Tag: packers

NFL Playoff Preview and Picks

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in NFL

The NFL playoffs are upon us and each playoff team has hopes of making it to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida to partake in Super Bowl LIV. Like a typical college student, I procrastinated on this assignment thus, there won’t be too much in-depth analysis on each playoff team. However, I will be giving my playoff predictions which will culminate with who I believe will be holding the Lombardi Trophy come February 2nd, 2020. Let’s start with the AFC.

AFC:

6. Tennessee Titans v. 3. New England Patriots: Will the Patriots dynasty end this year? It is becoming more and more likely. However, I have the utmost faith that they will not fall at the hands of Ryan Tannehill and the Tennessee Titans. The Patriots defense is just too good and its Tom Brady and Bill Belichik in Foxborough. Give me the Patriots winning in a close one.

5. Buffalo Bills vs. 4. Houston Texans: Will the Texans choke once again in the playoffs? I wouldn’t doubt it. This Bills team has surprised everyone this year and is playing very good football at the moment. However, the Texans activated J.J. Watt this week and it looks like he is in line to play which will bring much needed energy to the home crowd at NRG. I think Deshaun Watson makes enough plays down the stretch to give the home team the victory.

4. Houston Texans vs. 1. Baltimore Ravens: Coming off a very close win against the Bills, the Texans season will end when they visit the Ravens. Lamar Jackson and Co. will continue their brilliance and will roll in this one.

3. New England Patriots vs. 2. Kansas City Chiefs: In a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship game, I believe Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid get their revenge and officially put an end to the Patriots’ dynasty. While the Pats’ defense will keep them in the game, their abysmal offense, which has hindered them all season, will be the final nail in the coffin. Give me the Chiefs at Arrowhead.

2. Kansas City Chiefs vs. 1. Baltimore Ravens: Yes, I am boring choosing the top 2 seeds to face off in the AFC championship. However, these are the 2 best teams by far in this conference. The Ravens have just looked so impressive all season and it is tough to abandon the ship now. While both teams will put up points, the Ravens have the far better defense which will make enough stops to win them the game. For the first time since winning it all with Joe Flacco in 2013, the Ravens will play in the Super Bowl.

NFC:

6. Minnesota Vikings vs. 3. New Orleans Saints: The Vikings are a very dangerous team and were the game to be played at U.S. Bank Stadium, I’d confidently choose them to prevail. However, its Drew Brees and Sean Payton at the Superdome. After last year’s crushing loss to the Rams in the NFC Championship, the Saints are hungry and motivated. In another thriller, similar to the 2018 divisional round matchup between the 2 teams, I like the Saints to get their revenge on the Vikings.

5. Seattle Seahawks vs. 4. Philadelphia Eagles: I have been riding the Seahawks train since the 2019 season began and if you have been following my Picks from God you know I hate to bet against Russell Wilson. However, it is very hard to beat a team twice in a season and the Seahawks have looked very vulnerable these last few weeks. The Eagles magically flip a switch in the playoffs and I like the home underdogs at Lincoln Financial Field. The Seahawks just have too many injuries on the offensive line for my liking. Due to one of the dumbest rules in sports, the Eagles have home-field advantage and I believe that will be one of the main difference makers in the contest.

4. Philadelphia Eagles vs. 1. San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers win this game by 3 touchdowns. They have just looked so impressive this whole season. Further, the Eagles will be coming off a very close game at home which will take every ounce of manpower. I think the 49ers defense wreaks havoc on Carson Wentz and Jimmy G has his way with the Eagles secondary. 49ers roll.

3. New Orleans Saints vs. 2. Green Bay Packers: Am I really picking against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in one of the harshest weather conditions in all of sports? Yes, I am. Like I said earlier, the Saints are hungry and motivated. This pick makes no logical sense especially after reviewing Drew Brees stat lines in cold-weather games. But I truly believe this is the Saints year and I think their offense does just enough to salvage a win in the tundra.

3. New Orleans Saints vs. 1. San Francisco 49ers: It is tough to beat a team twice in a season and it took everything the 49ers had earlier in the season to knock off the Saints on the road. Yes, the Saints will be coming off a very hard fought win in Lambeau, but Drew Brees is hungry for another Super Bowl and will have his team prepared. The 49ers are the better overall football team and logically this pick doesn’t make sense. But I think the Saints have a massive chip on their shoulder and come out victorious by the bay.

