Showing posts with label NFL 2015 Season. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NFL 2015 Season. Show all posts
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Sunday, January 24, 2016
2015 NFL SEASON: CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY
|
|
Me
|
|
|
DIVISIONAL
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4-0
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3-1
|
|
PLAYOFFS
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8-0
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5-3
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FiveThirtyEight
odds of winning the Super Bowl
|
TEAM
|
%
PER FIVETHIRTYEIGHT |
|
Panthers
|
33
|
|
Broncos
|
26
|
|
Cardinals
|
22
|
|
Patriots
|
19
|
Now
for the conference championship round picks.
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Saturday, January 9, 2016
2015 NFL SEASON: THE PLAYOFFS
Well
in an annual tradition, time to file them under things I have gotten wrong and
start anew.
And
to recap the picks, I offer congratulations to Ms. Monica Roberts on winning our weekly prognostication pool. I guess
some of my good luck from last season rubbed off on her during our long
productive talk in the hotel lobby during the Creating Change conference that
took place in Denver last year.
So
here are my predictions on how the playoffs will shape out and which two teams
will end up in Northern California for Super Bowl L 50 one month from
now.
(read
more)
WILD CARD
Chiefs at Texans
Steelers at Bengals
Seahawks at Vikings
Packers at Washington
DIVISIONAL
Chiefs
at Patriots
Packers
at Cardinals
Seahawks
at Panthers
Steelers at Broncos
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
SUNDAY
Steelers
at Patriots
Cardinals at Panthers
The
Chiefs are a hot team entering the playoffs having won 10 straight after
starting the season 1-5. However, that will be all for naught with a loss at
this stage of the season. One loss and the season is over. If the Chiefs can
keep their winning streak going, they will hoist their first championship since
winning Super Bowl IV in January 1970.
Another
relatively hot team are the Steelers having come into the playoffs winning 4 of
their last 6 including a 33-20 win over the Bengals in Cincinnati and a 34-27
win over the 1-seeded Broncos in Pittsburgh in back-to-back weeks last month.
Pittsburgh almost did not make the playoffs. On the last Sunday of the regular
season, the Steelers needed to beat the Browns (which there was no doubt about
that) and root for the Bills to beat the Jets. Even more remarkable is the
Steelers started 3 different signal callers under center and finished 10-6.
The
Vikings won the NFC North with their 20-13 win over the Packers and their
reward is a home game.
Against
defending NFC Champion Seattle.
As
of late, Russel Wilson has been putting together a case for why he should be
the league MVP. Seattle will probably be relying more on the ground game as
game time temperature in Minneapolis is expected to not get above zero.
As
in zero F.
When
these last two teams faced each other in November, the Seahawks easily defeated
the Vikings in Minneapolis 38-7.
The
Packers-Washington winner will likely be quickly bounced out in the divisional
round. If the Vikings win, then the winner of this game gets to face 1-seeded
Carolina and Cam Newton in Charlotte. If the Seahawks win, then it is to
Phoenix to face the Cardinals and their swarming defense as well as their
capable offense.
Pick
your poison.
As
for the teams with byes, Carolina started the season with 14 straight wins but
split their final two games. In the Super Bowl era (1966-now), 6 teams have won
15 or more regular season games. The first two teams who achieved this feat won
the Super Bowl in consecutive seasons: the 1984 49ers and 1985 Bears.
Since
then, it has not been a mark of post-season success. The Vikings in 1998 were
15-1 in part due the wide receiver duo of Cris Carter and rookie Randy Moss. In
the NFC Championship Game, Gary Anderson missed a field goal that would have
sent the Vikings to their first Super Bowl in 22 years. In overtime, Atlanta’s
Morten Andersen kicked a field goal to send the Falcons to their first and only
Super Bowl where they were blown out by the Broncos 34-19 in John Elway’s final
game.
In
2004, Ben Roethlisberger took over for an injured Tommy Maddox in Week 2 and
from Week 3 onward started under center for the Steelers. Pittsburgh won the
AFC North and were the 1-seed. Also during the season in back-to-back weeks the
Steelers gave the Eagles their first loss of the season and ended the Patriots regular-season
winning streak that started from the previous season. Their season almost ended
in the divisional round but survived overtime against the 6-seeded Jets. The
following week, Pittsburgh’s season ended at home with a 41-27 loss to the
Patriots who went on to win their third Super Bowl in four seasons.
