would make Brady Tkachuk a happy camper.
We are bringing in the muscle to help lift week 12 NFL Power rankings into your living quarters. We have a feeling by the end they will pump you up!!!
#1.ARIZONA CARDINALS (9-2)
The Cardinals go on the bye week with the best record in the NFC. Cardinals have the best record in the entire NFL. Cardinals won without their superstar quarterback behind center. Kyler Murray was out and with the bye week can get additional rest and come back in week 13 for Arizona. It’s great to have a good journeyman quarterback like Colt McCoy who got the job done filling in for Murray.
Colt McCoy is 2-1 filling in for Murray and has 3 touchdown passes. McCoy won his 10th game of his career, as a starter, with a win versus the Seahawks.
#2.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (7-3)
When the objects in your mirror are closer than they appear.
Is Tom Brady feeling the eyes? Or does he see the face of his former coach hunting him down? Will it be a Buccaneers versus Patriots Superbowl with Belichick’s team climbing up the standings? Tom Brady probably thought it was over at the reunion they had in Boston earlier in the season when the Buccaneers won in a monsoon. Brady and Buccaneers quietly broke their two game losing streak last Monday night. Maybe Brady wakes up in cold sweats seeing his former coach watching him in the window. Creepy creepy.
#3.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (7-4)
Thought the Chiefs were done. The defense looked in shambles giving up more scores than a whorehouse in Texas. Patrick Mahomes did not look like the superhero quarterback he’s been, throwing interceptions and being chased down by opposing defenses. Then the Chiefs defense holds the top scoring team in the league to only field goals last Sunday. First time this season the Cowboys offense did not score a touchdown in a game. Cowboys offense led the league in scoring coming in as well. The Chiefs offense looks better. Now the Chiefs go into the bye week in first place in the AFC West. Go figure.
#4.GREEN BAY PACKERS (8-3)
The Packers offensive line is getting some kinks in the armor. Elgton Jenkins’s torn ACL has him out. Plus David Bakhtiari is still recovering from his ACL. Aaron Rodgers is going to play through a bad toe. Packers have a date with the Rams this Sunday as they face a defense that will be looking for blood after losing two straight games. Could the Packers find themselves going into a bye week in a complete tailspin? I don’t think many would care less. Bad things should happen to bad people at times.
Not the first person to call Rodgers the Spawn of Satan.
#5. LA RAMS (7-3)
I know the Rams have lost two games in a row. The Rams, my gut feeling says, will come off this bye week a different team and really start to roll. Watch for the defense to get back to their old selves as one of the best units in the league. Waiting on something from Von Miller. Rams will unleash the dog.
A bye week for the dog Chopper, who goes by Odell Beckham Jr. and he indeed likes balls. Watch Beckham have a big play this Sunday versus the Packers in a Rams win.
#6.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (6-5)
Colts are 6-2 in their last 8 games. Colts have the toughest schedule to start the season. Some thought they were done… complete toast. Things are looking good in Indianapolis. Carson Wentz is finding himself and playing like he did early on in his career in an Eagle uniform before he took on injuries.
In his first year in a Colts uniform in 11 games, Wentz has thrown 18 touchdown passes and only 3 interceptions. This off-season trade could be a huge deal when everything is over. Many thought Wentz would just be OK and nothing special. This is under Frank Reich who was on the Eagles staff. Plus Jonathan Taylor is just a beast at running back. This move of the Colts, under the radar at the time, may be the best move of the season.
#7.TENNESSEE TITANS (8-3)
Titans hit yet another bump in the road losing to a bad Houston team. Before we throw the Titans under the bus and yell, “Their season is over.” Let’s not forget they lost to the Jets, another bad team & then after, went on a rampage and won six straight. They were beating very good teams as well. Titans still have the best record in the AFC. Titans just cut Adrian Peterson, a running back they just picked up.
Did the Titans give Peterson a going away spanking on the way out the door? Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Peterson’s career may be done.
#8.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (7-4)
I never thought I’d have the Patriots back in my top ten this quickly. Thought the Patriots would be cockroaches during an apocalypse. Split-up & hidden all over the world. Shacked up in some underground cave waiting a few years to multiple to reestablish themselves in society.
The new reestablished Empire of the Patriots have taken over small potato planets like the Falcons, Browns, Panthers, Chargers, and Jets. Can they take out a big dog planet, like the Titans this Sunday? If they can, the Empire may be back to reclaim the galaxy.
