The Seahawks season is over, finishing with a 28-23 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. We can argue about the officiating or the defense's or offense's lack of consistency, but I'm just going to go over each position group for the Hawks and how they did for the 2019 season. The common theme is that the Hawks were hit heavily with injuries. The silver lining to that is that it gave the backups and rookies experience, most of them playoff experience, too. I'll also discuss how much of a need the position is in the offseason on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being a dire need and 1 being something we could basically ignore. And then finish up with a letter grade.
Quarterback: I think Russell Wilson had his best season. He carried the team more than ever, especially when injuries hit late in the season and we could no longer run the ball effectively. For this reason, he deserves MVP, because there is literally no other player that is more valuable to their team. There's really only one thing about his game I wish he'd improve, and that's throwing the ball away instead of taking sacks. He took a ton of sacks this year, which largely (but not entirely) can be attributed to the offensive line. But late in the year, you can see he occasionally held the ball too long and had opportunities to either find a receiver or throw the ball away. I don't think Geno saw the field at all this year, which is fine with me.
Need: 1
Grade: A
Running Back: Boy it is unfortunate Carson, Penny, and Prosise all went down within a few weeks. Before they went down, Carson and Penny were really doing well. The silver lining to them going down is that it gave us an opportunity to see Marshawn Lynch again and Travis Homer. Homer is a very capable back, and he could very easily be a #2. I think the Hawks consider trading Penny in the offseason. They don't have to, however. Seeing the injury bug hit this position hard will probably make John Schneider want as much depth as possible. I don't think Marshawn returns. And I think the Hawks finally part ways with Prosise. If the Hawks trade Penny, they'll bring in an undrafted rookie to compete for a backup role.
Need: 2
Grade: B
Wide Receiver: Lockett's not a true #1, but he doesn't have to be. With the emergence of D.K. Metcalf, I think the Hawks finally found a #1 guy. Boy was he a steal, and he should only get better. The rest of the group leaves a lot to be desired. Moore, Turner, and Brown all had just ok seasons. I think the Hawks only keep one, maybe two of those guys. I wish John Ursua had gotten more of a shot, but I expect him to in 2020 (Let him work the slot like Doug Baldwin did!). This unit was one of the healthier all year, which is mainly why Ursua was mostly inactive in 2019. I think the Hawks draft a mid-late receiver, hoping he can develop into a legit #3 some day. Overall, this group was criticized for their failure to get open at times, despite Wilson prolonging plays with his scrambling.
Need: 2
Grade: B
Tight Ends: Dissly gets hurt...again. If he hadn't, I think the Hawks win the NFC West and are still in the playoffs. He's a legit all-around tight end, but he just has to stay healthy. Jacob Hollister had his moments, but he also had drops and fumbles. I think the Hawks need to acquire a tight end for depth in case Dissly gets hurt yet again. Wilson to Dissly sure was fun to watch while it lasted in 2019.
Need: 3
Grade: C+
Offensive Line: The shakiest position group on the team, and it has been for years. They weren't as awful as past years, but injuries to Britt, both guards, and Brown really hurt this unit. The Hawks have to address this group in the offseason and make it a primary concern. Depth is needed, as well as a new right tackle, with Ifedi probably on his way out. The Hawks also need more youth at the guard positions and will soon need to find Duane Brown's successor.
Need: 5
Grade: C-
Defensive Line: I have to start out by saying boy LJ Collier has been a disappointment so far. He was mostly inactive all year, and I don't think he made any big plays. Acquiring Jadeveon Clowney was huge, but will he remain a Hawk? I like the rest of the guys in Green, Jefferson, and Reed. Ziggy Ansah was largely a disappointment. This unit did not get enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks in 2019, and it will have to improve somehow in 2020. Unless they expect Collier to live up to his first round status, they need to address this position in the offseason with a fairly significant addition.
Need: 4
Grade: C
Linebackers: Bobby was All-Pro and KJ was pretty solid himself. Kendricks was doing ok, but Carroll/Norton asked him to cover routes more than anything, which included covering wide receivers. Cody Barton had a very solid rookie campaign, and he could be given a starting role in 2020. Ben Burr-Kirven was only seen on special teams but did well. Shaquem Griffin was used in pass rush situations to some effectiveness. This is a group I'm not concerned about going into 2020, but they'll need better coaching next year.
Need: 2
Grade: B
Defensive Backs: Shaquill Griffin had his best season in 2020. He only got flagged once in the regular season, a remarkable achievement for a starting cornerback. Tre Flowers, however, got burned multiple times, got flagged a lot more, and missed more tackles. Most Hawks fans don't think he should be starting in 2020. Quandre Diggs was an excellent addition, and he reminded me of an Earl Thomas/Kam Chancellor hybrid. Bradley McDougald did well, especially with tackling. We'll see what role Tedric Thompson has next year after being hurt for most of the season. I expect more out of this unit as it is Coach Carroll's specialty, and I grade them harshly as a result.
