My 2023 MLB Predictions

 It's about that time of year!  The MLB season officially gets underway later this month, so I got to get my predictions out.  

Like last year, I'm going to predict the order of each division (no win or loss totals), the wild card teams, and I'll run through the playoffs.  Last year, I correctly picked the Mariners to end their playoff drought, and I even got their playoff seeding right (#5)!  I'll also pick the team leaders for statistical categories and All-Stars.  Let's hope I do better in that department this year.  Just a refresher: I had Frazier leading in average, JP leading in stolen bases, Ray leading in ERA, and Winker, Haniger, and Ray as All-Stars.  Oops!  Without further ado, the 2023 MLB predicted standings:

NL EAST
1. Atlanta Braves
2. Philadelphia Phillies*
3. New York Mets*
4. Miami Marlins
5. Washington Nationals
Comment: In the highly competitive NL East (at least with the first three teams), I have the Braves winning the division.  They lost Dansby Swanson but still have a great core with Riley, Acuna, and Harris.  The Phillies will be a strong wild-card team after acquiring Trea Turner.  The Mets did get Verlander, but he shows his age, and the Mets take a small step back.  

NL CENTRAL
1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Milwaukee Brewers
3. Chicago Cubs
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
Comment: This is likely the worst division in baseball.  The Brewers and Cardinals will fight for the division, but the Cards have too much firepower with Goldschmidt and Arenado.  The retirements of Pujols and Yadi will open up spots for younger players to emerge.  The Cubs will be slightly better, and could possibly challenge for a wild card spot. 

NL WEST
1. San Diego Padres
2. Los Angeles Dodgers*
3. San Francisco Giants
4. Arizona Diamondbacks
5. Colorado Rockies
Comment: My biggest surprise pick (standing-wise) is the Padres winning the NL West over the Dodgers.  The Dodgers will hold the division for most of the season, but a combination of a late Padres run and a Dodgers late collapse results in the Padres winning the division.  The Dodgers will still get a wild card.  The Giants will be decent again, but like the Cubs may still be a year away.

AL EAST
1. New York Yankees
2. Toronto Blue Jays*
3. Baltimore Orioles*
4. Tampa Bay Rays
5. Boston Red Sox
Comment: The Yankees win the division... again.  The Blue Jays again claim the top wild-card seed.  The Orioles leapfrog the Rays and claim the final wild-card spot.  The Orioles have a young core that will only get better.  The Red Sox lost Bogearts and well... they need to rebuild.

AL CENTRAL
1. Cleveland Guardians
2. Minnesota Twins
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Detroit Tigers
Comment: The Guardians have a solid young core and aren't going anywhere.  The Twins should compete and will challenge for a wild card spot, but it won't be enough.  The White Sox will feel the loss of Jose Abreu.  

AL WEST
1. Houston Astros
2. Texas Rangers*
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Los Angeles Angels
5. Oakland Athletics
Comment: I hate to say it, but the Mariners are missing the playoffs.  I hope I'm wrong.  I think the Rangers signing DeGrom and getting Bruce Bochy as manager were huge.  I don't think the Mariners did enough this offseason, and it will come back to bite them.  Of course, the Astros aren't going anywhere, unfortunately.

So, the 2023 playoffs!  Perhaps a few surprise teams?  No Mariners... let's hope if they miss the playoffs (like I'm predicting) that it doesn't start a new drought for the team.

NL WILD CARD
(6) Mets at (3) Cardinals: Cardinals win
(5) Phillies at (4) Dodgers: Phillies win

AL WILD CARD 
(6) Orioles at (3) Guardians: Guardians win
(5) Rangers at (4) Blue Jays: Blue Jays win

NL DIVISIONAL ROUND
(5) Phillies at (1) Braves: Braves win
(3) Cardinals at (2) Padres: Padres win

AL DIVISIONAL ROUND
(4) Blue Jays at (1) Astros: Astros win
(3) Guardians at (2) Yankees: Guardians win

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Padres vs. Braves: Braves win
Guardians vs. Astros: Guardians win

WORLD SERIES
Guardians vs. Braves: Braves win in 7

Yep, a rematch of the 1995 World Series, 28 years later.  The Braves win again.  Now, who I think will lead certain categories for the M's:

Average: JP Crawford (resurgent season)
Home Runs: Julio Rodriguez
RBI: Ty France
Stolen Bases: Julio Rodriguez
Wins: Luis Castillo
Strikeouts: Robbie Ray
ERA: George Kirby
Saves: Paul Sewald
All-Stars: Julio Rodriguez, George Kirby

I'm going to do a further look at the M's, what I expect from each player, and perhaps go in depth as to why I think they'll miss the playoffs (barely).  Look for that soon!

So this is Brian from late 2023, the MLB season is now in the playoffs and I wanted to point out the biggest things I got right and the biggest things I got wrong:

Biggest things I got right:
- Mariners missing the playoffs.  I wish I wasn't right on this...!  Sigh.
- The Texas Rangers finishing 2nd to the Astros and snagging a wild card, along with two other AL East teams.  
- The Baltimore Orioles making the playoffs--although I did not see them winning the East!
- The Dodgers losing their first playoff series--again.  Although, I had them losing the wild card instead of losing in the divisional round.

Biggest things I got wrong: 
- Guardians winning their division and the AL Pennant--Whoops!
- Cardinals winning the NL Central--but I wasn't the only one to get this wrong
- The Padres winning the NL West over the Dodgers.  Hey, they lost a lot of close games, if you switch those, you basically get what I predicted.
- The Yankees winning the AL East while the Rays finish 4th.  Basically switch those two. 

2022: A Successful Season for the Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners 2022 season ended in disappointment.  But for 29 MLB teams, that is always the case.  However, this 2022 season was remarkable.  The Mariners ended their postseason drought of 20 years and finally made it back to the playoffs.  

What's even more impressive is the wild card series the Mariners had.  They took care of business in game 1, and then in game 2, they came back from a seven-run deficit to win 10-9 in one of the greatest postseason comebacks in baseball history.  This was all done on the road in Toronto, a harsh environment to play in.  That series showed that this team can never be counted out.  

Because of the Mariners' Wild Card Series win, they were able to advance to the Divisional Series against the Houston Astros and play at least one home playoff game.  Unfortunately, one home playoff game is all they would get as they got swept in three games.  The Mariners lost the three-game series by a total of 4 runs.  They just couldn't get luck back on their side.

I said a month ago I'd consider this a successful season if the Mariners got to the divisional round and got to play at least one home playoff game, and that they did.  They were in each of the three games against the Astros.  They held a lead in the first two, which they unfortunately could not hold.  They went 18 innings against the Astros in game 3, only to lose on a fluke home run by the Astros.  They were close to winning all three games, yet lost all three.  

What seems so disappointing is that this team seemed to be on a run.  In game 1, the Mariners held a 4-run lead and seemed to be on their way to their third straight playoff victory and a huge game 1 win.  Instead, the bullpen folded, the Astros hit a walk-off homer, and the Mariners could never fully recover.  The Mariners only scored 2 runs in the final 27 innings of the series.

The big obstacle in the Mariners' way is the Houston Astros.  They have made it to six straight ALCS's, won 5 of 6 AL West division titles, and are always tough for the Mariners to beat.  They are the Goliath to the Mariners' David, and the Mariners will either have to best them in the regular season or beat them in the playoffs if they want to do any better in future years.  

Maybe the 2023 Mariners can win the AL West outright.  That'd certainly seem to be the most straightforward plan.  The Mariners are still in a 21-year division title drought.  Every other AL West team has won the division since the Mariners last won it.  

So let's hope the Mariners' front office makes the right moves this offseason to upgrade the team.  Moves need to be made so that this team can finally get past the Astros.  A couple bats, and a bullpen arm, and they might just be there.  It is imperative that the Mariners make progress in 2023 and not take a step back.

Twenty-One Years in the Making

 The 2022 Mariners, barring the most miraculous finish by Baltimore and the most epic of collapses by them, will make the playoffs for the first time in twenty-one years.  The playoff drought for this team will not see its 21st birthday if you count from the last playoff game in Mariner's history, which was October 22, 2001.  Just one more win by the Mariners and one more loss from the Baltimore Orioles will make it so it is impossible for Baltimore (or any team behind them, for that matter) can supplant the Mariners from a Wild Card playoff spot.

I have waited twenty-one long and painful years for this.  As a Mariner fan, I have endured ineptitude, horrible trades and free agent acquisitions and have always been disappointed by September at the latest.  It's going to be weird.  The Mariners in the playoffs seems so abnormal in today's world, like seeing someone still using an iPod shuffle or a Microsoft Zune.  But the Mariners making the playoffs has to become a new fad or trend, and one that will hopefully stick around longer than the Zune did.

It's hard to express my emotions right now.  To be honest, part of me is half-expecting to wake up and realize this was a dream and see the 2022 Mariners with a losing record.  So it might take a while for it to sink in with me.  

What would also help is having a home playoff game.  Playoff baseball in Seattle is like no other.  Unfortunately, there hasn't been enough of it in MLB history.  But playoff baseball in Seattle is, for lack of a better term, electric.  The Kingdome rocked in the 1990s with pennant fever.  T-Mobile park has shown signs of what the players have dubbed "The electric factory."  But imagine if the Mariners did damage and won a playoff series at home.  

