Top 5 Games to Look Forward to in the 2020 NFL Season
Now that the NFL schedule has been released, we finally have light at the end of the tunnel during this global pandemic. Sports will return soon, but in the meantime, we have to listen to Cowboys fans talk about how they’re gonna go anywhere from 13-3 to 16-0, win the NFC East, win the Super Bowl, but also how they’re going to beat the crap out of the Philadelphia Eagles.
No just kidding, but Cowboys fans aren’t the only ones with high hopes for this season. The season promises to bring a lot of intriguing matchups, and it’s impossible to breakdown all of them right now, but here are five of the top games I’m looking forward to this upcoming season.
Chiefs at Ravens on Monday Night Football (Week 3). A matchup of the last two MVPs, this time on Baltimore’s turf. Mahomes is 2-0 against Lamar in the early stages of his career, but both games have been in Kansas City. In addition, these two teams are some of the current odds on favorites to win the Super Bowl (KC at +400, Baltimore at +700).
Buccaneers vs Saints (Weeks 1 and 9). Tom Brady vs Drew Brees. Need I say more? These are two of the best QBs to ever play the game. For all we know, this ~ could ~ be the last time these two QBs ever matchup against one another again. Their Week 9 matchup will be on Sunday Night Football
Vikings at Saints on Christmas Day (Week 16). Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings return to the Superdome to play Drew Brees and the Saints who fell out of the playoffs at the hands of the Vikings last season. These two teams are perennial playoff teams and having a matchup this late in the season between the two could shake up the NFC standings and be a big factor in who end up getting the coveted playoff bye week one seed now that the NFL has switched to the new playoff format.
Titans at Broncos on Monday Night Football (Week 1). I’m intrigued by this game because both teams have invested in their QBs a lot these last couple seasons. Ryan Tannehill was the solid rock that gave the Titans stability at the position in order to make a run to the AFC Title game last season. Denver on the other hand has found Drew Lock who was decent as a rookie QB last season after becoming the starter late in the season. Denver has also given Drew Lock tons of weapons through the draft, most notably drafting WRs Jerry Jeudy out of Alabama and KJ Hamler out of Penn State, while signing RB Melvin Gordon in Free Agency to go along with RB Phillip Lindsey. I think both teams could be serious players in the AFC playoff picture.
Eagles at Cowboys (Week 16). In all seriousness though, the Eagles and Cowboys are two teams that in my opinion should reach the playoffs. Matching them up against one another this late in the season will have serious implications on the NFC East division title and the NFC playoff picture as a whole. Look out for rookie WRs Ceedee Lamb for Dallas and Jalen Reagor for Philadelphia as they aim to make a big impact on their respective teams
This past week, Jalen Green, the number one high school basketball prospect according to the 2020 ESPN recruiting rankings, made his decision on where he would play next basketball season. No, it wasn’t Memphis nor was it Auburn, schools that had been considered the frontrunners for him. Instead, it was a one year, $500,000 contract with the NBA G-League that offers an additional development program outside of the league’s traditional team structure.
This move allows for professional development from NBA personnel for an entire year while being paid, which cannot happen in college, supposedly.
The move only adds more momentum to the already swift movement that is sweeping over the high school and college basketball ranks. More and more players are leaving, or rejecting, playing at big time colleges in favor of getting paid and playing in professional leagues at home and abroad. Just in the last year, RJ Hampton (former five-star guard out of HS) decided not to go to Kansas but instead to go to the NBL in Australia/New Zealand to play (Hampton has said he would’ve gone to Kansas should he have played in college). Lamelo Ball, younger brother New Orleans Pelicans PG Lonzo Ball, went the same route as Hampton. Isaiah Todd (five-star prospect out of HS in the class of 2020) decommitted from Michigan to pursue development in the G-League, just like Green.
This new movement is good for these players. If they’re good enough to go out and play professionally and, most importantly, get paid, why wouldn’t you choose this route?
Initially, this new wave seems as if it could be extremely detrimental to big time college basketball schools like Duke and Kentucky, who consistently reel in five-star prospects year after year, but I do not believe that is the case.
While top high school players will be more enticed to earn money and get professional development now, there is no shortage of high school basketball players who desire to play college ball. Players who want to go play college basketball will get the chance, and out of that group of players, the best will still likely want to go to the traditional “blue blood” schools like Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Kansas.
Thus, if this wave of top players leaving to pursue professional opportunities continues (and I don’t see a reason why it wouldn’t continue), more and more emphasis will be placed on how well college coaches develop players who are not as good as some of those top prospects coming out of high school.
This is something that I think Jay Wright, Bill Self, Roy Williams, and even coaches like Mark Few, and Scott Drew are exceptional at especially in recent memory.
Among those coaches, they have produced a few notable players who have had significant impacts on their respective teams and made them some of the premier teams in America during their tenure in college. These guys include Ryan Arcidiacono (Villanova), Donte DiVincenzo (Villanova), Frank Mason (Kansas), Devonte Graham (Kansas), Killian Tillie (Gonzaga), Rui Hachimura (Gonzaga), Johnathan Motley (Baylor), and Mark Vital (Baylor) just to name a few.
That list of players includes six Final Four appearances (one for Arcidiacono, two for DiVincenzo, one for Graham, one for Tillie, and one for Hachimura), three National Titles (one for Arcidiacono and two for DiVincenzo), one Wooden Award Winner (Mason), two more premier candidates for the Wooden award in their respective seasons (Motley ’16-’17 and Graham ’17-‘18), and arguably one of the best defenders and most athletic players in college basketball currently (Vital).
Now that is not to say that coaches like Mike Krzyzewski and John Calipari are not good at developing players, because they are good. It just so happens that these two coaches are at the two schools – Duke and Kentucky – that consistently reel in five-star prospect after five-star prospect. Just look at the growth that players like Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving, Tyus Jones, John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, and Anthony Davis have had over their careers.
This new wave is definitely an obstacle that college coaches will have to adjust to quickly, as many for these college coaches have probably been recruiting these five-star guys for over three to five years.
But let me get this clear: not every five-star prospect will choose to go play professionally. The vast majority will still likely play collegiately because the professional teams and leagues have to have interest in the player as well as vice versa. It’s a two way street.
