Patriots Last Place in the AFC East?

As I look at the NFL standings, following the first Sunday of the season, there is something shocking about the AFC East. There are three teams tied for first in the division: the New York Jets (W 19-14 vs OAK), Buffalo Bills (W 23-20 vs CHI) and Miami Dolphins (W 33-20 vs NE). This leaves just one team sitting dead last, and that team, is the New England Patriots.

For the first time since 2003, a Tom Brady-led squad lost in week one of the season. The Patriots, as usual, are Super Bowl contenders this year. So, an opening week loss to an injury-plaugued Miami team comes as a bit of a shock to most fans, including myself. Now don't get me wrong, the Patriots and Dolphins always play great games in Florida, but never have I seen Miami's defense so dominant. After a strong first half from Brady and the offense, Miami ramped up the pressure. The Dolphins were able to get to Brady four times, twice forcing fumbles. Miami defensive end Cameron Wake forced both of the those fumbles, the last of which all but sealed the win.

New England was dominated in the second half of Sunday afternoons game, and were left as a last place team. However, the last two times the Patriots lost their opening week matchup, they went on to win the super bowl. That is not to understate how bad the Patriots looked in the second half, but it is interesting. Going into this year the Pats are once again favorites to compete for the Lombardi trophy. Most view them and the Broncos as a lock for a rematch of last years AFC championship game. One that saw the injury-riddled team come up short at Mile High.

This years team is revamped. Especially on the defensive side. The addition of shutdown corner Darrelle Revis is huge for the Pats, considering they let Aquib Talib go to the Broncos. It also gives gives Belichek one of the best corners in the game. Perhaps the biggest addition of all is simply the return of multiple players from injury. From tight end Rob Gronkowski, to middle linebacker Jerod Mayo, New England had many players finish last year on injured reserve.

So, the return of players like Vince Wilfork and Rob Gronkowski should make for a very successful regular season in Foxboro. Whether or not the offensive line holds up is another question. I'm not too concerned just yet, but if the Patriots have more performances like they did in South Beach, a trip to the AFC championship might not be so easy.

The Future of the Boston Celtics Could Be Bright

Wow, the Boston Celtics are very bad. I mean very bad. As I watch the Celtics play on national TV for the first time in a while (only because of the return of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett), I realize there is no hope for this roster. One of the few bright spots is the return of Rajon Rondo, who does not look comfortable throwing lobs to Vitor Faverani where Garnett used to be. Nor does he feel confident starting a fast break with Kris Humphries and Gerald Wallace running the floor. Nothing against either of those two, but they're not quite two future hall of famers. I think there are some strengths in this roster, however, and they're just hard to see on such a terrible team.
First there is the coach, Brad Stevens. Stevens was signed to a six year deal in the offseason, meaning the Celtics are truly investing in this coach for a stretch. Danny Ainge clearly sees something in Stevens, and why not? There is only upside to the 37 year old coach who coached Butler to back-to-back National Championship appearances, losing to two major programs in Duke and UConn. Stevens has done relatively well to this point in the season, but it is evident that there is just not enough talent on this team to win. Hopefully he will get a chance soon in the next couple of seasons.
The coach is not the only solid part of this team, strong young players besides Rondo include Jeff Green, Avery Bradley and Jared Sullinger.
Bradley is an elite perimeter defender who has an improved jump shot especially in the corner three spot. Bradley at the very least is a solid guard who can come off the bench, and has shown that he can potentially be a nice complementary starting shooting guard (think Thabo Sefolosha in Oklahoma City). He is a player I think the Celtics should keep around at least for next year.
Jeff Green is a player who seemed to be coming into his own late last season as Rondo went out with an injury. Green had huge games last season including a 43 point performance against LeBron James and the Heat. He has struggled being consistent, however, and in a year that he could step up and become that all-star type of player, he has not. Still leading the team in scoring at 16.2 ppg, Green just does not seem to be a go-to-guy for a franchise, he is made to be the third or forth option on a team.
Jared Sullinger is a strong power forward who has shown signs of being a dominant rebounder this year. Grabbing 15+ rebounds on multiple occasions. He has also displayed a solid jump shot that can extend to behind the three point line once in a while.
Those three guys, along with Rajon Rondo and coach Brad Stevens, are the core that the Celtics should keep around if they look to be successful soon, and in the long-run.
Looking ahead to beyond this season, it starts with the upcoming draft. Many players would fit in nicely here in Boston. Jabari Parker could come to the North East, and become a featured player on the offensive end. Parker has a decent handle as well as the ability to knock down shots from deep, along with the ability to finish above the rim. Speaking of finishing above the rim, Andrew Wiggins may be the very best at that in college. His unquestioned athleticism is why so many rave about him. Wiggins is also, perhaps, the best defender in the nation because of his quick feet, long arms, and jumping ability.
Another possible player is Oklahoma States Marcus Smart; a 6'4" guard with great strength and athleticism. Smart also has more experience than many of these players, as he is currently a Sophomore in college. Smart could work well with Rondo in the backcourt.
My favorite player is Joell Embiid. He is a 7'0" 250 lb center from Cameroon, who has only been playing basketball for two years. His ability to run the floor and finish with both hands makes him a very attractive asset, not to mention his shear size and athleticism. The activity on the defensive end is even more impressive as he controls games at that end.
A center could be perfect for the Celtics to build around, but it is important to just select the best player available. As we saw in last years draft, the Cavaliers selected a solid undersized power forward instead of just going with the best available player, and that resulted in one of the worst number picks of all time to this point.
The point here is that there is a lot to look forward to potentially if you are a Celtics fan like myself. With strong leaders in Stevens and Rondo, and a solid group of role players, Boston could be back in the thick of things by next year, and a championship contender perhaps sooner than one might think.

Broncos Defense Shuts Down Brady, and Patriots Lack of Any Deep Ball Threat

As Peyton Manning took and knee and let the clock run out, the Broncos celebrated a trip to New York, and the Patriots were left to deal with the heartbreak of a second straight AFC Championship loss. For the Broncos this is their first Super Bowl berth since the late 90s when John Elway was riding Terrell Davis to his second straight Super Bowl win. For Peyton he is back. It has been a long road for Manning since throwing game clinching pick six right into the hands of the Saints defense, and leaving South Beach with the bitter taste of another playoff loss. Manning struggled through his last couple years in Indianapolis with neck injuries, and arrived in Denver looking to resurrect his Hall of Fame career. Well, Peyton did just that by leading the Broncos to back to back 13-3 regular seasons, and this year an AFC Championship win.
On the other side Brady suffered a frustrating loss as it was as clear as ever that something was missing from the Patriots. No it was not Aquib Talib's absence in the secondary, or Wilfork on the defensive line, not even the gaping hole in the middle of the field that Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes once filled, it was a player who has not been in New England all year. The Patriots did not have that 6'3"-6'4" strong receiver on the outside. Now I know Gronk is a huge target who was lost to injury this season, but he has been there in recent years. The Patriots fully healthy would be scary with a star receiver on the outside, Randy Moss proved it.
This may sound like a sorry Patriots fan going off and making excuses, because New England has been very successful in recent years, but they haven't been scary like Denver's offense, or New Orleans. I guess what I'm saying is that despite all of this New England still made it to the AFC Championship game, and lost to a team with one of the best offenses of all time, maybe even the best.  If the Patriots want to be back in the Super Bowl next year, they're going to have get a little lucky health wise, and pick up a star receiver. It could be through a trade, free agency, maybe even a rookie through the draft, but it got to come from somewhere.
The reality, however, is that the Broncos and Seahawks still have one game to play, and it should be a great one. I'm leaning towards Seattle as of now just because of the weather, and a stronger built defense, but that could change over the next couple weeks. Come next week I'll know my favorite, and the fact is I don't want Peyton to win, so don't be surprised if I give Seattle the edge.

Super Bowl Sunday

We are just an hour away from the biggest sporting event in North America: Super Bowl 47. Although I am upset that my New England Patriots fell short of making it back to the big game, I can't help but be excited about this matchup. Who could write a better script, a battle between two brothers each coaching in their first ever Super Bowl, both know for their defense. Defense, however, has not been the reason these two teams have made it all the way to New Orleans. It has been the impressive play of two young quarterbacks that has led each to one victory after another on their playoff runs. Joe Flacco has been in the league for only five years, but he has led the Ravens into the playoffs each year. This years playoffs have been different, however, as he has thrown for eight touchdowns compared to zero interceptions. Unlike past seasons, Flacco is protecting the ball a little better and throwing it down field with an increased confidence. 

On the other side we see a man who has only made ten career starts to this point, and in the process has taken the league by storm. Colin Kaepernick took over the 49ers starting job late in the season, and with it changed the way some offensive coordinators may look at their own play books. The pistol offense is now the main formation that San Francisco runs, and it has been surprisingly affective. Kaepernick started off the playoffs by tearing apart the Green Bay Packers defense, then went to Atlanta and led his team to an impressive comeback win on the road. 

Now although the quarterback matchup is an interesting one, the most intriguing part of this years Super Bowl is presence of Ray Lewis. He is, as many know, planning on retiring after the game and if he is to end his career on top it may be one of the more inspiring runs by a single player in recent history. After tearing his tricep many thought that he was out for the season, but he returned for his final home game in the wild card matchup with the Colts, and has since rejuvenated a veteran defense. He leads all players in both tackles and inspirational speeches this postseason, and he hopes to hold that Lombardi trophy when it is all said and done at the end of the night. 

NFL Playoffs: Divisional Round

As the final seconds of the Houston Texans season ticked away, so did the final seconds of a wild Divisional round in the NFL playoffs. What started Saturday afternoon in Denver ended tonight in Foxboro as both the AFC and NFC championship games are now set, and just like last year the Harbaugh brothers are included. 

John Harbaugh took the field Saturday looking to keep Ray Lewis' career alive with a win at Mile High, but he did not know that it would take two overtimes to do it. Less than two minutes into the second overtime period Justin Tucker did what Billy Cundiff could not do for the Ravens last year, and hit a field goal. Tucker's 47 yard field goal sent the Ravens back to the AFC title game, and gave their leader Ray Lewis another shot at making it to the Super Bowl. Meanwhile in the Bay Area Johns brother Jim was attempting to stop Aaron Rodgers and he Green Bay Packers, and thanks to Colin Kaepernick they did. The 49ers set all sorts of playoff records Saturday night en route to a 45--31 victory over the Pack. 

The action continued this afternoon when Matt Ryan got his first playoff win by holding off the Seattle Seahawks. Ryan and the Falcons got out to a 20-0 lead at the half, and led 27-7 before the Seahawks came back to take the lead late in the fourth. Down 28-27 with 31 seconds and two timeouts, Ryan made back to back clutch completions to wide receiver Harry Douglas and tight end Tony Gonzalez to set up Matt Bryant for a game winning 49 yard field goal. The weekend wrapped up with a Texans Patriots rematch at Foxboro where the Patriots took it to Houston putting up 41 points in a home victory. 

This sets up a rematch of the AFC title game last year when Billy Cundiff (mentioned before) crushed many Ravens fans by missing a game tying field goal late. It's hard not to root for the Baltimore Ravens at this point as Ray Lewis has already announced that he will retire after this season, so everyone wants to see the future hall of famer end his career on top. However, I don't share this same feeling as a Patriots fan, nor do fans of the 49ers or the Falcons. Now I love Ray Lewis as much as the next football fan don't get me wrong, but at the end of the day I'm a Patriots fan, and I want another Super Bowl. 

No matter what I will be enjoying the championship games next Sunday, as should everybody else with a trip to New Orleans on the line.

Week 17

As the new year approaches, so does the end of the NFL regular season, and with it the beginning of a new season: the playoffs. This years playoffs are shaping up to be an interesting one, as it will feature a mix of both playoff veterans and some rookie standouts. 

In the AFC the teams are set, it is now just a matter of determining the seeding at the top. If the Texans win they have the number seed, even if the Broncos and Patriots do the same. However, if the Texans lose and the Broncos win, Denver will have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Patriots meanwhile will have to win and have both Houston and Denver lose in order to get the number one seed, and even if just one of those teams loses the Patriots will receive a first round bye. The AFC is led by future hall of famers Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Both are having outstanding seasons yet again, and both have made the pro bowl yet again. The other quarterbacks in the AFC include a couple of players who haven't yet won the big game, Joe Flacco and Matt Schaub. Now Schaub missed the playoffs because of injury last year, but he has been around for a while now. The last two seeds are the Colts and Bengals, led by second year man Andy Dalton and a rookie by the name of Andrew Luck. 

Luck is not the only rookie in the playoffs though, Seahawks starting quarterback Russell Wilson has led Seattle to the playoffs. Wilson has led an excellent defense and punishing running attack to the playoffs and will likely hold the 5th seed. The other quarterbacks in this years playoffs include Super Bowl champion Aaron Rodgers. He has led the Packers to another successful season, and avenge last years embarrassing loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Giants. Matt Ryan has led the Falcons to the best record in the NFC, and hopes to finally get a win in the playoffs. His other competition lies in San Fransisco, where Colin Kaepernick has taken over at quarterback and led them to the playoffs for the second straight year. While many are still surprised at coach Harbaughs move to sit Alex Smith, there is no doubt that Kaepernick has played well to this point. 

Now the final playoff seed will be decided by Minnesota; the Vikings play the Packers, and if they win they're in. However, if they lose and the Bears win then the Bears are in the playoffs. The most intriguing matchup of week lies in Washington, where the Redskins and the Cowboys will battle for the division title.

One team is led by an established quarterback who can't get any respect because of his failure to win the "big game". The other is led by an electric rookie who has taken the league by storm. Tony Romo vs. RGIII will be the matchup on Sunday Night, and the result could mean two things. It could mean relief for Romo, and a chance to finally win a big game for the Dallas Cowboys or it could mean the beginning of a new era for the Redskins. Either way it is sure to be an exciting day in football, one that will require not getting up from the couch.

SEC Championship

Georgia starting quarterback Aaron Murray had a chance to send his team to the national championship, but as his last minute shot down field came down into the arms of an Alabama defensive back, so did the teams hopes. 

Alabama came away with a 32-28 win at the Georgia Dome Saturday night, and will likely play, once again, for the BCS national championship. Alabama came into the game ranked second in the BCS rankings, behind only the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. The defense showed why it is the number two team in the nation when it counted sealing the deal for the Crimson Tide. 

Now this sets up a matchup of two storied programs in Notre Dame and Alabama. Which team will come out victorious? Well we have an entire month to debate that, as the national championship game will not take place until the seventh of January, when the two teams will battle in Miami. Until then, there is plenty of NFL football, and basketball to watch, so don't think that there's nothing to do for the next four weeks.