It's a little early, but the draft is done, the saints received their punishment and I'm craving football season since my mets look like crap. Here are my 2012 NFL predictions. Playoff seeding in paranthesis.
AFC East:
Patriots: 12-4 (1)
Bills: 9-7
Jets: 9-7
Dolphins: 7-9
AFC South:
Texans: 11-5 (3)
Titans: 9-7
Colts: 6-10
Jaguars: 3-13
AFC North:
Ravens: 11-5 (2)
Bengals: 10-6 (5)
Steelers: 10-6 (6)
Browns: 4-12
AFC West:
Broncos: 11-5 (4)
Raiders: 9-7
Chargers: 7-9
Chiefs: 7-9
NFC East:
Giants: 12-4 (2)
Eagles: 10-6 (6)
Cowboys: 8-8
Redskins: 6-10
NFC South:
Saints: 10-6 (4)
Panthers: 10-6 (5)
Falcons: 10-6
Buccaneers: 4-12
NFC North:
Packers: 12-4 (1)
Lions: 10-6
Bears: 9-7
Vikings: 6-10
NFC West:
49ers: 11-5 (3)
Seahawks: 8-8
Cardinals: 7-9
Rams: 5-11
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
A Song for Trayvon
Came across this video by Jasiri X on MoveOn.org's YouTube chanenl: "A Song for Trayvon". If the title didn't give it away, the song is a reaction to the Trayvon murders. Song is based on "No Church in the Wild" by Jay-Z and Kanye and has some pretty controversial lyrics (which I pasted below). You can check out the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOahRYtw3lo
It's Sunday the God's day, a day of rest
The NBA all stars are playing next. But right outside that same city the celebratory atmosphere would
change quickly
Who watching the game with me you know lil Trayvon was
reppin his home town
D Wade and LeBron
He had just came up from
Miami to see his daddy
Who knew such a great weekend would end so badly
In a place where you move because it's safe for your family
But some people got a ingrown hate for your family
Halftime just a short brake from the slammin
Bout to go to the store lil cuz you want some candy?
Bet I grab you some skittles kid. I'll be right back in a little bit
How bout I grab you some skittles kid. I'll be right back in a little bit.
(Chorus)
Paid for lil cuz's skittles and a iced tea walked out the store and felt the chill of the night breeze
It seemed a little colder than before he didn't know
it was a boy like a soldier in a war that was watching him clocking him
thinking about stopping him
nine milly cocking them
who's this nigga
walking in my neighborhood?
He fits all the specifics of criminal statistics-- he
looks suspicious "911, what's your emergency?"
A black man's walking through my hood purposely
stay clam, it's just little Trayvon but he wanna
be the hero so he put's his cape on
George Zimmerman neighborhood block captain
loaded glock strapped in fake cop has been got out the car
ignoring what the cops asked him
"They always get away this time that will
not happen!"
George Zimmerman didn't take his Ritalin drunk off adrenaline says he
making a citizens arrest
Trayvon looks at him vexxed "I just walked to the
store nothing more nothing less"
Just steps from his home he ignored his
request George grabs him, Trayvon swings and connects
Starts screaming out for help
but Zimmerman see a threat so he pulls out his gun and he
points it at his chest
He fires but he misses Trayvon pleads for forgiveness
"I didn't do nothing" this is senseless
but George Zimmerman was so vicious he made sure the second shot hit em no survivor no witness
Trayvon never gave his cousin his skittles, missed the all star
game didn't see another dribble
And George Zimmerman wasn't even arrested.
The message is only white lives are protected In America.
It's Sunday the God's day, a day of rest
The NBA all stars are playing next. But right outside that same city the celebratory atmosphere would
change quickly
Who watching the game with me you know lil Trayvon was
reppin his home town
D Wade and LeBron
He had just came up from
Miami to see his daddy
Who knew such a great weekend would end so badly
In a place where you move because it's safe for your family
But some people got a ingrown hate for your family
Halftime just a short brake from the slammin
Bout to go to the store lil cuz you want some candy?
Bet I grab you some skittles kid. I'll be right back in a little bit
How bout I grab you some skittles kid. I'll be right back in a little bit.
(Chorus)
Paid for lil cuz's skittles and a iced tea walked out the store and felt the chill of the night breeze
It seemed a little colder than before he didn't know
it was a boy like a soldier in a war that was watching him clocking him
thinking about stopping him
nine milly cocking them
who's this nigga
walking in my neighborhood?
He fits all the specifics of criminal statistics-- he
looks suspicious "911, what's your emergency?"
