🤮🤮🤮
Friday, June 26, 2020
Congratulations Liverpool!!!
🤮🤮🤮
Monday, June 22, 2020
Work Rushmore
Hello friends. So after working at Malone's for the past 6 years, and listing off Rushmore after Rushmore, it setems appropriate to have an all-time list. As this is a Nate's 9, we are better served coming up with the top 9 of all-time instead of the top 4. For all you Malone's staff that might find this post someday, thanks for not taking me too seriously, and debating these lists over the years. For all of you that read this, but never worked at the restaurant, you missed out on some pretty wonderful ladies!
#9 Labeaux. Wife material. That's all I got.
#8 Chelsea Mayers. First girl to train me at Malone's. Good conversation, oh so very nice, lovely boyfriend, great family. Quite the package.
#7 Kaylee. Our time together was short, but when someone goes out of there way to bring me Caribou... I will always make room for them on the Rushmore.
#6 Deyo. My sweet Deyo. Or Muff Cabbage according to some. It was those Friday night closes with Taus and Ashley that got me acclimated to the environment around Malone's. We almost had too much fun.
#5 Kimmy Narve. Usually don't fumble my words, but I always struggled around Kimmy Narve. Fun to watch at the Christmas parties, she was usually having the best time.
#4 Felly. My best friend forever. Trust her with all my secrets and the first addition to the cabbage patch club.
#3 Holscher. Man oh man.
#2 Josie. Tom Brady of Malone's for me. Probably should be my number 1 from the very first shift, but it took awhile to click. Probably only setback from finishing top of the charts.
#1 Kierra Lind. When I think of elite... I think everyone I worked with was/is pretty great, but Kierra took it to a whole new level. Same page from day 1.
#9 Labeaux. Wife material. That's all I got.
#8 Chelsea Mayers. First girl to train me at Malone's. Good conversation, oh so very nice, lovely boyfriend, great family. Quite the package.
#7 Kaylee. Our time together was short, but when someone goes out of there way to bring me Caribou... I will always make room for them on the Rushmore.
#6 Deyo. My sweet Deyo. Or Muff Cabbage according to some. It was those Friday night closes with Taus and Ashley that got me acclimated to the environment around Malone's. We almost had too much fun.
#5 Kimmy Narve. Usually don't fumble my words, but I always struggled around Kimmy Narve. Fun to watch at the Christmas parties, she was usually having the best time.
#4 Felly. My best friend forever. Trust her with all my secrets and the first addition to the cabbage patch club.
#3 Holscher. Man oh man.
#2 Josie. Tom Brady of Malone's for me. Probably should be my number 1 from the very first shift, but it took awhile to click. Probably only setback from finishing top of the charts.
#1 Kierra Lind. When I think of elite... I think everyone I worked with was/is pretty great, but Kierra took it to a whole new level. Same page from day 1.
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Nate vs Aiden
Nate vs
Aiden
Wednesday,
June 10, 2020
10:52
PM
This kid is awesome,
but he is definitely the most challenging of the three. One of the things that
bothers me the most is how he always compares his relationships with his
parents to the relationships that his brothers have with Sara and me. For
example, "You cuddle with Lucas for 10 minutes, but you only cuddled with
me for 3 minutes." And what he doesn't realize is I just kicked the ball
with him outside for an hour, while Lucas played with his friends. And he
doesn't even like cuddling!!! It baffles me. Well, actually it doesn’t. He
wants to be first at everything. He loves competition, it's what drives him. So
I know damn well when I am putting Lucas to bed at night, and Logan for that
matter, Aiden is counting the seconds that I am in there.
I love his drive
though. My first real memory of it was when he was about 5 years old, and not
even in kindergarten yet. He was playing on his 2nd soccer team (the first
season wasn't great, there was a time when he wasn't really that good!) and he
was really starting to enjoy it. But not the way a normal 5 year old would
enjoy sports at that age. He wanted to know who played the best, then 2nd, then
3rd, etc. He wanted me to rate each kid on his team. Dad knew what his
motivation was, so I always ranked him 4th (he was 3rd). My other favorite
thing about his determination is going on amusement rides. He treats them as a
source of accomplishment instead of enjoying them for what they are. He told me
that the Power Tower should go higher. He thinks that the Wild Thing should go
faster. He says that the Steel Venom isn't long enough. Everything can and
should be better, but honestly I wouldn't have it any other way.
I wish he could have
a best friend. He so badly wants to have a ride or die, but going to 3
different elementary schools in 4 years, and then losing his final 3 months
this year to distance learning has been really hard on him. It breaks my heart.
Logan doesn't really need a best friend right now, or maybe ever, because he
gets along so well with everyone. Lucas has a best friend (he's probably had
3-4), but Lucas falls hard for his friends, and gives them everything. Aiden is
a lot more standoff-ish, but rightfully so. I would love to see him find
someone that he can confidently confide in, and really develop his friendship
traits.
Aiden's greatest
asset is his independence. There are times when I feel like he is an adult
already. I think he prefers the company of grownups; he likes playing board
games with us and he really wishes he could watch PG-13 films. (Outside of
Marvel, we really don't let them). He already talks about going to Europe to
further his sporting education. He is dead serious about it too. No sad
feelings about being separated from his parents. I feel like this could go one
or two ways for him and I. Sometimes I think that he thinks that his dad isn't
relatable to him, and that's why he tries to tear down other relationships that
I have within the family. I really relate to him, but he also has a drive that
I never had when I was a kid. I always felt like when I was a kid that I was
scared to be the best kid on the team for fear of letting down my friends and
teammates. Aiden always wants to be the best kid on the team because if he
isn't, then he feels like he is letting down his friends and teammates. It's quite
a cool mindset, and I can't wait to see how he continues to develop in the
future.
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Sports are Back!
Nate's Nine
Thursday,
April 30, 2020
1:44
PM
Well the NBA decided
their season today (Hopefully). It's going to be interesting; 22 teams are
invited to play in an 8 game regular season and then the seeding will be
determined after the results of those match-ups. I believe that we will have to
put an asterisk next to this season's 'champion' but I am excited to watch some
meaningful sports these next few weeks. Discussions need to be had, and we as a
nation need some time for healing and JUSTICE, but just a deflection of our thoughts and passions is something I think we can all get behind.
Let's have a little
fun. Top 9 teams with a chance to win these… 'NBA Finals'?
Honorable Mention:
New York Knicks. If the Knicks can go 8-0, then beat either the Nets or Magic
twice, they can make the playoffs! Then all they have to do is beat the Bucks
in the best of something series, and then quite possibly the Raptors or Celtics.
Easy, peasy.
Honorable Mention:
Dallas Mavericks. If Luka Doncic is raring up to go, and physically ready for
it, he could carry them far in this super short, playoff based season. It's a
big ask, but a hot month can change a player's life. I wouldn't put it past Luka.
#9 - Boston Celtics.
This sets up perfectly for a team like this. Tons of talent, weren't quite
meshing on the level of the Toronto Raptors or the Milwaukee Bucks. I had
forgotten that they were almost playing .700 level basketball, so they know how
to win games. If conferences are kept the same, they should be able to win any
first round matchup easily. It's when they meet the Raptors or the Bucks that
things might get tricky.
#8 - Miami Heat. I
wavered on this one. I really like a Nets team that has Kyrie and KD on the
floor. I mean, I really like that team. But since we don't know, here's the
Heat. They're 27-5 at home this season, although their away record is trash.
But if they can win the home court games, it will get interesting. This is a
really underrated, deep roster. And at its forefront, Jimmy Butler. You all
know how I feel about him, but he is an all-star. If playoffs are best of 3 or
5 instead of 7, give the Heat a chance.
#7 - Houston
Rockets. I don't know why they were struggling so much during the regular
season. They should be able to take over games. For as good as Steph Curry and
Klay Thompson are, James Harden and Russell Westbrook should be right behind.
Yet, this team was 40-24 at the time of Pandemic. Something wasn't right. I'm
giving them the benefit of the doubt, and saying that they're closer to winning
this 'title', than some more socially infused teams.
#6 - Oklahoma City.
Speaking of socially infused. Chris Paul did not want to go here. And now here
they are with the same record as the Rockets. It's actually a really talented
roster. More importanly, they won some really tough games. This team is battle
tested and with Steven Adams and Dennis Schroder offering some strong minutes,
they could upset the status quo and go on a nice run.
#5 - Denver Nuggets.
At one point in the season, they were really flying. This might be my favorite
roster in the NBA. Nothing to speak of when it comes to egos. Energetic,
committed bench. Nice blend of leadership and youth. My only concern is whether
my favorite non-Timberwolf Jamal Murray can take that next step at the point
guard position and get past those great defending PG's from those Los Angeles
squads. Can't forget that Nikola Jokic is super nice.
#4 - Toronto
Raptors. Repeat champions? Probably not, but this team is firing on all
cylinders and I think they're the best coached team in the league. Everyone
executes everything that's asked of them, as a fan of just good, smart
basketball, they show you how far that style can take you. They can run with
the Bucks. They can grind with the Sixers. They can push against the Lakers,
and if I'm not mistaken, gave LA an ugly loss this year. Reason they're 4th?
The top 3 have some serious firepower.
