Why I Would Never Want Darelle Revis on My Team: A Look into the NFL Salary Cap and "Forced Parity"

Darelle Revis is arguably the best cornerback in the NFL.  Some may say that Richard Sherman is now the best CB, but either way, Revis is in the top two.  So, you're probably wondering, "Why wouldn't you want a player who is probably the best at his position to be on your team?"  Well, for starters, he has a terrible attitude, he is difficult to coach, he is incredibly arrogant, and he has a bad history of holding out.  Revis is already complaining about Tampa Bay's head coach, Greg Schiano, after playing only two games for the Bucs*.  Additionally, back when he played for the Jets, he refused to play until he was the highest paid player in the league at his position.

*Update: Revis has apparently met with Schiano to “clear the air.”  I’m still not going to discount the likelihood that Revis is audibly displeased in Tampa Bay

For these reasons alone, I would not want Revis on my team.  However, none of these are the main reason why I wouldn't want him on my team.  Basically, it is difficult to build a team around a player who is making QB money, while not playing QB.  He is the best at his position, but Revis does not have a significant enough influence on the game in order to warrant his massive salary.  In fact, in my opinion, no defensive player does.  This whole problem surrounding Revis is actually the late Al Davis' fault.  Davis set a ridiculous precedent for CBs in 2009, when he gave Asomugha a contract that would pay him $28.5 million over the first two years of the contract, and almost $17 million in the final year of his contract, a number that rivaled the top 5 quarterbacks of that year.  Unfortunately for the Jets, Revis saw this number – and seeing that he had surpassed Asomugha as the best cornerback in the NFL – believed that he had a right to an even bigger contract, one that would make him the top paid player at his position.  

Anyways, the point I’m trying to make is that you can't overspend on any single defensive player.  Unlike baseball or basketball, the NFL operates around a “hard salary cap,” which means that you are simply not allowed to spend more than the cap allows.  Baseball and Basketball work around “soft caps,” which discourages teams from going over the cap by adding a luxury tax on top of the players’ salaries.  While this controls the spending to some degree, big market teams are able to support the largest salaries, thus they often have the best teams.  It is not as simple as that though because the NBA salary cap is more restrictive than the MLB, and the highest paid players do not necessarily yield the best teams.  However, that is a long discussion that I am not trying to explain in this article.  So, I’ll move on. 

Anyways, this hard cap forces (smart) NFL general managers to consider player value, rather than simply going after players based on ability.  Building a strong team is about correctly valuing players, so that you can save money and spend decently on all positions.  One of the reasons that the Patriots and Broncos are so good is that they have two of the best players in the NFL right now in Brady and Manning.  And guess what?  They aren’t the highest paid players in the NFL.  Both of these quarterbacks don’t mind taking salary hits (Both players make a significant amount of money, possibly even a majority of their earnings, on endorsements), in order to reduce their salary cap hit.  Also, all the top quarterbacks (salary-wise) get paid about the same as much (Eli, Brees, Ryan, Flacco, Rogers, Brady, Manning, etc.), but Brady, Manning, and Rogers are much better than the rest of those QBs.  So, these teams are “getting more bang for their buck,” even before players like Manning and Brady take salary hits. 

The moral of the story is that underrated players are key to a successful team.  Look at the Niners right now.  I’ll just give you a couple examples in Kaepernick and Asomugha (who I’m biased towards because of his contribution to the Raiders).  Kaepernick is the 4^th lowest paid starting QB in the NFL.  This frees up a lot of cap space for the rest of the team.  Additionally, a player like Asomugha, who is taking no guaranteed money and is playing for the Niners at close to the league minimum salary, is a very solid number 3 CB. 

The Seahawks are another great example of a team with very underpaid players.  Russell Wilson is currently the lowest paid starting QB in the NFL.  Additionally, Richard Sherman, one of the best CBs in the NFL, is earning about $600,000 this year.  Obviously, these numbers will change for both the Niners and the Seahawks in the near future, and these teams will have to adjust for when their best players want bigger contracts next year.  However, for now, there is a reason why these teams are so good. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Flacco and other Baltimore Ravens players got big contracts after their Super Bowl victory last year.  The consequences of this were that they had to make a lot of roster cuts and spend less on many positions.  For this reason, I said at the beginning of the season that I didn’t expect the Ravens to make the playoffs, and I’m sticking by that. 