College Basketball will be fine. This just means that college coaches will have to adjust their recruiting tactics. And in that sense, we get to see some of the best coaches in America face a little adversity and see how they will overcome it.
As always, follow me on Twitter for more sports related content @bradyvaughan30
In case you have not heard about it yet, this weekend marks the biggest game in the history of the Baylor Men’s Basketball program, and that is not an exaggeration. Baylor has NEVER hosted a top 5 opponent WHILE being ranked number one in the AP Poll.
Baylor also just recently broke the record for most consecutive wins (23 wins) by a Big 12 team in the existence of the conference, surpassing the 1996-1997 Kansas Jayhawks (22 wins).
Nobody in Waco expected this year’s Baylor basketball team to be THIS good this season. We thought they’d be good, but a Final Four contender? Given Baylor’s past in basketball I think you’d be insane to expect a Final Four run coming into this season.
Kansas has always had a giant bullseye on its back during basketball season, but Baylor is slowly becoming one of those teams. Scott Drew is gaining the national attention he deserves for being one of the better and more consistent coaches in the sport over the last decade. This game has much more importance to Baylor than it does for Kansas, but its up to Baylor to go and take advantage of that opportunity.
Baylor fans are on the edge of their seats and cannot wait for Saturday to arrive. They don’t just believe they CAN beat Kansas (again); they absolutely believe they WILL beat Kansas for the second time this season, and they have every right in the world to believe they will. The winner of this game will then have the inside track to win the conference regular season title.
Furthermore, College Gameday is coming in town for the second time in the Men’s Basketball Program’s history (only other appearance was 2011 vs Texas, a game in which Baylor lost 60-54). I always have loved that show, especially guys like Jay Bilas and Rece Davis, as they have been there since the show’s inception in 2005.
Since I am a sophomore at Baylor, I am obviously super-pumped for the game this weekend, but being from Overland Park, KS, I have a gigantic interest in this specific game in particular because of one thing: I grew up a diehard fan of the Kansas Jayhawks.
Now if you know me well, you know I was on edge this entire January/early February because of the Kansas City Chiefs and their Super Bowl run. I absolutely adore the Chiefs, but as improbable as this sounds, I am a much bigger Kansas Jayhawks fan than Kansas City Chiefs fan. I don’t even know if my roommates can fathom that but it’s the truth.
When I say diehard Jayhawks fan, I mean going to basketball and football games every Saturday for as long as I can remember (yes, football games too). I mean going to almost every senior night basketball game since 2009. I mean having my mother make me a homemade “Pay Heed All Who Enter; Beware of the Phog” sign that still hangs in my room back in Overland Park. I mean attending Bill Self’s basketball camp for much of my youth. I mean getting a basketball signed by some of my favorite Jayhawks of all time in Tyrell Reed, Marcus Morris, Tyshawn Taylor, Thomas Robinson, Andrew Wiggins, and Joel Embiid. I mean blocking out the first weekend of April every year just on the off chance that the Jayhawks make the Final Four so my family and I can travel and show our support for our beloved Jayhawks.
Me and one of my good friends Lucy at the Baylor vs Kansas game Allen Fieldhouse in March of 2019. I don’t know if I could ever summon the strength to wear an opposing team’s shirt in that building ever again. This is me during my senior year of high school in San Antonio to support the Jayhawks in the 2018 Final Four.
I feel confident saying that my fandom for the Jayhawks is honestly unrivaled by anything in my life. I still text a lot of my friends that go to KU about anything and everything going on the world of sports pertaining to Kansas Athletics. I listen to a multitude of podcasts about Kansas sports, including my favorite one called the “Ain’t No Seats” podcast (Shoutout the hosts Ryan, B-Turn, and AB. You guys are amazing). I listen to every one of their episodes the minute it drops.
But because I do so and because I actively follow Kansas athletics so much from so far away, I am often ridiculed for doing so by my fellow classmates, fraternity brothers, and friends down here in Waco. My Baylor friends could call me a traitor for not cheering 100% for our school. Some of my family members have called me a traitor for not staying 100% crimson and blue.
I fully support Baylor athletics and Kansas athletics at the same time. But because of this weekend, I am caught in an extreme internal conflict.
If I could draw out any particular scenario for how this season finishes, it would be for Baylor and Kansas to win the rest of their games this season and meet in the national title game.
On one hand, I have my current university’s team, who is 24-1 on the season and ranked number one in the AP Poll, vying for their first conference championship in basketball since 1950. On the other hand, I have my childhood team who will always have a special place in my heart, who is ranked number three and just behind Baylor in the conference standings, coming off a season in which it was the first time that they DIDN’T win the conference in the last 15 years.
Both teams are special. Plain and simple. Both teams absolutely can cut down the nets come March, and I will be there every step of the way for both teams until they are either eliminated or win the national championship.
Ever since coming to Baylor, the number one question I have gotten is “Well who are you going to root for when Baylor plays Kansas?” I have always told people I will root for the home team whenever these two teams play, but I would be lying if I said it won’t be extremely hard to do so for this Saturday’s game.
I am a Baylor Bear through and through, but I will never, EVER forget where I came from.
If I had to give a prediction for the game, I will say Baylor wins by a final score of 70-67. Key matchup to watch for will be Baylor’s Jared Butler vs Kansas’ Marcus Garrett.
Given the situation, it seems as if I can’t win no matter what happens on Saturday! But maybe, just maybe, that means I can’t lose…
As always, I’d love for you to support my #brand and follow me on twitter @bradyvaughan30 for more sports related content.
The road leads here! Super Bowl LIV has finally arrived and two of the best teams all year will square off for the Lombardi Trophy: the 13-3 San Francisco 49ers and the 12-4 Kansas City Chiefs
These teams did meet last season in Arrowhead Stadium during Week 3, a game in which the Chiefs won 38-27, but that game has little to no significance.
Let’s take a quick look at how each team got here.
San Francisco 49er’s path to Super Bowl LIV:
The 49ers finished the regular season as the one seed in the NFC. Their 13-3 record was good enough to win them the NFC West division and have the road to the Super Bowl come through Levi’s Stadium on the NFC side of the bracket.
