Seems like it was only yesterday when the Hall of Fame game was being canceled because of a shoddy turf in Canton. Then we fast-forwarded through a host of storylines, from Tony Romo’s injury to the Packers’ late-season rise into the postseason.

And after all that nonsense, we’re now left with the Patriots taking on the Falcons in Super Bowl LI. Who saw that matchup coming before Week 1?

Anyway, Sunday is a special day for Mr. Saraf. This will be the first Super Bowl Sunday in more than a decade that won’t require me to spend all day in a grim office, hunched over a computer.

I’m actually having a Super Bowl party! And I’m catering it via Costco. Can’t wait.

Before we get to the game, let’s break down some of the more amusing prop bets for this year.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

PROP ME UP

How many times will “deflate” or “Deflategate’ be said on TV during live broadcast?

The over/under is at 1.5. I’m going over on this one. I feel we’ll be in the 2-3 mentions area.

How many times will Gisele Bundchen be shown on TV during the broadcast?

Again, the over/under is at 1.5. I’m going to go with the under here. She’ll definitely be shown once, but that’s it. There are so many things for the cameras to focus on at the Super Bowl that Fox won’t waste time going back to her.

Which song will Lady Gaga play first during the halftime show?

Here’s what you can choose from: “Born this Way,” “Bad Romance,” “Edge of Glory,” “Poker Face” and “Just Dance.” You can also choose “any other song” at 11/10 odds.

Personally, I have no idea what’s going to happen. I heard she’s climbing to the roof of NRG Stadium on Sunday to do some stunt. I’m hoping she simply survives.

However, I would love it if she led with “Alejandro.”

Will Malcolm Butler intercept a pass?

I hope he doesn’t. If he does, I’ll have to watch my wife the Seahawks fan have a PTSD nightmare.

First touchdown scorer

I love this one. I’m going with LeGarrette Blount at 8/1 because of how I feel the beginning of the game will unfold.

I believe the Patriots will win the toss, take the ball like they did in the AFC title game and try and set the tone. And with all the attention being paid to Tom Brady and the Patriots’ dynamic passing attack, I feel Bill Belichick will pound the ball with the running game.

You’re hearing it here first: The Patriots will begin the Super Bowl with a 10-plus play drive that will end with Blount barreling into the end zone.

Easy money.

HALFTIME SHOW?

Will I watch Lady Gaga? Yes, I will. My wife will be at my Super Bowl party and so will at least 2-3 of her friends. The mute button will not be used.

COMMERCIALS?

Don’t care. Never have cared. I feel companies buy Super Bowl ad time just to show off how much money they make.

“You’re saying it’s $5 million for a 30-second spot? Sure, buy 12 spots. There’s way more where that came from (lights a cigar)!”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Taylor Gabriel, WR, Falcons

We all know what the Patriots try and do on defense. They figure out what you do best and take that away from you. So, expect blanket coverage around Julio Jones and his bad toe all day.

That’s exactly what Belichick and Co. did to the Steelers by taking away Antonio Brown. And when called upon, receivers like Sammie Coates and Cobi Hamilton let the team down with dropped passes in key situations.

So, Gabriel will need to take advantage of the opportunities he’s sure to get. The Falcons need to make sure his confidence is sky high and that he doesn’t feel overly jittery in the early going. At one point, he’s going to get very open and he’ll have to make a big grab to either keep a drive going or to score a touchdown. It’s players like Gabriel who can be the difference between a Super Bowl ring and being an also-ran.

Dwight Freeney, Falcons DE

Hard to believe he’s 36-years-old and it still going strong, as his performance in the NFC title game shows. Speaking of which, when Freeney entered the NFL in 2002, his fellow Falcons pass-rusher Vic Beasley was 9-years-old. Seriously.

Atlanta needs to pressure Tom Brady. Everyone knows that. Freeney can’t afford to spend all game with his face in the dirt, like James Harrison (another aging pass-rusher) did for the Steelers in the AFC title game.

If Freeney and Beasley can move fast and get up in Brady’s grill, they’ve got a shot at knocking him off his game. If they get blocked easily, Tommy Boy is going to pick that young secondary apart.

LeGarrette Blount, RB, Patriots

Like I said early, I feel New England is going to try and pound the rock early to get the Falcons off balance. That means we could see a 25-carry game for Blount and if he does his thing and uses his size to wear the Falcons’ front seven down, those safeties are going to start peeking up a bit.

And that’s exactly when the Patriots will blow Atlanta out of the water with play-action and the intermediate passing game.

Malcolm Butler, CB, Patriots

Will he get matched up against Julio Jones all game? My guess is the Patriots will vary whom they put on Jones, but whoever it is will definitely have help over the top.

The last time Butler was in the Super Bowl, he won it for the Patriots with a clutch interception. He may very well be called on to do something like that again.

SO, WHO TAKES IT?

Here we are. My final prediction of the season. Let me just take a moment to thank the people who made all of this possible, starting with …. what’s that? I should just STFU and make my pick already?

Fine. Jerks.

Sometimes, I feel experience is overrated. A team can very well win a Super Bowl in its first visit, especially when they’re a team that has nothing to lose and feature a bunch of young players who don’t know enough to know they should be nervous.

This is the part where I usually argue against myself and then chicken out and pick the Patriots.

But I’m not going to do it. In a move that I’m sure will please the fine people of Baltimore, I’m picking the Falcons to pull off the upset of the hated Patriots and for Matty Ice to join Joe Flacco in the “elite” status of NFL quarterbacks.

I’ll even give you a final score: Falcons 31, Patriots 26.

Thank you all for a great season! Be back soon.

The post Super Bowl LI: New England vs. Atlanta appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

On the one hand, we’re going to have the hullabaloo surrounding the presidential inauguration, with all the rancor, bad feelings, protests, arrests and fun that comes with it. Grab your popcorn, people.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

On the other, we’ve got football! Glorious football. We’ve got the best football in this country, believe me. We’re going to make Championship Sunday so perfect and Mexico will pay for it.

Say it with me now: It’s going to be “yuuuuuuuuuuuge.”

Enough with the tired Trump impression, you say? Fair enough. It’s hacky and I feel I’m better than that.

Honestly, I’m just trying to fight off the depression that popped up starting on Monday. Because Championship Sunday is truly the last day of the football season. The final time that true fans get to revel in their favorite game.

The Super Bowl is when the posers show up. You know whom I’m talking about. The morons that ruin every Super Bowl party because they don’t care about the game. In fact, they’ll do everything possible to ruin everyone else’s fun by blathering during the action and asking inane questions:

“Who is that guy?”

“That’s Cam Newton.”

“Is he good?”

“Sigh, yes, he’s pretty good.”

“He’s really tall.”

“Sigh, I know.”

“How long has he been in the NFL?”

“It’s called Google. Use it.”

“Where’s Peyton Manning?”

“He retired last year.”

“What kind of name is that? How do even pronounce it? Is it … Kooo-wetch-leee?”

“FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, SHUT YOUR STUPID PIEHOLE!!”

And don’t get me started on the Pro Bowl. I feel there are shenanigans with that. I refuse to believe that a game where you have to watch 22 men on a field clearly not trying can draw similar ratings to an NBA Finals game. How? How does that happen?

Anyway, I digress.

Enjoy Sunday, people. This is really it until the Hall of Fame Game in August. Here’s hoping they actually play that game this year.

CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY

PACKERS AT FALCONS, 3:05 P.M. ET

Here are a few things that stand out. The Packers come into this game featuring a defense that was 21^st in the league in points allowed. The Falcons are worse, in 27^th place in the same category.

The two quarterback in this game, Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers, threw for more than 4,000 yards each and combined for almost 80 touchdown passes. So, what’s the conclusion I’m drawing from this?

Easy. Bet the over. Vegas odds makers have listed the over/under at 60.5. There’s no way these two teams don’t top that by the start of the fourth quarter.

The Packers are on fire, having run off eight straight wins, while the Falcons are riding a five-game win streak of their own. And what’s more, both teams are playing excellent football, at least on the offensive side.

But if you put a gun to my head, I have to go with the Falcons. They’re at home and when you compare the teams’ offensive firepower, you have to give the edge to Atlanta. That’s even if Julio Jones is slowed by his turf toe injury.

The reason for that is the Falcons’ backfield depth. Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman are dual threats and sliced up the Seahawks in the divisional round. Expect more of the game on Sunday. If the Packers move up and try and neutralize the run, Matt Ryan is going to burn them deep with Jones or Taylor Gabriel.

And with this being the last game in the Georgia Dome, expect the crowd to carry their team to an emotional high.

Pick: Falcons.

STEELERS AT PATRIOTS, 6:40 P.M. ET

All my Baltimore peeps must be in quite the pickle this week, eh? I’d make a Sophie’s Choice joke here if it weren’t so offensive and inappropriate.