Need: 4
Grade: D+
Special Teams: Myers was certainly shaky at times, but with kicking the way it is in today's NFL, that's honestly about average and the Hawks would be foolish to move on from him. Dickson had a decent season, although not quite as good as his rookie campaign. The coverage was mostly good all season, except for perhaps the Saints game. The return game left a ton to be desired, as I don't think we had an electrifying return all season. I think the Hawks have sorely lacked a return specialist for a while, and with Lockett getting older, he cannot be relied on anymore. The Hawks need to draft some kind of return specialist, maybe KJ Hamler out of Penn State. But otherwise, they are set on ST.
Need: 2
Grade: C-
Coaching: This was both a great and terrible coaching job by the Seahawks coaching staff this season. Being able to get to the divisional round despite a ton of injuries is at least partly indicative of a good coaching job. However, Ken Norton Jr's schemes were largely exposed and he was often left adjusting and trying to fix things, rather than being the aggressor and making offenses adjust to him. Schottenheimer had an up and down season as coordinator, and he did fairly well late in the year given the circumstances. Carroll had some questionable coaching decisions, most notably not going for certain fourth down attempts. I really think this defense needs a different leader, but I can see Carroll wanting to stick with KNJ, unfortunately.
Need: 3
Grade: D+
Overall GPA: 2.33 (C+)
Overall, this team did better than most people expected, and most position groups did a good job. If certain areas are addressed, mainly the lines and secondary, and we can stay relatively healthy next season, I can see this team doing really well. Coordinators aside, if you have good enough players, they will succeed. I think a certain strength and conditioning coach should be fired (Ivan Lewis), even though he was hired less than a year ago. There's a reason they call him "Ivan the Terrible". Let's hope Pete and John address the right needs in the offseason, and there are far less injuries in 2020.
Monday, January 13, 2020
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Survivor: Winners at War Outlook and Predictions
One of the most anticipated seasons of Survivor in recent memory is the upcoming season, season 40, titled "Winners at War". For the first time, the cast will be comprised entirely of players who have won the game before. This has long been rumored to be a season, and for their 40th, Survivor is going all out. And for the first time, they are offering up $2 million as the grand prize for the winner. I'm very excited for this season, the most excited I have been probably since Heroes vs. Villains. I'm going to go over each contestant, their chances, and what I expect from them, and then at the end, give them a range in which I think they'll be voted out. (In parentheses)
First though, I wanted to say I think there will be a divide between new school and old school players. People like Ethan, Rob, Amber, Danni, Yul, Parvati, and Tyson have known each other for many years (at least ten), while newer players like Wendell, Nick, Michelle, Adam, and Sarah haven't known everyone for quite as long. I think the old school people will stick together and the new school people will stick together. I can only hope there's somewhat of a mix when we get far into the game, and the new school people don't just pick them off one by one. By my count, there are eight players who played in a season in the first ten years (up until Heroes vs. Villains), and twelve who did not. If those twelve band together (six per tribe?), they could pick off the older players one by one.
Anyway, here's the list of previous winners on Winners at War, sorted alphabetically by first name:
Adam Klein: Adam is definitely a strong strategic player and may be identified as so early. It's been a trend in recent seasons that strong strategic threats are just as dangerous, if not more so, than strong physical (challenge) threats. He could be an early boot, but if he makes the right alliance could go far. (11-5)
Amber Mariano: One of two Survivors that hasn't played in over 15 years, Amber will instantly be a target, not just because of her and Rob, but because she's won an All-Stars season before. It will be interesting to see how she holds up, as I expect her and Rob will be on opposite tribes at first. I don't expect her to get far, and to be honest I'd be surprised if she made it to the merge. (20-14)
Ben Driebergen: Everyone knows Ben's story. He was saved by a twist in the game, a twist many fans think was put in for the purpose of saving him. He's obviously likable, and I don't see him making it to the final tribal council. I expect him to be voted out near the merge, as he would probably be labeled a threat to win. (13-8)
Danni Boatwright: How will players who haven't played in over a decade fare? Well, Danni is one of them. She, like Amber, has had kids since her season, so that could put her at a disadvantage physically, as well as making her out to be a threat to win. She could be an early boot or make it far, depending on how well she holds up and who she makes alliances with. (18-12)
Denise Stapley: The woman who holds the record for amount of Tribal Councils attended in a season, she'll need to have better luck this time or she will be voted out for people thinking she is bad luck for a tribe. After all, in Heroes vs. Villains, Stephanie was basically voted out for that reason. I think Denise will make it to the merge if her tribe does okay, but after that I'm not sure. (13-8)
