Championship Sunday Recap!

The two teams are set for Super Bowl LII in Minnesota, and it will be a rematch of Super Bowl XXXIX as the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots meet in two weeks. The Pats outlasted the Jaguars in the AFC Championship and the Eagles completely dominated the Vikings in the NFC Championship. Before the hype and hoopla of the next two weeks of Super Bowl talk, here is my breakdown and analysis of Championship Sunday....

AFC Championship
New England-24 Jacksonville-20

1) I thought the Jags played a terrific game in the beginning. They let Blake Bortles get the ball out of his hands early, they spread the field, and they were aggressive. It worked as they built a 14-3 lead on the Pats in the first half. Plus, outside of giving up a field goal on the first drive of the game, they did a nice job on Tom Brady and that Patriots offense, and it looked like things were really going Jacksonville's way.

2) The turning point in the first half was when the Jags had a 3rd and 7 at the NE 44 with 2:23 in the half. They got a first down but the play was called off due to a delay of game on Jacksonville. The next play, Bortles got sacked and they were forced to punt. The Pats got the ball back, went right down the field with the aid of a helmet-to-helmet hit on Rob Gronkowski and pass interference call that brought the ball down to the Jax 13. A few plays later, James White scored from the 1 yard line and it was 14-10 heading into halftime.

3) After two field goals gave the Jags a 20-10 lead in the 4th quarter, the next key moment was the 3rd and 18 play that Brady converted. With 10:49 left, Brady looked over the middle and hit Danny Amendola for 26 yards and a first down. The Pats made it 20-17 on that drive when he hit Amendola again for a 9 yard touchdown with 8:44 left in the game. The 3rd and 18 was the play of the game.

4) After a short punt and a nice return by Amendola, the Pats took over at the Jags 30 with 4:58 left in the game. You knew Brady was going to take them down the field for the winning score. Five plays later, Brady hit Amendola for a 4 yard pass to take the lead for NE 24-20 with 2:48 left in the game.

5) The Jags got a first down but Bortles had a pass knocked away by Stephon Gilmore on a 4th and 15 play, and the Pats ran out the clock and put the game away.

6) It was a valiant effort by the Jaguars. They pushed the Patriots to the limit, and they could have won this game. The Myles Jack strip of Dion Lewis in the 4th quarter at 20-10 made me think that this was Jacksonville's game but it wasn't meant to be. Good effort and good run in the playoffs by the Jags this year.

7) I went into the game thinking the Patriots were going to win and despite all the talk about Tom Brady's hand injury, he played well and the Pats did what they had to do to get back to the Super Bowl. It is their 10th Super Bowl appearance in team history and they are looking for the 6th Lombardi Trophy in the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era. It is just amazing what they have accomplished as a duo.

NFC Championship

Philadelphia-38 Minnesota-7

1) You had to feel good if you are a Vikings fan after the way they started this game. Case Keenum hits Kyle Rudolph on a 25 yard TD pass and it is 7-0 Vikings right away. The way the Vikings finished last week, and the way they went right down the field on the Eagles made it seem like it was going to be their day and their year.

2) The game turned when Case Keenum got picked off late in the first quarter, and Patrick Robinson returned it for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7. Minnesota had all the momentum in the world and the pick-six got Philly back into the game, got the crowd going, and it light a spark in the Eagles. Minnesota never recovered from that.

3) The other key sequence that turned this game was late in the first half. The Eagles led 14-7 and Minnesota was driving and had the ball at the Philly 16 facing a 3rd and 5 with only 3:25 left in the half. At worst, they are getting a field goal to make it 14-10, but Keenum got hit, fumbled, and the Eagles recovered. They went 76 yards in 7 plays and it was capped off by a back-breaking Nick Foles 53 yard TD pass to Alshon Jeffrey, who was wide open, to make it 21-7 with 1:09 left in the half. Then, the Vikings are forced to punt and only used 40 seconds of game clock and the Eagles took over at their own 20 with only 29 seconds left. Three straight completions by Foles moved the ball all the way down to the Vikings 21 yard line, and they kicked a field goal to make it 24-7 with no time left in the half. The Vikings went from being down 14-7 with only 3:25 left in the half at the Philly 16 to being down 24-7 going into halftime. That was an awful sequence for the Vikings and it really put the game away for the Eagles.

4) The rest of the game was basically a party for the Eagles and their fans. Foles hit Torrey Smith on a 41 yard TD to give them a 31-7 on the first possession of the second half, and Philly scored again on a Jay Ajayi touchdown to make it 38-7 in the third quarter. Speaking of Foles, he was tremendous. He finished 26-33 for 352 yards and 3 TDs. He was unbelievable and it was a fantastic performance as he led the Eagles to the NFC Championship.

5) The Vikings are left with the memories of their amazing win in the Divisional Round over the Saints, but this is a huge disappointment that they didn't win this game. Their defense got torched, and the ride for Case Keenum and that offense finally ended. It was a tough loss because everything was set up for them to go to the Super Bowl. They didn't have to worry about Seattle and Green Bay in the playoffs this year, and they were facing a Philly team without MVP candidate Carson Wentz. They were road favorites going into this game and everyone was on their bandwagon. They got dominated by the Eagles, and this game was over by the 3rd quarter. This will be a very tough pill for them to swallow going forward.

6) Give the Eagles credit. They responded in these playoffs without their best player (Wentz). No one picked them to beat the Falcons in the Divisional Round and they won as home underdogs. No one picked them to beat the Vikings in the NFC Championship Game and they won as home underdogs. They lost Wentz in December and other key members on offense and defense, yet they still finished 13-3 and won the NFC title. I never gave them a chance in any of these two games, and I didn't think Nick Foles had it in him to play that well. It was a surprising run for the Eagles, and now they head to their third Super Bowl appearance and a showdown with the Patriots with a chance to win their first ever Lombardi Trophy hanging in the balance.

Championship Sunday Preview and Picks!

The NFL's version of the Final Four is set and Championship Sunday features some new faces, new teams, and not the QBs you thought would be here at this point. In the AFC, the Patriots and Tom Brady are back for the seventh consecutive year in the AFC Title Game, but they are taking on the surprising Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags are making their first AFC Championship Game appearance since 1999. In the NFC, the Vikings are in the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 2009, and the Eagles are making their first title game appearance since 2008. Who would have thought that Championship Sunday would feature Tom Brady alongside Blake Bortles, Case Keenum, and Nick Foles. The big storyline for me is what matchup gives us the best possible Super Bowl matchup. Here is how I would rank the potential Super Bowl matchups in order of best to worst.

1) New England vs. Minnesota: The Pats going for their 6th Super Bowl against the long-suffering Vikings fans with the Minnesota playing the game in their home stadium.

2) New England vs. Philadelphia: Two big market teams with Philly trying to win their first ever Super Bowl. Also, it would be a rematch of Super Bowl XXXIX.

3) Jacksonville vs. Minnesota: The upstart Jags against the Vikings in their home stadium. Two good defenses going at it.

