Super Bowl Sunday

The Super Bowl is upon  us and after all the deflating talk it is finally time for the last football game of the year.  There are those of us in the baseball world that are very happy because that means it is time for baseball to go back to the forefront and we can see spring ahead of us and pitchers and catchers will be reporting very soon. 

The New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks are the two teams competing this year.  The Seahawks are looking for their second straight championship and are led by quarterback Russell Wilson and running back Marshawn Lynch and of course have a very good defense if not great defense.  The Patriots are led by their head coach Bill Belichek and their quarterback Tom Brady.  They have heard all the talk for two weeks now about them cheating with deflating footballs and how they have cheated in the past.  I think though this will be a good game and afterwards especially if the Patriots win you will hear more talk about cheating but for the time being it has basically gone away and everyone is focused on the game.  It should be a very good game. 

These are two good defenses and the Patriots have a very good offense.  The Seahawks offense isn't so good but if they run the ball that is pretty much their offense and Wilson has a knack for making big plays at big times.  If the Patriots stop Lynch though, they should be able to win the game.  I am predicting a fairly low scoring game.  I would say 24-17 somewhere in that range and I am going to go with the Patriots.  I know they haven't won the Super Bowl in ten years and they have lost the last two they have been in.  The last two though have been against the New York Giants who have their number and I think they are going to be extra enthusiastic with everything going on and right now they probably are the best team.  I think the Seahawks are very good but haven't been playing their best, they were lucky to make it out of the NFC Championship game and I think they are ready to be knocked off of their throne.  I am picking the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl and then it is on to the business of baseball. 

NFL Championship Sunday

The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Atlanta Falcons by the score of 28-24 in Atlanta to be the first entrant into this years Super Bowl. The Patriots and Ravens faced off in the night game in Foxbourough, Massachusetts and the Ravens came out on top winning the game by the score of 28-13. The Ravens lost last year in the AFC Championship game in the same place so they got their revenge. This also sets up the Harbowl as the two head coaches are brothers who are 15 months apart in age. 
The San Francisco/Atlanta game was a good back and forth game. The second half was especially good as the action picked up, it really went down to the wire but in the end the niners were a little bit too much for the Falcons. The niners overcame an early 17 point deficit. Their quarterback who is in his second year played well again and Frank Gore the running back really had a great game rushing for over 100 yards. The niners also avenged a loss in last years NFC championship game although it was to the New York Giants.

In the night cap it was a very close game throughout the first half. The game was 13-6 in favor of the Patriots at the half and the Ravens dominated the second half outscoring the Patriots 22-0 in the second half. The Ravens defense gave up some big plays but they wouldn’t break and kept New England off the scoreboard. The Ravens offense put the ball in Joe Flacco hands and he looked really good picking apart the Partriots defense.

This is going to be one interesting Super Bowl and I am sure we will hear every detail of the Harbaugh family over the next couple of weeks.

The New York Jets suffer an embarrassing loss on Thanksgiving night to the New England Patriots

The New York Jets were defeated by the New England Patriots by the score of 49-19. It was a embarrassing performance. Mark Sanchez was terrible but Tim Tebow had a couple of cracked ribs and he wasn’t able to play although he was the only other quarterback on the roster for the game. The Jets didn’t have a good game in any facet of the team. 
Mark Sanchez was 26-36 for 301 yards and one touchdown and he threw an interception. He also fumbled the ball and the Patriots ran it back for a touchdown. Shonn Greene led the Jets rushing with 71 yards on 14 attempts, Bilal Powell had 40 yards on 12 attempts and a touchdown and Joe McKnight rushed for six yards on one carry. Sanchez had two yards rushing on two attempts. Jeremy Kerley had seven receptions for 86 yards, Dustin Keller had five receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown and Jeff Cumberland had four receptions for 58 yards. Chaz Shilens had two receptions for 28 yards, Clyde Gates had two receptions for 20 yards and Stephen Hill had two receptions for 16 yards. Powell had two receptions for 13 yards, Greene had one reception for nine yards and Konrad Reuland had one reception for seven yards. Nick Folk was 1-1 on field goals making a 32 yarder and making two extra points.

David Harris led the defense with eight tackles and two assists. Demario Davis had six tackles, LaRon Landry had five tackles and three assists and Kyle Wilson had four tackles and two assists. They didn’t have any sacks or interceptions.

Tom Brady was 18-28 for 323 yards with three touchdowns. Stevan Ridley had 21 rushes for 97 yards and a touchdown. Shane Vereen had 10 rushes for 42 yards and Brady had three rushes for five yards and a touchdown. Danny Woodhead had two rushes for eight yards, Julian Edelman had one rush for three yards. Vereen led the receivers with two catches for 91 yards and a touchdown. Wes Welker had seven receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown, Julian Edelman had two receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown and Aaron Hernandez had two receptions for 36 yards. Brandon Lloyd had three receptions for 26 yards, Daniel Fells had one reception for 24 yards and Woodhead had one reception for 11 yards. Stephen Gostkowski missed his only field goal attempt, he had seven extra points.

Jerod Mayo led the Patriots defense with eight tackles and three assists and a sack. Brandon Spikes had seven tackles and four assists, Steve Gregory and Alfonzo Dennard each had five tackles. Donta Hightower had a sack.

The Patriots moved to 8-3 and in first place in the AFC East and the Jets dropped to 4-7 and tied for last place with the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East.

