2013 NFL Predictions

Every year right before the first game of the NFL season I like to make my picks on where every team will end up in the standings.  I have been doing this for five or six years. I have gotten it right once, the Packers in 2010.  Just about every year I have at least gotten one team right that made it to the Super Bowl. It turns out I'm good at picking Super Bowl losers, but I think its good I at least get close.  So, for the first time being on a blog I present to you my 2013 NFL picks

 AFC:

North

1. Bengals - I believe Hard Knocks will do these guys right. With a great defense and a balanced offense this team is ready to take the next step.
2. Ravens - Ever heard of a Super Bowl hangover? This team has lost their identity on defense and with money already in the bank Flacco may take a small step back.
3. Steelers - A lot of big names still on the roster but they are names that have been around for a while.  I feel this team will have a tough time integrating old vets with the new youth.
4. Browns - A lot of young talent here. A tough division to break threw, but this may be the last year they are on the bottom looking up.

South

1. Texans - The best talent in the division hands down. Really there is no other team ready to take the top spot from them yet.
2. Colts - Last seasons was unbelievable for this team. I don't think lightning will strike twice. But with Luck anything can happen. (Did you see what I did there?)
3. Titans - Other then Chris Johnson can you name anyone else. Well there's Jake Locker, but he isn't ready to lead the team yet.
4. Jaguars - Well they got cool uniforms.  Their super stars are wearing down and then there is Blaine Gabbert...Tim Tebow anyone?

East

1. Patriots - Tom Brady is too good, Bill Belichick is too good, and this team is way better then their division.
2. Bills - There should be a good offense for the Bills this year.  Lets see if they have a defense to back it up.
3. Dolphins - New uniforms. Nice. At least they are not the Jets.
4. Jets - Really this is the biggest joke in all of sports right now. They can't make up there mind on which quarterback to throw interceptions to start for them. Their coach is a lame duck. Basically everyone from the owner on down is just a screw up. It's not the players fault they suck

West

1. Broncos - Fool me once Peyton, but not this time. Take a great offense plus a good defense then times that by a weak division equals a run away for the division crown. (Sorry for the algebra.)
2. Chiefs - I'm buying into to this crazy idea that the Chiefs will be good. Alex Smith has turned his career around and he also has a young pro bowl caliber weapons to use. Plus the defense really isn't that bad.
3. Chargers - It just looks like there is a lack of talent then usual out there. This team will fight every game, but I feel this is not their year.
4. Raiders - Hey, Pryor could be the surprise of the year! But probably not. It will be another long year for the black hole.

NFC:

North

1. Packers - High powered offense  will still leave the others in their wake.
2. Lions - Another high powered offense trying to replicate the Packers. But the student is not quit ready to become the teacher.
3. Vikings - Love the new uniforms guys. AP is not enough to win games in this league. Work on the quarterback spot and sure up that defense. See ya next year.
4. Bears - Should not have fired Lovie Smith. I'm not sure what to expect. There should be close fun games if nothing else.

South

1. Falcons - The offense is back and they added Steven Jackson. Yea, that's all I need to hear.
2. Buccaneers - The Bucs have created a "no fly zone" in their secondary, which was there weakest spot. Josh Freeman, I believe will make that leap and join the other good young quarterbacks in his era.
3. Saints - Sure they have Drew Brees, he is great! But now they have Rob Ryan as their Defensive coordinator and his track record isn't that great.
4. Panthers - Everyone wants Cam Newton to lead this team to greatness. Well Carolina, give him some offensive weapons. The defense should be solid but Cam can't do it all on offense.

East

1. Cowboys - Every few years or so they get it together and win a division. Here you go Dallas I think it's your turn.
2. Giants - A revamped defense will do this team right. Eli is as consistent as they come. It will be a little bounce back year.
3. Redskins - The coaching staff I fear will run RGIII into the ground. Back down to reality for this team this year.
4. Eagles - The offense will be fun to watch. The defense will...well...the offense will be fun to watch.

West

1. 49ers - This team had the ultimate prize within their grasps last year. They haven't forgotten it. They are on a mission to get back to the top.
2. Seahawks - A great all around team. Any other division they would be top dogs. Too bad they share the division with a slightly better team.
3. Rams - The youngest team in the league has a lot to learn this season.  They have a lot of talent and a great coach. It should be fun being a Rams fan.
4. Cardinals - I just feel bad that one of the greatest receivers of the game has to waste away in the desert. Lets see if the co-coach of the year last year can help. I hope for Larry's sake.

