Random Thoughts from Week 3

Here are some Random Thoughts from Week 3 of the NFL season:

• The talk of the NFL seems to be Bill Belichick's postgame grabbing of an official after the classic Patriots-Ravens thriller on Sunday night. Many are calling for Belichick to be fined or even suspended. Personally, after watching the supposed "grabbing", I see no reason for everyone to get upset. Belichick simply wanted a word with the official after a very close game winning field goal call. It's not like he wanted to fight the guy, after all. However, it would have been smart for Belichick to simply do nothing at all, since a) field goals cannot be challenged, and b) apparently it's a fine to touch an official. Frankly, it's in the best interest of the officials, but this type of over-reaction is just a sad excuse to berate coaches for simply berating themselves.
• What a Sunday, huh? There were at least 4 games this Sunday that went into overtime, most notably the frantic Lions-Titans interconference thriller. Unfortunately for many of us, we couldn't watch the end of it. I think the NFL and television networks should try to establish something more than it's current format to allow viewers to watch the conclusions of exciting games. If ESPN can do it with perfect games in baseball (ie. live look-ins), why can't something similar be done in the NFL? Is there nothing in the NFL that compares to a perfect game in baseball? We'll leave that discussion for another day.
• The replacements need to go. Now. After watching the scary hit that Darrius Heyward-Bey took in the Steelers-Raiders contest, it's become evident that the refs don't know when to protect players, and thus the NFL doesn't really care about player protection. That's too bad, because the NFLPA really got ripped off in negotiating a new CBA that ensured player benefits. The refs have allowed too much pushing and shoving, too many uncalled penalties, and seem to lack knowledge of the rulebook in some cases. Sometimes they have to be reminded by fans and sideline personnel to call a certain penalty. It's really quite a travesty. Maybe I'm only knocking on a few refs here, some look competent. But for the most part, we NEED the regular officials back. They keep order in the NFL's business, the game. Owners and administrators may adhere to the rules and formats, but they do nothing for the casual fan on gameday. So they might as well do something right to grab our attention.

That's all for tonight, although I may add more throughout the week. Until then, enjoy the defensive slugfest going on in Seattle.

UPDATE: Just finished watching the Green Bay-Seattle game on MNF. Watched a whole lot of postgame coverage. Please note that these are my immediate reactions, but I'm sure my view may change as this story develops into tomorrow. In what may be the most controversial call in football history since the Immaculate Reception, the Green Bay Packers were narrowly defeated by a highly questionable call. I'll stop short of saying they were robbed and only say that they were handed a loss by the scabs on the sidelines. This wasn't a football game. It was a theatre controlled by the replacement officiating crew. Every call, every play, everything was essentially decided by a ho-hum group of random pop warner zebras who essentially cost the game for the Packers. The Seahawks could have just as easily had the game stolen from them, but the fact remains that the officials cost a team a win. This game will be put under a far larger microscope since it came on a last second game-winning Hail Mary play on football's biggest stage. But it comes at a time when certain things shall pass. And they should, for the NFL has reached a point where it has become a mockery and embarrassment of itself. Man, I sure wish the early 2000s NFL. Because what we have here is a struggling shell of former glory.

Random Thoughts from Week 2

Here is the first Random Thoughts article on UTTQ. This will be a semi weekly feature on UTTQ, depending on how many thoughts I have on the previous week's games. I will just give out a few thoughts on a variety of things from the previous week or so that I feel need to be said but yet I don't want to write a long article about it. So please debate, critique, and enjoy.

• The replacement officials were pretty good in Week 1, or at least reasonably competent. However, Week 2 was a much different story. Maybe it's just the fact that I watched two of the most poorly officiated and controversial games of the weekend (the WAS@STL game and the Monday night DEN@ATL game), but I have seen and heard about bad calls in other games as well. The officials mismanaged the games, made many simple mistakes that I have NEVER seen the regular locked-out officials make, and generally allowed games to get out of hand. The chippiness in both the WAS@STL and DEN@ATL games were enough to cause the officials to get flustered and make (or not make) accurate calls. The NFL must understand that the regular officials not only have a better understanding of most obscure rules, but that they also have the respect of the players. Don't get me wrong, you wouldn't see Ray Lewis hugging Walt Anderson after a defensive pass interference call, but the players generally know and respect the regular officials for their details and regulation of the game. There is little delay during penalties, fewer replays that are reversed, and the flow of the game is generally smoother. Sure, the regular refs make mistakes sometimes. But they hardly make such easy mistakes as not knowing the penalty yardage or failing to flag a flagrant jab or punch. They respect the game too much to do that. And, in that regard, the mistakes they do make are often judgement call mistakes that could go either way.
• The Bucs-Giants game ending is the talk of the league. Was Greg Schiano right to rush his defense at New York quarterback Eli Manning during a victory formation? Or was Tom Coughlin right in asserting that those actions had no place in the National Football League? To be honest, I sided with Coughlin early on, but then switched to Schiano's perspective. Now, after careful considerations on both fronts, I have come to realize that no one was right or wrong. First off, think about the formation. The victory formation was established to secure a win by having the quarterback kneel down to run out the clock. Many times both teams accept the outcome of the game by then and simply play like it's a Pro Bowl field goal attempt. But sometimes, the quarterback may back up and delay the kneel to force more time off the clock. Even rarer, a team may actually run a play during a kneeldown formation (although it's illegal to simulate the kneel and then run the play, as evidenced by this NCAA game). In that regard, the defense shouldn't merely give the quarterback the benefit of the doubt and should try to get him down if he does delay kneeling. So Schiano was right in that aspect. However, with 5 seconds left, the Giants had no reason to ask Eli Manning to back up for 5 yards before taking a knee, so the Buccaneers had little reason to actually force him to kneel as quickly as possible, thus making the bull rush on the final play highly unnecessary. So Coughlin had some right to be mad. But could there still be some merit to the Bucs' actions? Very rarely, a defense may get lucky and have the quarterback fumble the snap, or even force a fumble via the extremely rare "swatting of the center's ball hand immediately after he hikes the ball but before the ball reaches the quarterbacks hands" maneuver, but both are, like I said, rare. Schiano may have been employing such a tactic, since a last minute penalty would've been meaningless, but a fumble and recovery by the defense could have set up a last second game-tying touchdown attempt. In the end, though, I believe both coaches had their faults: Schiano didn't need to employ the tactic, but Coughlin didn't need to call him out for doing it. It should be reasonable for the Bucs to play to the final gun in a desperation attempt to get the ball back, but it certainly was not necessary in such circumstances.
• Already being dubbed "Swooshgate" (I used to hate scandals being called "---gate", but now I've come to accept it as an unavoidable part of "professional journalism" these days), Robert Griffin III's wardrobe has attracted quite the attention. Griffin, who is sponsored by Adidas, plays for a league that is universally sponsored by Nike. As such, the league asks players to wear Nike uniforms, gear, and even shoes (although there is some leniency in this department). Griffin, who is and should be wary of his public image, wore a shirt last week that had the Nike swoosh marked over with a crudely written "HEART" wordmark. The league talked to Griffin about defacing/hiding the Nike logo and that he should not do it, and that was that. However, this week Griffin appeared during warmups with a plain gray shirt over his presumably Nike-branded undershirt. Apparently this has caused a minor controversy as well, with people shaming RGII for not listening to the NFL's wishes. Seriously? Cut the man some slack. He shouldn't be forced to wear gear that someone has sanctioned to him. If anything, he should just warmup without a shirt on from this point forward. I kid, but the NFL shouldn't have complete authority over the way a player dresses. Sure, it's good for RGIII to show face in something by the NFL's official supplier of gear, but he does that every friggin' week. Just look for the mark of the beast above his TV numbers on Sundays, and you'll see that he does represent Nike quite well on the football field. On the practice field he doesn't, but who cares! In 10 years his football career photo album will include pics of him on the field of play, in full Nike uniform. So to all the mediaheads trying to make much ado about nothing, try to focus on something more important. Like the fact that his Adidas shoes were taped over to conceal the three stripes.

