2025 NFL PREDICTIONS: WEEK 10 DONE THE WILD SHAMROCK WAY

November 9, 2025 / thewildshamrock / Leave a comment

WEEK 10 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

LAST WEEK’S RECORD: (9-5)

Last week big upsets did not help my overall record. The Lions losing to the Vikings. The Panthers beating the Packers. Even the Cardinals upsetting the stupid Cowboys on Monday night was a shocker. I should have gone 12-2. That’s why they say Any Given Sunday, any team can beat anyone on the NFL Schedule.

SEASON RECORD: (88-47)

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-6) AT DENVER BRONCOS (7-2)

First looking at this match up, this game should be a blow out in Denver’s favor. Both teams are playing on a short week and both reside in the same division. When you meet twice a year in any division in the NFL, you know each other very well. The Raiders offense actually put up some points last week versus the Jags defense. The Broncos defense smothered the Texans offense. The Broncos offense struggled even though they still won the game. The Raiders defense is pretty good. I think Bo Nix and that offense will score some points and more than 18 they got against Houston. Geno Smith is a turnover machine, a guy with double digits in interceptions. The Broncos are 4-0 at home, so far this season. I see the Raiders offense going dormant versus one of the best or the best defense in the league. The Raiders don’t have the horses the Broncos have.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

SUNDAY MORNING OVERSEAS (GERMANY)

ATLANTA FALCONS (3-5) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-2)

Who would not want to go to Germany where everything is supersized during the fall season? Now add some American football & it’s Oktoberfest part II. The Colts were cruising along and were stunned last week by Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers that broke one of the longest winning streaks in the league. Michael Penix was back for the Falcons last weekend in a loss, but the offense scored 23 points. This game features probably the two best running backs in each conference. In the AFC, Jonathan Taylor for the Colts. In the NFC, Bijan Robinson for the Falcons. The Falcons have lost three straight games. I don’t like picking the Falcons on the road. The Colts added corner back Sauce Gardner from the Jets in a trade at the deadline. Sauce gets a free trip to Europe and is pretty good at stopping the run. Colts get back on track in a home away from home game for Indianapolis Jones and the rest of the team.

OUR PICK: COLTS

THE SUNDAY TILT BACK IN THE STATES

BALTIMORE RAVENS (3-5) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (4-4)

The Vikings I have yet to figure them out this season. How does a rookie quarterback, JJ McCarthy, slay the Detroit Lions last week? Suddenly the Ravens are alive and well winning two straight games.

Lamar Jackson and that horrific Ravens defense looked like their season was done. Like a bad slasher movie, these Ravens are alive and well with Lamar leading the victory parade over the Dolphins last week. Then the back up quarterback, Tyler Huntley, helped the Ravens prevail over the Bears the week before the Dolphins game. The Viking defense halted the Lions high octane offense last week to a grinding halt. McCarthy had two touchdown passes and an interception, not the best numbers, completing 56% of his passes last week in the win over the Lions. Both teams need this notch on their bed posts. The Ravens defense has gotten healthier and has improved over the last few games. The Vikings have not strung a few wins together this season as is the reason they are .500. Jackson is 24-3 lifetime versus the NFC. The Ravens are a Friday the 13th movie as they will find their way to post-season to take Manhattan in the 15th movie of the series that never dies.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

BUFFALO BILLS (6-2) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-7)

The Bills defense gave Patrick Mahomes a beat down last week in a big win over the Chiefs.

It felt like the walls were closing in on Mahomes most of the game. The Bills D should have another feast on quarterbacks with Tua Tagovailoa who is tied with Geno Smith for the most interceptions in the NFL. The Dolphins defense has been terrible. The fins traded away their best defender to the Eagles in linebacker Jaelan Phillips. Josh Allen and the Bills offense should be able to get yards in by the chunks in this one. Allen has dominated the fins over his career. I like the Bills in this one just in case you cannot tell.

OUR PICK: BILLS

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (5-3) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (3-5)

The Houston Texans will start their back up quarterback versus the Jaguars as CJ Stroud is out with a concussion he suffered last week. Davis Mills was once the Texans starter until Stroud was drafted. Mills has a 5-19 record as a starter in the NFL. The Jags won last week in a high scoring game versus a bad Raider team in a close affair. The Jaguars won the first meeting between these two teams, 17-10, where Jacksonville defense forced three turnovers on Houston. The Texans offensive line is their weakness. They lack a running game. The Texans defense will give this team a fair chance. The Jaguars defense is getting worse as the season goes along. The Texans defense took away the Jags running game in the first meeting. It’s hard to sweep teams. Look for Mills to get the ball out quickly to his weapons and deliver a victory, a much needed W, for Houston. The Jags have a winning record, but it is very questionable at the same time.

OUR PICK: TEXANS

CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-6) AT NEW YORK JETS (1-7)

The DAWG days of November for both the Jets and Browns. These two teams have three wins combined. Both teams coming off their bye week. The Jets won their first game of the year last time we saw them with a come from behind W over the Bengals. The Jets traded away two of their key pieces on defense this week. No more Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams for gang green.

Gardner says he will have revenge on New York after his free trip to Germany this weekend with the Colts. Justin Fields is the better quarterback in this match up. He is facing a very good and talented Browns defense which will not work well for Fields and the Jets offense. Meanwhile Dillon Gabriel should do well against the Jets defense now with missing pieces and they were not playing well in general. The Browns rookie quarterback is 1-3 in 4 starts this season. He has 5 touchdown passes to only two interceptions in 6 games played. The Browns running game has been decent and should give Gabriel a fighting chance to complete some passes and get in a nice rhythm on a defense that will be checked out for the season.

OUR PICK: BROWNS

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-8) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (5-4)

The New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback will get his second start in the NFL versus the Panthers. The Panthers invaded Green Bay last week and came away with a victory on the road. The Saints switched quarterbacks last week going with rookie Tyler Shough over Spencer Rattler. Shough and the Saints offense scored 10 points versus the Rams defense and were held to a season low of a total of 224 yards of offense. The Panthers will run the ball down the throats of New Orleans as Rico Dowdle has been impressive taking over the starting duties in the back field. The Panthers are 3-1 at home this season as Bryce Young is getting his groove back he had late last season. The Saints have lost 4 straight games and will take more lumps with a rookie quarterback. The Saints traded away one of their top wide receivers in Rashid Shaheed who is off to Seattle. One less weapon for their rookie QB will not help the cause here.

OUR PICK: PANTHERS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (7-2) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-2)

Drake vs the Bake sounds like an annual cook off championship.

Last year Jayden Daniels was the best rookie quarterback from the 2024 NFL Draft. You could say in year two the Patriots might have the best QB out of that 2024 class in Drake Maye.

You may hate the Drake or love him, but he’s completing 74.1% of his passes so far this season with 17 touchdown passes to only 4 interceptions. The Patriots have won six straight games. Meanwhile the Buccaneers are coming off their bye week and they have Baker Mayfield who’s been one of the best QB’s in the league this season. Only problem with the Buccaneers is the team is running out of options for Mayfield to throw to. Lots of injuries with the Buccaneers playmakers. I like how the Buccaneers defense has been playing. They will get the pressure on Maye to cause him to have a unusual poor outing. This will be a great game between two solid teams. It’s hard to keep racking up victories on the road like the Patriots have done. I like Tampa Bay in a close one here.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

NEW YORK GIANTS (2-7) AT CHICAGO BEARS (5-3)

What do Kyle Monangai and the great late Walter Payton have in common? Both running backs in a single game for the Bears have had at least 26 carries and over 175 yards in a game. Monangai had 176 yards on the ground versus the hapless Bengals last week filling in for the injured D’Andre Swift. Whoever the Bears have in their back field, they have to be licking their chops facing a Giants teams that is allowing running backs 5.5 yards per carry. The Bears should be able to generate some offense with the visiting Giants after putting 47 points on the Bengals. The Giants who are led by Jaxson Dart should get their share of points because the Bears defense and special teams did not help in that game versus the Bengals who took the lead late and scored 42 points. Dart has carried the full load and will make this game interesting. I can’t see the Giants matching scores with Ben Johnson’s offense. The Bears defense will clean some things up. It will be a high scoring game which Bears will hold off the Giants while the Dart misses the bullseye by an eyelash.

OUR PICK: BEARS

ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-5) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (6-2)

The Cardinals shocked the Cowboys on Monday Night Football getting their first win since week two of the season. Arizona snapped a 5 game losing streak as Jacoby Brissett is now the man behind center and he played well. Kyler Murray is headed to the injured list and Brissett will get the keys to the car. Sam Darnold has this Seattle Seahawks offense humming right now. Seattle slaughtered the Commanders on Sunday Night. Then I have to mention the Seahawks added another weapon for Darnold as the team added Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed who is a flat out burner. Brissett will continue to use all his weapons that Murray did not utilize this season. This game will be tight. I give the Seahawks the edge with their defense. Seattle will win it by one score in a game where both teams ended up with 20-something points.

OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS

DETROIT LIONS (5-3) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (3-6)

The Lions will eat well this weekend versus a Washington Commanders team without their starting quarterback Jayden Daniels. The Lions get revenge on the Commanders who knocked Detroit out of the playoffs last season. The Lions will rebound from being stunned by the Vikings last week. Marcus Mariota will get the start for Washington. The veteran quarterback is 1-2 filling in for Daniels this season and has thrown 4 interceptions. The Lions defense will maul Mariota and show them why they are the king of the NFC jungle. The Commanders are very bad on defense. This game could get ugly early as Jared Goff should be able to torch the DC secondary.

