Week 9 Power Rankings

It's already Week 9!


We are just around the mid way point of the 2013 season and this year has been crazy. So many games that were predicted by experts ended up finishing in the complete opposite direction. That's how the NFL will be from now on. Back in the 70's, 80's, and 90's, there were teams like the 49ers, Steelers and Cowboys that were dynasties. They were the top teams for a long time and almost every year one of those teams made the Super Bowl. Obviously if you are a fan of those teams, you love it, but if you are not, it was so frustrating. Now, since the NFL installed a salary cap, every team has a shot to compete and make the playoffs. Since 2000, there has been over 10 different teams that have represented the NFC in the Super Bowl. In other sports, like baseball, you pretty much have the same 4-5 teams in each league making the playoffs like New York, Boston, St Louis, and Atlanta. This parody in the NFL is what makes it so awesome and keeps fans engaged 365 days of the year. Think about this, game 1 of the World Series between 2 great baseball towns, Boston and St. Louis, got a 9.4 TV viewing rating. The Monday night game between the Giants and Vikings, which was a terrible game, got a 9.5 TV viewing rating. How does that happen? The World Series is a historic event, so you would think it would be watched by more people than a bad football game. In the world today, fans of sports want fast paced action and games to last only a few hours. Baseball ratings are far below NFL ratings cause of the speed of the game and the lack of action during the game.


*Here are some observations from this weekends action*

Everyone has seen the blowup by Dez Bryant of the Dallas Cowboys during their game versus Detroit on Sunday. Bryant was shouting at Tony Romo and the offensive coordinator about something and got very animated. I am torn about this display of emotion. The good thing about it is the intensity Bryant has to win the game and be more involved in it. The bad thing was the timing of the situation. At the point of the altercation with Romo and others, Dallas was playing a good game and beating the Lions, but Bryant wasn't fully involved in the game. When Detroit mad that crazy comeback, Bryant was in another heated argument with Jason Witten and DeMarcus Ware. I'm sure the lack of involvement in the offense upset Bryant and caused the uproar on the sideline. The audio from the sidelines, released by NFL Films, picks up Bryant yelling positive messages to his teammates.  Obviously frustration was pouring out from Bryant, but I love the intensity he has to be the main focal point of the offense. In a tight game you can't blow up on teammates on the sideline and expect to get away with it. Bryant needs to grow up and get control of his emotions for his teammates, fans and most of all, himself.

There was a display of stupidity and embarrassment on the Monday Night game between the Seahawks and Rams courtesy of Seahawks WR Golden Tate. Tate made a fabulous catch and ran it in for a touchdown which turned out to be the winning score. After Tate made the catch, he sprinted toward the end zone, but while the Rams defender tried to catch him, Tate decided to taunt him and wave his hand while running toward the end zone. Instead of being professional and respectful and just running straight for the score, this idiot decided to be a selfish guy and make the score all about him. This bothers me cause this Tate guy, who only has 32 receptions, 439 yards and 3 TD's through 8 games, stole the headline from the game. No talk about Seattle's and St. Louis's defense playing great or Zac Stacy running for 134 yards on a stout Seahawk defense. Just talk about a low end receiver who was only drafted cause he went to Notre Dame. Being respectful and acting like you have been there before goes a long way in the NFL and life.


Here are some photos of the 49ers/Jaguars game from London, England this past Sunday,
courtesy of my sister:

Here are my Power Rankings:

1. Denver Broncos- back to normal, good time for bye week, defense needs to get better fast
2. Seattle Seahawks- offense needs Harvin, defense is solid, Tate is an embarrassment
3. New Orleans Saints- easy win at home, game at Seattle will tell a lot, Brees makes it look easy
4. Indianapolis Colts- can Luck survive without Wayne?, defense playing well, where r u Richardson?
5. Kansas City Chiefs- still undefeated, games against Broncos will show who they really are
6. San Francisco 49ers- running game best in league, Kap getting better, still need WR help
7. Green Bay Packers- offense rolling, defense gaining confidence, Lacy balancing the offense
8. Cincinnati Bengals- destroyed Jets, dangerous team, will only get better, running game missing
9. New England Patriots- they just win games, WR are below average, can they beat top teams?
10. Detroit Lions- great win, defense got shredded, Megatron lives up to his name
11. Dallas Cowboys- typical Dallas loss, offense has a lot of pop, gotta win tight games
12. San Diego Chargers- surprise team, Broncos and Chiefs games will say a lot
13. Chicago Bears- life without Cutler not good, defense must anchor team, will Marshall behave?
14. Carolina Panthers- look out for Carolina! defense solid, Newton looks great, WR help needed
15. Baltimore Ravens- will they lean on Ray Rice? defense not scary anymore, needs to get younger
16. Oakland Raiders- Pryor is winning in the NFL? Energetic team, black hole is excited finally
17. Arizona Cardinals- solid win against Falcons, tough division, Fitzgerald not happy in the desert
18. Miami Dolphins- ugh, great first half, typical Dolphin 2nd half, expectations too high?
19. Tennessee Titans- Locker is back, defense is ok, is Chris Johnson in the NFL anymore?
20. Cleveland Browns- tough team, had Chiefs on ropes, defense is good, culture has to change

OUT:  Steelers, Jets, Eagles, Redskins, Falcons, Rams, Texans, Bills, Giants, Vikings, Jags, Bucs

Leave me a comment and let me know what you like or dislike about the blog!!