UTTQ Preseason Predictions

With a slightly muted buzz and a snap, crackle, and pop or two, UTTQ has returned just in time for the 2012 NFL season! But before I get into some NFL predictions, I must make notice of several unfortunate circumstances that are about to befall all of you loyal readers. UTTQ will be scaling back it's content a lot this year. I probably won't have time to do week-by-week game predictions like last year. That's probably for the best, since most of the content may end up being editorials and the like, which is more interesting anyway. Second, these editorials may be few and far between, like once a month or so, unless I have free time and have nothing better to do. Third, we probably won't finish the "list"articles (Greatest Teams, #1 Draft Picks, etc.) in the foreseeable future. However, they aren't fully closed content, so I may be interested in doing them again later.

So without further ado, here are UTTQ's Preseason NFL Predictions (due to time constraints, I'm just gonna make this short and sweet):

AFC NORTH

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (2)

2. Baltimore Ravens (WC)

3. Cincinnati Bengals

4. Cleveland Browns

AFC SOUTH

1. Houston Texans (3)

2. Indianapolis Colts

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

4. Tennessee Titans

AFC EAST

1. New England Patriots (1)

2. Buffalo Bills (WC)

3. New York Jets

4. Miami Dolphins

AFC WEST

1. Denver Broncos (4)

2. San Diego Chargers

3. Oakland Raiders

4. Kansas City Chiefs

NFC NORTH

1. Green Bay Packers (1)

2. Chicago Bears (WC)

3. Detroit Lions

4. Minnesota Vikings

NFC SOUTH

1. Atlanta Falcons (4)

2. New Orleans Saints

3. Carolina Panthers

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC EAST

1. New York Giants (3)

2. Dallas Cowboys (WC)

3. Philadelphia Eagles

4. Washington Redskins

NFC WEST

1. San Francisco 49ers (2)

2. Seattle Seahawks

3. St. Louis Rams

4. Arizona Cardinals

WILD CARD ROUND

Bills over Texans

Ravens over Broncos

Giants over Cowboys

Bears over Falcons

DIVISIONAL ROUND

New England over Buffalo

Pittsburgh over Baltimore

Green Bay over Chicago

San Francisco over New York

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Pittsburgh over New England

Green Bay over San Francisco

SUPER BOWL XLVII

Pittsburgh over Green Bay

UTTQ 2012 NFL Mock Draft

The 2012 Draft is only days away, and the only guarantees thus far have been in the top two picks. There's multiple rumors about trades and other different scenarios going on, but nothing has occurred just yet. As such, this mock is as much of a toss-up as it has ever been in an NFL mock draft. Here goes nothing:

1. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS--Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

There's been talk for months that Luck would be the guy. In fact, ever since Peyton Manning went down and the Colts started their season on a low note, Luck has been mentioned as the guy who will follow the greatest Indy quarterback ever. It's definitely a tough burden, but with some veteran players still in the fold (Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney), Luck could have success in what has undoubtedly been a difficult transition for Colts fans.


2. WASHINGTON REDSKINS (from St. Louis Rams)--Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Griffin has been the ultimate big risk big reward player who became a stud during his junior year at Baylor. He was great in college but many draft experts question the success he will have in the pros. Washington is desperate for an answer at quarterback and traded a bounty of picks to St. Louis in order to secure the services of Griffin (or Luck). This pick is set in stone.


3. MINNESOTA VIKINGS--Matt Kalil, LT, Southern California

The Vikings have been dabbling about taking OSU's Justin Blackmon or LSU's Morris Claiborne, but if they were smart, all they are doing is blowing smoke. The pick here should either be Matt Kalil or, if they aren't sold, a trade. The Vikings need a decent tackle, and Kalil is one of the surest bets in the draft.


4. CLEVELAND BROWNS--Trent Richardson, HB, Alabama

Richardson is one of the best pure players in this draft. All around a strong runner, he could be very successful at the next level. A good guy off the field as well, Richardson can be a game-breaker, as evidenced by his touchdown run in an offensively lacking BCS National Championship game. The Browns could use Richardson or a receiver like Blackmon, but good runners are far more rare in this draft.


5. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS--Morris Claiborne, CB, Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College

Claiborne may be dumb according to the Wonderlic, but on the field he shows the smarts and talent to achieve at the next level. The Bucs current corners include veteran Ronde Barber and E.J. Biggers. Barber could retire at any moment, while talented but troubled corner Aqib Talib is frequent police blotter material. Claiborne is a perfect complement for new acquisition Eric Wright, as the Bucs try to regroup from their 4th place NFC South finish last year.


6. ST. LOUIS RAMS (from Washington Redskins)--Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

The Rams get their man in the end, even though earlier teams (namely the Vikings and Browns) could trade out of their spots for a team desperate to snag Blackmon. Unfortunately, that team would be dumb, because the Rams could simply trade down a few spots and take a decent but perfectly good wideout in Michael Floyd, or even Kendall Wright. The Rams need to be smart with this pick, however. Taking a wide receiver would be ideal, but there are many other needs that could be addressed depending on how the top of the draft turns out.


7. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS--Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The Jaguars have apparently been high on Gilmore for a while, and he will provide great insurance in a defensive backfield consisting of new signee Aaron Ross and the oft-injured Rashean Mathis. Gilmore is without a doubt one of the top corners available, so the Jags will pounce on the chance to get him early.


8. MIAMI DOLPHINS--Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical

Tannehill has steadily been rising up draft boards, and the Dolphins believe that they need to secure the quarterback of the future in the first round (another second rounder will surely fail again, right?). Personally, I believe taking Tannehill this high isn't justified, and it's only because he is the third best guy behind the two studs of the draft. There is definitely a drop-off after Griffin, but if the Dolphins really want to break the mold, they'll happily take Tannehill here.


9. CAROLINA PANTHERS--Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science

The Panthers need to address concerns on the inside of the D-line, and what better way than to take one of the top prospects available? Cox has shot up the draft boards and could very well kiss the top-five, but I believe he will "slide" to the Panthers at number 9. Cox definitely has the skills and rigor necessary to bolster the Panther's D-line and continue to keep them close in tight games.


10. BUFFALO BILLS--Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The Bills really want Gilmore, but with the Jaguars taking him 3 picks ago, they'll have to settle for Dre Kirkpatrick of Alabama. This may be a reach, but Kirkpatrick is the best corner available. There are some encouraging prospects that the Bills might take, but I believe corner will be a key position they must strengthen.


11. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS--David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The Chiefs have the talent on the outside to make a formidable rushing attack but they could use some cleaning up on the inside. DeCastro will presumably start at right guard and make his way to the left to form a combination with Branden Albert that will dominate opposing D-line schemes.


12. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS--Luke Kuechley, LB, Boston College

The Seahawks get their man in Kuechley, who will fill a vital hole in the defense ever since Lofa Tatupu left the team. Kuechley has the skills and talent to thrive as a middle linebacker in the league. If Kuechley is gone, the Seahawks may dip into the other linebackers available, but they hope to pick a guy like Kuechley here.


