Month: January 2023

Three games remain. Four teams, with two in each conference. The remaining two in the AFC are the division winners in the North Cincinnati Bengals and the AFC West division winning and conference leading Kansas City Chiefs. Both teams have potent offenses, star quarterbacks, solid defenses, and intelligent coaches. Time to determine who will advance to the Super Bowl.

#3 Cincinnati Bengals v. #1 Kansas City Chiefs

This rivalry is the NFL’s new version of Tom Brady v. Peyton Manning. Both quarterbacks will do everything in their power to win and reach the Super Bowl. A serious headline before the conference championship are the injuries (some of them serious) both starting passers suffered. While Patrick Mahomes II has a high ankle sprain, many forgot Joe Burrow almost suffered a serious lower leg injury late in the third quarter of last Sunday’s decisive win in Buffalo.

Keeping in mind both quarterbacks might be playing less than 100%, the remaining 52 players become the focus. Both Kansas City and Cincinnati have excellent runningbacks who keep opposing defenses on edge and both offensive lines (even with injuries) get strong push-offs and clean blocks for the running game to succeed.

The Bengals do have the better overall defense even if Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones is the best player to clog the line of scrimmage and generate a lot of pressure. Cincinnati’s secondary doesn’t have to deal with Tyreek Hill in a conference finals game. This creates better one-on-one opportunities while quarterback Patrick Mahomes II doesn’t have the usual mobility.

Prediction: Bengals win conference and advance to the Super Bowl 34-28

AFC 2023 playoff picks record: 4-1

Three games remain. Four teams, with two in each conference. The remaining two in the NFC are the NFC West leaders San Francisco 49ers and the NFC East division winning and conference leading Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams have potent offenses, talented quarterbacks, elite defenses, and intelligent coaches. Time to determine who will advance to the Super Bowl.

#2 San Francisco 49ers v. #1 Philadelphia Eagles

This might be the funnest and most entertaining championship game since San Francisco and Seattle’s slugfest January 2014. Philadelphia has a layered pass rush while the 49ers have the best linebacker unit in the league. The Eagles have a more complete secondary and both teams have excellent special teams.

The winner of this game has to dominate on both the offensive and defensive lines. Both offensive lines are consistent and give their quarterbacks time. San Francisco and Philadelphia have dangerous receiving tandems, great running games and reliable tight-ends. One must watch a lot of film to understand which team has the best chance of winning.

The deciding factors will determine the conference winner: coaching, depth on the defensive line and deep-ball plays. The 49ers secondary is bottom three in the league in stopping throws over 20 yards (via Scott Van Pelt’s Sportscenter on ESPN) and as many who pay attention can tell you, a pass-rush and interior run defense that can substitute for multiple plays throughout a game is a team’s underrated winning formula. Philadelphia has won a lot of games breaking down opposing offensive lines.

The final reason is why the Eagles have the best chance of winning this game. Head coach Nick Sirianni played Kyle Shanahan’s team the second game in his coaching career. Sirianni’s learned a lot since the encounter and is more ruthless, determined and not as prone to choking in important second half possessions than his opponent. If the Eagles find a weakness early in either half, they will exploit it often and won’t let up until the 49ers fix it.

Prediction: Eagles win conference and advance to Super Bowl 20-17

NFC 2023 playoff picks record: 4-1

Wildcard weekend wasn’t competitive in the NFC. San Francisco, New York and Dallas controlled their games and won with few scares. The remaining four (the Philadelphia Eagles had a week off) teams have a great shot at getting to both the conference championship and the Super Bowl. Even with an inexperienced Giants team remaining, no team is an easy out. It’s time to analyze which two teams have the best chance of making the next round.

#6 New York Giants v. #1 Philadelphia Eagles

This could be the last division rivalry playoff game we’ll see the rest of the 2022-23 season. Despite a close victory for Philadelphia a week and a half ago, head coach Brian Daboll sat out the offensive starters so they could have a week of rest and analyze their first round opponent better. The move paid off and the Giants look to take down the Eagles in Philadelphia.

The problem for New York could be a fully healthy Jalen Hurts after a bye week. Unlike quarterback Daniel Jones, Hurts did play in week 18 and carved the Giants secondary up with a healing shoulder. The result could be more lopsided since the Eagles starters will play both halves.

Prediction: Eagles win 40-30

#5 Dallas Cowboys v. #2 San Francisco 49ers

One of the best and most prolific NFL rivalries highlights divisional round weekend. The 49ers haven’t lost a game since October and have failed to score 30 points or more once in the past month and a half. The Cowboys have the tools, coaching and talent to make this a hard, grind-out win in San Francisco. Dallas’ main issue is inconsistency and it showed again Monday night in Tampa Bay. The 49ers defense and offensive line will test the Cowboys early on how physical and mean they can get.

Prediction: 49ers win 41-21

NFC Wild-card Weekend Playoff Picks Record: 2-1

Wildcard weekend had everything audiences wanted. There was a double digit comeback victory, a back-and-forth division rivalry game and a near win on the road for a backup quarterback. Jacksonville gave audiences the best and closest game capped with a dramatic finish. The remaining four (the Kansas City Chiefs had a week off) teams have a great shot at getting to both the conference championship and the Super Bowl. Even with a battered Bengals team in the picture, no team is an easy out. It’s time to analyze which two teams have the best chance at making the next round.

#4 Jacksonville Jaguars v. #1 Kansas City Chiefs

Jacksonville had a historic comeback and regardless of how the season ends, head coach Doug Pederson has a special unit where franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence and defensive star Josh Allen are rising stars.