Ethan Zahn: The true Survivor. This will be his first time playing since his cancer scare/diagnosis, and he definitely will be a threat to win. I think it will be very hard for him to make it far in this game, as who wouldn't vote for a cancer survivor in the final tribal council? (19-14)
Jeremy Collins: I think Jeremy is the dark horse of the season. People will be so focused on getting other people out that he will slip by. He's a really good all-around player, and people may forget how dangerous he can be late in the game. I think he'll make it far. However, I noticed he is the only male to ever win an "All-Stars" type season, so if people realize that he could be in trouble. (9-4)
Kim Spradlin: Kim is probably the one I remember least, so please forgive me. I think she'll make it further than most females, as she won't be considered a threat for any reason. (10-4)
Michele Fitzgerald: She played five years ago, and is the second most-recent female winner. I think she could make it far, depending on the alliances she forms. I like her chances. (8-2)
Natalie Anderson: For some reason I have a strong feeling she is on the jury. I can't explain it. She could be underestimated, but she could also be an early boot. Hard to say. I'll say somewhere in the middle. (12-6)
Nick Wilson: Will the recent winners be early targets? If they are, Nick could be in trouble. If not, I can see him making it far, perhaps forming an alliance with some more recent winners (Wendell, Michele, Sarah). (7-2)
Parvati Shallow: Like Amber, she's technically won an All-Stars season, so I think she will be an early target. Like Amber and Danni, she's also had kids since the show. People will know she can win over a jury, so I'd be shocked if she got close to the end. (18-12)
Rob Mariano: Survivor's golden boy! Boy, he's gonna have his work cut out for him. If there's a Survivor Mount Rushmore, him and his Red Sox cap are on it. Will this go the way similar to Redemption Island, or Heroes vs. Villains? Oddly, Rob has never been part of a jury, and I would love to see him there. (13-8)
Sandra Diaz-Twine: Now, she's the only two-time winner, but here's what I think her strategy will be: She'll convince people that no one will vote for her in the final tribal council and she won't get any votes. If she isn't able to convince people of that, she'll be an early target. But if she can, she could go far, but I'm sure there will be people who won't want her even sniffing the final tribal. Could go either way, but I think people won't care and will want her gone. (20-14)
Sarah Lacina: The most recent female winner of Survivor (still), Sarah has a good shot to go far, I think. I don't see her being labeled as a threat, at least not early. She's got a real good shot, and if I had to put my money on a handful of Survivors who could win this season, she'd probably be one of them. (7-1)
Sophie Clarke: I honestly think she's one of the weaker winners. She went against Albert and Coach in the final tribal council, neither of whom are deserved winners themselves. But that doesn't mean she can't do well in this season. Nobody is going to consider her a threat, and if she makes the right alliance, she could go far. (8-3)
Tony Vlachos: Tony is the quintessential Survivor target now having won. He also can rub people the wrong way. He and Sarah have an iffy relationship so we'll see how that goes. I don't see him making it far, maybe even a pre-merge boot. (18-12)
Tyson Apostol: Tyson is one of my favorite Survivors ever, and I hope he goes far. I think he will so long as he doesn't get down in numbers. Jury at the least, I bet. (11-6)
Wendell Holland: The only Survivor to win on a tie-breaking vote is this man. He's a good all-around player and I don't see him being a target early. I'd love to see him get far again. Here's hoping he will. (7-1)
Yul Kwon: Yul's smarts and wisdom will make him an early target. I could see him being an early boot or making it fairly far. Hard to say, but I think he'll manage to talk his way out of being voted out at least once. (18-12)
So that's what I think of everyone. Remember, only one male has won an All-Stars type season (Jeremy). The rest have been females (Amber, Parvati, Sandra, Sarah). Will that trend continue or will a man win?
Just for fun, I will predict their boot order, keeping in mind everyone's ranges I gave them. I bet I will be pretty close on a few of these.
20. Amber
19. Ethan
18. Sandra
17. Parvati
16. Tony
15. Yul
14. Danni
13. Ben
JURY
12. Denise
11. Rob
10. Natalie
9. Tyson
8. Kim
7. Adam
6. Jeremy
5. Sophie
4. Michele
FINAL THREE
3. Nick
2. Wendell
1. Sarah
That's right, I have Sarah winning Survivor: Winners at War. I could see an alliance of Sarah, Wendell, Nick and Michele. I think Nick and Wendell would kind of cancel each other out in the final tribal council, allowing Sarah to claim the title of Sole Survivor (again). I also have a lot of the older veteran players as early boots (Amber, Ethan, Sandra, Parvati, Yul), unfortunately.
First though, I wanted to say I think there will be a divide between new school and old school players. People like Ethan, Rob, Amber, Danni, Yul, Parvati, and Tyson have known each other for many years (at least ten), while newer players like Wendell, Nick, Michelle, Adam, and Sarah haven't known everyone for quite as long. I think the old school people will stick together and the new school people will stick together. I can only hope there's somewhat of a mix when we get far into the game, and the new school people don't just pick them off one by one. By my count, there are eight players who played in a season in the first ten years (up until Heroes vs. Villains), and twelve who did not. If those twelve band together (six per tribe?), they could pick off the older players one by one.
