#Colts QB future

[kenttsterling]

Shane Steichen flying to Indy! One move of many needed to rebuild hope! #iubb TJD 4th straight Big 10 POTW! #iuwbb tonight at OSU!

[whyyourteamisgood]

2023 - Week 18

BUF - The Bills are the 2 seed in the AFC

NE - The Patriots have a top 3 pick and a chance at a generational QB to kickoff a new era

MIA - Tyreek Hill looks like the clear best WR in the NFL

NYJ - Breece Hall was second to Christian McCaffrey in yards from scrimmage for a RB

BAL - The Ravens have home field advantage throughout the playoffs

PIT - The Steelers are on to the playoffs in their 17th straight non-losing season

CLE - The Browns are onto the playoffs with the likely Defensive Player of the Year in Myles Garrett

CIN - The Bengals seemingly have 2 of the best 3 QBs in the division

TEN - if this was it for Derrick Henry, he finished with a bang, spoiling the Jags season and vaulting himself up the rushing leaderboard to lead the AFC for the season

JAX - Evan Engram had 114 receptions this year, second most all time for a TE

IND - The Colts barely missed the playoffs and are getting their dynamite QB back next year

HOU - The Texans went worst to first in their division and picked up their franchise QB in the process

KC - The Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes and no one else does

LV - The Raiders finished with a positive point differential, a second place finish in the divison, and may have identified their coach of the future

LAC - Justin Herbert will be back healthy next year and will likely have reeled in an elite coach to take the team to the next level

DEN - The Broncos successfully tanked to get a top 12 draft pick

DAL - The Cowboys are the 2 seed in the NFC

WAS - The Commanders have a top 2 pick and a chance at a generational QB to kickoff a new era

PHL - Jalen Hurts set an NFL record for rushing TDs in a season for a QB

NYG - The Giants beat the hell out of the Eagles to end the season on a high note

GB - The Packers are back in the playoffs and it sure looks like they may be onto their third elite QB in a row

CHI - The Bears were close to playoff position and still get the first overall pick

DET - The Lions are hosting a playoff game for the first time in more than a quarter century

MIN - Justin Jefferson is unguardable when healthy

NO - The Saints finished the season winning 4 of their last 5

TB - The Bucs won the NFC South

ATL - The Falcons wasted no time firing Arthur Smith and have enough top offensive talent to attract a top mind to shape them

CAR - The Panthers defense allowed the fewest yards per game in the NFC

SEA - The Seahawks finished the season winning 3 of their last 4

LAR - The Rams are in the playoffs and have a case for both the offensive and defensive rookies of the year

ARI - The Cardinals played some impressive football to close the season, and still tanked enough to get a top 4 pick

SF - The Niners have home field advantage throughout the playoffs

[sportsnewsinusa]

Impactful Additions Shaping the AFC South Landscape

As the new NFL season approaches, the AFC South sees a wave of changes that promise to redefine the division's dynamics. With the Titans' reign being challenged and new forces emerging, it's essential to highlight the ten most impactful additions that will shape the fate of each team by the end of 2023. 1. Texans HC DeMeco Ryans DeMeco Ryans' arrival as the Texans' head coach brings renewed hope to a franchise plagued by years of disappointment. Having played for the team from 2006 to 2011, Ryans' return to Houston resonates deeply with the city, elevating expectations for the future. With a history of leading strong defensive units, his expertise could be the key to transforming the Texans' struggling run defense. 2. Colts HC Shane Steichen Following a tumultuous 2022 season, the Colts seek stability with Shane Steichen as their head coach. Renowned for his offensive acumen, Steichen's task includes nurturing the development of quarterback Anthony Richardson. Drawing from his success in developing past talents like Jalen Hurts and Philip Rivers, Steichen's impact on the Colts' offense will be closely watched. 3. Texans QB C.J. Stroud The Texans' fortunes at quarterback take a hopeful turn with C.J. Stroud, the second overall pick. As Houston's potential long-term solution, Stroud's success could be instrumental in lifting the team from its prolonged rebuild, especially after losing Deshaun Watson. Read the full article

[mikeisafighter]

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/regrading-the-top-trades-of-the-2022-nfl-offseason-from-broncos-russell-wilson-to-dolphins-tyreek-hill/

This is why the Browns were moronic and stupid to risk that much to get a QB who has never been a great postseason QB AND had all those issues surrounding him. But apparently Cleveland didn’t care, they were so desperate to win they mortgaged their future just to get him. They deserve to lose the next 5-10 years and I stand by that.

The Russell Wilson one I was shocked it has flopped so bad. Can’t say I’m overly surprised but still,

The Ryan trade, i understand what the plan was but it’s time to get a young QB. The last 3 QB1s they had weren’t the answer. Maybe Levis or Stroud is in their future? Maybe the Texans mess up and let Young slip to the Colts?

Wentz to the REDSKINS was a disappointment as a whole. Heinicke has been the better QB, but is he the long-term answer? Who knows. Maybe they do need to draft a QB too.

Hill, Adams and AJ Brown have worked out well for their new teams. Brown of the Cardinals has not. It might be more the fault of Kliff Kingsbury and/or Kyler Murray more than anything.

Making a big gamble on a position of need in trade and risking some valuable draft capital could either make you or break you. It has worked badly for all the QBs traded in the offseason ESPECIALLY the disaster of the Watson trade. Certainly the Texans, Seahawks AND Falcons look like geniuses now. Look what the boneheaded Browns brass did BROWNS GOT -  QB Deshaun Watson (Texans), sixth-round pick BROWNS GAVE - Three first-rounders, third-rounder, two fourth-rounders You are NOT going to tell me that the Browns were wise trading 8 DRAFT PICKS for an embattled QB and a 6th round pick? If the Texans do draft a QB #1 which they SHOULD, they could be very dangerous in the future.

[espn-draft-cheat-sheet-73]

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💾 ►►► DOWNLOAD FILE 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Get everything you need to prepare for your fantasy football drafts here, including rankings and analysis from ESPN's team of experts. The weekly fantasy football cheat sheet provides a rundown of the best tips Draft a league now and start fresh with a record and a. Cheat Sheet - ESPN. fantasy football rankings. Table Draft Board Our full cheat sheets are reserved for RotoWire subscribers. Get a single Cheatsheet for Fantasy Rankings from dozens of experts with rankings that are updated regularly. 9 In your quest for fantasy football knowledge, you've probably done a ton of research. Or simply searched the term "top fantasy football players You're learning the sleepers and busts, you've got your fantasy football rankings and you're ready for your draft. All you need now is the ultimate cheat sheet. That's where we come in. Most fantasy football cheat sheets follow one of two formats: a ranking of the best players overall, or the same list broken down by position. We have those two in our Cheat Sheet Central, but anyone can access and print those. To truly gain an advantage, you need a cheat sheet that will provide additional context to the rankings while laying out a clear plan of what to do and what not to do at every point in the draft. And now we've added Tristan H. Cockcroft's player pairing guide to the first two rounds , Field Yates, Matt Bowen and Eric Moody's favorite draft targets , and Mike Clay's rankings of Dynasty League rookies and most valuable backup running backs for each team. It's all here, just one click away. Want more cheat sheets? Ready to take your fantasy football experience to the next level? Skip to main content Skip to navigation. From star rookies to extremely good -- and bad -- finishes: The stats and storylines we're watching on MLB season's final day. New York Yankees. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Garrett back at Browns practice, first since crash. Cleveland Browns. Former Jags QB Bortles says he 'quietly' retired. Jacksonville Jaguars. Colts rule out star RB Taylor for game at Denver. Indianapolis Colts. Judge out of Yanks' lineup for finale after 62nd HR. Burrow on concussions: Comes with the game. Cincinnati Bengals. Projected No. Are the Broncos concerned about Russell Wilson? Is Jalen Hurts' breakout legit? We answered the biggest QB questions. Buffalo Bills. Duke Blue Devils. The U. There's no salary cap on hockey operations: Inside the NHL's secret race for competitive advantage. Carolina Hurricanes. USWNT vs. England: Who needs to step up? Is this the next big rivalry? Who wins? Why is Casemiro not first choice at Man United? New York Giants. Bottom Without Kansas, it's the point of no return. UMass Minutemen. Welcome to Wrexham? They said it! The Eagles are like the mailman, plus more NFL quotes of the week. Seattle Seahawks. Green Bay Packers. New York Yankees prospect Jasson Dominguez stars in a bold new world of sports card prospecting. Real or Not: Fury will fight Usyk in , Fundora a future world titleholder. Fantasy basketball: How to find hidden value in salary cap drafts. Fantasy basketball draft guide: Rankings, mock drafts, sleepers, projections and analysis.