In their first playoff matchup, they were pinned against a confident Minnesota Vikings team in the NFC Divisional round after the Vikings took out Drew Brees and the Saints in the Superdome in New Orleans during the NFC Wild Card Round. Some doubted the 49ers and believed they would be upset, but Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Bosa, and Co. made sure to dispel that notion. The Niners won 27-10 as Garoppolo completed 11-19 passes and threw for 131 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. The Niners offensive line and RB Tevin Coleman controlled the line of scrimmage, as Coleman had 22 carries for 105 yards and 2 TDs.
Next, the Green Bay Packers came rolling into Santa Clara boasting a 13-3 record for themselves, but I for one was not a huge advocate of Green Bay. I thought they would lose against the 49ers, but I did not expect San Fran to jump out to the lead they did.
The Niners jumped out to a 27-0 lead at halftime and never looked back. Thanks to a monster game from RB Raheem Mostert, which included 29 carries for 220 yards and 4 TDs, San Fran ended up winning 37-20 in a game that felt much more lopsided than a 17-point ball game.
While Green Bay’s offense out-gained the Niners’ offense (358 yards to 354 yards), Green Bay also turned the ball over three times, which says a lot about the capabilities of the 49ers defense. DEs Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner, and Dee Ford (former Kansas City Chief) are a presence to be dealt with up front, while CB Richard Sherman and S Jaquiski Tartt and Co. are holding down the secondary. The strength of this 49ers team is their defense and run game and they have ridden those two to their first Super Bowl since 2013.
Kansas City Chiefs path to Super Bowl LIV:
The Kansas City Chiefs finished with a 12-4 regular season record for the second season in a row, winning them the AFC West division while securing the number two seed in the AFC, thanks to the Miami Dolphins knocking off the New England Patriots in Foxboro in Week 17. Due to the way the chips fell in the AFC, the road to the Super Bowl went through Arrowhead for a second consecutive season.
In the AFC Divisional Round, Kansas City welcomed the confident Houston Texans to town. Houston had just come off a dramatic comeback win at home against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card Round, and with the Baltimore Ravens losing the day before, both teams knew that if they won, they would be hosting the AFC championship game against the Tennessee Titans.
Houston jumped out to a 24-0 lead, but from then on it was the Patrick Mahomes show. The Chiefs went on a 51-7 run to close out the game (28-0 run in the 2nd Quarter alone), winning 51-31. Mahomes completed 23-35 attempts for 325 yards and 5 TDs while TE Travis Kelce was able to shake off a couple early drops for 10 receptions, 134 yards, and 3 TDs. Houston QB Deshaun Watson played well, completing 31-52 passes while throwing for 388 yards and 2 TDs, but ultimately it was not enough to replicate Houston’s success against the Chiefs earlier in the season.
Next in the AFC Championship Game, the Tennessee Titans. All the talk heading into the game was about the Chief’s run defense and if they could stop Titans RB Derrick Henry, who had been absolutely terrorizing teams. Henry started off well, but after he scored his lone TD in midway through the 1st Quarter, the Chiefs run defense stepped up, thanks in large part to DT Chris Jones, who missed the Houston game with a leg injury. Jones, among other Chiefs defensive linemen like Frank Clark, Derrick Nnadi, and Terrell Suggs, were able to penetrate the backfield often enough to force Henry to adjust his running lanes, which gave the Chiefs an advantage. QB Patrick Mahomes played out of his mind again, and might have even had the best play of his Chiefs career right before halftime to give KC the lead going into the locker room.
From that point on, the Chiefs never looked back, ultimately winning 35-24 and clinching a spot in the Super Bowl for the first time in 50 years.
3 KEYS TO THE GAME FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
The Niners must convert on 3rd downs. The 49ers must control the ball. Granted in both of the Chief’s playoff games, the opposing team had the Time of Possession advantage, but I believe converting on third downs is of the utmost importance in this game because the 49ers are a more well-balanced team than either the Texans or Titans. The Niners have a good QB in Jimmy Garoppolo who is fully capable of throwing the football, especially when you surround him with weapons like TE George Kittle and WRs Emmanuel Sanders and Deebo Samuel. If the Niners can stay balanced on offense while picking up third downs and eat time off the clock, it gives Patrick Mahomes a lot less to work with and creates a sense of urgency for the Chief’s offense to keep up.
The 49ers must pressure Patrick Mahomes. They have to attempt to disrupt the timing of Mahomes and his receivers. San Francisco has 9 sacks in postseason play thus far. Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner, and Dee Ford must have an impact on the game if the 49ers are to hoist the Lombardi trophy. If they can consistently penetrate the backfield and pressure/knock down Mahomes or forcing Mahomes to improvise and disrupt the timing of him and his receivers, the Niners will have as great chance of winning.
Finally, San Francisco must utilize play action. Their running game is strong enough that the Chiefs will devote tons of time in preparation for it. If the 49ers can have some success running the ball, it will open up play action. If the Niners have success on play action, the Chiefs defense will have a very hard time defending because they will be off balance so much.
3 KEYS TO THE GAME FOR THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS:
The Chiefs defense must force the 49ers to become one dimensional on offense. If Jimmy G and co. keep the Chief’s defense off balance, the Chiefs will have a very difficult time winning. This means that DT Chris Jones, DE Terrell Suggs, and LBs Anthony Hitchens and Reggie Ragland must step up, play sound football, and cover their gaps to stop the running attack of the 49ers. RBs Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert are more than formidable opponents. They can shift the game in their favor in the blink of an eye. The Chiefs must replicate what they did to Derrick Henry in the AFC title game if they are to win.
Sammy Watkins must be a factor. In the regular season, Sammy Watkins popped off for 3 TDs against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first game of the season, but did not do much the rest of the season. Watkins has played a big role in the Chief’s offense this postseason and must continue to do so if KC is to come out on top. Having to cover him, TE Travis Kelce, and WRs Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman is a nightmare for any defense, but especially so if Watkins is performing like he is capable of doing.
