NFL Conference Championship Predictions

Conference Championship Predictions

Here we are, just four teams remaining to compete for a Super Bowl championship. Last week’s games really made up for a dismal opening round, especially the double overtime thriller in Denver, and the double comeback/choke job that happened in Atlanta. After nearly five months of competing, each remaining team is two wins away from being crowned champions. The two games are very different but both are intriguing. On the NFC side, the 49ers have been propelled to another level by the emergence of Colin Kaepernick at quarterback, something that I refused to believe until I saw it happen. An NFL record for QB rushing yards in any game ever pretty much sealed the deal. The Falcons are such a wild card, because they came into last week known as chokers, and tried their very best to keep that reputation intact until Matts Ryan and Bryant wiped that away. As for the AFC, this game between Baltimore and New England will be a rematch of last year’s conference title game in which the Patriots barely escaped with a victory. These two teams are very familiar with each other, and I think it will be a bloodbath. I have to give myself a little praise and criticism here: although I botched the NFC side of my predictions, my preseason AFC Championship Game was, in fact, Baltimore at New England, so I nailed that one exactly. When the playoffs began, however, I did not think that Baltimore would find themselves in this position right now; that was a heck of a performance they put on against Peyton Manning in the Mile High last Saturday, and no matter what happens this week, they should get a ton of credit for pulling off that win. Now I will unveil who I think will become AFC and NFC Champions, and who will battle for Super Bowl XLVII.

SF vs ATL (+4.5) - How about an incredible home team getting four and a half points in a conference championship game against a quarterback with eight career starts? One thing is certain: this 49ers team is really good. Their defense is electric, and this offense has played at a different level since Kaep took over. The Falcons are the exact opposite; they looked phenomenal in the first half against the Seahawks, but in the second half blew a 20-point lead late in the game before finally sealing the deal. If they played like the first half team, then they have a very good chance of winning. However, here’s the important question: if the Seahawks dominated for two quarters last week with a team set up the same way as San Francisco’s, what’s stopping the 49ers from using that same game plan for four full quarters? I don’t really have a good answer. Matt Ryan would have to have the game of his life, but that’s a reach against the vaunted D of San Fran. I just don’t know how I can trust the Falcons after that collapse last week. I still don’t like Kaepernick, but he’s been proving me wrong all season long. If the Falcons can find a way to pull this out, then good for them. But I have to go with the 49ers to win by about a touchdown. San Francisco 27, Atlanta 20.

BAL vs NE (-7.5) - I am so ready for this game. I love Baltimore; I hate the Patriots more than any other sports franchise on the planet, even more than the Red Sox. These teams have played multiple times the past few years, including two playoff matchups: after the 2009 season, when the Ravens went up to New England and smacked them in the mouth, and last year in the famous AFC Championship Game when the Ravens dropped the winning TD and shanked the tying field goal. These two teams also played already this season, with Baltimore winning 31-30. The Ravens have had recent success against the Pats and know that they can win this game; they want blood and revenge for that AFC Championship Game loss from last year and feel like they have gotten a second chance to take care of unfinished business; they want to win for Ray Lewis who is going to retire after the season, and don’t want his final game to be a loss; they have a bolstered receiving core and a kicker who, even though he is a rookie, has shown that he can make clutch kicks; finally, they have Bernard Karmell Pollard. For those of you who are unfamiliar, here is the curse of Bernard Karmell Pollard, the Patriot Assassin: 2008 Game 1, as a member of the Chiefs, tears Tom Brady’s ACL in the first quarter of the opening game, ending the Patriots’ chance for an F U season; 2009 Week 17, as a member of the Texans, tears Wes Welker’s ACL in a game where Belichick decided to play his starters; 2012 AFC Championship Game, as a member of the Ravens, hurts Gronkowski’s ankle and virtually takes him out of play for the Super Bowl, which New England lost. This man is a Patriot Killer. And I love him. I can’t wait for him to strike again. Bernard Karmell Pollard will win this game, or take someone down with him. All of these reasons favor the Ravens. They are a team of destiny this season. The main flaw to watch out for is that their defense has to be exhausted after the last couple of weeks, and they will be facing a brutally up-tempo Patriot offense. But I have faith. This was my preseason pick for the AFC Championship Game. And the Baltimore Ravens were my preseason pick to win this game and win the Super Bowl. So my prediction will be the same as it was back in early September. These are the birds you want to bet on this week. Baltimore 27, New England 26.

