UPDATED: Seattle Seahawks win Super Bowl XLVIII
Update 9:55 PM EST
Seattle Seahawks have won the Super Bowl. 43-8 is the final
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Update 9:51 PM EST
2:00 left and the Seahawks basically have it in the bag. Broncos with the ball
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Update 9:30 PM EST
TD Seattle. 43-8 in a blowout.
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Update 9:15 PM EST
36-8 Seahawks as the Broncos finally get on the board.
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Update 9:05 PM EST
36-0 Seahawks.
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Update 8:59 PM EST
Fumble! Seahawks have it. still 29-0 Seahawks
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Update 8:00 PM EST
2nd half begins with Percy Harvin taking it all the way for an 87 yard return TD. 29-0 Seahawks
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Update 7:43 PM EST
INTERCEPTION!!! Manning throws an INT to Malcolm Smith, who takes it the other way. 3:36 to play. 22-0 SEA
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Update 7:27 PM EST
Marshawn Lynch runs it into the endzone. 15-0 SEA with 12:08 to play in the 2nd quarter
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Update 7:12 PM EST
Complete domination. 8-0 Seahawks and now an INT for SEA.
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Update 6:49 PM EST
Seahawks kick a FG. 5-0 Seahawks with 10:00 to play in the 1st quarter
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Update 6:35 PM EST
One play in and the Broncos already are down. A botched snap into the endzone and the Seahawks take a 2-0 lead
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Dabuzzza founder Brett Malamud will be providing live coverage of this year’s Super Bowl. Follow us on Twitter or check on this post for updates. Enjoy the game.
Super Bowl XLLVIII should be a fantastic matchup
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Brett Malamud is a Computer Science Major at Binghamton University. He is the co-founder of dabuzzza.com. His favorite athletes are Derek Jeter and Todd Bertuzzi. You can follow him on twitter at @brettnyy
Superbowl XLVIII Picks
With the big game finally here, we thought we’d present our picks for Superbowl XLVIII between the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos. From all of us here at Dabuzzza, stay safe and enjoy the game.
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Writer |
Pick |
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Brett Malamud |
Denver wins this one 27-17. They say defense wins championships, but Manning torched every one of them. In a season that led to Manning’s fifth MVP award, Manning took down some of the league’s top defenses. Take the Kansas City Chiefs for example. In a week 13 matchup in Kansas City, Manning led the Broncos to a win by throwing for 403 yards and five touchdowns. All I’m saying is just because Seattle’s defense is strong doesn’t mean that Peyton Manning cannot be stronger. |
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Dan Lagnado |
I think Denver wins a close game (24-20 or 28-24), but in the end too many offensive weapons even for Seattle. Denver running backs in the passing game will have a big impact plus I think Wes Welker proves his worth. |
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Josh Halilej |
I’ll go with Seattle 23-20. There have been 15 teams to be the top defense in the regular season to go to the Super Bowl and their record is 12-3. Plus, I like Wilson’s leadership and I think Marshawn Lynch will wear down the Broncos’ front seven. |
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Eric Huberman |
Seattle 28-24. Way too many people on Denver -2 in the gambling world. Usually a good tip it will go the other way. The wind will bother Peyton throughout the game. Also believe Lynch has a huge game. |
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Josh Wicker |
Seattle wins 21-17, Wilson has a great game and Lynch has over 100 yards and a touchdown. The weather could lead to the game being won or lost with the run game and I feel that Seattle has the stronger of the two. Manning also has a good game but comes up short on a game winning drive. |
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Seth Schuster |
Seattle will pull out a win, 27-24, in a tight game that comes down to the wire. Russell Wilson, will respond to criticism, by leading the Seahawks on a game winning drive, capped off by a Hauschka field goal as time expires (Shockingly similar to another QB on his quest for the Lombardi Trophy–Tom Brady) This game will come down to the weather, as well as clock management. This game will come down to whichever team possesses the ball last–hard to bet against Peyton with the game on the line. |
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Nick Vespasiano |
Denver wins 24-21. If their run defense can contain Lynch just enough, Wilson won’t be able to take over the game. Seattle’s secondary is good, especially on the edge but Denver (specifically Manning) is all about the intermediate passing game in the seams and slot. If Peyton gets in a rhythm and works Moreno and ball into the game, the Broncos can win. |
