2024 Mock Draft

 Round 1

1) Chicago Bears select Caleb Williams, QB, USC

2) Washington Commanders select Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

3) New England Patriots select Drake Maye, QB, UNC 

4) Arizona Cardinals select Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

5) TRADE: Los Angeles Chargers trade with the Minnesota Vikings. LA gets Minnesota's 1st round picks this year (#11 and #23) and a 2025 1st round pick. 

Minnesota Vikings select J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

6) New York Giants select Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

7) Tennessee Titans select Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

8) Atlanta Falcons select Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama

9) Chicago Bears select Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

10) New York Jets select Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

11) Los Angeles Chargers select Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

12) TRADE: Denver Broncos trade with Los Angeles Rams. Denver gets the Rams 1st round pick (#19 overall) and their 2nd round pick (#52 overall). 

Los Angeles Rams select Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State

13) Las Vegas Raiders select Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

14) New Orleans Saints select Jared Verse, Edge, FSU

15) Indianapolis Colts select Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

16) Seattle Seahawks select Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington

17) Jacksonville Jaguars select Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

18) Cincinnati Bengals select JC Latham, OT, Alabama

19) Denver Broncos select Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA

20) Pittsburgh Steelers select Byron Murphy, DT, Texas

21) Miami Dolphins select Graham Barton, OL, Duke 

22) Philadelphia Eagles select Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

23) Los Angeles Chargers select Brian Thomas, WR, LSU

24) Dallas Cowboys select Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

25) Green Bay Packers select Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa

26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State

27) Arizona Cardinals select Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon

28) Buffalo Bills select Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

29) TRADE  Detroit Lions trade with the Denver Broncos. Detroit gets Denver's 2nd round pick (#52 overall) and a 4th round pick (121 overall) 

Broncos select Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

30) Baltimore Ravens select Tyler Guyton, OL, Oklahoma

31) San Francisco 49ers select Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia

32) Kansas City Chiefs select Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona 

2024 NFL Draft Cheat Sheet-Defensive Players

 Part two features the Defensive Players.....

EDGE:

1) Dallas Turner-Alabama

2) Laiatu Latu-UCLA

3) Jared Verse-Florida State

4) Chop Robinson-Penn State

5) Bralen Trice-Washington

6) Darius Robinson-Missouri

7) Chris Braswell-Alabama

8) Jonah Elliss-Utah

9) Gabriel Murphy-UCLA

10) Adisa Isaac-Penn State

DL:

1) Byron Murphy-Texas

2) Johnny Newton-Illinois

3) Braden Fiske-FSU

4) Michael Hall- Ohio State

5) Kris Jenkins-Michigan

6) Leonard Taylor III-Miami

7) T'Vondre Sweat-Texas

8) Austin Booker- Kansas

9) Marshawn Kneeland-Western Michigan

10) McKinnley Jackson-Texas A&M

11)Mekhi Wingo-LSU

12) Marcus Harris-Auburn

13) Brandon Dorlus-Oregon

14) Justin Eboigbe-Alabama

15) Maason Smith-LSU

LB:

1) Edgerrin Cooper-Texas A&M

2) Jeremiah Trotter Jr-Clemson

3) Payton Wilson-NC State

4) Javon Solomon-Troy

5) Ty'Ron Hopper-Missouri

6) Tyrice Knight-UTEP

7) Jaylan Ford-Texas

8) Marist Liufau-Notre Dame

9) Junior Colson-Michigan

10) Cedric Gray-North Carolina

CB:

1) Terrion Arnold-Alabama

2) Quinyon Mitchell-Toledo

3) Nate Wiggins-Clemson

4) Kool-Aid McKinstry-Alabama

5) Ennis Rakestraw Jr-Missouri

6) Kris Abrams-Draine-Missouri

7) Cooper DeJean-Iowa

8) Kamari Lassiter-Georgia

9) Khyree Jackson-Oregon

10) T.J. Tampa-Iowa State

11) Nehemiah Pritchett-Auburn

12) D.J. James-Auburn

13) Andru Phillips-Kentucky

14) Mike Sainristil-Michigan

15) Josh Newton-TCU

S:

1) Tyler Nubin-Minnesota

2) Javon Bullard-Georgia

3) Calen Bullock-USC

4) Kamren Kinchens-Miami

5) Jaden Hicks-Washington State

6) Tykee Smith-Georgia

7) Jaylin Simpson-Auburn

8) Cole Bishop-Utah

9) Daijahn Anthony-Ole Miss

10) Evan Williams-Oregon

2024 NFL Draft Cheat Sheet-Offensive Players

Here is the draft rankings/cheat sheet for the 2024 NFL Draft. First up is the offensive positions.... 

QB:

1) Caleb Williams-USC

2) Drake Maye- North Carolina

3) Jayden Daniels- LSU

4) J.J. McCarthy- Michigan

5) Bo Nix-Oregon

6) Michael Penix-Washington

7) Spencer Rattler- South Carolina

8) Michael Pratt-Tulane

9) Jordan Travis-FSU

10) Joe Milton- Tennessee

RB:

1) Jonathon Brooks-Texas

2) Troy Benson- FSU

3) Braelon Allen-Wisconsin

4) Jaylen Wright-Tennessee

5) Bucky Irving-Oregon

6) Blake Corum-Michigan

7) Ray Davis-Kentucky

8) Michael Wiley-Arizona

9) Jabari Small-Tennessee

10) Audric Estime-Notre Dame

11) Will Shipley-Clemson

12) Emani Bailey-TCU

13) MarShawn Lloyd-USC

14) Dillon Johnson-Washington

15) Isaiah Davis-South Dakota State

WR:

1) Marvin Harrison Jr-Ohio State

2) Malike Nabers-LSU

3) Rome Odunze-Washington

4) Brian Thomas Jr-LSU

5) Ladd McConkey-Georgia

6) Adonai Mitchell-Texas

7) Xavier Worthy-Texas

8) Keon Coleman-FSU

9) Javon Baker-UCF

10) Troy Franklin-Oregon

11) Ja'Lynn Polk-Washington

12) Jalen McMillan-Washington

13) Malachi Corley-Western Kentucky

14) Ainias Smith-Texas A&M

15) Xavier Legette-South Carolina

16) Jermaine Burton-Alabama

17) Malik Washinton-Virginia

18) Jacob Cowing-Arizona

19) Roman Wilson-Michigan

20) Tez Walker-North Carolina

TE:

1) Brock Bowers-Georgia

2) Ja'Tavion Sanders-Texas

3) Ben Sinnott-Kansas State

4) Cade Stover-Ohio State

5) Theo Johnson-Penn State

6) Jaheim Bell-Florida State

7) Dallin Holker-Colorado State

8) AJ Barner-Michigan

9) Jared Wiley-TCU

10) Tanner McLachlan-Arizona

C:

1) Jackson Powers-Johnson-Oregon

2) Zach Frazier-West Virginia

3) Sedrick Van Pran-Georgia

4) Beauz Limmer-Arkansas

5) Hunter Nourzad-Penn State

G:

1) Troy Fautanu-Washington

2) Christian Hayes-UCONN

3) Cooper Beebee-Kansas State

4) Christian Mahogany- BC

5) Dominick Puni-Kansas 

6) Zak Zinter-Michigan

7) Brandon Coleman-TCU

8) Javon Cohen-Miami

9) K.T. Leveston-Kansas State

10) Layden Robinson-Texas A&M

OT:

1) Olumuyiwa Fashanu-Penn State

2) Joe Alt-Notre Dame

3) Taliese Fuaga-Oregon State

4) JC Latham-Alabama

5) Amarius Mims-Georgia

6) Tyler Guyton-Oklahoma

7) Jordan Morgan-Arizona

8) Graham Barton-Duke

9) Kingsley Suamataia-BYU

10) Delmar Glaze-Maryland

11) Christian Jones-Texas

12) Matt Goncalves-Pitt

13) Patrick Paul-Houston

14) Blake Fisher-Notre Dame

15) Walter Rouse-Oklahoma 

Broncos Free Agency Moves

Players Signed by the Broncos

-Re-signed WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey

-Re-signed FB Michael Burton

-Re-signed TE Adam Trautman

-Re-signed K Will Lutz

-Re-signed S P.J. Locke

-Re-signed LB Jonas Griffith

-Re-signed OL Quinn Bailey

-Signed LB Cody Barton

-Signed Safety Brandon Jones

-Signed DL Malcolm Roach

Players Signed to Other Teams

-Center Lloyd Cushenberry (Titans)

-LB Josey Jewell (Panthers)

-DL Jonathan Harris (Dolphins)

-TE Chris Manhertz (Giants)

-QB Russell Wilson (Steelers)

Traded

-WR Jerry Jeudy to Cleveland for 2024 5th and 6th Round Picks 

Justin Simmons Released

 This one hurts. The Broncos released Safety Justin Simmons in a move that was surprising to me. The All-Pro was the face of the Broncos and the unquestioned leader of the team the past few seasons. The move saves over $14 million in cap money, and it allows Simmons to pick a new team and perhaps go to a contender. Simmons was an all-time great Bronco since he was drafted in 2016. The only thing missing for Simmons' time in Denver was a playoff berth. The Broncos never made the playoffs in his eight years in Denver, and that will be a regret when you look back at his career. It is definitely sad to see him go, and Simmons was just as good off the field as he was on the field. He was very big in the community in Denver. On a personal note, when I went to Denver to see the Broncos play in 2019, my kids met Simmons before the game as we watched the players arrive. He stopped to take pictures with my kids, signed autographs, and even asked how Christmas was. He's a great Bronco and will be a member of the Ring of Fame at some point. 

Russell Wilson Released

 The Broncos informed Russell Wilson that he is being released. This ends the 2-year Russell Wilson era in Denver. This will go down not only as the worst trade in Broncos history but also one of the worst trades in NFL history. As a result of cutting Wilson, Denver will take on an $85 million cap hit (spread out over two years) which will be the largest dead cap charge in NFL history. I really can't believe that the Broncos are parting ways with Wilson after just two, albiet disappointing, seasons in Denver. Not even the hire of Sean Payton can save this situation. The Broncos thought it was better to move on now instead of paying Wilson a high salary over the next two years to try to maximize his value at the QB spot in Denver. Unfortunately, it just didn't work out in Denver, but I understand why the Broncos made this move two years ago. I also understand that Wilson wasn't coming to Denver without signing a contract extension, so unfortunately this not working out has major ramifications. The Broncos gave up so many high, premium draft picks to Seattle for Wilson, so that is the other factor that just kills the deal for Denver. I'll never forget how excited I was two years ago when Denver traded for Russ. I also remember how excited I was driving home from work listening to NFL Radio the day of the Monday Night Football opener against Seattle. It was going to be a playoff, division title, type of season with Russ leading the way. The Broncos were back in my opinion. Of course, we know what happened: Denver lost to Seattle that night and the Broncos 2022 season was a disaster for Russ and new HC Nathaniel Hackett. From there, it never worked out. It's a shame, and it will have major implications on the franchise for the next few years, but hopefully now Denver will finally solidify their QB position going forward.

Post Super Bowl Broncos Outlook

 With the Super Bowl now in the rear view mirror, it is time to take a break from the Broncos. Watching the Chiefs and Pat Mahomes win another Super Bowl is just brutal for Broncos fans. There really is no hope right now for Denver to get back to a Super Bowl any time soon. I've never felt so far away from the Super Bowl as a Broncos fan as I am feel right now. The only thing Denver can shoot for is the 7th seed and last Wild Card spot in the AFC. The AFC West will be owned by Mahomes and the Chiefs for the next decade as well. For now, it is time to take a break from the Broncos and the NFL. There won't be anything substantial until the Scouting Combine at the end of February/beginning of March and then Free Agency a few weeks into March. Otherwise, there is no need to break down what the Broncos are going to do this offseason. The biggest thing is that they need to find a QB. We know that they are going to release Russell Wilson in March, but we have a long way to go in the offseason to see how they will fix the QB. Until then, I'm going to take a break from the NFL. I've got the Rangers in first place in their division with a legitimate shot at the Stanley Cup this year, and the Knicks are a contender in the East in the NBA. That will keep me going through the next two months. 

Super Bowl LVIII Recap and Reaction

 The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII 25-22 in overtime to win their fourth Lombardi Trophy and their third Super Bowl in the last four years. The Chiefs have cemented their status as their eras new NFL dynasty. Andy Reid is now in the conversation of all-time great NFL head coaches, and Patrick Mahomes was sensational once again late in the game to cement his status as one of the greatest QBs in NFL history-after only six seasons as a starter. The game came down to great finish and that is all you can ask for in a Super Bowl. I was rooting hard for the 49ers, but the Chiefs and Mahomes broke their hearts for the second time in five years on the biggest stage. Here are my thoughts and reactions to the game....

1) The 49ers defense dominated the Chiefs for the first three quarters. They forced a fumble, punts, pressured Mahomes and picked him off early in the third quarter. It was 10-3 at halftime and 10-6 midway through the third quarter and it felt like it should have been 20-3 or 24-3. That's how dominate they were playing.

2) It felt like the Chiefs were melting down the first three quarters. Mahomes was being pressured, receivers weren't getting open and there was constant bickering on the sidelines with members of the Chiefs. At one point, there was a shot of Travis Kelce bumping Andy Reid on the sideline. It felt like they were self destructing.

3) The biggest turning point in the game was when the Niners were up 10-6 in the third quarter and the ball hit a Niners player and then the returner Ray-Ray McCloud dove to recover it but missed it and the Chiefs recovered the fumble deep in Niners territory. The next play, Mahomes threw a TD pass and all of a sudden it was 13-10. Right there, you knew the Niners were in trouble. 

