Super Bowl LX

 

I was right about both games during the Conference Championships and now we turn our eyes towards Super Bowl LX. One last game in what has been a wild and entertaining season. Here’s how I think the season will end:

Seatle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots

Sunday 6:30PM on NBC

This Sunday we will get a matchup of two 14-3 teams. Both teams have been tested and have earned their way into the championship game. Both teams have proven that they can score and both can play defense. The Seahawks defense was tops when it came to keeping their opponents out of the endzone, but they will face a Patriots offense which is in the top five when it comes to explosive plays. Going the other way, the Patriots’ defensive line is one of the best, especially against the run but they will come up against an offense that at times can impose its will on any defense. I think this game comes down to two questions. Which Sam Darnold shows up on Sunday? And which defense will prove to be the stingiest, especially during what will likely be a tight fourth quarter? Defense wins championships and I think the Seahawks D outplays their counterpart from across the field:

Seahawks 24 Patriots 17

2025 NFL Conference Championships

 

Last weekend I went 4 for 4, making up for my dismal performance in the Wildcard Round. I do wish the Bears’ game had a different outcome but this season leaves me looking forward to the 2026 draft and to the upcoming season. In the meantime, we have the conference championships and I think our next to last Sunday of NFL football will be another good one. Here’s how I think things will play out:

New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos

Sunday 3:00PM on CBS

At the end of the Broncos game, I felt like they were well on their way to Super Bowl LX. And then I heard the news that Bo Nix will be out for the rest of the playoffs. So, the Broncos now look to their backup quarterback, Jarrett Stidham, and I’m not sure what to expect from their offense this Sunday. But then, of late the Patriots’ offense has been playing like they have a backup behind center. I think this one will come down to the defenses. For the Broncos to win, they will need to force multiple turnovers. I just don’t think they will be able to do enough, and I give a slight edge to the Patriots’ defense. The Patriots win the AFC:

Patriots 20 Broncos 13

Los Angeles Rams vs. Seatle Seahawks

Sunday 6:30PM on Fox

Division rivals face off in the NFC championship game. These teams split their regular season match ups. This one is simple as it comes down to Sam Darnold. Darnold does not have to have a spectacular game, but he does have to protect the football. Points will be at a premium for both teams and turnovers will be tough to overcome. I think Darnold is up to the challenge. I also think the Seahawks D-line will put pressure on Stafford, making up for what they didn’t do in their two regular season games. I think the Seahawks win once again at home and become NFC champs:

Seahawks 17 Rams 14

Book Review: Blessed By The Best

Blessed By The Best is a must read for any fan of the Philadelphia Eagles and suggested reading for all NFL fans, giving a glimpse into the life of Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins. The full title of the book is Blessed By The Best, My Journey to Canton and Beyond and it is written by Michael Bradley who worked with Brian Dawkins to put together an inspiring book about overcoming physical circumstances as well as emotional turmoil. The book reads as if Dawkins is in the room with you, telling you his life story.

From a writing standpoint this book almost seems as if it is unedited, as if a recording of Dawkins was transcribed word for word. I think this adds to the charm of the book as I really felt that I got to know the character of the man who spent 235 pages telling me about himself, his family, his teammates and most of all about his God. This makes it a fun read which left me looking forward to what Dawkins will do with the rest of his post football life.

I give Blessed By The Best two thumbs up, recommending it for sports fans and for anyone who needs the inspiration of learning from someone who overcame a number of obstacles. I also recommend it for anyone who wants to learn about one man’s spiritual journey, delivered with honesty about his ups and downs as he continues to learn to trust in God.

Blessed By The Best: My Journey To Canton and Beyond by Brian Dawkins with Michael Bradley. Published by Camino Books, Inc. Philadelphia

Joe Gilliam: The First Black Starting QB in the NFL

They made history. Jalen Hurts of the Eagles and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs were the two starting quarterbacks in Super Bowl LVII making it the first time that both starting QBs were black. This was something I heard quite a few times leading up to the game and every time I heard an analyst mention that fact I thought of one name: Joe Gilliam.