Super Bowl:

New Orleans Saints vs. Baltimore Ravens: This game will have plenty of hype as it will be the old vs. the new in a QB battle between Drew Brees and Lamar Jackson. The big game will not disappoint and fans will get more than they bargained for. In an all-time classic, I think the veteran Brees outlasts newcomer Jackson. Neither team will lead by more than a FG and I think Brees connects with WR Michael Thomas late in the 4th quarter to give the Saints the win. After last year’s incredible heartbreak, the Saints will lift the Lombardi Trophy high as winners of Super Bowl LIV.

The NFL Pro Bowlers are out and its a SHAM

by Brian Murray, posted in NFL

Yesterday, the NFL released both the AFC and NFC rosters for the 2020 Pro-Bowl. Aka the 2020 nobody cares bowl. Highlighting the roster are 12 (TWELVE) Baltimore Ravens, 7 Saints and 6 Chiefs. Everyone knows that the Pro-Bowl selection process isn’t the most unbiased and just way to do things, but this years class of selections in particular really exposed the flaws. Keep reading for some of the most egregious snubs.

NFC QBs

Russell Wilson, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers. The 1st is having an MVP caliber season, Brees is currently ranked the 4th best QB in the NFL, and then we have Aaron Rodgers, who simply got a free pass because his name is Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers is currently ranked the 17th best QB in the league, sandwiched between Jameis Winston (16th) and none other than Baker Mayfield (18th). Rodgers does lead the league with only 2 interceptions, but is a distant 9th and 11th when it comes to TDs and yards, respectively.

So, who should’ve got in before Rodgers? I think the signal callers with the best cases are Dak Prescott and Kirk Cousins. Prescott is currently ranked the 3rd best QB in the league, Cousins is 9th. Prescott is 2nd in yards and 4th in TDs. Statistically speaking he’s put together a much better year than Rodgers, and he’s been way more efficient while doing it. Cousins is top ten in all major categories, yards, TDs, INTs, and total QBR. He’s also put together a more impressive season on paper and in the metrics department.

I’m not a football data analyst or anything, but it looks like the voters got it wrong here. Rodgers got in because he’s Aaron Rodgers. He’s got the reputation, and way more State Farm commercials than Kirk will ever have.

AFC Safeties

Minkah Fitzpatrick, Jamal Adams, Earl Thomas. The first two I agree with, the last probably shouldn’t have made it.

Just yesterday I saw an article calling Tyrann Mathieu a candidate for defensive player of the year. How can he be a top candidate for that award, and not make the pro-bowl team?

Thomas is the Pro-Bowler with a stat line of 30 solo tackles, 2 INTs, 1.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.

On the other hand, Mathieu has 50 solo tackles, 3 INTs, and 2 sacks.

It gets worse though, folks.

Devin McCourty has 38 solo tackles, 5 INTs, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery.

These are just basic stats. I’m no statistician or big into stats at all, but when you sit down and look at the comparisons, it’s pretty ugly.

And the WORST Pro-Bowl selection of them all

Tyreek Hill. Mr. Hill has played in 10 of a possible 15 games for the Chiefs this year! He’s put together a truly impressive line of 49 receptions on 79 targets for 727 yards and 9 TDs. His stats really jump off the page don’t they?!

Well let me know what you think of Hill’s stats after you look at Julian Edelman’s, top receiver on the “terrible” Patriots offense.

92 receptions, 140 targets, 1,019 yards, 6 TDs.

So let me get this straight… Edelman has 45 more receptions, 61 more targets, 2 more TDs, and 292 more yards than Hill, but the latter is the Pro-Bowler? Got it. Oh yeah and since reputation is supposedly a factor in the voting process, let’s just throw in that Hill was the one with child abuse allegations this past off season, not Edelman.

Hey NFL, your Patriots bias is showing.

Of course, I’m cherry picking here comparing Hill to Edelman because I’m a big fan of Jules. But just so you know, there are 52 receivers who have more receptions than Tyreek Hill, 38 with more yards, 12 with more TDs, and 20 with a better yards per reception average. Sounds like a Pro-Bowl starter to me!

So let’s all raise our glass to another year of big Pro-Bowl snubs not just on the Pats but across the league and another year of no Patriot actually playing in the nobody cares bowl.