You have to wonder if the best way to see your city do well in a sport is by getting an expansion team. In the NHL, the city of Las Vegas was rewarded a franchise in 2016. It was the first major sports team the city of Las Vegas ever had. The Golden Knights in their first season ever went all the way to the Stanley Cup finals in the 2017-18 season. The Golden Knights lost to the Washington Capitals in their first ever finals in their first ever year in the league. The only year the Golden Knights did not make the playoffs was last season. The Vegas franchise right now is in first place in the Pacific division so they should rebound relatively quickly from the one year drought they encountered. Last season debuted another NHL franchise, the Seattle Kraken. The Kraken were not very Vegas-like their first inaugural season as they were in the bottom of the standings racking up 60 points as a team with a record of 27-49-6. This year the Kraken look like a playoff team in their second year. The Kraken as a team has racked up 63 points with a record of 29-15-5 which was tops in the Pacific division going into last weekend’s All-Star break. The Kraken already have two more victories than last year’s team with a full slate of games not even played yet. The second half started this week & the Kraken find themselves looking up at the other expansion team, the Vegas Golden Knights, who now surpassed them by one point as they have 64 points. The Kraken in year two – this team looks amazing and this Seattle fan base will see playoff hockey this Spring.

I was watching Seattle Kraken play my team, the Chicago Blackhawks, a few weeks ago and they put up 8 goals and made it look easy. I think 5 goals were in the net by the Kraken before I cracked open my first beer of the game. The Kraken as a team before All-Star weekend festivities is 5th in the NHL with 177 goals. How are the Kraken doing it? They have assembled a nice group of puck snipers to tally 177 goals so far this season. The Kraken’s 2021 number 1 pick, Matt Beniers, who was picked number two overall has arrived. The 20 year old only had three goals in first year in the NHL. This season Beniers has 17 goals and 19 assists as the youth has gone wild in the Emerald City. Seattle’s off-season free agent signing of veteran Andre Burakovsky has paid off. Burakovsky helped the Colorado Avalanche win the Lord Stanley Cup last season. Burakovsky has played in 48 games so far for Seattle and has 17 goals with 26 assists good for 39 points. Then they have castoff center Jared McCann who was taken by the Kraken in the expansion draft where teams make available players they don’t want any more or guys with higher salaries. McCann leads this Kraken team with 23 goals. The Kraken have 8 players already in double digits in goals. Plus, the team has 3 other players closing in on double digit goals on their roster.

The Seattle Kraken has been helter skelter at the goalie position. You wonder if the Kraken front office will try to improve their goal tending situation at the trade deadline. The Kraken starter who is a former San Jose Shark, Martin Jones, has done a decent job in net. Jones was a free agent pick up in the off-season for Seattle, and he has a winning record this season in 36 starts as he is 23-8-3. If Seattle upgraded and had a top goalie in the NHL, would this team be in the running for the Stanley Cup? It has been the defense that has helped Jones look even better than what he has done on the back of his hockey card. The Kraken defense have played solid all year & another veteran castoff, the Swede Adam Larsson, has elevated his defensive play. Larsson is a specialist at killing penalties like the A-team intro. If you know someone with a problem, if no one can help, and if you can find them… you can hire the A-team.

Larsson is called on when the Kraken have a problem with guys in and out of the penalty box. The Kraken defense is a tight unit that can bail their goalie situation out of boiling water by defending their net & their waters well enough to hold and not fold.

During Seattle’s 8 game winning streak, seven of those victories were on the road. The Kraken have had some signature victories during that 8 game win streak. The Kraken knocked out a very talented Toronto team at 5-1. Then the Kraken went into Boston who are the top team in the entire NHL and shut them out 3-0. It was the first regulation loss in Boston in 23 games as the Bruins have dominated their opponents on their turf. The Kraken have 4 solid lines which on any given night, one of them will beat you. It will be interesting if the team has one savvy move in them to improve this well-balanced roster at the trade deadline, or let it play out the way it has. The fan base in Seattle has been awesome for this team which I still can’t believe the basketball team the Sonics moved to Oklahoma as this city supports all their teams. I think by the end of regular season, the Kraken will have a top spot in the playoff tournament. I don’t think many teams will want to play them as well, because this team may be like the Golden Knights; a expansion team with teeth that can end your season and go deep into the lord Stanley cup playoffs.

Before Michael Jordan came onto the scene in the Chicago sports landscape, things had quieted down at Chicago Stadium, which is home to the Bulls and Blackhawks. The entire sports landscape during most of the 1970’s and a few years into the 1980’s, was all quiet on the home front. Some teams had their moments, but it was not like the 1960’s and early 1970’s when the Golden Jet skated the ice of Chicago Stadium. Number 9 Bobby Hull and his wicked slap shot heard around the world that could reach up a speed of 118 MPH. The Golden Jet at the time made goalies sweat with fear, not wearing a mask at the time, & seeing something come at you with the speed of light could make anybody in the net uneasy. Hull put 610 goals into the net in his entire NHL career which had 15 seasons wearing the Indian sweater. Hull was the Michael Jordan of the 1960’s in Chicago before Walter Payton became the Chicago Bears. It was all about the blonde bomber skating on the ice at a high speed with a shot that rocketed off his stick helping the Blackhawks hoist the Stanley Cup in 1961. Hull passed away this week at the age of 84 years old. The House of Madison the Chicago Stadium was the house that Hull built, like Jordan’s house he built was the United Center. Both Jordan and Hull at their time playing in Chicago were the best at their game. Legends!! The bigger they are, the harder they fall in life as their legacy becomes tarnished after their careers. For Jordan, it was The Last Dance when you learned the darker side of your Airness. Hull’s legacy was tarnished in a 2002 documentary ESPN made. These stories were always out there about Hull. Some fans will always deny anything their heroes did off the ice or court, field etc etc.

On the ice we will start, and Bobby Hull was one of best players in the NHL and to wear the Indian Head sweater. The Golden Jet Hull was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983. The Blackhawks retired his jersey number 9 in 1983 at the old Chicago Stadium, now hanging at the United Center. Hull was the first NHL player to score 50 something goals in a season as he did that in the 1965-66 season with 54 tallies that season. Hull would reach 50 goals or more, four more times after doing it first ever in the NHL. Hull’s 604 goals is still the tops in the Blackhawks organization. Hull still holds the Blackhawks record for most hat tricks ever with 28. That’s a lot of hats flung on to the ice. Hull ranks third in points for the Blackhawks as his teammate Stan Mikita and Patrick Kane are ahead of him. Hull was a three time winner of the Art Ross Trophy 1960-62-66 for the league’s top goal scorer. Hull has won the Hart Memorial trophy twice in 1965 and 1966 which is the league’s MVP. Hull also won the sportsmanship award in 1965 which is the Lady Byng Memorial trophy. Hull played 15 seasons with the Blackhawks & then left the NHL to play for the Winnipeg Jets in the WHA, World Hockey Association. Hull would score 303 more goals in the WHA. Hull then returned to the NHL and played two more seasons with the expansion teams the Winnipeg Jets and the Hartford Whalers.