Speaking
of the Patriots, 2007. Perfect regular season, heavy favorites to win the Super
Bowl, Michael Strahan barking on the sideline “17-14 will be the final score,”
Eli Manning to David Tyree, touchdown Plaxico Burress, and “The Patriots will
not be perfect.”
In
2011, the Packers were the defending Super Bowl champions. And they kept on
winning until a late season loss at Kansas City. Green Bay finished 15-1 and were
the NFC 1-seed. It looked like the Packers were going to win another Lombardi
Trophy. And then they played the eventual Super Bowl champion Giants in the
divisional round. And the game wasn’t even close.
The
Broncos might have the 1-seed but have now made a decision at quarterback: the
team is starting Peyton Manning over Brock Osweiler. In last Sunday’s game
against the Chargers, Manning replaced Osweiler to lead the Broncos in two
second-half touchdown drives that clinched the win, the division, and the AFC
1-seed. If Manning should struggle, don’t be surprised if coach Gary Kubiak puts
Osweiler back in.
I
have yet to mention the Cardinals. I know they match up well against the
Vikings after that 23-20 win on a Thursday night in December. They destroyed
the Packers in Week 16. Arizona split the season series with Seattle having won
39-32 in Seattle but then not showing up with the NFC 1-seed potentially on the
line last week at home.
And
now for the Super Bowl…
SUPER BOWL 50
I
think the Cardinals can go into Charlotte and give the Panthers a game, perhaps
come away with a win. So entering the playoffs, the Cardinals are my (heavily
revised) NFC Champion.
If
the AFC championship game is between the Steelers and Patriots, the winner of
that game will likely win the Super Bowl. At the beginning of the season I said
the Patriots were going to win it all again. So I really see no reason to
change that prediction.
Patriots over Cardinals
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Thursday, December 17, 2015
2015 NFL SEASON: WEEK 15
|
|
Me
|
Eli
|
|
|
WEEK
14
|
8-8
|
10-6
|
8-8
|
|
TOTAL
|
128-80
|
131-77
|
124-84
|
With
the premier of Star Wars: The Force
Awakens this weekend, the game previews will have a theme attached to them.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
2015 NFL SEASON: WEEK 14
|
|
Me
|
Eli
|
|
|
WEEK
13
|
10-6
|
10-6
|
10-6
|
|
TOTAL
|
121-71
|
121-71
|
116-76
|
(read
more)
MUST WATCH GAMES
Vikings at Cardinals
Last
Sunday’s Seahawks at Vikings game was about exaggeration.
The
Vikings NFC North’s chances might have been greatly exaggerated. The same can
be said about the Seahawks’ demise.
Running
back Adrian Peterson only had 8 carries last Sunday. If the Vikings are going
to be in this game, they have to get Peterson involved in the offense.
Minnesota is 8-0 when Peterson touches the ball 17 or more times.
Right
now the Cardinals are in position for the NFC 2-seed. The Vikings secondary
will have their hands full in trying to contain the Cardinals passing offense
led by quarterback Carson Palmer. Last season Arizona looked like a contender,
but their hopes were dashed due to injuries decimating the quarterback
position. So far that hasn’t happened and championship aspirations are blooming
in Phoenix.
Steelers at Bengals
Raise
your hand if you have Ben Roethlisberger on your fantasy team?
(points
to self)
And
raise your hand if you have Antonio Brown on your fantasy team?
I
don’t. My opponent last week did, but I won and I am in my fantasy league playoffs.
While Brown caught 8 passes on 11 targets for 118 yards and two touchdowns and added a punt return touchdown in Pittsburgh's 45-10 over the Colts, he is not the only star receiver on the Steelers. It would be worth a look to add wide receiver Markus Wheaton on your team for this
first weekend of fantasy playoffs. Over the last two games he is averaging 6 catches,
125.5 yards and a touchdown over the last two games. Wheaton has scored a
touchdown in two consecutive games compared to just 1 in the first 8.
The
Bengals can clinch the AFC North with a win. They are also in the playoffs if
the Jets or Chiefs lose. Right now the Bengals are the AFC 1-seed during the
Patriots current 2-game losing streak, but with a Week 16 Monday night road
game in Denver that might change.
For
now, the Bengals focus is on division rival Pittsburgh. Over his career,
quarterback Andy Dalton is 2-2 in Cincinnati against the Steelers. Sweeping the Steelers would boost the Bengals' profile heading into the playoffs and could lead to the Bengals finally winning a playoff game for the first time since the George H.W. Bush administration.
When
these teams faced each other in November, it was a hard fought 16-10 Bengals
win in Pittsburgh. I expect there to be more offense in this game.
