Tag: football

NFL Week Three Winners and Losers

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Week three of the NFL regular season featured many pivotal games. Most divisions are slowly showing which teams will stand out as playoff favorites before Halloween. While a lot of wins and plays stood out, some were more eye-opening than others. Here are this weeks winners and losers.

Winners: Malik Willis

Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love wasn’t ready to return Sunday, so backup Malik Willis got the start against the team that drafted him, Tennessee. Willis wasn’t utilized well with the Titans. Despite his week two win against Indianapolis, many believed if Green Bay won, it would have to be Willis creating more big plays.

He did more than expected in a 30-14 win over Tennessee. Willis completed 13 of 19 passes for 202 yards, a touchdown and a 120.9 quarterback rating. He also ran six times for 73 yards and an additional score. Green Bay’s double digit lead made the win inevitable, but Malik Willis’ 30 yard touchdown pass to runningback Emanuel Wilson in the third quarter sealed it.

There’s been many complaints about quarterback play the first month of the season, and coaching is part of the problem. The Packers are again unaffected due to how head coach Matt LaFleur has done well with a young roster and helped young passers like Malik Willis learn more of the playbook while playing to their strengths. Willis helped his team pick up two wins without their starting passer and will be a talking point this week and October.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Last week Steelers quarterback Justin Fields made the winners column because of how he’s gradually improved and made his new team trust him more to score at important times. This week the whole team deserves a spot because of how dominant they were in a home win against the undefeated Chargers.

Pittsburgh’s defense is a big reason they’re undefeated. Although they sealed a win by knocking out Los Angeles franchise star quarterback Justin Herbert midway through the third quarter, it’s possible the Steelers still would’ve won if Herbert played the whole game. Pittsburgh had five sacks on both quarterbacks and held Jim Harbaugh’s offense to under 250 yards. After two weeks of running the ball at will, J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards had 18 combined touches for 53 yards. The Steelers front seven never let Los Angeles get going on the ground.

Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith saw another week of improvement. Fields was impressive, but so was everyone else. The offensive line pushed the running game to another 100 yard week and third year receiver Calvin Austin III led receivers with four catches for 95 yards and their lone touchdown catch.

Pittsburgh’s one of two teams in the AFC who have won all three games played to start the season (Buffalo’s 2-0, but plays later tonight), the other being defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City. The Steelers have a two game lead on the AFC north. It’ll take time for the division to try and catch up.

Andy Dalton

The Panthers offense hadn’t put up more than 27 points in a game since December 2023. Carolina also hadn’t held a lead past 10 seconds in that timespan. They put all that to rest Sunday with Andy Dalton’s first start in a full calendar year.

The Panthers made a bold move to bench 2023 number one overall pick Bryce Young because of his struggles to read defenses, find open receivers, and score more than ten points a game. Head coach Dave Canales made the switch to see if Dalton could still lead an offense and score more points.

Andy Dalton completed 26 of 37 passes for 319 yards, three touchdowns and a 123.6 passer rating. All three of his scores were thrown in the first half of a dominant win in Las Vegas. The Panthers shredded the Raiders defense in every facet (more on them later) and won 36-22. Carolina had as many passing touchdowns Sunday as Bryce Young’s last ten starts, and led Vegas for 49:17.

It’s possible the Panthers offense rallied around the 14 year veteran quarterback. It’s also unlikely due to how Dalton led Carolina to a previous high scoring game last season. Dalton might not lose the starting job for the rest of 2024 due to how he can read a field better and make the most of a solid receiving core.

Detroit Lions defense

Most weeks you’ll hear how Detroit’s offense stole the show and had a combination of a dominant game-winning drive, highlight reel play, and a fourth down conversion. On Sunday it was the Lions defense that deserved accolades.

Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn struggled calling the right plays two weeks into the regular season. Yesterday his defense held the Cardinals offense to under 300 yards for the first time this month. Safety Kerby Joseph intercepted Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray once and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson had a sack. The defense swarmed runningback James Conner whenever he had the ball and made sure receivers like Michael Wilson didn’t gain many yards after their catches.

In previous years, many viewers would’ve said this would be rare due to how Detroit’s defense was inconsistent. General manager Brad Holmes keeps adding talent to the secondary and depth on the front seven. It’s possible this was the first of many games the Lions defense dominates this season.

Losers: Will Levis

As wonderful of a win former Titan quarterback Malik Willis had against his former team, it was as deflating a loss for current Tennessee quarterback Will Levis.

Each Titans regular season game this season, Willis has committed at least one major gaffe on offense that’s led to a touchdown for the opposing defense. This week, Green Bay’s ten point lead in the first quarter came from a Jaire Alexander interception that led to a 35 yard touchdown (the first touchdown scored in Alexander’s NFL career). Levis forcing passes to receivers in contested coverage led to another interception late when the game was out of reach.

Tennessee head coach Brian Callahan didn’t hold back criticism on Will Levis’ mistakes after the first two losses. This was their first double digit loss of the season. The blowout would’ve been more tolerable if it was against a playoff contender like Baltimore or division rival Houston. Losing to a former almost-franchise-now-backup quarterback by double digits means Levis could get benched by next month.

Ryan Poles

If a general manager is in the losers column the first month of the season, then the team is in trouble. General manager Ryan Poles should be on the hot seat after Chicago’s brutal loss in Indianapolis.

One might find it harsh due to how Poles used the number one pick on a new quarterback and also executed a bunch of signings and trades the last few years. The problem is the Bears look awful top to bottom despite early season injuries at wide receiver. For clarity, this was a Chicago red zone play late in the second quarter.

The offensive line wouldn’t have been a problem if the Bears traded the number one pick for other top round picks (like they have the last few seasons) or drafted more offensive linemen in previous years. To add injury to insult, starting left tackle Braxton Jones left in the first quarter due to a knee injury. Current first overall pick Caleb Williams threw his first touchdown in the fourth quarter of his third game of the season and Chicago lost after 15th overall pick Laiatu Latu strip-sacked Williams and recovered the ball. If Latu was picked by Poles, the Bears might not have given up 140 rushing yards.