[espn-draft-cheat-sheet-1t]

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💾 ►►► DOWNLOAD FILE 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Get everything you need to prepare for your fantasy football drafts here, including rankings and analysis from ESPN's team of experts. The weekly fantasy football cheat sheet provides a rundown of the best tips Draft a league now and start fresh with a record and a. Cheat Sheet - ESPN. fantasy football rankings. Table Draft Board Our full cheat sheets are reserved for RotoWire subscribers. Get a single Cheatsheet for Fantasy Rankings from dozens of experts with rankings that are updated regularly. 9 In your quest for fantasy football knowledge, you've probably done a ton of research. Or simply searched the term "top fantasy football players You're learning the sleepers and busts, you've got your fantasy football rankings and you're ready for your draft. All you need now is the ultimate cheat sheet. That's where we come in. Most fantasy football cheat sheets follow one of two formats: a ranking of the best players overall, or the same list broken down by position. We have those two in our Cheat Sheet Central, but anyone can access and print those. To truly gain an advantage, you need a cheat sheet that will provide additional context to the rankings while laying out a clear plan of what to do and what not to do at every point in the draft. And now we've added Tristan H. Cockcroft's player pairing guide to the first two rounds , Field Yates, Matt Bowen and Eric Moody's favorite draft targets , and Mike Clay's rankings of Dynasty League rookies and most valuable backup running backs for each team. It's all here, just one click away. Want more cheat sheets? Ready to take your fantasy football experience to the next level? Skip to main content Skip to navigation. From star rookies to extremely good -- and bad -- finishes: The stats and storylines we're watching on MLB season's final day. New York Yankees. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Garrett back at Browns practice, first since crash. Cleveland Browns. Former Jags QB Bortles says he 'quietly' retired. Jacksonville Jaguars. Colts rule out star RB Taylor for game at Denver. Indianapolis Colts. Judge out of Yanks' lineup for finale after 62nd HR. Burrow on concussions: Comes with the game. Cincinnati Bengals. Projected No. Are the Broncos concerned about Russell Wilson? Is Jalen Hurts' breakout legit? We answered the biggest QB questions. Buffalo Bills. Duke Blue Devils. The U. There's no salary cap on hockey operations: Inside the NHL's secret race for competitive advantage. Carolina Hurricanes. USWNT vs. England: Who needs to step up? Is this the next big rivalry? Who wins? Why is Casemiro not first choice at Man United? New York Giants. Bottom Without Kansas, it's the point of no return. UMass Minutemen. Welcome to Wrexham? They said it! The Eagles are like the mailman, plus more NFL quotes of the week. Seattle Seahawks. Green Bay Packers. New York Yankees prospect Jasson Dominguez stars in a bold new world of sports card prospecting. Real or Not: Fury will fight Usyk in , Fundora a future world titleholder. Fantasy basketball: How to find hidden value in salary cap drafts. Fantasy basketball draft guide: Rankings, mock drafts, sleepers, projections and analysis.

[espn-fantasy-football-che8h]

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💾 ►►► DOWNLOAD FILE 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 A collection of downloadable, printable cheat sheets for the fantasy football season, including PPR, non-PPR, superflex and dynasty/keeper. Most fantasy football cheat sheets follow one of two formats: a ranking of the best players overall, or the same list broken down by. Thursday, September 8, Packers, Colts. Patriots, Jets ESPN Fantasy Football Draft Kit. PPR League Cheat Sheet. Quarterbacks. Running Backs. 7 In your quest for fantasy football knowledge, you've probably done a ton of research. Or simply searched the term "top fantasy football players You're learning the sleepers and busts, you've got your fantasy football rankings and you're ready for your draft. All you need now is the ultimate cheat sheet. That's where we come in. Most fantasy football cheat sheets follow one of two formats: a ranking of the best players overall, or the same list broken down by position. We have those two in our Cheat Sheet Central, but anyone can access and print those. To truly gain an advantage, you need a cheat sheet that will provide additional context to the rankings while laying out a clear plan of what to do and what not to do at every point in the draft. And now we've added Tristan H. Cockcroft's player pairing guide to the first two rounds , Field Yates, Matt Bowen and Eric Moody's favorite draft targets , and Mike Clay's rankings of Dynasty League rookies and most valuable backup running backs for each team. It's all here, just one click away. Want more cheat sheets? Ready to take your fantasy football experience to the next level? Skip to main content Skip to navigation. From star rookies to extremely good -- and bad -- finishes: The stats and storylines we're watching on MLB season's final day. New York Yankees. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Colts rule out star RB Taylor for game at Denver. Indianapolis Colts. Burrow on concussions: Comes with the game. Cincinnati Bengals. Former Jags QB Bortles says he 'quietly' retired. Jacksonville Jaguars. Projected No. New belt for Shields-Marshall to honor late queen. Fan not saying what he'll do with Judge HR ball. Are the Broncos concerned about Russell Wilson? Is Jalen Hurts' breakout legit? We answered the biggest QB questions. Buffalo Bills. Duke Blue Devils. The U. There's no salary cap on hockey operations: Inside the NHL's secret race for competitive advantage. Carolina Hurricanes. USWNT vs. England: Who needs to step up? Is this the next big rivalry? Who wins? Why is Casemiro not first choice at Man United? New York Giants. Bottom Without Kansas, it's the point of no return. UMass Minutemen. Welcome to Wrexham? They said it! The Eagles are like the mailman, plus more NFL quotes of the week. Seattle Seahawks. Green Bay Packers. New York Yankees prospect Jasson Dominguez stars in a bold new world of sports card prospecting. Real or Not: Fury will fight Usyk in , Fundora a future world titleholder. Fantasy basketball: How to find hidden value in salary cap drafts. Fantasy basketball draft guide: Rankings, mock drafts, sleepers, projections and analysis.

[espn-fantasy-football-chef8]

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💾 ►►► DOWNLOAD FILE 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 A collection of downloadable, printable cheat sheets for the fantasy football season, including PPR, non-PPR, superflex and dynasty/keeper. Most fantasy football cheat sheets follow one of two formats: a ranking of the best players overall, or the same list broken down by. Thursday, September 8, Packers, Colts. Patriots, Jets ESPN Fantasy Football Draft Kit. PPR League Cheat Sheet. Quarterbacks. Running Backs. 7 In your quest for fantasy football knowledge, you've probably done a ton of research. Or simply searched the term "top fantasy football players You're learning the sleepers and busts, you've got your fantasy football rankings and you're ready for your draft. All you need now is the ultimate cheat sheet. That's where we come in. Most fantasy football cheat sheets follow one of two formats: a ranking of the best players overall, or the same list broken down by position. We have those two in our Cheat Sheet Central, but anyone can access and print those. To truly gain an advantage, you need a cheat sheet that will provide additional context to the rankings while laying out a clear plan of what to do and what not to do at every point in the draft. And now we've added Tristan H. Cockcroft's player pairing guide to the first two rounds , Field Yates, Matt Bowen and Eric Moody's favorite draft targets , and Mike Clay's rankings of Dynasty League rookies and most valuable backup running backs for each team. It's all here, just one click away. Want more cheat sheets? Ready to take your fantasy football experience to the next level? Skip to main content Skip to navigation. From star rookies to extremely good -- and bad -- finishes: The stats and storylines we're watching on MLB season's final day. New York Yankees. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Colts rule out star RB Taylor for game at Denver. Indianapolis Colts. Burrow on concussions: Comes with the game. Cincinnati Bengals. Former Jags QB Bortles says he 'quietly' retired. Jacksonville Jaguars. Projected No. New belt for Shields-Marshall to honor late queen. Fan not saying what he'll do with Judge HR ball. Are the Broncos concerned about Russell Wilson? Is Jalen Hurts' breakout legit? We answered the biggest QB questions. Buffalo Bills. Duke Blue Devils. The U. There's no salary cap on hockey operations: Inside the NHL's secret race for competitive advantage. Carolina Hurricanes. USWNT vs. England: Who needs to step up? Is this the next big rivalry? Who wins? Why is Casemiro not first choice at Man United? New York Giants. Bottom Without Kansas, it's the point of no return. UMass Minutemen. Welcome to Wrexham? They said it! The Eagles are like the mailman, plus more NFL quotes of the week. Seattle Seahawks. Green Bay Packers. New York Yankees prospect Jasson Dominguez stars in a bold new world of sports card prospecting. Real or Not: Fury will fight Usyk in , Fundora a future world titleholder. Fantasy basketball: How to find hidden value in salary cap drafts. Fantasy basketball draft guide: Rankings, mock drafts, sleepers, projections and analysis.