Who are you rooting for? You can either pick the Patriots (blech) or the … Steelers.

Yeah, gross.

Ben Roethlisberger and Tom Brady will meet an AFC Championship Game for just the second time. Funny, I would have thought it would have been more, but whatever.

“You’ve got one game to get to the Super Bowl. You’re going to the dragon’s lair,” Roethlisberger said to the Associated Press. “And we’re trying to slay the dragon.”

Dragon is an interesting word to the Patriots. Especially Tom Brady. I guess this dragon loves hair product and wears Uggs. (And is still dreamy, that dimple-faced bastard.)

What I hope will happen: Ben Roethlisberger carves up the Patriots secondary with big plays to Antonio Brown. Tight end Jesse James is surprisingly effective at finding soft spots in the coverage and makes some big third-down grabs. Running back Le’Veon Bell keeps doing what he’s doing, patiently finding ways to rip through the front seven and make tacklers in the secondary miss. The Steelers defense breaks out and gets pressure on Tom Brady while being creative with their coverages. Pittsburgh wins and goes on to meet the Falcons in the Super Bowl. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady weep, hold each other gently and announce they will both retire immediately. Chowdah-heads all over the country hold candlelight vigils and forget they were Patriots fans within 15 minutes.

What I know will happen: Antonio Brown’s head is all screwed up from FacebookGate and he struggles as a result. Big Ben is let down by his supporting cast because of the rash of the flu that has spread through the Steelers locker room this week (it’s true, look it up) and he takes a horrible hit that either knocks him out or severely limits him. Le’Veon Bell patiently waits for holes that will never open. Meanwhile, Tom Brady will throw 5 touchdown passes while Skip Bayless tweets with glee. The Patriots win by 40 points and head to the Super Bowl. Tom Brady makes more adorable videos of him trying to speak German with Sebastian Vollmer. Chowdah-heads all over the country celebrate and become even more insufferable.

Pick: Patriots. God, football is annoying.

Enjoy the games this weekend!

The post NFL Championship Sunday appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

I’m sure everyone has heard that phrase before and it has never rung more true for me than right now. Just a short while back, maybe a little more than a calendar year, the NFL in Los Angeles was just another pipe dream. Something that I was teased with every so often, but nothing real ever came about.

There would be the standard stories on the internet talking about how such-and-such team was exploring the LA market, only to have them back out after a short while. Then I would be deluged with comments from people in places such as Tulsa, expounding how we had our chance at the NFL and that returning here would never work.

And I would bite my tongue, roll my eyes and get back to my normal life. Now, let’s fast-forward to the present day.

Not only did my Rams come back to SoCal, we’ve now been saddled with the Chargers. And I mean it when I say “saddled.”

It had been a long time since the NFL was in this market. During that time, some diehard Rams fans got bitter and switched allegiances or just watched football without rooting for a team. Transplants moved into the area by the thousands, bringing their own rooting interests with them. Children were born and grew up into adolescence with no local NFL franchise.

If the league wanted to return, they needed to take it slow. The Rams, if not the Raiders, were the perfect team for a professional football rebirth. They had a rich history in the LA area and as time passed and the team got better, more and more people would get behind them.

The Chargers? Nothing of the sort. They played their first season of existence in the Coliseum before heading south to what Ron Burgundy calls the Whale’s Va… you know.

The Chargers don’t have a foothold in Los Angeles. They have no history here. And now, they’re going to be playing home games in a soccer stadium in Carson for the next two years until they get to play No. 2 to Stan Kroenke in the Southern California version of Jerry World.

Does the NFL really know what it’s doing? (No, of course not. Nobody does.)

Anyway, enough of that nonsense. We’ve got playoff football to talk about. Let’s break down the weekend, starting with the least watchable game to the most.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

DIVISIONAL ROUND

TEXANS AT PATRIOTS, Saturday 8:15 p.m. ET

This is why people hate New England. It’s not just that the Patriots play in one of the easiest divisions in football, they get plumb playoff opponents such as this. The Texans at home in what is sure to be horrible weather at Gillette Stadium.

“We know that the Patriots are a great football team,” Texans head coach Bill O’Brien told the Associated Press. “We feel like if we go up there and we practice well – we have a good week of practice – we go up there and show up and play hard for 60 minutes, you know, we’ll see what happens.”

I can tell you what’s going to happen. Allow me to run down the Texans’ first possession after the Patriots win the toss and defer. (That’s going to happen)

1. Touchback
2. First down: Pass batted down at the line of scrimmage
3. Second down: Lamar Miller runs for loss of 2 yards
4. False Start
5. Third and 17: Brock Osweiler to DeAndre Hopkins on bubble screen for gain of 2
6. Punt

The rest of the game should be a simple matter of rinse and repeat. The Texans boast the league’s No. 1 defense, but the Patriots have allowed the fewest points. And since the Texans have Brock Osweiler as their quarterback, you can see where this one is going.

Pick: Patriots, but it won’t be blowout. It’ll be kind of close for a while.

SEAHAWKS AT FALCONS, Saturday, 1:35 p.m.

I’ll be in Seahawks territory for this game as I’m catching a flight to Seattle on Thursday evening to visit my in-laws. All of whom are huge 12s.

So, they’re not going to like what I’m about to say.

Earlier this season, the Falcons were one missed pass interference call from being in position to kick a game-winning field goal against the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Now, I’m not saying I would have called that penalty, because it was a bang-bang play with the game on the line.

“We felt like we had a chance to win that game. Calls didn’t go our way,” Falcons linebacker Vic Beasley told the Associated Press. “Things could’ve went a different route, so we’re looking forward to this opportunity.”

How happy are the Falcons that they earned the No. 2 seed and got this game at home? Those breaks that didn’t go their way in Seattle will undoubtedly fall on their side in this one. And in a game like this, that can make all the difference.

And I’m thinking Matt Ryan will light up what’s left of the Legion of Boom. Richard Sherman, who hasn’t been his lights-out self this season, might get exposed. More than once.

Pick: Falcons, just because they’re at home.

STEELERS AT CHIEFS, Sunday, 10:05 a.m. ET

By the way, you’ve probably noticed that all four games this weekend are rematches from regular season games this season.

And just like the Falcons, I expect the Chiefs to show a better version of themselves than they showed when they got blown out 43-14 in Pittsburgh in a Sunday night game. But they’ve won 10 of 12 since and are clearly aching to get some payback.

“There a lot of emotions this time of year. Everybody’s put in a lot of work and sacrifice to have these kinds of opportunities,” Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith told the Associated Press.

And thanks to a bit of jackassery from Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, the withering Chiefs pass rush will have many chances to get their hands on a hobbled QB Ben Roethlisberger, who suffered an injury while playing with a considerable lead late in their wild-card win over the Dolphins last week.

And although the Steelers are riding an 8-game winning streak and have big-play threats in running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown, I’m thinking they run into a wall here.

The Chiefs have their own home-run hitter in Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce and run the ball well enough to keep Pittsburgh’s offense on the sideline. And that Kansas City defense will make enough plays to get it done.

Pick: Chiefs

PACKERS AT COWBOYS, Sunday, 1:40 p.m. ET

I’m not going to try and break anything down with this game. I’m going straight #HotTake:

Aaron Rodgers is on fire and will beat the Cowboys in Dallas. This is the type of game the Packers win in the postseason. Not at home in front of the Lambeau faithful, but in front of a hostile crowd when nobody expects them to win.

And here’s another #HotTake: I expect, based on no scientific evidence, that Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott will look like rookies in this game.

Pick: Packers. #HotTake.

The post 2017 NFL Divisional Round appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

I can’t say that I’m really a fan, but I’ve been dragged there on a number of occasions for various going-away parties, box socials, birthday gatherings and the like. I can sip on a drink and keep my Ms. Pac-Man (shutup, I’m old) skills sharp.

However, I always get annoyed when I’m there during the early evening hours because children are running around everywhere. Call me a jerk, but shouldn’t they be hanging out at Chuck E. Cheese’s? And I know why they’re there. It’s because their raging alcoholic mothers and fathers figure they can feed their addiction and let their rugrats get some entertainment all in one place.

It’s just good parenting.

But then, once the clock strikes 10 p.m., things get better because D&B expels all the children from the facility and lets the grownups enjoy some drunken peace and quiet.

That’s exactly how I feel about the start of the NFL playoffs. All the kiddies and riff-raff have been sent home and the adults can finally settle things on the field without Blake Bortles giving teams free wins.

It’s the best time of the year, even though I’m getting depressed because I can see the end of the season at the end of the tunnel.

However, all playoff games aren’t equal and I’m here to preview what’s coming on Wild Card Weekend and let you know if each game is worth your time.

