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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?
Does the drama ever stop in New York?
I don’t know where to start with this. At the beginning of the season, Knicks fans had really high hopes for this team. They were ready to send this team to the Eastern Conference Finals with players like Carmelo, Stoudemire, and Chandler. I guess teamwork is more important than individual talent, because the Knicks struggled mightily at times. Most recently, they’ve gone on a 2-8 losing streak. Just one month ago, we were stunned with Linsanity and the energy he brought to the team. That was back when Carmelo was out with the injury. In that span, I believe the Knicks won 6 games in a row. With Carmelo on the floor, the Knicks aren’t nearly as efficient than without ‘Melo.
So why is D’Antoni to blame here? Isn’t ‘Melo the guy who’s jackin up stupid 3 pointers and expecting to get foul calls (see Derrick Rose)? To be honest, the Knicks have too many guys who want huge minutes: Melo, Chandler, Amare, JR Smith, and Lin all demand a ton of minutes. I always rant about LeBron, but you never hear him complaining about minutes right? That’s because he’s on a team where HE and Dwayne Wade are the go-to guys.
A couple of years ago, a fan would say the Knicks didn’t have enough talent. Well, know it looks like they have too much talent. It’s impossible to spread minutes out correctly when you have a team like the Knicks have.
And that, folks, is why D’Antoni resigned yesterday.
I know you guys are still gonna say ” His system didn’t fit the team he had” and I understand that. It’s a valid argument. However, regardless of the system you have in place, the minutes crunch couldn’t be resolved at all.
Let’s see what interim coach Mike Woodson has in store for us in the final quarter of the season.
Dwight Howard, make up your mind already!
The NBA season started out with a bunch of questions such as “Will there be a season at all?” and “How are they going to fit all the games into a compressed schedule?” Obviouslym the NBA was able to get a deal signed by the players. But, we started off the season with one huge question:
“Will Dwight Howard be in Orlando by season’s end?”
We still don’t know the answer to that question. Last week, Howard said that he didn’t want to be on the team anymore. Now, after the Magic beat the Heat in OT, Howard wants to stay in Orlando for the rest of the season.
In fact, Howard has an opt-out option for the 2012-2013 season. It was reported that he will not take this opt-out option. This means that he will be in Orlando for at least the rest of this year and all of next year. What he essentially doing is buying the Magic time to find a star to pair with Dwight.
[Related: Dwight will not take opt-out option]
Dwight’s first choice of team? The Miami Heat.
How can you go from being the superstar in a great city to Miami? Could you imagine how terrible it would be to have LeBron, Wade, and Dwight on the same team? There’s something that makes this league run, and it’s not money. It’s competition!!
If Dwight were to hit the free agency market this coming offseason, he would look into the Heat, Clippers, and the Nets.
The Nets have been reported as a popular pick for the Orlando superstar, but it doesn’t look like it will happen (this year) with Howard’s latest announcement.
My take: I think it’s alright that he’s looking for a winner to sign with, but the Miami Heat? I hate when these basketball players try to alter the fate of the league by teaming up to create these unfair matchups.
I think many people would be upset if Dwight went to Miami, because he’s been with the Magic for so long. He’s also been very loyal to them (much like LeBron was in Cleveland). You need competition in any sports league in order for it to be successfull.
Question: how come you only see this type of “Dream Teams” in basketball, not in football or baseball?
Ball-hog Rose fined $25K for whining
Monday night’s game against the Knicks showed us that it’s Derrick Rose or bust for the Chicago Bulls. Rose scored 32 points on 12 of 29 shooting to lead the Bulls to a 5 point win over the slumping Knicks.
After the game, Rose felt that the referees weren’t giving him enough calls to send him to the stripe, and he displayed that when talking to the press. In a post-game interview, Rose said: ” I’ve gotta be the only superstar in the league that’s going through what I’m going through right now, but I can’t say too much about it (espn.com)” For proclaiming his anger towards the refs, the reigning MVP was fined $25K by the league. This is Rose’s first fine since coming into the league in 2008.
[Related: Derrick Rose fined for criticizing officiating]
Rose did just enough in this game to push the Bulls past the Knicks. Before this loss, they had a streak of 5 losses in a row.
Here is what I don’t like about Derrick Rose: He is a shoot-first PG. That is enough for me to say I like Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul’s game better, regardless of how little they score. Rajon and Chris both can definitely score the basketball, but their passing ability is extremely coveted in this league.
I mean, the Bulls do great with Rose, but could you imagine if Rose learned to pass the ball more? Granted, he doesn’t have Blake Griffin or 3 future HOF’s on his team, but he’s got players like Noah, Boozer, Korver, and Deng who can score the ball if given a good look. If you’ve ever watched D-Rose play, his gameplan is to attack the basket. However, the difference between him and Rondo is: Rondo will pass the ball off to an open player off the penetration, while Rose just takes the layup and expects a foul to be called.
