The Derek Carr era is over in New Orleans after only two seasons in the Big Easy. Carr has decided he will hang up the spikes for good at the age of 34 while playing 11 seasons in the NFL with the Raiders and Saints. Carr suffered a labral tear in his right shoulder which is his throwing arm, last season. Medical scans have shown he has degenerative changes in his rotator cuff which will need surgery to repair. Everything can heal on its own which will have a longer timetable. If Carr did have surgery, he would definitely miss the entire 2025 season. Instead he will forfeit 30 million in earnings in the contract and walk away from the game for good.
Derek Carr was drafted by the Oakland Raiders back in the 2014 NFL draft from Fresno State University in the second round. He played for the Raiders in Oakland and when they moved to Las Vegas for 9 seasons. In 2023 the Raiders head coach was Josh McDaniel,s the former Patriots disciple who should have never landed a second gig as a leader of a football franchise. McDaniels benched Carr. Things escalated as Carr would then not waive his no trade clause and eventually be released. Carr signed with the New Orleans Saints who were looking for their next QB to lead this franchise. Since Drew Brees retired, they have fallen on hard times. Carr made 4 Pro-Bowls. In his first ten years in the league, he played 15 or more games per season. He had some years he hovered around the top 10 quarterbacks in the league. Overall he may have been a middle of the pack QB his entire career. He only played in one post-season game in his career and was on the losing end of the wild card game in 2022 with the Raiders. Carr played for six different head coaches throughout his career of which two of them were interim. He had 5 offensive coordinators when he wore silver and black. With the gold and black uniforms in two seasons, he had 2 different offensive coordinators and two different head coaches. If Carr came back this season, he would have had three different head coaches in New Orleans as the Saints hired Kellen Moore during the off-season.
Last year the Saints were 0-7 without Derek Carr as the starter. Carr had an even 5-5 record in 10 games before his season ended. He completed 67.7% of his passes and tallied up 2,145 passing yards with 15 touchdown passes along with 5 interceptions. In New Orleans he leaves the Big Easy with a winning record in 27 games he did start, he went 14-13. I thought when Carr did sign with New Orleans, they had the best shot at winning the crappy NFC South division the last two seasons. His first season in New Orleans he had the Saints close, but at the end they could not march across the finish line. In 11 years Carr would have a losing record playing in 169 NFL games. He had a record of 77-92 as a starter. His completion rating was 65.1% as he tallied up 41,245 passing yards. Threw 257 touchdown passes with 112 interceptions. His two best seasons were in 2015 & ’16. In 2015 he had his career high with 32 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. In 2016 his record as the starter was 12-3 and the Raiders looked like they were going to go deep into the post-season. Carr had 28 touchdown passes and only 6 interceptions in 15 games. The Raiders would make post-season and Carr would not play because he suffered a season ending injury close to the end of regular season. The Raiders would be one and done that year in post season.
Derek Carr’s brother was drafted in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft by the Houston Texans from Fresno State University. David played 10 seasons in the NFL with Texans, Giants, Panthers, and 49ers. His career started in 2002 and ended in 2012 as he played in 94 games. David was a first round bust. His rookie season he set the record for most sacks in one season by a QB in his first year. He went 23-56 as a starter and tallied up 14,452 passing yards. He threw for 65 touchdown passes compared to 71 interceptions. Derek most definitely had a better career than his brother David. I remember David put in a ton of time helping his younger brother be the better NFL quarterback.
The New Orleans Saints did draft a quarterback this season a few weeks back. In the second round at number 40, they selected Tyler Shough from Louisville. In 2024 the Saints drafted Spencer Rattler. In 2023 the Saints drafted Jack Haener. Shough was most likely hand-picked by the team’s new head coach Kellen Moore. Look for Shough to be the guy unless they land some veteran quarterback in a trade or pick one up as a free agent. Drew Brees was not drafted by the Saints. The Saints’ best QB they have drafted, you have to go back to 1971 when they drafted Archie Manning. Archie never got the Saints to post-season. Bobby Hebert was the first ever Saints quarterback to guide the Saints to the playoffs back in 1987.
Hebert played in the USFL with the Michigan Panthers and Oakland Invaders before going to the NFL where he signed with the Saints in 1985. The Saints’ best teams in history never developed a franchise QB. Now it’s time they do that. They have a new head coach. They have a slew of young QB’s to mold. Derek Carr unfortunately was not going to bring this Saints team all the way to the Superbowl. Playoffs at best. It did not happen. This current Saints team should gut this team that is in salary cap hell the last few years. Getting Carr off the books is a start. It would not take the Saints long to catch up to all the other teams in the division if they cleaned house and let the young guys get the experience while growing as a team. Who knows? Maybe one of the guys they have at QB will be the answer. If not, next year’s crop of QBs is much better. I did like Carr as a QB for both the Raiders and Saints. He was not going to be the next Mathew Stafford by going to another team and winning the Superbowl type of veteran. He had a nice career and was stuck in the middle of the pack his entire career which is not a bad thing as many guys can’t even start one game in the NFL.
Do you remember Deion Sanders’ touchdown celebrations during his NFL days?
Did he call it the prime time shuffle after his nickname? To me it looked like some version of the electric slide. Neon Deion Sanders’ son right now has his own slide that is making the prime time news in the NFL draft coverage. Shedeur Sanders was supposed to be drafted in the top 5 of the 2025 NFL draft. Some experts had Shedeur being the 2nd best QB in the draft. His father Deion, who is the head coach of the University of Colorado, was his son’s college coach. He had a list of teams he did not want his son playing for. During the NFL scouting combine, Shedeur did not throw any passes or do any of the athletic training. He was present as he did several interviews with multiple teams. Some of those interviews were solid & some went very poorly. The Tennessee Titans with the very first pick took Cam Ward out of the University of Miami. The Giants, which was where many thought Shedeur would land, went with a top notch edge rusher in Abdul Carter with the number three pick from Penn State. Many thought when the Giants made the trade with the Texans to get the 25th pick of the first round pick, Sanders’ son would be scooped up. The Giants picked a QB but it was not Shedeur. New York went with Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss. Sanders would slide out of the first round without being picked. Yesterday in rounds 2-3 of the NFL draft, other quarterbacks were picked instead of Shedeur. The former Buffaloe now is on the Chutes and Ladders slide. He’s free falling as three rounds have gone and he is still available. Why?
Shedeur Sanders can throw a nice deep ball. In 4 seasons, 2 at Jackson State and 2 at Colorado. Shedeur has tallied up 14,353 passing yards combined. He has completed 1,267 passes in 1,808 attempts which is good for a 70.1% completion rate which is impressive. He has thrown 134 touchdown passes compared to only 27 interceptions which is remarkable. His arm strength is good, but not great. His short passes are not very good as the balls come out wobbly. He is not a duel threat. He’s a pocket passer that gets sacked a lot. He sounds like a Justin Fields. Fields will run the ball more. In the NFL, teams that were in the need of a QB were the Giants, Saints, Browns, and Steelers. You have some teams that will draft a QB to develop a guy for the future. The Giants went with Jaxson Dart as their guy because their head coach, Brian Daboll, and general manager, Joe Schoen, come from the Buffalo Bills organization. They like Dart because he reminds them of Josh Allen in the way he plays the game. The Saints may be without their starting QB, because Derek Carr’s injury from last year may linger into this season. Some experts said Shedeur would do well playing in New Orleans in a dome. The Saints did pick a QB on Friday and took Tyler Shough at number 40 from Louisville. Let’s remember the Saints drafted Spencer Rattler last year as he got some playing time in his rookie season. They like some of the flashes he has shown. The Browns have Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett who they traded for in this off-season. The Browns want to forget about Deshaun Watson. They drafted a QB yesterday at number 94, Dillon Gabriel from Oregon University. Cleveland does not want to risk another Johnny Manziel and they failed miserably on the Watson trade. The Steelers is a possible landing spot for Sanders. The Steelers re-signed Mason Rudolf and think they are in with Aaron Rodgers. Shedeur could still get picked up by the Steelers in later rounds. Any team could still pick up Shedeur. Five QB’s have been picked up including Seattle who took Jalen Milroe from University of Alabama, number 92. The Seahawks signed veteran Sam Darnold so they will slowly develop Milroe.
