The Broncos started off free agency by adding to their offensive line. They signed Guard Ronald Leary from Dallas and they signed Right Tackle Menelik Watson from the Raiders. Both moves are designed to add some beef and some toughness to our offensive line, and we needed to improve both of those positions desperately this offseason.
Leary is widely considered one of the top guards available in free agency and his signing was praised by many experts around the league. He will come in and start at guard with Max Garcia at the other side.
Watson will come in and play RT, and if he stays healthy, he can be a solid pickup. He battled some injuries in his career, but late last season he came in started for the Raiders down the stretch. He could be an upgrade over Donald Stephenson at RT.
Nose Tackle Sylvester Williams signed a three year deal with the Tennessee Titans. Williams was open to return to Denver for a one year deal, but Denver balked, so Williams left and signed with the Titans. Williams will always have a special place because he was a member of the 2015 Broncos defense and Super Bowl 50 championship team. We'll see how he fares in Tennessee, but I would have liked for him to return to the Broncos.
Denver also added two new members to their defensive line on Saturday. First, they signed NT Domata Peko, formerly of the Bengals. Peko was a stalwart of that defense in Cincy for years, but last year was actually his worst year. I would be a little hesitant to say this stops the Broncos run defense problems, but look for him to be a starter or at least a rotational guy come the fall.
The Broncos also added DL Zach Kerr of the Colts. Once again, he is a marginal player, who wasn't ranked in Pro Football Talk's 100 Best Free Agents, but he should fill a void as a possible starter at DE, and probably a rotational guy as well. Low-risk move for the Broncos on that defense.
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Monday, February 20, 2017
Broncos Winter Mailbag
As we hit the worst part of the NFL calendar, the period of time between the end of the Super Bowl and the Scouting Combine, I figured it would be a good time to do a little mailbag to answer some questions that have arisen since the end of the Broncos season on January 1st and the beginning of the draft season and free agency. Why not answer some of those burning questions as we are stuck in a dead time of the NFL offseason? Let's take a look....
How did you finish with your against the spread picks for the regular season and playoffs now that the Super Bowl is over? Let's get this out of the way early. I finished 141-99-14 in the regular season and 6-5 (Thanks for the comeback Tom Brady) in the postseason. Overall, I ended up 147-104-14 for the entire 2016 season, which is one of my best years ever picking games.
How did you finish with your against the spread picks for the regular season and playoffs now that the Super Bowl is over? Let's get this out of the way early. I finished 141-99-14 in the regular season and 6-5 (Thanks for the comeback Tom Brady) in the postseason. Overall, I ended up 147-104-14 for the entire 2016 season, which is one of my best years ever picking games.
How accurate were your 2016 NFL Predictions?
I was nervous about my predictions entering the season. I just didn't have a good feel over the summer about what was going to happen, but I ended up doing pretty well. In the NFC, I had the Giants, Dallas, Green Bay, Atlanta, and Seattle in the playoffs. Five out of six is very good, and I only missed on Carolina. I had the Panthers repeating as NFC South champs, but they didn't come close to the playoffs this year. I missed out on Detroit making the playoffs. I had Green Bay representing the NFC in the Super Bowl, but they lost in the NFC Championship Game to Atlanta. In the AFC, I had three out of the six teams in (Pittsburgh, New England, and Kansas City). The three teams I had in that did not make it: Indy, Baltimore, and (Gulp) the Jets. I even had the Jets winning the AFC East due to the Tom Brady four-game suspension, but we know how that played out. I had the Steelers winning the AFC Championship Game, but like GB, they fell to the Pats in the AFC Championship. Overall, I had 8 of the 12 playoff teams in this year, which is one of my best ever for my predictions, so this year was a very good in terms of me making predictions on the upcoming NFL year. I look forward to my goal of finally hitting all 12 playoff teams next year.
I was nervous about my predictions entering the season. I just didn't have a good feel over the summer about what was going to happen, but I ended up doing pretty well. In the NFC, I had the Giants, Dallas, Green Bay, Atlanta, and Seattle in the playoffs. Five out of six is very good, and I only missed on Carolina. I had the Panthers repeating as NFC South champs, but they didn't come close to the playoffs this year. I missed out on Detroit making the playoffs. I had Green Bay representing the NFC in the Super Bowl, but they lost in the NFC Championship Game to Atlanta. In the AFC, I had three out of the six teams in (Pittsburgh, New England, and Kansas City). The three teams I had in that did not make it: Indy, Baltimore, and (Gulp) the Jets. I even had the Jets winning the AFC East due to the Tom Brady four-game suspension, but we know how that played out. I had the Steelers winning the AFC Championship Game, but like GB, they fell to the Pats in the AFC Championship. Overall, I had 8 of the 12 playoff teams in this year, which is one of my best ever for my predictions, so this year was a very good in terms of me making predictions on the upcoming NFL year. I look forward to my goal of finally hitting all 12 playoff teams next year.
Okay, enough with the predictions and picks, let's talk some Broncos. What did you think of the new Broncos coordinators and the overall staff?
It is a pretty strong staff for new HC Vance Joseph. After thinking it over, I do like the addition of Mike McCoy as the new Offensive Coordinator. I think McCoy is adaptable, which will help the offense and Paxton Lynch. I also like the idea of going to more of power running attack as opposed to sticking with the Gary Kubiak zone blocking system. I am a little worried about McCoy's conservative nature, but you have to think that he will be able to take some of the things he learned with Peyton Manning back in 2012 to help this offense score some more points next year. I like the fact that the Broncos promoted Joe Woods to Defensive Coordinator, and all you hear is how much of a rising star Woods is, and he is taking over the best defense in the NFL. With that said, it does make me nervous that this is Woods' first time as a coordinator in the NFL, and you just can't come in and replace Wade Phillips that easily. It will be a challenge for Woods to live up to that hype, and it will be very interesting to see how Woods handles this defense next year. As for new Special Teams coach, Brock Olivo, you have to love his charisma and attitude, and I think getting him from KC, where he worked with Dave Toub, will really help him and our team in that area. With the addition of former Raiders OC Bill Musgrave as our new QB coach, I love that the Broncos have the former Chargers head coach, Raiders OC, and KC special teams assistant coach, in prominent roles on our staff.
It is a pretty strong staff for new HC Vance Joseph. After thinking it over, I do like the addition of Mike McCoy as the new Offensive Coordinator. I think McCoy is adaptable, which will help the offense and Paxton Lynch. I also like the idea of going to more of power running attack as opposed to sticking with the Gary Kubiak zone blocking system. I am a little worried about McCoy's conservative nature, but you have to think that he will be able to take some of the things he learned with Peyton Manning back in 2012 to help this offense score some more points next year. I like the fact that the Broncos promoted Joe Woods to Defensive Coordinator, and all you hear is how much of a rising star Woods is, and he is taking over the best defense in the NFL. With that said, it does make me nervous that this is Woods' first time as a coordinator in the NFL, and you just can't come in and replace Wade Phillips that easily. It will be a challenge for Woods to live up to that hype, and it will be very interesting to see how Woods handles this defense next year. As for new Special Teams coach, Brock Olivo, you have to love his charisma and attitude, and I think getting him from KC, where he worked with Dave Toub, will really help him and our team in that area. With the addition of former Raiders OC Bill Musgrave as our new QB coach, I love that the Broncos have the former Chargers head coach, Raiders OC, and KC special teams assistant coach, in prominent roles on our staff.
Do you think we go after Tony Romo?
I wouldn't put anything past John Elway this offseason, but we are not trading for Romo. Instead, I think the Broncos will wait for Romo to be released, and if he has any interest in coming to Denver on a smaller contract, then I can see Elway making a move. I think Romo ends up either in Houston somehow, or even in KC.
I wouldn't put anything past John Elway this offseason, but we are not trading for Romo. Instead, I think the Broncos will wait for Romo to be released, and if he has any interest in coming to Denver on a smaller contract, then I can see Elway making a move. I think Romo ends up either in Houston somehow, or even in KC.