So, let’s gets started.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

SATURDAY’S GAMES

RAIDERS AT TEXANS, 4:35 p.m. ET

I’ve made my negative feelings for the Texans well known in this space over the season. Simply put: I can’t stand them. I’ve never seen a team get the least out of considerable talent since I started watching the game as a child. Not only were they rewarded with a playoff spot courtesy of playing in the Olive Garden of NFL divisions, they even get to host a playoff game.

And only Houston could get their opening-day quarterback back in the lineup for the playoffs and have that be a step back. But here we are. Brock Osweiler will be back under center and you would think that would be enough to guarantee their quiet exit from the postseason, but nooooooo.

That’s because the Raiders, the poor, poor, Raiders, got hosed like no other team in recent memory. Things were going great, with entertaining wins coming every week and it seemed the Silver and Black had a strong grip on their first playoff appearance since 2002 and on one of the top two seeds in the AFC.

Then, with one hit around Derek Carr’s legs from Trent Cole, half of that ended. The Raiders are in the postseason, but lost the division crown and their first-round bye. And instead of an MVP candidate taking snaps, they’ve got rookie Connor Cook getting the start on Saturday.

This is just depressing. I feel your pain, Raider Nation. I. Feel. Your. Pain.

Should I watch?: Only for the novelty of this being the first playoff game. I’ll definitely watch every second of it. But for the casual fan, you can skip it. This will be 60 minutes of batted-down passes and offenses getting 4 yards and 3rd-and-7. The announcers will struggle to make this seem interesting to the audience, but they’ll fail.

Who will win: The Texans, dammit. Just because they’re at home.

LIONS AT SEAHAWKS, 8:15 p.m. ET

Let’s see here. On one side, we’ve got the Lions, a team that’s lost three straight and only beat one team that finished with a winning record this season. Super Bowl teams usually reach the postseason playing their worst football … said nobody ever.

What’s more, quarterback Matthew Stafford is nursing a finger injury on his throwing hand. Lovely, that should be just great for a team that’s counting on their QBs to make plays.

Meanwhile, Seattle is a team that defies description. Are they the team that took down the presumptive Lombardi Trophy favorite Patriots at home? Or are they the goofs who scored just 5 points in a loss to Tampa? Who the hell can tell at this point?

“The playoffs are something we’re used to around here now,” defensive end Michael Bennett told the Associated Press.

If they don’t fix things, they’re going to get used to early playoff exits, despite their unbeaten playoff record at home.

Should I watch?: Yes, you should. This game will get ugly at times. Running games won’t work well and Russell Wilson will spend most of the day running for his life. But it’s Seattle and games up there can suddenly turn exciting. And if Seattle is ever going to lose a home playoff game, this is the year it could happen.

Who will win: Despite what I just said, the Seahawks will still win. You don’t beat Seattle at the Clink in January.

SUNDAY’S GAMES

DOLPHINS AT STEELERS, 1:05 p.m. ET

I’ll say it: I agree with Terry Bradshaw. Mike Tomlin isn’t a great coach. Now, let me be clear about this. I’m not saying he stinks. I’m not saying he’s average. I’m saying he’s not great.

He’s good. And there’s nothing wrong with being good. You’re just not great. Isn’t that a fair criticism of a man who has directed the Steelers to just one playoff win in the past five seasons?

Anyway, that being said, Pittsburgh is right where it wants to be, having run off seven wins in a row.

“This game is about when you can get hot, when you can play your best football,” Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger said to the Associated Press. “It’s important to play your best football late in the season when it matters the most.”

My response to that is …. DOI!!! Sorry, I jest.

The Steelers got worked when they paid a visit to Miami earlier this season with running back Jay Ajayi running for 204 yards. Stopping Ajayi will be paramount on Sunday.

Should I watch?: My short answer is yes. However, on paper, one would think this won’t be that competitive. After all, the Steelers have Roethlisberger making the 18^th playoff start of his career, while the Dolphins’ Matt Moore will be making his first start in the postseason. But Moore is an experienced veteran and most likely won’t be THAT fazed by the moment. My doubt about this game is the doubt that plagues every non-Pittsburgh fan. The Steelers are extra-annoying to watch during home games. The fans, that dumb Styx song, the outraged screaming over every penalty against Pittsburgh, the whole nine yards.

Who will win: The Steelers. It’ll be somewhat close, but they’ve got it.

GIANTS AT PACKERS, 4:40 p.m. ET

Do the Giants have the Packers’ number in the playoffs? Maybe. Big Blue owns postseason wins at Lambeau Field in 2007 and 2011 after losing to them in the regular season in those years.

Here’s an interesting stat: Eli Manning has as many playoff wins at Lambeau as Aaron Rodgers. Ouch.

But forget about all that. I’m serious. Every season is different and every roster is different. I don’t buy that something that happened in 2011 has any barring on what happens on Sunday.

The Packers’ offense is red-hot as they finished fourth in the league in scoring and have ripped off four straight games of 30-plus points. They’re exactly in that sweet spot that every team aspires to heading into the postseason.

Meanwhile, the Giants finished 11-5, have a really solid defense, and yet I can’t sit here and say they’re a great team. I don’t think anybody can.

Should I watch?: Of course. It’s the last game of the weekend and it’s a good way to burn some time before the Golden Globes, if you’re into that sort of thing.

While will win: Hmmmm. I’m sticking with my theme that the past doesn’t matter. The Packers will take this one.

The post NFL Wild Card Weekend appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

I’ve recently found that eggnog has turned into the candy corn of the Christmas season. There are people that really love it – like my wife – and there are people that can’t stand it, like seemingly most of the population.

I’m good with eggnog, as long as whiskey is involved. Or rum. Hell, I’d take vodka. Adding booze to anything will get my attention. Especially during a Rams game, because lord knows you need alcohol to watch a team not score for 60 minutes.

Is that bad? It can’t be good, right?

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

Anyway, let’s move on before this turns into an AA meeting.

Presenting this week’s Playoff Contender Power Rankings:

 1. Patriots (1) – They struggled offensively, but still got a win on the road. New England is pretty much a lock to reach the Super Bowl. Give me one team that can beat the Patriots in Foxborough. I’ll wait …

 2. Cowboys (2) – Anyone else want to doubt Dak Prescott now? Going 32 of 36 for 279 yards and zero interceptions in a win over the red-hot Buccaneers will shut the mouths of even the most diabolical hater.

 3. Raiders (4) – The Silver and Black got another close win, this time over the Chargers. However, they need to send some complimentary wine to the Titans for beating the Chiefs. Now, the Raiders are back to being a game up in the division at 11-3 and are primed to get that coveted first-round bye in the playoffs.

 4. Chiefs (3) – Tough loss at home, but they’re still in a good place when it comes to the postseason.

 5. Giants (5) – It’s true that Big Blue seem to be getting the bounces going their way this season, but you can’t doubt their defense’s performance in a strong home win over the Lions.

 6. Seahawks (7) – Richard Sherman is getting all the wrong kinds of attention lately with his verbal antics, but this team is too experienced to ever be taken lightly. With their Thursday win over the dump-truck Rams, they clinched their fifth consecutive playoff appearance. Kudos to what Pete Carroll has built in Seattle.

 7. Falcons (9) – Defensive questions? Yes. Doubts about their ability to actually reach a Super Bowl? Sure. But I couldn’t be higher about this team right now as that offense is making opposing defenses look silly. Where’s the MVP love for Matt Ryan?

 8. Dolphins (13) – When backup QB Matt Moore can throw just 18 times, but have four of his throws go for touchdowns, you’re a team in good shape.

 9. Steelers (11) – Pittsburgh is currently riding a five-game winning streak, its longest since 2009.

 10. Lions (6) – It’s not just that Detroit laid an egg in Week 15 in New York, it’s that Green Bay is hot on the Lions’ heels. Matthew Stafford and Co. could realistically get knocked out of the playoff race.

 11. Packers (16) – You just know the Packers are going to get past the gagging Lions and win the division. You. Just. Know. It.

 12. Titans (14) – What a quality win on the road in Kansas City, but the job is not done. The Titans have identical 8-6 records with division-leading Houston and I think they’ll be the team to win the crown.

 13. Buccaneers (8) – They really needed a win in Dallas, but fell short. But all is not lost, because if they win out and get some help from Detroit, the Bucs can still get in.

 14. Ravens (15) – I don’t think they’ll make the postseason, but they’ve got a shot. And a matchup with the Steelers looming.

 15. Texans (17) – I’m still not fond of this team, but at least I don’t hate them anymore. Taking Brock Osweiler out of the starting lineup will do that to you. #Savage2016

 16. Redskins (12) – That was a truly uninspired effort against Carolina. How that happened, I have no idea.

 17. Broncos (19) – This team is like the patient in the medical drama who comes into the emergency room with severe wounds. And one doctor looks at another and slowly shakes his head. This one isn’t going to make it.