#9.BALTIMORE RAVENS (7-3)
Who is Tyler Huntley?
Huntley, making his first ever start in the NFL, goes out and beats the Chicago Bears. Perhaps someone in the Bears can mark that as a reason to fire Matt Nagy, head coach of the Bears. In a game Lamar Jackson could not play in due to battling flu-like symptoms, he turned it over to his back-up. Ravens lost the lead late in that game to the Bears. Huntley responded by driving the Ravens downfield and sealed the deal. Victories like that can go a long way in confidence for this Raven team down the stretch. Plus, it keeps the Ravens in the driver’s seat in the AFC North division.
#10. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (5-5)
Vikings may be the best offense unit in the league. Kirk Cousins is the second best passer in the league according to Pro Football Focus. During the week, the Vikings had to deal with an off-the-field issue with their defensive end, Everson Griffen, who thought someone was trying to kill him at his house in Minnesota. Griffin went for his gun and called 911. No intruder was at the Griffin household and the situation ended peacefully. Griffin has had mental issues in the past. Not sure how much Griffin has played this season for the Vikings as he returned to the team this season after playing in Dallas and Detroit. Vikings defense… can they protect the leads? Vikings can score on anybody. It’s their defense that will either cost them or help them get back to post-season.
#11.BUFFALO BILLS (7-4)
Bills have rebounded on Thanksgiving from what was just a bad loss versus a re-surging Colts team who humiliated Buffalo at home last Sunday. The Bills defense played well on the road against a Saints team that is missing pieces and an inferior quarterback off the scrap heap. The win on thanksgiving came with a hefty price.
Bills lose their shut-down corner-back in TreDavious White. He will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury which is a big blow to that defense. Josh Allen played better versus the Saints defense, but he continues to throw interceptions at a high rate. Bills offense, especially Allen, will have to clean up his game with the Patriots lurking. There’ll be a showdown next weekend with the Evil Empire and the AFC East on the table.
#12.DALLAS COWBOYS (7-4)
Not buying that the Cowboys are contenders. Cowboys seem more like pretenders. Cowboys offense has had a few of their play makers on the Covid list and they have missed a few games. Cowboys have lost 3 out of the last 4 games. The only win was against a very bad Falcon team. The unexpected Broncos gave the Cowboys an old-fashioned arse kicking. The Chiefs defense, which is not an elite unit in the league, held the top scoring machine in the league to only field goals. First game the Cowboys played this season, they did not score a touchdown. Then on Thanksgiving they let a dead Raiders team kick them around, all game. Raiders let the Cowboys back in that one. Dak Prescott looks off with his throws. The defense of the Cowboys looks like the unit from last year, who could not stop anybody. The Cowboys are looking more like the Three Amigos.
#13.LA CHARGERS (6-4)
The start of the season I thought the Chargers were well balanced on both sides of the ball. We knew the Chargers offense with Justin Herbert at quarterback would be able to put points on the board in chunks. The defense has been the liability for the Chargers. There are only so many shoot-outs you can win. In the post-season is when the shoot out comes back to haunt you. Justin Herbert is making some history becoming the first player in the Superbowl ERA to throw for 350 and rush for 90 yards, which he did against the Steelers. Chargers in 62 years of football never had this type of quarterback like Herbert doing the things he can do.
Two Chargers legends, Dan Fouts and Phillip Rivers, could hardly use their legs to get yardage like Herbert can.
Can Herbert live the legend of the great Stan “the Man” Humphries?
#14.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (5-5)
The 49ers are a team that was about to be taken out to the back of the woodshed and shot, this season over a few weeks back. The 49ers have now won two games in a row and one of them was the beating up on the Rams. Will the combo of head coach Kyle Shanahan and QB 1 Jimmy Garoppolo be the last run for these guys in San Francisco?
Trey Lance, the future of the 49ers, is waiting & watching. The feeling I’m getting is it’s playoffs or bust as this team could be doing a 360 turn in the off-season. Put Kyle Shanahan’s name in the Bears search for a new coach.
#15.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (5-6)
The Eagles are flying high right now and have two games in row. Eagles have the number one rushing attack in the entire NFL with 153.4 yards per game as a team. Eagles finally landed their first home victory of the season. Eagles could be running down an easy road the next two weeks, and improve in the standings with meetings against the Giants and Jets. Two victories would get the Eagles over the 500 mark.
