2014 Week 3 NFL Reactions

With the exception of the Sunday and Monday prime time affairs, week 3 of the 2014 NFL season has come to an end, and it did not disappoint.

Plenty of exciting games were on the table, and on top of that, it was a good week in the prediction world for most. I am currently at 9-5 on the week and that puts me at 26-20 (56.52%) on the season. Considering that a lot of other analysts did good too, I am not completely satisified with the how the week played out, but as I get a better grasp on the strengths and weaknesses of teams, that percentage will go up.

Right now, however, we must recap week 3. Here are some of my instant reactions:

• The Buccaneers look awful. Losses to Derek Anderson and the Panthers, Austin Davis and the Rams, and a complete blowout loss to the Falcons have me laughing at how I called them a surprise team in the preseason.

• Despite the two-point loss to the Ravens, Brian Hoyer and the Browns are playing some good football right now. Keep an eye on this team. Playoffs are not out of the question. (Did I just say that?)

• Could the Packers not be the elite team they once were? A big loss to the Seahawks, a squeaker win over the Jets, and a loss to the Lions have me a bit worried.

• Tony Romo and the Cowboys overcame a 21-0 lead to win today. Granted, it was against the Rams, but it’s still pretty impressive.

• With Drew Stanton under center, the Cardinals beat the 49ers today. I’m still having trouble letting that sink in. Now the question: Is Arizona that good or are the 49ers showing some weakness?

• Both the Broncos and Seahawks are still Super Bowl contending teams. What a great game these two teams put on today. The Denver offense and the Seattle defense both just play at an incredible level.

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2014 NFL Season Predictions

We have waited and waited and waited.

But on September 4th, four days from today, our wait will officially be over.

When the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks kickoff their game on Thursday night, real NFL football will have returned and the great roller coaster that is the 2014 NFL season will take off, rocking and rolling all the way until Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale, Arizona.

While right now, we know absolutely nothing on what will take place on the field, using facts, statistics, and personal knowledge to help, we can make our predictions, and that’s exactly what I’m here to do today.

After a lot of careful research and going through every NFL team division by division, I have made my picks on what will take place this season.

I will almost certainly be wrong somewhere (virtually everybody is), but using my NFL knowledge and realistic visualization skills, I’m giving this my best shot. After months of waiting, here they are.

My 2014 NFL season predictions:

 

AFC North Winner: Cincinnati Bengals

As was the case the past few seasons, this division is a three-team race between the Bengals, Steelers, and Ravens. I see the Bengals as the strongest of the three because the quarterback-wide receiver relationship between Andy Dalton and A.J. Green should be at an all-time high, the running game with Giovani Bernard should also be the most powerful in the division, and the defense remains tough as nails. This team was already solid last year, and with the Ravens facing questions and the Steelers not showing huge reasons for improvement, I’m taking Cincinnati to repeat.

AFC South Winner: Indianapolis Colts

This one is a no-brainer. Quarterback Andrew Luck has looked great the past two seasons and I am only expecting him to get better. The weak Texans and Jaguars and the mediocre Titans should be no match for a team that finished 6-0 in divisional play last year.

AFC West Winner: Denver Broncos

While this pick doesn’t have as much confidence as the previous one, it was still easy. The Broncos were a statistical monster in 2013, and while it will be insanely difficult to repeat those numbers, they have not downgraded at all during the offseason. The Chiefs and Chargers are both decent teams, but against the Broncos, decent isn’t even close to being enough.

AFC East Winner: New England Patriots

That’s three easy picks in a row. While the Dolphins and Jets both have a decent amount of talent, Tom Brady still has at least one more good season left in him and with Rob Gronkowski seemingly healthy, the offense should be better than it was last year. New England should win their tenth division title in the last eleven years with relative ease.

AFC Wild-Cards: San Diego Chargers & Pittsburgh Steelers

Under the new Mike McCoy offense, Philip Rivers had a great year and the Chargers delivered some very impressive wins. With Rivers still there, decent running back Ryan Matthews in the picture, some emerging receivers, and a good defense, San Diego should do enough to advance through a wild-card again.

With veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and young wide receiver Antonio Brown, the Steelers are building a powerful passing duo. If Le’Veon Bell can build on top of some impressive rookie showings, this team will be able to grab that second wild-card spot in the AFC.

NFC North Winner: Green Bay Packers

After Aaron Rodgers went down with an injury and this team had a rough year, I am expecting a monster season from this very talented offense. Don’t get me wrong – the Bears and Lions also have talent, but Green Bay has an elite quarterback, a multitude of proven receivers, an emerging running game set to breakout in its second season, and very importantly, a proven track record of putting it all together. The NFC North should be tight, but I expect the most-proven team to win it again.

NFC South Winner: New Orleans Saints

This division could go a lot of ways, but the Panthers offense faces question marks with weak receivers, the Buccaneers face question marks at a lot of positions, and though the Falcons are very talented, it’s hard to pick a team that finished 4-12 a year ago. Instead, I will take Mr. Consistent (Drew Brees) and a powerful New Orleans team to grab that division title and make the postseason again.

NFC West Winner: San Francisco 49ers

No, this is not an error. I did not pick the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks to win the division. I have two major concerns: 1.) I fear a Super Bowl let-down similar to what the Ravens experienced last season. 2.) There seems to be a lot of questions about whether or not Marshawn Lynch will be able to carry as much work as he has done in the past few years. Since he was the head of the offense last year, that worries me quite a bit. Instead, I took Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers. Kaepernick is very talented, he now has a healthy Michael Crabtree, and I expect this offense to flow very smoothly in 2014. They should outpace the Cardinals, easily outpace the Rams, and while picking them over the Seahawks is never easy, incorporating gut feelings is a critical part to accurate picks.

NFC East Winner: Philadelphia Eagles

The NFC East is a relatively weak division, and I wouldn’t be surprised if any of the other three teams (Cowboys, Giants, Redskins) won it in the end. However, Nick Foles stepped up in very impressive fashion for the Eagles, and I wouldn’t want to doubt a quarterback who threw for seven touchdowns in one game. In addition, Philadelphia still has one of the best running backs in the league in LeSean McCoy, and they have some capable receivers with Jeremy Maclin, Riley Cooper, and tight end Zach Ertz. The Giants and Redskins both played too poorly for me to pick them and because of their incredible lack of consistency, I wouldn’t pick the Cowboys if somebody paid me. I don’t have too much confidence, but I think the Eagles get it done.

NFC Wild-Cards: Seattle Seahawks & Chicago Bears

Despite me thinking that Seattle will not have enough to win the division, I’m still expecting them to get close and advance as a wild-card. There’s a reason this team won the Super Bowl last year, and while I am expecting a downgrade in performance, they should still have enough to make the postseason.

The Bears are a very interesting team. Quarterback Jay Cutler looks solid when healthy, running back Matt Forte had an awesome 2013, and the Bears also have arguably the best WR duo in the NFL with Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. I still have yet to see this offense be put together to its max, but if they can turn the talent into points, look out. Chicago could be a dark-horse in the NFC.

AFC Championship: Denver Broncos over New England Patriots

Quite honestly, this was not that hard of a decision. Quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are nearing the end of their careers, but that does not mean that they are not good. Manning has showed no signs of slowing down and Brady led his team to the AFC Championship with a bunch of no-name receivers last year. With the Denver offense still loaded with weapons and the Pats getting Rob Gronkowski back, these will be two great teams again.They should get through the other AFC competition (with the exception of the strong but inconsistent Colts, it’s really not that great) to set up a classic Manning-Brady battle. I expect a close one, but the Denver offense should have too much in the end.

NFC Championship: Green Bay Packers over San Francisco 49ers

On the other side of the league, I am calling a battle of two proven, high-powered offenses who have gotten very familiar with each other over the past two seasons. San Francisco has dominated this match-up recently, but I have gut feeling that Rodgers and the Packers are going to be very dominant throughout the regular season. They’ll know what Kaepernick and the 49ers have done to them in the past, and with the right combination of confidence and momentum, they’ll squeak out the victory to advance to the big game.