 18. Colts (n/a) – Well, they still technically have a shot, right? But we all know the truth. Poor Andrew Luck.

 19. Vikings – Ewww.

 Honorable mentions: Saints, Panthers, Bills.

Make golf plans: Cardinals, Eagles, Rams, Bears, 49ers, Chargers, Jets, Jaguars, Browns, Bengals.

WEEK 16

4 SEXY MATCHUPS

Ravens at Steelers

It’s real simple: Pittsburgh wins and it punches a ticket to the playoffs. The Steelers have been rushing the passer and protecting their own very well during this win streak and while the Ravens’ front is dangerous, I don’t think it will be enough. Look for the Black and Gold to wrap it up at home.

Pick: Steelers

Lions at Cowboys

Sure, this game seems sexy on the surface, but we all know how this is going to end, right? The Cowboys will control the line of scrimmage and dominate time of possession. The Lions will put up some points and the score may end up close, but come on. We’ve seen this movie before.

Pick: Cowboys

Broncos at Chiefs

Denver is circling the drain. And the Chiefs are going to wash them down all the way. Do you think Peyton Manning gets a little pleasure of seeing this team miss the playoffs in the first season without him? I know I would be that petty. But hey, that’s me.

Pick: Chiefs

Vikings at Packers

Aaron Rodgers needs to patent “R-E-L-A-X”. He’ll make a fortune with it. I’m calling my shot now: The Packers will make the playoffs. They’ll win this week and will take down Detroit in the season finale.

Pick: Packers

9 MATCHUPS THAT ARE MILDLY INTERESTING

Giants at Eagles: There’s nothing like seeing these two teams battle in Philadelphia. Just to see the vitriol between the two fan bases. I’m going with Big Blue.

Pick: Giants

Dolphins at Bills: Rex Ryan is apparently about to be kicked out the door in Buffalo, and this game could be the final nail in his coaching coffin. But I don’t know, this is just the type of game Rex wins. I think he’ll get it done.

Pick: Bills

Titans at Jaguars: Look for the Jags to come through with a lot of emotion early to honor the memory of their fired head coach. But we all know that won’t be enough to carry the day.

Pick: Titans

Falcons at Panthers: Would have been nice if the Panthers had actually kept Josh Norman. But they didn’t, so I’m calling for the Falcons to air it out all day and get a measure of revenge for last year’s bad 38-0 loss in Carolina.

Pick: Falcons

Redskins at Bears: Here’s hoping the Redskins can pick themselves up off the ground after falling on their face. However, it might be too late as far as the playoffs are concerned.

Pick: Redskins

Chargers at Browns: I really hope Cleveland doesn’t finish 0-16. This is their last real chance to get a win. I’m really pulling for them. So much so, that I’m doing something unwise …

Pick: Browns

Colts at Raiders: Indy is fighting to stay in the playoff hunt, but this will be the final Street Fighter death blow.

Pick: Raiders

Buccaneers at Saints: You never know which Saints team you’re going to get from week to week. I think we’ll get the bad one in this matchup.

Pick: Buccaneers

Bengals at Texans: The Tom Savage era officially begins this week. And I think it’ll be a positive one.

Pick: Texans

3 MATCHUPS THAT ARE A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME

Jets at Patriots – Pick: Patriots

Cardinals at Seahawks – Pick: Seahawks

49ers at Rams – Pick: Rams

The post NFL Week 16 Picks and Power Rankings appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

I just got through watching my Rams offense not score for almost 60 minutes on Sunday and understandably, needed a little football break for about an hour afterward.

The Bills-Raiders game was being shown in the Los Angeles market in the afternoon and when I flipped it on, Buffalo had just scored to take a 24-9 lead. I smirked a bit, because I still enjoy seeing a victorious and confident Rex Ryan. And quite frankly, the Bills were due to beat a good team at some point, right?

Within a matter of minutes, Carr and the Raiders erased the deficit and were up by 14. That’s 29 unanswered points. And while Carr’s stat line wasn’t amazing (19 of 35, 2 TDs), he’s unquestionably the fuel that makes this offense explode.

The Raiders aren’t just winning, they’re fun to watch. They’ve got panache. They’re the anti-Rams.

So, I ask you: Who would you put ahead of Carr in the MVP race? Matthew Stafford? OK, maybe, but you can’t deny the Raiders are better than the Lions. Ezekiel Elliott? Sure, but he’s a rookie and he’s going to split the Dallas votes with Dak Prescott.

Tom Brady? Shutup. No Tom Brady. He was suspended four games – fair or not – and even then, he hasn’t been as dynamic as Carr.

So, if the MVP vote was up to me (it isn’t), and if the vote was to take place right now (it wouldn’t), here’s my ballot:

 1. Derek Carr
 2. Matthew Stafford
 3. Ezekiel Elliott
 4. Tom Brady
 5. Johnny Hekker

Oh, you have a problem with a punter on this list? Have you seen him kick the ball? He’s amazing! And Bill Belichick can’t stop raving about him, so that has to count for something.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

Anyway, let’s move on. With four weeks remaining in the regular season, let’s break down our Playoff Contender Power Rankings.

1. (Last week: 2) Cowboys – I had my doubts about Dallas’ defense last week. I’m not saying those fears have been completely assuaged, but I feel confident that Rod Marinelli’s group can do enough to keep teams at bay, all the way to the Super Bowl.

2. Patriots (1) – They beat the Rams, but it’s plain to see that there are no home-run hitters on this offense. And while New England’s defense looked great in Week 13, let’s see what happens when they face an offense that can actually score.

3. Raiders (4) – Love everything about them. They can hit big plays, grind it on the ground and even come up with timely defensive stops. This team is Hollywood. Too bad they’re in Oakland.

4. Chiefs (5) – Are they dynamic on offense? No. Does that matter? No, again. Kansas City’s defense will keep the Chiefs in every game and sitting at 9-3, they’re in position to really shake things up in the AFC.

5. Seahawks (3) – They blew out the Panthers at home, but lost Earl Thomas in the process. What he means to this defense can’t be overstated. It’s a crushing loss and one that could cost them a Super Bowl berth, especially if they end up in Jerry World for a playoff game.

6. Broncos (6) – Paxton Lynch was good enough to get Denver past the Jaguars, but they’ll be in trouble if he sees regular playing time going forward. Fingers crossed Trevor Siemian will be good to go.

7. Lions – Matthew Stafford keeps winning and I’m sure somewhere, Calvin Johnson is squirming. It’s nice when you don’t feel pressure to throw every other pass to Megatron. The results prove that.

8. Ravens (8) – Loved that impressive performance at home vs. the Dolphins, but I’m not going to overreact. Now, if they get past the Patriots on Monday night, they’ll really have something going.

9. Steelers (15) – I had this team much lower last week. I gave them a big bump, but not because I was really impressed by a win over the Giants. I just hate the teams below them more.

10. Falcons (9) – I don’t want to be down on the Falcons. They have a lot of talent, but that loss at home against the Chiefs was a bummer. But don’t worry, they’ve got games coming against the Rams, Niners and Panthers over the next three weeks. They could be moving up in these rankings very soon.

11. Dolphins (7) – I know, they just lost one game, but the old stinkbomb Dolphins made an appearance during that trip to Baltimore. That worries me, even though they have very winnable games coming up. They need to prove their worth before I go all in with them.

12. Buccaneers (16) – Yes, the Baby Bucs. Jameis Winston and Co. followed an impressive win over the Seahawks with a tough victory on the road vs. the Chargers. And their defense has really shown up lately and is among the more underrated units in the league.

13. Giants (11) – Worst 8-4 team in the league.

14. Redskins (10) – The Redskins have a lot to be happy about. But not enough. I have a feeling Washington will be on the outside looking in when the playoffs arrive.

15. Titans (13) – They got penalized for being on a bye. And now they get the Broncos at home. They might be even lower come next week.

16. Colts (n/a) – They’re here because they play in the putrid AFC South and have a shot at the division title. They did look good on Monday vs. the Jets, but who wouldn’t?

17. Bills (14) – Rex Ryan is probably still watching that film from the Raiders game and wondering what the hell happened. Buffalo hasn’t beat a good team all season.

18. Vikings (17) – Just, ugh.

19. Packers (n/a) – They’re back at .500. I can’t think of anything else to say about them. I don’t buy their chances.

20. exans (18) – I hate this team.

Honorable mentions: Chargers, Saints, Eagles.

Make golf plans: Cardinals, Jets, Bengals, Browns, Jaguars, Rams, 49ers, Bears, Panthers.

