2016 Conference Championship Round Recap

The good times continue to roll for me. After a perfect weekend of predictions, I have improved to 9-1 straight up and 8-1-1 ATS. These unbelievably good numbers have made me realize just how much I have learned over the past year, and I am truly humbled by it. Well, humbled is probably not the right word, since this has not humbled me at all. At this same time one year ago, I was a misguided child, making predictions without the appropriate amount of brain function required to make intelligent decisions. I am now one year older, one year smarter, and one year greater than I was one year ago. One year ago, I was 6-4 and 2-8 ATS. In one year’s time I have completely turned this thing around, and I am back to my brilliant ways. Clearly, one year has added an invaluable amount of experience in terms of my predictive abilities. Now that my reader’s are aware of my new found intelligence and experience, you would all be foolish if any of you were to ever read anything about football that was written by someone other than me. I am a genius. Please appreciate it while you can. Genius like mine is rare.

Denver Broncos defeat New England Patriots, 20-18

Only a legendary performance from the Denver defense was going to give the Broncos a chance to win this game, and that is just what they got (along with a little luck, in the form of the best kicker in the league missing an extra point). One quarterback threw 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. The other quarterback threw for 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Unbelievably, the latter performance belonged to Peyton Manning. While all the headlines read something along the lines of, “Manning vs. Brady XVII,” the true matchup that everyone wanted to watch was the Denver defense vs. Brady and the New England offense. This matchup was quite entertaining.

Brady was harassed all day, as Denver gave the template for how to beat Brady. No quarterback is as good as Brady when he is comfortable in the pocket. The only way to beat Brady is to make him uncomfortable. It certainly helps when you can generate pressure when only rushing four men, which is exactly what Denver did. Von Miller’s performance was legendary, racking up 2.5 sacks and an interception.  Beyond the numbers, Von Miller was a matchup nightmare for the New England O-Line all day, disrupting the pocket and opening up the line for other D-Line players. The Patriots had numerous offensive opportunities in the fourth quarter, but the Denver defense stood firm, doing just enough to hold onto the win.

On the opposite side of the ball, Manning was tasked with doing “just enough” to win, which is exactly what he did. Manning was a solid game manager, other than his one strange fumble when one of his passes was ruled to have gone backwards. Manning had control of the offense and was able to cash in on a couple of solid drives. He let the ground game do the work, while throwing a few decent passes, which were just enough to keep the New England defense honest. This is the worst season of Peyton Manning’s career, and here he is, marching (limping) to the Super Bowl. Peyton is unbelievably one victory away from his second title. If Peyton hopes to have any chance at his second Lombardi Trophy, the defense will have to carry him (literally?) to victory.

Carolina Panthers defeat Arizona Cardinals, 49-15

One of the best games of the playoffs was followed by one of the worst. It would be easy to blame Palmer’s playoff inexperience for this disastrous game, but the truth is that Arizona was just dominated in every facet of the game by Carolina. Palmer was playing poorly, but much of his bad play was a result of a team that was trailing by many points, desperate to move the ball down the field. So, Palmer had to force the ball into areas that he normally would not.

The most fascinating part of this game was how Carolina played after being up up by 20+ points. Unlike last week, when the Panthers entered halftime with a 31-0 lead, they did not let up after taking a large lead this week against Arizona. Not only did they not let up, they seemed to slam down on the accelerator, only to be satisfied by a complete annihilation of the supposed second best team in the NFL. When the Cardinals cut the lead to 19, it seemed like there might be a glimmer of hope for the players in red, especially when they got the ball back. However, the Panthers immediately responded with an interception, followed by an impressive touchdown drive, as the demolition continued.

Carolina never relaxed in the second half, making sure the job was done late into the fourth quarter. They did not want even close to a repeat of the previous week, where they saw a 31 point lead whittled down to 7 in the second half. Sunday was a statement game for Carolina, and the statement was clear: “We are the best team in the league, and we are not going to let up until we have the Lombardi Trophy.” Meanwhile, their opponent in Super Bowl 50 seemed to have a different statement by the end of their Conference Championship game. The Broncos' statement would probably read more like, “We really hope Peyton wins one more Super Bowl. Please be nice and let him win one more.”

A lot can change in two weeks. Sure, Peyton is not as good as he once was, but maybe two weeks of preparation (and rest) are what he needs to prepare for the Panthers. Once again, the story will be about whether or not the Denver Defense can carry this team to one more win, and allow Peyton to ride off into the sunset as a champion. In two weeks, we will have the answer.

Playoff Predictions 2016: Conference Championship Round

It is rare that all four top seeds make it past the Divisional Round unscathed. In fact, the top two teams have not all advanced to the Conference Championship Game since 2004. In this single elimination tournament that we call the NFL playoffs, anything can happen in any given week. Lucky for us, we will be treated to one matchup that features the two teams that posted the best records in the NFL this season, and another matchup that features two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

New England Patriots (12-4) @ Denver Broncos (12-4)

Sunday, 3:05 PM ET (Current Line, Patriots -3.5)

Will this be the final time that these two quarterbacks square off? To me, it would be very surprising if Manning were to play another NFL season. It is hard to imagine that his body can handle another 16 regular season games. As for Brady, he has continued to play at the top of his game, and it seems as though he may be able to play competitively into his 40s. However, we could have assumed the same thing for Manning two years ago, when he was still at the pinnacle of his game, a mere year removed from an MVP season. The battering that Manning has taken over the years has finally caught up with him. Now, he rests on the crutch of the best defense in the NFL. Manning is still the same competitive maestro of the offense that he has always been. However, the physical ability that used to go along with it, is all but gone. If it weren’t for his incredible football IQ, Manning’s career would have been over long ago.

Fortunately, for about half the game, Manning won’t be on the field, and we will be treated to the elite of the NFL. We will watch the great New England offense take on the stout Denver defense. The Patriots looked like themselves again last weekend, as Brady was able to distribute the ball to his two favorite targets, Edelman and Gronkowski with ease. If Brady keeps rolling like he did last game, the Denver defense might not be good enough to stop him. Denver’s chances don’t look great, but at least they will have homefield advantage. With the help of the crowd, the Broncos were able to defeat the Patriots back in Week 12, 30-24 in overtime. Of course, that was with Osweiller behind center. It will be Manning’s turn to try to repeat the feat on Sunday. Maybe Manning will be able to rise to the occasion, as the competitiveness of the Conference Championship Game overtakes him. Or, maybe we will be watching Manning’s final act, as he limps gingerly into retirement.

Prediction: The Patriots offense sputters in the first half, as Manning is able to do just enough to take a slim lead into halftime. A pick six by Aqib Talib gives the Broncos a double-digit lead, early in the fourth quarter. However, New England makes the comeback and ties the game at 23 with only a few minutes left. On the final drive of the game, Manning does not throw one pass, as the running game is effective enough to set the Broncos up in field goal range. McManus hits the 43-yard field goal as time expires, and the Broncos win 26-23.