13. ARIZONA CARDINALS--Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Reiff is the best tackle available, and the Cards will get their man to protect Kolb and the young runners in the backfield. This pick should be a no-brainer if Reiff is available.


14. DALLAS COWBOYS--Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

The third Tide player to get drafted, Barron will shore up a position that the Cowboys have been weak in for several years. Barron can immediately be a threat in a defense that has had rough patches over the years but is slowly improving.


15. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES--Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

The Eagles would like to take a defensive end here, but with so many options to choose from, they'll settle on Melvin Ingram out of South Carolina. Ingram is an intriguing talent that could immediately add to the team after last year's disappointment. Other options here include Quinton Coples or Chandler Jones, who are more versatile players.


16. NEW YORK JETS--Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina at Chapel Hill

If Coples is still available here, the Jets will gladly take him. Coples is a top 15 talent, and the Eagles had to reluctantly pass on him. Coples can fit nicely into a Rex Ryan defense hungry on pressuring the quarterback from the edge.


17. CINCINNATI BENGALS (from Oakland Raiders)--Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame du Lac

Floyd is the second best receiver available, and the Bengals will gladly take him if he falls to this spot. With Jerome Simpson gone, the Bengals will have the chance to replace Simpson and more in Floyd. The success of A.J. Green last season could also benefit Floyd's transition.


18. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS--Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse

The Chargers will gladly take either Coples or Ingram if they fall here, or might opt on Courtney Upshaw or Whitney Mercilus. The Chargers could definitely use an strong improvement on defense in a suddenly much more offensively competitive division.


19. CHICAGO BEARS--Whitney Mercilus, Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The Bears will continue the recent trend of picks by picking a defensive end. The local product is reportedly a favorite of the coaching staff, and can turn out nicely alongside Julius Peppers in continuing to be one of the league's most gritty defenses.


20. TENNESSEE TITANS--Michael Brockers, DT, Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College

The Titans need to address the void in the middle, and what better way than to take one of the top defensive tackles available? Sound familiar? I've seen a few mocks that have Brockers going in Cox's spot, so the Titans will be getting a good value pick here.


21. CINCINNATI BENGALS--Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

The abundance of versatile defensive ends keep on coming when the Bengals draft for the second time in round one, this time addressing defensive concerns. The secondary is decent, but he guys up front could struggle at times. Upshaw will be the fourth Alabama player taken after Richardson, Kirkpatrick, and Barron.

22. CLEVELAND BROWNS (from Atlanta Falcons)--Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

The Browns are looking for weapons for Colt McCoy, and have found two in Richardson and Wright. Wright can certainly be a field stretcher, but is also versatile enough to take on a Josh Cribbs role later on.


23. DETROIT LIONS--Cordy Glenn, OT, Georgia

Glenn will help to forget about the failed Gosder Cherilus pick, and could possibly work his way as a replacement for veteran Jeff Backus. Although Backus may have a few more years left in him, insurance always helps.


24. PITTSBURGH STEELERS--Nick Perry, DE, Southern California

The Steelers will jump out to grab Perry, who will ease into the rotation as insurance to a slowly aging Steeler D. Perry has the skills to jump in when he has the chance, but the Steelers could also forgo him for a linebacker with this pick.


25. DENVER BRONCOS--Amini Silatolu, G/OT, Midwestern State

The Broncos could certainly use an upgrade to their O-line now that Peyton Manning is quarterback and needs more time to throw than the previous QB. Denver could also address their lack of interior defensive linemen.


26. HOUSTON TEXANS--Shea McClellin, DE/OLB, Boise State

The Texans could use this pick to find a replacement for Mario Williams, but the reality is that they will only get low first rounders/top second rounders here.


27. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (from New Orleans Saints)--Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Poe really rose up draft boards because of his Combine, but slowly worked his way back down due to lackluster gametape. Poe could be an intriguing prospect that Belichick could mold.


28. GREEN BAY PACKERS--Devon Still, DT, Pennsylvania State

Green Bay has issues to address up front on defense. Their offense is set and ready to perform at great levels. Still can make the transition onto a constantly aggressive defense.


29. BALTIMORE RAVENS--Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

Hightower will be the fifth and last former Tide player to be drafted in the first round. I believe Hightower has great skills that can translate onto an aging defense. He fits the mold perfectly.


30. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS--Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Institute of Technology

The 49ers lack at the receiver position, which they somewhat addressed during free agency. However, adding a young receiver like Hill will do wonders for Alex Smith and Jim Harbaugh's menacing gameplan.


31. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS--Peter Konz, C/OG, Wisconsin-Madison

Konz is a versatile O-linemen that can fill in spots for the aging Pats O-line. The Patriots will probably trade one or both of their picks, however.


32. NEW YORK GIANTS--Doug Martin, HB, Boise State

The Super Bowl Champions will look slightly different next year, most notably due to their different offensive weapons from their run in the playoffs. Martin will come in as insurance to Ahmad Bradshaw, who will presumably carry most of the load now that Brandon Jacobs is gone.

2012 Offseason Transaction: Cortland Finnegan

Without a doubt, the St. Louis Rams struggled mightily at the corner position in 2011. Injury upon injury depleted the depth chart leading to Al Harris starting at corner in a couple games. However in Cortland Finnegan, the Rams land a very talented and fiery corner that made the Pro Bowl while playing under Jeff Fisher in Tennessee. The Rams took a major step backwards in 2011, mostly due to an unprecedented amount of injuries to the secondary and offense though Finnegan brings supreme talent to a position of dire need. If St. Louis adds a few more players through the draft and free agency, they could surprise in 2012 though won’t make the playoffs.

2012 Offseason Transaction: Vincent Jackson

Vincent Jackson was the top unrestricted free agent receiver on the market before signing a monster contract with the Tampa Bay Bucs. In Jackson, Josh Freeman gets an elite, big down field receiver that has the potential to be absolutely dominating from game to game. The one question mark regarded Jackson is how effective he can be while not playing beside elite talent Antonio Gates, who draws defenders. Jackson has never topped 68 catches in a single season and the Bucs are going to need more out of him this season if they hope to contend in a deep NFC South. The Bucs are now loaded on offense if Mike Williams can bounce back after a disappointing 2011 season, and Josh Freeman can show that last year was just a down year and 2010 is his real form. While Vincent Jackson should certainly help the Bucs passing game is a big way, it probably won’t be enough to get to the postseason in 2012.

2012 Offseason Transaction: Brandon Marshall

In the first marquee move of the 2012 NFL offseason, the Chicago Bears acquired big-time receiver Brandon Marshall from the Miami Dolphins for two third round picks in April’s draft. In a trade that appears to be an absolute steal for Chicago, Jay Cutler finally gets the premier receiver that he’s lacked in his tenure in the windy city. Easily forgotten in the display of ineptitude that was the Bears in the second half of the 2011 season, is that Chicago was a dominant team early on with Cutler and Matt Forte playing at an elite level. Now with Marshall on board, the Bears look to be extremely improved on offense next season while the defense is still top notch. The Cutler-Marshall combo that was so dynamic and effective in Denver should resume its dominance of defenses in 2012, and this one move should propel the Bears to a playoff berth.

Super Bowl XLVI Prediction

Well folks here we are, the Super Bowl. The NFL season which began with 32 teams 22 weeks ago now culminates with the Giants and Patriots clashing in Indianapolis in a repeat of Super Bowl XLII. So who's going to win this time around?

