College Football Playoff: Alabama vs Ohio State and National Championship Game

This is a rematch of two extremely good coaches with Urban Meyer and Nick Saban. While Ohio State plays in the Big Ten, they have had a tough time getting through. Alabama, a prohibited favorite to always win it, has had a equally tough time getting to this point. Lets look at the keys to the game.

Offense vs Defense

This matchup is going to have two main points: the Line and the receivers. Ohio State's line has 40 sacks, tied for 9th in the country. They are looking at an Alabama offensive line that is weak and can be rushed. If Ohio State can get some pressure on Blake Sims, they are going to have a field day, which cuts down TJ Yeldon's running game and turns him into a wideout, something that can be good if you keep him contained.  We also have to look at Ohio State's O-Line which is going to have to protect Cardale Jones, the 3rd string quarterback for the Buckeyes. And by the way, can we acknowledge the fact that this team, despite being down to a 3rd string QB, is playing like a starter. 

The second point is that of receivers. A question that will be answered early is can Ohio State keep Amari Cooper of Alabama covered and not let him go "Calvin Johnson" on this team. This also goes for Alabama, which has shown in past bowl games that if you have a legit playmaker at receiver, the Crimson Tide has issues covering him. 

Saban vs Meyer

These coaches know each other so well its scary. Remember that for a time, Meyer and Saban was the primetime matchup of the SEC and was something that couldn't be missed. I think Saban will have the upper hand due to having Lane Kiffin as his offensive coordinator, as he is going to find various ways to get the ball down the field and make the Ohio State defense tire itself trying to keep up. Urban Meyer needs to coach up the team to have a hot start as they have found themselves behind early and having to win from behind a lot this season. One thing that Meyer has as a plus is that he led an Ohio State team to shut out Michigan State, in East Lansing, something not easily done. 

Prediction

This game is extremely even matched but to me, this comes down to two people: Cardale Jones vs Amari Cooper. Is Amari Cooper as good as everyone thinks he is and can be a big game threat in coverage, and can Cardale Jones somehow repeat, heck even bring out part of the magic he had when he shot the lights out in the Big Ten Championship? While I think the former will be more likely, I don't think that Cooper can win the game alone, especially if Blake Sims, Alabama's quarterback, is being put under constant pressure. You also have to take into account that Ohio State wants to be known as the best of the Big Ten, and nothing would cement that than beating the SEC Champion, a team that the last time they played in New Orleans, was blown out by Oklahoma, who has a similar offense to Ohio State. 

Winner: Ohio State, extremely close

National Championship: Oregon vs Ohio State

I can't lie, I am not a fan of Ohio State, but I respect them immensely. But when it comes to facing Oregon, I don't give the Buckeyes a fighting chance. While Ohio State has a great defensive front, that becomes mute when you are playing Oregon who has Marcus Mariota, one of these most dangerous players at QB. And just to be fair, even it wasn't Oregon and it was Florida State, Ohio State would still have problems stopping the Quarterback. While it would be a shootout, that is the last thing you want to do when playing Oregon, who lives for the shootout. 

Winner: Oregon

College Football Playoff: Oregon vs Florida State

Starting tomorrow, a new age in college football will be ushered in with the first ever National Championship Playoffs. Four teams, each from different conferences in the Power five grouping ( ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac 12) will duke it out to see who goes to Dallas and wins it all. Our four teams are the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Oregon Ducks, the Ohio State Buckeyes, and the reigning, defending, undefeated national champions, the Florida State Seminoles. We are going to breakdown each matchup, and I'll give you my prediction as to who wins.

                                                                 Oregon vs Florida State

Despite this trailer being somewhat epic, the game, in my opinion, shouldn't be a semifinal game and I wish that both teams were playing a team from the other semifinal matchup. This matchup features not just a Heisman winner in Marcus Mariota, but the previous Heisman winner and national champion Jamies Winston. Lets look at some keys to the game.

Offense vs Defense

This game is going to be an absolute shootout. While I believe that Oregon's offense won't have issues with Florida State's defense, the same defense that won nail biters against Notre Dame, Louisville and Miami, will be present. For some reason, every time this team is counted out, they find ways to bring it close and steal one. But the question is can they keep it close enough to not only stop Oregon's offense, but score and win? One thing that might help Florida State's offense is that Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, highly touted cornerback of Oregon, is out for the rest of the postseason. Winston might pick on redshirt senior Troy Hill and the rest of Oregon's defense, which can be flaky sometimes. I believe that one of the lynch pins for this game will come down to Florida State's ability to slow down Oregon's offense. 