#3 - Milwaukee
Bucks. Best record in the league. Almost unguardable at times. So why 3 you
ask? That collapse against the Raptors really bugged me last year. Up 2-0 and
then to drop the series is a sign that a team isn't ready. They remind me of
the early 1990's Utah Jazz. Talented roster, can win a lot of regular season
games, but when it's time to get dirty, they keep washing their hands. #COVID
Hand washing won't win you titles though. Huge fan of Giannis, but I can't
quite keep the faith with this squad yet.
#2 - Los Angeles
Lakers. I feel like its their tournament to lose. LeBron is healthy. Brow is
healthy. Their supporting class is clicking and this squad just has great
chemistry. KCP, Rajon Rondo, Markieff Morris, Kyle Kuzma, this reminds me of
the championship teams of the last decade. It's got star power, plus the guys
willing to do the hard things. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they ended up
champions. I just think there is a nemesis in their way.
#1 - Los Angeles
Clippers. This crappy franchise. I can't remember any time in my life that I
thought the Clippers would be NBA champions. For years, they were one of the
worst franchises in sports. Even when it seemed like it was going to get
better, something would set this franchise back. The Chris Paul, DeAndre
Jordan, Blake Griffin group should've done better. And now we're here. There's
no denying they don't have the depth of the Raptors or Lakers. They don't have
the Freak. Their record hasn't been very good up until this point. I'm making
my basis on 3 things. 1. Doc Rivers. One off the all-time best. 2. Paul George.
Is there a hungrier player in the league? 3. Kawhi. Why would you bet against
him? He laughed at all of us last year.
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Kobe
Kobe
Sunday,
January 26, 2020
4:57
PM
Every story needs a
villain.
Kobe was mine. This is our story.
Kevin Garnett was
starting to become a huge star with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Which I thought
was great for 2 reasons. 1. I was a Wolves fan. 2. He went straight to the NBA
from high school, during a time when such a thing was criticized. He had a couple
of quiet seasons when he first started, but now he was starting to come into
his own. So I thought I would get on the hype train of the next big high school
star. That player was going to be the shooting guard from Lower Merion High
School in Pennsylvania, Kobe Bryant. So I started looking for Kobe Bryant
highlights on Sports Center and mentions of him in the newspaper (imagine this
time before YouTube and other such social media options). He was a great little
player, and was being compared to the greatest of all-time, Michael Jordan. Big
plans for a big ego…
Then I got upset. He
was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets, but with his agent, was able to angle a
trade from the Hornets and end up as a Los Angeles Laker. High school players
aren't supposed to do this! Show me your humble beginnings, and then if things
don't work out, maybe request a deal away or leave when the contract is over.
That's what Shaq did, and while he got a lot of flack for leaving Orlando, I
thought it was the right way to do it. I decided then and there that I was
going to hate Kobe after all. Or so I thought.
Airball. Airball.
Airball. I thought it was ridiculous that a teenager kept taking shots, even
after sending up a bunch of air balls. Even more so, in a playoff game. Against
the Utah Jazz in the western conference semi-finals. With teammates like Nick Van
Exel, Eddie Jones, and Jerome Kersey on the floor as well. My first thought was
why is this kid killing his team's season? Then I saw him come back for more. I
had a sympathetic moment for him then, I really wanted to see him hit a shot.
He didn't and they crashed out of the playoffs.
So I liked him
again. He wasn't Jordan, but he had a different competitive fire. A lot of
players could have ended up broken after a sequence like that. Not Kobe. It
changed his life.
Since the Minnesota
Timberwolves were always struggling to get out of the gates during this time
(something like 5 consecutive seasons of first round playoff exits), I adopted
the Portland Trailblazers as my 2nd favorite team. It was a group full of assholes.
JR Rider. Brian Grant. Jimmy Jackson. Damon Stoudamire. Rasheed Wallace. Bonzi
Wells. But man were they fun to watch. The year prior to their meeting in the
western conference finals, the Blazers were probably the best team in the
league. But they ran into a wall when they played the Spurs and David Robinson,
Tim Duncan and friends, and got swept off the court. The next year, my adopted
Blazers were to meet up with the powerful Lakers, who added AC Green, Brian
Shaw and Ron Harper. Unfair, and I started to hate this guys again. Especially
in the WCF, when the Lakers were down by 15 points in the 4th quarter, and the
referees literally blew their whistles enough times to get the Lakers back in
the game again, which they won, and proceeded to go on and win the Finals
against the Indiana Pacers. My hatred was back in full force. How unfair! How
Unjust! And I found a new team to hate!
They won in 2001.
They won in 2002. But I held firm. Shaq and Kobe were 2 of my least favorite
athletes around. When I first started writing more creativity outside of
school, I remember I did a piece on things that I hate/love. One of the
statements was: Things that I hate - Kobe Bryant. Things that I love - Kobe
Bryant shooting 5 for 27 from the field.
In 2004, the
Minnesota Timberwolves finally became something. They had traded for Latrell
Sprewell and Sam Cassell and it really felt like they were going to take that
next step and finally take the Wolves to the finals. We met up with the Lakers
again but this time with some nicer weapons: Karl Malone and Gary Payton also
chasing that elusive ring. I really hated this group of players because I
thought Payton was dirty, I thought Karl Malone was a cheap shot artist (still
do), Rick Fox flopped, and Derek Fisher was a snake. We suffered a couple of
injuries and had no one to shut down the almighty Kobe. The greatest team the
Timberwolves ever created, and all for naught. Another layer to my Kobe
hatred.
Colorado. And enough
about that.
Then it got quiet.
Kobe was missing the playoffs, since the Lakers weren't big enough for 2 egos
(which is crazy considering who've they had in their history). And if I had to
pick a side, I was always going to be a Shaq supporter. So when Shaq got booted,
cheering against Kobe and the Lakers became easy.
And then they got Pau
Gasol. And that pissed me the hell off even more. I think the trade was for
Kwame Brown and some other random. Are you kidding me?! For an all-star and
nothing in return!? If this was any other team, the NBA would step in and say
how unethical this trade was. (Haha, Chris Paul). And of course Pau and Kobe
would end up winning 2 championships, which left Kobe at 5, and Shaq 4.
81. Who else could it be, but
Kobe? I remember thinking, why couldn't it be any other player? Allen
Iverson. LeBron James. Dwayne Wade. But it had to be Kobe. This became the
guy who I would celebrate when his team got knocked out of the playoffs;
or didn't make it altogether. This was the turning point though. I took a
moment during this time to wonder why Kobe always seemed to be so
successful, even when things around him weren't going so well.
The results
surprised me. His work ethic was second to none. His passion was unmatched on
the court. He had a bulldog mentality. He lived in a different country as a child. I learned a lot from these findings and
they told me a lot about myself. I never had this type of passion for anything
in my life. I never worked my ass off to the point where I knew I was going to
be successful at something whether it be bowling, or writing, or anything else.
I remember thinking around the time of Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Manchester
United, and I thought when and how is United going to find another player that
works as hard and shows the same commitment to greatness that Cristiano did on
a daily basis. And not long after that Kobe compared Ronaldo to himself. Kobe, who went from 4 airballs as an 18 year old, to a 5 time NBA Champion and an
all-time great. I lowered my guard a bit.
During the final
years, I found a new appreciation for my greatest sports villain. I never
watched more NBA than when I did cheering against the Lakers. I began to
realize, that maybe I didn't hate Kobe, but that I respected him so much I just
needed some justification for when he actually did fail. But it was the after
retirement Kobe that I related to the most. A doting father. Appreciation of
the languages and the arts. He is - was (fuck, it's still so unreal) so in tune
as to who he was as a person and I thought it was cool that he was able to
share the entire depth of himself, whether it be in Sports Illustrated,
interviews on Motiversity, Dear Basketball… all of it. Every story needs a
villain, but my story somehow found me a hero. He will certainly be missed.
Peace Mamba. 8/24
Thursday, July 11, 2019
Arjen Robben
It's been a long time since I've sat down and pulled up the blogging machine. Many reasons why, but mainly the boys have gotten so busy that there is no more down time. Also, it's known that I love the social media platform, but unlike 2005 when everyone still had a little time to read an article and express some thoughts on it, now we gif and meme and share are favorite moments with an emoji. That said, Arjen Robben is kind of like my blog. A little different, you have to understand him a little bit more, maybe let his playing style simmer and flavor for a bit before you take a nibble, but you remember the first time you sampled it (Celebrity Blog always got 500+ views, sorry I retired that sucker).
When Robben's name first entered my stratosphere of the soccer kingdom, I thought it was going to be a match made in heaven. He was a Dutch winger - similar to the fashion of Marc Overmars (My 1st favorite player to watch as a fan), he was young and brash and wasn't afraid to take on any defender. Naturally, like Alex Ferguson, I thought his future would lie at Old Trafford and the great United kingdom. And Robben, in Robben fashion, decided that Manchester United wasn't suitable for him. He didn't like our "arrogance". From that day forth, I was going to hate him for the rest of his career. Especially when he picked the Chelsea project. That was going to make it easy for me.