NEW YORK GIANTS
The Giants have transformed from a team based on a strong running game and dominating defense into one predicated on a strong passing attack. Eli Manning has emerged this season as one of the NFL's elites with his receiving crew of Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz are one of the most talented. New York has continually sported a dominating pass rush in recent memory and this season's team was no different with Jason Pierre-Paul leading a dominating and deep group that also includes Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora. For the most part, the Giants flew under the radar through the season with the majority of the focus in the NFC West being on the "Dream Team" Philadelphia Eagles and the polarizing Dallas Cowboys. Now on the big stage for the second time in Eli Manning's tenure, if the Giants hope to take home another Lombardi Trophy, Manning must play a near flawless game with the defense getting plenty of pressure on Tom Brady. Should these two keys happen, Big Blue will be on top of the football world.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
It was business as usual for the Patriots and Tom Brady, racking up 14 regular season wins despite sporting one of the worst defenses in the league. Needless to say, New England is a team based on over-powering displays of offense with the major play makers being Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. With impressive playoff wins over the Broncos and Ravens already under their belts, the Pats seem to be ready for anything the Giants can throw at them. However, it could be said that the Patriots were also heavily favored the last time these two played for the Lombardi Trophy. If the Patriots' young defense can hold the New York passing attack off just enough, and Brady's own offense can be effective and efficient, New England could return to the peak of the NFL summit after a seven year absence.

THE VERDICT
With the lack of a clear favorite for this year's Super Bowl, the stage is set for an incredible game that could come down to the final moments of the fourth quarter. I don't expect either team to pull away at any point throughout the evening and we could all be in for a shootout. A side note that may end up being inconsequential in the outcome of the game, but the Patriots released backup wide receiver Tiquan Underwood on the eve of the Super Bowl. The timing of this move is just inexplicable and I think it casts a cloud of potential bad karma over New England. Hey, I'm not one to buy into any kind of mumbo-jumbo but in a match up this even, I'll take anything that helps to make my choice and easier. My gut says Giants with Eli winning another MVP award.

NEW YORK GIANTS 35, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOT 32

Super Bowl XLVI Prediction

The time has finally come. Only two teams are still standing after a most amazing, dramatic, heart-rending...exciting, thrilling season in recent memory. And now, we have a Super Bowl rematch between two teams that played one of the most exciting Super Bowls in recent memory four years ago. Of course, many differences exist between Super Bowl XLVI and Super Bowl XLII, but the main storylines of each game will undoubtedly be at the position that has remained the same in both games. Eli Manning is leading a hot road-warriors Giants team (again), and trying to solidify his claim of being an elite quarterback in the process. The fact that Eli has already made it to 2 big games is quite astounding. In the meantime, Tom Brady is trying to reach a higher level of greatness that only few quarterbacks share: the winner of four Super Bowls. Brady can surely thrust himself into the likes of Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach, and John Elway. Either way, both teams will be striving for that goal of being the best of the best and crushing their newly formed rival. This ain't Yankees-Red Sox, but it sure is starting to feel that bitter.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

The Pats come into this game with a quarterback on the pedestal of NFL greatness. Tom Brady leads his motley crew once again into the Super Bowl. It's stunning that Brady has managed to lead this team year after year into the playoffs, despite a constantly rotating roster (says something about those other AFC East teams...). Belichick-Brady may be a coach-quarterback duo that will live on for years to come in New England after they are done. A Super Bowl victory now could cement their legacy and prove that Super Bowl XLII was a flop; a minor hiccup in a historic decade of dominance. But enough gushing about Brady. What does he have to work with? Well, the running game has been off and on throughout the season, at best. Backs like Danny Woodhead, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, and Stevan Ridley can certainly carry the load, but their efficiency is mostly in the redzone, close to the goal line. In the air is where the magic happens. The Patriots have an unassuming combo of tight ends that are really just versatile receivers. Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski can snatch the ball out of the air as well as anyone, and provide good exploitations for the Pats' passing game between the hashmarks. Wideouts Deion Branch and Wes Welker are also threats on the outside, while contributors like Julian Edelman and Matthew Slater can provide more mix-and-match combinations both short and deep. The O-line for the Pats have been shaky at times, but the return of Sebastian Vollmer should certainly help. Key "injuries" on the offensive front include Matt Light and Rob Gronkowski, who both serve vital roles in this offense. Light's health will be extremely valuable considering the pass rush by the Giants' D-line.

On defense, this team has managed to find meaning in their line, led by the athletic, gut-busting Vince Wilfork. The linebackers have also stepped up as of late, led by former Gator Brandon Spikes in the middle. Overall, this defense is solid. The only question about it is the secondary. The corners for the Patriots have been up and down throughout the season, but have come on late to form a respectable bunch. Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, and company can all be playmakers, while players like James Ihedigbo and (snicker) Julian Edelman can be counted on for support. What should be particularly intriguing is the play of Devin McCourty, who can roam the field as good as anyone and catch up to the play. For this team to stay in the game, they must rely on their defensive unit to stop Brandon Jacobs and company on the ground, and the elusive Eli Manning and his merrymen of receivers in the air. If the Patriots defense can step up in the biggest game of their lives, the offense will handle the rest.

Special teams-wise, the Pats still rely on ol' Stephen Gostkowski, who has successfully replaced Adam Vinatieri. Zoltan Mesko continues to reliably handle punting duties, while Woodhead and Edelman are the returners.


NEW YORK GIANTS

The kings of New York return to the Super Bowl in quest of a title against an old foe. If New York can get the win, Tom Coughlin could be right up there with Bill Parcells as one of the greatest Giants coaches to ever live. And then if that's not a question of legacy, just look at who's under center. Eli Manning is only 31, but has tremendously rebounded from his tumultuous past. Once cast behind his brother Peyton and father Archie, "Little Bro" now has the chance to create his own chapter in Giants history. Of course, Manning is not alone on his quest. His receivers should get just as much play, despite Manning's effectiveness in the pocket. Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, and Mario Manningham all bring great hands, tremendous speed, and excellent route running to the table. With no true safety blankets underneath, Manning can exploit long passes on many plays. Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw can still ground and pound, but the instability of the offensive line may cause the running game to experience a few problems.

Of course, the story of this Giants team is the hot, tough D. Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul are the bookends up front, with Chris Canty and Osi Umenyiora providing excellent support pressure. The Giants rely on the linebacking duties of Chase Blackburn, Michael Boley, and Mathias Kiwanuka, who are not only good in run stopping abilities, but also thrive on the pass coverage. Of course, the Giants secondary provides support on the backside with Corey Webster, Antrel Rolle, Kenny Philips, and Aaron Ross (and a slew of reliable backups). The Giants' flaw on their defense is probably the hole between the linebackers and the safeties, which the Packers and 49ers managed to exploit (unfortunately sloppy play from those teams resulted in more outside routes). The Giants will have to watch Tom Brady and company carefully, especially the tight ends who can easily chew up yardage between the hashmarks.

On special teams, the Giants have kicker Lawrence Tynes and punter Steve Weatherford. Tynes may have a weak leg, but he is still one of the more clutch kickers in the league today. Weatherford doesn't have much control of his punts sometimes, but he can still kick bombs. The returners are a carousel of Jerrel Jernigan, Will Blackmon, Aaron Ross, and Devin Thomas. After the NFC Championship Game, it will be interesting to see how the Giants attack and perform on punt return duties.