Week 8 Power Rankings

The NFL is fantastic!

I was going to analyze the great game between the Broncos and the Colts, but due to some serious sickness. I didn't see 1 play of the game, which pretty much means I was so sick I couldn't even watch football. Sorry to those that were looking for some analysis from that match-up.


I want to complain about fans that don't attend home games. Last week I suggested that Jacksonville think about relocating mostly because their fan base hasn't supported them for so long. Why stay in an area that fans won't come to every game no matter if your record is 10-0 or 0-10? Here is what I am talking about. While I was watching the Dolphins/Bills game this past Sunday, I took the picture below right as the 2nd half was starting:

Anyone notice something weird? OK, I understand at halftime fans have to use the bathroom, get another beer, get some popcorn, or some people are just a little late getting back to their seat. But the emptiness of these seats is beyond ridiculous. The Dolphins had scored a touchdown as the half ended and had a lot of momentum going into the 2nd half, but yet the fans couldn't get back in time for the kickoff. The brightness of the empty orange seats is so embarrassing as a Dolphin fan. To me, this says Dolphins fans don't really care about giving their team the "home field" advantage when an opposing team comes into town. When teams have to go play in Seattle, 90% of the time that team is going to lose no matter how good the team is. Seattle's home field is incredible and causes so much chaos for the visiting team. Bottom line, teams have to have a solid fan base that will go to all the home games no matter what. If fans aren't willing to do that, let another city have a chance at supporting that franchise. Seeing what my Dolphins home games have become makes me sick to my stomach, literally.

Wow, I was way off on my analysis of the Cowboys/Eagles game. I thought it would be high scoring, fun to watch and the Eagles would win. I was wrong on all those fronts. The Cowboys defense played a monster game despite DeMarcus Ware being injured and shut down the Eagles offense all day. McCoy only had 81 total yards for the game and Foles got knocked out with a head injury in the 2nd half. Dez Bryant had 8 catches for 110 yards and really sprung the Dallas offense in the 2nd half. Romo had 2 picks during the game which surprised me because he should have sliced that defense up like he did to Denver. The Dallas offense will get back on track with a week 8 game vs Detroit. A Great win by Dallas and they take over sole possession of 1st place in the NFC East. Another loss at home for the Eagles, extending their home losing streak to 9 games. Not much love at home games for Eagles fans in the city of brotherly love.

Here are my Power Rankings:

1. Seattle Seahawks: Percy Harvin returns, offense will have pop, defense is great, home field is huge
2. Denver Broncos- incredible offense, some O-line issues, defense gives up way to many points
3. Kansas City Chiefs- still undefeated, week 11 looms against Denver, Charles is top RB in the league
4. Indianapolis Colts- huge win vs Broncos, loss of Wayne will hurt, can Luck push team to the top?
5. New Orleans Saints- can't be beat at home, Graham has to get healthy, defense underrated
6. San Francisco 49ers- running game is solid, Kap throwing better, still have to catch Seattle
7. Cincinnati Bengals- another 3 point win, AJ Green is great, defense needs to get better
8. Green Bay Packers- Offense is rolling, defense playing better, can they overcome Cobb injury?
9. New England Patriots- lost to the Jets? Injuries are taking toll, can they beat top teams?
10. Dallas Cowboys- Defense was great in Philly, Romo is underrated, will running game hold team back?
11. San Diego Chargers- Surprise of the season, Rivers is efficient, defense has spark, tough division
12. Detroit Lions- Tough loss at the end, where is Bush? defense needs to hold, division is within reach
13. Chicago Bears- no Cutler will doom them, similar to last year, defense must anchor team
14. Baltimore Ravens- playing bad football, sloppy at Pitt, Flacco regret giant contract with no receivers?
15. Miami Dolphins- lost to Bills at home? fans won't go to games, will they ever take next step?
16. Tennessee Titans- Locker playing again is big, gotta beat Indy, will they take next step
17. Carolina Panthers- team is hot, defense is great, Newton balancing offense, compete with Saints?
18. New York Jets- great win vs Pats, defense struggling, Geno doing OK, are they for real?
19. Philadelphia Eagles- bad loss vs 'Boys, Vick coming back, McCoy has to run wild
20. Pittsburgh Steelers- 2 wins in a row, defense holding team up, Big Ben needs bigger plays

Out: Falcons, Browns, Cardinals, Rams, Redskins, Texans, Raiders, Bills, Vikings, Giants, Jaguars, Bucs


Leave me a comment and let me know what you like or dislike about the blog!!