Patrick Mahomes must play at an MVP level. Mahomes has been the unquestioned leader of the Chiefs on offense and must play excellent. The Chiefs cannot afford a game where Mahomes is shut down like he was in the first half of the AFC Title game last season against the New England Patriots. The 49ers defense is too good to spot them a double digit lead. Whether Mahomes scrambles to pick up first downs, is making the correct reads on RPOs, or dissecting the coverages correctly, he must take care of the ball and perform at a high level. If he does so, I think the Chiefs have a great chance to come out on top.
PREDICTION:
I think the 49ers try to control the ball throughout the first half. Mostert and Coleman get into a groove offensively by picking up some key first downs. However I am confident that even if the 49ers attempt to control the ball for extended periods of time, the Chiefs will do what they do best, which is striking quickly on offense. I believe this game could come down to turnovers, and I like the Chiefs to get at least one turnover this game. Steve Spagnuolo’s defenses have been known for being very tough to dissect and have proven to work in the Super Bowl against the best of the best (see the Giants Super Bowl title against the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII). Kyle Shanahan is one of the brightest offensive minds in the game and will certainly make adjustments to what he sees from the Chiefs defense, but I think Patrick Mahomes will make just enough plays for the Chiefs to prevail in the 4th Quarter. I’ll take Kansas City 28-24.
as always, follow me on twitter for more opinions and sports related content @bradyvaughan30
Both participants of this year’s AFC Championship game are coming into the game riding incredibly hot streaks. The sixth-seeded Tennessee Titans have beaten three division winners in a row in the Houston Texans (Week 17), the New England Patriots (AFC Wild Card round), and the Baltimore Ravens (AFC Divisional Round), and get their chance to beat the fourth this upcoming Sunday when they travel to Kansas City to take on the number two-seeded Chiefs.
The Chiefs come into this game riding a hot streak of their own. They have won seven straight and have not lost since Week Ten, which is the last time these teams met. The Titans won that matchup 35-32 in Nashville.
This time, the game is in Arrowhead Stadium, the site of last year’s AFC Championship game.
The Titans however, have had success recently against the Chiefs. In addition to beating them earlier this season, Tennessee has beaten the Chiefs in Arrowhead three times since 2014, including in the AFC Wild Card round in 2017, the game of the famous “forward progress” call on Titan’s QB Marcus Mariota. This was also the game in which Marcus Mariota threw a TD pass to himself, if that gives you any idea about the Chiefs’ luck in the playoffs.
Happy 2nd Anniversary of Marcus Mariota being ruled down for “forward progress.” pic.twitter.com/MS1DyrE7Di
Chiefs DT Chris Jones missed last game with an injury to his calf, but is listed as questionable for this week’s game as of Friday at 3:15pm. His presence in the middle of the defensive line would be a huge boost to the Chiefs defense who has struggled to stop the run for a good portion of the year. Last time these teams played, the Titans ran the ball 26 times for a total of 225 yards on the Chiefs, 23 carries and 188 yards of which were provided by star RB Derrick Henry.
Henry has terrorized defenses these last three games, as he has averaged 32 carries/game for 196 yards/game. The continual threat of Henry breaking a big run at any given point keeps defenses off balance, allowing for QB Ryan Tannehill to do just enough with his arm to make plays and put points on the board for the Titans.
Chiefs’ safety Tyrann Mathieu described it best when trying to tackle Derrick Henry after these teams played earlier this year. Mathieu said he thought he broke his jaw trying to tackle Henry and described trying to hit Henry as trying to hit “solid rock.”
With all that in mind, here are three keys to the game for each team:
3KEYS FOR THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS:
The Chiefs must attempt to limit Derrick Henry’s yards on the ground. This is a lot easier said than done, but the Titans go as Derrick Henry goes. If the Chiefs are able to disrupt the Titan’s offensive line and get penetration into the backfield, it makes it that much easier for the Chiefs to stop Henry.
Patrick Mahomes must be MVP-caliber Mahomes. Mahomes’ first game back from injury this season was when the Titans and Chiefs last played in Week Ten. In that game, Mahomes completed 36 of 50 passing attempts and threw for 446 yards and 3 TD’s. Mahomes must make sure the Chiefs do not go three-and-out and are extending drives by making plays with his arm and legs. I believe if the Chiefs want to win this game, Mahomes must replicate his last performance against the Titans on some level.
Tyrann Mathieu must have a major impact. Whether it is defending the pass by covering receivers one on one, lining up as a LB as he has multiple times this season under new DC Steve Spagnuolo, or even stopping Henry on the ground, Tyrann Mathieu can do it all and he must do it all on defense for this Chiefs defense to be successful. He is the unquestioned leader and the defense goes as he goes. If he is making plays and instilling confidence in the defense, then the defense will respond positively and make plays.
3 KEYS TO THE GAME FOR THE TENNESSEE TITANS:
Contrary to one of the Chiefs’ keys, the Titans must establish Henry and the ground game early and often. If the Titans can control the ground, they can control the game. Establishing Henry and pounding the rock keeps the reigning MVP off the field in the biggest game of the year. I believe the Titans will attempt to do this right out of the gate.
Ryan Tannehill must extend plays with his arms and legs. With the amount of carries Henry has been getting, play-action becomes a key weapon for the Titan’s offensive attack. Tannehill must take advantage of this and the one-on-one coverage the Chiefs will likely play against the Tennessee WRs and TEs, as he completed 13 of 19 passing attempts for 181 yards and 2 TD’s when these teams last played.
The Titan’s secondary must step up and challenge the Chiefs WRs at the line of scrimmage. The Titan’s DBs need to be physical at the line of scrimmage. If you sit back and play zone, the Chiefs WRs will find a weak spot in the zone. If you back off but play man, the Chiefs WRs are one of the fastest groups of WRs in the league and will blow by you. I believe the Titan’s DBs must attempt to disrupt the routes of the Chiefs receivers, which will disrupt the timing between the wideouts and Mahomes if they want to win this game.