OUR PICK: LIONS

LA RAMS (6-2) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6-3)

The NFC West should be renamed the Wild West. The Rams and Seahawks are 6-2. The 49ers are 6-3. The Cardinals could turn their season around with veteran journeyman Jacoby Brissett as their quarterback. Brock Purdy is still not healthy enough to start for the 49ers. Mac Jones is 5-2 filling in as the QB for the 49ers. Matthew Stafford is the Shane of the wild west with his six shooters delivering kill shots at high noon every Sunday. This is another close game on the docket in week 10. It could go either way. The Rams defense is healthier than the 49ers. Stafford is the better quarterback than Jones. The Rams have a well-balanced offense that makes Stafford that much more dangerous. I like the Rams to win the shoot out in an epic wild west battle royale.

OUR PICK: RAMS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-3) AT LA CHARGERS (6-3)

The Steelers defense last week simplified their scheme and it worked well versus the Colts, a team they upset last weekend. Can the Chargers survive losing their best offensive lineman in Joe Alt?

This will be the first time Aaron Rodgers faces off against Justin Herbert. Herbert has had an awesome year and is a guy that can light up the Steel shower curtain because their defense before last week was not very good. Rodgers has been delivering the goods with the Steelers. This is another game that could go either way. This one will be a close game as well. Can the Chargers new offensive lineman, Trevor Penning who they got from New Orleans in a trade, stop the bleeding and give Herbert the time he needs to deliver? I think Rodgers can escape LA with that Steelers defense playing like they did last week and come away with a big road victory here. I think the Steelers defense will get to Herbert and exploit the injuries the Chargers have racked up all year.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (6-2) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-2-1)

Do you think the Packers were looking ahead to this game as they were shell shocked losing to the Panthers in Green Bay? The Eagles are well rested coming off their bye week. The Packers seem to play much better against top tier teams than middle tier teams. The Eagles have a nice shiny new defender they got from the Dolphins in linebacker Jaelan Phillips. The Eagles head coach calls Phillips disruptive. He is a guy that can get to the quarterback. This is a great match up to end week ten with these two teams. This is another game can that can go either way. I know the Eagles are defending champs. My gut feeling here is Jordan Love gets the job done and the Packers get the win. The Packers play better at home. It will be a close game the entire 4 quarters. LOVE HURTS!!!

OUR PICK: PACKERS

FEE FI FOE FUM THE BEARS HAVE A SNAKE IN THEIR GARDNER NAMED JOHNSON

October 31, 2025 / thewildshamrock / Leave a comment

The Chicago Bears are so desperate with their depleted secondary they just added a wolf to their sheep farm. The Bears just struck a deal with 27 year old safety CJ Gardner-Johnson who has had some run-in’s with Chicago receivers in the past. Last year Gardner-Johnson helped the Philadelphia Eagles win their second Superbowl in their franchise history giving the Kansas City Chiefs an old fashioned beat down. The Eagles traded Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans in the off-season where he played three games this season & then was released. The Texans head coach said CJ’s release, “was best for the team.”

This month CJ Gardner Johnson found another franchise interested in his services. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens on their practice squad. After a week it was called a mutual decision on his release. Now he will join one of his arch enemies while reuniting with his former coach Dennis Allen who was in New Orleans when he was there. Now Allen has the job of defensive coordinator for the Bears and is using his word to his employers that his guy CJ can get the job done and will not disrupt the team chemistry.

The Chicago Bears are 4-3 for the season. They won 4 straight games after starting 0-2 out of the gates. Last week Caleb Williams did not play well. The Bears defense kept their team in the game versus the Ravens against their 3rd quarterback of the season in veteran Tyler Huntley. The Bears new head coach Ben Johnson thinks Williams’ bad day was not all his fault as he was throwing the ball to the right spots in timing routes. That the receivers stopped their route short of the spot they were supposed to get to. With the Bears defense playing well and Williams showing improvement, maybe a guy like CJ Gardner-Johnson is what they need at this point to give this team a jolt. The Bears lost their best defensive back in Jaylon Johnson who has been sidelined for weeks and had surgery on his core muscle. Tyrique Stevenson is banged up with a shoulder issue and missed Sunday’s game versus Baltimore but is expected back this week. While Kyler Gordon will miss at least 3 more games as he is on the injured reserve. Gardner-Johnson was originally drafted by the Saints in the 4th round of the 2019 NFL draft. He can play safety and can cover the slot receivers which he did for Dennis Allen and the Saints. Last season for the Eagles he had 6 interceptions and returned one for a touchdown. He played in 16 games last year after only playing in 3 regular season games for the Lions in 2023. In seven seasons where he had two stints with the Eagles, Saints that drafted him, and the Lions and Texans. The Bears will be his 5th team already. He has 18 career interceptions of which he had 6 picks in two different seasons and both were with Philadelphia.

CJ Johnson-Gardner is a trash talker along with an instigator as the Bears in the past found out the hard way. In 2020 the Bears wide receiver Javon Wims punched CJ twice in the helmet. Wims said CJ took his mouth piece and spat on him. CJ at the time denied spitting on Wims. Javon would get suspended 2 games by the league for hitting CJ in the helmet. Then in 2021 the Bears met the Saints in the playoffs. The Bears had it in the game plan not to fall for any of CJ’s antics. Another Bears wide receiver may have not gotten the memo, Anthony Miller shoved CJ, and was ejected from the game.

Miller fell right into CJ’s antics and it was game over for the Bears receiver.

Remember when the Chicago Bulls traded for Dennis Rodman who was a Hall of Fame defender and his antics got in the heads of other players? Ask Karl Malone who could not shake Rodman’s antics in the championship series versus the Bulls. CJ Gardner-Johnson is not the missing piece for a Bears championship. Everyone hated Rodman when he played all those years with the bad boys, the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons were a thorn in the Bulls’ sides for years before Chicago slay their demons. The White Sox signed AJ Pierzynski, a key player that helped them win that 2005 World Series title for Chicago. Pierzynski all those years with the Twins he was hated by the White Sox fans. You hope Gardner-Johnson falls in with the Pierzynski and Rodman type guys you hated. Then loved when they are wearing your uniform and representing your city.

I’m not a fan of trash talking corner backs like CJ Gardner-Johnson. The Bengals teams that went deep in post-season seem to have multiple defensive backs that talked trash all game long. Gardner-Johnson has 2 career unsportsman-like conducts called on him. He has racked up six unnecessary roughness penalties in his career. Imagine all the stuff that he’s gotten away with. He certainly provoked those former Bears receivers to hit him in the heat of the moment. The Bears will need to win games to keep this clown happy and not become a cancer in the locker room. These types of guys can turn into a virus that spreads throughout the entire team. The ties he has with Dennis Allen will be important. I like that he can play multiple positions in the secondary. He certainly can help other Bears defensive backs get better by watching his coverage on offensive players. He can spark your team with a big time defensive play at a key point of the game. I think everything needs to be going well because he could also be the added fuel on the fire to send the Bears team into combustion mode. We’ve seen it before with the Jay Cutler’s of the world that wore Bears uniforms. Like an invasion of roaches, it takes awhile to get them all terminated from the locker room. The Bears are playing the Bengals this Sunday. We will see if Gardner-Johnson can contain their stud receivers like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The Bears already have the goofy Tyrique Stevenson in their secondary, a guy that did not cover Jayden Daniels’ Hail Mary pass last year because he was too busy taunting the crowd. Too many of these guys will set the fuse that burns the rest of your season away. The Bears are reaching here. It may work, but keep the fire extinguisher handy just in case.

2025 NFL PREDICTIONS: LUCKY WEEK 7 DONE THE WILD SHAMROCK WAY

October 19, 2025 / thewildshamrock / Leave a comment

WEEK 7 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

LAST WEEK’S RECORD (8-7)

It was the bigger games last week that screwed me. I went 49ers over the Buccaneers. Then the Lions failed me on Sunday night versus the Chiefs. Both Monday night games ended my week on a down note. My upset picking Saints over New England looked poorly executed. I did get Panthers right at home over America’s team. Who had Giants over Eagles? This season has been baffling when it comes to some of the outcomes. We will get back on the horse and throw darts at week seven picks.

OVERALL RECORD: (60-33)

MONDAY NIGHT RECORD OVERALL: (5-4)

THURSDAY NIGHT RECORD OVERALL: (4-2)

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS RECORD: (0-2)

WEEK 7

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-1) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-4)

The Thursday night game is being coined the Icy Hot bowl because of two over the hill quarterbacks. The Bengals landed Joe Flacco from the Browns less than two weeks ago, who is 40 years of age. Then the other old guy, Aaron Rodgers at 41 years of age, is off to a great start with the Steelers in his first season in Pittsburgh. Rodgers is 3-0 versus Flacco over his career. All three wins for Rodgers came in a Packers uniform. Flacco lost to Rodgers twice with the Ravens and once with the Broncos. Rodgers will have the Steelers offense humming against a bad Bengals defense who will be without their best defender Trey Hendrickson is the team’s best pass rusher. Eventually Flacco will get the Bengals offense rolling because he has two of the best receivers in the league to throw to. They will make him look better. All he has to do is get it to them. The Steelers defense likes to tally up the takeaways and I think they will get some versus Flacco, a guy still learning the Bengals offense being this is his second start with the team. Now he’s playing on a short week.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

SUNDAY MORNING (LONDON)

LA RAMS (4-2) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-2)

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ home away from home is London, England. The Rams will not have Puka Nacua in their aerial attack as he’s out with an ankle sprain. The Rams still have another option for Matthew Staffords’ arsenal. That is Tutu Atwll who should pick up the slack of the Rams offense. The Jaguars lost to Seattle last week where their offense went dormant. Will the Jaguars try to force things into their rookie play maker Travis Hunter who plays both ways on the field? Jaguars upset the Chiefs on a Monday night game & then Trevor Lawrence gets sacked 7 times. The Rams are tied for 4th in the league in sacks. The Rams offense will be fine. My worry is the Jaguars will struggle on offense and make mistakes that will cost them in their own country.

