Eagles Win Super Bowl in a Thriller

What a great game.  I like defense as much as the next guy but this game kept me on my toes and I never knew which way it was going to go.  And with all that offense it came down to the only sack of the game and a Tom Brady fumble.  Wow.  Give it to Nick Foles and the Eagles - they deserved this championship.  For New England, Tom Brady gave it everything he had, everything, and still came up short.  Tells you what kind of game that was.  I mean Philly went for it on 4th down in two situations where if they don't make it, there are huge repercussions - you either take points off the board or you give New England the ball with great field position with a chance to sew up the game.  

Doug Pederson has guts, the likes of which we may never see again in a Super Bowl.  I was beside myself when he made each of those calls because of what was on the line each time.  And he threw it to his quarterback for a touchdown in the first instance - what?  Great stuff.  You have to be excited for Philly for getting their first Super Bowl win.  Doesn't get much better than that for an NFL franchise who has been around as long as them.  My man crush aside, I can't be sad for Brady and the Pats.  Brady played out of his mind and they had a chance at the end.  In fact who didn't think they were gonna march down the field and take back the d game to watch which is all we can ask for, right?

Atlanta Falcons Lose to the Philadelphia Eagles in Divisional Playoff Game

Atlanta's offense has been shaky all year and it really played out that way against an Eagles defense that was able to get pressure and wouldn't let the Falcons convert on third down.  It was a frustrating game to watch as Atlanta just never looked comfortable or like they'd take the game over.  They should have beaten the Eagles but hats off to Philly.  Their defense played very well and their offense did what it needed to to win.  That last offensive play by the Falcons for the touchdown was not pretty to look at.  I'm not a fan of that fade play especially when you roll out.  It takes all the defenders to that side of the end zone.  Still Julio Jones had a shot at it and can make that play.  It just didn't happen.  Too bad as the defense played well.  Would have loved to have see Atlanta in the NFC Championship game but as poorly as the offense has played I wouldn't have much confidence they could have won.  Here' to next year and hopefully a better offense. 

Atlanta Falcons @ Philadelphia Eagles - Divisional Playoff Game

No one saw it due to my lack of posting about it but I had a good feeling about the Falcons-Rams game.  While it is hard to say Atlanta had been hot but they had won six of their last eight to end the season and make the playoffs.  The offense still isn't the 2016 "on fire" version we all fell in love with last year.  The good news is their defense is good and was very good against the run which helped them shut down the Rams.  This also bodes well going to Philly who will start their backup quarterback and will probably not want him having to throw any more than he has too.  Atlanta should win this weekend.  That isn't cockiness but Philadelphia isn't the same without Carson Wentz.  They do have a great run defense but the passing defense is average.  Hopefully the Falcons can exploit that.  So all that said this could be a trap game.  A few lucky bounces or turnovers and Atlanta could be wondering what if - again.  Either way I'll be watching come Saturday.    

Buffalo Bills 2017 Preview

I’m late getting this out and Buffalo has already beaten the Jets but I want to look at the 2017 Bills before the season gets too far along.  Last year was another lost year for the Bills when they went 7-9.  Tyrod Taylor started 15 games and by default was forced to resign him in a convoluted messy affair after he was released.  So he returns along with stud LeSean McCoy but there isn’t much else to get excited about.

Taylor while capable doesn’t exactly exude franchise quarterback in his play.  He’s better than many out there and I can’t fault him too much but he doesn’t move the excitement meter either direction.  LeSean McCoy returns after another excellent season and anchors the backfield though top backup Mike Gillislee left for New England in the offseason via free agency.  With Sammy Watkins traded to the Rams the receiving corps will be led by former Eagle Jordan Matthews and also includes Zay Jones, Andre Holmes and TE Charles Clay.  It sounds like the offensive line won’t be too bad so that bodes well for McCoy and Taylor.  We’ll see how that translates when it comes to scoring – in which the Bills ranked 10^th in 2016. 

Lorenzo Alexander - 12 1/2 sacks (2016)

The defense has to get better.  The defensive line is pretty solid but from there I’m not sure.  Linebacker is also solid though the loss of Reggie Ragland doesn’t help.  The losses of top corner Stephen Gilmore (free agency – NE) and Ronald Darby (trade – Phi) hurt a lot.  E.J. Gaines (acquired in trade – LAR) and first round pick Tre’Davious White will likely start in the defensive backfield.  Hard to tell how they will do but it seems like the secondary will definitely take a step back.  Add to that two new safeties and the backend of the defense is a very big unknown. 