The hard salary cap promotes parity.  There is a reason that bad teams can suddenly become division champions and why Super Bowl contenders often fall apart the next season.  Obviously, there are exceptions (Patriots’ consistent success and Raiders’ assured yearly failures).  I plan on explaining what I believe to be the reason for some teams’ consistent yearly successes/failures in a future blog post.  

In conclusion, due to this “forced parity,” every season brings new hope for each and every team (except the Raiders).  It is a simple scheme, aided by the NFL rewarding the worst teams with the best draft picks.  Great teams have stats trickle down to weaker players.  These players get a little overpaid.  The team has to make cuts and is forced to spend less on free agents.  Ultimately, the team gets worse as a whole.  On the contrary, players on weaker teams develop their skill-set on a weaker team.  These players get better, without the stats to prove it.  They hold onto modest contracts.  Additionally, teammates take pay cuts because of poor production.  More money is available for free agents.  And suddenly, that team at the bottom of the division is making a run for the Super Bowl.  The NFC South is a wonderful example of the volatility of the NFL.  From 2002-2009, the team that finished in last the year before, won the division the following season (except when Atlanta finished last in 2007, only to finish second in the division at 11-5 in 2008).  In the entire history of the current NFC South, each team has won the division three times, except the Panthers, who have only won twice.  While the NFC South is a bit of an anomaly, it also serves as a great example for the consistent parity of the NFL.  Maybe that’s why football fans love the NFL so much, the hope that comes at the beginning of every NFL season.  The belief that their team can make that magical run to the Super Bowl.  

What We (I) Learned From Week 1

Week 1 produced an incredible level of football.  Maybe the fact that I had been starved of the NFL for over seven months, made Week 1 of the NFL that much sweeter.  Either way, most fans won’t be heading into Week 2 too disappointed.  All but 4 games were decided by one score, and only two games were real blowouts (Chiefs 28, Jags 2 and Ravens 24, Broncos 49).  It would appear that the parity of the NFL has never been greater.  We’ve got lots of great football ahead of us this season. 

Now, what to make of Week 1?  Did I and many others misevaluate many teams?  Which teams are already swaying my opinion (Eagles) and which teams do I still believe are just fakers (Chiefs)?  Read on, and find out how I’m feeling (and how you should be feeling) after a great opening weekend to the NFL season.

Manning Erupts

Ravens 24, Broncos 49

I expected a solid performance from the Broncos at home, but this was a little unexpected.  Granted the Ravens have a very weak defense, but this game was something else.  Whenever you get 49 points put up on you, there is probably something incredibly wrong or incredibly right with your opponent.  I think it was a little of both. 

The Raiders are not Complete Garbage?

Raiders 17, Colts 21

Maybe the Raiders aren’t as bad as I thought.  In the biggest shock of the weekend for me, the Raiders appeared to be a respectable foe against the Colts.  I was far and away most impressed by Pryor’s performance.  He had incredibly good pocket presence, and played like a lesser Kaepernick.  Solid arm.  Great speed.  He is fast and big (240lbs), so he will be durable even if he takes a few shots here or there.  If you saw the game, he was dishing out more pain than receiving it on his runs, knocking defenders over.  Pryor is tough to bring down.   With a little more experience, Pryor could end up being a solid starter for the Raiders in the near future.  I’m still not convinced that the Raiders will be any good this year, but who knows.  Perhaps this game was more telling of the Colts.  The Colts won a ton of close games last year, and their record could easily have been a lot worse.  Maybe predicting them as a playoff team this year was too generous.  Luck looked good, but I would have expected him to be more impressive against such a poor defense.  He had plenty of time to throw.  He looked comfortable.  But he only played alright. 

Chiefs embarrass Jags

Chiefs 28, Jaguars 2

Let’s see how the Chiefs play against the Cowboys in Week 2.  If they are a legitimate side, then they should be able to hold their own against a decent Cowboys team at Arrowhead.  Additionally, I am looking forward to the prospect of the Raiders getting back up to .500 against the Jags next week. 

AFC North Goes 0-4?!

Bengals 21, Bears 24

Titans 17, Steelers 9

Dolphins 23, Browns 10

For a division that I thought was one of the best in the NFL, they sure didn’t show it in Week 1.  The Steelers barely managed to score an offensive point at home against the lowly Titans.  If I could make 1 change to my predictions after Week 1, I think I would take the Steelers out of the playoffs. 

