Tag: Football

2024 NFL Week 1 Reaction

Baltimore Ravens (0-1) @ Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)

The exact type of opening game you wanted to see. The game set an NFL kickoff game record with 28.9 million viewers.

Lamar Jackson falls to 1-5 vs Mahomes despite being 60-19 against the rest of the league. He and the Ravens need to solve their Chiefs problem. In terms of optimism for the Ravens, Lamar plus Derrick Henry should be a problem for other teams, especially as the year goes on. I love the 2 TE set the Ravens are using. Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely are both so talented that this formation will be lethal for their running and passing games.

The Chiefs look scary. Last year in their opening game, and for much of the season, they looked lethargic offensively and still won the Super Bowl. This year, their explosiveness is back. Rashee Rice continues to get better and develop into their WR1, Isaiah Worthy looks like he could be the next Tyreek Hill with his track star speed, Travis Kelce is gonna be Travis Kelce, Isiah Pacheco continues to get better, and Marquise Brown is going to come back from injury. I’m sure all the sports media will say that the Chiefs three-peating is a given for the next week and a half. One word of caution is that Brady’s Patriots teams that won the Super Bowl were often the ones who were “boring” like last years Chiefs. Those boring teams fared better than his ones with explosive offenses, so nothing is guaranteed.

Stats of the game: Mahomes became the Chiefs all-time leading passer this game at just 28 years old. Jackson moved to third all-time on the QB rushing list and could break Michael Vick’s record this year.

The league is sending a message with the illegal formation calls. It’s annoying right now but teams will learn and it will make the game better.

Green Bay Packers (0-1) vs Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) (In Brazil)

The playing surface was very slippery. That plus first game rust led to a sloppy game.

Saquon was on full display. It was a reminder that when he is on, he is one of the best RBs in the league. Him plus a great offensive line, two star WRs, and Jalen Hurts gives the Eagles an offense that can go toe to toe with any other in the league. Jahan Dotson and Dallas Goedert are good compliments too.

Jayden Reed looked electric for the Packers. They have so many good young players that it might be hard to keep them all happy and develop them like they want to. Their biggest current concern is Jordan Love. He sprained his MCL and should be back in a couple weeks. The Pack need to keep it together during his absence.

New England Patriots (1-0) @ Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)

An absolute shocker of a game. The Pats defense absolutely stifled the Bengals and they had no momentum or fire as a team whatsoever. For the Pats, I don’t think wins like this are sustainable because the defense completely carried and the offense was not very good. Still nice to get a W though.

For the Bengals, this is concerning. It’s one thing to lose and its another thing to lose and have the team not look like it gives a fuck. They had a loud offseason and have let the Ja’Marr Chase drama spill into the season. They are 1-5 in Week 1 the past six years, so this is familiar territory. They normally start slow and build momentum, but they need to sign Chase and have some passion as a team.

The one bright spot for the Bengals was that their rookie punter, Ryan Rehkow, had the best game by a punter I have ever seen. He had 4 punts and his AVERAGE punt went 64.5 yards (an NFL single-game record), including an 80 yard punt. The first and, probably, last time we hype up a punter on this blog.

New York Jets (0-1) @ San Francisco 49er (1-0)

The 49ers look motivated to get back to the Super Bowl. They went out and dominated the Jets without their best player Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey missing the game is probably good long term, as now the Niners know Jordan Mason (147 yds rushing), can help take some of the burden off McCaffrey. The one area they needed to be better was finishing drives, as Jake Moody made 6 field goals last night.

Rodgers and the Jets looked rusty last night. They clearly have the talent, but they need to mesh. Realistically, this was the first full regular season game they have played with Rodgers, so some kinks need to be worked out.

Game/Betting Picks Results

Game: 2-2 (2-2 This Season) (40-18 All-Time)

Spread: 2-2 (2-2) (41-16-1)

O/U: 3-1 (3-1) (32-25-1)

College Football Week 2 Recap

The first real wild week of college football comes to an end.

3 Texas @ 10 Michigan

A win that shows Texas is a legitimate championship contender. This is going to be one of their marquee wins this year regardless of how Michigan finishes. Quinn Ewers continues to show he is possibly the best QB in the country and that he shines brightest in big games. Beck and Sanders are great, but I think Ewers is the top QB for next year’s NFL draft. Not only is he supremely talented but has dealt with the pressure of being Texas’s QB while having people clamoring for Arch Manning behind him. That kind of pressure has built him into a resilient QB, which is massive for the next level.

For Michigan, it’s a comeback to reality. Everyone knew they weren’t going to really compete for the title and this made it obvious. Their season isn’t over but they lack the spark offensively to keep up with the big boys. However, Michigan is a program that recruits and develops well, so they should be back to elite in a year or 2.