4) Jacksonville vs. Philadelphia: Blake Bortles vs. Nick Foles doesn't exactly get everyone all fired up.

Here we go with picks for Championship Sunday.....

Last Week's Record: 1-2-1
Overall Playoff Record: 2-4-2
Overall Regular Season Record: 131-110-15
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

AFC Championship Game

Jacksonville at New England

A Case for the Jaguars: The Jags have a very good defense that can do a lot of things to disrupt Tom Brady and frustrate the Pats offense. They can rush up the middle and inside with Malik Jackson, Calais Campbell, and Marcell Dareus. They have athletic linebackers who can cover, and they have a secondary that can matchup well with the Pats receivers. The Jags are also playing with house money like they did last week. They are the underdogs, nobody thinks they will knock off the mighty Patriots, and no one really wants them here. They will play that up all week. They have made a living off of playing great defense, creating turnovers, and limited Blake Bortles on offense. They feel like they can do that one more time to get to the Super Bowl. Also, I think Doug Marrone has done an excellent job, and I think he can hold his own in this coaching matchup. What if Tom Brady's right hand is really badly injured? Could that be the deciding factor in this game?

A Case for the Patriots: The Patriots have the experience over the Jaguars. They know what it takes to get here and they will be ready for what the Jags throw at them. You know the Jaguars defense has caught the attention of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, and you know they will find a way to exploit that defense and find a weakness. The Patriots also had to deal with that ESPN story before the playoffs began, and I think you saw them use that as motivation in their 35-14 whipping of Tennessee last week. They will make Blake Bortles beat them in this game. They will take away everything else and force him to beat them, and I have a hard time thinking Blake Bortles is going into Foxboro and upsetting the Pats in the AFC Championship.

Prediction: NEW ENGLAND (-9) over Jacksonville: In a rematch of the 1996 AFC Championship Game, the Patriots will be too much for Jacksonville in this game. I think the Jags will be feisty and keep it close for awhile, but Tom Brady will be too much and the Patriots will head to the Super Bowl for the eighth time in the Brady-Belichick era.

Final Score: Patriots-27 Jaguars-10

NFC Championship Game

Minnesota at Philadelphia

A Case for the Vikings: After defeating the Saints with that miracle finish, destiny and fate might be on their side. It reminds me a little of the 2012 Ravens after they beat Denver on the Rahim Moore-Jacoby Jones play. I think the Vikings have "lady luck" on their side, and I can see them getting to the Super Bowl. The fact that they are one game away from the Super Bowl, which takes place in their home stadium, is just amazing. I think that is also playing into their favor. They are on the cusp of being the first team ever to play in a Super Bowl in their home stadium in the host city. Also, I like this matchup from a strategic standpoint, I like their defense going up against Nick Foles. They are a better coached team, matchup well with Philly, and the elements in Philly won't be a factor. They have that "look" of a team that is going to represent the Vikings in the Super Bowl for the first time since Super Bowl XI.

A Case for the Eagles: The Eagles pulled off the upset at home over the Falcons last week after everyone was doubting them and picking against them. You have to be careful not to overlook them once again. They are playing up the "Nobody Believes in Us" angle and it clearly worked last week. Guess what? No one believes in them once again this week as the Vikings are three point favorites in Philly. The Philly crowd will be nuts, the stadium will be electric, and they will be fired up to see if the Eagles can get to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2004. You have to like the matchup between the Eagles defense against Case Keenum, and you have to think that Doug Pederson will construct a gameplan to limit Nick Foles and run the ball repeatedly. The recipe is there for the Eagles, and you can make the case that their home crowd and their defense will be too much for the Vikings.

Prediction: Minnesota (-3) over PHILADELPHIA: This game should be low scoring and look for both defenses to play well. I think it is a back and forth game, but in the end, the Vikings will do just enough to either force a turnover or make a big play and win this game. It looks like it is their year to me.

Final Score: Vikings-23 Eagles-16

Divisional Playoff Recap!

The Divisional Playoffs provided two surprising upsets, another clinical performance by the Patriots, and an absolute classic with an incredible finish in Minnesota. It was a great weekend of football for the NFL on a weekend that didn't have a lot of high expectations heading into it. The Eagles pulled the upset over the Falcons, the Pats buried the Titans. Then, Sunday featured a stunner with the Jaguars going into Pittsburgh and upsetting the Steelers, and the Vikings won on a 61-yard walkoff TD from Case Keenum to Stephon Diggs to win it 29-24. It sets up a very surprising final four for Championship Sunday. The Jaguars head to Foxboro to take on the Patriots and the Vikings go to Philly to take on the Eagles. It will be hard to top some of the moments we saw this weekend. Here is my reaction and recap of the Divisional Playoff Weekend.....

NFC Divisional Playoff Game
Philadelphia-15 Atlanta-10

1) The Falcons are going to be sick that they lost this game. It started so ominous for Philly. Jay Ajayi fumbled on the second play of the game, they missed an extra point after taking a 6-3 lead, and they muffed a punt that led to a 10-6 lead for Atlanta. It felt like the Falcons were going to win this game, and then all of a sudden they were down 15-10 trying to win the game on the final drive.

2) Here is a key moment in the game: Nick Foles throws a ball that should have been intercepted by Atlanta near midfield right before the half, but the ball deflects into the waiting arms of an Eagles receiver and actually get a first down on the play. That set up a long pass on the sideline with only one second remaining in the half and Philly got a 53 yard field goal to make it 10-9 as time expired in the first half. Instead of Atlanta getting the ball near midfield to extend their 10-6 lead, the Eagles got a break and three points to cut the lead to one.

3) Down 10-9, the Eagles put together two key drives near the end of the third quarter and in the fourth quarter to take a 15-10 lead. Both drives were 12 and 14 plays respectively, ate up clock, and gave the Eagles the lead and the ability to hold on at the end.

4) The Falcons offense was not the same this year as it was last year. That was evident all year long. It was evident again in this game and on that last drive. Matt Ryan did hit Julio Jones for 20 yards on a 4th and 6 to keep the drive alive, but their sequence of plays when they had a 1st and goal from the Philly 9 was just puzzling. After a crappy fade that fell incomplete to Julio Jones, they tried a shovel pass that almost got picked off on 2nd and goal. On 3rd and goal, Ryan hit Jones for a 7 yard gain on a slant that set up a 4th and goal from the 2. On the next play, Ryan rolled right, looked for Jones, who slipped, had no one else open, and had to throw a prayer to Jones in the corner of the endzone and it fell incomplete. I hated the call because it was basically a two receiver route, cut off the whole field since Ryan was rolling to the right and it was just doomed from the start. It was a terrible series of plays that ended the Falcons season in disappointment.

5) Give the Eagles credit. They played up the underdog role that they heard all week long, and they played well-especially on defense and in the trenches on both sides of the ball. They won a playoff game for the first time since 2008, and they did it with Nick Foles in place of their injured star Carson Wentz.

