Tebowmania!

Yesterday, Tim Tebow was (twice) traded to the New York Jets. After he was dealt the first time, ESPN reported that there was a complication in the trade. So, they nullified it. It was later announced that the Jaguars were discussing Tebow with the Jets. It seemed as though the Jaguars were really looking to get him, considering Florida is where he went to college. Plus, the fans there love him. But, there was a catch to these discussions. Both teams allowed Tebow to pick where he wanted to play football.

So, he chose to take his talents to New York. Is that a good thing for the Jets? I think so, considering he’s not costing you that much money. In addition, you didn’t give away much to get him (2 low-end draft picks). If Sanchez begins to struggle (we know he will), then you can bring in the *proven* winner, Timmy Tebow.

I feel bad for those people who just bought a Tebow jersey last year…

Peyton Manning has a new team

It was announced yesterday that free agent QB Peyton Manning had chosen his new team: the Denver Broncos. At first, I was in shock that he picked them. I thought he was planning on picking either the Dolphins, the Titans (who had a great selling pitch), or the Cardinals. Honestly, I don’t think Denver is the best fit for Peyton. If he wants to win now, that team will have to add some more pieces to the puzzle.

[Related: Manning picks Denver Broncos]

I believe the Cardinals would’ve been a better choice because:

1) They play in a dome (Manning has been playing in one his whole 14 year career)

2) They have a developed running game with a decent defense

I believe the Dolphins would’ve been a better choice because:

1) Peyton has a condo and family in Miami already

2) He would excite the fans because he would be the first great QB since Mr. Marino himself

I believe the Titans would’ve been a better choice because:

1) He has a connection with the State of Tennessee: he went to college there and the UT fans would love to go watch him play

2) They offered him a job in the front office after he retires from the game

3) Free pancakes for the length of his career

What does Denver really have to offer to Peyton? Sure, Elway is the GM, but great players always turn out to be crappy executives..See Michael Jordan, Steve Kerr. They play in really inconsistent weather, plus it’s a mile up so the air is thinner. Thus, it’s harder to breath when playing there. Why would anybody want that?

Denver doesn’t have the greatest team around Manning? Sure, they’ve got a good defense led by Von Miller, but their offense without Tim Tebow was extremely anemic. With Tebow, however, they were much more dynamic and able to gain chunks of yards using the wildcat offense.

Where does this lead Timmy Tebow? The Broncos have already stated that they will trade Tebow as soon as Manning is officially signed.

Where do you think he will land?

Rams Trade No. 2 Pick to Redskins

Yesterday, it was reported that the Rams had traded their No.2 overall pick to the Redskins. The news came out around 8 o’Clock last night. In exchange for the No 2 pick in the 2012 Draft, the Redskins are sending their 1st rRounders for 2012, 2013, and 2014. In addition, the Rams get the 2nd Round pick currently held by the Redskins (39th) in this year’s draft.

[Related: Redskins get No.2 pick]

This trade will draw different opinions from around the league. Personally, I think the Rams cashed-in on their chance with this No.2 pick.

Rams

• They’ve already got a future QB in Sam Bradford
• There was no point in selecting RGIII or Andrew Luck
• If you pick one of those two^^ and trade them, you’ll get much less value
• So, they cashed in by getting a 1st Rounder every year for the next 3

Redskins

• Desperately need a QB right now, it’s their main weak spot
• Haven’t had many good QBs recently, maybe with RGIII they have a chance?
• RGIII will bring the fans to the stadium, we all know that
• They can build around RGIII, just like you build around a PG in basketball
• However, they had to give up a lot in order to get this pick; in fact, I think they gave up more than they needed to

So, what’s your take on this deal?

Follow @TheSportzGuru
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Bill O’Brien Headed to Penn State

News broke out today that Patriots Offensive Coordinator Bill O’Brien has signed with Penn State. It seems that news is true. PSU is looking to officially introduce their new head coach at a press conference on Saturday (espn.com). Was this a good decision by PSU to hire O’Brien?? In my opinion, they should’ve looked for a head coach, not an offensive or defensive coordinator. That would’ve helped them out already, and would’ve narrowed the search down a bit more. I don’t know how good of a coordinator O’Brien is, but I do know the Pats have a great offense.

To be honest, not much of a sports day today…maybe tomorrow will be better?

One last question: Was this a good or bad decision by PSU?

#SportsBlogMovement

Related articles

• You: Bill O’Brien Penn State Rumors: Will Bill Belichick Coaching Tree Grow Further? (bleacherreport.com)
• You: Why Bill O’Brien Is Better off Staying in New England Than Heading to Penn State (bleacherreport.com)
• http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7430206/bill-obrien-agrees-penn-state-nittany-lions-coach-sources-say

Tomlin: Clark won’t play vs. Broncos

Yesterday, it was reported on espn.com that S Ryan Clark will not play next Sunday against the Broncos. Tomlin is sitting Clark because he’s got a disease called sickle-cell trait. This disease causes some blood cells to be abnormally shaped, just like this. Because there are some sickle-shaped cells in the bloodstream, the person is much more likely to develop blood clots, especially in high altitudes. As we all know, Denver is the Mile-High City. Last time he played in Denver (2007), Clark “became violently ill and lost his spleen and gallbladder in addition to losing 30 pounds because of deprivation of oxygen to his major organs” (ESPN.com). While Clark is a big part of their defense and the Steel Curtain surely will miss him, no game is worth risking your life for. If the medical team had not removed Clark’s organs, he most likely would’ve suffered a stroke or a heart attack because his veins would’ve clotted.

In my opinion, it’s the right call to sit him for this one. No game, not even the Super Bowl, is worth risking a life for. I’m sure Clark is devastated he can’t suit up for the game. However, he told ESPN he will travel with the team and cheer on the Pittsburgh Steelers as they take on the Broncos in Denver.

Speaking of the game, why not preview it little?

First off, Tim Tebow has not looked good the past 3 weeks. The difference in his game is he hasn’t pulled off the miracles we’re used to seeing in the 4th Quarter. Their running game is one of the best in the league, but I don’t think it will be enough against the Steel Curtain. Granted, they don’t have Ryan Clark, but they just have too many stars for the Broncos to get anything going on the ground. Plus, I don’t think Big Ben will let the Broncos win the game; I just think he will match their points if need be.

My pick: Pittsburgh Steelers OVER Denver Broncos

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The Eagles announced yesterday that Andy Reid isn’t going anywhere. Here is a quote from Chairman Jeffrey Lurie:

“Andy Reid not only has the love of his players and their respect, but he also has the fire in his belly to be the best,” Lurie said. “You’ve got to have the anger. You’ve got to have the motivation, the dedication, and the focus and the talent. My answer to those questions is yes. That’s why I want to see our team coached by Andy Reid next year, and I can’t wait to see that team play. There’s no doubt in my mind, if our focus is on trying to win a championship next year, the best coach for that is Andy.”

To be honest, I think this was the wrong decision by the Eagles. It could work out for them, but I would’ve let Andy go after 14 seasons as the coach and no rings to show for it. I’m not forgetting the run this team had last year with Mike Vick as their full-time starter, however. Many fantasy football managers remember the amazing season Mike Vick had under center. All NFL fans remember how good the Eagles were last year; you were scared to play them! Now, there are a lot of uncertainties with this team.

Will Andy win a ring with this team? History says no, and so do I.

Can he take them to the playoffs?

Playoffs? What playoffs? 

Related articles

• Ryan Clark won’t play in Denver (fanaticsportsandcards.com)
• Super opportunity for 2005 Broncos wound up being wasted (denverpost.com)
• Steelers Vs. Broncos, NFL Playoffs 2012: RB Rashard Mendenhall Replaced By CB Anthony Madison On Roster (denver.sbnation.com)

NFL Playoffs Set, Off-season Changes Begin

The NFL regular season is over. Teams that made the playoffs are busting their asses in preparation. The rest of the league has started their off-season. In fact, a couple teams have gotten head starts by firing their head coaches. The Buccaneers fired Raheem Morris yesterday, while the Rams fired Steve Spagnuolo. Both coaches were fired because of disappointing seasons: the Bucs finished 4-12, while the Rams finished an awful 2-14. Those W/L records kind of surprise me a bit, because both teams vastly improved last year when Tampa went 10-6 and St. Louis went 7-9. However, I suppose both franchises decided that the Head Coach should take the blame for the teams’ disappointing season.

As previously mentioned, the NFL playoff matchups are set. The Bengals will travel to Houston to take on the Texans, while the Steelers travel to Denver to take on the Broncos. That one confused me, as Denver has a much worse record than Pittsburgh, yet has a home game against them…

Those matchups are both AFC Wild Card games. Now, for the NFC Wild Card games: the Lions travel to New Orleans to face the Saints, while the Falcons travel to New York to take on the Giants.

Honestly, I think the Bengals will win their matchup because their quarterback (Andy Dalton) is better than Jake Delhomme.However, if TJ Yates comes back, we don’t know how he’ll produce because he’s a little inconsistent. Regardless, I feel the Bengals have a better chance of winning because of their rookie quarterback and receiver.

I think the Steelers will win their matchup because their defense is one of the best in the league. They will find a way to stop Tim Tebow. Also, Big Ben will make sure Pittsburgh scores enough to win the game. Will Denver even score at all in this game?