Week 7

The best game this weekend is the Sunday Night game between the Broncos and the Colts in Indianapolis. This is the return of Peyton Manning to Indy for the first time since joining the Broncos. The Colts organization will have a ceremony before the game honoring Manning for everything he has done for the town. I don't understand what the Colts organization is doing. I understand Peyton is why they have a new stadium and why the Colts are still In Indianapolis, but why have a ceremony now? Can't it wait till he retires? With all this hoopla, what does Andrew Luck and his teammates think? This is a huge game for these teams and the only thing people are talking about is the Manning ceremony. If I was a Colts fan, I would always love Manning for what he did, but this new Colts team is good and looking to take that next step into an elite NFL team. All the fawning and crying over Manning in a ceremony should wait till he retires.

I will only analyze 1 game this week due to the Red Sox playing in the American League Championship Series and making me stress for 4 hours every night.

I have a new discussion this week in which I will give some advice to the 2 worse teams in the NFL,
the Jaguars and the Giants.


1. Dear Jacksonville Jaguars,

First thing you guys need to do is sign Tim Tebow. I know he won't be a good quarterback and won't lead you to a Super Bowl, but as a bad team, the most important thing is making money. Having Tim Tebow on your team would increase home game attendance and viewership across the country. Also, since Tebow played at the University of Florida and is from a town near Jacksonville, you already have Tebow-mania in your backyard. Sales on jerseys and other merchandise with Tebow's name or face on it would go through the roof . Two words, cha-ching!! Also, I would look at the possibility of relocating, maybe to Los Angeles. I know Jacksonville has nice weather, great golf courses and no state income tax, but it doesn't deserve a NFL team. No one attends the games, always a losing season, no history and the demographic doesn't fit the NFL very well.. Last time I checked, not many old people attend NFL games. I hope some Jaguar fans or management take some of my advice to help improve their organization.

2. Dear New York Football Giants,

If any Giants fan believes benching Eli Manning will help the team win is completely nuts. Manning is definitely having a bad year and deserves part of the blame for the Giants being 0-6, but benching him for a no name quarterback is ridiculous. What about your aging defense? Running game that can't stay healthy? There are so many issues with your team, so you can't just pin it on one thing. By the way Giants fans, how are those t-shirts you have that say Super Bowl champions from '08 and '12? Having 2 rings within 6 years must be the best feeling in the world. So what if you are having a crappy season. Consider the success you guys have had in recent years. Just ask a Jets fan about crappy seasons. Also, the whole team has to get younger. The defense is very old and slow and ranks dead last in points allowed (209 points through 6 games.) The Giants will continue their tough times ahead as the re-build their defense and re-structure the offense. With 2 Super Bowl titles in 6 years, I wouldn't worry too much as a Giants fan.



Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles

This is a battle for sole possession of first place in the NFC East. The Cowboys offense played bad last week and also lost star running back DeMarco Murray. A balanced offense is huge for Dallas. Romo is a great quarterback (some of you probably disagree) and makes great plays, but he needs a running game. Romo's best game was against Denver when he threw for over 500 yards, but had Murray with him, making the Broncos have to account for him. Last weeks game against Redskins, Murray got hurt and all of a sudden Romo throws for under 200 yards. Balance is key for Dallas and since Murray isn't playing this Sunday, where will the balance come from. On the defensive side of the ball, Dallas will be without pro-bowler DeMarcus Ware. This will be a huge factor in the game and allow Philadelphia to run their offense more efficiently. Ware is a monster defensive end and causes chaos whenever he plays, so the loss of him will make the Dallas defensive suspect. The new Eagles offense has brought hope to those in Philadelphia. McCoy leads the league in rushing and DeSean Jackson is 2nd in the league in receiving yards. Those two playing so well is the reason Philly is tied for first place. Mike Vick has had a good year but got injured so back-up QB Nick Foles had to step in and has played even better than Vick. During his first start last week vs. Tampa Bay, he threw for 296 yards and 3 TD's and even ran for a TD. Many Eagle fans think Foles is better than Vick, so either way, Eagle fans are feeling good about the team.

The game this Sunday will be a classic Cowboys/Eagles game with lots of points, big plays, and hard hitting. Romo will have a good game, as well as Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. McCoy will rush for more than 100 yards and make some big plays in the passing game. Foles will play well and make a key play towards the end of the game. The Dallas defense will be scored on a lot due to injuries, especially to DeMarcus Ware. I don't think Romo will turn the ball over at the end of the game, but he does have a history of that, so I wouldn't be surprised. Cheers to Eagles fans for winning this game and taking over 1st place in NFC East.

Prediction: Eagles 38, Cowboys 28

Quote of the day: "You can't win unless you learn how to lose." -Kareem Abdul-Jabbar


Leave me a comment and let me know what you like or dislike about the blog!!

Week 6 recap

Week 6 Conclusions

Another great weekend of football and more surprises that make the NFL so good. Patriots stun the Saints, Rams pummel the Texans, Broncos don't cover the spread against the Jaguars and the Chiefs are still undefeated.

For those Texans fans who cheered when Matt Schaub got injured, you are pathetic and useless. When teams are playing bad, especially the quarterback, fans want changes and  most of the time they want the back-up QB to play. Fans have a right to boo anybody they want, but when an injury occurs and fans cheer because they don't like the player that's hurt, that crosses the line. Why be a fan like that? I've been to pro games and have seen drunken fans get in fights and what not over something they can't control. Fans don't throw the ball, they don't run the ball and they don't coach the team, so why act so indecent? If you think someone getting hurt is a good thing for your team, you need some help and need to take a long hard look in the mirror.