Mariota vs Winston

We can window dress this game all we want, but at its core, this game comes down to the last 2 Heisman winners: Jameis Winston vs Marcus Mariota. Remember a couple of years back when it was RG3 and Andrew Luck and the argument with who should be the number 1 draft pick? Yeah well this game will decide that easily. When it comes down to athleticism, I would say that Mariota is better as he can move easy and is an automatic x-factor every time he steps on the field. 

Winston, to me, is a better quarterback, as he has an NFL body and while has shown the ability to move outside the pocket, his game is very reminiscent of Ben Roethlisberger, as he can take a shot and get up for the next down. Mariota's game is somewhat like a more accurate Cam Newton as he can make a play out of nothing, especially seen here. While I believe that Winston more than likely will go number one in the draft, I believe that in this matchup Mariota is going to outshine Winston in this game

Prediction

Speed vs Power, Heisman vs Heisman. While these are two very important matchups coming into the game, I think that this is possibly the most unpredictable matchup in this bowl season. While a part of me wants to say that Oregon is going to steam roll Florida State, one thing negatives that thought: Florida State is undefeated for the second year in a row. Despite all those close games, and Jameis Winston not playing as well as a Heisman winner should, he always finds a way to pull out the win, as long as the game is close. With that being said, I don't think that Florida State is going to pull off a shocker, especially if the Oregon team that played in the Pac-12 championship comes into this game. It won't be a blowout but it will be a 2 score game once the clock strikes zero

Winner: Oregon, by 2 touchdowns

The War of Five Kings (of the Pigskin): The AFC Midway Point

Now the reason I choose this title is because while there are two legit Super Bowl contenders in this conference, there are 3 teams that look to shock and ruin those teams chances to stack another Super Bowl appearance onto their legacy.

1. Division Clinchers

  East: New England Patriots

I remember watching the Monday Night Football Game between the Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs, and I personally knew the Chiefs were going to win the game but I didn't think it would be a blowout, and boy was I wrong. But what I didn't see coming was that everyone thought that New England was dead in the water and that Tom Brady was washed up. They then went to demolish Chicago, Cincinnati,  Buffalo and what's left of the New York Jets. This team scares me more than Denver because while I know what Denver can do, New England for some reason seems to be in the running for a championship every year. The only question they need to address is the defensive backfield especially when they play Detroit the week before Thanksgiving. Can this backfield be labeled the best after that game or will they be the goat of the game and cause them a pivotal loss? We shall see.

 North: Baltimore Ravens/ Cincinnati Bengals

While Cincinnati has swept the season series against Baltimore, there is no way I can seriously tell you, the fans, that Cincinnati will win the division. I think this divisional crown will come down to best record, and it also means that Baltimore has to win out for the rest of the division games, and hope that Cincinnati loses a game in the division and ends up with a worst record than them. One of these teams will more than likely have the top wild card of the AFC, while the other will be faced against a wild card team, possibly the 2nd place team in this division.

 South: Indianapolis Colts

This team has been a factor since Andrew Luck's emergence into the NFL. My problem with him? He is exactly what Peyton Manning was when he was a Colt: Great in the regular season, but HORRIBLE to average at best in the playoffs. I can't understand the level of admiration Luck gets, because to me, he hasn't proved anything to me but hopefully this becomes the year when he does. 

 West: Denver Broncos

What can be said that hasn't before? You have Manning, one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the league. Possibly the best receiving corps in the league. But whats the difference from last year? That defense. They look more deadly than last year that allowed the Seahawks to hang 40 on them in the Super Bowl. But can this defense play when the pressure isn't just in the 4th quarter but the entire game? Only time will tell and that time is becoming sooner than later.

2. Dark Horses

      East: Buffalo Bills

What? The Bills? The Buffalo Bills? Yeah I know this seems like a bad joke but Buffalo has been making some noise. After getting a new owner and being inspired by Jim Kelly beating cancer, this team is playing like gang-busters and they want to win every time they go onto the field. They also are doing it without a legit starting quarterback, which is amazing, but having rookie receiver Sammy Watkins helps out a lot. I see this team getting a wild card spot and make the city of Buffalo proud, no matter how far they go.