4) The next turning point was when the Niners answered right back with a Brock Purdy to Jawan Jennings TD pass to regain the lead early in the fourth quarter, but KC blocked the extra point to make the score 16-13 SF instead of 17-13. That one point played a pivotal role down the stretch. 

5) The game was kind of average for most of the three quarters but it ended in a flurry. The last five possessions of the game not including San Franc taking a knee were: Touchdown, touchdown, field goal, field goal, field goal. The game went from 10-6 with 2:42 to go in the third quarter to 19-19 heading to overtime. 

6) In overtime, the Niners took the ball first under the new postseason rules and had to settle for a field goal after driving down to the KC 9 yard line. Purdy got rushed on a blitz and forced an early throw and the field goal made it 22-19. You just knew that Mahomes and the Chiefs were going to come down and win the game on the next drive. Everyone in America knew it was coming.

7) Of course, Mahomes goes right down the field 75 yards in 13 plays and hits Mecole Hardman for a three yard TD pass to win the Super Bowl. Give Mahomes credit because in a game that he struggled for the most of it, he came up big on the biggest drive of the season. He didn't have an incompletion on the final drive and ran for two big first downs-including a 4th and 1. Classic Mahomes on that drive and it is what makes him great.

8) There has been a lot of discussion about Kyle Shanahan taking the ball first in overtime with the new rules. I didn't have that much of a problem with it at the time. I thought he was resting his defense, but it retrospect, I think in the future the team that wins the toss should defer and get the ball second. I'm not going to kill Shanahan on this one.

9) For the Niners, it is another missed opportunity for them to win a championship. When they look back at this game, they are going to be sick that they couldn't put the game away after having a lead for most of the 60 minutes. Kyle Shanahan is a really good coach, and GM John Lynch has built a stud team but they just can't get that Lombardi Trophy-mainly because of Pat Mahomes.

10) This Chiefs team was the most vulnerable of all the Mahomes era teams and they still won the Super Bowl. Their offense struggled all season, their receivers were inconsistent. Mahomes had his worst season in six years statistically. They only scored over 30 points three times. Their defense was really good all year, but it just wasn't a vintage Chiefs team that finished 11-6. They went 4-4 at home this year. They went 4-2 in the division and lost to Denver and the Raiders. They were scraping to clinch to the division in Week 17 at home against Jake Browning and the Bengals. They were underdogs on the road in the Divisional Round against Buffalo and in the AFC Championship Game against the Ravens and won both games. They were underdogs in the Super Bowl and beat the Niners. This was the year to get the Chiefs and it still didn't matter.

10) The Chiefs are the toast of the NFL that is all there is to it. They were such a non-descript franchise for like 50 years. All they would hang their hat on was the fact that they were an original AFL franchise and played in the first Super Bowl. They also won the last Super Bowl before the merger and played at Arrowhead Stadium-which was a great homefield advantage. That was it. They were always competitive but lost a lot of playoff games-especially at home. They went from 1993 to 2015 without winning a playoff game. With the exception of 1993 and 1994 when Joe Montana finished his career there, they never had a big name QB. That all changed when they drafted Mahomes. They have made the AFC Championship Game six times in a row, been to four Super Bowls in the past six years, and won three-including back-to-back titles. Mahomes really just transformed this franchise, and now you have him and Travis Kelce and the whole Taylor Swift relationship and the Chiefs are the kings of the NFL world. I hate to see it, but it is the truth. 

11) Patrick Mahomes is right now the second greatest QB of all time and he only trails Tom Brady in that category and at 28, he has a chance to surpass Brady's 7 Super Bowl wins. Mahomes has one of the best starts ever to a career in any sport. He is approaching the Jordan level of sports figures. Of all the things that stands out about Mahomes, the part that gets me is that in his three Super Bowl wins, he was trailing by 10 points each time, and each time he brought his team back to win. In all three of those games, it looked like his team was done, and each time he played great down the stretch to win the game. It is unbelievable what he is doing right now. 

Super Bowl LVIII Preview

Super Bowl LVIII pits the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. It is a rematch from Super Bowl LIV which the Chiefs won 31-20. This is the first Super Bowl to be played in Las Vegas, and there is a lot of star-power and intrigue surrounding the game. There are plenty of All-Pros on both of these rosters. Both the Chiefs and the Niners have been two of the best teams in the NFL for the last five years, so it is no surprise that both of them are here in the Super Bowl. As I always like to do, I'll first take a look at the storylines that surround the game, then give a preview and make a pick.

Super Bowl LVIII Storylines:

I) The Chiefs Dynasty: Patrick Mahomes has two Super Bowl titles already, and the Chiefs are looking to add their third Super Bowl in the last five years. This is the Chiefs fourth Super Bowl appearance in the last five years. They can get three Lombardi Trophies in four years. They also can become the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the Patriots in 2003 and 2004. The Patriots had a remarkable run as the NFL's modern dynasty, and the Chiefs are right there on their heels now.

II) The Mahomes Legacy: Patrick Mahomes in only 28 and he is on the verge of winning his third Super Bowl title. If he retired after this game, he would be a first ballot Hall of Famer. He is on pace with Tom Brady in terms of wins and Super Bowls. He legitimately can chase Tom Brady for seven Super Bowls. He is on the cusp of winning another Super Bowl, and putting himself in the top five of greatest QBs ever at the age of 28 with a lot of football left in his career.

III) Kyle Shanahan's Quest: Kyle Shanahan has been a top 5 NFL head coach for the last five years, and he has done an amazing job in making the 49ers a powerhouse. The one achievement that alludes him is a Super Bowl title. He has been close, but losing as the offensive coordinator with the Falcons in Super Bowl LI to the Patriots, and losing Super Bowl LIV to the Chiefs as HC of the Niners are two big blemishes on his record, and he has taken major criticism for each loss. He needs to win a Super Bowl to cement himself as one of the best NFL coaches in this decade and era. He has another chance in Super Bowl LVIII.

IV) Mr. Irrelevant: The 49ers picked QB Brock Purdy with the last pick in the entire 2022 NFL Draft which earned him the nickname of "Mr. Irrelevant." After stepping in last season as a rookie after the Niners lost both QBs ahead of him, he has played great and never looked back. He was a MVP candidate this season, and now he finds himself in the Super Bowl going up against Patrick Mahomes. What a contrast: The face of the NFL in Mahomes against Mr. Irrelevant in Purdy. What a moment it would be if Purdy leads the Niners to a Super Bowl title.