In 1972 the Pittsburgh Steelers used the 273rd pick to draft Joe Gilliam who, during his college career at Tennessee State, passed for 5,213 yards and 50 touchdowns. While under center he helped his team win two Black College National Championships and his performances earned him induction into the Black College Football Hall of Fame. His on the field play and off the field popularity would earn him the nickname “Jefferson Street Joe,” given to him by one of the school’s coaches (in reference to one of the roads near campus, according to ESPN.com).

Even with his success in college the odds were against Gilliam playing quarterback in the NFL. Back then black college quarterbacks were generally converted to wide receiver however the Steelers, and head coach Chuck Knoll, decided to keep Gilliam at the quarterback position where he served as backup to Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw.

When the players went on strike in July of 1974 Bradshaw walked the picket line while Gilliam, and many other players around the league, chose to report for preseason training camp. Bradshaw’s absence opened the door for Coach Knoll to start Gilliam and Jefferson Street Joe took full advantage as the Steelers finished the preseason as the only unbeaten team with six wins. His success earned Gilliam the right to start on opening day against the Baltimore Colts. While I’m sure this was controversial, it does not seem as if it was done as a political statement. According to several sources, (including an article on CBSSports.com), Chuck Knoll believed that Gilliam was the best choice and he was not the only one who believed this (more on that later).

There had been other black quarterbacks who started professional football games like Marlin Briscoe who started for the Denver Broncos in 1968 but that was in the AFL before the merger which wasn’t official until 1970. Joe Gilliam was the first black to start at quarterback in the NFL but being first brought with it a certain amount of backlash. Based on the hate mail Gilliam received, it seems NFL fans were not ready to see a black man under center. Still, he would lead the team to a 4-1-1 record before being replaced by Bradshaw who would finish the season by leading the team to a win in Super Bowl IX. Unfortunately, after being benched Gilliam’s life took a turn for the worse, marked by substance abuse and homelessness (according to ESPN.com). He would eventually have to pawn his two Super Bowl rings (both from his time with the Steelers) in order to make ends meet (according to ESPN.com).

I first heard of Joe Gilliam from my uncle who played quarterback for a semi-pro team in Gary Indiana. He spoke of how Joe Gilliam was a better quarterback than Terry Bradshaw, something Bradshaw himself has publicly stated (as reported by CBSSports.com). This led to my first understanding of how blacks were seen in football and in sports: athletic but not smart enough. Knowing this I celebrated when Doug Williams led the Redskins to victory in Super Bowl XXII. I was also proud to see Hurts and Mahomes in this year’s Super Bowl, although I wish the score had gone the other way.

It seems weird to say that in my lifetime the idea of a black quarterback was in general something that was rejected by the league and by fans. I’m glad to see this kind of thinking go out the window as we debate whether or not a black quarterback might one day be crowned the GOAT.

For more on Joe Gilliam see his listing on the Black College Hall of Fame website: https://www.blackcollegefootballhof.org/inductees/joe-gilliam

For the ESPN.com cited in this post:Gilliam had 'given his life to God'  https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/2000/1229/982102.html

For the CBSSports.com article cited in this post: Remember When: Joe Gilliam takes Terry Bradshaw's starting QB job https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/remember-when-joe-gilliam-takes-terry-bradshaws-starting-qb-job/

Paul Salata, The Founder of Mr. Irrelevant

On the road to Super Bowl LVII the Eagles faced the San Francisco 49ers with one of the season’s biggest surprises at QB. Brock Purdy, their third string quarterback, took the field late in the season and delivered in every game until he suffered an injury in the NFC Championship. I’m not sure what is in store for Purdy in the future but his success this season got me thinking about past Mr. Irrelevants and their success (or lack thereof) on the football field. In checking the names of past players I came across a very important name that I did not know: Paul Salata, the person who came up with the idea of celebrating Mr. Irrelevant.

For those who don’t know, Mr. Irrelevant is the nickname given to the very last person picked in the NFL draft each year. Paul Salata came up with the idea in order to recognize the hard work that even the last player selected had to do in order to reach that point in their career. Mr. Salata pitched the idea to the NFL and in 1976 Kelvin Kirk, a wide receiver drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, became the first official Mr. Irrelevant. I’ll have more on Kelvin Kirk in a later post but for now let's just say that Kirk thought that someone was playing a joke on him. But this was not a joke. Mr. Salata invited Kirk out to California for a celebration and which would become an annual rite of passage for every Mr. Irrelevant since that time.