It doesn’t help Ryan Poles decided to retain current head coach Matt Eberflus after last year’s horrible season. The defensive minded Eberflus staying to help the number one overall pick learn and develop his talents on offense is going as many expected: poorly. The Bears are notorious for letting previous regimes stay around after drafting a quarterback, and Poles is no different from his predecessors.

This years NFC north is one of the league’s better divisions. Three of the four teams are well coached, well balanced on all sides of the ball, and had great drafts last offseason. Chicago is once again on the outside looking in and their general manager is a big reason.

Las Vegas Raiders

Despite one win in three games, the Raiders look awful. Their win in Baltimore came on a 13 point fourth quarter rally (the Ravens are becoming known for blowing double digit leads the last few seasons). Vegas’ two losses have been by 14 or more points.

Earlier it was mentioned how Carolina struggled to even hold a lead in the fourth quarter heading into yesterday. They thrashed the Raiders after the first quarter. Dalton’s veteran experience and adjustments against a young secondary was part of it, but the Panthers also ran the ball well. Chuba Hubbard ran 21 times for 114 yards.

Kicker Eddy Pineiro added 12 points on special teams. Meanwhile, 15 of Vegas’ 22 points came in the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach. The Gardner Minshew II experiment looks more miss than hit and the Raiders are dead last in running the football. Head coach Antonio Pierce was brought back because he’s a smart yet tough leader. One could say the team’s execution week-to-week is on him and his coaching staff. While that could be true, upper management is still making the same old mistakes under owner Mark Davis.

Stephen Ross for somehow wanting Mike McDaniel as head coach

For new fans and readers wondering why Miami’s struggling, you have to go back to February 2022 when then-head coach Brian Flores was surprisingly fired after getting the Dolphins over .500 with a 9-8 record. He was then replaced by a younger, offensive “guru” coach from San Francisco named Mike McDaniel. McDaniel was ok his first season before Miami started hot last year and erupted for an infamous 70-20 home win over Denver. Since that landslide victory, the Dolphins are 9-9 (including playoffs).

What makes this situation completely hilarious is how the now-extended franchise starting quarterback (when not concussed and twitching) Tua Tagovailoa ripped the former head coach in the offseason for, “being a bully” and how Flores said many mean things to him. Well…Brian Flores is well respected on the teams he’s coached and has improved every defense since his firing. Two of the current undefeated teams this month had Flores on their staff at some point since 2022. Meanwhile Miami’s injured star quarterback who’s addicted to throwing deep-field passes to star wide receivers, doesn’t want to learn how to read different defensive coverages, and can’t play winning football by utilizing other offensive talent when opposing coordinators confuse him with mixed defensive schemes. Tagovailoa doesn’t even know how to slide safely to protect his head, a key move professional quarterbacks implement by their fourth year in the league.

Then there’s McDaniel in his nightmare third season as head coach. Miami was throttled on the road in Seattle. Rookie head coach Mike Macdonald embarrassed every quarterback McDaniel put on the field and the Seahawks offense torched a subpar Dolphins defense. The cherry on top of an absolute beatdown came when Miami failed to score a fourth and goal play at Seattle’s two yard line, then Geno Smith and the Seahawks led a 12 play, 98 yard touchdown drive that lasted five and a half minutes. It was Seattle’s first and only score of the second half. The Seahawks beat Miami so thoroughly, they didn’t need to score more than ten points.

One error many owners and general managers keep making is firing a head coach because a new, flashy coordinator (who can barely manage every bit of their side of the ball) becomes popular in the media. Mike McDaniel is not a head coach who should oversee a 53 man roster. He enjoys drawing up creative trick plays on offense and stutters to answer simple questions. His predecessor by contrast wasn’t afraid of being honest with the media and frequently called out an overhyped, 2020 seventh overall pick for consistently playing garbage football.

There aren’t any excuses or counters for this team. Keep in mind Miami now has the longest playoff win drought in the NFL. Flashy, fantasy football stats and highlight plays don’t buy you wins in the postseason.

NFL Week Two Winners and Losers

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It’s hard to have a spectacular follow-up week of games after the NFL’s regular season premiere, but week two didn’t disappoint. There were comebacks and interesting storylines to keep in mind that will play out and progress the following months. Here’s who and what stood out most after the second week of the season.

Winners: Baker Mayfield

Many viewers wondered if Buccaneers starting quarterback Baker Mayfield would follow up last year’s division winning success with progress and a new offensive coordinator. Mayfield and the offense looked great in a dominant week one win against Washington, but there was a challenge to perform just as well on the road in Detroit.

Baker Mayfield looked good in a rematch of their divisional round playoff loss against the Lions. The former 2018 number one overall pick completed 12 passes on 19 attempts for a touchdown and a 90.9 quarterback rating. Mayfield also ran five times for 34 yards and an additional score. His two, eleven yard scrambles late in the third quarter gave the Buccaneers their second lead, and his touchdown was the final score of the game.

Many believe Tampa Bay will win the NFC south due to how well they’re coached and the amount of talent on every side of the ball. Quarterback won’t be a question mark that will plague head coach Todd Bowles’ offense throughout the season. That should worry the other three teams competing in the division.

New Orleans Saints offense

One of the other three NFC south teams challenging the Buccaneers is New Orleans. Two weeks into the regular season, the Saints undoubtedly have the best offense in the NFL.

Week three hasn’t started and New Orleans scored 91 points in two games. They crushed a solid Dallas defense that played well against Cleveland week one. The Cowboys got their first stop Sunday when they intercepted quarterback Derek Carr to start the fourth quarter. The Saints scored six straight touchdowns before that giveaway and weren’t in danger of giving up the lead after three quarters. Their first punt of the season was late in the fourth quarter.