I think the Saints will beat the Lions because their offense is just too good. Led by Drew Brees, they have a passing attack unlike any other in the NFL. However, I do think the Lions will make it interesting and a fun game to watch.

I think the Giants will beat the Falcons because Atlanta has a history of being bad on the road. Plus, the Falcons aren’t used to playing in 30 degree conditions, like the Giants are. I do think this game will be close, but I feel like the Giants will pull out a victory here.

To find the complete playoff picture so far, visit this link.

Week 17 starts with a bang

Normally, Week 17 is the craziest week of NFL football. Why is that? Many teams are fighting for those 2 Wild Card spots. However, sometimes divisions that aren’t clinched can be decided on this very day. Such is the case with the NFC East, where the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys are vying for the division title today. Neither the Giants nor the Cowboys have good enough records to earn a Wild Card spot, so the game at 8:20 tonight is it. Both teams are 2-3 in their last 5 games. What surprises me about the Giants is they started off so well (6-2) but they perennially struggle in the 2nd half of the season.

The Jets needed to beat the Dolphins today in order to have a shot at the playoffs. Unfortunately for the Jets and their fans, they lost to the Dolphins 19-17. Honestly, Rex Ryan and his team did not deserve to make the playoffs this year. They were extremely inconsistent (much like the Giants), allowed hundreds of points off turnovers, and did not execute well on offense. To top it off, Ryan was babbling about how his team is so good and how they’re gonna make the playoffs.

Well Rex, what happened to that?

I’m sorry if I embarrass any Jets fans out there, but: 

In other news, the Indianapolis Colts have clinched the Number 1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Will they select Andrew Luck? Only time will tell, but for their own sake, I hope they do.

Week 13 Power Rankings

The week 13 NFL Power Rankings are in and  I am pretty excited to have two knowledgeable football analysts with me to help with the rankings. We have taken the average of the threeanalysts votes. Each analyst has ranked the teams as they choose 1-32 and we have added comments for each team. Joining me today is Sam Brief, of Sam’s Sports Brief, a 14 year old who created Sam’s Sports Brief to give you a refreshing new perspective on the wild world of sports. Sam hopes to someday become a sports broadcaster or a sports writer and is following his dreams, providing readers with a wealth of information and keen perspective.

Our second analyst today is JB Knox, of 1313sports. He, too provides in-depth game breakdowns and predictions of every game and has coverage of all of the four major sports on his site!!! I highly recommend checking their sites out and brushing up on your sports knowledge through the eyes of these sports fanatics.

So without further ado, here are the NFL Week 13 Power Rankings. Comments and debates are highly recommended and encouraged on these websites!!! Hope You Enjoy!!!

TEAM	RECORD	COMMENTS
1. Packers	11-0	What can I say? The Packers are 11-0, and may be the most well-rounded team we’ve seen in a while. They lead the league in 6 different offensive categories (Have I mentioned that they average 35 points per game?). Of course, they are led by Aaron Rodgers, who leads the league in almost every stat category, and is on pace to have the best season a quarterback has ever had. If Calvin Johnson is Megatron, Rodgers is Optimus Prime. http://sambrief.com https://twitter.com/#!/SamsSportsBrief
2. Saints	8-3	It’s all about the weapons. Jimmy Graham (6-6, 260) leads the team with 67 receptions and 957 yds, Darren Sproles continues to be a spark-plug and a so-called one-dimensional offense is out-rushing their opponents this year. The Saints are hitting their stride just in time for the stretch run. @theknoxscore 1313 Sports
3.Patriots	8-3	The Pats are coming off a win @ KC last week. They looked dominant on both sides of the ball and were able to beat this sinking Chiefs team. With Jamaal Charles, Matt Cassel, and Eric Berry all out, I’m not surprised the Pats beat ‘em like this. Still, the Pats are a dominant team and can beat anyone provided they’re on top of their game. Next week, the Pats take on the the Colts at home.http://stevessportscorner.wordpress.com/ https://twitter.com/#!/TheSportzGuru
4. 49ers	9-2	The 49ers showed their true colors (red and gold, right?) during a 16-6 loss at the hands of the Ravens. Their usually magnificent offensive line sputtered, and Alex Smith was sacked an uncharacteristic 9 times. Could the 49ers finally be falling off the mountain? When they play the Steelers in 3 weeks, we will know if they are the real deal or no deal. http://sambrief.com https://twitter.com/#!/SamsSportsBrief
5. Steelers	8-3	The Steelers are in the top 6 in every major defensive category in the NFL. Big Ben has found an emerging start in Antonio Brown and they are nearly doubling their opponents 41-24 in passing plays of 20 yards or more. Can you say Speedy wide-receivers? @theknoxscore 1313 Sports
6.Ravens	8-3	The Ravens won the Harbaugh Bowl last week 16-6. Although the 49ers are still ranked ahead of them, they’re a force to be reckoned with in the AFC. The defense, old as it is, can stop any offense in the league. Baltimore has an easy game against the Browns next week. http://stevessportscorner.wordpress.com/ https://twitter.com/#!/TheSportzGuru
7. Texans	8-3	Houston we have a problem: Our starting quarterback (Matt Schaub) is out for the season, and now so is our backup (Matt Leinart). Now our starter is 5th-round draft pick T.J. Yates. Although this is true, a Texans’ team that leads the NFL in total defense and is 3rd in rushing offense should be just fine. http://sambrief.com https://twitter.com/#!/SamsSportsBrief
8.Falcons	7-4	Winners of 5 of their last 6 games, a favorable schedule down the stretch and injuries/suspensions to their two major obstacles for the NFC Wild Card has the Falcons looking good for a late run. They take their 2nd ranked rushing defense against A. Foster and the QB-less Texans this week for a smash-mouth battle. @theknoxscore 1313 Sports
9. Bengals	7-4	The Bengals pulled out a close win last week over Cleveland. The Dalton to Green connection is getting stronger every week. This team really turned it around this season with a rookie QB at the helm. Next week’s matchup is against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.http://stevessportscorner.wordpress.com/ https://twitter.com/#!/TheSportzGuru
10.Cowboys	7-4	The ‘Boys barely escaped the upstart Dolphins on Turkey Day, winning 20-19 on a last-second field goal. They are now on a surprising 4-gae winning streak, and lead the NFC East. If the Cowboys can keep this up, then maybe they can escape the label as the Kim Kardashian’s of the NFL. http://sambrief.com https://twitter.com/#!/SamsSportsBrief
11.Bears	7-4	Yes, I know Cutler may be done for the year, butthey have 4 very winnable games left on the schedule vs KC, Denver, Seattle & Minnesota. They still have the special teams of Hester and the Urlacher-led defense holding them strong. Don’t count them out just yet. @theknoxscore 1313 Sports
12.Lions	7-4	The Lions got their asses handed to them v. the Packers last week. Plus, Suh got suspended 2 games for his malicious hit on a Green Bay player. They are still in the Wild Card race, but they’ll have to keep it going in order to secure that spot. Next week, they face the Saints in NO.http://stevessportscorner.wordpress.com/ https://twitter.com/#!/TheSportzGuru
13. Giants	6-5	The Giants are doing what they do. They trick us with a stellar start (6-2), and then they stop winning and end up on losing streaks and get cut out of the playoff picture. Eli Manning is doing his job, but his supporting cast and defense may need some clues on how to step up their game. Here’s a start: Giving up 49 points against the Saints on Monday Night Football is unacceptable. http://sambrief.com https://twitter.com/#!/SamsSportsBrief
14.Raiders	7-4	Palmer has won 3 straight games and the defense is in the top 5 in sacks with 32. The trio of Wimbley, Seymour and Kelly has seemingly flown under the radar this year. Janikowski gives them the ability to score once they reach the 35 and if they could only cut down on their league leading 109 offensive penalties, they’d be a worrisome bunch come playoff time, assuming they can hold off Tebow. @theknoxscore 1313 Sports
15.Jets	6-5	The Jets got lucky last week. Bills kicker Ryan Lindell muffed a kick which gave them great field position at midfield. Plus, Stevie Johnson wasn’t able to haul in the game-winner TWICE last week. Although, the second one was behind him. Regardless, this is an up-and-down team that needs to become consistent in order to secure a playoff spot. Next week they face the ‘Skins in Washington.http://stevessportscorner.wordpress.com/ https://twitter.com/#!/TheSportzGuru
16.Broncos	6-5	It’s official: Tebowmania has begun. Tim Tebow is now 5-1 as a starter, and now has the Broncos at 6-5 and just 1 game back of the Raiders for the division lead. There is no doubt that Timmy Tebow has given a breath of new life to the entire Broncos’ Organization, but has also revolutionized the way we look at the quarterback. Keep Tebowing, keep Tebowing. http://sambrief.com https://twitter.com/#!/SamsSportsBrief
17. Titans	6-5	So, Chris Johnson has 2 100 yard rushing games in his last three and they face a weak Bills run defense this week on the road. They are within striking defense of division leading Houston and their depleted QB core. This week is a must win game for them to keep pace. @theknoxscore 1313 Sports
18. Bills	5-6	The Bills didn’t play their best last Sunday. They aren’t looking sharp at all right now. Hopefully, they can turn things around and beat out the Jets for the Wild Card spot. Next week, the face the Titans at home.http://stevessportscorner.wordpress.com/ https://twitter.com/#!/TheSportzGuru
19.Buccaneers	4-7	The Bucs are now in the runt of the NFC. They are currently on a 5-game slide, and while their schedule was tough (Bears, Saints, Texans, Packers, Titans), there are no excuses for a 5-game losing streak. Just stop losing it reeks! http://sambrief.com https://twitter.com/#!/SamsSportsBrief
20.Chiefs	4-7	Easily the streakiest team in the NFL gets to start Kyle Orton vs his old team in Chicago this week. Can Orton get the Chiefs to score more than 10 points? Their is a FG-kicker in Oakland nearly averaging the same number of points as your whole team!!! The stout defense of the Bears should have a field day.@theknoxscore 1313 Sports
21.Cardinals	4-7	Last week, the Cards edged out a win against the Rams. Patrick Peterson returned another punt for a TD, his 4th of the year. Beanie Wells had 228 yards rushing. They won’t make the playoffs this year, but I see them upsetting some teams and causing a stir in the NFC. http://stevessportscorner.wordpress.com/ https://twitter.com/#!/TheSportzGuru
22. Eagles	4-7	The Eagles got crushed by Patriots at home this week. Michael Vick was out again with a rib injury, but shouldn’t the ‘Dream Team’ be able to pull out a win against the NFL’s best? The Eagles are also a horrific 1-5 at home, which is the 2nd worst in the league only to the winless Colts. At 4-7, there are truly no playoff chances for the ‘Dream Team’, so don’t be surprised to see Andy Reid lose his job at the end of the season. http://sambrief.com https://twitter.com/#!/SamsSportsBrief
23. Browns	4-7	Their next two games are vs the Ravens and the Steelers. Get the ice baths ready boys. This very vanilla offense has Peyton Hillis back, but has he really shown any ability to play like a man this season? No, and if you’re targeting Benjamin Watson more than Cribbs, you may as well cal Tom Watson now and get ready for some early golf lessons. @theknoxscore 1313 Sports
24.Chargers	4-7	The Chargers are playing awful right now. Rivers is turning the ball over, nothing is getting done on the ground, and the defense is stinking up the place! Maybe next year, Norv. http://stevessportscorner.wordpress.com/ https://twitter.com/#!/TheSportzGuru
25. Redskins	4-7	The almighty Rex Grossman went into Seattle, and won! He got a win! It looks like the ‘Shanahanagins’ are going to stick with Rex for the rest of the season unless Bad Rex shows up, at which point another switch to John Beck would seem likely. Here’s the Redskins quarterback equation for those who are confused: Good Rex= Win, Bad Rex= Lose, John Beck= Self-Destruction, Rex Grossman/John Beck 2-headed monster= Just. Plain. Bad. http://sambrief.com https://twitter.com/#!/SamsSportsBrief
26.Panthers	3-8	Can the Panthers climb out of the NFC South cellar this week? Their 28th ranked run defense isn’t a good matchup vs LaGarrette Blount and his thigh striding ways. Let’s hope the front-office has some defensive lineman in mind for next season.@theknoxscore 1313 Sports
27.Seahawks	4-7	The ‘Hawks were edged out by the ‘Skins last week. This snapped the Redskins’ 5 game losing streak. I don’t see the Seahawks doing anything this year. Next week, they take on the Eagles at home.http://stevessportscorner.wordpress.com/ https://twitter.com/#!/TheSportzGuru
28.Dolphins	3-8	The surging Dolphins nearly knocked off the Cowboys on Turkey Day. This loss marked the end of a 3-game winning streak that actually made Dolphins’ fans excited (first ever last-place team to make the playoffs, anybody?) Now the streak is over, so…the Dolphins…eh… http://sambrief.com https://twitter.com/#!/SamsSportsBrief
29. Jaguars	3-8	Blaine Gabbert gets benched, Del Rio gets fired and MJD keeps running!!! The 3 most exciting things I’ve said aloud about the Jags all season. @theknoxscore 1313 Sports
30.Rams	2-9	The Rams were good last year…but that was last year. Next week, they face the 49ers on the road.http://stevessportscorner.wordpress.com/ https://twitter.com/#!/TheSportzGuru
31.Vikings	2-9	The 2-9 Vikes lost for the 3rd time in a row on Sunday, this time to the Falcons. This was a game in which the Vikings actually showed some life towards the end of the game, but, better luck next year, I hope they’re not this putrid in Los Angeles… http://sambrief.com https://twitter.com/#!/SamsSportsBrief
32.Colts	0-11	21 point underdogs this week at New England!!! Really the only question in this game is this. Will Tom Brady and the Pats break the Saints mark of 65 points vs the Colts from earlier this season? @theknoxscore 1313 Sports