Northern Illinois @ 5 Notre Dame

Normally ND loses a tough game to another elite school for their first loss of the year. This year is not the case as they suffered a terrible upset at home. Their season is not over, but being an Independent with an awful home loss will make it tough from here on out. They really need to win out and could maybe afford one “impressive” loss the rest of the year. I think they have the coach and talent to do so.

14 Tennessee vs 24 NC State (in Charlotte)

This looked like it would be one of the best games of the weekend and was an absolute blowout. Nico Iamaleava had some up and downs, but he is an absolute stud.

Colorado @ Nebraska

Colorado continues to show they have talent but are still mostly hype. Dylan Raiola and Matt Rhule could bring Nebraska back to their glory days.

Boise State @ 7 Oregon

The Ducks barley pulled out another game against a non-Power Four team. Boise State is good, but Oregon is going for a National Championship. They need to look better than they do.

Other

10 of the top 11 teams are from the SEC or Big 10. Things will change but these two conferences will dominate the CFB Playoff for years to come.

College Football Blue Blood Programs

We often hear of the Blue Blood programs when it comes to college basketball, but not so much with college football even though there clearly is a hierarchy in the sport. Below are the CFB Blue Bloods according to us (not in any particular order):

  • Alabama (SEC)
  • Georgia (SEC)
  • LSU (SEC)
  • Florida (SEC)
  • Oklahoma (SEC)
  • Texas (SEC)
  • Clemson (ACC)
  • FSU (ACC)
  • Miami (ACC)
  • Notre Dame (Independent)
  • Ohio State (Big 10)
  • Michigan (Big 10)
  • Penn State (Big 10)
  • USC (Big 10)
  • Nebraska (Big 10)

Patriots Season Preview

The Patriots are currently at the beginning of a full on rebuild so expectations are low. Hopefully last year was rock bottom and we see improvement this year. The biggest thing we need to see is improvement offensively. I don’t know how much Drake Maye will play, but we obviously want him to look good if he does. I think Maye will start playing around the mid season mark so the Pats can see what they have in him. The young wide receivers and offensive lineman we have ideally get experience and develop a lot this year too. The offense will likely start slow but gain momentum as the season goes on.

The defense has been a strength so we want them to keep playing well. Expect a great season from Christian Gonzalez who played well before a season ending injury last year. It will also be interesting to see if anyone can replace Matthew Judon as a premier pass rusher. The Pats defense should be at worst average and will be the strength of the team.

Finally, we want to see that Jerrod Mayo can coach. He is replacing the greatest coach of all time so it doesn’t get harder than that. As a part of the dynasty as a player, he knows what it takes to win here so I have belief that he can have a similar positive impact that DeMeco Ryans had on the Texans last year.

I think the Patriots go 6-11 and finish last in their division. In addition to rebuilding, they have the hardest schedule in the NFL, so they get no break whatsoever. This should net them a top 10 draft pick and allow them to get another great young player to help build their team up. This year might be tough at times, but unlike last year we should have some things that give us hope for a great future.

The Unique Careers of Curly Lambeau and George Halas

Curly Lambeau and George Halas had unheard of careers in the NFL that will never be replicated. Both of these men were players, coaches, and owners (sometimes all 3 at the same time) for their respective teams. Looking at the modern NFL and seeing how that would be absolutely impossible to do today makes these feats even more incredible.

Lambeau founded the Packers in 1919 in his hometown of Green Bay, WI. He played on the team from 1919-1929 and was named to the 1920s All-Decade NFL Team. The Packers joined the NFL in 1921 and he was a player-coach from 1921-1929, before retiring as a player.

He continued coaching the Packers until 1949, winning 209 games and 6 NFL titles. He is tied for being the longest tenured coach in NFL history with Tom Landry and is tied with George Halas and Bill Belichick for the most NFL championships by a coach.

Lambeau won 226 games total as a coach, was part of the first NFL Hall of Fame class in 1963, and was named to the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. The Packer’s stadium was named Lambeau Field in 1965 and bears the same name to this day.

George Halas co-founded the NFL and took ownership of the Chicago Bears in 1921. The Chicago native played for the Bears from 1920-1928 and was a member of 1920s All-Decade Team.

From 1920-1967, he coached the Bears 4 separate times for a total of 40 years. He was a 2-time AP Coach of the year, won 6 NFL titles as a coach (tied for an NFL record), and 318 games (3rd all-time). He won two additional NFL titles while owning the Bears.

Similar to Lambeau, he was part of the first NFL Hall of Fame class in 1963, and was named to the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. He is nicknamed “Papa Bear,” due to his everlasting connection with the team and the NFC championship trophy is named after him.

2024 Week 1 Prediction

Baltimore Ravens @ Kansas City Chiefs

The season kicks off with an awesome opening matchup. The Ravens look to get revenge on the team who eliminated them from last year’s playoffs. I don’t think that happens as the Chiefs will win, cover (-3), and the under (46.5) hits.