6) The Falcons were favorites to win this game, and they will be kicking themselves all offseason once again. They had a clear path to the Super Bowl and got a break by playing the Eagles without Wentz. Steve Sarkisian was not a good fit for this offense all season long, and it came back to bite them in the most critical part of the year. It will be another long offseason for the Falcons as they try to comprehend what happened and how they didn't win this game.

AFC Divisional Playoff
New England-35 Tennessee-14

1) The Titans got off to a good start and took a 7-0 lead when Marcus Mariota hit Corey Davis for a 15-yard TD. That was about it for the Titans on this night.

2) The Pats settled in and took a 14-7 lead, and then the game turned on this sequence. After being forced to punt from their own endzone, the Pats appeared to have a false start on 4th and 5, but it was overturned and the Titans were called for a neutral zone infraction. How the refs made that call was ridiculous. The Patriots clearly moved but somehow the call went against the Titans. The Pats got the first down and Tom Brady hit Chris Hogan on a 4 yard touchdown to cap the drive right before the half to give the Patriots the 21-7 lead and that was about it for this game.

3) The Titans had a terrible moment of mismanaging this game when they went for it on 4th and 1 near midfield right before the half, and they got stopped. Luckily for them, the Patriots missed the field goal and the game was still only 21-7 at the half.

4) The second half was all Patriots as expected, their defense stifled Mariota and the Titans offense and they added two more touchdowns for the convincing 35-14 win. It is the seventh straight AFC Championship Game appearance for the Patriots. That is absolutely amazing for a team to accomplish that in this era of the NFL.

AFC Divisional Playoff
Jacksonville-45 Pittsburgh 42

1) Great start for Jacksonville and a horrible start for Pitt. First drive, Jax goes right down and caps it off with a Leonard Fournette 1 yard TD run on 4th and goal to make it 7-0. Big Ben gets picked off by Myles Jack two series later, and Fournette rumbles in to make it 14-0. It was a shocking start for the Jags on the road.

2) You knew the Steelers were going to come back and get back in it. They were moving the ball but faced a 4th and 1 at midfield, and they decided to go for it but they ran the ball with Le'veon Bell and Jacksonville snuffed it out. The Jags converted that into another touchdown, this time by T.J. Yeldon on a 4-yard run to make it 21-0 with 11 minutes to go in the second quarter.

3) The Steelers and Big Ben finally started to make the comeback. He hit Antonio Brown on a 23 yard TD pass to cut it to 21-7. Brown made a sensational one-handed catch in the endzone and the Steelers looked like they had some life.

4) After forcing a Jacksonville punt, the Steelers were moving once again, but at the Jax 47, Big Ben got sacked and stripped, and Telvin Smith scooped it up and raced 50 yards for a score to make it 28-7. It felt like every time Pitt had some momentum and the Jags came up with a play to break the momentum. Unfortunately, Smith got called for taunting and it gave the Steelers good field position with the short kickoff by Jacksonville.

5) What a throw by Big Ben on 4th and 11 from the Jags 36 to Martavis Bryant to make it 28-14. It was a huge play for them to get that score with only 28 seconds left in the half.

6) The Steelers got the ball to start the third quarter and they go right down the field and cut it to 28-21 on a 19 yard hookup from Big Ben to Bell. It was another incredible throw and catch and the Steelers got two TDs on two straight possessions before and after the half.

7) The next big sequence was when the Steelers faced another 4th and 1 at the Jax 39 with 12:50 left in the fourth quarter. They attempt a pass and the ball fell incomplete and they turned the ball over on downs once again.

8) After a big pass play by Blake Bortles, Fournette punched it in again to make it 35-21 with 10:34 left in the game. Once again, the Jags made the Steelers pay on another missed opportunity.

9) The Steelers responded once again on the next drive when Big Ben hit Antonio Brown on a 43 yard TD which featured another incredible catch by Brown while he was completely covered. It cut the lead to 35-28 with 9:05 left. The Steelers weren't dead yet, and I felt that the Steelers were going to come back and win this game at that moment.

10) Naturally, the Jags go right down the field on this Pittsburgh defense and they capped it off on a sweet Bortles to Tommy Bohanon 14 yard TD pass to make it 42-28.

11) The Steelers scored a touchdown to make it 42-35 with 2:18 seconds left. Now, they have two timeouts and the two minute warning. Instead of kicking deep, pinning the Jags deep, and then using timeouts to get the ball back down seven, Mike Tomlin decides to go for the onside kick. It made no sense at that time. The onside kick was terrible and the Jags recovered. That whole sequence was terrible for the Steelers.

12) After a Jax field goal to make it 45-35, the Steelers got it down to the Jax five yard line with 47 seconds left. Tomlin had to go for the field goal on 1st and goal to make it 45-38 and then try the onside kick to give them a chance. Instead, they kept playing and went for the touchdown and scored a touchdown with only 1 second left. It gave them no chance to win the game, and it was a mistake to not figure this out.

13) This was a huge upset for Jacksonville, and it is their first trip to the AFC Championship since 1999. It reminded me of the 1996 Divisional Playoff upset the Jags pulled off in Denver over the Broncos. It was a stunning win, but well deserved because the Jags used the motivation that no one thought they would win, and they pulled it off.

14) This was a terrible loss by the Steelers. They were big favorites at home, and they got beat by Blake Bortles and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mike Tomlin was terrible in this game, and I really think the Steelers were looking ahead to playing the Pats in the AFC Championship next week.

NFC Divisional Playoff
Minnesota-29 New Orleans-24

1) Many people, myself included, felt like this was going to be the game of the weekend, and it was. What a game and what finish in a game that is now being dubbed, "The Minnesota Miracle."

2) You can fast forward through about three quarters of this game. The Vikings had built a 17-0 lead, and looked like they were in control of the game until late in the third quarter on the heels of two interceptions and a missed field goal by New Orleans. The game changed when Drew Brees hit Michael Thomas for a 14-yard TD pass with only 1:18 left in the third quarter to cut the Minnesota lead to 17-7. The next play, Case Keenum got picked off and the game completely turned around. It was that moment that a lot of critics of Keenum had been waiting for.

3) Drew Brees made the Vikings pay when he hit Michael Thomas on a three-yard TD to cut the game to 17-14. It was a great play design and great call by Sean Payton and the game was about to get really, really good.

4) After the Vikings kicked a field goal to make it 20-14, the teams traded punts. After partially blocking the Vikings punt attempt, the Saints took over at the Minnesota 40, and Brees took them down in four plays and took the lead on a sweet 14-yard throw to Alvin Kamara to give the Saints their first lead of the game at 21-20 with 3:01 left to go in the game.

5) The Vikings drove the ball into New Orleans territory with the aid of a 24 yard throw from Keenum to Adam Thelien. The drive stalled, and the Vikings settled for a field goal, which Kai Forbath nailed from 53 yards to take a 23-21 lead with only 1:29 left. At the time, I said that they left too much time on the board for Drew Brees, and I was right.