So it’s stretch run time in the NFL and the games are getting magnified on a week-to-week basis. The teams are fighting for coveted home-field advantages and playoff byes, while the lower tiered teams are already trying to figure out who has what it takes to stay on the roster for years to come. The Packers had a unanimous #1 ranking and I’m not sure even a single loss will hurt them in that spot. The Saints and Pats are putting up points at an alarming rate and what is going on in Denver. I, for one, would like to hear Von Miller’s named mentioned as often as I hear Tebow’s.

The Coach’s hot seats are starting to boil over as well. Del Rio is gone in Jacksonville, Andy Reid and Norv Turner are both hearing the chants scream loud from their home crowds and more rookies (aka Patrick Peterson) are starting to make a name for themselves. Lucky number 13 is in the books. Let’s see how the playoff picture unfolds this coming Sunday!!!

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MNF Pick: Giants @ Saints

Our Monday Night game of Week 12 features the 6-4 Giants going to NO to face the 7-3 Saints. This should be a great game to watch, no doubt. New Orleans will look to keep the top spot in the NFC South, while the Giants are looking to tie the Cowboys @ 7-4 for 1st place in the NFC East. A loss for either of these teams will hurt them bad, more so the Giants than Saints. The Giants have a lot of injuries which definitely will not help them against this Saints offense. Speaking of the Saints, their offense is a high-flying acrobatic showcase ready to explode at any moment. Drew Brees will most likely connect on some deep throws in this game; his offensive line will give him ample time to make those throws.

On the other side, we got Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs and Hakeem Nicks on the Giants offense. Their offensive line is getting old and might falter against the Saints pass rush. Also, the Saints will probably force Manning to air it out by bringing extra men in the box.

Bottom line, New Orleans wins in a close one. The deficit will be within a TD.

Sunday Night Football Pick: PHI @ NYG

So far, today’s games have been fun to watch. In fact, some have even gone to the last-minute or OT. This week’s SNF matchup pits the Giants at home against the Philly Eagles. The Eagles are 3-6 and are the opposite of the “Dream Team” moniker bestowed by Vince Young before this season. Speaking of Vince Young, he’ll have to QB this game for the Eagles because Vick is out with 2 cracked ribs. Also, the Eagles will not have Jeremy Maclin in this game, as he’s injured as well. On the plus side, LeSean McCoy has looked like an All-Pro this season, racking up 906 yards, a 5.5 avg, and 10 TD.

On the other side, we’ve got Eli Manning and the Giants coming off that loss to the 49ers. Although the 49ers won fair and square, I think the Giants played a good game and stayed competitive. I think that because the 49ers are a 9-1 team, so staying within a TD of that aint too bad. Although Bradshaw won’t be back, we do get Hakeem Nicks back from injury. Eli has been playing great football and has come up in the clutch when it’s needed the most.

Bottom line, the Giants will need to win this game in order to stay atop the NFC East. I think they’ll do just that: Giants OVER Eagles.

Sincerely,

@TheSportzGuru

#SportsBlogMovement

Week 11 Picks

To be honest, I have the exact same picks as my friend jstar1973 (that’s his Twitter handle). So, I’d like to put that link up in this post for you guys to read. The post is short and sweet, so you definitely won’t be bored with 500-word paragraphs:

http://jsportsblogger.wordpress.com/2011/11/19/nfl-week-11-picks/

TNF Pick: Jets @ Broncos

This week’s Thursday Night matchup pits the Denver Broncos at home against the Jets. In my previous post about Tim Tebow, I noted that he’s 3-1 as the Broncos’ starter. Denver is still in the AFC West race.  Their running game has averaged 150+ rushing yards in their last 4 games. Tim Tebow is a very unorthodox QB, which will make it hard for the Jets to defend him.

On the other side, the Jets lost to the Pats last week. They look very un-organized and can’t get it going on either side of the ball, mostly defense.

My mind is not in it right now, so I apologize for the unrelated sentences.

Anyway, my pick is Broncos OVER Jets. I picked ’em because I think Tebow will lead the Broncos to an upset. Also, I bet $1 on them with a friend of mine. Finally, the Jets have only 3 days rest between Sunday’s game and now.