Green Bay Packers vs Philadelphia Eagles (In Brazil)

A Friday night game to kick off the season in Brazil is unprecedented but I’m here for it. Both teams have huge expectations for the season. I think the Packers win, cover (+2.5), and the over (48.5) hits.

New England Patriots @ Cincinnati Bengals

This season will not be fun for Patriots fans. The Bengals, meanwhile, are all in for a Super Bowl victory. That will be apparent as the Bengals win, cover (-7.5), and the under (41) hits. Note: Updated 9/7 to Bengals -7.5

New York Jets @ San Francisco 49ers

Both teams think they can win the Super Bowl this year. The Jets are delusional, while the Niners actually have a shot. The Niners will win, cover (-3.5), and the over (44) will hit.

College Football Week 1 Reaction

College football is now fully back and had an awesome slate of games. My hope is that the 12 team playoff encourages teams to play tough non conference games like we saw this weekend.

Georgia struggled offensively for a lot of their game vs Clemson. They’re so good that they were still able to blow out Clemson. Clemson’s lack of adapting to the transfer portal and NIL may end up being the downfall of them being an elite program.

Quinn Ewers might be the most under appreciated QB in the country. He is a 5-Star recruit, led Texas to the playoff last year, and is projected to be a 1st round pick yet people talk more about his back up than him. Texas blew out Colorado St. 52-0 and the biggest story is that Arch Manning played in the game.

Nico Iamaleava looks like he is going to be a stud. He throws the ball so well and could be a top draft pick in a couple years.

Miami blew out Florida and looked great doing so. Florida could be in for a long season with such a tough schedule.

Colorado might not have a great record but Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter will be must watch TV all year. They should both be top 5 draft picks in 2025 and I think Shedeur is the best QB and Hunter is the best player in the draft.

LSU and USC’s new QBs look good. Kyren Lacy looks like the next great LSU WR. USC’s Zachariah Branch is electric to watch and looks like Tyreek Hill out there. USC WR Kyron Ware-Hudson also looks great and made the potential catch of the year. All told this was the exact type of game you want to see Week 1 between two powerhouse programs. LSU has not won a Week 1 game since their 2019 season, but I respect the fact that they consistently play tough games Week 1 – unlike most other teams in the SEC.

FSU once again struggled against an inferior opponent. DJ U does not look like he can lead them to success and it could be a long season for FSU. Despite the 12 team Playoff their season is probably over. They’d need to win out to have a chance to even make it.

2024 NFC Predictions (Plus Super Bowl Pick)

NFC East

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (3 Seed)
  2. Dallas Cowboys (7 Seed)
  3. Washington Commanders
  4. New York Giants

The Eagles are the clear cut favorite to win the division. They have a more talented roster and the Cowboys have had way too much drama this offseason and it still isn’t over yet. The Commanders are getting some hype that I’m not buying at all. The Giants are in rebuild mode and may get the #1 pick.

NFC North

  1. Detroit Lions (2 Seed)
  2. Green Bay Packers (6 Seed)
  3. Chicago Bears
  4. Minnesota Vikings

This division got competitive fast. I wouldn’t be surprised if any of these teams made the playoffs. The Lions have the most talented and experienced team so they get the edge for me. The Packers have such a talented young roster and will get a Wild Card. The Bears are still a year away from making it to the playoffs and contending for the division. The Vikings won’t have the QB play to go with such a great roster and coach.

NFC South

  1. Atlanta Falcons (4 Seed)
  2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  3. New Orleans Saints
  4. Carolina Panthers

This is the worst division in football. Kirk Cousins is a great regular season QB and has talented young roster just like in Minnesota. That should be enough to win it the division. Tampa could contend, but they are getting old. The Saints are old like the Bucs, but with less talent. The Panthers have no shot.

NFC West

  1. San Francisco 49ers (1 Seed)
  2. Los Angeles Rams (5 Seed)
  3. Seattle Seahawks
  4. Arizona Cardinals

The 49ers have the best roster in the league and now have the Aiyuk situation figured out. They need to win this year before they have to start paying Purdy so there’s urgency. The Rams have the ideal mix of a great offensive head coach, a great veteran QB who has won a Super Bowl, and a talented group of young players. They will just miss out on the division. The Seahawks will be very average. The Cardinals have hope and talent, but it is too soon for them.