A black man's walking through my hood purposely
stay clam, it's just little Trayvon but he wanna
be the hero so he put's his cape on
George Zimmerman neighborhood block captain
loaded glock strapped in fake cop has been got out the car
ignoring what the cops asked him
"They always get away this time that will
not happen!"
George Zimmerman didn't take his Ritalin drunk off adrenaline says he
making a citizens arrest
Trayvon looks at him vexxed "I just walked to the
store nothing more nothing less"
Just steps from his home he ignored his
request George grabs him, Trayvon swings and connects
Starts screaming out for help
but Zimmerman see a threat so he pulls out his gun and he
points it at his chest
He fires but he misses Trayvon pleads for forgiveness
"I didn't do nothing" this is senseless
but George Zimmerman was so vicious he made sure the second shot hit em no survivor no witness
Trayvon never gave his cousin his skittles, missed the all star
game didn't see another dribble
And George Zimmerman wasn't even arrested.
The message is only white lives are protected In America.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
2012 MLB predictions
This is my first post from my iPad so please pardon the autocorrect errors. I call this time of year sports limbo because it's between the super bowl and MLB season. As a mets fan though, I have very little to look forward to. That being said, here are my predictions for the 2012 MLB season standings.
AL East:
New York Yankees: 99-63
Boston Red Sox: 98-64
Toronto Blue Jays: 87-75
Tampa Bay Rays: 85-77
Baltimore Orioles: 62-100
AL Central:
Detroit Tigers: 93-69
Chicago White Sox: 84-78
Kansas City Royals: 82-80
Cleveland Indians: 74-88
Minnesota Twins: 74-88
AL West:
Texas Rangers: 92-70
Los Angeles Angels: 90-72
Oakland Athletics: 82-80
Seattle Mariners: 72-90
NL East:
Philadelphia Eagles: 103-59
Florida Marlins: 97-65
Atlanta Braves: 85-77
Washington Nationals: 76-86
New York Mets: 72-90
NL Central:
Milwaukee Brewers: 97-65
St. Louis Cardinals: 86-76
Cincinnati Reds: 84-78
Pittsburgh Pirates: 76-86
Chicago Cubs: 73-89
Houston Astros: 70-92
NL West:
San Francisco Giants: 93-69
Arizona Diamondbacks: 90-72
Colorado Rockies: 82-80
Los Angeles Dodgers: 77-85
San Diego Padres: 76-86
AL East:
New York Yankees: 99-63
Boston Red Sox: 98-64
Toronto Blue Jays: 87-75
Tampa Bay Rays: 85-77
Baltimore Orioles: 62-100
AL Central:
Detroit Tigers: 93-69
Chicago White Sox: 84-78
Kansas City Royals: 82-80
Cleveland Indians: 74-88
Minnesota Twins: 74-88
AL West:
Texas Rangers: 92-70
Los Angeles Angels: 90-72
Oakland Athletics: 82-80
Seattle Mariners: 72-90
NL East:
Philadelphia Eagles: 103-59
Florida Marlins: 97-65
Atlanta Braves: 85-77
Washington Nationals: 76-86
New York Mets: 72-90
NL Central:
Milwaukee Brewers: 97-65
St. Louis Cardinals: 86-76
Cincinnati Reds: 84-78
Pittsburgh Pirates: 76-86
Chicago Cubs: 73-89
Houston Astros: 70-92
NL West:
San Francisco Giants: 93-69
Arizona Diamondbacks: 90-72
Colorado Rockies: 82-80
Los Angeles Dodgers: 77-85
San Diego Padres: 76-86
Saturday, March 3, 2012
How to Win at Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the more fun options at the casino and also has one of the better odds out of any game. As someone who has played a lot of games, I've learned a lot on the best ways you can improve your odds at winning at blackjack. Keep in mind that it's still gambling and there is no sure fire way to win at every hand, but following the below 10 tips and it will help significantly improve your odds. Keep in mind, these are NOT for single deck blackjack (most of the games in casinos aren't single deck anyway).
1. Follow "the book" - There's a guide that will give you insight on when to hit and when to stay along with the odds if you do either/or. You can find an example here that tells you when to hit or stand based on what the dealer has and what you have. Some people will say "it doesn't matter" because it's all random, but by always going by which odds favor YOU it will help increase your chances (plus the table won't get mad at you by sticking with the book :) ).