OUR PICK: RAMS

THE SUNDAY TILT

CAROLINA PANTHERS (3-3) AT NEW YORK JETS (0-6)

When facing a team with no wins, like the Jets, it could feel like you’re going up against a caged animal with nothing to lose. The Panthers collected their three wins at home and are 0-3 on the road this season. The Jets are flying home from London where they played last week as they lost a close one to the Broncos. However Justin Fields was sacked 9 times by the Broncos. The good news for the Jets is the Panthers do not have that kind of pass rush the Broncos have. The Panthers are not very good at pressuring the quarterback.

The Panthers have been riding their back-up running back the last two games, Rico Dowdle who played very suave-like. He has set a Panthers record in a two game span piling up 473 scrimmage yards. The former Cowboy roasted his former squad Dallas last week. The Panthers starting running back Chuba Hubbard is expected back. I see the Panthers riding the Dowdle train a little bit longer. Fields will not have his top receiver to throw to in Garrett Wilson. The Panthers are 3-0 playing teams with losing records this season. I like that trend to continue here.

OUR PICK: PANTHERS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4-2) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (1-5)

The Titans fired their head coach this week as Brian Callahan did not last very long in Tennessee. Now to rub some more salt into the Titans’ current situation is the arrival of the former Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel who was fired after the 2023 season concluded. The interim for the Titans is a guy named Mike McCoy. The Titans have 14 players still on that roster that played for Vrabel. Usually a team gets a spark with a different voice as they play loose, free, and dummy down the play book. The Patriots come into this one red hot looking to win their 3rd straight road game. The Titans are a complete disaster. The win they did get was gift wrapped by Arizona. Vrabel has the Patriots playing solid on both sides of the ball. He will leave town with a grin on his face getting back at the former franchise he coached at.

OUR PICK: PATRIOTS

MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-5) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-5)

One of these teams will get their second win of the year. This is a game between two bottom feeders of the NFL. For the Dolphins, the choke collar on their head coach has to be squeezing Mike McDaniel wind pipes as more losses pile up.

The Titans pulled the plug on their head coach. Will the Dolphins follow their path? The Browns offense has struggled so far with the insert of their rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel behind center. The perfect recipe to jump start your offense and a rookie QB is the Dolphins defense. The Browns defense can put a damper on most offenses in the league. and I think they will be able to dissect the fish like an 8th grade science experiment. Dawgs squish the fish in he DAWG Pound.

OUR PICK: BROWNS

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-4) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (3-3)

We wanted the Chiefs to be done for the season after starting out of the gates 0-2. Since then the Chiefs have gone 3-1 and gave the Lions a beat down on Sunday night football. Meanwhile the Raiders found the victory column for only the second time this season beating up on a bad Titan team. The Chiefs will have one of Patrick Mahomes’ weapons back on the field as they welcome back Rashee Rice. Mahomes and company now do not have to rely on the meathead, Travis Swift.

The Raiders are not doing anything well in their first six games. Geno Smith has resorted back to his Jets ways where his career started in New York wearing the silver and black. The Chiefs are hard to beat at Arrow Head stadium. Mahomes is playing well. The referees are back on the Chiefs payroll as they had no penalties on Sunday night versus Detroit. Poor Pete Carroll may be regretting coming back to the NFL as a head coach.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-5) AT CHICAGO BEARS (3-2)

Can the Chicago Bears win 4 straight games after starting the season 0-2? The Saints have hung around in almost every game they played this season. The Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler is starting to get it. Rattler has played well. Can he keep up with the way Caleb Williams has been playing?

Williams pissed off an ESPN announcer last week in the win over the Commanders. Troy Aikman maybe did not like his painted finger nails. DRAMA!! Teams have scored multiple passing touchdowns on the Saints defense this entire season. Teams can run on the Saints defense as well. The Bears offense is starting to mix in the run into their offense as D’Andre Swift had a big game running the ball in the win versus Washington. The Saints will make this a game. The Bears defense can make stops and are good at forcing turnovers. This is a tough road game for New Orleans to pull off. When was the last time the Bears have won 4 games? Pinch me I may be dreaming.

OUR PICK: BEARS

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-2) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-2)

The Superbowl champs have suddenly lost two straight games. The Vikings are rested coming off their bye week looking to right their ship with the Eagles flying in. The Vikings will have their rookie quarterback back from the injured list, but he will not be starting in this one. Carson Wentz will face the team that drafted him. The Eagles offense has struggled in the last few games. Jalen Hurts has been holding on to the ball way too long. With a team that loves to blitz like the Vikings, look for the Eagles to hit on some short passes to get their star running back, Saquon Barkley, involved early and often in this one. I just can not see the Eagles losing three straight games. Wentz will make a few mistakes where Philadelphia defense will be all over it.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (5-1) AT LA CHARGERS (4-2)

The head coach of the Chargers, Jim Harbaugh, will be facing one of the teams he played for this Sunday, the Colts. When Harbaugh played for the Colts, he earned the nickname Captain Comeback for all his epic games where he led his team to a victory being down on the score board late in games. The Colts right now are the cream of the crop of the AFC. Jonathan Taylor is the number 1 running back in the NFL. Danny Dimes Jones has been reborn wearing the horseshoes on his helmet. Chargers have been riddled with injuries at the running back position. Justin Herbert has had another solid year behind center. The Colts have played an easier schedule most of this season. I like the Chargers defense to contain this Colts offense just enough for LA to generate the points needed to knock Jones and company off their horse and bring back down to earth. It will be a close game. The home team wins it for Captain Comeback.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

NEW YORK GIANTS (2-4) AT DENVER BRONCOS (4-2)

Looks like the New York Giants have found the next Peyton Hillis of the NFL. The Great White Hope at the running back position for the Giants found themselves a beast name, Cameron Skattebo.

Skattebo already has tallied 5 touchdowns for the Giants. Just hope he does not land on the John Madden cover like Hillis who disappeared after landing on the video game. The Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart has given this franchise life once again. The two rookies face an incredible challenge going up against the defense of the Denver Broncos. The Broncos have been like a saw mill on rookie quarterbacks. Last week they sacked Jets veteran quarterback Justin Fields 9 times. Both these teams beat up on the Eagles in the last two weeks. I like the Broncos offense to get back on track versus the Giants defense. That is the match up that wins this game for Denver. No rookie love in this one for the G-Men reborn.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (3-3) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (2-4)

This game has shoot out written all over it. Dak Prescott and that Cowboys offense is one of the best in the league. The Commanders have some injuries they are dealing with. Scary Terry McLaurin is out. The Commanders gave the Bears a victory on Monday night, a Jayden McDaniels fumble cost them. The Cowboys found out the hard way the Panthers are very tough to handle at their place. The Commanders won all the close games last year. This year they are not getting those W’s. The Commanders will still be able to produce points off the terrible Dallas defense. The Commanders defense is nothing to write mom about back home. The Commanders D will do just enough to secure this game for Washington.

OUR PICK: COMMANDERS

GREEN BAY PACKERS (3-1-1) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-4)

The Packers are 3-0 in Green Bay. On the road it’s like the tale of two cities, they are 0-1-1. Arizona has their own problems. At home they are 0-3 for the season. On the road they are 2-1. The Cardinals have lost 4 straight games after starting out of the gates 2-0. Who is the starting QB this week for Arizona? Back up Jacoby Brissett played well last week filling in for the injured Kyler Murray in a close game versus the Colts. I think the Packers will get a solid game out of their defense with either QB they face. I’m not scared of the Cardinals running game without their number one back, James Connor. Jordan Love should be able to generate a good enough amount of points versus a Cardinal defense that has a rookie corner back in Will Johnson. Johnson has played well but dealing with Love stinks. The Packers have not been well balanced on offense in every game this season. Look for the running game to explode in this one as Josh Jacobs has big game.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

ATLANTA FALCONS (3-2) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-2)

The Falcons defense is worth talking about as they are allowing the league’s lowest in yards per game. Teams are only averaging 253.4 yards per game. The 49ers will be without Brock Purdy once again. Mac Jones has done very well filling in. The 49ers have been once again like last year with the Santa Clause list on the injury report. The Falcons took down the Bills last week on Monday night making last year’s MVP Josh Allen look like an average QB in the NFL. The 49ers found out what Baker Mayfield does best at the end of games as they lost to the Buccaneers. Is Atlanta a different team outside than inside the dome? The Falcons defense coordinator, Jeff Ulbrich, has ties to current 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. Both were a part of that Jets team where Aaron Rodgers’ mood swings took down the entire team. Then 49ers Kyle Shanahan worked with Ulbrich on the same staff in Atlanta. That 2016 team that lost in the Superbowl by Tom Brady’s Patriots impressive comeback. No Fred Warner on the 49ers defense looking for guys like Drake London and Bijan Robinson to have their way with San Francisco’s defense. Jones is due for a rude awakening at some point. Falcons make a statement in this one.

OUR PICK: FALCONS

TWO MONDAY NIGHT GAMES

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (5-1) AT DETROIT LIONS (4-2)

Are we looking at an early NFC Championship here where two of the top teams in the conference crash on Monday night? Baker Mayfield has been playing without his top weapons. Mike Evans could return. The Lions were embarrassed in week 1 by the Packers. Then won 4 straight finding their mojo like the Lions of the old. Last week versus the Chiefs in KC, they hit a speed bump. The Buccaneers continue to win wild ones as Mayfield does at the end of games by closing out the other team with an impressive drive on offense.