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Sam Iryami |
Denver wins 27-23. Richard Sherman and the Seattle defense will not be able to stop the motivated Peyton Manning and his passing game. Peyton will march down the field and get completion after completion to get that Super Bowl win. Also he has Moreno, who is an incredible asset that could give them great yardage. All in all, the Broncos have a much better offense that is just unstoppable. However, Seattle has a great running game with Lynch so it will be a close one. I don’t think Wilson has the potential to own the game and do well. Manning is going to come out strong and win the game. |
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Matthew Wieselthier |
Seattle 25-21. Defense wins championships. This game may have been different had Denver still had LB Von Miller but without him, they clearly have the worse defense and Seattle still is strong on the offensive end. There is a reason that Marshawn Lynch is a top RB and Russell Wilson isn’t in the Super Bowl in his second season for no reason. Peyton Manning may be one of the best QBs of all time, but historically, he is not a great playoff quarterback. The Broncos also haven’t faced a defense near the power of Seattle and the L.O.B. (Legion of Boom). The 12th Man will be celebrating all night on Groundhog’s Day and take their lack of experience straight to a title. |
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Ben Ozur |
Seattle 27-24. Yes the Broncos have the best offense in NFL history, but none of the top five scoring offenses in NFL history have won the Super Bowl (only the 2007 Patriots even made it there). Though Peyton Manning’s offense has set numerous NFL records, their defense is nothing to get excited about. On the other side, you have Seattle with the NFL’s best defense this season. Their offense is nothing to sneeze at, however, as they have many weapons, including Percy Harvin, whom, as Denver will have a hard time planning for the receiver who’s only played in two games this season. I think Denver will dominate early and Seattle will make a comeback. And here’s my bold prediction: this will be the first Super Bowl to go into overtime. Steven Hauschka will kick a field goal in the first drive of OT and Peyton will fail to take his team down the field, as the Seahawks win their first ever Super Bowl. |
Peyton’s Legacy
By Christian Pierre-Louis
Almost two years ago, Peyton Manning came to Denver, not knowing how his tale would continue. Now he prepares to take over the Big Apple, one win away from winning that elusive second Lombardi Trophy. When Manning sat out the 2011 season because of a neck injury, he had plenty of time to contemplate life without football. Manning; the No. 1 high school recruit in the nation, the Heisman favorite as a Tennessee senior and No. 1 overall pick in 1998, was suddenly an underdog for the first time, really ever.
Prior to Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots, Manning had received an assault of criticism on whether he would be able to lead the Broncos to a victory over the Patriots. During his career, the rivalry between Manning and the Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady, has been the source of many memorable moments in the NFL. However, Manning was able to overcome the harsh skepticism, and lead the Broncos to a 26-16 victory over the New England Patriots.
Peyton Manning hopes to win a second Super Bowl (via SportsPickle)
From the beginning of the game, the Broncos dominated the Patriots in every aspect, and in the end, the best team came out on top. The game started with Manning and the Broncos taking an early lead, and once they had it, there was no looking back. Manning had his way with the New England defense, toying with them at the line of scrimmage and his surgical precision was too much for Bill Belichick’s team to handle. The Broncos as a team controlled the ball for close to 36 minutes, whereas the Patriots only had possession of the ball for 24.
The defense for the Broncos also played exceptionally well, managing to stop the Patriots’ ability to score a touchdown for the first three quarters of the game. It was only in the fourth quarter of the game that a comeback sparked by Brady seemed possible, however, the performance of the Broncos during the first three quarters had separated them so far that lead prevented this from happening. Patriots coach Bill Belichick expressed his disappointment with his statement following the game, “I wish we could’ve done a little better today, especially me.”
Although the game was won by the Broncos as a team, Peyton Manning has received the majority of the attention following the Broncos win. With this win, Manning is looking at his third Super Bowl appearance, and an opportunity for a second Super Bowl victory. In addition, with this win Manning has ensured that his legacy continues into the Super Bowl. Manning could be the first quarterback to have won a Super Bowl with two different teams if the Broncos win the Super Bowl. Following the game, the Broncos waited patiently to hear the news of whether they would be playing the San Francisco 49ers or the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl.