According to his obituary in the NY Times, Paul Salata was the second son of two Serbian immigrants (Chetko and Melania Salata). He played football and baseball at USC, playing on the team that won the 1948 College World Series. He also played one year of minor league baseball. While at USC he played wide receiver before joining the Army Air Corps where he served during World War II. During his college career Salata caught a touchdown in the 1945 Rose Bowl in which USC beat Tennessee by a score of 25-0 according to ESPN.com.

Mr. Salata’s NFL career was short, playing 23 games for three teams: The San Francisco 49ers, The Baltimore Colts and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also made appearances in a few movies, including an uncredited role in The Ten Commandments. In addition to his NFL career Salata played two seasons in the Canadian Football League where he was an All Star in the 1952 season according to ESPN.com. After completing his football and acting careers, Salata went into construction work and, after creating the honor, would get to announce the name of Mr. Irrelevant in person at the draft until 2013. After turning this job over to his daughter, Paul Salata lived until October 16, 2021 when he died of natural causes at the age of 94.

Paul Salata’s legacy continues today with the annual celebration of Mr. Irrelevant and the awarding of the Lowsman Trophy which is similar to the Heisman Trophy except that it depicts a player fumbling the football. The weeklong celebration includes a banquet in which Mr. Irrelevant joins the club of those who preceded him. The group that runs the Mr. Irrelevant celebrations also does fundraising and has donated over $1 million to charities according to their website. I believe this is a fitting tribute both to the hard work of the players who otherwise would be mostly forgotten and to the son of two immigrants who thought it important to recognize these men.

For more on Irrelevant Week see their website: https://mrirrelevant.org/

For Paul Salat’s obituary in the NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/24/sports/football/paul-salata-dead.html

Also mentioned in this post ESPN.com https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32412948/paul-salata-creator-mr-irrelevant-award-dies-94

When Lightning Strikes Twice

In 1993 my wife and I were still newlyweds and still getting used to living life together. For my wife this meant getting used to being a football widow every Sunday from September to February. So on January third, with my new mother-in-law in town, I figured it was best for my fledgling marriage if I gave in to my wife’s request and took her and her mother shopping. Full disclosure, shopping is one of my least favorite activities but I decided to be nice figuring I would only miss one NFL playoff game.

We made a few different stops, including one in Strawbridges in nearby Willow Grove Park Mall. For those of you not from Pennsylvania, New York or New Jersey Strawbridges was a department store that evolved from a local store called Strawbridge and Clothier, which was eventually bought by Macy’s. At some point the folks at Macy’s did away with the Strawbridges name but my story takes place back when the mall had both Macy’s and Strawbridges as anchor stores and when department stores still had a wall of televisions in their electronics sections.

On that day it seemed like every television in the store was turned to the game and there was a large group of men watching. Somehow they seemed unusually excited about what was at that point an overtime game, so I decided to stick around to watch how the game ended. Little did I know that I was seeing the end of what was then the greatest comeback in NFL history which ended with a Buffalo field goal in OT. As the ball went through the uprights I decided that from that time forward I would regularly remind my wife that I missed this historic game because she wanted to go shopping. Fortunately she has a good sense of humor and we have both learned to laugh whenever I tell this story.

After this past weekend the laughs are all on me and this will probably be the last time that I ever tell the story of missing the Bills’ comeback win. This weekend I was the one who planned an afternoon shopping trip, even though this was one of the Saturdays when there would be NFL games. Both my son and my wife thought it odd that I would choose shopping over football but I needed to finish my Christmas list. Besides, I figured I would only miss one game and that’s where I made my mistake. 

Somehow, once again, I missed the greatest comeback in NFL history as the Vikings came back from being down by 33 points to beat the Colts in overtime. Yes, somehow lightning did strike twice and it’s finally time for me to put an old story to rest. Now my wife can tell everyone how I made her miss the greatest comeback in NFL history and if you see me shopping during a football game you might want to run to the nearest television.