While many will point out Alvin Kamara as the star of the game with four touchdowns on 180 all-purpose (rushing and receiving) yards, New Orleans looks different on offense due to new coordinator Klint Kubiak implementing a rapid pace scheme. Former offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael was stuck in slow paced styles that were easy to defend against. A much faster version with the talented starting eleven players featuring a deep receiving core has caught opponents off-guard. It’ll take a while for opponents to figure out how to slow down Kubiak’s success.

General manager John Schneider

Many analysts had Seattle winning their first two games of the season against Denver and New England. More viewers believed the Seahawks wouldn’t be on top of the NFC west after two weeks. Seattle is the only undefeated team in their division and have fixed a lot of last year’s defensive mistakes.

Many would say the current head coach is the main reason for the early season success. Part of that is true, but the early season optimism wouldn’t happen if general manager John Schneider didn’t move on from winningest head coach in franchise history, Pete Carroll.

Carroll will always have the franchise’s respect and appreciation for many reasons, but it was clear a change needed to be made and Schneider was willing to make the hard decisions. His hiring of former Raven defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald after interviewing a lot of potential head coaching candidates has led to a team revamp and further development of a talented roster.

The Seahawks made the necessary adjustments in both games to pull out (albeit close) wins. Macdonald’s got the players buying in to his philosophy while making necessary changes. The hiring also hurt the Baltimore Ravens (more on them later) coaching staff and personnel decisions in close games. Don’t be surprised if Seattle stays in the division race most of the season because of Schneider’s offseason moves.

Justin Fields

Readers might be perplexed a quarterback making his second start on a new team and completed 13 of 20 passes for 117 yards and one touchdown would be in the winners column. The readers would have a good point, except it’s former Bears starting quarterback Justin Fields. Fields didn’t have the stable coaching and development in Chicago that he does in Pittsburgh. It’s shown after two weeks.

While the Steelers defense hasn’t given up a touchdown to start the season, Justin Fields has faced two good defenses after winning the contested starting job. He isn’t running half the time because the offensive line is much better and he’s gaining more trust with a talented receiving core. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is more content with a more balanced running and passing game plan than favoring a lopsided passing attack. This ensures Pittsburgh will have a more interesting season and stay relevant in the AFC north race.

Losers: Doug Pederson

Jacksonville’s suffered two agonizing losses to start the season and while one might believe quarterback and face of the franchise Trevor Lawrence is a main reason why the Jaguars are winless, the biggest culprits are the coaching staff.

In week one, Jacksonville got too conservative and let a stagnant Miami offense pull out a win at the end. In week two, Pederson’s inept decisions led the Jaguars to rely on the passing game often and it was a main reason Cleveland hung on for a win. Lawrence entered the second half with 16 yards on 12 passing attempts while runningback Travis Etienne was forgotten about despite running for 29 yards on six carries.

Despite many offensive mistakes, Jacksonville trailed by six late in the fourth. The Jaguars drew up a brilliant play to start a potential game-winning drive: let your franchise quarterback get sacked in his own endzone, giving the Browns two points and increasing the deficit.

General manager Trent Baalke made sure to pay a lot of key players like Lawrence and receiver Christian Kirk good money and these are the results. It starts with coaching, game preparation and continued development blunders that were evident in the second half of last season with Pederson on the sideline. Either Doug Pederson finds solutions or it’s another early lost season for the franchise.

Brian Daboll and the bad luck New York Giants

If it wasn’t for bad luck, the Giants would have no luck at all. Despite a solid offensive performance led by quarterback Daniel Jones, kicker Graham Gano injuring his right hamstring the opening play of the game meant special teams would play a factor in which team won.

Only New York could score three touchdowns, not get an extra point or two due to Gano’s injury, and still lose by three. Per ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, it’s the second time an NFL team has scored three or more touchdowns and lost to a team that scored zero (teams with three or more touchdowns scored and zero touchdowns allowed are 1,294-2. The last team to lose this way was in 1989). Washington couldn’t get the ball into the Giants endzone and somehow won in overtime. Seven field goals cancelled any good feelings head coach Brian Daboll had with his offense.

It’ll be hard for New York to put a winning streak together this season with their unusually harder schedule. To lose against a division rival only because a kicker got injured to start the game and not score a few more points is bitter to sit on for a week.

Baltimore Ravens

Seattle and Baltimore are on two different paths to start the season. As mentioned above, general manager John Schneider’s made the right moves top to bottom. The Ravens have not and the result are two close losses.

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’re aware there’s little sympathy for head coach John Harbaugh. He’s put Baltimore in many uphill positions with his terrible decision making and unnecessary approaches to overuse reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson in order to hide serious issues plaguing the team. While Harbaugh’s failures show against champion caliber teams like Kansas City, errors showing in home games against the Raiders is a surprise.

After Derrick Henry’s three yard touchdown run gave the Ravens a ten point lead early in the fourth quarter, things went downhill. Baltimore’s conservative offensive play-calling led Las Vegas to three scoring drives that averaged two minutes (each). Harbaugh knows his defense hasn’t and won’t lock down opposing receivers the same ways they did last season with former coordinator Mike Macdonald coaching a team in another conference. General manager Eric DeCosta knew this before Macdonald left for Seattle but decided he’d keep the gaffe prone Harbaugh around (despite how unprepared the team’s offensive game plan was in last year’s AFC championship game), and wanted to invest more at runningback and receiver.

The neglected offensive line is a weak link in the Ravens offense. The interior was beaten against two vicious defensive fronts in two weeks. The defense can’t stop second half offensive drives and already looks tired. Per Bill Barnwell to Scott Van Pelt on SportsCenter, Baltimore’s allowed eight plays of at least 25 yards after two weeks. That’s the most in the NFL. Five of those were against the Raiders yesterday.

DeCosta had a golden opportunity to keep a well coveted coach on staff and elevate him to the head position, but decided it was best to stay comfortable and play it safe. That decision could cost the Ravens a deep postseason run and grant another team a championship window.