You know Deion Sanders had high hopes for his son and still does. You know Prime Time pictured Shedeur getting drafted in the top 5 of the draft and starting for some team right away. Perhaps his performance being like Jayden Daniels with what he did last year for the Commanders getting them into the post-season. Deion would be scarred coming into the draft if people even said Shedeur is suited to being a back up QB in the NFL to start his career off. Being a back up QB most of the times you are the most popular guy if the first string guy is doing bad. I see this entire drama unfolding because if your team does draft Shedeur Sanders, you’re bringing his father Deion along for the ride. Deion reminds me of those fathers when the kids are playing, telling the coach to put his son in. Deion would talk badly about any coach not playing his son through the media. Why would any team want to bring this drama into your locker room? I’m not saying all teams in the NFL should avoid Shedeur. He could be the real deal. If I’m a franchise and I choose to go down this path with the Sanders slide, I would want his son for cheap if I have to deal with the drama they bring to the table. In later rounds, Shedeur might be a guy someone takes a chance on. I would not make him a starter day one. He would have to earn it. I don’t care what Deion would say. If Sanders’ kid was taken in the first round, a team would be paying him, dealing with criticism all the time from his father on coaching him, and he could turn out to be a flop. You are fired. I think he would fit perfectly with the Steelers. First knowing Aaron Rodgers is the guy. We don’t know if he will be the guy for the Steelers. That may hurt Rodgers’ feelings having another QB on the roster. I think Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin could get the best out of Sanders’ son and contain the father. Deion’s next son should participate in the NFL combine and let the cards fall where they lie instead of sabotaging him with certain franchises because you don’t like the city or coaching. Fathers always knows best is not in the Deion handbook.
The New York Giants still have not found their quarterback solution after Eli Manning hung up the spikes for good a few seasons ago. The Giants have the number three pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL draft which is not as loaded at the quarterback position like it was at the 2024 draft. The current Head Coach for the G-Men, Brain Daboll, and the General Manager’s jobs are hanging by a thread. As they are on the hot seat right now. After not being able to develop Daniel Jones a quarterback they inherited when they arrived in the big apple, would this regime get the extra time they need to develop a rookie QB? The Giants loaded up on veteran quarterback free agents this off-season in hopes one of them will pay out. It would seem the Giants would pass on picking up a QB in the first round as the quarterback room is filled right now. You never know until the draft what they will do as the Giants and Shedeur Sanders have shown mutual interest in each other. Sanders has one final work out scheduled for the G-Men. Could Deon Sanders’ son be the answer for this New York franchise that is desperate right now seeing every team in their division having a guy that is the face of their franchise?
The New York Giants reside in the NFC East which had two teams that made it to the post-season. The Philadelphia Eagles won the Superbowl with the last laugh on the Giants for signing Saquon Barkley, who was a free agent running back who ran to greener pastures. The Commanders resurrected from the dead as a football franchise by drafting Jayden Daniels number two in last year’s draft. They went deep into the post-season. The Cowboys have Dak Prescott who is a pretend franchise quarterback.The Giants are so desperate at the QB position they signed 36 year old veteran Russell Wilson who had a rebound year playing for the Steelers last year. He went 6-5 as the starter for the Steelers and started off great. He completed 63.7% of his passes and had 16 touchdowns to 5 interceptions. Only problem is the Steelers backed into the post-season on a losing streak and quickly dispatched again in the first round by their arch rival, the Ravens. Wilson was a clubhouse cancer in Denver. He’s typically your primadonna and is not the same guy from his days in Seattle where he was in the top ten of the league behind center.
Then the Giants signed the crab man, Jameis Winston, to a two year deal worth 8 million. Last year he played in Cleveland and was 2-5 in 7 games filling in for the sexual predator Deshaun Watson whose season ended with an injury. Winston had 13 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. He is the King of the pick six. After making it official with the Giants, Winston thanked the fans in the Dawg Pound for having him be their QB for one season. The memories of beating the Steelers in the snow to him was epic. Yes the crab man did beat Russell Wilson. Then the Giants still have 26 year old Tommy DeVito who went 0-2 last year in two starts for the Giants. He had no touchdown passes or interceptions but completed 70.5% of his passes. He is 3-5 as a starter in the NFL with 8 touchdown passes to 3 interceptions and has a 65.3% completion percentage. DeVito signed with the Giants as an Undrafted Free Agent in 2023 and could easily be the odd man out in this Giants’ QB saga by the time the season starts. He may not be the answer as QB 1. He is a guy that has a higher ceiling to develop I think.
The Tennessee Titans have the number one pick in the 2025 NFL draft and they are expected to take the best QB in the draft, Cam Ward, from the University of Miami. The Browns have the second pick in this upcoming draft and they should go Quarterback as Deshaun Watson is expected to miss the entire season. The Browns have traded for Kenny Pickett and have brought back Joe Flacco for his second stint with the team from free agency. Can the Browns move on from Watson with that handcuffed contract he has? The Browns are expected to sign Shadeur Sanders’ University of Colorado teammate, Travis Hunter, who is a two way player as he dabbles as a receiver on offense and defense. He also plays corner back. The Browns could also get another top edge rusher in Abdul Carter from Penn State University. The guy the Browns do not take can easily be the 3rd pick in the draft. They say Sanders is the 2nd best QB in the draft, but his stock has dropped off with the draft approaching.
Shadeur Sanders did not participate at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. He was there, but he did not throw the football or take part in any athletic testing. He focused on meetings with NFL teams. Last season Sanders had 4,134 passing yards with 37 touchdown passes and only 10 interceptions. The University of Colorado made it to the Alamo Bowl. In two seasons as a Buffalo, Sanders was 13-13 as a starter. His first two seasons Sanders played at Jackson State, a smaller school where he went 23-3 as a starter in hus first two years. In College Football overall, he has a 36-15 record behind center as a starter. In the Alamo Bowl he had some cleats designed with the Giants logo and colors. The Giants have had more than one time when they had their staff scouting Sanders. It sounds like a perfect marriage between the Giants and Sanders. The Giants must have Sanders’ pops approval as being one of the teams his son can play for. Neon Deon has a list of team he will not want his son to play for. You know that Prime Time wants his son to be picked in the top 5 or at least the top 10 for the best money. Brian Daboll had Daniel Jones playing better when he arrived taking the Giants job as his first head coaching gig. Jones went back to his old habits very quickly in his second year with Daboll. When Daboll was offensive coordinator in Buffalo, he did great things with the talented Josh Allen as QB. Not sure Sanders will be that guy. That quarterback. The Giants have some talented receivers for a young guy like Sanders. Does Prime Time get involved in his son’s career choices? That could spoil this pick. Plus Daboll and his staff and the GM are right now dead men walking. If they do draft Sanders, then he may have another Head Coach and different offensive scheme in year two. Not sure I like my young QB being around a loser like Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. New York is no Colorado Mountain High either. The Big Apple can eat players alive as the worm turns. Just reading about what some of the football experts are saying, there may be other QB’s that are worth a try than paying Sanders kid the big money. If I was the Giants, I would take the Edge Rusher from Penn State or the two way star from Colorado. Roll the dice that your franchise will be here again with a top pick in 2026 and hope it’s a better crop of QB’s for the taking.
The New York Jets can close the book on their darkness retreat chapters starring Aaron Rodgers. Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood soured the Big Apple in New York as he single handedly burned down his own team taking the Jets franchise to nothing but a heap of smoldering ash. The Jets thought at the time they just needed a quarterback to get over the hump and signed Rogers after he left Green Bay kicking and screaming. It’s been two years of pure hell for J-E-T-S as now they can finally move on and try to put some distance between them and the Mr. Darkness retreat. The Jets in day one of free agency have found Rogers’ replacement by signing former number one pick from the Chicago Bears, Justin Fields. Fields gets a two year deal worth 40 million which 30 of that is guaranteed as he will be an expensive rebound for this fan base. This move also gives this Jets franchise a breath of air and a new start which they need right now.