2. Understand You're Competing Against the Dealer - This is something overlooked by people who don't follow "the book". I can't count how many times a person hit with a 15 when they shouldn't have only because "it's a 15". If the dealer is showing a 6, there is a strong chance that they'll bust their hand. Why risk busting with your 15 then? Stay and go with the odds. A 15 with a dealer showing the 10, however, completely changes what you should be doing.
3. Get a Good Table - So you're following the book, making sure to pay attention to what the dealer actually has, but asshole to your left has no clue what he's doing. He's not only going to fuck up his hand, but possibly fuck up your as well. I know it's tough finding open tables sometimes, but you don't want to sit with a wildcard like that.
4. Double Down!! - To win significant amounts of cash at Blackjack, you need to take advantage of Double Down / Split opportunities. If the dealer is showing anything but a 10 / Face and you have an 11, DOUBLE DOWN. If a dealer has a 4 - 6 and you have an 8 - 11, DOUBLE DOWN. Also, split cards when you can. 8's and Ace's should always be split (never split 10's or face cards) and the others are dependent on what the dealer has. If you have the opportunity to split 3 or 4 times DO IT. It's how you win.
5. Be Consistent with Tough Calls - Not every hand is black and white and some can go either way. My least favorite blackjack hand is one of those examples. If you have a 16 and the dealer is showing a 7, it's a very tough call. If you hit, there's a decent chance you'll bust, but there's also a decent chance the dealer is showing a 17. Whatever you decide to do on this type of hand, make sure you're consistent. Think of it as a coin flip. If you call heads and lose, chances are if you keep calling heads you'll win next time or the time after. If you keep changing it up, you can lose 3, 4, or even more in a row. These type of hands, there is no "wrong answer", just keep consistent.
6. Don't Rush - Who cares if the guy next to you hates that it takes you 2 seconds longer to calculate the total of your hand. Don't feel pressured to rush to "hit" or "stay" because you're holding up the table a bit. It's your money and you want to win.
7. Avoid the Sucker Bets - Many casino's have these side bets where you can bet that you'll be two identical cards (or something similar) and then you'll win some extra money. These are a waste of your money and a good way to burn through your cash.
8. Unsure? Ask the Dealer - The dealer is on your side. If you win money, there's more of a chance they'll get tips. Following the book takes some experience to remember completely, so if you're unsure about whether or not to hit or stay ask "what does the book say to do here". They'll tell you (with a disclaimer saying "but you can do whatever") and follow the book's advice. People who know how to play at the table will appreciate it too.
9. Don't do Insurance - Another sucker bet in my opinion. It works some times, but if you do insurance every time the dealer shows an Ace you'll lose money. Remember, the casino wants to make money so the reason why it's available is that they earn more from insurance than lose from it.
10. Understand "Always" Hands - These are hands that I dub as ones where you always complete the same action. If you have a 3 - 11 ALWAYS hit. Double down too if need be. Same with soft 12s - 15s (soft meaning that the Ace is used as an 11, but can be also used as a 1). ALWAYS stay on 18 - 21. 17 in most cases too, but I'm not 100% against someone hitting on a 17 if the dealer is showing a 10. ALWAYS split 8's and Ace's. 7's in most cases too.
1. Follow "the book" - There's a guide that will give you insight on when to hit and when to stay along with the odds if you do either/or. You can find an example here that tells you when to hit or stand based on what the dealer has and what you have. Some people will say "it doesn't matter" because it's all random, but by always going by which odds favor YOU it will help increase your chances (plus the table won't get mad at you by sticking with the book :) ).
2. Understand You're Competing Against the Dealer - This is something overlooked by people who don't follow "the book". I can't count how many times a person hit with a 15 when they shouldn't have only because "it's a 15". If the dealer is showing a 6, there is a strong chance that they'll bust their hand. Why risk busting with your 15 then? Stay and go with the odds. A 15 with a dealer showing the 10, however, completely changes what you should be doing.
3. Get a Good Table - So you're following the book, making sure to pay attention to what the dealer actually has, but asshole to your left has no clue what he's doing. He's not only going to fuck up his hand, but possibly fuck up your as well. I know it's tough finding open tables sometimes, but you don't want to sit with a wildcard like that.
4. Double Down!! - To win significant amounts of cash at Blackjack, you need to take advantage of Double Down / Split opportunities. If the dealer is showing anything but a 10 / Face and you have an 11, DOUBLE DOWN. If a dealer has a 4 - 6 and you have an 8 - 11, DOUBLE DOWN. Also, split cards when you can. 8's and Ace's should always be split (never split 10's or face cards) and the others are dependent on what the dealer has. If you have the opportunity to split 3 or 4 times DO IT. It's how you win.