[espn-fantasy-football-chevr]

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💾 ►►► DOWNLOAD FILE 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 A collection of downloadable, printable cheat sheets for the fantasy football season, including PPR, non-PPR, superflex and dynasty/keeper. Most fantasy football cheat sheets follow one of two formats: a ranking of the best players overall, or the same list broken down by. Thursday, September 8, Packers, Colts. Patriots, Jets ESPN Fantasy Football Draft Kit. PPR League Cheat Sheet. Quarterbacks. Running Backs. 7 In your quest for fantasy football knowledge, you've probably done a ton of research. Or simply searched the term "top fantasy football players You're learning the sleepers and busts, you've got your fantasy football rankings and you're ready for your draft. All you need now is the ultimate cheat sheet. That's where we come in. Most fantasy football cheat sheets follow one of two formats: a ranking of the best players overall, or the same list broken down by position. We have those two in our Cheat Sheet Central, but anyone can access and print those. To truly gain an advantage, you need a cheat sheet that will provide additional context to the rankings while laying out a clear plan of what to do and what not to do at every point in the draft. And now we've added Tristan H. Cockcroft's player pairing guide to the first two rounds , Field Yates, Matt Bowen and Eric Moody's favorite draft targets , and Mike Clay's rankings of Dynasty League rookies and most valuable backup running backs for each team. It's all here, just one click away. Want more cheat sheets? Ready to take your fantasy football experience to the next level? Skip to main content Skip to navigation. From star rookies to extremely good -- and bad -- finishes: The stats and storylines we're watching on MLB season's final day. New York Yankees. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Colts rule out star RB Taylor for game at Denver. Indianapolis Colts. Burrow on concussions: Comes with the game. Cincinnati Bengals. Former Jags QB Bortles says he 'quietly' retired. Jacksonville Jaguars. Projected No. New belt for Shields-Marshall to honor late queen. Fan not saying what he'll do with Judge HR ball. Are the Broncos concerned about Russell Wilson? Is Jalen Hurts' breakout legit? We answered the biggest QB questions. Buffalo Bills. Duke Blue Devils. The U. There's no salary cap on hockey operations: Inside the NHL's secret race for competitive advantage. Carolina Hurricanes. USWNT vs. England: Who needs to step up? Is this the next big rivalry? Who wins? Why is Casemiro not first choice at Man United? New York Giants. Bottom Without Kansas, it's the point of no return. UMass Minutemen. Welcome to Wrexham? They said it! The Eagles are like the mailman, plus more NFL quotes of the week. Seattle Seahawks. Green Bay Packers. New York Yankees prospect Jasson Dominguez stars in a bold new world of sports card prospecting. Real or Not: Fury will fight Usyk in , Fundora a future world titleholder. Fantasy basketball: How to find hidden value in salary cap drafts. Fantasy basketball draft guide: Rankings, mock drafts, sleepers, projections and analysis.

[skybirdplate]

Madden 19 pc steam

The first Longshot felt a bit messy story-wise and a lack of gameplay really hurt the mode from reaching its full potential. The former Texas high school all-stars are still fighting for their dreams of making it in the NFL and I gotta admit, Longshot: Homecoming surprisingly clicked with me. Returning to Madden 19 is the story-driven Longshot mode featuring best friends Devin and Colt. Longshot Story Mode Finally Finds its Footing Players like Julian Edelman and Stefon Diggs, who perform their best work at the slot wide receiver role, can finally be put in their real-life positions instead of being forced to play outside due to their high overall ratings. With the ability to specifically select positions such as slot wide receiver, edge rushers, nickel cornerback, and even a power running back, you are able to mold your team in better ways than ever before.Īs a diehard football fan, I really enjoyed this aspect. Madden 19 also features a new depth chart section called specialists. Here, that frustrating aspect is toned down drastically as I’ve only seen a few CPU generated moves that bothered me. This is largely due to the inclusion of custom draft classes that allows you to download other gamers’ draft rosters featuring future NFL stars (by the way, if you are someone who creates these custom rosters, thank you).Ī problem I’ve faced in previous Madden games is the unrealistic free-agent destinations, draft picks, and player values of CPU controlled teams. Custom Draft Classes Makes its Way to Madden 19įranchise mode is where I spent the bulk of my time and I can confidently say that it is the best mode in the game. The crowd is consistently a non-factor, the presentation is lackluster at best, and any realism that the game wanted to go for is thrown out the window due to weird glitches that are guaranteed to happen in every other matchup. There isn’t any immersion to me at all (on the field). That’s really my main indictment on the gameplay as a whole when I think about it. Like every year, there are countless bugs and glitches that ruin the immersion of the game. Now getting to the ugly parts of Madden 19’s on the field issues. These developers at EA Sports and EA Tiburon have definitely made passing the ball feel like more a skill that I have to hone rather than just based off of my QB’s overall rating. Along with great animations, the visuals and character models look as amazing as it did last year with the Frostbite engine.įinally, I can’t express to you enough how much I love passing the ball in this game. Like a briefly mentioned above, Madden 19 features an overhaul of the way players run, catch, tackle, and pretty much everything else on the field. Let’s start with what’s good about the gameplay of Madden 19. With advancements such as improved animations and graphics, I shouldn’t really have many criticisms when it comes to the gameplay. This is where you’ll see the first of my two major complaints about this game that lowers it to its three-star rating. However, it still has some major problems that EA has to deal with if they still want gamers’ money in future installments. As you can see by the three-star rating, I actually really enjoyed Madden 19 and do believe it is worth picking up. This is going to sound a bit indecisive but the answer is both yes and no.

We’ve all heard the complaints that Madden is a franchise that makes very small changes every year and passes it off as a fully-fledged game. So with this review, I wanted to gear it towards the people who are on the fence about buying Madden 19. Most likely you’ve already picked up your copy and are deep into a franchise or your MUT team. If you’re a huge Madden fan, you probably don’t need this review. Where To Buy It: Xbox Games Store, PlayStation Store, Origin, Local Retailers Available On: Xbox One (Reviewed), PS4, Windows PC

[youngfuturenv]

Colts QB Andrew Luck Given Clean Bill Of Health Ahead Of Training Camp

Colts QB Andrew Luck Given Clean Bill Of Health Ahead Of Training Camp

Article written by: Devin Ch

Andrew Luck has no injury limitations going into training camp.

All limitations on Andrew Luck have been lifted just in time for training the camp. The Indiannapolis Colts quarterback has been sidelined for the better part of a year for an injury that has beleaguered him for over three years. Luck had originally injured his right…

[kdsburneraccount]

hey! i saw your tags on a couple of my posts and wanted to say 1. thank you for reminding me of that video of chad and carson congratulating joe and tee (while sitting in like a cabin in the woods like... ok boyfriends), that brought back a rollercoaster of emotions sdgshdj and 2. the matt ryan trade was literally insane and i'm not even a fan of either of the teams involved ANYWAY sorry for dumping in your ask box like this, i hope you have a nice day!!

No problem!! I like receiving asks :D

I think I saw that video when it came out (which was… almost two seasons ago. Man they were not good back then 😢 but at least the following season was fun) and it reminded me of the parallels between the past and present. A quarterback drafted first overall wearing the number 9 and a wide receiver from the second round having number 85 both on the Bengals? Could be either 2004 or 2021 🤔🤔

But yeah I do hope that the next generation's story ends happier than the past's. Joe and Tee seem to have pretty different personalities from Carson and Chad (less polar opposites I think) so maybe that will help a little. The latter give off kinda "old married" vibes but it probably took a while to get to that point considering their differences in demeanor (and the general turbulence of the Bengals when they played together 😔). But now, there is peace in retirement and they live in a cabin in Idaho together or least that's how it goes in my wip idk about reality prooobably not. As I said to one of my friends, it's reminding me of "gay uncles giving advice to you and your boyfriend about the future" 😅

And then about the Matt Ryan trade I thought I was going to cry when I saw the news but I think I was kinda emotionally drained by the time it came out. I understand why it happened but the circumstances surrounding it were pretty bad so the whole thing was a bummer. It kinda felt... rushed and disrespectful to the QB who helped the franchise win for over a decade. But I do hope that both teams turn out okay, I guess I'll be paying attention to the Colts this season 🤔

[mikeisafighter]

Week 10 NFL predictions because it’s never too early for anything and given the year, who knows what will happen.

With only 4 other games left this week, now is a good time to predict next week’s games as we head closer to Thanksgiving.