Justin Fields is now 26 years of age and has 4 NFL seasons under his belt. Originally Fields was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 1st round of the 2021 NFL draft number 11 overall from Ohio State University. He has played three seasons in Chicago where he had his ups and downs. Last year in his lone season in Pittsburgh as a Steeler, he achieved his first winning record in a season as a starting NFL QB. He was traded to Pittsburgh and only started 6 games for the Steelers where he had a winning record of 4-2. He played in a total of 10 games for the Steelers where he completed 65.8% of his passes which is a career high for Fields. He tallied up 1,106 passing yards with 5 touchdown passes and only 1 interception. He started the season as the starter for the Steelers because the other QB Pittsburgh signed at the time was Russell Wilson who had an injury to start the year off then replaced him week 7.
It took three full seasons as a starter for Justin Fields to win 10 games as a starter for the Chicago Bears. Last year he almost won half of those starts that he won in less than half a season. Fields is a duel threat quarterback that can beat you with his legs more than his arm. He has a nice deep pass but always had problems throwing over the middle of the field. I always say once athletes leave the Chicago sports landscape, they do better. Fields has always turned over the ball with an interception or he’s very good at coughing up the football. His career numbers in 4 seasons he is 14-30 as a starting QB. He has a completion percentage of 61.2% and he has tallied 7,780 yards in the air and thrown 45 touchdown passes. However he has thrown 31 interceptions. He threw only one as a Steeler. With the legs he has rushed the ball 418 times for 2,509 rushing yards with 19 rushing touchdowns. With the Bears he went through coaches and offensive coordinators like changing your underwear on a daily basis. In Chicago he had the turn style offensive line. With the Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin, he changed his game and made less mistakes. He definitely had better protection. His turnover rate as a Steeler averaged out to 0.8% in 2024. From 2021-23 with the Bears, Fields averaged an NFL turnover rate of 2.8%. He has been careful with the ball in Pittsburgh. With the Bears he was the worst QB taking the sack. From 2021-23 he was sacked with a 12.4% sack rate. With the Steelers he cut that sack rate down to 9%. During those six games he started, the Steelers offense were averaging 20.7 points per game. The Jets would have loved to have 20.7 points per game as they did not get that with Aaron Rodgers last year.
The New York Jets pick at number 7 in this April’s draft may not get them one of the top two QB’s on the board. The Jets are in need of a future franchise quarterback. They have failed before at developing former number one picks they have selected such as Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson. Darnold finally had his best year in a Vikings uniform last season. Darnold may be a late bloomer while Wilson looks like the next Ryan Leaf. If the Jets are going to select a quarterback in this upcoming draft, they need to develop him. The best plan may be to have the guy stand on the sidelines with a clipboard and learn. Justin Fields may be a bridge gap QB for the Jets. Fields could also showcase his own talents and improve his game on the field to ultimately get a bigger deal elsewhere. However if luck is not on the side of the Jets in developing a draft pick, then if Fields performance is solid they may have found a solution behind center. If Fields does good he could be a trade chip for another team if the QB he grooms turns into something.
The Jets have had a solid defense the last few seasons during which I thought they took a step backwards last year. The stench of Aaron Rodgers rotted everything it touched in that Jets locker room last year. The Jets have hired a defensive-minded head coach in Aaron Glenn, former Lions D-Coordinator. Glenn can probably get that defense to its old self. If Justin Fields is careful with the football, then the Jets may have found a new formula to win games. Defense and duel threat QB who does not turn over the football. I think Fields will also flourish because he will have his former teammate catching his passes. From Ohio State, former Buckeye Garrett Wilson is the best receiver the Jets had had the last three seasons. With all the bad quarterback play the Jets had over the last few seasons, he still has found ways to tally over 1,000 receiving yards. The Jets were 5-12 last year and finished 3rd in the AFC East. They should benefit with an easier schedule next season. My knock of Fields in something he may not be able to improve, is the killer instinct with the ball in his hands in the last minute of the game. Taking the lead or tying the game to send it to overtime. Most importantly, the comeback to win the game. He was a disappointment in close games in the last few minutes in a Bears uniform. Right now Fields has a chance to showcase his talents with a new team and being the starter. How will he handle objects in his side mirror that are closer than he thinks? I like this move by the Jets because it turns the page on Rodgers. Fields is most likely only a rebound after a bad break up for the Jets. He gives this franchise a chance to heal. He gives this franchise a chance to rebuild. He gives the Jets a fighting chance every Sunday and makes each week exciting even if the record is not a winning one. The Jets should be better than 5-12 as the darkness retreat clouds have lifted over the New Jersey stadium on home games.
The Chicago Bears are Trumping up their offensive walls to keep out the opposing defenses’ migrants. Maybe General Manager of the Bears Ryan Poles got a good fence guy recommendation from Donald Trump. The Bears pulled off a monster trade with the Kansas City Chiefs to give Chicago a true pillar on an offensive line that gave up more screws than a whorehouse last season. The Bears acquire left guard Joe Thuney from the Chiefs for a 2026 4th round draft pick. Thuney has been the protector of Tom Brady back in the New England dynasty and has given protection to Patrick Mahomes for several seasons and this current Chiefs dynasty. Thuney has won 4 Superbowls in his 9 year NFL career, which 2 of them came from the Patriots and the other two the Chiefs.
Joe Thuney is 32 years of age. He was drafted by the Patriots in the 2016 NFL draft in the 3rd round 78th overall from the University of Carolina. His first 5 seasons was with the Evil Empire Patriots. His last 4 seasons he was down in Kansas City joining another hated franchise. Don’t let the age fool you as Thuney has only missed two games in his entire career. He played in all 17 games last year for the Chiefs. He has 146 games under his belt in the NFL. He is a 4x All-Pro and was selected to 3 Pro-Bowls in 9 total seasons. Last year he played 895 snaps at the left guard position. Then he was asked to protect Patrick Mahomes’ blind side at left tackle due to an injury. He played 217 snaps at left tackle. In the last two seasons he has had the highest pass block win rate of 97.8% in the entire league.
So why did the Kansas City Chiefs suddenly make Joe Thuney expendable? The Chiefs’ best offensive lineman Trey Smith recently got the franchise tag and is a guy younger than Thuney. Trading Thuney to the Bears will free up 16 million dollars off the Chiefs salary cap. Smith is only 23 years old and with a franchise tag would be paid in the neighborhood of 23.5 million which is the going rate out of your top protectors in the NFL. The Chiefs coming off their Superbowl loss will look to retool their roster but also get younger in the grand scheme of things.
For the Bears it’s simple, they have to protect their investment number one pick from last April’s draft in Caleb Williams. Williams was sacked 68 times in his rookie season which almost broke David Carr’s single rookie season he had in his first year with the Houston Texans. In 2002 Carr was sacked 76 times. This is the second move by the Chicago Bears in a matter of days. Both moves to improve their offensive line have come through trades. The first trade was with the LA Rams which landed them a 315 pound moose in Jonah Jackson, an X Detroit Lion who has ties to newly hired head coach Ben Johnson. The Bears have three free agents from last year who were fixtures on that terrible O-line they had who they will most likely let walk away instead of re-signing them.
Ben Johnson as the offensive coordinator for the last several years had success because of the guys in the trenches. The Detroit Lions had one of the best offensive lines in the NFL the last few seasons. They ran a well-balanced offense with a two-headed monster at running back that opened up the play action pass for Jared Goff. Johnson turned Goff into a serviceable quarterback that can help your team go deep into the post-season. The experts think Caleb Williams has all the star-studded tools of being a top NFL quarterback in this league. Williams now will have protection in the middle of the line in these first two moves of the off-season by the Bears landing a pair of guards. Obviously Johnson still has to work on Williams’ mechanics and help him get rid of the ball quicker to avoid those types of sacks in which Caleb found himself doing his rookie season. Now it will appear he will get that time after these two trades.