V) Super Bowl Rematch: The Niners and Chiefs played a really good game only five years ago in Super Bowl LIV. Although the Chiefs won 31-20, the Niners outplayed them for three and a half quarters. They were up by 10 with about 7 minutes to go in the game, and they should have won that Super Bowl. They were the better team that year and they failed to get it done. Now, they get a chance five years later for revenge. It is kind of cool that these two teams are meeting up once again in a rematch. It reminds me of the Giants and Patriots. Those two teams met twice in five years in Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI. 

VI) The Taylor Swift Era: Look, you can't talk about this Super Bowl without bringing up Taylor Swift. Ever since Swift started dating Chiefs TE Travis Kelce in September, the attention on the Chiefs and the entire NFL has expanded to a whole new level. You can't make up the irony of one of the biggest pop stars in the country dating a famous NFL player, whose teams happens to make it to the Super Bowl. Whether you like it or not, Swift's appearance at the Super Bowl will be a big story-as it should be. 

Super Bowl LVIII

Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers

Final 2023 Regular Season Record: 143-110-18

Last Week's Playoff Record: 2-2

Overall Playoff Record: 7-4

A Case for the Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes proved that even in a "down" year for the Chiefs, he is still good enough to get them to a Super Bowl. They finished 11-6, lost games to teams like the Broncos and Raiders, and yet still went on the road and beat Buffalo and Baltimore to get back to the Super Bowl. Mahomes is at an all-time level already, and I'm not betting against in this game. I also like the matchup with KC's defense going up against Brock Purdy. Steve Spagnuolo will have a great plan and I could see the Chiefs defense making the big stop at the right time. I think you have to give the coaching edge to Andy Reid in this case over Kyle Shanahan. If you have the advantage in coaching with Reid over Shanahan and with the QB with Mahomes over Purdy, you have to take the Chiefs to win this game.

A Case for the 49ers: They have been close in recent years. They lost the Super Bowl to the Chiefs in 2019, they have been to the NFC Championship four out of the last five years and now they are back in the Super Bowl. They have been close and are due to breakthrough and win the Lombardi Trophy. The Niners have so much talent and star-power that they can take the game over like we have seen many times before. Whether it is Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk on offense. On defense, they have Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, Dre Greenlaw, Javon Hargrave, and Arik Armstead. This team is just loaded with All-Pros that a guy like Chase Young, who they traded for at midseason, is a forgotten piece. The Niners can win this game on talent alone. I do feel like Kyle Shanahan will have a chip on his shoulder knowing that he has another shot to get a Super Bowl, and he should put together a masterful gameplan. Perhaps the Niners are just the better team overall.

Prediction: Kansas City (+2) over San Francisco: I'm not betting against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. In a solid, competitive game that should come down to the wire, I'll take Mahomes and the Chiefs to win their third Super Bowl in four years. 

Final Score: Chiefs-27 Niners-20

Championship Sunday Picks

 The final four is set and Championship Sunday is upon us. We have both #1 seeds in the AFC (Baltimore) and NFC (San Francisco) still alive and both #3 seeds (Kansas City and Detroit).  Both games feature really good matchups. As I always like to do, I like to rank the best possible Super Bowl matchups based on the four teams left. These are not my preferred matchups, but the matchups that probably feature the best storylines and juice:

1) San Francisco vs. Kansas City-Rematch of the Super Bowl LIV from a few years ago. The whole Taylor Swift storyline with the Chiefs. KC going to a repeat Super Bowl victory. Two dominant teams from the past five years facing off. A lot of star-power on both sides.

2) San Francisco vs. Baltimore- Rematch of Super Bowl XLVII. Rematch of the Christmas night game from a month ago. Matchup of both #1 seeds and probably the two best teams in the league this year.

3) Detroit vs. Kansas City-The Lions making their first appearance in a Super Bowl ever. Rematch of opening night game to kickoff the season. Taylor Swift against Eminem in terms of celebrity fans.

4) Detroit vs. Baltimore-The Lions making their first ever Super Bowl appearance. Rematch of a game from the regular season. Two of the top teams all year long from each conference. A matchup of two teams that no one had picked would be facing off in the Super Bowl-something different.

Now, onto the picks for Championship Sunday.....

Final Regular Season Overall Record: 143-110-18

Last Week's Playoff Record: 3-1

Overall Playoff Record: 6-4

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS) 

AFC Championship Game

(3) Kansas City at (1) Baltimore

A Case for the Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes is the best QB on the planet, and the Chiefs have a chance as long as he is around. Everyone made a big deal about him playing in his first road playoff game in his career, and went into Buffalo and pulled out the win over the Bills. As good as the Ravens defense has played this year, Mahomes can exploit them.The Chiefs defense has played well all year, and you can see a scenario in which they have a solid gameplan and frustrate the Ravens offense. Everyone talked about how this wasn't a vintage Chiefs team this year and they were the most vulnerable in this ear of Mahomes. It seems like everything is coming together for them in the playoffs. They are dangerous, battle-tested, and will make things very difficult on the Ravens. 

A Case for the Ravens: The Ravens have been the best team in league from start to finish. They lost four games all year. Three were close, late losses to Pitt, Cleveland, and Indy. The fourth loss was to the Steelers in Week 18 when Baltimore sat their starters. They also have a dynamic offense and Lamar Jackson is playing at a MVP level again. They are at home and this is the first time the Ravens have hosted an AFC Championship Game. The crowd and energy should be off the charts. Pound-for-pound they are the better team.

Prediction: Kansas City (+3.5) over BALTIMORE: I think the Ravens should win this game. I think the Ravens will win this game, but I'm not betting against Patrick Mahomes. I see the Chiefs somehow going into Baltimore and pulling off the upset and heading to their fourth Super Bowl in the last five years.

Final Score: Chiefs-26 Ravens-23

NFC Championship Game

(3) Detroit at (1) San Francisco

A Case for the Lions: They are the feel good story of the NFC this year. But, they are no slouch. They won 12 games this year and two playoff wins. Jared Goff is playing the best football of his career. Their offense is explosive and has so many weapons. They definitely will be able to move the ball and put up points on this 49ers defense. The Lions are one of the few remaining franchises that have never made the Super Bowl. They are in their first NFC Championship since 1991 and are 60 minutes away. Maybe they are due. Maybe they will reward their long-suffering fans with a trip to the Super Bowl.

A Case for the 49ers: We know how talented the Niners are, and for most of the game last week against the Packers it looked like the Niners were going to choke away a playoff game and get upset at home. They were able to turn it around late and won the game. Perhaps the Niners got it out of their system. Now, they can exhale a little and dial in on the Lions in the NFC Title game. I would expect a crisp and solid performance from the Niners. It would be surprising if the Niners laid an egg in this one.

Prediction: SAN FRANCISCO (-7) over Detroit: The 49ers get over the hump after losing the last two NFC Championship Games and beat the Lions to advance to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2019 and the 8th Super Bowl appearance overall. 