The Browns got outplayed in Cleveland.  I do think the Dolphins are a slightly underrated side, but I thought the Browns were also.  I’m not so sure about that anymore. 

And the Bengals were beaten by the Bears.  Chicago is good at home, but I still expected the Bengals to win.  I’m not totally sold on the Bears yet, but I will give them some more time to impress me. 

Buffalo gives New England the Usual Scare

Patriots 23, Bills 21

Does this happen in Buffalo every year?  It seems like the Patriots almost always almost give this game away to the Bills every year, only to harshly take it back from them in the dying minutes.  Anyways, based on previous seasons, I wouldn’t overanalyze this game.  The Bills are no good.  And the Patriots are still the best team in the AFC East, by far.  EJ Manuel did play well though…

Saints and Falcons Don’t Disappoint

Falcons 17, Saints 23

In a game that was just as exciting as expected, the Saints defeated the Falcons in New Orleans.  It came down to the last plays.  A Steven Jackson drop in the endzone was the difference.  These teams will battle it out for the NFC South crown.  I can’t wait for their matchup in the Georgia Dome in Week 12. 

Seattle Showing Weakness?

Seahawks 12, Panthers 7

This was a clear trap game for the Seahawks going in, so I’m not going to look into it too much.  The Panthers are a bit underrated this year, and they almost stole one from the Seahawks.  The Seahawks are MUCH better at home, so any road wins for them will be huge this season in their quest to win the NFC West. 

Bucs and Jets Confirm What We All Already Knew

Bucs 17, Jets 18

The Bucs found a way to lose to the Jets.  The Jets needed a harsh personal foul penalty to save them from losing their home opener to a bad Bucs team.  These are two of the worst teams in the NFL.  Neither side did anything to make me think differently. 

Divisional Games are Always Tough

Cardinals 24, Rams 27

Vikings 24, Lions 34

These were two incredibly competitive games.  Both teams played each other tough, as I would have expected.  Homefield advantage was just enough to give the edge to the Rams and Lions in Week 1. 

Great Game at Candlestick

Packers 28, 49ers 34

It felt like we were back in the playoffs.  This week 1 matchup had plenty of intensity.  Both teams wanted to win badly.  Kaepernick proved just how good he is, and the Packers defense proved just how bad they still are.  It’s fun when two teams start to become rivals just because they are both good.  I’m looking forward to the possible playoff matchup between these two teams. 

Eagles are the New NFC East Favorite?

Giants 31, Cowboys 36

Eagles 33, Redskins 27

After the debacle in Dallas, where analysts like Trey Wingo were questioning the Giants preparation, "@wingoz: Did the Giants hold training camp?", I’m not sure the NFC East is as good as I thought.  The Giants played just awful, turned the ball over 6 times, and the Cowboys only won by a single score.  It was an ugly game, but maybe that was just a product of the rivalry.  Rivalry games can often be ugly.  However, after watching the Eagles take it to the Redskins in Washington, where the game was not as close as the score indicated, the Eagles seem like the top contender for the NFC East.  The NFC East appears to be the only division where any team could win the division, should be exciting. 

Texans Don’t Play Nice in San Diego

Texans 31, Chargers 28

The Chargers were one of many bad teams this week to have their hopes raised by their opponents poor play before getting beaten at the end of the game by their superior foe.  This was not a very good game for the Texans, but I expect them to play better in the weeks to come.  For the Chargers, get used to it.  San Diego is lacking a lot of talent. 

My 2013 NFL Predictions

I love the NFL.  Unfortunately, I was cursed to dread it as well.  When I made the decision to become a Raiders fan about 14 years ago, I didn't know what I was in for.  All I saw at the time was the pride of the Silver and Black, the unwavering devotion of the fans, and a team that was intimidating all over.  I miss the good old days of Rich Gannon, Tim Brown, and Rod Woodson...

I still remember crying after the "tuck rule" game in New England and also after the Raiders lost the Super Bowl in 2003 to the Bucs.  And I will always remember Rich Gannon's last play, when he broke his neck on a QB sneak against Tampa Bay, officially marking the beginning of an era of atrocious football in Oakland.  Anyways, I still love the NFL, and even though I predict the Raiders as the favorite to win the first overall pick of the 2014 draft, I can't wait for the season to start, when Andrew Luck will slowly and meticulously expose all of the Raiders' many glaring holes on defense in Week 1.  And as I think about the weeks ahead, I am beginning to fear the Raiders' trip to Denver this year.  That could get ugly fast.