Applying A Lesson From Football to the Capital Incident

It was third down and we needed our defense to make a stop. Both teams lined up, ready for the play of the game. But just before the snap, one of their linemen moved. Then their quarterback handed the ball off to their tailback who took the ball sixty yards for a touchdown. And while they celebrated in the end zone, we looked around expecting a yellow flag. It never came. After the game one of the referees came over to admit his mistake. He saw the false start but he didn’t call it. We all wished he had kept that to himself. Still, as coaches of a youth football team, we had to set the right example.

We were cheated because a ref decided to keep his flag in his pocket. It would have been easy to lose my temper. It would have been easy for any of us to launch into a tirade or to do something stupid, using the fact that we were cheated as a reason to do wrong. Instead we decided to act like adults. We thanked the refs for doing a (mostly) good job and then we pulled our team together to talk about what we could do better. As a team we took responsibility for our loss. As coaches we acted like adults. I wish that was what happened on January 6th down at our nation’s capital.

I understand that our president and his supporters feel cheated. I don’t agree with them but I do understand that this is what they are feeling. But we needed the crowd to handle these feelings correctly. The nation needed adults who understand that in life you will not always like the outcome. In fact, you may even get cheated out of something. However, that is not an excuse to incite an unruly mob. It is not an excuse to commit crimes. It is not an excuse to attack the government of this country or any other country. It is the time to act like adults.

Fan, Fanatic or Christian?

courtesy of Pexels

Can a Christian also be a fan of a sports team? A brother in Christ, whom I highly respect, once asked me this question. I suppose he asked because I wore a pair of headphones to a church business meeting so that I could keep up with a football game. Whose idea was it to schedule a meeting during an Eagles vs Cowboys game anyway? Obviously our church moderator was not a fan. But I am, rarely missing an Eagles' game and when possible watching and/or listening to the Bears.

I admit I was a little hurt by the question and its spiritual implications. I never thought of my sports fandom as an obstacle to my faith. My defense in the face of the challenge likely came more from my pride as opposed to an honest consideration of the facts. Only recently have I truly given any thought to the question, giving honest consideration as the 2019 football season approaches. Can I be a fan and still hold my faith?

I believe the answer is yes, Christians can be fans of sports and of teams as well as fans of movies and actors and other things. After all being a fan has more to do with enthusiasm and support and nothing (in most cases) to do with worship. I can be devoted to my teams just as I can be devoted to my family (more so devoted to family of course). The key is that my devotion to Christ is higher and I have never let team fandom become idolatry. God always comes first and He is the only one I worship.

It would be easy for me to dismiss this question but it was something that obviously bothered my brother in Christ. And if it bothered him, perhaps it bothers other believers as well. I'm not going to say they are wrong. We each must follow our conscience and our convictions in Christ. Above all we must remember Who's we are and we must live according to our high calling in Christ.

Super Bowl LIII

I went .500 with last weekend's picks, though my loss shouldn't count. I'm still baffled as to how, with seven pairs of eyes, the refs missed both pass interference and head to head contact on the same play. That call (and the fact that the Saints kicked two field goals when they should have scored at least one touchdown) left me with a 20-17 record and left us with a matchup of #2 seeds in the Super Bowl.

New England Patriots vs Los Angeles Rams
6:30pm on CBS

I think this will be a tight game much like last year but without as many touchdowns. These are two evenly matched teams with balanced offensive attacks and just enough defense to shut down big plays. How well each team can sustain drives is going to be key. To sustain a drive the offensive lines will have to be at their best. Keep an eye on the battles along the line of scrimmage. Can either defense slow down the other teams running game? Will either QB see any real and consistent pressure? Last year the play of the game was a strip sack that lead to a turnover in the 4th quarter. This year the defenses need to find ways to get off the field. Once again a late turnover might be the difference. I think the Patriots win at the line of scrimmage and I believe they make the late game stop when needed.
Patriots 29 Rams 27

2019 NFL Conference Championships

My losing streak finally ended last Sunday leaving me with a .500 weekend and an overall 19-16 record. This weekend sees the four top offenses and 1 seeds vs. 2 seeds in both conference games. Both games feature veteran successful quarterbacks facing up and coming young quarterbacks. Who will prevail?