Now that we’ve got the rankings out of the way, let’s see what’s cooking this week.

WEEK 14

5 SEXY MATCHUPS

Raiders at Chiefs
This is the game of the week, and we’re getting in on a Thursday night. It’s a shame that a tilt with so much riding on the result has to be played with teams on short rest, but at least everyone is dealing with the same hand.

Now, I’m high as a kite on the Raiders. I love everything about them, but I sense a slip coming and it’s this week. The Chiefs handled the Silver and Black fairly easily in Oakland earlier this season and Kansas City’s defense is even stronger now. With the crowd at Arrowhead Stadium playing a factor, the Chiefs will make the AFC West race a nail-biter down the stretch.

Pick: Chiefs

Seahawks at Packers

These two teams have quite the history. From the Fail Mary to that NFC Championship game two seasons back, we’ve been given many hours of free entertainment.

This won’t be one of those games. The Packers can’t really run the ball, have trouble moving the ball through the air and their defense isn’t great. Even with all of Seattle’s holes, the Seahawks will take this one on the road. And I don’t think it will be that close.

Pick: Seahawks

Cowboys at Giants
The last time Dallas lost was Week 1 and that was against New York at home. And while the Cowboys have gone on to greater things, the Giants have managed to stay in the thick of things by (barely) beating a bunch of garbage teams.

And now, Big Blue won’t have Jason Pierre-Paul on Sunday and for a while after because of his surgery to repair a sports hernia. The Cowboys are going to get some vengeance here.

Pick: Cowboys

Ravens at Patriots
This is Baltimore’s time. The Patriots are ripe for a loss and the Ravens have traditionally played New England tough. This is the type of game Joe Flacco excels in.

I’m going with the upset here.

Pick: Ravens

Broncos at Titans
Is this a stretch as a sexy matchup? Maybe. But this game will have a big impact on the AFC playoff race and to me, that’s worth your attention.

Now, who will win? Broncos QB Trevor Siemian is out of the walking boot as he recovers from a foot injury and has been able to practice with the team. I’m going to assume he plays. That should be enough for Denver to escape with a close win.

Pick: Broncos

5 MATCHUPS THAT ARE MILDLY INTERESTING

Steelers at Bills: This is the time of year the Steelers shake off their midseason blahs to make a run to the postseason. They’ll get another win here.

Pick: Steelers

Redskins at Eagles: Carson Wentz looks like a rookie again, but he gets to face a Redskins team playing their third straight road game. That’s brutal. However, I still think Washington takes this one.

Pick: Redskins

Cardinals at Dolphins: Miami gets a chance to shake off that ugly Week 13. The Dolphins will get it done at home.

Pick: Dolphins

Texans at Colts: I guess. Two .500 teams fighting it out for first place in a bad division. I’ll go with the home team while holding my nose.

Pick: Colts

Saints at Buccaneers: I want to see the Bucs continue their rise. They should be able to do that in front of their home crowd with a defense that can get after the passer.

Pick: Buccaneers

6 MATCHUPS THAT ARE A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME

Vikings at Jaguars – Pick: Vikings
Chargers at Panthers – Pick: Chargers
Bengals at Browns – Pick: Browns (Yes, really)
Bears at Lions – Pick: Lions
Jets at 49ers – Pick: Jets
Falcons at Rams – Pick: Falcons

The post NFL Week 14: Picks & Power Rankings appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

I see scenes of snow-lined streets during the winter in the Northeast and I know what that feels like. Sure, it doesn’t snow in Southern California, unless you’re in the mountains, but that doesn’t matter.

This week, the temperatures here have dipped into the low 60s during the day and lows in the high 40s at night. Guys, I had to wear a JACKET. Life is rough.

So, don’t tell me about rough weather (ducks).

Anyway, enough of my nonsense. We’re past Thanksgiving, which means that we can ditch paying attention to half the league and concentrate on the teams that actually have a shot at the postseason.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

In fact, here are my Playoff Contender Power Rankings:

1) Patriots – Tom Brady and Gronk might be banged up, but I never bet against Bill Belichick. Even with a defense that hasn’t had the quality of years past.

2) Cowboys – They have the league’s best record, but I just don’t fully trust that defense, even though that sounds like I’m nitpicking.

3) Seahawks – This is a team that can take out the Patriots and then score five points against the Buccaneers. But they’re battle-tested.

4) Raiders – Love watching the Silver and Black and I’ll love them even more if they get a home playoff game. They’re still young though.

5) Chiefs – Don’t sleep on 8-3 Kansas City. They don’t do anything really well, but they never really hurt themselves. That’s Andy Reid for you.

6) Broncos – I imagine this team is going to slip down these rankings over the final few weeks. The NFL has figured out Trevor Siemian and this defense isn’t the same as before.

7) Dolphins – I’ve been a Ryan Tannehill apologist for a long time and it pleases me to see Miami put a solid team around him.

8) Ravens – They’re never going to be a dynamic offensive team, but their defense will keep them in every game. That will be enough to take the AFC North this season.

9) Falcons – Love that offense. Don’t love that defense. But they’re getting wins and there’s no reason to think that won’t continue.

10) Redskins – Kirk Cousins threw for close to 500 yards on Thanksgiving and lost. This is a team that could sink down the stretch.

11) Giants – They’re 8-3, but played tight games against the Browns, Rams, Bengals and Bears. Gross.

12) Lions – I really should have Detroit higher, but that close win over the struggling Vikings on Thanksgiving wasn’t a good sign of this team’s consistency.

13) Titans – This team has a lot of talent and could rise fast in these rankings. A win over the Broncos on Dec. 11 coming off their bye will be a good start.

14) Bills – Buffalo is sitting at 6-5, but the Bills’ only claim to fame is beating a Patriots team with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. When they play elite competition, they lose.

15) Steelers – Should they be this low? Yes. This isn’t your daddy’s Steelers defense and I don’t have much confidence that they’ll be able to win the division, which is the only way they’ll reach the playoffs.

16) Buccaneers – I don’t buy Tampa as a real threat yet, but hey, the Bucs beat the Seahawks at home. And held them to five points. Kudos!

17) Vikings – Doesn’t every NFL team deal with injuries? Why is it that the Vikings have completely collapsed?

18) Texans – They’re only here because they’re above .500.

Honorable mentions: Chargers, Packers, Saints, Colts, Eagles.

Make golf plans: Jets, Bengals, Browns, Jaguars, Cardinals, Rams, 49ers, Bears, Panthers.

So, now that we know where we sit at the moment, let’s take a peek ahead at what’s coming this week.

WEEK 13

5 SEXY MATCHUPS

Cowboys at Vikings

Finally, a Thursday night game where I won’t grimace every time someone takes a hit. As you know, both the Vikings and Cowboys were in action on Thanksgiving, so they actually get a full week of rest before playing again. The NFL needs to get it together and fix the schedule so that teams playing on Thursdays can do so off a bye week.

Anyway, Dallas is still going like a great song on repeat. The Cowboys are riding a 10-game winning streak and although the Vikings have that vaunted defense, there’s no reason to believe Big D can’t use the same ball-control strategy that can keep their own questionable defense off the field.

Pick: Cowboys

Chiefs at Falcons

The Chiefs don’t have the offensive firepower of the Falcons and that’s not in dispute. However, Kansas City does have pass-rusher Justin Houston back in the lineup and that can’t be overstated.

Houston is the reason why this game will be close. However, Matt Ryan and Co. should be able to make one more big play than their opponent and take this one at home.

Pick: Chiefs

Dolphins at Ravens

Miami has rattled off six straight wins, mainly because the Dolphins defense has showed up in a big way and Ryan Tannehill has been playing like a high first-round pick.

This is a big test on the road against the Ravens, who boast a stout defense of their own. If they can bottle up running back Jay Ajayi and make Tannehill beat them, they’ve got a real shot here.

In fact, I’ve talked myself into it. I like Baltimore to end Miami’s fun.

Pick: Ravens

Bills at Raiders

Come on, is Buffalo for real?

I’m thinking they’re more of a fugazy (see: Donnie Brasco) and I’m thinking this game will prove my theory. The Bills should be able to score on the Raiders and their defense should be able to make plays, but I don’t have confidence in them to stand tall against an actual contender.

But, like every Raiders game this season, it’ll be a fun watch.

Pick: Raiders

Giants at Steelers

Both teams really need this one. And both of these teams annoy me. I’m sure I’ll be upset with either result, but I have a feeling Big Blue will be able to use their superior receivers to their advantage, even though they’ll be playing a second straight road game.

Pick: Giants

5 MATCHUPS THAT ARE MILDLY INTERESTING

Panthers at Seahawks: Seattle will try to rebound from an embarrassing road loss to Tampa and that should be an easier task on Sunday night in front of its home crowd. This game should be the final nail in Carolina’s coffin.