Arizona Cardinals (13-3) @ Carolina Panthers (15-1)

Sunday, 6:40 PM ET (Current Line, Panthers -3.0)

Somehow this game has turned into the undercard matchup. The Cardinals and Panthers posted the two best records in the NFL this season, and many will argue that they are the two best teams in the leagu. Still, they will be playing second fiddle to Manning vs. Brady XVII. Either way, this matchup should be good, as both teams possess very few weaknesses, being more than capable on both sides of the ball.

Arizona was not convincing against the Packers last weekend. Palmer was especially unconvincing, as he made some costly mistakes late in the game, which could have very easily resulted in the Packers making a trip to Charlotte, rather than the Cardinals. The defense was also not playing at its best, as the loss of Mathieu has clearly affected the quality of the secondary. Still, Arizona were the favorites to win the Super Bowl going into the playoffs, and they were chosen as the favorites for a reason. This team is very good and could step back into high gear at any moment. Of course, if they play the way they played against Green Bay last weekend, I don’t think they’ll have a chance to demonstrate their abilities in the Super Bowl.

Carolina looked like far and away the best team in football for 30 minutes last weekend. Of course, it was the second 30 minutes of the game, when they were outscored 24-0, that were concerning. Still, whenever you can make a good team like the Seahawks look that foolish for a half, you are doing something right. Newton is playing the best football of his career right now, and he is doing it the only way he knows how - by having fun (which many people seem to hate for some reason). The offense and the defense are coming together at just the right time for the Panthers. This great Carolina defense has allowed Newton to play in comfortable situations all season. It would be interesting to see how he would react if the Panthers were to go down by a couple scores in this Sunday’s game. Would we still see the happy, relaxed Newton? Or would the seriousness of the situation take over? We may never find out, as Carolina has looked nearly unbeatable this season. The Cardinals are going to have to play a nearly flawless game if they hope to have a chance of beating the Panthers.

Prediction: This game is all Carolina as Cam Newton absolutely dominates. Once again, the Panthers appear to have this game locked up after two quarters, as they head into halftime with a 21 point lead. The Cardinals show some life in the second half, but it is to no avail, as the Panthers punch their ticket to Santa Clara, winning 37-24.

Looks like we are in store for two great games this weekend. When all’s said and done, two teams will be preparing for a trip to Santa Clara, and two will be going home, wondering what might have been. Let's just hope the football is entertaining.

Divisional Playoff Round Recap 2016

The top four teams have all survived, as all four home teams were victorious on their way to the conference championship round. Another great week puts me at 7-1 straight up and 6-1-1 ATS. Not too shabby. Of course, all the favorites have won every single game, so predicting which team will win each game has not been too tough. However, I like to point to my excellent record ATS which validates just how incredibly smart I am.

New England Patriots defeat Kansas City Chiefs, 27-20.

As I predicted, the Patriots escaped with a relatively comfortable win. I said that Kansas City would lead going into halftime, which was not too accurate. New England was in solid control of this game throughout, even if the final score indicates that a mere touchdown separated the teams. Brady looked happy to have Edelman back, as Edelman was able to rack up 10 catches for 100 yards. Meanwhile, Gronkowski terrorized the Kansas City secondary, on his way to two touchdowns. This game presented the usual problems that the Chiefs have struggled with this season. The offense was simply not able to move the ball efficiently down the field. The Chiefs like to capitalize on opponents’ mistakes. Unfortunately for Kansas City, New England didn’t turn the ball over once. In fact, it was the Chiefs who had the critical fumble in the third quarter that led to the Patriots taking their largest lead of the game, 21-6, after Gronkowski’s second touchdown of the game.

At this point, Kansas City seemed well out of the game. However, they were able to stick around until late in the fourth quarter, when they cut the lead to 27-20. Alex Smith led the Chiefs on this critical scoring drive, late in the fourth quarter. However, the ultimate flaw of this drive was how much time was wasted to get the score. The drive took 5:16, leaving only 1:13 left in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs had done a nice job of conserving all three of their timeouts, but with so little time left, getting another score still seemed unlikely. Ultimately, the Patriots were able to seal the deal after a Brady pass on 2nd down took two lucky deflections off of Hali and Gronkowsi, into the waiting arms of Julian Edelman. This ball could have easily been intercepted, which would have resulted in an incredibly exciting finish. The ball was not intercepted though, and the resulting reception gave the Patriots the first down that they needed to win the game.

Arizona Cardinals defeat Green Bay Packers in OT, 26-20.

This was the best game of the playoffs so far. It might not have been the prettiest football, but it was definitely the most exciting. Neither offense played as well as I predicted, as both quarterbacks were held in check for most of the game. Palmer had never won a playoff game before, and it seemed like that stat was in the back of his mind for the entire second half. Palmer threw two critical second half interceptions, and there very easily could have been two more, as his accuracy was shaky down in the red zone. To go along with all that, Arizona’s 4th quarter go-ahead touchdown came on a lucky deflection, which took a fortuitous bounce into the waiting arms of Michael Floyd. It is hard to place the blame solely on Palmer for his shaky play, as the Green Bay rush was getting into Arizona’s backfield all day. On the other side of the ball, Rodgers had a difficult day, largely caused by the injury to his number one receiver, Randall Cobb in the first quarter. With Davante Adams already ruled out, Rodgers had to work with the lesser known James Jones and Jeff Janis. Finally, the lack of receiving talent was starting to catch up to Rodgers, as his four top receivers from the beginning of the year were now injured (Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Montgomery). With this lackluster receiving group, Rodgers was only able to amass 160 yards before the final drive of regulation.  

On that final drive, Rodgers was able to complete his second miraculous hail mary of the season. How could this happen again? Were the Cardinals not properly prepared for a play that they had already seen the Packers execute successfully, earlier this year? When Green Bay won on a hail mary against Detroit back in Week 13, the Lions chose to only rush three defenders. On this occasion, Arians brought the house on a blitz. Conventional wisdom says that when defending a hail mary, you should use the Detroit strategy (of course the Lions made other mistakes with their defense on that day that I will not get into now) and only rush 3 or 4, while dropping everyone else back into coverage. However, Bruce Arians does not employ conventional wisdom.