PREDICTION:
This game is a matchup of directly opposite game plans. The Chiefs will try to play fast and make the Titan’s try to play to their speed, while the Titan’s will try to slow the game down and force KC to play at their speed. I think the Titans establish the running game early. Henry will keep being fed the ball and will run often. I believe Mahomes and the Chiefs will make plays on offense, but I also believe the Chiefs defense is up to the task. They were physically manhandled the last time these teams met, and I do not believe that will be the case again. I believe the Chiefs defense will get enough stops to give the ball back to Mahomes to make enough plays to escape Arrowhead with a win on Sunday afternoon. I’ll take the Chiefs to win 31-24.
The NFL playoffs are off to a sizzling start with two of the four Wild Card round games going into overtime, a Tennessee Titans victory over the Patriots in Foxborough, and another heartbreaking loss for the New Orleans Saints at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings.
This upcoming weekend, my beloved Kansas City Chiefs and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes II take on the Houston Texans and stud quarterback Deshaun Watson, who essentially willed his team to victory by being great last week against the Buffalo Bills.
For starters, these two teams played back in Arrowhead Stadium, the site of Sunday’s divisional round matchup, back in Week Six of the regular season in early October. The Texans won that matchup 31-24. In that game, the Texans out-gained the Chiefs 472 yards to 309 yards. The Texans also ran for 192 yards and also got 35 first downs in that game while the Chiefs only ran for 58 yards and got 20 first downs. However the Texans did turn the ball over three times compared to KC’s two turnovers, two of which were Deshaun Watson interceptions.
However, I believe none of that matters this time around. The Chiefs were without a significant number of starters for that matchup, including starting DT Chris Jones, starting OL Andrew Wylie and Eric Fisher, starting WR Sammy Watkins, starting LB Anthony Hitchens as well as LB Dorian O’Daniel. Furthermore starting CB Kendall Fuller left midway through the second quarter with an injury, and star WR Tyreek Hill was just coming back from his injury. QB Patrick Mahomes also twisted his ankle during the game which hindered his ability to escape the pocket and extend plays. Simply put: the Chiefs were wounded.
That is not to say that the Texans were not without their own injuries. Starting WR Kenny Stills missed the game the last time these teams met as well. Stills had a decent regular season, hauling in 40 catches for 561 yards and 4 TD’s. It’s not the type of numbers that will wow any one person, but those numbers are respectable and force defenses to pay attention to him, which opens up more targets and takes more attention away from guys like Deandre Hopkins and Will Fuller.
Below are three keys to the game for both teams that I believe will go a long way in determining the outcome of this game.
KEYS TO THE GAME FOR THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS:
Kansas City must convert on 3rd down. They convert on average 47.6% of their third downs throughout the season. The Texans ate up roughly 40 minutes of game clock last time these teams met. That cannot happen if the Chiefs expect to win this game. Converting on third down and extending drives will ensure the Texans do not have the ball for that long this time around.
Kansas City must stop the rushing attack of the Texans. They rushed for 192 yards last time they met. The Chiefs defense has played well lately, giving up only an average of 95 rushing yards over the last six weeks.
Kansas City must pressure Deshaun Watson consistently throughout the game. Deshaun takes the most sacks out of any QB in the league, but there were two games this season in which he was not sacked. One of those games was when he last faced the Chiefs in Week Six. The Chiefs must pressure Watson and sack him a couple of times in order to find success in this game. Having DT Chris Jones back and adding DE Terrell Suggs to the defensive line this time around should help the Chiefs be able to do so.
KEYS TO THE GAME FOR THE HOUSTON TEXANS:
Protect Deshaun Watson. Contrary to one of the keys for the Chiefs, Houston must protect Watson. He has been under pressure for much of the season. When he was not sacked against the Chiefs, Watson threw for 280 yards and one TD while also running for 42 yards and two TD’s. The less pressure Watson is under, the more time he has to make better decisions and throw the ball accurately to his receiving core.
Contain the Chiefs running game. The Texans must try to make the Chiefs one dimensional. Now forcing Patrick Mahomes to drop back and throw with all those weapons around him might not sound like a bad idea to all the Chiefs fans, but I believe Houston should aim to make the Chiefs one dimensional. This allows the Texans defense to more accurately defend against the deadly passing attack Kansas City possesses. If the Texans stop the Chiefs’ run game, this will allow guys like DE JJ Watt, DE DJ Reader, and LB Whitney Mercilus to pin their ears back and go all out on rushing the quarterback in order to attempt forcing Mahomes into some bad decisions.
Get all three main wide receivers involved. The Chiefs are missing rookie standout safety Juan Thornhill, who tore his ACL against the Los Angeles Chargers in the regular season finale for the Chiefs. This forces second year safety Armani Watts to step into a bigger role. Watts has not seen as many reps as Thornhill, and I believe the Texans should try to take advantage of that by stretching the field vertically against the Chiefs’ secondary. Hopkins is one of the top three receivers in the league in my book, so he obviously needs to be involved, but the play of Will Fuller and Kenny Stills could go a long way to determining the outcome of this game.
PREDICTION:
The Chiefs are 10 point favorites according to Vegas, but I think it’ll be closer than that. I think the Chiefs convert on third down to help keep the Texans offense off the field for less than 40 minutes (which is how long they were on the field last time these teams met). However, I like Houston’s ability to challenge the Chiefs’ defense, who has been good as of late, but has not faced the best QB’s the last six weeks. While the Chiefs did face Tom Brady in Foxborough, they also faced an aging Phillip Rivers (twice), rookie Drew Lock, Derek Carr, and Mitchell Trubisky. Deshaun is definitively better than most of those quarterbacks, but I believe the Chiefs defense will play better than last time these teams met. The Chiefs will limit the Texan’s rushing attack and will create some pressure on Deshaun. Mahomes will have his full compliment of weapons and a way improved defense behind his back. Add in the home field advantage, and I see the Chiefs walking away with the win. I’ll take Kansas City to win 27-20.
As always, you can find me on twitter as @bradyvaughan30
College basketball is in full swing, and that means that the conference season is upon us! Big 12 play gets underway this upcoming Saturday, January 4th with a full slate of games, as everyone in the conference plays its conference opener.
Today, I’m going to preview each of the Big 12’s teams and give my projected standings and records for each team (see bottom of article).