So it’s a Seattle-Denver Super Bowl, one full of intrigue and new story lines, seeing that almost every player in the game will be new to the Super Bowl stage. Every player but one. Peyton Manning is back for his third Big One, and the pressure is all on him to cap this underdog chapter in the Book of Manning and silence all his critics once and for all.
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Christian Pierre-Louis is a journalism major at Seton Hall University. He is a HUGE fan of the, LA Lakers, NY Giants, and NY Yankees. He is also an assistant sports producer at Seton Hall’s radio station WSOU 89.5 FM. You can follow him on twitter at @CPL_78.
Vikings Hire Zimmer
By Nick Vespasiano
Mike Zimmer was hired on Wednesday to be the ninth head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. The first time head coach was the Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator since 2008 after holding the same position with the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys. The hire came just over two weeks after Leslie Frazier was let go by the team.
Personality wise, Zimmer’s blunt honesty sharply contrasts Leslie Frazier’s passivity. When addressing the media, Leslie was often painfully vague or sounded like he was just repeating what general manager Rick Spielman wanted him to say. Vikings management was not willing to give up on Christian Ponder despite his lack of talent and Leslie stood by as we lost game after game. Zimmer is not that kind of coach. He will not be Spielman’s “yes man” like Frazier was for three seasons. Had he been head coach of the Vikings during the Christian Ponder era, Zimmer would have put up more of a fight when Spielman insisted Ponder be the starter.
One thing Zimmer and the former Vikings head coach have in common is they are defensive minds. Excluding a dismal 2010 season, in his six years in Cincinnati, the Bengals yards, touchdowns, and points allowed per drive and sack totals trended from the bottom half of the league to the top ten. Last season the Vikings ranked 31st in yards allowed and last in points allowed. Zimmer’s defenses in Cincinnati featured very few Pro-Bowlers, but the Vikings hope he can improve their defense that lacks top talent.
Mike Zimmer will take over as the ninth head coach in Vikings history (Via The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger)
Zimmer has proven he can revamp a defense but the Vikings have issues offensively as well. This new coaching staff will have to find a quarterback that can consistently give the team a chance to win. If that doesn’t happen, the team likely won’t win many games and Zimmer will be fired in a few years just like Leslie Frazier. The Vikings’ offensive success will depend on not only on acquiring a quarterback either in free agency or the draft but also on hiring the right assistant coaches. While the draft is not until April, assistant coaches are being hired right now. The Vikings hired Norv Turner yesterday to replace Bill Musgrave as offensive coordinator. As the Cleveland Browns’ offensive coordinator last season, his offense had the 11th ranked passing game in the league despite an offensive depth chart worse than the Vikings’. While the offense will run through Adrian Peterson, Turner can help utilize weapons like Cordarrelle Patterson and Greg Jennings.
There are still many unknowns. There are still open assistant coach positions, free agency, and the upcoming draft. The roster and coaching staff are still incomplete but the Vikings seem to be moving in the right direction.
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Nick Vespasiano is a senior English major at St. Olaf College and aspiring sports writer. He was raised in Minnesota, favorite teams are the Vikings, Wild, and Twins. Favorite athletes are Randy Moss and Jaromír Jágr.
Broadway Johnny?
By Brett Malamud
Finally the time has come and the wait is over. After making his mark in the NCAA, Johnny Manziel has declared himself eligible for this year’s NFL draft. The Heisman winner is a projected top-ten pick with many even placing him in the top-five. While Manziel is a scrambling quarterback, he averaged 317 passing yards per game for a total of 4117 yards. This is 408 yards more than he threw for last season, a season in which he won the Heisman Trophy. In improving his passing game, Manziel had to take a step back in tucking the football and running. He rushed for only 53% of what he had rushed in 2012. However in the end, the touchdown totals remain to be consistent. Manziel finished with 47 touchdowns in 2012 and 46 touchdowns in 2013. Not too shabby when you consider the fact that Manziel threw for more yards than Andrew Luck did in any of his seasons at Stanford.