The ideology behind bringing the blitz is that you don’t give the receivers enough time to get down the field and you don’t give the quarterback a chance to set his feet. However, when you’re playing a quarterback with as strong of an arm as Rodgers, he doesn’t need to set his feet to heave the ball 50-60 yards through the air. Otherwise, the play call seemed to work, as Janis was not close to the end zone when Rodgers released the ball. However, there was enough air under the ball that Janis had enough time to get under it. And, even though there were two defenders waiting in the end zone, Janis was able to win the jump ball. Was the play call wrong? Maybe rushing seven defenders was a bit excessive; however, it did seem to disrupt the play. I like the Arizona play call, even if it didn’t pan out for the Cardinals. Unfortunately, there isn’t really enough data on hail maries to give decisive proof about which method is more effective. Additionally, employing a blitz on a hail mary is something you almost never see. Either way, it was all for naught, as the Cardinals were victorious after 3 overtime plays. On the first play of overtime, Palmer brilliantly eluded pressure and hooked up with Fitzgerald on a 75 yard catch and run. Two plays later, the Cardinals won on a 5 yard shovel pass to Fitzgerald, which ended the game and sent the Cardinals to the NFC Conference Championship Game.

Carolina Panthers defeat Seattle Seahawks, 31-24.

Obviously a tale of two halves, this game should not have ended this close. Carolina came storming out of the gates, as Jonathan Stewart gashed the defense on the ground, and Cam Newton picked them apart through the air. At the end of the half, the score was 31-0, and the game was essentially over. I was beginning to feel pretty silly for predicting that Seattle would ever be leading in this game. I doubled down on Marshawn Lynch having a big game, after I made a similar prediction in the Wild Card Round (Lynch didn’t play in that game). Again, I was made to look like a fool, as Lynch rushed for only 20 yards on 6 carries. Whether that was a product of trailing the whole game or Lynch still being injured is hard to say. Either way, it is clear that the Panthers were ready for Beast Mode, as they shut him down on the ground. To go along with that, the Panthers defensive line was giving Russell Wilson fits all day, forcing him into uncharacteristic mistakes. Wilson tried as hard as he could to escape the pressure, but all it did was lead to bigger sacks and untimely interceptions.

I’m sure many people turned the game off at the end of the half, but we should all know better than to count out the Seahawks. Down by 17 with less than seven minutes left in the game, there was still no reason to believe that Seattle could win the game. A miracle play on 3rd and goal - the kind that we have grown accustomed to with Wilson - kept Seattle’s slim hopes alive, late in the fourth quarter. On Seattle’s next possession, Wilson was able to lead the offense on one more scoring drive, which cut the lead to seven points. Ultimately, the Seahawks could not recover the onside kick that they needed to have a chance to send the game into overtime, as Charlotte was treated to a playoff victory for the second year in a row. Cam Newton heads to his first conference championship game, and he will have the support of his home crowd while he’s there. The Panthers look unbeatable right now. Arizona better prepare well for Carolina.

Denver Broncos defeat Pittsburgh Steelers, 23-16.

Someone had to win this game. In a war of attrition, the Broncos were able to triumph in the only way they know how. The defense stepped up and the offense did just enough, as Peyton Manning continued his final desperate attempt to get to one more Super Bowl ring. Relative to my prediction, I guess I slightly underestimated how effective the Pittsburgh offense would be in this game but not by much, as they were only able to muster one touchdown over 60 minutes of football. Brown’s absence was felt, but Roethlisberger was still able to throw for a respectable 339 yards against arguably the best defense in the game. Unfortunately for the Steelers, as they were looking to put the game away, newly promoted starting running back, Toussaint fumbled the ball away, which led to Denver’s game-clinching touchdown. If there are any positives to take away from the game for the Broncos, Peyton seemed to have a confident grip of the offense; however, his immobility and inconsistency passing the ball must have the fans in Denver concerned.  Peyton is going to need all the help he can get from his receivers and running backs… and offensive linemen… and defense… if the Broncos hope to succeed next week against the Patriots.

Meanwhile, the Steelers will be left to wonder how far they could have gone had they stayed relatively injury-free this season. As I pointed out earlier, when healthy, the Steelers had one of the most potent offenses in the NFL. Without having to worry about the speed of Antonio Brown, the Broncos defense was able to clamp down on the other two deep threats of Pittsburgh, Bryant and Wheaton. Still, Roethlisberger showed that he could play well, even with his number one receiver sidelined for the game. Pittsburgh will surely feel that they could have very easily won this game, as they were in control late, even while not playing their best football. Again, the untimely fumble really swayed the momentum of the game. However, Toussaint should not shoulder all the blame, as the Pittsburgh defense was not able to step up on the following Denver possession. Manning orchestrated a critical drive when the Broncos needed it the most, and they are off to the AFC Championship Game, setting up another duel with the New England Patriots.

The top four seeds have advanced. It seems that the best teams reside in the NFC. For now, all we can do is wait. In 3 weeks, the Super Bowl will ultimately decide which team is the champion of the NFL. We have four worthy contenders. Next week will narrow the field down to our final two.

Playoff Predictions: 2016 Divisional Round

The Divisional Round is upon us, and we have four great matchups headed our way. This time all the home teams are the favorites, which should make sense, considering they had the four best records in the NFL this season. Let’s see if homefield advantage holds true in this round of the playoffs.

Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) @ New England Patriots (12-4)

Saturday, 4:35 PM ET (Current Line, Patriots -4.5)

It’s time for the Chiefs to prove just how good they are. This will be Kansas City’s toughest matchup yet. If the Chiefs are looking for any positives heading into this game, they will have to point to New England’s inexplicable loss to Miami to finish off the regular season. On the flip side, the Patriots will be happy to know that Brady’s second favorite target, Julian Edelman will be returning for this playoff game. Edelman missed the last seven games of the season, and it has clearly hurt Brady. Brady loves his slot receivers and tight ends, so I expect the Patriot offense to be humming on Saturday, when his two favorite targets are back on the field together.

Still, you can never count out a team that has won 11 straight games. The Chiefs have to be the most confident team in the NFL now, and a lot of experts like them as their pick to win the AFC. You could argue that Kansas City and New England are the two best teams in the AFC right now. So, whoever wins this game should be confident heading into the Conference Championship round.

Prediction: The Chiefs get out to the early 10-0 lead before Brady and the offense turn it on. Brady throws for 3 second half touchdowns, as Kansas City watches their lead quickly evaporate. Patriots win, 24-13.

Green Bay Packers (10-6) @ Arizona Cardinals (13-3)

Saturday, 8:15 PM ET (Current Line, Cardinals -7.0)

Two of the most potent offense, led by two of the top quarterbacks in the league square off in what should be a great matchup. A few weeks ago, Arizona would have been my clear cut pick to win the Super Bowl. However, after getting blown out by Seattle in Week 17, my confidence in Arizona has been shaken. Maybe I shouldn’t put too much stock in that game though. Divisional games can be hard to predict, and one bad game should not define a team. Of course, this bad defeat is the last thing anyone remembers about Arizona from this season, so it is hard to ignore. However, if you stretch your memory just one week further back in time, you will also remember how Arizona absolutely decimated Green Bay in Phoenix, 38-8. The Packers will be confident heading into Saturday after a convincing win in Washington, but they have to be concerned about how badly they were beat by Arizona in the regular season. So, which veteran quarterback do you trust more, Palmer or Rodgers?