     West: San Diego Chargers

This team was my favorite to shock the AFC West, and granted they haven't been playing well in the past couple of weeks. But I still think that this team will make the playoffs, IF. And you're probably wondering why I put an IF there. Well take a look at the standings. San Diego has 5 teams on their heels for the second wild card spot in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Miami and Cleveland. Now the game between Baltimore and Pittburgh will knock one back, so will week 10's Thursday Night game of Cinncinati and Cleveland if the Bengals win. All the SuperChargers have to do is continue winning and hope that none of those teams go on a hot streak.

3. Disappointment

For the disappointments, the following teams are so bad that they don't even deserve a description. just google new search them and you'll see for yourself.

South: Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars

East: New York Jets

West: Oakland Raiders

Possible AFC Title Matchups 

For every other team not named Patriots or Broncos vs Patriots or Broncos

Its hard for me to look at the other teams that have played against New England and Denver and say that they can legitimately go into those environments and win but there is one team that can: the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens, in that playoff run of 2 years ago, beat both Denver and New England on their home turf. If Baltimore can make the playoffs, then they are a legit threat.

Denver vs Broncos( week 9 rematch)

As I said in the NFC piece, I don't want to jinx the game but I will say this: This game, if it happens will be the 17th meeting between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Without going further these games have decided who goes to the Super Bowl, so take my advice, watch the game, sit back grab a snack and enjoy.

The Lion, The Birds, and the Cowboy: The NFC Midway Point

After 8 weeks and seeng how week 9's sunday game begin in a couple of hours, lets look at a wild NFC and see how the 16 teams break down into our categories (follow this link to understand the categories)

1. Division Clinchers

    East: Dallas and/or Philadelphia

You're going to understand why I have 2 NFC East teams in here after reading disappointments, but lets get to both of these NFC East rivals. These two teams play each other later in the season, so more than likely one of these teams will end up holding the crown at the end of the season. But if we have to look at how has been more dominant, it pains me to say that the Cowboys, a team I rarely root for, has been playing like they want to live up to the title of "America's Team". Philadelphia has been playing okay but they need to find their rhythm from earlier this season in order to be a threat in my eyes. The only thing that will ultimately decide how far these teams go is how much can Philly count on Nick Foles to win them a game when it really counts and how healthy will the NFL-leading rusher Demarco Murray be going down the season and can Joseph Randle be helpful?

     West: Arizona Cardinals

Where you expecting someone else? Maybe a team that plays in Santa Clara, California? Or maybe you were expecting the defending NFL Super Bowl Champions from that little town in Seattle? Either way, get ready for a changing of the guard in the NFC West. Arizona has been playing like they aren't afraid of the 49ers or the Seahawks and with them having a win over San Francisco, Philadelphia and now scheduled to play in two possible NFC championship defining games ( Dallas this week and Detroit in 3 weeks), expect them to get hot late in the season as it seems they aren't just running away with this division, they might just be one of the few teams to be playing in a Super Bowl.... at home.

    North: Detroit Lions

No Calvin Johnson. No Reggie Bush. No Stephen Tulloch. All 3 Starting Tight Ends out. Now if I told you that about the Detroit Lions, you would tell me they aren't going to be 6-2 and leading the NFC North, but that they would be 4-3 and barely holding on to second place in the NFC North. But these aren't the Lions of old. With Jim Caldwell at the helm, and with Teryl Austin turning a dysfunctional defense into the number 1 ranked defense in the NFL, these team needs to be looked at as a legitimate threat in the NFL, not just the NFC. I believe in my heart of hearts that the games between Dallas, Detroit, Philly and Arizona will decide who wins the NFC. The Lions schedule prior to the start of this season looked grim, but now with a schedule that has them playing against only 3 teams with a record above .500 and having Calvin Johnson, Reggie Bush, Eric Ebron, Brandon Pettigrew, Joe Fauria returning to the team along with rookies Kyle Van Noy and Tj Jones coming, expect the roar of Detroit to go from loud to thunderous.

2. Dark Horses

   West: Seattle Seahawks

I'm sorry to every San Francisco and St. Louis fan, but lets face facts: each and every year, this division is a 2 horse race. And this year, neither of these teams are good enough for the playoffs while Seattle is. Now while the game against Arizona will decide those games, I think Seattle slides off a bit and loses one of those two games, ultimately returning to the playoffs as a wild card team. With the defense and the Legion of Boom losing some players due to free agency was harmful to their defense, the fact that Percy Harvin was traded away for draft picks (dumbest move I've seen), him being an issue that drove Golden Tate to Detroit, and now the rumors that Marshawn Lynch will not be returning to the team after the season, that Super Bowl of last year might be more treasured than before, if they can't right the ship.