Los Angeles Rams

It’s one thing to lose against a division rival early in the season. It’s another to get blown out by more than 30 points, especially when you’ve dominated said rival for years.

Los Angeles looked awful before receiver Cooper Kupp left due to an ankle injury in Sunday’s loss at Arizona. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula had no answer for Detroit in week one when it mattered most, but many expected that due to how the Lions have a lot of veteran offensive talent. The Cardinals have a lot of younger, inexperienced offensive talent that veteran defensive coaches like Shula can exploit and take advantage of each possession.

None of that happened. Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray finished with a perfect passer rating and runningback James Conner shredded the Rams defense while Los Angeles’ offense did almost nothing outside of a late third quarter touchdown.

It’s possible head coach Sean McVay didn’t take the Cardinals seriously due to how well the Rams played against Detroit the previous Sunday and how he’s won all but (now) three games against Arizona since becoming head coach in 2017 (including nine straight games in Glendale, where Los Angeles lost yesterday). There’s no reason to panic but the increasing number of injuries aren’t a good sign.

2024 Copa America Final Prediction

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The semi finals were fantastic. While none of the matches went to overtime, there were multiple fights both on and off the pitch after Colombia eliminated Uruguay. It will be difficult for the final to surpass the drama and excitement. The remaining two teams are the best and have few weaknesses. This is an elimination match, meaning a tie after regulation leads to penalty kicks to decide the winner. Before picks are made, the numbers are for which team placed where in their assigned group. Here is the prediction for which team wins the championship and the Copa America trophy.

1A Argentina v. 1D Colombia

Colombia’s 28 straight matches without a loss is the longest active unbeaten streak in men’s international football.

What a contrast in the Copa America championship final. Argentina was easily the best team in both groups A and B, cruising to an easy finals appearance. Many believed Colombia was a dark-horse championship candidate in groups C and D with well-known countries like Brazil and Uruguay as their main competition. Las Cafeteras went through harder opponents than El Albiceleste.

Match deciding factor: Emiliano Martinez, Lisandro Martinez, Marcos Acuna, Cristian Romero and Argentina’s defense versus James Rodriguez, Luis Diaz, Jhon Cordoba, Miguel Borja and Colombia’s offense.

Argentina clinched their spot in the final with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez shutting out all but one opponent. Great defense from Lisandro Martinez, Marcos Acuna and Cristian Romero made transition scoring on offense easier against teams like Canada and Peru. El Albiceleste hasn’t faced too much offensive pressure outside of Ecuador trying to send the quarterfinals to penalty kicks.

As many read from my last predictions and then watched versus Uruguay, Colombia’s chasing greatness with a roster in its prime. Las Cafeteras use constant offensive pressure, no matter the opponent. When Uruguay had an 11-on-10 men advantage in the second half of the semifinals, Colombia almost scored three more goals. They also performed well on defense. The semi-finals was the first round Las Cafeteras had to play defensive for at least one half and hold a shutout lead.

Argentina’s great on every side of the ball but they haven’t played an opponent that constantly pushes back and sets their own pace on both sides of the pitch. Captain James Rodriguez, Luis Diaz, Jhon Cordoba and Miguel Borja have the talent to stress out El Albiceleste’s defense and the tactics to douse Argentina’s spirit.

Prediction: Colombia wins 4-1 and takes home their second Copa America championship

Semifinals predictions record: 2-0

Total Copa America Predictions Record: 11-3

2024 UEFA Euros Final Prediction

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The semi-finals were fantastic. Both teams that advanced trailed at one point in their matches. It will be difficult for the final to surpass the excitement. The remaining two teams are the best and have few weaknesses. This is an elimination match, meaning overtime and penalty kicks will decide which team wins the championship. Before the pick is made, the numbers are for which team placed where in their assigned group. Here is the prediction for which team wins the championship and the UEFA Euros trophy.

1B Spain v. 1C England

Teenage star Lamine Yamal (red) surprised everyone by sniping a goal past the French defense in the semi-finals, leading a comeback victory for Spain.

This is an uneven matchup. Spain has won every match played, dominating on every side of the ball. England’s mostly struggled to score until late in matches. Spanish manager Luis de la Fuente has found the best players and has used roster depth as an advantage. English manager Gareth Southgate depends on multiple groups of substitutions to push England to a win. At least he finally figured out which players to put in their correct positions.

Match deciding factor: Dani Carvajal, Marc “Cucurella” Saseta, Robin le Normand, Jose Ignacio “Nacho” Fernández Iglesias and the Spanish defense v. Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and the English offense.

Both managers and teams must adapt and counter the deep rosters and substitutions made once the second half begins. England has the deeper offense while Spain has the deeper defense. Manager Luis de la Fuente has seen and gotten more out of La Roja’s roster while manager Gareth Southgate’s finally putting players (like Phil Foden) in their correct positions and continually botches playing time for star players (like captain Harry Kane).

Spain’s defense gets a boost with elite defender Dani Carvajal coming back from suspension. The defensive quartet of Carvajal, Marc “Cucurella” Saseta, Robin le Normand and Jose Ignacio “Nacho” Fernández Iglesias consistently disrupts the best offenses in Europe. Kane’s struggled with his hustle, positioning, and longer minutes most of the tournament while Phil Foden’s struggled to play different parts of the pitch. Fortunately for the Three Lions, Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer have been the main playmakers in previous elimination matches.

England can’t give up the first goal of the match just to play catch up because they have the talent to do so at any given time. La Roja’s mastered how to attack every team this tournament and shuts down anyone on defense. Don’t be surprised if Spain dominates start to finish with little to no errors on either side of the ball.