Like many great Chicago athletes over the years, players leave because suddenly the relationship goes sour with the player and ownership. To be honest it always comes down to money. Bobby Hull signed with the Jets because they were offering him a ton of money as he hoped the Blackhawks ownership would have paid him. Instead, Hull left the Blackhawk organization like many players have left Chicago teams complaining, griping, and with a few bad words muttered out the door. The relationship becomes sour and at the time there’s no way to repair or rekindle any kind of return in the future. Chicago is notorious for cheap owners wanting all the money, as they were mostly greedy business men. After Bill Wirtz, one of the worst owners in sports passed away, his son Rocky would reconnect with the Blackhawks legend in 2008. Rocky signed Hull up to be an ambassador and threw in statue out in front of the United Center of the Golden Jet. The relationship is rekindled.

In The Last Dance, the documentary showed Michael Jordan as the ultimate competitor. It also showed how any little thing slighted against him, or loss in a card game, or a mention of a name that could compete with your Airness… something would snap in Jordan’s mind. Jordan would have to win that card game or die trying. Jordan would have to slay that name on the court to prove he was the basketball God. In Bobby Hull’s case, it’s different as womanizing comes into play with domestic abuse. Hull is not the first legend in a sport to not get along with his wife, girlfriend, or mistress. In 1986 living in Willowbrook, Illinois, Hull was charged with battery. Hull’s wife Deborah, at the time, did not testify so charges were dropped. Hull did plead guilty to swinging his fists at the Police officers. In the 2002 ESPN documentary are details of all the other allegations of spousal abuse and the women that he needed. Some guys need a different woman like a change of underwear. In Hawaii, he and his wife at the time, Joann McKay, got into an argument. Hull beat her up and threw her off the balcony, but held on to her then pulled her in as she thought she was going to die. Hull went off the rails as his drinking became a problem and his true colors came out with racist remarks. Hull once told the Moscow times that Adolf Hitler had some good ideas. Hull would say the Russian newspaper writer at the time misunderstood what he said at the time. Eventually the Blackhawks took away his ambassador status in 2022.

I don’t like speaking ill of the dead. I only know about Bobby Hull from reading about him or being told stories about him from people that saw him play. I love sports history and the Hull family is very interesting. Bobby’s brother Dennis played in the NHL with his brother back in the 1960’s as they were teammates a few seasons on the Blackhawks. Dennis played in the NHL 13 seasons and scored 303 goals as he played 12 years with the Blackhawks & then finished his career in 1977 with the Detroit Red Wings. Then Bobby’s son Brett played 19 seasons in the NHL mostly with the St. Louis Blues. Brett was like father, like son, scored 741 goals, & was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009. It’s a shame when some of these guys you root for are very different off the ice & off the court. I really don’t like to know much about sports legends or movie stars about their personal life because most likely I’ll hate their guts. I make sure I don’t buy a complete douche bag’s jersey to wear, that’s for sure. Sometimes wait 5 years after they retire to buy a jersey so their skeletons don’t come out of the closet and bite you on the rear. The 1961 Blackhawks had other great guys on that Stanley Cup team beside Hull. Hull you can’t deny was something special for the city of Chicago when he played at Chicago Stadium during the 1960’s as he started in 1957. Hull scored his first goal of his career against the Bruins. If you could only freeze time to that magic moment like a snow globe and enshrine Hull as a hockey player only. I’m sure he, Bobby Hull, had great moments off the ice as a father, friend, and a husband. Life is hard. I’m sure he wanted to take some things back like many people would love to have a do over from time to time in their lives. We are all human, so rest in peace Bobby.

PIC ELI APPLE PIC BUMBLE IN THE MIDDLE AND PIC VONTASE AND PIC BURROW

The Cincinnati Bengals got a taste of their own medicine after they suffered a loss in the AFC Championship on Sunday versus the Chiefs. The Bengals came in 3-0 in AFC Championship games as a franchise. Very impressive record but to only make it that far three times is pathetic. All eyes were on the impressive record Joe Burrow had over the Kansas City Chiefs which was 3-0 over Patrick Mahomes, which no other guy & no other team could say that. The Mayor of Cincinnati even said that Burrow could be Mahomes’ father. Indeed we will get right on that with a paternity test. This was the kind of nonsense that was going on with the hype of this AFC Championship rematch from last year. Mahomes came away with an ankle injury from the divisional round versus the Jaguars. That injury was like blood in the water as the Bengals were king of the jungle and the Chiefs were “Who Dey,” what the fans like to chant. Suddenly the trash talking of the Bengals amplified. It all came crashing down as the Bengals defending their AFC title has come to an end.

What comes around goes around when it comes to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals went from a team you root for to the sour cream that spoiled in your fridge. Last year, Joe Cool Burrow wowed you as he got the Bengals back to the Superbowl. The Bengals have been a complete disaster of a franchise for decades before Burrow arrived. All those losing seasons. One of the longest playoff droughts by any team in the league. When they did make the playoffs, there were all those early exits that Andy Dalton and head coach Marvin Lewis had not getting out of the first round. I think of all those teams that wore the black and orange stripes guys like Pac-Man Jones who appeared in the Police blotter more than the Pro Bowl. It seems anything good the Bengals had, got spoiled by something stupid they did on the field.

‘Football stupid’ seems to follow this Bengal franchise. On Sunday, Bengals linebacker Joseph Ossai chased down Patrick Mahomes after the gimpy quarterback went out of bounds. Ossai proceeded to knock him down to draw the flag from the referees to get the 15 yard unnecessary roughness call that set up the Chiefs for the game winning field goal.

That hit instantly brought up the ghost of Bengal past. The flash back of the 2015 Wild Card game between the Bengals and the Steelers at the time. The Bengals were winning the game in the last minute. The Steelers were down to their last play of the game. Then the Bengals linebacker, Vontase Burflict, went head hunting on Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown.

The ball was over thrown & if Burflict had avoided this huge mental mistake, the Bengals would have made it to the second round of the playoffs. Instead Burflict wanted to put the final dagger into Brown’s coffin, not the Steelers as a team. No wonder Brown acts the way he does. The Steelers were set in prime real estate on the field, kicked the field goal, and moved on to the next round of the playoffs.

When the Bengals took down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the first AFC championship when these two teams met, people were happy. The Chiefs who are becoming the replacement dynasty of the Patriots in the AFC. What a great story that the Bengals were in the Superbowl after beating Mahomes in the AFC Championship. Many hope to see the Bengals beat the Rams in the Superbowl, but LA prevailed. This season the Bengals thought they won something last year, which was not the Superbowl I was watching. The Bengals talked a great game as they looked like a team that was going to talk the talk and walk the walk. After the Bengals beat the Bills, the trash talking got worse & even the Mayor of Cincinnati was involved in throwing his two cents into the ring. The Bengals even renamed Arrow Head stadium to Burrow Head stadium. Last Sunday, all that trash talking blew up in the Bengals’ faces like a pot of that famous Cincinnati chili exploding, as burnt noodles all over local faces. The Chiefs would prevail over the Bengals in a rematch of that same AFC Championship a year ago. It was a game where the ghost of Bengal past came back to haunt them playing ‘football stupid.’ In the modern age of social networking, the people all over the world chimed in and blasted the Bengals for talking trash on every social platform the internet has. Under those orange and white uniforms are just the same bumbles as this team will never change it’s stripes, because they play stupid and talk like they have won six titles.