Also, if you watch closely, you’ll notice that Rose is initiating the contact with the defensive player (most of the time), which should be called a charge as opposed to a blocking foul.
I’m not trying to rant and “hate” on the MVP here, but if he can find a way to make plays for his team, THEN they have a good shot at beating Miami.
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Fab Melo deemed ineligible for NCAA Tourney
Since the end of their season, Syracuse was projected to have a number 1 seed in the Big Dance. They achieved that goal, and now they’re looking to run all the way to New Orléans. However, they’ve just had a major setback. Fabricio Melo, the sophomore center hailing from Brazil, has been deemed ineligible for the NCAA Tournament. Yahoo! Sports initially broke the story. Melo was deemed ineligible by the university, not by the NCAA.
When I first saw the headline, I was shocked. How is Syracuse going to fight through this? Many bracketeers have them getting to the Final Four. Despite their high seed and 31-2 overall record, I don’t think they will get farther than the Elite Eight. When you add this “Melo drama” to the mix, it becomes a cloud over the university.
Syracuse has fought off adversity with no problems this year. The Bernie Fine allegations, the Jim Boehiem suit, and now this. They have the talent to get through this tournament, but can they do it without their spark? Melo is the guy on that team that provides the energy, thus with him out they will need to find replacement energy either off their bench or in their starters.
Do you think the Orange can go far in this tournament without Melo?
Check back tomorrow at 9 a.m for a post on reigning MVP D-Rose.
March Madness is here!
On Sunday, the NCAA Selection Committee announced the field of 68 for this year’s Division 1 tournament. The bubble teams that made the tourney include BYU, USF and NC State.
Every year, there are some bubble teams rejected by the Committee, usually based on their weak SOS (strength of schedule) This year, Drexel is a perfect example of that. Although they went 27-6, they failed to get in the tournament because of their SOS (213). While Drexel did not make it in, Iona College did…Who would’ve guess Iona would be in the tourney? 90% of analysts didn’t even have them as their First 4 Out. Iona did just as good as Drexel (25-7) but with a SOS of 144. I guess now I can see why they were chosen over Drexel.
The Gaels will look to make a run in this year's NCAA Tournament (1.bp.blogspot.com)
To be honest, the Committee did a great job this year with the bubble teams. The biggest snubs were Drexel and Washington, and you can make a case for them being in or out of the tourney. Usually, the Committee completely misses a team that truly deserves a spot.
I think the field this year has some great teams, ut the real strength lies in the bubble teams. Iona, Ohio, Vermont, and NC State all have great chances to knock a top seed out f the tournament. Can they get all the way to the Final 4 like VCU did last year? I’d love to see that happen.
What do you think of the field? Any huge surprises?
Happy March Madness!
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Wrap-up: Rubio has ACL tear, Redskins nab No.2 pick
NBA
- Ricky Rubio sustained an ACL tear last week against the Los Angeles Lakers. He is out for the rest of the season. Minnesota’s playoff hopes now look distant.
Rubio won't playing again till next year (businessinsider.com).
- J.R Smith was fined $25,000 by the NBA for a photo posted on Twitter. The photo showed the @$$ of Tahiry Jose, Smith’s girlfriend. Smith later said that he regretted tweeting the photo
NFL
- Peyton Manning was released by the Colts last Wednesday. Today, he is meeting with the Arizona Cardinals
- The Redskins traded a couple 1st Round picks for this year’s No.2 selection. Specifically, they traded their 1st Rounders for ’12, ’13, and ’14. Also, they traded a 2nd Rounder for 2012.
Rams Trade No. 2 Pick to Redskins
Yesterday, it was reported that the Rams had traded their No.2 overall pick to the Redskins. The news came out around 8 o’Clock last night. In exchange for the No 2 pick in the 2012 Draft, the Redskins are sending their 1st rRounders for 2012, 2013, and 2014. In addition, the Rams get the 2nd Round pick currently held by the Redskins (39th) in this year’s draft.
[Related: Redskins get No.2 pick]
This trade will draw different opinions from around the league. Personally, I think the Rams cashed-in on their chance with this No.2 pick.
Rams
- They’ve already got a future QB in Sam Bradford
- There was no point in selecting RGIII or Andrew Luck
- If you pick one of those two^^ and trade them, you’ll get much less value
- So, they cashed in by getting a 1st Rounder every year for the next 3
Redskins
- Desperately need a QB right now, it’s their main weak spot
- Haven’t had many good QBs recently, maybe with RGIII they have a chance?
- RGIII will bring the fans to the stadium, we all know that
- They can build around RGIII, just like you build around a PG in basketball
- However, they had to give up a lot in order to get this pick; in fact, I think they gave up more than they needed to
So, what’s your take on this deal?
ESPN Streak for the Cash
For those of you who don’t know, ESPN Streak for the Cash is a fantasy game created by ESPN. Basically, you pick teams to win their games on a certain day. The goal is to rack up enough correct picks (predictions) in a row so you can win lots of $$. This game is incredibly fun, and although I’m pretty sure I won’t win the money, it’s a lot funner than risking your money on the lotto. Go check it out if you like to make predictions for games already!
