Super Bowl

2025-26 NFL Preview & Prognostications 

Just when I was kinda sorta almost getting amped up for the return of football, news emerged of ESPN gobbling up the NFL Network & RedZone. I was upset last year when RedZone abandoned their “seven hours of commercial free football” tradition, although if I’m being honest the commercials were sprinkled in unobtrusively. However, ESPN (or, if we’re keeping it 100, Disney) tends to ruin perfectly great things with their meddling. I still haven’t forgiven them for canceling Mike & Mike in the Morning eight years ago. Disney…which is also now in bed with WWE…has become a greedy monster gobbling up everything in sight, and the fans pay the price. Anyway, I suppose further changes won’t occur until next season, so we’ll forge ahead as usual for now. As always, I’ll remind you that I really don’t know what the hell I’m talking about sometimes, so please…no wagering.

North

Detroit Lions (15-2) 11-6

Green Bay Packers (11-6) 10-7

Minnesota Vikings (14-3) 9-8

Chicago Bears (5-12) 8-9

I’m so tired of talking heads slobbering all over Bears’ QB Caleb Williams, using words like “generational”. No, he’s not. He’s just another guy. In three years, if I am wrong, I will admit my error and ask for mercy. At this point though, I don’t believe Williams will be much more successful than predecessors like Rex Grossman, Kyle Orton, or Jay Cutler. Chicago does have a new head coach though. Former Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is getting his crack at a top job, and if anyone can prove me wrong about Williams it’s probably him. I like Vikings’ QB JJ McCarthy, but he is essentially a rookie after missing all of last season with a knee injury. The Vikes added some pieces on defense & bolstered their offensive line. Having said that, we probably need to show a bit of grace while McCarthy becomes acclimated to the NFL. Despite the presence of elite receiver Justin Jefferson, a solid running back group, and one of the best tight ends in the league in TJ Hockenson, I foresee a significant dropoff from a year ago. The Packers are being overlooked a bit, which might work in their favor. Jordan Love enters his third year as the starting quarterback, but he’s going to need more consistency from a deep & talented group of receivers, and their Top 5 defense has to maintain that level of intensity. Detroit’s defense was ravaged by injuries last year, and former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has moved on to be the head coach of the NY Jets. How will their offense adjust after the departure of Ben Johnson?? That’ll be the key to the entire season. I expect a small regression, but it’ll be worth it if they have a deeper playoff run.

South 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) 9-8

Atlanta Falcons (8-9) 9-8

Carolina Panthers (5-12) 6-11

New Orleans Saints (5–12) 6-11

While I don’t believe Bucs’ QB Baker Mayfield is worthy of being discussed alongside the league’s elite signal callers, I do think he has earned a spot on the second tier. A season ago that translated into a division title & a first round postseason exit, which is probably their ceiling once again. All eyes will be on Michael Penix Jr., now entrenched as the Falcons’ quarterback. Of course they also retained Kirk Cousins, whose services weren’t sought by any other team given his robust salary. Tight end Kyle Pitts has got to live up to his potential, and Atlanta’s defense, which ranked in the bottom third of the NFL last season, must kick it up a notch. The Panthers & Saints are spinning their wheels. New Orleans hired Kellen Moore to be their head coach, which may pay dividends in the future, but right now they simply have too many holes on the roster. I have come to the conclusion that the Panthers are football’s version of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They hire the wrong people, make bad decisions, and can’t evaluate talent properly. Their biggest issue is likely ownership, which won’t change until it does.

East

Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) 12-5

Dallas Cowboys (7-10) 10-7

Washington Commanders (12-5) 10-7

New York Giants (3-14) 6-11

Winning back-to-back Super Bowls is rare, but has been done as recently as the year before last. The Eagles have appeared in three Super Bowls since 2017, winning two. There has been some turnover on defense, but getting younger might not be a bad thing. Key free agents departed on both sides of the ball, yet, as long as Jalen Hurts is under center, he has his full complement of receivers, and Saquon Barkley is toting the rock, I see no reason to doubt Philly just yet. Brian Schottenheimer is now the head coach in Dallas, a change I’ve been predicting for a couple of years. Expect the Cowboys to rebound from a disappointing season and challenge Philadelphia for the division crown…assuming sack monster Micah Parsons gets paid. The Commanders will be right there in the mix as well, although QB Jayden Daniels won’t be sneaking up on anyone anymore. Does that mean Washington won’t be successful?? No…but I believe they’ll take a step back for now, especially if issues with receiver Terry McLaurin aren’t resolved satisfactorily. I actually like some of the things the Giants have done, but until Jaxon Dart supplants Russell Wilson behind center and young studs on defense gain experience there won’t be any postseason games at MetLife Stadium. 

West

Los Angeles Rams (10-7) 10-7

Arizona Cardinals (8-9) 9-8

San Francisco 49ers (6-11) 9-8

Seattle Seahawks (10-7) 8-9

The Seahawks are almost unrecognizable. There’s a whole new offensive coaching staff, and Sam Darnold replaces Geno Smith at quarterback. Many will view that as an upgrade, but I’m not so sure. Receivers DK Metcalf & Tyler Lockett are gone, with former Ram Cooper Kupp stepping in as the new second receiver behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Seattle was a middle-of-the-pack defense last year, but with so many changes no one knows what to expect now. I don’t think the NIners will be as terrible as they were a year ago, but their defense was certainly impacted in free agency. Time will tell if draft picks pan out, and in the meantime alot is riding on the further development of QB Brock Purdy & the always unstable health of RB Christian McCaffrey. I don’t have much more faith in Cards’ QB Kyler Murray than I do Caleb Williams, but if receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. continues his ascent that’ll help. Arizona’s braintrust seemed to focus on a defensive rebuild this offseason, so we’ll see how that works out. I don’t think winning their second consecutive division title will be easy for the Rams, and I’m a little concerned about the health of QB Matthew Stafford, but the defense should be sneaky good enough to narrowly win the division.

Playoffs: Eagles, Rams, Lions, Bucs, Packers, Cowboys, Commanders

NFC Title: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys

North

Baltimore Ravens (12-5) 11-6

Cincinnati Bengals (9-8) 9-8

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) 9-8

Cleveland Browns (3-14) 5-12

My Steelers have been the talk of the offseason. Will they be terrible or will they be mediocre?? I believe that’s called damning with faint praise. Enigmatic Aaron Rodgers will be the quarterback, and he’ll be throwing mostly to DK Metcalf, who I see as an upgrade after George Pickens yapped his way out of town. He’s Jerry Jones’ problem now. Pass rusher TJ Watt got paid, and I have no doubt he’ll earn it. The running game looks different with rookie Kaleb Johnson & Jaylen Warren sharing duties after the departure of former first round bust Najee Harris. For the first time in several years I have good vibes about the offensive line & secondary. Everything seems to be held together by duct tape & prayer in Pittsburgh, which won’t get them to the Super Bowl but also hopefully means I won’t spend the next several months curled up in a dark room muttering to myself, as I assume Browns fans have been doing for decades. First of all, Cleveland’s quarterback room is unintentionally hilarious. Secondly, Myles Garrett is not the best defensive player in the NFL. Look on the bright side though…the Cavaliers are pretty good, and the Guardians ain’t half bad either. The division belongs to Baltimore, who’ve become the AFC’s Dallas Cowboys tribute band. No one doubts they’ll be successful in the regular season, but everyone assumes they’ll screw the pooch in the playoffs. Can the Bengals be a fly in the ointment?? Joe Burrow is a top notch quarterback. He has solid weapons, although if I were the GM I’d be looking for upgrades in the backfield & at tight end in the next draft. However, Cincy’s defense ranked in the bottom third of the league last season, and that was with pass rusher Trey Hendrickson in the lineup. If his holdout continues it’s a huge problem, and even if he plays there are other issues. 

South 

Houston Texans (10-7) 9-8

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13) 8-9

Indianapolis Colts (8-9) 7-10

Tennessee Titans (3-14) 6-11

Which teams will improve and which teams will regress?? The Texans have a target on their back and tweaked their team just a bit. There are some new coaches on offense and a revamped offensive line. Quarterback CJ Stroud’s QBR dropped from 53.2 during his rookie season to 50.2 last year, while his passer rating dropped from 100.8 to 87. He has to be better. The Colts will choose between QBs Anthony Richardson & Daniel Jones, which is like having drunk munchies at 3am and your best options are the container of Chinese food that’s been in your fridge for a week or risking a DUI to grab some Taco Bell. Jonathan Taylor is only 26 years old & one of the best RBs in football when healthy, and I really like first round draft pick Tyler Warren, who has elite tight end potential. Indy ranked 29th in total defense a season ago, and I don’t know if they did enough to improve significantly. #1 overall pick Cam Ward has an opportunity to be a special QB for the Titans, but it’ll take a couple of years to build a competitive roster around him. The Jags brought in former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Liam Coen to be their new head coach and drafted unicorn Travis Hunter, who will allegedly play WR & CB. I like receiver Brian Thomas, and there are some dawgs on defense, but everything in Jacksonville is contingent upon QB Trevor Lawrence rebounding from an injury plagued season during which he only played in ten games. 

East

Buffalo Bills (13-4) 14-3

Miami Dolphins (8-9) 9-8

New England Patriots (4-13) 7-10

New York Jets (5-12) 7-10

There is no question that the Bills will win the division easily. Their focus is solely on solving recent playoff woes & playing in February. The Dolphins moved some chess pieces around, but I don’t believe their team is any better or worse than last season. QB Tua Tagovailoa only played in 11 games a year ago, and it seems like further concussion issues could seriously jeopardize his career. Patriots QB Drake Maye comes into his second season surrounded by a team that has undergone a significant transformation. Former linebacker & Titans head coach Mike Vrabel now runs the show for the franchise he won three Super Bowls with, and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels returns home after realizing he’s not really cut out to be a head coach. Things are looking up in New England, but let’s give them another year before raising expectations. The Jets are the Jets. I know there is some buzz around new quarterback Justin Fields, but I’ve never understood the hype. Former cornerback Aaron Glenn is the Jets’ fifth head coach in the past decade, and unfortunately I don’t think he’ll achieve much more than his last few predecessors.