Unfortunately, with the way the playoffs are currently designed, the Mariners would have to get the top wild card spot in order to guarantee themselves home playoff games.  Otherwise, they'd have to win their wild card series on the road, likely against Cleveland or Toronto.  Neither is an easy task.  So while the Mariners may end their playoff drought, they still might not get to host a playoff game, and that streak could continue.  

But I'm sure many Mariners fans, myself included, would take this situation in a heartbeat.  After twenty-one years, you'll just take any modicum of success your team can achieve.  To have the Mariners in a playoff series, even if it's entirely on the road, is something I've dreamed about for twenty-one years.  When I watch them play in the playoffs, it's going to feel so surreal, on the verge of feeling unreal, almost.  

I'm so stoked these guys are on the verge of ending this drought, and I wish them the absolute best for the rest of the season and in the playoffs.  Regardless of the finish (provided we clinch the playoffs), this 2022 season will always be looked back at fondly.  The playoff drought now is longer than the one this team endured to start its existence.  And you know what?  It's about damn time we made the playoffs.  Go Mariners.

What Constitutes a Successful Season at this Point for the 2022 Mariners

 The 2022 Seattle Mariners season has been quite the roller coaster.  From being 10 games under .500 to going on a 14-game winning streak, this team has really experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.  The Mariners currently sit at 82-67, guaranteed their first consecutive back-to-back winning seasons since 2002 and 2003.  But the team's sights are set on the postseason, to make their first trip there in 21 years.  

The Mariners are currently nearing the end of a three-city road trip, a road trip that has gone about as bad as it could for a contending team.  They salvaged the final games in each series so far from the Angels and A's, two teams that have no shot at the postseason.  They also seem to have lost Julio Rodriguez, their star player, for at least a few games.  Even if the Mariners sweep the Royals, they cannot have a winning road trip.

I'm left wondering what constitutes a successful season at this point.  The worst realistic scenario would be this hitting slump continues, injuries mount, and the Mariners limp into the #6 wild card spot and promptly lose two games in Cleveland.  That to me would not constitute a successful season given where the Mariners once stood.  

I'd say the bare minimum for the Mariners is they need to win a playoff game.  I could argue the Mariners need to host a playoff game, which would mean either claiming the top wild card spot or winning their wild card series.  I'll say this: If the Mariners can host a playoff game, it will definitely be a successful season, regardless of how the rest of the postseason goes.  If they cannot, it'll definitely be left up to the determination of their fans.

This recent stretch of losing and poor hitting is certainly concerning.  But if the Mariners can enter the postseason on a hot streak, good things can happen.  They'll need to use their final homestand to get right.  They'll need to use it to figure out which hitters will be on the postseason roster and to break some hitters out of slumps.  

Of course, the Mariners have not clinched anything yet.  The postseason is not guaranteed.  But a collapse of that proportion would be too much for most Mariners fans, myself included, to handle.  We have put up with too much heartbreak in the last two decades, and a collapse of that nature would put me over the edge as a Mariners fan.  

Once the season is over, I will make another post recapping and say if it was a successful season or not.  It'll be hard to say it's not a successful season if the Mariners make the playoffs, ending a 21-year postseason drought.  But if the Mariners limp in, promptly lose both games and fail to even host a playoff game, it'll be equally hard to call it a successful season.

Resetting my Expectations for the Seattle Mariners

 Boy, I've talked about the Mariners a lot on here, haven't I?  Just do a search for "Mariners" on this blog, and you'll see what I'm talking about.  I care a lot about them; they're one of my top two favorite sports teams.  I've followed them passionately for almost 25 years, and boy has my loyalty been tested.  The 2022 season is about to begin and there's something this team has that they haven't had too often the last 20 years: Expectations.  This team is expected to improve, succeed, and finally end that now 21-year postseason drought.  But I've learned from past experiences to not get my hopes up too high with the Mariners, because I always seem to be let down.

Honestly, I'm torn.  Part of me wants to be super excited, get behind this team, and stay as optimistic as I can.  However, the other part of me knows if I get too excited and optimistic that I will be let down again, and to be let down after being that optimistic is just heartbreaking.  

One thing that makes me not want to be optimistic is the fact that the Mariners outperformed last season.  They relied upon winning a lot of close games, and when they lost, they lost bad.  They ended up with a -51 run differential, meaning they should have won closer to 76 games than the 90 they ended up with.  I fully expect that run differential to improve, but that doesn't mean their win total will.  Many times in sports, teams regress the year following a season they were "lucky".  It happens in the NFL and it happens in Major League Baseball.  

We will learn a lot from this season.  We will learn if this team will continue to be on the rise or if they take a step back.  We'll learn about Jarred Kelenic, and if he is going to make something of himself or not.  We'll get to see Julio Rodriguez and see what he can do.  If anything, I'm just excited to see new faces and see what this team can do with expectations.  

I'll likely write another blog on the Mariners around the mid-way point of the season, giving my thoughts on the team.  I hope to be writing about the amazing start the Mariners have, how they're leading the AL West, and start envisioning a playoff berth for the first time in 21 years.  Should be fun!

Why the Seahawks Won't Make Anything of Their 2020 Season

After the Seahawks week 13 loss to the New York "Football" Giants, I was pretty darn upset.  Just ask Amanda.  The Seahawks lost by a score of 17-12 in a game they definitely should have won.  It was their first home loss of the season, and their first loss to an opponent with a losing record.  The reason I was so upset is because it has made the path to the Super Bowl so much harder for the Seahawks.  I will explain.

The Seahawks have made the playoffs every year except for one in the past eight seasons.  However, the Seahawks have not made it to the conference championship game nor won consecutive playoff games since the 2014-15 season.  That's six years of being a lower tier playoff team.  And honestly, I'm not content with that anymore.  We have absolute stars at quarterback, linebacker, safety, and one in the making at wide receiver.  We need to take advantage of this while we can.

Obviously, the season is not over.  Anything can happen.  If the Hawks win their last four games, they will win the NFC West and clinch at least the #3 seed, with a slim chance at an even higher seeding.  But I'm a realist, and I'm not expecting that to happen.  

The most likely scenario is the Seahawks will lose to either Washington, the Rams, or the 49ers.  (Don't even get me started on the Jets).  All three of those teams boast pretty good defenses.  And right now, our offense is struggling to get back on track.  The Rams, the Seahawks' biggest competition for the division, have a pretty easy remaining schedule, with games against the Jets and struggling Cardinals remaining, as well as facing the Hawks and Patriots.  If the Hawks lose once (especially if it's against the Rams), the odds of winning a division title aren't great.

We've seen what happens to the Seahawks when they don't win a division title.  They might win a wild card game.  Even if they do, they don't make it past the divisional round.  They always fall apart in the road playoff game against a superior opponent, whether it be Green Bay, Dallas, Atlanta, or Carolina.

That's the worst case scenario.  The best case scenario is the Hawks win out and go into the playoffs on a four game winning streak.  That most likely still results in only a #3 seed.  Green Bay is the Hawks competition for the #2 spot, and their only real tough game remaining is against Tennessee.  So even if the Packers lose that game, they still maintain a better conference record than the Seahawks and win the tiebreaker.

So as a #3 seed, the Hawks would face the #6 seed.  Possibly Tampa Bay or the Rams.  A win there is not guaranteed, but for the sake of argument, let's say the Hawks win.  And assuming the #2 seed wins, the Hawks would then travel to them.  Oh wait, that's Green Bay.  We saw what happened last year.  It was close, but the Hawks still lost.  And I think Green Bay in their second year under Matt LeFleur is even better this year.  They won't finish with a better record than last season, but their point differential of +80 is already better than their +63 point differential of last season.  Assuming they don't completely fall apart to end the year, this Green Bay team is better than last year's team.

The point I'm making is that it would take a near miraculous run for the Hawks to do anything of note this season.  And by "of note", I mean get further than they have the past five seasons.  Unless they get a lot of help, it would take the Hawks winning their last four games, plus a home playoff game against a tough opponent PLUS a road playoff game, probably against the Packers, to do better this season than last.  And based on recent history, why should we expect anything different?

That loss to the Giants has made it very hard for the Seahawks to get the #1 seed and even hard to get the #2 seed.  Those are the only seeds guaranteed at least two home playoff games (if you win the first).  We know the Hawks play better at home, and to ask them to win on the road in January is a monumental task.  

I will say this: The Hawks have the leaders in place to pull off the miraculous.  They have Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner, and head coach Pete Carroll.  They've all "been there, done that."  They know what it takes in January.  If I had to pick a potential #3 seed or lower to make a run to the Super Bowl, I'd pick the Hawks.  But in the past decade or so, 90+% of the Super Bowl teams have been #1 or 2 seeds.

It's doable, but I'm not going to hold my breath.  If the Hawks end up even getting to the NFC Championship Game, please call me out and I will apologize and say how wrong I was.  But I don't see that happening.  

2020 NFL Predictions

The MLB season is only in it's third month, but the NFL season is less than a week away.  Seems weird.  That's what happens when a global pandemic postpones or cancels different sporting leagues.  

I usually do fairly well with these predictions, so I will continue, going division by division, giving each team a predicted Win/Loss record.  I'll predict the playoffs under the new seven team per conference playoff format, and then some predicted award winners.

I usually go game by game for the Seahawks, but I'm usually way off.  The Hawks will no doubt win some games I predict them to lose, and they will lose a game or two (at least) that I predict them to win.  Instead, I will just talk about the team briefly and what I expect from each position group.  