Super Bowl XLIX: Denver Broncos over Green Bay Packers

We know what we saw from the Broncos in the last Super Bowl: failure. But I honestly believe that 2014 is the perfect time for redemption.

The offense still has it: Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Julius Thomas, and a new addition of Emmanuel Sanders. Peyton Manning is not going to play forever, and one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game has done almost everything but win multiple Super Bowl titles.

In a big offensive-showings for both teams, I expect the Broncos offense to simply be too much for the Packers, for Denver to win their first Super Bowl title since the John Elway era, and for the great Peyton Manning to add the missing piece to the puzzle and complete an overflowing legacy of success.

 

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2014 NFL Division Preview: AFC West

Preseason football starts this Sunday. The regular season isn’t far behind.

As the training camp drama continues to build, the excitement does too. NFL football is on the horizon, and it is time for more preseason analysis.

In an effort to cover every team division by division, let’s look at the AFC West:

Note: The records next to each team are how they finished last season, and are not forecasts on how they will do this year. My official season predictions will be released in late-August.

Denver Broncos (13-3, lost to Seahawks in Super Bowl)-

 From week 1 until the AFC Championship, the Broncos consistently delivered an incredible offense unlike any other.

Elite quarterback Peyton Manning was the core of this success, as he helped Denver break numerous NFL records including most points and touchdowns in a single season.

But in Super Bowl XLVIII, the Broncos’ incredible run came to a shocking end as they were blown out by the Seahawks, 43-8. The historic season ended on a very sour note, and one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game still has only one Super Bowl ring.

Now, in 2014, with Manning getting older, the time for him to enter the multiple championship club is now.

Despite turning 38 years old, this guy remains one of the best (if not the best) quarterbacks in the NFL. He broke the record for most yards in a single season in 2013, and with a load of receiver weapons ready to go, it could be a very similar story this year.

The stacked receiving core begins with Demaryius Thomas. The talented fourth-year man led all wide receivers in touchdowns (14) and finished with 1,430 reception yards, good for fourth in the NFL.

Wide receiver Wes Welker also contributed to the offense, while tight end Julius Thomas came out of nowhere to put up impressive numbers as well. Despite the departure of Eric Decker, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders has come in from Pittsburgh after putting up some decent statistics there.

Overall, the talented Manning has four solid options to throw the ball to, and that should lead to one of the best passing offenses in the NFL once again.

So with such a strong passing attack, you’d be led to believe that the rushing side of the Broncos offense isn’t very good, right?

Well, while second-year running back Montee Ball did not prove a whole lot his rookie season, he played in a backup role behind Knowshon Moreno. With Moreno now a Dolphin, the opportunity for the talented Ball is definitely present. With all of the defenders focusing on Manning, you really have to keep an eye on what Ball can do.

He might make an already incredible offense even better.

If you factor in DeMarcus Ware, Aquib Talib, and the healthy Von Miller on the defensive side of the ball, you have a team ready to dominate in 2014.

Look for the Broncos to once again be on top of the standings this season.

Kansas City Chiefs (11-5, lost to Colts in wild card round)- 

When analyzing the Chiefs, I think one statistic is very important to consider:

Last season, Kansas City was 1-5 against teams that ended up making the postseason.

Their only win? Against the Michael Vick-led Philadelphia Eagles in week 3. The Eagles started that season 1-3, and Vick is now fighting Geno Smith for the starting quarterback role in New York.

Not exactly an incredible feat by the Chiefs.

But we must remember that despite a very easy schedule and a lot of wins against poor teams, the Chiefs have one of the best running backs and all-around players in the NFL: Jamaal Charles.

Under new head coach Andy Reid, this guy had a career year last season, finishing second in total yards and tied for first in total touchdowns among all running backs. Charles is an explosive player all the way around and he will definitely look to lead this offense in 2014.

Led by quarterback Alex Smith, the passing game was fairly mediocre last year.

With Smith having a proven record of winning when he was a member of the 49ers, I do no think that he is the problem. I believe that the true weakness of this team is the receiving core.

Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe was a disappointment, Donnie Avery is not a great player, and the Chiefs tight end situation with Travis Kelce is not exactly bright.

If Kansas City wants to get back into the playoffs, some receiver is going to need to step up. Jamaal Charles cannot do it all.

San Diego Chargers (9-7, lost to Broncos in divisional round)- 

The Chargers finally got over that mediocre hump last year, as they made the playoffs and even picked up a postseason victory, a road win over the Cincinnati Bengals in the wild card round.

Quarterback Philip Rivers has always been a talented, intense quarterback capable of making big plays. In 2013, under new head coach Mike McCoy, he had a career year, finishing 5th in passing yards and 4th in passing touchdowns.

While Rivers has not always been able to get the job done, people should never underestimate what he is capable of doing.

A part of the reason for Rivers’s success last year was rookie wide receiver Keenan Allen. Coming fresh off of college, Allen was able to tally 1,046 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns. Look for Allen to continue to be a big part of the passing offense in 2014.

Tight end Lardarius Green also showed flashes of talent in his rookie season, and despite Antonio Gates still being in the picture, keep an eye on Green as a guy to possibly emerge.

On the running side of the offense, Ryan Matthews had the best year of his young career, finishing with 1,255 yards and 6 rushing touchdowns. Running back Danny Woodhead was not too bad either, as his 605 receiving yards ranked 2nd among all running backs behind only Jamaal Charles.

Mix into this an aggressive defense that played a big role in last year’s success and you have a pretty decent team ready to realistically contend for a wild card spot in the AFC.

Oakland Raiders (4-12)- 

The Raiders have been a bad football team for quite some time, but this year, the addition of quarterback Matt Schaub brings some fresh hope.

If you saw Schaub play last season, you may think I’m crazy for putting him in the same sentence as the word “hope”. But while he did have a very disappointing 2013 campaign, we must keep in mind that Schaub is a two-time Pro Bowler who has led his team into the playoffs.

In my mind, he is an improvement over Terrelle Pryor, and he is a reason for optimism if you are a Raiders fan.

The bad news for the passing offense is that Oakland has a serious lack of quality receivers. James Jones and Denarius Moore are not exactly elite, and, considering he’s used to having Andre Johnson by his side, that’s not beneficial to Schaub.

The Raider running game does have talent and potential, but the bad news is that both of their feature running backs- Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew- have a long history of injuries. If they can somehow stay healthy, it could turn into a very nice RB duo, but that health is definitely a huge question mark going into the season.

To be honest, despite the addition of Schaub and MJD, I am not expecting a whole lot from this team. Almost every position has some doubt, and considering they play in a tough division, it may be a long season for football fans in northern California.

 

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12 Men, One Championship

Yesterday, I predicted right here on this blog that the Denver Broncos would defeat the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII.

To be honest with you, it was a pick that I was unsure of, and I knew before the game that I would not be surprised if the contest went either way.

But if you would have told me that the Seahawks would beat the Broncos by a final score of 43-8, I would have laughed. Hard.

Yet on Sunday night, that is exactly what happened: the Seattle defense absolutely shut down the Denver offense, the Seahawks took the lead on the first play from scrimmage, and they never looked back from there.

Now, Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, Jermaine Kearse, Richard Sherman, Percy Harvin, Earl Thomas III, and many others have just earned their first NFL championship of their young lives.

In the preseason, I picked this team to advance as a wild card, but not make it any further than the divisional round, simply due to their inexperience.

Quarterback Russell Wilson was only entering his second year, and I had questions about whether or not he could lead this team as far as the late rounds of the playoffs.

But you know what? Wilson proved me wrong, Marshawn Lynch was in Beast Mode virtually all season, that defense, as was proven today, shut down opponents, the 12th man was present all year long, and it all ended with a blowout of the Denver Broncos tonight.

Speaking of the Broncos, their performance, on both sides of the football, was awful in this game. I knew that the Seahawks had a very good defense, but I honestly could not believe my eyes when I saw how badly Peyton Manning and that offense struggled.