West

Kansas City Chiefs (15-2) 12-5

Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) 10-7

Denver Broncos (10-7) 10-7

Las Vegas Raiders (4-13) 7-10

Have the Chiefs plateaued?? Can they make a fourth consecutive Super Bowl appearance?? I don’t believe it’ll be easy, but as long as Andy Reid is coaching and QB Patrick Mahomes remains healthy with no prominent erosion of his skills it’s too soon to dismiss KC. Having said that, I do think Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers will make things interesting. RB Najee Harris was a bust in Pittsburgh, and he’ll probably cede the starting gig to first rounder Omarion Hampton, but together they could be a formidable duo. A couple of receivers really need to step up for QB Justin Herbert, and the 11th ranked defense has to keep improving. A year ago I underestimated the skills of QB Bo Nix, but he showed alot of potential while leading the Broncos to the playoffs. Denver is probably looking at a very similar season in a really competitive division. I really like the Raiders trading for QB Geno Smith, who should be a significant upgrade over the potpourri of mediocrity that held the job the past couple of years. Super Bowl winning head coach Pete Carroll has also come out of retirement to lead the charge, which is oddly encouraging. With the addition of first round RB Ashton Jeanty & continued growth of tight end Brock Bowers there are signs of hope in Vegas, but their middle of the pack defense has to improve or they’ll continue to lose more games than they win.

Playoffs: Bills, Chiefs, Ravens, Texans, Chargers, Broncos, Bengals

AFC Title: Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens 

Philadelphia Eagles  24

Buffalo Bills    27

Top 5 Picks in the 2026 NFL Draft

1 Cleveland Browns

2 New York Giants

3 Carolina Panthers 

4 New Orleans Saints 

5 Tennessee Titans

Winning & Musing…Volume 1.25

It’s time to put a bow on the football season and perhaps address one or two other issues.

It’s hard to believe that only a few weeks have passed since Ohio St. won the CFP Championship. It feels like a lifetime ago. At any rate, kudos to the Buckeyes, who blew past Tennessee, Oregon, and Texas with relative ease before mostly dominating Notre Dame in the title game, despite not even playing in the Big Ten Championship and being seeded 8th in the CFP. It was the inaugural season for the 12 team playoff, and despite my initial misgivings about that expansion I cannot deny that it was successful and solidly entertaining. I do believe the formula will eventually be tweaked a bit, but before the inevitable expansion to 16 teams I hope the powers-that-be iron out the seeding process, and really, I would love to see conference title games incorporated into the first round of the playoff. I also believe that the FBS needs to split, with the Group of Five conferences playing for their own title while the Power 4 teams do their thing. Anyway, those are rabbit holes we can dive into some other time.

Congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles, who gave the Kansas City Chiefs a surprising Super Bowl beatdown to claim their second Lombardi Trophy in seven years and deny KC an unprecedented three-peat. My sports fandom is fueled by disdain more than I’d prefer to admit, but I don’t hold any particular ill will toward either team and therefore didn’t have a dog in the fight. I don’t even suffer from Chiefs fatigue yet, and am not all that bothered by the whole Travis Kelce/Taylor Swift situation. My only wish was for a fun, competitive contest, and in that regard the game fell woefully short. 

On the same day that Philly won the Super Bowl, legendary basketball broadcaster Hubie Brown ended his career that lasted a half century, first as a coach then as an analyst on TV. It has been well-established that I don’t pay much attention to the NBA regular season, but to the extent that I have watched games thru the years Brown has been a constant presence…a soothing, knowledgeable voice who provided insightful analysis and focused on teaching fans about the game he so clearly loves instead of trying to be the kind of personality who draws attention to themselves that has become pervasive as television grew into the dominant force in sports. ABC did a nice job of honoring 91 year old Brown during his final broadcast without disrespecting the game itself (a fairly prosaic victory for the Milwaukee Bucks over the Philadelphia 76ers).

I will not dump all over the Super Bowl halftime featuring rapper Kendrick Lamar. I don’t want to become one of those hypercritical old goats who begin every commentary with “back in my day”, so suffice to say that the show wasn’t my cup o’ tea. However, I knew that going in. I am fully aware that middle aged white guys, despite all accusations of “privilege”, are not the target demographic for much of anything. I’ll spare all of us a breakdown of why that is, and just say that I am fine with it. However, from a business perspective I would suggest to the NFL that such a prominent position should probably be occupied by a performer with much broader appeal. I am sure that there are people who enjoyed Kendrick Lamar immensely, but I don’t believe it was an impactful chunk of the viewing audience. 

After a full season of watching the NFL’s new dynamic kickoff I have to say that I don’t despise it, except for one significant issue. I hate that onside kicks have essentially been eliminated from the game, and teams can’t even declare their intention to try an onside until the 4th quarter. I don’t believe that trick plays (including a surprise onside kick) should be used recklessly, but to preclude such a possibility at all negates an intriguing layer of strategery. 

Both Zach & myself limped to the finish in our weekly picks, going 3-5 in the final week. That means I finished 56-61, while he was 55-62. It’s a rather pyrrhic victory that enforces the fact that we aren’t very good at prognosticating football games and would probably both be homeless bums if we chose to gamble with real money.

On January 8, 2018, QB Jalen Hurts was benched at halftime of college football’s national title game. Freshman Tua Tagovailoa came in and led Alabama to a comeback victory in overtime. Hurts spent the following season as Tagovailoa’s backup before transferring to Oklahoma. Seven years later Tagovailoa has spent most of his five year NFL career struggling to convince “experts” he should remain the Miami Dolphins’ starter while compiling a 38-24 record with only one postseason game. Conversely, Hurts has led the Philadelphia Eagles to two Super Bowls, winning one while being named the game’s MVP. There are alot of valuable lessons to be learned from that story.

2024 Pigskin Picks of Profundity…Week 19

We’re doing a very quick turnaround because college football’s semifinals begin tonight. I am a little disappointed that so much of the NFL playoff picture was cleared up this past weekend, because I had visions of total chaos that’d push us into considering a few more games. Unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be. The good news is that we both went 4-1, which means that finishing above .500 for the season is within reach. With the college playoff expanding to 12 teams and the way the schedule falls, we will not be picking the semis or the championship game, which is probably for the best. As always I would like to thank my nephew Zach for indulging me with this fun little gig every football season, and give a shout out to anyone who might actually read what is written here. I have not been as productive in 2024 as I could’ve been, and I realize that citizens of The Manoverse who aren’t football fans probably gave up on me months ago. I’ll try to do better in 2025. Happy New Year everyone, and may God bless you as we all get the opportunity to begin again.

My Season: 53-56

Zach’s Season:  52-57

Fiesta Bowl 

CFP Quarterfinal

Penn State (-10.5) vs. Boise State 

The Nittany Lions easily defeated SMU in the first round, while the Broncos had a bye. That system of seeding & byes seems flawed given the fact that Penn St. is a double digit favorite. There will be much hand wringing & consternation in the offseason by folks who essentially believe that only two conferences and maybe a half dozen other teams really matter, which is just more proof that collegiate athletics is broken. As far as this particular contest goes, despite the fact that I’ve accused Penn St. of being overrated on multiple occasions, and I am almost always rooting for the underdog, the fact is that Penn St. will likely win. The question is, can they bitch slap Boise like a few teams got beat down in Round 1?? Boise St.’s only loss was in September at Oregon by three points, so I have to believe that they can stay within ten points of Penn St. Zach thinks that there is a legit chance that Penn St.’s defense has problems stopping Heisman runner-up RB Ashton Jeanty, and doesn’t have much faith in the Nittany Lions coming thru in big games. He agrees that Boise is unlikely to win, but won’t go away quietly.

My Pick: Boise St.

Zach’s Pick: Boise St.

Peach Bowl 

CFP Quarterfinal

Texas (-12.5) vs. Arizona State 

It might be the most entertaining game of the entire tournament. Texas handled Clemson in the first round, while Arizona St. had a bye. In three previous Pac 12 seasons the Sun Devils were 14-23. Head coach Kenny Dillingham, in his second season after serving as offensive coordinator at Auburn, Florida St., & Oregon, has  led a complete turnaround in the program’s inaugural Big 12 campaign. Look, I know that Texas has two QBs and probably a bunch of other players that’ll play in the NFL soon enough. I understand that the only two losses they suffered in their first year in the SEC were to Georgia, winner of two of the past three national championships. I get it. Have you watched Arizona St. play though?? They bulldozed Iowa St. in the Big 12 title game, and their only two losses were by a combined 18 points. Would I love to see a huge upset?? Damn straight. Do I think it will happen?? I’m not holding my breath. However, I do believe it’ll be a much closer game than the “experts” predict. At the beginning of the playoff Zach predicted Arizona St. could make a run and be a serious title contender, so he’s not moving off that now.

My Pick: Arizona St.

Zach’s Pick: Arizona St.

Rose Bowl 

CFP Quarterfinal

Ohio State (-2.5) vs. Oregon

I suppose this should be considered the marquee matchup of the four. Both teams have spent time at #1 this season. The Buckeyes only two losses were to Oregon & arch rival Michigan, and the folks in Columbus were so upset about the latter that some wanted head coach Ryan Day canned. People need to get with the times though. National Championships are no longer mythical. The system is flawed, but there is a system, which means that Ohio St.’s loss to Michigan should be considered less impactful than it might’ve been a decade ago. Sure, they missed out on a conference title and a first round bye, but they are here. They beat the snot out of Tennessee in Round 1 and now everything is in front of them. Meanwhile, in their first Big Ten season the Ducks ran roughshod thru a tough schedule, including a one point October victory over Ohio St., which came down to a field goal in the final two minutes. It is quite instructive that Oregon is considered the underdog. If there is one thing I have tried to learn while doing these picks, it is that oddsmakers know things we don’t, and oftentimes they have an uncanny way of being almost exactly right. So look for the favorites to win by a field goal. Surprisingly, Zach concurs.

My Pick: Ohio St. 

Zach’s Pick: Ohio St.

Sugar Bowl

CFP Quarterfinal

Notre Dame vs. Georgia (-1.5)

Has Notre Dame been overrated?? Sure, they’re 12-1, but the most impressive wins on their resume are the season opener at Texas A&M and a home victory over Louisville. Their Round 1 domination of Indiana has been much discussed, and if you believe the Hoosiers didn’t belong in the playoff (I’m looking at you SEC sycophants) then you can’t give much credence to the Irish winning that game. Conversely, even though Georgia hasn’t been as elite as we’ve been used to the past few seasons, no one questions their seat at the table. However, with QB Carson Beck out with an elbow injury, the intrigue for this contest is turned up a notch or two. I assume Georgia would be a much bigger favorite with Beck, but the fact that they’re still favored at all either shows how much respect the Bulldogs have earned thru the years, or casts a shadow on Notre Dame’s contender status. Perhaps both. The game is being played in Atlanta, which is basically a home field for the favorites. I think we’ll see a low scoring defensive struggle, probably decided by a few special teams plays. In that scenario I believe Georgia finds a way to escape with a close win. Zach agrees.