5. Be Consistent with Tough Calls - Not every hand is black and white and some can go either way. My least favorite blackjack hand is one of those examples. If you have a 16 and the dealer is showing a 7, it's a very tough call. If you hit, there's a decent chance you'll bust, but there's also a decent chance the dealer is showing a 17. Whatever you decide to do on this type of hand, make sure you're consistent. Think of it as a coin flip. If you call heads and lose, chances are if you keep calling heads you'll win next time or the time after. If you keep changing it up, you can lose 3, 4, or even more in a row. These type of hands, there is no "wrong answer", just keep consistent.
6. Don't Rush - Who cares if the guy next to you hates that it takes you 2 seconds longer to calculate the total of your hand. Don't feel pressured to rush to "hit" or "stay" because you're holding up the table a bit. It's your money and you want to win.
7. Avoid the Sucker Bets - Many casino's have these side bets where you can bet that you'll be two identical cards (or something similar) and then you'll win some extra money. These are a waste of your money and a good way to burn through your cash.
8. Unsure? Ask the Dealer - The dealer is on your side. If you win money, there's more of a chance they'll get tips. Following the book takes some experience to remember completely, so if you're unsure about whether or not to hit or stay ask "what does the book say to do here". They'll tell you (with a disclaimer saying "but you can do whatever") and follow the book's advice. People who know how to play at the table will appreciate it too.
9. Don't do Insurance - Another sucker bet in my opinion. It works some times, but if you do insurance every time the dealer shows an Ace you'll lose money. Remember, the casino wants to make money so the reason why it's available is that they earn more from insurance than lose from it.
10. Understand "Always" Hands - These are hands that I dub as ones where you always complete the same action. If you have a 3 - 11 ALWAYS hit. Double down too if need be. Same with soft 12s - 15s (soft meaning that the Ace is used as an 11, but can be also used as a 1). ALWAYS stay on 18 - 21. 17 in most cases too, but I'm not 100% against someone hitting on a 17 if the dealer is showing a 10. ALWAYS split 8's and Ace's. 7's in most cases too.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
How to Win at Hanging With Friends
A little while back I created a blog post "How to Win at Words with Friends". Around that time, I discovered a game by the same creators, Hanging with Friends, that has been gaining some popularity over the past few months. For those of you who don't know what Hanging with Friends is, it's a hang man game where you play with friends over your mobile device. You pick a word (based on a few available letters) for your friend to solve, and they have to figure it out within a certain number of strikes. Once they solve or don't solve, they create a word and it's your turn to solve. You keep doing this until the first person reaches five strikes. While a very fun game, it's not always the easiest to win, but follow the tips below to improve your Hanging with Friends win streak.
1. Understand that the Letter Revealed is the Last Vowel: This is important to know for both the guesser and the word creator. Hanging with Friends always gives the guesser a free letter and it's the last vowel in the word. Don't create a word where the last vowel appears more than once in the word, and if you see that a vowel appears with 3 or 4 letters after start guessing consonants that can be bunched together (i.e. rch for porch, or nts for words like flints).
2. When the E is the 2nd to last Letter Guess R, D, or S: While this doesn't always hold true, more often than not if the letter revealed is an E and only one letter is after that E, it will be either an R, D, or S. Guess this before moving onto the other letters. Again, not always the case, but more often than not, it holds true.
3. Get the Vowel Guess Out of the Way: If you have a word with five blanks before the first vowel appears, you know there's another vowel. Always go with the guesses you know will help to reveal a letter.
4. Use Y's as a Vowel When Possible: This is a great way to throw people off. One of my favorite words to play is simply "pyros" because people don't expect that y there. _ _ _ o _ will make them go with a, e, i, o, u before thinking that maybe it's a word without any more vowels. This works even better for longer words with one vowel (besides Y) and Y.
5. Throw People Off with the First Letter: Getting the first letter right opens the doors for guessers and makes it a lot easier to solve the word. A good way to throw them off is by using an uncommon word that has letters (other than the first) that form multiple other words. If you play "wend", for example, if a person gets the "end", they are going to likely guess "send", "tend", "mend", and "bend" before turning to wend. Words like this help players win games.
6. Go for the Longer Word if Possible: Longer words means less guesses. Add the s to the end of the word to give the guesser one less strike (or "ed"). Avoid, however, adding an extra letter that's already within the word.