 North: Green Bay Packers

As a NFC North fan, and a Lions fan, there is one rule I have learned: Never count out Aaron Rodgers. Never. As much as I can point out the issues that the Green Bay Packers have: extremely suspect defense, running game that in my opinion is worse than Detroit's, Corners that can't cover a bowl of soup, Aaron Rodgers keeps them in the playoff hunt each and every year. But I think they end up getting the 2nd Wild Card slot because as good as Rodgers is, Detroit has Stafford who was given weapons of Calvin and Golden Tate. And while having those weapons is good, the reason Packers fans should be worried because as good as Rodgers is, Stafford of the Lions has the x-factors and potential to be just as good.

3. Disappointments 

Notice: before I go into the Disappointments, understand that none of this is personal but your team deserves to be called out.

 West: San Francisco 49ers

All that talent, a okay defense, and they can't get right. I don't know what the true issue with this team is but I can point to 2 things that stick in my craw about this team: The Over-hype of Colin Kaepernick. Im sorry but I don't think he is that good, he can run but if I needed to win a game, and its 3rd and 20 in the 4th quarter, I don't trust him, as a passer, to get someone open and get 21 yards or more. The second thing that sticks with me is the coach. Look, lets be honest, the GM of the Niners needs to make a decision: either give Harbaugh the contract he deserves, or let him walk. Enough of this "oh, we don't know" and "Well it's Jim's decision, not ours", do the right thing. Either sign him to a multi-year contract or let him go. Trust me, he won't be out of a job for long, there is a little school in Michigan that wear's Maize and Blue that would LOVE to have his services.

  North: Chicago Bears

I hate being the one that said I told you so, but I told you so. I said that this team would be in trouble with the rest of the division because of the defense, which allowed a whopping 51 points to the New England Patriots. But a defense that reminds me of the Walking Dead isn't the main reason that Chicago sucks, its that offense. You have Martellus Bennet, Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, and Matt Forte. And they are 3-5 and a game away against Green Bay that, barring a miracle occurring, will have you eliminated from playoff contention for the 4th straight year.

 THE ENTIRE NFC SOUTH

No offense but no team from this division, and I mean even if one of these teams has a miraculous run to get to 8-8, deserves to be in the playoffs. If they do, it means that a winning team will not make the playoffs due to this horrible division getting a playoff spot. Where do I begin? Carolina can't stop anyone on defense and Cam Newton only has one target to go to and even he isn't making a big contribution, New Orleans and Atlanta's defense both had the Detroit Lions dead to rights and both teams blew it and allowed the Lions to step up and knock them down, and then there is Tampa Bay. Do I really have to say anymore?

Possible NFC Title Matchups

1. Detroit vs Dallas

This one will be a rematch of last year's thriller. I think both teams will be healthy but the biggest questions going into this possible matchup is can Demarco Murray go off on the Lions dangerous defensive line, and can Detroit shoot the lights out against Dallas' defensive backfield?

2. Dallas vs Arizona (rematch from week 9)

Being the kind of person that doesn't want to jinx a matchup, I legitimately don't know what to expect from this matchup. I think that if it does happen, it will be better than the week 9 matchup due to the fact that Tony Romo won't be out of the game with a back injury and Patrick Peterson will be playing on Arizona's defense, as he is questionable for the week 9 matchup with a concussion

3. Arizona vs Detroit (rematch from week 11)

This game like the Dallas vs Arizona game is something I can't call because I don't know how impactful this game will be, but I will say this: if Arizona is 8-1 and Detroit is 8-2 going into that week 11 game, the winner will be in the driver's seat to win the NFC championship game.

Half-way There: The NFL Midway Point

So, we have made it( not officially) to the mid-way point of the NFL season and we see the season shaping up to end in a wild fashion. So I decided instead of doing what we did last time, lets switch up the game a bit. So what you are going to see is a break-down into 3 categories

1.) 4 teams that are poised to win their division and make waves in the playoffs.

2.) The 3-4 teams that are dark horses and might make it difficult for the first group, and

3.) the teams that have been disappointments this year so far and have no chance of winning.