My Pick: Georgia

Zach’s Pick: Georgia 

Carolina at Atlanta (-7.5)

In my season preview I predicted that winning the NFC South would be a tough grind, because that’s exactly what it has been in recent years. So here we are. The Falcons have to win, and even then may fall short of the postseason. I am a bit surprised that they benched QB Kirk Cousins in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. A bold move for sure in a tight playoff race, but whether it is wise or not remains to be seen. The Panthers have been as hapless as I knew they would be, but teams with nothing to lose and an opportunity to play spoiler can be dangerous. I don’t believe the outcome is in much doubt, but Carolina will put up a fight. Still, I look for Atlanta to cover…barely. Zach concurs. 

My Pick: Atlanta

Zach’s Pick: Atlanta 

Kansas City at Denver (-10)

I know why the Broncos are favored, but it’s still a bit surprising. Having already locked up the division title and the AFC’s first round bye, the assumption is that KC will sit most of their starters. Meanwhile, the Broncos not only have the home field, but find themselves in a three team dogfight for a wildcard berth. One team will be super motivated, while the other has much bigger goals in mind. I think Denver will get the job done, but even playing with backups I can’t fathom the Chiefs going down by ten points. Zach agrees.

My Pick: Kansas City 

Zach’s Pick: Kansas City 

New Orleans at Tampa Bay (-13)

The Saints just haven’t been a good team this season and probably need to consider a total rebuild. Conversely, my assessment of Baker Mayfield was inaccurate, to put it kindly. The Bucs aren’t amongst the best in the conference, but they are scrappy and could catch a playoff opponent off guard. They need to win this game to even get there, but damn…the points are a bit much. When these teams met in The Big Easy in mid-October Tampa opened up a can o’ whoopass and won by 24 points, but I think it’ll be more like 10-12 this time. Zach concurs. 

My Pick: New Orleans  

Zach’s Pick: New Orleans 

Minnesota at Detroit (-2.5)

Both teams come into the game 14-2. The winner will be crowned NFC North champs and be the top seed in that conference, earning a first round bye. The loser will drop all the way back to the #5 seed. It’s the final game of the regular season, broadcast on NBC on Sunday night. I suggest muting your television and finding the radio call. IYKYK. When these teams met in October the Lions kicked the game winning field goal with 15 seconds on the clock. Since then Detroit’s defense has been decimated by injuries, to the point that I don’t believe they can still be considered Super Bowl favorites. If I were a die hard Lions fan, head coach Dan Campbell would drive me insane. Call me old fashioned, but while his aggressiveness is entertaining, it isn’t always wise. I think he’ll do something stupid…fake punt, unnecessarily going for a two point conversion, going for it on 4th down once too often…and it’ll cost his team a division title. Vikings QB Sam Darnold gets Zach’s vote for Comeback Player of the Year, and believes the smart choice is to ride with their momentum.

My Pick: Minnesota

Zach’s Pick: Minnesota 

2023-24 NFL PREVIEW & PROGNOSTICATIONS

Has there ever been a Super Bowl rematch in back-to-back seasons?? Yes…once. The Dallas Cowboys beat the snot out of the Buffalo Bills in 1992 & ‘93. Could it happen again?? Perhaps. Who knows?? What I do know is that football is back and my weekends are about to become delightfully entertaining once again. For the 15th time we’re going to take a peak into the ol’ crystal ball and see if we can prophesy what to expect from the NFL this season. It’s an endeavor fraught with pitfalls & unknowns…injuries, coaching changes, rookies, aging veterans, free agency. Out of all the professional sports leagues the NFL is perhaps the most unpredictable, yet we do our best to do exactly that. It’s crazy, and probably kind of dumb…but it is also lots of fun, for me anyway. I hope you enjoy many wonderful Sundays, Mondays, & Thursdays in the next several months, and as always I discourage any wagering based on what you read here because I really have no idea what I’m talking about.

East

Miami Dolphins (9-8) 10-7

New York Jets (7-10) 10-7

Buffalo Bills (13-3) 10-7

New England Patriots (8-9) 7-10

A year ago I predicted “look out for the Jets in 2024”. They decided to accelerate the timeline by acquiring QB Aaron Rodgers & RB Dalvin Cook, amongst other pieces of the puzzle. They are clearly in Win Now mode and probably have a two year window. Last season I wasn’t too sure about new Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, but I have a more positive opinion now. Miami has quietly put together a good team that’ll make some noise, and it feels like a pivotal season for Tua Tagovailoa in his 4th year under center. The Jets & Dolphins ascending means that the Bills won’t cruise to a division title like they did last year, so a lot of folks might view them as disappointing despite a solid season. I’m a bit hesitant to stick a fork in the Patriots, but when a potential quarterback controversy involves Mac Jones & Bailey Zappe I don’t think anyone should be expecting much.

West

Kansas City Chiefs (14-3) 16-1

Los Angeles Chargers (10-7) 8-9

Las Vegas Raiders (6-11) 2-15

Denver Broncos (5-12) 2-15

There is absolutely nothing to be excited about in this division if you aren’t a Chiefs fan. I wonder if receiver Davante Adams cries himself to sleep at night pondering the fact that he bolted Green Bay, leaving Aaron Rodgers in the dust in exchange for his buddy Derek Carr, only to see that experiment fail miserably and Carr to be ran out of town?? QB Jimmy Garoppolo had foot surgery in the off-season and might not be 100% out of the gate, which is horrible news for the Raiders. The Broncos have said all the right things about QB Russell Wilson, but it’s hard to feel encouraged after he had the worst year of his career in 2022. Sean Payton is now the head coach and that’s cool, but when a franchise is putting everything on the shoulders of the coach because no one is too sure about the players that’s not good. I’d rather have a stacked roster with an unproven coach like the Dolphins and Jets. The Chargers are the only thing standing between Kansas City and the most effortless division title in the history of football, and trust me when I tell you that’s not causing Patrick Mahomes & Andy Reid to lay awake at night.

North

Cincinnati Bengals (12-4) 11-6

Baltimore Ravens (10-7) 9-8

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-8) 9-8

Cleveland Browns (7-10) 5-12

Can the Ravens stay healthy?? That seems to be their biggest issue in recent years. Will QB Lamar Jackson earn the five year/$260 million contract he maneuvered the team into after initially demanding a trade back in March?? Ehhh…I’m just not that impressed with Baltimore. They always receive a bunch of hype from the talking heads then fall short of lofty expectations. I see no reason that’ll be any different this year. They’ll give the Bengals a legit fight for the crown, but at the end of the day Cincy will win the division once again. Most “experts” aren’t expecting much from my Steelers, but with Kenny Pickett now firmly ensconced as the starting quarterback, some key additions on both sides of the ball in free agency & the draft, and everyone betting against them I believe they’ll be in the playoff hunt until the end and atleast protect Coach Tomlin’s much ballyhooed achievement of never having a losing season. Most assume that the Browns will be better with Deshaun Watson under center from the jump, but they were only 3-3 in the games he started a season ago. Sorry Cleveland fans, but I don’t foresee a happy ending for you.

South

Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8) 12-5

Indianapolis Colts (4-12-1) 7-10

Tennessee Titans (7-10) 6-11

Houston Texans (3-13-1) 5-12

This is it Jags fans!! You’ve made it thru the abyss. After 15 years of wandering in a desert of futility with some occasional glimpses of mediocrity (and that one inexplicable playoff run in 2007) Jacksonville enters the 2023 season with a decent head coach, QB & former #1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence in his prime, a potentially good defense, and competing in one of the worst divisions in the league. There’s no way they can screw this up, right?? As predicted the Colts went nowhere with Matt Ryan as their signal caller, and now they’re hitching the wagon to rookie Anthony Richardson. That might pay dividends in the future but there will be growing pains. I expect defenses to load the box against unhappy RB Jonathan Taylor (if he isn’t traded), so fantasy owners beware. The Titans might have a slightly better quarterback room with veteran Ryan Tannehill & first round pick Will Levis, but they also will rely heavily on pounding the rock with Derrick Henry, who has alot of miles on those tires. The signing of free agent receiver DeAndre Hopkins would’ve been impressive…in 2018. Now?? Ehhhh 🤷🏻‍♂️. If either defense in Tennessee or Indianapolis can rise to the occasion and carry their team perhaps they’ll be slightly more successful, but I’m not expecting much. I actually like the direction the Texans are headed, but need to see how first rounder CJ Stroud adjusts to the NFL, or if he can even keep the starting QB job. I have good vibes about new head coach (and former Texans linebacker) DeMeco Ryans. There are some nice pieces on the Houston defense, including #3 overall pick Will Anderson (Kevin Costner had to be somewhere smiling at those draft maneuvers), but it’s going to take this team some time. You’ll see signs of progress, but it might be another year or two before we see the payoff.

Playoffs: Chiefs, Jags, Bengals, Dolphins, Jets, Bills, Ravens

AFC Champion: Kansas City Chiefs

East

Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) 11-6

New York Giants (9-7-1) 10-7

Washington Commanders (8-8-1) 8-9

Dallas Cowboys (12-5) 8-9

A year ago I was rather dismissive of Giants’ QB Daniel Jones, who proceeded to lead his team to the playoffs & earn a four year contract extension worth $160 million. I’m not going to underestimate the Giants again, especially given the off-season acquisition of tight end Darren Waller in free agency and a solid draft. The Commanders are still treading water and have yet another new quarterback in Sam Howell, their fifth round pick in 2022. Actually, they’ve made more news off the field, as embattled owner Daniel Snyder finally sold the team this summer. My outlook for them might be a bit optimistic, but I like head coach Ron Rivera and the roster isn’t terrible. The Dallas Cowboys will make me look like a prophet or a fool. Head coach Mike McCarthy has gone 12-5 each of the past two seasons, but I foresee a huge decline and the end of his tenure. He may not last past Halloween. It’s not that they’re a bad team…I just think they’ll lose several close games when the ball simply doesn’t bounce their way. At the end of the day I believe the Eagles will win the division for the fourth time in seven years. They won’t seem as elite as a year ago and may have to go on the road at some point in the postseason, but ultimately I foresee a much more satisfying conclusion.

West

Seattle Seahawks (9-8) 9-8

San Francisco 49ers (13-4) 9-8

Arizona Cardinals (4-13) 8-9

Los Angeles Rams (5-12) 7-10

In 2022 I thought this would be one of the best divisions in the league, but the Rams & Cards were terrible, Seattle was just average, and ‘Frisco ran away with the title. I don’t think the division overall will be any better this season, but it might be more competitive. Former WV Mountaineer Geno Smith finally proved why he was a second round draft pick a decade ago and is the incumbent starting quarterback for the Seahawks. He has plenty of weapons on offense, and the defense is talented on paper. That talent didn’t back it up on the field last year though, so it’s something to keep an eye on. Seattle may become an afterthought if the 49ers QB situation solidifies, but who knows if former Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy will continue to shine?? 2021 first rounder Trey Lance & much traveled former first round pick Sam Darnold (now with his third team in six years) are around if Purdy falters, but that doesn’t inspire much confidence. ‘Frisco is a talented team, but I feel like they won’t be as successful as a year ago. I don’t know what to say about Arizona & Los Angeles, except that I see no reason to expect dramatic improvement, although it should be noted that the Rams were in the Super Bowl just a couple of years back so it’s possible they could figure out what went sideways and fix it.