After the win, the Chiefs did the talking. The best tight end in the game right now, Travis Kelce, blasted the Bengals and Cincinnati’s mayor. “BURROWHEAD MY ASS,” as Kelce grabbed the microphone shouted out as Patrick Mahomes was doing an interview after prevailing over the striped cats. Kelce would also say that Arrow Head is Mahomes’ house, not Burrow’s.

In the trophy ceremony, Travis Kelce would call the mayor of Cincinnati a jabloni – a term used in pro wrestling. Kelce would basically tell Aftab Pureval to stay in his lane. Kelce also said the former mayor of Cincinnati did a better job than the jabloni running their town now. Patrick Mahomes would make a dig at quarterback Joe Burrow about not having a cigar to smoke after the win. Joe Cool likes to enjoy a good smoke after a big win as he let everyone know that in the past. Other Chief players were very outspoken making comments about all these Bengal trash talkers.

The Bengals were absolutely roasted on social media and they should have been. Guys like Joe Mixon, a guy that punched a girl back in his college days. No wonder he wears orange and plays for the Bengals. Then where is Eli Apple? Apple took social media after the win against the Bills and roasted players on the Bills. Rubbed their noses in the loss like a dog getting their nose rubbed into the carpet they made a mess on. Players like Stefon Diggs and Josh Allen and even the injured Damar Hamilin. This upset Bills defensive lineman Shaq Lawson who said he will get into a fight with Apple talking about Hamlin that way. Apple suddenly said he did not mean any bad comments on Hamlin. Like we trust a total cancer in the locker room when he was on the Giants after being drafted in the first round and is a bust. You look on YouTube videos and can see many clips of Apple being toast trying to defend the opposing team receivers. Apple was torched by Cooper Kupp in the Superbowl.

Apple will still cause trouble on social media as he made comments about the Chiefs as well. What happened to Annie Apple? Eli’s mother is another person that gets lippy on social media. After the Bengals lost, the Apples were attacked on every platform of social media. Poor Annie had to shut down her Twitter.

The Bengals are going to say they were slighted by the league as they were not in the conversation of the championship game being played on a neutral site. If the Bengals would have lost to the Bills, then the game would have been played in Atlanta. The Bills and Bengals game during regular season was never rescheduled. The Bengals beat the Chiefs & had the lead on the Bills before that injury occurred with Damar Hamlin, which cancelled that game. I can see their point which is good motivation. I think the Bengals Head Coach, Zac Taylor, can’t keep his house in order letting his guys make bulletin board material for opposing teams in the playoffs. Act like you belong there. When “Sweetness” Walter Payton scored a touch down, he handed the ball to the referee. Not his first rodeo to be acting like a clown, which the Bengals are. After the game, Ja’Marr Chase complained about the referees’ bad calls during the game as the league is rigged. Yes, the league passes out the scripts to all the players before the game with the final of every score. Too bad Chase did not do his homework to know his team was only going to get this far this season. Maybe next year the writers will pencil the Bumbles in for the next Super Bowl. I’m not a Chiefs fan as I will probably root for the Eagles in the Andy Reid bowl. The Bengals’ actions and that kind of team, I will root against as the Bengals showed me their true stripes.

NFL ROUND THREE STRAIGHT UP PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

SUNDAY

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP

#2. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (15-4) AT #1. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (15-3)

HEAD TO HEAD REGULAR SEASON: Did not play each other this season.

PLAYOFF HISTORY: 49ers (1-0) all-time versus Eagles in post-season. Last post-season meeting 1996 NFC Wild Card round 49ers beat the Eagles 14-0.

HOW THEY GOT HERE:

49ers victims: Seahawks & Cowboys

Eagles victims: Giants

RECORDS ALL-TIME IN NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

49ers (7-10) and Eagles (3-4)

The AFC Championship is like the Clash of the Titans compared to the NFC. Jalen Hurts is a duel threat quarterback who is 13-1 behind center this year for the Eagles. Brock Purdy is door number three for the 49ers this season and is the last pick in the draft. Mr. Irrelevant has not lost a game in the NFL. The Eagles and 49ers have complete teams on both sides of the ball. Both have gotten here with two different styles at quarterback. Hurts can make things happen and come up with the spur of the moment big play. Purdy is more of a game manager and offense that can control the clock.

QUARTERBACK EDGE: EAGLES

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: The Eagles have two super star receivers in A.J Brown, former Titan, and Devonta Brown. The 49er’s Deebo Samuel is an all-purpose weapon in the receiving and running game of the 49ers. The 49ers two-headed monster at running back can keep the chains moving with Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell. Eagles counter with Miles Sanders who is no slouch at running back as well the legs of their quarterback, Hurts. The 49ers have George Kittle, one of the best tight ends in the league when healthy, which he is for this game. Eagles have the better receivers. I like the 49ers fleet of mass destruction weapons more than the Eagles.

EDGE: 49ERS

DEFENSE

When it comes to defense, both teams have two solid defenses. The Eagles can get to the quarterback as this unit has the most sacks in the league. The Eagles also are known for their big plays on defense forcing the opposing team into mistakes with interceptions and forcing fumbles. The 49ers defense, all around solid, can do a lot of different things. The 49ers were the number one defense in the league all year.

EDGE: 49ERS

JUST A MAN’S OPINION: When it comes to the 49ers, I always got sick of them winning Superbowls back in the 1980’s. Everyone hates the great teams. Colin Kaepernick should not be a guy put on a pedestal. I did like the Eagles with Nick Foles beating the Tom Brady-led Patriots team in 2018 in the Superbowl which was awesome. Eagles fans can be quite annoying but very passionate. Philadelphia has Rocky. I like the thoughts of Mr. Irrelevant doing the unthinkable, winning the Superbowl. When you name your son Brock, most likely he will be a quarterback. Like when you name your daughter Candy, she most likely will be a stripper.

THE PICK

I think the 49ers can exploit the lines of Philadelphia. Picture the Red Rover game when you were kids and someone saying, “Let the 49ers come over.” The 49ers can cash in on pressure from Philadelphia’s injured riddled line. I like the 49ers chances running on Philadelphia’s defensive line as well.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

#3. CINCINNATI BENGALS (14-4) AT #1. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (15-3)

HEAD TO HEAD REGULAR SEASON: Bengals defeated Chiefs 27-24 December 4th 2022

PLAYOFF HISTORY: Bengals (1-0) Chiefs all-time. Last meeting at last year’s AFC Championship game, Bengals won in OT 27-24

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Bengals victims: Ravens & Bills:

Chiefs victims: Jaguars

RECORDS ALL-TIME AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES:

Bengals (3-0) and Chiefs (4-3)

Joe Burrow has to be Patrick Mahomes’ worst nightmare.

First of all Joe Burrow is 3-0 versus Patrick Mahomes.Burrow beat Mahomes and the Chiefs last season in the AFC Championship and during the regular season of this year. The name Burrow Head was heard being talked about as the new name for the Chiefs stadium which locals call Arrowhead in Kansas City. The Bengals are a trash talking team, more on that later. Patrick Mahomes led the league in touchdown passes. Burrow was tied with Josh Allen for number two. Mahomes has a Superbowl win under his belt as Joe “Cool” Burrow is still looking for that first one. Burrow is a pure pocket passer, one of the best, while Mahomes is a dual threat quarterback that can make big plays off the fly. Burrow looks like he has not broken out in sweat behind center so far during the playoffs. While Mahomes is now gimpy with ankle issue he suffered versus the Jaguars game.