6) Brees calmly drove the Saints down the field and put them into field goal position. The big play was the throw he made on 4th and 10 to Willie Snead down to the Minnesota 33. The Saints had to settle for a field goal after a key 3rd and 1 stop by the Vikings. Will Lutz nailed the 43 yarder with only 25 seconds left, and the Saints had taken the lead back at 24-23.

7) It set the stage for one of the all-time great endings in the NFL Playoff history. After getting the ball to their own 39 yard line with only 14 seconds left and no timeouts, Case Keenum threw a deep sideline route that Stephon Diggs jumped up, caught, and then raced all the way untouched into the endzone for the walk-off game-winning touchdown to send the Vikings to the NFC Championship. It was about as incredible of an ending as you can imagine. New Orleans safety Marcus Williams completely misplayed the ball, ducked underneath Diggs and then fell and took out his own player as Diggs raced down the sideline for the game-winning touchdown. What finish and what a moment.

8) I feel bad for Drew Brees because this might be one of his last shots at getting back to another Super Bowl. He just turned 39, and if they hold on after he drives them down to win the game, then he has a legitimate chance to win the Super Bowl this year. Unfortunately, that won't happen. It will be very tough for the Saints to get over this loss this offseason.

9) Rahim Moore finally got off the hook after his misplay led to the Ravens defeating the Broncos in the 2012 AFC Divisional Playoff. Marcus Williams takes his place in the annals of playoff game blunders, and I think Williams' play might have been worse.

10) I'm happy for the Vikings and their fans. They finally had a playoff moment go their way. They had to deal with Roger Staubach's Hail Mary, the Gary Anderson miss in 1998, getting knocked out on the last play by the Cardinals in 2003 in Week 17, the Brett Favre interception in New Orleans in 2009, and the missed chip-shot by Blair Walsh two years ago against Seattle. It was finally their moment, and it just might propel them to the Super Bowl.

Divisional Playoff Preview and Picks!

Divisional Weekend is here in the NFL, and it has a different look to it this year. In the AFC, two stalwarts, the Patriots and Steelers, led by Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger are back, but two teams that haven't been here in a long, long time are their opponents. The Titans head to Foxboro Saturday night, and the Jags head to Pittsburgh on Sunday. In the NFC, there are also some new faces and new QBs this deep in the tournament. Nick Foles, subbing for the injured Carson Wentz, leads the 13-3 and #1 seeded Philadelphia Eagles while Case Keenum leads the 13-3 and #2 seeded Minnesota Vikings. The Saints, after their big win over Carolina last Sunday in the Wild Card round, are in the second weekend of the playoffs for the first time since 2013, and the Falcons are back trying to erase the memories of last year's Super Bowl collapse. It is a great weekend of football with two games on Saturday and a doubleheader on Sunday. Four big-time QBs are still in the mix (Brady, Big Ben, Drew Brees, and Matt Ryan) and four names that you wouldn't think would be here are actually here (Blake Bortles, Marcus Mariota, Keenum, and Foles). It will be interesting to see if the big four QBs get through or if one of those other four guys can breakthrough. Here are my picks for Divisional Weekend in the NFL.............

Last Week's Record: 1-2-1
Overall Playoff Record: 1-2-1
Overall Regular Season Record: 131-110-15
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

NFC Divisional Playoff-Saturday 1/13 (NBC)
6) Atlanta at 1) Philadelphia

A Case for the Falcons: Watching the Falcons beat the Rams in last week's Wild Card game showed us that Atlanta might be back and ready to make another Super Bowl run. They were six point underdogs in LA, and they went out and beat the Rams and moved on. It was an impressive game, and their defense looks like they could be coming together at the right time. Now, they have to be licking their chops as they go up against Nick Foles. Doesn't it seem like Atlanta has that look of a team that gets on a run and no one wants to play them in these playoffs? They seem like they are on a mission right now. It was like the regular season didn't matter, and all they did was just get into the playoffs and start their season at that point. I could also see the storyline of Matt Ryan going into his hometown and ending the Eagles season prematurely. Plus, doesn't this just look so obvious that the Falcons are going to knock the Eagles out in their first game in the playoffs and add more misery to the Eagles fanbase.

 A Case for the Eagles: The Eagles are getting absolutely no love in this game. It is quite shocking that a team that went 13-3 and is the #1 seed in the NFC, and they are underdogs at home to a #6 seed. The Eagles will use the "Nobody Respects Us" angle as motivation all week long. They can play into it and maybe that will be a deciding factor. Also, don't sleep on the Eagles defense. They have been good all season, and DC Jim Schwartz could have a decided advantage in the matchup over Atlanta's OC Steve Sarkisian. I know they have to protect Nick Foles, but maybe they can run the ball and keep the ball out of Foles hands and play close to the vest-knowing they are at home. The Eagles are probably the most disrespected top seed in NFC history.

Prediction: Atlanta (-3) over PHILADELPHIA: As much as I try to break this down, I really have a hard time thinking Nick Foles and the Eagles will win this game. If they do, then more power to them. The Falcons have the better QB, momentum, and that look of a team that is making another run.
Final Score: Falcons-24 Eagles-17

AFC Divisional Playoff-Saturday 1/13 (CBS)
5) Tennessee at 1) New England

A Case for the Titans: How the Titans won their Wild Card game over the Chiefs last week is still amazing to me. It was an incredible comeback win, and it has to give them some confidence going forward. They have nothing to lose here. They won their first playoff game since 2003, and no one believes that they will win their second this weekend. Mike Mularkey kind of got the monkey off his back as far as his job is concerned after winning last week's game, so now the Titans can relax, play fast and loose, and try to pull off the monumental upset. Maybe Derrick Henry and Marcus Mariota can get hot again and take over the game and shock everyone once again.

A Case for the Patriots: The Patriots got all the motivation they needed last weekend when ESPN published an article about how there was dysfunction in the ranks between Robert Kraft, Tom Brady, and Bill Belichick. Their bye week was spent answering questions and denying this report. They will use that as a "Patriots vs. the World" mentality and take it out on the Titans this Saturday night. I really can't see the Titans putting up much of a fight in this one, and this has the look of a blowout early. The Patriots will come out of the gates, attack the Titans on defense, move the ball at will, and score in bunches to take a comfortable lead. Then, they will let their defense take over and take away anything that Marcus Mariota and Derrick Henry do well. It just looks like the obvious playoff mismatch and the Pats are just above and beyond the better team in every aspect.