Who are you looking at in free agency for the Broncos?
The Broncos are already bringing in DL Earl Mitchell from Miami for a visit this week after he got released last week, and I think the Broncos will target someone like Calais Campbell from Arizona to add to the defensive line. At LB, look for someone like Malcolm Smith, and I look for Denver to look at a guy like Julius Peppers on a one-year deal. In the secondary, the Broncos don't need a lot of help, but look for the Broncos to add Cornerback depth with a guy like Captain Munnerlyn. On offense, the Broncos need to revamp the offensive line. Look for OG help with names like Kevin Zeitler, the top guy on everyone's interior line list, T.J. Lang, and Ron Leary. At OT, I would love for the Broncos to make a move for Joe Thomas again, but we'll see how much the Browns would want via trade, so in free agency I think the Broncos will target Reilly Reiff and Ricky Wagner. It also depends on what they do with OT Russell Okung, who declined a pay cut. If we let Okung go, then we are looking at the possibility of replacing both of our tackles once again.
The Broncos are already bringing in DL Earl Mitchell from Miami for a visit this week after he got released last week, and I think the Broncos will target someone like Calais Campbell from Arizona to add to the defensive line. At LB, look for someone like Malcolm Smith, and I look for Denver to look at a guy like Julius Peppers on a one-year deal. In the secondary, the Broncos don't need a lot of help, but look for the Broncos to add Cornerback depth with a guy like Captain Munnerlyn. On offense, the Broncos need to revamp the offensive line. Look for OG help with names like Kevin Zeitler, the top guy on everyone's interior line list, T.J. Lang, and Ron Leary. At OT, I would love for the Broncos to make a move for Joe Thomas again, but we'll see how much the Browns would want via trade, so in free agency I think the Broncos will target Reilly Reiff and Ricky Wagner. It also depends on what they do with OT Russell Okung, who declined a pay cut. If we let Okung go, then we are looking at the possibility of replacing both of our tackles once again.
Is DeMarcus Ware coming back, and who do you think we could lose?
I don't think Ware is coming back. I know he said that Denver would be in the mix for a return next year, but I think he is going back to Dallas. The Broncos are trying to re-sign CB Kayvon Webster, and if he hits free agency, then I really hope we don't lose him. I also hope we re-sign Vance Walker and he is coming off an ACL injury, so I'm not sure he will have a big market out there for him. I think Sylvester Williams will walk, and I expect Jordan Norwood, who had some bad moments last year, and Dekoda Watson will leave as well. I would like for them to try to bring back Billy Winn for some D-Line depth.
I don't think Ware is coming back. I know he said that Denver would be in the mix for a return next year, but I think he is going back to Dallas. The Broncos are trying to re-sign CB Kayvon Webster, and if he hits free agency, then I really hope we don't lose him. I also hope we re-sign Vance Walker and he is coming off an ACL injury, so I'm not sure he will have a big market out there for him. I think Sylvester Williams will walk, and I expect Jordan Norwood, who had some bad moments last year, and Dekoda Watson will leave as well. I would like for them to try to bring back Billy Winn for some D-Line depth.
Who are the players the Broncos SHOULD be targeting in the draft?
It is still too early to look at some mock drafts and the combine is still a week away, but I have to think Denver is targeting offensive tackles in the early rounds. Cam Robinson, Garett Bolles, and Ryan Ramcyzk are the names that have popped up so far in the early part of the draft projections for the Broncos.
It is still too early to look at some mock drafts and the combine is still a week away, but I have to think Denver is targeting offensive tackles in the early rounds. Cam Robinson, Garett Bolles, and Ryan Ramcyzk are the names that have popped up so far in the early part of the draft projections for the Broncos.
Monday, February 6, 2017
Super Bowl LI Recap and Review
In a game that will be remembered and dissected for a long, long time, the New England Patriots came all the way back from a 28-3 third quarter deficit to shock the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime to win Super Bowl LI. For most of three quarters, it looked like the Falcons were the better team and they played like it, but Atlanta left the door open enough, the Pats rallied behind Tom Brady and their resurgent defense, and then the Falcons collapsed at the end, the Patriots completed their epic comeback and the rest is history. There is so much to digest from this game from the perspective of the Patriots winning their 5th Super Bowl in the Brady-Belichick era, but also the other side of the coin: The Falcons meltdown in the final quarter of this game. That will be the indelible mark on this game for me as the years go by. Here are my thoughts and observations on one of the greatest Super Bowls of all time....
1) The Falcons started the game so well. They stuffed LaGarrette Blount on a 3rd and 1 on the fist drive by the Pats. Even though Atlanta didn't score on the first drive, they set the tone when Devonta Freeman busted it on a toss for a 37 yard run to the 45. Blount's fumble inside the 30 led to Freeman's 5-yard TD run to give Atlanta the 7-0 lead with 12:15 to go in the 2nd quarter. Then, Atlanta capitalized on their next drive when Matt Ryan hit Austin Hooper for a 19 yard TD to make it 14-0. You couldn't ask for a better start than the Falcons had in this game. Up 14-0 on the Pats early and they were rolling.
2) The story early in this game was the Falcons defense. They pressured Brady, sacked and harassed him, and made him uncomfortable. They tackled well, and the Pats were off the game with dropped passes. The Atlanta defense was completely dominating the Pats which culminated when Robert Alford picked off Brady and went the distance for a 82 yard interception return and a 21-0 lead. It looked like the Falcons were going to run away with the game and blow the Pats out like the Seahawks blew out the Broncos a few years ago in the Meadowlands. It was shocking and amazing how well the Falcons were playing at that point.
3) The Pats did manage to drive down and get a field goal right before the half to stop the bleeding and make it 21-3, but that was about one of the worst halves of football I have ever seen the Pats play in the Brady-Belichick era. Even though the Pats got a field goal, I still thought the Falcons were going to win the game and put it away in the second half.
4) After the teams traded punts to start the half, the Falcons go 85 yards on 8 plays in only 4 minutes and Ryan hit Tevin Coleman on a 6 yard TD pass in the flat to make it 28-3 with 8:31 left in the 3rd quarter. 28-3, midway through the 3rd quarter and the Falcons were in complete command of the game and finish line was in sight for their first Super Bowl in franchise history. It was right there for them.
5) At 28-3, I started thinking about how the Falcons and Matt Ryan might be starting their own run as a franchise after dominating the Pats in this Super Bowl, and how this loss affects Brady and Belichick's legacy with a blowout loss for their third Super Bowl defeat. Boy, was I was in for a surprise the rest of the way.
6) The Pats drove down to score on the next drive on a Brady to James White 5 yard TD pass with 2:06 left in the 3rd quarter to make it 28-9 when Stephen Gostkowski missed the extra point. It still looked like it just wasn't going to be the Pats night. The Pats converted a 4th and 3 from their own territory on the drive, and I wonder how many NFL head coaches would have punted there. Belichick made the right choice by going for it, and Brady completed a pass for a first down to keep the drive alive. Gutsy call and the right call by Belichick there. Atlanta was still in good shape and led the friggin Super Bowl 28-9 going into the 4th quarter.
7) I was surprised Belichick went for the onside kick that early after the score, and the Falcons recovered, and it seemed like a move of desperation at that point. He got bailed out by his defense with a 3rd down sack of Ryan, and the Pats got the ball back.
8) The Pats went 72 yards on 12 plays and they had to settle for a 33 yard field goal to make it 28-12 with 9:44 to go in the game. It was smart by Belichick to go for the field goal there because it still made it a two possession game with under 10 minutes to go, but the Pats still needed two TDs and two 2-point conversions to tie the game. There is no way in the world that the Pats were going to be able to get 2 TDs and 2 two-point conversions in the 4th quarter! No way that happens in the NFL. I was wrong once again.