So without further ado, the NFL win/loss record predictions:

* = Wild Card

AFC East
1. Buffalo Bills, 10-6
3. Miami Dolphins, 9-7*
3. New England Patriots, 7-9
4. New York Jets, 6-10

Summary: For the first time since 2000, Tom Brady does not enter the season as the Patriots starting quarterback.  This is a huge opportunity for anyone else to claim the division, and with Buffalo being a 2019 playoff team, they have the best opportunity.  I think they will be solid, if unspectacular.  The Dolphins surprise a lot of people and make the playoffs, riding a win streak after switching to Tua at QB.  The Patriots aren't awful, but they are a far cry from the team that won the Super Bowl a few years ago.  That leaves the Jets as the odd man out.  Sam Darnold does decently, but the defense falls apart and Adam Gase is fired.  

AFC North
1. Baltimore Ravens, 14-2
2. Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-6*
3. Cleveland Browns, 9-7*
4. Cincinnati Bengals, 3-13

Summary: The Ravens enter as clear favorites.  Can Lamar repeat his 2019 regular season success?  Odds are yes.  The Steelers, being a (mostly) veteran team and getting their veteran QB back, return to the playoffs and play solid ball.  The Browns barely make the playoffs, but only because the rest of the AFC is trash. The Bengals tread water but realize they like Burrow; it's just they need to get him help.

AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts, 11-5
2. Houston Texans, 8-8
3. Tennessee Titans, 7-9
4. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1-15

Summary: Probably the weakest division in the AFC (again).  The Colts, with new QB Philip Rivers, claim the title.  The Texans struggle a bit without many offensive weapons.  The Titans realize they shouldn't have handed Ryan Tannehill that contract.  The Jaguars, meanwhile, struggle mightily but are a fun watch with Gardner Minshew, and they win their first game in week 17 against a Colts team whose playoff position is settled at that point.  

AFC West
1. Kansas City Chiefs, 12-4
2. Denver Broncos, 8-8
3. Oakland Raiders, 8-8
4. Los Angeles Chargers, 6-10

Summary: This might be the most surprising division I've predicted.  The Chiefs are still clear front-runners, although as defending champs they will be the target of many.  The Broncos aren't able to really make a statement as injuries and opt-outs hurt them.  The Raiders have an up and down season and they are still left with many questions (Is Carr the future?).  The Chargers bad luck rears its ugly head again (they've lost Derwin James to injury already again), and Tyrod Taylor is unable to do anything to right their sinking ship.  Justin Herbert is given the reigns in the later part of the season.

NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles, 9-7
2. Dallas Cowboys, 7-9
3. Washington Football Team, 6-10
4. New York Giants, 4-12

Summary: The worst division in football again.  The Eagles struggle with injuries and inconsistency again, but are decent enough to win the division.  The Cowboys are fun to watch for the most part, but are clearly missing their once dominant O-Line.  Washington is surprisingly good defensively, with Chase Young breaking Jevon Kearse's rookie sacks record.  The Giants aren't awful, but Daniel Jones has a set back and the Giants start to wonder if he's the future.

NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers, 11-5
2. Minnesota Vikings, 9-7*
3. Chicago Bears, 7-9
4. Detroit Lions, 7-9

Summary: Hell hath no fury like an Aaron Rodgers scorned.  The Packers as a whole aren't quite as good, but Aaron Rodgers clearly carries them to a few wins, as drafting a possible successor is enough to light a fire under him.  The Vikings keep pace all year but fall a tad short.  The Bears and Lions show flashes, but it's still not enough.  

NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints, 13-3
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 10-6*
3. Atlanta Falcons, 6-10
4. Carolina Panthers, 6-10

Summary: The Saints prosper in times of uncertainty, so why not now?  The Bucs with Tom Brady are fun to watch, but lose some games they probably should have won.  The Falcons struggle with the Todd Gurley experiment, and the Panthers aren't awful in Matt Rhule's first year as coach.  

NFC West
1. San Francisco 49ers, 11-5
2. Seattle Seahawks, 10-6*
3. Arizona Cardinals, 8-8
4. Los Angeles Rams, 8-8

Summary: In the NFL's most well-rounded division, the 49ers come out on top again.  They prove they are clearly too well-built to be a one-year wonder.  The Seahawks, meanwhile, fall one game short of the division title (again) as they lose in week 17 to those 49ers.  The Cardinals have some bright moments and surprise some teams, while the Rams falter down the stretch and are left scratching their heads.  

Before we get to the playoffs, what happens before the playoffs every year?  Oh yeah, "Black Monday".  The day many coaches get fired.  These are the following coaches I think will be fired by season's end:

Adam Gase, Jets
Doug Marrone, Jaguars
Matt Patricia, Lions
Dan Quinn, Falcons

And one coach resigns/retires...

Bill Belichick, Patriots

That's it.  Usually it's closer to half a dozen, but I feel the rest of the coaches are either a possible future hall of famer (Reid, Carroll, Harbaugh), will have or recently had success, or will be given more time to turn things around (any coaches hired this offseason, Taylor).  But yes, Bill Belichick retires after this season, not wanting to go through a rebuild.

Now the NFL seedings:

AFC
1. Ravens, 14-2
2. Chiefs, 12-4
3. Colts, 11-5
4. Bills, 10-6
5. Steelers, 10-6
6. Dolphins, 9-7
7. Browns, 9-7

NFC
1. Saints, 13-3
2. 49ers, 11-5
3. Packers, 11-5
4. Eagles, 9-7
5. Seahawks, 10-6
6. Buccaneers, 10-6
7. Vikings, 9-7

AFC Wild Card Round
(7) Browns at (2) Chiefs: Chiefs win
Would be a very high-scoring and exciting game, but the Chiefs come out on top, predictably.  The Browns aren't good enough in the back end of their defense to stop Mr. Mahomes.

(6) Dolphins at (3) Colts: Colts win
In a battle of a veteran against a rookie, the veteran usually wins in the playoffs.  That remains the case.  Colts advance.

(5) Steelers at (4) Bills: Steelers win
The Steelers beat the young Bills to prevent them from their first playoff win in 25 years.

NFC Wild Card Round
(7) Vikings at (2) 49ers: 49ers win
In a rematch of last year's divisional round game, the 49ers win again, although perhaps not quite as easily.  

(6) Buccaneers at (3) Packers: Packers win
Aaron Rodgers vs. Tom Brady in the playoffs, does it get better than that?  Rodgers prevails as Brady's old bones can't handle Lambeau's cold.  

(5) Seahawks at (4) Eagles: Seahawks win
Yet another rematch from last year (and at the same locale as well).  The Hawks prevail again, this time with a healthy Carson Wentz under center all game.  Russ goes off, hitting DK and Tyler for long bombs.  

AFC Divisional Round
(5) Steelers at (1) Ravens: Ravens win
Lamar Jackson finally gets his first playoff win in his third try.  The Ravens entire team is too much for the team from Pittsburgh.

(3) Colts at (2) Chiefs: Chiefs win
The Chiefs are too much for the Colts, but it's fairly close.

NFC Divisional Round
(5) Seahawks at (1) Saints: Saints win
Will there even be a crowd (and therefore crowd noise) in this instance?  Either way, I think the Saints beat the Hawks.  I can't remember the last time the Hawks won a playoff game in a dome (if ever).  

(3) Packers at (2) 49ers: 49ers win
The 49ers prove too much for the Packers yet again.  I think this would be a closer contest, but the same result as last year's NFC Conference Championship matchup.

AFC Championship Game
(2) Chiefs (1) Ravens: Ravens win
The Ravens take control early by harassing Patrick Mahomes and claim their first AFC Championship since 2012.

NFC Championship Game
(2) 49ers at (1) Saints: Saints win
Think of last year's matchup between these two teams in the regular season.  Exciting like that, except this time it's in the Saints' favor.  The Saints return to the big dance.  

Super Bowl LV
Ravens vs. Saints: Saints win
In a fantastic matchup, the Saints prevail, giving Drew Brees one more Super Bowl ring before he retires.  He rides off into the sunset a happy man.  

Well, if my Seahawks couldn't win it all, I'd be happy for the Saints and Drew Brees.  Now some award predictions:

MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Offensive PotY: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Defensive PotY: Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
Offensive RotY: Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos
Defensive RotY: Chase Young, Washington Football Team
Coach of the Year: Sean Payton


Seahawks: 

Well, I know they've made moves to try to reclaim the NFC division title (trading for Jamal Adams), but the 49ers are just going to be a tough hurdle to get over.  Plus, the line play will prevent the Hawks from soaring to heights or even establishing any kind of long winning streak.  Position by position though, here's what I think:

Quarterback - Russ will be magical once again.  He will have to be decisive and quick in his decision-making, and sometimes he won't be.  He'll be in the talks for MVP yet again, but without winning the division it will be difficult to even get votes.

Running back - Can Carson stay healthy all year?  Will we see Rashaad Penny at all?  How will Carlos Hyde be?  All those questions will be answered, and I think we'll get a mixed bag.  Carson will probably do another 1,000 yards or close to.  Deejay Dallas may even see some time and surprise, prompting for us to probably move on from Penny.