The Lions will be without one defensive back versus the Buccaneers Brian Branch, who bitch slapped Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster after the game concluded last Sunday night. The league suspended him. I don’t see defense really being a factor in this game. The Lions have scored 30 or over points in 5 straight home games dating back to last year. Lions are mad. The Mayfield magic at the end will run out in this one. This one will be settled by the team having the ball in the last minute. My gut tells me it’s the Lions.

OUR PICK: LIONS

HOUSTON TEXANS (2-3) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4-2)

The Texans have won two straight games and are coming off their bye week to even their record at 3-3 for the season. The Seahawks dominated the Jaguars. They sacked Trevor Lawrence 7 times in that game. Sam Darnold is living up to the contract he signed with the Seahawks during the off-season. He will be challenged by a Texans defense who have been solid all season. The Texans run defense has been brilliant. Look for Seattle to get it done going air born. The biggest weakness in this match up is the Texans offensive line. Seattle has a strong push up the belly of the field which should cave in those Texans big guys in the trenches. CJ Stroud will be on the run most of the game. That’s where Seattle will take advantage of his mistakes and put the Texans on ice.

OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS

JONATHAN GANNON HAS SOME OF THAT MIKE DITKA RAGE INSIDE HIM

October 8, 2025 / thewildshamrock / Leave a comment

It’s about time a head coach goes postal on one of their own players for being football stupid. On Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals could have broken the game open versus a bad Tennessee Titans team. Third year running back Emari Demercado for the Cardinals in the 4th quarter broke through the defense and was on his way for a 76 yard touchdown run. Instead of crossing the goal line with the ball in his hands being chased by a Titan defender, he just drops the ball on purpose before he actually hits pay dirt. The referees ruled the play a fumble, turnover of downs, and a touch back. The Cardinals would have had a 21 point lead in the 4th quarter. Demercado, a 26 year running back out of TCU, thought he crossed the line with the touchdown. At the time it was more important to him to show boat and look cool for the cameras. The Titans would end up winning this game. After the play, Jonathan Gannon, head coach of the Cardinals, went ballistic on his running back. They say he even got physical with his running back. Gannon should not strike any of his players. Giving the running back a verbal conversation needs to happen because this stuff keeps happening in the NFL.

Last year wide receiver Adonai Mitchell for the Indianapolis Colts, did the same thing as Emari Demercado. It was the Colts versus the Rams and Mitchell nonchalantly dropped the ball before the goal line thinking more of the celebration than the team. These players looked at themselves on the jumbotron in the middle of the play to see their glory on the gridiron first hand. In the NFL, every time a player gets a first down every player has to get up and mock the referee with the signal that so and so got his team the first down. Every time a defender gets a turnover, why does the entire defensive unit have to celebrate by the cameras in the end zone? In the 1990’s the Dallas Cowboys were blowing out the Buffalo Bills in the Superbowl. The Cowboys defender, Leon Lett, recovered a fumble and was rumbling and tumbling down the side line looking like an easy touchdown. He was celebrating the score before he got across the goal line. The Bills wide receiver Don Beebe chased the almost 300 pound defender down knocking the ball out of hand before he got it across the goal line. Lett was holding the ball out like a loaf of bread.

That game was out of hand as the Cowboys were destroying the Bills. Lett would get the Superbowl ring, but that one play has plenty of humiliation attached to his career. No one will recall how many sacks Lett had or how many championships the man won. They will recall the idiot celebrating way too early and getting the ball knocked out of his hand.

The Arizona Cardinals started the season out of the gates with a 2-0 record. Now they have lost the last three games by a total of 5 points. The Cardinals make history with all three straight losses coming off a walk off field goal. The Cardinals lost their first game to the 49ers in week 3 by a kick at the end of regulation. Then in week 4, Seattle beat Arizona with a walk off field goal. Joey Slye did the same thing last Sunday to help the Titans win 22-21. The Cardinals shot themselves in both feet versus the Titans after the fumble by Emari Demercado. With 4:55 left in the 4th quarter, the Cardinals defender Dadrion Taylor-Demerson intercepted a tip ball thrown by Titans QB Cam Ward. The interception could have sealed this game for Arizona. When Taylor-Demerson came crashing to the ground with the intercept, he fumbled the ball. The ball bounced around until Titans receiver Tyler Lockett secured the ball in his hands in the end zone for another Titans score. It all started with the showboating by Emari. Eventually Slye would get the chance to walk off the Cards after the Titans defense forced Arizona to punt and got the ball back. The Titans then drove down the field and set up Slye for the kick. He made it the third straight walk off kick in a row to end Arizona’s week with a loss.

Growing up watching the Bears in the 1980’s, Da Coach Mike Ditka would not deal with shenanigans like Emari Demercado trying to be too cool for school. When Ditka coached the best running back on the planet, Walter Payton would hand the ball to the referee after each time he scored a touchdown. Act like you have been there before was Sweetness’ philosophy. Do you remember when Ditka unleashed his bark on his quarterback Jim Harbaugh? The same Harbaugh that coaches the Chargers. Harbaugh may not be showing his rage on the side lines, but I bet money he would not take this kind of non sense from his third string running back. Head coaches like Ditka would have cut his Cardinal sin the next day. The NFL owners pay big money for their head coaches and they want results. If the Cardinals miss the playoffs by one game, this is the one that will be pointed to. Losing to a bad Tennessee team with a rookie QB who has not been good is unacceptable. When you give the bad team the game, your locker should be cleared out. Especially for Tom Foolery. When playmakers do these things, it can cost a guy like Jonathan Gannon his livelihood being his first head coaching gig.

Jonathan Gannon did apologize to his running back. He realized his team lost the game because of more than one play. That fumble play by Emari took the sails out of the Cardinals flight in that game. How quickly the Titans turned things around like that. You would think Emari will learn from his bone-headed blunder in the future. Will the Gannon rage scare other players presently or in the future? Not wanting to win for the name on front of the jersey rather than win for his own name on back of the jersey. Nobody knew who Emari was before his blunder on Sunday. If he did not fumble, they would have said that a 3rd string running back that scored a touchdown in garbage time. This sounds better than your head coach going nuclear on you before a live studio audience.

NFL LEAGUE PREDICTIONS 2025

September 4, 2025 / thewildshamrock / Leave a comment

Here we go again! Another NFL season is upon us. Almost every franchise is feeling pretty good about their team with a 0-0 record. We could be optimistic or you know that your team or even my team will be horrific. I know we will see some new blood in the post-season which happens every season. It seems like the best teams that have separated themselves from the pack are the usual suspects in the NFL post-season.

I still have the Chiefs winning the AFC West. Can anybody in the AFC knock out the Chiefs? That is the biggest question. We saw them get a beat down by the Eagles last year which was epic. Not sure I really want to see the Eagles fly back to the Superbowl this season. I’d like to see new blood. I’d like to see the fighting Swifties of Kansas City get their medicine quickly and be dispatched early into the post-season. We have new coaches for some teams. I see some improvement there. Not drastic. My early guess is the Saints will be the worst team this year in the NFL. Could it be their year to do badly and next draft the Saints could be taking another Manning named Archie? My predictions are not going to be perfect. They may be a house of cards. I have predicted every team’s record and which teams will make the post-season. I posted a single comment for each team during the regular season as well. Then I have a Superbowl prediction at the end of it all.

AFC CONFERENCE

The AFC will be a grindhouse this season with many solid teams. I know it is the tougher conference.

AFC EAST

#1.BUFFALO BILLS (13-4) Bills defense will play on a higher level all season including playoffs.

#2. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (8-9) Mike Vrabel starts the resurrection of the Evil Empire in football.

#3.MIAMI DOLPHINS (7-10) Mike McDaniel is fired before the season ends.

#4. NEW YORK JETS (5-12) Justin Fields goes back to the Bad News Bears ways.

AFC NORTH

#1. BALTIMORE RAVENS (12-5) Lamar Jackson will get closer than last season to the Superbowl.

#2.CINCINNATI BENGALS (10-7) Bengals defense becomes a dumpster fire during the post-season.

#3. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8-9) Aaron Rodgers clinches Mike Tomlin’s first ever losing season.

#4.CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-13) Which QB are the Browns going to draft in 2026?

AFC SOUTH

#1. HOUSTON TEXANS (9-8) That offensive line could be “danger danger Will Robinson” to their young QB.

#2.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-9) Anthony Richardson along with Daniel Jones are busts at the QB position.

#3. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (7-10) Are Jacksonville fans still sold on Trevor Lawrence?

#4. TENNESSEE TITANS (3-14) Rookie QB hiccups will occur!!

AFC WEST

#1. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (11-6) Travis Kelce takes Taylor Swift’s last name. Travis Swift takes the field.

#2. DENVER BRONCOS (10-7) Bo Knows Nix!!!

#3. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (9-8) Pete Carol’s masterpiece is brewing.

#4. LA CHARGERS (7-10) Year 2 Jim Harbaugh and his Chargers will be doomed by the tougher schedule.

AFC PLAYOFF SEEDS: #1. BUFFALO, #2. BALTIMORE, #3. KANSAS CITY, #4. HOUSTON TEXANS

AFC WILD CARDS: #5. CINCINNATI, #6. DENVER, #7. LAS VEGAS

NFC CONFERENCE

NFC EAST

#1.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (11-6) The Eagles will still win their division in hard fought contests every week. They will get knocked out early in post-season.

#2.WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (10-7) No surprises from the Commanders this season. Hail Marys will be defended well.

#3.DALLAS COWBOYS (9-8) The Cowboys defense will improve despite trading their best rusher.

#4. NEW YORK GIANTS (4-13) Throw a dart at the QB board and miss. Russell Wilson walks away from the game.

NFC NORTH

#1.DETROIT LIONS (12-5) How will Dan Campbell’s two new coordinators fair? Business as usual.