So hopefully you enjoy this next series, and stay tuned for more as we head down to the road to Super Bowl Arizona.

1st Quarter Mark Grades: NFC West

Welcome to the NFC West, the division that is titled to be the division to have the Super Bowl location and the Current and possible back to back Super Bowl champions, Seattle Seahawks. But in this division, another bird is rising to try and take the crown of NFC West. Lets take a in-depth look at the NFC West.

Arizona Cardinals: 3-0, 1st in division

Grade: A

Dominant. Like the Cincinnati Bengals of the AFC North, this team is the only other undefeated team in the NFL, which is more surprising seeing how they did it against the Chargers and the 49ers. So this team can be good, but in the back end of the season, Im hoping that defense will hold long enough for the offense to get healthy and they will definitely obtain a playoff spot, maybe even the divisional title.

Next 4 games: at Denver, vs Washington, at Oakland, vs Philadelphia

Difficulty: 6.5/10

St. Louis Rams: 1-2, 4th in division

Grade: C

Im not going to go into what this team has suffered through, rather I'm going to talk about the fact of how they got a C. They have a C, because despite them not having Sam Bradford to pilot this team, they don't have an 0-4 record, even though 1-2 isn't any better. Hopefully this team doesn't fully sink or else they will be drafting a certain QB from Eugene,Oregon.

Next 4 games: at Philadelphia, vs San Francisco, vs Seattle, at Kansas City

Difficulty: 9/10

San Francisco 49ers: 2-2, 3rd in division

Grade: B-

Let me start by saying, I don't care what the analysts or pundits think, this team will not make the playoffs this year. This team is way too exposed on offense and defense and despite being in the NFC West where they have to prove that they can win big, this team doesn't have the skills this year, along with the fact that other teams in the conference are better than them. So hopefully I'm wrong, but more than likely I won't be.

Next 4 games: vs Kansas City, at St. Louis, at Denver, BYE WEEK

Difficulty: 8/10

Seattle Seahawks: 2-1, 2nd in division

Like the Bengals and the Cardinals, and despite the fact they have a loss to San Diego, this team is dominant. As the defending champion, this team seems different from others in the sense that it seems to only have gotten stronger over the off-season. The legion of Boom is more dangerous and while they lost 2 members to the Giants and Patriots, they seem more lethal. And the offseason last season used to depend on Tate and Beast Mode, they seem to be a 3 headed monster in Wilson, Harvin and Beast Mode. Hopefully they can keep it up because now, due to San Diego, they can be beat so the question they need to answer is when they get punched in the mouth, how hard will they punch back?

Next 4 games: at Washington, vs Dallas, at St. Louis, at Carolina

Difficulty: 4/10

1st Quarter Mark Grades: AFC West

Now we head to the AFC West, home of the AFC champions, Denver Broncos. This division seems to be Denvers to lose and this year it just might be. With teams like San Diego and Kansas City breathing down their neck, lets take a look at all 4 teams to see what I'm talking about.

San Diego Chargers: 3-1, 1st in division

Grade: A-

 I said before this season begun that this team would be on of the few to not only beat the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, but beat the Broncos. This team along with its franchise QB, Phillip Rivers, has the capabilities on offense and defense to win 10+ games. Hopefully I don't get seen with pie on my face by picking this team, but I get the feeling that they will make me look good.

Next 4 games: vs New York Jets, at Oakland, vs Kansas City, at Denver

Difficulty: 7/10

Kansas City Chiefs: 2-2, 3rd in division

Grade: B-

This team would have a C for losing 26-10 to Tennessee and 24-17 to Denver. But the reason this team gets a B- is because of the fact that they shellacked Miami and New England, especially the New England game on a monday night game at home. This team will fight San Diego for second or possibly to steal the 1st place spot in the division. This team under the coaching of Andy Reid, has gone from being the whipping boy of the AFC West to a threat in the division.

Next 4 games: at San Francisco, BYE WEEK, at San Diego, vs St. Louis

Difficulty: 6/10

Denver Broncos: 2-1, 2nd in division

Grade: B

This team has been okay, I mean its Peyton Manning and the boys, meaning that they will have 10+ wins this season. But does that mean they will win the AFC West? Not exactly. With the way both KC and San Diego are playing, can we really assume that the Broncos have the division on complete lock? Time will tell, but this season seems to be the season of teams expected to win not winning, just ask Green Bay and Indianapolis.