Wide Receiver - This may be the best receiving corps we've had in my time watching the Hawks.  We all know about Lockett.  DK should take a giant step forward this year, and hopefully he can hold on to the ball a bit better.  Dorsett should be like a flashier Jaron Brown.  Will we get Josh Gordon back?  Even if we do, he probably won't have a huge impact.

Tight End - This is an interesting group.  As long as either Dissly or Olsen are healthy, we should be fine, although preferably both remain healthy.  Hollister will make a good #3 or 2 if need be.  

Offensive Line - It will be interesting to see.  Can Duane Brown hold up still at his age?  Time will tell, but he might miss some games I feel.  I've never really liked Ethan Pocic, and I think he'll struggle.  Damien Lewis will be interesting to watch as he's a rookie.  As long as this line isn't god awful, the Hawks should be fine.

Defensive Line - Can they get some pressure on the quarterback this year, please?  I don't care who.  It sucks that another rookie lineman is again injured (Taylor), but hopefully Collier proves why we drafted him so high.  I just want the D-Line to be adequate, that's all.

Linebacker - Man what a loaded unit.  This group is so stacked Shaquem Griffin had to go to the practice squad.  Jordyn Brooks will hopefully get some time to shine.  Will Cody Barton get some time as well?  We shall see.

Defensive Backs - My what a stacked unit they've become.  Will Dunbar be able to start all year?  Hopefully.  And Jamal Adams... well I bet his impact will be felt quickly.  Can't forget about Diggs or Griffin, two very capable players. 

Special Teams: Jason Myers, don't miss gimmie field goals.  Mike Dickson, don't shank any punts.  Cover teams, don't allow any return touchdowns.  That's all I ask.  Thanks.

Well, that is it for my 2020 predictions!  Hopefully the Hawks exceed my predictions for them.  If the line play is decent and the rest of the units play to their potential, there's a shot the Hawks could get the division and a top seed.  Should be fun to watch (despite no fans, at least for now).  

Jadeveon Clowney's hit on Wentz was not dirty

In the 2020 NFC Wild Card Playoff Game between the Eagles and Seahawks, about halfway through the first quarter, Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz scrambled for some yards.  He dove forward, in the process of being tackled by Seahawks safety Bradley McDougald.  He then absorbed a helmet-to-helmet hit from Clowney on his way down.  The result of the hit caused his head to hit the ground hard, resulting in a concussion, and Wentz was unable to return to the game.  This hit by Clowney was reckless and borderline unnecessary, but it was not dirty.  Clowney was not intending to hurt Wentz on that play, but unfortunately he did.

The reason I am saying this is because I have seen on social media NFL and Eagles fans calling Jadeveon's hit dirty, saying he should be banned from the league, suspended, charged with assault, etc.  I have seen many comments saying "F*** Jadeveon Clowney" that get hundreds if not thousands of upvotes.  He does not deserve all of this ridicule.  I will admit I believe he deserves to be fined for being reckless and laying a borderline unnecessary hit on Wentz.  The hit was only borderline unnecessary because Wentz was lunging forward, and Clowney was trying to prevent him from gaining additional yardage.  In the NFL, every inch matters.  But Wentz was on his way down and close to the ground when he got hit.  Clowney definitely could have given him more of a glancing blow and not such a direct hit to the head/neck area.

When we watched this real time, it did not look so bad.  The commentators did not comment on the hit, and the first instance we saw of Wentz possibly being hurt was when he headed to the locker room.  Then, they showed the hit in slow-motion, and we saw how bad it looked in slow-mo.  But live and in real time, it didn't look that bad.  I've seen those kinds of hits on quarterbacks called for unnecessary roughness but also not called at all, and when a quarterback isn't giving himself up (sliding), they often don't get called.  When a quarterback acts like a runner (like any running back, wide receiver, etc.), they lose some of their protection from the referees.  I do think a penalty should have been called because it was helmet-to-helmet contact (and he was on his way down), but I have seen just as bad of hits not called.

I think the main reason for the anger on the part of Eagles and NFL fans is that Carson Wentz' playoff debut was cut short.  I mean, I'm upset too.  I wish the Hawks could have beaten the Eagles with Wentz playing all game.  He is still one of the best young talents in the NFL at the quarterback position, but due to injuries, he did not make his postseason debut until this game.  And not even all the way through the first quarter, and he suffers another injury, one that was caused by another player's reckless action.  I understand their anger, their need to blame someone, but I would not be cursing out another player if that happened to Russell Wilson.  I would not be saying he deserves to be banned or arrested.  I know a part of me would've wished Wilson had protected himself better and perhaps slid instead of diving head first.  NFL Football is a very rough and violent sport, and players put their bodies on the line each and every week.  NFL defensive players are commended for big hits and stopping players short of the goal line or line to gain, so in essence they are paid to deliver big hits.

Call me naive, but I believe a player when they say they weren't trying to hurt another player.  As I said, the NFL is a violent sport, and these guys are technically paid to hurt each other.  But I believe Clowney when he said he wasn't trying to injure anybody.  He said it was a bang-bang play, which it was.  You see a guy going for yards, and as a defensive player, your instinct is to get him stopped as quickly as possible.  Let's not forget that when these guys are interpreted as trying to hurt another player maliciously, they get fined tons of money and suspended many games, costing them game checks.  Why would a player taint his career to try to give his team an advantage by hurting another player?  It just isn't worth it. 

I also hate to hear how fans are wishing for us to get clobbered in the next game or our players to get hurt (including Wilson).  One player's split-second decision to be a little reckless should not make people feel this way.  And we live in a sad world where his split-second decision has resulted in him expecting death threats.  It's a game, people.  He was trying to make a play.  Don't hold malicious feelings toward someone that wasn't malicious to begin with.  Clowney will get a nice fine from the NFL, and it will go to a good cause, but he does not deserve a suspension or anything worse. 

Outlook for Non-Playoff NFL Teams in 2020

We know the 12 teams that have made the playoffs in the 2019-2020 NFL season, but what about the 20 that didn’t?  We've seen a few coaching changes already, with one more still on the way (Come on, Cleveland!)  I’m going to go over each non-playoff team, and what I expect from them in 2020, especially with regards to their head coach and quarterback. 

Atlanta Falcons: I’m glad they held onto Dan Quinn.  He’s a very good coach, and he probably would’ve quickly been given another head coaching opportunity elsewhere had he been fired, much like Ron Rivera.  Their defense needs to improve greatly in 2020 as that is Quinn’s specialty.  Matt Ryan continues to put up numbers, but doesn’t seem quite capable of carrying a team when things are kind of going bad, like Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson can.  I do expect them to improve in 2020 because of how well-run they generally are.

Arizona Cardinals: Not a bad first year for Kyler and Kliff.  With a few more additions, they may avoid the NFC West basement in 2020.  Unfortunately, the Seahawks, Rams, and 49ers are all well-built teams with elite head coaches, so it will be tough to avoid 4^th place no matter how much the Cards improve.  I like Kyler Murray a lot, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him take a Lamar Jackson-type leap in 2020, although I don’t expect the Cardinals to be as good as the Ravens have been in 2019. 

Carolina Panthers: Firing Ron Rivera was a very questionable move, but I just think the new owner wanted a fresh change (and perhaps an offense-focused head coach).  I'd give David Tepper, the owner, a grade of B for hiring David Tepper.  He's a proven college coach, but will that translate to the pros?  It didn't for Nick Saban, that's for sure.  We'll see if Matt Rhule will want to work with Cam Newton at all, or find his own guy.  I don’t expect the Panthers to be awful in 2020, but it will take another year at least to get back to playoff contention… I think.

Chicago Bears: The way the last calendar year has gone for the Bears has not been pretty.  They lose in heartbreaking fashion in the playoffs and followed that up with a lackluster season.  Is Trubisky really their guy at QB?  Matt Nagy’s stubbornness to stick with him may cost him his job some day.  In a tough division, the Bears will have to improve at least slightly in 2020 or changes may be on the way.  I think Trubisky needs someone pushing him and someone Nagy could go to if he struggles.  Perhaps Marcus Mariota?  He would fit well in Matt Nagy's schemes.

Cincinnati Bengals: Having the number one pick can turn a franchise around pretty quickly (See Indianapolis in 2012).  Is Joe Burrow capable of doing that?  He’s not a sure-fire QB prospect like Andrew Luck, though.  I’d say he’s more in the mold of a Matthew Stafford/Matt Ryan, and he will probably get to being in the top half of QB’s in the league.  Don’t expect the Bengals to succeed right away, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see Zac Taylor work some magic with their new QB, especially in his first year or two.

Cleveland Browns: So, they fire their coach and general manager, after a season in which the players didn’t perform up to expectations… ok.  I understood firing Freddie Kitchens, but not Dorsey.  It would take a terrific hire at both spots in order for this team to compete in 2020.  They should be hopeful for an 8-8 or 9-7 season in 2020, with a legit shot at the playoffs maybe coming in 2021.  Whoever they hire as head coach is going to have his hands full and has to be able to discipline his players and keep them in check.  And Baker Mayfield has got to bounce back from his lackluster 2019 season, even though he will technically be on his fourth head coach in his third season in the NFL.

Dallas Cowboys: Hiring Mike McCarthy is a very "meh" move.  Yes, he's a proven winner as a coach, but he's very much like Jason Garrett and might not challenge his players or take risks when need be.  Meanwhile, Dak had his best statistical season and needs to be re-signed to a long-term contract.  I think things will work well in the first year because everything will be new to the players and they'll respond well to McCarthy at first.  But after that, we'll have to wait and see.  