9) What transpired next over the last 9 minutes of the game was one of the most mind-boggling endings to a game I have ever seen. The way the Falcons handled this last part of the game was just atrocious and about as bad as you can finish off a game. It was a meltdown from start to finish. The next drive, the Falcons decided to pass on a 3rd and 1 from their own 36 and Ryan got sacked by Donta Hightower, fumbled, and the Pats recovered at the Atlanta 25 with 8:31 to go. That was the break the Pats needed, and you could just see this comeback coming. Why are the Falcons throwing the ball on that 3rd and 1? Just run the ball and if you don't get it, then at least you take some time off the clock. I just don't get it.
10) Now, Brady is on fire, the Falcons defense is already gassed, and the Pats have all the momentum. Naturally, Brady brings them right down the field, and after a huge 14 yard completion to Malcolm Mitchell on a 3rd and 11, the Pats capped it off with Brady hitting Danny Amendola for a 6 yard TD to make it 28-18, and they then converted the first of their two 2-pointers with the direct snap run to James White on a play that the Pats have been running near the goaline for like 16 years going back to the Kevin Faulk days. 28-20 ATL with 5:56 to go in the game. Buckle your seatbelts. At this point, I really had a feeling the Pats were going to tie the game somehow and someway.
11) Smart move by Belichick to kick it short and make the Falcons return the kick. From their own 10, Ryan hits Freeman on a short throw and Freeman goes 39 yards to the ATL 49. That was a huge play for Atlanta. Two plays later, Julio Jones, who finished with 4 catches for 87 yards, made an unbelievable catch for 27 yards on the sideline to give them a first down at the NE 22 with only 4:40 to go in the game. All they need is a field goal to make it 31-20 and the game is over. What happened next was a travesty from a Falcons standpoint. Freeman lost a yard on the next run, and then Matt Ryan took a terrible sack on the next play and lost 12 yards. Why are you even throwing the ball there??? Why not just run it again? That was an awful job by Kyle Shanahan and Dan Quinn. Just awful. The next play, the Falcons got called for a holding call, which set up a 3rd and 33 at the Pats 45 and they called another pass and it was incomplete and they had to punt with 3:44 to go in the game. What an incredibly awful sequence of plays and events by the Falcons in that spot. Just incredible.
12) You knew Brady was going to go down the field and score. You could just feel it and sense it. They went 10 plays and 91 yards and it was aided by an incredible catch by Julian Edelman on a batted ball in between three Falcon defenders and he scooped it up before it hit the ground to the Falcons 41 for a gain of 23. Why did Dan Quinn challenge the play? It was called a catch on the field, but it was right before the 2 minute warning, and now the Falcons were out of timeouts. Just incredible. I can't even explain it. Brady just shreads the Falcons the rest of the way and James White plunges in from the 1 yard line to make it 28-26, and they naturally get the 2 point conversion to Amendola on a quick screen to tie it at 28 with only 57 seconds left in the game. It was just surreal to watch and expected all at the same time.
13) The Falcons had no timeouts, so they could only do so much on the next drive, and the game was going to overtime after the Falcons could only manage one first down on that series.
14) The first Super Bowl ever to go into overtime was over once the Pats won the coin toss, you knew this game was over and the Pats were going to win the game. The Pats went 75 yards on 8 plays in only 3:58 to win the game 34-28. Brady completed passes to Amendola for 14, Chris Hogan for 18, Edelman for 15, and a pass interference on Martellus Bennett that put the ball down to the ATL 2 yard line. After a near Brady interception on a fade to Bennett, James White finished the comeback off with a 2 yard TD run around right end to win the game and cap the comeback. Just unreal. Absolutely an amazing finish and one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history.
15) This game puts Brady over the top in the conversation of greatest QB ever. He won another Super Bowl MVP, finished with his 5th Super Bowl, and now he has the Super Bowl titles, the stats, the wins, and everything else. The argument and the debate is over. Brady is the greatest QB of all time and that's it. Belichick cemented his legacy as the greatest NFL coach next to Vince Lombardi with his 5th Super Bowl title, and he passed Chuck Noll for most wins in Super Bowl history. He deserves credit for always having his team prepared for any situation and he never melts down late in the game like other coaches do. The Pats never panicked, they kept grinding it out, they were mentally tough, and they pulled off the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. It's hard to think that the Pats could top some of their other great wins in the Brady-Belichick era, but I think this game might top all of those other games. Just incredible.
16) On the flip side, this was the biggest collapse in NFL playoff history. Given the circumstances, the way the game played out, and just the percentages of the situation, the way the Falcons blew this game is just unreal and tragic all in one. Forget about the Oilers blowing that playoff game to the Bills in '92, this choke job by the Falcons takes the cake. The Falcons had a 99% probability of winning the game at 20 different points in the game. This game will stick with this team for a long, long time. Dan Quinn and Kyle Shanahan will have a hard time living this game down, and as much as you have to credit the Pats and Brady for the comeback, you have to look at the Falcons and their part that they played in this epic collapse. If I was a Falcons fan, I would be so devastated that I would not be able to go to work the next day or maybe for the rest of the week. At one point, I was thinking about how the Falcons might be at the start of their run after burying the Patriots, and then in a matter of moments they are viewed as one of the biggest chokers in NFL history. This could be the downfall for this team. If they never get back to the Super Bowl, this will be the game that everyone points to. I'll never forget the look in Arthur Blank's face as he was on the sideline near the end of the game watching this unfold in front of his eyes. Just gut-wrenching for Falcons fans.
17) It was the greatest Super Bowl ever, but it was definitely in the top 5 based on the comeback the Pats made. It certainly was one of the most exciting 4th quarter in the history of the NFL. The Pats ran 93 plays in the game. The Falcons defense was gassed in the second half, Brady got hot, and the rest is history. It was a tremendous game to watch, but it was like also watching a trainwreck before it actually happened. Thankfully, the NFL got one hell of a game to end what was a very lackluster postseason. It needed a memorable game and it got one. If you thought this game was great, it probably be the Thursday night opener in September when the Pats host the Falcons next year.
1) The Falcons started the game so well. They stuffed LaGarrette Blount on a 3rd and 1 on the fist drive by the Pats. Even though Atlanta didn't score on the first drive, they set the tone when Devonta Freeman busted it on a toss for a 37 yard run to the 45. Blount's fumble inside the 30 led to Freeman's 5-yard TD run to give Atlanta the 7-0 lead with 12:15 to go in the 2nd quarter. Then, Atlanta capitalized on their next drive when Matt Ryan hit Austin Hooper for a 19 yard TD to make it 14-0. You couldn't ask for a better start than the Falcons had in this game. Up 14-0 on the Pats early and they were rolling.
2) The story early in this game was the Falcons defense. They pressured Brady, sacked and harassed him, and made him uncomfortable. They tackled well, and the Pats were off the game with dropped passes. The Atlanta defense was completely dominating the Pats which culminated when Robert Alford picked off Brady and went the distance for a 82 yard interception return and a 21-0 lead. It looked like the Falcons were going to run away with the game and blow the Pats out like the Seahawks blew out the Broncos a few years ago in the Meadowlands. It was shocking and amazing how well the Falcons were playing at that point.
3) The Pats did manage to drive down and get a field goal right before the half to stop the bleeding and make it 21-3, but that was about one of the worst halves of football I have ever seen the Pats play in the Brady-Belichick era. Even though the Pats got a field goal, I still thought the Falcons were going to win the game and put it away in the second half.
4) After the teams traded punts to start the half, the Falcons go 85 yards on 8 plays in only 4 minutes and Ryan hit Tevin Coleman on a 6 yard TD pass in the flat to make it 28-3 with 8:31 left in the 3rd quarter. 28-3, midway through the 3rd quarter and the Falcons were in complete command of the game and finish line was in sight for their first Super Bowl in franchise history. It was right there for them.
5) At 28-3, I started thinking about how the Falcons and Matt Ryan might be starting their own run as a franchise after dominating the Pats in this Super Bowl, and how this loss affects Brady and Belichick's legacy with a blowout loss for their third Super Bowl defeat. Boy, was I was in for a surprise the rest of the way.