Next 4 games: vs Arizona, at New York Jets, vs San Francisco, vs San Diego

Difficulty: 7.5/10

Oakland Raiders: 0-4, last in division

Grade: F

Horrible team, great fan base that team doesn't deserve, no coach. 

Next 4 games: BYE WEEK, vs San Diego, vs Arizona, at Cleveland

Difficulty: 10/10

1st Quarter Mark Grades: NFC East

Now we have reached the anemic NFC East. This division in my opinion doesn't deserve to hold a playoff spot, yet alone field one. But for being fair sakes, lets look at the division that holds 4 teams that manage to be on the TV more than a Kardashian.

Philadelphia Eagles: 3-1, Tied for 1st in division

Grade: B-

Philly is the one team in this division I actually like. They have an high powered offense, good coaching and a defense that is average at best. My biggest issue is the same issue I had with them last year: that offensive line. They are always hurt and I don't think Nick Foles can stay healthy if he keeps getting clean shots at him every down. Hopefully they can fix it because this team deserves to own the east for a long time.

Next 4 games: vs St. Louis, vs New York, BYE WEEK, at Arizona

Difficulty: 5.5/10

New York Giants: 2-2, 3rd in division

Grade: C-

This team shall be forever known as "Presidential Election". Because they are only important every 4 years. Think about it, every time they have made some noise or been a legitimate threat in the NFC its every four years. So sure next year they might cause some problems but this year between an offense that can't handle a tough defense unless its handicapped( Houston was a bit) and a defense that last time I saw them, Calvin Johnson made two DBs run into each other, this team will be fighting to stay above .500.

Next 4 games:  vs Atlanta, at Philadelphia, at Dallas, BYE WEEk

Washington Redskins, 1-3, 4th in division

Grade: D-

This team annoys me more than any team in sport. The fact that I have to use that nickname for them is beyond infuriating, but lets get past that. RG3, at the beginning of this season, does a lot of talking only to get hurt in a game against jacksonville, and now won't be active until week 11 at the latest. Desean Jackson, who should still be with the Eagles, gets released and given a big contract with the team, which is good, but when its only really him, Roberts, Pierre Garcon and Alfred Morris expected to be the offense for this team, it sucks. Then there is the back-up QB, Kirk Cousins. Sorry to all my Michigan State friends but he is not a good QB. He is a bum and he is going to prove that for the next 6 weeks just you watch. This team would be smart to use him for trade bait and get 2 picks in the draft.

Next 4 games: vs Seattle, at Arizona, vs Tennessee, at Dallas

Difficulty:8/10

Dallas Cowboys: 3-1, Tied for 1st in division

Grade: A-

That grade I just gave might be the hardest thing I have had to do. I do not like this team, I believe that they are the most overrated team in the history of the league and for them to have a record no higher than an average of 8-8 for the past 17 years, it amazes me that they have more primetime and monday night games than anyone in the league. They are the accident waiting to happen and nothing makes me happier than when they prove me right. But for the first 4 games, I've been absolutely wrong. The defense is actually playing okay, the offense is running the ball, which is a first and has also lead to Demarco Murray to be the current leading rusher in the league( isn't that sad). Tony Romo isn't playing like Tony Ohno and the Dallas cowboys have a share of 1st place in the division and could be a possible playoff team. BUT..... they are the accident waiting to happen, aren't they? So while I'm more than willing to admit that they are playing extremely well, it is only a matter of time before the train of Dallas Cowboys 8-8 pulls up and takes this team through the rest of this season. Great thing about this train is, its never late.

Next 4 games: vs Houston, at Seattle, vs New York, vs Washington

Difficulty: 8/10

1st Quarter Mark Grades: AFC East

Our 1st quarter grades now take us up to the eastern side of the NFL, specifically with the AFC east. Normally you would think that the New England Patriots would have this division wrapped up. But things seem to be different and a new day could be dawning. Lets take a deeper look.

New York Jets: 1-3, 4th in division

Grade: C-

Now the reason that I chose THAT exact picture to represent the Jets is because that is exactly how I feel when I watch them. For them to have that good a defense( certainly haven't played that way for the past 3 weeks) this team is in desperate need of a culture change. And I can already guess a lot of you think I'm going to say that Mike Vick should be the QB instead of Geno Smith too huh? Well you'd actually be dead wrong. What good would having Vick in for Geno solve? That's like saying I'm trading a indecisive QB in for a walking hospital patient looking for that last great hit to send him out of the league. The issues with the jets aren't the fact that they don't have a QB, thats small on the list. The big thing they are missing is a true number one receiver. And don't try to give me that Eric Decker is the number one, that man is nothing more than a  overpaid number 3 receiver currently playing like a number 2. This team offensively is going to have issues and the secondary doesn't make it any better when they are not only depleted but they can't read coverages to save their souls.