However, let me tell you this. The Broncos had a historically fantastic season. Manning and that offense smashed a variety of records, and just looked excellent almost all-year long. If the championship was based purely on a team’s performance leading up to the big game, I believe that Denver would be the ones lifting the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

But it doesn’t. You have to come up big when it matters. And the Broncos did not do that.

The Seahawks did.

So pop the champagne, party on the streets, schedule the parade, and reflect on an incredible season, Seattle.

Congratulations to the world champions.

Super Bowl XLVIII NFL Prediction!

Remember September 5th, when the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens traveled to Denver to play the Broncos?

That was nearly five months ago. Yet it feels like just yesterday.

Ladies and gentlemen, this 2013 NFL season, similar to other years, has gone by in the blink of an eye, and all of the 266 games played come down to one: Super Bowl XLVIII.

Tomorrow night, the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos will battle for the Vince Lombardi Trophy and the NFL title will be on the line.

And while the rest of the world has been getting ready, so has Jacob’s Sports Commentary. Over the past six days, we have analyzed numerous positions one-by-one, and told you exactly who has the edge and where.

Here is a recap of our analysis:

• Quarterback: Broncos
• Running Back: Seahawks
• Wide Recievers: Broncos
• Tight End: Broncos
• Kicker: Broncos
• Defense: Seahawks

And now, folks, after days of looking over a lot of statistics and data, it is time to make my ultimate prediction.

In this entire 2013 season, I hold a record of 164-101-1 (61.89%). I am 7-3 in this year’s postseason games. It is time to finish a decent year of picks on a good note. Here’s what I am thinking:

This game ultimately comes down to a dream match-up: the league’s #1 ranked offense against the league’s #1 ranked defense.

Peyton Manning and the Broncos hold the historically high-powered offense. What makes them so dominant is their incredible multitude of weapons.

Not only do they have Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Eric Decker, and Julius Thomas in the passing game, and a very improved and solid Knowshon Moreno in the running game, but they have Peyton Manning, one of the great players to ever play the game of football, and one who will try to solidfy his legacy on Sunday night.

That is the reason why they have tallied so many points this year, and why they are capable of moving the football so easily.

But this challenge? It will be far from easy.

Richard Sherman and the Seahawks defense play very aggressivley, and they make you fight for every inch.

And the other thing about the Seahawks is that even though they have a very dominant defense, their offense is great as well.

Second-year quarterback Russell Wilson, though inexperienced, has played at a very mature level, and is definitely capable of leading an offense. Though the receiving crew is not very strong, play-maker Percy Harvin will play in this game, so Wilson should have an added weapon.

But the truth is that the Seahawks are not lead by the passing game. Running back Marshawn Lynch leads the way.

Lynch remains one of the best running backs in the game of football, and every time the ball is in his hands, he is capable of exploding all the way to the endzone. Keep an eye out for him at all times. He could be the difference for Seattle.

Alright, guys. It is time.

Picking the Super Bowl is almost never easy, and this is no exception. 

We have a match-up from heaven with the Broncos offense playing the Seahawks defense. However, that match-up is not the tough part. The Seahawks defense is playing at an excellent pace, but the Broncos offense is playing at a historical pace. If it came down purely to that match-up, I would take definitely go with Denver.

But then you look at the other side: the Seahawks offense vs. the Broncos defense. The Marshawn Lynch-led Seahawks offense is definitely more powerful, especially with the Broncos D being without Von Miller.

So the real question becomes, “Is the advantage that the Broncos offense has over the Seahawks defense big enough to overcome their deficit when the Broncos defense is playing the Seahawks offense?”.

The answer is tough.

I am going to say that because Manning and the Denver Broncos offense have smashed so many records, they will be be clutch, and in the tightest and most exciting of games, they will come out on top over the Seattle Seahawks and be crowned Super Bowl XLVIII champions.

Manning will solidfy his legacy, while young Russell Wilson and the Seahawks will have a quiet flight home, reflecting on coming up just short, and perhaps looking ahead to what appears to be a very exciting future.