Sincerely,

@TheSportzGuru

#SportsBlogMovement

All he needed was God and 2 completions

Throught 10 weeks of the NFL season, the Broncos have looked decent at best. The one bright spot for them? The man drafted outta Flo-rida in 2010: Tim Tebow! He got his 3rd win of the season last Sunday when the Broncos defeated the Chiefs 17-10. Just a couple of weeks ago, people were writing off Tebow after the loss to Detroit. I wasn’t really too much either way on the issue (when it comes to believer/ hater). I will say now that I AM a believer in this guy. He beat the Broncos on two completions. Let me repeat: he beat the Broncos with two completions! One of them was a 50-yard pitch-and-catch to Decker for a TD. On the day, he was 2/8, but still got a QB rating of 102.6! How did he do that? Well, I think it’s because he had that 1 TD and threw no picks. If I had to guess, that would be my first choice. Everybody knows about Tebow praying to God before every game. Unfortunately, some have even started to mock him for it. The act was dubbed “Tebowing”. I don’t think it’s right to make fun of Tebow because he expresses his faith, especially after you just sacked him. The majority of people saw it as funny, but I guess I’m one of the few that saw it as what it really is: disrespectful. Hell, I’m surprised Tulloch didn’t get fined for that act! I thought the rule was that you can’t get down on one knee to celebrate? In addition to Tebow’s amazing stats, he had 43 rushing yards on 9 carries (sbnation.com).

This post was requested by a classmate of mine.

Till next time (Rankings!),

@TheSportzGuru

#SportsBlogMovement

Week 11 Power Rankings

This week, it’s me (@TheSportzGuru) and Sam Brief of sambrief.com doin’ Power Rankings. Glad to have my good friend here with me today.

Here goes:

TEAM	RECORD	COMMENTS
1. Packers	9-0	The Packers are 9-0. Aaron Rodgers is on pace to break at least 5 single-season records. They haven’t lost a game since Week 15 of last year. I mean, what else is there to say about the Pack? Even thought their defense is worse than last years’, Aaron Rodgers makes up for it with his arm AND his legs. I don’t see them losing anytime soon, but mark my words when I say they WILL NOT GO UNDEFEATED this year. @TheSportzGuru stevessportscorner.wordpress.com
2. 49ers	8-1	The Niners grabbed their biggest statement win all year. A win over the Giants pushes them to 8-1, and with a Packers loss (if it is in the foreseeable future), the 49ers can start talking 1st seed. @SamsSportsBrief sambrief.com
3. Steelers	7-3	The Steelers went to Cincinnati and proved they can compete with them. This just opens up the gap wider as Baltimore AND Cincy lost. That division (AFC North) is really tight., but I think it will be the Bengals who will be the division champs by year’s end. Still, the Steelers, are certainly good enough for a Wild Card. But, they’ll have to do better than Baltimore, who swept them this year. @TheSportzGuru stevessportscorner.wordpress.com
4.Patriots	6-3	After a devastating 2 game losing streak, Tom Brady and the Patriots responded with a much needed 37-16 win over the Jets in New York. There was really no reason to doubt Tom Brady (America’s sweetheart) in the first place, was there? @SamsSportsBrief sambrief.com
5. Saints	7-3	The Saints won in OT last week, largely due to a stupid coaching decision by Mike Smith. Why go for it in your own territory IN OT? Like Tony Dungy said on the SNF pregame show, you need to think: “What will happen if we don’t get this 1st down?” Obviously, Smith wasn’t thinking this and it cost him. Nonetheless, the Saints won fair and square. They’re looking good with some ground over the Falcons, Bucs, and Panthers in the NFC South. @TheSportzGuru thesportzguru.wordpress.com
6.Ravens	6-3	The Ravens have now stamped in their legacy as the most inconsistent team in the NFL. Following a gargantuan win in Pittsburgh, the Ravens were duped by the lowly Seahawks. In the words of the legendary Vince Lombardi, “What the hell is goin’ on out here?” @SamsSportsBrief sambrief.com
7. Giants	6-3	The Giants are down in the rankings after last week’s loss to the 49ers. They looked a bit out of sync. While Victor Cruz can certainly make the big plays, he can also make some costly mistakes. Still, I see this team as being AT LEAST a Wild Card winner, and with next week’s game against the woeful Eagles, I think the Giants have a bright future. @TheSportzGuru stevessportscorner.wordpress.com
8.Bears	6-3	The Bears are now on a magical 4-game winning streak and in second place in the NFC North. It really is hard to believe just how much this team has turned around, but they really are clicking on all cylinders. This year, in every game that Matt Forte has scored a touchdown, the Bears have won. @SamsSportsBrief sambrief.com
9. Texans	7-3	The Texans just lost Matt Schaub for the season, so they have to rely on Matt Leinart to get them into the playoffs. So far in the season they’ve looked impressive on the ground and through the air, but I’m skeptical about Leinart. Either way, I still think this Texans team is a playoff team. @TheSportzGuru stevessportscorner.wordpress.com
10.Lions	6-3	The Lions are coming off of a crushing 37-13 loss in Chicago. Since the Lions huge Monday Night win to escalate them to 5-0, they have lost 3 of their last 4. Do I hear a collapse? @SamsSportsBrief sambrief.com
11. Bengals	6-3	The Bengals took the loss last week from Big Ben and the Steelers. Through 10 weeks, they’ve looked very impressive considering they have a rookie at QB and WR. Their defense has kept them in games and the offense has been able to finish and put enough points on the board to win. They are my pick to win the AFC North. @TheSportzGuru stevessportscorner.wordpress.com
12.Falcons	5-4	Mike Smith faced criticism after going for it (and failing) on a 4th and inches in overtime. The Falcons went on to lose to the Saints, 26-23. This puts the Falcons’ playoff chances in jeopardy. @SamsSportsBrief sambrief.com
13. Bills	5-4	The Bills got destroyed by the Cowboys on the road last week. Although they’ve hit a bump in the road, they will get out of it soon enough. The Patriots won their game against the Jets, taking charge in the AFC East. The Bills still have a chance to sneak into the playoffs, but if they really want it, it’s gotta start now. @TheSportzGuru stevessportscorner.wordpress.com
14.Jets	5-4	After an emotional high following a 3-game winning streak, the Jets were handed their first home loss at the hands of the rival Patriots. I think there is serious question about their defense, as they have given up an average of 30.2 points per game. @SamsSportsBrief sambrief.com
15.Raiders	5-4	The Raiders beat the Chiefs last week to move to 5-4. They are 1st in the AFC West, but that can change very quickly. In order to keep this lead, they’ll have to keep playing at a high level and “Just win, baby!” @TheSportzGuru stevessportscorner.wordpress.com
16.Cowboys	5-4	The Cowboys are now on a season-high 2-game winning streak! The ‘Boys beat up on the Bills this week, 44-7. Tony Romo played a near-perfect game (148.4 passer rating) for the first time all season. I think we have come to a conclusion that it Romo plays well, the Cowboys will win. @SamsSportsBrief sambrief.com
17. Bucs	4-5	The Bucs took a brutal loss to the Texans last week. They are in 2nd place in their division, behind the high-powered Saints. Unless the Bucs pick it up soon, it looks like the Saints will win the division. Also, it looks like there are better Wild Card candidates out there than the Bucs. @TheSportzGuru stevessportscorner.wordpress.com
18.Chargers	4-5	Do you remember when the Chargers were 4-1? Because following a Thursday Night loss to the Raiders, the dismal Chargers are now on a 4-game losing streak. This is an unfortunate collapse, as Phillip Rivers has been well under-par, the Chargers now face a Bears team on a 4-game winning streak. At least one streak will end! @SamsSportsBrief sambrief.com
19. Titans	5-4	The Titans looked sharp last week v. the Panthers. Chris Johnson had his first 100-yard game since the NFL Lockout, the defense sacked Killer Cam 5 times, and Hasselbeck looks like the vet he always has been! Seriously thought, I don’t think the Titans can keep this up for long. If Johnson somehow surpasses 1,000 yards on the season, I’ll be amazed. @TheSportzGuru stevessportscorner.wordpress.com
20.Chiefs	4-5	After a surprising 3-game winning streak for the Chiefs, they have now lost 2 games in a row to teams with a combined record of 6-12. The Chiefs are like a mountain; up and down, and up and down, and eventually, down to last place in the AFC West. @SamsSportsBrief sambrief.com
21. Eagles	3-6	The Eagles…where to start? They benched DeSean Jackson (rightfully so), can’t get in the endzone, and can’t stop the pass! Why can’t they stop the pass? Didn’t they go out and get DRC and Nnamdi? I can’t figure this team out, I swear this is harder than my math homework. @TheSportzGuru stevessportscorner.wordpress.com
22.Broncos	4-5	The Broncos are simply a different team with Tim Tebow leading the charge, as they are 3-1 with him as the starter. Tebow was 2-for-8, with a touchdown on Sunday, but it was enough to win, and that’s what matters. For those Tebow non-believers, here’s a stat: Tim Tebow had the highest completion-to-touchdown ratio this week: 2 to 1! Keep Tebowing, keep Tebowing. @SamsSportsBrief sambrief.com
23. Redskins	3-6	The ‘Skins surprisingly have the same record as the Eagles (3-6). They are on a 5-game losing streak. While I would say this team is ready to win one, I’m not confident enough to say that. Grossman first, then Beck, now Grossman again? Never a good idea to switch QB’s halfway through the season. @TheSportzGuru stevessportscorner.wordpress.com
24.Cardinals	3-6	Grizzled veteran John Skelton had a career day in Philly this week, finishing with 315 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Cardinals are 2-0 this year with the All-Pro Skelton taking snaps. @SamsSportsBrief sambrief.com
25. Browns	3-6	The Browns lost last week to the Rams. If you lost to the Rams this season, either you SUCK, or you had a bad game (Saints). In this case, it’s the former that is true. No way the Browns are making playoffs, especially with the Ravens, Steelers, and Bengals in the same division. @TheSportzGuru stevessportscorner.wordpress.com
26.Panthers	2-7	The 2-7 Panthers were held to only 3 points this week in a 30-3 loss to the Titans. After the game, when Cam Newton was asked if he had ever been a part of a game where his team didn’t score a touchdown, he simply replied, “No.” @SamsSportsBrief sambrief.com
27. Jaguars	3-6	The Jaguars beat the Colts last week. Is that even worth mentioning? Jags should keep fighting hard and do the best they can. I think they’re good enough to upset a few teams. @TheSportzGuru stevessportscorner.wordpress.com
28.Dolphins	2-7	The surging fins are now on a season-high 2-game winning streak (oh wait, they have only won 2 games all year). If the Dolphins win each of their last 7 games, then they won’t make the playoffs. What an inspiring and riveting situation down in South Beach. @SamsSportsBrief sambrief.com
29. Seahawks	3-6	The Seahawks beat the Ravens last week. Fluke? I think so. The Ravens showed the week before that they can beat the Steelers. So if they can beat the Steelers, they can beat most teams in the NFL. @TheSportzGurustevessportscorner.wordpress.com
30.Rams	2-7	In a game-of-the-year candidate, the lowly Rams defeated the lowly Browns in a 13-12 shootout. Listen, the Rams are going nowhere, as they have been outscored this year, 223-113. @SamsSportsBrief sambrief.com
31. Vikings	2-7	The Vikings lost to the Packers last week, but I give them some credit. Even thought they haven’t been on track this season, they do have a rookie QB at the helm this year. @TheSportzGuru stevessportscorner.wordpress.com
32. Colts	0-9	The Colts are bad. Yah. @SamsSportsBrief sambrief.com