Next 4 games: at San Diego, vs Denver, at New England, vs Buffalo

Difficulty: 9/10

New England Patriots: 2-2, Tied for 1st in division

Grade: C

Two words: DYNASTY OVER. Two more words: No offense. This team used to run the AFC East, but a lot of teams now see what to do in order to beat the Patriots, or rather they cracked the "Brady Code": Stop Gronk, and you win. Now I have absolutely nothing to say when it comes to that pass defense, they scare me more than the Legion of Boom does. But if the monday night game vs Kansas City was proof, the Pats need to strengthen that defense, especially in the running department and find a way to get some offensive firepower for Brady  or else the teams they face later in the season will be having patriots for breakfast, lunch, dinner and have a doggy bag to take home.

Next 4 games: vs Cincinnati, at Buffalo, vs New York, vs Chicago

Difficulty: 7.5/10

Miami Dolphins: 2-2, Tied for 1st in division

Grade: B

I don't have much to say about the Dolphins that would be bad. The one thing I can say is they need to be more dangerous in the passing department in order to win the division and with an okay schedule it might be possible to do so, especially if the team from week 1 shows up. Now by saying that, it also means trusting Ryan Tannehill to take you to the promise land and have you win a division that is truly for the first time for the taking.

Next 4 games: vs Green Bay, at Chicago, at Jacksonville, vs San Diego

Difficulty: 6.5/10

Buffalo Bills: 2-2, Tied for 1st in division 

This is the one team I'm personally pulling for more than my home team of the Detroit Lions, and truthfully it kills me that I have to down what they have done so far knowing that against those same Lions they won't win. This team and its fans have suffered; with the loss of an owner, to Jim Kelly fighting and beating cancer( thank the heavens), this team is the one good story I've been holding onto throughout this season. But back to critiquing this team and my biggest issue with them would have to be the fact that the QB position isn't as good as it should be. I somewhat wish they didnt move up to draft Sammy Watkins because with that they won't be able to go after Mariota or Winston in next years draft. But hopefully after week 5 they will be able to right the ship and get into the playoffs, because this team definitely deserves it.

Next 4 games: at Detroit, vs New England, vs Minnesota, at New York

Difficulty: 6.5/10

1st Quarter Mark Grades: NFC South

Ah, we have reached the crown jewel of the South, the NFC South. Everyone before the season told me that this division might hold the team that could upset the West. This division is fighting for 3rd best of the NFC with the lowly East, while the North and West hold down the 1st and 2nd spots. Lets take a in-depth look at the 4 southern teams.

Tampa Bay Buccanneers: 1-3, Tied for 2nd
Grade: D

What I'm about to address is a two parter so check the next team to understand what I'm talking about. First, Tampa Bay is by far one of the worst teams in the league. They have no legit future QB, they might have to look to the kid in either Tallahassee or in Eugene, Oregon for the answer to that. The utter stomping they took on Thursday night against Atlanta proves it, and the fact that a team like Pittsburgh allowed them to come back and win a game doesn't help the situation, it just proves that Tampa actually has some guts and stands for something, which I personally can't figure out. Being last in rushing and passing on both sides isn't a good sign especially when they play playoff caliber teams needing wins later in the season. Hopefully Lovie Smith keeps his job, because no one knew going into the season they would be this bad.

Next 4 games: at New Orleans, vs Baltimore, BYE WEEK, vs Minnesota

Difficulty: 10/10

Atlanta Falcons: 2-2, Tied for 1st
Grade: C+

Now for the second part of what I was talking about in the Tampa Bay piece. Atlanta isn't as good as it thinks it is. They are last in both passing(30th) and rushing(28th) defense. This isn't good for the division they are in and sure they can hang the fact that defeated and held off the Saints and destroyed the Bucs. Ill address the Saints later but for the Buccaneers, like I said above, they are one of the worst teams in the league, so don't act like being them on Monday Night with the talent they have on the team was such a surprise. The next four games don't get any easier and if these last four serve any indication, any team with a high-powered offense and dangerous defense will be your ruin. Unfortunately for Atlanta, 3 of the next 4 have just that.