I went 2-2 this week in my picks and had the Saints win until Tom Brady became Hercules on the last drive of the game.

The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 32-20. The 49ers should have won by a lot more but they settled for field goals early instead of touchdowns. Finally the 49er passing game came alive! Kaepernick and Vernon Davis were on the same page all day. Kaepernick threw for 252 yards, 2 TD's, 1 Int and Vernon Davis caught 8 passes for 180 yards and 2 TD's. The San Francisco defense played great, causing 2 Int's and forcing 2 fumbles and confused Palmer and the Arizona passing game all day. The Cardinals defense played well in the early part of the game, but wore down as the game went on. The 49ers took possession of 2nd place in the NFC West at 4-2 and the Cardinals are tied for 3rd place in the West with the Rams at 3-3.

The Patriots beat the Saints 30-27 in a thrilling game at Foxboro. Tom Brady threw a TD pass with 5 seconds left in the game to win it for New England. Ridley ran the ball for 96 yards and 2 TD's and that helped balance the Patriot offense all day. The Saints controlled most of the game and thought they had it wrapped up with Brady threw an interception, but that was not the case. The shocking stat of the game was Jimmy Graham being held to 0 catches. That's right, 0 catches! In the NFL today, it is next to impossible for a player of Graham's caliber to get no catches in a game. Credit the Patriots defense for putting the clamps on Graham, but even with Graham having 0 catches, the Saints were in position to get the win. Here is some advice, never count out the Patriots in any game when Tom Brady is the quarterback.

The Chargers shut down the Colts on Monday Night football 19-9. Luck looked out of sync and the offense didn't seem to have any sense of urgency. I don't know if it was the coaches fault, but that isn't the Colts team that can compete for a Super Bowl title. Richardson looks terrible and if the running game doesn't get going, the Colts will struggle. The Chargers are surprising the league, due to Phillip Rivers playing great football. Matthews ran for 102 yards and Keenen Allen caught 9 passes for 107 yards and 1 TD. Less turnovers, short passes and a good running game has the Chargers competing in the AFC.

The Chiefs improved to 6-0 by defeating the Raiders 24-7. The Raiders hung around for the first half and kept the game close, but the Kansas City defense harassed Pryor all day (10 sacks, 3 INT's and a TD) which derailed the Oakland offense. Pryor is a decent QB, but the Chiefs defense was to tough. Pryor has to figure out how to better hi game in order to compete with the good teams.  Jamaal Charles ran the ball well and his ability to catch the ball as well makes him a nightmare for teams. Typical Raiders, lots of hype going into the game, but fail to win in the end.



Stubbs' Power Rankings:

1. Denver Broncos- big game at Indy Sunday night, first loss looms?
2. Seattle Seahawks- Harvin coming back soon, will bolster offense
3. New England Patriots- Tom Brady is incredible, never count them out
4. Kansas City Chiefs- whole team playing great, defense is superb, J. Charles so dynamic in offense
5. New Orleans Saints- tough loss, but outplayed Patriots whole game, defense is underrated
6. Indianapolis Colts- looked ahead to Denver game, Chargers loss stings, Luck has to assert himself
7. San Francisco 49ers- offense came alive, defense looked better, don't overlook Titans
8. Green Bay Packers- old Green Bay defense arrives, Lacy adds weapons to Rodgers arsenal
9. Dallas Cowboys- scored 31 and Romo threw for under 200 yards, great offense, need consistency
10. Cincinnati Bengals- scrapped out win in Buffalo, when will consistency arrive? Lions game huge
11. Chicago Bears- Marshall is top WR, tough division to win, can Cutler continue great play?
12. Baltimore Ravens- inconsistent, defense is holding team together, will they use Ray Rice right?
13. Miami Dolphins- bye week was big, lots of favorable games coming up, gotta balance offense
14. Detroit Lions- watch out for the Lions, Megatron has to get healthy, defense is also underrated
15. San Diego Chargers- huge win against Colts, can they keep up with Chiefs & Broncos?
16. Philadelphia Eagles- Foles to the rescue! McCoy leading rusher, Eagles tied for first in NFC East!
17. Tennessee Titans- handled Seattle crowd very well, don't sleep on this defense and confident team
18. St. Louis Rams- destroyed Texans, defense is rolling, can they keep up with 49ers & Seahawks?
19. Arizona Cardinals- defense keeps team in games, Palmer must run offense for efficient
20. Carolina Panthers- crushed Vikings, Cam coming alive, defense is a secret in the NFL

OUT: Texans, Jets, Falcons, Redskins, Browns, Raiders, Bills, Steelers, Vikings, Bucs, Giants, Jaguars

                         

     What do you think of my rankings? Leave me a comment!

The Week 6 Power games (Update)

First thing, I would like to send prayers to Adrian Peterson and his family tonight. His 2-year old son died this afternoon from injuries sustained during an aggravated assault. The boyfriend of the child's mother has been charged with aggravated assault domestic and aggravated battery of an infant. It's a travesty and very disturbing to hear that a grown man would hurt a little child so much, he or she would die because of it. Having two kids myself, this situation makes so angry and sadden by what our world is coming to.