Prediction: NEW ENGLAND (-13) over Tennessee: The Pats are rested and ready to take out any frustrations they have about the story that ESPN published, and they will put the Titans away early in the evening. Start searching NETFLIX for something else to watch Saturday night when this game gets ugly in the first half.
Final Score: Patriots-34 Titans-14

AFC Divisional Playoff-Sunday 1/14 (CBS)
3) Jacksonville at 2) Pittsburgh

A Case for the Jaguars: Their defense is dynamic. That group anchored their win over Buffalo last week. Plus, they already went into Pittsburgh and won this year while picking off Ben Roethlisberger five times. I think they will play with house money. They will play fast and loose, and they will play with confidence that they can go into Heinz Field and beat the Steelers a second time this season. The last time a team beat Pittsburgh twice in their stadium in one season was the 2007 Jaguars. Could history repeat itself 10 years later? I know Blake Bortles is a liability, but their formula could work if they run the ball with Leonard Fournette, play conservative, play field position, and try to force Big Ben into some turnovers again. Jacksonville could be dangerous here because their defense can travel.

A Case for the Steelers: The Jags have the Steelers attention because Pittsburgh was embarrassed by this team in their own stadium in October. The Steelers want revenge, and they want to put it on this young and cocky defense. Antonio Brown will be back at full strength after missing a few weeks with a calf injury. Can't you see Big Ben throwing all over the Jags defense after throwing for five interceptions against this team during their first meeting? Also, don't forget that the Steelers are using Ryan Shazier's injury as a rallying cry. Sometimes, teams feed off of emotional situations, and I could see the Steelers using Shazier and his injury as a way to get them to play so passionate because they want to win it for him. Plus, I'll take my chances against Blake Bortles in a home playoff game any time.

Prediction: PITTSBURGH (-7) over Jacksonville:
Final Score: Steelers-26 Jaguars-13

NFC Divisional Playoff-Sunday 1/14 (FOX)
3) New Orleans at 2 Minnesota

A Case for the Saints: They feature a Hall of Fame QB in Drew Brees, who is playing well, and a two-headed monster in the running game with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. They have the coaching experience with Sean Payton. They are young in a lot of spots, but sometimes that youth can be a good thing. They already won a playoff game with their win over Carolina last week, so I think they come into this game as the underdog and they will play fast and loose. I think they are dangerous in this spot. You can kind of see them getting on a run here too. Plus, do you really think they are going to respect Case Keenum? You know they are going to force him to make plays in the passing game and you have to wonder if he can actually do it now that we are in the playoffs. There is just something about them that makes me think they could spring the upset.

A Case for the Vikings: Their defense is very, very good, and they are going to be tough to run on in this game. They are at home and this is the first playoff game in the new US Bank Stadium that was built last year. They have had a great regular season, had the bye week, and you know that place is going to be loud and crazy. This is the best Vikings team since the Brett Favre team in 2009, and the fans are going to be ready. I think Mike Zimmer is as good of a head coach as there is in this league, and he will have his team ready to play. Throw in the fact that a lot of people are picking the Saints this week, and you know that got their attention. Plus, Minnesota is hosting the Super Bowl in a few weeks, so the idea that the Vikings could be the first ever team to play in their own stadium for a Super Bowl is tantalizing and possibly an act of fate.

Prediction: New Orleans (+5) over MINNESOTA: I think the Vikings will win this game, but I think five points is a little too high. Throw out the game from Week 1.This game will be close down the stretch, and the Vikings will keep their dream season alive, but it is a field goal game either way.
Final Score: Vikings-23 Saints-20

Wild Card Weekend Review!

It might not have featured the sexiest matchups in Wild Card history, but the weekend provided some very good moments and pretty good games throughout. Two road teams won on Saturday and two home teams won on Sunday to set the stage for Divisional Weekend. The Titans won a playoff game for the first time since 2003, and the Jaguars won a playoff game for the first time since 2007. In the NFC, the Falcons advanced to the Divisional Round for the second straight year, and the Saints move on for the first time since 2013. All four teams that won were from the AFC or NFC South divisions. Here is my recap for Wild Card weekend....

AFC Wild Card Game
Titans-22 Chiefs-21

1) How the hell did Kansas City blow this game? They were up 21-3 at halftime, and had all the momentum. Tennessee couldn't do  anything right on offense. This might be the worst home defeat for the Chiefs in their storied history of playoff failures.

2) Travis Kelce getting knocked out with a concussion killed KC. He got knocked out on a pass play late in the second quarter. They struggled in the second half to move the ball without him. That was a turning point for sure.

3) The non-fumble call on Marcus Mariota was a huge sequence. After getting sacked by Derrick Johnson, Mariota fumbled on the way down to the ground, but Jeff Triplette ruled that forward progress was stopped and the play wasn't reviewable. The Titans settled for a field goal and it was 14-3 instead of KC ball and a 14-0 lead.

4) Marcus Mariota caught a deflected pass and dove in for a touchdown on 3rd and goal to make it 21-10 in the third quarter. That crazy play might have turned momentum and it was like the entire game changed from there. To make matters worse, the Chiefs missed a field goal trying to extend their lead to 24-10 late in the third. It left the door open for the Titans to complete the comeback and they did.

5) KC could do nothing on offense in the second half, and the Titans caught fire and couldn't be stopped. After imploding in the first half with turnovers and drops, Tennessee got it going. Derrick Henry's 35 yard TD run made it 21-16 (I had no problem with Mike Mularkey going for two there) and then Mariota threw a bullet to Eric Decker for a 22 yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter to take the lead. It was about as stunning of a comeback as you will see in the playoffs-especially since how awful Tennessee looked in the first half. Incredible stuff by Mariota and that Titans offense.

6) As a Broncos fan, I enjoyed every moment of this latest playoff disappointment by the Chiefs. Another Andy Reid collapse and loss in the playoffs, and the Chiefs still have not won a home playoff game since 1993. This defeat might have been the worst-all things considered. They were huge favorites over a very weak Titans team, they had a 21-3 lead at halftime and were cruising, and then the bottom just fell out. This loss hurts deeply if you are a Chiefs fan. This could be an offseason of transition for the Chiefs and their franchise.

NFC Wild Card Game
Atlanta-26 Los Angeles Rams-13
1) The Rams talked about playoff inexperience not hurting, but they looked a little lost on Saturday night in the Los Angeles Coliseum.

2) The Falcons defense smothered the Rams and held them to 13 points when they averaged 30 points in the regular season. Give credit to Atlanta and their defense because they were all over the Rams and forced Jared Goff into some tough spots.

3) The fumbles by Pharaoh Cooper killed the Rams early with his fumbles on punt and kick returns, and he put them in a 13-0 hole. The Rams were all pumped up for their first playoff game in Los Angeles, and then all of a sudden they were down 13.

4) Matt Ryan's two biggest plays were the TD pass to Julio Jones to make it 26-13 in the 4th quarter, and his screen to Mohammed Sanu that turned into a 52 yard play to set up Julio's score.

5) The moment was too big for the young Rams and the Falcons looked like the team that had been there before and used that playoff experience to get the tough win on the road. It was a disappointing ending for the Rams, and the Falcons have the look of a very dangerous team as they move on to the Divisional Round.

AFC Wild Card Game
Jacksonville-10 Buffalo-3
1) A lot of people might not like this game, but I thought it was fun-even though there wasn't a lot of offense. I liked the back and forth and the defenses making plays.