Except it didn't. Those runs down the left (This is the pre-Bayern days, believe it or not, Robben didn't always live on the right side of the field and cut in on his left) were exquisite and he left some delicious balls for the likes of Eidur Gudjohnsen, and Didier Drogba to finish. He made so many full backs look absolutely silly. He was a headache for Claudio Ranieri and Jose Mourinho to deal with. His flopping made him difficult to deal with for the referees. His injuries were infuriating for the fans. But still, I couldn't get enough. I watched as Chelsea won Premier League titles. I cheered for the Netherlands to go on and win the 2004 Euros (Greece anyone?). I found a new favorite player who wanted to be at Manchester United and who would achieve the same if not more success than all the glory that Robben turned down. Yet, my feelings about Robben wouldn't seem to change.
Enter Real Madrid. Finally, I thought. The whole era of galacticos bothered me. United was big, but they were never going to bring in the Luis Figo's, Zidane's and Ronaldo's (fat) of the world. And when David Beckham left United for the white of Real Madrid, I finally felt like soccer had its greatest villain. So when Real started to sign the likes of Robben, Wesley Sneijder, and Rafael Van der Vaart, I thought it would kill two birds with one stone. First, I wouldn't like Robben anymore. (Didn't happen). Second, I wouldn't like the Netherlands anymore (It felt like I was cheating, since the rival Germans were the country that introduced me to this great sport). But I still did. When they lost to Arsenal in Champions League with this great group, I was really disappointed. And it bothered me that someone could transcend my feeling for sports. So when he finally left for Bayern, it created feelings in me that I never knew that I had.
Bayern. The team that I love to hate, often followed by the team that I love to cheer for when they play against: Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, and of course Liverpool. When I lived in Germany it was explained to me that Bayern was like the Yankees, but worse. They were like the Yankees, with the aurora of the Los Angeles Lakers with Shaq and Kobe. Hollywoodesque. It also didn't help that my year of exchange was spent right outside of Dortmund; a club that shares a hatred of all things Bayern Munich. Then, halfway through my exchange year, Die Toten Hosen released a song called, "Bayern". It was not meant as a tribute. So when Robben signed for the red and white of my least favorite German team, I thought my affection for him would come to an end. (I bought his Bayern jersey). When he scored the game winning goal of the Champions League Final against said Dortmund, I knew it was going to be time to hate his guts (I still wear the jersey). When he became known as the Dortmund killer, I just let my hatred out an a huff and applauded his goals (cutting in from the right, every time). And when he decided to hang up his boots after his 7th consectutive championship in the Bundesliga, I sat in my bedroom and cried.
Often I hear talk of players that people can't stand because of the teams that they play for. Steph Curry on the Warriors. Tom Brady on the Patriots. Derek Jeter on the Yankees. I used to be part of that talk too. It's amazing what one athlete can do for you. Bring excitement to the sport that you love. Make you work hard in your backyard to improve your skills so you can emulate them. Get you to fly around the country so you can see them live for the first time. Arjen Robben did none of these things. But he taught me how to love my enemy.
Enjoy retirement.
When Robben's name first entered my stratosphere of the soccer kingdom, I thought it was going to be a match made in heaven. He was a Dutch winger - similar to the fashion of Marc Overmars (My 1st favorite player to watch as a fan), he was young and brash and wasn't afraid to take on any defender. Naturally, like Alex Ferguson, I thought his future would lie at Old Trafford and the great United kingdom. And Robben, in Robben fashion, decided that Manchester United wasn't suitable for him. He didn't like our "arrogance". From that day forth, I was going to hate him for the rest of his career. Especially when he picked the Chelsea project. That was going to make it easy for me.
Except it didn't. Those runs down the left (This is the pre-Bayern days, believe it or not, Robben didn't always live on the right side of the field and cut in on his left) were exquisite and he left some delicious balls for the likes of Eidur Gudjohnsen, and Didier Drogba to finish. He made so many full backs look absolutely silly. He was a headache for Claudio Ranieri and Jose Mourinho to deal with. His flopping made him difficult to deal with for the referees. His injuries were infuriating for the fans. But still, I couldn't get enough. I watched as Chelsea won Premier League titles. I cheered for the Netherlands to go on and win the 2004 Euros (Greece anyone?). I found a new favorite player who wanted to be at Manchester United and who would achieve the same if not more success than all the glory that Robben turned down. Yet, my feelings about Robben wouldn't seem to change.
Enter Real Madrid. Finally, I thought. The whole era of galacticos bothered me. United was big, but they were never going to bring in the Luis Figo's, Zidane's and Ronaldo's (fat) of the world. And when David Beckham left United for the white of Real Madrid, I finally felt like soccer had its greatest villain. So when Real started to sign the likes of Robben, Wesley Sneijder, and Rafael Van der Vaart, I thought it would kill two birds with one stone. First, I wouldn't like Robben anymore. (Didn't happen). Second, I wouldn't like the Netherlands anymore (It felt like I was cheating, since the rival Germans were the country that introduced me to this great sport). But I still did. When they lost to Arsenal in Champions League with this great group, I was really disappointed. And it bothered me that someone could transcend my feeling for sports. So when he finally left for Bayern, it created feelings in me that I never knew that I had.
Bayern. The team that I love to hate, often followed by the team that I love to cheer for when they play against: Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, and of course Liverpool. When I lived in Germany it was explained to me that Bayern was like the Yankees, but worse. They were like the Yankees, with the aurora of the Los Angeles Lakers with Shaq and Kobe. Hollywoodesque. It also didn't help that my year of exchange was spent right outside of Dortmund; a club that shares a hatred of all things Bayern Munich. Then, halfway through my exchange year, Die Toten Hosen released a song called, "Bayern". It was not meant as a tribute. So when Robben signed for the red and white of my least favorite German team, I thought my affection for him would come to an end. (I bought his Bayern jersey). When he scored the game winning goal of the Champions League Final against said Dortmund, I knew it was going to be time to hate his guts (I still wear the jersey). When he became known as the Dortmund killer, I just let my hatred out an a huff and applauded his goals (cutting in from the right, every time). And when he decided to hang up his boots after his 7th consectutive championship in the Bundesliga, I sat in my bedroom and cried.
Often I hear talk of players that people can't stand because of the teams that they play for. Steph Curry on the Warriors. Tom Brady on the Patriots. Derek Jeter on the Yankees. I used to be part of that talk too. It's amazing what one athlete can do for you. Bring excitement to the sport that you love. Make you work hard in your backyard to improve your skills so you can emulate them. Get you to fly around the country so you can see them live for the first time. Arjen Robben did none of these things. But he taught me how to love my enemy.
Enjoy retirement.
Thursday, September 6, 2018
2018 NFL Predictions
Perhaps its something of an irony. This is probably my least favorite of the 3 Fall seasons; only because the salary cap bothers me so much. Yet, I feel like it's the most exciting to predict (perhaps for the same reason), and it gets more viewership than the soccer and college football articles combined. So thank you for that. This year appears very interesting; usually I think 18-20 teams can challenge for playoff places and 6-12 can believe that "This is our year", but we might have an anomaly. I think 28 of the 32 NFL teams could legit make the playoffs, and in the NFC alone, 9 teams probably believe that they can win the Super Bowl. And that's not including the delusion of the Dallas Cowboys fans.
2 things are changing. In years past, I had created a formula in which I ranked the QB, coaching staff, and defense of said team, and then rated them on a scale of 1-20. While it was pretty effective (I usually guessed 8/12 playoff teams correctly per year), it didn't evaluate RB, WR and OL which in the case of the Kansas City Chiefs last year, made me look pretty bad. Second, I picked every single NFL game to give each team a record, and that was just a long and annoying headache. JJ Watt, Odell Beckham Jr, Aaron Rodgers, Dalvin Cook and all the other knees, collarbones, shoulders and feet made sure that picking week 17 before the start of week 1 doesn't really make any sense. So I will just evaluate what I know, pick my playoff teams, and go from there. I hope you all enjoy the new format. And most importantly, the new NFL season.
NFC East:
If Carson Wentz comes back and continues his progression to doing all the great Aaron Rodgers impressions, than the Philadelphia Eagles will be fine. If they have to depend on Nick Foles for an entire season, play one of the most difficult schedules in football, and take everyone's best shot, it might be a little different. If that happens, I actually like the New York Giants to step into the place of the Eagles. On paper, they had a great draft. They were able to take the best player available in the first 3 rounds, and plug them into a massive hole of need. Nate Solder and Will Hernandez were necessary if they want Eli to ride into the sunset instead of limp. Lorenzo Carter kept up with Roquan Smith on a lot of days at Georgia. If Saquon is as good as advertised, the Giants could be a potential division champion... this season. The Dallas Cowboys are in a strange place. They have the QB, RB and OL that could be the envy of 10+ teams in the league. They have a defense that should be able to keep the team in most games. But the NFL has become a passing league, and the Super Bowl was a great indication of what is required if a team is going to lift the Lombardi trophy. Dallas has Allen Hurns, Terrance Williams and Rico Gathers to threaten on offense, and Byron Jones, Kevon Frazier and Xavier Woods at the defensive end. A super bowl is a big ask of this group. The Washington Redskins are also a wild card in this division. They could potentially finish 1st (I'd put it at about 10%, however), or be dead last and competing for the #1 pick in next year's NFL draft. The Alex Smith signing would've been great if the team was ready to go the distance and were a QB away. Their running game is a big question mark (AP, anyone?) and Jamison Crowder works best from the slot. They gave up a top corner in Kendall Fuller in order to get Smith, and now it's Josh Norman and some guy lining up across from guys catching balls from Wentz and Manning. I just don't think the Redskins have pin pointed the right direction for the next couple of seasons.