North

Detroit Lions (9-8) 11-6

Minnesota Vikings (13-4) 10-7

Chicago Bears (3-14) 7-10

Green Bay Packers (8-9) 6-11

Carpe diem Lions!! Much like the Jacksonville Jaguars the brain trust in Detroit has quietly been building a team with tremendous potential, led by a young defense that includes budding stars Aidan Hutchinson, Cam Sutton, and rookie linebacker Jack Campbell. I really like head coach Dan Campbell, who went 9-8 a year ago, a six game improvement over his first year in the Motor City. The most significant question Campbell must answer is whether or not he & offensive coordinator Ben Johnson can elevate Jared Goff into a quarterback befitting the #1 overall pick that he was seven years ago. The biggest off-season news came out of Green Bay, who won’t have a Hall of Fame caliber quarterback starting for them for the first time since 1991. It might be a rough couple of years on the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field, but don’t worry Cheeseheads…they’ll get things figured out eventually. Can the same be said for the Bears?? I don’t believe Justin Fields will ever be a great pro QB, and I’m not impressed with his supporting cast or the Chicago defense. This isn’t the ‘85 Bears by a long shot. I must apologize once again for underestimating the Vikings last season, a mistake I won’t make again. Having said that, I think they’ll drop off just enough for Detroit to take the division.

South

New Orleans Saints (7-10) 9-8

Carolina Panthers (7-10) 6-11

Atlanta Falcons (7-10) 5-12

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9) 5-12

You might’ve heard that Tom Brady finally retired. Thank God. That’s great news for everyone except the Bucs, who will start Baker Mayfield at quarterback. That’s like moving out of a million dollar mansion into an efficiency apartment. Even the Colts are laughing. I’m not sure what the hell is going on in Atlanta. I really like running back Tyler Allgeier, who set the franchise record for most rushing yards by a rookie. Apparently that didn’t impress the powers-that-be though, as they spent their first round pick on RB Bijan Robinson out of Texas. Second year QB Desmond Ridder will be running the show, and he has a few young weapons with potential. That group is going to need time to mature, and in the meantime their veteran laden defense has to kick it up a notch. I have low expectations of #1 overall pick & new Panthers QB Bryce Young. At 5ft10 he is the same size as Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback Kyler Murray, but his 4.43/40 isn’t as fast as Murray’s 4.38. RB Miles Sanders is a nice addition, but honestly there’s nothing to be excited about on either side of the ball. By default that leaves the Saints to ascend to the top of the division. Head coach Dennis Allen enters his second season with new QB Derek Carr, some decent weapons, a solid offensive line, and a veteran defense that could surprise people.

Playoffs: Eagles, Lions, Saints, Seahawks, Giants, 49ers, Vikings

NFC Champion: Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles 20

Kansas City Chiefs 17

Top 5 Picks in the 2024 NFL Draft

1 Denver Broncos

2 Las Vegas Raiders

3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

4 Cleveland Browns

5 Atlanta Falcons

WINNING & MUSING…VOLUME 1.23

In retrospect we didn’t talk about sports as much last year as usual, which probably made a few folks happy. Of course I wasn’t as prolific overall in 2022, and it remains to be seen if that’ll change anytime soon. It’s been a rough few years in The Manoverse, and quite simply I’m not the same guy I used to be. That’s a whole can o’ worms we won’t open right now though. Instead let’s put a bow on the football season and perhaps address another topic or two.

Congratulations to the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. Did the Philadelphia Eagles get screwed by the stripes?? Yes & no. The controversial defensive holding penalty at the end of the game was legit, although I don’t think it’s a call that should be made in that moment. It was ticky-tacky…technically correct but still not a good look for the officiating crew. In general I thought it was a good game, although the fact that I didn’t have a dog in the fight on any level negatively affected my enjoyment of it. The anthem was alright, as was the halftime show, though neither were my cup o’ tea. It was generally an unremarkable event that I’ve already pretty much forgotten about.

You may recall that Zach & I went into the last week of the regular season tied in our Pigskin Picks of Profundity, and we picked all eight games the same in that final week, necessitating an unprecedented tiebreaker. We both went 3-5, finishing the season at 57-64. However, using the tiebreaker I was “closest to the hole” in 6 of the 8 games, giving me the season victory. I can’t wait to do it all again in a few months.

If I may go off the beaten path for a moment…

I watched with some level of befuddlement recently as Lebron James became the NBA’s all time leading scorer, eclipsing the record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar since 1984. When James broke the record near the end of the third quarter they STOPPED THE GAME and had a whole ceremony on the damn court!! Then the Lakers lost the game!!!! First, I do not have an issue with the record being broken. It’s a record of longevity really, and both Abdul-Jabbar & James played in the NBA for over two decades, with the latter probably continuing on for another year or two. That is undeniably impressive. However, my perception of Lebron James is that he’s always been a Me First kind of guy, both on & off the court. Everywhere he has played the talking heads have whined about Lebron needing more help or Lebron not having enough talent around him to win a championship. That has resulted in him bouncing from Cleveland to Miami back to Cleveland and on to Los Angeles chasing titles. He’s played in ten NBA Finals but won only four championships, all the while blaming the losses on everyone else but the guy in the mirror. Conversely, Michael Jordan won six titles in eight years, and I have zero doubt it would’ve been eight titles had he not taken a soul searching sojourn into minor league baseball in the wake of his father’s murder. Not only did he not run away from Chicago complaining about the talent surrounding him not being good enough, but I cannot fathom any scenario in which Jordan would’ve allowed a game to be completely halted to celebrate an individual achievement. I know he wouldn’t have been okay with his team losing just because he set a record. James’ teammates will continue to say the right things, but I couldn’t help but wonder if they were seething that night, watching the masses fawn all over one guy while ignoring the team’s loss.

I suppose congratulations are also in order for college football’s back-to-back national champions, the Georgia Bulldogs. After a thrilling semifinal round that saw the Bulldogs defeat the Ohio St. Buckeyes with a last second field goal right at the stroke of midnight to welcome a new year, and the TCU Horned Frogs upset the Michigan Wolverines in the highest scoring game of the Fiesta Bowl’s 50+ year history, the title game was an epic disappointment in which Georgia beat TCU like Sonny Corleone battered Carlo Rizzi in The Godfather. I think I changed the channel in the first quarter.

Speaking of college football, Zach bested me in our Bowl-a-Palooza picks. He was 23-20, while I was a putrid 19-24. I’m sure he’d give up that victory in a millisecond though to change the outcome of the Fiesta Bowl and see his Wolverines get a shot at the title.

2022 Sammy Awards – Part 1

Greetings Manoverse, and welcome to the 2022 Sammy Awards!! It has been a tradition here since 2010 for us to welcome a new year by saying a fond farewell to the old year. We look back at the key moments, people, & topics that made the past 12 months what they were. We celebrate the highlights & allow ourselves to lament the lowlights. A wise teacher once said “Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them”, and we believe it is good to remember what happened and give those stories kudos or derision…whichever is appropriate. So sit back, grab some popcorn & your beverage of choice, and enjoy the world’s most irreverent fake awards show!! 

To host the festivities it is our pleasure to welcome one of our most underrated comedians. He has received multiple Grammy nominations, is known for working clean, and offers low key, relatable observations on topics with which we are all familiar. Please welcome to the stage Jim Gaffigan!!

After some hilarious opening comments from our host it is time to hand out some hardware!! To do the honors we are excited to welcome a beloved actor from the 1970s. He starred in one of the few romantic dramas about a blind ice skater, the 1978 classic Ice Castles, as well as Ode to Billy Joe, in which he hurls himself off a bridge after having sex with Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane from The Dukes of Hazzard. Give a rousing ovation for the very much alive (who knew??) Robby Benson!! And the nominees are:

Favorite TV Show

The World According to Jeff Goldblum 

Quirky actor Goldblum returned to Disney+ with fresh episodes examining topics like dogs, fireworks, & motorcycles. He doesn’t necessarily break new ground on these subjects, but does approach them from a distinct perspective. 

General Hospital

Yes, I still watch “my stories” (as my grandmothers used to call them). However, not only are there only four soap operas remaining, just one feels worthy of recognition. I’ve been a fan of GH since the early 80s, and still look forward to watching it whenever time permits (which is often enough since I have no life {I’m “producing” a fake awards show for God’s sake}). 

Cobra Kai 

The 4th season was released on NY’s Eve 2021, and in a pleasant surprise Season 5 came along just months later in September 2022. It’s still a compelling story for those old enough to have enjoyed the Karate Kid films back in the day, and I suppose it’s a good enough show to have attracted younger fans not as familiar with the movies. That being said, it feels like the upcoming season (which may not arrive for another year) should be the end unless they do some sort of time jump. It’s more difficult to get away with having 20-somethings portray high school students than it used to be. 

The Santa Clauses

This was a nice little holiday treat. Tim Allen returned for a six episode series on Disney+ in which Santa Claus (fka Scott Calvin) decides to retire, chooses a successor, and things go awry. Y’all should check it out while you’re still in the holiday spirit.

WWE Raw/NXT/Smackdown 

Am I as big of a wrestling fan as I used to be?? No. I ponder the question of whether the product just isn’t as captivating as it was in the heyday of Hulk Hogan & Ric Flair or The Rock & “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, or if perhaps I’m just not the same person I was in my youth. Either way, I still watch the shows, but don’t find them as interesting as I did once upon a time. 

and the Sammy goes to…..

General Hospital. For the second year in a row consistency wins. I still haven’t totally bought into the whole streaming thing, and I’m not sure I ever will. I like having new episodes to look forward to. I don’t really enjoy binging everything in a few days then having to wait months for my next fix. GH continues to be well written with a great cast. It may not be your cup o’ tea and that’s okay, but having grown up with the show the fine folks in Port Charles, NY almost seem like family. Dysfunctional?? Sure, but that’s fine. 

To present our next award we are happy to have two characters that underwent a bit of a makeover in 2022. In an effort to be inclusive or whatever…some kind of PC bullsquat…Green M&M was stripped of her lip gloss, high heeled boots, & long eyelashes, and instead given sneakers & a plain face, apparently to appease female gym teachers & golfers on the LPGA Tour. Not to be outdone, Disney decided to toss Minnie Mouse’s iconic red polka dot dress and pander to Hillary Clinton voters by putting Minnie in an unflattering black & blue pantsuit. We don’t play those kind of silly games here at The Sammys. We love women & embrace femininity, so we are happy to welcome to the stage OG Green M&M and Minnie Mouse!! And the nominees are:

Favorite App

Words with Friends 

Full disclosure…I became bored by Words in the latter half of 2022. I’m pretty sure that the plethora of challenges I received daily were from bots rather than real people, and I decided to step away for awhile. I’ll probably return soon enough. 