Falcons 26-15 over Panthers (Didn’t these two just play each other? Spoiler alert, yes. Falcons are heading into the midway point of the season at 4-5 and with the best record in the NFC South. 4-5! Should be 5-5 with this win here)

Seahawks 37-34 over Buccaneers (Think Seattle is just that much better? Geno Smith v.s. Tom Brady one last time in a rematch of Smith’s early NFL days as a Jet. Give Geno credit, he’s doing his part. That will carry over here)

Dolphins 29-27 over Browns (Two of the most hyped AFC teams that didn’t make the playoffs last season. Browns have been a mess despite beating the Bengals previously. Dolphins are finally back on track, they get the critical W here)

Titans 28-17 over Broncos (Look, the Broncos have the better, more experienced QB in Wilson. But realistically, are the Titans just THAT much better? The answer is yes. This just isn’t Denver’s year. Titans will roll)

Bears 9-6 over Lions (Sooner or later, we’re gonna have one of those really low scoring games that you almost always see once in a season. If it’s going to happen, it will be because of these two teams. Fields will do enough to put his FG kicker into good position to win the game, because can you really trust either offense on a consistent basis? It’s hard to here)

Giants 32-10 over Texans (Don’t overthink this one. Houston is just a bad team, and might be looking at their future QB in the 2023 Draft. Giants dominate)

Chiefs 40-7 over Jaguars (This is a mismatch. Period)

Bills 31-28 over Vikings (This one is going to be interesting. On one hand, you have Cousins who has lead his Vikes to a strong record with the only blemish against the Eagles. On the other, you have Allen whose two losses are a stinging feeling against the Dolphins and Jets. I just think Buffalo has the edge here)

Saints 18-11 over Steelers (Well, it’s like this. No longer are these 2 teams that strong. Saints are looking at cap hell and Steelers need to rebuild. Saints win, close)

Raiders 20-15 over Colts (Two disaster teams right now, give me Raiders to find a way to win in this one. They just have enough)

Cardinals 17-10 over Rams (I am off the Rams ship here, things just don’t look right in LA. Cards win going away in the end)

Cowboys 38-10 over Packers (This one looked spicy, but these two teams are clearly going in different directions. Packs have lost 5 in a row, Cowboys have lost to Eagles and Bucs. Cannot see them dropping one here but the spread looks very suspicious [Only -3 for Dallas?] Dallas, big.)

49ers 27-17 over Chargers (49ers are just better, period. Chargers are the ultimate headscratcher organization. They always find ways to choke it away and it will get them here against the Niners)

Eagles 28-24 over REDSKINS (Eagles should be 9-0 after this one. They have a brutal road awaiting them. ‘Taylor Henicke and Washington, a struggling Indy squad lead by a guy named Sam, a sinking Packers squad, a Titans squad with Malik Wills at QB if Tanenhill is not good to go, Daniel Jones-led QBing the Giants twice, a struggling Bears team, and a badly struggling Saints squad, plus the Cowboys.’ No excuse if Eagles don’t finish at least 16-1 here and they don’t win it all)

[sports-balling-blog]

NFL hot(ish) takes for 2020 (AFC edition)

FOOTBALL IS BACK…if you ignore high school football and college football and soccer football but we’re ignoring that! So here we go my 2020 power rankings

AFC West

4. Las Vegas Raiders- lead by everyone’s 17th favorite starting quarterback and the rest of the silver and black are in for a long year stuck in the AFC West and not making moves themselves. Just add this season to the broken dreams that pave the strip…at least y’all have hockey?

3. Denver Broncos- John Elway must have really been hoping he could make lightning strike twice and bring Aaron Rodgers to the mile high city only to be stuck with a combination of Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater to see through the season instead of you know drafting a quarterback. There is too much talent *cough cough Von Miller cough cough* for the Broncos to be a complete disaster but you guys are dangerously close to Kyle Orton/Tim Tebow territory.

2. The S̶a̶n̶ ̶D̶i̶e̶g̶o̶ Los Angeles Charges- much like everyone else I’m pretty high on the Los Angeles Chargers (of Anaheim) after seeing the team’s second half of 2020 and Justin Herbert. It’s finally looking like the rebuild will yield results but we have one last question for the team will they have more wins than fans in So-Fi this year?

1. Kansas City Chiefs- shock of all shocks the back to back AFC Champions with an MVP QB and hall of fame coach will repeat as division champions. While it should be a cake walk to their seventh straight playoff appearance (and sixth straight division title) it’ll be interesting to see if they did enough to keep pace with the other top teams in the AFC.

AFC South

4. Houston Texans- HAHAHAHAH do I really need to talk more. Everything this last off season seems to have been the incorrect move more Huston especially the whole deshaun Watson situation. At least on the bright side at least no one can claim you’re tanking.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars- the Trevor Lawrence era has officially began. Too bad it’s going to start like the Minshew/Nick Foles era ended, with lots of losses. That much is clear when they chose to pander to Florida Gators fans by hiring Urban Mayer signing Tim Tebow instead of actually improving. To the three Jags fans out there be glad the Texans are in your division.

2. Indianapolis Colts- ahhh the Colts and injuries quarterbacks can you name a better tradition? The Carson Wentz era In Indy will have to wait a good chunk of the season to get started in Ernest given the newly acquired QB will miss up to 12 weeks. There’s certainly enough talent there for the Colts to stay in wild card contention and not fall in with the other two teams listed above.

1. Tennessee Titans- I don’t think there’s anyone quite as happy to be in Nashville as Julio Jones is. After years of trying to get out of Atlanta this falcon is free and here to help a titans squad looking to capitalize on the teams back to back playoff appearances.

AFC North

4. Cincinnati Bengals- congrats bengals you’ve found your franchise savior! Now you just need to scrap him off the turf every other play. And to add insult to (hopefully not another) injury AJ Green left to the Arizona desert after a decade. There’s still a long rebuild ahead bengals.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers- WHAT? How can the team that went 11-0 to start rank third? The Steelers are a long way from being one of the NFL’s top teams and the end of last season especially the game against Buffalo showed it. This year there’s no easy schedule for the black and gold to pray on. While everyone else in their division got better at least to a small extent Pittsburgh just got older and slower.

2. Baltimore Ravens- It will be an interesting season for Lamar and the Ravens and we’ll get a good taste almost immediately as they take on Kansas City in week two. The defense is there for sure a deep playoff run the only question is can the receivers include new addition Sammy Watkins can stay healthy and productive enough for the offense to match that pace.

1. Cleveland Browns- hard to believe the browns went 1-31 not very long ago. Cleveland looks like a completely different team these days boasting what looks to be one of if not the best defenses in the league especially after adding Clowney. Making the playoffs will be the least of the browns problems the only question is how far will they go. The way this team is built I’m guessing far.

AFC East

4. New York Jets- Zach Wilson is here after some rather uneventful years with Sam Darnold at the helm, but more importantly Adam Gase is gone! You’re Free! While the Jets won’t have much to show for it this year I think mean green’s perpetual rebuild sneakily took a turn for the better. We might have to stop calling them the butt fumble in a few years.

3. New England Patriots-yeah I know it feels weird for me to put them here too, but let’s face facts the Patriots are no longer a Super Bowl caliber team. The 7-9 record last season speaks for that. Its rather unlikely that lightning will strike twice in the form of Mac Jones right away. Give it a year or two and we’ll see where you are.

2. Miami Dolphins- another AFC East team looking at a bright future without Adam Gase! Brian Flores has done a great job righting the ship of state and now the dolphins look primed to build on last season and make a playoff appearance! Unfortunately the AFC is too too heavy for you to really do much there but good job none the less!

1. Buffalo Bills- another long suffering team now enjoying great success this time with Josh Allen. The Wyoming Alum looks to lead what will be one of the NFL’s best offenses past the AFC title game and into a Super Bowl this time. Their first since 1993

Playoff time!

1. Kansas City Chiefs- I don’t think they’re leagues better than the other playoff teams but when you’re looking for your fourth straight AFC Title game appearance I’ll give you a bit of a pass.

2. Buffalo Bills- not much to say here the Bills are a talented squad who are going to be successful.

3. Tennessee Titans- the regular season may be kind of a mixed bag for the Titans when it comes to record (obviously not too bad) but I think the playoffs is where this team will come to shine.

4. Cleveland browns- four feels too low for this team but when you look at who’s above them it’s kinda hard to disagree with it.

5. San Angels Chargers- look at you Chargers fan! You’re in the playoffs maybe you can make some magic happen.

6. Miami Dolphins- after coming so close last year you can loose in the first round just like in 2016.

7. Indianapolis Colts- just like last year you get to play Buffalo first and just like last year you won’t get a second game.

All in all the AFC is really a three team race. While I think I best team in general is the Chiefs I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Tennessee represents the AFC.