I know this post comes after the opening game, but these have been my predictions for some time now.  I have made my predictions with the help of my great football intellect and incredible intestinal fortitude.  Anyways, here they are, in writing, my predictions for the 2013-14 season.

The team names in bold are my predicted playoff teams. Let's start with the AFC...

AFC West

Broncos: 13-3

The Broncos have the luxury of playing in what I believe to be the second worst conference in the NFL. They will easily get 5 wins in their divisional games, and I would be pretty surprised if they didn't win all 6.  I don't think they are the best team in the NFL, but I do see them having the best record.  Peyton Manning has all kinds of fun toys to play with in Welker, Decker, and Thomas.  And that backfield is not too bad either with 3 strong runners in Hillman, Moreno, and Ball.

Chargers: 7-9

The Chargers define mediocrity.  Everyone in this division gets two free wins against the Raiders this year, so all their records will be a bit inflated.  Rivers is OK, and has limited talent around him.  This is a team that is kind of stuck in "not quite good enough to make the playoffs" limbo right now.  They need a complete overhaul before they get better.  I wonder how long it will take management to realize this.

Chiefs: 6-10

Obviously, I'm not impressed with the Chiefs like everyone else is.  Sorry, but Andy Reid is an OK coach; I don't think his arrival in KC will add much to a pretty bad team.  And honestly, I think Matt Cassel may be a better quarterback than Alex Smith.  Alex Smith was mediocre on an incredibly talented 49ers team.  Cassel was great on the Patriots, and he survived while in KC, which is saying something.  Smith is a great game manager, and he won't make a lot of mistakes, but is he going to win many games?  I don't think so.

Raiders: 3-13

The Raiders have slashed away all big contracts of the Al Davis era in an effort to free up cap space so that they can make better cap decisions in the future.  By next season, they will not owe any money to players that are not actually on the team roster anymore, which will be an incredible opportunity for McKenzie and Allen to prove their worth.  Unfortunately, this season will be a disaster.  The fact that Pryor is the Week 1 starter is very disconcerting.  Flynn is really that bad?  Anyways, I see them beating the Jags in Week 2, maybe stealing one from KC, and probably beating the Steelers because the Steelers always find a way to lose to the Raiders for some reason.  It's going to be a tough season to watch, but I love my RaiderNation.

AFC North

Bengals: 10-6

I love the Bengals this year.  They have a deep and talented roster that only got better over the off-season.  Dalton is getting more and more confident in that offense, and he is proving that people with red hair can throw a football.  He has lots of weapons at his disposal, and I expect him to take advantage.  I think they win 10 games in what is probably one of the top 2 divisions in the NFL this season.

Steelers: 9-7

The Steelers are consistently a playoff contender, and I expect them to be in the mix again this year.  When you get to have the same QB lead your team out onto the field year after year, a team meshes much better.  I expect the Steelers to squeak into the playoffs, taking the final Wild Card spot.

Ravens: 8-8

Now, I don't think the Ravens are bad; they are just in a really tough division, and they have gotten weaker then the two teams above them.  The Ravens barely made it into the playoffs last year, so a step down is a step out of the playoff picture in my opinion.  They are overpaying Flacco, which has forced them to make roster cuts.  The departures of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed do not help, even though they were both aging players.  And I think the Steelers and Bengals are simply better than them.  8 wins seems reasonable for Baltimore.

Browns: 6-10

The Browns have significantly improved over the off-season.  The only thing that is holding them back is an incredibly tough division.  They are going to give the Bengals, Steelers, and Ravens a lot of trouble this season.  I wouldn't be surprised to see them win more than 6; however, in such a tough division, I'm not sure what kind of chance they'll have to be a playoff contender.

AFC South

Colts: 11-5

The AFC South is a toss-up for me.  I just don't know who will take it.  I'm going with the Colts.  I like their off-season additions, and I think 11 wins is not an unrealistic possibility for them.  I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how Luck performs in his sophomore season.