Final Score: 49ers-31 Lions-23

Divisional Round Preview and Picks

The top seeds now get into the action as the NFL hits the Divisional Round Playoffs. Two games on Saturday and two games on Sunday. The #1 seed in the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers come off their bye and host the #7 seeded Green Bay Packers on Saturday night. Before that game, the #1 seed in the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens, host the #4 seeded Houston Texans. On Sunday, the Lions host the Buccaneers in the first matchup, and the Bills host the Chiefs in the nightcap on Sunday night. Out of the eight teams left in the Divisional Round, only three of these teams were in this round last year (SF, Buffalo, and KC), so that means there are five new teams this year in the Divisional Round. Three of them weren't even in the playoffs last year (Lions, Packers, and Texans), so things can change quickly in the NFL year-to-year. 

Final Regular Season Overall Record: 143-110-18

Last Week's Playoff Record: 3-3

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS) 

AFC Divisional Playoff

(4) Houston at (1) Baltimore

 A Case for the Texans: The Texans can play fast and loose like they did last week. No one expected them to get to the Divisional Round this year, and now that they are here, they can play up the "Cinderella"
 role against the big favorite on the road. C.J. Stroud was amazing last week in his playoff debut. If he stays hot, then he can carry this team to an upset on his back. Maybe Houston learned from their Week 1 drubbing in Baltimore, and they can use that as they prepare for this matchup. The Colts and Browns already went into Baltimore and upset them and won this year. I like their chances with Stroud-even on the road- to at least keep this game close.

A Case for the Ravens: The last time the Ravens were the #1 seed was in 2019, and Lamar Jackson was the league MVP that year. They got shocked by the Titans in the Divisional Round that year. This year, they are the #1 seed again, and Lamar is in line to be the MVP again. Can they get upset again at home in the Divisional Round coming off a bye? That seems hard to fathom. Lamar is playing at such a high level right now, and the team is peaking at the right time. They buried the 49ers and Dolphins in Weeks 16 and 17 to secure the 1 seed. The bye should help them rest and get healthy. Everything points to them getting on a run and getting to a Super Bowl.

Prediction: Houston (+9) over BALTIMORE: The Ravens are going to win the game, but I like Houston to keep it closer than the spread. Look for a close game throughout and I could see the Ravens fans having some nervous moments, but look for Baltimore to close it out and advance to the AFC Championship for the first time since the 2012 season.

Final Score: Ravens-30 Texans-22

NFC Divisional Playoff

(7) Green Bay at (1) San Francisco

A Case for the Packers: They are also playing great right now and are riding high after their upset win in Dallas in the Wild Card round. They can play fast, loose, and relaxed as all the pressure will be on the 49ers. Jordan Love is playing great right now, and he was tremendous in the win over Dallas. If he stays hot, they can give the 49ers a scare. Plus, Matt LaFluer was a part of Kyle Shanahan's coaching tree, so he knows a lot about Shanny's scheme and tendencies. After winning in Dallas last week, I don't think the Packers will be intimidated heading to San Fran, and they will have a lot of confidence that they can pull off another upset. 

.A Case for the 49ers: They have so much talent on both sides of the ball. I like this matchup from an offensive standpoint for the Niners. I think they will have too many weapons and plays for the Packers defense to handle. Shanahan has had extra time to come up with something on offense, and I could just see the Niners overwhelming the Packers from the start. Then, they get a lead and the Niners defense takes over and makes Jordan Love's life miserable. Sometimes we can get fooled by a team when they look so good in the Wild Card round, then it comes crashing down the next playoff game. I think this game could be a good example of that. 

Prediction: Green Bay (+9.5) over SAN FRANCISCO: The 49ers will win the game and win it comfortably, but I could see back door potential for the Packers here. This game won't be as close as the score and the Niners will advance to their third straight NFC Championship Game.

Final Score: 49ers-31 Packers-23

NFC Divisional Playoff

(4) Tampa Bay at (3) Detroit

A Case for the Bucs: Really no pressure on the Bucs in this spot. They've accomplished a lot already this season. They finished 9-8, won the NFC South, and won a home playoff game by pasting the Eagles 32-9. Baker Mayfield has had a resurgence in his career this year in Tampa, and the vibes are good. Anything else that happens from here is gravy for them. They lost earlier in the year to Detroit, so maybe they can learn something from that game. They are playing with house money and all the pressure falls onto the Lions, so the Bucs could be dangerous in this spot.

A Case for the Lions: They are the better team between these two teams. They are at home and you saw how loud Ford Field was last week in the wild card win over the Rams. They got the monkey off their back with the playoff win ending a 32 year drought, so now they can go out and play. The game last week against the Rams was going to be challenging on the field and mentally for them and they got past it. The Lions offense is really good at home and they get off to quick starts-which could throttle the Bucs. I would expect a big-time effort by the Lions in this spot.

Prediction: DETROIT (-6) over Tampa Bay: The Lions win their second straight playoff game, and advance to the NFC Championship for the first time since 1991.

Final Score: Lions-30 Buccaneers-17

AFC Divisional Playoff

(3) Kansas City at (2) Buffalo

A Case for the Chiefs: They have Patrick Mahomes. As long as Mahomes is back there, you have to like the Chiefs chances. They also have their running game going, and that will be a factor in a cold environment in Buffalo on Sunday night. The Chiefs defense has been really good all year long, and I could see them forcing the Bills into stupid mistakes. The Bills are pretty banged up too, and that will favor the Chiefs. Until the Chiefs are knocked out, you really have to think they might go on another Super Bowl run.

A Case for the Bills: The Bills were left for dead at 6-6, but they rattled off five wins in a row to finish 11-6 and win the AFC East. They backed that up by burying the Steelers at home in the Wild Card round. Now, the Chiefs come to town, and the Bills can get PLAYOFF revenge on KC after losing to them in the 2020 AFC Championship Game and the 2021 AFC Divisional Playoff. Those games were both in KC, and now the Chiefs come to Orchard Park to face the Bills. That is a big factor. This will be Patrick Mahomes' first road playoff game. The Bills are due to slay the dragon, knock off the Chiefs and head to the AFC Title game.

Prediction: Kansas City (+2.5) over BUFFALO: This is the best game of the weekend without a doubt. I love that this game is Sunday night and the last game of the weekend. As much as I want to see Buffalo win, and I think they are due to knock off the Chiefs, I can see KC and Pat Mahomes finding a way and pulling off the upset.

Final Score: Chiefs-24 Bills-20

2023 Wild Card Weekend Picks

 The playoffs are here and Wild Card Weekend kicks things off with some really fun and interesting storylines. In the NFC, you have a classic Dallas-Green Bay matchup with Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy facing his old team, Philly hanging on to their season by a thread trying to get back to a Super Bowl, and Matt Stafford and the Rams going to Detroit to take on his old team with Jared Goff trying to lead the Lions to their first playoff win since 1991. The AFC features the Bills hosting the Steelers as Buffalo and Josh Allen try to make their run for their franchise's first Super Bowl title, Tyreek Hill going back to Arrowhead for the first time as the Dolphins travel to KC to take on the Chiefs, and Joe Flacco and the Browns traveling to Houston to take on the Texans and C.J. Stroud. There is definitely the possibility for a lot of fun and entertaining games this weekend....

