Here are my takeaways from today's game and my thoughts and predictions on tomorrow's match-ups.
Also, a shout out to Gordon Hayward at the end.
1. Seahawks vs Saints
Marshawn Lynch loves playing the Saints. There's not a single Saints player that can tackle Beast Mode one-on-one.
Russell Wilson is getting scary good. He gets smarter every day. He's a good thrower and a great runner. I think he could be an all time great. If I had to choose a "new school" QB to build my franchise around (Cam, Kaep, RGIII, Luck, or Wilson) , it'd be very tempting to pick Wilson.
Poor Percy Harvin. He got hit hard on the head on a catch he wasn't even going to complete the left the game. Then he came back and got hit hard again on another catch he wasn't going to complete and didn't come back. This was all in the 1st half. He left with 3 receptions, which lead his team. This is a talented guy that could be the difference between winning if he plays next week and losing if he doesn't.
Jimmy Graham didn't have a catch until the 4th quarter. Jimmy Graham is the MVP of the league if you exclude Quarterbacks. He lead the league in caught touchdowns and he's a TE. The Saints are a much worse team without Jimmy Graham, and it sure showed when he wasn't getting the ball today. He finished with 1 catch on 6 targets. You've got to get Jimmy more involved if you want to win a big game like this.
Drew Brees is the Peyton Manning of the NFC. He's played in a Dome all his life. Therefore, his numbers (stats and wins) are inflated, and it shows when he plays in bad weather. A great QB? Yes. Top 5 ever? No way for both.
2. Patriots vs Colts
Bill Belichick is an amazing, fantastic, incredible, awesome, super good head coach. Remember when nobody wanted pre-Patriot BenJarvis Green-Ellis? The the Patriots signed the Law Firm, and he tore it up in New England. The Patriots didn't resign him, and the media called it a really dumb move. Then Ellis signed a big contracted with the Bengals and wasn't good. He doesn't even have the starting job anymore. Belichick made Ellis look way better than he actually is.
This year we are seeing history repeat itself. LaGarrette Blount was the THIRD string running back on the Bucs. He was a third and short RB only. A big body that couldn't even be counted on to move the chains. Now the Patriots have him and Belichick has him looking like Marshawn Lynch. When his contract is up, some team will give him way too much money, and he will become average-at-best again.
Andrew Luck. I love him. He'll be great. But those of you crowing him the "King of the AFC" (Collin Cowherd) or anything close to that, stop it. He probably will be in a few years, but right now he is still not there. He threw 3 interceptions against the Chiefs and was a big reason they were down so much in the first place. And today he threw 4 picks against the Patriots. That's 7 int's in 2 playoff games. Like I said, I love him and I love his potential, but he's not Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady yet.
Never bet against Tom Brady. You'll usually lose.
3. Tomorrow's Games and Predictions
3a. Broncos vs Chargers.
Peyton Manning losing a 1st round game when he is heavily favored has become laughable. It's almost as laughable as Tony Romo throwing an interception in the 4th quarter when the game is on the line.
Manning better win this game. This Charger team shouldn't even be in the playoffs. The Chiefs were a blow call away from beating them. The Steelers should have been in the playoffs with the Dolphins and Ravens would have finished ahead of the Chargers.
This Broncos team is loaded. Demaryius Thomas made Tim Tebow look good. Thomas is one of the best WR in the league. He's fast, tall, strong, good hands, etc. Peyton also has Welker, Decker, and Julius Thomas. All 4 of those receivers are better than anyone that Phillip Rivers has to throw to. Better than anyone Tom Brady or Andrew Luck has to throw to as well.
It's not even going to be that cold in Denver. I heard yesterday that it's going to be 50 degrees for this game.
Do you know what's not an excuse for losing? That Von Miller isn't playing. Tom Brady is missing his entire defense due to injury and his only good receiver (Wlfork, Mayo, Vollmer, Kelly, Spikes, and Gronk) and still got it done against the Colts. (He also got the job against Denver in the regular season.) Winners find a way to win.
Broncos SHOULD win by 20+ points, but given Manning's history, I'll be a little conservative on my pick. 31-21 Broncos win.
3b. 49ers vs Panthers
Great defense vs great defense. Kaepernick vs Cam. This will be a good battle.
I've got the 49ers to win a good game. The 49ers have better receivers and their team is much more experienced. If the 49ers win, it will be Harbaugh's 3rd straight year going to the NFC Championship game. (And last year they went to the Superbowl.)
The 49ers defense is proven to be great over the last 3 years. Kaepernick's been there, done that. Harbaugh knows what he's doing.
The Panthers, on the other hand, don't have the experience. Over the last few years, the Panthers defense has been bad. This year is the first year they look good. And they've looked really good. Is their defense really that good? We won't know until after tomorrow's game.
Since I don't know how good the Panthers really are, and since I know the 49ers really are that good, I'm pick the 49ers to win 17-9.
Bonus: Shout out to Gordon Hayward.
Hayward is the Jazz' best player, and don't let anybody tell you otherwise. Hayward is getting assists, rebounds, scoring, and playing great defense. A lot of people are saying Hayward sucks because his field goal percentage is low. Then that same person will say Trey Burke is the best player on the team and that Burke is such a great shooter. News flash. Hayward is shooting .415 (career low) but Burke is shooting .388. So... Hayward has been a better shooter the Burke this year. Add on top of that the defense, the passing, the rebounding, etc... Hayward is a great all-around player.
Did anyone see the last game the Jazz played against the Cavs? The Jazz had been playing great lately. They had won 3 of their last 4 (including a win over KD and the Thunder). Then the Jazz hosted the Cavs in Utah without Hayward and they got BLOWN OUT. The game was over mid third quarter. Hayward is the best player on the Jazz right now and the Jazz are probably the worst team in the NBA without him.
PS - I was totally right in week 5 when I stood alone and said the 4-0 Patriots would go to the AFC championship game and the 4-0 Saints and the 4-0 Chiefs would not. http://keelesports.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-underrated-4-0-patriots.html
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