Manziel does have his problems though. He has been in the news for his behavioral issues. He was arrested back in 2012 for getting in a late night fight and possessing a fake ID. The issues continued even after he won the Heisman Trophy. He overslept while attending the Manning Passing Academy. He was kicked out of a University of Texas fraternity party. He also voiced his displeasure with Texas A&M by tweeting that he “can’t wait to leave College Station” after he received a parking ticket. His taunting on the field became quite the story during the 2013 season, and was regularly featured on ESPN. But the most notable issue came in early August 2013. The NCAA began investigating whether Manziel accepted payments from autographs that he had signed in January 2013. While it is widely believed that he did accept the money, the NCAA could not find any evidence and suspended him for only the first half of the season opener against Rice.
Johnny Manziel will enter the 2014 NFL draft as one of the top quarterbacks available (via Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Right now if you look at the NFL draft order, Houston has the first pick. The Texans need a quarterback and are expected to draft Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater. The St. Louis Rams have the second pick and while it seems that they might need a quarterback, they have showed no indication that they want to dump Sam Bradford. The third and fourth picks belong to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns respectfully. Both teams need a quarterback. The Oakland Raiders sit in the five spot and the Vikings sit at the eight spot. It’s possible that they could each want to draft a QB as well. UCF quarterback Blake Bortles is on the board as well but it’ll be interesting to see which QB gets drafted first.
An interesting pick for Manziel though could be the New York Jets. The Jets currently hold the 18th pick. Now I’m not saying that Manziel is going to slip to the 18th pick. We did see Brady Quinn slip to the 22nd pick back in 2007, after being projected to go in the top ten. Manziel is not likely to slip based on the amount of teams needing quarterbacks. Therefore, only way the Jets can get Manziel will be by trading up picks to draft him. I think that a run at Manziel could be what the Jets need. Now I know some people look and they’ll say, “why would they do that?” Well, they’ve done it before. Back in 2009, the Jets traded up to the fifth pick to select USC quarterback Mark Sanchez. Now I know that didn’t turn out to be such a great decision now that Sanchez has lost the starting position, but Manziel is a bigger threat than Sanchez ever was. The Jets current starting quarterback, Geno Smith, had the lowest QB rating in the entire league. General Manager John Idzik stated at the end of their week 17 game that they will “look at quarterbacks” in the offseason. It is this statement that shows that Idzik doesn’t believe that Smith is “the guy.” If the Jets want to get their hands on a reliable quarterback for years to come, they must trade up and select Johnny Manziel.
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Brett Malamud is a Computer Science Major at Binghamton University. He is the co-founder of dabuzzza.com. His favorite athletes are Derek Jeter and Todd Bertuzzi. You can follow him on twitter at @brettnyy
The Metrodome: A Look Back
By Nick Vespasiano
Since it opened in 1982, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome has been home to the Minnesota Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers football team, and of course Monster Jam (kids seats still just five bucks!). It has hosted an MLB All-Star Game, two World Series, a Super Bowl, and two NCAA Final Fours.
But since I can remember, The Dome has been known for (among other things) its lack of sunlight, awful concourses, sticky floors, troughs in the men’s bathroom, and overall just being the dump that it was. Despite the sentimental value of it being “our dump”, no one is really that sad to see it go.
It’s been 31 years, but we finally can say goodbye to the Metrodome (via Vikings)
Yesterday’s Vikings 14-13 win over the Detroit Lions marks the last event held in the Metrodome, which will be torn down to make room for the Vikings’ new stadium set to open in 2016.
Here’s some of my favorite memories of the Metrodome:
The Vikings 1998 Season
A 15-1 season that ended in a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Atlanta Falcons after kicker Gary Anderson’s only missed field goal of the season. Rookie wide receiver Randy Moss formed an unlikely connection with quarterback Randall Cunningham, catching 69 passes for 1,313 yards and 17 touchdowns. Veteran wideout Cris Carter also helped make this one of the best offenses in NFL history.