NFC Playoffs

Wild Card Round

  • 1 SF: Bye
  • 2 DET vs 7 DAL: 2 DET Wins
  • 3 PHL vs 6 GB: 6 GB Wins
  • 4 ATL vs 5 LAR: 5 LAR Wins

Divisional Round

  • 1 SF vs 6 GB: 1 SF Wins
  • 2 DET vs 5 LAR: 5 LAR wins

NFC Championship Game

  • 1 SF vs 5 LAR: LAR Wins NFC

Final NFC Thoughts: 

The NFC is by far the more inferior conference. That being said, there are some young teams with a ton of talent and potential that could emerge this year. I think the Rams come out on top and make it to the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl LIX

LAR vs CIN: CIN wins the Super Bowl

For the 2nd year in a row, there will be a recent rematch in the Super Bowl – but with two different teams. I think Cincinnati gets revenge from Super Bowl LVI and bring Cincinnati their first Super Bowl in franchise history. 

Note: All predictions as of 8/29/2024

2024 AFC Predictions

AFC East

  1. Buffalo Bills (4 Seed)
  2. New York Jets (6 Seed)
  3. Miami Dolphins
  4. New England Patriots

The AFC East is up for grabs right now. The Bills have the best QB in the division, but Josh Allen will have to contend with some unproven playmakers around him. The Jets have all the talent in the world, but need to prove they can stay healthy and keep it together for an entire year. The Dolphins have a great coach and a track team on offense, they just feel limited by their quarterback. The Pats are currently at ground zero of a rebuild, so expectations are low – to put it nicely. Ultimately, I think the top 3 teams are so even that I’m going to give the Bills the tiebreaker due to having the best player in the division at the most important position.

AFC North

  1. Baltimore Ravens (2 Seed)
  2. Cincinnati Bengals (5 Seed)
  3. Cleveland Browns
  4. Pittsburgh Steelers

This is the deepest division in the whole league. This will be a close race, but the Ravens will just edge out the Bengals for the division title. They have a more talented team than the Bengals and they have a better coach. The Bengals have also been a little more loud than I would like a team to be in the offseason and I don’t think they’ll be focused to start the year. The Browns boast a great roster and coach, but Deshaun Watson has been absolutely terrible and often injured while in Cleveland. The Steelers have a great defense and coach, but no answer at QB. Russ or Fields limits them in such a stacked division and conference.

AFC South

  1. Houston Texans (3 Seed)
  2. Indianapolis Colts
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars
  4. Tennessee Titans

Similar to the AFC East, three teams could potentially win this division and it’ll be close at the top. The Texans have such a great blend of veterans and young player that I think it propels them to the top. The Colts have a potentially lethal combo of Anthony Richardson and Shane Steichen that should start paying dividends this year. The Jags had a terrible collapse last year that their psyche might be off this year. The Titans are by far the worst team in the division.

AFC West

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (1 Seed)
  2. Los Angeles Chargers (7 Seed)
  3. Denver Broncos
  4. Las Vegas Raiders

The Chiefs should easily runaway with the division. The Chargers with Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert will be a force to reckon with and will make the playoffs. The Broncos have potential but don’t have the talent to compete with the Chiefs or Chargers. The Raiders have good offensive skill players but QB will be an issue.

AFC Playoffs

Wild Card Round

  • 1 KC: Bye
  • 2 BAL vs 7 LAC: 7 LAC Wins
  • 3 HOU vs 6 NYJ: 3 HOU Wins
  • 4 BUF vs 5 CIN: 5 CIN Wins

Divisional Round

  • 1 KC vs 7 LAC: 1 KC Wins
  • 3 Hou vs 5 CIN: 5 CIN wins

AFC Championship Game

  • 1 KC vs 5 CIN: 5 CIN Wins AFC

Final AFC Thoughts: 

The AFC is the most stacked we have ever seen an NFL conference in recent memory. There are so many teams who could get an a hot streak and win the conference. I think Cincinnati ends up being the team this year. They are the one team that has proven they can consistently knock off the Chiefs and I see it happening again this year.

Note: All predictions as of 8/29/2024

Football is back

Having real football back is the best. This time of year is awesome because we get to have football but the weather is still great. It only last around a month, so enjoy it.

Florida State vs Georgia Tech was as good an opening game as you can have. Two Power 5 schools, including a Top 10 team, playing each other and ending in a last second field goal to produce the first upset of the year is storybook. The whole game was basically a marketing campaign to visit Ireland and now I wanna go there.

This game also highlights why the 12 team expansion is good. FSU would likely have to kiss their season goodbye, but now they are still alive in the playoff race. They probably won’t get there because they do not look very good, but they still have hope.

Another positive consequence of the 12 team playoff is that elite teams will be more likely to play tough non-conference/early season games. Week 1 starts off hot with UNC @ Minnesota on Thursday night; TCU @ Stanford Friday night; 14 Clemson @ 1 Georgia; 8 Penn State @ West Virginia; 19 Miami @ Florida; 7 Notre Dame @ 20 Texas A&M; 23 USC vs 13 LSU Sunday night, and BC @ 10 FSU Monday night.

We are back.