Playoffs

AFC Playoff Teams

1. Broncos - Easy walk right to the number 1 seed
2. Texans - Just like the Broncos, the Texans weak division allows them to rack up the win to a first round bye.
3. Patriots - Good enough to take the division but not to secure a bye.
4. Bengals - A well earned and hard fought season is rewarded by a home playoff game.
5. Ravens - The defending champs wont go away that easy. Ravens make it to the playoffs for a sixth straight year as a wild card.
6. Chiefs - A magical season for the Chiefs gets them back to the playoffs.

NFC Playoff Teams  

1. 49ers - The number 1 seed in the playoffs is just one of the goals.
2. Falcons - The offense sells tickets but their defense propels the Falcons to a first round bye.
3. Cowboys - Jerry Jones and company can relax a bit and enjoy a home playoff game.
4. Packers - A fourth seed but still a dangerous team to see in the playoffs.
5. Seahawks - I'm sure in any other division they would have a home playoff game.
6. Lions - The Lions figure out a winning formula and sneak into the playoffs.

Wild Card Round

Ravens @ Bengals - Bengals air attack is no match for the Ravens and the Bengals get a late 4th quarter win

Chiefs @ Patriots - The bright lights are too much for the Chiefs and the Patriots get an easy win.

Lions @ Cowboys - The magical season for the Lions continues as Tony Romo does his version of a Romo bomb. A late interception seals the fate of the Cowboys.

Seahawks @ Packers - The Seahawks defense is too much for the Pack and with no D in Green Bay the Seattle offense gets by with the win.

Divisional Round

Patriots @ Texans - Houston is finally ready to take the next step. The defeat a worn down Patriots team and advance to their first ever conference championship.

Bengals @ Broncos - Brocos come out hot and take an early lead, but then the Bengals D takes over and causes Manning to have another playoff flop. Andy Dalton helps with a couple of touchdowns and the Bengals win it on a last second field goal.

Seahawks @ Falcons - A rematch of last years divisional round. This time the Seahawks get the late game winning drive to stun the crown in Atlanta.

Lions @ 49ers - The 49ers are too strong for the Lions as the defense dominates the night.  Kaepernick gets an old friend back in Crabtree and gets him a touchdown. The 49ers make it three in a row and get to the conference title game.

Conference Championship

Bengals @ Texans - For the third year in a row the Bengals and Texans meet in Houston for a playoff game. This one having more at stake. The Bengals are wiser this year and have learned from their mistakes from the past two years, besides the Texans are always hurt this time of year. Lightning doesn't strike a third time and the Bengals move on to their third Super Bowl.

Seahawks @ 49ers - To many around the league this is the title game. Arguably to two best teams in the league face off for a third time this season.  They know each other to well so its just strength versus strength, pure talent versus pure talent. The home team once again get a win from a quarterback bootleg for a touchdown that crushes the Seahawks.  The 49ers are going back to the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XLVIII

49ers vs Bengals - This is the Bengals third Super Bowl, and for the third time the face the 49ers.  The game is played in New Jersey in Febuary, it's snowing and nasty.  The Bengals pass offense with A.J. Green is slowed down and the 49ers front line are able to shut down the running attack for the Bengals. The Bengals cannot locate the ball in the 49ers read options. Kaepernick with two touchdown passes to Vernon Davis, runs his way to a Super Bowl MVP.

The 49ers don't mess around this time. The whole team shows up and they get a complete game out of every position. Glory is restored to the NFL as one of its most cherished franchises is back atop the mountain.

Alright, that's my opinion. What do you think? I know you wanna say something...

A Quick Rant - Why?

I'm just going to get into it.

I think what Ryan Dempster did Sunday was atrocious. If you didn't see or hear about it I will give the quick version.

Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster
August 18, 2013

Alex Rodriguez came up to bat in his first plate appearance. Rodriguez is going through some legal issues with PEDs with the league and his team, and there is controversy, but that is off the field stuff. What happens on the field has nothing to do with any of that.

Ryan Dempster apparently feels like he is the law of the land. His first pitch to Rodriguez was thrown behind him! Behind him! He is a Major League Baseball Pitcher! He has the control to never be able to do that. Rodriguez shrugs it off and gets back in the box. The next two pitches are high and tight. You can see Rodriguez getting a little mad. That makes three pitches trying to connect with Rodriguez. The fourth pitch from Dempster (surprise surprise) drills Rodriguez in the back.

Dempster's third pitch of the at bat
hits Yankees Alex Rodriguez in the back.

Why? Why Dempster? Why did you feel you had to do that? What Rodriguez is going through off the field has nothing to do with you. Who made you judge, jury, and executioner? And then you manager gives the weak excuse of 'He was having trouble locating his fastball'. Funny, because no other pitch in the game for Dempster was as "wild" as that one at bat. Just a classless move on his part and of the Red Sox manager.