Prediction: Spain wins 2-1 and takes home their fourth Euros championship trophy

Semifinals predictions record: 2-0

Total Euros prediction record: 20-8

2024 Copa America Semifinals Predictions

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The quarter finals were filled with anxiety and excitement. Three of the four matches went to penalty kicks after regulation time. It will be difficult for the semi-finals to live up to the same fun. The remaining four teams are the best and most competitive ones we’ve watched this summer. As mentioned in the last article, there are no draws nor points given from ties. Every round is elimination, meaning ties after regulation lead to shootouts/penalty shots to decide winners. Before picks are made, the numbers are for which team placed where in their assigned group. Here are the predictions for which two teams advance to the title game.

1A Argentina v. 2A Canada

One could say keeper Emiliano Martinez has been Argentina’s best player this Copa America.

Not many thought the opening match of CONMEBOL’s 2024 Copa America would have a sequel. Argentina and Canada have come a long way since June 20th’s showdown. Canada’s played four great defensive matches while Argentina’s struggled in two of their last three. El Albiceleste’s offense gets goals from Lautaro and Lisandro Martinez while captain and star forward Lionel Messi is almost back to full health.

Forwards Jonathan David and Jacob Shaffelburg, and defenders Alphonso Davies and Alistair Johnston have led Canada’s progress since that first meeting. The quartet have to play perfect on all sides of the ball while forcing Argentina into mistakes Ecuador exploited last match. Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau has to outperform Argentinian keeper Emiliano Martinez the whole match and not lose focus.

Despite Canada’s resurgence, Argentina is the better team. Yes, Crepeau and the defense stunned viewers with their defensive improvement in the first match, but El Albiceleste will find more weaknesses to exploit in 90 minutes.

Prediction: Argentina wins 4-1 and advances to the finals.

1C Uruguay v. 1D Colombia

Luis Diaz (7) and Las Cafeteras have dominated in every game this tournament, staying unbeaten in 27 straight matches.

The best semi-finals matchup in either football tournament. Colombia’s unbeaten in 27 straight matches while Uruguay’s the most physical team left in Copa America. The winner of this match will be the favorite to win the tournament. Las Cafeteras and La Celeste boast deep, talented offenses and shutdown defenses. They are both peaking at the best time and are well coached.

If there’s any visual indication on which team advances, it’s how both teams played Brazil. Uruguay and Brazil went back and forth on both sides of the ball, both teams got physical and La Celeste had to hold on after Nahitan Nandez’s red card. Colombia was a force on offense and had the Carinha on their heels most of their group stage match (despite clinching a quarterfinals spot), especially in the second half. Uruguay has to find a deterrent against the veteran Cafeteras giving their all each match. Don’t be surprised if offensive pressure from the forward quartet of Jhon Cordoba, Miguel Borja, Luis Diaz and Jhon Arias intensify once the second half starts.

Prediction: Colombia wins 4-2 and advances to the finals

Quarterfinals predictions record: 3-1

2024 UEFA Euros Semifinals Predictions

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The quarter finals were filled with anxiety and excitement. Three of the four matches went to overtime and two went to penalty kicks. It will be difficult for the semi-finals to be just as fun. The remaining four teams are the most competitive ones we’ve watched this summer. As mentioned in the last article, there are no draws nor points given from ties. Every round is elimination, meaning overtime and shootouts/penalty shots will decide winners. Before picks are made, the numbers are for which team placed where in their assigned group. Here are the predictions for which two teams advance to the title game.

1B Spain v. 2D France

Spain might be without captain Alvaro Morata and star defender Dani Carvajal, but the crazed Marc “Cucurella” Saseta has been one of the best players this tournament. “Cucu” is the engine keeping La Roja undefeated.

Not many people expected this matchup. After a fantastic match of football from Spain and host nation Germany, many audiences were treated to a horror show match between France and Portugal. Les Bleus still can’t score an offensive goal outside of penalty kicks in either regular or extra time. The frustration is taking a toll on coaches and players, with captain Kylian Mbappe saying in a Saturday interview he was, “tired” and had to leave the match due to fatigue. Manager Didier Deschamps even dropped midfielder Antoine Griezmann for the semi-finals due to his ineffective play.

Spain fortunately scores once a match, even if it’s in extra time. La Roja have their own roster issues with captain Alvaro Morata and star defender Dani Carvajal missing the match due to multiple yellows the previous weeks (Carvajal drawing a red last round didn’t help either), and Pedro “Pedri” Lopez out the rest of the tournament with a knee injury after German midfielder Toni Kroos tackled him.

Fortunately Spanish manager Luis de la Fuente has a lot of midfielders on the roster. He has to feel some relief in France’s offense lacking midfield presence and Mbappe struggling to use his vision around the pitch instead of attacking defenders. Mikel Merino pushed La Roja’s offense past Germany, and could get the start with fellow midfielders Fabian Ruiz, Rodri and Dani Ceballos before substitutions. De la Fuente playing backups in a victory against Albania also gives the team many options to attack a stout French defense.

Prediction: Spain wins 2-1 and advances to the finals

3D Netherlands v. 1C England

English keeper Jordan Pickford (1) has done his best to keep opposing teams out of the net more than once while the offense steps up late in matches.

Not many people had either team making it this far. If anyone’s stunned England’s made the semi-finals, it’s the viewers. The Three Lions made another comeback and surprised the Swiss in penalty kicks. Manager Gareth Southgate has used the three subs at the 80+ minute trick in two elimination rounds and both times they’ve worked. Southgate deciding the roster’s positioning has been tricky, but England’s depth and talent has worn down opposing defenses and opened up scoring opportunities.

Ronald Koeman’s Oranje improved since their private friendly. Cody Gakpo is the top player for the Netherlands while Wout Weghorst and Memphis Depay have improved and led the Oranje to key wins. Defensive mistakes have been fixed and transition offense looks better with the defensive trio of Stefan De Vrij, Virgil Van Dijk and Denzel Dumfries.

Roster depth will determine who wins and advances to the finals. England’s depth has been pivotal in their victories since the round of 16. Many criticize Gareth Southgate’s tactics of keeping a shutout for both sides until the 80th minute due to the offensive talent and poor positioning of certain veteran players. However, the substitutions made before extra time gives opposing managers more problems. This match could go to extra time but Netherlands doesn’t have the spare legs to keep a lead or take it to penalty kicks.