#16. CLEVELAND BROWNS (6-5)
Baker Mayfield has somehow played through a slew of injuries. Mayfield has guts every Sunday hobbling out on the field. The Browns, to me, look like a team on life support. The AFC East is one of the toughest divisions in football. Browns have a date with the Ravens this Sunday which means Baltimore could put an end to Cleveland’s bark for the season. Kareem Hunt is expected to return from the injured list. The Browns will have to rely on their two-headed monster running-back combo to win games. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, you could say, are the three-headed monster with the rookie, D’Ernest Johnson. Browns will need to run because Mayfield is one hit away from his season being over. Where is that scary Browns defense? MIA most of the season. That unit needs to get their bark back before Browns head back to missing the post-season for decades once again. The Dawg pound in Cleveland then will turn into the pound puppies.
#17.WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM (4-6)
The resurrection of the Team in Washington. The Football Team has been playing without a pulse most of the year. Now the defense has shown up and quarterback Taylor Heinicke is playing like this Washington Team’s position behind center is his.
This kid has shown leadership at the quarterback position that many in the league do not have. Heinicke has thrown 15 touchdown passes and thrown for over 2000 yards. On the ground, Heinicke has legged 276 yards with one score. The Team has won two in a row. One game beating up on the Buccaneers. This is the time last season when Washington marched their team right to the post-season.
#18.LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (6-5)
Just when you thought the Raiders fans put away their Halloween costume for the rest of the season.
Then on Thanksgiving. the Raiders make Jerry Jones, the owner of the Cowboys, look like a Jive turkey in an overtime victory. I’m all about beating the Cowboys every week. Raiders are unpredictable. Raiders look like they are packing it in, losing games, and showing you no energy in them. Then play a great game out of nowhere.
#19.CAROLINA PANTHERS (5-6)
Carolina unleashed dueling quarterbacks like a dueling piano bar. Things were looking good for his homecoming to his former team. Superman was back, Cam Newton was once again like he’d never seen the end zone. He was running in for the score like old time rock-n-roll for the Panthers. However there’s Cam Newton’s weakness.
Giving this piano the ball at the end of the game. Like a fig newton cookie goes soft as Cam Newton, trying to hit a simple pass, misses wide just off-target. Panthers lose. I like the idea of Newton running the red zone package. Why not give the rest of the field to PJ Walker?
#20.PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-4-1) Steelers seem to be stuck in their ways. Stubborn ways. First ending with a tie to the Lions. At least it was not a loss, but still a tie with the worst team in the league. Steelers can’t put everything together. The defense is either banged up when the offense decides to put points on the board or vice versa. When the defense is playing well and healthy, Big Ben Roethlisberger can’t light up the score board.
Clowns to the left & jokers to the right. Maybe cutting off an ear or two and finally somebody in Steel-town will get the message.
#21.NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-6)
Sean Payton is finding out the hard way after playing all these games this season without Drew Brees. Payton looked brilliant with guys like Taysom Hill, Teddy Bridgewater, and even Jameis Winston winning games. Hill’s health is a concern right now, but he got a contract extension for what though? Swiss army knife abilities or a future quarterback in the league? Bridgewater has gone to Carolina and then was traded to Denver. Bronco fans look to be done with him as their starting quarterback. Jameis Winston won games this year until he got hurt and his season ended with the injury. Winston was on the short leash. Trevor Siemian is Payton’s latest project and 0-3 as a starter. Payton’s coaching reputation is on the line. Bill Belichick, right now, looks like he found his replacement for Tom Brady in Mac Jones. Can Payton find that next guy and develop him? Maybe Payton will be stuck in Drew Brees’ shadow the rest of his coaching career. Stay tuned.
#22.DENVER BRONCOS (5-5)
The Broncos have their wide receivers in place for years to come by extending Courtland Sutton. Broncos also have Tim Patrick on the other side of the field. Who’s the next quarterback that John Elway signs? Broncos needs or shoulds, should start with parting ways with the legend quarterback John Elway as the General Manager.
Legendary players in their sport are always not great at the GM position or being the coach of a team. Magic Johnson or Michael Jordan are evidence who after their playing days have not done well as owner or in the front office. The Broncos need help elsewhere, besides quarterback. Broncos could use a top running back. Some defensive help. I think Vic Fangio’s time is up as head coach.
#23.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (3-7)
Just waiting for Pete Carol, the head coach of the Seahawks, to push the women and children out of the way to abandon ship on the Seattle franchise.