#2.GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-6) The youngest team in the league is getting better each season.

#3.CHICAGO BEARS (8-9) Is Ben Johnson the QB whisperer??

#4. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-10) No inserting a rookie QB like a light bulb and winning double digit games this season.

NFC SOUTH

#1. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-8) Baker Mayfield is the only QB in the NFC South.

#2. ATLANTA FALCONS (7-10) Growing pains for Michael Pennix.

#3. CAROLINA PANTHERS (6-11) Bryce Young will continue to get better. Not by wins though.

#4. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-15) Worst QB room in the league with a rookie head coach. No Way Jose!!

NFC WEST

#1. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (12-5) Don’t sleep on the 49ers. The talent is still there.

#2. LA RAMS (11-6) The Rams aerial attack may be compared to the Kurt Warner attack back in St. Louis when they were the greatest show on turf.

#3. ARIZONA CARDINALS (9-8) Kyler Murray really is not the answer for this franchise.

#4. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (7-10) Sam Darnold regresses for Seattle’s offense.

NFC PLAYOFF SEEDS: #1. SAN FRANCISCO, #2. DETROIT, #3. PHILADELPHIA, #4. TAMPA BAY

NFC WILD CARDS: #5. LA RAMS, #6. GREEN BAY, #7.WASHINGTON

THE SUPERBOWL

This Superbowl will finally have new blood. No Chiefs/Eagles rematch on this blog.

The Buffalo Bills finally break out of the AFC grindhouse and make it to the big game. Then in the NFC where anything can happen, Baker Mayfield gets hot at the right time and gets the Buccaneers back into the Superbowl.

The Buccaneers will lose their first ever Superbowl while the Bills finally win their first ever to slay the 1990’s dragons when they lost 4 big games in a row. I like Josh Allen doing what he does putting up the big offensive numbers like the Bills offense will still do. I said the Bills defense will finally play a big part in getting this team over the playoff hump as it carries over in the big game.

RICHARDSON BRINGS BACK THE NIGHTMARE OF JEFF GEORGE FOR THE COLTS

August 23, 2025 / thewildshamrock / Leave a comment

Is it too early to determine that Anthony Richardson may be a first round bust for the Indianapolis Colts? Can you pull the plug on a guy after two seasons who’s only played in 15 games and is only 23 years of age?

Richardson was drafted in the first round by the Colts 4th overall in the 2023 NFL draft from the University of Florida. How many chances to give a number one pick, especially the guys that play quarterback I’m thinking have nine lives in the NFL like Morris the cat? If Richardson was a fish and the field was his tank of water, he has been in and out multiple times for injuries or his poor play making him gasp for air and flop around. Suddenly Colts fans are having nightmares of one of their greatest quarterback busts in their history, Jeff George.

Jeff George was supposed to be the “real deal can’t miss” quarterback of the draft. The Colts selected George number 1 overall in the 1990 NFL draft out of University of Illinois. I watched him play for the Fighting Illini, and he had a cannon for an arm. George was born and raised in the state of Indiana so it seems like it was meant to be with the Colts hitting a home run on this pick. George would last 4 years in Indianapolis out of his 12 year career that featured stops in Atlanta, Oakland, Minnesota, and Washington. In 52 games over a 4 year span, George’s record as a starting QB for the Colts was 14-35 as he made 49 starts wearing the horseshoe on his helmet. George was simply a bad dude, not in a good way. He demanded to be traded. He would have arguments with coaches on the field wherever he played it seemed. He was not a good teammate on and off the field. A cancer in the locker room is putting it simply. He even made gestures in bad taste to fans in the stands. In 12 seasons he only had three winning seasons as a starter. He played in 131 NFL games in his career and as a starter he had a 46-78 record well below .500. He completed 57.9% of his passes and threw for 27,602 passing yards. He did throw 154 touchdown passes, but he a was gunslinger and threw 113 interceptions. This is a guy that had all the talent in the world but was too pig-headed to use these traits for good not evil purposes like the money and fame.

In two seasons, Anthony Richardson is strutting down Jeff George lane, but he is not the asshole the former University of Illinois quarterback was. Richardson only played in 24 college games. Basically he became the starter his last season on the college gridiron. Every team knew he was going to be a project that they had to mold into a true NFL quarterback. His athleticism is top notch. I’m not sure why the Colts even played him in the very first season he was drafted. You could make a case for him sitting on the sideline for one full season which could help his development. Patrick Mahomes sat most of his first season as he got action in a meaningless game at the end of the season for the Chiefs, who had their playoff position that year settled. Last season, Richardson completed only 47.7% of his passes. He tallied 1,814 passing yards in 11 games. He threw 8 touchdown passes to 12 interceptions. Surprisingly he went 6-5 as the starter for the Colts last year. In two seasons he has an 8-7 record as a starter. He has completed once again only 50.6% of his passes which is very bad. He has tallied up 2,291 passing yards. He has 11 touchdown strikes to 13 interceptions.

This season the Colts are going with another bad quarterback as their opening day starter – Former Giants QB Daniel Jones. Jones has one winning season under his belt in six seasons. Jones is a former first round pick by the Giants in the 2019 NFL draft as he was selected 6th overall. His starting record as a QB is horrific as his record is 24-44. His completion rating is much better than Anthony Richardson’s over his career at 64.1%. Jones has thrown 70 touchdown passes compared to 47 interceptions. This looks like an upgrade on paper. Jones will be looking to prove something after being dumped by the Giants. He is a better option giving the Colts a balanced offense. He can utilize all the talented receivers the Colts have as well. At which Richardson had problems. The Colts have a star running back in Jonathan Taylor. With Richardson, the opposing defenses can key on Taylor and Taylor only. Last year the Colts offense thrived with Joe Flacco behind center.

Will the Colts consider trading Anthony Richardson? Being athletic is not always the recipe at being a true quarterback in the NFL. You know in this league some coach is licking their chops to coach Richardson and mold him into a QB. Richardson has been in and out of the water so much he may be scarred right now being a back up in Indianapolis. He may need new scenery to develop. He may be a bust right now but a guy that is a late bloomer down the road like Sam Darnold. I believe he will have more chances like 9 lives, a number one pick gets compared to a 7th rounder. Present day in the NFL they expect these quarterbacks to establish themselves right away thrown to the wolves. Some can swim right away, but most cannot as teams move on quickly. I’m not feeling sorry for the Colts as they had legends behind center like Peyton Manning, who won them a Superbowl. They had Andrew Luck who was a solid QB for years for the Colts. Right now Richardson is on Jeff George Boulevard in his Colts career. Not with the bad attitude. George was able to at least complete passes down the middle of the field where Richardson will run more. He will get hit more in the open field. He will take on more injuries and eventually most running QB’s that can’t throw the ball with accuracy have a short shelf life in the NFL.

HENRY RUGGS III WANTS TO RIDE AGAIN IN THE NFL

June 19, 2025 / thewildshamrock / Leave a comment

In 2020, Henry Ruggs III was drafted 12th overall in the first round of the NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders. He was the first ever pick by the Las Vegas Raiders in their first season in Sin Town after leaving Oakland. He was a talented wide receiver coming out of a big college football program at the University of Alabama. He would now be making millions and more millions of dollars living out his dream playing the game he loved his entire life. Being in Las Vegas could be naturally a distraction with loose women, fast cars, drugs and alcohol along with gambling which could be the whammy of hexes. No young man should ride that line as the ending is always no good. Young people are stupid and we have all been there ourselves. In his second year in the NFL, it was the fast car with the girl in the passenger seat going at an unbelievable high speed which ended killing a woman named Tina Tintor and her dog. Ruggs and his girlfriend at the time would survive that horrific night on November 2nd, 2021. Ruggs would end up going to jail as he was sentenced to 3-10 years charged with a felony DUI and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. In 2026, he will have his first parole meeting and he says he wants to still play football in the NFL and once again for the Raiders.

As a rookie, Henry Ruggs III’s first year in the NFL was decent. He played in 13 games, he was targeted 43 times, and caught 26 balls. He had racked up 452 receiving yards with two touchdowns. In his second year in the NFL, Ruggs played in 7 games before he got his Corvette up to a speed close to 160 MPH on a Las Vegas highway. In 7 games he was targeted in year two, 36 times. He caught 24 balls. In year two he already had the same amount of catches, yards, and touchdowns he did his rookie season. He racked up 452 receiving yards with another two touchdown catches. In 20 NFL games, Ruggs III had 50 catches for 921 receiving yards and hauled in 4 touchdown catches. By his numbers alone, he was starting to adapt and understand the NFL game while playing at a higher level. The NFL now plays 17 games per season so Ruggs III was on his way in year two to murder his rookie season numbers. If he played 9 more games, the standard 16 at the time, he should have had over 1,000 receiving yards and close to 100 catches and lets say 6 to 7 touchdowns. Now he’s starting to sound like a number 1 guy on a NFL team. If Ruggs III made the right decisions and not have drove his car while intoxicated with his girlfriend in the passenger seat. Who he had a kid with. He would have certainly made millions more dollars after playing out his rookie contract. Obviously if he stayed healthy on the field.

Henry Ruggs III spoke publicly for the first time about the tragic accident he caused to kill Tina Tintor and her dog on that night speeding to get to another party. It was at the Hope for Prisoners group held in Las Vegas where he spoke and wished he could go back to make things right. He would need a time machine to go back in time to save the girl he killed, who was 23 years of age. He is saying all the right things and apologized to the Tintor family. Not just for killing their daughter but bringing up the memories of the horrific accident when his face appears in the papers or his story goes on social media. He never addressed the family of the girl he killed face to face. He says he would like to apologize to them face to face to show them the real Henry Ruggs III. He admitted he was trying to escape the pressure of being a first round pick on a NFL team with stunts like living in the fast lane. He would like to play football again and even stay in Vegas where he is being incarcerated and play for the Raiders. He has had time to reflect about the situation and improve his mind set spiritually talking about it while praying and finding the Lord is my guess.