QUARTERBACK EDGE: BENGALS

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: The Bengals have a trio of big targets for Joe Burrow. Ja’marr Chase may be one of the best receivers in the game right now. Bengals also have big bodies in Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd. The Chiefs have done fine without Tyreek Hill, who they traded to the Dolphins. The Chiefs have a committee of wide receivers, but nobody stands out compared to the Bengals weapons. The Chiefs have the best tight end in football in Travis Kelce, Mahomes’ number one weapon. How many people would like to slug Joe Mixon who punched a girl during his college days? Mixon acts like an NBA player talking trash all game long. Mixon has done well so far in post-season running the ball for the orange stripes. The Chiefs running back, Isiah Pacheco, is not being talked about enough. Pacheco is an all purpose back that can beat you in both the running game and receiving game. Could be a hobbled Mahomes’ best friend in this championship game. Pacheco has a high motor with over drive gears and could be the X-factor in this game.

EDGE: CHIEFS

DEFENSE

The Bengals defense overall is better than the Chiefs stats-wise the entire season. The Bengals can get to the quarterback which is one of their strengths. The Chiefs have a history of playing stout defense in big games such as a championship game. Can the Chiefs offensive line contain DE Trey Hendrickson, who had 2 sacks and a forced fumble versus the Ravens in round one of the playoffs? Hendrickson was quiet last week in Buffalo. Can the Bengals offensive line contain Chief stud Chris Jones?

EDGE: BENGALS

JUST A MAN’S OPINION: Both of these teams I have liked & then found myself hating like in a loathing way. The Patrick Mahomes Houdini escapes become tiresome. Joe Burrow’s clothes he wears are something out of the Big Bang Theory closet. The Bengals are a shit talking team. Who the hell is Eli Apple and what has he done in the NFL besides some cast off from one team to another? I hope the Chiefs make apple pie out this social trash talker who needs to be put in his place. Enough is enough with the Bengals being slighted. The Bengals act like just because they made it to the Superbowl last season, as they lost they should be handed the trophy. The Chiefs are becoming like the Patriots every year as it is their fifth straight AFC Championship.

THE PICK:

The Bengals look like the scariest team out of all four teams left in the post-season. It is very hard for any team to go on the road in the divisional round & then repeat that task in the championship round to take that road into the Superbowl. I think it will be hard for the Bengals to beat the Chiefs three times in about a year’s time. Patrick Mahomes is gimpy & Andy Reid will have a solid plan. Teams that talk trash usually fall hard at some point. I think the Chiefs will exploit that banged up offensive line the Bengals have, that the Bills could not do last week. Chiefs put Joe “Cool” Burrow on ice and take back their stadium name of Arrowhead as Burrow’s head crumbles like the rotten Apple gets blown up on numerous routes by the Chiefs receivers.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

In the Christmas classic, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, the character Yukon Cornelius was set in his ways of gold and silver. You can even reverse that and say silver and gold. Yukon is a prospector looking for the riches of silver and gold. The city of Pittsburgh, known as Steel-town, takes their gold serious. Some will say it looks like a yellow on all the Pittsburgh sports landscape uniforms. The natives of Pittsburgh call it Gold and they like their color scheme of Gold and Black colors that don’t run in the wash. The Pirates, Steelers, and the Penguins come to town & their color scheme is intimidating and represents the city of Pittsburgh of their hard working citizens with pride they have for those teams. The history of their teams that go back from the beginning wearing Gold and Black, and it means something. Even the soccer team, the Pittsburgh River hounds of USL, adopted the Gold and Black. Last year in the reboot of the USFL, the Pittsburgh Maulers’ uniforms were similar to the 1980’s in the original league. The color scheme of orange, white, and purple are not Pittsburgh colors. Maulers only existed one season during the original league and last year in the reboot. The Maulers are returning for their second year, and in year two they are going with the Steel-town style of Gold and Black.

Ray Horton was a defensive back in the NFL for ten seasons during the 1980’s and a few years into the 1990’s. Horton never played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Horton played with the arch rival Cincinnati Bengals for 6 seasons & then did 4 seasons in Dallas as a Cowboy. Horton had 19 interceptions in his career while scoring 4 touchdowns on defense. Horton’s ties to Pittsburgh came when he was a defensive back coach for the Steelers. The Steeler organization head coaches hold on to their job like they are the Pope. Horton has been coaching in Pittsburgh for the last three recent Superbowl appearances the Steelers have made and beyond. Last year’s Maulers coach, Kirby Jackson, lead a team that went 1-9 and they were awful. Jackson resigned and was not returning to Maulers, so Ray Horton will get his first head coaching gig. His first order of business was to change the Mauler color scheme and they did.

The Maulers and Steelers represent what Pittsburgh was all about… producing steel. The Maulers mascot goes by Marty the Mauler who resembles the Steelers mascot, Steeley McBeam. The Steelers helmet is one of the best looking in the NFL. I always liked the Maulers logo, even in the old color scheme. The new scheme is even better as it shows the steel worker swing a maul, which is like a sledge hammer. I think the team should have actor David Rasche, who played Sledge Hammer in the old 1980’s sitcom, do something for this team in the future on game day.

The original Pittsburgh Maulers did better than last year’s 2022 Mauler team. The old Maulers played more games and won 3 games. The 1980’s Maulers went 3-15 in their lone season they played. The 1980’s Maulers did play all their home games in Pittsburgh at Three Rivers Stadium. That 3-15 record the Maulers had was tied with the Washington Federals for the worst record in the league that year. Both Maulers’ seasons have been very bad even though both these USFL leagues will never be linked together. This year, Maulers will not play any home games in Pittsburgh as they played all their games last year in the one hub city of Birmingham where everyone played except the playoffs were held in Canton, Ohio. The Maulers this season will play their home games in Canton, Ohio. Each division has two hub cities that will share two teams as the league is playing year two again with 8 teams. The North division has Canton and Detroit as their hub cities. Detroit will have their team Michigan Panthers and the Philadelphia Stars. While Canton will share the Maulers and New Jersey Generals. The South division will have two hub cities, one in Memphis and the city of Birmingham will return. The Stallions who had all the home games last year until the playoffs, will share their stadium with the New Orleans Breakers. The Tampa Bay Bandits of last year are on a one-year hiatus to welcome back another former 1980’s team, the Memphis Showboats. The Showboats will share their city with the Houston Gamblers. Only the Showboats and the Maulers have changed their look from the original 1980’s league. The Maulers kept their logo and changed their colors completely. While the Memphis Showboats changed their color scheme and their logo completely from their original. In year two, the Maulers should feel like they are part of Steel-town going with the city’s color scheme.

The Chicago Blackhawks season has been a flaming car wreck on the side of the highway that you stare at driving by. When the Seattle Kraken came to town to play the Blackhawks a few weeks ago for the second year, the team lit the lamp on fire with 8 goals as fans still stay to watch the finish of that flaming car wreck. Only reason to come watch the Blackhawks is see Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews skate one last season wearing the Indian head sweater. The final two pieces of the dynasty you can soak in the memories as the Blackhawks hope to deal both Toews and Kane who helped Chicago capture three glorious Stanley Cups. If they waive their trade clauses. Many of the team’s veterans will be sold off like an old DVD set of the dynasty at a garage sale.The way the Blackhawks have been playing, they may be lined up to land the top player in the next NHL draft as every team would love to have the up and coming young super star, Connor Bedard. A guy like Bedard instantly put your team back on the map. Last Saturday night, did the Blackhawks find their future in front of the net? It was the debut of 23 year old Jaxson Stauber and it was quite the debut as he did not give up 8 goals to the archrival Blues.