7. Use Two Letters with an 8 or More Point Value Within One Word: X, Q, J, Z...if you can use two of these letters within one word do it. The guesser might get one, but more often than not they will not think to guess to. Even if you have to use a double letter like "Jazzy", it's still a great choice for a word.
8. Plays Words with Vowels as the First Letter: This works well with words that look like no vowels are left (i.e. "axis"). If you play a word with a vowel as the first letter when the word looks like there are no more (again _ _ i _), it's a good way to throw them off. It shouldn't be done all the time, but playing it infrequently and smart is an efficient way to give them a strike.
9. When Guessing, Think of a Possible Word Before Selecting a Letter: We know T, S, R or all common letters, but it doesn't mean the person forming the word used them. In actuality, if they are trying to stump you they will likely steer clear of those letters. Instead of going with the common letters, think of a word that can be made using the letters provided to you and use that as a basis to guess. Even with only one letter, it's a good way to increase your odds.
10. Form the Word First in a New Game: In close games this can be the difference maker. Making the other person guess first can result in them having to guess an extra word.
1. Understand that the Letter Revealed is the Last Vowel: This is important to know for both the guesser and the word creator. Hanging with Friends always gives the guesser a free letter and it's the last vowel in the word. Don't create a word where the last vowel appears more than once in the word, and if you see that a vowel appears with 3 or 4 letters after start guessing consonants that can be bunched together (i.e. rch for porch, or nts for words like flints).
2. When the E is the 2nd to last Letter Guess R, D, or S: While this doesn't always hold true, more often than not if the letter revealed is an E and only one letter is after that E, it will be either an R, D, or S. Guess this before moving onto the other letters. Again, not always the case, but more often than not, it holds true.
3. Get the Vowel Guess Out of the Way: If you have a word with five blanks before the first vowel appears, you know there's another vowel. Always go with the guesses you know will help to reveal a letter.
4. Use Y's as a Vowel When Possible: This is a great way to throw people off. One of my favorite words to play is simply "pyros" because people don't expect that y there. _ _ _ o _ will make them go with a, e, i, o, u before thinking that maybe it's a word without any more vowels. This works even better for longer words with one vowel (besides Y) and Y.
5. Throw People Off with the First Letter: Getting the first letter right opens the doors for guessers and makes it a lot easier to solve the word. A good way to throw them off is by using an uncommon word that has letters (other than the first) that form multiple other words. If you play "wend", for example, if a person gets the "end", they are going to likely guess "send", "tend", "mend", and "bend" before turning to wend. Words like this help players win games.
6. Go for the Longer Word if Possible: Longer words means less guesses. Add the s to the end of the word to give the guesser one less strike (or "ed"). Avoid, however, adding an extra letter that's already within the word.
7. Use Two Letters with an 8 or More Point Value Within One Word: X, Q, J, Z...if you can use two of these letters within one word do it. The guesser might get one, but more often than not they will not think to guess to. Even if you have to use a double letter like "Jazzy", it's still a great choice for a word.
8. Plays Words with Vowels as the First Letter: This works well with words that look like no vowels are left (i.e. "axis"). If you play a word with a vowel as the first letter when the word looks like there are no more (again _ _ i _), it's a good way to throw them off. It shouldn't be done all the time, but playing it infrequently and smart is an efficient way to give them a strike.
9. When Guessing, Think of a Possible Word Before Selecting a Letter: We know T, S, R or all common letters, but it doesn't mean the person forming the word used them. In actuality, if they are trying to stump you they will likely steer clear of those letters. Instead of going with the common letters, think of a word that can be made using the letters provided to you and use that as a basis to guess. Even with only one letter, it's a good way to increase your odds.
10. Form the Word First in a New Game: In close games this can be the difference maker. Making the other person guess first can result in them having to guess an extra word.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
NFL Playoff Predictions
I know I said I'd shy away from football posts now that the season is over, but my Giants are in the playoffs and I'm very excited. Here are my predictions for the playoffs.
AFC Playoff Race:
Wildcard:
Pittsburgh over Denver: 27 - 10
Why?: Teams have already figured Tim Tebow and this Denver team has reverted back to their old ways for the beginning of the season. if Buffalo can destroy them like they did, Pittsburgh will have no problem.
Bengals over Texans: 24 -21
Why?: This will be a very close game that I can see going either way, but the injuries suffered by the Texans are becoming too much for this team to handle. The Bengals only lost by 1 point last time and even though they only beat one team above .500 I see them pulling off the upset.
Divisional:
Patriots over Bengals: 24 - 14
Why?: The defense will still have issues for the Patriots, but they'll find a way to get rookie QB Dalton. Tom Brady will be clutch on offense (like usual) and even with a poor D they will find ways to win like they have all season.