How do you get so intoxicated at a Top Golf place earlier in the evening, where Henry Ruggs III and his girlfriend were at before racing over to their next place? His alcohol limit was off the charts after he plowed into Tintor’s car. His girlfriend, Je’nai Kilgo Washington, needed arm surgery after the crash. Ruggs III was sentenced in May of 2023 as he took a plea agreement over the reckless driving charge. He also had a loaded hand gun and being intoxicated while possessing a gun is another law he broke. He has transferred to a transitional housing unit as his life seems to being closer to getting back to normal. His parole date is August 6th of 2026 and if he gets out, he will only be 27 years old. If he makes it back into professional football, his name would be in the headlines for the Tintor family to read about. Do you trust guys like Henry Ruggs III to have a second chance in life for being so stupid? This story will not stop future young men in their 20’s from driving like assholes. The more money they’ve got, the faster the car. We see it every day if you take a drive on a highway. People driving whatever car beyond it’s speed with no turn signals and cutting people off. No wonder we have road rage in life. Guys will say whatever they think the other person wants to hear to get what they want. Will the Tintor family be there to try to close the door on Ruggs III for longer time served? I know after Top Golf, he was not driving that fast wanting to kill somebody that night. Accidents can happen & that’s why they are accidents. I hope the Tintor family does have a say in the matter because losing somebody at 23 years of age in something like that is heartbreak for the rest of their life. If Ruggs III gets out and makes it back to the NFL, how is he going to escape the pressure the next time with the ghost of Tina and her dog on his shoulder when he’s on the field? Being only 27 years old does not mean you have all the answers. Serving time could improve a man’s mindset but for how long? What team will take a chance on a guy with this heavy load on his shoulders bringing this to your team’s locker room? I know lots of things have to happen before we do see Ruggs III back on the NFL gridiron. With that type of money, these guys in professional sports could afford the best car services to take these guys out to paint the town red. Not sure why they don’t use them because this guy may have been a number one receiver right now for somebody getting the bigger money. It’s the Tintor family we have to back, regarding their decision on anything to do with Ruggs III getting out early.

SEASON 2 UFL: UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE POWER RANKINGS WEEK 6

May 3, 2025 / thewildshamrock / Leave a comment

We are through with half of the second UFL season and I bet we are all confused. Is it a bird, a plane, a stallion, Renegade? I really don’t thing we have that super Stallions team right now. The best team in the league in the first half are the Defenders. The Stallions are falling. The BattleHawks are soaring again. The Showboats season has not sunk yet. The power rankings once again are a mess. We have another team on top of the power rankings making their second appearance as king of the mountain. We have a new bottom dweller. Are the Roughnecks making a run? We will try to sort it out as we kickoff the second half of the UFL with week six power rankings coming at you in plane bird style, that is not super. Enjoy the bottom dwellers to the top in our newest power rankings segment.

#8. SAN ANTONIO BRAHMAS (1-4)

XFL CONFERENCE: It did not take long for the Brahmas to fall back to the bottom of the UFL power rankings. The Brahmas are back in their comfort zone and fell two spots from last week.

ANOTHER ALAMO SLAUGHTER

Another slaughtering at the Alamo has occurred. This time it was the hometown Brahmas being trampled on by the Roughnecks at the Alamo dome. How do you beat the best team in the league one week and follow that up with a clunker to one of the worst teams in the UFL, Houston? They should load up the entire herd of Brahmas and send them packing to the slaughterhouse for mustering a total of 189 yards of offense that equaled to 3 points. The Roughnecks put a beat down on the Brahmas, 27-3, in an embarrassment in front of the San Antonio faithful bringing back old memories of the bad Gunslingers teams the city witnessed in the original USFL.

The Brahmas played their best game in week 4 defeating the undefeated Defenders and doing it through all three phases of their football team. Last week then they averaged 2.8 yards per play. Made it to the red zone twice the entire game. The defense was terrible. The quarterback play was horrific. The Brahmas still trot out Kellen Mond behind center like he has turned the corner. Which his stats tell a different story completing 4-9 passes for 35 passing yards. The Brahmas even gave the X Roughneck QB a try. Jarrett Guarantano was about the same as Mond completing 6-15 passes for 29 yards. Both QB’s threw an interception. I’m confused how this team beat the Defenders. The fix was in.

#7.MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (1-4)

USFL CONFERENCE: Moved up one spot from last week.

The Showboats’ entire season was sinking as they were the last team to finally put a W in the win column. It happened on Friday night lights as the Showboats took down the Stallions. Many are saying the Showboats used an illegal banned substance called flex seal.

Maybe the head coach of the Showboats, Jim Turner, read my power rankings segment as I mentioned they needed to try anyone else at QB.

The Showboats gave Dresser Winn his first UFL start of his career and all’s he does is win. Who is Dresser Winn? Winn played his college ball at UT Martin wherever the hell that is. He also played up north in the CFL (Canadian Football League) for the Edmonton Elks. He has been in the Rams camps as well. He’s 26 years old and he lit up the Stallions defense who are very solid this season. Dresser connected with his favorite target in this one, Dee Anderson, on a 78 yard deep ball for a score. The Stallions tied this game up and sent it to overtime. Anderson caught the clincher 2 point conversion in the OT face off rules of the UFL, the best out of three times at the 2 yard line. The Showboats scored also on a missed kick by the Stallions trying to connect on a long field goal. Isiah Hennie caught the ball in the end zone and ran it all the way back for a touchdown which a 108 yard play. With Dresser behind center, the Showboats receivers finally got the ball. Winn finished his master UFL debut completing 17-29 passes for 235 passing yards. Can Winn guide these Showboats to the post-season with a second half run?

#6. HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS (2-3)

USFL CONFERENCE: Moved up one spot from last week.

The Roughnecks notched their second win of the 2025 season. Houston has doubled their win total from the 2024 season. The Roughnecks shut down the Brahmas stampede and momentum San Antonio had after beating the hot DC Defenders squad in week 4. The Roughnecks defense has kept this team in games with the shaky quarterback situation all year around. They held the San Antonio herd to a 118 total yards last Sunday. The Roughnecks defense allowed only 3 points a field goal.

Marvin Moody leads this Roughnecks defense in tackles as he had 5 last Sunday which was tied for the team high. Rayshad Williams collected his second interception of the year off the Brahmas’ bad quarterback play. The Roughnecks had two interceptions in the game. The Roughnecks QB situation has improved as they inserted spring veteran Jalan McClendon behind center and he made his first start of the year and gets the win. McClendon showed last week that he is the best available that Houston has in moving this offense up and down the field. The Roughnecks running backs scored two rushing touchdowns in this one which was enough as Houston scored a season high of 27 points on a decent San Antonio defense. Suddenly Houston looking like they can make a run at a post-season spot as they are approaching the rear view mirrors of the Panthers and Stallions who both lost last week.

#5. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (3-2)

USFL CONFERENCE: The Stallions are not galloping free and far ahead of the competition as they dropped one spot from last week in the power rankings.

I don’t think I ever had Skip Holtz’s Stallions in the bottom 4 of the spring power rankings. Here they are at number 5 after losing to the Memphis Showboats in overtime. The same Showboats who notched their first win on Stallion meat. With Matt Corral still injured. The Stallions former MVP Alex McGough is still on the IR with no timetable of returning. The Stallions turned to their 3rd starting QB of the season with spring veteran Case Cookus.

Case Cookus made his first start of the year against his former team, the Showboats. Cookus was originally with the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL as he guided them to the first championship of the reboot. The Stars played the Stallions in that title game as Cookus’ team had the lead until he got hurt. You know what happened after that. Cookus first start started out of the gates very slow. The Stallions defense was not crisp like they normally have been. Cookus is a gunslinger and will need to adjust his game to Skip Holtz’s offense. He completed 15-33 passes for 145 yards as he had two touchdowns and one interception. He threw a nice deep ball to his tight end Jordan Thomas for a touchdown strike. Cookus even had 83 yards on the ground which is not like him as he is a pocket passer. The Stallions made a comeback but lost in overtime. Maybe it took a half for Cookus to knock off the rust.

The Stallions brought their first championship quarterback out of retirement this week. J’mar Smith will be the emergency QB if called upon.

#4. ARLINGTON RENEGADES (3-2)

XFL CONFERENCE: Dropped one spot from last week

The XFL conference has three teams that look like they have a shot at the UFL second season title. The Renegades are one of them. Despite the 3-2 record, this team is not consistent this season. One week they look like they are the best team in the league and solid on all fronts. Then they lay a clunker as one of their units will fail them. The Renegades were up by 11 points on the DC Defenders in the 4th quarter. The Renegades have a true star on both sides of the ball that stand out. Donald Payne on the Renegades defense was having a solid game.

He had a sack, forced fumble, and 4 tackles. Payne in crunch time in closer mode did not shine as the Defenders tied the game. You want Payne to be that pain in the arse to close out the other team. Then on offense the Renegades have one of the best QB’s in the league in Luis Perez. Which is a big reason why this team should be in the post-season. It’s a league without much QB talent. Perez had another big day at the office – one touchdown pass which was a 63 yard strike to Deontay Burnett. He had 268 passing yards. Yet in crunch time he serves up the interception when things are knotted late. Perez has led this Renegades team to an XFL championship a few seasons ago. He can get the job done. This Renegades team has a definite pattern they need to break out of.

