Category Archives: nfl season

The Official 2010 SCU NFL Picks Post

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The NFL Season is here, and as I always like to do, its time to lay down my choices for the way the season is going to shake out. I am not shy about admitting that I completely suck at predictions like this, even though I was relatively close with my picks last year. Because kickoff is tonight, I figured it was time to go right into it here, as well as give you guys a shot at making your own picks.

This season is definitely going to be full of surprises, especially when you consider how many of the teams recently drafting near the top of the first round have really made a complete turnaround. The Texans were drafting at number 1 in 2006 and now they are widely considered to be a playoff team. New Orleans was drafting number 2 and they are the defending champs, something that Im sure the 2006 Saints fans would have laughed at you about if you had suggested its possibility.

As I did last year, I will focus highly on rookie performance with the weekly Rookie Royal Rumble posts, and I may consider bringing back the value bumps if my time allows me to do so. Check back every Monday for that commentary to give your own thoughts or to debate my observations.

Without further adieu, here is my official slate of picks:

AFC North Champion: Baltimore Ravens
AFC East Champion: New England Patriots
AFC South Champion: Indianapolis Colts
AFC West Champion: San Diego Chargers
AFC Wild Card: Houston Texans
AFC Wild Card: New York Jets

AFC Championship Game: Chargers vs. Ravens
AFC Champion: Ravens

NFC North Champion: Green Bay Packers
NFC East Champion: Dallas Cowboys
NFC South Champion: New Orleans Saints
NFC West Champion: San Fransisco 49ers
NFC Wild Card: Minnesota Vikings
NFC Wild Card: Atlanta Falcons

NFC Championship Game: Cowboys vs Saints
NFC Champion: Saints

Super Bowl Champion: Ravens

NFL MVP: Aaron Rodgers
NFL ROY: Ryan Mathews

I really think the Ravens have one of the most high powered offensive attacks in the league, and unlike some of the other NFC teams, they have a tremendous defense to match. The Packers are a popular pick because of a similar situation, but I don’t think they will hold up through the playoffs. They came on very strong at the end of 2009, but werent able to capitalize away at Arizona, when they definitely should have walked out of there with a convincing win. They did improve their OL in the draft this year, but I still think that someone finds a way to beat them early in the playoffs, at home. Look at what happened to them when the Vikings rolled into lambeau back a few years ago. It wont be the Vikings this time, but it will be someone else. As for the Saints making it back to the biggest stage in the world, I think its tough to count them out with how many people they are bringing back from last year. They look great, as good as the Ravens or the Chargers, and I am definitely expecting them to repeat as NFC champs.

I already cant wait for Sunday and its only Thursday, Saturday is definitely going to be an exercise in patience. Its going to be nice having a day of rest, playing with Noah and watching all the action. Here is to another great season, because there may not be one next year.

The Season is Over Today, and I Am Sad

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Today is a sad day for me, not because the Saints won the super bowl, but because the last game of the year is done. Now it’s a few months until baseball and the draft, and I am stuck with a barren wasteland of sports that I follow, at least until things start ramping up for the next go around. I love baseball in the beginning, and I follow it usually all the way through, but my first love has always been football, and I will miss it dearly.

As for the game, it was entertaining, and it was cool to see the underdog win. Although the CBS broadcast reached its usual low, and the halftime show was mediocre, the game itself lived up to the billing. Two 4th and goal stops, a ridiculous pick six, and a wonderful day for a city ravaged by one of the worst domestic natural disasters in recent memory, all contributed to a fun night.

First, I believe that Tracy Porter needs his own day in New Orleans. He saved the Vikings game for them, and won the Super Bowl, and its time to give him city wide recognition. The guy is the New Orleans season in a nutshell, and though he isnt the most well known guy, he did everything he was supposed to do, and then some.

Second, regardless of the way Manning played last night, he still deserves to be called one of the best ever, and that’s if he never wins another super bowl again. The guy is the best in the game right now, even though he was bested by Brees and his band of merry men. Unlike Derek Jeter who is widely regarded as a guy who just “wins every time” despite his team doing most of the work, Manning is a guy who actually drives his team to a higher level. His production on offense is the Colts’ entire winning scheme, and without him, they wouldn’t even be a playoff team. Football may be different in terms of a player’s contribution, but the analogy still stands. Manning TRULY the guy who wins – except for last night.

Lastly, Brees should be heralded for his skills as well, because he is definitely the best free agent pickup in NFL history. Back in 2006, when he was coming off a shoulder injury, to think that he could turn around a franchise like the Saints with these kind of results is ludicrous. Brees is right up there with Manning in many ways, and last night solidified a lot of those thoughts.

Quick Hits From The Evening
1. Whoever sewed the patches on the Colts jersey had it right, the Saints and Refs had problems. The whole night, I kept thinking the refs looked like they had gotten shanked because the patch looked like blood on their shirt.
2. Abe Vigoda is awesome, and Snickers had the best commercial of the night because of his appearance.
3. I get that Youtube stars were a big thing, but to have two commercials use the dramatic gopher in relative back to back spots is embarassing.
4. Lesson from Tim Tebow: Dont abort your baby because then you might not have anyone to tackle you in a Super Bowl ad. Oh, and if your kid is gay, he needs to go to conversion therapy. Yes, the site he promoted thinks that’s a good idea. Nice.
5. Who cares if you cause huge amounts of grief to your family and friends, as long as you have doritos, its cool to fake your own death.
6. Barney Stinson deserves to be in the hall of game. Thats all I have to say about that. (Watch HIMYM, its a great fucking show)
7. Reggie Bush proved AGAIN that he isnt worth his option, as Pierre Thomas is clearly the better back. 15 mil goes right down the drain when you cant play for shit.

I guess this is the final goodbye for 2009, one of the most entertaining seasons in a long, long time. Now its time to switch gears and figure out who is going to be drafted by who come march, and start looking forward to another Twins central division title. Yes, that just happened.