6) The Pats drove down to score on the next drive on a Brady to James White 5 yard TD pass with 2:06 left in the 3rd quarter to make it 28-9 when Stephen Gostkowski missed the extra point. It still looked like it just wasn't going to be the Pats night. The Pats converted a 4th and 3 from their own territory on the drive, and I wonder how many NFL head coaches would have punted there. Belichick made the right choice by going for it, and Brady completed a pass for a first down to keep the drive alive. Gutsy call and the right call by Belichick there. Atlanta was still in good shape and led the friggin Super Bowl 28-9 going into the 4th quarter.
7) I was surprised Belichick went for the onside kick that early after the score, and the Falcons recovered, and it seemed like a move of desperation at that point. He got bailed out by his defense with a 3rd down sack of Ryan, and the Pats got the ball back.
8) The Pats went 72 yards on 12 plays and they had to settle for a 33 yard field goal to make it 28-12 with 9:44 to go in the game. It was smart by Belichick to go for the field goal there because it still made it a two possession game with under 10 minutes to go, but the Pats still needed two TDs and two 2-point conversions to tie the game. There is no way in the world that the Pats were going to be able to get 2 TDs and 2 two-point conversions in the 4th quarter! No way that happens in the NFL. I was wrong once again.
9) What transpired next over the last 9 minutes of the game was one of the most mind-boggling endings to a game I have ever seen. The way the Falcons handled this last part of the game was just atrocious and about as bad as you can finish off a game. It was a meltdown from start to finish. The next drive, the Falcons decided to pass on a 3rd and 1 from their own 36 and Ryan got sacked by Donta Hightower, fumbled, and the Pats recovered at the Atlanta 25 with 8:31 to go. That was the break the Pats needed, and you could just see this comeback coming. Why are the Falcons throwing the ball on that 3rd and 1? Just run the ball and if you don't get it, then at least you take some time off the clock. I just don't get it.
10) Now, Brady is on fire, the Falcons defense is already gassed, and the Pats have all the momentum. Naturally, Brady brings them right down the field, and after a huge 14 yard completion to Malcolm Mitchell on a 3rd and 11, the Pats capped it off with Brady hitting Danny Amendola for a 6 yard TD to make it 28-18, and they then converted the first of their two 2-pointers with the direct snap run to James White on a play that the Pats have been running near the goaline for like 16 years going back to the Kevin Faulk days. 28-20 ATL with 5:56 to go in the game. Buckle your seatbelts. At this point, I really had a feeling the Pats were going to tie the game somehow and someway.
11) Smart move by Belichick to kick it short and make the Falcons return the kick. From their own 10, Ryan hits Freeman on a short throw and Freeman goes 39 yards to the ATL 49. That was a huge play for Atlanta. Two plays later, Julio Jones, who finished with 4 catches for 87 yards, made an unbelievable catch for 27 yards on the sideline to give them a first down at the NE 22 with only 4:40 to go in the game. All they need is a field goal to make it 31-20 and the game is over. What happened next was a travesty from a Falcons standpoint. Freeman lost a yard on the next run, and then Matt Ryan took a terrible sack on the next play and lost 12 yards. Why are you even throwing the ball there??? Why not just run it again? That was an awful job by Kyle Shanahan and Dan Quinn. Just awful. The next play, the Falcons got called for a holding call, which set up a 3rd and 33 at the Pats 45 and they called another pass and it was incomplete and they had to punt with 3:44 to go in the game. What an incredibly awful sequence of plays and events by the Falcons in that spot. Just incredible.
12) You knew Brady was going to go down the field and score. You could just feel it and sense it. They went 10 plays and 91 yards and it was aided by an incredible catch by Julian Edelman on a batted ball in between three Falcon defenders and he scooped it up before it hit the ground to the Falcons 41 for a gain of 23. Why did Dan Quinn challenge the play? It was called a catch on the field, but it was right before the 2 minute warning, and now the Falcons were out of timeouts. Just incredible. I can't even explain it. Brady just shreads the Falcons the rest of the way and James White plunges in from the 1 yard line to make it 28-26, and they naturally get the 2 point conversion to Amendola on a quick screen to tie it at 28 with only 57 seconds left in the game. It was just surreal to watch and expected all at the same time.
13) The Falcons had no timeouts, so they could only do so much on the next drive, and the game was going to overtime after the Falcons could only manage one first down on that series.
14) The first Super Bowl ever to go into overtime was over once the Pats won the coin toss, you knew this game was over and the Pats were going to win the game. The Pats went 75 yards on 8 plays in only 3:58 to win the game 34-28. Brady completed passes to Amendola for 14, Chris Hogan for 18, Edelman for 15, and a pass interference on Martellus Bennett that put the ball down to the ATL 2 yard line. After a near Brady interception on a fade to Bennett, James White finished the comeback off with a 2 yard TD run around right end to win the game and cap the comeback. Just unreal. Absolutely an amazing finish and one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history.
15) This game puts Brady over the top in the conversation of greatest QB ever. He won another Super Bowl MVP, finished with his 5th Super Bowl, and now he has the Super Bowl titles, the stats, the wins, and everything else. The argument and the debate is over. Brady is the greatest QB of all time and that's it. Belichick cemented his legacy as the greatest NFL coach next to Vince Lombardi with his 5th Super Bowl title, and he passed Chuck Noll for most wins in Super Bowl history. He deserves credit for always having his team prepared for any situation and he never melts down late in the game like other coaches do. The Pats never panicked, they kept grinding it out, they were mentally tough, and they pulled off the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. It's hard to think that the Pats could top some of their other great wins in the Brady-Belichick era, but I think this game might top all of those other games. Just incredible.
16) On the flip side, this was the biggest collapse in NFL playoff history. Given the circumstances, the way the game played out, and just the percentages of the situation, the way the Falcons blew this game is just unreal and tragic all in one. Forget about the Oilers blowing that playoff game to the Bills in '92, this choke job by the Falcons takes the cake. The Falcons had a 99% probability of winning the game at 20 different points in the game. This game will stick with this team for a long, long time. Dan Quinn and Kyle Shanahan will have a hard time living this game down, and as much as you have to credit the Pats and Brady for the comeback, you have to look at the Falcons and their part that they played in this epic collapse. If I was a Falcons fan, I would be so devastated that I would not be able to go to work the next day or maybe for the rest of the week. At one point, I was thinking about how the Falcons might be at the start of their run after burying the Patriots, and then in a matter of moments they are viewed as one of the biggest chokers in NFL history. This could be the downfall for this team. If they never get back to the Super Bowl, this will be the game that everyone points to. I'll never forget the look in Arthur Blank's face as he was on the sideline near the end of the game watching this unfold in front of his eyes. Just gut-wrenching for Falcons fans.
17) It was the greatest Super Bowl ever, but it was definitely in the top 5 based on the comeback the Pats made. It certainly was one of the most exciting 4th quarter in the history of the NFL. The Pats ran 93 plays in the game. The Falcons defense was gassed in the second half, Brady got hot, and the rest is history. It was a tremendous game to watch, but it was like also watching a trainwreck before it actually happened. Thankfully, the NFL got one hell of a game to end what was a very lackluster postseason. It needed a memorable game and it got one. If you thought this game was great, it probably be the Thursday night opener in September when the Pats host the Falcons next year.
Friday, February 3, 2017
Super Bowl LI Preview and Prediction
The Patriots and the Falcons will meet in Super Bowl LI in Houston on Sunday and although it might not be the sexiest matchup in recent Super Bowl history, it still has the chance be a very good game. The Pats are making their record 9th Super Bowl appearance and the Falcons are making only their second Super Bowl appearance and their first since Super Bowl XXXIII when they lost to the Broncos.The 2016 playoffs haven't been good at all (Dallas/GB and Pitt/KC only good games) and we are due for a great game in the Super Bowl. We desperately need a shootout and a back and forth game to save this postseason for the NFL. For a game that might not be the best on the paper, there are some intriguing storylines. The major storylines for Super Bowl LI are the following:
1) Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are going for their 5th Super Bowl win together. That would be a record and that would break the ties that they are currently in. Brady would pass Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw, and Belichick would pass Chuck Noll. A win here and Brady and Belichick will cement their legacy to a level that we have not seen before in the history of the NFL.