BAYLOR
Jared Butler drives to the basket vs Arizona at home. Photo per Baylor Athletics
Baylor is good enough to contend for the Big 12 title and equipped to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament come March. Baylor is ranked 11th in the nation in the KenPom rankings, which measures a team’s adjusted efficiency per 100 possessions. They score about 109.1 points per 100 possessions, while giving up only 88.0 points per 100 possessions, meaning their adjusted efficiency is +21.07 points. In addition, they boast one of the better non-conference resumes in the nation thus far, as they have defeated Arizona, Butler, and Villanova (all of whom are ranked in the top 25 in the current AP Poll) – something that Kansas failed to do, as many Baylor fans will quickly let you know that they beat Nova and Kansas did not- but also dropped a game to Washington on a neutral floor in Alaska which they led most of the way. Baylor sure would like to have that Washington match up back, but nonetheless, Baylor is top ten in the AP Poll (currently ranked #6) and in excellent position to compete for a conference championship, though they have not won a regular season conference championship since 1950. One of the biggest strengths of this Baylor team is their depth in the back court. Players like Jared Butler, MaCio Teague, Davion Mitchell, and Devonte Bandoo anchor a loaded Baylor back court, as each one of them brings remarkable athleticism and the ability to shoot the ball from behind the arc, something that Scott Drew-coached Baylor teams are not well-known for. If these guards consistently knock down the 3 ball, Baylor can win the conference for the first time ever since its inception in 1994 and compete for a deep run come March.
3 Key games: @ #22 Texas Tech (January 7th), vs #16 West Virginia (February 15th), vs #3 Kansas (February 22nd)
Key player to watch: Jared Butler
IOWA STATE
Iowa State is certainly not as good as they have been in years past and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. Losing players like Marial Shayok, Lindell Wigginton, and Talen Horton-Tucker hurts big time, as they carried Iowa State to a conference tournament title last season when they beat Kansas in the Sprint Center in Kansas City to capture their fifth Big 12 Tournament championship. Good news is they bring back several guys who played key minutes last season, namely guard Tyrese Haliburton and forward Michael Jacobson. Tyrese Haliburton and Michael Jacobson are their biggest one-two punch returning from last season in my opinion, but I believe Solomon Young is a key player for them. He needs to be able to establish himself as a consistent go to option behind Haliburton, Rasir Bolton, and Jacobson. Young averages 10.2 points/game and 3.9 rebounds/game, which is good production, but I believe Young needs to step it up to average around 12-13 points/game and 5 rebounds/game in order for Iowa State to find more success. This Iowa State team has the potential to be very competitive, as seen when Seton Hall, ranked #13 in the AP Poll at the time, came into Hilton Coliseum and left with ten point loss to the Cyclones, but Iowa State just has not shown the consistency yet. At a current record of 7-4, they are probably on the outside looking in at the NCAA tournament heading into conference play, but good thing the Big 12 provides plenty of opportunities to boost the resume. There are no off nights in this conference, so Iowa State will need to bring it every single night if they want to make the NCAA tournament, which is why Solomon Young emerging as a solid go-to fourth option is all the more important for this Iowa State team. If he can do so, this makes Iowa State a much more dangerous team because the defense will have to pay more attention to Young on the block, which could open up more shots on the perimeter for guys like Haliburton and Bolton. They will catch some opposing teams off-guard when opposing teams have to visit Hilton, but Iowa State must show more consistency and be able to win on the road if they are to find success this season.
3 Key games: vs #3 Kansas (January 8th), vs #6 Baylor (January 29th), @Oklahoma State (February 29th)
Key player to watch: Solomon Young
KANSAS
Devon Dotson drives to the hoop against UNC-Greensboro in Allen Fieldhouse Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas is Kansas. They have a ton of talent coming back from last year while also introducing several freshmen who could very well end up playing three to four years for Bill Self, and were picked to win the Big 12 again. Anyone surprised? Not really.
Kansas is currently ranked #3 in the AP Poll. They boast a sophomore point guard, Devon Dotson, who is arguably one of the best PGs in America, as well as arguably the best big man in the land in senior seven-foot center Udoka Azubuike. Dotson averages 19.2 points/game and 4.7 assists/game and is the unequivocal leader of this Kansas team while Azubuike averages a solid 14.0 points/game and 8.4 rebounds/game. Kansas also flaunts a strong non-conference schedule and has shown they can hang with just about anyone on any given night, as they have two losses by a combined three points to Duke (neutral floor) and Villanova (road). They also have a road win over the Stanford Cardinal, who are ranked in the top ten of the NCAA’s NET Tool, which helps the NCAA tournament committee evaluate potential NCAA tournament teams based on result of games strength of schedule, game location, scoring margin, etc, as well as a neutral site victory over the Dayton Flyers led by potential lottery pick Obi Toppin. Kansas is also coming off the first season in 15 years in which they DIDN’T win the Big 12. Last year, Texas Tech and Kansas State split the conference crown, so Kansas is out to recapture that title. If Kansas is going to recapture the Big 12 crown, guys like Ochai Agbaji, Marcus Garrett, Isaiah Moss, and David McCormack need to step up and help out Dotson and Azubuike on a consistent basis. It would be easy for me to say Dotson or Azubuike is a key player to watch, however, I believe another is freshman guard Christian Braun. He has played tremendously as of late, knocking down shots, attacking on offense, blocking shots on defense, and providing a spark of energy off the bench, especially in the Villanova game. This Kansas team is already poised to make a deep run in March, but if Braun can consistently be a spark of energy off the bench like he has been of late, I like the Jayhawks chances of reaching Atlanta.