#3.MICHIGAN PANTHERS (3-2)

USFL CONFERENCE: The Panthers fall two spots from last week after being perched on top of the power rankings coming into week 5.

The Panthers imploded late in a game versus the BattleHawks. The Panthers were up by 14 points in St.Louis. The BattleHawks second string QB made the start in this one. Max Duggan did not play well in week 4 versus the Renegades. The good signs to the Panthers success and future of this team this season is the play at their QB position. Bryce Perkins is playing at a high level this seasons. Another 235 passing yards through the air. Two more touchdown passes.

The two-headed monster at the running back position could be a scary thing late in games wearing out opposing defenses. Toa Taua had a pair of rushing touchdowns versus the BattleHawks. He had 74 yards on the ground. Now he has 139 rushing yards for the season with 3 rushing touchdowns. I do like the Panthers defense. They crumbled letting Max Duggan escape the pocket and using his legs to gain chunks of yardage. The Panthers look and feel like the best team in the USFL conference. They have to get over their hiccups versus the Stallions though. They will be in the thick of things in the second half.

#2. ST.LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS (3-2)

XFL CONFERENCE: Moved up 3 spots from last week

The BattleHawks looked like road kill after losing Manny Wilkins to a season ending injury last week. The buzzards and vultures of the UFL were circling. The BattleHawks would soar once again with the horn frog behind center. Max Duggan’s redemption in front of the home crowd gives St.Louis fans hope for the post-season. Duggan was a complete disaster filling in for Wilkins. Duggan completed 9-12 passes for 124 passing yards with a touchdown pass. Then with his legs, he had two touchdowns on 10 carries for 70 yards. The BattleHawks trailed by 14 points in the second half.

Do you remember Hakeem Butler? He has missed some games with an injury. The big, tall, and lanky St.Louis receiver was targeted by not one but two BattleHawks quarterbacks. Butler had two catches for 124 receiving yards and a pair of touchdown catches. One from Duggan. Then the game winner from Blake Jackson who hooked up with Butler for the game winner on a 57 yard strike. St.Louis needs Duggan or if Jackson is the guy to play well, this team has a shot.

#1. DC DEFENDERS (4-1)

XFL CONFERENCE: Moved up one spot from last week to be at the top of the power rankings once again.

The Defenders finish the first half of the season with the best record in the league. They did come across a major hiccup in week 4 being knocked off their perch by a bad Brahmas team for their first loss of the year. This Defenders team lost their head coach before the first week. He bolted to the college game along with their defensive coordinator following him out the door. Things looked bad last week when they were down to the Renegades looking to give DC back to back losses. The Defenders came back from 11 points down and stunned their division rival, Renegades, in a 37-33 comeback win. Jordan Ta’amu had a 300 yard passing game with three touchdown passes. He leads the UFL in both passing yards with 1,213 yards and touchdown passes as he had 9 of them in 5 games. Versus the Renegades he completed 23 passes out of 46 attempts which is a 50% completion percentage which is not very good. For the year, Ta’amu has completed 88 passes out of 177 attempts which gives him a 49.7% completion percentage for the year. I would want my QB with a much higher completion percentage. In spring football it may be okay. This Defenders team seems to be about the right place right time as their free safety Josh Proctor was picking off Luis Perez late in the game with a tie score.

If Jordan Ta’amu is going to complete his passes at the right time of the game as they did versus the Renegades, it will not matter what his completion percentage or interception totals are. This team is living on the edge. The Defenders rushing attack is pretty much their quarterback. They really don’t have a true number one receiver. The defense thrives on getting turnovers. If the Defenders get to that championship game and are not Johnny on the spot, they will most likely lose. If teams face the Defenders and have a clean game, they could beat this team. In spring football there may not be such a thing as a clean game. We will see how long the beer snake has bite in the second half.

SEASON 2: UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE POWER RANKINGS WEEK # 2

April 6, 2025 / thewildshamrock / Leave a comment

THE POWER OF THE BEER SNAKE

In week two of the young 2025 spring football season, we already have a new number one perch high and above the season power rankings. Is it time to take the Stallions to the glue factory as they were snake bitten in DC? Some musical chairs in the top 5 spots of the power rankings going into week two. I think the teams that live under the stairs will be there for most of the season. Okay, let’s unveil week two power rankings in the UFL starting with the bad all the way to the top of the food chain. It could be the Battlehawks or Bob freaking Stoops. Enjoy!!!

#8. HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS (0-1)

USFL CONFERENCE: SAME SPOT FROM LAST WEEK

Last week pointed out one of the major problems head coach Curtis Johnson and this Roughnecks team have – the quarterback and their offense. In the first Friday game in the UFL history, Houston was blown out of the waters at home by St. Louis. The Roughnecks were down 31-0 by the time they were moseying on in the end zone. Houston you have a problem at the QB position. The new guy, Anthony Brown, did not give this non-existent fan base any hope by completing 5-11 passing for a whopping 21 yards. It was the back up QB, Nolan Henderson, who connected with Houston’s only threat, Justin Hall, for the only score of the day. Nolan Henderson did okay and may not be the answer for the Roughnecks as they had this scoring drive in garbage time.

The Battlehawks defense did knock Nolan around, but he showed he may be the better option than Brown. Justin Hall seems the only threat on the Roughnecks these days. Hall scored the only touchdown for Houston. Hall has been in Houston when this team was called the Gamblers in the USFL reboot.

Maybe this Houston franchise should go back to their original name, the Gamblers. In 2022 & ’23, the Gamblers on the jersey went 8-12 in 2 seasons in the USFL. Since adopting the Roughnecks, this Houston squad is now 1-10.

#7. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (0-1)

USFL CONFERENCE: Same spot from last week

The Memphis Showboats are sort of in the same boat as the Roughnecks. They too have a solid play maker, named Jonathan Adams, who tallied up 93 receiving yards with one touchdown. The Showboats have two quarterbacks right now dueling it out to be the man behind center for the season. Both quarterbacks have spring football experience. Troy Williams, who is a former Pittsburgh Mauler, played for Memphis last year. He completed 8-11 passes for 104 passing yards but threw an interception. Then EJ Perry who completed 10-17 passes with an interception. Perry has experience playing for the Michigan Panthers. Adams has to take on extra credit to give these guys a bigger window so they can get him the ball. The Showboats scored 12 points & that doubled the total of what Houston scored. The Showboats’ new interim head coach Jim Wilson was thrown into action when Ken Whisenhunt had to leave the team for personal reasons only a week away from the first game. The Showboats were okay under Wilson as they opened up at home and lost to a solid team in the Michigan Panthers. The Showboats fan base have their own personal club like the Bills Mafia as they name themselves the Yacht club.

I love it, but where was the Yacht club in the home opener for Memphis? Was the entire fan base out on the water on a three hour tour and then became shipwrecked on some island. That leads up to the million dollar question: Ginger or Mary Ann?

#6. SAN ANTONIO BRAHMAS (0-1)

XFL CONFERENCE: Dropped 2 spots from last week

I was not impressed with Wade Phillips’ team in week 1. The Brahmas defense gave up the most points in the first week to the Renegades. The Brahmas defense was a big part of what brought this team to the championship game last year. It seems like their defense lost some of its juice they had in their attack style. On offense, same ole story about having a quarterback that is developed. Kellen Mond made his first spring start and he completed 17-31 passes for 159 passing yards. He did not throw any interceptions but was sacked twice and completed the majority of his passes which were short not down field. It was the Brahmas rushing attack that is still solid as John Lovett and Anthony McFarland combined for 105 yards on the ground. It took the Brahmas until the 4th quarter to find the end zone. The best thing for the Brahmas was their kicker made his first field goal since high school ball.

Donald De La Haye aka Deestroying it, got the Brahmas on the board with a 39 yard field goal. De La Haye was on the Brahmas last year but did not attempt a field goal as he was injured in week 2 and done for the season. De La Hoye leads the league in followers on YouTube . In college the NCAA came down on him about his videos at Central Florida University where he quit playing college football to keep doing his thing on social media. De La Haye’s second field goal attempt did not look very promising as it was a longer attempt but sailed far away from the goal post.

#5. DC DEFENDERS (1-0)

XFL CONFERENCE: Moved up one spot from last week.

Can a beer snake swallow a Stallion? It was the Defenders defense that swallowed Stallions QB Alex McGough 8 times in eight sacks on the former USFL MVP. It was an impressive victory for the Stallions and the new head coach Shannon Harris who just got the job a week before the season started when Reggie Barlow bolted to Tennessee State for the head coaching job there.

It was Anthony Hines III who put on a clinic on defense for the Defenders. He had 6 tackles with 2 sacks and fumble recovery. The Defenders have a QB that has plenty of experience in the spring football league as Jordan Ta’amu had another solid game behind center. He completed 17-37 passes for 211 passing yards & one TD pass, along with 1 interception. The Defenders only put up 18 points which was enough to give the champs their first loss of the season. The Defenders crowd looks like something out of the Big Bang Theory or some Dungeons and Dragons club that meets there to drink plenty of beer to feed the snake. I only moved the Defenders up one spot because I need to see more. Was this victory just a lucky win by them or will they be contenders? Last year this team were pretenders.

#4.BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (0-1)

USFL CONFERENCE: Dropped 3 spots from last week.

The Stallions have fallen off their perch on the spring football mountain as they tumble in DC in week 1. The Stallions are the only winnless team I have in the top 4 of the power rankings because they are Birmingham and let’s not forget they have won three straight titles. The Stallions did suffer a loss last year. This Stallions team is still stacked with talent. Having Alex McGough back behind center everyone thought Birmingham would be unstoppable. The Defenders exploited something on the Stallions offensive line and sacked the former MVP 8 times. The Stallions defense only gave up 18 points which is a good thing to take from this loss. Tae Crowder had a big game for the Stallions on the defensive side of the ball.