Instagram 

In less than three years I have posted over 12k memes on Insta. It’s usually the first thing I do when I wake up. Weird?? Kind of sad?? Yes & yes, but atleast I’m honest.

Amazon Music 

I’d rather listen to music than watch television most of the time. I am very moody when it comes to the tunes I enjoy. What I’m into might change on a daily basis. However, I’ve never been unable to find what I’m looking for on Amazon Music. It’s $10/month well spent.

Pic Stitch 

I take a lot of photos whenever I attend a social event. I might take a hundred pics but end up with 35 good ones by the time I filter out blurry or repetitive shots. This app allows me to be even more efficient by stitching together two or more photos so that out of the original 100 I end up posting maybe 15 or 20 to social media. 

TextArt

I’ve segued into creating my own memes!! Sometimes I see a quote I like or an existing meme that just seems too busy, so I take the basic concept & create a better version the way I want it. Perhaps I missed my calling as a graphic designer. 

Air Brush 

I see memes or picture quotes all the time that just need something unnecessary erased out of them. It’s not always as tight & precise as I’d prefer, but it is usually adequate for my purposes. 

Infinity 8 Ball

I went thru my Spades phase, but now I’ve moved on to billiards. Thus far I’ve played over 1400 games and have fallen just below a 60% win rate. 

and the Sammy goes to…..

Amazon Music. After being nominated a couple of times in the past Amazon Music finally earns the prize. You may use Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, iHeart Radio, or any of the plethora of music apps available, and that’s cool. I’m sure they’re all great. For me Amazon has been a reliable & functional tool that’s become an indispensable part of daily life.

To present our next two awards it is a pleasure to welcome a former NFL punter and current ESPN & WWE commentator whose charisma & liveliness infuses any program he’s part of with more of an energy boost than you’ll get from the entire Starbucks menu combined. Get up on your feet for the inimitable Pat McAfee!! And the nominees are:

The Thrill of Victory Award

Georgia’s National Title

In January the Georgia Bulldogs destroyed Alabama to claim their third National Championship. They’ll have an opportunity to add to the trophy case soon. 

The Super Rams

On February 13, 2022 the Los Angeles Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals to win their second Lombardi Trophy.

Golden St. Is Golden Again  

After a couple of lean years the Warriors returned to the top of the mountain in 2022, defeating the Boston Celtics in six games to win their 7th NBA title and the fourth since 2015.

LIV Golf

Don’t look now golf fans, but the PGA Tour has some competition. It is in its infancy & needs better television deals, but stalwarts like Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, & Dustin Johnson joined up, seduced by huge money & shorter tournaments with no cuts.

Kansas Wins The Madness 

It was a Battle of Bluebloods when the Kansas Jayhawks defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels to win their fourth National Championship. 

Novak Djokovic

Still one of the top tennis players in the world, Djokovic won at Wimbledon for the 4th consecutive year.

and the Sammy goes to…..

Los Angeles Rams. They couldn’t follow up this season, but on that February night in their home stadium the Rams rose to the occasion late in the 4th quarter. It was nice to see QB Matthew Stafford achieve success after a dismal decade+ in Detroit.

He’s just so damn entertaining that we asked Pat McAfee to stick around & hand out the next prize as well. It looks like he’s made himself comfortable. And the nominees are:

The Agony of Defeat Award

Big Ben’s Retirement

After 18 years as the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger was gently pushed into retirement. His arm strength had noticeably diminished & his unique escapability had virtually disappeared with no help from a porous offensive line, but the disappointment of his last couple of seasons doesn’t detract from a memorable Hall of Fame career. 

Antonio Brown 

We’ve known for awhile that the former Steelers wide receiver is mentally unstable. After an acrimonious departure from Pittsburgh a few years ago Brown bounced around a bit before seeming to find a soft landing spot in Tampa. He even won a Super Bowl ring with the Buccaneers. However, that relationship crashed & burned late in the 2021 season, with our last image that of Brown taking off his jersey & leaving in the midst of a game. Since then he has engaged in sophomoric online shenanigans implying he’s been gettin’ busy with Tom Brady’s now ex-wife and been accused of domestic violence as well as improper conduct toward a woman in Dubai. 

The Olympics 

Another year, another Olympic Games no one cared about. This time it was in Beijing, China. I would literally rather sit in a dark room staring into space than watch the Winter Olympics in Communist China with no spectators in the stands because of a disease they created. Actually I probably did some of that while this was going on.

MLB Lockout 

The start of the baseball season was delayed by a week thanks to yet another disagreement between owners & players. Two notable outcomes: universal DH & an expanded playoff format. Designated hitters became a thing for National League teams in 2022, which I hate. I always liked that there were differences between the American League &  National League. Both leagues also added an extra wildcard team to the playoff bracket, which I didn’t mind.

Coach K’s Swan Song 

In 4+ decades as the head basketball coach for the Duke Blue Devils Mike Krzyzewski won more than 1000 games, 15 ACC tournament titles, and 5 National Championships. His teams made the NCAA Tournament nearly every year & played in 13 Final Fours. Coach K also won three Olympic gold medals. He’d announced before the 2021-22 season that it would be his last, and the Blue Devils won 32 games. Unfortunately they lost Coach K.’s home finale to North Carolina, lost the ACC title game to Virginia Tech, and fell once again in the Final Four to the Tar Heels. I’m a sucker for storybook endings and was pulling for him to finish on top.

Phil Mickelson 

All the sudden my man Phil has become the black sheep of golf. It started with his controversial defection to LIV Golf last spring, accompanied by disparaging comments about PGA leadership. Mickelson skipped The Masters & the PGA Championship. At age 52 & clearly past his prime I can’t be too hard on the guy for being seduced by the huge money & reduced schedule offered by LIV, but it may have cost him the legacy he’d built during a fantastic three decade+ career. 

Brady’s Gone!! Nevermind, He’s Back 😖

Y’all know I despise Tom Brady. He’s like an evil serial killer in a slasher movie that won’t freakin’ die!! I thought our long nightmare was finally over when Brady announced his retirement back in February. Remember the Bible story about Jesus battling Satan in the desert for 40 days?? Imagine if Satan had won. That’s what it felt like when Brady ended his retirement after 40 days. Yes…he did that, and you can’t convince me it wasn’t on purpose. His decision proved costly, as he ended up divorced, but on the bright side (atleast for him) he’s led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the playoffs, and if the dude wins yet another damn Super Bowl I might just have to look into this soccer thing. 

Washington Commanders 

After years of pressure from the PC Police the Redskins nickname was finally scrapped a few years ago. After that they were awkwardly known as the Washington Football Team for a couple of seasons because apparently it’s harder to name a sports franchise than anyone realized, even though this change was on the cusp of happening for a long time. At any rate, the powers-that-be narrowed the field down to a few choices, including Armada, Brigade, and Defenders. Commanders is better than any of those, although I preferred Red Wolves.

Flores’ Lawsuit 

Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores filed a lawsuit against the NFL in February alleging racial discrimination in hiring practices & that Dolphins’ ownership had asked him to tank games to get higher draft picks. To my knowledge the suit has not been resolved, but Flores landed with the Steelers as a defensive assistant (they should elevate him to defensive coordinator).

LIV Golf

Don’t look now golf fans, but the PGA Tour has some competition. The problem?? It is funded by the rulers of Saudi Arabia, a country well known for human rights violations & other nefarious activities, in a transparent PR attempt to change the narrative. Think of Michael Corleone trying to make The Family legitimate by giving a bunch of money to The Vatican in The Godfather Part III. Same kind of thing, only without murder & mayhem (we hope). 

Novak Djokovic

While it is true that Djokovic won Wimbledon for the fourth straight year, he was unfortunately prohibited from competing in the Australian Open & U.S. Open due to draconian & misguided Covid restrictions. He stood strong in his steadfast refusal to get “vaccinated”, a decision that cost him some money but perhaps saved his life.

and the Sammy goes to…..

LIV Golf.  Is it a real threat to the PGA Tour?? I don’t think so. I am reminded of the original USFL, which briefly seemed like a solid alternative to the NFL. They too made a big splash by signing Heisman Trophy winners Hershel Walker, Doug Flutie, and Mike Rozier, as well as QBs Jim Kelly & Steve Young. But the USFL made some missteps & only lasted a few seasons. LIV has wooed enough PGA stalwarts to grab our attention, and there’s certainly enough cash behind the effort. However, I’ll be surprised if the whole thing is anything more than a memory five years from now.

To present our next award we are pleased to welcome one of the most underrated actors of his generation. He has appeared in blockbuster films like Ghostbusters, Crocodile Dundee, and Turner & Hooch, and is a beloved holiday icon who played a pivotal part in saving hundreds of lives on Christmas Eve in Die Hard. He then went on to star in one of the most cherished sitcoms of the 1990’s, Family Matters, a show that might’ve only lasted a month instead of airing for nine breathtakingly hilarious seasons if not for his star power & skills as an actor. It is indeed an honor to welcome Reginald VelJohnson to present a very special tribute.

Duffer-Herrell Lifetime Achievement Award 

Bruce Willis 

Moonlighting.

The Christmas classic Die Hard (and it’s plethora of sequels). 

Look Who’s Talking. 

Striking Distance.

Armageddon.

The Whole Nine Yards.

Those episodes of Friends when he ended up dating Rachel.

That album he put out in the late 80s.

Bruce Willis has done a little bit of everything in his amazing career spanning more than four decades. Sadly that journey seems to be over, as it was announced back in March that he is retiring due to aphasia, which is an inability to comprehend or formulate language because of damage to specific brain regions. Willis is 67 years old, which in the 21st century means we thought we had many more years to enjoy new performances. I had even read rumors of one final Die Hard, which would’ve been great, especially if it was a good movie on the same level as the first three. Sadly that won’t be happening. Of course in the grand scheme of things that’s not really important. Bruce Willis is still alive, and that’s what matters to his loved ones. For the rest of us we’ll always have his body of work. Is he the greatest actor that ever graced the big screen?? No, but who cares?? Years from now our grandchildren will be telling their grandchildren about a decent actor who made a memorable impression and entertained millions. Each December, along with George Bailey, Ebenezer Scrooge, Ralphie Parker, and The Whos down in Whoville, Detective John McClane will continue to be a key player in Christmas celebrations everywhere. That’s a damn fine legacy, and for that The Sammys are proud to recognize the contributions of Bruce Willis to popular culture. 