3 Key games: vs #6 Baylor (January 11th), vs #22 Texas Tech (February 1st), @ #16 West Virginia (February 12th)
Key player to watch: Christian Braun
KANSAS STATE
Kansas State has not been getting the treatment of a regular defending conference champion. The Wildcats have been looked down on to start this young season, but their play thus far has not exactly strengthened their case to be a contender in the Big 12 this season. They have been playing better of late, but they will need to kick it into another level if they are to challenge the likes of Kansas, Baylor, West Virginia, and Texas Tech for the conference crown. Now that guys like Barry Brown and Dean Wade are gone, a lot of the weight for this team falls on the shoulders of returners Cartier Diarra and Xavier Sneed. Both are very capable scorers and shooters and have plenty of experience at this level of play, but if K-State is going to get back to where they were last year, look for guys like Makol Mawien and Mike McGuirl to play a big role. Mawien leads the team in rebounds and blocks per game, at 5.1 rebounds/game and 1.1 blocks/game while McGuirl averages the third most minutes of all players among everyone who has played in all of the Wildcat’s games thus far. Somewhat similar to Iowa State, Kansas State does not flaunt an impressive non-conference schedule, as the best team they’ve played in Marquette came into Manhattan and had their way with the Wildcats, earning a 73-65 win over K-State. Fortunately, the Big 12 is filled with great opportunities to prove yourself. At this moment, K-State is not in the NCAA tournament, but that could all change with a good start to the conference season. Bruce Weber is more than a capable coach and has proven he can win and win at the highest level, but this year might be one of his toughest coaching jobs yet. One key player to watch is junior forward Levi Stockard III. In the limited minutes he’s gotten this season, he is shooting over 50% from the floor. If he can find more minutes and be a consistent presence on the floor for the Wildcats, this team will become that much better.
3 Key games: @Texas (January 11th), vs Oklahoma State (February 11th), vs #3 Kansas (February 29th)
Key player to watch: Levi Stockard III
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma is a unique team this year. They don’t have any one dominant player like they have in recent memory (see Blake Griffin, Buddy Hield, and Trae Young for example), but they are a solid team. Head coach Lon Kruger always seems to do a good job of getting his guys ready to go, whether his team is especially talented, like the 2015-2016 Oklahoma team that went to the Final Four on the backs of Wooden Award winner Buddy Hield and his back court mates Isaiah Cousins and Jordan Woodard, or if they are obviously out-manned. Oklahoma has three players currently averaging 14 points/game or more in senior Kristian Doolittle (16.7 points/game) and juniors Austin Reaves (16.6 points/game) and Brady Manek (14.2 points/game). Oklahoma is ranked #51 in the current KenPom rankings with an adjusted efficiency margin of 13.91 points per 100 possessions, which isn’t great but they have beaten teams like Minnesota, who is ranked #42 in KenPom as well as Missouri, who is ranked #53 in KenPom. Oklahoma has also lost to several tough teams like Creighton (road), #24 Wichita State (road), and Stanford (neutral site). Oklahoma has played a pretty good non-conference schedule thus far, it’s just that the results in their bigger games have not been there. Both games against Creighton and Wichita State were 10 point losses in hostile environments, but playing those type of non-conference games get a team ready for Big 12 play. With a three headed trio of Doolittle, Reaves, and Manek, Oklahoma is bound to get a few quality wins in the Big 12, but I don’t know if it will be enough for them to make the Big Dance come March. As far as key players go, watch out for freshman guard De’Vion Harmon out of Denton, Texas. Harmon averages 8.1 points/game, 2.4 rebounds/game, and 2.3 assists/game while shooting approximately 38.3% from the field. Harmon also averages 27.5 minutes/game, meaning the opportunities for him to grow and succeed on the court is present. If he consistently performs at his current production level given the minutes he is averaging, he will grow and become a big part of the offensive attack for this Oklahoma team in the near future, and could be the difference between a couple more wins for this Oklahoma team.
3 Key games: @Iowa State (January 11th), @Oklahoma State (February 22nd), vs Texas (March 3rd).
Key player to watch: De’Vion Harmon
OKLAHOMA STATE
Oklahoma State has shown they are a decent team this year. Projected to finish sixth in the conference, I believe head coach Mike Boynton has his guys heading in the right direction. They have taken care of business against the teams that they are clearly better than, but they have lost to tough teams like Minnesota, Georgetown, and Wichita State who are all better than Oklahoma State, however some of these games the Cowboys have been without sophomore guard Isaac Likekele as he has missed some time with an illness. Some of those results need to start changing and going in favor of OSU if the Cowboys expect to go dancing come March, and the return of Likekele should help swing some of those results in favor of the Cowboys. As it stands right now, they are projected in the “Last Four Byes” part of the NCAA tournament according to ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi. The Cowboys are led by Issac Likekele (13.1 points/game), senior guard Lindy Waters III (12.9 points/game), and senior forward Cameron McGriff (6.6 rebounds/game). All three have played very well throughout this young season and have been supported by senior guard Thomas Dziagwa, six-foot ten-inch sophomore forward Yor Anei, and a cast of freshman in forward Kalib Boone and guards Avery Anderson III and Chris Harris Jr. The Cowboys are a very young team and are in a position to make the NCAA Tournament, but with all young teams going forward, there will be some growing pains. One key player to watch the rest of this season for the Cowboys is Likekele. If he is able to stay healthy, he brings a whole new dynamic to this Cowboys team and makes them a very capable opponent.
3 Key games: @Iowa State (January 21st), vs #3 Kansas (January 27th), vs #22 Texas Tech (February 15th)
Key player to watch: Isaac Likekele
TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
I’ll be honest, this TCU team is not as good as most other teams in the Big 12 this season. Head coach Jamie Dixon has a lot of work in front of him if he wants to get his Frogs to go dancing. TCU has beaten a ton of mediocre opponents but their three losses have come to Clemson, Southern California, and Xavier. TCU is ranked #67 in KenPom and is only ranked above one other Big 12 team in the KenPom rankings (K-State is ranked #89). The Horned Frogs are led by senior guard Desmond Bane (15.9 points/game, 7.1 rebounds/game, and 3.5 assists/game) and sophomore forward Kevin Samuel (11.7 points/game and 8.6 rebounds/game). Desmond Bane is one of the better guards in the conference, as he won player of the week for the conference once last season and was named to the all-conference second team at the end of the regular season. As far as key players go for this TCU squad, it has to be Bane. If he goes down with an injury at any point, I don’t believe TCU has any shot at the NCAA Tournament. Bane will need to keep up his all-conference play if TCU has any shot to make the postseason.