Don’t bet on it.

Winner: Broncos 

Super Bowl XLVIII Preview: Defenses

It is the eve of the eve of Super Bowl XLVIII.

Tonight, it is quiet. But in just a couple of days, the biggest game of the calendar year will be appearing in front of our eyes.

And tomorrow, after days of position-by-position analyzation, I will reveal my ultimate prediction on who I think will win the contest.

Bur right now? It is time for our final position segment. Let us take a look at the guys guarding the ball. Let us analyze the defenses:

If you asked the average unbias NFL fan what the best defense in the NFL is, they would likely the Seattle Seahawks.

In the 2013 regular season, these guys have forced 28 intereceptions, 20 fumbles, and have sacked the quarterback 44 times. . And every time they step onto the field, you can feel their aggressive prescense, and it definitely seems that the opposing offense has to work for every play when they are going up against the Seahawks.

The Broncos defense, on the other hand, has not been so dominant. They have sacked the opposing quarterback 41 times, and have only forced 17 interceptions and 18 fumbles.

Overall, they are a fairly mediocre defense, especialy with the loss of Von Miller, and the offense definitely has to score a bunch of points in order to win the game.

Overall, this comparison is very easy. It is an elite defense against a poor-decent one.

Edge: Seahawks

I will be back tomorrow with my prediction.

Super Bowl XLVIII Preview: Wide Receivers

The amount of days until the Super Bowl is now countable with the amount of fingers on your hand. In just five days, the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks will take the field for the greatest game of the year. But right now? The countdown continues. Today, let us look at the wide receivers.

The Seahawks have confirmed that wide receiver Percy Harvin will start in this game, despite missing all but two games this season due to injuries. Despite not getting the opportunity to show this off this year, Harvin is a true player-maker capable of helping out quarterback Russell Wilson in the passing game. It should be interesting to see what he can do on Sunday.

Other than Harvin, Seattle does not have a lot of very good receivers on the field. Sure, Golden Tate has had his games, but 898 yards and 5 touchdowns is fairly mediocre. Doug Baldwin’s 778 yards and 5 touchdowns also are not very impressive.

As a result, I believe that Harvin might play a very critical part in moving the ball for the Seahawks. This is defenitely a guy to keep an eye out when you see Wilson about to pass the ball.

The Broncos, on the other hand, have one of the best receiving cores in the league.

Dermaryius Thomas is one of the NFL’s best. In the regular season, he has had 1,430 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. This is a guy always looking to get open, and a guy that can have a monster game any given day.

And Wes Welker, despite missing three games due to injury, also had a very efficient season. In 13 regular season games, he totaled 778 receiving yards, and 10 touchdown passes.

As if this was not enough, the Broncos also have a solid #3 wide receiver in Eric Decker. Decker has racked up 1,288 receiving yards, as well as 11 touchdown receptions. This guy has had a couple of monster games, and when he clicks, he can be an absolute beast.

Combine this with one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and you can see why the Broncos have had such a historic season.

As far as the wide receiver edge goes, it is no question. Even with Harvin back, Peyton Manning still has the far better targets.

Edge: Broncos 

2013-14 Conference Championship Week NFL Recap

Ladies and gentlemen, Super Bowl XLVIII is set.

Two weeks from today, the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks will battle for the title of the 2013 NFL season.

Today, two intense conference championships were played. Pressure was tough. Expectations were high. And the entertainment was great.

Before we recap both games, I would like to say that I did go 2-0 this week to put my season record at 164-101-1 (61.89% on the year. We will see if I can end my 2013 predicting season with a “W” in two weeks. Right now, however, let us recap the games that took place this week. Let us look at the championship games:

• In a battle of two of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, it was Peyton Manning’s Broncos holding on for a two possession victory over Tom Brady and the Patriots in Denver. Running back Knowshon Moreno left the game in the 4th quarter for Denver and did not return.