Not as many great games this weekend as last weekend, but now that we are already on week 6, the games get more and more important. This league is a week to week league. That means one week a team plays terrible, so the fans and media turn on them. Then the next week the team plays great, the fans and media jump back on the wagon. Perfect example is Geno Smith of the New York Jets. When the Jets played the Tennessee Titans in week 4, Smith played horrible, throwing many interceptions and looking very lost. Then the following Monday versus Atlanta, Geno played his best game leading the Jets to a shocking victory no one saw coming. The week leading up to the Atlanta game, the New York media (always crazy and out of control) bashed Geno Smith and even discussed benching him after the loss. But following the Monday night win, the New York newspapers declared Geno Smith as "A Star is Born." So you go from wanting to bench a guy after a terrible game (which will happens a lot for a rookie quarterback) to declaring him the next star for your football team. In my opinion, you shouldn't do that, especially for a rookie QB. There will be games he is off the chart good and many games where he is a dumpster fire. I know a win is a win, but going from one extreme critique of a player to another within just 7 days won't show fans and media the true potential of a QB or any other player.

Week 6 is upon us and it got started last night when the Bears defeated the Giants 27-21. Eli Manning threw 3 interceptions and one of them was returned for a touchdown. That makes 15 interceptions Manning has thrown through 6 games this season, which is an incredible amount of picks for an elite quarterback. The Giants defense played well against a good Bears offense in the 2nd half, but an interception at the end of the game thrown by Manning sealed the game for Chicago. Brandon Marshall had a great game and also Matt Forte. Cutler and the offense didn't turn the ball over, pushing the Bears into first place in the NFC North.


Here are the 4 games this weekend I believe are important this weekend:


Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers

This is a battle for 2nd place in the competitive NFC West. The Cardinals, coming off a dominating performance over the Carolina Panthers, head into San Francisco with some confidence they can knock of the 49ers. The Arizona defense is playing at a high level and if they can slow down Frank Gore and the 49ers running game and make Kaepernick throw to to someone other than Boldin, the Cardinals will have a shot to win. In order to win, Palmer and Fitzgerald have to dominate a weaker secondary the 49ers have and be able to score at least 20 points. For the 49ers, the ability to destroy the Texans last Sunday and just throw for 120 yards baffles me. How can the 49ers believe they can beat the top teams by just throwing for just that much? Kaepernick and his WR have to get in sync and balance out their offense. This week will be tough with the Cardinal defense playing so well. Playing at Candlestick Park is a huge advantage for the 49ers and the defense will play well and disrupt the passing game of the Cardinals. This will be a defensive game and turnovers will determine the outcome.

Prediction: 49ers 20, Cardinals 10



New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots

The Saints continued there undefeated season by beating the Bears and head to Foxboro for another tough road game. I thought the Saints would trip up in Chicago, but they went in and dominated. It will be tough to duplicate that against the Patriots. The Saints are playing great football, especially on the road. This game starts at 4 eastern, so the weather will be a factor in this game, but I don't believe it will matter. As long as the Patriots have Tom Brady, they will be able to win any game. Gronkowski is suppose to play, but that hasn't been official yet. If he plays, the Patriots have a chance to defeat the Saints. If he doesn't, the Patriots will struggle to keep up with New Orleans. This will be a fun game to watch and give a serious challenge for the New England defense against that high power Saints offense. Can Tom Brady and all his new receivers keep up with the Saints? I don't believe they can, it will be a tight game till the end, but too much offense by the Saints will make them 6-0.

Prediction: Saints 27, Patriots 17



Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers

This will be Andrew Luck's first Monday night game and it will showcase a team on the rise. The Colts have had so much luck (pardon the pun) with Quarterbacks since 1996, first Peyton and now Andrew Luck, the fans have to be so thrilled. The whole Colts team is clicking and will continue to roll  for a Monday night audience. Reggie Wayne and TY Hilton are perfect receivers for Luck and Richardson will run well on a suspect San Diego defense. The Chargers are playing surprisingly well for a team that had no expectations. Mr. Interception last year Phillip Rivers has gone back to his old days and playing really well. The new head coach Mike McCoy has turned the team around and made San Diego relevant again. Rivers and Antonio Gates have gone back in time and playing like the old days. The Charger offense has played well, but it won't be able to keep up with Luck. Andrew Luck's first Monday night game will be successful and keep the Colts in first place in the AFC South.

Prediction: Colts 30, Chargers 17



Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs

I know, why am I talking about the Oakland Raiders? The haven't done crap since losing the Super Bowl in 2003 and honestly, they are the Raiders. For some reason though, since Terrelle Pryor has started for them, they look like a decent football team. He has running ability and makes plays for the team to win ball games. Going into Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City will be a true test for Pryor and the Raiders. The Chiefs defense causes many turnovers and confuses many offenses. Alex Smith has been able to manage the offense and not turn the ball over, helping the Chiefs to their 5-0 record. Jamaal Charles has been incredible running the ball and catching passes and turning them into big plays. Dwayne Bowe hasn't been as good as his contract says he should be, so that needs to get fixed in order for the Chiefs to challenge the Broncos for the division. This will be a good game to see what Pryor can do against the Chiefs defense. Pryor will have some success, but not enough to knock Kansas City from the ranks of the unbeaten. Jamaal Charles will have a huge game and Bowe will step up and make some great catches.