Sunday Night Football Preview: Patriots @ Jets

While the first wave of Week 10 games are rounding out, I thought I should give you guys a preview of our game tonight.

Patriots @ Jets

This game is for the lead in the AFC East(Buffalo lost to the Cowboys 44-7, so they are a game behind). The Jets are coming off that win against the Bills last week, while the Patriots lost their game last week to the G-Men. People have been ranting about how bad the Patriots defense is, and I agree with them. From what I’ve heard, they have the worst pass defense in the NFL. Their run defense is decent, but not as good as the Jets’. As usual, they will have to rely on Brady to put enough points up to keep them in the game. Against this Jets defense, Brady will need a bit of luck. The Pats also need help from their RB’s Kevin Faulk and “The Law Firm”, especially when  Brady gets them into the red zone.

On to the Jets: Mark Sanchez will need to lead the offense if they want to win. If he turns the ball over 2 or 3 times, the Pats will take advantage. However, they have a great running game with Shonn Greene and LaDanian Tomlinson which will take some pressure off of Sanchez. The Jets defense hasn’t been a Top 5 defense so far, but they’ve held their own. Darrelle Revis will (most likely) be lined up with Wes Welker. I think the Jets are a better team as a whole, and playing at home certainly doesn’t hurt at all.

Bottom line, look for the Jets to BEAT the Patriots tonight on SNF.

Sincerely,

@TheSportzGuru

#SportsBlogMovement

Week 10 Power Rankings

You know what we’re doing….it’s in the title^^

This week, it’s just me (TheSportzGuru) and Sam Brief (http://sambrief.com/).

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TEAM	RECORD	COMMENTS
1. Packers	8-0	Packers- The Packers are still the only undefeated team in the league. Aaron Rodgers is having a career year, but can he lead them to an undefeated season? Only time will tell. thesportzguru @TheSportzGuru
2. 49ers	7-1	The astounding 49ers won against Washington this week. They lead the league in rush defense, allowing only 70 yards per game. Also, the San Francisco defense leads the league with an average of giving up 14 points per game. In the past 3 years, the defenses who gave up less than 15 points per game were the Steelers, Jets, and Steelers again. All of those teams went on to the Conference Championship Game. Sam’s Sports Brief @SamsSportsBrief
3. Ravens	6-2	The Ravens were able to sweep the Steelers this season. That took some heart and defensive prowess. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are the leaders on this team, and boy are they doing a great job. http://stevessportscorner.wordpress.com/
4. Steelers	5-2	The Steelers are coming off of a heartbreaking loss at home to the Ravens. The Steelers fought hard in this game, but in the end their defense gave up a 92-yard game winning drive. As we know, this is an indisputably inconsistent team, but, with a top 5 scoring defense and a top 3 offense (in terms of yards), how can they not be #4? Sam’s Sports Brief @SamsSportsBrief
5. Giants	6-2	Giants fans were in for a wild ride last Sunday when Manning threw the go-ahead TD pass with one minute remaining. The Giants defense kept them in this game, and Manning was able to deliver at the end when it really counted. Tom Brady material? No, but pretty dang close. http://stevessportscorner.wordpress.com/
6. Patriots	5-3	For once, there is a severe sense of concern in Foxborough. The Patriots are on a 2-game losing streak for the first time since 2009, and their offense has been stagnant. In the past  games they have scored 20 points or fewer 3 games in a row, the first time in 8 years. I remind you: TOM BRADY IS THEIR QUARTERBACK. If they play like this with terrific Tom taking snaps, then, that is trouble. The Patriots are 5-3, and if they lose this week, will be in 3rd place with a 5-4 record. Panic time…  Sam’s Sports Brief @SamsSportsBrief
7. Lions	6-2	The Lions were off this week and face the Bears next week. http://stevessportscorner.wordpress.com/
8. Bengals	6-2	This Bengals team is more surprising than the 49ers or Bills this year. The Bengals are a team that is 6-2, in first place in the toughest division in the NFL, and their 2 best offensive players are rookies. When they lost their franchise quarterback (Carson Palmer), and their 2 best receivers (Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens) there seemed to be no hope in Cincy. Andy Dalton has stepped up, A.J. Green has stepped up, and their defense (2nd in total defense) is playing better than ever.  Sam’s Sports Brief @SamsSportsBrief
9. Saints	6-3	The Saints played the Bucs last week and beat them at home 27-16. This offense will keep them in ANY game. If the defense just gets a bit better, watch out. http://stevessportscorner.wordpress.com/
10. Falcons	5-3	The Falcons are coming off of an expected win in Indianapolis. The Falcons are a very complete team, with Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Roddy white leading the charge on offense, this is a team that is firing on all cylinders. I would like to see the defense step up, though. Sam’s Sports Brief @SamsSportsBrief
11. Bills	5-3	The Bills lost to the NY Jets last week because they only scored 11 points. In their wins, they’ve scored a lot more (around 25). If they want to be a playoff team, 25 is the number they want to reach every game. http://stevessportscorner.wordpress.com/
12. Texans	6-3	The Texans are coming off of a 30-12 win against the Browns. The Texans are 6-3, and seem to be finally getting over the hump. All of this is happening without Andre Johnson. Since his injury, Houston is 4-2, and looking good. Just imagine how good they’ll be with their superstar… Sam’s Sports Brief @SamsSportsBrief
13. Jets	5-3	The Jets beat the Bills 27-11 last week. This keeps them in the race for the division with the Pats and the Bills. I think this Jets team has found it’s swagger back. http://stevessportscorner.wordpress.com/
14. Bears	5-3	The Bears are coming off of a mammoth win over the Eagles in Philly. The Bears are now 5-3 and seem to be clicking on all aspects of the game. Matt Forte is second in the NFL in rushing yards, and in NFL history, no running back has accounted for a higher percentage of his teams’ offense. Jay Cutler has also turned around his game, and is looking like a star quarterback for the first time since he arrived in Chicago. Remember when the Bears were 2-3? I sure don’t. Sam’s Sports Brief @SamsSportsBrief
15.Chargers	4-4	The Chargers lost to Green Bay last week mainly because Rivers threw 3 picks, 2 of ’em going for Pick 6’s. The Chargers haven’t beaten anybody “credible” so far this year. They aren’t a good team. http://stevessportscorner.wordpress.com/
16. Bucs	4-3	Buccaneers- The Bucs are coming off of a loss at the hands of the charging Saints. Listen, this is a mediocre team with a good quarterback, a decent running back, and a weak supporting cast. Mix that in with a defense that is 29th in total defense, and you have a team that will simply hover around .500 and never make that turn into greatness.  Sam’s Sports Brief @SamsSportsBrief
17. Chiefs	4-4	I don’t know what happened to the Chiefs last week…they got blown out by MIAMI 31-3! Kansas City gave Miami their first W of the season, which isn’t something to be proud of.
18. Eagles	3-5	Philly is coming off of a Monday Night loss at home to the Bears. Just when people thought this team was going to turn around, they take a step back with a lackluster performance against Chicago. I don’t think the Eagles are a playoff team, and, even though they may fool us at times with their exeptional performances, they will never fool me.  Sam’s Sports Brief @SamsSportsBrief
19. Titans	4-4	The Titans lost to the Bengals last week by 1 TD. If this team want’s to be a playoff team, CJ needs to pick it up and have some 100-yard games. Until then, this team isn’t going anywhere.
20. Redskins	3-5	The ‘Skins took another step back with a loss in San Francisco. Since John Beck took over as starter, they have been just fantastic with an 0-3 record! It’s either Good Rex, Bad Rex, or John Beck (or David Garrard)… It’s decision time for the shenanigans, or should I say Shanahanagins? Sam’s Sports Brief @SamsSportsBrief
21. Raiders	4-4	Wow, this is bad. The Raiders lost to the BRONCOS last week 38-24. I don’t know what to think of this team anymore. I heard Darren McFadden is out this week vs. the Chargers, which doesn’t help.
22. Panthers	2-6	Cam Newton and the Panthers are coming off of their bye week. Although Cam Newton has looked great this year, breaking records upon records, the rest of the Panthers have been slightly below par. They are 2-6, and Newton’s supporting cast better step it up if they want to finish with a decent record. Sam’s Sports Brief @SamsSportsBrief
23. Browns	3-5	The Browns lost to the Texans 30-12. Who expected them to win this game anyway? Peyton Hillis is turning into an asshole.
24. Redskins	3-5	im Tebow Tebowed his way to a Broncos victory against the Raiders. I am one of the few Tebow believers. He lacks some of the skills of a established NFL quarterback, but man, is this guy a winner or what? The Broncos are a subpar team overall, as only the 0-9 Colts have allowed more points this year than the Broncos.  Sam’s Sports Brief @SamsSportsBrief
25. Cardinals	3-6	The Cardinals won in glorious fashion last week (Pat Pet punt return in OT). I see a lot of potential for him as well as this team going forward.
26. Jaguars	2-6	The Jags are coming off of their bye this week. With Blaine Gabbert’s mediocre play leading the Jaguars to a 2-6 record, the question must be asked: Why on Earth was David Garrard released? Sam’s Sports Brief @SamsSportsBrief
27. Rams	2-6	The Rams almost had their 2nd win of the season, but they lost to the Cardinals in OT. I can’t describe how bad this team is.
28. Vikings	2-6	The Vikings are another team that had their bye this week. So far, Christian Ponder has looked first-rate, and he will face a gigantic test this Monday Night in Green Bay. Can the 2-6 Vikings turn their season around?  Sam’s Sports Brief @SamsSportsBrief
29. Seahawks	1-7	The Seahawks lost to the Cowboys last week and are not looking good.
30. Dolphins	1-7	Even though the Dolphins won their first game last week, they’re still ranked as the 4th worst team in the league. I don’t see them winning any more games.
31. Dolphins	0-7	The Fins almost pulled out a win in NY last week vs the G-Men and Reggie Bush rushed for his second career 100 yard game. If they could only fix the passing game on both sides of the ball they may may have had a chance to pull out a couple of wins this season. A visit to noisy Arrowhead Stadium looms ahead. @TheKnoxScore  DBSports
32. Colts	0-8	The Colts are a mess. They have a 2.2% chance of becoming the second team in NFL history to go 0-16. But hey, they’re halfway there! @SamsSportsBrief Sam’s Sports Brief