Los Angeles Rams vs New Orleans Saints
3:05pm on Fox

How is it that Drew Brees keeps getting better? I keep hearing about what he can no longer do and more recently how his 40 year old arm is starting to show its age. Yet here he is in the NFC Championship ready for the challenge from Jared Goff. This has the potential to become a passing clinic with both teams putting a lot of points on the scoreboard. But one stat stands out: rushing yards allowed. The Saints have a huge advantage here. As a result the Rams fortunes will fall on the ability of their O-line to open things up for Todd Gurley. I think Gurley needs a 100yd day for the Rams to win. Even then I do not think they can overcome a good Saints team.
Rams 45-Saints 51

New England Patriots vs Kansas City Chiefs
6:40pm on CBS

These teams are on the path to playing what could be the game of the year. Unfortunately if you like low scoring and smothering defense this is not what you will find. Both teams will move the ball and this could come down to who has the ball last. I also think coaching will play a big part in this game especially after the 2:00 warning of both halves. I think a close game favors the Patriots.
Patriots 45-Chiefs 42

No matter the results this weekend, we are looking at a high scoring Super Bowl in a couple of weeks. These last three games should be a fun end to a great season.

2019 NFL Divisional Playoff Round

Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels

I could have done better last week had I flipped a coin or used darts. My picks were like the kiss of death leaving me with a record of 17 and 14. On top of that the "double doink" left me feeling numb after the Bears loss to the Eagles. That game was tough on me with my two favorite teams playing each other. Parkey's eleventh missed field goal left me in a place where I could neither enjoy the Eagles win nor mourn the Bears loss. I just felt funny...just numb.

Here are my picks for the divisional playoff round, although based on last week, teams may not want me to pencil them into the win column.

Indianapolis Colts vs Kansas City Chiefs
Saturday 4:35pm on NBC

Two great offenses will step onto the field at Arrowhead Stadium. We will get to see an outstanding rookie quarterback vs. a candidate for comeback player of the year. These teams are even in every aspect except on defense. I still believe defense wins championships making a difference even in shootouts. Plus I think Hunt's actions have hurt the Chiefs on many levels. The Chiefs' home playoff losing streak continues.
Colts 35 Chiefs 24

Dallas Cowboys vs Los Angeles Rams
Saturday 8:15pm on Fox

I mentioned last week how the Cowboys' offense improved significantly with the addition of Amari Cooper. This improvement makes this team better than they look statistically on paper. Better offense also helps a good defense play even better. This week that defense will face an offense that has been one if the best all season. This game will come down to running backs, namely can either back be slowed down. This means both defenses will have their hands full. I think Dallas will have the advantage at the line of scrimmage.
Cowboys 30 Rams 27

Los Angeles Chargers vs New England Patriots
Sunday 1:05pm on CBS

A lot has been made of the Chargers' record on the road. While they are impressive away from home a trip to Gillette Stadium for a playoff game is an entirely different situation. The Chargers will face a Patriots team that is not a dominant team like in past years but they are still good. The Patriots offense will not stall like the Ravens last week. They will score but will their defense be able to keep the Chargers out of the end zone? These teams are evenly matched. Usually when teams are even I go with the better defense. However in this case I have to go with the Patriots who almost always find a way to overcome their own shortcomings.
Chargers 24 Patriots 27

Philadelphia Eagles vs New Orleans Saints
Sunday 4:40pm on Fox

Forget the score of their regular season game. This is not the same Eagles team as the one that gave up 48 points in November. The defensive secondary has come together covering better down the stretch, finally taking advantage of the pressure applied by their front four. The Eagles will play 4 quarters this time around, something they had not done most if the regular season. But the Saints are 13-3 for a reason and Drew Brees is, as always, consistently good. Brees and his receivers present matchup problems which will test the Eagles' secondary. I think this game will come down to two things. First, can the Eagles defense avoid giving up big plays? They must keep the Saints offense in front of them and they cannot afford any missed tackles. Second, will the Eagles stay patient with the run? They will have to if they are to win.
Eagles 21 Saints 27

Sorry fellow Eagles fans or, based on my last week's picks, maybe this is good for the birds, bolts, Rams and Chiefs.