3 Key games: @Oklahoma (January 18th), vs #16 West Virginia (February 22nd), vs #6 Baylor (February 29th)
Key player to watch: Desmond Bane
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
Texas basketball has been a weird situation when looking from the outside ever since Shaka Smart arrived in town. I feel like Shaka is still hanging his hat on his surprise run to the Final Four in 2011 as the head coach of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) when they beat one-seeded Kansas in the Elite Eight in San Antonio to go to the Final Four. Smart has not been able to produce teams with similar success to the Texas teams of the 2000’s under Rick Barnes. However one thing Smart has been able to do is land high profile recruits, after having players like Myles Turner, Mo Bamba, and Jaxon Hayes come through his program. Its no secret he can send guys to The League, but even with those high-profile players, they have not found much postseason success. This Texas team has shown flashes of potential, as seen when they beat the then ranked #23 Purdue Boilermakers, but have also shown lapses in effort, as seen when getting curb stomped by Providence. The Longhorns are led by guards Matt Coleman (junior, averaging 12.8 points/game and 4.5 assists/game) and Andrew Jones (sophomore, averaging 11.4 points/game). Coleman is also shooting a scorching 47.6% from three point range this season. The Horns were predicted to finish fourth in the conference, but in order to do so they will need consistent play from guys like guard Courtney Ramey and forward Jericho Sims. Sims leads the team in rebounds/game at 6.9 and blocks/game at 1.3. I believe Sims is the key to the Longhorns finishing high in the standings at the end of conference play. If Sims can step up and become a very real post threat on the offensive end (he only averages 8.5 points/game) and become a better rim defender, the floor will open up so much more for the athletic guards that Texas has in Coleman, Ramey, and Jones on the offensive end while also making Texas a much better defensive team. If Sims becomes a better post player, the Horns could surprise some people in conference play.
3 Key games: vs @Oklahoma State (January 15th), #3 Kansas (January 18th), vs Texas Tech (February 8th)
Key player to watch: Jericho Sims
TEXAS TECH
Freshman guard Jahmi’us Ramsey rises up for a jumpshot vs Long Island University during their matchup on November 24th in Lubbock, Texas. Photo per Texas Tech Athletics
Texas Tech has emerged as one of the premier teams in the Big 12. Reaching the Elite Eight two seasons ago and getting to the National Championship game last season, it’s no secret that Chris Beard can coach. This season is a whole different animal though. His first season in Lubbock, Beard had standout senior point guard Keenan Evans and future NBA First rounder Zhaire Smith. Last season he had Big 12 player of the year Jarrett Culver, who now plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves. This season, it doesn’t appear that Texas Tech has someone who can completely dominate a game like Evans/Smith did two years ago or even like Culver could last year. Freshman Jahmi’us Ramsey is certainly an excellent player, but he isn’t a Jarrett Culver (yet), and nobody should expect him to be, as of right now. Good news is Ramsey is an outstanding player and can score in a variety of ways. Combine him with returning senior guard Chris Clarke, junior guard Davide Moretti, sophomore guard Kyler Edwards, freshman guard Terrence Shannon Jr, and senior transfer forward T.J. Holyfield, Tech has an outstanding array of players that Beard can throw at any opposing defense. This team is a guard-dominated team, which bodes well in the modern version of college basketball. However, I believe if Tech wants to win the Big 12 for the second consecutive season, they need to improve their outside shooting ability. Among players who play significant minutes (15 minutes or more/game in my opinion), only Ramsey (46.3%) and Moretti (38.8%) shoot above 35% from three. If Tech as a team can get more guys to consistently shoot the rock, they will be a very tough out. One of their key players is T.J. Holyfield. We all know Ramsey and Moretti are good, but Holyfield was a highly coveted transfer who chose Chris Beard and Texas Tech over the likes of Kansas, but Holyfield has not lived up to all the hype quite yet. He averages 9.5 points/game, 4.9 rebounds/game, and shoots 57.3% from the field as a whole, He has played in all 12 of Texas Tech’s games, but only averages about 6.25 shots/game while playing about 22.9 minutes/game. If he is going to shoot this well from the field, I think Holyfield has to find a way to get more minutes so that he can get more shots up. If he can become another consistent double digit scorer for this team, look to see Tech fight for a spot in Atlanta for the Final Four at the end of the year.
3 Key games: vs #6 Baylor (January 7th), @ #16 West Virginia (January 11th), @ #3 Kansas (February 1st) (Bonus game: vs #17 Kentucky on January 25th as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge).
Key player to watch: T.J. Holyfield
WEST VIRGINIA
Death, Taxes, and a Bob Huggins coached-team being good defensively. The three guarantees of life. WVU is ranked #17 in the KenPom rankings and is allowing only 87.5 points/100 possessions, which is good for the seventh best in the country. WVU is an excellent defensive team and always has been. The question is whether their offense can step up to the task. Their leading scorer is freshman forward Oscar Tshiebwe at 11.8 points/game. WVU also only has one player averaging more than 25 minutes/game (sophomore forward Emmitt Matthews Jr. who averages 26.5 min/game). What does that tell you? WVU has depth and Huggins isn’t afraid to use it. Ten different players average double digit minutes per game. This allows Huggins to keep up his team’s defensive intensity that WVU basketball has become known for over the last several years. Having fresh bodies late in games is a big luxury and WVU definitely has that. Projected to finish fifth in the conference, the Mountaineers are already exceeding expectations as they are currently ranked #16 in the AP Poll and just beat then ranked #2 Ohio State in Morgantown this past Sunday. One key player for the Mountaineers in my opinion is sophomore forward Derek Culver. Culver averages 11.0 points/game and 9.4 rebounds/game and has experience in beating tough opponents. Culver played significant roles last season on a WVU team that beat Kansas in Morgantown and bested league champion Texas Tech in the Big 12 tournament. Culver while only a sophomore, can provide some leadership for an up and coming WVU roster that has lots of freshmen and sophomores. If Culver is able to become the leader for this WVU team and provide consistent scoring and defensive intensity, watch out for the Mountaineers as they could challenge for the Big 12 title.
3 Key games: vs #22 Texas Tech (January 11th), vs #3 Kansas (February 12th), @ #6 Baylor (February 15th)
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