1. Philadelphia Eagles *
2. Dallas Cowboys
3. New York Giants
4. Washington Redskins
NFC South:
On draft night, I thought that the Atlanta Falcons were going to be the favorite's in the NFC. Picking Calvin Ridley to line up opposite Julio Jones, while keeping Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman and Austin Hooper on team friendly contracts, made me believe that this team might be ready for the big time again. The only thing that I don't believe this team knows how to do is beat up another team. Their offense is all finesse, and their defense is fast... and stockpiled with loads of finesse. But will they hit anybody? Lots and lots of speed, but what happens when they run into the New Orleans Saints? I think every NFL fan saw it. The moment that the Saints knew they were going to beat the Vikings in Minneapolis, trounce the Eagles in Philadelphia, and go toe-to-toe with Tom Brady for a chance to win the Super Bowl back in Minneapolis. It happened with about 2 minutes to go. They moved the ball so well, and were frustrating Case Keenum and friends on the other side. Then, cue miracle. The Saints are still loaded. Alvin Kamara could be the top back in the league by the end of the year. Marcus Williams actually looks a good player, that just got lost in the biggest of moments. We'll see what kind of character the kid has on October 28th, when he returns to the scene of the crime. The line protects Brees admirably, and he has some weapons to find in Ted Ginn, Michael Thomas and Cameron Meredith. Even their kicking game is on point. An easier path to the Super Bowl would be made again, if they are able to go 3-0 vs the Carolina Panthers again. The Panthers also believe that they are a good football team, and they were, when they weren't going up against the Saints. They lost 6 games in 2017, 3 were to the gold and black. I think the Panthers like to attack on both sides of the ball, which is great and makes for entertaining football, but when the Saints do the same thing and better... I like the roster, but I feel like every single player on offense sans Greg Olsen still has a little more to offer than what they've shown in years past. Cam Newton has the talent and size to be one of the league's best. McCafferey has all the tools too, but left us a little wanting last season. Devin Funchess looks like Plaxico Burress, but executes like he's on the field for the first time. There is still enough talent, where I don't think they'll finish last, but only because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers keep shooting themselves in the foot. With a bazooka. It all started when they fired Lovie Smith after just 2 seasons, to go in a different direction. In doing so, they pissed off 11 defensive players, and they felt the need to Tweet their frustrations. You can still see the animosity among the players, and it's interesting that Dirk Koetter is still able to coach even though he's been 14-18 over 2 seasons and we haven't seen improvement from Jameis Winston. (My guy, I know) 12 months ago, I thought this would be a playoff team. Now all 3 division rivals have passed them, and the Bucs are the only team in the South that won't be thinking about the Super Bowl. It's a shame, really.
1. New Orleans Saints *
2. Atlanta Falcons *
3. Carolina Panthers
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC North:
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. This division already looked to be the best in football, and home to two teams that both believe they can win the Super Bowl this season. And then, similar to a rabbit out of a hat, Khalil Mack is a Chicago Bears linebacker. It's a little strange, because to me it appears that the Bears think they are close to contending for at the very least a playoff place. Prior to the deal, I thought they were 2-3 years away, especially with Mitchell Trubisky only having 2 seasons under his belt (1 at North Carolina, 1 in the pros). I thought the weapons (Allen Robinson, Trey Burton, Taylor Gabriel) were a bit of a reach, and their offensive line looks to be in disarray. I thought the strongest part of the team was LB, and then boom, the dynamic of the NFL shifted. Mack is the league's best defender, and he will share a field soon with the likes of Leonard Floyd and Roquan Smith. I'm sure he's drooling, as he gets to chase around the likes of Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. They too have made some interesting changes this year. Jimmy Graham is in and gives Rodgers his biggest red zone target he's ever had, but his best friend Jordy Nelson is gone. The offense isn't the question mark though, it's the talent on the other side of the ball, and how well they can adjust to the schemes of Mike Pettine. It's an aggressive style, but could be prone to big plays. Which we know the Packers give up a ton of. Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions know a thing or two about big plays. I really like the way their roster is set up, and they could be a surprise team this year. Stafford knows the offense inside and out, and now he has some weapons that will take a little of the pressure off. Kerryon Johnson should've been a 1st round pick the way he ran at Auburn. That pick was an absolute steal. The defense should be solid by all the pickups that Bob Quinn made. The only thing that makes me nervous for them is their beast of a schedule that includes the Minnesota Vikings twice. This might be the most complete team in football, if they are correct about Kirk Cousins. Last season with Case Keenum, there were moments when they were the most dominant team in the league. Then, the Saints came with heavy blitzes on defense and aerial attacks on offense. And Philadelphia took it one step further. A quick fix would be the health and success of Dalvin Cook, if he doesn't lose any of his explosiveness. Minnesota didn't let us see in the pre-season, so it will continue to be a question mark. The bigger fix would be to get back to simplicity on defense. While I understand that Zimmer likes to attack the A gaps, and send Harrison Smith frolicking around the line of scrimmage, I thought they were at their best when every man covered an area, and did it well. With all the talent, why so many tricks?
1. Minnesota Vikings *
2. Green Bay Packers *
3. Detroit Lions
4. Chicago Bears
NFC West:
This division looks to be the easiest to predict, but looks can be deceiving. The Los Angeles Rams are the "most improved" team in the NFL from last season to this season. At least on paper. But if you asked most NFL fans if they wanted Ndamukong Suh, Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, Sam Shields and Brandin Cooks on their roster, they would answer with a most resounding, YES! And I would agree, it looks pretty. But there are a LOT of personalities on this team, and one of them is head coach Sean McVay. This looks to be a soap opera in waiting, but I can grudgingly admit that the Rams could also win the Super Bowl with relative ease this season too. Thank goodness the San Francisco 49ers reached out to New England last season, and received their savior in QB Jimmy Garoppolo. Without that move, maybe this division is a little lopsided. But the 49ers are my favorite non-talked about team in football. They lost a really underrated player in Jerick McKinnon last week to a knee injury, as I think he was on his way to being a top 10 back. He finds holes well, catches the ball well and protects his quarterback. It'll be interesting to see if Alfred Morris and Matt Breida can make up for it. They drafted Garoppolo's blind side for the future in Mike McGlinchey and that was a huge coup. He can be for Jimmy what Nate Solder was for Tom Brady. Their defense has talent; if they can put it together, a playoff place isn't out of the question. The Seattle Seahawks have plenty of questions. They are host to quite possibly the most dynamic quarterback in the league in Russell Wilson, as he can beat teams with his legs, arm or intellect. He's a hard guy to beat in this league. Beyond that though, and it gets tricky. The personalities are mostly gone, and in their places are a bunch of players looking to take that extra step. Can Shaquill Griffin take Richard Sherman's place? Can Frank Clark match the engine of Michael Bennett's? If they can, Seattle still might have enough left in the tank. On the other hand, there is no denying the talent on the Arizona Cardinals. They might still be one of the most talented teams in the league... when they are healthy. They managed to go 8-8 without David Johnson last year, and that shows you the type of talent this team has. Sam Bradford is an accurate QB when given time, hopefully he can have his top 5 guys protecting him long enough this season. It'll be fun to guess which player ends up on the IR first. If the IR doesn't attack this team like it seems to do, the Cardinals could be respectable.