Prediction: England wins 3-2 and advances to the finals

Quarterfinals predictions record: 2-2

2024 UEFA Euros Quarterfinals Predictions

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What a fun, late June and early July for Euros play. The round of 16 filtered out another eight teams with championship aspirations. While most of the eight teams eliminated put up a fight, the remaining eight were better and deserved to advance to the quarterfinals. As mentioned in the last Euros article, there are no draws nor points given from ties. Every round is elimination. That means overtime and shootouts/penalty kicks decide the winners. Before picks are made, the numbers are for which team placed where in their assigned group. Here are the predictions for which four advance to the semi-finals.

1B Spain v. 1A Germany

Spain’s tactical takedown of Georgia reinforced the view La Roja is the best team in the tournament.

The quarterfinals begin with a bang on Friday. These are arguably the two best teams in the Euros.

Neither team has lost a match since the tournament began. While Germany has home-pitch advantage, Spain is undoubtedly the better team. When Georgia got an early lead last round against La Roja, Spain continued the offensive pressure and never let up. Die Mannschaft plays a great team game, but they struggle if midfielder Jamal Musiala doesn’t make the scoresheet.

Prediction: Spain wins 3-1

1F Portugal v. 2D France

Perhaps forward Cristiano Ronaldo’s mediocre play is due to the added pressure of this being his last Euros tournament. If it is, Selecao das Quinas could start someone else.

On paper, these two teams have the most potential of the remaining eight. Their performances say otherwise from offensive struggles to conservative substitutions. Portugal’s offense disappeared after a 3-0 shutout win versus Turkiye. The Selecao das Quinas didn’t score again until penalty kicks last round, while France struggled against Belgium despite Red Devils manager Domenico Tedesco’s poor tactics.

Portugal does have the best offensive depth of the two teams and plays stellar defense. If Selecao das Quinas can’t get past France, this will be a wasted Euros career finale for star forward and captain Cristiano Ronaldo.

Upset prediction of the quarter finals: Portugal wins in extra time 2-1

1C England v. 2A Switzerland

Unlike some talented teams, Switzerland’s been consistent in the tournament.

If there were doubts about England’s chances of repeating their Euros championship appearance after group play, they intensified in an extra time win against Slovakia. The Falcons led most of the match in regular time and the Three Lions looked helpless outside of manager Gareth Southgate’s three substitutions leading up to the 1-1 tie.

Switzerland is a quality opponent England has to match energies against for at least 90 minutes. Italy’s defense struggled against midfielder Granit Xhaka and the Swiss transition offense led by Ruben Vargas and Remo Freuler. Southgate has to figure out the best positions for England’s star players unless he wants goalkeeper Jordan Pickford leaping around half the match.

Prediction: Switzerland wins 3-1

3D Netherlands v. 2F Turkiye

Turkiye had the biggest upset in the round of 16 led by their aggressive offense and upper-pitch, shutdown defense. The Dutch must play their best against this rising team.

Almost everyone was shocked Austria was eliminated in the round of 16. Das Team proved they could play against the best even before the Euros. In the end, they never considered the Turks scoring early in either half. Defender Merih Demiral had the match of his life while forward Arda Guler became the third teenager in Euros history (after the aforementioned Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney) to score a goal and an assist.

The Netherlands improved against their round of 16 opponent Romania. Donyell Malen scoring multiple goals in any round boosts confidence for an inconsistent offense. The veteran Oranje have to strike early and keep offensive pressure if they want to make the semi-finals.

Prediction: Netherlands wins 3-2

Round of 16 predictions record: 6-2

2024 Copa America Quarterfinals Predictions

jminx943 Comments

What a fun two weeks of football this June and early July. The group stage provided a lot of information on who has the best chance to make a deep run and give teams fits. While most of the eight teams eliminated put up a fight, the remaining eight were better and deserved to advance to the quarterfinals. Starting tonight, there are no draws nor points given from ties. Every round will be elimination. That means overtime and penalty kicks will decide winners. Before picks are made, the numbers are for which team placed where in their assigned group.

1A Argentina v. 2B Ecuador

Argentina shutout all three of their opponents in group play despite forward Lionel Messi’s right groin injury.

It should baffle even casual sports fans that only six goals were scored between all four teams in group A. Five of the six came from Argentina as they won all three matches. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez recorded three shutouts despite constant pressure.

While Ecuador advanced, they struggled to consistently score. El Tricolor had four goals in three matches (three were in one match) and took an unexpected loss against Venezuela after an early red card. These struggles will amplify against an impressive Argentinian defense while El Albiceleste’s Lautaro Martinez, Angel Di Maria and Julian Alvarez attack a more vulnerable Ecuador defense.

Prediction: Argentina wins 3-1

1B Venezuela v. 2A Canada

Venezuela shocked many as they won every game in group B. Given Canada’s offensive struggles, it’s possible Venezuela advances to the semifinals.

Many viewers expected Venezuela to crash out of round one. La Vinotinto proved many wrong, winning a pivotal opening match against Ecuador and shutting out their last two opponents.

Canada was the only other team in group A who scored a goal. The Canucks defense improved while the offense sputtered in all but one half. Venezuela is stout on defense, but the offense faces their hardest test of the tournament. La Vinotinto star forward Salomon Rondon and Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau will have highlight moments, but Crepeau can only keep his team in the match if the Canucks find ways to score.

Prediction: Venezuela wins in extra time 2-1

1C Uruguay v. 2D Brazil

Uruguay defenders Mathias Olivera and Matias Vina have added to La Celeste’s scoring depth throughout the tournament.

The most exciting Copa America quarterfinals matchup. Brazil’s inconsistent play gives Uruguay their biggest challenge of the tournament. While veteran midfielder Luis Suarez wasn’t a factor most of the first round, defenders Matias Vina and Mathias Olivera, midfielder Maximiliano Araujo and forward Darwin Nunez scored most of Uruguay’s nine goals in three matches.