I’m predicting an All-Harbaugh Championship. But really, only one thing matters: Anybody but the Patriots. See you at the Super Bowl.

2013 Golden Globes Recap

2013 Golden Globes Recap

I’m not really an awards show kind-of guy, but I watched the Golden Globes last night because there was no football, so here are some only slightly educated thoughts and feelings from the ceremony last night. Congratulations to all winners.

• Best Dressed: Jessica Alba edges out J-Lo in a tight race
• Surprisingly Deep Acceptance Speech: Kevin Costner
• Award for Winning All Awards: Homeland (this might be called the Modern Family Award in the future from that Emmys run a couple of years ago)
• Great Decision: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as hosts. Really funny.
• Not-So-Great Decision: Showing like seven cut-away shots of Jack Black. Like there aren’t more relevant people you can show, NBC?
• Movie With Multiple Winners That I Still Have to See: Les Mis. Supposed to be great. Didn’t know Hugh Jackman could sing, but now I have to up my game again so I can compete for my girlfriend’s heart. Voice lessons, here I come.
• The Catapult Award:  The Catapult Award is given to something that will receive a huge ratings boost/profit/recognition, etc. from a win. So this award goes to HBO’s Girls for Lena Dunham’s win last night. I have never seen Girls, but it’s been getting a lot of attention in awards season, so now I’m probably going to check it out, and I think a lot of America will follow suit. Calling it now: big season three.
• Strangest Acceptance Speech: Not Jodie Foster’s, because I was very creeped out by one Quentin Tarantino. I know this guy is like a movie genius in some ways, but he is a bulge-eyed crazy dude who was hyper and yelling for his whole speech. Like I could imagine him losing his mind and shaking his head ferociously with his tongue out sending sweat everywhere and becoming an axe murderer. Stranger things have happened. Just saying.
• Most Heart-warming Speech: Probably Daniel Day-Lewis. He was genuinely appreciative of his award, and he spoke very eloquently and passionately. He deserved to win, too; he just nailed the role of a lifetime.
• Best Presenters: I mean, it has to be Will Ferrell and Kristin Wiig, right? I can’t believe how prepared they were, watching all those movies like that to get ready for the show.
• Immediate Internet Sensation Award: Tommy Lee Jones has gotten all the buzz for being incredibly stoic while Ferrell and Wiig were doing their thing. He’s pretty much a cross between the Grumpy Cat and Not-Impressed McKayla. My proposed name for it is “Stone Cold Tommy Lee”. Think that rolls off the tongue.
• Big Winner of the 2013 Golden Globes: Ben Affleck. His career has officially made a full comeback. Last night he won Best Director over the likes of Spielberg and Tarantino for directing, producing, and starring in Argo, the movie about the rescue of American hostages. As if that wasn’t enough, Argo won the award for Best Picture, beating out Lincoln, Django Unchained, etc. Affleck doubled up on two of the giant awards, absolutely making him the biggest winner last night.
• Big Winner of 2012: Jennifer Lawrence. Star of a major movie franchise (Katniss Nation!), winning awards for Silver Linings Playbook, finishing high on lists of World’s Sexiest Women...and only 22.
• Important Questions Needed To Be Asked: Can Fey and Poehler become hosts every year, kind of like Dick Clark’s New Years kind of thing? Why was Taylor Swift even in attendance at a TV and mostly movie award show? Why did Daniel Day-Lewis pass up the obvious chance to being his acceptance speech, “Fourscore and seven years ago...” (Make it happen at the Oscars DDL!)? Why couldn’t the Golden Globes people make video presentations for all of the nominees instead of having the presenters awkwardly read them off the prompter? Who knew there were so many ways to incorrectly pronounce Les Miserables? Why is the Golden Globes trophy so underwhelming and small? How many celebrities do you think show up drunk to these award shows (I’ll put the over/under at 30%)? Do people really have nothing better to do in Yemen than fishing for salmon? Why did Anne Hathaway look like she was going to have a breakdown every second she was on stage? Is Joseph Gordon-Levitt the most overrated actor in the world right now? Ok that last one wasn’t really relevant to last night, but it is valid. Not a huge fan of him.