Pick: Seahawks

Texans at Packers: This game comes at a great time for Green Bay as the Packers can get back to .500 with a win. They’ll do so.

Pick: Packers

Redskins-Cardinals: Washington will get a road win against a Cardinals team that’s dying on the operating table.

Pick: Redskins

Buccaneers at Chargers: Tampa is riding high, but have to make a cross-country trip. Meanwhile, the Chargers are still hanging around the playoff race and have the potential to beat any team. They’ll get it done.

Pick: Chargers

Lions at Saints: Two dome teams with solid offenses. Lots of points here, but I’ll go with the home team.

Pick: Saints

5 MATCHUPS THAT ARE A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME

Rams at Patriots – Pick: Patriots
Colts at Jets – Pick: Jets
Eagles at Bengals – Pick: Eagles
49ers at Bears – Pick: Bears
Broncos at Jaguars – Pick: Broncos

The post NFL Week 13: Picks & Power Rankings appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

I know way too many people who are rooting for 2016 to end. Not me. I never want a year to end. Another year just means another tally added to my age, which brings me that much closer to being a nursing home resident and gumming my dinner.

I don’t care. I’ll sit through another election season if it means I won’t age.

But I digress …

So, the clichéd Thanksgiving week column dictates that I should waste a bunch of words blathering about family and food and good feelings and world peace and easy L.A. traffic and blah, blah, blah.

I don’t feel that way about this holiday. If I had to pick one emotion about Thanksgiving, it would be disappointment. Not saying I don’t enjoy it, because I do. In fact, my wife and I are getting together with family on Thursday and the food and wine will be flowing. But when it comes to the meal, I let myself down. I underachieve year after year.

I wait all day for this elaborate dinner and within 10 minutes, I’m full and dozing off at the table. I’m not one of the great ones.

But whatever, nobody cares about my personal life. Let’s move on!

Week 11 picks:  10-4

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

Not gonna lie, it was a tough week around Saraf headquarters after last week’s embarrassment. But I had a great week of practice and it showed on game day. Not everyone can go 10-4, folks.

So, thank you to the Redskins, Dolphins, Seahawks and Panthers for making me look like I actually watch the NFL for once.

Raise your glass to: Kirk Cousins

I’ve always rooted for Kirk. People got upset when Mike Shanahan drafted him in the fourth round in the same year the Redskins took Robert Griffin III.

People have doubted his ability and lauded the Redskins for their reticence to give Cousins a long-term contract after a solid 2015 season.

And those people are idiots. Cousins lit up the Packers on Sunday to the tune of 375 yards passing and 3 TDs in a big win that kept Washington on pace in a very competitive NFC East. The game was also the second time this season that the Redskins have topped 500 yards of total offense.

That’ll do, Kirk. That’ll do. And you’re going to reap the rewards this coming offseason. Good for you.

Boo this man: Roger Goodell

Wow, someone on the Internet is talking smack about the NFL commissioner. What a surprise. Not hacky at all.

But this is for a different reason. My beef with Roger is his insistence on playing games over in London. Let me tell you something about the British: They think we’re tools. Uneducated, silly, tools.

And they don’t care for football. Oh, sorry, “American football.” Sure, the stadiums are always full, but have you seen more uninspired crowds? I’ve seen surgeries with more shouting.

Now, compare those typical London crowds with the fans that packed Estadio Azteca on Monday night in Mexico City. Now, THAT was a football crowd. Everyone was dressed in Silver and Black, knew the game backwards and forwards and knew when to get emotional.

I loved it. The NFL should play a game in Mexico every year. Forget about Europe. Smarten up, Roger.

Now, on to the picks!

VIKINGS AT LIONS

So, this game starts at 9:30 a.m. in Los Angeles, so that means I’ll be enjoying a mimosa or two at kickoff. Which is great because I don’t anticipate there will be much scoring here. So I’ll need a drink or two to fight off the boredom.

The Lions are tied with the Vikings at the top of the NFC North, but are still an up-and-down team. I still can’t put my full faith in them, even at home.

The Vikings finally ended their losing skid last week and will have enough momentum to get the W here with a strong defensive effort.

Pick: Vikings

REDSKINS AT COWBOYS

This one starts around 1:30, so I should be about two IPAs deep and feeling dangerous.

And this is a game you want to feel jazzed for. This is arguably the best game of the week. Both offenses shouldn’t have a problem moving the ball, but while the Redskins are more of a big-play threat, the Cowboys will grind out 10-plus play drives with regularity.

And it’s that factor that I think carries the day for Big D. They will play ball control, keep the ball out of Kirk Cousins’ hands and that win streak should keep rolling.

Pick: Cowboys

STEELERS AT COLTS

I should feel bad for the Colts, but I don’t. I feel bad for Andrew Luck. He’s the one who will likely be out with a concussion because the organization he sacrifices his body for doesn’t feel it’s important to protect him.

So, fine. Here’s hoping Andrew has a relaxing Thanksgiving while his dopey team goes out there and gets squashed.

By the way, at this point of the night, I’ll have had a third glass of wine and will be out for the count.

Pick: Steelers

CARDINALS AT FALCONS

The Cardinals aren’t just struggling; they’re agitating their head coach Bruce Arians so much he had to go into the hospital with chest pains. By the way, that’s not me throwing hyperbole out there.

“I think there’s a trend here,” Larry Fitzgerald told the Arizona Republic. “It’s stressful when we’re playing bad. We were 13-2 last year and he was feeling good. As a player, you feel partly responsible for what’s happened. A lot of that falls on our shoulders.”

Fitz is probably being a tad too hard on himself, but there’s no doubting this has been a disappointing start for Arizona. It’s hard to point a finger at any one reason for it, but the bounces clearly haven’t been going their way.

Now they get a second straight road game against a team with a solid offense coming off a bye. This one is pretty easy.

Pick: Falcons

49ERS AT DOLPHINS

The Dolphins are rolling. They survived a slog in the rain in Los Angeles long enough for Ryan Tannehill to come through late with two clutch TD passes to get the win. That is what winning teams do and Miami is acting like one.

They’ll take care of the 1-9 49ers without much of a problem.

Pick: Dolphins

RAMS AT SAINTS

Speaking of Los Angeles, I’d like to share a couple stories from my excursion to the Coliseum on Sunday.

 1) I can’t tell if Jared Goff is any good. I had a decent vantage point from my end zone seats, so it was like watching the all-22 film. And what troubled me was the Rams’ refusal to throw the ball down the field. Now, I don’t mean that Goff has receivers running deep routes and he failed to hit them. The Rams didn’t have anyone going deep. They were all quick slants or out routes. Maybe the weather played a factor in that, maybe it didn’t. But I can’t make a judgment on the rookie quarterback until he actually makes an NFL throw.

 2) Speaking of the rain, the weather report said it wouldn’t start coming down until 8 p.m., so I showed up to the game in shorts and no jacket. So, I went to buy a beanie at the souvenir stand. As my wife and I were standing in line, we discussed how much I liked the throwback beanie and that I would buy that one. There was one left. The jerk in front of me, who I know heard our conversation, bought that last hat. I’ve never been so close to committing a homicide.

Anyway, back to the game. I hope Goff gets a chance to throw deep in this one. But I still think New Orleans will take this one.

Pick: Saints

GIANTS AT BROWNS

The Giants are 7-3 and I’ve seen people calling them frauds because they haven’t beaten any good teams. Well, that trend continues this week.

Pick: Giants

CHARGERS AT TEXANS

The Texans got hosed in Mexico City. They had a touchdown ruled out of bounds and were on the losing end of a couple of inexplicable review calls. And they had some fan shooting a laser pointer in their eyes.

This is a game Houston should probably lose as it welcomes a streaky Chargers team to town. But something tells me they’ll get it done at home.

Pick: Texans

BENGALS AT RAVENS

The Bengals have all kinds of injury issues and have to go on the road against a Ravens defense that played well enough to win last week, but fell just short.

I like a reinvigorated Joe Flacco to prove Ray Lewis wrong and come through with an inspired effort at home against the division rivals.

Pick: Ravens

JAGUARS AT BILLS

Give me Buffalo at home, but good lord, who is sitting down to watch this stinkbomb without being forced to?

Pick: Bills

TITANS AT BEARS

Marcus Mariota and Co. disappointed me last week as they should have been able to handle the Colts, even if it was on the road.

They’re getting back to .500 this week though. It always helps to get a cupcake like the banged-up Bears after a tough loss.

Pick: Titans

SEAHAWKS AT BUCCANEERS

Hmmm, this one should be a fairly easy win for Seattle, but hold everything. The Legion of Boom will be short a couple hands.