2) Matt Ryan vs. Tom Brady is one of the best QB matchups in Super Bowl history. Both are playing at the top of their game, both are MVP candidates, and both players could light up the other defense in this Super Bowl. Plus, you have the Boston College factor with Matt Ryan, and you have the fact that Brady and Ryan are good friends. These two QBs could go shot for shot in this game and turn this Super Bowl into a shootout for the ages.
3) The Patriots bring in the #1 scoring defense in the NFL and the Falcons are the #1 scoring offense in the league this year. It is a battle of two units, and history is not on the side of the Falcons. In all the occasions that this has happened in the Super Bowl, with the exception of the 49ers 55-10 drubbing of Denver in Super Bowl XXIV, the defense has always prevailed over the offense. Could Atlanta buck that trend this Sunday?
3) I didn't want to bring it up but there aren't that many great storylines, so the most interesting one is the final chapter to the Deflategate Saga. Brady was suspended for the first four games this year, and of course the Pats go 3-1 and still finish 14-2 this year. Naturally, Brady has a great year and the Pats roll into this game and they want to stick it to Roger Goodell and the NFL with a victory, accompanied by Tom Brady accepting the MVP trophy from Goodell on the stage after the game ends. It is bound to happen and it is the scene that many people are looking forward to seeing. Finally, we might get closure to this ridiculous story, but the payoff of seeing the Pats winning and having to be next to Goodell on the podium after the game is over is interesting enough to keep the public's attention after the game ends. It is pretty bad that this is the biggest storyline in the entire Super Bowl.
Without further ado, here are is the breakdown of the matchup and the pick for Super Bowl LI.....
Last Week's Record: 0-2
Overall Playoff Record: 5-5
Regular Season Record: 141-99-14
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
A Case for the Falcons: They feature one of the best offenses in the history of the NFL, and they have one of the hottest QBs in the league and probable MVP in Matt Ryan. They scored over 30 points in 13 of 18 games this year, and they have blown people out all year-including Seattle and Green Bay in the playoffs. You can make a case that this offense might not be stopped and the Patriots have not faced an offense or a QB like this all year long-that includes Big Ben and Pitts in the AFC Championship. The Falcons remind me of the 2009 Saints. That year, the Saints were a very good team with a great offense but everyone was picking Peyton Manning and the Colts that year because of Manning and their reputation, but the Saints beat them and shocked everyone but themselves. EVERYONE is going to be rooting for the Falcons over the Patriots, with the exception of New Englanders, and the Falcons will come in as the underdog and they can play that up all week as motivation. Make no mistake, the Falcons are not a pushover.
A Case for the Patriots: Why would you go against Brady and Belichick in a Super Bowl? They are 4-2 in Super Bowls, and they are a David Tyree helmet catch and a Wes Welker drop away from being 6-0. They have rolled through everyone in the AFC this year, and I have a hard time seeing the Falcons defense getting pressure on Brady and slowing down the Pats offense. I think the Pats are getting at least to 30 points in this game. Plus, you have Brady with the extra motivation of trying to stick it to Roger Goodell and just eviscerating the Falcons from start to finish. Also, can't you see Belichick and the Pats defense making a few big plays on Matt Ryan and that offense? Can't you see Matty Ice melting down in the redzone and Julio Jones getting frustrated because the Pats defense has completely shut him down? The Pats have the experience factor in this game, the coaching edge, and the edge in special teams, defense, and even at QB. The Patriots are simply the better team and on a neutral field, you have to like their chances.
Prediction: New England (-3) over Atlanta: I know that there is a path for Atlanta to win this game, but I just don't see it happening. The Falcons will move the ball, they will score some points, but they will settle for field goals, Matt Ryan will make some key mistakes, and the Falcons inexperience will get the best of them and the Patriots will be able to exploit that. I can't see the Pats losing this game, and I am shocked that this spread is only 3 points. Tom Brady and the Patriots offense will move the ball at will on Atlanta's defense, they will capitalize on opportunities, and they will pull away in the 4th quarter. By the late Sunday night, Brady and Belichick will be hoisting their 5th Lombardi Trophy and smiling away as Roger Goodell awkwardly hands them the trophy and scurries off the stage as the Patriots win another Super Bowl title to cement their franchise as the gold standard for this new salary cap era of the NFL.
Final Score: Patriots-38 Falcons-24
1) Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are going for their 5th Super Bowl win together. That would be a record and that would break the ties that they are currently in. Brady would pass Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw, and Belichick would pass Chuck Noll. A win here and Brady and Belichick will cement their legacy to a level that we have not seen before in the history of the NFL.
2) Matt Ryan vs. Tom Brady is one of the best QB matchups in Super Bowl history. Both are playing at the top of their game, both are MVP candidates, and both players could light up the other defense in this Super Bowl. Plus, you have the Boston College factor with Matt Ryan, and you have the fact that Brady and Ryan are good friends. These two QBs could go shot for shot in this game and turn this Super Bowl into a shootout for the ages.
3) The Patriots bring in the #1 scoring defense in the NFL and the Falcons are the #1 scoring offense in the league this year. It is a battle of two units, and history is not on the side of the Falcons. In all the occasions that this has happened in the Super Bowl, with the exception of the 49ers 55-10 drubbing of Denver in Super Bowl XXIV, the defense has always prevailed over the offense. Could Atlanta buck that trend this Sunday?
3) I didn't want to bring it up but there aren't that many great storylines, so the most interesting one is the final chapter to the Deflategate Saga. Brady was suspended for the first four games this year, and of course the Pats go 3-1 and still finish 14-2 this year. Naturally, Brady has a great year and the Pats roll into this game and they want to stick it to Roger Goodell and the NFL with a victory, accompanied by Tom Brady accepting the MVP trophy from Goodell on the stage after the game ends. It is bound to happen and it is the scene that many people are looking forward to seeing. Finally, we might get closure to this ridiculous story, but the payoff of seeing the Pats winning and having to be next to Goodell on the podium after the game is over is interesting enough to keep the public's attention after the game ends. It is pretty bad that this is the biggest storyline in the entire Super Bowl.
Without further ado, here are is the breakdown of the matchup and the pick for Super Bowl LI.....
Last Week's Record: 0-2
Overall Playoff Record: 5-5
Regular Season Record: 141-99-14
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
A Case for the Falcons: They feature one of the best offenses in the history of the NFL, and they have one of the hottest QBs in the league and probable MVP in Matt Ryan. They scored over 30 points in 13 of 18 games this year, and they have blown people out all year-including Seattle and Green Bay in the playoffs. You can make a case that this offense might not be stopped and the Patriots have not faced an offense or a QB like this all year long-that includes Big Ben and Pitts in the AFC Championship. The Falcons remind me of the 2009 Saints. That year, the Saints were a very good team with a great offense but everyone was picking Peyton Manning and the Colts that year because of Manning and their reputation, but the Saints beat them and shocked everyone but themselves. EVERYONE is going to be rooting for the Falcons over the Patriots, with the exception of New Englanders, and the Falcons will come in as the underdog and they can play that up all week as motivation. Make no mistake, the Falcons are not a pushover.
A Case for the Patriots: Why would you go against Brady and Belichick in a Super Bowl? They are 4-2 in Super Bowls, and they are a David Tyree helmet catch and a Wes Welker drop away from being 6-0. They have rolled through everyone in the AFC this year, and I have a hard time seeing the Falcons defense getting pressure on Brady and slowing down the Pats offense. I think the Pats are getting at least to 30 points in this game. Plus, you have Brady with the extra motivation of trying to stick it to Roger Goodell and just eviscerating the Falcons from start to finish. Also, can't you see Belichick and the Pats defense making a few big plays on Matt Ryan and that offense? Can't you see Matty Ice melting down in the redzone and Julio Jones getting frustrated because the Pats defense has completely shut him down? The Pats have the experience factor in this game, the coaching edge, and the edge in special teams, defense, and even at QB. The Patriots are simply the better team and on a neutral field, you have to like their chances.