Texans: 11-5

I picked the Colts to win the division, but I see the Texans as the team that will take the top wild card spot.  They are a solid team, and have proven to be a consistent playoff contender for a few years now.  11 wins should be attainable for them.

Titans: 6-10

I don't know much about the Titans, but all the fans that are waiting for CJ2K to have a big year, should stop holding their breath.  This team is just not good enough to support a good running back, and honestly, all Johnson has is break-away speed.  He is garbage when it comes to power running.  He'll have a few breakout runs this year, but I wouldn't bank on him having consistently good numbers.

Jaguars: 4-12

4 wins may be generous for the Jags.  They really don't have much going for them.  And, is Blaine Gabbert really any good?  The Jags are a team that I am really counting on to lose to the Raiders in Week 2.  That says a lot about what I think of the Jags.  That match-up in Oakland should be just awful, probably the worst game of the season.

AFC East

Patriots: 13-3

I know the Patriots are in trouble with both of their best tight ends out to start the season.  I know the loss of Welker hurts.  However, I believe (and it pains me to say this) that Belichick may be the best coach of all time.  He cycles players in and out of his team all the time.  You know why?  Because players succeed beyond their abilities in his offense.  His system is incredibly good.  So, those players will ask for more money; then, Belichick shows them the door and brings in the next guy.  The Patriots system is unbelievably good.  I expect them to not miss a beat this season.  Also, playing in the weakest division, in my opinion, in the NFL will definitely help them win games.  Similar to the Broncos, I would be surprised if they didn't win all 6 of their divisional games.

Dolphins: 7-9

The Dolphins continue to not do much to improve their team.  Thanks to the two teams below them being just awful, they will cruise to second place in the AFC East.  Assuming they take all 4 games from the Bills and Jets, the Dolphins have a decent chance of winning 8 or 9 games this season.

Bills: 4-12

The Bills are a mess.  EJ Manuel has earned the starting job pretty quickly in Buffalo, which is not a good sign, considering he barely beat out Kevin Kolb (along with the help of a possibly career-ending concussion) for the starting spot.  Kolb is pretty bad, and he is a QB who has gotten his opportunities to prove himself.  The fact that Manuel was not much better than him in training camp and the preseason is not a great sign, at least for this season.  I don't see good things in the near future for Buffalo; however, maybe EJ Manuel will prove himself in the future.

Jets: 4-12

4 wins may be generous for the Jets, but they are playing in a pretty weak division.  So, maybe 4 wins is a possibility.  Instead of saying any more about the Jets, I will just link you to what is possibly my favorite NFL play ever: http://thebiglead.com/2013/07/24/the-mark-sanchez-butt-fumble-is-still-espns-worst-of-the-worst-play-as-we-approach-training-camp/

Now, let's take a look at the NFC.  The NFC is definitely the top conference this year.  Here's what I think of all 16 teams...

NFC West

49ers: 12-4

I believe the Niners are the best team in the NFL this year.  Kaepernick has some experience under his belt, and that defense is still incredibly intimidating.  They only got better with the acquisition of Boldin.  And, I know I'm biased about this, but I think Asomugha is going to have a great year for the Niners.  He adds another very solid CB to a very talented secondary.  The only reason I limit the Niners to 12 wins is because they play in a very talented division.

Seahawks: 10-6

Sorry, but I'm just not as convinced as everyone else that the Seahawks are that good.  They are a very good team, and I would be very surprised if they didn't make the playoffs, but I think the Niners are much more talented.  I don't think Russell Wilson will be as effective this season because I believe that more teams are going to find ways to stop him; however, the Seahawks are still a team that no one will want to play in Seattle.  Hopefully, for the sake of all the other NFC playoff teams, they don't get homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.

Rams: 6-10

Similar to the Browns, I think the Rams are a good team.  I just think that facing two of the best teams in the NFL four times this season will take its toll on St. Louis.  The Rams are getting better, but this is not a good time to be only "good" in the NFC West.  That shipped sailed back in 2010, when the Seahawks made the playoffs at 7-9.

Cardinals: 5-11

Similar to the Rams, I like the Cardinals, and I think they have gotten a lot better.  Fitz has a QB that he can trust to just chuck the ball up to him.  Palmer might not be an elite QB, but he is better than people are giving him credit for.  However, I foresee another tough season for the Cardinals.