So that was my review of the 2013 Golden Globes. If you have feedback feel free to comment, I’d like to learn some more stuff about award shows so I know how to judge speeches and outfits and such. Once again, congratulations to all the winners. Godspeed.

Divisional Round NFL Predictions

Divisional Round Predictions

I don’t usually brag, but you are now reading a post from a guy who has now been included in TWO Bill Simmons’ mailbags in the last four weeks. Steadily becoming a modern day Sports Guy. I hope. I kind of wish I was mentioned three times so I had an excuse to use “thrice” in a column. Anyway, the games last week. My eyes are still burning from the atrocity. What a horrible week of football. Three of the games sucked, and the good one will go down in history as the RGIII ACL game. I went 4-0 picking winners and technically 3-1 on the spread, except the one loss should come with an asterisk because of the whole failed Joe Webb experiment. Still a pretty solid week for me though. One quick thing about the RGIII thing: I’m not one of those people who is ripping Shanahan for leaving him in the game. If he pulled Griffin at halftime or something, made his decision early and stuck with it, then that would be fine. But once you leave him out there, and he says he can go, then you go with the best option. Remember, the Redskins were still up 14-13 until midway through the 4th. Could you imagine the backlash if Cousins came in and threw a pick-6? Very tough situation. The captain went down with the ship that carried the team to the playoffs. Hopefully Griffin is ok for next season, but we’ll see. Also one more quick point before I pick this round: did you guys here the whole KG-Melo “your wife tastes like Honey Nut Cheerios” thing? I’m a New Yorker, and even I admit: this is hilarious. This is almost certainly not what KG actually said, but I don’t want to know the truth. This is way funnier than anything it could realistically be. Never before has cereal been so provocative. I can’t wait for Melo to drop 50 on the Celtics one game and have reporters and talking heads on Sportscenter question if Honey Nut Cheerios fueled him. If I’m Carmelo Anthony, I eat Honey Nut Cheerios for breakfast every morning until that January 24th game in Boston, and then drop the hammer on the Celtics like a LeBron Game 6 kind of thing last year. I love this whole situation. Not sure where it ranks on a trash talking list, but it’s great. Ok, so now, finally, on to the games. Since I have all the winners right from last week, my scores will be the same as they were in my pre-playoffs predictions.

BAL vs DEN (-10) - The Broncos are obviously superior to the Ravens, with Peyton Manning looking for his second Super Bowl, as is Ray Lewis for Baltimore. Quick fact: there has been a lot of talk about the greatness of the Ray Lewis-Ed Reed era for the Baltimore defense, and while it has been phenomenal, they have never won a Super Bowl together. Reed wasn’t there for that 2000 beatdown of the Giants. Which begs the question, what the hell was this offense doing for a decade? Anyway, while Denver crushed the Ravens in their regular season game, it was really close until Flacco threw that horrendous pick 6 right before halftime. He’s good in the playoffs, especially on the road. Ten points is too much for me. The Ravens are an experienced playoff team that has played Peyton really well even though 18 usually wins. So give me the Ravens and the points, even though I think Denver wins. Game over for Ray Lewis, one of my favorite players ever in any sport. Baltimore 14, Denver 23.