PREDICTION:
NEW ENGLAND 27, NEW YORK 24
Overall this is a very tough, physical matchup. Both teams have solid offenses and rising defenses. Like everyone else, I think this one will come down to a few key special teams plays. The Giants may be the hottest team right now, but something tells me to not forget about Tom Brady. Whoever jumps out to a big early lead will win, as these defenses will definitely get tired. And in that case, the offense with more firepower will win. The Pats have just enough to pull this one out, but the Giants surely won't take it easy. Either way, the tagline of Super Bowl XLII still resonates loudly, begging the question: "Who Wants It More?"

Marshall named Pro Bowl MVP; Future of Game Uncertain

The 2012 Pro Bowl started off slow, but it provided plenty of excitement and great plays as the AFC beat the NFC 59-41. Early on, the NFC built a sizable lead behind Larry Fitzgerald's two touchdown receptions. But the AFC stormed back, tying the game at the half and then pulling away in the 4th quarter. Despite multiple trick plays (including onside kicks, reverses, fake punts, laterals, and a drop kick attempt), the NFC could not outdo Brandon Marshall's multiple circus catch touchdowns, including one where he caught the ball on a bounce on his back. Marshall also recorded 4 touchdown receptions, the most of any Pro Bowl player in a game since Jimmy Smith's 3 touchdown performance almost a decade ago. Of course, the big question now will be whether the Pro Bowl remains in Hawaii in forthcoming years, now that the contract Hawaii has with the NFL is officially up. A lot of players would like the game to stay in the islands, which would probably be the best case scenario. Assuming Hawaii governor Neil Abercrombie doesn't screw up negotiations, this process should be an easy one logistically. Unlike the 3 other major sports, the Pro Bowl always takes place at the end of the year, in the same city. Moving the Pro Bowl to the Super Bowl city would be Plan B, but that move would be unpopular with many players. Who would want to play in Houston or Jacksonville when an AFC South player has already been to those cities during the year. The Hawaii aspect of the game offers a unique chance for players to enjoy the island hospitality while feeling a sense of reward for a good season. It also allows the state to make money from tourism. The Pro Bowl could become even more of a sham if it is constantly on the move in cold-weather cities, with many players deciding not to go and attendances dropping, so it would be ideal to keep it in Hawaii for the foreseeable future.

NFC Championship Prediction

The year is 2002, during NFC Wild-Card Weekend. The score is SF 39, NYG 38. The Giants have a chance to win the game on a 41 yard field goal with 6 seconds left. Giants long snapper Trey Junkin, on the final play of a solid career, botches the snap. Punter and holder Matt Allen can't get the snap down for kicker Matt Bryant, and runs to the right before throwing up a desperation lob as time expires. The pass falls incomplete, and the 49ers go away victorious, after coming back from a 38-14 deficit late in the third. However, Giants fans still steam at a missed call on the final play of the game, where eligible receiver Rich Seubert seems to be the victim of pass interference. The NFL eventually acknowledged the mistake, but the score was not changed. This year, with the two storied franchises meeting for the first time since that 2002 wild wild-card game, with the Giants wanting to avenge their 2002 counterparts. The 49ers, however, seem to be on a quest for destiny as they move one step closer to making it back to the big game. With so many bases to cover and storylines to play out, this one could be very exciting.

First, let's look at New York. Sitting at .500 and almost certainly out of the playoff picture, the G-Men have managed to recapture the magic of their 2007 team with a stifling defense and re-found offense. The Giants got two big wins against the rival Cowboys to advance back into the playoffs. With masterful wins against the Falcons and 15-1 Packers, the Giants come to San Francisco better than they were earlier in the season when they lost to the Niners. Eli Manning has proven himself to be an exemplary quarterback. Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham, and Hakeem Nicks have blossomed into a receiving trio that rivals that of any other in the league. And the ground game of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw perfectly complements the passing attack. The defense, of course, is a big story as well, with a penetrating defensive line featuring the likes of Justin Tuck, Chris Canty, and Osi Umenyiora. The linebackers and corners all provide support to the tremendous pressure. These Giants always seem to play exceptionally well come playoff time. They certainly are road warriors, but they do face a tremendous test in San Francisco.

Everyone says the NFC West sucks, but let's not forget that, for the past 12 Super Bowls, the division has averaged at least one representative in the big game every 3 years or so (St. Louis in 1999 and 2001, Seattle in 2005, and Arizona in 2008). This year, the Niners can continue that trend with a victory at home against a tough opponent. The Niners played their hearts out last week and won an epic against the Saints, and now face an even tougher opponent in the Giants. The Niners have been solid in all phases of the game, literally: offense, defense, and special teams have been astounding. The offense is led by the resurgent Alex Smith, who has shown more confidence and accuracy with the football. Smith has a workhorse in Frank Gore at tailback, and also has some receiving threats, most notably in tight end Vernon Davis. The Niners D has been no slouch either, led by standout players Justin Smith, Navorro Bowman, Patrick Willis, and Donte Whitner, with rookie Aldon Smith providing outstanding assistance up front. On special teams, the Niners have been nearly perfect behind the legs of punter Andy Lee and kicker David Akers. Overall, the Niners are a very talented football team. They have the willpower to succeed, especially under coach Jim Harbaugh. They believe, and that is a very strong advantage in itself.

So who will go away victorious? It may just come down to whoever plays better that day. The question of "Who wants it more?" could not be more appropriate in this situation. I'll give the Niners the edge at home.

SAN FRANCISCO 38, NEW YORK 31

AFC Championship Prediction

The AFC Championship Game features a contest between the top two teams in the AFC. Baltimore and New England are old rivals. The Pats are built on offense, the Ravens are built on big D. These two teams have always been pretty dominant, and now they are meeting for the chance to make it back to the big game. But who will prevail?

First let's look at the Patriots. New England can survive solely on Tom Brady's back alone. The defense have been atrocious for most of the year (although they managed to look competent against Denver). Brady thrives and the inside threats, with the ever shifty Wes Welker and the manipulative tight end duo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. The Patriots offense is essentially built around these four men. With a tough offensive line and enough protection, Brady has enough firepower to expose any defense. Speaking of defense, the Patriots D has been pretty terrible for most of the year. The D-line has frequently overpursued, the linebackers have been immobile, and the secondary has been beaten. Of course, stars like Vince Wilfork, who remains a constant bull up front, and Brandon Spikes, a tackling machine at middle linebacker, can surely keep a stylistically inept Baltimore offense at bay. But the defense will definitely have to step up.

Baltimore will need all the help they can get to defeat the Patriots. The Baltimore offense will definitely have to keep up with the Pats scoring-wise, but they also have one consistent thing that New England doesn't: a consistent runner in Ray Rice. Joe Flacco can be off and on, but Rice can be incredibly consistent. Rice can certainly keep the Patriots' offense on the sidelines, but Flacco will definitely have to stretch the field every so often. He could do that against the Pats. Of course, Baltimore's defense will be the real story. Ray Lewis is as great as ever, Ed Reed is superhuman, and Haloti Ngata is a man-beast. And that's not even half of it. The Ravens defense is what will keep them in this game. If the stars can shine and the defense can penetrate, the pressure will eventually get to Brady. Brady has never looked comfortable under duress, which was especially evident four years ago in Super Bowl XLII. The Ravens are also masters at gang-tackling, which is essential to any team making a title run.