The Legion of Doom defense has been gone for years. Russell Wilson has carried the weight on his shoulders for years and he wants out of Seattle. Pete Carol, a used car salesmen type of coach, is looking for another gig in my opinion. Perhaps another college gig. Remember Pete Carol left USC’s program before the shit hit the storm.
#24.MIAMI DOLPHINS (4-7)
Can the Dolphins swim upstream in the next three games and find their way back to the 500 mark? The Dolphins’ next three games feature this as the line up: Panthers, Giants, and Jets.
Just make sure the Laces are out if you’re a Dolphins fan celebrating your team. Don’t trust the fancy wrapping.
#25.NEW YORK GIANTS (3-7)
Will the firing of offensive coordinator Jason Garrett be the move that solves this Giants disaster? The offense looks great on paper, but on the field is a different story. The Giants defense is a top 15 unit in the league. Is Daniel Jones the quarterback of the future? Is Saquon Barkley damaged goods? Is Kenny Golladay a free agent bust? Only thing I can say is the Giants are the best football team that plays their home games in New Jersey. How long will that last as the USFL is returning in Spring? That means the New Jersey Generals are back.
#26. CHICAGO BEARS (4-7)
The rumors were swirling in Chicago like the winds coming off the lake about Matt Nagy’s job status. Even at Matt Nagy’s high school, the students were yelling, “Fire Nagy,” in chants that filled the arena. Maybe all these speculations were just rumors, but could a win versus a bad Lions team save this guy’s job? Nagy’s team broke another long losing streak of 4 or more games. This is not the first time this has happened to the man in charge of the Bears. Do the Bears and Lions go through the same guy when it comes to picking their head coaches?
Bears need to tomahawk their problems and chop off all the fat. That includes the coaching staff, front office, and that weird looking water boy.
#27.ATLANTA FALCONS (4-6)
Matt Ryan has not tossed a touchdown pass in 9 quarters.
Atlanta Falcons can’t hold on to Matt Ryan next year. It is time to trade him as the Falcons need to hit the reset button.
The signs are on the wall in Atlanta. Time to start over by getting that complete makeover.
#28.HOUSTON TEXANS (2-8) Tyrod Taylor is trying to establish himself as a full-time starter in the NFL. Houston fans will be nervous about their team’s draft status if Taylor continues to win games. In the off-season, Houston hopes to unload DeShaun Watson for a king’s ransom as they want 3 number ones. I don’t see them getting that kind of bounty for a guy having problems with the ladies. I would not want Tyrod Taylor to knock me out of the top 5 spots in the 2022 draft.
Better call that guy in LA and put another needle in the rib cage of Taylor to stop his shenanigans in racking up wins at this time of the season.
#29.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2-8)
Trevor Lawrence versus Mitch Trubisky? In 2017, Mitch Trubisky was the first quarterback selected out of the draft. This year, Trevor Lawrence was the number one quarterback selected out of the draft. Lawrence or Trubisky… who’s better in their rookie season? Remember Trubisky came in after the first 4 games the Bears played that season as Lawrence started game one this season for the Jaguars.
TREVOR LAWRENCE
GAMES 10, RECORD 2-8 COMPLETION % 58.4 YARDS 2,141 TOUCH DOWN PASSES 8 INTERCEPTIONS 9
MITCH TRUBISKY
GAMES 12, RECORD 4-8, COMPLETION % 59.4 YARDS 2,193 TOUCH DOWN PASSES 7 INTERCEPTIONS 7
Like looking in the mirror.
#31.NEW YORK JETS (2-8)
Should the Jets draft another quarterback in this upcoming draft? When are the days the Jets stop marching out the Joe Flacco’s of the world to start multiple games during the regular season? Enough with the washed-up veterans.
The Jets number one guy they drafted, Zach Wilson, is out with an injury. The second string quarterback is another rookie, Mike White, who played well but has been sidelined. Their third string quarterback should be a young type of guy with some NFL experience. A guy that has shown some flashes but needs another chance. Even another rookie would work. Just find the guy. Get some offensive-line help. Instead of ending up with damaged goods like the Sam Darnold’s of the world. Maybe draft all quarterbacks each round and sign offensive linemen in the free agent market until you get it right.
#32. DETROIT LIONS (0-10-1) No wonder the Lions have not won a game this season. It starts at the top with the head coach. When your leader is “Football Stupid” like Dan Campbell is, calling back-to-back time outs in the last two minutes. It cost his team 5 yards in a penalty that made it easy for the Bears to put away the Lions in a game that it seemed neither team wanted. Especially having to call the second time out because your defense was not lined up to defend the play after the first was called. Before Matt Campbell, the Lions had Matt Patricia waddling the side line, where he stayed way too long. Front office can’t get the head coach hire right.