[nflweeklyuk]

NFL Divisional Preview

AFC East

The Bills figure to remain the top dog in the division this year, if not primed to establish a dominance over it. Josh Allen looked in midseason form in his preseason play. He is an ascendant talent and that should worry the other teams in the East. If the Bills can provide support in the run game this team will be a powerhouse in the AFC. An new crop of QB’s in this division should make it a fun one to watch in coming years. With a second year starter in Tua, Miami are still looking to see if he is the guy, all noises coming from South Florida are that he is the guy and we will see that this year. I hope so. The Patriots and Jets are starting rookies under centre, but in very different situations. Mac Jones will be put in positions to succeed by Belichick and McDaniels, and only asked to do the minimum required. The Patriots defence looks to follow on from an overall good showing last year where the they were top ten in passing and tied for the league lead in interception. An improvement in rushing yards allowed will see this defence provide all the support a ball control offence needs to win enough games to be in the playoff hunt. The Jets have their QB of the future but Zach Wilson is a raw talent who will likely ride the rookie rollercoaster in his first season. His supporting cast is the worst of the teams overall and the best Jets fans can hope for this season is to end the season with hope!

Projected Standings:

Bills

Patriots

Dolphins

Jets

AFC South

The two best units in this division are the Titans offense and the Colts defense. I would rate the Titans unit as the better of the two at this point, bringing back all major contributors in Henry, Brown and Tannehill provides great continuity. When you throw Julio Jones into the mix to play as the number 2 wideout on this team then you have a pretty fearsome unit. Expect Julio to take Jonnu Smith’s end zone production after the TE left for Foxborough. The young Colts D will look to build on the leaps it made last year and could turn out to be one of the best in the league. I just don’t trust the offensive side of the ball enough. What Wentz will we get? Who will emerge as his go to with Hilton’s injury worries? Michael Pittman has flashed but his overall production does not point to a number one wideout at this point.

If Watson was suiting up (terrible legal issues to one side) then the Texans would possibly challenging the Colts here. He is not, and likely won’t be for at least a meaningful chunk of the season. Outside of him the Texans roster is bare. There is not much to like, and they have just traded their starting corner away. That is the move of a team thinking full rebuild. The Jags have some hope and some intrigue at last! Trevor Lawrence makes this team relevant and more competitive. One of the top prospects in recent years has the usual number one pick pressure but after a 1-15 season any improvement in record will be considered a success.

Projected Standings:

Titans

Colts

Jags

Texans

AFC West

The Chiefs are favorites for the Superbowl, and rightly so. Therefore there is no surprise they are my pick to win the AFC West. Mahomes is an rare player and it is just great to watch him week to week. His supporting cast still includes Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce so we can probably move on! You could make an argument for any of the other three teams, in any order in this division. The Chargers have an ascendant talent at QB and some nice pieces on D. The Raiders have an underrated QB in Derek Carr and will put up points with Josh Jacobs, Darren Waller and Henry Ruggs supporting him. The defense is always a question mark, and so are ALL of the high picks spent on that side of the ball by Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden. The Broncos likely have the best defensive unit in the division and will lean on that to win games. Teddy Bridgewater has made stops in several locations for a reason, he is a good but not great QB, and lets be honest Drew Lock is not the answer. If Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick can all make strides then this could be a sneaky good offense. When things are close calls I always revert back to who has the best player at the most important position. In this division they rank Herbert, Carr, Bridgewater. Behind Mahomes. Obviously.

Projected Standings:

Chiefs

Chargers

Raiders

Broncos

AFC North

This is one of the trickier divisions to predict. There are three teams that you could make a case for winning this division. The other one is the Bengals. It’s really hard not to like what the Bengals have done at the skill positions on offense. Joe Burrow looked the real deal before his injury last year, and Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins and Joe Mixon have shown how good they can all be. Throw in Ja’Marr Chase, preseason struggles aside, and you have a very talented core of players. Offensive line woes were not seriously addressed though and that will put a cap on this offense, if not stymie it completely. The defense has improved but not enough to challenge the other teams in this division.

The Ravens will look like… the Ravens, the ground game will dominate most opponents and ensure Baltimore puts up plenty of wins again. I forsee a déjà vu year for the Ravens who will make the playoffs but not go deep into the competition when they cannot keep pace with the powerhouse AFC offenses. The defense figures to be stingy again, allowing the run first offense to run over teams throughout the regular season.

The Browns were a nice surprise last year (even with the hype).  With Chubb and Hunt leading this offense and Baker Mayfield not having to play the leading role, the Browns found a great offensive rhythm. Mayfield had his own moments worthy of plenty of praise and admiration but I still don’t trust him week in week out. There is so much talent on this roster across the RBs, WRs and TEs, but outside of the RB room there has been no consistent performers. Landry has probably been the most consistent but I’m not sure there are clear roles defined, or a plan to feed all the mouths on this offense. Defensively we know Garrett is going to terrorise QBs and with a 17 game slate some records might be in danger! The Browns gave up a lot of touchdowns and yards through the air last year (although a low completion %), if they can improve that area then they may walk away with a division title.

The Steelers have some great talent on both sides of the ball. Ranking dead last in rushing through 2020, however, was very anti-Steelers. Drafting Najee Harris in the first round looks to improve the balance of this offense, but was it the backs that were the problem? Harris is an upgrade, but you do need some holes to run through. The defense boasts the highest paid defensive player, rightly so, and looks to be a turnover machine once again. Tieing for the lead league in INTs as the Steelers did last year generally helps with field position and setting up the offense in good field position. Downside? The two teams the STeelers are competing with were both top 4 in rush attempts and rushing yards last year. The Steelers led the league defensively in completion % allowed, but were middle of the pack against the ground game. There is a lot to like about the Steelers, but the teams that provide the worst match ups for them reside in their division!

I’ll take the Ravens for the division but it is a coin flip with the Browns. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Cleveland go deeper in the playoffs than Baltimore though.

Projected standings:

Ravens

Browns

Steelers

Bengals

NFC East

I’m rooting for the Dak Prescott of last year to be the guy we see minute one on Thursday night. It will just be great to see the guy suit up to be honest, that was a really chilling injury to see, to someone who seems a stand up guy as well. If Dak comes back in that form, or even gets there after shaking off some rust and uncertainty then I don’t have much doubt the Cowboys take this division. The defense sorted itself out to a large extent towards the end of last year and has added some nice pieces this offseason. With Lamb, Cooper and Gallup and a trim Ezekiel Elliott all returning I can only see this offense putting up big numbers. Any defensive improvement should translate to Ws, especially within the division.

Placing the rest of this division was a lot trickier. Washington have a fearsome front with Chase Young and Montez Sweat likely terrorising opponent QBs on a regular basis and the defense will be the strength of this team once again. Who doesn’t love Fitzmagic? Well, winning records don’t really unfortunately. Fitzpatrick is with his 400th team for a reason, he is a streaky QB that cannot string together consistent performances. He did a great job in Miami last year, and perhaps is having a late career settling down.. but would you really bet on that? Washington will win games based on the strength of this defense but to challenge for the division, or even the playoffs then they need a makeover in the QB room.

I bought a little too much into the Jalen Hurts early showings last year and had a flutter on the Eagles making some noise in the playoffs. Only for Hurts and the rest of the team too play a couple of duds and miss out completely. The second year pro will likely see ups and downs as any young QB does, but his athleticism and courage should provide enough spark to drive the Eagles to a middling win total, which is likely enough to slot into second in this division.

The Giants are in Daniel Jones purgatory, he has not quite done enough for the plug to get pulled but an insane number of turnovers in his first two years has to be worrying. If the G-men can get Barkley going and limit the work Jones has to do then this offense could thrive on play action with the likes of Golladay, Shephard and Slayton on the outside. The defense has a star in James Bradberry and should keep the Giants in plenty of close games, I just don’t have faith in the QB to put the Giants on the right side of them.

Projected standings

Cowboys

Eagles

Washington

Giants

NFC South

The Bucs bring back all 22 starters on offense and defense from their Superbowl triumph last year. That kind of continuity is rare and makes the Bucs perhaps a more fearsome team than that which closed the season last year so strongly. Like most, I have no real interest in discussing Tom Brady’s age, I have no doubt the first person to call time on Brady correctly will be Brady himself. Someone so in tune with their body and committed to their craft will know the time before we see any semblance of decline. Therefore the Bucs stroll this division this year, a division which sans Drew Brees leaves less talent to challenge the Bucs main area of concern, the secondary. As areas of concern go, it is not a huge concern!