Defense wins championships, and the Ravens are certainly winners in that category. But the Patriots are an offensive juggernaut. If they stick to the same gameplan that they used against the Broncos, they will outscore the Ravens before Baltimore even has time to catch their breath. Unless the Ravens can get pressure on Brady and force turnovers, I don't know if I can trust Joe Flacco and company to win this game. It's possible, but things must go the Ravens' way. In Foxborough. With the forecast calling for a possibility of freezing rain, this one may turn out to be wet n' wild.

NEW ENGLAND 37, BALTIMORE 30

UTTQ Predictions: Championship Sunday

Well here we are, the last weekend of NFL football before the holy grail of sporting events, the Super Bowl. By Sunday's end both tickets to the biggest of games will be punched and an epic clash will await in Indianapolis.

BALTIMORE 30, NEW ENGLAND 27
In an epic clash of strength vs. strength, the vaunted Ravens D comes into Foxboro with aspirations of shutting down the Patriots high-powered offense. The Ravens have been one of, if not the most unpredictable team from week to week, as they've turned in dominant performances against the likes of the Steelers and 49ers while falling victim to the Jaguars and Seahawks. In four losses this season, the entire team played down to their competition and if they hope to win on Sunday, everyone has to be ready to go. The Patriots on the other hand looked very sharp in their blow out win over the Broncos last weekend though New England fans beware, teams that have scored 40+ pts in the postseason tend to struggle the following round. The match up ultimately comes down to which weakness can be most effective. The Pats D is atrocious and one of the worst in the NFL, while the Ravens O apart from Ray Rice has been pedestrian. Should the New England step up and get multiple crucial stops, the Pats should walk away victorious. However, if the Ravens D can play to its full potential and shut down the Patriots just enough for Joe Flacco to get a lead, John Harbaugh's guys will be Indianapolis bound.

NEW YORK GIANTS 20, SAN FRANCISCO 27
Coming off a simply epic victory over the Saints, how will the 49ers follow it up? And let's not forget that New York upended the defending Super Bowl champs in dominant fashion. Both teams sport punishing defenses, with San Francisco's having the edge in linebacker and defensive back play and New York sporting a slightly better D line. The Giants offense has a decisively more explosive passing game, while SF has a slightly better ground attack. I expect this game to be a very physical affair as neither team is supremely better than the other. This Sunday night showdown should be competitive throughout with the outcome being decided late in the 4th quarter. San Francisco has been consistently better than the Giants throughout the season, though New York has shown the ability to turn in unexpected dominating performances. When the dust settles though, an all-Harbaugh Super Bowl will be set when alls said and done.

UTTQ Predictions: Divisional Round

NEW ORLEANS 21, SAN FRANCISCO 24
In a true clash of strengths, the Drew Brees and the Saints bring their high powered offense into the Bay Area to face off against the vaulted 49ers D. The match up that should define the game though is when Alex Smith is under center. San Francisco has struggled throughout the season at scoring TDs over Field Goals and they'll need to get into the endzone to have a chance at winning this one. New Orleans will score but SF should be able to contain Drew Brees just enough to pull it out.

DENVER 30, NEW ENGLAND 27
The last time these two teams clashed, the Patriots won in blow out fashion. Denver now comes into this game confident after beating the Steelers in overtime propelled by a strong showing from Tim Tebow. The big test for the much maligned Pats D will be to contain the big plays down that field that doomed the Pittsburgh D. Tom Brady and co. will score some points but I just can't bet against Tebow in a game as big as this one.

NEW YORK GIANTS 35, GREEN BAY, 32
The Giants just may be the hottest and most dangerous team in the playoffs. The matchup between these two during the regular season went down to the wire so the Giants already know that they can beat the Packers. This game conjures up memories of the NFC Championship game in 2007 with Eli Manning and co. upending Brett Farve and the Packers on a cold day in Lambeau. History will repeat itself.

HOUSTON 14, BALTIMORE 24
If the good Ravens team shows up to play, this game won't be more than a walk in the park. Baltimore is built to shut down running games which the Texans' offense is predicated on which should force TJ Yates to become the focal point of the offense. Should that be the case, the Ravens will expose him for the rookie QB that he is.

UTTQ Predictions: Divisional Round

The Wild-Card weekend came and went, and I'm already down by a game. Looks like God isn't on my side. Here's hoping this week turns out for the better.

DENVER 24, NEW ENGLAND 31
Tebow and the Broncos managed to get an impressive win against a suddenly reeling Pittsburgh franchise. But Pittsburgh's problems are to be analyzed later...right now the question is whether the Broncos can have similar success at New England. These two teams have met before, but the outcome was greatly in the Patriots' favor. However, it's no secret that the Pats' defense sucks. Tebow and company can surely exploit that now, especially with Tebow's sudden confidence to throw in tight spaces and Demaryius Thomas blossoming as a receiving threat. The Patriots are offensively still better than Denver as long as Tom Brady is around, although they have been slow out of the gate the last few weeks. However, I cannot see Denver upsetting this time...I will not allow myself to believe it.

HOUSTON 17, BALTIMORE 27
Houston was very impressive against Cincinnati, but the Ravens will certainly be a whole different story. The Bengals could not get a rhythm going, while Houston certainly held the momentum for most of the game. The Ravens have a stifling defense and above average offense, which is all they need. Houston will need to develop something early, since it seems to take Yates a while to develop with Johnson and company. Of course, this Baltimore team is infamous of inconsistency, which means that Houston could pull one out, depending on which Ravens team shows up. Either way, neither of these teams really stand a chance against whoever wins the other AFC game....

NEW YORK 28, GREEN BAY 31
The 2007 NFC Championship Game was one of the better ones in recent memory, featuring these two teams on the frozen tundra. Who can forget Tom Coughlin's face? Or Brett Favre's Eli-esque shoulder slump after throwing a game sealing interception? This game should be an exciting one as well, featuring two contrasting styles: one team based on pressure defense and one team based on pass-happy offense. The Giants better hope their defense is good enough to force a few Packer punts, because their offense does not have the firepower to make big plays on every series. The Packers better hope they haven't rested too long, or they may be in for another defeat on their home turf.

NEW ORLEANS 17, SAN FRANCISCO 23
The Saints started off slow against the Lions but managed to find their form in the second half, scoring on almost every possession. The Lions D became worn down as the game went on. The Niners have a much better defense, thanks in part to players like Aldon Smith, Navarro Bowman, and the ever efficient Patrick Willis. They have the personnel to slow Drew Brees down. The Niners' offense is a different story. They typically run the ball and control the clock. If they Saints want to stop the run, they will have to react to the shifty Niners backs. Blitzing on every down may set up the perfect play-action for Alex Smith. Playing it safe may be the only way to stop this Niners' O. The Saints aren't comfortable on the road, either, so it will be quite a shock if they can score as many points as they did last week.

The First Pick: 1941-1945

We continue our look at the earliest NFL Draft picks by looking at the WWII years, when football players and military servicemen were undoubtedly intertwined.

1941: TOM HARMON (HB, Michigan)

Arguably the greatest player ever to don the Maize and Blue, Harmon won the Heisman in 1940 after a stellar college career at Michigan. While listed as a halfback, he performed many other duties including passing, kicking, punting, and even intercepting the football. One of the great "60 minute men" of the era, he was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1941 but opted to play for the New York Americans of the American Football League. After a short war service as a pilot for the Army Air Corps, he returned to the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams in 1946, but his career was hampered by his war service. He retired in 1947 with 9 touchdowns and a respectable 5.1 yard rushing average.