Anyway, here's the list of previous winners on Winners at War, sorted alphabetically by first name:
Adam Klein: Adam is definitely a strong strategic player and may be identified as so early. It's been a trend in recent seasons that strong strategic threats are just as dangerous, if not more so, than strong physical (challenge) threats. He could be an early boot, but if he makes the right alliance could go far. (11-5)
Amber Mariano: One of two Survivors that hasn't played in over 15 years, Amber will instantly be a target, not just because of her and Rob, but because she's won an All-Stars season before. It will be interesting to see how she holds up, as I expect her and Rob will be on opposite tribes at first. I don't expect her to get far, and to be honest I'd be surprised if she made it to the merge. (20-14)
Ben Driebergen: Everyone knows Ben's story. He was saved by a twist in the game, a twist many fans think was put in for the purpose of saving him. He's obviously likable, and I don't see him making it to the final tribal council. I expect him to be voted out near the merge, as he would probably be labeled a threat to win. (13-8)
Danni Boatwright: How will players who haven't played in over a decade fare? Well, Danni is one of them. She, like Amber, has had kids since her season, so that could put her at a disadvantage physically, as well as making her out to be a threat to win. She could be an early boot or make it far, depending on how well she holds up and who she makes alliances with. (18-12)
Denise Stapley: The woman who holds the record for amount of Tribal Councils attended in a season, she'll need to have better luck this time or she will be voted out for people thinking she is bad luck for a tribe. After all, in Heroes vs. Villains, Stephanie was basically voted out for that reason. I think Denise will make it to the merge if her tribe does okay, but after that I'm not sure. (13-8)
Ethan Zahn: The true Survivor. This will be his first time playing since his cancer scare/diagnosis, and he definitely will be a threat to win. I think it will be very hard for him to make it far in this game, as who wouldn't vote for a cancer survivor in the final tribal council? (19-14)
Jeremy Collins: I think Jeremy is the dark horse of the season. People will be so focused on getting other people out that he will slip by. He's a really good all-around player, and people may forget how dangerous he can be late in the game. I think he'll make it far. However, I noticed he is the only male to ever win an "All-Stars" type season, so if people realize that he could be in trouble. (9-4)
Kim Spradlin: Kim is probably the one I remember least, so please forgive me. I think she'll make it further than most females, as she won't be considered a threat for any reason. (10-4)
Michele Fitzgerald: She played five years ago, and is the second most-recent female winner. I think she could make it far, depending on the alliances she forms. I like her chances. (8-2)
Natalie Anderson: For some reason I have a strong feeling she is on the jury. I can't explain it. She could be underestimated, but she could also be an early boot. Hard to say. I'll say somewhere in the middle. (12-6)
Nick Wilson: Will the recent winners be early targets? If they are, Nick could be in trouble. If not, I can see him making it far, perhaps forming an alliance with some more recent winners (Wendell, Michele, Sarah). (7-2)
Parvati Shallow: Like Amber, she's technically won an All-Stars season, so I think she will be an early target. Like Amber and Danni, she's also had kids since the show. People will know she can win over a jury, so I'd be shocked if she got close to the end. (18-12)
Rob Mariano: Survivor's golden boy! Boy, he's gonna have his work cut out for him. If there's a Survivor Mount Rushmore, him and his Red Sox cap are on it. Will this go the way similar to Redemption Island, or Heroes vs. Villains? Oddly, Rob has never been part of a jury, and I would love to see him there. (13-8)
Sandra Diaz-Twine: Now, she's the only two-time winner, but here's what I think her strategy will be: She'll convince people that no one will vote for her in the final tribal council and she won't get any votes. If she isn't able to convince people of that, she'll be an early target. But if she can, she could go far, but I'm sure there will be people who won't want her even sniffing the final tribal. Could go either way, but I think people won't care and will want her gone. (20-14)
Sarah Lacina: The most recent female winner of Survivor (still), Sarah has a good shot to go far, I think. I don't see her being labeled as a threat, at least not early. She's got a real good shot, and if I had to put my money on a handful of Survivors who could win this season, she'd probably be one of them. (7-1)
Sophie Clarke: I honestly think she's one of the weaker winners. She went against Albert and Coach in the final tribal council, neither of whom are deserved winners themselves. But that doesn't mean she can't do well in this season. Nobody is going to consider her a threat, and if she makes the right alliance, she could go far. (8-3)
Tony Vlachos: Tony is the quintessential Survivor target now having won. He also can rub people the wrong way. He and Sarah have an iffy relationship so we'll see how that goes. I don't see him making it far, maybe even a pre-merge boot. (18-12)
Tyson Apostol: Tyson is one of my favorite Survivors ever, and I hope he goes far. I think he will so long as he doesn't get down in numbers. Jury at the least, I bet. (11-6)
Wendell Holland: The only Survivor to win on a tie-breaking vote is this man. He's a good all-around player and I don't see him being a target early. I'd love to see him get far again. Here's hoping he will. (7-1)
Yul Kwon: Yul's smarts and wisdom will make him an early target. I could see him being an early boot or making it fairly far. Hard to say, but I think he'll manage to talk his way out of being voted out at least once. (18-12)
So that's what I think of everyone. Remember, only one male has won an All-Stars type season (Jeremy). The rest have been females (Amber, Parvati, Sandra, Sarah). Will that trend continue or will a man win?
Just for fun, I will predict their boot order, keeping in mind everyone's ranges I gave them. I bet I will be pretty close on a few of these.
20. Amber
19. Ethan
18. Sandra
17. Parvati
16. Tony
15. Yul
14. Danni
13. Ben
JURY
12. Denise
11. Rob
10. Natalie
9. Tyson
8. Kim
7. Adam
6. Jeremy
5. Sophie
4. Michele
FINAL THREE
3. Nick
2. Wendell
1. Sarah
That's right, I have Sarah winning Survivor: Winners at War. I could see an alliance of Sarah, Wendell, Nick and Michele. I think Nick and Wendell would kind of cancel each other out in the final tribal council, allowing Sarah to claim the title of Sole Survivor (again). I also have a lot of the older veteran players as early boots (Amber, Ethan, Sandra, Parvati, Yul), unfortunately.