This seems like a good place to pause. Please stay tuned for Part 2 of the 2022 Sammy Awards. 

2022 PIGSKIN PICKS OF PROFUNDITY…WEEK 3

The NFL season kicks off Thursday night, so y’all are getting bonus picks!! Honestly…it has nothing to do with the fact that I was 2-3 last week and Zach extended his season lead by going 3-2. Nothing at all. Really. There are intriguing matchups in the college ranks as well, despite the fact that many teams are still in the non-conference portion of their schedule. We’ll talk more about the college playoff next week, but atleast in this moment we’re all the beneficiaries of programs chasing those scant four spots by beefing up their early season slate. Enjoy it while you still can. 

My Season: 3-7

Zach’s Season: 7-3

Alabama (-20.5) at Texas 

A decade ago this would’ve been a marquee matchup. The talking heads will still try to sell it as such, relying on the history & tradition of both programs. However, the truth is that Texas has only had one ten win season since ‘Bama beat them in the 2010 National Championship Game. The Longhorns are pinning all their hopes on freshman QB Quinn Ewers and will be making an idiotic move to the SEC in the not-too-distant future. Meanwhile, Nick Saban opined awhile back that last season…in which they were 13-2 & lost the national title to Georgia…was a rebuilding year for the Tide. So despite any creative PR tactics the fact is that anything else besides Texas getting their ass handed to them would be a surprise. Having said that, the points are kind of eye opening, given the fact this game is being played in Austin (Alabama’s first trip there in 100 years). Can the home team atleast keep it respectable?? Sadly I don’t believe they will. Zach observes that ‘Bama is consistently well coached, disciplined, & fundamentally solid, while Texas is merely mediocre. He thinks that may change when QB Arch Manning arrives on campus next year, but for now believes this will be an easy win for the visitors. 

My Pick: Alabama 

Z’s Pick: Alabama 

Houston at Texas Tech (-3)

The Cougars went into three overtimes before defeating the UTSA Roadrunners in the season opener. Conversely, the Red Raiders beat the snot out of Murray St. Houston is better than what we saw last weekend, while Tech will be facing legit competition for the first time, so I expect an entertaining contest, but I think the home favorites get a solid victory. Zach concurs. 

My Pick: Texas Tech

Z’s Pick: Texas Tech 

Iowa State at Iowa (-3.5)

With all the realignment hullabaloo one would think the powers-that-be could get these two in the same conference, but not thus far. The Cyclones beat up a glorified high school team to open the season (one reason why they’ll not be playoff contenders), while the Hawkeyes barely defeated South Dakota St. in an epic 7-3 battle that was either a masterpiece of defense or set the game of football back several decades. I didn’t see the game or any…highlights…so I cannot intelligently opine. At any rate, this is the first real test for both teams and I’m expecting good things. It’ll be on the Big Ten Network and I’ll certainly check it out. I think State will score the mild upset. Zach believes we’re in for a low scoring defensive battle that the home team will win.

My Pick: Iowa State 

Z’s Pick: Iowa

Arizona State at Oklahoma State (-11.5)

I have lofty expectations for the Cowboys, but it’s a bit alarming that they allowed Central Michigan to score 44 points last weekend. Will their offense need to score nearly 60 points in every game?? Conversely, the Sun Devils’ defense allowed only a field goal in their nearly 40 point season opening win. I love my guy Herm Edwards, but it’s way too early to abandon my bold preseason predictions, so I’m going with the home favorites. Zach notes that OK St. consistently underperforms & doesn’t seem to live up to their potential, which is true. However, he likes the home field in this one and foresees a big blowout win for the Cowboys.

My Pick: Oklahoma State 

Z’s Pick: Oklahoma State 

USC (-9) at Stanford 

Everybody is paying attention to the Trojans once again, and they got things started off right with a 66-14 beatdown of Rice. Stanford also won their prosaic season opener. And now, while some teams are pussyfooting around with clearly inferior opponents & others are trying to gain attention with aggressively scheduled non-conferences clashes, these teams are diving right into the conference scrum. Stanford has the home field, and I think that’s significant. Do I believe the home underdogs will win?? No. However, I foresee a closer than expected contest that Southern Cal wins by only a touchdown. Zach thinks USC will cover with a hard fought double digit victory. 

My Pick: Stanford 

Z’s Pick:  USC

Baylor at BYU (-3)

The Bears beat someone unimportant by nearly 60 points in the season opener. Obviously they’re not serious about being a playoff contender. BYU could go undefeated and still get left out of the playoff conversation, but kudos to them for scheduling decent competition to open the season and getting a solid victory. This could be the game of the week, so if you’re not doing anything on Saturday night at 10pm tune into ESPN & check it out. These were two Top 10 teams in my preseason poll, so I have high expectations. The Cougars have the home field and I predict that’ll matter late in the 4th quarter. Conversely, Zach thinks it’ll be Baylor’s defense that’ll come up big late in the game to secure a win.

My Pick: BYU

Z’s Pick: Baylor 

Buffalo (-2.5) at LA Rams 

The Bills are a solid Super Bowl favorite, while very few seem to be giving the defending champion Rams as much respect as they probably deserve. They aren’t even favored at home. Could this be a Super Bowl preview?? Maybe…maybe not. Either way it’s a hell of a way to kick off the season, and I think it’ll be a close game. Things might go differently in February, but for now I believe the underdogs will defend their turf & prove their title run wasn’t a fluke. Zach agrees, opining that the Bills may be a bit overrated. 

My Pick: LA Rams 

Z’s Pick: LA Rams 

Kansas City (-4.5) at Arizona 

It feels like both teams should be getting more love, but the fact that they compete in the two most stacked divisions in the NFL means they both have difficult paths to the Super Bowl. Have defenses figured Chiefs’ QB Patrick Mahomes out after five seasons?? Perhaps, but the biggest reason people are doubting him right now is the departure of receiver Tyreek Hill. Can a pass catching corps of Mecole Hardman, former Steeler Juju Schuster, rookie Skyy Moore, & veteran tight end Travis Kelce pick up the slack & fill the void left by one of the most exciting players in the league?? The Cardinals are another team being disrespected on their home field, but there are reasonable doubts. Former Raven Hollywood Brown was a nice acquisition for the receiving corps, especially given the six game suspension of DeAndre Hopkins, but AJ Green is 34 years old & not the same receiver he used to be. Having said that, I’m more concerned with Arizona’s defense. JJ Watt has lost a step and Tyrann Matthieu signed with the Saints. I think this will be a shootout, but KC has a little too much firepower and will take over in the 4th quarter. Zach concurs. 

My Pick: Kansas City

Z’s Pick: Kansas City

Las Vegas at LA Chargers (-3)

As previously mentioned, the AFC West is going to be a dogfight, and we might look back on this one a few months from now & realize it was more important than we realized. I’m a Derek Carr fan, and it’s going to be fun watching him throw passes to former Packer Davante Adams. Unfortunately I think Adams is going to face a lot of double coverage, so it’ll be up to the rest of a rather pedestrian receiving corps to step up, RB Josh Jacobs to fulfill his potential, & tight end Darren Waller to return to his Pro Bowl form of 2020 after a subpar, injury riddled season last year. Don’t sleep on their defense, which added former Cardinals’ pass rusher Chandler Jones. The Chargers fell into the abyss a few years ago but have slowly been rebuilding with the likes of QB Justin Herbert & linebacker Joey Bosa, and they’ve added former Raider & Bear Khalil Mack, who can still be a beast despite the fact he’s on the wrong side of 30. If the Chargers can avoid major injuries their defense will be a force and the team could surprise people. Having said that, I’m picking the mild upset this week. Zach agrees. 

My Pick: Las Vegas 

Z’s Pick: Las Vegas 

2022-23 NFL Preview & Prognostications

I briefly considered tossing aside this preview and simply jetting off to The Bahamas for two weeks, but in the real world that’s not how life works. As you spend the next several months chilling out with hot wings & cold beer in front of your gigantic TV enjoying intense gridiron action a few days per week never forget how spoiled & out of touch the millionaire athletes, billionaire owners, & talking heads are and how little they understand or care about your daily struggles. Of course this is the same issue we have with actors & musicians who make millions of dollars entertaining the very people they disrespect & gaslight with their insane perspectives on various issues. That being said, the fact is we need to be entertained. Every species…humans included…require time to play. That’s a rabbit hole I won’t dive into right now except to say that sports is one of our most prominent outlets to fulfill such desires, so most of us are willing to put aside any issues and simply enjoy the games, and so we shall. 

North

Baltimore Ravens (8-9) 10-7 

Cincinnati Bengals (10-7) 9-8 

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7-1) 9-8

Cleveland Browns (8-9) 6-11

The Ravens’ season was torpedoed by injuries a year ago, and I believe they’ll rebound nicely. I don’t think Lamar Jackson is as good of an NFL quarterback as he was a college QB, but he’s above average if he stays healthy & has a reliable backfield to whom he can hand the ball off, with a solid defensive unit for good measure. Cincy will still be good, but may suffer a bit of the traditional Super Bowl hangover. The Bengals focused on defense in the draft after adding some pieces to their subpar offensive line in free agency. Time will tell if that was a wise strategy. My Steelers might surprise some folks by being in playoff contention. A great defense and a stout rushing attack behind an improved offensive line will secure some victories, no matter which quarterback succeeds Big Ben. The Browns are the Browns. I may have given them a bit more credit if Deshaun Watson was going to be available, but he’s been suspended for 3/4 of the season. 

South 

Tennessee Titans (12-5) 10-7 

Indianapolis Colts (9-8) 8-9

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-14) 6-11

Houston Texans (4-13) 3-14

Tennessee drafted QB Malik Willis in the 3rd round of the draft, but he’s not going to be ready to start or maybe even play at all this year. Ryan Tannehill is a solid NFL signal caller, and with Derrick Henry toting the rock the Titans’ offense should be good enough, so if their defense, which admittedly doesn’t have much star power, is atleast average then I think a weak division is theirs for the taking. The Colts have a new QB after trading for 37 year old Matt Ryan, but if that’s supposed to impress me it falls short of the mark. Of course he too has a great tailback…Jonathan Taylor…to carry the load, but I don’t think it’ll be good enough. The Urban Meyer Era in Jacksonville was a total failure, but going forward the Jags could be headed in the right direction. We won’t see evidence of that in the form of winning alot of games this season, but QB Trevor Lawrence should start to justify why he was the #1 overall pick in 2021, and the 2022 #1 overall pick…pass rusher Travon Walker… is the real deal. The Texans are a mess, but they got some much needed draft capital in the Deshaun Watson trade so we’ll see where they are in 3 or 4 years. 