As many expected, the Ben Johnson era will be a carbon copy of what the Lions needed to do to resurrect that franchise from the dead. The Bears are now investing heavily into the offensive line as Joe Thuney will get 16 million next year as he finishes a 5 year extension he got in 2021 by the Chiefs that was worth 80 million. Rumors are swirling that Thuney may get an extension even before putting on the shoulder pads. The Bears will be paying Jonah Jackson 17.5 million who’s in his second year of a three year contract he signed with the Rams. I don’t expect either deal to be a one year try out. If the Bears don’t give Thuney the extension, they can let him ride out the end of his deal and call it a day. For Jackson the Bears could cut ties with him before next season in his final year which would not cause problems for the salary cap. I think Johnson and Ryan Poles think these two guards will be here longer than one season. For Jackson who only played 4 games last year for the Rams, it is a move right now I will question. I give Johnson the benefit of the doubt as they have connections. I do like the Thuney trade. He is older but looks like a guy that still has thread on the tires and we know he plays that way. He’s been a part of elite winning programs like the Chiefs and Patriots. I like he comes from colder climates such as Kansas City and New England, so he should feel right at home in Chicago. I like Thuney able to play either tackle or guard. The Bears may need one more guy for that O-line to get the full makeover. Now they can address that in the draft or through free agency. All of the moves the Bears have made on offense the last two seasons are for Caleb Williams. Williams will be the final piece of the puzzle if this franchise will contend for years to come. Winning the off-season does not win Superbowl titles.
The Chicago Bears organization’s best comparison is a teenager who constantly makes bad decisions. It does not matter who’s in charge at the top. Does not matter who is the head coach. Somehow the Bears will make a blunder which will leave you scratching your head in disbelief. The latest is non-tendering strong side linebacker Jack Sanborn who’s a local kid and a player that has thrived the last three seasons since being signed as an un-drafted free agent from the University of Wisconsin. Sanborn was a restricted free agent and the money to keep him on this team is chump change which tallies to 3.263 million. Now Sanborn is a free agent and can sign anywhere he wants to. Some say the madness of this Bears move was to re-sign Sanborn for his services at a cheaper price. I have to believe some team will come in and scoop up a talent and want Sanborn’s services in the upcoming season.
Jack Sanborn is only 24 years of age and signed with the Bears as an un-drafted free agent in the 2022 season. That year he cracked the starting line up and made six starts for the Bears. In three seasons with the Bears he has played in 48 games and has made 19 starts at linebacker. Last year he played in all 17 games and tallied up 17 tackles while registering 1.5 sacks on the QB. Sanborn is a tackling machine as he has been involved in 164 tackles in three NFL seasons which 110 of those were solo. He has racked up 14 tackles for a loss of yards while defending 5 passes. He has one interception while racking up 4.5 sacks. He grew up a Bears fan and is from Lake Zurich, Illinois. Former Bears coaches say Sanborn is a versatile player, intelligent, a hard worker, and a guy that can play in nickel situations on third downs. You have to like his motor as he keeps going until the whistle blows. He can back up all the team’s linebacker positions. If not a starter, Sanborn would give any team depth on the roster.
The Bears have a new head coach in Ben Johnson who is here to fix the team’s offense and develop the quarterback. Johnson hired former Saints/Raiders head coach Dennis Allen who will be bringing in a different style of defense than what Matt Eberflus had the last few years. The Bears have invested heavily in linebackers through free agency by signing former Eagle T.J Edwards and former Bill Tremaine Edmunds before the 2023 season. Both Edmunds and Edwards might not be the linebackers in Allen’s defensive scheme. The Bears will be looking for guys that can pressure the quarterback is my guess and that made a guy like Jack Sanborn expendable for this new regime.
One team that may scoop up a guy like Jack Sanborn is the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have a new D-Coordinator and it is Matt Eberflus who definitely knows what his defense needs and will know what he would be getting if they ink Sanborn to a free agent contract. Sanborn should have multiple suitors for his services. I know he was not drafted, but he played defense in the Big Ten at the University of Wisconsin. Big Ten manufactures linebackers and solid defensive options like a factory. It’s a conference that plays defense still. Many of these un-drafted free agents play with more heart than most of these guys that were drafted. Sanborn seems like that guy that a coach would say, “If I only had 11 Jack’s out there, what this defense could do.” That defense would play hard. That defense would not shoot themselves in the foot and play smart. Whoever signs Sanborn will get a better version of Jack because he will be even more motivated to be better if that is even possible. I’m not going to lie. I hate seeing the Bears give up on a local kid that was doing well. He is only 24 years of age and has not even hit his prime of his football career. I wish him the best of luck. I really do think the Bears have made another blunder which is the norm for this franchise and for all the teams in the Chicago Sports landscape.
The Ben Johnson era in Chicago starts off with a move that several past General Managers for the Bears used the band aid method on over the last two decades. You could even throw the current GM Ryan Poles under a bus for not knowing what an offensive lineman looks like. The Bears pull off a trade with the LA Rams to land a veteran guard and one of Johnson’s old disciples from back in the Detroit days. The Bears acquire 28 year old left guard Jonah Jackson from the Rams for a 6th round 2025 draft pick. Before you make your Superbowl plans for the Bears, it comes with a cost of 17.5 million on the salary cap. The Bears will take on the entire length of Jackson’s contract – a guy that only played in four games last year. This sounds more of a Bears-like move.
Jonah Jackson was originally drafted by the Lions in the 2020 NFL draft, as he was selected in the 3rd round 75th overall from Ohio State University. Jackson has 5 seasons under his belt as he has started 61 NFL games. In 2021 Jackson was named to his only Pro-Bowl, by far his best season in the NFL. Last year the Lions chose to let Jackson walk out the door in free agency as he signed with the Rams on a 3 year deal worth 51 million. His lone season in LA was not worth remembering as he missed most of training with camp due to a injury. He did return to line up for opening week then in week two a shoulder injury landed him on injured reserve. He would return late in the season and play in another two regular season games. In Jackson’s first two seasons in the NFL, he played in 16 games in back to back years. In 2022 he played in only 13 games. In 2023 he played in only 12 games. Last year he played in 4 games. The Bears hope he can stay healthy this upcoming season and have a bounce back year.
Last season the Bears GM Ryan Poles improved the offense by adding all the fancy play makers and new offensive coordinator. Like past Bears General Managers he did not address that offensive line and it was like putting make up on a pig. Poles’ number one pick, Caleb Williams, paid the price in almost breaking David Carr’s rookie record of being sacked the most in NFL history. Williams made mistakes as a rookie that did not help the guys the Bears had protecting him. He would hold on to the ball way too long. Most of the games, the Bears offensive line caved in like a house of cards as defenders would blow up the middle of that line each week. The Bears coaching staff had no answers and no adjustments as Williams is lucky he is still in one piece by the end of another miserable season on the gridiron for Chicago. Williams’ first season was like Mitch Trubisky’s & Justin Fields’ first season with the Bears. Quarterbacks selected in the first round come in with a shaky line and a coaching staff that is doomed from the start. Then after that year, all three quarterbacks have to start over with another head coach and offensive coordinator. This go around the Bears kept Poles as he convinced ownership they need to spend the big money to hand the reigns over to Ben Johnson. He’s that hot shot offensive coordinator who did wonders in Detroit the last few years. Can Johnson avoid what happened to Matt Nagy and Matt Eberflus who ruined Trubisky and Fields? It looked like the Commanders who picked second overall in last April’s draft and selected Jayden Daniels, which made the better choice for now after one season. Will it continue?
The Bears will need more than one move to solidify their offensive line this off season. The Bears will not resign Teven Jenkins, Coleman Shelton or Matt Pryor who all played on the offensive line last season. They are set to become free agents and other teams’ problems. The Bears could address their line issues with free agency, the draft, or by trade, like they did with their first significant move of the off-season. This first move is indeed interesting. Jonah Jackson and many others in the NFL worked very hard to get that first pay day and after they get it, their performances drop off the map. Jackson got the big deal and after year one has not lived up to it. Injuries happen in football. Ben Johnson knows Jackson very well working with him for years so I suspect they think he will bounce back and the shoulder problems should not linger for years to come. You have to give head coach Johnson the benefit of the doubt because he knows what an offensive line man looks like over the yahoos who have failed at finding the right big guys to protect your asset which is the quarterback. Hopefully Coach Johnson can develop the quarterback as well. Which the Bears brass have not figured that out for quite some time. Keeping the QB upright is the first step which is basic Football 101. Jackson is a 315 pound beast the Bears are adding at left guard. He can play some right guard as well. He should help prevent the opposing defenses from caving in the middle of that line. He’s getting the big bucks so he better be worth it. The Bears have some space in their salary cap which will not be an issue making other signings. In the third year of the contract which will be the 2026 regular season, if Jackson is not worth keeping he would not cost much against the cap to cut ties with next off-season. His track record raises red flags for me as his career goes on, the less he plays. The Bears did not give up a lot for him. You are not getting a starting offensive lineman in the 6th round of this April’s draft. The pressure will be on Ben Johnson as he is getting paid well and this is his guy. Right now this move will be a wait and see. It could be dynamite in either way. Bears fans hope it does not explode against them like most of their front office moves they have seen for years.
