Starting Back Up

It’s been a long time since I have blogged.  It’s time that has changed.

The NBA Season is in full swing and the NFL Season is coming to a close.  Last I wrote NBA hadn’t even begun and NFL was only four weeks in.  To open this blog back up, I’m going to lay out what I believe the final NFL seedings will look like come week 16.  Enjoy.

NFC:
1.  New York Giants
If you didn’t see this coming, you clearly never watch football.  The Giants recently demolished the best run defense in the league and have only one loss at this point in the season (to my Browns, I might gloat).  They are the best team in the NFC and in my opinion the best in the entire league.  Number one seed for sure.
2.  Carolina Panthers
This team is quietly the number two seed in the NFC, and have a very modest schedule from here on out, their biggest game being a Monday night game at home against division rival Tampa Bay.
3.  Arizona Cardinals
I’m ranking them third not because I think they will have the third best record, but because there is no doubt they will win their division and will almost certainly have a better record than the winner of the NFC North.  This isn’t to take away from their power packed offense or MVP Kurt Warner; this is a good team nobody wants to play at home.
4.  Green Bay Packers
The way the playoff seeding works is the four division leaders are the top four seeds.  The Packers will have the worst record of NFC playoff teams.  In fact, there may be an NFC East team with a better record that does not make the playoffs.  However, the Packers are in.  Bad news to the Bears and Vikings.
5.  Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys had a big win over Washington on Sunday and that momentum will carry them through the rest of the season.  This team is far too talented to not make the playoffs, and they could be this years Giants.
6.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Their schedule is kind and they’re playing well anyways.  A crucial MNF game against the Panthers will help decide if they get the six seed or two seed.

AFC
1.  Tennessee Titans
This is obvious.  They are three games ahead of their closest contendor.  Don’t let this placement allow you to think they are my Super Bowl Pick.  They’re not.  I do not believe they will go undefeated and I do not believe they will get to the super bowl.  They are good however and will have home field advantage.
2.  Pittsburgh Steelers
I like Baltimore and I think they there is a chance they could make the playoffs.  They will not get ahead of the Steelers though.  The AFC North crown (sadly) belongs to them yet again.
3.  New York Jets
Originally I was going to give this spot to the Patriots, but after comparing the two teams schedule, there is no reason for the Jets to not maintain their pace to win the division.  Most games are at home against <.500 teams.
4.  Denver Broncos
Simply put, the AFC West is a bad division.  Denver is on top and will remain that way.  They will not get past the first round of the playoffs though.
5.  Indianapolis Colts
The ship is right.  Peyton is Peyton.  Once Marvin Harrison starts playing like himself this team is going to be just as good as they always have been.  They are only fifth because they won’t get ahead of Tennessee.
6.  New England Patriots
Matt Cassell is for real; he proved that Thursay night.  They have a tough schedule (Pittsburgh, Arizona, and others) remaining.  They will win just enough to get into the playoffs and God-willing will play the Jets in the first round.  I cannot think of a more exciting game.

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: New England Patriots vs. Tennessee Titans
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys

SUPER BOWL: Rematch.  New England Patriots vs. New York Giants

These are my predictions.  Nothing too earshattering here.  As far as the AFC North is concerned, I hope I’m wrong.  Here’s to an exciting end to the season!

Earth To AFC?

For years now the AFC has held the powerhouses of the NFL.  The New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts have been considered the best teams in the NFL for years.  The Patriots’ dynasty is one that will go down in history.  Now where are they?  Indianpolis is 1-2 and the Patriots just got slammed by the lowly Dolphins.  ESPN recently took a poll of what people thought were the top five AFC teams.  Neither of those two teams made it.  Who was at the top?  The Broncos, Titans, and Bills.

I will repeat that.  Our nation believes that the best teams in the AFC are the Broncos, the Titans, and the Bills.  These three teams were rated above New England, above Indianapolis, above Pittsburgh, above San Diego.  What happened?

Well the answer to that question depends on which team you’re referring to.  The Patriots?  You could point to Tom Brady’s absence and call it a day, or you could go further.  The Patriots defense that looked so good last year got old in a matter of months.  In this past game, high and mighty Bill Belichick got straight up out coached.  This year’s Pats are not the ones we are accustomed to. The ones that walk into a stadium and win, no matter how badly they play.  Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves here, though.  The Patriots are still a good team.  Randy Moss is still Randy Moss.  Bill is still one of the best coaches in the league and Foxborough is going to be a lot more angry after their first loss in two years was served to them there.  Last I checked, 2-1 was still a winning record.  The Patriots are in one of the worst divisions in the league.  They have a bye week upcoming and will be taking an extra hard look at what happened Sunday.  The Patriots are still playoff contendosr.   Are they super bowl contendors?  No way.