Another week of the NFL have us coming out looking like Glass Joe from Punch Out.
SEASON STATS
OVERALL RECORD (103-62)
THURSDAY NIGHT RECORD (7-4)
MONDAY NIGHT RECORD (7-4)
WEEK 12 (HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Week twelve we are fighting back & taking out one turkey at a time.
TURKEY DAY GAMES ON THURSDAY
CHICAGO BEARS AT DETROIT LIONS
When it comes to turkeys not being able to fly, you have to think of the Lions and Bears… OH MY!!! Both organizations run like those sitcom bosses of WKRP. Both head coaches are turkeys. Rumors have been swirling in Chicago that Matt Nagy was going to get his neck chopped off and fired after the Lions game.
I’m predicting cold feet by the Bears brass. Last time the Lions won a game was versus the Bears in 2020. Bears will have Andy Dalton starting at quarterback for them as their rookie Justin Fields is out. I see a close game that is very sloppy. Andy Dalton will prevail. Like last week filling in for the injured Justin Fields, he had the offense looking crisper than Fields did. This is a game when Head Coach Matt Nagy is on the brink, but survives like a cockroach during the apocalypse.
OUR PICK:BEARS
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT DALLAS COWBOYS
Raiders have lost three games in row and are playing uninspired. Cowboys have come crashing back to earth as their offense was held without a touchdown for the first time this season versus the Chiefs defense last Sunday. Cowboys have some Covid concerns, so some play-makers will be sidelined. Can Derek Carr and his group match up scores with Dak Prescott? Both defenses will not show up, or so my Spidey senses are telling me. I like Cowboys with the home cooking going on in the prime-time slot before the Natives become restless and all hell breaks loose for lack of food.
OUR PICK:COWBOYS
BUFFALO BILLS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Bills defensive unit played their worst game this season, last Sunday. The Saints defense gave up scores like one of their brothel houses in New Orleans, to the Eagles on Sunday. Josh Allen is making too many mistakes the last few weeks turning over the football. I think it’s time to unplug the Trevor Siemian experiment in New Orleans. Saints will be without their star running-back, Alvin Kamara. Saints with the lack of threats on offense will be like taking the turkey drumstick away from the elderly aunt with the arthritis in her fingers. I like the Bills defense rebounding. I think Josh Allen’s play level raises in prime-time games.
OUR PICK: BILLS
THE SUNDAY SLATE
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Jonathan Taylor has emerged as the new beast Running Back in the NFL. Especially with Derrick Henry done for the year with an injury. Taylor has the most yards rushing in the league and most touchdowns.
Tampa Tom and the Buccaneers will have their work cut out for them. The Buccaneers have been the best run-stopping team in the league the last few seasons. Are the Buccaneers healthy up the middle on their defensive front? Colts are 6-2 in their last 8 games while the Buccaneers have won one of their last three games. Can Carson Wentz’s arm beat the Buccaneers if Taylor is contained? Wentz is getting better. Tom Brady has his full arsenal of weapons. Can the Colts get the pressure to make it harder to get them the ball? Colts are the hotter team. I’m going to ride them til they fizzle out as the Buccaneers are beatable.
OUR PICK:COLTS
NEW YORK JETS AT HOUSTON TEXANS
THE JIVE TURKEY BOWL
Houston now you are winning. YOU have a problem and you’re screwing up your draft status. Jets brought Joe Flacco out of the closet to be their quarterback last week. The Texans suddenly revived their offense with Tyrod Taylor healthy and not in any kind of pressure cooker. He is pretending to be one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. The Texans needs the phone number of the guy who punctured Taylor’s rib cage with a needle in LA last season, opening the door for Justin Herbert.
Jets seem to be always doing things on the fly to get through the week. Texans defense has been able to generate some takeaways. With Tyrod Taylor playing well, Texans should win the Jive Turkey bowl convincingly.
OUR PICK: TEXANS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW YORK GIANTS
The G-Men had all their play-makers suited up for the Monday Night affair versus the Buccaneers for the first time it seems this season. Philadelphia Eagles just beat up the Saints like the Junior Varsity team. The firing of Offensive Coordinator, Jason Garrett, for the Giants may be the answer for this offense to spark.