Matt Ryan will be challenging that secondary with Calvin Ridley, Russel Gage and Kyle Pitts. I’m not sure there is anyone who is not excited to see the latter get on the field. Again I fear a déjà vu type year for the Falcons, yes, points will be scored, but that will be a necessity as the perennially thin defense projects to underwhelm once again. If this team could find balance on that side of the ball they would be an NFC team to watch. As it happens they will be just that, but only because they should be in a fair few shoot outs.

What will Sean Payton’s game plan be? How much trust does he have in his QBs? I would expect heavier doses of Alvin Kamara.. and Taysom Hill?.. leading to some deep shots off of play action, limiting the amount Winston (to start with) has to do on any given day. Without Michael Thomas suiting up for the first 6 weeks of the year do the Saints have enough out wide to take advantage of those deep shots? Callaway has flashed the potential, as has Tre’quan Smith, but neither have yet been consistent performers. On the other side of the ball the Saints have a strong pass rush and an improved secondary after the acquisition of Bradley Roby from the Texans. This secondary group may be a little thin and will need rookies to step up to push this defense to the next level. It was a toss up between the Falcons and Saints to take the spot behind the Bucs but again, when in doubt go with the better QB!

The Panthers round out this division, not so much because they are a last placed team, but because there are strong teams in this division. The Panthers defense has the chance to be much improved, if a Brian Burns led pass rush can maintain pressure on opposing QBs then this unit can improve from it’s middle of the pack showing last year. On the offensive side of the ball there are serious questions on the offensive line, that does not bode well for Sam Darnold. Darnold does have a much better supporting cast around him at the skill positions, and a bona fide stud in McCaffrey to be the workhorse but the jury is still out on him as a starting QB. If the offensive line can hold up we should know by the end of the year whether the Panthers have an answer at QB or whether they will be back in the market next offseason.

Projected standings:

Buccaneers

Falcons

Saints

Panthers

NFC West

Probably the most competitive division of the lot. Great, established coaches (mostly…). Talented, proven quarterbacks (mostly…) and top notch skill position players everywhere. All these teams look poised to put up plenty of point on offense, so will this division come down to who has the better defensive unit?

The Rams acquisition of Matthew Stafford is a brilliant move in my opinion. Stafford deserves a chance on a loaded team after being the ultimate competitor and teammate in Detroit, without any support from the organisation. In LA he will benefit from a team that knows how to run the ball, and play defense. The Rams offense has been hit and miss under Goff in more recent history but Stafford will bring consistency and aggression, raising the ceiling of this offense. The defense still has Aaron Donald so they will be just fine, if not a great unit. Pressure up front and lock down play in the secondary from the likes of Jalen Ramsey will mean that the Rams will limit opponents offensive production. With a solid offense with Stafford at the helm this looks to be one of the most balanced teams in the league.

The 49ers are up there with the Rams in almost all facets. They are more talented at the skill positions, certainly, with the likes of Kittle, Aiyuk and Samuel, however Garropolo is not Matt Stafford, until proven otherwise. The guy has been to the Superbowl, but he has also been underwhelming for longer than he has been good overall. Trey Lance is waiting in the wings and there will be plenty of noise if Garropolo is anything but stellar, distraction potential? The run game usually reduces the burden on the quarterback and the 9ers have some talented backs that will rotate to keep a heavy dose of the ground game going. This offense will be good, even with mediocre QB play. I’m not buying the hype of the return of the 2019 9ers just yet but they could easily win this division and be one of the best teams in the league. The defense has lost it’s spearhead in Robert Saleh, so some question marks about continuity need to be answered. There is plenty of talent there though. I have the Rams slightly ahead of the 9ers here but it could go either way.

Russell Wilson is one of my favorite players of all time, when he came out of the gates last season on a record breaking pace it looked like he was about to elevate into the very top tier of QBs. So where did the second half of the season come from?! Letting Russ cook was working beautifully, yeah the D was atrocious, winding up second in the league in air yards allowed, but it didn’t really matter all that much. Until it did. As soon as the offense’s average points per game dropped to a more middling level the Seahawks were not going to win games. We can expect Wilson, Metcalf, Lockett and co to be a dynamic offense which, in all likelihood, will not be so up and down. What can we expect from the defense? Unfortunately while offensively the Seahawks are up there with the teams above, they do not boast the same talent defensively, limiting their ability to compete for honours in this division.

A very similar story looks to play out in the desert. Arizona boast a truly talented offense that has only improved this offseason. The one question mark remaining is do they have a lead back who can carry the load and relieve pressure on Kyler Murray? I’m not sure, and I don’t think this offense will have balance. Yes the rushing numbers will be inflated by Murray himself but that will not be what is seen on field. Defensively the Cardinals have lost Patrick Peterson and will rely on younger players to step up. They will need to generate way more pressure up front to compensate for a weaker secondary. Not you Budda. There are more questions surrounding this team than any of the others in the division, so last place it is.

NFC West

Probably the most competitive division of the lot. Great, established coaches (mostly…). Talented, proven quarterbacks (mostly…) and top notch skill position players everywhere. All these teams look poised to put up plenty of point on offense, so will this division come down to who has the better defensive unit?

The Rams acquisition of Matthew Stafford is a brilliant move in my opinion. Stafford deserves a chance on a loaded team after being the ultimate competitor and teammate in Detroit, without any support from the organisation. In LA he will benefit from a team that knows how to run the ball, and play defense. The Rams offense has been hit and miss under Goff in more recent history but Stafford will bring consistency and aggression, raising the ceiling of this offense. The defense still has Aaron Donald so they will be just fine, if not a great unit. Pressure up front and lock down play in the secondary from the likes of Jalen Ramsey will mean that the Rams will limit opponents offensive production. With a solid offense with Stafford at the helm this looks to be one of the most balanced teams in the league.

The 49ers are up there with the Rams in almost all facets. They are more talented at the skill positions, certainly, with the likes of Kittle, Aiyuk and Samuel, however Garropolo is not Matt Stafford, until proven otherwise. The guy has been to the Superbowl, but he has also been underwhelming for longer than he has been good overall. Trey Lance is waiting in the wings and there will be plenty of noise if Garropolo is anything but stellar, distraction potential? The run game usually reduces the burden on the quarterback and the 9ers have some talented backs that will rotate to keep a heavy dose of the ground game going. This offense will be good, even with mediocre QB play. I’m not buying the hype of the return of the 2019 9ers just yet but they could easily win this division and be one of the best teams in the league. The defense has lost it’s spearhead in Robert Saleh, so some question marks about continuity need to be answered. There is plenty of talent there though. I have the Rams slightly ahead of the 9ers here but it could go either way.

Russell Wilson is one of my favorite players of all time, when he came out of the gates last season on a record breaking pace it looked like he was about to elevate into the very top tier of QBs. So where did the second half of the season come from?! Letting Russ cook was working beautifully, yeah the D was atrocious, winding up second in the league in air yards allowed, but it didn’t really matter all that much. Until it did. As soon as the offense’s average points per game dropped to a more middling level the Seahawks were not going to win games. We can expect Wilson, Metcalf, Lockett and co to be a dynamic offense which, in all likelihood, will not be so up and down. What can we expect from the defense? Unfortunately while offensively the Seahawks are up there with the teams above, they do not boast the same talent defensively, limiting their ability to compete for honours in this division.

A very similar story looks to play out in the desert. Arizona boast a truly talented offense that has only improved this offseason. The one question mark remaining is do they have a lead back who can carry the load and relieve pressure on Kyler Murray? I’m not sure, and I don’t think this offense will have balance. Yes the rushing numbers will be inflated by Murray himself but that will not be what is seen on field. Defensively the Cardinals have lost Patrick Peterson and will rely on younger players to step up. They will need to generate way more pressure up front to compensate for a weaker secondary. Not you Budda. There are more questions surrounding this team than any of the others in the division, so last place it is.

Projected standings:

Rams

49ers

Seahawks

Cardinals

NFC North

Aaron Rodgers with a bigger chip than usual on his shoulder, coming off an MVP year… the league should be afraid. His connection with Adams should be as strong as ever. The depth in the receiving core is a little better but I’m not sure why there is so much hype about the return or Randall Cobb, yes, there is familiarity but we have not seen the game breaking play from Cobb since he left Green Bay. Having two backs in Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon should mean the run game continues to be an important, and effective cog in this high power offense. I don’t see any drop off from the leagues leading scoring offense. Defensively the Pack will look to improve again this year, with a young secondary that played well last year. An easy choice to take this division.