Our record in the NFL regular season does not mean anything and is thrown out the window when it comes to the post-season. Now we dive into the first round of the playoffs and we dissect each match up the best we can. We have predictions for each match up. We hope the Kansas City Chiefs get ousted and do not make the Superbowl. That is my first goal. Which many of you have the same opinion. We do not want to see that meathead Travis Kelce rejoicing with multiple Taylor Swift showings in a Superbowl win. The Chiefs and Lions have that first round bye. Next week we hope we have a prediction to axe the Chiefs out of the tournament. My second goal is to try to make the right prediction on each match up in front of me. These match ups are intense because many of these games can go either way. These are my wild card picks. All games are straight Pick-Em and nothing to do with the spread. Hope we knock each match up out of the park.
NFL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND STRAIGHT PICK-EM
SATURDAY GAMES
AFC
#5.LA CHARGERS (11-6) AT #4.HOUSTON TEXANS (10-7)
NO PLAYOFF HISTORY
It seems like the Houston Texans have locked down the first game of the post-season that is always scheduled on Saturday afternoon. Jim Harbaugh looks to become the second head coach in NFL history to win a playoff game in his first season with two different teams.
C.J Stroud is (1-1) in post-season with both games coming last season. Justin Herbert is (0-1) all time in post-season. He started that game where the Chargers blew a 27 point half time lead to the Jaguars.
The Texans were the experts’ sexy pick going into the regular season with the belief that they would go deep into the post-season. The Chargers lost many players in the off-season and it looked more like a rebuilding year for them. Jim Harbaugh has a lucky horseshoe up his rear because he can turn around a franchise quickly and he did. Many did not expect the Chargers to make it to post-season. Justin Herbert has thrown the least amount of interceptions. He goes against the defense that have the most interceptions this past season. Chargers have been rolling while the Texans have been stumbling most of the second half of regular season. CJ Stroud is struggling with two of his top receivers done for the season in Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs. The Chargers offense can eat up the clock with a well-balanced attack by Harbaugh. The Chargers pass rush will cause Stroud some problems. From the eye test, the Texans have not been good while the Chargers have played solid football for several weeks now. The Texans are just off to me. They are going through the motions and are not the same team that beat the Browns in the first round of post-season last year. I like Herbert taking care of the football and milking away the clock to a mistake-free game by LA.
OUR PICK: CHARGERS
AFC
#6.PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-7) AT #3.BALTIMORE RAVENS (12-5)
PLAYOFF HISTORY: Steelers (3-1) Ravens
These two division rivals, the Steelers and Ravens, will meet for the 3rd time this season. They split the regular season series (1-1).
Russell Wilson is (9-7) all-time in the post-season. All of those games for Wilson came wearing a Seahawks uniform. Then Lamar Jackson who is (2-4) all time in post-season. Jackson went (1-1) in post-season last year.
Lamar Jackson slayed the Steelers dragon in the last meeting when these two teams faced off. The Ravens gave the Steelers a good solid beat down. The Steelers have struggled down the stretch as they are on a 4 game losing streak. For Jackson, the Steelers are the only team all-time in the division he has a losing record to, as he is only (3-5) all-time. The Steelers will be looking to insert their back up QB in certain situations and see if Justin Fields can provide an offensive spark. The Steelers offense need a jump start because the Wilson battery has run dry. The Steelers defense played well versus a top offense in the league last week holding Joe Burrow’s Bengals to 19. The Steelers only scored 17. The Ravens have put up a ton of points and their defense has gotten better. The Ravens defense is nowhere near what they were last season in post-season. One of the top units in the league. Mike Tomlin Steelers have lost their last 5 playoffs games as they’ve been one and done. I see it happening again. The Steelers will use Derrick Henry and Jackson’s legs to eventually wear out a Steelers defense that will show up and play well. The question is: Where’s the Beef in the Steelers offense? Fields is not the answer.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
SUNDAY GAMES
AFC
#7.DENVER BRONCOS (10-7) AT #2.BUFFALO BILLS (13-4)
PLAYOFF HISTORY: BILLS (1-0) BRONCOS
Last Sunday the Broncos needed to win to get in. They did it at home versus the Chiefs and blew them out (38-0). The Chiefs rested 10 of their starters. The Bills rested many of their starters in a loss to the Patriots in New England.
The rookie quarterback for the Broncos, Bo Nix, will make his first career playoff start. The Bills’ Josh Allen has started 10 playoff games where he is (5-5) all-time.
The Broncos have one of the best defenses in the NFL this season. The Bills have one of the best offenses in the league. Can Bo Nix thrive on the road in a very hard place to win in Buffalo? The Broncos will have to take advantage of the Bills’ 3rd down defense which is the worst in this post-season tournament. Last year Sean Payton came into Buffalo with Russell Wilson and beat the Bills in a regular season game. The Bills are a different animal than that team. You can not pin down one guy on this Bills offense. The Bills offense line is solid and Allen can make plays on the run which can cripple even the best of the best defenses in the league. Bills are (8-0) at home this season. They are (4-1) under Allen in the wild card round. The Bills will be healthier on defense, which they will need. I think the Broncos will play well. The Bills have done well against rookie QB’s. The Broncos have struggled winning games against teams with a winning record. The Bills Mafia behind you in this one will not help this Broncos team. Bills prevail in the second half and put the Broncos away late third quarter.
OUR PICK: BILLS
NFC
#7.GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-6) AT #2.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (14-3)
PLAYOFF HISTORY: Eagles (2-1) Packers
The Packers lost to the Eagles during the regular season. Jalen Hurts will be back for this game as he missed the last few games from a concussion. The Packers have a concern with Jordan Love’s elbow which he hurt playing the Bears in the final game of the season.
Jordan Love is (1-1) as a starter in post-season. Jalen Hurts had the Eagles in the Superbowl a few seasons ago and has a (2-3) playoff record as a starter.
Can Jordan Love have a short memory mentally and not relive the injury he suffered when the Packers played this same Eagles team in Brazil? Saquon Barkley scored three touchdowns in that game versus the Packers. Barkley has three straight games versus the Packers where he has tallied at least 100 or more scrimmage yards in those contests. The Packers are still one of the youngest teams in the NFL. So, can they pull out an upset in this one? Josh Jacobs has been unstoppable in recent weeks and did not play the full game versus the Bears. He did not leave the game with an injury. I have some concern over Love’s elbow injury. I think the Eagles defense can contain Jacobs from not having a huge game. The Packers have not done well record-wise against teams with winning records this season. They have given these teams battles but have fallen short. This is a game where you think the Packers can pull off the upset. I feel Jalen Hurts will respond with a nice game and use Barkley to do most of the heavy lifting. Love makes mistakes and he will throw 1 or 2 interceptions that the Eagles will cash in on. Then eventually Philadelphia will prevail at home which is a tough place to win.
OUR PICK: EAGLES
NFC
#6.WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (12-5) AT #3.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (10-7)
PLAYOFF HISTORY: Buccaneers (2-1) Redskins
Jayden Daniels should be a lock for rookie of the year for the Commanders. The Buccaneers beat the Commanders and ruined the debut of Daniels’ first start in the NFL in the first week of the season.
This will be the first ever playoff start for the rookie Jayden Daniels who guided the Commanders to post-season in his very first season in the NFL. For Baker Mayfield, this will be his 5th start in the post-season. He is (2-2) all-time in post-season. Mayfield beat the Eagles last season & then lost to the Lions in the divisional game.