East 

Buffalo Bills (11-6) 10-7 

New England Patriots (10-7)  9-8

Miami Dolphins (9-8) 8-9

NY Jets (4-13) 7-10

Everybody is expecting the Bills to run away with the division and make a Super Bowl run, but not so fast my friends!! It won’t be as easy as some may think. The Patriots are still the Patriots as long as as Darth Belichick is in charge, so as much as I’d love for them go in the toilet I won’t believe it until I see it. Former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniel did bolt again for a head coaching job though, so perhaps we’ll see a chink or two in the armor. I’m a fan of Dolphins’ QB Tua Tagovailoa, and watching him toss the ball to receiver Tyreek Hill could be loads of fun, but I have too many questions about the rest of the team, including new head coach Mike McDaniel. Believe it or not I foresee a notable improvement for the Jets, especially if second year signal caller Zach Wilson shows some growth & maturity. That being said, I think it’s a team that needs a year or two to gel. Watch out for the Jets in 2024…you heard it here first. 

West 

Las Vegas Raiders (10-7) 10-7 

Denver Broncos (7-10) 10-7 

Kansas City Chiefs (12-5) 9-8 

Los Angeles Chargers (9-8) 8-9

This might be the most competitive & entertaining division in the league. All four teams are legit playoff contenders, and the difference between being on top or finishing in the cellar could come down to a single injury, turnover, or special teams blunder. The Raiders are getting a lot of attention after adding receiver Davante Adams, but are we overlooking their defense?? The Broncos are hoping to turn things around behind the leadership of new QB Russell Wilson, but can their defense kick it up a notch?? The Chiefs have been one of the top teams in the NFL for a few years now, but how will the loss of Tyreek Hill affect QB Patrick Mahomes?? Does he have the weapons to compliment his immense skill set?? The Chargers might have the most complete team in the division, and Justin Herbert gets undeservedly overshadowed by the signal callers on the other three teams. That being said, someone has to finish last and my vibe is that the ball simply won’t bounce their way this season.

Playoffs: Ravens, Titans, Bills, Raiders, Broncos, Bengals, Chiefs 

AFC Champion: Buffalo Bills 

North

Green Bay Packers (13-4) 11-6 

Detroit Lions (3-13-1) 7-10 

Minnesota Vikings (8-9) 4-13

Chicago Bears (6-11) 2-15

There’s no way the loss of receiver Davante Adams won’t negatively affect the Packers. However, the impact might be minimal given that they play in a weak division. Most of the drama surrounding QB Aaron Rodgers a year ago has dissipated, but holy schneikes…the dude will be throwing to a ragtag group of pass catchers that aren’t going to scare anyone. Running back Aaron Jones and a no name defense are going to have to really step up. The surprise of the division might be Detroit. I believe we’ll see the further maturation of QB Jared Goff, but I’m really looking for the defense to carry the team. Rookie defensive end Aiden Hutchinson is a difference maker. While the Lions take a small step forward I foresee the Vikings going backward in a significant way. The names on the back of the jerseys…Cousins, Cook, Thielen, Jefferson, Peterson…look decent enough on paper. I don’t know enough about new head coach Kevin O’Connell to intelligently opine, but I understand why former coach Mike Zimmer was fired since the team had kind of been treading water for a couple of years. I’m going out on a limb with this prediction…we’ll see how it goes. I’m a little more confident in prophesying Chicago’s ineptitude. It feels like a make or break year for QB Justin Fields in only his second season, but unfortunately for him I just don’t find the supporting cast impressive, and don’t think the defense is good enough to make a difference. 

South 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4) 11-6

New Orleans Saints (9-8) 8-9

Carolina Panthers (5-12) 7-10

Atlanta Falcons (7-10) 3-14

He’s back…unfortunately. I know I know…many football fans (especially in Tampa, FL) rejoiced when Tom Brady’s retirement lasted about five minutes, but I wasn’t one of them. That being said, even without recently retired tight end Rob Gronkowski, I think the Bucs win the division comfortably. They may not win as many games as a season ago, and unlike other pundits I don’t believe they are a Super Bowl team, but the division is a low hurdle to leap. The Saints have some nice pieces on offense and the defense might be sneaky good, but it feels like the team is treading water. Carolina allegedly upgraded their QB situation by trading for Baker Mayfield, but I’m not sure that’s an improvement. If RB Christian McCaffrey is healthy and a young defense gels quickly perhaps the Panthers will make some noise, but I have low expectations. Unlike many talking heads I don’t see the Falcons losing Matt Ryan under center and replacing him with Marcus Mariota as anything worse than a lateral move. There are much bigger questions in Atlanta, and this feels like a period of transition that will see its fair share of rough patches. 

East 

Philadelphia Eagles (9-8) 11-6

Dallas Cowboys (12-5) 10-7 

Washington Commanders (7-10) 8-9 

NY Giants (4-13) 1-16

As usual I take any hype surrounding the Cowboys with a grain of salt. They’ll have a solid season and lose in the playoffs. Nothing new. Dak Prescott is a very good QB but not elite, and it isn’t helpful that he doesn’t have many reliable weapons. Conversely, I like what the Eagles have done. Jalen Hurts can be a legit NFL signal caller, and newly acquired receiver AJ Brown will absolutely help. I’m not as confident in their rushing attack as I’d prefer, but we’ll see what happens. They really improved their defense thru free agency, which is what tips the scales in their favor. The Commanders feel like they’re stuck in neutral, making this a pivotal season for head coach Ron Rivera. QB Carson Wentz gets yet another fresh start, and he may be running out of chances. I hesitate to “go big or go home” with the Giants, because I’ve been wrong about them more than once in years past. However, I have zero faith in QB Daniel Jones or any of the talent surrounding him, especially overrated running back Saquon Barkley. The defense could be okay, but that probably won’t cut it in this division. 

West 

Los Angeles Rams (12-5) 11-6

Arizona Cardinals (11-6) 10-7 

San Francisco 49ers (10-7) 6-11

Seattle Seahawks (7-10) 5-12

Will the AFC West be the best division in football, or will it be the NFC West?? I don’t believe we’ll see much decline from the defending Super Bowl Champion Rams, but the Cardinals will give them a run for their money. I foresee the Niners taking a step back given their unstable quarterback situation & lack of a premier tailback, but the defense will keep games close. The Seahawks will be starting either Drew Lock or Geno Smith under center, neither of whom strike fear in opposing defenses. Seattle will sorely miss Russell Wilson, and the defense is far removed from the old Legion of Boom days. At 70 years of age Pete Carroll is the oldest head coach in the NFL, and after a dozen years perhaps it is time for the Seahawks to move on. It could be a good landing spot for Byron Leftwich.

Playoffs: Packers, Bucs, Eagles, Rams, Cardinals, Cowboys, Commanders 

NFC Champion: Los Angeles Rams 

Buffalo Bills 34

Los Angeles Rams 24

Top 5 Picks in the 2023 NFL Draft

1 New York Giants 

2 Chicago Bears

3 Atlanta Falcons

4 Houston Texans

5 Minnesota Vikings 

2021 NFL Preview & Prognostications

Just a few days ago I was pretty excited about the return of football with capacity crowds and business as usual, but now The Sickness has grabbed headlines again and it seems as though that sense of normalcy could be in jeopardy. At the moment no sweeping proclamations have been made, but stay tuned. In the meantime we shall proceed.

The biggest news outside of Covid related chaos is the NFL’s expansion to a 17 game regular season. To achieve that teams played one less pre-season game, so the only people really affected are the fringe players trying to make a team’s roster. There are always old faces in new places, teams with new coaches, and overhyped rookies looking to become the next Joe Montana, Walter Payton, Randy Moss, or Lawrence Taylor, and we’ll have a much better idea in a few months how all of that might shake out. For now it’s all guesswork, but atleast it’s fun, and I am glad that I feel encouraged enough to bring back this preview after a one year hiatus. As always the team’s record from the previous season is in parentheses, with the predicted record for this season following it. And remember…no wagering. I am not a professional and most of the time I’m not very good at this.

North

Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1) 10-7

Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) 10-7

Cleveland Browns (11-5) 9-8

Baltimore Ravens (11-5) 8-9

I think Bengals’ QB Joe Burrow is the real deal, and he’s going to surprise a lot of people. The Browns might be a bit of a surprise too, but I don’t believe it will be in a good way. Everyone assuming they are the presumed division champs will likely be wrong. Am I undervaluing the Ravens?? Perhaps. But every team can’t have a winning record and make the playoffs, and in a highly competitive division my vibe is that Baltimore will run into some problems and fall short of expectations (actually those problems have already began with the loss of starting tailback JK Dobbins to a torn ACL).

East

Buffalo Bills (13-3) 11-6

New York Jets (2-14) 8-9

New England Patriots (7-9) 8-9

Miami Dolphins (10-6) 7-10

The Bills have to be considered amongst the favorites in the conference. To be honest I thought QB Josh Allen was a bad choice as the 7th overall pick in the draft a few years ago, but he’s doing a pretty good job of proving me wrong thus far. There’s no reason to believe Buffalo won’t dominate a division that is a mess otherwise. I think the Jets may have finally found a decent quarterback, and they also added some other pieces on both sides of the ball that make me think they won’t be the dumpster fire we’ve come to expect. The Patriots aren’t the same team without Tom Brady, and I’m not as confident in their rookie signal caller Mac Jones as I am in New York’s rookie quarterback Zach Wilson. The Dolphins might take a step back this season, but I hope they aren’t dumb enough to give up on second year QB Tua Tagavailoa. I believe they are building a solid team around him and good things are ahead, but it might take another year to gel.

West

Los Angeles Chargers (7-9) 11-6

Kansas City Chiefs (14-2) 10-7

Las Vegas Raiders (8-8) 7-10

Denver Broncos (5-11) 7-10

No one has been talking about the Chargers this offseason, and that might be a good thing. I always prefer to sneak up on people rather than have the pressure of lofty expectations. QB Justin Herbert acquitted himself quite well in his rookie campaign and there’s no reason to expect anything less this year. The Raiders & Broncos aren’t going to be any better than they were a year ago. I expect both teams to utilize multiple quarterbacks and need their defense to lead them to some victories. The stunner here is the KC Chiefs. Most talking heads will consider them legit Super Bowl contenders, but I think they’ll lose a dogfight for the division, sneak into the playoffs as a wildcard, and be watching the Super Bowl at home like the rest of us.