1. L.A. Rams *
2. Seattle Seahawks
3. S.F. 49ers
4. Arizona Cardinals
AFC East:
I think we are all just a little bit shocked that the New England Patriots didn't end up last season as the super bowl champions. It was set up for a good run; Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, and Devin McCourty just know what to do in crunch time. Nick Foles, is well, Nick Foles. And it didn't go according to script. What was interesting to me is that it almost felt like the Patriots window was closing shut. Cooks and Danny Amendola were let go, and replaced with Jordan Matthews and Cordarrelle Patterson. Nate Solder took the money and ran. Malcolm Butler pissed off the boss and got the boot (what happened, seriously?) I'm not sure they were replaced adequately, but we know that Bill can pull some magic, and the Patriots will be 13-3 again and planning for another Super Bowl. You know who won't be planning for a Super Bowl? The Miami Dolphins. They might be my pick to end up picking 1st in the 2019 NFL draft. And I love what they did in their draft this season. When we look back down the road, Minkah Fitzpatrick might be to this draft what Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu were to theirs. He fell a lot further than I thought he would, and the Dolphins will be the biggest beneficiary of that. I just really don't like this offense. I've never liked Ryan Tannehill; I think he's a strong arm, and good size, and that's about the gist of it. I don't remember Kenyan Drake running the ball at Alabama, but rumor has it that he did. Nothing else on this team gets me excited, and I'm guessing nothing will until they draft Nick Bosa in about 8 months. The Buffalo Bills will be their biggest challengers. I understand that the NFL salary cap makes it hard to maintain success in this league, but when success is one playoff appearance in the 21st century (8 months ago, no less), it's really hard to keep screwing things up. Yet, they somehow do. I know that Tyrod Taylor wasn't a franchise guy, but he still gave them a chance to win football games. Now a great defense is paired with a rookie QB that only completed 56% of his passes at Wyoming. Josh Allen (his arm) does look the part though, and I think if they remain patient, he will be much better than Tannehill, make of that what you will. I don't believe their offensive weapons scare many defenses, but Shady does keep on trucking. He did hit that magic number (30) though. The defense is great, and made greater by the signing of Star Lotulelei. I think he can light up offensive lines similiar to the way Suh did. Tremaine Edmunds could challenge for defensive ROY and their secondary is one of the league's best. But the schedule is tough (Josh Allen sees Baltimore, Joey Bosa and the Vikings in the first 3 weeks), and if they start 0-3, it might come crumbling down. Now, the New York Jets. I'm not sure any other franchise has gotten the media pub, that this team has seen over the last 7 months. I turn on ESPN, they're talking about the Jets. NFL Network? Sam Darnold. Boomer on CBS Sports... Darnold and the Jets. So let's talk about them. I don't believe that Darnold is Peyton Manning. A lot of comparisons make me think that the talking heads believe it could happen, but he's of a different element. I think he's more like Jim Kelly. Once the thing clicks, and he's surrounded by top talent, then can we see his true talents shine through. But no one is mistaken Isaiah Crowell for Thurman Thomas, Robby Anderson for Andre Reed or Terrelle Pryor for James Lofton. It's going to be a while. He is blessed with quite the defense on the other side, and Leonard Williams could be the best lineman in the league by week 17 (maybe after JJ if he plays). I love the secondary, and I'm mad that the Packers had no shot at Jamal Adams, who might be the best safety of this generation. He's like Earl Thomas and Harry the Hitman rolled into one. Look out!
1. New England Patriots *
2. New York Jets
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Miami Dolphins
AFC South:
The Houston Texans have a very exciting collection of talent that if they stay on the field, could be challenging for championships in years to come. DeShaun Watson is at the head of all this. I understand that fantasy football heads drool over this guy's numbers, but if you just step back and watch, you are also seeing a guy that just gets it. He extends plays, spreads the ball around, but plays safe enough where you don't see many turnovers. If the injury is past him, he could be up there with Wentz in the next generation. He'll get a big test early though; his first four road games are the Patriots, and every division rival. If they want to contend this year, he probably has to win at least 2. The defense is rock solid, and will be helped by the arrival of Tyrann Mathieu. I have no idea why the Cardinals didn't at least try to bring him back for a similar price; his arrival almost completes the Texans defense. If Aaron Colvin and Kareem Jackson can become the 2nd best CB pair in the division, they have a shot to do some damage come January. The best pair of CB's in the south come from the Jacksonville Jaguars. I think that anyone that watched Florida State a few years ago could tell you that Jalen Ramsey was destined for this type of greatness. What we didn't know was that AJ Bouye would be a top 10 CB as well, and it makes for a nasty challenge for some of the NFL's elite QB's. Yannick Ngakoue and Calais Campbell form one of the NFL's top pass rushes as well, and it's going to be difficult to put up points against this defense. Garoppolo and Roethlisberger were really the only two that moved the ball efficiently against this team last year. For a Super bowl shot, it will likely come down to the arm and decision making of one Blake Bortles. I don't believe in him, but it seems like the Jaguars do. That might be good enough, but with Andrew Luck back to full strength, he might be the 4th best in his division. Andrew Norwell should help. The offensive line could be one of the strengths. The sneakiest team in the NFL just might be the Indianapolis Colts. Luck was an all-pro before all the injury plagued seasons. Rumor is, he's ready to go. If he is, he will be protected by who I think was the most complete player in the 2018 draft, Quentin Nelson. He was almost perfect at Notre Dame, and like a Steve Hutchinson, should be ready to go for the next 10-12 seasons. I also like the hiring of Frank Reich. He did an admirable job in Philadelphia last year, and there are plenty of weapons on this offense to compete for a playoff place. What it probably comes down to is whether or not the young defense can keep up. The secondary is the youngest in the NFL; they will need to step up immediately to give this defense a chance. Jabaal Sheard might just be the most recognizable name on this defense. My point exactly. On the other side of the river, the Tennessee Titans probably boast one of the NFL's best defenses. Their secondary really stands out, and adding Malcolm Butler to the mix could put them on a par with the Jaguars secondary. Kevin Byard is just shy of all-pro, and Adoree Jackson could be getting close to that level by the end of the year. Taylor Lewan might be the best blindside LT in the league, and he might have to do it again for the Titans to challenge. I love the character and personality of QB Marcus Mariota, but for whatever reason, it all hasn't come together. They struggle in the red zone, and field goals won't get them to the playoffs in this division. Firing Mike Mularkey was a strange move though, no matter how good they think Mike Vrabel might be.
1. Houston Texans *
2. Jacksonville Jaguars *
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Tennessee Titans
AFC North:
Could this finally be the year the Cleveland Browns come out of the cellar and actually win a couple of games? They brought in a successful GM in John Dorsey, they also added Paul DePodesta to help out with the analytics of the NFL. Todd Haley is now calling plays for the Browns and he'll have Jarvis Landry and Josh Gordon to design plays for. Tyrod Taylor won more games last season than the Browns have in the last 3. And Carlos Hyde and Nick Chubb added with Duke Johnson should give the Browns a new dimension of running that they haven't had for some time. The defense looks solid; while the rest of the league laughed at the Browns for picking Denzel Ward ahead of Bradley Chubb, I feel like they have a shutdown corner on the same level of a Xavier Rhodes or Jalen Ramsey. If Myles Garrett and Emmanuel Ogbah can put a rush together, the end of the barrel bottom should be near. Replacing them? The Cincinnati Bengals. I really want to like this team as I feel they've drafted pretty well recently, and locked up all the players that matter. Geno Atkins, AJ Green and Clint Boling should all retire as Bengals. But they just don't have the guys that want to win in this league so bad that it hurts. I'll start with Vontaze Burfict. He just wants to hit, regardless of the consequences and it puts the Bengals at a disadvantage every time he gets suspended. Andy Dalton doesn't appear to want to raise his level to the group of elite QB's. Once he got his new deal, he's looked average at best. Dre Kirkpatrick and Darqueze Dennard were drafted to be one of the top duo's in the NFL; both of them can be beaten, and now Dennard probably plays best in the nickel. It would be nice to see their character rise to the occasion and get Marvin Lewis a playoff victory, but I just don't see things happening for them once again. The Pittsburgh Steelers are so stubborn it hurts. Le'Veon isn't interested in coming back until he gets a long-term deal; the Steelers have moved onto the next RB. Their window in the NFL might be the smallest in the league though, Ben keeps talking about retirement, and they can't keep striking gold on drafting top notch WR in the league... or can they? James Washington might be the best WR in this draft class when it's all said and done. Antonio Brown and Ju-Ju Smith-Schuster might be the top pair in the league. They still play host to one of the best 3-4 defenses in the league. Stephon Tuitt might be the best 3-4 end in football, and Cameron Heyward is probably top 5. Morgan Burnett was a good signing; he should solidify their holes in the secondary. The Steelers look the part of a Super Bowl team, but knowing how small the window is, can they give their all-pro RB what he wants? Teams that wish they were in the Steelers shoes include the Baltimore Ravens. They probably thought that after Joe Flacco won the Super Bowl in 2012 that his career path would mirror that of Mr. Roethlisberger himself. Not so much, and they spent one of their two 1st round draft choices on QB Lamar Jackson. Which was kind of fun. But strange with some really good running backs and corner backs still on the board for a team that could've used one. I like Alex Collins though, and he could have a breakout campaign. He runs really hard; he's what I thought Darren McFadden was going to become. Terrell Suggs won't go away, and the safety duo is one of the best in the league with Eric Weddle and Tony Jefferson. It's a nice team, but not one that I can see pulling in the Lombardi trophy.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers * (Le'Veon in week 3)
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. Cleveland Browns
4. Cincinnati Bengals
AFC West:
Maybe the tightest division in football? I don't see a Super Bowl champion among any of the four, but I also don't think any of them will be drafting top 5 next season, barring a disaster of injuries. The Denver Broncos had my favorite signing of the off-season... not Case Keenum, but Marquette King. His boot at these altitudes should make him one of the best punters in football. Short fields for this offense could really make a difference, as the talent is there to do something special. After Adrian Peterson, Royce Freeman was my favorite running back coming out of high school in the YouTube area. He doesn't have the same exhilarating runs that AP has, but he is a tough back to bring down, and usually falls forward. The receivers are solid, and Keenum is a serviceable QB. The secondary might still be one of the league's best even with the loss of Talib, and the drafting of Bradley Chubb excited the fan base. They will have to be at their very best most weeks, because it looks like the Los Angeles Chargers have finally put together a team that can win this division again. It's amazing to think about, but Rivers has only been to the playoffs once in the last eight seasons. Sometimes he has a ton of talent around him, but can't stay upright, and then they bring in good protectors and he turns the ball over a ton. For the first time in awhile, the line looks to be great (Mike Pouncey was huge), and Rivers has some serious weapons in Melvin Gordon, Keenan Allen and Tyrell Williams. The defense is very underrated and could make the same improvements that the Vikings did in 2017. Casey Hayward is one of the best CB's in the league. Derwin James should step in immediately and dominate the same way Weddle did for them in years past. Denzel Perryman, Corey Liuget, and Brandon Mebane make the middle very difficult to run through, and Joey Bosa might be the NFL's best defensive player in 2018. It's setting up nicely, but there are tough games in this division, that will probably keep any team from standing out. Jon Gruden hopes to disagree, and make the Oakland Raiders the hottest team in the league in time for their move to Las Vegas. He put his stamp on the team, when he asked that the team trade Khalil Mack so they could continue evolving toward the type of team that Gruden wants. There's no denying that he is one of the most knowledgeable guys around, but sometimes that doesn't translate to wins. He changed the look of the receiving core completely, and it's hard to say if they got better. Martavis Bryant is suspended once again, and it sounds like the Raiders might cut him just a couple of months after they traded for him. Jordy Nelson hasn't looked the same since his ACL injury, but if he can find some of his explosiveness, he could give Derek Carr a layer of skill that he probably hasn't had in Oakland. Marshawn Lynch came back for another go, and looked great at the end of last season. The offense should be fun to watch, but with the trade of Mack, it might not even matter. The Kansas City Chiefs do have super bowl potential, especially on offense. The attacking talents of Kareem Hunt, Spencer Ware, Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Travis Kelce and Chris Conley is exciting and should provide Pat Mahomes with plenty of options to go for big plays. The Offensive line is one of the best in the league. It's going to be the defense that determines whether or not the Chiefs can go to the super bowl this season. Getting Kendall Fuller in the Alex Smith deal was huge, especially with the loss of Peters. He and Steven Nelson will have to be great against this division of talented WR's. Justin Houston and Dee Ford can be great, but really haven't put all the talent together yet. Reggie Ragland is one of my favorite inside LB's in the league, he should be able to relieve them from any anxiety over losing Derrick Johnson. This team is close, but unless Mahomes makes Jared Goff type progression, they probably still need another year or two.