The Vikings project to be just fine offensively, the combination of Dalvin Cook with Jefferson and Thielen on the outside will mean this offense is capable of going toe to toe with the better offenses in the league. Well, at least if you don’t watch the preseason. Defense was the problem for this team last year, the Vikings could not effectively stop the run or pass, meaning opponents could play whatever game plan they liked and have success. I would not expect a Mike Zimmer coached defense to repeat such bad stats for a second year. The additions of the likes of Patrick Peterson and Eversen Griffen, among others, should ensure that improvement is seen on the field, making this team a lot more competitive this year.

Projected standings:

Packers

Vikings

Bears

Lions

[mitchintille]

2021 Mock Draft 1.0

Super Bowl 55 is just a few days away, which means draft season is looming in the rearview mirror. In a class that is expected to produce an abundance of offensive talent, several teams could benefit from this year’s crop. With a reported possibility of 18 teams looking for a change at the quarterback position, there is quite a bit of ambiguity as we approach the draft, and this year could shape up to be one of the wildest drafts we’ve seen in recent memory. Without further ado, here are my early first round predictions for the 2021 NFL draft....

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

From the moment he set foot on campus his freshman season, Lawrence has always has shown the capabilities of being a future NFL star. He took no time bursting onto the scene. After a dazzling freshman season, in which he lead the Tigers to a title in blowout fashion over an absolutely loaded Alabama team, he followed it up with two more trips to the playoffs, including another trip to the title game.

The former No.1 overall recruit in the country offers everything one could wish for in a franchise quarterback.  He is a gifted, natural thrower of the football who is wise beyond his years at the position. Even new head coach Urban Meyer feels that he has the potential to be the best QB ever. Jaguars fans, your savior has come. Rejoice. 

2. Houston Texans: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

Houston receives: 2nd overall pick (2021), 23rd overall pick (2021), 3rd round pick (2021), 1st round pick (2022), 4th round pick (2022)

New York receives: Deshaun Watson, 6th round pick (2022)

Let’s get weird. Deshaun Watson being traded has reached inevitability status, and the Jets are stockpiled with draft picks over the next few years. It has been rumored that Watson would prefer to play for the Jets under the tutelage of new head coach Robert Saleh. The Jets have the firepower to make this pick happen, and in this scenario they pull off the mega deal and get their guy. So where does that leave Houston?

 They luck into a talented, natural thrower of the football, with a very clean feel for the pocket. He has a rocket arm, and is particularly impressive when asked to go off script. The Texans rebuild will undoubtedly be a long one, but with Wilson, they have a fresh face of the franchise moving forward, and will look to continue adding more weapons around him to set him up for success.  

3. San Francisco 49ers: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

San Francisco receives: 3rd overall pick (2021), 5th round pick (2022)

Miami receives: 12th overall pick (2021), 43rd overall pick (2021), 1st round pick (2022), 3rd round pick (2022), 7th round pick (2022)

Between the Rams’ recent trade for Matthew Stafford, and Kyle Shanahan remaining noncommittal on Jimmy Garoppolo for the foreseeable future, it wouldn’t shock me to see John Lynch be aggressive and try to nab their QB of the future. 

Fields put up gaudy numbers in his first year as a starter, posting an absurd 51-3 TD/INT ratio. He showed a bit of regression in a COVID-shortened year two, but still displayed all of the tools you’d hope to see when searching for a franchise QB. 

Finding a way to get Jimmy G’s lucrative contract off the books, and adding a talented player like Fields would be a win-win for an organization whom I feel would GREATLY benefit from a changing of the guard under center. 

4. Atlanta Falcons: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State 

With the arrival of new head coach Arthur Smith, it is time for a rebrand in Atlanta. Matt Ryan is expected to make over $40m a season for the next two years, and while he is certainly not the main issue with this team, the Falcons need to move in a new direction. 

Lance is perhaps the most polarizing player in this year’s class. Similar to Fields, he too posted video game like numbers in his first year at the helm. The Minnesota product threw for 28 TD’s, while posting another 14 on the ground. He also didn’t throw an interception all season. He possess all of the physical tools that NFL teams salivate over, and while questions will remain in regards to the inferior competition he’s been exposed to over his career, the opportunity to sit and learn from Matt Ryan could serve both himself and the Falcons some good.

5. Cincinnati Bengals: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

If Sewell is on the board, he will be the pick for the Bengals. After breakout rookie quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending ACL tear, the sense of urgency to upgrade the offensive line should be at an all-time high for the Bengals.

 Sewell allowed just one sack over 1,376 career snaps and will spend the majority of his rookie season at age 20. He is a smooth mover with easy power, who is capable of playing on either side of the line. He is the exact type of stalwart that is needed for the Bengals to protect their QB of the future. 

6. Philadelphia Eagles: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

I don’t know what to make of the Eagles’ current situation. They are in QB purgatory and have gaping holes riddled across their roster. With the recent hiring of Colts’ OC Nick Sirianni, I’d imagine adding offensive firepower would be at the top of his to-do list. Assuming they move forward with Jalen Hurts at QB, it is imperative to surround him with quality skill players. After drafting Jalen Reagor in the first round last year, they double dip this year and take the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.

 Smith is not the most conventional receiver, being that there aren’t too many 6′1, 175-lb receivers who have enjoyed prolonged success in the league, but Smith doesn’t care about your player profiles. Smith can make plays all over the field and beat you in a myriad of ways. He is a nuanced route runner with a seemingly natural feel for his position, and someone I can assume Sirianni will fall in love with as the draft process begins to heat up.

7. Detroit Lions: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama 

If Lance were to have fallen to this spot, I’d have probably made him the selection. However, I’ll opt to give them a difference maker like Waddle.

 With Kenny Golladay’s impending departure and both Danny Amendola and Marvin Jones Jr. testing the open market, that WR room could get UGLY in a hurry. Waddle is essentially a supercharged version of his former teammate Henry Ruggs. He has legit 4.2 speed, and does a great job of tracking the deep ball. The Lions are desperate for speed on the perimeter, and Waddle would be an instant upgrade to what they have now. He’s a true, top-10 talent assuming he manages to stay healthy.

8. Carolina Panthers: Ja’marr Chase, WR, LSU

Now just hear me out on this. Curtis Samuel is approaching free agency and will likely be headed elsewhere. Aside from DJ Moore and Robby Anderson, the cupboard is bare. Chase put up record-setting numbers in his only year under current Panthers OC Joe Brady when they were at LSU, so a reunion would only be right.

 Chase is perhaps the best player in the entire class regardless of position. He is a physical route-runner who attacks the catch point with ease, and his RAC ability might be his best trait. He is very reminiscent of Moore, and pairing those two along with Anderson’s deep speed could perhaps create the most dangerous receiving trio in the NFL.

9. Denver Broncos: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

After an heavy offensive draft last year, the Broncos buck the trend and refocus on rebuilding their defense. Farley’s size and athleticism are a perfect fit in Vic Fangio’s versatile defensive scheme. I believe Farley has the potential to be a star in this league very quickly. 

10. Dallas Cowboys: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern

After wrestling back and forth with myself on this pick, the Cowboys settle on Slater. The once elite Cowboys offensive line has suddenly deteriorated into mediocrity. With both Tyron Smith and La’el Collins returning from injuries, Slater can serve as an insurance policy at either position, or kick him inside if need be. 

His versatility and strong lower half are both commendable traits that should allow him to see a long career in the NFL.

11. New York Giants: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama 

Truthfully, this might be the most unpredictable pick in the first round. Dave Gettleman is tricky, but recently he has invested into the secondary quite a bit. After signing James Bradberry to a pricy extension last off-season, they also invested a pick into Xavier McKinney, as well as the addition of guys like Logan Ryan and Jabrill Peppers.

With Surtain, he brings a combo of length and savvy to the position, and would serve as the Giants’ other outside corner opposite of Bradberry.

12. Miami Dolphins: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

San Francisco receives: 3rd overall pick (2021), 5th round pick (2022)

Miami receives: 12th overall pick (2021), 43rd overall pick (2021), 1st round pick (2022), 3rd round pick (2022), 7th round pick (2022)

Yes, I’m highly aware that Mike Gesicki exists. But hear me out on this one, Pitts is more than just your standard “tight end” prospect. If it weren’t for a TE listed next to his position, I’d say that he’s the second best receiver in the draft. 

He is nearly impossible to match up against. He’s too fast for linebackers and too physical for corners. He’s shown the capability to play in the slot, flexed out wide, or with his hand in the dirt. Pairing him and Gesicki together will give Tua Tagovailoa (assuming he remains their guy moving forward), a plethora of weapons at his disposal.

13. Los Angeles Chargers: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

Keeping Justin Herbert clean and protected should be the top priority heading into the offseason for Tom Telesco. After a breakout rookie season, it seems the Chargers struck a goldmine in Herbert. Being that the Chargers haven’t had a decent offensive line in years, a trip out west would make sense for Darrisaw. 