South

Tennessee Titans (11-5) 12-5

Indianapolis Colts (11-5) 11-6

Houston Texans (4-12) 5-12

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15) 5-12

The Colts acquired QB Carson Wentz from Philly in the offseason, but will that do them any good?? Wentz can’t seem to stay healthy, and at the moment it’s a tossup as to whether he’ll be ready to go Week 1. That leaves the door open for Tennessee. RB Derrick Henry is a stud & receiver Julio Jones came over from Atlanta a few months ago. He’s 32 years old, but with AJ Brown in the lineup Jones won’t have the pressure of being the top wideout. Replacing tight end Jonnu Smith won’t be easy, and that may be the chink in the armor of the Titans’ offense. I’m not sure what to make of the Titans’ defense, although they did add former Steelers’ linebacker Bud Dupree. Watch time of possession in their games. I think they’ll dominate that and win a bunch of low scoring grinders. Everyone has heard more than enough about the Deshaun Watson situation in Houston and there are still a ton of questions. Will they trade him?? Will he be suspended for a big chunk of the season?? If Tyrod Taylor takes most of the snaps I think the Texans are in for a long season. I don’t have much faith in the Jags either, although I think new head coach Urban Meyer will build around rookie QB Trevor Lawrence and have his team in the playoff conversation a year or two from now, but losing first round draft pick Travis Etienne in the preseason doesn’t bode well for this season.

Playoff Teams: Bengals, Bills, Chargers, Titans, Colts, Chiefs, Steelers

AFC Champion: Tennessee Titans

 

East

Washington Redskins (7-9) 10-7

Dallas Cowboys (6-10) 9-8

New York Giants (6-10) 7-10

Philadelphia Eagles (4-11-1) 5-12

I’m still not buying the Cowboys as legit Super Bowl contenders, although I believe QB Dak Prescott will be just fine returning from the ankle injury that torpedoed his season last year. I suppose the Giants could surprise me and be much better than they were a season ago, but my vibe is that they are just kind of treading water. It blows my mind to see how far the Eagles have fallen since winning the Super Bowl less than five years ago. Can Jalen Hurts make the leap from excellent college quarterback to solid NFL starter?? I think Philadelphia has a bunch of very good players on both sides of the ball, but they have lacked cohesion the past few seasons and I’m not sure that’s going to change. That leaves Washington as the favorite. Is their enough FitzMagic left in the 38 year old signal caller now playing for his ninth NFL team?? Having an elite defense led by Chase Young, Montez Sweat, & Landon Collins will certainly help.

West

Arizona Cardinals (8-8) 11-6

Los Angeles Rams (10-6) 10-7

Seattle Seahawks (12-4) 9-8

San Francisco 49ers (6-10) 7-10

This race is going to be fun to watch. Arizona & the Rams both made moves this summer, and whether or not they work out well one has to give them credit for not standing pat. Los Angeles thinks they have a better chance of advancing in the playoffs with 33 year old veteran QB Matthew Stafford than with 2016 top overall pick Jared Goff, who they shipped to Detroit. I think it might be a positive chain of events (eventually) for both guys. The Rams lost starting RB Cam Akers to injury but traded for former Patriot Sony Michel so I don’t believe the team will be negatively affected all that much. The defense, led by All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald, should be stout. Having said that, I am giving a slight edge to the Cardinals, who added receivers DeAndre Hopkins & AJ Green and have a defensive unit featuring newly acquired defensive end JJ Watt, first round LB Zaven Collins, and a very talented secondary. Seattle has won 10+ games seven out of the past eight years and Russell Wilson is still one of the best quarterbacks in the league, but I feel like they’ll drop off just enough to miss the playoffs. ‘Frisco needs to decide on a quarterback, and once they do that I think they can get back on track, but that might be a couple of years from now.

North

Minnesota Vikings (7-9) 9-8

Green Bay Packers (13-3) 9-8

Chicago Bears (8-8) 6-11

Detroit Lions (5-11) 1-16

Or as ESPN’s Chris Berman used to call it, The Norris Division. I am sure I don’t have to rehash the Packers/Aaron Rodgers drama that has dominated offseason news, but I think it might be just enough of a distraction to cost them the division. The Lions have stunk most of my nearly five decades on the planet and I don’t think that will suddenly change in 2021. Much like the 49ers the Bears have a quarterback conundrum. Conventional wisdom says the smart thing to do is start either journeyman Andy Dalton or former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles under center, but we all know the pressure from fans & the media will lead to rookie Justin Fields being handed the keys to the kingdom. That decision will likely pay off down the road, but it creates chaos right now. So why am I so high on the Vikings?? I don’t know to be honest. Kirk Cousins isn’t spectacular, but he can be a very good quarterback at times and he has solid weapons at receiver & running back. The secondary could be one of the best in the NFL, and guys like Danielle Hunter & Anthony Barr should disrupt opposing offenses often. It won’t be pretty, but I think the Norris goes to the Vikes by a nose.


South

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) 13-4

New Orleans Saints (12-4) 8-9

Atlanta Falcons (4-12) 6-11

Carolina Panthers (5-11) 5-12

I’ve stopped waiting for Tom Brady to fall of a cliff. That whole regimen of 25 glasses of water per day, fruit smoothies, fish, and lots of veggies apparently works because he proved a year ago that he deserves much more credit for the Patriots “dynasty” than Bill Belichick. I don’t expect much to change this season, and it helps that the rest of the division will probably struggle. New Orleans has named Jameis Winston as their new starting QB after the retirement of Drew Brees, and Winston is going to have to prove himself before I start to believe in him. I don’t anticipate much improvement by the Falcons or Panthers. Carolina must stop opposing defenses from stacking the box to stifle premier RB Christian McCaffery, and for that to happen former Jets first rounder Sam Darnold will need to finally live up to his potential. Atlanta got rid of receiver Julio Jones and I’m just not impressed by what remains.

Playoff Teams: Redskins, Cardinals, Vikings, Bucs, Cowboys, Rams, Packers

NFC Champion: Green Bay Packers

 

Tennessee Titans 24

Green Bay Packers 19

Top Five Picks in 2022 NFL Draft

1 Detroit Lions

2 Houston Texans

3 Jacksonville Jaguars

4 Carolina Panthers

5 Philadelphia Eagles

 

Winning & Musing…Volume 2.21

Sadly football season is now over. Atleast we have Modified March Madness, the Daytona 500, & golf on the horizon, right?? The sports calendar may have its lulls, but they never last for long. 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to the new Hall of Fame inductees: WR Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions), who could’ve played atleast five more seasons and might’ve been considered the greatest receiver ever if he’d been on a perennial championship contender. O-Lineman Alan Faneca (Pittsburgh Steelers). DB John Lynch (Tampa Bay Buccaneers). QB Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts & Denver Broncos), who I will always consider a superior quarterback to Tom Brady. DB Charles Woodson (Oakland Raiders & Green Bay Packers), whose combined success in college & the NFL is probably under appreciated. WR Drew Pearson (Dallas Cowboys), who should have been in the HoF thirty years ago. Pittsburgh Steelers scout Bill Nunn, who played a huge part in building the 1970s dynasty. Former Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Flores. Not making the cut: O-Lineman Tony Boselli, linebackers Zach Thomas, Clay Matthews, & Sam Mills, and receivers Torry Holt & Reggie Wayne. 

 

 

A few friends posted on social media the day before the Super Bowl expressing total indifference about the Big Game. Actually I have several friends like that – absolutely no interest in sports whatsoever. To each their own, but honestly I’m very thankful to be a sports fan. Watching ball games, golf, & car races on TV has helped me thru some dark times at various points in my life. This past year I have observed several of my Facebook friends doing outdoor activities like fishing & hiking, and I’m a bit jealous. Such things are basically pandemic proof, which I’m sure has been a blessing for them. Unfortunately I’ve never been physically able to be outdoorsy, so I’ve relied heavily on simply being a sports fan. 

 

 

Real Time Super Bowl Thoughts:  

  • H.E.R.?? 👀 Stupid moniker, but she can sing, play guitar, & has a nice rack. 
  • I’m not a country music fan, but I might have to check out this Eric Church guy. Nice job on the anthem, although two voices aren’t necessarily a good thing. The lady singing kind of overpowered him. 
  • You mean that poet’s 15 minutes aren’t up yet?? ⌚️ Guess I can’t blame her for striking while the iron is hot. 
  • The Door Dash commercial with The Muppets is cute. 
  • “Jumping offside really does help you get to the QB sooner.” That’s some Booger McFarland level insight from Tony Romo 🤣.
  • Matthew McConaughey, Doritos, & Queen…an oddly compelling combination. Will Ferrell’s GM commercial is amusing. How can you have a group of Bud Light Legends without Spuds McKenzie or The Frogs?? Maybe that’s Budweiser?? I don’t know. On the rare occasion I drink beer I prefer good beer 🍺.
  • TB 7, KC 3 at the end of the 1st  Q. More defense & smash mouth football than most expected, and I’m okay with that. 
  • Mountain Dew Melon?? No thanks 🤢.
  • BIG 2nd Q goal line stand for the KC defense!!
  • The Jason Alexander Tide commercial is low key brilliant if you get the background music joke. TMobile, Gwen Stefani, & Blake Shelton…okay, I get it. Not bad 🤷🏻‍♂️.
  • 21-6…Tampa leads at the half. The Chiefs are making too many mental errors. 
  • A reasonably entertaining halftime show. I’m sure people far younger, allegedly way cooler, and more familiar with The Weekend than me will hype it as the best ever, but I’m nostalgic for the days of Prince, Michael Jackson, & Justin Timberlake. 
  • The Uber Eats Wayne’s World spot just made me sad. Wayne & Garth are looking old 👀.
  • Gronk is a freakin’ beast. I can’t hate on him like I do Brady. 
  • Dear Ashton Kutcher: Don’t. Ever. Sing. Again.
  • Tampa is up 31-9 at the end of Q3. If anyone but KC was the opponent I’d be changing the channel, but with Mahomes I feel like anything can happen.
  • “Only” 25k fans in a stadium that can seat over 65k. Will this event come to be known as a “super spreader”, or is that kind of thing over now that we have a new President?? 🏟
  • Blaine Gabbert now has more Super Bowl rings than Dan Marino, Dan Fouts, Jim Kelly, Warren Moon, & Fran Tarkenton…combined. Life isn’t fair. 
  • I hope Jason Pierre-Paul doesn’t celebrate with fireworks 🎇.
  • As a proud alumnus of Marshall University I can put aside my disdain for TB12 long enough to be happy for Bucs’ offensive coordinator & former Herd QB Byron Leftwich.
  • 31-9 Final. Tampa wins. The fallacy of The Patriots Dynasty has been exposed.  Belichick really is that coach who went 36-44 with the Cleveland Browns. It was Brady all along. He now has more titles than any franchise in NFL history, let alone individual players. Bastard. 
  • One thing the NFL does better than the other pro & even college leagues: the whole deal is over by 10:30pm. It’s Sunday night & people have to go to work in the morning, so the average fan doesn’t want to stay up until midnight.