Denver Broncos: Drew Lock is already the best young quarterback John Elway has found, although that is not saying much at all.  I think Lock has a fairly low ceiling, but I see the Broncos as a team that could surprise people in 2020 if they draft right and maybe fill a couple holes.  It will be interesting to see how Lock does in his first full season next year.  As for Vic Fangio, he is constantly lauded for being one of the best defensive minds in the game, and next year he needs to prove it, or he might go the route of Vance Joseph.

Detroit Lions: I’m pretty surprised they gave Matt Patricia another year, but the Lions were playing really competitive football before Stafford’s injury.  If not for a couple bad calls, they would have beaten the Packers in Green Bay, and they almost beat the Chiefs.  Next year, this Lions team, provided Stafford can stay heathy, needs to compete and get at least near .500, or Patricia will be gone.  I like their offensive weapons, and their defense isn’t bad, so if they can play inspired and healthy football, they will be a hard team to beat in 2020.

Indianapolis Colts: I’m sorry, but Jacoby Brissett is not a franchise quarterback.  I do, however, think he makes one of the best backup QBs in the game.  The Colts need to find someone to compete with Brissett for the starting QB job.  They would be wise to draft someone, and Brissett could start while they learn, or they could go after someone like Teddy Bridgewater or Philip Rivers.  The Colts were just instantly screwed in 2019 when Andrew Luck suddenly retired, and they still have a lot of good, young players.  Once that offense gets its franchise QB, these Colts will be back.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Doug Marrone was one of a few coaches I thought for sure was getting fired.  Nope.  Instead, they fired Executive VP Tom Coughlin.  They may forgive Marrone for this season because of the injury to Nick Foles, and he was the coach to lead them to the AFC Championship game just a couple seasons ago, but they can’t ignore how it seems the team quit on him in the second half of the season.  If I’m being honest, I think the Jags might be one of the worst teams in the NFL in 2020 and will get a top pick in the 2021 draft.  Then the rebuild can commence with a new coach and QB.

Los Angeles Chargers: They’re in a weird spot.  They have a lot of talent still, but an aging quarterback whose contract is up.  They had perhaps the worst luck of any team in 2019, losing a ton of games by one score.  If they are unable to find a legit QB for 2020, expect another 6-10/5-11 type season from them.  Anthony Lynn seems to be a decent coach, but may fall victim to being the coach of a team in the middle of a transition at QB. 

Los Angeles Rams: They were the only 9-7 team to not make the playoffs, so that’s something.  But it certainly was a disappointing follow up to a Super Bowl appearance.  Sean McVay and Jared Goff are safe for now, but what if they regress even more next year?  They do play in a very competitive division, with the Cardinals looking to improve in 2020.  Someone has got to be in last place.  There is a major problem lurking in the future with this team: They mortgaged a lot of their future by trading away some first-round picks, and they have a lot of money tied up to a few players, so there is a possibility this team could see a major collapse in the next couple seasons.

Miami Dolphins: Boy they sure turned their season around.  After starting out the year getting blown out by everyone, they finished the season with five wins, including beating the division champion Patriots in Foxborough.  They will need to find their future at QB in the draft, as it apparently isn’t Josh Rosen.  Fitzpatrick seems to be the starter in 2020 until their future starter takes over.  Brian Flores, meanwhile, will probably be given plenty of time to turn this team fully around after turning the 2019 season around for them.

New York Giants: Apparently Pat Shurmur is a really good offensive coordinator, but not a good coach.  They are struggling now to find a good coach since Tom Coughlin left.  It is very risky hiring Joe Judge, who had never been a head coach anywhere before.  Meanwhile, Daniel Jones started out great, but then kind of fizzled out.  We’ll see how he does with Joe Judge in 2020, but I expect something similar to what we saw from Sam Darnold in 2019: Just not enough talent around him, and the offensive mind not be enough help.  Their roster is also still lacking compared to their division rival Cowboys and Eagles.

New York Jets: Speaking of Sam Darnold, he looked good at times in 2019, but he is now third at best in terms of QB’s from his draft class, trailing Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.  Hopefully he can get some help on the offensive side of the ball, mainly on the offensive line.  Perhaps Adam Gase isn’t that great of a coach as Peyton Manning says he is?  Ryan Tannehill on the Titans sure seems to be doing better without him.  I don’t have a ton of confidence in this team going into 2020 right now.

Oakland Raiders: For a brief stretch, the Raiders seemed to be playing some really good football.  Perhaps a new environment will be able to motivate them all season long?  I think they are headed in the right direction, but they certainly need to take a legit step forward in 2020.  Derek Carr is definitely an above average quarterback, but Jon Gruden may want something more.  I wouldn’t be shocked if they drafted a mid-round QB.  Next season is pivotal for them; a winning season would be huge.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Big Ben should be able to play in 2020, but they have to find his successor and soon.  In my “NFL Quarterbacks Who Will Get New Homes in 2020” post, I predicted they will draft Jacob Eason out of Washington.  They’re not at code red to find a new quarterback, but the sooner (and earlier in the draft) they draft one, the better.  Mike Tomlin did a great job in 2019 with what he had, and I expect them to return to form in 2020, as long as Big Ben stays healthy.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Either they need to replace Jameis or get him to make smarter throws.  That latter option may not be possible, however.  They may want to go after a QB who protects the ball better, someone like Teddy Bridgewater.  They’ve got a decent roster and a really good head coach, but it’s uncertain who the leader of this team is if not Jameis.  Bruce Arians has done well with veteran quarterbacks in the past (Big Ben, Carson Palmer), so perhaps the Bucs will go after a veteran, maybe Philip Rivers?

Washington Redskins: What’s this?  The Redskins making good decisions?!  They hired Ron Rivera to be head coach and Jack Del Rio for defensive coordinator.  That defense next year should be much better.  As for their offense, well, they’ve got some pieces.  They can’t rely on an aging Adrian Peterson anymore, and they need a legit QB.  I don’t think that’s Dwayne Haskins.  I predicted they might sign Jameis Winston, who I think could have success there, especially under Ron Rivera, who led Cam Newton to the playoffs many times (and to the Super Bowl once). 

Before I conclude, I want to pick my top 3 teams from this list and bottom 3 teams.  The top 3 teams are teams that I expect to bounce back and have good 2020 seasons and probably make the playoffs.  The bottom 3 teams are teams I expect to continue to struggle and probably even get worse.  First, the bottom 3, to get that out of the way:

3. Cleveland Browns
Unless they hire someone who is absolutely perfect (and let’s face it, we have no reason to believe they will), they will probably struggle again next year.  Baker Mayfield doesn’t seem capable of carrying a team, and there are too many undisciplined players on this team.  It could get ugly.  Cleveland has a bad track record of turning hopefulness into absolute despair.

2. New York Jets
I just don’t trust the Jets front office.  I don’t like Adam Gase as a head coach.  He is one of the coaches I predict to be fired next season.  And they play in a division with the Patriots, a good young Bills team, and a Dolphins team that’s slowly improving.  It could go either way, but my gut tells me it won’t go the way they want.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars
Number one pick incoming?  That’s my prediction, at least.  They just don’t seem like their old 2017 selves anymore.  They will regret bringing Doug Marrone back for another season.  However, if they do get that number one pick, it could result in drafting Trevor Lawrence if he declares for the draft in 2021.  Trevor Lawrence is talked about being the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck.

All right, and now for my top 3 teams to make a turnaround next season:

3. Pittsburgh Steelers
Whenever they have an off season, they always bounce back.  They are just too well-run of an organization to struggle for long.  If they have a legit QB in 2020 (Big Ben, probably), they will more than likely be a playoff team.  I think they could battle Baltimore for the division crown next year.

2. Atlanta Falcons
Hopefully Quinn can lead these guys back to playoff contention.  With Tampa and Carolina having uncertain futures, and New Orleans being due for a disappointing season, the division could be there for the taking.  The defense will be the biggest question.  They showed flashes in 2019 (stopping the Saints offense in New Orleans for one), but will need to play more consistently in 2020, and I think they will. 

1. Dallas Cowboys
I think the Cowboys players will be playing extremely motivated in 2020.  What Jason Garrett was telling them and coaching them about was probably getting old and stale.  But with a new head coach in Mike McCarthy, they could become one of the best teams in the NFL in 2020.  I see them having a year like the 2019 Packers; new head coach brings fresh and positive results.  They have a really good roster still, just needed the coach to match.  It will also be interesting to see how McCarthy uses Dak and Zeke next year.  He's never had a running back of Zeke's caliber.

2019-2020 NFL Playoffs – Predictions and Top 10 Super Bowl Matchups!

The 2019 NFL regular season is over, and the playoffs start next weekend.  Who will be playing in Super Bowl LIV in Miami?  I’m going to predict the playoffs, even including scores, and then afterwards I will list my top 10 Super Bowl matchups. 

Wild Card Round
AFC:
(6) Titans at (3) Patriots: Titans 24, Patriots 20
Yup.  The Patriots get upset at home in the playoffs.  Tennessee is the more complete team and more physically imposing, and Derrick Henry has a great day.

(5) Bills at (4) Texans: Bills 19, Texans 17
The Bills defense is really good.  The Texans defense isn’t that good.  I see yet another upset here, with Josh Allen winning his first ever playoff game.