1. Kansas City Chiefs *
2. L.A. Chargers *
3. Denver Broncos
4. Oakland Raiders
Playoff Picture:
NFC:
3 L.A. Rams vs 6 Atlanta Falcons
Winner: Rams
4 Philadelphia Eagles vs 5 Green Bay Packers
Winner: Packers
1 New Orleans Saints vs 5 Green Bay Packers
Winner: Saints
2 Minnesota Vikings vs 3 L.A. Rams
Winner: Vikings
1 New Orleans Saints vs 2 Minnesota Vikings
Winner: Vikings (All the demons erased with this win)
AFC:
3 K.C. Chiefs vs 6 Jacksonville Jaguars
Winner: Jaguars
4 Houston Texans vs 5 L.A. Chargers
Winner: Chargers
1 New England Patriots vs 6 Jacksonville Jaguars
Winner: Patriots
2 Pittsburgh Steelers vs 5 L.A. Chargers
Winner: Steelers
1 New England Patriots vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Winner: Steelers
Super Bowl:
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Minnesota Vikings
This would be a great matchup if none of the most important pieces are missing from this game. I think Zimmer knows how to beat Pittsburgh, but Ben has been here before. In a case where Kirk Cousins hasn't, I just can't see the Vikings getting past what would be a very innovative game plan (zone blitzes and a ton of different looks). Ben goes out with a bang, and Mike Tomlin gets his name in the greatest coaches book.
Winner: Steelers
2 things are changing. In years past, I had created a formula in which I ranked the QB, coaching staff, and defense of said team, and then rated them on a scale of 1-20. While it was pretty effective (I usually guessed 8/12 playoff teams correctly per year), it didn't evaluate RB, WR and OL which in the case of the Kansas City Chiefs last year, made me look pretty bad. Second, I picked every single NFL game to give each team a record, and that was just a long and annoying headache. JJ Watt, Odell Beckham Jr, Aaron Rodgers, Dalvin Cook and all the other knees, collarbones, shoulders and feet made sure that picking week 17 before the start of week 1 doesn't really make any sense. So I will just evaluate what I know, pick my playoff teams, and go from there. I hope you all enjoy the new format. And most importantly, the new NFL season.
NFC East:
If Carson Wentz comes back and continues his progression to doing all the great Aaron Rodgers impressions, than the Philadelphia Eagles will be fine. If they have to depend on Nick Foles for an entire season, play one of the most difficult schedules in football, and take everyone's best shot, it might be a little different. If that happens, I actually like the New York Giants to step into the place of the Eagles. On paper, they had a great draft. They were able to take the best player available in the first 3 rounds, and plug them into a massive hole of need. Nate Solder and Will Hernandez were necessary if they want Eli to ride into the sunset instead of limp. Lorenzo Carter kept up with Roquan Smith on a lot of days at Georgia. If Saquon is as good as advertised, the Giants could be a potential division champion... this season. The Dallas Cowboys are in a strange place. They have the QB, RB and OL that could be the envy of 10+ teams in the league. They have a defense that should be able to keep the team in most games. But the NFL has become a passing league, and the Super Bowl was a great indication of what is required if a team is going to lift the Lombardi trophy. Dallas has Allen Hurns, Terrance Williams and Rico Gathers to threaten on offense, and Byron Jones, Kevon Frazier and Xavier Woods at the defensive end. A super bowl is a big ask of this group. The Washington Redskins are also a wild card in this division. They could potentially finish 1st (I'd put it at about 10%, however), or be dead last and competing for the #1 pick in next year's NFL draft. The Alex Smith signing would've been great if the team was ready to go the distance and were a QB away. Their running game is a big question mark (AP, anyone?) and Jamison Crowder works best from the slot. They gave up a top corner in Kendall Fuller in order to get Smith, and now it's Josh Norman and some guy lining up across from guys catching balls from Wentz and Manning. I just don't think the Redskins have pin pointed the right direction for the next couple of seasons.
1. Philadelphia Eagles *
2. Dallas Cowboys
3. New York Giants
4. Washington Redskins
NFC South:
On draft night, I thought that the Atlanta Falcons were going to be the favorite's in the NFC. Picking Calvin Ridley to line up opposite Julio Jones, while keeping Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman and Austin Hooper on team friendly contracts, made me believe that this team might be ready for the big time again. The only thing that I don't believe this team knows how to do is beat up another team. Their offense is all finesse, and their defense is fast... and stockpiled with loads of finesse. But will they hit anybody? Lots and lots of speed, but what happens when they run into the New Orleans Saints? I think every NFL fan saw it. The moment that the Saints knew they were going to beat the Vikings in Minneapolis, trounce the Eagles in Philadelphia, and go toe-to-toe with Tom Brady for a chance to win the Super Bowl back in Minneapolis. It happened with about 2 minutes to go. They moved the ball so well, and were frustrating Case Keenum and friends on the other side. Then, cue miracle. The Saints are still loaded. Alvin Kamara could be the top back in the league by the end of the year. Marcus Williams actually looks a good player, that just got lost in the biggest of moments. We'll see what kind of character the kid has on October 28th, when he returns to the scene of the crime. The line protects Brees admirably, and he has some weapons to find in Ted Ginn, Michael Thomas and Cameron Meredith. Even their kicking game is on point. An easier path to the Super Bowl would be made again, if they are able to go 3-0 vs the Carolina Panthers again. The Panthers also believe that they are a good football team, and they were, when they weren't going up against the Saints. They lost 6 games in 2017, 3 were to the gold and black. I think the Panthers like to attack on both sides of the ball, which is great and makes for entertaining football, but when the Saints do the same thing and better... I like the roster, but I feel like every single player on offense sans Greg Olsen still has a little more to offer than what they've shown in years past. Cam Newton has the talent and size to be one of the league's best. McCafferey has all the tools too, but left us a little wanting last season. Devin Funchess looks like Plaxico Burress, but executes like he's on the field for the first time. There is still enough talent, where I don't think they'll finish last, but only because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers keep shooting themselves in the foot. With a bazooka. It all started when they fired Lovie Smith after just 2 seasons, to go in a different direction. In doing so, they pissed off 11 defensive players, and they felt the need to Tweet their frustrations. You can still see the animosity among the players, and it's interesting that Dirk Koetter is still able to coach even though he's been 14-18 over 2 seasons and we haven't seen improvement from Jameis Winston. (My guy, I know) 12 months ago, I thought this would be a playoff team. Now all 3 division rivals have passed them, and the Bucs are the only team in the South that won't be thinking about the Super Bowl. It's a shame, really.