Week 9 Power Rankings

This is the Third Edition of the NFL Power Rankings and I am pretty excited to have two knowledgeable football analysts with me to help with the rankings. We have taken the average of the three analysts votes. Each analyst has ranked the teams as they choose 1-32 and we have added comments for each team. I am Steve Hromin, of The Sportz Guru, based out of Nassau County in New York. I, too provide in-depth game breakdowns and predictions of every game and havecoverage of all of the four major sports on my site!!!

Our second analyst today is Sam Brief, of Sam’s Sports Brief, a 14 year old who created Sam’s Sports Brief to give you a refreshing new perspective on the wild world of sports. He hopes to someday become a sports broadcaster or a sports writer and he’s following his dreams, providing readers with a wealth of information and keen perspective.

Last but not least, I am working with JB Knox, co-creator of The Daily Beans and writer of the Inside The Knox Score NFL Game Predictions as well as the well-documented “Occupy Lansdowne Street” article posted on The Baseball Page. He is a fantastic writer who is a total workhorse and just has a knack for saying the right things.

So without further ado, here are the NFL Week 9 Power Rankings. Comments and debates are highly recommended and encouraged on all three websites!!! Hope You Enjoy!!!

With the Packers and Steelers ranked #1 and #2, we couldn’t help but pose the question: Will the Packers and Steelers face-off once again in the Super Bowl?