NFC:
(6) Vikings at (3) Saints: Saints 30, Vikings 23
No Minneapolis Miracle here, especially since the game is in New Orleans this time.  The Vikings claw back from a deficit but are unable to get another opportunity to score.

(5) Seahawks at (4) Eagles: Eagles 27, Seahawks 19
One and done for the Hawks.  The Seahawks are not the same team that played Philadelphia over a month ago, and the Eagles are playing better football since then.  Result: Eagles win. 

Divisional Round
AFC:
(6) Titans at (1) Ravens: Ravens 34, Titans 21
The Titans have trouble keeping up with a rested and efficient Ravens team. 

(5) Bills at (2) Chiefs: Chiefs 26, Bills 17
Arrowhead in January proves too much for these Bills.  The Chiefs won’t light up the scoreboard, but neither will the Bills. 

NFC:
(4) Eagles at (1) 49ers: 49ers 28, Eagles 13
The 49ers defense dominates, getting turnovers and sacks galore.  The 49ers have control of the game all game long and mostly run and kill the clock. 

(3) Saints at (2) Packers: Saints 27, Packers 20
The Saints upset the Packers in a cold game.  Normally indoor teams don’t do well in these environments, but the Saints are out to prove they are better than the Packers and deserved the higher seeding. 

Conference Championships
AFC:
(2) Chiefs at (1) Ravens: Chiefs 28, Ravens 26
The Ravens get a few field goals from Tucker, but the Chiefs have CC game experience which proves to be the difference.  Lamar Jackson has yet to beat the Chiefs and it remains that way, proving the Chiefs are his kryptonite.

(3) Saints at (1) 49ers: 49ers 28, Saints 24
As much as I’d like to say the Saints upset the 49ers in this one, I just don’t see it happening.  The 49ers beat them once before, they can do it again.  Also, the division most represented in the Super Bowl for the NFC in recent memory is the NFC West. 

Super Bowl LIV: Chiefs 35, 49ers 31
In a wildly exciting game, the Chiefs emerge victorious.  Mahomes gets the ball last, down 31-28, and instead of going for a field goal and overtime, connects with Mecole Hardman for a game-winning score.  Mahomes wins Super Bowl MVP.
Wow, not terribly far off!  The Chiefs won, as I predicted, but the score wasn't quite as high for either team.  I was right on predicting Mahomes for MVP, but he was a clear favorite to begin with.


My Top 10 Super Bowl Matchups:
#1 – What I predict: Chiefs vs. 49ers
Again, this is my Super Bowl prediction, the battle between Joe Montana’s two teams.
And this just so happened to be the matchup that happened!  Yet again, we have a Super Bowl with two teams who had first-round byes.  We'll see if my predicted score above holds true for the game.

#2 – The obvious choice of #1 seeds: Ravens vs. 49ers
The most likely Super Bowl matchup every year is the two #1 seeds meeting, and in this case would be the Ravens and 49ers.  It would also be a rematch of Super Bowl XLVII, in which the Ravens won.

#3 – The two hottest teams: Ravens vs. Packers
These are the two teams with the longest winning streaks in the NFL. 

#4 – My mid-season Super Bowl picks: Ravens vs. Saints
This was my mid-season pick for the Super Bowl, Charm City vs. the Big Easy.  New school vs. Old School.

#5 – The Super Bowl matchup I’ve wanted for YEARS: Patriots vs. Packers
Can we finally get a Brady vs. Rodgers matchup in the Super Bowl?  Probably not, but it doesn’t hurt to hope.  This, and the one below this, would tie for the matchup between the oldest franchises in the playoffs. 

#6 – A fitting rematch: Chiefs vs. Packers
A rematch of Super Bowl I in the NFL’s 100^th season?  That would be very fitting.  It’s also a matchup of the two State Farm QB’s, which we were deprived of earlier in the season because Mahomes was hurt.

#7 – To pad the Hall of Fame Resume: Patriots vs. Saints
The next best thing to Rodgers vs. Brady to me would be Brees vs. Brady.  To some, this would be a better matchup.  This matchup would be legendary, with the winner padding his resume for Canton even more, not that either of them need it.

#8 – Battle of the Birds: Ravens vs. Seahawks
The NFL is due for a wild card team getting to the Super Bowl.  They’re due for a team winning three road games on their way to the Super Bowl.  The Seahawks, I believe, have the best shot at doing that of any 5 or 6 seed.  And to see Jackson vs. Wilson would be pretty awesome.

#9 – Rematch of an epic game: Patriots vs. Seahawks
If the Seahawks were to make it back to the Super Bowl, wouldn’t it be fitting for it to be against the Patriots?  Marshawn Lynch is on the roster again, and perhaps we could give him that opportunity he so deserves. 

#10 – Two of the biggest dynasties in NFL history: Patriots vs. 49ers
Arguably, the two biggest dynasties in NFL history would be the 49ers from the 80s to the mid-90s and the Patriots  from the 2000s to the 2010’s.  Would be fitting for the NFL’s 100^th season.  Also this would pit Jimmy Garoppolo against his former mentor, Tom Brady. 

My 2019 NFL Predictions!

It's my favorite time of year... almost.  The NFL season is almost upon us and I am as excited for this year as I think I've been for any season.  Will this be my most extensive predictions yet?  Judge for yourself.  Usually I go division by division and discuss how I think the division will shape up, but this time I will go team by team discussing what I think of them.  Also new to this year is I do a four word game for each team.  I use  four words to best describe their outlook on 2019 (and often about the quarterback position).  I got the idea from Colin Cowherd, who does a three word game for NFL teams on his show.  Look out for the 2nd part in which I discuss the Seahawks Win/Loss Record in more detail, and I go over each game.  An asterisk after a team's W/L record means they got a wild card spot.

Edit: With Andrew Luck's abrupt retirement, I had to adjust a few things, mainly the Colts season but also a couple others who are in their division.

AFC East
1. New England Patriots 11-5: Won't stop anytime soon
Is there any question?  The Patriots still remain the favorites in the AFC East.  Towards the end of last year Brady showed some signs of his age, and I think that'll creep in earlier this year, costing the Patriots a few games down the stretch.  They'll still win the AFC East easily, of course because they have a bunch of young, talented players.  Not until Brady and Belichick retire will this train stop and they have given zero indications that they will soon.  However, for the first time in years they will not have a first round bye.

2. New York Jets, 8-8: Offensive progress or bust
The Jets are many people's dark horse team.  Every year we see teams come out of nowhere to claim a playoff spot or division title.  I'm unsure if that will be the Jets.  They have Bell and C.J. Mosely, and Sam Darnold will be going into his 2nd year and is now under the tutelage of first year head coach Adam Gase.  So this offense needs to make strides otherwise it could be a LONG time before the Jets make the playoffs again.  Odds are they will, however.  This team could go 10-6, but I'll stick with the safe pick of 8-8.

3. Buffalo Bills, 6-10: Old backs, young gun
Josh Allen goes into his second year (hence the young gun), but unlike Mayfield and Darnold won't taste too much success in his sophomore season.  The old backs are LeSean McCoy and Frank Gore.  The Bills will be competitive and shouldn't get blown out much, but they just don't have enough talent to win many games late.

4. Miami Dolphins, 5-11: Rosen gets screwed... again?
The Fins continue their QB carousel, as they moved on from what they hoped to be the first legit QB since Marino in Ryan Tannehill, but he never could get them over the hump.  Now they'll go with a combination of Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen.  I expect to see a bit more of Rosen.  I'll be honest, the Dolphins could be a team that surprises and wins 8 or 9 games, especially if Rosen breaks out.  But if Rosen doesn't and the Fins struggle, they could draft a QB with their first pick next year, meaning Rosen gets screwed over by his team again.

AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-6: Less entertaining, so what?
First off, I don't expect the AFC North to be that good this season.  Too many teams lost significant players.  The Steelers were one of them.  But they still have a great core of players.  They still have James Conner and Juju Smith-Schuster, two Pro Bowl caliber players.  But their quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, will show signs of age.  Despite that, yet again they'll win just enough to secure a division title thanks to lesser competition in their division.

2. Cleveland Browns, 9-7*: Hot start, cool finish
I think the Browns are a bit overhyped.  I also think OBJ is a bit of locker room cancer.  There's just too many egos on this team, and Mayfield is not the type of leader to keep things level-headed and calm the storm.  I think they could get off to a good start and get people thinking Super Bowl (7-2 maybe?) but then come crashing back down to earth and lose a lot of their remaining games to fall to 9-7.  This team is built to win early, but not late, but it will just be enough in a bad AFC.

3. Baltimore Ravens, 6-10: Lamar gets figured out
One of my bolder predictions this season is I predict the Ravens to have a bad year, culminating in a losing record.  I don't think Lamar Jackson can succeed in the NFL long term.  Much like his understudy, RGIII, he will have a disappointing sophomore season.  The losses of Suggs and Moseley hurts them, and Earl Thomas probably gets hurt again, showing he just can't stay healthy anymore.

4. Cincinnati Bengals, 4-12: Hurt for Justin Herbert?
The Bengals are considered an afterthought right now.  Not many people are going to want to tune in to watch a Bengals game.  I don't see them going 2-14 or 1-15 but they are going to find it very difficult to pass any team in their division this year.  I expect them to get a high draft pick and pick a QB in the 2020 draft, possibly Justin Herbert.  They'll need to find Dalton's successor soon if he struggles at all in 2019, which is to be expected.