1. New Orleans Saints *
2. Atlanta Falcons *
3. Carolina Panthers
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC North:
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. This division already looked to be the best in football, and home to two teams that both believe they can win the Super Bowl this season. And then, similar to a rabbit out of a hat, Khalil Mack is a Chicago Bears linebacker. It's a little strange, because to me it appears that the Bears think they are close to contending for at the very least a playoff place. Prior to the deal, I thought they were 2-3 years away, especially with Mitchell Trubisky only having 2 seasons under his belt (1 at North Carolina, 1 in the pros). I thought the weapons (Allen Robinson, Trey Burton, Taylor Gabriel) were a bit of a reach, and their offensive line looks to be in disarray. I thought the strongest part of the team was LB, and then boom, the dynamic of the NFL shifted. Mack is the league's best defender, and he will share a field soon with the likes of Leonard Floyd and Roquan Smith. I'm sure he's drooling, as he gets to chase around the likes of Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. They too have made some interesting changes this year. Jimmy Graham is in and gives Rodgers his biggest red zone target he's ever had, but his best friend Jordy Nelson is gone. The offense isn't the question mark though, it's the talent on the other side of the ball, and how well they can adjust to the schemes of Mike Pettine. It's an aggressive style, but could be prone to big plays. Which we know the Packers give up a ton of. Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions know a thing or two about big plays. I really like the way their roster is set up, and they could be a surprise team this year. Stafford knows the offense inside and out, and now he has some weapons that will take a little of the pressure off. Kerryon Johnson should've been a 1st round pick the way he ran at Auburn. That pick was an absolute steal. The defense should be solid by all the pickups that Bob Quinn made. The only thing that makes me nervous for them is their beast of a schedule that includes the Minnesota Vikings twice. This might be the most complete team in football, if they are correct about Kirk Cousins. Last season with Case Keenum, there were moments when they were the most dominant team in the league. Then, the Saints came with heavy blitzes on defense and aerial attacks on offense. And Philadelphia took it one step further. A quick fix would be the health and success of Dalvin Cook, if he doesn't lose any of his explosiveness. Minnesota didn't let us see in the pre-season, so it will continue to be a question mark. The bigger fix would be to get back to simplicity on defense. While I understand that Zimmer likes to attack the A gaps, and send Harrison Smith frolicking around the line of scrimmage, I thought they were at their best when every man covered an area, and did it well. With all the talent, why so many tricks?
1. Minnesota Vikings *
2. Green Bay Packers *
3. Detroit Lions
4. Chicago Bears
NFC West:
This division looks to be the easiest to predict, but looks can be deceiving. The Los Angeles Rams are the "most improved" team in the NFL from last season to this season. At least on paper. But if you asked most NFL fans if they wanted Ndamukong Suh, Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, Sam Shields and Brandin Cooks on their roster, they would answer with a most resounding, YES! And I would agree, it looks pretty. But there are a LOT of personalities on this team, and one of them is head coach Sean McVay. This looks to be a soap opera in waiting, but I can grudgingly admit that the Rams could also win the Super Bowl with relative ease this season too. Thank goodness the San Francisco 49ers reached out to New England last season, and received their savior in QB Jimmy Garoppolo. Without that move, maybe this division is a little lopsided. But the 49ers are my favorite non-talked about team in football. They lost a really underrated player in Jerick McKinnon last week to a knee injury, as I think he was on his way to being a top 10 back. He finds holes well, catches the ball well and protects his quarterback. It'll be interesting to see if Alfred Morris and Matt Breida can make up for it. They drafted Garoppolo's blind side for the future in Mike McGlinchey and that was a huge coup. He can be for Jimmy what Nate Solder was for Tom Brady. Their defense has talent; if they can put it together, a playoff place isn't out of the question. The Seattle Seahawks have plenty of questions. They are host to quite possibly the most dynamic quarterback in the league in Russell Wilson, as he can beat teams with his legs, arm or intellect. He's a hard guy to beat in this league. Beyond that though, and it gets tricky. The personalities are mostly gone, and in their places are a bunch of players looking to take that extra step. Can Shaquill Griffin take Richard Sherman's place? Can Frank Clark match the engine of Michael Bennett's? If they can, Seattle still might have enough left in the tank. On the other hand, there is no denying the talent on the Arizona Cardinals. They might still be one of the most talented teams in the league... when they are healthy. They managed to go 8-8 without David Johnson last year, and that shows you the type of talent this team has. Sam Bradford is an accurate QB when given time, hopefully he can have his top 5 guys protecting him long enough this season. It'll be fun to guess which player ends up on the IR first. If the IR doesn't attack this team like it seems to do, the Cardinals could be respectable.
1. L.A. Rams *
2. Seattle Seahawks
3. S.F. 49ers
4. Arizona Cardinals
AFC East:
I think we are all just a little bit shocked that the New England Patriots didn't end up last season as the super bowl champions. It was set up for a good run; Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, and Devin McCourty just know what to do in crunch time. Nick Foles, is well, Nick Foles. And it didn't go according to script. What was interesting to me is that it almost felt like the Patriots window was closing shut. Cooks and Danny Amendola were let go, and replaced with Jordan Matthews and Cordarrelle Patterson. Nate Solder took the money and ran. Malcolm Butler pissed off the boss and got the boot (what happened, seriously?) I'm not sure they were replaced adequately, but we know that Bill can pull some magic, and the Patriots will be 13-3 again and planning for another Super Bowl. You know who won't be planning for a Super Bowl? The Miami Dolphins. They might be my pick to end up picking 1st in the 2019 NFL draft. And I love what they did in their draft this season. When we look back down the road, Minkah Fitzpatrick might be to this draft what Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu were to theirs. He fell a lot further than I thought he would, and the Dolphins will be the biggest beneficiary of that. I just really don't like this offense. I've never liked Ryan Tannehill; I think he's a strong arm, and good size, and that's about the gist of it. I don't remember Kenyan Drake running the ball at Alabama, but rumor has it that he did. Nothing else on this team gets me excited, and I'm guessing nothing will until they draft Nick Bosa in about 8 months. The Buffalo Bills will be their biggest challengers. I understand that the NFL salary cap makes it hard to maintain success in this league, but when success is one playoff appearance in the 21st century (8 months ago, no less), it's really hard to keep screwing things up. Yet, they somehow do. I know that Tyrod Taylor wasn't a franchise guy, but he still gave them a chance to win football games. Now a great defense is paired with a rookie QB that only completed 56% of his passes at Wyoming. Josh Allen (his arm) does look the part though, and I think if they remain patient, he will be much better than Tannehill, make of that what you will. I don't believe their offensive weapons scare many defenses, but Shady does keep on trucking. He did hit that magic number (30) though. The defense is great, and made greater by the signing of Star Lotulelei. I think he can light up offensive lines similiar to the way Suh did. Tremaine Edmunds could challenge for defensive ROY and their secondary is one of the league's best. But the schedule is tough (Josh Allen sees Baltimore, Joey Bosa and the Vikings in the first 3 weeks), and if they start 0-3, it might come crumbling down. Now, the New York Jets. I'm not sure any other franchise has gotten the media pub, that this team has seen over the last 7 months. I turn on ESPN, they're talking about the Jets. NFL Network? Sam Darnold. Boomer on CBS Sports... Darnold and the Jets. So let's talk about them. I don't believe that Darnold is Peyton Manning. A lot of comparisons make me think that the talking heads believe it could happen, but he's of a different element. I think he's more like Jim Kelly. Once the thing clicks, and he's surrounded by top talent, then can we see his true talents shine through. But no one is mistaken Isaiah Crowell for Thurman Thomas, Robby Anderson for Andre Reed or Terrelle Pryor for James Lofton. It's going to be a while. He is blessed with quite the defense on the other side, and Leonard Williams could be the best lineman in the league by week 17 (maybe after JJ if he plays). I love the secondary, and I'm mad that the Packers had no shot at Jamal Adams, who might be the best safety of this generation. He's like Earl Thomas and Harry the Hitman rolled into one. Look out!
1. New England Patriots *
2. New York Jets
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Miami Dolphins
AFC South:
The Houston Texans have a very exciting collection of talent that if they stay on the field, could be challenging for championships in years to come. DeShaun Watson is at the head of all this. I understand that fantasy football heads drool over this guy's numbers, but if you just step back and watch, you are also seeing a guy that just gets it. He extends plays, spreads the ball around, but plays safe enough where you don't see many turnovers. If the injury is past him, he could be up there with Wentz in the next generation. He'll get a big test early though; his first four road games are the Patriots, and every division rival. If they want to contend this year, he probably has to win at least 2. The defense is rock solid, and will be helped by the arrival of Tyrann Mathieu. I have no idea why the Cardinals didn't at least try to bring him back for a similar price; his arrival almost completes the Texans defense. If Aaron Colvin and Kareem Jackson can become the 2nd best CB pair in the division, they have a shot to do some damage come January. The best pair of CB's in the south come from the Jacksonville Jaguars. I think that anyone that watched Florida State a few years ago could tell you that Jalen Ramsey was destined for this type of greatness. What we didn't know was that AJ Bouye would be a top 10 CB as well, and it makes for a nasty challenge for some of the NFL's elite QB's. Yannick Ngakoue and Calais Campbell form one of the NFL's top pass rushes as well, and it's going to be difficult to put up points against this defense. Garoppolo and Roethlisberger were really the only two that moved the ball efficiently against this team last year. For a Super bowl shot, it will likely come down to the arm and decision making of one Blake Bortles. I don't believe in him, but it seems like the Jaguars do. That might be good enough, but with Andrew Luck back to full strength, he might be the 4th best in his division. Andrew Norwell should help. The offensive line could be one of the strengths. The sneakiest team in the NFL just might be the Indianapolis Colts. Luck was an all-pro before all the injury plagued seasons. Rumor is, he's ready to go. If he is, he will be protected by who I think was the most complete player in the 2018 draft, Quentin Nelson. He was almost perfect at Notre Dame, and like a Steve Hutchinson, should be ready to go for the next 10-12 seasons. I also like the hiring of Frank Reich. He did an admirable job in Philadelphia last year, and there are plenty of weapons on this offense to compete for a playoff place. What it probably comes down to is whether or not the young defense can keep up. The secondary is the youngest in the NFL; they will need to step up immediately to give this defense a chance. Jabaal Sheard might just be the most recognizable name on this defense. My point exactly. On the other side of the river, the Tennessee Titans probably boast one of the NFL's best defenses. Their secondary really stands out, and adding Malcolm Butler to the mix could put them on a par with the Jaguars secondary. Kevin Byard is just shy of all-pro, and Adoree Jackson could be getting close to that level by the end of the year. Taylor Lewan might be the best blindside LT in the league, and he might have to do it again for the Titans to challenge. I love the character and personality of QB Marcus Mariota, but for whatever reason, it all hasn't come together. They struggle in the red zone, and field goals won't get them to the playoffs in this division. Firing Mike Mularkey was a strange move though, no matter how good they think Mike Vrabel might be.