Adrian Peterson Runs for 296 Yards
In his rookie season in 2007, we knew we had a special player in Adrian Peterson. It was one of the best seasons ever for a rookie running back. The most notable game that year, and probably of his whole career, was a home game against the San Diego Chargers where he set the NFL record for rushing yards in a game with 296 yards on 30 carries.
Joe Mauer’s AL-MVP Season
All the cheesy “hometown hero” stuff aside, that 2009 season was pretty incredible. I went to several of Twins games that year, where it was not uncommon to see Joe go 4-4, 3-4, or 4-5. Finishing with a .400 batting average was not out of the question for a decent portion of the season. After spending the first month of the season out with injury, he finished batting .365 with 28 home runs and 96 RBIs en route to a division title. I will always remember being at the Dome to see his first game back from injury, where he homered to the opposite field on his first swing.
Favre’s Magical Year
I will never forget the aerial shot of Brett Favre’s black Range Rover arriving at the Viking’s practice facilities in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. It was like the president had just arrived. I knew we were in for a treat that season but it was far better than I could have hoped. They went 12-4, highlighted by Favre’s best statistical season at the ripe old age of 40. He completed 68 percent of his passes for 4,202 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The best moments in the Dome include Favre’s last second touchdown pass to beat San Francisco (its Greg Lewis!), stomping Green Bay, and a playoff route of the Dallas Cowboys.
The Roof Collapse
In my freshman year of college, walking home late from a party, the snow was up to our knees and was only getting worse. It snowed around 17 inches that night and I woke up Sunday morning to find out that blizzard killed the Metrodome. The Vikings and Giants had to play at Ford Field in Detroit instead.
AP’s MVP Season
28 makes his second appearance on this list. He spent last season chasing Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing record of 2,105, coming up just short with 2,097. It was enough to earn him MVP honors after tearing his ACL the season before. Averaging 6.0 yards per carry, game in game out he carried the team to an unlikely 10-6 record and a playoff birth. In the last home game of the season against Green Bay, he totaled 199 yards in a must win game to secure a wild card spot in the playoffs.
These are just a few memories that stand out to me. Destruction of the Metrodome begins in January and while it will always have a place in my heart, I can’t say I’ll miss it.
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Nick Vespasiano is a senior English major at St. Olaf College and aspiring sports writer. He was raised in Minnesota, favorite teams are the Vikings, Wild, and Twins. Favorite athletes are Randy Moss and Jaromír Jágr.
Injuries Plague NFL Playoff Contenders
By Dan Lagnado
With week 16 now in the books, those teams that have clinched will gear up for their playoff run while several others prepare to attempt a “win and they’re in” game. However quite a few of these teams will be without important players.
The most notable of these teams is the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys may be playing for the NFC East championship without the quarterback. Of course Tony Romo has been heavily criticized by fans of the game for being unable to win important games in December. If the reports of his injuries are correct, Romo might not get the chance to prove them wrong next weekend. The report is that Romo has a herniated disc that will require surgery and so will not play against the Eagles, or beyond if the Cowboys win. Kyle Orton has been Romo’s backup all season but has not started a game since 2011. It is rumored that the team will look to sign another quarterback this week. Notable free agent quarterbacks include former college stars Vince Young, Matt Leinart, JaMarcus Russell and of course, Tim Tebow. There are also some proven veterans who are available such as David Carr, Byron Leftwich, Trent Edwards and Charlie Batch.
Tony Romo will be absent in week 17 (Via Hulkshare)
Another serious injury inflicted star pass rusher Von Miller of the AFC leading Broncos. Miller tore his ACL early in the game and will be out for the remainder of the season. Miller is one of the league’s most prolific, young, defensive stars and his absence will be felt by an inconsistent Denver defense. However, Denver performed well without Miller early in the season (Miller missed the first six games but Denver was 6-0), however it remains to be seen if the offense can make up for the loss against more talented teams in the playoffs.
The Carolina Panthers are fighting not only for a division title but for a possible first round bye. However, they will be doing so without their star wide receiver Steve Smith. Smith strained his PCL in Sunday’s victory over the Saints and has been declared doubtful for the season finale. It is unclear if Smith will miss any time beyond week 17. Smith is a vital part of the offense and a popular option for Cam Newton. If Smith is forced to miss any significant amount of time it could cause problems for the Panther offense.