My Gripes with Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
The app and game I have played the most the past two years (or so) is definitely Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. Anyone that knows me knows that I am a huge Harry Potter fan, so when this app came out in April of 2018, I had to play it. I've basically been hooked since then, but I have stopped playing the game for multiple days at a time. That is because there are certain things the developers have chosen to implement into the game that I do not like. If anyone from Jam City that has input on the Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery game reads this, please try to fix one of these things at the very least:
- Dueling
One of my biggest complaints I have with the game is the dueling. It's just a boring game of rock-paper-scissors. There's very little strategy involved. The games are clearly rigged because in a standard game of rock-paper-scissors, you would have the same move as your opponent (draw) 1/3 of the time. In dueling in HPHM, you draw only 10% of the time, if that. Worst of all, no matter what moves you select and when, you lose a little more than you win. My suggestion is to add helping items or bonuses that can give you a boost in dueling, such as healing items, tiebreakers, or extra damage. These bonuses or advantages could be earned through events and/or classes. That would increase the strategy in dueling ten-fold and make it much more fun. Or if that's too hard to do, make dueling more like an actual 1/3 shot of either winning, losing, or drawing.
- Full Marks
Full Marks events are near impossible to win. I won't go over their details in what is required to do well (and possibly win), but they last between five to seven days, so in order to get a top prize you have to be at it 24/7 for close to an entire week. Even if you are, you'll likely still remain behind at least one or two players. I am convinced some of the players on the leader board that you compete with are bots and not real players. I have read many posts and comments on Reddit about how when people see a Full Marks event, they take a break from the game because the event is just not worth it. You bust your butt for an entire week for coins and maybe some books? Not worth it. My suggestion is to have rewards for getting a certain amount of points, regardless of how everyone else does. It's fine to have the grand prize (outfit, decoration for dormitory) be a competition between players, but every other prize should be obtained from reaching a certain number of points, just like in House Pride events.
- House Pride
Speaking of House Pride events, they are not perfect, either. I like how you get rewards no matter how your team does, but getting the top prize is near impossible now. When this event first started out, it was very easy to win, and now it's impossible. No matter how often I play and get extra energy from spots around the castle, I always am behind at least one person on my team and behind at least one house for the house totals. One thing I have read is that as you progress through the game, your energy requirements to complete classes goes up. When you first play, it only takes 10 energy or so to get a star in a class. In year six, it takes 15-20 energy. In other words, a team full of first and second years can complete classes much quicker than a team of sixth years. That should not be the case; in fact, it should be the other way around. Jam City, you have this backwards. I don't know how, but somehow make it easier for dedicated players to the game like myself to win these House Pride events. Perhaps give players in later years a multiplier on the house crests earned. But we should not be penalized for being further in the game than other players. I honestly cannot remember the last time I won either a House Pride or Full Marks event.
- Story/Characters
The story in the game has severely lacked in years 5 and 6. The story gets released so slowly, it can be very hard to try to remember what was going on in the last chapter. I am getting to the point of losing interest in ever finding out who's behind this "R", if we'll ever find and get revenge on Rakepick, and if our brother Jacob will ever hang around for more than a minute. I can't remember the last time our story involved Tulip Karasu or Barnaby Lee. You've made a mockery of Tonks, whose only apparent character trait is being a prankster. And Ben Copper's character took a complete 180 and became cold and uninteresting. And you can't seem to make up your mind if Merula will ever come around, or if she's going to forever be our arch rival. And with the story being released as slowly as it is, it's extremely hard to get invested in it at all, and I find myself not really caring too much for what the characters are saying.
- Focus
Clearly, Jam City's focus in the past year or so in the game has been to try to get people to spend real life money by introducing new pets, creatures, and now dorm decorations. It seems like every time I go on the game there's a new thing to buy or try to invest books in. I know, that's how you guys keep the game running, but if you keep at this pace, people aren't going to care. The game is slowly becoming all show and no substance. Some players have realized this, and more will if you're not careful. Many apps and games have seen their profits dwindle because they tried too hard to get people to spend money and didn't focus on making a quality game. I don't feel as fulfilled with having creatures and pets as I do with a great story, interesting characters, and fun and winnable events to do. The game is at its best when the pets and cosmetics are an additional/side feature, not the main feature.
- Creature sidequests with Hagrid
Every now and then a sidequest with Hagrid will pop up involving a pet or creature. However, the most recent two are ones that make me not want to even try anymore. The sidequests require we adopt a certain pet or creature, and their requirements are insane. First, the Welsh Green Dragon, which requires 60 Red and 30 Blue Books. Blue books are extremely hard to get in the game, and getting just two or three in an event is very tough to do (usually it's the reward requiring the most amount of classes/crests). And you're asking for thirty of them!? Second, the Puppy Crup, which requires 120 Brown Books. Fortunately, Brown Books are a lot easier to obtain, but 120 of them?! And woe is me, I spent 50 Brown Books on a Streeler mere days before the Puppy Crup sidequest comes out. Figures, right? If I had known, I would have saved my Brown Books. These requirements to obtain these creatures to further our friendship with Hagrid are just insane, and they make players like me not want to even bother because it's so difficult and time-consuming to earn them. And you can't expect players to shovel out real money just so they can progress a sidequest.