2019 NFL Wild Card Round

Courtesy of Pexels.com

The last few years I have enjoyed trying to pick winners in the NFL playoffs. Last year was especially fun as I watched the Eagles take home the Lombardi Trophy while earning myself an overall playoff record of 17-10. This year I get to enjoy seeing both of my favorite teams in the playoffs, though only one will survive this weekend's wild card round. I'll tell you which of my favorites moves on but first let's look at the two Saturday games.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans
Saturday 4:35pm on ESPN

These two teams split their games during the regular season with the road team winning each game. I expect both defenses to win the battles at the line of scrimmage forcing the offenses to play with quite a bit of discomfort. In fact both teams face the likelihood of becoming one dimensional, resting their fates on the arms (and for one team legs) of their respective quarterbacks. That opens the door for two great receiver performances by the Colt's Hilton and the Texans' Hopkins. The Texans do have an edge though, in that if either team can run the ball it will be the home team. In what should be a fun game to watch I just don't see the Colts winning twice in NRG Stadium. I think Watson outplays Luck leading his team to a win.
Colts 27 Texans 34

Seattle Seahawks vs. Dallas Cowboys
Saturday 8:15pm on Fox

The Seahawks have been very quiet this year, a stealth team with a solid record but without the noise that seems to surround some of the other playoff teams. They will arrive in AT&T stadium carrying playoff experience along with the league's top running game. They will face one of the league's best running backs and an offense that improved significantly with the arrival of Amari Cooper. Both quarterbacks are capable of making big plays when needed and this is likely to be a high scoring game. Which defense is more likely to make a critical stop in the 4th quarter? I think that will be the Seahawks defense giving them the win.
Seahawks 45 Cowboys 42

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Baltimore Ravens
Sunday 1:05pm on CBS

I'm having a tough time with this one. On paper these teams are close. But the season's stats do not give the full picture of what the Ravens have been since they changed their depth chart at quarterback. Lamar Jackson has changed this team. I'm just not sure if he changes them enough to beat the Chargers. These teams are evenly matched. Can the Ravens defense slow Philip Rivers and a very balanced Chargers' offense? Can the Chargers slow down the Ravens' running game? The Ravens are on a roll and I believe they will move on.
Chargers 14 Ravens 27

Philadelphia Eagles vs Chicago Bears
Sunday 4:40pm on NBC

I grew up in Northwest Indiana where our tv stations came out of Chicago. I watched the Bears through the Walter Payton years, suffering each season until they shuffled to a Super Bowl win. More recently I have lived in Philadelphia for over thirty years suffering with the Eagles until last year's Super Bowl victory. Now my life long favorite sports franchise is playing against my home team. In the end I'll likely feel happy and heart broken at the same time. This is also a tough pick for me as I know one of these fan bases is about to throw me off the bus.

This should be a great final game in a fun weekend. Who wins will depend a lot on Doug Pederson. Now I know a coach normally cannot win or lose a game but in this case the outcome rests on Pederson's patience with the run. If he loses patience the Bears defense will make him pay with turnovers and even a score or two. I think the Bears defense finds the end zone at least once leading to a Bears win in a tight one.
Eagles 13 Bears 14

Sorry Eagles’ fans. That hurts me too.

These are my picks for wild card weekend. Who do you think is going to win?

I heard two radio announcers complaining that while defense wins championships, low scoring defensive battles are boring. What do you prefer, a low scoring defensive battle or a shootout offensive showdown?

Second Time Around, Enjoying the Eagles' Win

I was called a front-runner as I searched for someone with whom I could celebrate the Super Bowl win. I grew up watching the Bears, having suffered a number of ups and downs. I still remember the season where the head coach kept changing quarterbacks like a baseball manager making changes on the mound. Then there was the season where so many Bears' QB's got injured that legendary running back Walter Payton had to run the offense out of the shotgun. After years of frustration the Bears won the Super Bowl. Unfortunately at the start of that season I moved to Atlanta to go to school.