Earl Thomas is out. DeShawn Shead is out. Running back C.J. Prosise will be out for a while. Doesn’t that give out pause?

Maybe this is the week Jameis Winston gets the Buccaneers above .500 with a signature win at home. Just, maybe …

Pick: Buccaneers

PANTHERS AT RAIDERS

The Raiders got a clutch win on the road, but let’s face it: They got a little lucky. Meanwhile, the Panthers are facing a must-win game every week. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from watching this team over the past few years, they play their best football with the proverbial gun to their heads.

I’m going with an upset here.

Pick: Panthers

PATRIOTS AT JETS

Yeah, like this one will be close. I don’t care that Ryan Fitzpatrick is starting.

Pick: Patriots

CHIEFS AT BRONCOS

I usually go with a team coming off a bye. Denver is indeed that team in this matchup. And the Chiefs didn’t look great last week.

Pick: Broncos

PACKERS AT EAGLES

Another sexy matchup! And another opportunity to see how far Green Bay has fallen. The Packers defense is an absolute mess and I don’t see that getting better on the road.

Pick: Eagles

The post NFL Week 12 appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

Me neither.

I always wonder what an NFL quarterback feels before making his first start. What exactly goes through his mind in the week leading up to the game?

“This is my first step to Canton!”

“Did my first start have to come against Ndamukong Suh?”

“Ugh, I feel my shoulders don’t properly fill out my jersey.”

“What if I buttfumble?”

“Oh, no, my Mom is bringing a sign to the stadium that says ‘I love my sonny.’”

The mindset must be a mix of excitement, a genuine pee-your-pants-level fear, great hope and endless doubt.

Does confidence have any room to fit in somewhere? I know I’d have zero faith in myself.

I feel for Jared Goff. I’m sure Rams coach Jeff Fisher through he was doing his No. 1 overall pick a favor by holding him out of the first half of the regular season, but an unfortunate byproduct of that was to brighten the spotlight. Especially since other rookie QBs have been tearing up the league.

All eyes will be on the Coliseum on Sunday, to see Ryan Gosling Jr. take his first hacks at the pro level. My expectations are low, because the Rams have an awful offensive line and receivers that are questionable, at best.

But I’m hoping for the best. And I’ll be there in person. Second Rams home game of the season for Mr. Saraf! I’m even going to drop $100 for parking because I want to tailgate!

OK, let’s move on.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

Week 10 picks: 5-9

Oh, like you’re so perfect, huh? Yes, my Week 10 record was a horror show, but I was agonizingly close with a couple picks.

I took the Bengals and they lost by one to the Giants. I had the Saints in position to get past the Broncos before a ridiculous special teams play screwed that up. If the Steelers played a lick of defense, they were in position to take down Big D.

But then again, I took the Packers to beat the Titans, the Bears over the Buccaneers and thought the Patriots would dominate the Seahawks at home.

Sigh. Time to shake it off and respond strong.

Raise your glass to: Russell Wilson

Nobody would have blinked if the Seahawks laid an egg in New England. They were playing on a short week and had to travel cross-country for a Sunday night matchup. Plus, it’s the freaking Patriots playing at home.

Did Russell and his gimpy leg limp to an uninspired loss? Hell, no. He just threw for 348 yards and 3 TDs and the Seahawks did some serious work in a 31-24 win.

Honorable mentions: Marcus Mariota (4 TD passes) and Ezekiel Elliott (3 total TDs)

Boo this man: Brock Osweiler

Yes, the Texans won the game. Yes, Brock O threw 2 touchdown passes. But good lord, he was 14 of 27 for only 99 yards. If I had one word to describe that stat line, it would be: WTF?

How do you play in a professional football game and throw for less than 100 yards? Disgusting!

But hey, the Texans are 6-3, so whatever, right? Houston might be the first team in history to suck out loud all the way to the postseason.

Dishonorable mentions: Philip Rivers (4 INTs), Green Bay Packers (everyone was bad).

Alrighty, on to the picks!

WEEK 11

SAINTS AT PANTHERS

Something’s rotten in the Carolinas, but Cam Newton apparently isn’t worried.

“… We have a locker room full of winners and a locker room full of fight still, and I know I’m willing to go to battle with those guys,” Newton said via NFL.com. “I can’t wait until Thursday.”

Well, that’s nice.

I’m definitely in no rush to watch this Panthers team after they handed a win to the Chiefs at home. A loss so ugly it could derail whatever playoff hopes they have remaining.

Now, they get a division test. And I have no confidence they’ll be able to get out of their own way against the Saints, a team that’s actually playing well as of late.

That being said, I’m not picking against them. Not with Vegas oddsmakers listing Carolina as a 3.5-point favorite. Somehow, I think they’ll pull this one out. And it will probably be an ugly watch.

Pick: Panthers

BILLS AT BENGALS

Marvin Lewis always had an excuse. Sure, they’ve had playoff flameouts in five straight years, but he deserved credit for getting his team to the dance in the first place.

Now, Cincinnati is sitting at 3-5-1. If things get worse, this might be the year the Bengals go searching for a new head coach.

Thankfully, they welcome the Bills and their three-game losing streak into their house. Buffalo is coming off a bye, but I don’t think that matters here.

Pick: Bengals

CARDINALS AT VIKINGS

I liken the Vikings’ season to the movie Titanic.

Everything starts out great. There’s some light comedy, Billy Zane and Kathy Bates. Leo hooks up with the pretty redhead and steams up a turn-of-the-century jalopy, declares himself the king of the world and all is fine and dandy.

Then an iceberg comes into view and before you know it, pretty much everyone has either froze to death in freezing water, drowned, committed suicide, or been split in two by a falling boiler.

It’s horrifying to watch something that could have been so great just dashed to pieces. All hope is lost in Minnesota. Just let go.

Pick: Cardinals

BEARS AT GIANTS

Yeah, like I’d ever pick the Bears again.

Pick: Giants

TITANS AT COLTS

Man, if Andrew Luck and the Colts had the Titans’ ability to run the ball, that would be … I dunno, it’d be something good.

The Titans will be a week removed from their impressive pasting of the Packers, but I’ve heard people say not to trust blowout losses or blowout wins. And the game against Green Bay was ridiculous because of the ease in which they moved the ball down the field.

Are they due for a letdown? Yes, somewhat, but the Titans can still move the ball via the run game and that can help keep Luck off the field. This is where I probably make my first mistake of the week, but I want to take a risk here.

Pick: Titans

BUCCANEERS AT CHIEFS

It’s hard to predict which Buccaneers team will show up most weeks. I have no such problem this time.

The Tampa team we’ll see on Sunday will be the one that can’t hold off an aggressive Kansas City pass rush and will watch Jameis Winston make mistakes. The Chiefs are red-hot, having won five straight.

There’s no reason to think they won’t get a sixth.

Pick: Chiefs

STEELERS AT BROWNS

I’ve said it before: The Browns will win a game this season.

But once again, it’s not going to be this week, even though Cody Kessler is playing surprisingly good football and the team is giving its full effort.

The Steelers defense will get it together after being torched by the Cowboys.

Pick: Steelers

RAVENS AT COWBOYS

The Ravens have won two straight and are sitting on top of a surprisingly soft AFC North. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have won eight straight and are sitting on top of a surprisingly strong NFC East.

Not only that, Tony Romo gave a surprising vote of confidence to rookie Dak Prescott, who is now free to control the reins for the rest of the season – barring something catastrophic. This team has come together.

I’m looking for the Cowboys offensive line to hold off a good Ravens front seven.

Pick: Cowboys

JAGUARS AT LIONS

Matthew Stafford is having a season to remember and I don’t see how the Jaguars are going to stand in the way of that. Especially with the Lions coming off a bye and playing at home.

Vegas has Detroit favored by 6.5 points. I think the Lions cover that fairly easily.

Pick: Lions

DOLPHINS AT RAMS

It’s really fashionable to take shots at Jeff Fisher and I tend to stay out of that. I don’t know why he’s been able to last this long in the NFL with so few winning seasons, and quite frankly, I don’t care.

However, I’m having a hard time finding the logic in starting Jared Goff now. You held him out this long, only to let him loose against a Dolphins team that’s playing solid defense as of late?

A team with a front seven that can tear the Rams offensive line apart? I just hope Goff doesn’t get hurt.

This game will be closer than it should, but Miami gets it done.

Pick: Dolphins

PATRIOTS AT 49ERS

I already feel sorry for the 49ers.

Pick: Patriots

EAGLES AT SEAHAWKS

Philly came through with a solid defensive effort at home to beat the Falcons. Now, the Eagles are in for a true test in Seattle.

How will that defense respond against a Seahawks offense that has found itself over the past two weeks? And more important, how will Carson Wentz respond when he won’t be able to hear his offensive coordinator give him the play thanks to that thunderous crowd?