2) The Jags tried to hide Blake Bortles but he was just bad in the passing game. His legs were the story of this game for him. He killed the Bills repeatedly on scrambles for first downs and his scrambling got the Jags a field goal late in the first half to tie the game at 3. He ran for 88 yards and threw for 87 yards.

3) If you are a Bills fan, you are going to be kicking yourself all offseason about the missed opportunity right before the half. After settling for a field goal attempt, the Jags went offside and the Bills got a 1st and goal from the three yard line. Kelvin Benjamin got called for an offensive pass interference call in the end zone on a fade route, and the Bills never recovered and had to settle for a 3--0 lead instead of a 7-0 lead.

4) The other moment that Bills fans will be bothered by during the offseason was when LeSean McCoy broke free for a long gain later in the 4th quarter, but a holding downfield brought a good chunk of it back, and the Bills couldn't continue to move the ball and had to settle for a punt. That McCoy run put the Bills at the Jags 30, but the holding screwed them.

5) After Tyrod Taylor got knocked out with a concussion on the final drive, Nate Peterman had to enter the game on a 4th and 3 and he somehow scrambled to convert it and keep the Bills hopes alive. What a rough spot for Peterman to be in. A few plays later, he got picked off by Jalen Ramsey and the game and the Bills season was over. It was a tough way to go out for the Bills, but their fans can take pride in making the playoffs for the first time since 1999, and the way the Bills got in during those last few moments of Week 17 will be remembered for long time.

6) Despite Blake Bortles inadequate play and the lack of a running game with Leonard Fournette, the Jags defense played well and answered the bell to help the Jaguars get the win. It was their first playoff win since 2007, and now they get a chance to go back to Pittsburgh and pull off the upset over the Steelers next week.

NFC Wild Card Game
New Orleans-31 Carolina-26
1) Give Drew Brees credit. He was sensational in this game and made some big time throws that decided the game. He finished 23-33 for 376 yards 2 TD and 1 INT. He made a huge 80 yard TD throw to Ted Ginn to give the Saints an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Then, he made a great throw on the run to Michael Thomas to set up Alvin Kamara's two yard TD run to give the Saints a 31-19 lead with 5:08 to go in the game.


2) The Panthers had to settle for field goals and that killed them. Graham Gano also missed a short field goal in the first half as well. When NO was scoring touchdowns and the Panthers were only getting field goals and the score was 14-3, 21-6, or 21-9, then you knew it was going to be tough for the Panthers to win this game.

3) Give them credit because right after Kamara's touchdown to give the Saints the 31-19 lead, Cam Newton hits Christian McCaffrey underneath and he breaks it for a 56 yard touchdown pass with 4:09 to go in the game. They fought back and got the game to within one possession late.

4) I was surprised that Sean Payton went for it on 4th and 2 near midfield late in the game. Why not just punt the Panthers down? He calls a rollout pass, Brees throws it up for grabs and the Panthers intercept it at their own 30. Mike Adams should have just knocked it down instead of picking it off, but regardless the Panthers were getting the ball. I thought it was curious decision making by Payton there.

5) The Saints closed out the game with their defense sacking Cam Newton with no timeouts left. The Panthers had moved the ball on some great plays by Newton, but he threw the ball away and was called for intentional grounding. It was questionable to see if he was out of the pocket, but there was no replay from FOX. Also, there might have been a receiver in the vicinity. In any event, the sack on Newton ended the game and allowed the Saints to move on to the next round. New Orleans swept all three games against the Panthers, and they head to Minnesota to take on the Vikings next Sunday.

Wild Card Weekend Preview and Picks!

Wild Card weekend is here in the NFL, and after a wild Week 17, the playoffs feature some new teams and new faces. The AFC features stalwarts like the Pats and Steelers, but they are off until next week. This weekend features the Jaguars, making their first playoff appearance since 2007. The Titans, making their first playoff appearance since 2008, and the Bills, making their first playoff appearance since 1999! In the NFC, the Rams are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2004. The Saints are back in the playoffs since 2013. There are no Cowboys, Giants, Packers, and Seahawks in the NFC. The Eagles and Vikings have the first round byes and they are quarterbacked by Case Keenum and Nick Foles. It should be a fun and wide-open playoff, and it all gets started this weekend. Here is my Wild Card Preview and Picks!

Last Week's Record: 9-7
Overall Regular Season Record: 131-110-15
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

AFC Wild Card Game-Saturday 1/6 (ABC/ESPN)

5) Tennessee at 4) Kansas City

A Case for the Titans: The Titans went into Arrowhead last year and beat the Chiefs in a big game in December, so they know they can go into that stadium and win a game. The Titans are young and don't have a lot of playoff experience, but they don't know any better. Maybe they just play fast and loose and take chances. I know Marcus Mariota has had a rough year, but maybe he can make enough plays to win this game on his own. Don't forget about the Andy Reid factor on the other sideline, and perhaps the Titans can figure out a way to pull off the upset.

A Case for the Chiefs: They seemed to have right the ship when they were 6-6. They have won four straight and held off the Chargers in the AFC West. Maybe they are playing well at the right time. They are simply the better team, and they have their home crowd and the weather in their favor. Arrowhead Stadium will be rocking. DeMarco Murray is out for this game too. They have too many weapons, they have the experience, and if they get up by 10, they can tee off on Mariota and that Titans offense.

Prediction: KANSAS CITY (-7) over Tennessee: The Chiefs will be too much for the Titans, and they will advance to the Divisional Round. I would be shocked if the Chiefs don't play well and win this game by more than a touchdown.

Final Score: Chiefs-27 Titans-13

NFC Wild Card Game-Saturday 1/6 (NBC)

6) Atlanta at 3) Los Angeles Rams

A Case for the Falcons: They have the playoff pedigree. They went to a Super Bowl last year, and they were on the cusp of winning it. They have more experience than the young Rams. We have been waiting all year long for the Matt Ryan and this offense to get going, and maybe this is the game that it all comes together. Perhaps the Falcons were just looking towards the playoffs all year long. Maybe their focus was just getting into the playoffs, and now that they are in, they might be able to get on a deep run again. This game will also be played in nice conditions in Los Angeles, and it will be hard to judge what type of crowd will be on hand for the this playoff game. You could see the Falcons catching fire as a 6 seed and going on a run that starts here in this game.

A Case for the Rams: The Rams are a good team-plain and simple. They are well-coached under first year head coach, Sean McVay. They have a huge coaching advantage with Rams DC Wade Phillips going up against Atlanta OC Steve Sarkisian. The Rams can score points, run the ball, and get explosive plays, and then they get their defense to get stops and turnovers. They can ride the back of MVP candidate Todd Gurley all game long. I think they are probably a better team than the underachieving Falcons. Although they are inexperienced when it comes to the playoffs, maybe that will help them. They don't know better, and that might play to their advantage.