GB vs SF (-3) - This is going to be a great game. The 49ers have a lot of talent and potential explosiveness with Kaepernick running the show. They went up to Lambeau in Week 1 with Alex Smith and took it to the Pack. But I don’t care. There is nothing “potential” about the explosiveness of the Packers; they are terrifying, and healthy. The defense has been playing better. More importantly, this is the biggest F U game of Aaron Rodgers’ career. Going back home, in the playoffs, taking on the team that passed him over for the 1st pick in the draft...it’s perfect. And I don’t trust Kaepernick still, especially not in his first playoff game. Tight game, but Rodgers wins it for Green Bay. Specific prediction: Randall Cobb has 9 rec, 114 yds, 1 TD. He’ll be a nightmare over the middle of the field. Pack win straight up. Green Bay 24, San Francisco 20.

SEA vs ATL (-2.5) - How funny is it that even though the Falcons are 13-3 and the number one seed for the second time in three years, people (including me) are just writing them off because of their previous playoff ineptitude? I don’t like this team, and I will not pick them until I see them win. Plus, they are a horrible matchup with the Seahawks. Seattle will rush for over 200 yards in this game, and they have two physical corners to match up with the two stud receivers for Atlanta. It’s such an obvious pick, I’m scared for it. But whatever. Russell Wilson is great. Seattle 24, Atlanta 16.

HOU vs NE (-9) - This can’t be another blowout, can it? The Texans have to get an early lead, because if they have to play from behind then they are screwed. Schaub can not bring this team anywhere. I think that Foster has a solid game, and the Texans defense will force two turnovers that keep this team in it, but the Patriots in the end are just better. I’m actually thinking about changing my pick right now to take the Pats, but I won’t. Gotta stick with the pick of Texans with the points. Even though I don’t see any way that they win this game. By the way, Houston vs Cincinnati should be an illegal game from now on in the playoffs. Horrible. Houston 24, New England 27.

Those are my picks for this week. I just realized I took the points in all four games, which is nerve-wracking, but that should make for some exciting football. This is the best weekend in the NFL, so sit back, relax, and get ready. In a couple of days we’ll be down to four. Game on.

Wild Card Weekend Predictions

Wild Card Weekend Predictions

We’re finally here! It’s the 2013 NFL playoffs, where twelve teams are fighting for one common goal: a Super Bowl championship. I already released my picks for the whole playoffs, so if you read that than you already know who I’m picking in these games. However, I’m going to elaborate on those selections here in this column. In these wild card games, we have one rematch of last year, one divisional matchup, one emotional battle, and one showdown between spectacular rookie quarterbacks. An exciting weekend of football is definitely in store, so let’s get to the action. Here are my picks for the teams who will advance in the playoffs, and move one step closer to immortality.

CIN vs HOU (-4.5) - This game was a blowout with TJ Yates at QB for the Texans last year. The Bengals are absolutely better than last year, and are my early pick for 2013 AFC North Champions. Meanwhile, the Texans have lost three out of four to blow an 11-1 start and fall out of a first round bye. I believe in momentum, which points to Cincy here, but I don’t think that momentum is enough to overcome the talent differential between these two teams. The Bengals are moving in the ride direction, and I think this will be a pretty close game, but I’d still give the points and take the Texans at home. They did still win 11 out of 12. Cincinnati 17, Houston 24

MIN vs GB (-7.5) - I know that the Packers on paper are better than the Vikings. But to lay more than a touchdown against a team that just beat them last week? Adrian Peterson, who I believe should win the MVP and Comeback Player of the Year awards (coming from a Peyton Manning fan--he’s my favorite player), has rushed for an average of over 200 yards in two games against the Packers. TWO HUNDRED YARDS. As an AVERAGE. Seriously, they cannot stop this guy. I think that AD will go over 150 against the Packers and control the clock, keeping Aaron Rodgers off the field. However, with all that said, it’s still a matchup between Christian Ponder and Aaron Rodgers. Outdoors. In Green Bay. In the playoffs. So I think that the Pack take care of business--BARELY. Christian Ponder turns it over at the end of the game before the Vikings can get into game-winning field goal range. Vikes with the points. Minnesota 20, Green Bay 21