NFL Wildcard Weekend Picks

The NFL Wildcard weekend will begin tomorrow at 4:30PM with the New York Jets at the Cincinatti Bengals. I think this is going to be a great playoffs with the NFC being wide open and the AFC being top heavy with the Chargers and Colts but lurking are the Patriots. Here are my picks for this weekends games. New York Jets At Cincinatti Bengals- Cincinatti 17 New York 14 Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots- New England 24 Baltimore 14 Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals- Green Bay 31 Arizona 24 Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys- Dallas 20 Philly 17 There you have it, my totally uneducated picks for this weekends games. Lets see how well i do in the playoffs, anyone want to chime in and pick against me please let me know what you think or if you are with me that is good also.

NFL Week 11

The New York Giants are coming off of their buy week needing a win. They are playing the Atlanta Falcons at home and at 5-4 with a 4 game losing streak this is as close to a must win as you are going to get. The Giants just found out yesterday also that they would be without their defensive leader Antonio Pierce for possibly the rest of the season, he has a bulging disk in his neck. Chase Blackburn will take over for him. I see the Giants really getting back to their strength which is running the ball and controlling the clock. Danny Ware is back now and I think they will get the 3 headed monster going again a lot like they did last year. Eli Manning has had a foot problem so I am not sure if that has hurt him or he hasn't played well. The Giants defense needs to step it up also. I am going to say the Giants come out flying and they will win this game. Giants 28 Falcons 20 is my prediction. The Jets will be heading up to New England to face the Patriots after coming off a tough loss to Jacksonville at home and Rex Ryan making a impassioned speech in which he cried to his team. I just don't see the Jets beating the Patriots again especially in Foxborough. I think the Jets season basically ended last week when they lost and a loss here will really basically end it for them. I don't think Mark Sanchez will fair too well in this environment and I really see the Patriots putting a beating on the Jets. I am going to go with Patriots 31 Jets 17. I am not going to pick another game this week as I haven't really looked at the games other then the local teams. We will have a special thanksgiving special with 3 picks on Thursday. Enjoy the games everyone and hopefully the local teams will get back on the winning track.

Same Old Jets

The New York Jets certainly talk a good game but they can't back it up. Rex Ryan came in as a rookie head coach with a lot of bravado and everyone was digging it in the beginning of the season and especially when the Jets got off to a 3-0 start but since then they have gone 1-5 and unless they can run the table there is almost no chance of them making the playoffs. They have a game next week at New England and they still have to play Indianapolis so them running the table looks highly unlikely. The Jets vaunted defense played great the whole second half but when they needed to make a stop and win the game they couldn't do it. Mark Sanchez has at times looked like the rookie he is but he has also done a lot of good things. It seems like the JEts just find ways to lose. They have had a chance to win every game they have played this season but lose more then they win. I don't believe in trash talking and all of that but if your going to do it you better back it up especially in this town and the Jets can't do that and until they do they will be the same old Jets. They have to regroup quickly and try to get a win in New England with a upset Patriots team who lost to the Jets in Week 2 and also had a tough loss at Indianapolis yesterday. I don't know what to say about the Jets but they better show up and play hard and at least give it a run and give their fans some hope for the future.

NFL Week 10

The New York Giants have a bye week so at least we know they can't lose. In all seriousness hopefully they can rest up get some guys back and start playing winning Giants football again next week. The New York Jets take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. I am going to pick the Jets in this game coming off their own bye week. I think this is an interesting game, both teams are 4-4 but the Jags are a young team that does make a lot of mistakes but they aren't a bad football team. The Jets have the rookie coach and rookie QB but it is time for them to step up and make a second half run to the playoffs. I think the Jets will win a close one today by the score of 21-17. I am going to go with the marquee game of the day for my other pick. The Colts and Patriots who have had so many great battles over the years. Peyton Manning and the Colts are rolling along at 8-0 and the Patriots are 6-2 with Tom Brady back. I think this is a offensive game but Bill Belicheck will figure out enough to slow down or at least make Peyton make a mistake or two. I am going out on a limb and picking the Patriots by the score of 34-31. Enjoy your Sunday everyone, it is a beautiful day and hopefully everyone goes out a little bit. If you are a Jets fan good luck and then everyone will be settled in tonight to watch the big game. I will have a recap later tonight or tomorrow.

Football Sunday and Picks

I know this blog has mostly focused on the Yankees but I try and do the Giants and Jets on the weekends and I am going to try something new. The thing I will try to do is my NFL picks which will be me picking the Giants, Jets and then a random game every week and we will see how I do. I would also love some comments and feedback to this. I think we can all play along and see how I do and everyone else. The Giants head down to Tampa to take on a Bucaneers team that is 0-2 but can score some points. The Giants defense is extremely banged up with Justin Tuck likely out and Aaron Ross, Kevin Dockery and Kenny Philips all out in the secondary. Chris Canty also will be out once again. I do think the Giants will score a lot of points against the Tampa defense though and probably get the running game going finally. I expect Brandon Jacobs to have a big game. I am going to pick the Giants on this one and go with Giants 34-Tampa 24. The Jets are coming off a good and very emotional win against the Patriots and they will be playing a desperate Tenessee Titans team. I think this will be a tough hard fought battle. I think the Jets will score some points but Sanchez will have a tough game and that the Titans will actually score some points. Tenessee is familiar with Rex Ryan's defense and that is an advantage. I expect a low scoring game, I am going to go with Tenessee-20 Jets-14. My random pick for the week is going to be Indianapolis-31- Arizona-28 That will wrap up my picks for NFL week 3, I hope you enjoy this new portion of the blog and I will continue to do this for the rest of the NFL season. It will be interesting to see the Jets and Giants both playing at 1 tomorrow with the Yom Kippur Jewish Holiday.