- Friendship Requirements/Attribute Requirements
The requirements to level up certain friendships are insane. I'm talking about Jae, Badeea, Liz, and Fred. Having to do a friendship task 20-30 times with each to level up is just way too much. And having to spend our hard-earned coins each time just adds insult to injury. I've basically stopped doing the friendship tasks unless I'm trying in a Full Marks Event and it requires a friendship task. At least there are some friends who don't require that many points to level up, such as the three Quidditch friends (Orion, Murphy and Skye), Chiara, and Talbott (sort of).
And then the points required to level up your attributes (courage, empathy, knowledge) get insane around the late 20's. At level 29, it requires over 17,000 points?! Are you kidding me? I'd say the average net for an attribute in a 2 hour class is 15 points. That's being generous, because you don't always get attribute points as a reward, and the highest you can get (40) is pretty rare. Doing the math, this would require us to do 567 two hour classes or 227 eight hour classes! To level up all three attributes, it would take 1,700 two hour classes or 680 eight hour classes! That's just insane. And playing the game every time you reached full energy (during awake hours, so 18 hours for most) would take an attribute to level up between 70-80 days, and that's if you focus on that one attribute only and play pretty much every time you reach full energy while you're awake. That is asking way too much of us.
I say all this despite the fact I am on it basically every day, every few hours. I still really like the game, but honestly the times when I decide to take a break and not play, I feel a bit of a relief that I'm not stressing over trying to win an event or complete a sidequest before time runs out. I am seriously thinking of taking a break from the game for a while, and not just for a few days. It's getting to the point where it's not worth it anymore. I would definitely come back and play again, if only to catch up on the story. But it is getting to that point with me, and I will not hesitate to stop playing for a while. The game is just not what it used to be. The story is severely lacking in quality, events are near impossible to win, and the side bits of the game (Dueling, pets, friendship tasks) are just not worth the time and effort. The game started out great, but then fizzled out in its second year, and if they're not careful, the same downward trend will continue, and they will lose players.
Edit: I am currently in a hiatus from the game, and part of me wants to go back to the game, but when I think about doing so, I just lose interest very quickly. This game has unfortunately descended into the depths of money grabbers, and I just lose interest in a game quickly when that happens. Also, it's hard to keep up with the game when you're busy with a job and other apps take up your time.
- Dueling
One of my biggest complaints I have with the game is the dueling. It's just a boring game of rock-paper-scissors. There's very little strategy involved. The games are clearly rigged because in a standard game of rock-paper-scissors, you would have the same move as your opponent (draw) 1/3 of the time. In dueling in HPHM, you draw only 10% of the time, if that. Worst of all, no matter what moves you select and when, you lose a little more than you win. My suggestion is to add helping items or bonuses that can give you a boost in dueling, such as healing items, tiebreakers, or extra damage. These bonuses or advantages could be earned through events and/or classes. That would increase the strategy in dueling ten-fold and make it much more fun. Or if that's too hard to do, make dueling more like an actual 1/3 shot of either winning, losing, or drawing.
- Full Marks
Full Marks events are near impossible to win. I won't go over their details in what is required to do well (and possibly win), but they last between five to seven days, so in order to get a top prize you have to be at it 24/7 for close to an entire week. Even if you are, you'll likely still remain behind at least one or two players. I am convinced some of the players on the leader board that you compete with are bots and not real players. I have read many posts and comments on Reddit about how when people see a Full Marks event, they take a break from the game because the event is just not worth it. You bust your butt for an entire week for coins and maybe some books? Not worth it. My suggestion is to have rewards for getting a certain amount of points, regardless of how everyone else does. It's fine to have the grand prize (outfit, decoration for dormitory) be a competition between players, but every other prize should be obtained from reaching a certain number of points, just like in House Pride events.
- House Pride
Speaking of House Pride events, they are not perfect, either. I like how you get rewards no matter how your team does, but getting the top prize is near impossible now. When this event first started out, it was very easy to win, and now it's impossible. No matter how often I play and get extra energy from spots around the castle, I always am behind at least one person on my team and behind at least one house for the house totals. One thing I have read is that as you progress through the game, your energy requirements to complete classes goes up. When you first play, it only takes 10 energy or so to get a star in a class. In year six, it takes 15-20 energy. In other words, a team full of first and second years can complete classes much quicker than a team of sixth years. That should not be the case; in fact, it should be the other way around. Jam City, you have this backwards. I don't know how, but somehow make it easier for dedicated players to the game like myself to win these House Pride events. Perhaps give players in later years a multiplier on the house crests earned. But we should not be penalized for being further in the game than other players. I honestly cannot remember the last time I won either a House Pride or Full Marks event.
- Story/Characters
The story in the game has severely lacked in years 5 and 6. The story gets released so slowly, it can be very hard to try to remember what was going on in the last chapter. I am getting to the point of losing interest in ever finding out who's behind this "R", if we'll ever find and get revenge on Rakepick, and if our brother Jacob will ever hang around for more than a minute. I can't remember the last time our story involved Tulip Karasu or Barnaby Lee. You've made a mockery of Tonks, whose only apparent character trait is being a prankster. And Ben Copper's character took a complete 180 and became cold and uninteresting. And you can't seem to make up your mind if Merula will ever come around, or if she's going to forever be our arch rival. And with the story being released as slowly as it is, it's extremely hard to get invested in it at all, and I find myself not really caring too much for what the characters are saying.