Prediction: LA RAMS (-6) over Atlanta: This is the hardest game to pick of the four this weekend. I could see the Falcons winning, but I think the Rams will prove they are the better team. I think this is the best game of the weekend and it will come down to the 4th quarter. I think the Rams win it and advance to the Divisional Round and head to Minnesota next week.

Final Score: Rams-28 Falcons-20

AFC Wild Card Game-Sunday 1/7 (CBS)
6) Buffalo at 3) Jacksonville

A Case for the Bills: The Bills got into the playoffs in remarkable fashion as the Bengals upset the Ravens and the Bills beat Miami to clinch the final spot in the AFC. Perhaps the Bills are riding the wave of karma and destiny? They have to like the idea of going up against Blake Bortles in a playoff game. Plus, they can play this game close enough to the vest that they can keep it close. If it is 13-10 or 10-7 in the second half, then they can find a way to pull it out. How much of a factor will the crowd be in Jacksonville for this playoff game? You know the weather won't be a factor there as well. The Bills have an uphill climb in this game, but it's not like they are taking on the Pats or the Steelers. Then, they also have the Doug Marrone revenge factor involved after Marrone bailed on them a few years ago.

A Case for the Jaguars: They have a very good defense, and they are going against an offense that is going to be without their best player. LeSean McCoy is most likely out for this game with an ankle injury, and that should help the Jags chances to really shut down the Bills. You would have to think the crowd will be pumped up for the first playoff game in Jacksonville since 1999. I know you have to be worried about Bortles, but I think they will protect him enough to keep him from taking chances and making mistakes. Also, the Bills aren't a good team,. They were fortunate to get in, and they didn't have a lot of quality wins to justify even being a playoff team.

Prediction: JACKSONVILLE (-7) over Buffalo: I don't think the Bills will have enough offense to pull off the upset. It might be ugly at times, but I think the Jaguars will cruise to a win and get their first playoff win since 1999.

Final Score: Jaguars-23 Bills-13

NFC Wild Card Game-Sunday 1/7 (FOX)

5) Carolina at 4) New Orleans

A Case for the Panthers: There are a lot of people doubting the Panthers as they head into the playoffs, but we forget that this team went 11-5 this year. I think for a single game elimination tournament, you can take your chances with Cam Newton and Luke Keuchly on both sides of the ball. I could see this game being close, and I could see Newton doing his thing and taking the game over. I think the Panthers defense can play well enough to win and shut down the Saints. The Panthers have more playoff experience as of late, and this is a team that was in the Super Bowl just two years ago. They can also use the motivation that they were beaten by the Saints twice already this year, and no one will believe in them beating the Saints in New Orleans in this spot. It's hard to beat a team twice in the NFL in one season-let alone three times in a year.

A Case for the Saints: The Saints are back into the playoffs and the Superdome will be rocking on Sunday afternoon. The combination of Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram has been terrific all year long, and I look for them to ride those two once again in this game. They have already beaten the Panthers twice this year, and maybe they just have the Panthers number this year. You still have Drew Brees and Sean Payton, and they have been itching to get back into the playoffs and now here is there chance. Also, the inexperience on the Saints defense might have some people worried, but once again those young guys don't know any better, so they might not play scared and nervous.

Prediction: Carolina (+7) over NEW ORLEANS: I need an upset this weekend, and I don't see it coming from the AFC, so I'll go with the Panthers. Not too many people are picking Carolina this weekend, but I'm going to go out on a limb and take them. I don't think the Saints will beat them three times this season, and look for Cam Newton and the Panthers to move on to the Divisional Round.

Final Score: Panthers-31 Saints-28

Broncos Mailbag Part 2: The Offseason

In Part 1 of the mailbag, I tackled questions regarding the Broncos regular season. Here, I will tackle the issues facing the Broncos going into the highly crucial offseason.

Who are the Broncos 2018 opponents?
The Broncos will host the Chiefs, Raiders, Chargers, Houston, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles Rams, and Seattle Seahawks. Their road opponents are the Chiefs, Raiders Chargers, NY Jets, Baltimore, Cincy, Arizona, and San Francisco.

What are the Broncos 2018 draft picks?
The Broncos will pick 5th overall in Round One. They have a Second Round pick #40 overall. They have a Third Round Pick #71 overall. They also two Fourth Round picks, two fifth round picks, one Sixth Round pick, and one Seventh Round pick. Some of the overall draft order will be affected by compensatory picks.

What is the Broncos Salary Cap Situation?
Right now, the Broncos have just under $27 million in cap room. That number can grow with the release of certain veteran players.

What players could be getting released in this offseason?
There will be some moves made for sure but look for Menelik Watson, Aqib Talib, and C.J. Anderson being three names that could be on the move. Also, keep an eye on Emmanuel Sanders and Brandon Marshall's status.

Who are the Broncos free agents this coming offseason?
Unrestricted Free Agents:
Brock Osweiler, QB
Virgil Green, TE
Jamaal Charles, RB
Cody Latimer, WR
Todd Davis, ILB
Corey Nelson, ILB
Allen Barbre, OL
Donald Stephenson, LT
Billy Turner, G,
Jared Crick, DE
Billy Winn, DE

Restricted Free Agents:
Shaquil Barrett, OLB
Matt Paradis, C
Bennie Fowler, WR

Exclusive Rights Free Agents:
Jordan Taylor, WR
Zaire Anderson, ILB
Casey Kreiter, LS
Shelby Harris, DE
Kyle Peko, DL
Elijah Wilkinson, OT
Jerrol Garcia-Williams, ILB
Joe Jones, OLB

Which free agents do you think the Broncos should try to retain and which do you think they will let go?
I think that the Broncos should try to re-sign Cody Latimer and either Todd Davis or Corey Nelson. I would also try to bring Billy Winn back relatively cheap. Depending on who they sign at QB, I wouldn't be opposed to bring Osweiler back as a cheap backup. I would let Virgil Green go, Allen Barbre and Donald Stephenson can go as well. I would put high tenders on Shaq Barrett and Matt Paradis in the RFA category as well.

What are the biggest storylines facing the Broncos as they head into the offseason?
The biggest storyline the Broncos have in the offseason is who is going to be their QB next year. Are they going to sign a big-name free agent (Kirk Cousins) or draft a QB high in the first round (Baker Mayfield, Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen)? It is all about the QB in 2018.

Who do you want to be the Broncos next starting QB in 2018?
It is hard to say because the Broncos will do everything they can to get a new, quality starter in there. I would bet on Kirk Cousins right now. Just a hunch, but I think if you put a gun to my head, I think it is Cousins.

Are you optimistic the Broncos will get back into contention in the near future?

This depends a lot on the QB situation. If they get a guy like Cousins, then I could see them improving enough to be in the Wild Card mix. If they draft a QB early in the draft, then it might take a year or two to get back into contention. I believe in John Elway to fix this broken team, but I don't believe in Vance Joseph as a head coach just yet. We'll see but it comes down to the QB. If they improve the QB tremendously, then they can be right there next year.