Prediction: New England (-3) over Atlanta: I know that there is a path for Atlanta to win this game, but I just don't see it happening. The Falcons will move the ball, they will score some points, but they will settle for field goals, Matt Ryan will make some key mistakes, and the Falcons inexperience will get the best of them and the Patriots will be able to exploit that. I can't see the Pats losing this game, and I am shocked that this spread is only 3 points. Tom Brady and the Patriots offense will move the ball at will on Atlanta's defense, they will capitalize on opportunities, and they will pull away in the 4th quarter. By the late Sunday night, Brady and Belichick will be hoisting their 5th Lombardi Trophy and smiling away as Roger Goodell awkwardly hands them the trophy and scurries off the stage as the Patriots win another Super Bowl title to cement their franchise as the gold standard for this new salary cap era of the NFL.
Final Score: Patriots-38 Falcons-24
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Vance Joseph's Coaching Staff
It has been about three weeks since the Broncos hired Vance Joseph as their new head coach, and he did not waste too much time trying to fill out his coaching staff. It is no secret how important a coaching staff is for a new coach, and since Joseph won't be calling plays on either side of the ball, this staff will have a lot of responsibility, and they will be vital to the success of the Broncos in Year One of the Joseph era. Before I go through the staff, let me say that I was upset that Wade Phillips departed and left to become the new Defensive Coordinator for the Rams. You can't understate the job that Wade did with the defense the past two seasons. When he replaced Jack Del Rio as the DC in 2015, you immediately saw the impact that he made. He took a very good defense and made it a great defense and won a Super Bowl with that defense playing at a high level. Wade Phillips coordinated a defense that will be compared with the 70s Steelers, '85 Bears, and the 2000 Ravens as one of the greatest defenses in the Super Bowl era. Hats off to Wade and he will always be remembered as a Bronco-largely for what he did the last two years and for what he did for this franchise in the late 80s as well.
Offensive Coaching Staff (New Hires in Italics)
-Mike McCoy-Offensive Coordinator(Chargers Head Coach)
-Bill Musgrave-Quarterbacks (Raiders Offensive Coordinator)
-Jeff Davidson-Offensive Line(Chargers Offensive Line Coach)
-Eric Studesville-Running Backs
-Tyke Tolbert-Wide Receivers
-John Benton-Assistant Offensive Line Coach(Jaguars Offensive Line Coach)
-Geep Chryst-Tight Ends Coach (49ers 2015 Offensive Coordinator)
-Klint Kubiak-Offensive Assistant
Defensive Coaching Staff (New Hires in Italics)
-Joe Woods-Defensive Coordinator (Broncos DB coach)
-Bill Kollar-Defensive Line
-Reggie Herring-Inside Linebackers
-Fred Pagac-Outside Linebackers
-Marcus Robertson-Defensive Backs(Raiders DB coach)
-Johnnie Lynn-Assistant Defensive Backs
Special Teams Coaching Staff
-Brock Olivo-Special Teams Coordinator(Chiefs Assistant ST coach)
-Chris Gould-Assistant Special Teams Coordinator
Strength and Conditioning
-Luke Richesson
Offensive Coaching Staff (New Hires in Italics)
-Mike McCoy-Offensive Coordinator(Chargers Head Coach)
-Bill Musgrave-Quarterbacks (Raiders Offensive Coordinator)
-Jeff Davidson-Offensive Line(Chargers Offensive Line Coach)
-Eric Studesville-Running Backs
-Tyke Tolbert-Wide Receivers
-John Benton-Assistant Offensive Line Coach(Jaguars Offensive Line Coach)
-Geep Chryst-Tight Ends Coach (49ers 2015 Offensive Coordinator)
-Klint Kubiak-Offensive Assistant
Defensive Coaching Staff (New Hires in Italics)
-Joe Woods-Defensive Coordinator (Broncos DB coach)
-Bill Kollar-Defensive Line
-Reggie Herring-Inside Linebackers
-Fred Pagac-Outside Linebackers
-Marcus Robertson-Defensive Backs(Raiders DB coach)
-Johnnie Lynn-Assistant Defensive Backs
Special Teams Coaching Staff
-Brock Olivo-Special Teams Coordinator(Chiefs Assistant ST coach)
-Chris Gould-Assistant Special Teams Coordinator
Strength and Conditioning
-Luke Richesson
Monday, January 23, 2017
Championship Sunday Recap
Championship Sunday is usually one of the most exciting and thrilling days of football in the calendar year. It is a day to look forward to as a fan of the NFL, but this year was a bit of a dud. Both games were blowouts, and the Falcons and the Patriots each rolled on their way to Super Bowl LI. It was hard to fathom how dominating New England and Atlanta looked over Pittsburgh and Green Bay respectively. I was very surprised that both of these games were non-competitive by the third quarter. It sets up an interesting Super Bowl between the high-powered Falcons and the juggernaut Patriots. The potential is there for a great game, but we have time to look ahead to that, so let's recap the two games from Championship Sunday.
NFC Championship
Atlanta-44 Green Bay-211) The Falcons went down the field on their first drive and Matt Ryan flipped a 2 yard pass to Mohamed Sanu for a touchdown to make it 7-0. Right there you sensed that the Falcons might be getting on a roll offensively from the get go.
2) The Packers drove down the field on their first drive and they settled for a 41 yard field goal and naturally Mason Crosby missed it wide right and the score remained 7-0. Crosby hit two 50+ field goals in the last two minutes last week at Dallas, and he shanks a very makeable field goal early in the game. Again, you started to feel like this could be Atlanta's night.
3) Here is where the game really just started to get away from the Packers: After the Falcons got a field goal on their second drive of the game to take a 10-0 lead, the Packers and Aaron Rodgers drove right down the field and looked like they were going to score until Aaron Ripkowski fumbled on a long run inside the five and into the endzone where the Falcons recovered. That really gave you the feeling that this game was going to be a blowout.
4) The Falcons responded with a 80 yard drive capped off by Matt Ryan scrambling in for 14 yards to make it 17-0. The only thing that could have saved the Packers at that point was if they could score at the end of the half, and they were getting the ball in the second half, so if they could get two scores before Matt Ryan got the ball back, that would at least give them a chance to get back into this game.
5) Rodgers throw a long interception, essentially a punt, and the Falcons took advantage right before the first half ended. Ryan drove the Falcons into scoring territory with the help of two Packer dropped interceptions and Ryan hit Julio Jones on a back shoulder fade for a 5 yard touchdown and an insurmountable 24-0 lead at the half. That was just a killer sequence for the Packers at that moment of the game.
6) After the Packers punted on their first drive of the second half, Julio Jones put the game away for good when he took a crossing route and went 73 yards for a touchdown to make it 31-0, and the rout was officially on in Atlanta. That was it. The game was done and the Falcons could start partying and celebrating the NFC Championship.
7) Matt Ryan played great and Julio Jones just dominated the game. Ryan finished 27-38 for 392 yards 4 TDs and 1 rushing TD. Jones finished with 9 receptions for 180 yards and 2 TDs. The Falcons had the best offense all year long, and they continued their onslaught in this game. I know the Packers had injuries in the secondary, but I haven't seen so many guys wide open and the Packers had no answers and couldn't make any adjustments. Give Ryan credit for playing so well, and give Kyle Shanahan credit for what this offense became this year.
8) The Packers just ran into a buzzsaw. I thought Aaron Rodgers had it in him to pull this game out by himself and get his team to the Super Bowl singlehandedly. I was wrong and the Packers and Rodgers were just overwhelmed by the Falcons. They got down early, had two bad breaks early, and the game just away from them. The Packers window isn't closing and they can reload in the offseason and be right back here again next year.
9) The Falcons had a lot of success with Matt Ryan early in his career, but they couldn't breakthrough in the postseason. They missed the playoffs in 2013, 2014, and 2015, but now in Dan Quinn's second year he got them back into the playoffs, won the division, and are now headed to the Super Bowl for only the second time in franchise history.