Prediction: Chiefs 24, Raiders 10


Quote of the day: "Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing
that it is not fish they are after." - Henry David Thoreau

Week 5 recap

The Un-Predictable National Football League


What a weekend of NFL football! From the Broncos/Cowboys high scoring game to the Jets beating the Falcons in Atlanta, the only conclusion I can come up with after a weekend like this is that you can't predict the NFL anymore. Unless you are betting on the Denver Broncos this year, every other team can win or lose against any team on any weekend no matter what. Perfect example are the Jets winning in Atlanta. No one saw that coming and everybody predicted a huge blowout to boot. But yet the Jets find a way to win and that gives hope to other teams that you can win on any given Sunday.

I analyzed 4 games this past weekend and I got 3 out of 4 right! That's a great start to my predictions, so lets see what happen in those 4 games:


The Indianapolis Colts defeated the Seattle Seahawks 34-28. This was a great game that showed how good the Colts are. This year, Indy has beaten the 49ers in San Francisco and now beat Seattle, so don't sleep on the Colts anymore. Andrew Luck is the real deal and his receivers Wayne and Hilton have stepped up huge for him and once Richardson knows the offense, the Colts are ready to play with Denver. Seattle is a great team and almost pulled out another late win. I was shocked that Seattle's defense allowed over 30 points. I know teams play different on the road than at home, but with a dominant defense that Seattle has, I was amazed at how easily they were scored on. At 4-1, the Seahawks are still in 1st place and will continue to be a Super Bowl contender, especially if they can get home field in the playoffs.

The Denver Broncos defeated the Dallas Cowboys 51-48. This was a fantastic game and a great watch for all fans. The Broncos are a machine offensively. Peyton has the offense rolling to perfection and too many weapons makes them unstoppable. Manning finally threw an interception, so he is mortal after all. I've never seen an offense like this and it makes Denver the clear cut favorite to win it all. I was impressed with Dallas and how they were able to keep up with Denver. The Cowboys were in perfect position to win the game, but somehow Tony Romo always turns the ball over at a crucial point that causes the 'Boys to lose the game. Even though Dallas lost, I like how they are playing and will win their division since all the other teams aren't good.

The Green Bay Packers defeated the Detroit Lions 22-9. This game would have been a lot closer had Calvin Johnson played. He was a late scratch form the game and that really hurt the Lions chances at stopping their losing streak against Green Bay in the state of Wisconsin. Stafford was off his game all day and the absence of Megatron had an effect on Reggie Bush as well. The Packers were able to focus on Bush and make someone else on the Lions try to beat them. The Packers played decent this past Sunday and somehow still won by double digits. With the exception of a huge TD from Rodgers to James Jones, the Packers offense had to settle for 5 field goals by Mason Crosby. I expected a better showing by the Packers offense, especially from Nelson and Cobb, so they have to get that fixed to become a contender in the tough NFC.

The New Orleans Saints defeated the Chicago Bears 26-18. I thought the Bears would win because they had the home field and it would have made a huge statement to the league about the Bears. At 3-2. the Bears are tied for first and will continue to be a good team and win a lot of games this year. I also believed the Saints would have trouble in the elements of rain and wind, but they did not. Now the Saints are 1 of  3 undefeated teams and have sent a message to the league that they are back to top form and a force to be reckoned with.



Week 6 power rankings:

1. Denver Broncos- a machine that can't be stopped, whole league needs to worry

2. New Orleans Saints- great win in Chicago, Super Bowl caliber team is back

3. Seattle Seahawks- tough loss in Indy, offense looked better, home games will give confidence back

4. Indianapolis Colts- statement win against Seattle, can they challenge Denver in a few weeks?

5. Kansas City Chiefs  Andy Reid is an amazing coach, defense is stellar, Alex Smith looks great

6. New England Patriots- Offense needs some work, Brady still around, big game against Saints Sunday

7. San Francisco 49ers- running game looks great, Kap has to get passing game up to form

8. Dallas Cowboys- a loss helps this team, offense is top notch, division weak, should win it
9. Chicago Bears- couldn't hang with Saints, still tough team, defense needs to improve