Dez Bryant was very happy about the Garrett firing. Firing a coordinator does not get you the best spark like firing the Head Coach. The offense with the sizzle is the Eagles. Jalen Hurts is making plays through the air and his feet. Miles Sanders is a solid Running Back. The Eagles Tight-End Dallas Goedert is emerging as one of the top in the league. I’m tired of the Eagles screwing me when I pick them or against them, it just never works out. Perhaps that will change.
OUR PICK:EAGLES
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS
Superman or super freak when it comes to wham bam, Cam Newton? Dolphins have won three straight.
Someone please let Cam Newton know you play four quarters in a football game. Last week the Panthers needed Cam Newton to complete some passes for the winning drive and it did not quite work out for Carolina.
Where’s your superman now? Newton went soft once again. Miami defense has been able to get turnovers the last three weeks. The Miami offense has not been gang busters on offense, but generating just enough. Like to see the Panthers continue to use dueling quarterbacks. Perhaps PJ Walker should be the guy in crunch time instead of first half Newton. Panthers defense and Christian McCaffrey running the ball for Carolina should beat the Dolphins even with mistakes by the quarterback.
OUR PICK:PANTHERS
TENNESSEE TITANS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
The Evil Empire victories have come from the Falcons, Browns, Panthers, Chargers, Jets, and Texans. Titans have beaten teams like the Rams, Chiefs, Bills, Seahawks, and the Colts twice. Patriots have been on the march winning five in a row. The Titans had a hiccup last week after winning six in a row. Titans have lost to very bad teams and play their best against good squads. Remember the Titans coached by Mike Vrabel ended the Patriots dynasty with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady in the playoffs. Vrabel as a player played for Belichick.
The Titans head coach will be a few steps of head of his former head coach, Belichick.
OUR PICK:TITANS
PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS
Steelers… I’m not sure how they put up so many points last week on the Chargers in a loss. Bengals looked like they ironed things out in rebound last week versus the Raiders after losing to the Browns a few weeks back. Bengals handle the Steelers with ease in the first match-up when these two teams met. Steelers look like they have more injuries piling up for this contest with some big names missing from their defense. Bengals offense has too many weapons for the Steelers to stop. Bengals defense is a better unit than the Chargers roller coaster act they do every week.
OUR PICK:BENGALS
ATLANTA FALCONS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
This is another terrible game on the docket. Matt Ryan is the better quarterback than the Surf Nazi Trevor Lawrence, whose career looks like it must die.
Jacksonville defense gets the edge over Atlanta’s defense. Picked the best helmet in this one. Throw a dart at the board. Cats can eat birds.
Sometimes the Falcons can transform into a good team every so often. In which the Surf Nazi Lawrence will die in this contest because of his play behind center.
OUR PICK: FALCONS
LA CHARGERS AT DENVER BRONCOS
Both the Chargers and the Broncos I find hard to predict. Broncos were on a bye week. Last Sunday night, Chargers put up 40 points on the ailing defense of Pittsburgh. Broncos have only beaten one winning team this season. Jets and the Washington Football team are the only two wins at home for the Broncos. Chargers have feasted on teams in their own division as they beat the Raiders and Chiefs. When the Broncos are faced the first time, they would have everyone beaten at least one time if they can win on the road. This will be the game where the Chargers offense makes a statement. Justin Herbert will lead his team to one more score than the Broncos and improve to 7-4. Maybe you have to think that LA in the AFC has a shot for the post-season.
OUR PICK: CHARGERS
LA RAMS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS
Rams coming off a bye week. Green Bay got beat by a Viking team that can score but not defend. In the end, Aaron Rodgers can not rally. Rodgers comes away with a hurt foot which he intends to play through. Rams have lost two in a row. Can they stop the bleeding on the road in a tough environment? Packers have some injuries on the defensive side of the football. Rams should be motivated for this one, and the defense comes up big. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has plenty of experience playing in Lambeau Field all those years in a Detroit uniform. After the game, Rodgers will cry injury. Just can’t see the Rams losing three in a row.
OUR PICK:RAMS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Both the Vikings and the 49ers were left dead on the highway as road kill. Both teams now have won two games in a row and feel like they are both playoff teams. Both teams have won a big game against a division rival. The 49ers a few weeks ago back beat the Rams while the Vikings dispatched the Packers. The Vikings offense is clicking on all cylinders as the running game is one of the best in the league with the aerial attack. The 49ers can let this become any kind of shoot-out. Vikings seem to be in a shoot-out every week and now are figuring out how to win these close affairs. I like the Vikings offense which can score quick. The 49ers have more ball control at a turtle’s pace. Rabbit beats the turtle in this one.