Prediction: The offenses put on a show in this one, and at halftime, the score is 21-21. The second half is back and forth the whole way. The Cardinals take the lead with less than two minutes left on a Cantazaro field goal. An Aaron Rodgers interception on the ensuing possession seals the victory for Arizona. Cardinals win, 34-31.

Seattle Seahawks (10-6) @ Carolina Panthers (15-1)

Sunday, 1:05 PM ET (Current Line, Panthers -2.5)

The Seahawks and Panthers face off in a rematch of their game from Week 6, where the Panthers won in Seattle, 27-23. That game was a long time ago though, so it is hard to put a lot of stock in it. Seattle has been one of the best teams in the league during the second half of the season. Their aforementioned win against the Cardinals in Week 17 was a major statement game for the Seahawks. However, Seattle was lucky to escape from the cold of Minnesota last week with a win. Now, they head to hostile Charlotte with a bit of momentum on their side. The Seahawks seem primed to make their third consecutive trip to the Super Bowl, but the top team in the NFL currently stands in their way.

Cam Newton has never made it past the divisional round of the playoffs, but he will look to change that on Sunday, as the Panthers will be slight favorites against Seattle. Newton has brought a relaxed, winning attitude to his regular season games this season. Will we see the same type of Cam Newton during the playoffs? Only time will tell. Their first playoff test will not be an easy one, as the NFC’s sixth seed seem determined to prove that they are once again the best team in the NFL.

Prediction: Marshawn returns (hopefully he actually does this time) with a vengeance. Beast Mode powers the Seattle running game on their way to a halftime lead. However, Cam Newton leads the Panthers on a second half comeback, culminating in an 11-yard touchdown pass to Greg Olsen with less than 1 minute remaining in the game. The Carolina defense holds, as the Panthers win, 23-20.

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) @ Denver Broncos (12-4)

Sunday, 4:40 PM ET (Current Line, Broncos -7.0)

Things are not looking good for the Steelers. The reason Pittsburgh’s offense is so potent is because they can beat you in so many ways. Sure, Antonio Brown is one of the best receivers in the NFL. Normally, this can be countered if your team has one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. However, when playing the Steelers, this is not good enough. Behind Brown are Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton. So, let’s say you happen to be the only team in the league that has two great cornerbacks (Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr.). Guess what? Now Markus Wheaton is going to burn your secondary. This offense has so many weapons. So, how significant is the injury to Brown? Very. This receiving corps is a three-headed monster, and we just removed its most powerful head. Throw in the fact that Roethlisbeger’s throwing shoulder is not 100%, and the Steelers are suddenly in even more trouble. Landry Jones has not proven to be a useful backup in Roethlisberger’s absence this season. If Roethlisberger can’t play, I’m not sure the Steelers will be able to move the ball. Denver won’t have to worry about the deep threat with Brown out, and the quarterback situation is volatile at the moment.

On the other side of the ball, we have to wonder what kind of production we can expect out of Peyton Manning. This will be Manning's last chance to win another Super Bowl. So, will we see a desperate veteran looking for his final chance at success? Or will we see the calm, cool, collected Manning that we have gotten to know over his long, illustrious, legendary career? It's hard to imagine that we will see the true Manning of old, but with this defense, a decent impersonation may be enough.

Prediction: This game is a defensive battle all the way. Denver goes into halftime leading 7-0, thanks to a pick-six. The offenses continue to struggle, but Denver gets a little boost from the running game to pull away in the fourth quarter. Denver wins, 23-0.

Four games. Four predictions. Four home teams. Four favorites. Were these the boldest predictions I ever made? No. But hey, sometimes I think the favorites will actually win. And that is how I feel about all four games this week. Enjoy this weekend of games!

2016 Wild Card Weekend Recap

Historically, being a fan of the Vikings and Bengals has been difficult. This weekend was particularly difficult. One team lost through self-implosion. The other lost on an inexplicable missed field goal. I wonder which was worse. As a fan, is it tougher to lose when your team throws the game away because of stupid penalties? Or, is it worse to watch the win evaporate right before your own eyes, when your normally reliable kicker misses a field goal from a distance where the success rate is higher than 97%? Sometimes, it’s nice to be a Raider fan. Even the Raiders don’t lose important games - well they haven’t played in any important games recently - quite like that. All around, it was a bad weekend for football fans, as no fans left their stadium after a victory. All four wild card teams went into the weekend as favorites, and all four left as winners.

On a positive note, I was one Blair Walsh field goal away from going 4-0 over Wild Card Weekend. However, I am satisfied with going 3-1 straight up and 3-1 against the spread (ATS). Let’s take a closer look at the matchups.

Kansas City Chiefs defeat Houston Texans, 30-0

The AFC South has been rightfully eliminated from the playoffs. The division was awful this year, and the division champion was not very impressive either. Hoyer is not exactly playoff material, and it showed, based on his four first half turnovers. Looks like I made the right prediction, but for the wrong game, based on this predictive quote from my last post: “McCarron throws three interceptions in the first two quarters, as the Bengals are booed off the field at halftime.” Switch “McCarron” to “Hoyer” and “Bengals” to “Texans,” and suddenly I am looking pretty smart. Either way, I did predict an 11 point win for the Chiefs, so I can’t be too ashamed of this prediction. Even I - who claims the Chiefs are not nearly as good as they appear - predicted that the Texans would be no match for the hottest team in the NFL. 

The Chiefs played smart, mistake-free football, and easily took care of business by excelling at what they do best: running the ball and playing defense. This game was a quintessential example of who Alex Smith is as a quarterback. How often do you see a team win a game by 30 points, when their quarterback throws for 190 yards? Of those 190 yards, 128 went to Alex Smith’s favorite safety valve, Travis Kelce. Am I stubborn for not being impressed by the Chiefs yet? Of course I am! But I don’t care! Beat New England next week and I will reconsider… maybe.

Pittsburgh Steelers defeat Cincinnati Bengals, 18-16

This game was a classic AFC North grudge match, featuring violent plays and ugly football. The Steelers have been one of the most aesthetically pleasing offenses to watch this season, except when they play against any of their AFC North rivals (maybe other than the Browns). Of course, the rain may have had a bit to do with the sloppy play early in the game, but either way, the first half was offensively ugly, as the Steelers were only able to manage three field goals. Not to be outdone, the Bengals were left scoreless, making Andy Dalton seem more and more valuable to the Cincinnati offense, as each scoreless minute passed by in the first half. When the Steelers finally scored the first touchdown of the day, making it 15-0, the game seemed all but over. And things only got worse for the Bengals when a hard hit on Giovani Bernard forced a fumble and took Bernard out of the game with a concussion. At this point, tensions began to rise, as they often tend to do in the AFC North, with plenty of pushing and shoving to go around. On the ensuing Steeler possession a dirty hit by Vontaze Burfict took Roethlisberger out of the game. However, with the score 15-0 going into the fourth quarter, it still seemed as though the game had been decided, as McCarron and the Cincinnati offense had been totally inept all game. 