So what about the Colts?  Well the fact that Peyton Manning didn’t play during the preseason is obviously hurting them, as they are not gelling as well on offense as they have in previous years.  Also, the loss of Bob Sanders was a big time hit on the defensive side of the ball.  The equation is simple for the Colts:  Less turnovers on offense and better defense.  The Colts are still a good team and are still very capable of making a playoff run.  Will they?  The way the season is headed right now, if the teams that are good continue to be good and the Colts don’t improve, then no.  I do not see them winning their division.  The Titans are 3-0, 2-0 against division.  That’s a steep hill to climb.  Its possible, but will be tough.  The wildcard spot is pretty up for grabs though, so I expect Indi to drag itself into the playoffs one way or another.

Another team I’d like to talk about is the San Diego Chargers.  These guys are good.  Their record is 1-2, but let’s be honest, it should be 2-1.  On Monday night they spanked the Jets.  They disrupted Bret Favre (without Shawn Merriman) and Philip Rivers looked like a probowler, as he has all year.  With Rivers playing like the best QB in the league and LT’s presence, these guys are the best team in the AFC in my opinion, especially when you look at the injuries other elite teams are facing (Willie Parker?  Vince Young? In addition Brady and Sanders).  Next week the Chargers beat Oakland and level back off at 2-2.  The Denver Broncos currently hold the division crown and may hold it for some weeks, but I expect San Diego to reclaim its place up top.

The AFC is a lot more open than many would have thought going into this year and it could be the year we see some new faces representing it in the super bowl.

What To Watch

This upcoming weekend of sports should be fantastic.  Here are a few games you won’t want to miss.

Ohio State University vs. Univiersity of Southern California

This game is the biggest football game of the college schedule.  Number 1 Ranked USC takes on Number 5 Ranked Ohio State.  The biggest question at this point is the status of Beanie Wells, one of the most potent running backs in the game.  He was hurt in week one during OSU’s whomping of Youngstown.  His presence could very well make this game for Ohio State.  USC is favored to win, but I have faith in my Buckeyes.  Regardless, a game of this magnitude is NOT something you will want to miss.

Networking:  Saturday at 8PM EST on ABC

New England Patriots vs. New York Jets

Division Opponents.  New Quarterbacks.  Coaches who hate eachothers guts.  What’s not to look forward to in this game?  The relationship between Bill Bellicek and Eric Mangini have been a bit strained since Mangini left the Patriots for the Jets and turned his old boss in for cheating at the beginning of last season.  If you think Bill has forgotten about that, think again.  I’m sure the Jets and their fans haven’t forgotten the thumping the Patriots have been routinely giving them either.  Before the prolific season ending injury to Tom Brady,  I would have told you the Pats would definitely win.  Now I’m only going to say they will probably win.  Bret Favre has the obvious edge over Matt Cassel and the fact that they are playing in New York could push the Jets to an unexpected victory, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.  The Jets won last week and Bret Favre was Bret Favre, but nonetheless they didn’t prove much topping the lowly Miami Dolphins.  Despite losing Brady, the Pats still have a good team.  Their defense is fantastic, their running game solid, and Randy Ross can turn a bad pass into a TD any day.  This game should prove a good test for the Jets abilities this season.

Networking:  Sunday at 4:15 PM EST on CBS

Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

This is, in my opinion, the greatest rivalry in the NFL.  It has history, it has hatred, and it has consistancy.  It doesn’t matter how one sided the rivalry is (and its been one sided almost throughout its duration) these teams and these cities hate eachother.  I grew up in Cleveland and live in Western PA now; believe me, we hate eachother.  The rivalry is even more potent now that the Browns are legitimate condendors for the AFC North crown.  Though both teams had high expectations coming into this year, they are coming off of very different week ones.  The Steelers looked almost perfect, destroying the Texans in Pittsburgh last week.  The Browns looked very vulnerable, giving up nearly 500 yards to the Dallas Cowboys in Cleveland.  Look for Willie Parker to have a pretty big day, but if the Browns find a way to contain him then it could turn into an upset.  The Browns have lost nine straight to the Steelers and only one once in the last sixteen games against them.  Browns fans and players are ravenous for revenge.  The overally series record is dead even:  Both teams have won 55 regular season games against eachother.  Emotions will run high and the dawg pound will be going nuts, so I am dubbing this the NFL Sunday game of the week.

Networking:  Sunday at 8 PM EST on NBC

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys

This game is the Monday Night game for a reason.  These are two of the best (if not THE best) teams in the NFC.  I’d bet my bottom dollar that one of these two teams will represent the NFC in the playoffs.  On top of that, they are division opponentst.  On top of that (as if all that wasn’t enough) there’s the business about Terrell Owens.  The City of Brotherly Love doesn’t quite live up to its name when it comes to TO and would love to see him lose at home.  It would also make quite the statement.  This is going to be a slugfest between two of the best teams in the league – should be VERY fun.

Networking:  Monday at 8:30 PM EST on ESPN