He had 11 tackles and defended one pass. Do you think Tae is related to the Crowders in Kentucky?

I know Skip Holtz will have the Stallions back on track by week two. I think the Defenders will show their true colors next week as the team we thought they were.

#3. MICHIGAN PANTHERS (1-0)

USFL CONFERENCE: Dropped one spot from last week

Even though the Panthers did win last week, to me they dropped one spot because of their dueling banjos at the QB position that do not impress me. The Panthers defense is tops in the league. They can run the ball with the best of them in the league. They have a top playmaker at the wide receiver position in Marcus Simms.

The final piece to this Panthers team puzzle is the quarterback position which does not fit. The Panthers banjos have no strings and I’m not sure if you combined Bryce Perkins and Danny Etling into one Quarterback that you would have a top passer in the UFL. The Panthers should just stick with Perkins because he can run with the ball and can escape the pocket. One of these guys just needs to be the game manager and not screw up on game day. That defense will keep them in every game. Imagine if the Panthers had a top passer, they would be a championship team.

#2. ST. LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS (1-0)

XFL CONFERENCE: Moved up one spot from last week.

I guess if you are a Battlehawks fan you can say AJ who? Referring to AJ McCarron one of the top QB’s in the UFL last year as St. Louis moved on in a different direction. Maybe the Panthers should give McCarron a call. Just saying.

The Battlehawks wanted a mobile quarterback and that is where Manny Wilkens comes in. He razzled and dazzled the Roughnecks defense with his legs and arm. Wilkens threw for 189 passing yards with no interceptions. He also ran for two touchdowns on 43 rushing yards. The Battlehawks rushing attack is something to keep an eye out for. They set a new UFL record with 273 rushing yards of which 74 of them came from a Jarveon Howard who had 115 for the night. Then St. Louis star running back had 98 rushing yards. The Battlehawks defense only gave up 6 points.

#1.ARLINGTON RENEGADES (1-0)

XFL CONFERENCE: Moved up 4 spots from last week

The Renegades made the biggest jump in the power rankings moving up 4 spots and taking the number one spot.

Did you buy the King of the Spring fling’s new book? Luis Perez learned the QB position from watching YouTube videos. He has bowled more than one perfect game. He has helped the Renegades win an XFL title & now he is a published author. Perez was not the star of the Renegades in week one as he quietly completed 20-25 passes for 164 passing yards. The Renegades put the most points on the board in week 1. They did their damage with the running game and the Renegades defense was awesome.

Kalen Ballage galloped for a 77 yard run for a score. He led the Renegades rushing attack with 9 carries for 110 yards. The Renegades’ other running back De’Veon Smith who has been playing for Arlington for years, had 3 carries for 3 yards and 3 touchdowns. I think the Renegades had all 3 phases of their game playing at top level. They can run the ball. They have a solid defense. Most importantly they have one of the best quarterbacks in the league. The weakness in the UFL is the play at the quarterback position.

WE NOW KNOW WHO PETE CAROL’S GUY IS AND IT’S NOT RUSSELL WILSON

March 8, 2025 / thewildshamrock / Leave a comment

When Pete Carol was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders, you knew the “win now” mentality was going to be the plan for the oldest head coach in the league. You knew the Raiders would go in another direction with their quarterback room from last season that featured Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. Many thought the Raiders would sign free agent Russell Wilson and Carol was set for their own reunion back in their Seattle days. The Raiders inquired about Matthew Stafford. The Rams were not going to trade their starting veteran quarterback. The free agent waters had some other interesting names like Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, and if you have the oldest coach in the NFL… why not get the oldest Quarterback in the league in Aaron Rodgers. Instead the Raiders went with Carol’s other guy from his Seattle days and struck a deal with the Seahawks bringing Geno Smith to Vegas baby! The Raiders will give Seattle a 2025 3rd round pick and the 34 year old Smith will be set for reunion with his old coach from Seattle.

Geno Smith was originally drafted by the New York Jets back in the 2013 NFL draft in the 2nd round 39th overall. After going 8-8 in his rookie season, Smith struggled after his first year in the league with the Jets. After 4 seasons the Jets pulled the plug on Smith. Smith bounced around the next two seasons before finding a back role for the Seahawks, as he backed up Russell Wilson. The Raiders will be Smith’s 5th NFL organization as he suited up one season each with the Giants and Chargers. Smith finally got another shot at the starting job when Wilson and Pete Carol’s relationship soured and he was traded to Denver. For the Jets, Smith had a 12-18 record as a starter dressed in green. For Seattle he will leave with a winning record of 28-24 in 5 seasons. He made two pro-bowls in 2022 & 23 both with Seattle where he resurrected his NFL career. In 11 seasons Smith has played in 94 games and has a record of 40-42 as the starter. He has tallied up 19,143 passing yards for his career with 105 touchdown passes to 72 interceptions.

Why Geno Smith over Russell Wilson? Wilson would have not cost the Raiders to give up any draft capital. I think the Raiders could have gotten Wilson cheaper as well. Wilson played 11 games last year for the Steelers where he was 6-5 as the starter. Wilson tallied 2,482 passing yards completing 63.7% of his passes. He threw 16 touchdowns to only 5 interceptions. Wilson had the Steelers in the driver’s seat to win the AFC North. The Steelers struggled at the end of the season and backed in the playoffs as a wild card, before they were quickly dispatched from the post-season after 1 game. Geno Smith completed 70.4% of his passes last season. He went 10-7 as a starter as he tallied up 4,320 passing yards. He threw 21 touchdown passes compared to 15 interceptions. He had Seattle in the driver’s seat in the NFC West, but the Seahawks would also fold down the stretch and miss the post-season. Wilson is 36 years of age and he can’t move like he used to back in his Seattle days. Smith is two years younger but has the ability to escape the pass rush with his legs. I think Smith has the stronger arm and can throw the ball down field better than Wilson can. Smith is more of that gunslinger mentality as Wilson is better at being careful with the football. Both guys are pretty much equal, but I would give Smith the edge. I think it comes down to Pete Carol probably has more trust with Smith than his old Quarterback he won the Superbowl with back in his Seattle days. I think Smith would get more respect in any locker room as Wilson is high maintenance and gets under most players’ skin with the special treatment he needs.

What is Seattle doing retooling or rebuilding? The Seahawks have one quarterback on their roster, former Washington Commander Sam Howell. In 2023 Howell chucked the ball 612 times that season which is by far the most passing attempts in the league. Howell has been in the league only 3 seasons and was back up to Geno Smith last year. He has played in 20 games and has a 5-13 record as a starter. In 2023 he tallied up 3,946 passing yards while throwing 21 touchdown passes but also threw 21 interceptions. He seems like Jameis Winston reincarnated. The Seahawks could be linked to Sam Darnold as their next starting quarterback. The Seahawks have freed up money by dealing Smith to the Raiders. Smith is the 19th highest paid QB in the league and is in his final year of a 3 year deal worth 75 million. The Seahawks were about 10 million apart with an extension for Smith. Seattle was looking to pay Smith 35 million per season, but his people wanted him to be paid 45 million per season. Seattle also has one of their top wide receivers in D.K. Metcalf who wants out and is seeking a trade. Even if you trade Metcalf, the Seahawks still have some interesting pieces for whoever their next starting quarterback will be. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a top receiver in the league. They have a pair of solid running backs in Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III. The Seattle defense played well last season.

The Raiders made a splash before this trade locking up their best asset on defense in Mad Maxx Crosby as he will be paid the most money by a player not being a quarterback in NFL history. The Raiders have brought in Chip Kelly to be the team’s offensive coordinator. Last year the Raiders ranked 29th in the NFL averaging 18.2 points per game. Kelly has had successful offenses that he had run in the NFL. Kelly was not a good head coach in the NFL. Kelly is most known for his exploding offenses at the college level. The Raiders have one of the best tight ends in the league. Brock Bowers may be the newest Travis Kelce in the entire NFL. Bowers in his rookie season caught 112 passes for 1,191 receiving yards and 5 touchdown catches. The Raiders will need another wide receiver. The one they currently had in Jakobi Meyers did have a nice season as well catching 87 balls for just over 1,000 yards and he caught 4 touchdowns. The Raiders will need a better running game than what they had last year. If the Raiders can add a few more guys to this high tempo offense Kelly likes to run, things may have gotten even more interesting in the AFC West.

Where does veteran Geno Smith fit in the pecking order of the AFC West at the quarterback position? You have to still rank Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs number one. Is Chargers Justin Herbert number two? His performance in the post-season last year versus Houston was weak. The Rise of Bo Nix for the Broncos may be the 2nd best QB in the division. Herbert and Smith could equal out behind Nix and Mahomes. The head coaching in this division is unbelievable. Remember the Chiefs, Chargers, and Broncos made the post-season last year leaving only the Raiders at home from the AFC West. Andy Reid, Sean Peyton, and Jim Harbaugh all explain why three teams made the post-season. Pete Carol and the Raiders are behind the 8-ball looking in, but today they improved their team with Smith behind center. The Raiders will need more pieces to be able to leap frog some of these division rivals. For the long haul I see the Raiders getting better as a team. They may grab a wild card spot next year or the year after. The Raiders and post-season don’t go together like the days of “just win baby” which now was decades ago. I don’t see the Raiders winning a Superbowl with Geno Smith as their quarterback. Smith is nowhere close to being the Rich Gannon style of QB who blossomed like Geno late in his career and led the Raiders to a Superbowl appearance. The Raiders need a true number 1 QB to go along with the rise of a Max Crosby and Brock Bowers. It is always good to talk about the silver and black finally getting their act together.

The Wild shamrock

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