However, those many field goals finally came back to haunt Pittsburgh. Thanks to the Steelers’ early inability to get into the endzone, the Bengals were able to hang around all game. A generous PI call set up the first Cincinnati touchdown. Suddenly, we had a game. With Landry Jones in at quarterback, it was the Steelers who were now unable to move the ball. As the fourth quarter wound down, McCarron made the big throw, hitting Green for what appeared to be the game-winning touchdown, especially since Roethlisberger was still out. Jones promptly threw a pick to Burfict, only to be outdone by Jeremy Hill’s fumble on the ensuing possession. At this point Roethlisberger had seen enough. However, it would be Cincinatti stupidity, rather than Big Ben heroics that would clinch the game for Pittsburgh, as 30 yards of penalty yards would eventually set up the game-winning field goal. 

The Burfict hit on Brown was dirty, but it is hard to blame Pacman Jones for the following unsportsmanlike conduct, as coach Joey Porter had no business being on the field. Still, a player has to keep his cool in such a critical situation. However, a coach-induced penalty is not the way a game should end. At 0-7, Marvin Lewis is now the least successful playoff coach in NFL history. Obviously, the hot takes are that Marvin Lewis should be fired, but solely blaming a coach for a lack of playoff success is simply not fair. Bad luck has been Marvin Lewis’s worst enemy. Generally, a bad coach does not qualify for the playoffs six years in a row. Unfortunately, Lewis seems to be the easy target for blame, as he continues to search for that elusive playoff victory.

Seattle Seahawks defeat Minnesota Vikings, 10-9

What an unfortunate day to be a fan of the Minnesota Vikings. While Minnesota is a franchise infamous for heartbreaking defeat and overall ineptitude, even this loss will sting in Minnesota. The Vikings had their chances. To say that the blame for the loss rests solely on the shoulders of Blair Walsh is ridiculous. The Vikings defense was dominant in the first half. The frigid conditions certainly helped, but the overall play by the Minnesota defense was carrying the day, as the Vikings headed into the fourth quarter with a 9-0 lead. However, Minnesota’s failures to reach the endzone are what ultimately doomed them. One miracle play by Russell Wilson on a botched snap completely changed the look and momentum of the game. Adrian Peterson was unable to get going all day, and he had the critical fumble that ultimately led to Seattle’s game-winning field goal. 

Even though I said that you can’t put all the blame on Walsh, it is still the main talking point from the day. Walsh pointed out the fact that he should never miss that kick, no matter how bad the hold was. And others will point out that “laces in” is not the death sentence for a kick; however it does pose a minor nuisance, with the mental implications of seeing laces probably having the greatest impact on the kicker. Bridgewater had just completed an impressive, veteran-like drive down the field, but ultimately it was all for naught. On a day when the running game simply could not get going Bridgewater showed what he could do, even if it only resulted in nine points.

With respect to my predictions, claiming that Lynch would rush for 150 yards ended up not being very accurate, especially since Lynch did not make the trip to Minneapolis. Also, my prediction of Walsh making a game-winning kick was obviously not so accurate. Maybe one day I will learn from my mistakes and pick the Seahawks to win some playoff games. For now, Walsh serves as a convenient excuse for my one miss of the weekend.

Green Bay Packers defeat Washington Redskins, 35-18

Confidence in Washington was high heading into this one. Whether it had more to do with the Packers’ poor end to the season or the Redskins’ resurgence is a good question. Ultimately, Green Bay was viewed as small favorites. The Redskins didn’t seem too happy about playing the role of the underdog, on their way to an early 11-0 lead (which should have been 15-0 if Desean Jackson knew how to reach the ball across the endzone). However, after a slow start, Rodgers showed us all what one of the top quarterbacks in the game can do, leading the Packers on six scoring drives over seven possessions. 

The Packers were able to quickly turn the game around, taking a 17-11 lead into the half. Washington came out of halftime hot though, as Cousins led Washington down the field and capped off the opening drive of the half with a 3-yard touchdown run. However, that would be the last moment of celebration for Washington, as the Packers finished the game with 18 unanswered points, crushing Washington’s hopes of winning a playoff game. Aaron Rodgers and the dominant Packers that we have gotten used to showed up for this game. If this team continues to play at this caliber, they suddenly become a dangerous opponent for any team in the NFL.

Predictions for the  Divisional Round will be coming in later this week. For now, I am going to focus on the fact that the Raiders are not moving to Los Angeles (at least not yet). This is great news (for me)! Sorry for all the home fans of the Rams and Chargers out there. Getting screwed over by your billionaire owners must be annoying as hell. I recommend playing the lottery. Jackpot is at like $1.5 Billion right now. Maybe that would be enough money to buy back your team.

Playoff Predictions: 2016 Wild Card Weekend

Currently, all four wild card teams are favorites to win on Wild Card Weekend. This is unique and quite interesting. Weak division champs, injuries, and teams that started the regular season poorly have all been contributing factors to this unlikely scenario. Here’s your breakdown of each playoff matchup that we will be treated to on Wild Card Weekend. It should be a good weekend of football.

Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) @ Houston Texans (9-7)

Saturday, 4:35 PM ET (Current Line, Chiefs -3.0)

So, the Wild Card Weekend will start with the game that I’m definitely looking forward to least. Any football game that features Brian Hoyer at quarterback makes me skeptical. At least we get to watch J.J. Watt rush the quarterback and terrorize the Chiefs offensive line, which should be at least mildly entertaining. The Chiefs have already travelled to Houston once this year, back in Week 1, when they beat the Texans, 27-20. Of course, both teams have changed a lot since then, and I am under the general belief that Week 1 results are somewhat random. I mean, the 49ers beat the Vikings in the first week of the season. That makes no sense. Anyways, since that game, the Chiefs suffered through a five game losing streak, only to be followed by a ten game winning streak. Meanwhile, the Texans have finished this season on a hot streak of their own, winning seven of their last nine games. I would like to be able to confidently say that this game will be a defensive struggle, but the Texans defense can implode in a moment’s notice, as demonstrated by the Dolphins scoring 44 and the Falcons scoring 48 points on Houston, earlier this season.

Prediction: We get the defensive battle that we expected. Neither offense appears ready for the playoffs, as the game heads into the 4th quarter with the Chiefs leading, 10-6. With 4:55 left in the game, Marcus Peters seals the game with a pick-six. Chiefs win, 17-6.