This game has the signs to be an old fashioned shoot out between the Commanders and the Buccaneers. The Buccaneers offense ranks number (4) in the NFL scoring 29.5 (PPG) points per game. The Commanders ranked number 5 in points per game in the NFL with 28.5 PPG. Who has the better defense? The Buccaneers defense since the bye in week 11 have allowed only 17 PPG. The Buccaneers defense are (6-1) down the stretch of the season. They have allowed only 3.3 in the second half of that stretch. Meanwhile the Commanders defense is better versus the pass than the run. The Commanders rank number 30 against the run this season in the NFL. This should be good for Buck Irving who is probably licking his chops because when he reached the 80 mark in yards on the ground, the Buccaneers are (6-0) in that 7 game stretch to end the season. The Commanders have had some magical comebacks in the last few weeks. Besides the Hail Mary play by Daniels versus the Bears, he had a nice drive to put the Eagles on ice a few weeks back. It may be who has the ball last is the team that wins this score fest. The Buccaneers still have many holdovers from that Tom Brady led team a few years back. The Commanders lack the post-season experience as the Buccaneers have did this and done that. I like Mayfield to stay red hot. I think Daniels makes a great impression in his first ever start in the NFL. The Commanders fall short. Perhaps like a field goal short.
OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS
MONDAY NIGHT
NFC
#5.MINNESOTA VIKINGS (14-3) AT #4.LA RAMS (10-7)
PLAYOFF HISTORY: RAMS 5-2 VIKINGS
This game will be played at Arizona, home of the Cardinals, who are on the couch watching the post-season. They moved the game due to the LA wildfires that are creating havoc on the west coast.
Matthew Stafford has won a Superbowl and is (4-4) all-time in post-season play. Then you have Sam Darnold who has never started a playoff game in his NFL career. Darnold has played in one playoff game as a 49er in a mop up role.
The Vikings were brought back down to Earth last week on Sunday night versus the Lions. It snapped an impressive winning streak of 9 games and at the same time, the loss dropped them to the number 5 seed. If they would have won, they would have a first round bye with the number 1 seed. The Rams have had a roller coaster season for them up and down, they are very streaky and could be very dangerous in the post-season. The Vikings this season won 14 games which is the most ever by a wild card team in NFL history. The Vikings lost to the Rams in regular season. The Vikings defense could not contain the Rams receiver Puka Nacua who had a big game. Brian Flores, the defensive coach, has elevated this Viking defense to another level which should throw everything at the Rams including the kitchen sink. Both the Rams and the Vikings defenses have to blitz these quarterbacks to throw their game off. The Lions did that to Sam Darnold last week and he missed some easy throws. This match up has some stud receivers as we need to mention Cooper Kupp, the other Rams weapon of mass destruction. Then the Vikings may have the best receiver in the NFC in Justin Jefferson. Both teams have a solid running game behind them. This could be a shoot out, but it would not surprise me if the score ends up like 20-17 either. In close games, the Vikings know how to seal the deal. The Rams baffle me because they can score 40-something points versus the Bills and then be held to 13 against the Cardinals. Both teams have young bright minds as head coaches. Sean McVay seems to be on a different level than most leaders in the game. You have to chalk up experience to Stafford. Did the deal that Darnold signed with the devil expire last week in Detroit? If the Vikings are going to win this, they need Darnold to have a good game. The Rams are too unpredictable down the stretch with that offensive output each contest was lower than a limbo stick. The Rams have a weakness at the corner back position. I think the Vikings can exploit that. The best record of a wild card team before this was the Tennessee Titans at 13-3 and they went to the Superbowl in 1999. Unfortunately they played the St. Louis Rams in that one and lost. I like the Vikings defense to turn things around. This game is on a neutral field in Arizona which should benefit the Vikings. Viking are my road warrior of the weekend.
In last April’s NFL draft, we saw six quarterbacks get selected in the first round. We now have seen 5 of them get action in their first year in the NFL. How has each QB done thrown to the wolves in the NFL, their rookie season? Some of these guys have started for their team day 1. One of these guys is just coming off his second start after sitting most of the season watching. Has it been a Happy New Year for the six franchises that chose the guy they hope would be their franchise QB for several years to come? Will any of these teams have new year resolutions to find another guy? Is it too early to judge these guys with only one season under their belt? We will rank them from worst to first which does not mean anything for the long haul. We will judge them by their performance on the field for this season. Some of these teams did not help their guy with protection as the offensive line was loose as a goose. We will take that into consideration. Here’s our list as we go worst to first in the 2024 first round rookie QB’s.
#6. JJ MCCARTHY: VIKINGS
JJ McCarthy never got on the field in the regular season due to an injury in pre-season. McCarthy’s pre-season injury ended his entire rookie season. If you were going to grade him, it’s an incomplete. McCarthy was selected number 10 in the NFL draft by the Vikings from the University of Michigan. He was coming off a season where he won the National Championship for the Wolverines. With veteran Sam Darnold playing out of his mind for the Vikings this season, will Minnesota end up trading McCarthy next year? This could be a blunder by the Vikings or a blessing in disguise. If McCarthy is a future bust, getting something for him now as he is still an unknown in the NFL could be plentiful. If Sam Darnold goes back to his old Darnold ways after you traded away McCarthy, then you’re back to square one. Do you trust Darnold coming off his best season in the NFL which may be his only good season he has ever had in the league? The jury is still out on this pick. The jury is definitely still out on Darnold.
#5. MICHAEL PENIX: FALCONS
Michael Peniz was drafted by the Falcons number 8 in last April’s draft from the University of Washington. Many wondered why the Falcons drafted a quarterback after shelling out the big bucks to veteran Kirk Cousins. Penix has had the opportunity to stand on the sidelines this season and watch a veteran like Captain Kirk. Guys like Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers benefited from holding the clipboard their first season in the league. Penix has finally been able to start the last two games as the Falcons have been hoping for a spark. Cousins has not done well in the last several weeks for the Falcons, so it was time to unleash the rookie. In two NFL games, Penix is completing 59.7% of his passes which is the lowest out of any other QB from the first round in last year’s draft. Penix is 1-1 as a starter and has tallied 463 passing yards with one touchdown pass and two interceptions. Was he called in to try to be the savior of this Falcons season? Lot of pressure. I think the entire NFL world has to see more on what he can do. The Falcons will trot him out there for the final game of the season. We know one thing, if I’m this franchise we are done with Cousins. The Falcons will look for a back up for Penix going into next season as they hope he will be QB 1.
#4.DRAKE MAYE: PATRIOTS
Drake Maye was drafted by the Patriots 3rd overall in the NFL draft from the University of North Carolina. Maye has started 11 games and is so far 2-9 as a starter in the NFL. He has completed 66.8% of his passes which is second highest among this rookie class. He has shown he can stand in the pocket and deliver a pass in tight windows. In 11 games he has thrown 15 touchdown passes compared to 10 interceptions. He has tallied 2,276 passing yards. I like his leadership. As a rookie he does make that one stupid throw a game, as he has thrown the 2nd most interceptions out of all these rookies, but he has played a few games less than Bo Nix who has the most. Out of all the QB’s he does not have the big name play maker to throw to like the other guys have one or even more of those weapons. Maye has also added two rushing touchdowns. He is a QB with a big frame so the Patriots could use him to score at the goal line using the tush push. We also would like to question the present coaching staff for the Patriots. Jerod Mayo is not the guy as they need some Miracle Whip to get Maye to the next level in his NFL career.
#3. CALEB WILLIAMS: BEARS
Caleb Williams was the number one pick in the 2024 NFL draft by the Bears. They got Williams out of USC and many thought he was the sure thing. Chicago is where quarterbacks and wide receivers go to die in their careers. Williams has started all 16 games so far as he is 4-12 under center as a starter. Williams has completed 61.9% of his passes which is hard to believe as he is closing in on David Carr’s old rookie record of being sacked the most in their first season in NFL history. The knock on Williams is he holds on to the football too long. You could also make the argument the Bears have one of the worst offensive lines in the league. He’s a quarterback that can run, but he always wants to throw first even when being chased as he has 19 touchdown passes to only 6 interceptions. He has tallied 3,393 passing yards. During his rookie season, the Bears fired the offensive coordinator. Then the front office fired their head coach. Then they promoted the new offensive coordinator to interim head coach in Thomas Brown. No way the Bears will keep Brown as they will move on and Williams will have to learn a new offense next season. Williams has shown glimpses of being a hell of a QB. He has also left you moments where you are scratching your head.