My analysis: First off, let us give credit to Tom Brady and the Patriots. That team had little talent this year, and it is incredible that they got all the way to the AFC Championship. I do not believe that their time is over quite yet, and with Rob Gronkowski set to return in 2014, I believe that they will be back in the postseason next year. As for the Broncos, this was a very well-deserved victory. They have a multitude of incredible talent, and it is only appropriate that they will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, just as I predicted in the preseason.

• Colin Kaepernick’s pass with a few seconds remaining was tipped and intercepted, as the 49ers fell short of the Super Bowl, losing to the Seahawks in Seattle by six points. Russell Wilson and the Seahawks did not have their best performance of the season, but they did just enough to edge out the victory and advance to Super Bowl XLVIII.

My analysis: There is no doubt about the fact that the Seahawks have a lot of talent. Congratulations to them on beating a very good 49ers team. However, I saw today that this team was not unstoppable, and that they do have some flaws. It will be interesting to see how they will play in a neutral-field contest when the Super Bowl arrives. Still, give them credit. A team whose receiving crew is not great and whose quarterback is very young is going to the biggest game on earth. February 2nd’s game should be a thriller.

 

2013-14 Final Four Profile: Denver Broncos

Our countdown to the conference championship games continues. Let us take a look at the Denver Broncos:

Back in August, when I made my 2013 NFL season predictions, I picked this team to go all the way. There is a reason.

They are stacked.

For starters, they are led by one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game in Peyton Manning. This is a guy who can make the big play right and left, and someone who can definitely pull through under pressure.

As if this was not enough, they have one of the best recieving crews in the NFL. Wideout Demaryius Thomas is elite, Wes Welker is back from injury and looking good, Eric Decker is also very talented and has had some huge games, and tight end Julius Thomas has emerged as one of the best tight ends in the league.

Still not enough?

Well, how about a running game? Running back Knowshon Moreno has stepped in very nicely this year, and because defenses are so busy covering receivers, they often leave room for him to run. Rookie Montee Ball has also stepped in pretty well at times, and look for the Broncos to use him in their game against the Patriots this week as well.

The only true weakness that this team holds is the defense. With Von Miller out, they do give up some yards and points.

However, the offense generally scores more points than the defense allows, and I expect the same result this week.

As far as Super Bowl odds go, this team is far from a lock to win it all. At least two others teams in this race are definitely legit contenders.

Nevertheless, with everything they have, the odds are not too bad. Not at all.

Odds of winning Super Bowl: 35%

2013 Preseason NFL Power Rankings

We’re at that point of the preseason where you just want some real football. Some games that actually count in the standings and that mean something to the teams. Well, it’s coming. In just one week and one day, the 2013 NFL season will kick off, and Jacob’s Sports Commentary will be there every step of the way. This site is most commonly viewed for the accurate weekly predictions, but I do a lot more. Including something that I will re-introduce today: the NFL power rankings. Every Wednesday during the regular season, I will release what I think are currently the top 10 NFL teams. And I figured I’d start this a week early. Here are Jacob’s Sports Commentary’s NFL power rankings heading into the 2013 NFL season:

Please note: The records next to each team are how they finished last year.

10. New Orleans Saints (7-9)- I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a team with such a good offense and such a bad defense. Quarterback Drew Brees is one of the best around. He can make the short throw, the long throw, the medium throw, and the big touchdown pass. He has a good #1 wide receiver in Marques Colston and the Saints have a decent running game with Darren Sproles as well. The defense on the other hand, isn’t so good. They allow a ton of yards which leads to a lot of points, and I believe that they’re a huge reason why the Saints lost nine games last season. The other reason, in my opinion, was the year-long suspension of head coach Sean Payton. It was almost certainly harder for the Saints offense with a different head coach and I think that they will benefit from having him back on the sidelines this season. Brees and the crew will simply have to score more points than the defense allows. I have them grabbing a wild card spot.

9. New York Giants (9-7)- Many would argue that I have the Giants ranked too high on this list. Yes, they can be very inconsistent at times. However, they’re led by Eli Manning, a very clutch quarterback and a two time Super Bowl champion. They have a pretty good passing game with Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, as well as a big potential running game with David Wilson. This team could really go either way this season. However, you simply cannot ignore the magic they have performed in the past.