Ravens over Steelers: 21 - 17
Why?: Both are pretty balanced teams with the slight edge going to the Ravens. Ravens took both games and there's no reason to speculate that they wouldn't take the 3rd one in the series especially with a Roethlisberger that isn't 100%.
Championship:
Ravens over Patriots: 30 - 24
Why?: This is where the Patriots D will bite them in the ass. The key for the Ravens to win this game is to give Ray Rice the ball often which is what they'll do. Brady will still have a good game, but the D will do the Patriots in.
NFC Playoff Race:
Wildcard:
Giants over Falcons: 37 - 21
Why?: I already revealed my bias by stating I'm a Giants fan, but I expect a big game from this team. Eli is having his best season as a QB and is one of the most dangerous QBs in the leagues when he's clutch (which has been more times than not this season). Him and Cruz will do damage against this team.
Saints over Lions: 34 - 17
Why?: The last time these teams faced each other it resulted in a 31-17 win by the Saints. I expect a very similar score with a Drew Brees that has been fantastic all season (especially as of late). Matt Stafford has had a great season, but he's no Drew Brees.
Divisional:
Giants over Packers: 35 - 34
Why?: Yes, I know bias right here, but I expect a similar vibe to the 2007 season when the Giants lost by 3 points to the Pats and then beat them in a close game in the Super Bowl. Packers aren't an undefeated team this year, but easily the best in the league and I see the last drive coming down to Eli and him getting it done. Last time what stopped the Giants from a win was giving the ball back to the Packers with too much time on the clock. It won't happen this time.
49ers over Saints: 17 - 10
Why?: If any defense can figure out how to stop Drew Brees it's the 49ers. In order for the 49ers to win this game, they need to put on a great defense showing and have Alex Smith commit 0 turnovers (both will happen). Frank Gore will be the one who decides this game with 2 running touchdowns.
Championship:
Giants over 49ers: 21 - 17
Why?: The 49ers beat the Giants last time 27-20 in regular season. I think the Giants are improved since then and will do what they need to do on both offense and defense to win this game. Bradshaw will have a decent game (not great, but just enough) and Eli & Cruz will put up big numbers again. Again, I understand I'm biased, but I sense another upset.
Super Bowl:
Ravens over Giants: 24 - 13
Why?: This is where my bias for the Giants end. A team that is balanced on both offense and defense will be the team that stops the Giants. The Packers don't have the D, the 49ers don't have the O, but the Ravens have both and it will be the deciding factor in this game.
AFC Playoff Race:
Wildcard:
Pittsburgh over Denver: 27 - 10
Why?: Teams have already figured Tim Tebow and this Denver team has reverted back to their old ways for the beginning of the season. if Buffalo can destroy them like they did, Pittsburgh will have no problem.
Bengals over Texans: 24 -21
Why?: This will be a very close game that I can see going either way, but the injuries suffered by the Texans are becoming too much for this team to handle. The Bengals only lost by 1 point last time and even though they only beat one team above .500 I see them pulling off the upset.
Divisional:
Patriots over Bengals: 24 - 14
Why?: The defense will still have issues for the Patriots, but they'll find a way to get rookie QB Dalton. Tom Brady will be clutch on offense (like usual) and even with a poor D they will find ways to win like they have all season.
Ravens over Steelers: 21 - 17
Why?: Both are pretty balanced teams with the slight edge going to the Ravens. Ravens took both games and there's no reason to speculate that they wouldn't take the 3rd one in the series especially with a Roethlisberger that isn't 100%.
Championship:
Ravens over Patriots: 30 - 24
Why?: This is where the Patriots D will bite them in the ass. The key for the Ravens to win this game is to give Ray Rice the ball often which is what they'll do. Brady will still have a good game, but the D will do the Patriots in.
NFC Playoff Race:
Wildcard:
Giants over Falcons: 37 - 21
Why?: I already revealed my bias by stating I'm a Giants fan, but I expect a big game from this team. Eli is having his best season as a QB and is one of the most dangerous QBs in the leagues when he's clutch (which has been more times than not this season). Him and Cruz will do damage against this team.
Saints over Lions: 34 - 17
Why?: The last time these teams faced each other it resulted in a 31-17 win by the Saints. I expect a very similar score with a Drew Brees that has been fantastic all season (especially as of late). Matt Stafford has had a great season, but he's no Drew Brees.