If the Canarinha win, it’s because Savio and Lucas Paqueta had to perform better and scored like they did against Paraguay. Since Vinicius Jr. is out after he drew two yellow cards in group play, it’ll be hard for Brazil to counter Uruguay’s scoring depth and stout defense.

Prediction: Uruguay wins 3-1

1D Colombia v. 2C Panama

From left: Miguel Borja and Luis Diaz were key offensive players in each of Colombia’s first round matches.

Colombia’s one of the best teams in the tournament and proved it leading up to Copa America. Las Cafeteras got at least one point in each match while overwhelming defenses. Panama crumbled against the only championship threat they played in round one despite good defensive performances after. Colombia’s easily the better team and will show why before the first half ends.

Prediction: Colombia wins 3-1

Group play predictions record: 6-2

2024 UEFA Round of 16 Predictions

jminx944 Comments

What a fun two weeks of football this June. The group stage provided a lot of information on who has the best chance to make a deep run and give teams headaches. While the eight teams eliminated put up a fight, the remaining 16 were better and deserved to advance to the second round. From here on out, there are no draws nor points given from ties. Every round will be elimination, meaning overtime and shootouts/penalty shots will decide winners. Before picks are made, the numbers are for who placed where in their assigned group. I should correct myself from last article: the best four teams in third place were also allowed to advance, not just the top two in each group. That means 16 teams were allowed to qualify, not 12.

Here are the predictions for which eight teams advance to the quarter finals.

2A Switzerland v. 2B Italy

Switzerland’s held their own against quality opponents and played their best versus easier teams. This tactic could land them in the quarter finals.

The first of eight matches, both Switzerland and Italy looked ok in the group stage. The major factors in this matchup include Italy facing everyone’s best since they’re the reigning champions, and playing without star defender Riccardo Calafiori after he drew two yellow cards in group play. The Swiss were cautious in the first round and made sure to steal a point from every team in group A. Now that it’s elimination and Forza Italia looks vulnerable, don’t be surprised if Switzerland starts the second round with an upset.

Prediction: Switzerland wins 2-1

1A Germany v. 2C Denmark

Host nation Germany caught the attention of even casual football fans with how they dominated group A.

A good number of readers wonder why Denmark, another team that stole at least one point from everyone they faced in group C isn’t given the same credit as Switzerland. A big reason is Germany looks stronger and played better in the first round. The Danes were mediocre and their older players looked exhausted in the second halves of their three matches. That’s a bad combination for any team wanting to get past Die Mannschaft. Germany will go full throttle without resting their stars. This could be over before the first half ends.

Prediction: Germany wins 4-1

1C England v. 3E Slovakia

It’s been anything but jovial for England. Two goals in three matches has the football world in chaos demanding improved roster moves and offensive tactics.

Last article I wrote about the pressure on manager Gareth Southgate due to England being the runner-up team in the 2020/1 Euro championship. There was pressure to replicate that success, if not exceed expectations. I also added emphasis on getting more offense out of the current roster. That didn’t show at any point in the group stage. The Three Lions were booed by fans, criticized by the broadcasting crews calling their matches, and attacked constantly in the media for how awful the offense looks, Southgate’s adjustments (or lack thereof), and why midfielder Cole Palmer hasn’t played more.

Contrast the pressure England faces with the speedy and ambitious Slovakia that mesmerized in group E and there’s more than enough to worry about in Britain. Coach Francesco Calzona turned the Repre into one of the more fun and entertaining teams in round one. Slovakia does need to score more than one goal a match, but their defense led by goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is more than enough to tame the Three Lions for more than 90 minutes.

Upset prediction of the round: Slovakia wins in extra time 2-1

1B Spain v. 3F Georgia

La Roja is the most dangerous team after group play. They blanked the third place 2022 World Cup team Croatia while abandoning their famous tiki-taka play. The remaining 15 teams should be cautious.

Georgia pulled off the biggest upset in Euros history, shutting out Portugal 2-0 in the final match in group F. While Selecao das Quinas didn’t play all their starters, the passion and determination should put the remaining top teams on notice. Unfortunately for the Crusaders, Spain was the only undefeated team of round one. La Roja look unstoppable even when manager Luis de la Fuente didn’t play all the starters last match against Albania.

While de la Fuente said not all starters could play against Georgia, they’re not underestimating the former Soviet republic. Spain crushed the Crusaders twice in the past year, and that won’t change anytime soon.

Prediction: Spain wins 5-1

2D France v. 2E Belgium

Despite breaking his nose and drawing a yellow card in the first match of group play, captain Kylian Mbappe (10) finally scored his first career goal in the Euros when it mattered most, pushing France to round two.

The first of two matches that look good on paper but underwhelm on the pitch. Belgium continued their international tournament struggles with a loss to Slovakia and a scoreless draw against Ukraine in round one. Meanwhile France scored one goal in three matches (Austria’s own goal obviously doesn’t count), and that was a penalty shot from captain Kylian Mbappe. There’s been justified criticism with England’s dreadful performances, but not enough on Les Bleus for the underwhelming play against Netherlands and Poland.

France stumbling through group D aside, there’s not enough for Belgium to overcome. This is a bigger issue once extra time and penalty kicks are factored. The older Belgian roster had many chances to draw a better opponent but likely fizzle out. This should give Mbappe and Les Bleus the needed spark to score more than once.

Prediction: France wins in extra time 2-1

1F Portugal v. 3C Slovenia

Portugal easily clinched a second round spot with their 3-0 shutout of Turkiye. After that embarrassing loss, watch for retribution.

Another lopsided matchup. Slovenia stole a point from every opponent in group C and now get the chance to face an angry Portugal coming off the worst upset in Euros history. The Slovenians struggled to score against some haggard rosters last round. Now they’ll face the scoring depth of Selecao das Quinas. Like Germany v. Denmark, this should be over before the second half.