There were very few Bears' fans in Atlanta in 1986 so I was alone in celebrating that win. I missed the parades and the interviews with crying and excited fans. I missed the build up during the '85 season, the excitement and the doubts as a defense that struggled early in the season became one of the best ever. I missed all the fun and excitement in Chicago as the Lombardi trophy took its place in Halas Hall. It hurt to miss out. I felt like I was not a part of things: a fan with no real connection. Having a (jealous) classmate call me a front-runner only added to the pain.

I still have an allegiance to the Bears but having lived in Philadelphia for 30 years I have grown quite fond of midnight green (kelly green as well). No, 30 years is not as long a time as some of the Eagles' fans in the area have suffered, but after not celebrating a win for 32 years I am ready for the festivities. I look forward to being in town for my second time around celebrating a Super Bowl win. This time I get to celebrate with millions of fans. I won't be alone and I don't expect to be called a front-runner. This time around I am going to drink it all in, truly enjoying the celebration.

E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles!

Super Bowl LII

I will get to my Super Bowl pick in a minute but first I have to get a few things off my chest.

I have heard it all season long. After every game I heard it said, “The Eagles have not played anyone.” It was as if Eagles’ fans are not supposed to enjoy the 2017 season because of the schedule crafted by the NFL. How is it that the Eagles’ wins did not count. Now, after defeating the defending NFC champions and team with the best defense in the league, the Eagles are one of only two teams remaining. What do they have to do for the naysayers to admit this is a good team? Is being in Super Bowl LII enough or do they have to win? Is a win enough or does it have to be a blowout?

Then there are the comments about Eagles’ fans. Yes, fans were quite naughty in throwing snowballs at Santa...back in 1968! Yes, there is a group of fans whose conduct can only be described as embarrassing. But that 1% does not speak for the other 99% who are excited about the game but disciplined. That 1% is a minor story at best, especially in light of accusations that the Patriots have in the past used some rather...unique…tactics to win championships. The focus on the fans is nothing more than a distraction. The game will be won or lost on the field.

On the field I expect to see a great game. The Eagles’ defense ranks among the best. Their offense scored rather handily against this year’s best defense. On the other sideline are the Patriots who we all know will be ready. The Pats know how to win and even with a sore hand, Brady is the best. But football is normally won at the line of scrimmage where I think the Eagles are better on both sides of the ball. That being said, will the Eagles play a full four quarters?

This season has been full of very slow starts by the Eagles, with many situations where the Eagles tried (and sometimes succeeded) in beating themselves. The Patriots will not make many mistakes nor will they take any part of this game off. If the Eagles play four quarters and cut down on their own mistakes, this is a winnable game. I think they pull it off.

Eagles 24 Patriots 21

2018 NFL Divisional Round

After going .500 last weekend my playoff record stands at 16-10. Hopefully I’ll improve as we move into the divisional round. Last week gave us some very close and (with one exception) very entertaining games. This weekend should give us two good games and two which I am not too sure about. All four games feature road teams traveling north, although the Pittsburgh game is the only one where weather might be an issue (unless the Minnesota opens the windows on their dome).

Atlanta at Philadelphia
Saturday 4:35 pm on NBC

My heart is all in behind the Eagles. My head is not quite as confident. Losing Carson Wentz during the season has left Eagles’ fans wondering if we are looking at one and done. To be honest the Falcons are one of the teams I worried about facing even before the Eagles lost their starting QB. That being said I think the Eagles can and will win on Saturday. Having the bye should help the Eagles’ d-line which will be key as it was all season. The Falcons are a good team but they seem to have played below expectations most of the season. Last week the Rams got in their own way, helping the Falcons to the win. Which Falcons team is the real 2017-18 team? We know a backup quarterback is often a step down from the starter but how good are the rest of the Eagles? I think this comes down to the Eagles’ defense making a stop when needed as they have a few times this season.
Eagles 21 Falcons 17

Tennessee at New England
Saturday 8:15 pm on CBS

The Titans feature one of the young potentially great quarterbacks in the league. Last week Mariota proved he can overcome a slow start and do some amazing things with the football, even throw touchdowns to himself. Of course the veteran quarterback on the other sideline is no slouch and is able to control a game, making opponents look like they should have stayed home. But these two will not be the only ones on the field. I think overall the Titans bring the better defense. On offense these teams are equal except for Gronkowski. Normally defense wins playoff games but in this case I think the Patriots’ passing game (including Cooks) will be too much for the Titans to overcome.
Patriots 45 Titans 28