The Virginia Tech product is a very fluid mover, whose length and quickness allow him to reach the second level with ease as a run blocker. He will be an instant upgrade to their run game, and has the maturity to protect Herbert’s blindside from day one in LA. 

14. Minnesota Vikings: Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami

After the loss of Everson Griffen to free agency, and Danielle Hunter missing most of the 2020 season due to a back injury, the Vikings should be looking to rebuild their pass rush. Mike Zimmer seems to have a knack for high-ceiling pass rushers with athletic upside. Rousseau fits the bill.

 The Florida native saw his star shine after a dazzling sophomore season, racking up an impressive 15.5 sacks. Rousseau has easy power off the edge. While he is still a bit raw from a technician standpoint, his natural power and length will be a nightmare for tackles to deal with from day one. If he can mature his game, he has the potential to be one of the most productive edge rushers in the league in due time. 

15. New England Patriots: Micah Parsons, EDGE, Penn State

After some recent concerns over Parsons’ character, he sees his stock slide and he falls into the lap of Bill Belichick. After being used in several different spots at Penn State,

 Parsons projects best as an EDGE, but has the necessary tools to develop his skills over time. Belichick has a fetish for hybrid linebackers that can rush the passer, and pairing the two together would do wonders for his development over time.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

After adding Matthew Stafford to the division, and the Niners looking to upgrade at the quarterback position, it is time for the Cardinals to get better in the secondary. Quickly.

 Horn is an excellent press corner, with an alpha-dog type mentality that should fit in well in the Cardinals’ back end. He does have a tendency to be too grabby and aggressive at times, and his lack of size will hurt him against bigger receivers. He is not a perfect corner prospect, but the Cardinals don’t have much of a choice here. 

17. Las Vegas Raiders: Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami 

Truthfully, I have no idea what to predict here. The front office is an absolute mess, and have proven themselves to be incompetent when it comes to drafting. After missing badly on Clelin Ferrell a few years ago, they have a chance to redeem themselves with the selection of Phillips. 

The former number one overall recruit had a late start to his career, after suffering several injuries and at one point declaring himself medically retired. After transferring to Miami from UCLA, Phillips began to improve his game, and vaulted himself into first round considerations after a breakout 2020 campaign. His injury history may force him to fall, but his combination of size, speed, and motor is very exciting, and he may be the exact type of player Mike Mayock falls in love with.

18. Miami Dolphins: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

Brian Flores is one of the few Belichick proteges recently that has found success as a head coach. Much like Belichick, Flores places a large emphasis on versatility, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. This is why Collins would be a perfect fit on day one. 

Collins was truly a jack-of-all-trades in his time at Tulsa. He was one of the best players in all of college football last season, and did so in a number of ways. He can rush the passer, cover a runningback out of the backfield. Think D’onta Hightower type role for Collins if he were to head to south beach.

19. Washington Football Team: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

With the trend in the NFL heading towards a youth movement at QB, it wouldn’t shock me to see Washington fall in love with Jones.

Although he’s not the most dynamic passer, Jones is a solid athlete with an incredibly comfortable feel for the game. He is a great processor with plus accuracy, and has shown impressive flashes of improvisation. He may not have a very high ceiling moving forward, but I can him instantly making that team better and elevating them into playoff contention on a year-to-year basis.

20. Chicago Bears: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

With Allen Robinson likely headed elsewhere in free agency and Anthony Miller’s slow start, the time is now to add playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. Insert Bateman.

One of the most forgotten men in the whole class, Bateman is silky smooth in everything he does, and will be the most physical WR on any field he steps on. He eats up intermediate routes, and is capable of being a vertical threat. His game reminds me a ton of guys like Keenan Allen and Michael Thomas, not the most physically gifted guys, but masters of their craft and play to their strengths.

Whether or not the Bears decide to move forward with Mitchell Trubisky at QB or not, it is imperative to give the man under center some more feasible options to work with in the passing game.

21. Indianapolis Colts: Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan

While the temptation was high to take a receiver here, I opted for the highly athletic EDGE with limitless upside.

Not having a combine will prove to affect Paye’s stock, as he was expected to test through the roof at his position. Once listed as one of Bruce Feldman’s “freaks”, Paye finally applied his athleticism to the field in 2020. He is very reliant on his natural power and speed, and has yet to develop any consistent counter moves. If developed properly, his size/speed combo alongside Deforest Buckner could prove to be deadly for an already improving defense.

22. Tennessee Titans: Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia

Being that the Jadeveon Clowney acquisition backfired on them, the Titans are still in search of a consistent pass rush opposite of Harold Landry.

Ojulari is young and lacks experience. But when his motor gets going, he could be the most explosive rusher in the class. He’d be perfect in their 3-4 defense, and has the potential to be a good player in space as he gains more experience. 

23. New York Jets: Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas

One of the staples of a Robert Saleh defense is consistent pressure off the edge. The Jets lack any and all types of pass rush at the moment, and Ossai’s intriguing upside in that defense could see him turn out to be a very productive player.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame

Man, Notre Dame just pumps them out, don’t they? With GM Kevin Colbert’s affinity for drafting players from big name schools, Eichenberg becomes the most recent, NFL product of the offensive line factory that is Notre Dame.

Much like any of the Notre Dame linemen of the past, Eichenberg is techincally sound in everything he does. He may not be athletic enough to play left tackle, but is a plug and play right tackle from day one.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas

Although the temptation would be to select a receiver here, the Jags have $100m in cap space to work with, which can be spent on one of the receivers in what is expected to be an impressive free agency class. 

Cosmi may be a little undersized, but is very athletic and light on his feet for the position. If he can bulk up and maintain his athleticism, I can see him being the Jaguars’ left tackle for the next decade. 

26. Cleveland Browns: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

A surprising slide leaves Cleveland with one of the most gifted players in the draft. 

JOK is a heat-seeking missile, who showed very impressive flashes in coverage. He is the prototypical, modern-day NFL linebacker through and through.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

Eric Decosta recently hinted at his lust for the dynamic Florida receiver. Toney was used in several different ways over the course of his career, but really seemed to find himself as a slot receiver in 2020.

On a team desperate for playmakers on offense, Toney would fit like a glove on that intermediate/short game offensive scheme. Toney is a menace with the ball in his hands. He has incredible contact balance and vision. If he continues to progress as a receiver, he would be a very nice addition. 

28. New Orleans Saints: Christian Barmore, IDL, Alabama

In what looks to be a fairly uninspiring IDL class, Barmore’s stock rose in his first season as a starter. The Philly native has clubs for hands, and he proved himself to be un-blockable down the stretch. Ohio State had no answer for him in the national championship game, and he seems to only be sratching the surface of what he can become.

In this case, the Saints don’t reach for a QB and draft the best player on the board, which just so happens to be Barmore. 

29. Green Bay Packers: Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina

The Packers failure to address the receiver position came full circle this season. After losing their second consecutive NFC Championship, the lack of talent at WR cost them in the end. Enter Dyami Brown, one of the best kept secrets in the entire draft. 

Brown is a budding star. Only listed at 6′1, 185-lb, Brown consistently plays larger than his frame. He is perhaps the best vertical threat in the entire draft. Brown displays freakish ball tracking skills, along with 4.3 speed. Pairing him with Rodgers could be the missing piece that gets them over the hump moving forward, and would show that the organization is dedicated to Rodgers as their guy until he retires. 

30. Buffalo Bills: Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri 

With Matt Milano’s future with the Bills in question, it would not surprise me to see them cut bait and go after the athletic and physical SEC backer.

Bolton is a bit undersized for the position, so pairing him with Tremaine Edmunds would be the perfect complement. He great sideline to sideline speed, and will be an immediate upgrade over Milano from an athletic standpoint.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama

With Donovan Smith set to become a free agent, I’d imagine the Bucs will look to replace him this off-season.

Leatherwood was a two-year starter at left tackle, but is capable of playing on the interior as well. Even if the Bucs were to bring Smith back, having a depth piece to the quality of Leatherwood could serve vital for a team who is destined ti make a run until Tom Brady’s retirement.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL, USC

An interesting storyline that has gotten lost in the mix of guys like Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs have battled several injuries along the offensive line. They’re likely to play 3-4 backups in the Super Bowl this Sunday. 

Although the production remains elite and ultimately the deteriorating health on the line hasn’t bitten them yet, it is not a sustainable way to move forward. 

Vera-Tucker is a highly refined player, who has experience playing at any spot on the line. Much like the Bucs, adding quality depth and talent among the offensive line to protect your franchise should never be a move that is scrutinized.