The last time the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Blues in St. Louis you have to go back to 2018 in October. This Blackhawks organization is playing these days during dark times. I mean dark because the team will be on the bad side of any streaks against many of their opponents they may have owned during the dynasty. I know the fat lady has sang and it’s over. Sometimes you find a gem out of the ruff of slop this team has gather at all levels right now as an organization. Eight ticks into the game former Blackhawks Brandon Sadd’s now wearing the Blue and white sweater of St. Louis shot was stopped by Jaxson Stauber. Just like that Stauber had his first NHL save. Stauber is an undrafted free agent who got the call from Rockford the Blackhawks affiliate and was wearing his Ice Dog goalie mask with his new fitted Indian head sweater.

Wearing number 30 is Stauber’s dream come true with his father on hand. The family watched Jaxson stifle the Blues, the Blackhawks archrival they have encountered for so many seasons. Stauber, born in Minnesota, has goalie blood in his genes. Jaxson’s father, Robb Stauber, suited for the LA Kings and Buffalo Sabres back in the 1990’s.

Robb only played 62 games in the net, mostly a back up he had a record of 21-23-9 in which he recorded one shut out with a save percentage of .890. Like father like son, seeing his son follow in his footsteps to take on the family business has to be another dream come true for the old man. You know he influenced and coached his son all his life, is my guess. Jaxson was brilliant as he helped the Blackhawks prevail by stopping 4 penalty kills and had 29 saves total to help get a win in his debut. Jaxson did give up a power play goal to the Blues. The Blues would score three goals, but Stauber and the Blackhawks knuckled down at the end to preserve the victory. Sure you can chalk this one up as the first game when the opposing team really does not know your weaknesses. First game, Jaxson may have got lucky as well.

In his second start, Stauber did even better as the Blackhawks played in Calgary last night at the Saddledome. Stauber only gave up one goal as the Blackhawks won 5-1. They looked good doing it and broke a two game losing streak. Stauber saved 34 shots as he helped kill three Calgary penalty opportunities. Stauber had six saves when Flames had the six men to four advantage on the ice. Stauber looks like a veteran on the ice as he’s unflappable in pressure situations when the momentum can take a turn. The Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson likes Stauber’s cool calm demeanor on the ice. Stauber seems like he gobbles up most pucks, preventing the opposing team getting rebounds, to redirect the puck into the net for more scoring chances. Stauber is the third goalie in Blackhawks history to win both games in his first two appearances in front of the net. Back in 1926, Hugh Lehman did it first for the Blackhawks & then in 1971, Gilles Meloche was the second to start perfect after his first two appearances.

In sports throughout history, teams come across players unexpectedly. The Blackhawks have some injuries at their goalie position and that’s why Jaxson Stauber is getting playing time. Some scout in the Blackhawks organization will take full credit for finding Stauber. Stauber played goalie two seasons at Providence College before turning pro. Stauber has been in Rockford before being called up, playing for the Ice Hogs & trying to improve his game for this moment playing with the big boys of the NHL. It’s only been two games and the kid looks legit right now, but as we all know it’s too early to tell. Blackhawk fans would love to solve the goalie situation this season and worry about the rest of the pieces fitting in on the ice during this year’s trade deadline and the draft. They are hoping to build the next dynasty and get back on the map of the NHL. Perhaps try to stay out of salary cap hell and make the next team ride out their dynasty longer than the Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane one. Then the next player, maybe Connor Bedard, could stay a Blackhawk his entire career as the team just builds around their superstar like the Penguins have been doing with Sid “the Kid” Crosby who’s no longer a kid of the NHL. It will be hard to see Kane and Toews suit up with another team. It would be cool to see them help another team get back to the promised land like Marian Hossa helped the kids. A star young goalie in the making would be pretty cool right now watching this roller coaster franchise stay out of the loop part and get back on the straight track. They are heading in the right direction back to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Buffalo Bills have gotten the old band back together for their next playoff run. The team is not just satisfied with Josh Allen’s aerial attack of weapons of mass destruction, that features Stefon Diggs one of the top receivers in the league, Gabe Davis, who is making a name for himself, could be consider a number one guy on many teams in the NFL. Then the Bills have some nice slot options in Isaiah McKenzie and Khalil Shakir. Allen is a quarterback that can distribute the ball all over the field and get it in the hands of all his play makers as the Bills have a high-powered offense that has many moving parts to use. The Buffalo Bills added two guys who helped Allen develop into the quarterback he is today. The Bills bring back John “Smoke” Brown a 32-year-old wide receiver that has blazing speed in which the fly pattern is his best friend. Allen’s big arm can get the ball to him throwing the deep ball hitting him in stride. Then Allen’s security blanket is back in the building, the “Bease” in Cole Beasley. Now you know the whisky is rye. Beasley is 33 years old and left Buffalo for reasons not just about money or contract, but political views in Covid protocols. Maybe a contract would have kept him in Buffalo. Sometimes friends in low places are what a guy needs when facing teams like the Bengals and the Chiefs in the post-season.

When you played football out front of your house when you were a kid, your father or your brother or maybe even a friend would tell you, “Go deep.” Then your little legs would spin & then suddenly break out in full sprint stepping on some old summer weeds as you look up. A ball floating in the air bigger than your head would fall in your arms. If you caught it, you’d scream, “Touchdown,” for one of the best plays in the game. John “Smoke” Brown’s only catch this regular season in his return to Buffalo came against New England in the last game of the season. It was a 42-yard bomb thrown by Josh Allen and it connected like old times. Like two guys in a rhythm and blues band playing their instruments for the first time since they played at the clubs decades ago. Like riding a bike, the sound was still there as the bomb between the Smoke and Allen was still there. Brown’s best years came in an Arizona Cardinal uniform. In 2019, Brown’s best year in a Bills uniform & his first season with Allen, he caught 72 balls for 1,060 yards with six touchdown passes. Then the following year, Smoke dealt with injuries and played less games but caught 33 balls for 458 yards with 3 touchdown passes. Brown left Buffalo the next season. The last few years he has went from practice squad to practice squad. Brown tried to stick to an active roster as he was signed by the Raiders, Jaguars, Broncos, and Buccaneers. Brown would play in 2 games with the Jaguars and 2 with the Broncos. He had only one target no catches. It’s amazing how Brown can come back without playing an actual game in over a year and reconnect with his old quarterback.