Divisional:
Giants over Packers: 35 - 34
Why?: Yes, I know bias right here, but I expect a similar vibe to the 2007 season when the Giants lost by 3 points to the Pats and then beat them in a close game in the Super Bowl. Packers aren't an undefeated team this year, but easily the best in the league and I see the last drive coming down to Eli and him getting it done. Last time what stopped the Giants from a win was giving the ball back to the Packers with too much time on the clock. It won't happen this time.
49ers over Saints: 17 - 10
Why?: If any defense can figure out how to stop Drew Brees it's the 49ers. In order for the 49ers to win this game, they need to put on a great defense showing and have Alex Smith commit 0 turnovers (both will happen). Frank Gore will be the one who decides this game with 2 running touchdowns.
Championship:
Giants over 49ers: 21 - 17
Why?: The 49ers beat the Giants last time 27-20 in regular season. I think the Giants are improved since then and will do what they need to do on both offense and defense to win this game. Bradshaw will have a decent game (not great, but just enough) and Eli & Cruz will put up big numbers again. Again, I understand I'm biased, but I sense another upset.
Super Bowl:
Ravens over Giants: 24 - 13
Why?: This is where my bias for the Giants end. A team that is balanced on both offense and defense will be the team that stops the Giants. The Packers don't have the D, the 49ers don't have the O, but the Ravens have both and it will be the deciding factor in this game.
Monday, January 2, 2012
NFL Power Rankings - Playoff Time!
Well the regular NFL season is over and looks like I'll be back to regular blogging. Final power rankings below.
1. Green Bay Packers: 606 (581 )
Previous Week: 1
Notes: No Aaron Rodgers? No problem apparently. Matt Flynn surprised everyone with his dominant performance over the Lions. Even with a subpar defense, the Packers are the best team in the NFC and in the NFL.
2. New Orleans Saints: 545 (486 )
Previous Week: 2
Notes: The Packers might be the best team in the NFL, but the Saints are the team nobody wants to play in the playoffs right now. Drew Brees is looking like the best QB in football right now.
3. New England Patriots: 493 (441 )
Previous Week: 4
Notes: In a conference without an elite team, the Patriots have the slight edge over other good teams like the Ravens and Steelers mostly due to Tom Brady. Their defense might not be great, but the Patriots have won 8 in a row and are the team nobody wants to face in the AFC.
4. San Francisco 49ers: 475 (451)
Previous Week: 3
Notes: The 49ers end the season as the #2 seed with a 13-3 record after being 6-10 the year before. If their defense plays at the top of their game, they can beat anyone in the playoffs.
5. Baltimore Ravens: 418 (384)
Previous Week: 6
Notes: A win over the Bengals gets them a bye week in the playoffs. If the Broncos upset the Steelers, the Ravens might find their road to the championship game fairly easy with the Texans suffering from injuries, the Broncos being the Broncos, and the Bengals already losing twice to them.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers: 417 (393)
Previous Week: 5
Notes: Like the 49ers, if this team's defense is at the top of their game, they can beat anyone in the NFL. They should coast against Denver next week.
7. Houston Texans: 328 (348)
Previous Week: 7
Notes: Losing three games in a row (especially all to non-playoff teams) is not what the Texans wanted to do going into the playoffs. It will be a tough game against the Bengals.
8. Detroit Lions: 312 (328)
Previous Week: 8
Notes: The Lions did not expect a Packers team without Aaron Rodgers to perform as well as they did on offense, but there you go. It's exciting that this team has made the playoffs for the first time since 1999, but it might be short-lived with their first game on the road against a red hot Saints.
9. Atlanta Falcons: 275 (226)
Previous Week: 9
Notes: The win over the Buccs in week 17 means that the Falcons get to play the Giants on the road instead of the Saints who destroyed them in week 16.
10. Philadelphia Eagles: 197 (170)
Previous Week: 12
Notes: Might be "weird" ranking a non-playoff team so high (especially one that only finished the season at .500), but very few teams played as good of football at the end of the season as the Eagles. They somehow end the season in 2nd place in the NFC East only one game back from taking that division.
11. Cincinnati Bengals: 178 (196)
Previous Week: 10
Notes: Well, they lost to the Ravens, but got some help and are now in the playoffs as a 6th seed. Their first game is against the Texans who they only lost to by 1 point a few weeks ago.
12. New York Giants: 176 (132)
Previous Week: 14
Notes: When the Giants team can put it all together like they did against the Cowboys, there are very few teams they can't beat. Victor Cruz is one of the better receivers in the league as is Eli in the QB position. This QB / WR combo will be exciting to watch in the playoffs.