Though they have one win under their belt I’m thinking they can maybe win six games but in the back of my mind I think five games is more doable when I look at the schedule.  I think most folks would argue that with me but I see a bunch of good teams they’ll have to play and I’m not sure Buffalo has a good enough team to compete.  Hopefully there are some nice surprises as the season progresses but the Jets game did not make me think we’ll see many.  With the offseason trades they made for picks the Bills are definitely looking towards the future.  Hopefully that means a franchise quarterback can be found somewhere in that rebuilding process as they reboot the team…again.  We’ll know soon what this team really looks like as they face Carolina, Denver, Atlanta, Cincy, Tampa and Oakland in the next six games.  Hopefully they can play these teams tough and get a couple of wins.  This stretch will definitely show me if this team is made to compete or not.

2017 Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are coming off a devastating loss in the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots.  No matter how tough that loss was you have to think this team is built to compete for at least the NFC Championship for years to come.  There must be some concern as offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is now gone and new coordinator Steve Sarkisian is an unknown at the pro level.  It would be hard if not impossible to repeat last year offensively but the offense still has all their weapons coming back so you have to think the Falcons are set up for another great year on that side of the ball.

Quarterback Matt Ryan is truly one of the best in the league.  As the team’s anchor you have to feel Atlanta is in good hands.  Stud receiver Julio Jones as well as Mohamed Sanu and surprise Taylor Gabriel give Ryan plenty of weapons to throw to. The running back duo of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman are formidable giving the Falcons a balanced attack.   All the skilled positions look good if not great.  I worry about the line.  Matt Ryan was sacked 37 times last year which put him tied for 6^th in the league.  First and foremost you have to worry about your franchise quarterback getting hurt and obviously you have to wonder how much better your team could be if Ryan wasn’t under so much pressure.  For reference Tom Brady was sacked 15 times, Derek Carr 16 times, and Ben Roethlisberger 17 times. 

 

The defense was not good last year sans a few one-off games here and there and three quarters in the Super Bowl.  Digging deeper than just points you can say they played better towards the end of the year.  Top cornerback Desmond Trufant will be back this year after missing seven games and the playoffs in 2016.  Vic Beasley led the pass rush last year that will hopefully get better with the drafting of defensive end Takkarist McKinley in the first round.  Everyone raves about the speed and youth of this defense.  That needs to translate to a better defensive effort this year if Atlanta really has a shot at a title. 

The Falcons will have to get over the nasty loss in the Super Bowl quickly.  Coach Mike Quinn won’t want to stumble out the gate and have to listen to folks talking about a “hangover” from the Super Bowl.  Atlanta also has a brand new stadium to christen which will hopefully be helpful.  I expect 11 wins from this team and a trip to the NFC Championship.  It could definitely be more wins but history says there is a letdown after teams lose the Super Bowl.  We’ll see if Atlanta can buck the trend.  They have the talent on offense and need improvement from their defense but this team could definitely be back in the title game – at least that is what I’m hoping for – well and a win in said Super Bowl.

The San Diego Chargers have announced they'll be leaving San Diego for Los Angeles.  I'm very sad for the fans and the Charger's owners.  Ownership tried to keep the team there and have worked to get a new stadium deal done for over 10 years.  I also understand why it is so tough to get public money to make things happen.  We are talking hundreds of millions of dollars and for any city that is a huge bill to swallow  With all sides - fans, ownership, and the city of San Diego - wanting this to work it is a shame.  This isn't the same as when Stan Kroenke screwed over the city of St. Louis.   

That said the NFL is using an old business model in getting new stadiums built.  The NFL is bigger than ever and while I'm not saying they have a billion dollars to throw away I do think they can assist enough to make these deals happen.  As is, the Chargers will pay $500M to relocate.  The NFL was up for loaning $300M for a new stadium. There is $800M right there.  Something doesn't add up.  Heck the NFL probably has enough money to loan a team all the money and let them pay it back.  I know owners aren't always keen to own and run stadiums but the NFL has to know this would be better than a team moving. 

Now San Diego's owner has to sell his team to Los Angeles when he's been saying for some time he

doesn't want to go there.  The San Diego fan base who has been there since beginning is without a team.  And Los Angeles is supposed to support two teams?  They haven't proven they can support one yet.  Both the Rams and Raiders have left L.A. in the past.  The Rams attendance was good last year but they are still in the honeymoon phase and the Rams have history there.  This in no way sounds like a good thing.  The Raiders seem to be on their way out of Oakland as well.  This is the NFL's fault.  While the NFL isn't going to go out of business this disloyalty to the fans can't be good long term.  This truly is sad to see and the NFL is again failing it's fans and now even it's owners.