OUR PICK:VIKINGS
CLEVELAND BROWNS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS
Browns and Ravens will be very familiar with each other besides being in the same division. They play each other twice in the next three weeks. Browns just got by a bad Detroit team. The Ravens just got by a bad Bears team. Baker Mayfield is a mess. Walking wounded as Mayfield has a few ailments going on. Ravens beat the Bears with their back-up quarterback as Lamar Jackson and others were down with flu-like symptoms. Lamar Jackson will be rested feeling better and a victory without him in the line-up is a huge morale boost for the Ravens in general. Browns right now as a team are riding the struggle bus. Watch the Ravens put their Dawg to sleep in this affair and get command of the division.
OUR PICK:RAVENS
THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM
Have we not seen this last season when the Washington Football team marched their way through the end of regular season into the post season? What’s going on with Pete Carol?
Pete Carol did his Cam Newton imitation walking off a live press conference after the latest Seahawk loss. Meanwhile the Football team won the River Boat Ron bowl against his former team, the Panthers. The sky is falling in Seattle. Russell Wilson can’t carry the entire load by himself. Wilson wants out of Seattle, let’s face it. The Team has found their defense. The Team Taylor Heinicke is playing more like Russell Wilson than Russell Wilson. Washington DC wins the Washington bowl over Seattle, Washington.
When I first heard the news that the USFL would be returning in 2022, I had goosebumps. I had to make sure it was the original United States Football League I was reading about. I got nervous, and then I had a Joker smile as part of my childhood was coming back into my life. I know what you’re thinking. Here we go again with another Spring football league which will be destined to fail just like the multiple ones in recent years. The USFL was different than all those other leagues. USFL went against the NFL not wanting to join them in the park for a Sunday walk. The USFL went after the great players. The USFL did things to the game of football that are still being used today as the NFL copied the 1980’s league numerous amount of times. The USFL lasted longer than all these other rinky dink operations that could not even finish a regular season, in the case of the latest two. The lone mistake the USFL did was listen to former U.S President Donald Trump when trying to move the Spring league to the Fall. This meant going up against the giant NFL at the time. After the league folded up shop, we somehow trusted Donald Trump again.
The USFL originally started in 1983 and lasted to 1986. They have retained rights to most of their franchises they had in the 1980’s league. The first season, the USFL will bring back 8 of those franchises and split them up into two divisions. If you remember, the USFL at one point had 18 franchises. Twelve of them in the very first season back in 1983. Some of the cool ones I liked were not chosen, just like the home team, the Chicago Blitz. The two divisions will be called North & South which sounds like a civil war of some kind.
NORTH DIVISION: MICHIGAN PANTHERS, NEW JERSEY GENERALS, PHILADELPHIA STARS, PITTSBURGH MAULERS
SOUTH DIVISION: BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS, HOUSTON GAMBLERS NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS, TAMPA BAY BANDITS
The league will start in April of 2022. The USFL has partnered up with Fox sports to provide the coverage of their games. That is very important having one of the top networks doing the games to get this league some legs. In the first season, all the games will be played in one Central location which is smart for the wait until the Covid-19 virus is fully controlled. The location has not yet been determined. Each team will play ten games. All the games will be played every Saturday and Sunday. Four teams make the playoffs. Top division winners & then two wild cards, which will be the second best records in each division.
All the USFL has to do is complete one season with the post-season and a championship to be a better league then the last two that tried Spring football. The AAF, American Alliance Football league, was very close to finishing off their season until they ran out of money. Bad accounting and not enough backing. Come on people you should know what you are getting yourself involved here. Then came the return of XFL, this time without the wrestling mixed in the game of football. The new XFL was only half way through their season until Covid wiped the entire league out. Both the XFL and the AAF were all about the game on the field. The games were interesting to watch. Sloppy football in the beginning, but the product got better as the weeks went on. What will be interesting is that the XFL plans to return in 2023. The XFL was purchased by the ROCK, Dwayne Johnson, and some other backers. Right now the stage is set for the USFL to reclaim their fame of Spring football. I feel the product on the field will be well worth it when they figure everything out. It will be interesting to see who coaches each team and how everything on the field unfolds as there’s more news to come on the return of the USFL.
SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT THE USFL AND THE TEAMS RETURNING
MICHIGAN PANTHERS
The Michigan Panthers logo looks like the Carolina Panthers logo in the NFL. The Michigan Panthers were around first… I’m just saying.
Remember the former New Orleans Saints quarterback, Bobby Hebert? Hebert played in the USFL before he came to the NFL and led the Panthers all the way to the first USFL Championship, which Michigan won. Hebert would be the best Saints quarterback since Archie Manning and help guide that franchise to their first playoff appearance.
NEW JERSEY GENERALS
The Generals had a beast at running back.
Herschel Walker ran people over in the USFL as his legendary collegiate game exploded in the professional ranks. The Generals also had Doug Flutie at quarterback , withthe legendary Hail Mary pass he threw for Boston College. The Generals’ downfall was Donald Trump was your owner. I just threw up in my mouth.
PHILADELPHIA STARS
Remember Coach Jim Mora? Mora was all about the playoffs when it came to the USFL. Mora coached the Stars to two USFL championships. Mora would then coach the Saints in the NFL and his quarterback would actually be Bobby Hebert. The Stars in the 1980’s were Philadelphia & then Baltimore, but they never played their home games in the state of Maryland.
PITTSBURGH MAULERS
By far my favorite logo of the returning USFL teams. The swinging of the sledge hammer in Steel-town is awesome.
The Mauler teams of the past were not that good. Pittsburgh did land running back Michael Rozier, the 1983 Heisman trophy winner. Rozier would end up in the NFL with the Houston Oilers.
Loved that old oil rig on the Oilers helmet. Oilers logo is much better than the Houston Texans helmet in present days.
BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS
The Birmingham Stallions won two division titles in the 1980’s of the USFL. The Stallions have Joe Cribbs, a little shifty speedster running back that created havoc on opposing defenses in the USFL.
Cribbs went on and played well in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills
HOUSTON GAMBLERS
My favorite quarterback of all-time, Jim Kelly, started with the Houston Gamblers and before running the K-Gun offense in Buffalo, Kelly ran the run and shoot in Houston to perfection. Kelly and the Gamblers had one of the best aerial attacks in the history of the USFL. Houston made it to the playoffs but would end up getting knocked out every year. Kelly would become a Hall of Fame quarterback in a Buffalo Bills uniform leading the Bills to 4 Superbowls in a row.
NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS
The Breakers played all over in the USFL in the 1980’s. Breakers played in in Boston, New Orleans, and did a year in Portland Oregon.
TAMPA BAY BANDITS
Old Smokey the Bandit, actor Burt Reynolds, was part owner of the Tampa Bay franchise. Tampa Bay by far drew the most attendance in the league.
The Bandit games looked like a great time in the stands as they had pretty good teams on the field as well.
THE FORGOTTEN TEAMS
MEMPHIS SHOW BOATS
Reggie White had the Showboats creating problems for opposing offensive linemen across the league. With quarterbacks running for their dear lives.
WASHINGTON FEDERALS
Terrible teams in the 1980’s but cool helmet color scheme.
ORLANDO RENEGADES
Great logo. Native Americans could cause problems if you have anything Indian these days.
JACKSONVILLE BULLS
Can you imagine having two sucky football teams in the same town? Would Urban Meyer jump ship from the Jaguars to the Bulls?
San Antonio Gunslingers
San Antonio logo was a little too cartoonish, but I still like it. Funny story about the Gunslinger team is when the players got their checks, they would all make a mad dash to the bank because if you were towards the end of the line, your check may have bounced that week.
CHICAGO BLITZ
Marv Levy was from Chicago and coached the Blitz back in the 1980’s league. Levy was the head coach of the Blitz before he went to the NFL and coached the Bills.
DENVER GOLD
Nice color scheme the Gold had.
LA EXPRESS
Another Hall of Fame quarterback came from the USFL. Steve Young was the quarterback for the LA Express team.
THE OUTLAWS
One of the coolest logos in the USFL. Outlaws ran in Arizona and Oklahoma. Quarterback Doug Williams played on those Outlaw teams. Williams would go on to win a Superbowl in a Redskin uniform.
OAKLAND INVADERS
Coolest name in the league, The Invaders. I do like the logo. You can probably do something totally different and make it the best logo in sports.
ARIZONA WRANGLERS
The Outlaws merged with the Wranglers and Arizona went on to win their division, and the conference, in 1984.
The Wild shamrock 