#2. BO NIX: BRONCOS
Bo Nix was the last quarterback selected in the first round. He went number 12 and was selected by the Broncos from the University of Oregon. You could say Nix has benefited from a QB whisperer in Sean Payton, the head coach for Denver. Nix started off slow but has really played well most of the season and surprised many experts regarding what this kid can do in the NFL. He is 9-7 as a starter and the Broncos need one more win to get to the post-season. He has completed 65.1% of his passes in year one. He has 3,454 passing yards with 25 touchdown passes as he is tied with Jayden Daniels for the most by one of these rookie sensations so far. He has 12 interceptions which is the most, but he started more games than Drake Maye. Nix has also used his legs as he has 4 rushing touchdowns. Nix has command of that Broncos offense. I have seen him throw some dimes to his receivers. The Bronco fans should be really happy because it has been a long time since Denver had a solid QB. You bet all the fans are singing the Rocky Mountain High with this rookie in place. You could make an argument he has been the top QB of this draft class as well.
#1.JAYDEN DANIELS: COMMANDERS
Jayden Daniels was selected 2nd overall in the 2024 NFL draft from LSU. The few experts that said before the draft that Daniels was the best QB in the draft should be whistling Dixie, because he played like it this season. Daniels has turned around a dysfunctional franchise that Washington was, very quickly. Daniels has been the starter for the Commanders since day 1 and is 11-5 behind center. He has the highest completion percentage of 69.4% which is outstanding. He is a double threat – a guy that can beat you running the ball or in the air with the pass. He has tallied up 3.530 passing yards which is the best out of this class. He has 25 touchdown passes which is tied with Bo Nix out of this class. He has three less interceptions than Bo with only 9. With the legs, he has 6 rushing touchdowns. He has been big in the clutch. He has engineered multiple game winning drives in his first season in the NFL. He has thrown some very nice balls through tiny windows to get the completion to his play makers. You may see Daniels win a playoff game as Washington is in the post-season as a wild card. He seems like a QB in the playoffs and in big moments he does not panic. This is why he is my number one choice right now from the 2024 1st round QB picks. The Hail Mary drive versus the Bears. Then the dart he threw in the last minute of regulation to beat the Eagles.
We triple dog dare you to read our NFL WEEK 17 predictions.
LAST WEEK’S RECORD:(11-5)
THURSDAY’S RECORD:(10-8)
FRIDAY’S RECORD:(1-1)
SATURDAYS RECORD:(2-0)
MONDAY NIGHT RECORD:(14-5)
SEASON RECORD:(160-80)
NFL WEEK 17 STRAIGHT PICK-EM
THE CHRISTMAS GAMES
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS(14-1) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS(10-5)
The first Christmas game on the docket for week 17 we will find out if the Steelers are contenders or pretenders. The Chiefs are looking yet for another year of clinching the number one seed in the AFC with a win here. The Steelers last weekend lost to the Ravens and now have the same record in the division with the AFC North on the line. Patrick Mahomes is 22-5 all-time versus head coaches that have won a Superbowl. Mike Tomlin has did that/done that. This game I’m looking for a Miracle of 34th Street win by the Steelers who are at home and need to show me something. The Raiders took down the Chiefs last Christmas, so I’m hoping Kansas City continues that history. I’m not all Ye Faithful on this pick. I’m going for it.
OUR PICK: STEELERS
BALTIMORE RAVENS(10-5) AT HOUSTON TEXANS(9-6)
Lamar Jackson slayed his demons of getting in one better on the Steelers last Sunday. The Texans lost to the Chiefs and CJ Stroud paid a dear price losing another one of his top notch wide receivers for the year in Tank Dell. The Ravens knocked Stroud and the Texans out of the playoffs last year. The Texans will also play one of their old foes they are familiar with twice a year trying to stop running back Derrick Henry. For years, Henry walked all over the Texans as a Titan where he averaged 102.2 yards per game against Houston. The Texans are 2-12 all-time against the Ravens. I like the Ravens in this one which should come easy for them as the Texans have not played well in a very long time.
OUR PICK: RAVENS
THURSDAY NIGHT GAME
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS(8-7) AT CHICAGO BEARS(4-11)
The Seahawks’ only chance to make it to the post-season is winning out their remaining two games. They need major help as the Rams have to lose their last two games of the season. Meanwhile the Bears finally generated some first half points in last week’s loss to the Lions. The Bears have been shut out in the first half in multiple games as the losing streak has hit 9. With that 9 game losing streak, Caleb Williams is making history as he is tied for second in being a QB selected number one since 1950 to have lost this many game in a row. Troy Aikman is number 1 with 11 losses in a row. I can see the Bears making this a tough game for Seattle traveling this far to Chicago. The Bears have been a disaster and have gotten worse since they fired Matt Eberflus. Thomas Brown is not Head Coach material being the interim as he is in way over his head. Too much at stake in this one for Seattle who played well last week and were just beat by the Vikings at home. This Seattle team actually plays better on the road. Make it number 10 for Caleb.
OUR PICK:SEAHAWKS
THE SATURDAY DOCKET
LA CHARGERS(9-6) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS(3-12)
The Chargers showed the NFL world they can beat a team over the .500 mark as they won a close one versus their division rival, Denver Broncos. The Patriots gave the Bills a battle last Sunday. Were the Bills just of sync in that one? The Patriots have now lost 5 straight. The Chargers will be flying across the country to try to clinch a playoff berth in Jim Harbaugh’s first season in LA. I like the way the Patriots quarterback, Drake Maye, has played so far this season. The Patriots have been in many games but one or two plays backfire and changes the entire game’s outcome for them. Justin Herbert is not asked to do it by himself any more for the Chargers so their running game in the clod will help LA control the clock. The Patriots weakness last week was the running game more than the pass attack. The Chargers defense should confuse Maye just enough. I like the Chargers getting it done on defense.
OUR PICK: CHARGERS
DENVER BRONCOS(9-6) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS(7-8)
Somehow the Bengals are still alive in week 17 looking to unlock the back door to get into post-season. The Broncos had a bump in the road that happened last Thursday facing their arch-rival, the Chargers, as they lost a close one. The Bengals have won three straight and need one win to get back to the .500 mark and getting a win vs the Broncos means they certainly will linger around another week. Broncos need one win & they would be in the post-season. The Bengals need to win both their games and rely on help. The Broncos are 1-6 versus winning teams this season. The Bengals are not a winning team, but Joe Burrow can cause you problems. The Broncos have a solid defense. But Burrow and that Bengals offense can score on any defense in the league. Bo Nix would become legendary in his rookie season if he can slay Burrow and the Bengals and stamp this team into the post-season. The Bengals defense sucks. Over the 3 games, this unit has to play better. Not lights out, but they will have enough to help this Bengals team live for another week.
OUR PICK: BENGALS
ARIZONA CARDINALS(7-8) AT LA RAMS(9-6)
It seems like week 2 of the NFL season was a long time ago in a galaxy far far away with these two teams. Back in week two the Cardinals plucked the eyes out of the Rams with a 41-10 beat down. It was looking like a season where the Cardinals were going to print off some playoff tickets. Arizona has fallen on hard times. Last Sunday the Carolina Panthers put the final nail in their coffin. The Cards head to LA with nothing to play for, only to spoil the Rams’ further holiday celebrations. The Rams have won 4 straight. They need one win to clinch the NFC West. The Cards have had a hard time converting touchdowns in the red zone. The Cards defense played well for a stretch of the season, but now have let teams do what they want to them. Sean McVay will have his team seeing red and the Rams will get their revenge from week two with a win at home, get the last laugh, and head to the post-season. I like the Rams offense because it’s rolling. Their young defense gives teams a challenge.