TEAM	RECORD	COMMENTS
1. Packers	7-0	The 7-0 Packers are coming off of their bye week. I think at the halfway point of the season it’s fair to say that Aaron Rodgers is the midseason MVP. When a player leads the league in passer rating, TDs, and completion %, all while leading his team to a perfect record, how can he not be the MVP? Also, the odds of the Packers finishing the season at a perfect 16-0: 5.3%, but hey they can make it happen. @SamsSportsBrief Sam’s Sports Brief
2. Steelers	6-2	They have the hottest QB in the league in Roethlisberger, 4 straight wins and the 1st ranked passing defense in the NFL. They are coming off perhaps their biggest win of the season and look to take sole lead of the AFC North with back-to-back games vs. the Ravens and Bengals. Will the Lamar Woodley injury slow this defense down as they look for sweet revenge this week is a big question @TheKnoxScore  DBSports
3. 49ers	6-1	After a win against the Browns last week and a Patriots loss (to Pittsburgh), the 9ers are sitting at 3rd best in the league. Jim Harbaugh is proving that you don’t need talent to win games: you need heart. San Fran’s ability to run the ball AND stop the run on D makes them hard to beat. It will be interesting to see if they can keep this going and finish as one of the best teams in the league. @TheSportzGuru The Sportz Guru
4. Patriots	5-2	The Patriots are coming off of a devastating loss at the hands of the Steelers. With this loss, many questions begin to arise about the Patriots depth on both offense and defense. I think everyone should just chill out, it’s just 1 loss, and Tom Brady is still taking snaps for the Pats (that’s a good thing). @SamsSportsBrief Sam’s Sports Brief
5. Ravens	5-2	With the game of the week coming up on the road vs the Steelers and the division lead on the line, the Ravens will have to play much better than they have over their last weeks. Turnovers, special teams and costly penalties are killing their play lately. The vaunted Steel Curtain will be a tough match-up against an offense that has been very inconsistent this season. @TheKnoxScore  DBSports
6. Lions	6-2	After crushing the hopeless Broncos and Tim Tebow the Lions head into their bye week looking to get a little bit healthier. Stafford’s ankle will have time to heal as the Lions get two weeks to prepare for a big road game against the Bears. A win in that game should put the Bears playoff hopes in doubt. With newly signed safety Chris Harris on the squad, the Chicago Bears better change-up their playbook quickly. @TheKnoxScore  DBSports
7. Bills	6-2	The Bills won last week against the Redskins. They executed on offense and created turnovers on D. That, my friends, is a recipe for success. We think they’ll be able to keep this going throughout the year. @TheSportzGuru The Sportz Guru
8. Saints	5-3	To be honest, I’m surprised the Saints are ranked this high. They handed St. Louis their FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON. Remember guys, we are in WEEK 9. To be honest, I just think Brees had a off-day, and as a result the offense as a whole was sub-par at best. @TheSportzGuru The Sportz Guru
9. Falcons	4-3	The Falcons are coming off of their bye week. Their last game was a statement win over the Lions in Detroit. This Falcons team is starting to look like the 13-3 Falcons of yesteryear. @SamsSportsBrief Sam’s Sports Brief
10. Bengals	5-2	Here’s a shocker: The Bengals are 5-2. If you look more deeply into that record you will find out that this is a team whose wins are against teams with a combined record of just 12-24! They have only played 2 teams with winning records this year, and the Bengals are a team on whose bandwagon I have yet to jump. @SamsSportsBrief Sam’s Sports Brief
11. Giants	5-2	The Giants looked a bit shaky last week at home vs Miami as they may have been looking ahead to this week’s game at New England. The talented Pierre-Paul will try to duplicate the pressure the Steelers put on Brady. This may just slow the Pats down enough for Eli Manning and his talented receivers Manningham and Cruz. @TheKnoxScore  DBSports
12. Texans	5-3	The Texans beat Jacksonville last week, which I thought was impressive considering they came off that MNF W against the Ravens. Remember, in that game, the Jags shut down their offense and didn’t let them work. Getting back to Houston, Arian Foster is in full stride now and Matt Schaub should be getting back Andre Johnson this week. Look out for this team, I’m expecting big things from them soon. @TheSportzGuru The Sportz Guru
13. Jets	4-3	The Jets have a chance to get back in the race in the AFC East as they face off against the Buffalo Bills this weekend. They seem to be hitting their stride and are coming off a bye week. Burress will be more acclimated to the offense, Mangold is a bit healthier and that passing defense will have a big say this week vs Ryan Fitzpatrick. @TheKnoxScore  DBSports
14. Eagles	3-4	Wow, the Eagles did WORK on Sunday Night. They completely dismantled the Cowboys and kept the offense pouring. More importantly, they let LeSean McCoy take over and score 2 TD’s! Even thought they haven’t lived up to the “Dream Team” status, they are working towards that. Boy, they sure did LOOK like a dream team last Sunday huh! @TheSportzGuru The Sportz Guru
15.Bears	4-3	The controversial and oft-criticized Bears are coming off of their bye week following a win in London over Tampa. The Bears’ offense has scored 170 points this year. At this point last year, they had scored just 126. They have a colossal matchup in Philly on Monday Night. @SamsSportsBrief Sam’s Sports Brief
16. Chiefs	4-3	The Chiefs are now 4-0 this season when they win the turnover ratio. They have done so in their last 4 games recording 8 interceptions in their last two as well as taking the AFC West lead away from the SD Chargers. They could very easily make it 6 straight wins with their next two games vs the Dolphins and Broncos. A key player of late has been Brandon Flowers, who has been shutting down the oppositions best receivers in his last 2 games. @TheKnoxScore  DBSports
17. Chargers	4-3	What has happened to the Chargers lately? They have been melting in the second half of games this season. Their red-zone efficiency is inefficient and Philip Rivers has thrown 11 INTS already this season to go along with his game losing fumble against the KC Chiefs on Monday Night. Will he be repeating “This is the worst day ever” this Sunday when he faces Clay Matthews and the ball-hawking Charles Woodson vs Green Bay? Very likely. @TheKnoxScore  DBSports
18. Buccaneers	4-3	The Bucs were off last week with a bye. Nothing new to report, maybe they will rebound after their Week 7 loss to Chicago? We’ll have to wait and see. @TheSportzGuru The Sportz Guru
19. Cowboys	3-4	The ‘Boys looked like crap last week against the Eagles, plain and simple. They kinda looked like the old “Dream Team” Eagles before they found their stride (in this game, no less). Jason Garrett and Rob Ryan need to work together and find a solution to this problem. @TheSportzGuru The Sportz Guru
20. Titans	4-3	Here’s a thought: The Titans should bench Chris Johnson (yes I just said it). Johnson has 107 carries for 302 yards (no, you didn’t read that wrong). That’s 2.8 yards per carry. Your franchise player who is getting paid $53 million cannot put up those kind of numbers. The Titans are having an okay season, but they can accel if they change Johnson’s position from starting running back to left (or right) bench. @SamsSportsBrief Sam’s Sports Brief
21. Raiders	4-3	They are coming off a much needed bye week as they look to get Carson Palmer more familiar with the offense as well as hope that Darren McFadden is ready and healthy for this week’s game at home vs the woeful Tebow-led Broncos. They should be very hungry after getting blanked and embarrassed two weeks ago vs KC and this is the perfect team to face for them before San Diego. @TheKnoxScore  DBSports
22. Browns	3-4	The Browns are just one of THOSE teams. By ‘those teams’ I mean the ones that just hover around .500 all season and have no offensive firepower, and score less than a baseball team. The Browns have not scored 20 points all season, and in the last 2 games have scored just 3 and 10 points. (Sounds like the Yankees’ scores if you ask me). @SamsSportsBrief Sam’s Sports Brief
23. Panthers	2-6	The Panthers lost at the hands of the Vikings last week (called it ). Even though Cam played pretty well (as usual), they still lost. In order to win, this defense will just have to bear down and stop the big plays, and until they do that I don’t see them winning. @TheSportzGuru The Sportz Guru
24. Redskins	3-4	Train Rex or Beck? That is the question. The way their offense looked last week North of the Border, I would choose direct snaps and the wildcat for the near future. Shanahan and his QB shuffle has this offense sputtering as the Skins have been in a free-fall for weeks now. Oh and they just happen face the NFL’s best defense in the San Fransisco 49ers this weekend. Things do not look good. @TheKnoxScore  DBSports
25. Vikings	2-6	The Vikings beat the Panthers this week, but only moved up a couple spots. Even though the Vikings won, we still think the Panthers will be a better team looking at the big picture. Looks like they’ve found their future in Christian Ponder, though. @TheSportzGuru The Sportz Guru
26. Jaguars	2-6	After an inspiring Monday Night win over the Ravens, the Jaguars got a flash of reality. They found themselves on the losing end of an AFC South battle to the Texans. Listen, this team is going nowhere. With an average defense, a struggling rookie QB, and a below-par coach, there needs to be major change in Jacksonville (or should I say JAGSonville). @SamsSportsBrief Sam’s Sports Brief
27. Cardinals	1-6	Kevin Kolb may be out this week for Arizona, but they have showed recently that they are willing to fight and force teams to earn their victories, which says a lot about the team’s respect for  coach, Ken Whisenhunt. The lone bright spots for the Cards this season have been Larry Fitzgerald and the improved play of Patrick Peterson, who had an impressive punt-return TD in Baltimore last week. @TheKnoxScore  DBSports
28. Rams	1-6	The Rams went up a spot this week after defeating the Saints. From here on out, they’ll have to show us they know how to beat the big boys if they want to hold this spot. Hopefully, Bradford can get healthy so they can start winning some games. @TheSportzGuru The Sportz Guru
29. Seahawks	2-5	Like the Browns, the Seahawks are one of THOSE teams. In the past 2 weeks, they have scored 3 and 12 points! How great! No team led by the two-headed monster of Tavaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst is going anywhere. @SamsSportsBrief Sam’s Sports Brief
30. Broncos	2-5	The Broncos took the loss last week to the Lions 45-10. People were Tebowing all over the field, and in their living rooms too! No hope for this team this year… @TheSportzGuru The Sportz Guru
31. Dolphins	0-7	The Fins almost pulled out a win in NY last week vs the G-Men and Reggie Bush rushed for his second career 100 yard game. If they could only fix the passing game on both sides of the ball they may may have had a chance to pull out a couple of wins this season. A visit to noisy Arrowhead Stadium looms ahead. @TheKnoxScore  DBSports
32. Colts	0-8	The Colts are a mess. They have a 2.2% chance of becoming the second team in NFL history to go 0-16. But hey, they’re halfway there! @SamsSportsBrief Sam’s Sports Brief

Whoa we’re halfway there!” The Colts are 0-8, which means that they’re ‘Halfway There’ on their road to 0-16.

This week was a very interesting one in terms of our individual rankings. Sam and JB both had the Steelers ranked at #2, while I put the 49ers at #2. All of us had a different #6: Sam had the Lions, JB had the Bills, and I had the Saints. The Eagles also had a lot of diversity, while Sam and JB both were obviously convinced by their win, and had them at #14, I had less faith in them , and put them at #17. Another interesting topic is the Chiefs and Chargers: While Sam and I both had the Chiefs (who have won 4 in a row after an 0-3 start) ranked in front of the Chargers, JB still had the Chargers in the drivers’ seat ahead of the Chiefs. The Panthers drew some of the most change this week: Sam and JB both put them at #23, while I had them all the way down at #28. The Vikings also had various different rankings, while JB and I were close at ranking them #24 and #26, Sam had them all the way down at #30. The Broncos and Rams drew the most diversity of all the teams: For the Broncos, Sam had them at #25, JB ranked them at #28, and I had them down in the dumps at #31. In terms of the Rams, Sam and JB both ranked them at 29, while I obviously thought their win over the Saints wasn’t a fluke, and had them all the way at #22! At the very bottom of the rankings, there was one consensus: All three of us ranked the lowly, depressing Colts at #32.

I guess we can always agree on futility.

Eagles rout ‘Boys 34-7, MNF Pick inside!

What a great game played by Philly last night. LeSean McCoy had a career-high 185 rushing yards and 2 TD’s. Michael Vick threw 2 TD passes and no INT’s. The Eagles defense was extremely stout, and the offense held the ball for 42 minutes. Rob Ryan just got plain out-coached by Andy Reid, whose offense was extremely explosive last night. The Eagles had an answer for every play Dallas threw at them. The Eagles, Cowboys, and Redskins are now all tied for 2nd place in the NFC East with 3-4 records. The Giants are first in that division sitting at 5-2.

San Diego Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are coming off that 28-0 shutout against Oakland, while the Chargers lost last week to the Jets. Although the Chargers don’t have the momentum coming in, I think they’ll look to regroup and prove they’re a playoff team. Philip Rivers will throw 1 INT, but also throw a couple TD’s to offset it. RB’s Mike Tolbert and Ryan Mathews will pound the ground in this one, rushing for a combined 150 yards. While the Chiefs have found a decent RB in Jackie Battle, they wont be able to keep up with the Chargers high-octane offense.

Prediction: Chargers OVER Chiefs

SNF Pick: Cowboys @ Eagles

The Cowboys travel to Philly to take on the Eagles in this SNF matchup. Will DeMarco Murray repeat his performance from last week? I don’t think so, however I do think he’ll surpass 100 yards rushing. The Eagles are coming off a bye; teams this year coming off byes are losing their games. Romo will find a way to put some points up, but in the end (as usual), the Cowboys will lose.