Last Week's Record: 13-3

Final Regular Season Overall Record: 143-110-18

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS) 

AFC Wild Card Game

(5) Cleveland at (4) Houston

A Case for the Browns: The Browns have been such a story this season, and now they have added the improbable redemption run of Joe Flacco this past month. The Browns are 11-6, and Flacco was the fourth starting QB this year after Deshaun Watson went down halfway through the year. Flacco has fit perfectly with this offense and somehow he is playing his best football since like 2014. We know how Flacco can get hot in the playoffs, so he can actually carry this Browns team on his back. The Browns defense was one of the best in the NFL all year long, and the strength of their team. They have the advantage over a rookie QB like C.J. Stroud. There seems to just be something magical about this Browns team and it feels like they could get on a run. Plus, they pounded the Texans in Houston a few weeks ago.

A Case for the Texans: Houston is playing with house money in this game. NO ONE expected them to win 10 games and make the playoffs with a rookie head coach in DeMeco Ryans and a rookie QB in C.J. Stroud. Most people had them below 6 wins easily this year, yet here they are. Everyone is going to be picking the Browns, so they can play the underdog role all week long. Plus, C.J. Stroud has been the best rookie QB since Andrew Luck, and he could have a big day and put this game on his shoulders and lead the Texans to the upset.

Prediction: Cleveland (-2) over HOUSTON: I'm surprised the line is this low for the Browns. I just think their defense will make life difficult for C.J. Stroud and their offense will do just enough to get the victory and move on to the Divisional Round.

Final Score: Browns-24 Texans-17

AFC Wild Card Game

(6) Miami at (3) Kansas City

A Case for the Dolphins: Miami has consistently had one of the top offenses in the NFL all year long. You have the Tyreek Hill revenge game factor as he heads to Arrowhead for the first time since being traded from the Chiefs. These teams met in Germany in November and the Dolphins can use that loss as motivation to figure out a way to knock off the Chiefs. Vic Fangio (Miami's DC) knows how to attack the Chiefs offense and usually has a good defensive gameplan for Pat Mahomes. Miami also was a front-runner for a top seed in the AFC all year long, but injuries and key losses at the end of the year spoiled those hopes. Now, they are the underdog to the Chiefs and no one believes that they can get on a run. They will use that as motivation. 

A Case for the Chiefs: Kansas City gets a banged-up Dolphins defense that is missing pass-rushers, linebackers and secondary players across the board. It is perfectly set up for Patrick Mahomes to take advantage of this beat-up defense. The Chiefs defense also did a really nice job on the Dolphins offense when they played in the regular season. The weather is calling for a windchill of -13 on Saturday night in KC, so that definitely favors the Chiefs. Too many factors are lining up in the Chiefs favor for this one.

Prediction: KANSAS CITY (-4) over Miami: The Dolphins once promising season comes to an end in a bitter, cold way on Saturday night in Arrowhead. Pat Mahomes and the Chiefs advance to the Divisional Round for the sixth straight year.

Final Score: Chiefs-27 Dolphins-20

AFC Wild Card Game

(7) Pittsburgh at (2) Buffalo

A Case for the Steelers: The Steelers have Mike Tomlin as their head coach. Somehow and someway, Tomlin got this team to 10 wins and a playoff berth. He's the better coach in the game on Sunday, so you know he will have his team prepared and ready to go. The Steelers are definitely the team that no one believes in the most this weekend, so they can play fast and loose. The Bills have all the pressure on them and doesn't make it easy on themselves. so maybe the Steelers can take advantage of that. Buffalo was a big favorite last year over Miami in the same spot, and they almost lost. Did I mention that Mike Tomlin is the Steelers coach?

A Case for the Bills: At 6-6, they looked like they might miss playoffs, but then they ripped off five straight wins and won the AFC East. Now, they are the 2 seed and host the Steelers and Mason Rudolph. I can't see the Steelers moving the ball consistently against the Bills defense in this spot. T.J. Watt got hurt in Week 18, so he is out, and that should allow Josh Allen to have a big day. Maybe the Bills are just hitting their stride at the right time. I can see them going on a big playoff run starting with this game on Sunday.

Prediction: BUFFALO (-10) over Pittsburgh: The Bills are heavy favorites and they should be. This would be a monumental disaster if they lost this game. Weather will be a factor as they are calling for a very windy and blustery day in Buffalo. I think it might close for a little while, but the Bills will win and advance to the Divisional Round for the fourth year in a row.

Final Score: Bills-26 Steelers-10

NFC Wild Card Game 

(7) Green Bay at (2) Dallas

A Case for the Packers: The Packers are ahead of schedule this year. Not many people picked them to make the playoffs. They are one of the youngest teams since the merger to make the playoffs. They are playing with house money coming into this game as big underdogs. Jordan Love has played really well the second half of the season. All the pressure is on the Cowboys. No one expects the Packers to win this game. If things go their way and get a lead, then it could snowball in their favor.

A Case for the Cowboys: The Cowboys are deserving of the #2 seed in the NFC this year and they are a legitimate Super Bowl contender. They are very dominating at home, and their offense and Dak Prescott should have a big game against the Packers and their defense. I like the matchup of Dan Quinn's defense against against a QB making his first career playoff start. It feels like this could be a statement game for Dallas as they make their run to the Super Bowl.

Prediction: DALLAS (-7) over Green Bay: This is a fun game in the 4:25pm EST window on Sunday. Mike McCarthy gets revenge on his old team, and Dallas advances to the Divisional Round for the second straight year.

Final Score: Cowboys-38 Packers-24

NFC Wild Card Game

(6) Los Angeles Rams at (3) Detroit

A Case for the Rams: They have the better coach in Sean McVay. You know McVay will have his team dialed in for this one. Matt Stafford has to be extra motivated going back to Detroit for a playoff game. Put it this way: I trust the combo of McVay and Stafford over Dan Campbell and Jared Goff. I think the Rams can score with the Lions and keep the pressure on them since they are favored to win their first playoff game since 1991. The Rams won a Super Bowl two years ago, but no one had them in the playoffs after last year's disastrous season, but here they are right back in the mix. I think they will be very dangersous in this spot. 

A Case for the Lions: They have one of the best offenses in football. They can score with anyone and they very good at home. Jared Goff plays the game of his life and gets revenge on McVay for trading him. The Lions fans have waited a long time for a home playoff game and they have waited a LONG time for a playoff win. It could be their time to get that done. I would expect the Lions fans to be loud and on their feet all night long and make that a very tough environment for the Rams.