NFC North

Packers: 11-5

I don't think anyone is arguing that the Packers will win the North.  Rodgers and company are just a very solid squad that are too tough to beat.  The teams below them are getting better, but I don't think they are good enough to usurp the usual NFC North Champions.

Vikings: 8-8

Last season, AP proved that the running back position is not totally useless in this pass-happy league.  Unfortunately, the players around him will have to get better for this team to succeed.  I can't imagine AP being as dominant this year as he was last year, but then again, I couldn't imagine him having the year he had last year after ACL surgery.  This will be an interesting team to watch.  I'm just not sure they are good enough to be true contenders for the playoffs this season.

Lions: 8-8

The Lions always seem like they are looking to get better in the off-season.  It would seem that they are totally committed to only passing the ball this season.  The addition of Reggie Bush confirms that.  While I predict that neither the Vikings nor the Lions will make the playoffs, look for them to battle for a playoff spot until the last couple weeks of the season.  These teams are both pretty good.

Bears: 7-9

The Bears fall into that frustratingly mediocre category, with the Chargers.  They are good, but not good enough to be a playoff contender in my eyes.  A total overhaul for the franchise might be necessary before this team makes it to the playoffs again.  Jay Cutler has never impressed me, and Brandon Marshall is really the only great thing on their offense.  Let's see if they can amass 7 wins in a tough NFC North.

NFC South

Falcons: 11-5

I know a lot of people like the Saints in the NFC South, but I still think the Falcons are the team to beat.  Steven Jackson is a great addition and I think this team has only gotten better overall.  I'm very interested to see how Jackson will do on a very strong team.  I think Atlanta will take the South, but not by much.

Saints: 11-5

Now that Sean Payton is back and Bountygate is behind them, I think New Orleans will return to strength as a top NFC South contender.  The team is strong and with Drew Brees at the helm, one of the best decision-makers in football, I think the Saints will have a chance to win the division.

Panthers: 7-9

I, like many others, believe that the Panthers are actually a very strong side.  Cam Newton is a formidable quarterback who has another year under his belt.  Another year of experience and maturity will certainly help Newton.  Carolina is slowly but surely getting better; however, I don't think they will be a serious contender for the NFC South.

Buccaneers: 5-11

I'm not sure what to think of the Bucs.  Doug Martin has proven to be a great NFL running back, but it seems as though you never know what you're going to get with Josh Freeman.  The Bucs have potential, but I don't see them making much noise this season.

NFC East

Redskins: 9-7

I am one of those people who have that blind confidence in RGIII's repaired ACL.  I love Alfred Morris, and Washington is filled with young talent.  It will be a tough road, as it almost always is for any team in the NFC East, but I'm going to predict that the Redskins repeat as NFC East Champions.

Cowboys: 9-7

I'm going to go with the usual result of the Cowboys just missing the playoffs.  They seem a lock to win 8 or 9 games every year in a second place effort in the East.  I'm going to play it safe and say that's what happens again.  Nonetheless, the Cowboys should be a fun team to watch this year, with Tony Romo's window of opportunity for a championship closing and with Jason Garret's job possibly on the line.

Giants: 9-7

I have predicted that the Giants will finish 3rd in the East, at 9-7 as well.  I have decided this because every team in the NFC East always finishes 9-7.  So, this is what I predict will happen.  I don't think the Giants have done enough to get better in the off-season, so I predict that they will fall just short of the post-season again.

Eagles: 6-10

And last but not least, I predict Philadelphia at 6 wins.  I really have no idea what to expect from the Eagles this year.  Their upside with the new Chip Kelly offense is obvious; however, will it really be enough to turn this franchise back into a contender?  I'm not sure.  Anyways, I wasn't sure how the Eagles would do, so I predicted their record last, so that the total number of wins and losses in my predicted NFL were equal.  6 wins seems reasonable, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them in the mix with the Redskins, Cowboys, and Giants this season.

MVP:

Peyton Manning

He was my MVP prediction before Thursday.  Obviously, he is still my pick.

Playoffs:

I won’t go on and on about the playoffs, but I'll predict the Super Bowl.

49ers defeat Bengals 21-17 in a blizzard.

The Niners and Bengals are two great teams.  It would make for a great game.

Well, there you have it, my 2013-14 NFL Season Predictions.  I can't wait for the season to start in full force on Sunday.

Go Raiders.