1942: BILL DUDLEY (HB, Virginia)

"Bullet" Bill Dudley finished a superb college career at Virginia by being drafted number one overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1942. Dudley immediately impressed, leading the league in rushing en route to an All-Pro nomination. The war quickly interrupted his career by calling him to service between 1943-45. Dudley continued his winning ways by leading the Army football team to a 12-0 record in 1944. In 1945 Dudley returned to the Steelers, playing only four games but ending the season as Pittsburgh's top scorer. 1946 saw another great year for Dudley, in which he lead the league in rushing, interceptions, and punt returns en route to a league MVP and All-Pro selection. Dudley played for the Detroit Lions from 1947-1949 and with the Redskins from 1950-1953, leading the team in scoring in most of those seasons. For his efforts as an effortless touchdown-maker, he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966, the first of our number one overall picks to receive the honor.


1943: FRANK SINKWICH (HB, Georgia)

The 1942 Heisman Trophy winner, Sinkwich became the first football player from the Southeastern Conference to receive the honor. After amassing several rushing records with the Bulldogs, Sinkwich was selected first overall in the 1943 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. He excelled in his two years in Detroit, earning the NFL MVP in 1944. A knee injury suffered during his service in 1945 severely limited his playing ability, and he played for three more years with the AAFC's New York Yankees and Baltimore Colts before calling it quits.


1944: ANGELO BERTELLI (QB, Notre Dame)

Bertelli was the 1943 Heisman winner and quarterback for the Fighting Irish. Bertelli excelled in coach Frank Leahy's new T-formation that led Notre Dame to an impressive streak of wins. Bertelli was drafted by the Boston Yanks in 1944 but elected to serve, nearly losing his life in the Battle of Iwo Jima. Bertelli eventually signed with the Los Angeles Dons of the AAFC in 1946, and eventually went on to play two years with the Chicago Rockets of the AAFC. A largely unremarkable pro career ended in 1949 due to multiple knee injuries he had amassed.


1945: CHARLEY TRIPPI (HB, Georgia)

Trippi played alongside Frank Sinkwich in Athens, but managed to have a much better career professionally than Sinkwich ever had. Drafted by the Chicago Cardinals, Trippi spent 8 years with the team, managing a career filled with 2 Pro Bowl selections, 3 All-Pro selections, and 1 1940s All Decade selection. Arguably, however, his biggest accomplishment stems from his performance in the 1947 NFL Championship Game, in which Trippi scored 2 touchdowns while gaining 206 yards rushing. Trippi, who also occasionally played quarterback, is also the only player in the Hall of Fame to have 1000 yards receiving, 1000 yards passing, and 1000 yards rushing.


Best pick of 1941-1945: BILL DUDLEY (1942)

Dudley and Trippi were without a doubt the two best picks of the half-decade. However, Dudley managed to score more points than Trippi ever did, despite Trippi's longer career and championship ring. Dudley was a touchdown machine and had it not been for the war he may have endured a very long career as one of the top football players of all time.

UTTQ Predictions: Wild Card Weekend

CINCINNATI 27, HOUSTON 24
The last time these two teams got together, the Texans pulled out the win with a last second TD toss by TJ Yates. Fast-forward to Sunday and Yates' status is iffy after leaving last weekend's loss to the Titans. Houston has been shaky throughout the second half of the season following Matt Schaub's injury and have held the ship together through strong performances by Arian Foster and Wade Phillip's defense. On the other side, Cincy has been steady throughout 2011 with Andy Dalton having impressed most everyone. In a showdown between rookie Quarterbacks, this game should come down to which signal caller can manage his team most effectively and efficiently. My money is on the man that's been the starter all season in Dalton with the Bengals pulling this one out in the fourth.

PITTSBURGH 17, DENVER 20
For any other playoff team but Denver, this match up looks juicy with Rashard Mendenhall and Maurkice Pouncey sidelined and Big Ben slowed by a bum ankle. However, the Broncos have been terrible over the past month, embodied by the struggling Tim Tebow. Roethlisberger and company still must face a tough Denver D that has held strong for the most part despite the immense ineptitude of the offense. If Tebow can right the ship and turn in a good performance, Denver has a shot to pull the upset. I'm gonna take a chance here and say they pull off the biggest surprise of the Wild Card round.

ATLANTA 30, NEW YORK GIANTS 33
The Giants have looked scary good in wins over the Jets and Cowboys, as have the Falcons apart from a blowout loss at New Orleans. With both Matt Ryan and Eli Manning having their best professional seasons, this showdown could come down to which D can step up in the crucial moments. New York has just been so dominant as of late, it's hard to pick against them so I'll say that the G-Men get the last laugh in this potential shootout.







DETROIT 40, NEW ORLEANS 45
If you hate high-scoring affairs, then avoid this game at all costs. Drew Brees and Matt Stafford both threw for over 5000 yrds and 40 TDs in stellar 2011 campaigns, and a shootout is all but guaranteed. Neither team can run the ball all the effectively especially with the loss of Mark Ingram for the Saints. The Lions have been a great story this season but their Cinderella run ends tomorrow night.

UTTQ Predictions: Wild Card Weekend

A compelling comeback attempt in the second half of the season was not enough for me to reaffirm my grip on the regular season predictions, and Insider Access managed to escape with a one game lead. Now it's a whole new ballgame, with the wild-card weekend starting. And wild card weekend can certainly be wild. I have a feeling that at least one big upset is coming. But we'll see...for now, here's my picks for the first weekend of the 2011 NFL playoffs.

CINCINNATI 24, HOUSTON 23

A battle of two rookie quarterbacks will be, more importantly, a battle of two relatively new playoff teams. The Texans have made the playoffs for the first time in NFL history. The Bengals last made the playoffs 2 years ago, but the team features an influx of relatively new, young talent. Which team will step up to the plate? The Texans have the benefit of playing at home, but have been on a losing streak as of late. Three disappointing losses to the Panthers, Colts, and Titans have really put in question Houston's chances at making a run. The Bengals have managed to play tough in close games for most of the season. I'd really like to see both of these teams make it to the next round, but one team has to lose. Unfortunately for the Texans, it was a nice run while it lasted.

PITTSBURGH 20, DENVER 17
Up front, this matchup may seem like the most uneven wild-card game of the week. Look closely, though, and it could be a very tight game. First, let's start with the preeminent favorite, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Black & Gold haven't been so dominant as of late. Despite only 1 loss in the last 7 weeks, many of their games have featured sloppy offensive gameplay. The loss of Rashard Mendenhall cannot be underestimated, especially with Ben Roethlisberger still nursing his ankle injury. Luckily the defense manages to keep them in games. On the other sideline, the Denver Tebows have struggled as of late as well, with 3 straight losses to end the season. Quarterback Tim Tebow and the offense have been particularly ineffective. If the Denver D can keep them in the game, this one may be closer than we think. Then again, would you rather trust the Steelers offense vs. the Denver defense, or vice versa? Yeah, thought so.

ATLANTA 27, NEW YORK 31
New York may just be warming up at the right time. The Giants got a signature win against NFC East foe Dallas last week, and will look to continue their rejuvenation process against the Falcons. The Falcons are a curious team that can turn it on when needed but tends to play somewhat sporadically. The tough call on this game will depend on what the Falcons bring to the table, and not necessarily what the Giants bring. The G-Men have the defense to handle the Falcons and the offense to keep them honest. Do the Falcons have the tools to survive? Let's not forget this team has not beaten a contender since Week 7 against Detroit (or, alternatively, Week 10 against the Titans). They certainly have the weapons, but the Giants will use their tried-and-true ground and pound formula to keep Atlanta at bay. One big play can certainly swing the score in this game.