Falcons at Panthers/Saints at Buccaneers
The
Saints gave the Panthers their best shot, but were unable to knock the Panthers
from the unbeaten ranks. Hard to believe that Falcons started 5-0 before their
implosion that started with a loss to the Saints in New Orleans. Now it will be
the Falcons turn to try to hang one in the Panthers’ loss column.
Carolina
can clinch a first-round bye with a win or a Vikings loss/tie and Packers
loss/tie. Right now the Panthers still have post-season prizes to play for and
are focused on that. After clinching homefield, the focus will then shift to
completing a perfect regular season which has only been accomplished twice in
the Super Bowl era: the 2007 Patriots and 1972 Dolphins. The 1972 Dolphins
were the only team to complete a perfect season and win the Super Bowl.
Sweeping
the Falcons has put the Buccaneers in the first spot outside of the playoffs.
Could the Buccaneers with a rookie quarterback make the playoffs? Ask the 2012
Colts, Washington, and Seahawks. Ask the 2008 Ravens and Falcons.
Cowboys at Packers
The
Packers kept their NFC North hopes alive on a prayer in Detroit. It looked like
the Lions were on their way to sweeping the Packers for the first time since
1991.
Instead,
Green Bay came away with a 27-23 win
at Detroit after never leading at any point in the game and trailing at one
point 20-0.
Packers
quarterback Aaron Rodgers in a post-game made an allusion to the time his team were on the other
end of a Hail Mary.
Speaking
of teams keeping their postseason hopes alive, the Cowboys. For the first time
this season, the Cowboys won a game this season with a quarterback not named
Tony Romo.
The
game at Washington was a field goal contest for the first 58 minutes. DeSean
Jackson fumbled a punt return that set up running back Darren McFadden’s
touchdown run that gave Dallas a 16-9 lead. Jackson redeemed himself with a
touchdown reception to tie the game. Cowboys quarterback Matt Cassel put kicker
Dan Bailey in position to make a 54-yard field goal for the 19-16 win.
Three
teams are tied for first in the NFC East at 5-7. Dallas is 4-8. It is possible
for the NFC East champion to have a 7-9 record while the Packers could finish
above .500 and miss the playoffs.
Since
starting 6-0, Green Bay has now won 2 in their last 6. The Motor City Miracle
might be a jump start to a push for another NFC North title. Last season the
Packers eliminated the Cowboys from the playoffs in the divisional round. If
the Cowboys lose in Green Bay, it won’t eliminate them yet but will make the chances
of a playoff return even less likely.
Patriots at Texans
This
is the Texans reward for playing well: You get flexed into the Sunday Night
slot.
The
original Sunday Night game Seahawks at Ravens has turned into a dog in part due
to the Ravens imploding. Yes, Baltimore is still in it, but another loss will greatly
reduce their playoff chances and could move their Week 16 matchup against
Pittsburgh out of the Sunday Night slot.
Despite
their 6-6 record, Houston is tied for the AFC South lead but would lose the tiebreaker
to the Colts. A win over the Patriots would be the biggest in Texans history.
Even bigger than their first win in franchise history over the Cowboys in Week
1 in the 2002 season. The Texans hopes of an upset rest on the play of
linebacker J.J. Watt. Pretty much Watt would need a career performance to pull
off the upset.
The
last time the Patriots lost 2 games in a row was in 2012. You have
to go back to 2002
to find the last time the Patriots lost 3 games in a row. That losing streak
ended at 4 games played a role in New England missing the playoffs that season.
In the Brady-Belichick era (started in 2000), New England has only missed the
playoffs three times: 2000, 2002, and 2008. The scenario for New England to at
least make the playoffs is simple: win.
And
now the picks.
Kickoff
times are Mountain Time
Sunday
afternoon games airing in Denver are noted by (DEN)
Picks
are in BOLD
THURSDAY
NIGHT, NFL 6PM
Vikings
at Cardinals
FOX 11AM
Falcons at Panthers (DEN)
49ers at Browns
Lions at Rams
Saints
at Buccaneers
Seahawks at Ravens
Washington at Bears
CBS 11AM
Bills at Eagles
Chargers
at Chiefs
Colts at Jaguars
Steelers
at Bengals
Titans
at Jets
FOX 2PM
Packers at Cowboys
CBS 2PM
Raiders
at Broncos (DEN)
SUNDAY
NIGHT, NBC 6:30 PM
Patriots at Texans
MONDAY
NIGHT, ESPN 6:30 PM
Giants at Dolphins
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
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