Prediction: DETROIT (-3) over LA Rams: As much as I feel like the Lions are due to win a playoff game, I keep thinking that the Rams will win this game. I just have a gut feeling they will pull it out late and sending the Lions home with another epic, disappointing loss.

Final Score: Rams-33 Lions-31

NFC Wild Card Game

(5) Philadelphia at (4) Tampa Bay

A Case for the Eagles: They are the defending NFC Champions, and they still have a lot of talent and they still have Jalen Hurts. I think when the game is on the line, Hurts will find a way to make a play to win the game. After starting 10-1, they finished 11-6 and they are banged up, but maybe they were just trying to get to the playoffs and then turn it on. That's not inconceivable to think. Plus, they just seem like they are the better team than Tampa Bay-even if this game is in Tampa. It would be hard to fathom the Eagles getting bounced in the Wild Card round.

A Case for the Bucs: The Bucs finished 9-8 and won the putrid NFC South, but they played really well down the stretch. They are a home underdog-which is always dangerous. The Bucs are playing with house money and have nothing to lose. All the pressure is on the Eagles. Baker Mayfield can get hot as we have seen at times this year, and the Eagles defense has been so bad the last month that you can see a scenario in which Mayfield carves them up late and pulls off the upset.

Prediction: Philadelphia (-3) over TAMPA BAY: Philly crawled to the finish line and a lot of people don't have faith in them even winning this game, but I think they find a way to pull it off and advance to the Divisional Round.

Final Score: Eagles-28 Buccaneers-24

Broncos 2023 Recap

 The Broncos finished up the 2023 season at 8-9 with a 27-14 loss to the Raiders in Las Vegas on Sunday in Week 18. Denver has now finished below .500 for seven consecutive seasons and it is the eighth straight year that the Broncos have missed the playoffs. Only the NY Jets have a longer playoff drought in the NFL. To me, it was a disappointing way for the Broncos season to end. I would have really liked to see Denver finish with a winning record at 9-8 and end the losing streak to the Raiders, which now stands at 8 in a row. Sean Payton's first season as head coach in Denver was a wild, unpredictable ride. From starting at 1-5, to winning five in a row to get to 6-6, to being 7-6 with a real shot at the playoffs, losing a heartbreaker on Christmas Eve to the Patriots to fall to 7-8, benching Russell Wilson, then finishing out of the playoffs and another losing year. It felt like three different seasons in one. Here are my takeaways on the season and going forward for the Broncos.....

1) At 1-5, I really didn't panic too much. Denver had blown games to the Raiders, Commanders, and Jets at home. They gave up 70 points to the Dolphins and played hard but fell short to Chiefs on a Thursday night. There was some hope and time to turn the season around a little bit. At that point, I just wanted Denver to get to 4-6 just to give me something to watch for the rest of the season. I just wanted some meaningful games to watch later in the season, and I didn't think at the time that Denver was as bad as the 1-5 record indicated.

2) The Broncos responded with a five game winning streak starting with a win over the Packers at home. The next week, they finally ended their losing streak to the Chiefs with a convincing win to get to 3-5 at the bye week. I felt optimistic that they could actually turn the season around. Following the bye, Denver beat the Bills in a wild game on MNF to get to 4-5, then followed it up with a comeback win over the Vikings on SNF to get to 5-5, and now we really had a reason to believe. The Broncos buried the Browns to get to 6-5, and there was legitimate playoff talk. The season had turned around, and it looked like Denver could snag that last seed in the AFC. It felt really fun again to be a Broncos fan.

3) Unfortunately, things didn't go that way for the Broncos down the stretch. A tough loss in Houston dropped them to 6-6, but they rebounded with a dominating win in LA over the Chargers to get to 7-6. Again, a favorable schedule showed a path to 10-7 and a wild card berth. I was truly sucked in at this point. I could feel a playoff spot within reach.

4) After getting blown out in Detroit 42-17 in Week 15, the Broncos stood at 7-7 at hosted the 3-11 Patriots on Christmas Eve. Denver trailed 23-7 in the 4th quarter, rallied to tie the game late, only to lose it 26-23 on a last second 56 yard field goal. It was one of the most disappointing losses the Broncos have had in recent years.  At 7-8, they now faced only a 5% chance at making the playoffs. 

5) A few days after the loss to the Pats, Sean Payton announced that he was benching Russell Wilson in favor Jarret Stidham. Payton said the move was to give the offense a spark, but we all know the economic reality of his contract played a major role. Stidham helped Denver defeat the depleted Chargers in Week 17 to get to 8-8 but Denver was eliminated from playoff contention by the end of that day's games. In the meaningless Week 18 game, Denver lost to the Raiders to finish 8-9 on the year. Another year and another losing season.

6) Personally, there was a time after that five game winning streak that I really felt that Denver was going to sneak into the playoffs at 10-7 or even 9-8. I got my hopes up, but it just didn't materialize. I still feel that there were some really good moments this season. It was the first time I was actually proud to wear my Broncos gear around town in the past few years.

7) As far as Russell Wilson goes, he certainly played better this year than last year. He had 26 TDs and only 8 INTs and was in the top 10 in passer rating when he got benched. He led to comeback wins over the Bears, Bills,  andVikings. He was managing the game and doing just enough off script and in the red-zone to help the Broncos win. You could tell that Sean Payton dialed back a lot of his offense after Denver started 1-5, but they were winning games and it was working. He wasn't playing like he did in 2019 or 2020, but again it was working. Obviously, Sean Payton didn't see that and pulled the plug once they fell to 7-8 after the Pats game. Now, it looks like he will be released in March and Denver will eat over $80 million in cap hits. Denver went to Russ in October to try to get him to delay his guarantee in March for 2025, but he declined. I get why Denver approached him and I get why Russ declined. He is not playing at a level that commands the salary he was supposed to get paid the next few years, but why pay him to go away? It is not like they are picking #1 overall and have a young QB ready to go. The whole thing is just a disaster and didn't work out-which is really depressing. I feel like they should have just let Russ finish out the year as the starter, and make a decision on him in March. Sean Payton should have tried to work with him as his QB, and even maybe still drafted a QB in the first round for the future. That's my take on the situation. When the Broncos traded for Wilson, I thought it was going to catapult the franchise back into the playoffs and contend for AFC West titles. It didn't work out, and I was dead wrong. Now, the Broncos have to deal with the ramifications.

8) Ultimately, the Broncos were right there this year, but losing home games to the Raiders, Commanders, Jets, and Patriots doomed their season. They started 1-5, and finished 7-4, but it just was too much of a hole for this team to dig out of. The other part was that the Raiders finished 8-9 and fired Josh McDaniels mid season, and the Chargers finished 5-12 and fired Brandon Staley during the season. The Chiefs won the division at 11-7, but they were vunerable all year, and this was the year to actually catch the Chiefs, and the Broncos didn't do it. 