AFC South
1. Tennessee Titans, 10-6: Mariota's health is key
This team is just solid.  I don't know what else to say.  I like Mike Vrabel as a coach and I think the Titans get a few lucky breaks this year.  Also, Mariota doesn't put up scoreboard shattering numbers, but he does make a lot of clutch plays late in games to make the Titans organization believe in him even more.  But the main concern is his health, and if he can play solid quarterback with few to no injuries, the Titans will have a real good shot at the playoffs.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars, 8-8: Strive for mediocre, well...
These cats are mad.  They had to be disgusted with themselves, following up a AFC Championship-berth season with 5 win season.  However, they will face too much competition in the AFC and will only be average at best.  They went out and got Nick Foles, who has yet to prove he can win outside of Philadelphia.  He's an average quarterback at best when he's not on the Eagles.  So when you strive for average, that's what you get.

3. Indianapolis Colts, 7-9: No More Luck Here
The Colts literally no longer have Luck after his abrupt retirement.  You could expect this team to collapse and crumble, but I don't think they will.  I think they play mostly inspired football, but without a true franchise quarterback, they'll struggle to win close games.  Fortunately for them, Jacoby Brissett is one of the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL, but there's a reason he's a backup.

4. Houston Texans, 6-10: Good luck Deshaun... seriously
You probably weren't expecting the reigning AFC South division champs here, were you?  Well, did you expect the Jaguars to go from division champs to 5-11?  Probably not.  Anyway, my reasoning is something unfortunate that happens in the NFL: Injuries.  Namely, I'm talking about an injury to Deshaun Watson.  I hate predicting injuries, but with his horrible offensive line, I'm afraid it might happen.  I hope I'm wrong.  Good luck Deshaun.  Also, losing Lamar Miller hurts, and their running game takes a hit as a result.

AFC West
1. Kansas City Chiefs, 13-3: Gotta beat the best
Going into 2018, the Chiefs didn't exactly know what they had in Patrick Mahomes so they weren't sure how to feel about the season.  Now that they do, they've got nothing less of Super Bowl aspirations.  They added the Honey Badger and former Seahawk Frank Clark.  And, I think one of the surprises for 2019, Mecole Hardman.  Remember that name.  He's a speedster in the mold of Tyreek Hill.  And speaking of Hill, boy are the Chiefs lucky he wasn't suspended.  There was thought the Chiefs might have to cut him like they did Kareem Hunt.  Now, with Hill and Hardman, if teams double Hill, Mahomes will be able to get the ball easily to Hardman.  Watch out.  In order for this to be a successful season, they'll have to beat the best, which of course is the Patriots.  Couldn't do it last year in two opportunities.  They'll get at least one shot this year.

2. Los Angeles Chargers, 10-6*: Chiefs in the way
I know this Chargers team expects big things in 2019, with notable young stars like Derwin James and Mike Williams.  Barring injuries, they should compete well enough to get a winning record and a wild card spot.  Like with Brady and Roethlisberger, however, I think Rivers could show signs of age as well.  Hey, someone's bound to.  However good they do, the Chiefs will probably do just as well.  They'll either need a significant injury or collapse from the Chiefs, or just go on a run in the playoffs.

3. Denver Broncos, 8-8: Stuck in just average
Boy would it suck for Flacco if he lost his job to a rookie two years in a row.  Flacco will begin the season as the starter but Drew Lock could take over if the team or Flacco struggle.  I think they'll have an up and down season, but ultimately will have to look towards the future with Lock.  This team screams average, with only a few notable exceptions like Von Miller.

4. Oakland Raiders, 6-10: Hard Knocks the highlight
Boy will it be fun to watch the Raiders on "Hard Knocks" this season.  If Antonio Brown can stay healthy and out of trouble, he should add a spark to the Raiders offense and make them entertaining.  But if the Raiders struggle too much, Gruden might have to make a tough decision to move on from Derek Carr and draft a QB in 2020.  But more than likely the Raiders will struggle, leaving Hard Knocks as the lone highlight.

NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles, 10-6: Wentz healthy or else
Can Carson Wentz finally stay healthy all year?  If he doesn't, Eagles fans will be very concerned for their future at the QB position.  The Eagles are a good team, but it's not like their division is going to be really tough, especially the bottom 2.  Jordan Howard will prove the Bears should never have let him go.  The Eagles have enough talent to succeed, but with Foles no longer available as a security blanket, they'll need Wentz to stay healthy for a successful season.

2. Dallas Cowboys, 9-7: Zeke is not needed
I'm torn on these guys.  On one hand, I want to predict a first round bye, but on the other, I want to predict them missing the playoffs entirely.  I went with the latter.  There's too much drama around this team thanks to Ezekiel Elliot.  He's holding out, but the Cowboys don't need him.  They're still a very good (if not better) team without him.  And Dak Prescott is a very solid QB and improved once he got Amari Cooper.  Will Garrett finally get the axe?  Maybe Jerry Jones will just figure enough is enough and move on after the season.

3. Washington Redskins, 6-10: Jay Gruden, Sitting Duck
The only reason I'll want to watch a Redskins game this year is if they start Dwayne Haskins.  Honestly I just see him as another EJ Manuel/Geno Smith type, but there is potential.  Their defense isn't half bad, but I think if these Skins struggle to win games (which they probably will), we could see Jay Gruden shown the door.  He's long been on a semi-hot seat, which will only get hotter the more the Skins lose.  But we all know the real problem with this team is the owner, Dan Snyder.

4. New York Giants, 5-11: What are they thinking?
Oh, the Giants... boy I would not want to be a fan of them right now.  They've drafted a running back and quarterback with their first picks the last two years, but haven't surrounded them with any kind of talent yet.  This year will be all about transitioning from Eli Manning to Daniel Jones.  So their QB will either be a washed-up has-been or an unpolished rookie.  Yikes.  And they may end up wasting the best years of one of the best running back talents in years in Saquon Barkley.

NFC North
1. Minnesota Vikings, 11-5: Kirk on a mission
I feel like the division champ of the NFC North is usually the one team people don't see coming, excluding the Lions of course (Sorry, Lions fans).  Last year it was the Bears.  People are sleeping on the Vikings this year and I could see them pulling off some Minnesota magic.  Kirk Cousins will be out to prove he can win in this league.  Last year was him getting used to a new team, new system, and new teammates.  Now that he's got a year under his belt with them, watch out.

2. Chicago Bears, 10-6*: Doink in the past
The Bears are still a well built team and were a kick away from winning a playoff game.  Can't forget they have one of the best defensive players in the game in Khalil Mack.  I could see the Bears hanging with the Vikes all the way to the end.  They'll have to put last year's heartbreaking playoff loss way in the past to have success in 2019.

3. Green Bay Packers, 8-8: New coach,  so what?
Aaron Rodgers is going to realize he had it good with Mike McCarthy.  I'm not too impressed still with Green Bay's roster compared to Minnesota's and Chicago's.  Also, I'm not too sure about the durability of Aaron Rodgers anymore.  I hate to say it, but I think Aaron and Green Bay's best days are behind them.  Matt LaFleur can only do so much as a rookie head coach, and he won't make that much of a difference.

4. Detroit Lions, 6-10: Someone's got to lose
The Lions aren't a bad team, there's so much competition in the NFC and specifically the NFC North.  If they were in the AFC East they'd be 2nd place, easily.  I like Patricia as a coach and they've made some solid additions.  Just won't be enough... again.  If another team in their division collapses they have a shot, but still a small one.

NFC South
1. Atlanta Falcons, 11-5: LI in the past
The Falcons will finally be able to put Super Bowl LI behind them and make a valiant effort to get back to the "big game".  I like their roster and Matt Ryan always seems to be a bit underrated, in my opinion.  Julio Jones will have a monster year, but more importantly their defense will have a great year and take big strides.  I expect the Falcons to have their best season since their Super Bowl LI season in which... well we all know what happened.

2. New Orleans Saints, 9-7: Heartbreak catches up eventually
I hate to say it, but the Saints aren't making it back to the playoffs.  Two heartbreaking playoff losses in a row is just killer.  Brees is 40 and will be nearing 41 at season's end.  They've got a good team, but they also have a tough schedule and I'm predicting a couple bad breaks for them.  Just narrowly missing the playoffs.  Heartbreak will catch up to them eventually.

3. Carolina Panthers, 7-9: Stuck with immature Cam
My oh my how far Cam Newton's stock has fallen.  Remember when he was MVP?  Seems like ages ago.  He's now ranked 87th in the NFL's Top 100 after being #1 just THREE YEARS AGO.  Yikes.  My gut says Cam will not retire a Panther unless he retires early due to health concerns.  Meanwhile, I'm still not sold on the Panthers as a team and I think they'll be so-so at best.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6-10: Not so famous Jameis
Will the Bruce Arians experiment work?  Hard to say.  Perhaps not with Jameis Winston.  Like the Lions, Tampa Bay's not a bad team, they just play in a really tough division.  I think their defense will be solid, but can Winston lead them to victory enough?  Doubtful.  I think Jameis' career will follow that of Josh Freeman's, where he ultimately becomes a journeyman backup quarterback, so not as famous.