Prediction: Portugal wins 4-0

1E Romania v. 3D Netherlands

Outside of Cody Gakpo (left), the Oranje struggled to score after beating Poland.

The Dutch struggled to score after beating Poland 2-1. A dull draw against France and a terrible defensive performance against Austria has coach Ronald Koeman reassessing tactics. Netherlands decided to play a friendly against the German Suddeutsche Zeitung last Wednesday to fix some of the offensive issues. Koeman’s desperation for another player to step up besides forward Cody Gakpo is warranted since Romania wants to spoil the Oranje’s run.

Romania struggled against Belgium and would’ve lost to Slovakia if not for a questionable call by the referees last match. There’s not enough talent on the roster to stop the Dutch star players and that will show by the second half.

Prediction: Netherlands wins 3-0

1D Austria v. 2F Turkiye

Austria again showed they can hang with the best teams in the world with their group D performances.

There might not be a better second-tier team than Austria. Das Team humbled the Dutch, almost tied France and eliminated the Polish in an impressive first round. Drawing Turkiye interests many since the group F runner ups surprised even diehard viewers. Phenom forward Arda Guler has the spotlight on the Crescent Stars as the rising team to watch this decade.

While Turkiye has improved with Guler and coach Vincenzo Montella, Austria is the deeper and more experienced team ready to elevate their performances. This match should be a fun watch, but Das Team has everything in their favor to make the quarter finals.

Prediction: Austria wins 3-1

Group play predictions record: 10-4

2024 CONMEBOL Copa America Group Stage Predictions

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The second of two international football tournaments starts tomorrow. CONMEBOL’s 2024 Copa America takes place in North America from June 20th to July 15th. Due to the smaller number of countries in the western hemisphere, there are four groups of four teams each. They will compete for as many points as possible to advance to the second round. A win results in three points, ties earn one, and zero for losses. Only two teams in each group move on to the round of 8. Here are the predictions for which teams in groups A through D have the best chances to make round two.

Group A: Argentina, Chile

Almost everyone agrees the reigning World Cup champions will advance. Renowned scoring forward Lionel Messi is a menace to his regional opponents and many saw how La Albiceleste’s roster improved almost two years ago. Midfield depth will be hard to contain for the other three teams.

The world’s greatest player Lionel Messi should make easy work of the group stage.

It’s hard to choose the second best team. Canada has a good offense, but the defense remains a liability. Argentina and Chile’s veterans will often test these weaknesses. While Peru has a solid defense, the offense hasn’t faced a championship caliber defense. This leaves La Roja as the best choice. Chile has a good mix of veterans and young talent on every side of the ball. They gave France fits, barely losing 3-2 earlier in the year. This shows they can still hold up against the world’s best teams. It would be wise for La Roja to create better team chemistry with the younger depth players, give the aging veterans one last chance for a deep tournament run, and try different methods of putting pressure on opposing defenses before the 2026 World Cup.

Group B: Ecuador, Mexico

The easiest group to predict. Many witnessed Ecuador’s continued improvement in the 2022 World Cup as La Tricolor had a long shutout streak leading up to and in Qatar. Ecuador may have three forwards on the roster, but the defense is one of the world’s best. Surprisingly their biggest tests were against current UEFA champion Italy and World Cup champion Argentina. La Tricolor gave up a total of three goals versus both.

22 year old Moises Caicedo has been one of Ecuador’s better players, providing a spark on offense they didn’t have in the last Copa America tournament.

Mexico stands out as the other favorite for round two. Despite critical analysis on El Tri’s roster construction, they soundly shutout Jamaica 3-0 heading into the tournament and Venezuela’s easily the worst team of the group. Mexico could struggle after the first round due to its player development pipeline being at its lowest point in decades, but coach Jaime “Jimmy” Lozano should get enough solid performances out of this team.

Group C: Uruguay, Panama

A fun three team race in group C makes this one second best. Bolivia might be worse than Venezuela, so Panama, Uruguay and the U.S. will be the highlighted teams.

Uruguay’s top-scoring forward Luis Suarez could be in his last Copa America tournament. While striker Edinson Cavani and midfielder Matias Vecino retired not even a month ago, 22 year old forward Facundo Pallistri is providing La Celeste with a refreshing offensive presence. Uruguay’s also revamped the roster since their 2022 World Cup exit.

If Panama wants to advance to the second round, players such as midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla (8) have to be more involved and create better scoring opportunities.

The second choice will be close. Panama and the U.S. went to a shootout last July with the former getting a much-needed win. It’s been a year since Los Canaleros’ victory, but the Americans shouldn’t worry much about performance since they’re both hosting the World Cup and they’re one of six add-on teams in Copa America. The U.S. should use this tournament as a litmus test to analyze team chemistry and what to improve on before 2026.

Group D: Brazil, Colombia

The best and most entertaining group. Between potent offenses and veteran rosters, it’s almost unfair two teams will be eliminated.

Despite legendary midfielder Ronaldinho going off on the Brazilian team for, “a lack of love for the shirt and grit”, Brazil’s one of the favorites to make the finals. The Selecao Canarinha will be tested early by Costa Rica, which wants redemption for their nosedive in Qatar. Every match will be hard no matter the opponent. Defenders Danilo and Wendell, and forwards Raphinha and Pepe Aquino need to step up in round one.

With Ronaldinho’s criticism a week before the tournament starts, forward Evanilson (21) and midfielder Lucas Paqueta (8) must improve on every side of the ball during group play.

Costa Rica doesn’t have enough offense to keep any of their matches close. Paraguay is the opposite where offense is a strength, but the defense gives up a lot of rush chances leading to easy goals. This leaves Colombia, a dangerously well-rounded team. Los Cafeteros shut out Spain in March and throttled the U.S. almost two weeks ago. Colombia’s scoring depth and shutdown defense make them an attractive choice in the final four.