- Focus
Clearly, Jam City's focus in the past year or so in the game has been to try to get people to spend real life money by introducing new pets, creatures, and now dorm decorations. It seems like every time I go on the game there's a new thing to buy or try to invest books in. I know, that's how you guys keep the game running, but if you keep at this pace, people aren't going to care. The game is slowly becoming all show and no substance. Some players have realized this, and more will if you're not careful. Many apps and games have seen their profits dwindle because they tried too hard to get people to spend money and didn't focus on making a quality game. I don't feel as fulfilled with having creatures and pets as I do with a great story, interesting characters, and fun and winnable events to do. The game is at its best when the pets and cosmetics are an additional/side feature, not the main feature.
- Creature sidequests with Hagrid
Every now and then a sidequest with Hagrid will pop up involving a pet or creature. However, the most recent two are ones that make me not want to even try anymore. The sidequests require we adopt a certain pet or creature, and their requirements are insane. First, the Welsh Green Dragon, which requires 60 Red and 30 Blue Books. Blue books are extremely hard to get in the game, and getting just two or three in an event is very tough to do (usually it's the reward requiring the most amount of classes/crests). And you're asking for thirty of them!? Second, the Puppy Crup, which requires 120 Brown Books. Fortunately, Brown Books are a lot easier to obtain, but 120 of them?! And woe is me, I spent 50 Brown Books on a Streeler mere days before the Puppy Crup sidequest comes out. Figures, right? If I had known, I would have saved my Brown Books. These requirements to obtain these creatures to further our friendship with Hagrid are just insane, and they make players like me not want to even bother because it's so difficult and time-consuming to earn them. And you can't expect players to shovel out real money just so they can progress a sidequest.
- Friendship Requirements/Attribute Requirements
The requirements to level up certain friendships are insane. I'm talking about Jae, Badeea, Liz, and Fred. Having to do a friendship task 20-30 times with each to level up is just way too much. And having to spend our hard-earned coins each time just adds insult to injury. I've basically stopped doing the friendship tasks unless I'm trying in a Full Marks Event and it requires a friendship task. At least there are some friends who don't require that many points to level up, such as the three Quidditch friends (Orion, Murphy and Skye), Chiara, and Talbott (sort of).
And then the points required to level up your attributes (courage, empathy, knowledge) get insane around the late 20's. At level 29, it requires over 17,000 points?! Are you kidding me? I'd say the average net for an attribute in a 2 hour class is 15 points. That's being generous, because you don't always get attribute points as a reward, and the highest you can get (40) is pretty rare. Doing the math, this would require us to do 567 two hour classes or 227 eight hour classes! To level up all three attributes, it would take 1,700 two hour classes or 680 eight hour classes! That's just insane. And playing the game every time you reached full energy (during awake hours, so 18 hours for most) would take an attribute to level up between 70-80 days, and that's if you focus on that one attribute only and play pretty much every time you reach full energy while you're awake. That is asking way too much of us.
I say all this despite the fact I am on it basically every day, every few hours. I still really like the game, but honestly the times when I decide to take a break and not play, I feel a bit of a relief that I'm not stressing over trying to win an event or complete a sidequest before time runs out. I am seriously thinking of taking a break from the game for a while, and not just for a few days. It's getting to the point where it's not worth it anymore. I would definitely come back and play again, if only to catch up on the story. But it is getting to that point with me, and I will not hesitate to stop playing for a while. The game is just not what it used to be. The story is severely lacking in quality, events are near impossible to win, and the side bits of the game (Dueling, pets, friendship tasks) are just not worth the time and effort. The game started out great, but then fizzled out in its second year, and if they're not careful, the same downward trend will continue, and they will lose players.
Edit: I am currently in a hiatus from the game, and part of me wants to go back to the game, but when I think about doing so, I just lose interest very quickly. This game has unfortunately descended into the depths of money grabbers, and I just lose interest in a game quickly when that happens. Also, it's hard to keep up with the game when you're busy with a job and other apps take up your time.
Monday, January 6, 2020
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.
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.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
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 4th 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.
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 4th 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.
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
My Hopes and Thoughts for 2020
The year 2019 was definitely interesting for me. I got a new job, I helped my parents move out of my childhood home and into their new home, and our apartment complex underwent renovations (on the outside--roof, windows). The last year of the 2010s was a memorable one for me, and I'm thinking 2020 will be just as memorable. I will discuss my thoughts and hopes for the upcoming year, from my personal to professional life.
I cannot state this enough: I need to lose weight. I don't consider myself obese, but overweight, yes. I am not expecting this to happen overnight or even over just one month. I think it may take close to all year. But I am going to put my mind to it. I need to find some way to work out fairly consistently, and start planning lighter and healthier meals. I'd like to lose 50 pounds over the course of next year, which would be an incredible amount, but I'd even be happy with 20-30. I do not have a set plan yet, but I am going to give myself goals and rewards for reaching weight milestones. For example, I cannot eat one of my favorite (unhealthy) foods until I've lost 20 pounds. I will continue to make choices which involve more exercise, such as taking the stairs instead of the escalator/elevator, and eating the healthier option if I eat out. I just don't like my self-image very much right now; and I know if I got back to the shape I was in in my early 20's, I would be so much more confident and happier.