I actually think both will do pretty well. But I don’t think that will be enough to win.

Pick: Seahawks

PACKERS AT REDSKINS

Look, until the Packers figure out what the hell is going wrong up there, I’m not wasting a pick on them. They got blown out by the damn Titans.

This is more an anti-Green Bay pick than a pro-Washington pick.

Pick: Redskins

TEXANS AT RAIDERS

This game is appointment viewing because it’s in Mexico City. What a great matchup for the fans down there.

Look for Brock Osweiler to continue to stink out loud and for the Silver and Black to tear the Texans apart.

Pick: Raiders

The post NFL Week 11 appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

It hurt. It confused me. It made me doubt everything I thought I knew. Is there truth in this world anymore? Are things slipping away?

Is it possible that we’ve been living a lie?

I mean, how? How? How in the hell did the Lakers – just days removed from blowing out the Warriors at Staples Center – fall to the 1-5 Mavericks? A Dallas team without Dirk Nowitzki and Deron Williams?

I thought the Purple and Gold were making progress. Who’s to blame for this?! Huh?! I’m so disillusioned.

Oh yeah, I’m supposed to be talking football. Let’s continue!

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

Week 9 picks: 7-6

Just like Jeff Fisher, I’m right at or slightly above average when it comes to making picks. You ever revisit a decision and not just wonder why the hell you made the choice you did, but how you were ever in that mindset?

Titans on the road? Really?

What’s more, I was this close to a perfect call in that Lions-Vikings game. It was low-scoring and Minnesota pulled out a touchdown with seconds remaining in the fourth quarter that should have won the game. But, no. Matthew Stafford had to do his thing and the Lions won in overtime.

So close.

Raise your glass to: Matthew Stafford

I was just talking about him. The Lions have won five games this season and Stafford has come through with late-game heroics in all of them. Suddenly, he finds himself to be a sexy pick for MVP.

So, let’s summarize his life: He was a standout quarterback in high school, starred at Georgia in college and was a No. 1 overall draft pick before the rookie wage scale was instituted. He’s a lock for at least 4,000 yards passing every year and is now joining the discussion for the biggest individual award in the NFL.

I feel ashamed that I have a jealous streak, but here we are. I resent you, Matthew.

Boo this man: Ben Roethlisberger

This macho nonsense needs to stop.

I know it’s a real sign of manhood in the NFL to shrug off an injury and play on Sundays, no matter if you have bits of surgically repaired flesh just dangling off your limbs. The players who do tough it out get respect, the ones who don’t are weak sauce jabronis who definitely wear shorts in the shower.

There’s a limit to everything though.

Watching Big Ben against the Ravens on Sunday, it was so obvious he was struggling. Maybe he was in pain, maybe he wasn’t, but you can’t miss a couple games to have freaking knee surgery, not really practice and expect everything to go well on game day.

Like a majority of people, I will show up for work even if I’m feeling a little under the weather. However, if I’m hacking every five seconds, spraying phlegm within a 15-foot radius of my desk and nauseating everyone around me, wouldn’t I be better served by staying home instead of making my co-workers ill?

It’s great to play hurt. It’s another thing to actively hurt your team by doing so. It makes more sense to just take another week off.

Now, on to the picks!

WEEK 10

BROWNS AT RAVENS

Rest assured, the Browns will win a game this season, despite their 0-9 record. Aside from two games against the Patriots and Cowboys, this team has been in every game it’s played.

It’s heartbreaking to watch, in a way. It must be the worst thing in the world to play on a winless team. You have to practice hard, watch film, nurse your injuries and you don’t even get a win for your troubles.

Sure, the nice paycheck is wonderful to have and takes the sting out of most things, but still.

Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, the Browns aren’t getting that first win this week. But it’s coming.

Pick: Ravens

CHIEFS AT PANTHERS

Do you know what was up with Alex Smith last week? Apparently he had a concussion, but then he didn’t, but he still wanted to sit out. But he was also upset about something …. quarterbacks, bunch of whiners.

Speaking of whiners, Cam Newton took another couple hard hits in last Sunday’s win against the Rams, but the only thing positive about that game was the final score. And now they get the Chiefs – mind you, in their own building – and their remarkable team balance.

Give me K.C. here. Smith will be back in the lineup and that should be enough. I’m thinking the AFC West will get three teams into the playoffs this year.

Pick: Chiefs

PACKERS AT TITANS

So, we’ve reached the point where Aaron Rodgers is calling out teammates. How lovely. This is what every teams strives for, said nobody ever.

The Packers can’t run the ball, their receivers can’t get open and it doesn’t appear their defense can stop anyone. So, yeah, I get why Mr. Rodgers is frustrated. I also don’t have a clue what’s going to happen this week.

The Titans are a ball control offense that supposedly plays tough up front. That didn’t happen at all in their loss at San Diego. Now, they’ve got a Green Bay team coming into their house with something to prove.

I don’t think this one is close.

Pick: Packers

VIKINGS AT REDSKINS

The Redskins can put points on the board and the Vikings can’t. End of story.

Pick: Redskins

FALCONS AT EAGLES

The Eagles have lost four of their last five games and things have cooled since their red-hot start that caused Carson Wentz jerseys to rocket up the NFL sales charts.

After back-to-back road losses, you would think Philadelphia would be welcoming a home game, but the Eagles have the Falcons this week in a matchup of birdie teams.

Atlanta and its offense are rolling over everyone at the moment and until someone proves they can stem the tide, I’m not picking against Matt Ryan and Co.

Pick: Falcons

BEARS AT BUCCANEERS

How about that Jay Cutler? Remember when he was left for dead by pretty much everyone, only to lead the Bears to an emotional win? He even added an impassioned locker-room speech, to boot!

Chicago is coming off a bye, which should have allowed Cutler enough time to return to his usual disinterested self, but I have faith in him. I think Smokin’ Jay does it again this week, and starts to bring more people on to his bandwagon.

Pick: Bears

TEXANS AT JAGUARS

Sometimes, I feel sorry for those reporters in Jacksonville who are forced to come up with multiple stories a week on the Jaguars. What else can you possibly say past Week 3?

Thankfully, I don’t have that burden. So, I’m going to take the Texans here and we’ll leave it at that.

Pick: Texans

BRONCOS AT SAINTS

The Broncos defense have put up 30 points to the Raiders. Granted, the Saints aren’t the Raiders, but they can put points on the board. And New Orleans will be at home in the dome on Sunday.

Hmm, do I have the guts? Yes, I do for once. By the way, I know I’m going to be kicking myself in the picks review next week.

Pick: Saints

RAMS AT JETS

Oh, goody.

This Rams team that can’t run the ball gets to take on the Jets and their brick wall front seven. I’m setting the over/under on three-and-outs at 7 and I’m encouraging people to take the over.

At least the Jets offense is also a joke, but not enough of a joke where they can’t put enough points up to get past L.A. at home.

Pick: Jets

DOLPHINS AT CHARGERS

The Dolphins are proof that fans shouldn’t freak out if their team starts off 1-3. Sure, this team looked like garbage and couldn’t get out of their own way, but things improve. Players get healthy and offenses begin to take shape.

And here comes a matchup to put a record scratch on all the fun. San Diego might have voted down a ballot measure that would have funded a new stadium, but its team is putting a good product on the field.

A win here gets the Chargers back to .500. They should be even better than that.

Pick: Chargers

49ERS AT CARDINALS

In case you didn’t hear, Colin Kaepernick didn’t vote.

He made all that fuss over his demonstration (which I supported) and then didn’t even exercise his true American right to make his voice heard. I think … yeah, I think I have a problem with that. That has nothing to do with this game, but that’s just another reason why the 49ers are awful.

Pick: Cardinals

COWBOYS AT STEELERS

Remember all those things I said about Ben Roethlisberger earlier? I stand by those statements, but I also think he turns it around this week. For all the slobbering people have done over the Cowboys this season, their defense has given up quite a few yards.

And after that pathetic offensive showing against the Ravens, you know they’re anxious to get it turned around. Side note: Vegas seems to agree with me as Pittsburgh is a 2.5-point favorite at home.

Pick: Steelers

SEAHAWKS AT PATRIOTS

Seattle played on Monday night and will have to deal with a short week before playing in this Sunday night matchup on the road.

Have you watched the Seahawks defense the past two weeks? Not so impressive. I’m thinking the Patriots light them up this week.

Pick: Patriots

BENGALS AT GIANTS

Cincinnati is coming off a bye for this game and while I’m still rolling my eyes over their tie in England a week-and-a-half ago, I’m thinking they shake that off.

Plus, I have a feeling we’re in for one of those patented Eli Manning 4-interceptions-at-home bonanzas.

Pick: Bengals

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