Many wonder why the Bills didn’t reach a deal with Cole Beasley and bring him back for this season when his contract expired. Beasley is loved in the Bills club house. Did the front office get scared off by his conspiracy theories thinking he could be a distraction to the team? Bills had some salary cap issues, there just was not enough cake to go around as Bease would require some frosting on his. It seems many teams were scared off by Beasley’s off the field beliefs because he was home most of the season until the Buccaneers gave him a call. Suddenly you think Beasley was like a cat landed on his feet playing with the best quarterback of all-time, Tom Brady. After two games & 4 catches for only 17 yards for the Buccaneers, Beasley would have had enough and retired from the game. You’d think the Bills would be out of Beasley’s rear-view mirror as he sold his house in Buffalo and continue his conspiracy posts on the social media. The Eagles got back together after they said, “Hell would have to freeze over before we play again.” Hell did freeze over and the Eagles would get back together and name their next album in the 1990’s, Hell Freezes Over. Cooler heads prevailed and Beasely is back in a Bills uniform. In two regular season games, Beasely only had two catches for 18 yards. Last week versus Miami, Beasley scored his first ever playoff touchdown as he took a slant pattern over the middle of the field and found himself in the end zone for a score. Last year, Beasley caught 82 passes & 693 yards with one touchdown. Beasley’s career in Buffalo he has 233 catches for 2.456 yards with 11 touchdowns during regular season play. Beasley can move the chains, convert third down plays, and keep the offense on the field.

Another guy I root for is wide receiver Tanner Gentry, who has a cult following in Chicago. Tanner is a former teammate of Josh Allen back in their college days playing for the University of Wyoming Cowboys. Tanner has been cut so many times in his career he probably does not even unpack his suitcase. Gentry may be even living on Allen’s couch. Gentry found action in 2017 for the Bears when he played 7 games catching 3 passes for 35 yards. Gentry was one of those guys that made those dazzling catches in pre-season, playing against other team’s second stringers. In 2022, Gentry played in 3 games for the Bills with no catches but had one target. Gentry recently was cut by the Bills, but will probably be brought back next season as you root for the 28-year-old latching on with his old friend. Guys like Gentry back at Wyoming University and John Brown along with Cole Beasley helped make Allen the player who he is today. Allen would like to repay these guys, his friends, back with a Superbowl ring. Don’t be surprised to see Brown or Beasley chip in during this playoff run to help Allen and Buffalo do the unthinkable. Buffalo has that small town feeling compared to many of the big cities in the NFL. The Bills seem like they have a tight and unique locker room almost like a small college feeling. It’s a feeling like a Garth Brooks song where Allen does have friends in low places where the whisky is rye and the snow chasers.

NFL ROUND TWO STRAIGHT UP PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

SATURDAY GAMES

AFC

#4.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (10-8) AT #1. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (14-3)

HEAD TO HEAD REGULAR SEASON: KC (1-0) JAX

PLAYOFF HISTORY: FIRST MEETING

THE EAGLE BOWL

This playoff match up has two X-Philadelphia Eagles head coaches going against each other. Andy “the Walrus” Reid may be the best head coach in Philly history record-wise.Then there’s the Philly Special, Doug Pederson, who guided the Eagles to their only Superbowl trophy beating the hated Evil Empire Patriots. Usually when a quarterback throws 4 interceptions in one game, they are tagged with the loss. Last week, the Jaguars prevailed against a poor coached Charger team and overcame Trevor Lawrence’s mistakes and beat LA in a game that was Charles Dickerson’s tale of two halves.

The Chiefs found their way once again to snag the first round bye in the AFC post-season with the best record and the cancelled game between the Bills and the Bengals. Patrick Mahomes is 8-3 in the playoffs with two losses coming from Tom Brady, and the other from Joe Cool Burrow. I don’t see Surf Nazi Ninja Must Die, the Jaguars quarterback, tagging Mahomes with another loss to his playoff legacy.

The Chiefs coaching staff is not the Chargers so any mistakes from Lawrence and the Jaguars will be daggers in the Jacksonville coffin. I like the Chiefs able to get their yards and offense through the air where the Jacksonville defense is the weakest. I can’t see the Jaguars playing the perfect game on the road in a very tough place to win, Arrow Head Stadium. The Jaguars would need a perfect game times two to beat the Chiefs this weekend.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

NFC

#6. NEW YORK GIANTS (10-7-1) AT #1. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (14-3)

HEAD TO HEAD REGULAR SEASON: EAGLES (2-0) GIANTS

PLAYOFF HISTORY: ALL-TIME PLAYOFF SERIES TIED (2-2) LAST MEETING 2008 DIVISIONAL ROUND: EAGLES WON

This will be the third meeting between the Giants and Eagles this season, and the last one went Philadelphia’s way in a rout. Eagles had the first round bye while the Giants moved on from the Wild Card Weekend with a win in Minnesota. The Eagles outscored the Giants 70-38 in those two regular season meetings. It is very hard to beat a team three times in one season. The Eagles have the better team on both sides of the ball. The key thing in this match up that jumps out to me is the health of Jalen Hurts.

Hurts only played in one game in the last month of the season. Hurts did not look very good in the last week of regular season. However Hurts did get to rest last week, with the Eagles clinching the number one seed. Without a healthy Hurts, the Eagles did not look like a number one seed in the last month of the season. Meanwhile the Giants thrive on close games and have become accustomed to squeaking out grinders ending either in regulation or overtime. The last three times the Giants won their opening round playoff game, the big blue have found themselves in the Superbowl. My gut feeling tells me a number one seed will fall and this is the game.

The Giants were missing three key guys on their defense in the last meeting versus the Eagles. Look what corner back Adoree Jackson did last week versus the best receiver in the NFC Justin Jefferson. Shut him down. Brian Daboll, head coach of the Giants, has playoff experience from his time with the Bills. This Giants team is following his lead. I like the Giant upset in this one because Big Blue has beat me every time I go against them.

OUR PICK: GIANTS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

AFC

#3. CINCINNATI BENGALS (13-4) AT #2. BUFFALO BILLS (14-3)

HEAD TO HEAD REGULAR SEASON: REGULAR SEASON MATCH UP CANCELLED

PLAYOFF HISTORY: BENGALS (2-0) ALL-TIME VERSUS BILLS, LAST MEETING 1989 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

I had a feeling, as did everyone who is a football fan, that this match up would come around again between the Bengals and Bills. It was supposed to be the game of the week when these two teams met up on a Monday night affair weeks ago. This game had lots on the line for both teams in the playoffs. Unfortunately the game was cancelled after Bills defender Damar Hamilin laid on the carpet after making a tackle, getting up & then falling down. CPR was performed on Hamlin as both teams were in shock and tears, standing on the field surrounding Damar. It was 7-3 Bengals with the lead, with time remaining in the first quarter as the league postponed the game because of what unfolded. Then the league cancelled the game. Now this game has circled back in the divisional round where once again the stakes are high. The Bills are playing for their fallen comrade Damar Hamilin with lots of emotions. The Bengals think they got screwed from the league as they are defending their AFC Championship run from last season when the Bengal stripes made it to the Superbowl. What a great match up at the quarterback position with Josh Allen versus Joe Burrow. This now will officially be the first meeting between the two of these super stars of the AFC.

In the 1989 AFC Championship, it was Jim Kelly versus Boomer Esiason, two elite quarterbacks of the AFC in a game that went down to the very end of regulation.

I can see this Bengals and Bills game going down to the very end in an AFC Classic heavyweight bout. Both teams are pretty much equal on both sides of the ball. The Bengals defense can pressure the quarterback. The Bills defense bend but don’t break style thrives on getting turnovers. The Bengals have weapons of mass destruction at their wide receiver position. The Bills have a slew of weapons that can beat you on any given Sunday. This game can go either way. I think both coaching staffs equal out in this one. As well as special teams. I think the Bills will exploit the Bengals’ shaky offensive line which is probably the weakest link in this match up. Bills being at home is my final thought as the Mafia can make things tough with a shaky O-Line.