Broncos Mailbag Part 1: The Regular Season

Now that the Broncos 2017 season is mercifully over, we can turn to the offseason and the changes that will be made in Denver. Before we get to the changes and the offseason, I like to take a look back at the regular season with my traditional mailbag of questions. Up first is the regular season....

Did this Broncos regular season match up to your expectations going into the year?
I had Denver pegged for a 7-9/8-8 type of season. I didn't think the Broncos would be in the playoffs this year, but I thought they would be in the mix till the end. I didn't think that they would end up 5-11. Am I totally surprised that happened? No, not with the QB situation that the Broncos had and a rookie head coach manning the helm. No one, including myself, really thought the Broncos would end up 5-11 though.

What did you think of Vance Joseph in his first year as head coach?
Vance Joseph did not do a good job this year. He looked lost at times-especially after they started off 3-1. The team looked unprepared, undisciplined, and VJ looked lost and the team played poorly and uninspired. He made rookie mistakes, and it showed. I think that he could eventually turn around and become a better coach, but his first year left a lot to be desired. To be fair, the Broncos were blown out in so many games that it was hard to evaluate some of his game management decisions because the games were already out of reach.

Do you think that Vance Joseph should have been fired after this season?
I think the Broncos and John Elway should have moved on from Vance Joseph, but I understand why Elway is bringing him back. You want to try to give him one more year to turn this around after a rough rookie year. The Broncos need some stability, and firing another head coach is not the solution. Also, what coach was going to come in and replace him? If there was no other viable candidate, then maybe it is easier to keep VJ and hope he can turn it around in year two.

What was the problems with the offense this year?
It starts with the quarterback. We all saw how bad the QB play was all year. Starting in the second half of Week 3, Trevor Siemian was awful and it showed that he is not a starting QB in this league. Nice story for a while, but Siemian is not the answer or the guy. Brock Osweiler probably looked the best of the three QBs to start, but he wasn't a difference maker, and it looks like he will be a backup going forward in this league. Paxton Lynch was hurt most of the year and started only two games. He looked better in his last game, but he looks lost at times, and he doesn't look like a guy who was a first round pick a few years ago. It looks like he might be a guy that moves on and develops somewhere else. The bottom line is the Broncos got awful QB play and it killed their chances and totally destroyed this team's confidence.

What was the area of weakness on a solid defense this year?
The Broncos defense got torched a few times for sure, but overall the defense was pretty solid. They were given bad situations and bad field position all season long. The one area that they didn't do well was when the Broncos offense turned it over. The Broncos defense could not stop opponents and shut the door after giveaways. For whatever reason, the Broncos defense collapsed in those spots./

Why do you think the Broncos struggled after starting off the year 3-1?
The Broncos struggled because Trevor Siemian got figured out, he played poorly, they turned the ball over at an alarming rate, and they got exposed as a weak team. September is like the extra preseason now in the NFL and you really don't get a good feel of your team until October. I think once the Broncos got off to ta 3-1 start, everyone looked at it like business as usual, but in reality they weren't a good team.

What was the turning point in the season?
That is an easy one. The Broncos loss to the 0-5 Giants at home on Sunday Night Football really changed this season. The Giants were missing most of their receivers, were dealing with turmoil, and coming into Denver to take on the 3-1 Broncos on SNF. The Broncos played poorly, got beat handily, and after that 23-10 loss, the Broncos fell to 3-2 and never recovered. They had a three game road stretch coming up and the Pats at home after that, and after this brutal loss to the Giants, the Broncos were cooked and they lost eight in a row starting with this Giants loss.

What was the most memorable game of the year?
There weren't a lot of great games to remember this year, but I feel like the game against the Colts on that Thursday night was probably the most fun. The Broncos were out of playoff contention at 4-9, but they rallied to beat the Colts for their only road win of the season. Brock Osweiler came in for the injured Trevor Siemian, played great, and helped the Broncos win going away 25-13.

Is this the worst Broncos season of your lifetime?
Yes, there is no doubt this is the worst Broncos team of my lifetime. 1990 was bad but the Broncos had just been to three Super Bowls in four seasons. 1999 was bad but the team had just won two Super Bowls and John Elway just retired. In 2010, the Josh McDaniels era ended in a 4-12 season, but the Broncos didn't have a lot of talent, and the Broncos were more competitive that year than they were this year. This team got blown out in so many games. They lost eight games by at least 10 points. The team was just so bad on so many levels. I couldn't wait for this season to end, and the Broncos were done when they got buried by the Eagles by the beginning of November.

Broncos Lose To Chiefs 27-24 in Season Finale, Finish 5-11

The Broncos season ended on New Year's Eve with a 27-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Denver. A field goal as time expired gave the Chiefs the win and put the 2017 season to rest for the Broncos. Denver trailed 24-10 midway through the 4th quarter but rallied to tie it at 24 late, only to see Pat Mahomes lead the Chiefs down the field for the game-winning field goal. The Broncos finished 5-11, but Monday morning announced that Vance Joseph will be returning next year as head coach. Here is my final "Five Points" on the Broncos season ending loss....

1) This game had a preseason game feel to it. The Chiefs rested starters or played their starters only sparingly. Pat Mahomes got the start at QB for Alex Smith. Even the Broncos played a lot of younger guys over some veterans, which makes sense considering this game meant nothing and why risk serious injury to guys like Chris Harris and Von Miller.

2) Paxton Lynch looked better and showed some more skill than he has in his previous appearances as the Broncos starter. He finished 21-31 for 254 yards with 2 TDs and 2 INT. I thought he made some really good throws and of course he made some bad ones, but overall he did flash some ability. Do I think Lynch will be the starting QB come 2018? No, but I wouldn't be surprised if he is on the team-especially if the Broncos sign a veteran starter in free agency.

3) De'Angelo Henderson got some playing time and he even scored a touchdown on a sweet 29 yard catch and run on a screen from Lynch to make it 10-7 in the second quarter. Henderson should be in the RB mix next season, and I think he showed he can be a poor man's C.J. Anderson.

4) Speaking of Anderson, he finished with 61 yards and went over 1,000 yards for the season. It is his first ever 1,000 yard season, and the first Broncos running back to go over 1,000 yards since 2013 (Knowshon Moreno).

5) It was nice to see some young guys make some plays. Zaire Anderson scored on a 38 yard fumble return to start the rally in the 4th quarter, and Demarcus Walker had a big sack to give the Broncos the ball back. Lynch rallied them to tie the game at 24 with a TD pass to Demaryius Thomas with 2:53 left, but Mahomes led KC down the field to win the game with a 30 yard field goal as time expired. The Broncos secured the 5th overall pick in the draft with the loss combined with the Bucs late win over New Orleans. This put a wrap on the worst Broncos season of my lifetime and it kicked off the offseason for Denver. There will be a lot of changes in the coming months (More on that later in the week), and lets hope that the Broncos aren't in this position for a long, long time.