IND vs BAL (-7) - How about the emotions in this game? The Colts, of course, just endured the sickness and return of their head coach Chuck Pagano, which led to a powerful win last week against Houston. The Ravens will be fired up by the return of Ray Lewis, who announced that this season will be his last, capping off a glorious career. The Colts have gone from atrocious to respectable in one season with Andrew Luck at quarterback, while the Ravens have maintained their consistency; Joe Flacco is the first QB in NFL history to make the playoffs in his first five seasons, and so far he has won at least one game in every single one of them. I was all set to pick the Colts to win because of emotion and momentum and a similar destiny type feeling like Tebow’s run with the Broncos last season. Then I thought logically, and there really isn’t a debate; the Ravens are better than the Colts, and they don’t lose in the first round. And while seven points is a lot, I’m still taking the over. Indianapolis 20, Baltimore 31

SEA vs WAS (+3) - How about a rookie quarterback being favored on the road? I love this Seahawks team; they are incredibly balanced, and Russell Wilson has played well beyond his years. Meanwhile, the Redskins have won seven in a row, and have announced to the rest of the NFC East that they are here to stay. RGIII may already be the most exciting player in the league, but he is not 100%, which means that Washington may have to rely on rookie running back Alfred Morris to try and get past a brutal Seattle defense. The Seahawks, meanwhile, only won three road games all season long, and have to undergo the tough task of flying West to East. This game will be close, but I think the edge goes to the completeness of the Seattle Seahawks. These two teams will be around for the next decade, but the Seahawks are better right now, and they will squeeze out a big road win. Seattle 27, Washington 23

2013 NFL Playoff Predictions

2013 NFL Playoff Predictions

It was another fantastic season in 2012, full of fresh beginnings and powerful comebacks. We were witnesses to the immediate success of three rookie quarterbacks: Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin the Third, and Russell Wilson. We watched two superstars return from devastating injuries and put together phenomenal, MVP-caliber seasons (for the record: AD over Peyton for MVP). We were forced to endure not one but TWO league debacles, with the replacement referees and the mishandling off the Saints bounty scandal. Finally, we saw a team come together and rally around their coach stricken with leukemia to defy the odds and make the playoffs. All of these events will be discussed in my season review, but this piece is about the future, not the past. In this column, I am going to make my playoff predictions, which will hopefully be better than those from the regular season. I’m going to give my winners with scores for the entire playoffs, to see how much I can guess correctly before it starts. However, I will also give my usual weekly predictions with the point spreads and explanations as well. So, without further ado, here are my predictions for every game in the NFL playoffs in the newly born 2013. Happy New Year, everybody, and happy playoffs.

Wild Card Round

 CIN   17                    IND    20                                   SEA     27                   MIN   20 

HOU 24                   BAL    31                                   WAS    23                   GB      21

Divisional Round

 BAL   14                 HOU   24                                      GB    24                  SEA     24

DEN  23                  NE     27                                       SF     20                  ATL     16

Conference Championship

                                                  NE    27                                                                              SEA   20                                                            

                                                   DEN  31                                                                             GB      24

Super Bowl

GB        20

                                                                                      DEN     27

Yes, I think that the Denver Broncos, led by Peyton Manning, will continue their winning streak all the way to the Super Bowl Championship. I see chalk in the AFC; the top teams are too good for any major upsets right now. Plus, the conference has to be decided by Brady and Manning, doesn’t it? Meanwhile, the NFC is very different. I don’t like either of the top two teams; the Falcons have proved that they cannot win playoff games, and I still don’t trust the 49ers with Colin Kaepernick at the helm. I really want to pick the Seahawks to make the Super Bowl, but I think that their magical run will come to an end in Lambeau, where the Packers will want revenge for that Golden Tate game. We are on pace for some great games in the 2013 postseason, but I think it is destined to end one way: with Peyton Manning winning his second Super Bowl by defeating Aaron Rodgers in a thrilling chess match of a game. I’m ready for an exciting playoffs. Good luck to all your favorite teams out there. Game on.