10. Green Bay Packers- defense played great, loss of Matthews will sting, Rodgers & WR gotta get better

11. Cincinnati Bengals- big win against Patriots, offense needs to become consistent, defense stellar

12. Baltimore Ravens- nice win in Miami, Ray Rice needs more touches, cold weather will help defense

13. Miami Dolphins- tough loss at home, Wallace showed up, running game disappeared, O line is trouble

14. Houston Texans- Schaub done? another pick 6, defense looks tired, no longer contender

15. Detroit Lions- no Calvin Johnson disaster for Lions, still good offense, defense keep playing well?

16. Tennessee Titans- can't beat top teams, mistakes cost team, no Locker will be problem all year

17. Arizona Cardinals- look out for Cardinals, tough defense, Fitzgerald awesome, Palmer has to step up

18. Cleveland Browns- Browns are tough, defense is good, loss of Hoyer will loom

19. New York Jets- win in Atlanta? who knew, Geno steps up, defense is fierce, WR are still problem

20. San Diego Chargers- gotta beat the crap teams, Rivers playing  great, big game vs Indy on Monday

OUT: Falcons, Panthers, Bills, Vikings, Redskins, Rams, Bucs, Raiders, Eagles, Steelers, Giants, Jaguars

What do you think of my rankings? Let me know! Leave a comment and let me know how the blog is doing and what I need to do to make it better!!!

The Week 5 Power Games!

Yesterday, Week 5 of the NFL season started and the Cleveland Browns beat the Buffalo Bills 37-24. Browns got a late interception and returned it for a touchdown sealing the victory. In the victory, the Browns lost their new starting Quarterback Brian Hoyer for the season due to an ACL injury. It wasn't the best teams playing on Thursday night, but hey, it's football and look out, the Browns have won 3 in a row and sit in first place in the AFC North.

Also on the main page of my blog, I have posted the top 5 Quarterbacks, Running Backs and Receivers. I have listed the players I feel are important to the teams success. The list will have players with great stats or not very many, I feel there are vital players to a team that don't get praised for. Let me know if you think a player should or should't be on there and list who you would put on there.

Each week, I will list the top 4 games of  and analyze the outcome for each one. This is a great weekend of football so it was tough choosing only 4 of them. And off we go . . . .



New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears

The Saints, who are 4-0, enter Soldier Field as 1 point favorite over the Bears. Coming off a monster game by Drew Brees, the Saints look to continue their perfect season. Darren Sproles was un-stoppable last Monday Night (142 total yards, 2 TD) and his ability to run and catch out of the backfield gives the Saints a deadly weapon. Jimmy Graham is simply a beast and won AFC Offensive Player of the Month (27 Receptions, 458 yards, 6 TD's) and will continue to cause problems for any defenses. Drew Brees has been on fire so far, but has tough match up against a fierce Chicago defense on the road.

The Bears, coming off their first loss in Detroit, are primed to hand the Saints their first loss. New head coach Marc Trestman has changed the culture and style of the Chicago offense. Jay Cutler is cutting down on turnovers, Matt Forte is running and catching the ball more and Brandon Marshall over powers any defender causing match up problems. The defense is playing like its old self, causing turnovers and turning them into points.

This game features two of the top NFC teams and a lot of factors are coming into play. New Orleans plays different on the road, especially outdoors and with rain in the forecast for Sunday, the high powered Saints might be slowed down just enough for the Bears to squeak out a win. Jay Cutler and crew is used to this type of weather and averaging about 30 points a game, they should be able to score on a Saints defense. Expect some scoring, but not the shootout due to the weather.

PREDICTION: Bears 27, Saints 17



Seattle Seahawks at Indianapolis Colts

Seattle, favored by 3 points, is another 4-0 team and looking to make another statement on the road like they did in Houston last week. Seattle's offense wasn't very good last week, but some help from the insane defense they have and Russell Wilson scrambling a lot, they were able to get by. For Seattle to win Sunday, their passing game has to get going. Russel Wilson completed just over 50% of his passes and threw for only 123 yards, that's not going to cut in Indianapolis.

In just his 2nd year at QB, Andrew Luck has put the Colts back on the AFC contenders map. Adding Trent Richardson to his backfield only strengthens a pretty good offense. Reggie Wayne and T.Y. Hilton are perfect receivers for Luck and Fleener at Tight End is rounding out their offense. The Colts got a huge win in San Francisco thanks to their defense holding the 49er offense down all game, can the Colts do the same this Sunday?

Andrew Luck and the Colts offense have to find ways to get by the staunch Seahawks defense. Can Russell Wilson jump start the offense and get the passing game going? A tough game to call especially since the Colts won in San Francisco, but lost to Miami at home. Seattle is different on the road, but their defense and offense find ways to win. I believe Luck finds ways to get through the Seattle defense and the Seahawks, coming off a lucky win, will continue to struggle on offense in front of a raucous crowd in Indianapolis.

PREDICTION: Colts 21, Seahawks 13



Denver Broncos at. Dallas Cowboys

The Denver Bronco freight train is on a course for the Super Bowl in New York. I have never seen this kind of offense score this many points (172 through 4 games) and make it look so easy. This could be Peyton Manning at his best and is on course to break every passing record possible. For now, their offense can't be stopped, so teams have to figure out ways to slow them down.

Dallas had a typical game last week where they played good, but still lost the game. Romo is playing great and connecting well with Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. Demarco Murray is running well and their defense has changed dramatically from last year, yet they are 2-2 this season. This franchise is always an enigma. They have great talent and their owner does whatever it takes to win, but yet they can't put it all together and become a Super Bowl contender.