The Jaguars’ second round matchup is in one of the league’s loudest stadiums against the conference’s best team. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes II is the front runner for league MVP for many reasons and Jacksonville can’t have a slow start like they did in last week’s home game. We’ll find out fast how competitive this game will be.

Prediction: Chiefs win 42-24

#3 Cincinnati Bengals v. #2 Buffalo Bills

This might be the best game of the second round. Both offenses are deep at receiver and the runningbacks have played better since the start of December. Quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Josh Allen are mobile and stretch the field at ease. The deciding factor could be Buffalo’s wide receivers versus Cincinnati’s secondary. Eli Apple stands no chance covering Stefon Diggs and Cam Taylor-Britt will struggle against Gabe Davis. If Josh Allen is more accurate this week, Buffalo will punch their ticket to the conference finals.

Prediction: Bills win 35-27

AFC Wild-card Weekend Playoff Picks Record: 3-0

To be fair, Bobby Wagner wasn’t at his best last season with the Seahawks. Whether he was playing hurt or just had the kind of off-year that’s inevitable when you play in the NFL this long we don’t know, but in any case it doesn’t excuse the way Seattle’s front office treated him last offseason…

Bobby Wagner on 9th straight All-Pro selection: ‘They said I was done’ — Seahawks Wire

The 2021-2022 NFL regular season is over. 14 teams in two conferences (seven in each) have a shot at winning the Vince Lombardi championship trophy. The updated playoff format features an extra team. That means there’s one bye week for the top seeded team in each conference and a Monday night playoff game. Everyone wants to know which three teams in the AFC advance to the divisional round, so here are the best bets come Saturday.

#5 Los Angeles Chargers v. #4 Jacksonville Jaguars

Unfortunately this looks to be the AFC’s most competitive wild-card matchup. Injuries to Mike Williams and Joey Bosa could decide how often new starting runningback Travis Etienne Jr. takes control and becomes the focal point on Jacksonville’s offensive possessions. While quarterback Justin Herbert and runningback Austin Ekeler find ways to score often, the Jaguar defense is playing their best since early December and has everything going their way.

Prediction: Jaguars win 30-20

#7 Miami Dolphins v. #2 Buffalo Bills

The first of two divisional matchups in the AFC, the home team has many advantages. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will not start for Miami and backup Jacoby Brissett is still working through a broken thumb on his throwing hand. That means third stringer Skylar Thompson will get the start against a top five defense in the league.

Buffalo’s offense will have a third opportunity to take on Miami’s middling defense. This could get ugly early.

Prediction: Bills win 41-14

#6 Baltimore Ravens v. #3 Cincinnati Bengals

The last of the divisional games in either conference, the result should mirror the other two. A stronger, more balanced home team has an advantage over a road team that doesn’t have the final pieces on offense and defense. Like Buffalo, Cincinnati will have the harder test in the second round after seeing a divisional opponent two weeks in a row.

Prediction: Bengals win 30-17

2022 Regular Season AFC Playoff Predictions Record: 3-4

The 2022-2023 NFL regular season is over. 14 teams in two conferences (seven in each) have a shot at winning the Vince Lombardi championship trophy. For those not familiar with the updated playoff format, an extra team has been added. That means there’s one bye week for the top seeded team in each conference and a Monday night playoff game. Everyone wants to know which three teams in the NFC advance to the divisional round, so here are the best bets come Saturday.

#7 Seattle Seahawks v. #2 San Francisco 49ers

The first of three divisional games on wild-card weekend and the first playoff game, this one might be a snoozer. The 49ers have won ten straight games by an average scoring margin of 17 points. This is a bad matchup for Seattle. The Seahawks were thumped in both games against a divisional rival they were last swept by in 2011. Despite defensive tackle Al Woods and offensive play-makers Tyler Lockett and Kenneth Walker Jr. playing better since injuries, this will be a one-sided start to the postseason.

Prediction: 49ers win 37-13

#6 New York Giants v. #3 Minnesota Vikings

The best and most interesting game for round one. The game could be a blowout, a nail-biting field goal to end, or a triple overtime thriller given how both teams played each other in the regular season.

The most important matchup is New York’s receivers versus Minnesota’s secondary. The Vikings defense has given up an average 400 yards passing and 23 points per game since their late October bye week. Brian Daboll is someone who coaches players on how to adapt and play better regardless of talent levels. Quarterback Daniel Jones had a week off and one can bet the starters on all three sides of the ball made notes on how to make needed adjustments for round two in Minneapolis.

Upset Prediction of the first round: Giants win 30-24

#5 Dallas Cowboys v. #4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The last game for wild-card weekend, this one should have a lot of interest. Dallas is in a slump while the Buccaneers are still working through injuries on the offensive line. Two things in Tampa’s favor are Tom Brady’s undefeated record versus the Cowboys and the week one win in Dallas Sunday night September 11th.

The results should be similar. Dallas’ offense has more pressure due to news headlines and constant feedback from owner Jerry Jones while Tampa’s more experienced in the postseason and runningback Leonard Fournette plays his best in Januarys.

Prediction: Buccaneers win 20-13

2022 Regular Season NFC Playoff Predictions Record: 3-4

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NFL sets Super Wild-Card Weekend schedule: Times, days, and networks — Seahawks Wire

Em síntese, Pelé fez do futebol o fulcro, o espeque de multidão que viviam no anonimato, isto é, sem nome, eram simplesmente fantasmas. Como todos tem como certeza absoluta que em algum dia nascemos, crescemos, vivemos  e morremos. Talvez não houve alguém como o Rei Pelé, que levou o nome de seu país tão longe, […]

Pelé a lenda, o mito, o imortal! — blog do pflkwy

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It’s time for the NFL to call Bills-Bengals game a tie — Seahawks Wire