OUR PICK: BILLS

NFC

#5. DALLAS COWBOYS (13-5) AT #2. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (14-4)

HEAD TO HEAD REGULAR SEASON: DID NOT FACE EACH OTHER

PLAYOFF HISTORY: COWBOYS ARE (5-3) ALL-TIME VERSUS THE 49ERS IN THE PLAYOFFS. THE 49ERS HAVE WON THE LAST TWO MEETINGS WHICH INCLUDES LAST SEASON’S WILD CARD GAME.

The Cowboys/49ers playoff rivalry continues in back to back years for the first time since the 1990’s when these teams met up three years in a row playing for the NFC Championship game. We know both these franchises hate each other. I really don’t care for either of them. I hate the Cowboys more. The 49ers are one of those teams that annoyed me from being there all the time. Colin Kapernick did not help their cause either. The 49ers last week easily put down the Seahawks. The Cowboys terminated Tampa Tom and his Buccaneers with ease. Do the Cowboys get extra credit for perhaps ending Tom Brady’s career? We can’t say that until we hear that out of the fool’s mouth if he’s coming back or doing that fake retirement speech. The Cowboys finally won a playoff game on the road for the first time since the 1990’s. Can they do it again in San Francisco? Will the 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy lose his first game in the NFL?

The kid, since taking over behind center for the injured Jimmy Garoppolo, has not lost a game behind center. Can Dak Prescott beat a winning team especially in the playoffs as he has problems doing so during his career so far under center for the Cowboys? The Buccaneers won their division with a losing record. The 49ers are a well-rounded team strong on both sides of the ball. Cowboys get the edge at the quarterback position. But the 49ers have the better scheme for the quarterback position. The 49ers defense is better as an entire unit, but Cowboys can get to the quarterback better then San Francisco.

Micah Parsons is a beast at killing the quarterback, one of the best in the entire NFL. Parsons had 13.5 sacks in regular season and the Cowboys will need him to disrupt and rattle Purdy to make this work on the road. I think this will be another close game, maybe even another epic classic Cowboys 49ers showdown. I like the 49ers pulling this one off at the end. I like the 49ers two-headed monster running attack with Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell over the Cowboys running game. That features spoon feed me Ezekial Elliot who is over rated and Tony Pollard. The 49ers will out gain the Cowboys on the ground attack which will be the difference in the game.”Micah Parsons is a beast at killing the quarterback, one of the best in the entire NFL. Parsons had 13.5 sacks in regular season and the Cowboys will need him to disrupt and rattle Purdy to make this work on the road. I think this will be another close game, maybe even another epic classic Cowboys 49ers showdown. I like the 49ers pulling this one off at the end. I like the 49ers two-headed monster running attack with Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell over the Cowboys running game. That features “Spoon Feed Me” Ezekial Elliot who is overrated and Tony Pollard. The 49ers will out gain the Cowboys on the ground attack which will be the difference in the game.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

When it comes to the society we live in, who are your heroes? You can rattle off the entire military services, fire fighters, police officers, teachers, nurses, doctors… they are the first that come to mind. It’s the real world so we don’t have superheroes wearing a cape and underoos. On the field playing a game many worship what athletes do, especially at younger age. Some could say the 1990’s baseball steroid era started it when those players that were gigantic built and chiseled like a brick house resembled some of your great Marvel or DC superheroes. We all know many athletes are just spoiled primadonnas treated like Richie Rich with a silver spoon in their mouths all their lives. When it comes time to be a hero, any average Joe six pack can have his or her day. When someone that looks the part of the Avengers saves a life, we may start believing in Superman and Santa Clause as they exist on this planet. On January 4th this year, a former running back jumped into the ocean and saved his kids. Most anybody that’s a father and mother would rise up to the challenge and do anything for their kids, especially if they are in harm’s way. The 36-year-old Peyton Hillis who retired from the NFL in 2015 is paying the price after saving his kids and was placed on ventilator in the ICU. Like the M&M saying that Santa exists on the candy commercial, and the Claus saying they do exist referring to the talking hard hell chocolate candy. Heroes do exist and they come in all shapes and sizes.

Peyton Hillis was 6’2″ tall, and a 250 lb tail back coming at you out of the back field like a Mack truck. Hillis, an Arkansas native born and raised, played his College ball as a Razorback at the University of Arkansas. Hillis then was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2008. Hillis played seven seasons in the NFL with 4 different organizations. Hillis played two years in Denver & then went to Cleveland. He played two seasons there, moved on to Kansas City for one season,and ended up finishing in New York playing two seasons as a Giant. Hillis’ best years came in Cleveland and 2010 was his best year of his career. Hillis ran wild all over the field running over defenders as he galloped for over 1,000 yards in which he racked up 1,177 yards to be exact and found the end zone with 11 rushing touchdowns. Perhaps in 2011, Hillis being on the cover of John Madden’s football video game jinxed the rest of the running back’s career as his average per rush went down and he played less games dealing with injuries. Running backs don’t have a long life in the NFL so 7 years is nothing to sneeze at. Hillis, over his NFL career, racked up 2,832 rushing yards on 696 carries while scoring 23 touchdowns.

On January 4th, off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, Peyton Hillis and his kids were probably enjoying a nice day on the beach. Then the nightmare of any parent appeared in front of Hillis’ eyes. One moment the kids are playing in the ocean splashing, swimming, & having a good ole time. Then the next moment a rip tide is taking your kids deeper into the ocean as the splashing turns into screams for help because they are drowning while being pulled away from the coast line. According to local county reports, there were 2 children and 2 adults in the water struggling when a bystander came in to help. No time to think, just react and Hillis went into the ocean and pulled his kids out of the water saving their lives but paying the cost at the same time. Superman would have flown away after saving the lives, but this is real life. Hillis was taken to the hospital where he suffered kidney and lung damage from his heroic act of just awesomeness. The kidneys and lungs are why Hillis was placed on a ventilator. Hillis remains hospitalized, but according to his girlfriend Angela Cole on Instagram, the ventilator has come off so that is good news. The former running back, a hero, should recover fully. Cole said they still have a ways to go though. Imagine Hillis diving into the waters like he ran over defenders on the field swishing and knifing through waves to rescue his kids to pay the price at the end. Well worth the price. Many kids will idolize athletes like they are real heroes. Peyton Hillis is a hero, not like the Lebron James’ of the World. In a situation like Hillis’ I think many people would be a hero when their own flesh and blood is on the line. I like to think Hillis would have helped a stranger in that situation, even if his kids were not drowning at the time. Only certain people can react and do the unthinkable. Many people in sticky situation can freeze like deer in head lights. The real heroes are listed in the first paragraph above because they do it every day.