NFC West
1. Los Angeles Rams, 12-4: Still too darn good
I hate to say it, but I think the Rams are going to be good again.  I know I said in a post two months ago that I think the entire division (minus the Hawks of course) could struggle a bit in 2019.  I really want to believe the Super Bowl hangover curse will happen to the Rams.  They just have too much talent to go 8-8.  They may have another great regular season, but that doesn't always mean they'll have a great postseason as well.  Stay tuned.

2. Seattle Seahawks, 10-6*: Patience is a virtue
For the first time ever I reveal what I predict the Hawks record to be in my NFL predictions (usually I keep it in the separate Seahawks predictions).  I see another winning season and another playoff berth.  The Hawks could really challenge the Rams for the division title, but the Rams may just be too much.  They are slowly getting better and better, filling holes left by the departed LOB and guys like Avril, Bennett, and Baldwin.  We may not see too much success in 2019, but it's a slow ascent back to Super Bowl contention.  For more on the Hawks 2019 season you'll have to see my other post on the Hawks HERE.

3. San Francisco 49ers, 8-8: Still don't like Jimmy
Well many are predicting the 49ers to double their 4 wins from last year and I think they will... barely.  I'm still not sold on Garoppolo as a franchise quarterback.  Dating a porn star?  Also he doesn't seem to be able to stay fully healthy.  The 49ers team isn't awful anymore, but will they be good enough to avoid another losing season?  I think it'll be close.  They'll have to wait another year to try to return to the playoffs.

4. Arizona Cardinals, 4-12: Kyler the right choice?
I'm taking a bit of a risk here and saying Kyler Murray just won't succeed in the NFL.  At least not in his rookie season.  He's small and unlike Russell Wilson doesn't have the stature to take hits constantly in the NFL.  It doesn't help the Cards hopes that they play in a division where two recently made the playoffs and the other team is on its way up and could vie for a playoff spot.  Also, I'm not sold on Kliff Kingsbury as a coach, but we'll see.



So those are all of my predicted regular season records in the NFL for 2019.  Here's how the playoff seeding shapes up:

AFC
1. Kansas City Chiefs, 13-3
2. New England Patriots, 11-5
3. Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-6
4. Tennessee Titans, 10-6
5. Los Angeles Chargers, 10-6
6. Cleveland Browns, 9-7

NFC
1. Los Angeles Rams, 12-4
2. Minnesota Vikings, 11-5
3. Atlanta Falcons, 11-5
4. Philadelphia Eagles, 10-6
5. Seattle Seahawks, 10-6
6. Chicago Bears, 10-6

All right, and how would these playoffs shape up?  Let's find out.

WILD CARDS
AFC:
(6) Browns at (3) Steelers: Steelers win
These AFC North rivals face off, and the Steelers prove maturity and experience matters big in the playoffs.  Baker Mayfield leads a spirited comeback attempt but comes up short.

(5) Chargers at (4) Titans: Chargers win
First upset of Wild Card weekend is the Chargers upsetting the Titans.  Again, the Chargers go on the road and take care of an only somewhat decent division winner.

NFC:
(6) Bears at (3) Falcons: Falcons win
Yet again Matt Nagy and Mitch Trubisky struggle to win a playoff game.  But this time is on the road in a tough environment in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.  Julio Jones and Matt Ryan's air attack is too much for the Bears.

(5) Seahawks at (4) Eagles: Seahawks win
The battle of the two blue/green birds.  The Hawks come out on top late thanks to the defense making a big stand.  Eagles fans start to wonder if Carson Wentz can win a playoff game.

DIVISIONAL ROUND
AFC:
(5) Chargers at (1) Chiefs: Chiefs win
I like the Chargers a lot, but they'll be hard-pressed to win at Arrowhead Stadium in January.  They got blown out by the Patriots who were just barely able to do it last year.

(3) Steelers at (2) Patriots: Patriots win
The Steelers are still a very solid team, but are nowhere near dynamic or great enough to beat the Patriots on the road in the playoffs.  Terrific Tom again makes it to the AFC Championship game.

NFC: 
(5) Seahawks at (1) Rams: Rams win
I hate to say it... but Rams take it.  I just don't think the Hawks have enough experienced players to win a playoff game against the Rams, especially on the road.  In the two divisional matchups between Western division rivals, the home team comes out on top each time.

(3) Falcons at (2) Vikings: Falcons win
I hate to say it, but Vikings fans are so accustomed to heartbreak this should come as no surprise.  They probably lose in heartbreaking fashion here in some fashion.

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
AFC: 
(2) Patriots at (1) Chiefs: Chiefs win
In a rematch of last year's Conference Championship Game, the Chiefs come out on top this time to finally claim the Lamar Hunt trophy.  I'd expect a close game yet again, but this time luck swinging in the Chiefs' favor.

(3) Falcons at (1) Rams: Rams win
In another playoff rematch (from 2 years ago), the Rams get revenge from that loss to claim the George Halas trophy.  The Falcons put up a tough fight, but ultimately come up short as both #1 seeds make it to the Super Bowl... again.

SUPER BOWL LIV: Chiefs vs. Rams: Chiefs win
In what will be one of the most entertaining Super Bowls ever, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs come out on top to claim the Lombardi trophy.  The Rams, meanwhile, become this generation's Buffalo Bills of the 90s as they lose their second Super Bowl in a row.

So my Super Bowl pick is Rams vs. Chiefs, with the Chiefs coming out on top.  Who will win the awards?  Let's find out:

MVP: Patrick Mahomes
Offensive Player: Patrick Mahomes
Defensive Player: Darius Leonard
Coach: Andy Reid
Offensive Rookie: N'Keal Harry
Defensive Rookie: Devin Bush
Comeback Player: Carson Wentz
Super Bowl MVP: Patrick Mahomes

The Seattle Mariners are Cursed

The Seattle Mariners are cursed.  They find ways to lose games, and they find ways to miss the playoffs.  They did something to anger the baseball gods, although I do not know what that would have been.  But I have believed for a long time now that the Mariners are cursed.  They have the worst luck of any team I have seen both in games and season by season.  The Red Sox used to have a curse, the "Curse of the Bambino".  The Cubs used to have a curse, the "Curse of the Billy Goat".  I believe the Mariners were inflicted with a similar curse.

The year would've been 2001.  The baseball gods are not happy with the Seattle Mariners.  They helped assemble us some of the best talent of their generation.  Four sure fire Hall of Famers played on the Mariners in the late 90's.  And we let three of them go.  We were supposed to win a World Series with these players, but couldn't even get there.  Then we let them go.  Randy was traded.  Griffey was traded.  We let Alex test free agency and he signed with the rival Rangers.  Edgar stayed, but was older than all of them and closest to the end of his career.  The baseball gods did not like this.  We then spurned them by signing Bret Boone and Ichiro.  We won 116 games, which I'm sure made the gods angry.  How was this team, without A-Rod, Griffey, and Randy, winning 116 games?  They promptly inflicted us with fatigue and prevented us from reaching the World Series.  Not only that, but they inflicted the Mariners with bad luck in everything they do: Trades, free agency, and in games. 

When you ask a casual baseball fan about the Seattle Mariners, they might say that the Mariners don't make the playoffs much.  It's not for lack of trying.  And many teams have been very close.  Five times since 2002 the Mariners have been the best team in the American League NOT to make it to the playoffs.  That's more times than they've made the playoffs in THEIR ENTIRE HISTORY.  That's right: The Mariners have more often been a few games away from making the playoffs in the past 17 years than they have made the playoffs in all of their existence.  What kind of team has this kind of luck?  A cursed team.

Speaking of playoffs, the Mariners have made the playoffs in just four of their 43 seasons.  When there were four playoff teams, any team had a 27% chance of making the playoffs.  Now that there are five playoff teams with the addition of another wild card, the playoff chances rise to 33%.  But the Mariners have made it for just 9% of their existence.  And most notably and recently, the Mariners have the longest playoff drought in all of North American professional sports at 18 years.  That is like spinning an item, and for 18 consecutive tries never getting it to face North.  Unreal.

It's amazing to me how often Mariner's opponents get a lucky break and how often the Mariners get a bad one.  Watch pretty much any one of their games.  A ball that lands foul for the Mariners is a fair ball for their opponents.  It also seems on replay reviews that calls go against the Mariners for more often than their opponents.  I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard Mariners play-by-play man Dave Sims say, "Tough break for the Mariners." 

What shall we name this curse?  The easiest answer would be to find a player who left after 2001.  The most notable I see is Jay Buhner.  We could call it the "Curse of the Bone".  It's kind of got an eerie and dark vibe to it.  Granted, Jay Buhner only played 19 games in 2001, but he was still a clubhouse presence and leader on that team.  My other choice would be the "Curse of the Big Three."  The big three being Randy, Griffey, and A-Rod.  They were the big three that left, and aside from 2001 we haven't made the playoffs without them... at all.  Not before them, not after.  But I'll stick with the "Curse of the Bone". 

Jerry Dipoto has decided to have this team go through a rebuild process.  He acquired quite a few prospects and he'll probably acquire even more as the trade deadline draws near.  The expected run at the playoffs will happen in 2022.  All I'm going to say is this: If a lot of these prospects fail (as so many of ours have in recent years), and we fail to make the playoffs during that run, there will be no doubt whatsoever in my mind that this team is full on cursed.  And there shouldn't be any doubt in your mind, either.