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) @ Cincinnati Bengals (12-4)

Saturday, 8:15 PM ET (Current Line, Steelers - 2.5)

For the second straight season, two AFC North rivals will play each other in the wild card round of the playoffs. Last season, Baltimore defeated Pittsburgh at Heinz Field. This season, the Steelers will travel to Cincinnati as the favorites. Pittsburgh has looked like one of the best teams in football while Roethlisberger has been healthy. Even without Roethlisberger, this roster is very talented. Pittsburgh’s weapons at receiver are unbelievable, which makes the running game effective, whether or not DeAngelo Williams is healthy enough to play. This is a Steelers team that no one wants to face in the playoffs. Enter the Bengals, a team that defines “playoff woes.” While AJ McCarron has been a respectable replacement for Dalton, I find it hard to believe that he will be able to lead the Bengals to their first playoff win since 1991.This is the Bengals’ fifth straight playoff appearance. However, it will all be meaningless to the Cincinnati fan base, if the Bengals fail to win a single playoff game this post-season. I always say that it is hard to predict the result of a rivalry game; however, I am not sure that is the case with this game.

McCarron throws three interceptions in the first two quarters, as the Bengals are booed off the field at halftime. The Bengals come back with new life in the second half, but it is too late for a comeback, as the Steelers coast to victory, 32-21.

Seattle Seahawks (10-6) @ Minnesota Vikings (11-5)

Sunday, 1:05 PM ET (Current Line, Seahawks -4.5)

This should be a good game. Seattle looks unbeatable at the moment, especially after thrashing their divisional rival, the Arizona Cardinals, in Week 17. Meanwhile, the Vikings are coming off their biggest win in quite awhile, after beating the Packers at Lambeau. The Vikings are the biggest underdogs of the weekend, but it is not by much, as Seattle comes in at 4.5 point favorites. Viking fans have to be concerned about Seattle returning to Minneapolis, as the Seahawks have already won there in Week 13, when they crushed Minnesota, 38-7. If that game holds any weight, the Seahawks really shouldn’t be too worried about this game. Russell Wilson has been in MVP form, and the Seattle run game and defense look as good as ever. On the other side of the ball, Bridgewater will be playing in his first career playoff game. Hopefully Adrian Peterson will be able to alleviate some of the pressure off the young quarterback as he goes to battle with one of the top defenses in the NFL. Both of these teams like to play defense and run the ball, but which will do so more successfully on Sunday?

Prediction: Lynch returns to Seattle’s starting lineup without missing a beat. He runs for 150 yards, as Seattle dominates the ground game. However, Minnesota stays competitive for the entire game. Late in the 4th quarter, Seattle leads 23-21 and are trying to run out the clock, when Lynch fumbles the ball. The Vikings recover, and Blair Walsh hits the 42-yard winner as time expires. Vikings upset Seattle, 24-23.

Green Bay Packers (10-6) @ Washington Redskins (9-7)

Sunday, 4:40 PM ET (Current Line, Packers -1.0)

Our final game of Wild Card Weekend will be the only game that is not a rematch from the regular season. The Packers head to D.C. to face the Redskins, as Kirk Cousins tries to prove that he is the real deal. Rodgers has plenty of playoff experience, but he heads into the playoffs as a bit of an uncertainty for Green Bay. Of the two quarterbacks, Cousins has looked superior over the final few weeks of the season, which is surprising, considering how well Rodgers started the season at quarterback. Maybe the Packer roster is just not as strong as it has been in season’s past. Maybe the Packers should decide which coach will be making the play calls on offense. Maybe Jordy Nelson is just more valuable than I was giving him credit for at the beginning of the season. Green Bay is thin at receiver, while Washington has three of the more dangerous route runners in the game, in Garcon, Jackson, and Reed. It sounds strange to say, but maybe Rodgers is envious of the receiving threats that Cousins has in Washington. Green Bay lost all 3 of their home divisional games this season, and save for a miracle hail mary, should have been swept by the Lions this year. Maybe this just isn’t the same dominant Green Bay team that we are used to, and maybe some of us (me) are having a hard time accepting that. While most of my questions are surrounding the quality of the Packer team, I am also having a difficult time analyzing Washington’s season. 9-7 is quite mediocre, and the value of their record is not aided by the fact that they failed to win against a team with a winning record this season, as Washington’s most impressive win came against the Buffalo Bills (8-8). However, maybe this stat is not so meaningful, since the only teams with winning records that they played against were the Jets, Patriots, and Panthers. Anyways, I guess the brilliant point that I am trying to make is that this game is a toss-up in my mind. Just how good are either of these teams?

Prediction: The game is back and forth throughout. Down by 4 with 3:30 left in the game, Aaron Rodgers leads the Packers on a scoring drive, culminating with a Davante Adams Touchdown with 42 seconds left. Cousins fails to answer on the ensuing drive, after a sack ends the game. Green Bay wins, 27-24.

We’ve got four great games on our plate for this weekend. Let’s see if my predictions hold up. Enjoy Wild Card Weekend!

2015 NFL Regular Season Recap

This is always a fun time of the year for me, as I get to look back at the predictions I made 17 weeks ago. In retrospect, this is never a good idea for me, or for my credibility. There are a lot of embarrassingly bad predictions that I made, sprinkled with a few good ones. However, when it comes down to it, that’s the fun of it all. If the season was as predictable as I claimed it to be 17 weeks ago, then all the fun would be taken out of it. Still, my confidence in my picks never wanes. During the regular season, I will find that I unconsciously delude myself into believing that every team is playing just as well as I had predicted. I’ll think, “Wow, my predictions are all going so well! I really nailed it this year!” And after about 10 weeks of this blind delusion, I will go back and actually check what types of predictions I made, in order to confirm my unrealistic beliefs. That’s when it hits me. Suddenly, I realize that I have been creating new predictions in my head, as the season progressed. I look at my picks in dismay… “Didn’t I pick the Bengals to win the North?” “Didn’t I pick the Dolphins to finish last in the East?” “I didn’t pick Washington to be the worst team in the league, did I?” “I had confidence in the Browns? Why?!” Anyways, it turns out that I had made a lot of bad predictions. However, my dismay quickly turned to glee, as I realized that this will just give me more to write about come playoff time! Hooray! I get to explain to everyone why the Panthers surpassed the win total that I projected for them after only seven games. I get to let you know that nobody could have predicted that every team in the NFC East would implode, except for Washington. And, I get to frivolously defend my belief that the Jets actually suck, even though they came within 1 fourth quarter collapse of making the playoffs! Wow, this is going to be a fun post. I have a lot of explaining to do. Anyways, take a look for yourself. I take pride in both my good picks and my embarrassingly terrible picks.