NFL ROUND ONE STRAIGHT UP PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

SATURDAY GAMES

NFC

#7.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-8) AT #2. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (13-4)

HEAD TO HEAD REGULAR SEASON RECORD: SF (2-0) SEA

PLAYOFF HISTORY: 2013 NFC CHAMPIONSHIP: SEATTLE WON

Seattle made the post-season play in the last game of regular season. The 49ers, using their third quarterback of the season, won the NFC West. The Seahawks were not supposed to make the post-season after trading away their franchise quarterback. It’s the 10th time in 13 seasons that Seattle’s Head Coach has gotten his team into the post-season. Nobody ever heard of Brock Purdy and like changing a light bulb, the 49ers are still running like a well-oiled machine. This game has rain in the forecast. Both teams have strong running games. The 49ers two-headed monster that features Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell, will carry the heavy load. The Seahawks counter with rookie running back Kenneth Walker III. I like how Geno Smith finally found his game behind center for the Seahawks as he has had his best year of his career. Smith will make a boo-boo as he does in many games. The 49ers defense is one of the best units in the game & should be able to take Walker out of the game. The rain may limit the passing game between the two teams. Which favors the Purdy cat’s game as the 49ers will control the clock’s long drives without making the costly mistakes. The Seattle defense is the weakest link in this match up & gives the 49ers the edge and something very hard to do: beat the same team three times in one season. The 49ers are clearly the better team on both sides of the football.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

AFC

#5. LA CHARGERS (10-7) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (9-8)

HEAD TO HEAD REGULAR SEASON RECORD: JAX (1-0) LAC

PLAYOFF HISTORY: FIRST EVER MEETING

The Jaguars blew out the Chargers in their only meeting of the year. This game features two of the youngest gunslingers in the AFC. Justin Herbert brought the Chargers to the post-season in his third season. In Trevor Lawrence’s second year with a new head coach, a long haired surfer, has gotten the Jaguars back to the post-season. The Jaguars needed to win last week versus the Titans to clinch the AFC South. The Chargers played a meaningless game in the last week versus Denver in a loss. Brandon Staley has been criticized all week playing his some key players in that game versus Denver which resulted in injuries. No wide receiver, as Mike Williams for the Chargers, was carted off the field. The Chargers, who just got defensive end Joey Bosa back, pulled a groin and is questionable in this Saturday night game.

The Jaguars have been one of the hottest teams in the second half of the season winning 6 out of their last 7 contests. Former Eagles Head Coach Doug Pederson has turned around this sorry arse Jacksonville franchise against an average Chargers defense. I love the Jaguars defense led by the other Josh Allen of the AFC.

This game I’m deciding by old school coaching beating new school. Brandon Staley at times takes stupid risks like instead of taking the points on a field goal, he’ll go for the touchdown. It’s like he does not believe in the kicking aspect of the game, even punting. Doug Pederson’s track record is much better and the Jaguars are at home which is why the Chargers have to travel across the country to play this game.

OUR PICK: JAGUARS

THE SUNDAY GAMES

AFC

#7.MIAMI DOLPHINS(9-8) AT #2.BUFFALO BILLS (13-3)

HEAD TO HEAD REGULAR SEASON: MIA (1-1) BUF

PLAYOFF HISTORY: Bills are 3-1 versus Dolphins in post-season which includes beating Miami in the 1992 AFC Championship.

The Dolphins squeaked by the Jets last week with Skylar Thompson behind center to get Miami into the back door of post-season. The Bills prevented the Patriots from getting into post-season. The Dolphins will be without their number one quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, who makes this Dolphins offense click. The Dolphins are down to their third string quarterback, Thompson.

Bills will shut down Skynet with their defense, forcing the 7th round draft pick into mistakes.

The Dolphins offense is just a shell casing without TUA TIME. Skylar Thompson will be terminated by the end of this game in a very cold Buffalo stadium. The Dolphins defense has played well, but Josh Allen and the Bills offense will score points.

The X-factor Bills are playing with high emotions for their fallen teammate, Damar Hamilin. The Bills will get that extra juice being at home in front of the Bills mafia.

OUR PICK: BILLS

NFC

#6.NEW YORK GIANTS (9-7-1) AT #3.MINNESOTA VIKINGS (13-4)

HEAD TO HEAD REGULAR SEASON: No meetings

PLAYOFF HISTORY: Giants are 2-1 versus the Vikings in post-season history. Last meeting, at the 2001 NFC championship game Giants won 41-0 Vikings.

This is a battle between two rookie head coaches. Brian Daboll turned around the Giants while Kevin O’Connell turned around the Vikings. These two teams are kings of winning games by one score games. Vikings won 11 of them. While the Giants have gone 8-4-1 in one score games. Vikings with Captain Kirk Cousins can generate points as Minnesota can score quickly and can come back on many teams like the Indianapolis Colts. The Giants like to grind it out in very close games and win it at the end of regulation. When the Vikings lose, they lose bad. Many, including myself, thought both these teams would fizzle away but here we are talking about them in the post-season. This is a very even match up between these two teams. The Giants defense probably has the edge over the Vikings. The Vikings offense is better than anything the Giants have. I like the home field advantage for the Vikings in this one as Captain Kirk takes care of business in a big game but not in prime time under the lights.

OUR PICK: VIKINGS

NFC

#6.BALTIMORE RAVENS(10-7) AT #3.CINCINNATI BENGALS(12-4)

HEAD TO HEAD REGULAR SEASON: BAL (1-1) CIN

PLAYOFF HISTORY: First ever meeting.

Yes, we just saw this game in the last week of regular season as the Bengals won and clinched the AFC North. Historically, the Ravens and Bengals has been one of the best rivals in the league. The Ravens once again will be without their starting quarterback, Lamar Jackson.

Can Roquan Smith, a former Bear who got a contract extension with the Ravens, and that Baltimore defense, win this game? The Ravens defense is the key if Ravens want the upset. The Ravens back up quarterback, Tyler Huntley, is banged up. The Bengals have a scary offense. The Bengals feel slighted by the league in their playoff adjustments when the game versus Buffalo got cancelled due to Damar Hamilin going down.

The Bengals believe they should have been the number one seed in the NFL with a win over the Chiefs and were beating the Bills at the time the game was stopped with Damar laying on the turf. Without the Ravens able to generate enough offense and the motivation behind this Bengal team, I have to go Cincinnati.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

NFC

#5.DALLAS COWBOYS(12-5) AT #4.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS(8-9)

HEAD TO HEAD REGULAR SEASON: TB (1-0) DAL

PLAYOFF HISTORY: Cowboys are (2-0) all-time versus the Buccaneers in post-season. Last meeting goes back to 1983 when Cowboys beat the Buccaneers 30-17 in NFC wild card game.

The Buccaneers backed into the playoffs and Tom Brady was very lucky he is not at home today watching the post-season on his couch. The Cowboys have not won a road playoff game since the early 1990’s. The Buccaneers have the home game in this one because they won the NFC South, the worst division in football, and make it to the post-season with a losing record. The post-season is a clean slate: a new season and we all know Tampa Tom thrives in the post-season.

The Cowboys on paper look like the superior team. The Cowboys have a defense that can kill the opposing team’s quarterback. The Cowboys have weapons on offense. The Buccaneers have an aging defense and play makers on offense, you might call them has-beens. The key for Dallas is what are we going to see out of Dak Prescott?

The Cowboys have struggled the last few weeks where Dak has thrown a pick in almost every game. The Cowboys coming off a bad loss to the Commanders where Washington’s defense made the Cowboys look like a bad team that’s home for the post-season. The Cowboys had to eek out a game against Houston in overtime, not too long ago. I hate both of these teams. I’m going with history in this one. It’s hard to knock out Tom Brady’s teams in round one of the playoffs. Dallas has problems on the road and Dak is not playing well right now. I see the Buccaneers stealing one at home. Then adding more bad history to the Cowboys’ post-season woes.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS