NFL Week 14: Only One Quarter of the Season Left

Ladies and gentle, we are, as they like to say, into the home stretch. Three-fourths of the season is now behind us, and most of us are wondering how it passed by so fast. The 49ers, Jets, Browns, and Jaguars have been eliminated from playoff contention.  Other than the Niners, did anybody really give those other three teams a real shot? They are fighting for draft position now.

Did you see the Chiefs game in Atlanta?  I did, and man was it a nail-biter! Eric Berry and Tyreek Hill put on a clinic in the ATL, but boy was I nervous when the Falcons lined up for that two-point conversion. Thank goodness for Eric Berry who already had a pick-six and snatched another from Matt Ryan taking the Chiefs from a one point loss to a one point victory. Then, they turned around and played the Raiders at Arrowhead stadium.  The Raiders came in to the game in first place in the AFC West and left the game in second. Like Sunday's game, it wasn't a beautiful win, although Tyreek Hill was a highlight again, as was Travis Kelce who tied Tony Gonzalez's 4 game streak of 100 yards in a game, and did a wonderful impression of Raiders' punter Marquette King who retaliated with a tweet mocking Kelce's reality show.  The Chiefs lost LB Derrick Johnson to a ruptured Achilles. He was clearly missed in the second half of the game, and let's not even start on the turnovers and the lack of scoring by the offense in the second half.  Mad props though to the Chiefs Defense who also held the Raiders to only 13 points. The Chiefs may have played and ugly game, but a win is a win and now the Chiefs hold the tiebreaker in the AFC West and are in first place.

As it stands in the AFC, New England is the one seed, Kansas City is the two seed, followed by Baltimore at three and Houston at two. Currently, the two wildcard teams are both form the AFC West, Denver and Oakland.  That said, the Dolphins, Steelers, Colts, Bills, Titans, Chargers, and Bengals still have a chance.

On the NFC side, Dallas has already clinched a playoff berth and are pretty secure with the one seed, while Seattle is two, Detroit three, and Atlanta four.  The two teams hold the wildcards right now are New York and Tampa Bay.  Still in the running, the Redskins, Vikings, Packers, Cardinals, Saints, Eagles, Panthers, Rams, and Bears. 

The races are tight, and there are going to be some really good rivalry games ahead, including the Chiefs and Broncos rematch on Christmas night.  Congratulations are in order for Larry Fitzgerald who is now securely in third place on the NFL all-time receptions list.  He is behind Tony Gonzalez (number 2) and Jerry Rice (number 1).  Speaking of Tony G., Antonio Gates is closing in on his record for most touchdowns by a tight end. He is two touchdowns from catching him and three from passing.

Sorry about leaving out the Buccaneers/Chargers game last week, my bad, and I apologize, because I have no idea why I picked Jacksonville either. Even with those errors, I still had a pretty good week with a 10-4 record bringing my season total to 121-69.  Fantasy players: the bye weeks are over and for some of you the playoffs are beginning. Good luck!!! My Lucille Swings team slipped up last week, but held on to the 1st place position.  Lochte and Loaded finally ended their losing streak and the 4th place position.  

Sunday, December 11, 2016
San Diego Chargers vs. Carolina Panthers:  Carolina
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Buffalo Bills:  Pittsburgh
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns:  Cincinnati
Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions:  Detroit
Denver Broncos vs. Tennessee Titans:  Denver
Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts:  Indianapolis
Arizona Cardinals vs. Miami Dolphins:  Arizona
Washington Redskins vs. Philadelphia Eagles:  Washington
Minnesota Vikings vs. Jacksonville Jaguars:  Minnesota
New York Jets vs. San Francisco 49ers:  San Francisco (but really, it's a coin toss)
Atlanta Falcons vs. Los Angeles Rams:  Atlanta
New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  Tampa Bay
Seattle Seahawks vs. Green Bay Packers:  Green Bay
Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants:  Dallas

Monday, December 12, 2016
Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots:  New England (although I would love an upset here.)

Thursday, December 15, 2016
Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks:  Seattle

Saturday, December 17, 2016
Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets:  New York

Congratulations to Louisville quarterbakck Lamar Jackson on his Heisman trophy victory! That's it guys!! Until next week, "At its best, life is completely unpredictable."-Christopher Walken

NFL Week 10: Well, That Wasn't What We Expected...

Welcome back, everyone!!! For better or for worse, the national blight is finally over, and like him or not, Donald Trump will become the next President of the United States of America. Those are words I truly never expected to say. It's kinda like saying the Jacksonville Jaguars are Super Bowl Champions, but at least that junk is behind us for at least 2 years, when the next cycle will drive us into the ground.

So, how was your week? My Chiefs pulled off a win against those Jaguars-barely. Yeah, Alex Smith and Spencer Ware didn't play, and Jeremy Maclin barely played (fantasy peeps, he is out this week), and still no Justin Houston, but seriously, this game should not have been as close as it was.  Mad props to Charcandrick West and Cairo Santos who helped my Lucille Swings team eek out a victory this week. FYI, Travis Kelce, get it together, man!!! You are a pretty good tight end, but son, you are not Tony Gonzalez, you are not going to get those calls, and you need to chill. That $24,000 fine you received this week should be a wake up call. We need you on the field not in the locker room, especially when I play you over Jimmy Graham who would have pounded my opponent into submission, rather than having a 90.70-90.64 skin of my teeth victory.  BY THE BY, JIMMY, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL YEAR?

Speaking of Tony Gonzalez, Friday was the fourth anniversary of Tony Gonzalez scoring his 100th touchdown, the first tight end to do so (for those new to the blog, I was actually there to see him score that touchdown against the Saints in the Super Dome). He later scored 101 in the same game. He currently holds the record for Touchdowns for tight ends with 111, but that record will probably belong to Antonio Gates by the end of the year and Rob Gronkowski in the next few years if he can stay healthy.  Also on Friday, the NFL Network revealed a revamped Top 10-Tight Ends list, and the #1 Tight End of all time?  Tony Gonzalez...nothing else needs to be said. Congrats to the G.O.A.T!!!

Last week, Green Bay and Denver ruined what could have been a perfect week. Even so, I'll take an 11-2 week which brings my record to 81-52. My fantasy teams are also sitting pretty:  Lucille Swings is in first place with a 7-2 record, and Lochte and Loaded is in second place with a 6-2 record. Fantasy fans: Buffalo, Oakland, Indianapolis, and Detroit all have byes this week.

Sunday, November 13, 2016
Denver Broncos vs. New Orleans Saints:  Denver (although I hope they lose.)
Atlanta Falcons vs. Philadelphia Eagles:  Atlanta 
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Carolina Panthers:  Kansas City
Miami Dolphins vs. San Diego Chargers: San Diego
San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals: Arizona
Green Bay Packers vs. Tennessee Titans:  Green Bay
Los Angeles Rams vs. New York Jets:  New York
Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  Tampa Bay
Minnesota Vikings vs. Washington Redskins: Washington
Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars:  Houston
Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers:  Dallas
Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots:  New England

Monday, November 14, 2016
Cincinnati Bengals vs. New York Giants:  New York

Thursday, November 17, 2016
New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers:  Carolina

To The Walking Dead fans, I'll be back tonight with another live blog of the latest episode. Until next time, “Many are the strange chances of the world,' said Mithrandir, 'and help oft shall come from the hands of the weak when the Wise falter.” 
― J.R.R. Tolkien