1. Houston Texans *
2. Jacksonville Jaguars *
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Tennessee Titans
AFC North:
Could this finally be the year the Cleveland Browns come out of the cellar and actually win a couple of games? They brought in a successful GM in John Dorsey, they also added Paul DePodesta to help out with the analytics of the NFL. Todd Haley is now calling plays for the Browns and he'll have Jarvis Landry and Josh Gordon to design plays for. Tyrod Taylor won more games last season than the Browns have in the last 3. And Carlos Hyde and Nick Chubb added with Duke Johnson should give the Browns a new dimension of running that they haven't had for some time. The defense looks solid; while the rest of the league laughed at the Browns for picking Denzel Ward ahead of Bradley Chubb, I feel like they have a shutdown corner on the same level of a Xavier Rhodes or Jalen Ramsey. If Myles Garrett and Emmanuel Ogbah can put a rush together, the end of the barrel bottom should be near. Replacing them? The Cincinnati Bengals. I really want to like this team as I feel they've drafted pretty well recently, and locked up all the players that matter. Geno Atkins, AJ Green and Clint Boling should all retire as Bengals. But they just don't have the guys that want to win in this league so bad that it hurts. I'll start with Vontaze Burfict. He just wants to hit, regardless of the consequences and it puts the Bengals at a disadvantage every time he gets suspended. Andy Dalton doesn't appear to want to raise his level to the group of elite QB's. Once he got his new deal, he's looked average at best. Dre Kirkpatrick and Darqueze Dennard were drafted to be one of the top duo's in the NFL; both of them can be beaten, and now Dennard probably plays best in the nickel. It would be nice to see their character rise to the occasion and get Marvin Lewis a playoff victory, but I just don't see things happening for them once again. The Pittsburgh Steelers are so stubborn it hurts. Le'Veon isn't interested in coming back until he gets a long-term deal; the Steelers have moved onto the next RB. Their window in the NFL might be the smallest in the league though, Ben keeps talking about retirement, and they can't keep striking gold on drafting top notch WR in the league... or can they? James Washington might be the best WR in this draft class when it's all said and done. Antonio Brown and Ju-Ju Smith-Schuster might be the top pair in the league. They still play host to one of the best 3-4 defenses in the league. Stephon Tuitt might be the best 3-4 end in football, and Cameron Heyward is probably top 5. Morgan Burnett was a good signing; he should solidify their holes in the secondary. The Steelers look the part of a Super Bowl team, but knowing how small the window is, can they give their all-pro RB what he wants? Teams that wish they were in the Steelers shoes include the Baltimore Ravens. They probably thought that after Joe Flacco won the Super Bowl in 2012 that his career path would mirror that of Mr. Roethlisberger himself. Not so much, and they spent one of their two 1st round draft choices on QB Lamar Jackson. Which was kind of fun. But strange with some really good running backs and corner backs still on the board for a team that could've used one. I like Alex Collins though, and he could have a breakout campaign. He runs really hard; he's what I thought Darren McFadden was going to become. Terrell Suggs won't go away, and the safety duo is one of the best in the league with Eric Weddle and Tony Jefferson. It's a nice team, but not one that I can see pulling in the Lombardi trophy.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers * (Le'Veon in week 3)
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. Cleveland Browns
4. Cincinnati Bengals
AFC West:
Maybe the tightest division in football? I don't see a Super Bowl champion among any of the four, but I also don't think any of them will be drafting top 5 next season, barring a disaster of injuries. The Denver Broncos had my favorite signing of the off-season... not Case Keenum, but Marquette King. His boot at these altitudes should make him one of the best punters in football. Short fields for this offense could really make a difference, as the talent is there to do something special. After Adrian Peterson, Royce Freeman was my favorite running back coming out of high school in the YouTube area. He doesn't have the same exhilarating runs that AP has, but he is a tough back to bring down, and usually falls forward. The receivers are solid, and Keenum is a serviceable QB. The secondary might still be one of the league's best even with the loss of Talib, and the drafting of Bradley Chubb excited the fan base. They will have to be at their very best most weeks, because it looks like the Los Angeles Chargers have finally put together a team that can win this division again. It's amazing to think about, but Rivers has only been to the playoffs once in the last eight seasons. Sometimes he has a ton of talent around him, but can't stay upright, and then they bring in good protectors and he turns the ball over a ton. For the first time in awhile, the line looks to be great (Mike Pouncey was huge), and Rivers has some serious weapons in Melvin Gordon, Keenan Allen and Tyrell Williams. The defense is very underrated and could make the same improvements that the Vikings did in 2017. Casey Hayward is one of the best CB's in the league. Derwin James should step in immediately and dominate the same way Weddle did for them in years past. Denzel Perryman, Corey Liuget, and Brandon Mebane make the middle very difficult to run through, and Joey Bosa might be the NFL's best defensive player in 2018. It's setting up nicely, but there are tough games in this division, that will probably keep any team from standing out. Jon Gruden hopes to disagree, and make the Oakland Raiders the hottest team in the league in time for their move to Las Vegas. He put his stamp on the team, when he asked that the team trade Khalil Mack so they could continue evolving toward the type of team that Gruden wants. There's no denying that he is one of the most knowledgeable guys around, but sometimes that doesn't translate to wins. He changed the look of the receiving core completely, and it's hard to say if they got better. Martavis Bryant is suspended once again, and it sounds like the Raiders might cut him just a couple of months after they traded for him. Jordy Nelson hasn't looked the same since his ACL injury, but if he can find some of his explosiveness, he could give Derek Carr a layer of skill that he probably hasn't had in Oakland. Marshawn Lynch came back for another go, and looked great at the end of last season. The offense should be fun to watch, but with the trade of Mack, it might not even matter. The Kansas City Chiefs do have super bowl potential, especially on offense. The attacking talents of Kareem Hunt, Spencer Ware, Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Travis Kelce and Chris Conley is exciting and should provide Pat Mahomes with plenty of options to go for big plays. The Offensive line is one of the best in the league. It's going to be the defense that determines whether or not the Chiefs can go to the super bowl this season. Getting Kendall Fuller in the Alex Smith deal was huge, especially with the loss of Peters. He and Steven Nelson will have to be great against this division of talented WR's. Justin Houston and Dee Ford can be great, but really haven't put all the talent together yet. Reggie Ragland is one of my favorite inside LB's in the league, he should be able to relieve them from any anxiety over losing Derrick Johnson. This team is close, but unless Mahomes makes Jared Goff type progression, they probably still need another year or two.
1. Kansas City Chiefs *
2. L.A. Chargers *
3. Denver Broncos
4. Oakland Raiders
Playoff Picture:
NFC:
3 L.A. Rams vs 6 Atlanta Falcons
Winner: Rams
4 Philadelphia Eagles vs 5 Green Bay Packers
Winner: Packers
1 New Orleans Saints vs 5 Green Bay Packers
Winner: Saints
2 Minnesota Vikings vs 3 L.A. Rams
Winner: Vikings
1 New Orleans Saints vs 2 Minnesota Vikings
Winner: Vikings (All the demons erased with this win)
AFC:
3 K.C. Chiefs vs 6 Jacksonville Jaguars
Winner: Jaguars
4 Houston Texans vs 5 L.A. Chargers
Winner: Chargers
1 New England Patriots vs 6 Jacksonville Jaguars
Winner: Patriots
2 Pittsburgh Steelers vs 5 L.A. Chargers
Winner: Steelers
1 New England Patriots vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Winner: Steelers
Super Bowl:
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Minnesota Vikings
This would be a great matchup if none of the most important pieces are missing from this game. I think Zimmer knows how to beat Pittsburgh, but Ben has been here before. In a case where Kirk Cousins hasn't, I just can't see the Vikings getting past what would be a very innovative game plan (zone blitzes and a ton of different looks). Ben goes out with a bang, and Mike Tomlin gets his name in the greatest coaches book.
Winner: Steelers
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