What Rodriguez is doing to defend himself against the league is within the MLBPA regulations. Guess what Dempster you are a member of that and voted for the protection players get.

I may not agree with what Alex Rodriguez has done in the past, but nobody deserves a fastball to the head. He is still a son, brother, father, and MOST of all a human being. It makes me sick when athletes feel they need to take the law in their own hands.

Rodriguez celebrating with teammates
after his 6th inning home run
against Dempster

What Alex Rodriguez did to get his revenge on Dempster is what any true athlete would do. In one of his next at bats Rodriguez hit a long home run off of Dempster and then celebrated with his teammates in the dugout. How it should be.

The home run propelled the Yankees to a victory over the Red Sox, with Dempster getting the loss. Baseball karma at its finest.

Just to show what type of team and organization the Yankees are, no Red Sox player was hit during that game.

Steriods aside, how do you feel about Dempster's actions?

For the love and the game

The Major League Baseball season is coming down the home stretch. With mid-August approaching, baseball experts are talking magic numbers and wild cards. We are starting to get an idea of which teams are going to the playoffs and which teams are going home early. Certain teams are "running away" with their division. It looks like the Braves, Dodgers, and Tigers can just about go into cruise control to finish off the season. There are also the close division races. Can the Red Sox hold off the Rays and Orioles? Are the Rangers going to deliver pay back to the Athletics for last year? And, what is going on in the NL Central? The Pirates, Cardinals, and Reds are going to have a sprint to the finish. The odds are nearly all those teams I just named are going to make the playoffs. With an additional wild card team now added to the format, the Pennant Race just doesn't quite feel the same. And that's fine with me. I think more teams in the playoffs is a good thing in the end.
   

L.J. Hoes hits his first career home run
8/18/13 (Astros Facebook page)

But, lets look at the calendar... It's August still! We still have over a month left of regular season games. Now I get the lure of the World Series. It's an amazing event. But for me, baseball is so much more.   There's still a lot of hot days to be had and exciting nights left in the season. With so much attention going towards the teams that are going to make the playoffs, I think we should not forget about the rest of the league. Just because a team is 15 games out of first place or straight up in last place doesn't mean we should ignore them or their fans (except for the occasional web gem). Fans should see their team through. From the beginning of spring training to whatever end they are destined for in the fall.

Riding the highs and lows of the season with your team is what makes baseball such a love affair. Though your guys may go home when the leaves change color, doesn't mean they still can't make history. Though possibly not in a spot for playoffs, your guys could still pitch a perfect game or hit an inside the park home run. There is still so many moments to see. Baseball is a game full of emotions. In two consecutive days you can experience the highest of highs and then the next day the lowest of lows. But that's what makes it fun!

It's baseball. The GREATEST game there is.

Mets young star, Matt Harvey has first career
complete game shut out 8-8-13
(Mets Facebook page)

It's the smell of the grass, the crack of the bat, the seventh inning stretch! Baseball is definitely more about it's intangibles then it is just about winning. It's more than home runs and strike outs. The game is an art form, and like all art you have to know what you are looking at to really appreciate it. How many people do you think know what a cut fastball is? What about the 5-4-3 double play? These are the type of things you start to learn when you love the game. When the game grabs your heart.  It will make every pitch and play exciting.

Emotionally investing in a team, the players, the traditions will make any day with baseball being played the best day ever. Following your team throughout the season will not only show you who the best pitchers and hitters are but also who are the pranksters or leaders of the team. Being able to see the personality of your team brings you closer to them. The whole family atmosphere a team tries to share with its fans is a magical thing, and again it doesn't matter if your team is going to the playoffs or not.

The last reason not to give up on your team if October seems out of reach...
The pride of watching your team knock out another team out of the playoffs. Think about it, your team is out. They're eliminated from playoff contention, but they are still battling. There is no quit in them.  Just think back to the 2011 season when the Orioles, who had nothing to play for, miraculously defeated the Red Sox and ended their season. That little victory is enough to savor through the off season.

Getting to the end of the season and seeing it all brings everything together. The little details, witnessing the milestones of your favorite players, being at the park and sharing the game with family, friends, and other fans is why the entire season matters. You are part of the team. Never give up on the season. There is always something new to see. Most importantly, the players never give up on the field and that's why you should never give up the on the support they need. Isn't that what being a fan is all about?

Angel Pagan's inside the park home run giving the Giants
an extra innings victory 5-25-13
(Giants Facebook page)

Oh yeah, I'm a Giants fan. As of this moment WE are 16.5 games out of first place.  I will never give up on my team. Hey, anything can happen.