The New Orleans Saints had one of the worst defenses in NFL history last season. Rob Ryan was brought in and managed to recreate the defense and it has helped the Saints to return to contention. However, young, talented safety Kenny Vaccaro broke his ankle in the loss to Carolina. Vaccaro had over 90 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble, and a sack. Vaccaro had performed at all aspects of the defense and a group that has started to struggle in recent weeks will feel his loss.
And there is the ongoing question of Aaron Rodgers and his collarbone. Rodgers has missed seven games and is still waiting to be cleared to play by the Packers’ medical staff. Rodgers has practiced and has stated that he feels that he could play but team doctors have not cleared him for full football. The Packers will face the Bears with a chance to win the NFC North and if Rodgers is held out again, Matt Flynn will once again be asked to lead the team against a good Bears team with Jay Cutler back in the lineup.
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Dan Lagnado is studying communications, law economics and government at American University. He’s a fan of both the Mets and Jets and has been writing about sports for four years. You can follow him on twitter at @dlag1995
What’s Next for the New York Jets: Looking Ahead to 2014
By: Dan Lagnado
It pains me to say it as much as it pains you to read it but it’s probably about time to wave the playoffs goodbye for this season. The Jets have now lost three in a row and four of their last five games, and now sit at 5-7 on the season. “But wait”, those few remaining loyalists will say, “there’s still a chance to go 8-8 or even 9-7.” Mathematically that is correct, but is it realistic?
In this writer’s (and fan’s) opinion, no. I haven’t seen anything to make me believe that this team can beat even the lowliest teams in the NFL. The chunk of schedule after the bye was not considered to be the hardest of this season, yet the Bills, Ravens, and Dolphins have given the Jets fits. The same team that beat the Patriots and the Saints in three weeks now have lost to three straight teams who had come in to the game with losing records and lost embarrassingly. Geno Smith’s offense scored only three points against the Ravens, and the only points scored against Miami came on a drive led by Matt Simms. That offensive production is not going to get anyone into the postseason. I don’t think that the problem is only Geno Smith, as many people claim that it is, however it is true that the rookie’s performance has not been up-to-par of late. I believe that part of the issue lies in the wide receivers.
Geno Smith has not played like the first round pick he was projected to be (Via USA Today)
To begin the season, the Jets had Santonio Holmes, Stephen Hill and Jeremy Kerley penciled in as starters and Kellen Winslow as the starting tight end with Jeff Cumberland as support. However, it’s never that easy. Holmes has been plagued by foot and hamstring injuries that have caused him to miss five games and rendered him ineffective in a few games as well. Hill has played quite the disappearing act. Despite being active in every game this season, Hill has been held without a catch four different times, most notably in three consecutive games against New Orleans, Buffalo and Baltimore. Since his 108-yard performance against Buffalo in week three, his stats have dropped drastically as he managed the same yardage in nine games combined. Jeremy Kerley is the Jets’ leading receiver this season, but he has missed time as well of late because of the injury he suffered against the Saints. Winslow missed games for both injuries and a suspension and even Cumberland was held out of a game due to a concussion. As a result the Jets have had to rotate other players in to fill the empty spots. And so for this season we have seen the likes of Clyde Gates, Greg Salas, Josh Cribbs, Zach Sudfeld, Konrad Reuland and David Nelson. Though David Nelson did provide a bit of a spark in a few games, this rotation of receivers could be reason for lack of chemistry between Geno and the wide receivers.
This is not an excuse for the poor play of the offense, nor is it an excuse for the poor decisions and play of the rookie quarterback. It is simply the idea that not all the blame belongs to Geno Smith.
Another issue that is facing the Jets is that of their secondary. The departure of Darrelle Revis certainly has been felt. Antonio Cromartie has been playing hurt most of the season and as a result has not played his best, despite leading the team with three of their six interceptions. Rookie Dee Milliner has now been benched three times and has not quite lived up to the expectations of a top-10 overall pick and there isn’t really anyone else in the secondary able to effectively cover a number two receiver. This has been an Achilles heel all season for what has been a very good defense otherwise and Ed Reed has not been the solution.