Dallas has a huge challenge set before them. Could this be the 1st loss for Denver? Can Romo and company pull off a victory that could catapult them into an NFC contender? I don't see it happening. I believe Romo and the 'Boys will score points and run with the Broncos, but can't keep up the entire game. Manning will throw at least 3 touchdowns and the Denver defense will cause a big turnover in the 4th quarter.

PREDICTION: Broncos 34, Cowboys 21



Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers

Welcome back Detroit to the land of playing good football. At 3-1, the Lions are tied for first in the NFC North and looking to shock the Packers in Green Bay. Lions fans have to thank Reggie Bush for adding another dimension to their already high powered offense. Not only do the Lions have Megatron kicking everybody's ass, Reggie Bush is catching passes in the open space and running over defenders at will.

Green Bay has had 2 tough road games to start the season and lost both of them, one in San Francisco and the other in Cincinnati. Even though they are 1-2, this team is still among the best in the league. With Aaron Rodgers (who grew up in Chico, CA, booya!!) the Packers will always be a threat for the Super Bowl. The Packers running game has to get going this Sunday and show the league they can do more than just throw it 50 plus times a game.

The last time the Detroit Lions beat the Packers in Green Bay, 1991!! For 22 years, the Lions had hopes to beat the Packers but failed. The addition of Reggie Bush will annoy the Green Bay defense all day and turn this game into a shootout. Rodgers and all his weapons will go up and down the field on a suspect Detroit defense and make the fans happy with many Lambeau Leaps. Detroit's losing streak in Wisconsin will reach 23 years.

PREDICTION: Packers 31, Lions 20

        Quote of the day:
        "So, Lone Star, now you see that 
        evil will always triumph because
        good is dumb."- Dark Helmet

Welcome to the inaugural blog by Jimmy Stubbs.  I am here to explain what the bleep is going on in the NFL. I don't claim to be a genius on the sport and I've never ever played competitive football at any level. After watching greats like Dan Marino, Jerry Rice and John Elway every Sunday during the 90's,  the love for the NFL started to take me over.

Let's get this started!

The NFL season is a fourth of the way over (didn't seem like it just started a few days ago) and the big boy teams are starting to separate from the pack. My power rankings will only consist of the top 20, so if your team isn't listed don't worry, the 2014 draft isn't too far away.  Drum roll please:

1. Denver Broncos - freight train that can't be stopped right now

2. Seattle Seahawks - crazy good defense, offense needs to improve, home field best in any sport

3. New Orleans Saints - looks of the 2010 super bowl champs, Sproles huge X factor

4. New England Patriots - as long as Tom Brady is still QB, Pats will always contend

5. Kansas City Chiefs - Andy Reid is working wonders, defense setting the pace, Charles running wild

6. Indianapolis Colts - Luck looks like 10 year vet, Richardson will make team take that next step

7. Chicago Bears - one loss doesn't matter, Cutler looks great and defense back to the old days

8. Miami Dolphins - Tannehill takes a little step back, tough part of schedule almost done

9. Detroit Lions - Reggie Bush has changed Detroit, defense needs to improve, high ceiling for Lions

10. San Francisco 49ers - running game is back, Kap needs to do read option, which WR will step up

11. Tennessee Titans - Locker injury will slow down success, defense is the strength of this team

12. Houston Texans - Seattle loss hurts, Schaub under pressure, Foster has return to old self

13. Green Bay Packers - Tough early schedule, Rodgers can't be stopped, defense needs to help out

14. Dallas Cowboys - typical Dallas loss to Chargers, Romo throwing well, running game is alive

15. Cincinnati Bengals - AJ Green can't disappear in games, huge games for Dalton, defense strong

16. Baltimore Ravens - 5 int Flacco? Boldin is missed, tough game in Miami Sunday, tied for 1st though

17. Atlanta Falcons - red zone problems, Steven Jackson injury is huge, have to win at home

18. San Diego Chargers - Rivers has returned! Woodhead a huge addition

19. Arizona Cardinals - tough division, great defense, Fitzgerald needs at least 10 catches a game

20. Cleveland Browns - superb defense, always QB issues, owner needs to give some direction to fans

OUT: Panthers, Jets, Bills, Vikings, Redskins, Rams, Bucs, Raiders, Eagles, Steelers, Giants, Jaguars

The NFL has become unpredictable and that helps fans for every team. When Cleveland wins 2 in a row after trading away Trent Richardson and the owners looking to re-build, Browns fans and fans of other teams rebuilding have to believe they have a chance in every game. That's a great feeling for all fans and demonstrates the power the NFL has over other professional sports. The variety of teams that make the playoffs and go to the Super Bowl is what draws people into the sport. Since 2001, 11 different NFC teams have made the Super Bowl. Always believe your team has a chance to compete, unless you are a Jaguars fan.

Each Friday, I will discuss the top games of the weekend and give you my predictions and analysis. Also, I will give some advice for those obsessed (like me) with Fantasy Football.

Quote of the day:
"If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?"- Vince Lombardi

If you have comments, suggestions, problems about my blog, let me know!! Any questions about games this weekend or who to start or sit for fantasy football, let's hear them!! I want this blog to get as many people as I can interacting and discussing the greatness that is the NFL.