13. San Diego Chargers: 153 (128 )
Previous Week: 15
Notes: The other non-playoff team (besides the Eagles) that few would want to face in the playoffs. They are the best 8-8 team out of the 3 in the AFC West, but unfortunately will not be able to compete in the wildcard game against the Steelers.
14. Tennessee Titans: 150 (119)
Previous Week: 16
Notes: They won, but didn't get the help they needed to get in. That one touchdown loss against the Bengals was the only thing preventing this team from making the playoffs. That and giving up the Colt's first win.
15. Dallas Cowboys: 144 (185)
Previous Week: 11
Notes: They simply played worse than the Giants on all sides of the ball. The blame can't be on Romo this time as he still put up a solid game. Jerry Jones says Jason Garrett's job is safe and he's probably being truthful although if they end up not making the playoffs next year it probably will be a different story.
16. New York Jets: 135 (148)
Previous Week: 13
Notes: The Jets lose their last 3 games of the season and end up not making the playoffs. Rex Ryan's job will be safe for now (he was the one who transformed this team from a joke to relevant after all), but is very far from that Super Bowl guarantee he promised at the beginning of the season.
17. Chicago Bears: 117 (98)
Previous Week: 17
Notes: Well, they finally win a game and end the season at .500. If Jay Cutler didn't have starting QB security for the Bears he does now.
18. Seattle Seahawks: 75 (75)
Previous Week: 18
Notes: Even they ended the season with the same record, the Seahawks still exceeded expectations this season.
19. Arizona Cardinals: 54 (15 )
Previous Week: 22
Notes: A moral victory for the Cards. Arizona ends the season on a strong note with a win over the Seahawks and an 8-8 record.
20. Oakland Raiders: 32 (57)
Previous Week: 19
Notes: The Broncos gave the Raiders a shot at an AFC West division title, but they couldn't beat the Chargers. Will Carson Palmer be the starting QB for the Raiders next season?
21. Miami Dolphins: 32 (8)
Previous Week: 23
Notes: Nothing made this team happier than shattering any hopes of a playoff birth for the Jets with a win over them. After staring off the season 0-7, the Dolphins go 6-3.
22. Denver Broncos: 15 (35)
Previous Week: 21
Notes: Well, I guess Tim Tebow "led" this team to a surprising playoff berth despite losing their last 3. This team is the weakest of the 12 teams in the playoffs, but based on some of their wins you never know what can happen.
23. Carolina Panthers: 6 (55)
Previous Week: 20
Notes: Excited about watching Cam Newton & co compete next season. They might not be a playoff team in 2012, but they'll be a lot closer than they were this year.
24. Buffalo Bills: -52 (-4)
Previous Week: 24
Notes: I thought after being up 21 - 0, the Bills could at least NOT get destroyed by the Pats for their last game of the season. I was wrong. What a disappointing season for a team that started off so strong.
25. Kansas City Chiefs: -71 (-104)
Previous Week: 26
Notes: Too early to say, but Romeo Crennel looks like a good fit in KC. Prior to him taking over the head coaching gig, the team looked like one of the bottom 3 in the NFL. While not a playoff caliber team yet, they look much improved.
26. Washington Redskins: -103 (-59)
Previous Week: 25
Notes: Another team that started off the season so strong (and a team that some said could have taken the NFC East), but showed their true colors as the season progressed. It will be interesting to see what happens in terms of changes in the off season.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars: -134 (-187)
Previous Week: 28
Notes: The only bright spot in the Jags season was MJD who put up another great season (and one of the best in the NFL in the RB position).
28. Cleveland Browns: -181 (-161)
Previous Week: 27
Notes: 6 losses in a row and 0 division wins to close out the season. Disgusting.
29. Minnesota Vikings: -217 (-204)
Previous Week: 29
Notes: They still put up a fight against the Bears and like a lot of their losses, they came up short by one possession.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: -306 (-266)
Previous Week: 30
Notes: 10 losses in a row and Morris is gone. This team was so competitive last year and started off this 4-2. I can't remember the last time I saw such a collapse.
31. Indianapolis Colts: -387 ( -366 )
Previous Week: 31
Notes: They get the #1 pick in the draft. It will be interesting to see if they get Luck (for themselves or for trade bait).
32. St. Louis Rams: -395 (-370 )
Previous Week: 32
Notes: And the Rams end the season on a horrible note and Steve Spagnuolo and GM Billy Devaney are immediately fired. It will take a while for this team to rebuild.
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