And while it is true that the Jets are only 2 games out of the final playoff spot, it is important to note the teams that are ahead or tied with them: Ravens, Dolphins, Chargers, Titans and the Steelers. Four out of those five teams own the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Jets. Basically, the Jets have to be alone in the 6th Wild Card spot to get to the playoffs.
But I will state again, unless something changes drastically with the offense, this team will be lucky to come away with two wins in their last four games.
So what comes next? It’s impossible to determine anything draft-related at this point in time. There are too many variables that would determine draft order or even who will be free agents at the end of the season. But we can consider the areas that most likely will be addressed in the offseason. In my personal opinion, I would expect to see a new coach first and foremost. John Idzik began his rebuilding of this team last season and surprised many by keeping Rex Ryan on as coach. However, Rex may not get a second chance again after this season. Look for Idzik to bring in a new face to lead the team to the future. With a new coach at the helm and a GM looking to be a contender look for the Jets to fill the holes right away this offseason. As for the quarterback situation…your guess is as good as mine.
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Dan Lagnado is studying communications, law economics and government at American University. He’s a fan of both the Mets and Jets and has been writing about sports for four years. You can follow him on twitter at @dlag1995
NFL Week 12 Predictions
By Matthew Wieselthier
Sunday:
1:00 PM ET
Lions 27, Buccaneers 21
Tampa Bay has hit its first hot streak of the year. Two straight wins and almost stealing a win against Seattle, it would only make sense to go with the hot streak. However, they have beaten the Dolphins and Falcons, both of which are not great teams with not much upside for the season. They have also only showed up in the first half, having to fight through the second half to grind out their wins. The Lions are not a team you can do that against. Even if you beat them in the first half, the offensive weapons in Detroit’s pocket are too great to just play one half against. The marquee matchup will be WR Calvin Johnson vs. CB Darrelle Revis, but with the rest of the Lions weapons, they should be able to take the second half and win at home.
Packers 28, Vikings 13
Even undrafted third-string QB Scott Tolzein can handle this dreadful Vikings defense. Ranked 30th in the league, the Vikings have yet to stop any team from bulldozing them. The Packers starting lineup may mostly be in the infirmary right now, but the ones on the field should be able to stop the Vikings offense, which has the 25th best passing game in the league. Very simple, the Packers will take this game easily.
Texans 27, Jaguars 10
The Texans are the best terrible team there is. They are ranked 8th in offense and tops in the league in defense. They just can’t seem to close out games. Despite being strong at basically every part of the game, the Texans are out of playoff contention and having a very disappointing season. The future should be bright however with QB Case Keenum proving to be a viable option at starting QB.
Chiefs 17, Chargers 14
Andy Reid’s bid to coach his new team to a perfect season is finally over. The Chiefs fell to the Broncos last week and now they have to restart the streak and don’t have an easy team to do it against. Division rival Sand Diego Chargers may have a losing record, but they are a fighting team and don’t lose easily. QB Philip Rivers is having a comeback season and is leading the 4th best passing offense in the NFL. However, the Chiefs defense has been one of the tops in the league all season and has 6 returning Pro-Bowlers from that side of the ball.
Panthers 34, Dolphins 17
The Panthers are the hottest team in football winning six straight games and looking good doing it. Despite being underdogs in their last two matchups, they have come out on top, controversial calls or not. And their defense can do most of the talking for them. Led by former Defensive Rookie of the Year Luke Kuechly, Carolina has the 3rd best defense in the league. That should bode well for them against the 31st best offense in the league of the Dolphins.
Browns 21, Steelers 20
The Browns are doing much better than anticipated, especially after trading RB Trent Richardson to the Colts. However, that deal seems to have helped the Browns record wise, who are .500 since trading him away after a 0-2 start. They are also impressive passing wise surprisingly, still able to go through the air despite going through so many QBs this season. Their defense is where they shine though, being 4th in the league and have been stopping even the top offenses in the league.
Bears 19, Rams 12
The Bears have been injured and that’s been a major cause of their loses this season. Even with QB Jay Cutler injured, Josh McCown has been a suitable replacement and the running game of RB Matt Forte has been quite good this year. The Rams are also injured at QB and terrible in general, having a good game here and there but not good enough to say they could win any game.
Jets 22, Ravens 17
The Jets have been on and off every other week. According to the pattern, this week they should be on. And it seems like they should be, they have the 9th best defense in the league led by their defensive line and linebackers. They also are very good in the running game, whether it be Chris Ivory or Bilal Powell taking the lead. The Ravens have also been very shaky this season, with the 3rd worst offense in the league, headlined by their lack of a running game with Ray Rice. For both teams though, this is a must win to stay in the AFC Wild Card hunt for the 6th seed.
4:00 PM ET
Raiders 20, Titans 13
The Raiders may not have a good passing game, but they have one hell of a running game. Ironically, the best rusher for them is QB Terrelle Pryor. He can make a throw when he needs, but he’s better with his legs. The Titans are trying to make a resurgence from their strong start but are not looking too hot lately. The Raiders should be able to take this one, as they are able to in odd situations.
Cardinals 24, Colts 21
The Cardinals have been strong all season, and Andre Ellington having his dreadlocks pulled out last week shouldn’t stop that. On the other hand, the Colts have been shaky the past few weeks, including last week when they squeaked out a Thursday Night win against the Titans. The Cardinals have looked really good lately, helped out by the 9th best defense in the league.
Cowboys 38, Giants 27
The Cowboys have a top QB this year in Tony Romo. They just need a healthy RB in Demarco Murray, who is continually injured. The Giants may have won four straight, but they haven’t played any great competition. The Packers would have been a quality win if they weren’t in the infirmary now. Playing a quality opponent like the Cowboys should bring the Giants back down to Earth.
8:30 PM ET
Broncos 47, Patriots 24
The Broncos are the best of the best, with both sides of the ball working together better than any other team. Now with LB Von Miller back, the defensive side has come back into action and the offense is tops in the league with QB Peyton Manning at the helm. The Patriots have been weak on both sides of the ball this year, especially defensively. That can’t help with Broncos top offense. Expect trouble for New England tonight.
Monday:
8:40 PM ET
49ers 23, Redskins 14
Robert Griffin III is probably the biggest disappointment of anyone this year. He has shown no upside and is probably the main reason for the Redskins poor record. Even going against an even worse passing offense (the worst in the NFL) in the 49ers shouldn’t help him. That being because QB Colin Kaepernick is finally getting back to where he was, piece by piece. The defense is also very strong, 9th in the league and should easily stop the Redskins offense to end off Week 12.
Thursday Night Football Preview: Saints vs Falcons
By Matthew Wieselthier
Before the season, this game was circled on the calendar as a game that could decide the NFC South. The Saints heading to the Georgia Dome to face the Falcons was to be a top game of the season. However, the Falcons have looked terrible. They’ve been bruised up at the WR position with Roddy White being on and off the field and Julio Jones being on the IR. The RB position has been inconsistent with no option looking great and maybe could there be regrets on losing Michael Turner. Whatever the case may be, the RB turntable of Stephen Jackson, Jacquizz Rodgers, and Jason Snelling has been far from good. And now, a Super Bowl favorite has turned into the laughing stock of the NFL.
Sean Payton is back on the sidelines and the Saints are back to their winning ways (Via SI)
The Saints are one year since “Bountygate” and cannot be more thankful. At this point in the season last year, they were 5-6 and missing Sean Payton, who was suspended due to the bounty problems of the past. This season, they got their head coach back and have been successful ever since. The Saints are 8-2 and are on top of the NFC South. They are averaging 28.8 points per game, which is good for 2nd in the league. Drew Brees has the 4th best passer rating in the NFL (106.7) and the defense is 5th best in the league, giving up 18.8 points per game.
In this preseason-hyped game that has turned sour, the Saints should be able to march into the Georgia Dome and take the win with ease.
Prediction: Saints 31- Falcons 17
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Matthew Wieselthier is the Sports Director at WPOB 88.5 FM, Plainview. He is also the PA announcer at all sporting events at POBJFKHS. You can follow him on twitter at @wieselsports66.
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