AFC Championship
New England-36 Pittsburgh-17
1) This game got out of hand just like the early game, and I was surprised by that. I thought the Steelers would keep this game close and even win it late, but the Patriots just dominated from the start. They went right down the field and got a field goal from Stephen Gostkowski to make it 3-0. Then, after a Steelers punt, they went right down the field again and Tom Brady his Chris Hogan on a 16 yard TD pass in which Brady stood in the pocket for like 30 seconds and found a wide open Hogan standing in the end zone. That was the first of many bad moments by the Steelers defense.
2) The Steelers responded with an 84-yard drive and DeAngelo Williams capped off the drive with a 5 yard run to make it 10-6 after the missed extra point. Ben Roethlisberger had some big throws on the drive and I thought that maybe we have a game here and the Steelers might have settled into the game.
3) The Patriots responded with an 82 yard drive and Brady hit Hogan again on a 34 yard TD pass on a flea flicker and just like that it was 17-6. It was going to be very hard for the Steelers to come back from being down 11 in Foxboro on this night.
4) Here is the key sequence of events late in the second quarter: Big Ben put together another nice drive for the Steelers and it looked like he hit Jesse James for a TD to cut the lead to 17-12 right before the first half ended. After the play got reviewed, it showed that James was down right before the goaline. The Steelers still had a 1st and goal from inside the 1, but the first down run to Williams lost 1 yard. Then, the second down run to Williams lost 3 yards, and then Ben threw incomplete on 3rd down and somehow the Steelers had to settle for a field goal and the Pats still lead 17-9. That was a very rough set of plays for the Steelers and at that point I realized that there was no way the Steelers were going to win this game.
5) After NE had a 20-9 lead in the third quarter, Brady put together a classic drive, carved up the Steelers defense and LeGarrette Blount scored on a 1 yard run with 2:44 to go in the third quarter to make it 27-9. The Steelers were on life support and you wondered if they could somehow get a backdoor cover because this game's result was effectively over. The Steelers tried to play zone defense and rush only a few guys at Brady and it failed miserably. He cut them apart and shredded them to the tune of 32-42 for 384 yards and 3 TDs. They had no answer for Chris Hogan, 9 receptions for 180 yards and 2 TDs, and Julian Edelman, 8 for 118 and 1 TD. The Steelers had no answers on defense all day. They didn't have the personnel to execute that type of gameplan and they had no chance to stop Brady and this offense. The epitome of this game was when Brady hit a wide-open Pat Devlin, a FULLBACK, on a hook route for a first down when no one on the Steelers even covered him. That played summed up the game.
6) Pittsburgh WR Eli Rogers fumbled on the next offensive play for the Steelers and the Pats recovered deep in PITT territory and Brady threw a 10 yard TD pass to Julian Edelman to make it 33-9 after the missed PAT with 1:35 to go in the third quarter. That was the dagger in the heart of the Steelers and that put the game away for good.
7) Big Ben didn't play awful but he got no help from this receivers, who dropped too many passes all night long. I know people might point to LeVeon Bell going out with a groin injury early in the game, but his absence had no bearing on the loss. The Steelers weren't able to matchup defensively with Brady and Pats offense. It is interesting because I really thought the Steelers would give the Pats a close game, but they weren't in the class of NE. The Steelers got to the Wild Card round in 2014, the Divisional round in 2015 and now the AFC Championship in 2016. Perhaps they will take the next step next year and get back to the Super Bowl.
8) As much as you hate to give them credit, the Pats, Tom Brady, and Bill Belichick deserve the kudos once again. In a year when Brady was suspended for the first four games, they were still able to go 14-2, and roll over Houston and Pittsburgh in the playoffs to get to the 7th Super Bowl in the Belichick-Brady era. They both go for their 5th Super Bowl victory and a chance to put the finishing touches on two epic careers. They were the better team, outclassed and outcoached the Steelers, and now have a chance for immortality in Super Bowl LI against the Falcons in two weeks.
NFC Championship
Atlanta-44 Green Bay-211) The Falcons went down the field on their first drive and Matt Ryan flipped a 2 yard pass to Mohamed Sanu for a touchdown to make it 7-0. Right there you sensed that the Falcons might be getting on a roll offensively from the get go.
2) The Packers drove down the field on their first drive and they settled for a 41 yard field goal and naturally Mason Crosby missed it wide right and the score remained 7-0. Crosby hit two 50+ field goals in the last two minutes last week at Dallas, and he shanks a very makeable field goal early in the game. Again, you started to feel like this could be Atlanta's night.
3) Here is where the game really just started to get away from the Packers: After the Falcons got a field goal on their second drive of the game to take a 10-0 lead, the Packers and Aaron Rodgers drove right down the field and looked like they were going to score until Aaron Ripkowski fumbled on a long run inside the five and into the endzone where the Falcons recovered. That really gave you the feeling that this game was going to be a blowout.
4) The Falcons responded with a 80 yard drive capped off by Matt Ryan scrambling in for 14 yards to make it 17-0. The only thing that could have saved the Packers at that point was if they could score at the end of the half, and they were getting the ball in the second half, so if they could get two scores before Matt Ryan got the ball back, that would at least give them a chance to get back into this game.
5) Rodgers throw a long interception, essentially a punt, and the Falcons took advantage right before the first half ended. Ryan drove the Falcons into scoring territory with the help of two Packer dropped interceptions and Ryan hit Julio Jones on a back shoulder fade for a 5 yard touchdown and an insurmountable 24-0 lead at the half. That was just a killer sequence for the Packers at that moment of the game.
6) After the Packers punted on their first drive of the second half, Julio Jones put the game away for good when he took a crossing route and went 73 yards for a touchdown to make it 31-0, and the rout was officially on in Atlanta. That was it. The game was done and the Falcons could start partying and celebrating the NFC Championship.
7) Matt Ryan played great and Julio Jones just dominated the game. Ryan finished 27-38 for 392 yards 4 TDs and 1 rushing TD. Jones finished with 9 receptions for 180 yards and 2 TDs. The Falcons had the best offense all year long, and they continued their onslaught in this game. I know the Packers had injuries in the secondary, but I haven't seen so many guys wide open and the Packers had no answers and couldn't make any adjustments. Give Ryan credit for playing so well, and give Kyle Shanahan credit for what this offense became this year.
8) The Packers just ran into a buzzsaw. I thought Aaron Rodgers had it in him to pull this game out by himself and get his team to the Super Bowl singlehandedly. I was wrong and the Packers and Rodgers were just overwhelmed by the Falcons. They got down early, had two bad breaks early, and the game just away from them. The Packers window isn't closing and they can reload in the offseason and be right back here again next year.
9) The Falcons had a lot of success with Matt Ryan early in his career, but they couldn't breakthrough in the postseason. They missed the playoffs in 2013, 2014, and 2015, but now in Dan Quinn's second year he got them back into the playoffs, won the division, and are now headed to the Super Bowl for only the second time in franchise history.
AFC Championship
New England-36 Pittsburgh-17
1) This game got out of hand just like the early game, and I was surprised by that. I thought the Steelers would keep this game close and even win it late, but the Patriots just dominated from the start. They went right down the field and got a field goal from Stephen Gostkowski to make it 3-0. Then, after a Steelers punt, they went right down the field again and Tom Brady his Chris Hogan on a 16 yard TD pass in which Brady stood in the pocket for like 30 seconds and found a wide open Hogan standing in the end zone. That was the first of many bad moments by the Steelers defense.
2) The Steelers responded with an 84-yard drive and DeAngelo Williams capped off the drive with a 5 yard run to make it 10-6 after the missed extra point. Ben Roethlisberger had some big throws on the drive and I thought that maybe we have a game here and the Steelers might have settled into the game.
3) The Patriots responded with an 82 yard drive and Brady hit Hogan again on a 34 yard TD pass on a flea flicker and just like that it was 17-6. It was going to be very hard for the Steelers to come back from being down 11 in Foxboro on this night.