DETROIT 31, NEW ORLEANS 49
Everyone expects this one to be a shootout. Who can't when you have two premier offenses facing off against each other? Two 5,000 yard, 40-touchdown passers in Matthew Stafford and Drew Brees will face off in a rematch of a regular season game, coincidentally in the same stadium that another prominent football rematch will take place two days later. Brees and company have been absolutely unbeatable in the Dome, and will look to take on the upstart Lions franchise hungry for a playoff victory. If any team this weekend has a chance against the Saints, it's this Lions team. They want it, and they know it. An entire city (a la New Orleans of 2009) is on their backs. The key to this game will be minimizing mistakes. If the Lions can capitalize on the Saints mistakes (however rare they may be), and can keep pace with Drew Brees and his army of offensive weapons, then they have a chance to stay in it. Unfortunately, as evidenced last week against the Packers, Detroit still has a few unpolished elements on their team, and needs a miracle surge to win in this one.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 17

And so another NFL season ends in both excitement and disappointment. Week 17 could arguably be the toughest week to predict, with many teams opting to lay down rather than step up, and vice versa. And so, with a one game separation between myself and Insider Access, here is my attempt at prediction the final half of the final slate of NFL games (until the playoffs, that is).

SAN FRANCISCO 31, ST. LOUIS 3
The Niners have become one of the most dominant teams in football, thanks to a stout defense and tough running game. On the other end of the NFC West spectrum, the Rams have continued their losing ways, forcing the removal of yet another coach and a reshuffling of the organization. The scenario for this game is simple: a 49ers win gives them a first round bye in the playoffs, and a loss by the Rams gives them a chance at the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft (assuming the Colts beat the Jaguars). An Indy win may prevent a shutout.

SEATTLE 24, ARIZONA 20
These two teams started to get hot as the season went on, but unfortunately could not keep that momentum going long enough. The Hawks and Cards could certainly be contenders in the future, and a threeway logjam for the NFC West title could be the outlook for next year. For now, however, these two franchises will have to duke it out in an old-fashioned rivalry game.

TAMPA BAY 17, ATLANTA 31
Atlanta lost the NFC South to New Orleans on Monday in historic fashion, and will now have to await the fate of who they will face in the playoffs. A lot of Atlanta fans will be rooting for Green Bay to beat Detroit on Sunday, which would mean that a win by Atlanta is all that is needed to avoid facing the Saints a third time this season and instead face a struggling Cowboys/Giants team. If Green Bay lays down and loses to Detroit, Atlanta will have to face Drew Brees and company regardless. Look for Atlanta to win either way, and try to keep that momentum going into the playoffs. A loss by Tampa could certainly seal the fate of Raheem Morris as well.

BALTIMORE 26, CINCINNATI 27
This will certainly be an interesting one, with a win-and-in scenario playing out in Cincinnati. Unfortunately for the upstart Bengals, the Ravens look to fulfill plans of their own: shoring up a first round playoff bye with a win. The Ravens have been the definition of inconsistent all year, so a win is not guaranteed. Both of these teams have a lot to play for, but with the Bengals playing at home, I'll give this one to them.

PITTSBURGH 30, CLEVELAND 14
The Steelers will have to play their final game tough to try and assert their dominance of the AFC North. Unfortunately, the Baltimore Ravens have the upper hand here, needing only a Pittsburgh loss to clinch the division. The Steelers won't let that happen, especially against the lowly Browns. Perhaps both teams will play their backup quarterbacks in this one.

KANSAS CITY 14, DENVER 24
The Denver Tebows have taken a step backwards as of late, due partly to their quarterback, but also to their once stifling defense disappearing during games. The Broncos get home-field with a tough game against Kansas City and a playoff berth on the line. The Chiefs have been no slouches either, recently ending the Packers' perfect season hopes. Kansas City can certainly play tough against teams like Denver, but the Broncos won't let their season die so easily. Plus, I'm sure Elway and co. would hate to see Kyle Orton beat them at home.

SAN DIEGO 20, OAKLAND 23
The Raiders find themselves in the position to make the playoffs, but they must first beat the Chargers. San Diego was a hot team only a few weeks ago, but dropped one against the Lions. The Raiders may be under divine intervention, but they will need to play the Chargers hard in order to win this one. No one would have thought this game would mean more for the Raiders and nothing for the Chargers at the beginning of the season.

DALLAS 23, NEW YORK GIANTS 24
Ah, nothing like ending the regular season with a win-and-in playoff matchup. Back in the beginning of the season, I picked the Cowboys to sneak into the playoffs (with the forlorn Eagles winning the division). The Cowboys have been pretty sloppy as of recent, but in typical Cowboys fashion they find themselves on a teeter-totter of late season anticipation as to whether or not they'll make the playoffs or stay on the outside looking in. The Giants have been just as inconsistent, but seem to have a better formula at winning football games. The Giants are thus slight favorites in this one. I like them too. As much as I should stick with the Cowboys for picking them in the first place, I should go with the Giants in order to preserve my imperfect preseason predictions (plus, I have a picture of a Giants player in each of my last three posts).

UTTQ Predictions: Week 17

Well folks, here we are at the last week of the regular season. Its been a fun ride along the way though we still have one very important piece of business that must be completed this weekend; the pick 'em competition between League Beat Writer and Insider Access whom are only separated by a game. So without further adieu, the last regular season picks of 2011.

DETROIT 20, GREEN BAY 21
With teams having locked up playoff bids already, each team's starters should get a few series in before yielding to the reserves to avoid injuries. Of course this makes this game incredibly tricky to call though the Packers have alluded to Aaron Rodgers getting some playing time which I think is enough to give Green Bay the advantage.

NEW YORK JETS 24, MIAMI 21
The Jets still have an outside shot at the postseason though they need a lot of help to pull it off. Miami will be without starting tailback Reggie Bush which I think should give the Jets the advantage, though the Dolphins have spoiled many a picks for me throughout the season. Regardless, New York should win this game, though my gut says it won't be enough to make it to playoff football.

CHICAGO 13, MINNESOTA 20
With nothing to play for but pride, this game could easily slide either way. The Bears showed some life against the Packers despite the final tally while the Vikings seemed to spark behind Joe Webb once again. Chicago's offense just straight stinks enough for Minnesota to extend it's streak to two straight wins.

BUFFALO 14, NEW ENGLAND 28
The Bills shocked the world by winning the first match up between these teams. Even without Tom Brady playing the whole game in all likelihood, it won't happen again.

CAROLINA 28, NEW ORLEANS 30
With the second seed in the NFC still up for grabs, the Saints will approach this game like any other. The Panthers have looked very good as of late behind Cam Newton and should give New Orleans all they can handle.

WASHINGTON 17, PHILADELPHIA 42
What a team Philly could have been this season if the injury bug hadn't struck. In the past weeks we've gotten a glimpse of what the team can really do and they look like a force going forward into 2012. Expect the dominate play to continue as the Eagles look to salvage a .500 season.

INDIANAPOLIS 17, JACKSONVILLE 14
The Colts sit in a very awkward situation with this game. Lose and secure the first overall pick; easy enough right? Well try convince a professional player to throw a game and see how that goes. Indy is the better team on Sunday and when the dust settles, I think they'll come out on top.

TENNESSEE 13, HOUSTON 18
In a seemingly meaningless game for the Texans, the team desperately needs a win to get some momentum going into the postseason.