Prediction	Actual
AFC West	AFC West
Broncos: 11-5	Broncos: 12-4
Chiefs: 9-7	Chiefs: 11-5
Chargers: 7-9	Raiders: 7-9
Raiders: 6-10	Chargers: 4-12
AFC North	AFC North
Steelers: 11-5	Bengals: 12-4
Bengals: 9-7	Steelers: 10-6
Browns: 8-8	Ravens: 5-11
Ravens: 7-9	Browns: 3-13
AFC South	AFC South
Colts: 12-4	Texans: 9-7
Texans: 10-6	Colts: 8-8
Titans: 5-11	Jaguars: 5-11
Jaguars: 3-13	Titans: 3-13
AFC East	AFC East
Patriots: 12-4	Patriots: 12-4
Bills: 10-6	Jets: 10-6
Dolphins: 8-8	Bills: 8-8
Jets: 4-12	Dolphins: 6-10
NFC West	NFC West
Seahawks: 12-4	Cardinals: 13-3
Cardinals: 11-5	Seahawks: 10-6
Rams: 7-9	Rams: 7-9
49ers: 4-12	49ers: 5-11
NFC North	NFC North
Packers: 12-4	Vikings: 11-5
Vikings: 8-8	Packers: 10-6
Lions: 8-8	Lions: 7-9
Bears: 6-10	Bears: 6-10
NFC South	NFC South
Saints: 9-7	Panthers: 15-1
Falcons: 8-8	Falcons: 8-8
Panthers: 6-10	Saints: 7-9
Buccaneers: 3-13	Buccaneers: 6-10
NFC East	NFC East
Eagles: 11-5	Washington: 9-7
Cowboys: 10-6	Eagles: 7-9
Giants: 6-10	Giants: 6-10
Washington: 3-13	Cowboys: 4-12

Quick Stats:

Correct Predictions: 5

Predictions Within 1 Game: 11

Predictions Off by 3 or More Games: 11

Worst Prediction: Panthers (Prediction: 6-10, Actual: 15-1)

Playoff Teams: 7/12

Division Winners: 2/8

Most Accurately Predicted Division: NFC West (Off by 5 games)

Least Accurately Predicted Division: NFC South + NFC East (Off by 14 games)

So, the quick stats aren’t exactly looking great for me. Missing the Panthers prediction by 9 games certainly didn’t help my average. And picking Washington to finish last in the division is pretty embarrassing in retrospect, but I guess the total implosion of Dallas would have been hard to predict. Anyways, let’s break down each division, one at a time, and analyze what transpired during this 2015 NFL regular season.

AFC West

As is usually the case, I underestimated the Chiefs. And, as is also usually the case, I am still not convinced by the Chiefs. During Kansas City’s 10 game winning streak, the only two wins that look impressive are their wins against the Steelers and Broncos. However, upon closer inspection, you would notice that their win against the Steelers came against a Pittsburgh team with Landry Jones at quarterback, and the win against Denver came during the game that Peyton was pulled due to injury. The only other win that the Chiefs have against a team with a winning record is the Houston Texans, back in Week 1, who they will coincidentally be playing during Wild Card Weekend. As for the rest of the division, Denver’s season has gone somewhat as expected. Confidence could only be so high for a team with question marks surrounding their aging legendary quarterback. However, it was the defense that made Denver so great this season, on their way to the number 1 seed in the AFC. The Raiders made great strides this season, and I would be wary of them challenging for the division title in the near future. With the core of the team set in Carr, Cooper, Crabtree, Mack, Murray, and Del Rio, the future looks bright for the Raiders. Meanwhile, the Chargers showed just how far they had fallen this season, finishing at an embarrassing 4-12. Rivers showed sparks throughout the season that he could still play as a top caliber quarterback, but the roster was just too weak to support a playoff contender. San Diego has a lot of work to do if they want to return to playoff form anytime soon.

AFC North

The Bengals and Steelers continued to be the dominant forces in the AFC North this season, both locking up playoff spots. They will meet in Cincinnati this weekend to determine who deserves to move onto the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The Bengals have been great this season, with one of the most complete rosters in the NFL. For me, I still have doubts at quarterback though, especially now with AJ McCarron being the possible starter during the playoffs. The Steelers look like one of the best teams in the NFL right now. Injuries to Ben Roethlisbeger certainly hurt them during the regular season. However, Roethlisberger appears to be in top form heading into the playoffs. This team looks dangerous. In the bottom half of the division, the Ravens had an unfortunate season. 9 of the Ravens’ 11 losses were decided by a single score (of course, all 5 of their wins were decided by a single score as well). Couple that with the fact that they didn’t have their franchise quarterback for nearly half the season, and it is easy to see that the Ravens are not far from being competitive in the AFC North again. I expect them to be right back into playoff contention next season. And finally, the Browns. I’m not sure why I set such lofty expectations for Cleveland this season. The Browns could not escape quarterback problems this season, which gave them no chance to succeed. Cleveland seems very far from being a playoff team. Maybe they will find some answers in the draft and free agency during the off-season.

AFC South

What happened to the Colts? Even if Andrew Luck hadn’t gotten injured for a majority of the season, I’m not sure they would have won the division. The Texans were mediocre, and more or less took care of business. However, you have to be skeptical about a team that got blown out 3 times this season (Falcons: 21-48, Dolphins: 26-44, and Patriots: 6-27). Houston will host a playoff game, but their odds of succeeding in the playoffs seem low, especially when their first matchup will be against the hottest team in football, the Kansas City Chiefs. As for the Colts, I guess I should have been more skeptical about how successful they would be this season. The Colts O-Line was an obvious mess at the start of the season. And, with desperation signings of aging Andre Johnson and Frank Gore, there was always concern that this Colts team would not be able to defend their AFC South title. On the bottom half of the AFC South, the Jaguars and Titans did pretty much what was expected of them. The Jaguars actually showed that they could be a good team this season, led by the constantly-improving Blake Bortles. The Jaguars are a young improving squad. Maybe they can contend for the AFC South title sooner than expected.  Meanwhile, in Tennessee, Mariota showed signs of promise this season, but the Titans must improve as a whole before Mariota can succeed in this league.

AFC East

No surprises in New England this season, as the Patriots defended their AFC East title again. There are a couple of concerns though, as the Patriots have shown their offense’s vulnerability. Their lack of receiving weapons have hurt the team, as the Patriots finished the regular season, losing four of their final seven games, while Edelman was out. Meanwhile, the rest of the AFC East has been improving, as the Jets were the first team out of the playoffs this year. Maybe the pre-season injury to Geno Smith was a blessing in disguise, as Fitzpatrick showed that he could be a competent NFL starting quarterback again. The Jets have plenty of talent on their roster. Maybe a little consistency at the quarterback position is all that is needed to help propel this team forward. The Bills had an up and down season, finishing at a mediocre 8-8. Unfortunately for me, the Bills were my “sleeper” Super Bowl pick. That obviously did not pan out. However, this will be a team to watch out for. Tyrod Taylor is only getting better, and there is plenty of talent around him on offense for this team to succeed. To go along with the offense, the Bills have a top defensive unit. Watch out for Buffalo in the future. The Dolphins showed signs of life in Week 17 against a New England team that still had plenty to play for. However, for the most part, this was a very disappointing season for Miami. Tannehill is still a good quarterback, but Miami has some work to do if they want to keep pace with the rest of this improving division.