4) Here is the key sequence of events late in the second quarter: Big Ben put together another nice drive for the Steelers and it looked like he hit Jesse James for a TD to cut the lead to 17-12 right before the first half ended. After the play got reviewed, it showed that James was down right before the goaline. The Steelers still had a 1st and goal from inside the 1, but the first down run to Williams lost 1 yard. Then, the second down run to Williams lost 3 yards, and then Ben threw incomplete on 3rd down and somehow the Steelers had to settle for a field goal and the Pats still lead 17-9. That was a very rough set of plays for the Steelers and at that point I realized that there was no way the Steelers were going to win this game.
5) After NE had a 20-9 lead in the third quarter, Brady put together a classic drive, carved up the Steelers defense and LeGarrette Blount scored on a 1 yard run with 2:44 to go in the third quarter to make it 27-9. The Steelers were on life support and you wondered if they could somehow get a backdoor cover because this game's result was effectively over. The Steelers tried to play zone defense and rush only a few guys at Brady and it failed miserably. He cut them apart and shredded them to the tune of 32-42 for 384 yards and 3 TDs. They had no answer for Chris Hogan, 9 receptions for 180 yards and 2 TDs, and Julian Edelman, 8 for 118 and 1 TD. The Steelers had no answers on defense all day. They didn't have the personnel to execute that type of gameplan and they had no chance to stop Brady and this offense. The epitome of this game was when Brady hit a wide-open Pat Devlin, a FULLBACK, on a hook route for a first down when no one on the Steelers even covered him. That played summed up the game.
6) Pittsburgh WR Eli Rogers fumbled on the next offensive play for the Steelers and the Pats recovered deep in PITT territory and Brady threw a 10 yard TD pass to Julian Edelman to make it 33-9 after the missed PAT with 1:35 to go in the third quarter. That was the dagger in the heart of the Steelers and that put the game away for good.
7) Big Ben didn't play awful but he got no help from this receivers, who dropped too many passes all night long. I know people might point to LeVeon Bell going out with a groin injury early in the game, but his absence had no bearing on the loss. The Steelers weren't able to matchup defensively with Brady and Pats offense. It is interesting because I really thought the Steelers would give the Pats a close game, but they weren't in the class of NE. The Steelers got to the Wild Card round in 2014, the Divisional round in 2015 and now the AFC Championship in 2016. Perhaps they will take the next step next year and get back to the Super Bowl.
8) As much as you hate to give them credit, the Pats, Tom Brady, and Bill Belichick deserve the kudos once again. In a year when Brady was suspended for the first four games, they were still able to go 14-2, and roll over Houston and Pittsburgh in the playoffs to get to the 7th Super Bowl in the Belichick-Brady era. They both go for their 5th Super Bowl victory and a chance to put the finishing touches on two epic careers. They were the better team, outclassed and outcoached the Steelers, and now have a chance for immortality in Super Bowl LI against the Falcons in two weeks.
Friday, January 20, 2017
Championship Sunday Preview and Picks!
At the start of the season, I picked the Packers over the Steelers in Super Bowl LI in Houston. Now here I am with both of those teams alive and well in the Conference Championship Games this weekend. We had two classic games on Sunday and two road teams winning on Sunday to give us quite an entertaining final four in the NFL. Both games should be really good and you have three teams with historic Super Bowl tradition and one team trying to get to only their second Super Bowl in franchise history. The Steelers are looking for their 9th Super Bowl appearance (6-2), the Patriots are looking for their 9th Super Bowl appearance (4-4), and the Packers are looking for their 6th appearance. The Falcons only appearance was in Super Bowl XXXIII in the loss to the Broncos 34-19. Before I make my predictions, here are the best possible Super Bowl matchups in order from best to worst:
1) New England vs. Green Bay (Aaron Rodgers vs. Tom Brady)
2) Pittsburgh vs. Green Bay (Two hottest teams in the league, tradition-rich franchises, and a rematch of Super Bowl XLV)
3) New England vs. Atlanta (Falcons big-time offense tries to pull off the huge upset as most of America roots for the underdog to take down the hated Patriots)
4) Pittsburgh vs. Atlanta (Not too many storylines available for this one)
Now, onto the picks for Championship Sunday in the NFL.....
Last Week's Record: 3-1
Overall Playoff Record: 5-3
Regular Season Record: 141-99-14
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
Overall Playoff Record: 5-3
Regular Season Record: 141-99-14
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
NFC Championship
4) Green Bay at 2) Atlanta
A Case for the Packers: Did you see what Aaron Rodgers has done over the last two months? Did you see how he pulled that game out with his clutch throw to Jared Cook in final seconds to set up Mason Crosby's FG to stick a knife in the hearts of the Cowboys? Rodgers is playing on another level and with last week's throw to Cook and all the Hail Mary throws in the last two years, you CAN'T COUNT RODGERS OUT EVER IN A GAME!!! There is no way you can think you have him beat. Rodgers is also playing with that look. It is the same look that Montana had in 1989, the same look that Eli had in 2011, and the same look that Flacco had in 2012. Rodgers is on such a roll that he can't be stopped. I know the Packers defense can't stop anyone, and they will get carved up at times by Atlanta, but I'm not betting against Rodgers because he is the best QB on the planet right now, and you can just see it in his eyes. He is like a Jedi right now. I'm not going against a Jedi in the NFC Championship Game.
A Case for the Falcons: How are the Packers and their defense going to slow down the Falcons offense? They sliced and diced the Seattle defense last week, and Matt Ryan had so many weapons to go to that I was losing track. Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman can run the ball on GB and then they can catch balls out of the backfield. You have Julio Jones and Mohammed Sanu each grabbing a TD last week in the win as well. Did you see the Cowboys come back from a 21-3 deficit and a 28-13 deficit on this Packers defense? You could make the case that the Falcons might just come out of the gates and just ambush the Packers from the get go and this game is something like 24-7 early in the 2nd quarter or something like that. Aren't the Falcons due for another Super Bowl appearance as well?
Prediction: Green Bay (+5) over ATLANTA: I'm not going against Aaron Rodgers again, and I see this being a high-scoring, back and forth game, that comes down to one of the final drives in the 4th quarter. I see Rodgers making one more drive than Ryan, winning the game, and sending the Packers to Super Bowl LI.
Final Score: Packers-36 Falcons-31
AFC Championship
3) Pittsburgh at 1) New England
A Case for the Steelers: They have three of the best five players on the field in this game, and all of them are on offense. Big Ben won't be intimidated by heading to Foxboro for this game with the Pats. New England's defense has faced the easiest slate of opposing QBs any team has faced in like the last 15 years. They finally have to deal Ben, LeVeon Bell, and Antonio Brown. They simply haven't faced an offense like this all year long. I have felt all year that the Steelers were the only team that had a chance to knock off the Pats in the AFC, and I haven't changed one bit. They are red-hot (9 wins in a row), and they have played in countless big games in the Mike Tomlin era. I might be the only one who thinks that their defense can make plays on the NE offense. Plus, they KNOW they can win this game, and I'm shocked they are almost six point underdogs going into this game.
A Case for the Patriots: The Patriots offense really struggled at times against the Texans last week, and Tom Brady admitted that it was a tough game for them. Expect Bill Belichick to use their performance last week as motivation for this week's game. They will work their tails off to be ready to go this Sunday. I think if you get Brady and company with a chip on their shoulder, then that could be trouble for the Steelers. Also, I think the same will apply to their defense. All week they will hear that they haven't faced any good QBs and quality offenses, and now they have to deal the Ben/Bell/Brown trifecta. I can see their defense taking pride in that and Belichick somehow devising a plan to stop those guys from having a big game.
Prediction: Pittsburgh (+5.5) over NEW ENGLAND: The Patriots finally get a quality opponent with a big-time QB, and I don't think they will be up to the task-even at home. I see the Steelers grabbing a big lead and then holding on for dear life at the end, but since I picked Pittsburgh to represent the AFC back in August, I have to stick with them here.
Final Score: Steelers-27 Patriots-24
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