9) There Broncos opponents are set for 2024: Home games include KC, Las Vegas, Chargers, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Carolina, and Indy. Away games include: KC, Las Vegas, Chargers, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Seattle, and the Jets.

10) As for the outlook for next year, the Broncos will pick 12th overall in the draft. Sean Payton now has a full year of coaching this team under his belt, and there will be names that will get shipped off via trade or release. The biggest and most important question the Broncos have is what they will do at QB. Russell Wilson will get released in March. The Broncos have Jarret Stidham under contract for another year, but he looks like a backup/spot starter at best. We know he isn't the long-term answer. The Broncos can draft a QB in the first round, but they don't have the draft capital to move up to number 1,2, or 3 and draft a guy like Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, or Jayden Daniels. At #12, they are looking at options like Michael Penix, Bo Nix, or J.J. McCarthy. As far as a free agent veteran, Denver is looking at options like Jimmy Garoppolo or Ryan Tannehill. Again, not the greatest outlook for Broncos fans. Every other roster move they make will be subject to what cap availability they have with a lot of dead cap going to Russell Wilson contract. The outlook for this offseason is not the brightest to say the least.

11) For now, I am putting to Broncos 2023 season to bed. I'm not going to worry or think about their offseason moves until the time arrives. In March, I see what they do in free agency. In April, I see what they do in the draft. Other than that, I am not going to get too high or too low on any of the rumors and innuendo about this team. I am going to take a break from Broncos news and coverage for a while and decompress after another disappointing year.

Broncos-Raiders and Week 18 Picks

The Broncos beat the Chargers last week 16-9 to improve to 8-8 but with all the other results that day they were eliminated from playoff contention. Denver heads to Las Vegas this week to take on the Raiders and although they will be missing the playoffs for the 8th consecutive year, there are some things to play for. First, they have lost seven straight games to the Raiders and have not beaten them since 2019. Next, they have a chance to have a winning record for the first time since 2016. That would be a significant achievement for this team under Sean Payton's first year as head coach. I would really like the Broncos to win this game and knock off the Raiders and finish 9-8. I think they could serve as a building block into next year. We have seen this happen with teams in the past (2022 Lions). I'm not too worried about draft positioning. If the Broncos want to move up a few spots in the draft to get their guy, then they will do it regardless. It might be meaningless in the playoff race, but this game means a lot in my opinion.

Prediction: Denver (+3.5) over LAS VEGAS

Final Score: Broncos-19 Raiders-17

Now, onto the picks for Week 18...

Last Week's Record: 7-8-1

Overall Record: 130-107-18

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS) 

BALTIMORE (+3.5) over Pittsburgh: The Ravens have locked up the #1 seed in the AFC and are not playing Lamar Jackson and other starters. The Steelers need a win and help to get into the playoffs. I can see the Ravens keeping it close with their backups, the Steelers eventually winning, but missing out on the playoffs due to other results.

Houston (-1) over INDIANAPOLIS: The winner of this game clinches a playoff berth. I think Houston wins this game and gets a surprising berth into the AFC playoffs.

Tampa Bay (-4) over CAROLINA: The Bucs win and clinch the NFC South and the 4th seed.

CINCINNATI (-7) over Cleveland: The Browns have nothing to play for and are locked into the 5 seed. They are resting starters, and the Bengals want to win to finish 9-8 and look ahead to next year when Joe Burrow comes back.

DETROIT (-3) over Minnesota: The Lions play in the early window on Sunday, so they will play hard not knowing what Dallas and Philly do later in the day. The Vikings are barely hanging onto playoff hopes, but the Lions will take care of business and be the 3 seed in the NFC.

NEW ENGLAND (-1) over Jets: The Pats are 4-12 and playing for a top draft pick but with all the uncertainty surround Bill Belichick's future, I see them playing hard to win for him in Foxboro. Plus, he hates the Jets and wants to make sure they finish 6-11.

NEW ORLEANS (-3) over Atlanta: The Saints can make the playoffs with a win and TB loss or losses by the Packers and Seahawks. They will win, finish 9-8, but just miss out.

TENNESSEE (+3.5) over Jacksonville: This game is hard to predict with the status of Trevor Lawrence up in the air. I think it will be close and come down to the wire. The Titans will play hard, but I think Jacksonville finds a way to win and clinch the AFC South.

ARIZONA (+3) over Seattle: Seattle blew a huge opportunity with their loss to the Steelers at home this week. They need to win and have Green Bay lose to make the playoffs. The Cardinals have played hard all year long, and I think they will find a way to kill Seattle's chances on Sunday.

GREEN BAY (-3) over Chicago: A lot of people like the Bears to win this game in Lambeau. At 7-9, the Bears have played well the last month. The Packers need a win to clinch a playoff spot. I think it is a close game, but I have a feeling the Packers will find a way to grab that 7 seed in the NFC.

Kansas City (+3.5) over CHARGERS: The Chiefs are locked into the 3 seed and resting Pat Mahomes and other starters, but I think their backups will play well and defeat the Chargers anyway.

GIANTS (+5.5) over Philadelphia: I think the Eagles will win this game, but they will pull some starters once they see that Dallas is beating Washington and Philly won't be able to win the NFC East. Philly gets the 5 seed in the NFC.

Rams (+4) over SAN FRANCISCO: The Rams have little incentive to play hard, and they are resting a lot of starters, but they could secure the 6 seed with a win. The 49ers have the #1 seed in the NFC locked up and will rest starters.

Dallas (-12) over WASHINGTON: Dallas is playing for the 2 seed, so they will play hard this week. Washington is playing for one of top 2-3 picks in the draft. The Cowboys will roll, clinch the NFC East, and lock up the #2 seed in the NFC.

Buffalo (-2) over MIAMI: The last game of the entire 2023 NFL season is in Miami as the Bills need a win to get a playoff spot. Miami is all banged up, and they already clinched a playoff spot. The Bills are desperate, and I could see them putting their best effort of the season here in this spot. The Bills win, clinch the AFC East, bump all the way to the 2 seed and knock the Dolphins down to the 6 seed.

Playoff Seeds and Matchups Based on My Predictions:

AFC

1-Baltimore

(2) Buffalo vs (7) Houston

(3) Kansas City vs (6) Miami

(4) Jacksonville vs (5) Cleveland

NFC

1-San Francisco

(2) Dallas vs (7) Green Bay

(3) Detroit vs (6) LA Rams

(4) Tampa Bay vs (5) Philadelphia

Wild Card Weekend Schedule Predictions

Saturday 1/13

4:30pm EST (NBC) Cleveland at Jacksonville

8:00pm EST (Peacock) LA Rams at Detroit

Sunday 1/14

1:00pm (CBS) Houston at Buffalo

4:30pm (FOX) Green Bay at Dallas

8:15pm (NBC) Miami at Kansas City

Monday 1/15

8:15pm (ESPN) Philadelphia at Tampa Bay