Professionally, I don't know if I necessarily want to change jobs (already), but I will keep my options open. I will continue to look at jobs, and if one pops up that I think would be a really good fit for me, I may go for it. I do like where I am now, but it's not a job that someone stays at for years and years. I also want to make a bit more money. I will probably go back on some of the job sites (Indeed, ZipRecruiter) and opt-in to the e-mails again so that I can see what's out there.
I want to travel in 2020 for sure. It may not be until the summer or even Christmas season, but I don't think I've flown to California in three or four years. I haven't seen Amanda's family in that long, either. I will do my best to get some time off to go with her somewhere, whether that be in the summer or for Christmas. Christmas falls on a Friday next year, so it would be a great opportunity to get a three day weekend and travel to see her family. Which reminds me, I also will have to either get my first ever passport or an enhanced driver's license. I also want to see a Seahawks game next year; I saw one in 2018 but not this year. I want to take Amanda to one in 2020, as she's only seen one Seahawk game, and that was in 2011.
Next year will also be big for news. We're going to have a presidential election in November, and hopefully get a new president. The 2020 Summer Olympics will happen in Tokyo. There are other things, but let's not forget it's also the first year of a new decade. Also, when before some people were starting the current year "Two thousand-", they now almost all will start calling the year "Twenty-Twenty". Not many people are going to say "Year Two-Thousand Twenty". They'll say "Twenty-Twenty".
There are a couple other things that might happen in 2020, but I am not entirely sure. I may get a new car, but that could wait until 2021 or later. I may get a new computer, as my current one is having issues, as it is pretty old (around a decade old) and runs Windows Vista. But I also want to build up my savings next year after the hit it took this year. There are a couple other big things that might happen in 2020, but are personal to me, and I'll share them on here if they do end up happening.
I am excited for 2020 and what it brings. I'm very curious to see how much my life changes in the next year. I am really hoping for an improved me by this time next year. I know that sounds all very cliche, but it's very true for me. I am going to be that 2020 will be a significant year in my life, even more so than 2019 was.
I cannot state this enough: I need to lose weight. I don't consider myself obese, but overweight, yes. I am not expecting this to happen overnight or even over just one month. I think it may take close to all year. But I am going to put my mind to it. I need to find some way to work out fairly consistently, and start planning lighter and healthier meals. I'd like to lose 50 pounds over the course of next year, which would be an incredible amount, but I'd even be happy with 20-30. I do not have a set plan yet, but I am going to give myself goals and rewards for reaching weight milestones. For example, I cannot eat one of my favorite (unhealthy) foods until I've lost 20 pounds. I will continue to make choices which involve more exercise, such as taking the stairs instead of the escalator/elevator, and eating the healthier option if I eat out. I just don't like my self-image very much right now; and I know if I got back to the shape I was in in my early 20's, I would be so much more confident and happier.
Professionally, I don't know if I necessarily want to change jobs (already), but I will keep my options open. I will continue to look at jobs, and if one pops up that I think would be a really good fit for me, I may go for it. I do like where I am now, but it's not a job that someone stays at for years and years. I also want to make a bit more money. I will probably go back on some of the job sites (Indeed, ZipRecruiter) and opt-in to the e-mails again so that I can see what's out there.
I want to travel in 2020 for sure. It may not be until the summer or even Christmas season, but I don't think I've flown to California in three or four years. I haven't seen Amanda's family in that long, either. I will do my best to get some time off to go with her somewhere, whether that be in the summer or for Christmas. Christmas falls on a Friday next year, so it would be a great opportunity to get a three day weekend and travel to see her family. Which reminds me, I also will have to either get my first ever passport or an enhanced driver's license. I also want to see a Seahawks game next year; I saw one in 2018 but not this year. I want to take Amanda to one in 2020, as she's only seen one Seahawk game, and that was in 2011.
Next year will also be big for news. We're going to have a presidential election in November, and hopefully get a new president. The 2020 Summer Olympics will happen in Tokyo. There are other things, but let's not forget it's also the first year of a new decade. Also, when before some people were starting the current year "Two thousand-", they now almost all will start calling the year "Twenty-Twenty". Not many people are going to say "Year Two-Thousand Twenty". They'll say "Twenty-Twenty".
There are a couple other things that might happen in 2020, but I am not entirely sure. I may get a new car, but that could wait until 2021 or later. I may get a new computer, as my current one is having issues, as it is pretty old (around a decade old) and runs Windows Vista. But I also want to build up my savings next year after the hit it took this year. There are a couple other big things that might happen in 2020, but are personal to me, and I'll share them on here if they do end up happening.
I am excited for 2020 and what it brings. I'm very curious to see how much my life changes in the next year. I am really hoping for an improved me by this time next year. I know that sounds all very cliche, but it's very true for me. I am going to be that 2020 will be a significant year in my life, even more so than 2019 was.
Monday, December 30, 2019
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 100th 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 100th season. Also this would pit Jimmy Garoppolo against his former mentor, Tom Brady.
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 100th 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 100th season. Also this would pit Jimmy Garoppolo against his former mentor, Tom Brady.
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