OUR PICK: RAMS
THE SUNDAY SLATE
CAROLINA PANTHERS(4-11) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS(8-7)
Can the Carolina Panthers bring the Buccaneers home to the couch for the post-season? The Buccaneers had control of their own destiny until the hiccup last week versus the Cowboys snapped a winning streak. Now the Buccaneers need to beat the Panthers and hope the Falcons lose to the Commanders to get back their control of their own destiny. It was only a few weeks ago when the Buccaneers survived a game versus the Panthers that went to over-time. The Panthers have been better as Bryce Young has found his game in the NFL. I don’t think Young and this Panthers team have winning down yet just because they got by the Cardinals last week that went to over-time. Look for Baker Mayfield to be the gunslinger in this one using all the rounds from all the chambers of his gun to have that big game and lift this Buccaneers team off the ground from that Cowboys loss. It’s not like the Falcons are playing the Jaguars or Raiders.
OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS
DALLAS COWBOYS(7-8) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(12-3)
The Cowboys surprised me with a win over the Buccaneers. Cooper Rush is looking like one of the better back up QB’s in the NFL. The Eagles would love to have him for this game. The Eagles lost their starter Jalen Hurts during the loss they took from the Commanders with a concussion. Will Hurts be able to go? The Eagles had the game in hand with their back up Kenny Pickett who threw the ball right into the chest of DeVonta Smith who dropped a sure thing. A first down. A play that could seale it for the Eagles. Commanders marched down, scored the winning touchdown, and took the game. The Eagles back up QB has a rib issue and it’s not the McRib sandwich returning for Mickey D’s. If Pickett or Hurts can’t go, it will be Tanner McKee or recently signed QB Ian Brook. Problems in Philly indeed. My gut tells me Pickett will get the nod and with running back Saquon Barkley, this offense will get the points they need to win this game and a better performance out of that defense. The Eagles will survive.
OUR PICK:EAGLES
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS(7-8) AT NEW YORK GIANTS(2-13)
The Indianapolis Colts playoff hopes still remain alive after a big win over the Titans last week. The Giants have lost now ten straight but have their sights on having the number one draft pick in next year’s draft. The Colts ran Jonathan Taylor who went off on the Titans defense for over 200 yards and three scores. Look for Taylor to have a big game. Drew Lock will get the start for the G-men which the Colts defense has to be licking their chops because this unit has forced a few turnovers in the last two weeks. Lock has thrown 4 interceptions to one touchdown pass in his last three starts. Lock has also fumbled the ball 4 times. Anthony Richardson who has played better will just need to feed the ball to Taylor to get the Colts back to the .500 mark and hope they get the help they need to live another week.
OUR PICK: COLTS
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS(3-12) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS(5-10)
The Saints were blown up by the Packers on Monday night. The Raiders snapped a very long losing streak with a win over the Jaguars. The loss to the Packers was the worst game the Saints had under their new interim coach, Darren Rizzi. It’s too bad Derek Carr will not play for the Saints as he would face his old team for the first time since leaving Vegas. Spencer Rattler was not good versus the Packers as the second stringer for the Saints has been up and down filling in for Carr. Aiden O’Connell gives me confidence for the Raiders that Rattler will not give me for the Saints. O’Connell did not make any mistakes last week as he had over 200 yards passing. The Saints are torn up by injuries. Give me O’Connell and that Raiders defense getting by this banged up Saints team. Raiders find their second win in a row and are winning at the wrong time of the season for draft positioning or even saving their head coach’s job.
OUR PICK: RAIDERS
NEW YORK JETS(4-11) AT BUFFALO BILLS(12-3)
I don’t even know why the Jets still are marching Aaron Rodgers out there. They will most likely move on from Rodgers next season. The Bills have slim chances to get the number one seed in the AFC, but the number two seed they need to clinch. With a win over the Jets, the Bills can clinch the number two seed and then rest their guys in the final week of the season. The Bills came out poorly last week versus the Patriots as Josh Allen banged up his hand late in that game. The Jets suffered another loss under Rodgers’ regime in New York. The Bills players hates this Jets team. They are at home. The defense played better last week getting some turnovers versus the Patriots, which this unit should be able to turn up the heat on Rodgers and force him into a few mistakes. I like the Bills getting out of the gates fast in this one and taking care of business right away,using the running game to wear out the Jets defense.
OUR PICK: BILLS
TENNESSEE TITANS(3-12) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS(3-12)
Who really cares about this game? The Titans had a comeback last week but fell short versus the Colts. The Jaguars lost to the Raiders . I like the veteran back up QB Mason Rudolf around the holidays.
This Titans team has been falling down drunk the entire year. I like Rudolf to guide this Titans sleigh over a bad Jaguars defense. Right in Mason’s wheelhouse of teams he can beat. Plus Mac Jones is hot garbage behind center for the Jaguars.
OUR PICK: TITANS
MIAMI DOLPHINS(7-8) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS(3-12)
Have the Browns cashed in already their 2024 season and shifted to thinking about their off-season plans? How cold will it be for the Miami Dolphins in Cleveland? Miami will know by the time they play on Sunday: Will their post-season hopes be crushed or will they still have one of their nine lives remaining? The Browns have a defense and home field here. The Dolphins have feasted on the bottom of the barrel teams in the NFL. For the Browns, Dorian Thompson-Robinson does nothing for me at QB 1. Too many names is my knock on him besides not being a starter in the NFL. I did not think the Dolphins would get by the 49ers. I like Dolphins no matter what even if it’s saving the McGenius aka Mike McDaniels’ job.
Do they clone the same Head Coaches in the Miami sports landscape? The Heat coach Erik with a K Spoelstra looks like McGenius’ brother.
OUR PICK: DOLPHINS
GREEN BAY PACKERS(11-4) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS(13-2)
This is for sure the game of the week to watch. All these teams in the NFC North, except the Bears, are must watch television. The last time these two teams met, the Vikings won 31-29 at the end of September. This game will come down to the end of regulation on whoever has the ball last wins. The Vikings still have a chance at the NFC North title as they’ve been right on the Lions’ back. The Packers were the first team this season to get a shut out which they did versus the Saints. The Packers have clinched a playoff spot but do not want to fall down to another spot in the seedings in the NFC. This game is a coin toss. The Packers have done very well with the medium opponents and below medium. Can they take out a bigwig? The Vikings seem to win every game by a few points. Is Sam Darnold for real? He saved this Vikings team this season. I like the Packers knocking off the Vikes with good defense. I like the Packers controlling the clock with the running game that features Josh Jacobs. I think Darnold stumbles in this one and Packers prevail in this one.
OUR PICK: PACKERS
THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME
ATLANTA FALCONS(8-7) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS(10-5)
Can the Falcons ride the Michael Penix train all the way to post-season? Penix’s debut versus a bad Giants team was solid. Jayden Daniels had a very impressive drive as the Commanders knocked off the Eagles in the last minute of the game. Both teams need a win this match up. For Atlanta they need a win and Buccaneers loss to get in as the NFC South champion. For the Commanders they are still alive with a shot at the division. If they win they are in the playoffs. If they lose and the Buccaneers lose their game, they are in the playoffs. This game has a lot of pressure on Penix, only in his second game of his NFL career. The Commanders are much better than the Giants. I like Daniels to deliver in this one and get this Commanders team in the playoffs with a win in a pretty good game. Daniels was chucking it all over the field versus a solid Eagles defense. I like his chances to do the same thing versus this Falcons defense.
OUR PICK: COMMANDERS
THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME
DETROIT LIONS(13-2) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS(6-9)
Does this game set any records for the most injured players in one game?
Santa would be looking at an injured list over a naughty or nice list. The Lions have something to play for. The 49ers are that typical team that suffers that hangover after losing in the Superbowl. The Lions offense is still firing on most of its cylinders, even though they are missing a part of their two headed monster at running back. The Lions win and they clinch the NFC North, and become the number one seed in the NFC. The 49ers may give the Lions a game for the first half, and then Detroit will bust this one out in the second half. The bye week will benefit the Lions next week with nothing to play for and first game bye the following week. Then they may get some these guys back in action.
The Wild shamrock 