NFC West

The NFC West finished pretty close to how I expected it would. The only surprise would be just how good the Cardinals continued to be. Last season, the Cardinals were the best team in the NFL before Palmer got hurt. This season, the Cardinals were the second best team in the NFL, as Palmer was able to stay healthy all season. So, maybe it should have been expected just how good the Cardinals would be. Either way, both the Seahawks and Cardinals had very successful seasons, with Wilson taking a huge step forward in his development as a great young quarterback. The Seahawks have continued to show just how talented their roster is, as Carroll continues to generate solid production out of his team. Meanwhile, the Rams had a stereotypical season, failing to contend for a playoff spot, even after notching some very impressive victories. The Rams swept the Seahawks this season and managed to win in Arizona in Week 4. However, the Rams also had inexplicable losses to team like the Bears, Ravens, and 49ers. The 49ers somehow managed to win five games this season. With an incredibly depleted roster, I was surprised that they were even able to win five. However, it is still nothing to be proud of for the 49ers. It appears as though Kaepernick’s tenure in San Francisco is over. Blaine Gabbert has taken over as the starter; however, is he the answer that the 49ers are looking for? At the moment, no quarterback could succeed with such a lack of talent on the roster. So, maybe it is not fair to judge Gabbert right now based on his successes, or lack thereof, as the 49ers starting quarterback.

NFC North

The Packers have been dethroned. After four straight seasons as NFC North champions, the Packers have finally failed to win the division. The Vikings are kings of the North. For the second time in his career after missing an entire season, Adrian Peterson has returned to the NFL with incredible success. In a pass-heavy league, Adrian Peterson has continued to be a relevant force. The NFL running back is becoming less and less valuable in this league. Every season, starting running backs get hurt. And so often, the backup running back comes in and succeeds as the running game does not miss a beat. That has not been the case in Minnesota for many years, as Adrian Peterson is still arguably the best and most irreplaceable running back in the NFL. Besides Peterson, Bridgewater and the defense have been great this season, en route to Minnesota amassing 11 wins, which included the all-important win in Lambeau on the final game of the regular season. Meanwhile, Green Bay will be left to wonder what went wrong this season. Green Bay started the season strong, winning five straight, before losing four of five. Rodgers and the Packers were very inconsistent all season, and they head into the post-season coming off of two critical regular season losses to current playoff teams. The Lions and Bears failed to make improvements this year, which I predicted from the Bears but not the Lions. Detroit’s once potent passing game failed to impress, and the team sputtered out, en route to a mediocre season. Meanwhile, in Chicago, the star power seems to be available with Alshon Jeffery, Matt Forte, and Jay Cutler; however, the roster as a whole is weak. Chicago seems far from being a playoff contender, especially with so much talent above them in the NFC North.

NFC South

Every season I fail to accurately predict the NFC South, and this year was no exception. Carolina made me look like a fool. Not only did they prove that they were the best team in the division, but they also showed that they could stack up with anyone in the NFL, finishing the season with the best record in the league at 15-1. Every team has uncertainties heading into the playoffs, except for the Carolina Panthers. The Panther’s only loss came by way of a tough divisional game against the Falcons. Carolina did not have the strongest schedule and some of their wins against weaker competition were unimpressive; however, they took care of business from week to week, consistently coming up with victories. Finishing in second in the division, the Falcons failed to make the playoffs after starting the season 6-1. Similarly to the Panthers, the Falcons took advantage of a weak schedule, which had them matched up with teams from the lowly NFC East and AFC South. While the Falcons were able to take advantage of this during the early part of the season, six straight losses from Week 8 to Week 14 ultimately doomed their season. This season leaves fans in Atlanta to wonder if Matt Ryan and the Falcons will ever return to their once dominant form. The Saints were a misery to watch on defense once again this season. Drew Brees did his best to lead New Orleans to wins, but this team is just not good enough to compete with the best at the moment. Unfortunately for the veteran quarterback, time is running out on his impressive career, and I’m not sure this Saints team will see the playoffs again while Brees is under center. Finally, Jameis Winston and the Bucs improved throughout the season. Tampa Bay was not an easy out for any team this season. Winston still has plenty of improving to do, but the Bucs are slowly getting closer to relevance around a young, talented squad.

NFC East

Finally, let’s look at the NFC East, which was a complete mess this season. None of these teams really deserve a playoff spot, but one had to get it, as Washington ultimately proved to be the best team in the division. I admittedly did not have a lot of faith in Kirk Cousins at the start of the season, but I am a believer now. If he can continue to improve, this may not be just a fluke season for Washington. The Eagles had a chance to win the division, but a Week 16 loss to Washington ultimately sealed the fates of both Philadelphia and Chip Kelly. After three years of the Chip Kelly experiment, management has had enough. I thought Chip brought some good ideas into the NFL. However, his ideas proved to be ineffective and somewhat unimaginative. Bringing in Bradford always seemed like an odd choice; however, maybe he was the lesser of two evils, after seeing what Foles was not able to accomplish in St. Louis. The chaos at running back and the constant feud between Kelly and the locker room certainly did not help build solid team chemistry. From what’s been said around the league, it sounds like many of the players in the Eagle’s locker room will be happy to see Kelly go. The Giants were back to playing as their unimpressive selves this season. It just seems like New York is never able to put all the pieces together to succeed. Even when this team wins Super Bowls, you are still left to question whether they were actually any good. Eli is adequate. Beckham Jr. is incredible. And I don’t really know the rest of the players on the team. With Coughlin heading out, maybe it is time for the Giants to rebuild, as Eli starts to creep past his prime. Finally, the Cowboys failed to muster any sort of success this season. Of course, playing without Romo definitely hurt the team, but Weeden and Cassel were not strangers to the game of football. Even a mediocre team should be able to give a decent backup quarterback the chance to succeed. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, the frustration was only increased by the fact that they were still technically in the playoff hunt until the last few games of the season. However, the inadequacies of the roster ultimately caught up with them. The Cowboys did prove one thing this year, though. They still have one of the best O-Lines in the NFL. If an aging Darren McFadden can succeed AND not get hurt over an entire NFL season, then anyone can succeed in the Dallas backfield. Trust me, I watched McFadden for many years when he played for the Raiders. He was never able to play a full season in the NFL without getting hurt, and he is way past his prime. In spite of all of that, Dallas was still able to make him look like an all-pro running back.

The playoffs are almost here! I will be sending out my Wild Card Weekend predictions sometime this week. For now, I will continue to look back on a fun regular season. There were a lot of interesting storylines this season, many of which will continue to play out into the playoffs. However, I am mostly distracted by the upcoming owners’ meetings, which are coming up during mid-January. These meeting will most likely decide whether or not any NFL teams will be relocating to Los Angeles next season. I really hope the Raiders don’t leave Oakland, especially just as they were starting to get good.