Jacksonville at Pittsburgh
Sunday 1:05 pm on CBS

Last week the Jaguars played two different quarterbacks: bad Bortles in the first half and good Bortles in the second. Good Bortles did more with his legs than with his arm, leading to the only touchdown in the game. The defense won the game against the Bills, holding them to a field goal and keeping the Jaguars in the game while the offense struggled in the first half. That defense should play well again this weekend but they will not hold the Steelers to a field goal. The Jaguars will need offense and I do not see them generating much more than they did last week. This time around their offensive struggles will hang their defense out to dry. Watch for the Steelers to wear down the defense, scoring points in the second half for the win.
Steelers 35 Jaguars 10

New Orleans at Minnesota
Sunday 4:40 pm on Fox

It’s tough to score on the Viking defense which only allowed an average of 15 points per game, holding the Saints to 19 points back in week one. But when I look at their week to week performances and which teams were able to score against the Vikings, I suspect the Saints will put up points this week. Both of these teams are very different than they were back in week one, with the Saints bringing a complete team up north to Minnesota. This has the makings of a playoff classic but in the end I think the Saints’ balanced attack will win out over the Vikings’ stingy defense.
Saints 27 Vikings 24

I am looking forward to another great weekend of football which should leave us with a couple of exciting matchups for the conference championships. What are your thoughts?

2018 NFL Wildcard Weekend

It’s time for the NFL playoffs and after a two year break I am bringing back my playoff game picks. After the 2015 Super Bowl I had a record of 14-8 in picking playoff games. This year I hope to improve that record although this might be the most challenging year for picking the games. The NFC east looks wide open as just about any team could make a run. I think the AFC comes down to two teams, although there is a third which could surprise people. So let’s look at this weekend’s games and make sure to let me know if you agree or disagree with my picks.

Tennessee at Kansas City
Saturday 4:35pm on ESPN

This should be a fun, high scoring game as both offenses will move the ball. I think the Chiefs’ running game might be the difference. They come in averaging 118 rushing yards per game. On the other side the Titans’ defense allows an average that is below 90 yards per game. Will Kareem Hunt be able to get going against the Titans? I think he will and this will open things up for the Chiefs’ passing game.
Chiefs 35 Titans 31

Atlanta at Los Angeles Rams
Saturday 8:15pm on NBC

In the Saturday nightcap we get to see Jared Goff and Todd Gurley make their first playoff appearances. How will they handle the spotlight, especially against an experienced Falcons team? This should be another fun game, coming down to the final drive. Watch for the Rams to control the ball late in the game helping set up either a game winning drive or leaving the Falcons racing the clock to keep their playoff run alive. With home the home field advantage I see the Rams coming out on top.
Rams 31 Falcons 28

Buffalo at Jacksonville
Sunday 1:05pm on CBS

I really think the Jaguars may surprise people in this playoff run, depending on how Blake Bortles handles the spotlight. At times Bortles is very good. But in the past there have also been those “What was he thinking?” moments. If Bortles plays well and if the Jaguars’ defense plays up to their potential, Jacksonville will put a scare into the two top teams in the AFC. But first they have to get past the Bills. With LaSean McCoy questionable for the game, I think the odds favor Jacksonville. If he is healthy the Bills have a chance. Without McCoy there will be too much resting on Tyrod Taylor.
Jaguars 24 Bills 14

Carolina at New Orleans
Sunday 4:40pm on Fox

On paper these teams seem to be evenly match. Digging deeper we find that the Panthers’ leading rusher is their quarterback. With Cam Newton under center I guess I should not be surprised. While this might work in the regular season I suspect it will become a liability in the playoffs. With the Saints bringing a much better balance on offense a lot will rest on the Panthers’ defense. I think they will play well enough to keep this one close. In the end I think Drew Brees will find a way to get all of his weapons working, leading to a Saints win.
Saints 20 Panthers 14

Enjoy the start of the playoffs this weekend. I think the NFL has served up what should be a very entertaining round of playoffs.