Should the star take the last shot?
For years, Kobe Bryant has demanded the ball at the end of close games. He’s one of the greatest players of all time, but does that mean he should take every “clutch” shot? Many fans (and coaches) think that the star player on their team should take the potential game tying/winning shot. However, an article written by Henry Abbott on ESPN states why the star should not be taking the final shots all the time.
Honestly, I don’t like to see isolation plays during crunch time. These plays have a very poor efficiency in clutch situations (the article goes into great detail about that efficiency for different plays). I like to see good team basketball, with the ball moving around like it would for any other moment in the game. I think pick n’ rolls and basic spot-up plays are the best for crunch time-situations.
But go ahead: read the article and decide for yourself==>http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7649571/nba-kobe-bryant-not-money-think-espn-magazine
Question: Should your star take every crunch time shot?
Peyton Manning is now a free agent
Yesterday, the Indianapolis Colts announced that they planned to release their QB of 14 years on this day. In his 14 year career with the Colts, he has brought home one Super Bowl trophy and multiple MVP’s. The Colts seem to have the game plan many predicted going into the off season: trade Manning, draft Luck. With this strategy, you save yourself $28 M you were about to use on a player who hasn’t seen the field since 2010. In addition, you gain on of the most anticipated players of this generation in Andrew Luck.
Now, will they end up drafting Luck? Or will they go with Heisman winner Robert Griffin III? He is slated by many to be selected with the 2nd pick, currently held by the St. Louis Rams. However, St. Louis believes they’ve got their QB of the future in Sam Bradford. This clearly raises more questions: will the Rams trade their 1st round pick? If the colts draft RG III, will the 2nd selection be Andrew Luck?
I think the biggest question is this: Is Luck/RGIII ready to 1) take over a legend’s role on the team and 2) bring this team back from a bottom-feeder to a title contender?
Which team will sign Peyton?
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Here is what I think will happen: Luck will get picked by the Colts. The St. Louis Rams will trade their No. 2 pick to another team for an abundance of other picks to build around Bradford. RGIII will be selected with that pick.
Personally, I think Luck will have the better career, and the Rams will trade their pick to the Seahawks.
Question: Who do you guys think will have the better career: RGIII, or Andrew Luck?
Question: Who will the Rams trade their No. 2 pick to?
Also, any other comments would be greatly appreciated
Personally, I think Luck will have the better career, and the Rams will trade their pick to the Seahawks.
DeMarcus Cousins is Not that Good
We all know DeMarcus Cousins is a pretty good basketball player with a ton of potential. In fact, most fans would consider him a future All-Star.
Unfortunately, his temper tantrums led to the firing of coach Paul Westphal. Because Westphal was not able to control Cousins’ attitude on and off the court, he was fired. The Kings had a 2-5 record at the time of the firing.
My question is: why would you fire a head coach after only 7 games? Was DeMarcus Cousins really good enough to fire your head coach over? If it were up to me, I would’ve traded Cousins and gotten some picks and players out of it. That would have been a win-win situation because: 1) Cousins would’ve been happy on a different team and 2) the Kings would’ve gotten some picks and players in exchange for Cousins.
I almost forgot: 3) They wouldn’t have had to deal with Cousins’ temper tantrums anymore!
Wow I’m almost on a rant here… I just can’t believe how stupid the Kings’ executives are!
ESPN.com reports that Westphal was 51-120 with the Kings in his 2 years in Sac City.
Question: do you think the Kings did the right thing? Should they have kept Westphal and traded Cousins?
Related articles
- Demarcus Cousins – 1 Paul Westphal – 0 (ksfm.radio.com)
- Paul Westphal ousted as coach of Sacramento Kings (aol.sportingnews.com)
- DeMarcus Cousins & Paul Westphal (onlineupdaters.wordpress.com)
- NBA Rumors: Kings Lack Leadership to Develop a Player Like DeMarcus Cousins (bleacherreport.com)
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.
Chris Paul wants out of New Orleans
Credible news sources are reporting Chris Paul requested a trade out of NO. His team of choice? The New York Knickerbockers. It looks like Paul is intrigued by the idea of playing with Melo and Stoutemire. My friend actually showed me the news on his iPhone during music rehearsal. Once I read the story, my mouth dropped and I was thinkin’ “Are you serious?” Paul, Melo, and Stoutemire would HONESTLY make a better team than LeBron, Wade, and Bosh. But that’s just my opinion. They have a better rapport just from being everyday friends, unlike the Heat’s Big 3.
See, that’s what’s wrong with the NBA today. If Paul really left NO for the Knicks, who would be the dominant teams in the East? The Heat, Celtics, and Knicks. Any other teams? What I’m trying to say is, the teams are not balanced. However, if we had gotten a hard cap in the new CBA, the teams would be a bit more balanced. I guess beggars can’t be choosers…
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 |
The Sportz Guru 