8. New England Patriots (12-4)- If it wasn’t for a brutal off-season, I’d have the Patriots ranked much higher on this list. Yes, they have lost a lot of key receivers. However, let’s remember one thing: Tom Brady is under center. This is a guy that has been in the Super Bowl five times. He is just an incredible quarterback and can make things happen, regardless of who he’s throwing to. The bad off-season should also give wide receiver Danny Amendola and running back Stevan Ridley an opportunity to be stars. While I’m not expecting another 12-4 record, I anticipate the Pats to be a solid team again.

7. Houston Texans (12-4)- This is a solid team all the way around. They’re led by running back Arian Foster. While he does have some injury concerns at this point, he remains one of the elite running backs in the NFL. A lot of other teams with a star RB, don’t have a very good passing game. Not the Texans. Matt Schaub is a guy that gets things done when needed, and he has a rock solid receiver in Andre Johnson to throw the ball to. This team had some mild inconsistency last year, and that plus Foster’s health made me drop them on the list a little bit. Nevertheless, I expect them to be strong Super Bowl candidates again.

6. Baltimore Ravens (10-6)- Because of the loss of some key players, many people might be underrating the Ravens this year. For starters, they are the Super Bowl champions. That’s pretty good no matter how bad of an off-season you’ve had. The other thing is that this team is led by two very solid players, quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice. Rice is one of the best and most consistent running backs in the league. Flacco is a solid quarterback who can get the job done and he does have a Super Bowl ring to show for it. Mix this in with a solid,young, wide receiver in Torrey Smith and you can see why I have the Ravens going to the AFC Championship this season.

5. Seattle Seahawks (11-5)- This is a team that broke out last season. Similar to the Ravens and Texans, they have an elite running game with Marshawn Lynch and a solid quarterback with second-year player Russell Wilson. What makes them even better is the fact that their defense might very well be the best in the league. The future just looks incredibly bright for this team, and I expect things to click in all aspects. Look for them to return the playoffs and rapidly emerge as a big Super Bowl threat.

4. Green Bay Packers (11-5)- What makes this team so good is the passing offense. Not only do they have quarterback Aaron Rodgers, one of the best in the game, but they also have a bunch of solid wide receivers in Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson. With a young running game that has potential and a solid defense, expect this team to be one of the best in the league again. I have them going to the NFC Championship.

3. Atlanta Falcons (13-3)- This is one of those teams that you have to ask yourself this question, “What is not to love?”. The Falcons are talented at just about every single position. They have quarterback Matt Ryan under center, who really took that big step forward last season and posted some very solid numbers. To help him, the Falcons have two legit wide receivers in Julio Jones and Roddy White, who just make the play anytime you ask them. To add, they have veteran Tony Gonzalez at tight end, and they added running back Steven Jackson, who I think will fit perfectly in that offense. What is not to love? I expect similar numbers to last year, for them to win the division, and be Super Bowl contenders once again.

2. San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1)- You know you have to be good to replace a guy like Alex Smith. Collin Kaepernick, folks, is better than good. This guy absolutely shined in his first year as a starting quarterback, leading the 49ers all the way to the Super Bowl. And he’s not the only one. San Francisco has veteran running back Frank Gore, who I expect to post fairly solid numbers. They’ve also got a new wide receiver in Anquan Boldin who I really like, a solid tight end in Vernon Davis, a great wide receiver in Michael Crabtree who hopefully will return from injury by the playoffs, and one of the best defenses in the league. I have them going to the Super Bowl once again.

1. Denver Broncos (13-3)- To me, there is no doubt about the fact that the Broncos are the best team in the NFL. They’re led by veteran, proven Super Bowl champion quarterback Peyton Manning, who is one of the NFL’s elite and seems to always get the job done. They also have two very solid wide receivers in Demaryius Thomas and now Wes Welker. Add to this a running game with rookie Montee Ball who I see a lot of potential in, as well as a solid defense. That’s a good team. A great team. And one who is my preseason pick to raise the Vince Lombardi Trophy in February.

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