Prediction: Eagles OVER Cowboys

Romo will lead his team to almost-victory status, but will lose in the end (dallasobserver.com)

Till tomorrow,

@TheSportzGuru

#SportsBlogMovement

Week 8 Power Rankings

Here we are again for some more Power Rankings! It’s me, Sam Brief (http://sambrief.com/) and JB Knox (http://thedailybeans.wordpress.com/) here today to rank all 32 NFL Teams! Let’s go:

TEAM	RECORD	COMMENTS
1. Packers	7-0	The Packers are still #1 on our power rankings. Why is this? Maybe it’s because they are 7-0 with the best offense in the NFL. If Aaron Rodgers can keep his 125.7 passer rating up, the Pack are in prime position. @SamsSportsBrief http://sambrief.com
2. Patriots	5-1	The Patriots were on a bye last week. We figured that their offense is still one of the best in the league and they haven’t changed much since the season started. However, the 49ers are closing in on No.2 in the league. Thesportzguru
3. 49ers	5-1	Coming off a well-earned bye week the Niners should improve to 6-1 vs a Browns team that yields 119 yds/gm vs the run. Frank Gore has fresh legs and Braylon Edwards is back in the fold to help balance the attack. @theknoxscore DBSports
4.Saints	5-2	The Saints put 62 points on the Colts on Sunday night. This was the most points scored in an NFL game since 1970. This mixed with Drew Brees keeping up the good (or more than good) work helped the Saints jump from #8 to #4 on our rankings. @SamsSportsBrief http://sambrief.com
5.Steelers	5-2	The Steelers beat the Cardinals last week 32-20. They are in their rythm and will look to beat the Patriots October 30th. Thesportzguru
6.Ravens	4-2	The Ravens fell from 4th last week down 2 spots.That’s because of their loss to the Jaguars on MNF. What a bad loss that was, right? Still, they’re a good team and just got exposed; I don’t think that will become a regularity. Thesportzguru
7.Lions	5-2	Even after 2 straight losses to the 49ers and the Falcons, the Lions remain strong at 5-2 and 2nd in the NFC North. Although this is true, Matthew Stafford suffered a sprained right ankle, and if he gets unhealthy again, the Lions could be in hot water once again. @SamsSportsBrief http://sambrief.com
8.Bills	4-2	The Bills had their bye this week but dropped to #8 because of strong performances from the Saints and Steelers. Fred Jackson continues to lead a balanced running game, and Ryan Fitzpatrick looks better than he ever has in his career. @SamsSportsBrief http://sambrief.com
9.Falcons	4-3	Moved up 6 spots in our rankings with big win on the road at Detroit and head into a bye week looking to get Julio Jones healthy. They should continue to roll with two weeks to prepare for the dismal Colts. @theknoxscore DBSports
10.Giants	4-2	The Giants actually stayed put this week. Surprising, considering they are such a sporadic team. However, they did have a bye week so I guess I can understand…next week is the Dolphins @ Home. Thesportzguru
11.Bengals	4-2	Rookies Andy Dalton and A.J. Green are helping the Bengals to get out to a shocking 4-2 start. It doesn’t hurt that their defense is 2nd in the NFL only to Baltimore. If they can keep this up, we could see an unexpected playoff appearance for a young Bengals team striving for success. @SamsSportsBrief http://sambrief.com
12.Chargers	4-2	SD has lost both games vs teams .500 or better and look to right the ship and separate themselves from the rest of the AFC West with a big MNF showdown vs the KC Chiefs. Red-zone problems, Rivers interceptions and their lack of a 2nd-half game plan have the key problems this year. @theknoxscore DBSports
13.Jets	4-3	Jets-Ah, the New York Jets. Rex Ryan started some stuff with Norv Turner before the game about SB rings. He ended up winning the game, so I guess that justifies it a little. They have a bye this week. Thesportzguru
14.Texans	4-3	Texans— Arian Foster looks to dismantle another division foe this week vs the short-rested Jags. Foster had a combined 234 yards and just may be getting Andre Johnson back into the mix this week. @theknoxscore DBSports
15.Bears	4-3	The Bears had an impressive win in London against the Buccaneers. Their offensive line looked great (finally). 4-3 is the same record that they had week 7 last year. They finished the year at 11-5 and made the NFC Championship Game. @SamsSportsBrief http://sambrief.com
16.Buccaneers	4-3	The Buccaneers lost in London to the Bears this week, but, looked good towards the end. Josh Freeman led an (almost!) fourth quarter comeback as they cut the Bears’ lead from 16 to 3 in the 4th quarter. They lost, but were superb at the end.@SamsSportsBrief http://sambrief.com
17. Cowboys	3-3	The Cowboys jumped up 3 spots this week, thanks to their win against the St. Louis Rams. Everybody heard of DeMarco Murray, right? What a monster, if the Cowboys can at least get 1/2 that yardage per game, expect some wins from them. TheSportzGuru
18. Raiders	4-3	After a high following 2 emotional wins after the tragic death of Al Davis, the Raiders disappointed. After trading their draft picks for the next (50?) years to acquire Carson Palmer, coach Hue Jackson started Kyle Boller instead of Palmer. Boller threw 3 interceptions, then Palmer threw 3 interceptions in a 28-0 blowout loss to the Chiefs.@SamsSportsBrief http://sambrief.com
19. Eagles	2-4	The Eagles are fresh off a bye to host the rival Cowboys on Sunday Night. Another must-win to stay in the NFC East race. Can they slow down rookie phenom Demarcus Murray and get Vick/McCoy to the edges with space will be keys to this victory.  @theknoxscore DBSports
20. Chiefs	3-3	-beneficiaries of the QB injuries in Oakland, the Chiefs vie for 1st place in AFC West in a huge MNF battle with San Diego. Thomas Jones and Dwayne Bowe will have to have big games and hope the defense can cause some big turnovers again. 2 INT returns for TDS would sure look nice in back-to back weeks. @theknoxscore DBSports
21. Titans	3-3	CJ2K and the rushing attack has been abysmal but the Colts defense is just what the doctor ordered. The Titans look to avoid their 3rd straight embarrassing loss. They should get a break from defending a stout running game with the Colts weak rushing attack in town this week. @theknoxscore DBSports
22. Browns	3-3	The Browns offense was totally flat in a 6-3 (no, this isn’t baseball) victory over the Seahawks. While the Browns are 3-3, their offense has looked unimpressive, and this is due in part to the injury of running back Peyton Hillis. The fact that they have virtually NO recieving support doesn’t help their cause much either. @SamsSportsBrief http://sambrief.com
23. Redskins	3-3	It’s been an interesting week for the Redskins. After benching Rex Grossman, Mike Shanahan started John Beck at quarterback against the Panthers. Beck failed to impress in a 33-20 loss to Carolina. If the Redskins can’t figure out the quarterback situation, they won’t succeed. Also, Tim Hightower is out for the season with a torn ACL, Chris and Santana Moss is out for 5 weeks with a broken hand. @SamsSportsBrief http://sambrief.com
24. Jaguars	2-5	The Jaguars moved up an astounding 4 spots in this weeks rankings. Just like the Ravens went down, the Jaguars went up. If they keep winning like that, especially against high-profile teams (Jets), they will move up quickly. Thesportzguru
25. Panthers	2-5	Newton’s 2nd rookie QB battle this week has me Pondering if he can go 2-0 vs his fellow draft class. His deep passes have become more accurate by the week and his first winning streak may be just around the corner. Steve Smith will look to continue to march towards a Pro-Bowl bid against the Vikings. @theknoxscore DBSports
26. Broncos	2-4	This one is a shocker: the Broncos moved down 1 spot from last week. Maybe it was because their win was against the Dolphins? Next week, they face the Lions. Thesportzguru
27. Seahawks	2-4	A much-needed home game for the Seahawks this week to face the Bengals #2 rated defense. They were stuck in the mud against the Browns, but hope the crowd noise will fluster rookie QB Andy Dalton and their offense can muster just enough points to eek out a win. If not they officially enter the “Suck for Luck” sweepstakes with a head of steam. @theknoxscore DBSports
28. Cardinals	1-6	The Cardinals looked flat in a 32-20 loss to the Steelers. Kevin Kolb hasn’t looked good at all this season, he is 25th in the NFL in passer rating, and 21st in touchdowns. For the 1-5 Cardinals to turn their season around, Kevin Kold needs to step it up. @SamsSportsBrief http://sambrief.com
29. Vikings	1-6	The Vikings stayed pat this week. It’s a pretty good move considering they got beat by the Packers, however they were close to coming back in the last 2 min. This team isn’t going anywhere this year. Thesportzguru
30. Rams	0-6	They average 9.3 PPG and give up 28.5 PPG!!! Need I say more? Spagnuolo’s seat is En Fuego right now and with the high-powered Saints marching in, that pink slip is just begging for it’s John Hancock. @theknoxscore DBSports
31. Dolphins	0-6	The Fins have an NFL worst 23.7% 3rd down conversion rate combined with the 30th ranked -7 turnover ratio, no running game as well as leading the league with 22 sacks allowed. Oh and they get to face the league-leading defensive sacks team in the NY Giants who are fresh off a bye and healthier. UH-OH No Bueno Sparano!!! @theknoxscore DBSports
32. Colts	0-6	The Colts. Suck. For. Luck. Thesportzguru