Next 4 games: at New York Giants, vs Chicago, at Baltimore, vs Detroit( UK Game)

Difficulty: 7.5/10

Carolina Panthers: 2-2, Tied for 1st
Grade: C-

Oh where do I begin when it comes to the Carolina Panthers? Do I begin with the fact that their star QB Cam Newton, missed damn near all of the preseason because of a bum leg? Or do I start with the fact that we need to put an APB for that offensive line? Or how about the fact that without the criminally charged Greg Hardy, that the defense has allowed 233 passing yards per game, and a whopping 140 rushing yards? No, I know exactly where to begin, and its at the front office. How do you allow the ENTIRE Receiving corps to be free agents, and only bring in Kelvin Benjamin from the draft with a bunch of no names via free agency and then commit a even bigger sin and release Steve Smith, the guy who could have mentored Benjamin? The ego of the front office is going to be the downfall of this team and when the team runs out of places for Cam to throw the ball, like seen in the past 4 games, Cam is going to get hit. Hard.

Next 4 games: vs Chicago, at Cincinnati, at Green Bay, vs Seattle

Difficulty: 8.5/10

New Orleans Saints: 1-3,Tied for 2nd
Grade: D-

First let me say for everyone that picked the Saints to not only win the division but to beat Seattle, do what Stephen A. Smith did and put a bag over your head. This team has no heart and I don't know what it is, nothing changed. Then again I think it might the loss of Darren Sproles. This happens to every team he has left and it seems to be the case with the Saints offensively. But defensively, thats a whole different issue. Im looking at their next couple of games and out of the 3 they play before the halfway mark, 2 of them have dangerous to at least scary offenses. Drew Brees and Sean Payton don't deserve to be on teams like this, but theme the breaks, and it looks the water is getting to high in the City of Bourbon.

Next 4 games: vs Tampa Bay, BYE WEEK, at Detroit, vs Green Bay

Difficulty: 9/10

1st Quarter Mark Grades: AFC South

 Lets take a trip to the south for our first stop, the AFC Southern division. This division for the past couple of years has been run by the Indianapolis Colts and their star quarterback, Andrew Luck. But with the way things have been going this far into the new season, it looks like things might be different. Lets look at what each team has done so far.

Houston Texans: 3-1, 1st in the division

Grade: A

Lets not get it misconstrued, the only reason I'm giving the Houston Texans an A, is not because of the fact they are 3-1. In fact, I'm giving them an A+ because at the beginning of the season, if you would have told me that they would be 3-1 while Indianapolis is 2-2, I would have laughed at you uncontrollably. This team was believed to be dead in the water, hell look at them. No running game, the QB is a joke, Andre Johnson either needs to retire or ask to be traded, and what makes matters worse is that they had a chance at Johnny Manziel and instead took Jadeveon Clowney, and he hasn't played a snap in the NFL regular season yet. And still, they are 3-1. This team, who everyone had in the dumps this year, is becoming more and more of a threat because of one reason and one reason alone: J.J. Watt and that monster of a defense. They are ranked 24th in rushing defense, which is bad, but to then turn around and be ranked 14th in passing defense is incredible. It also means they are getting to the QB at will and no team short of the New York Giants were able to tear them apart. The only thing that seems like a kink in their proverbial Blue and Texas red armor is the fact that neither there run or pass game can get off the ground. And while they have a stout defense, they haven't played any legit adversary yet, and even non-threats have put up an average of 237 passing yards and 130 rushing yards. Lets hope for there sake that J.J. Watt can keep playing like he wants a MVP and that Clowney comes back, or this team will be in trouble going towards the half-way point of the season. 

Next 4 games: at Dallas, vs Indianapolis, at Pittsburgh, at Tennessee

Difficulty: 6.5/10

Jacksonville Jaguars: 0-4, 4th in division

Grade: F

Okay, I really don't want go into how bad this team is so I've decided to just give you 4 sentences for the situation in Jacksonville.

1.) Your team is horrible and both sides have some good talent but not complimentary pieces.

2.) Blake Bortles and Marqise Lee are going to be your future, build around them.

3.) When you get the first or second round pick next year, draft Amari Cooper. Trust me

4.) Despite what loyal Jacksonville fans want, if your team doesn't play well, it will be moved to L.A., but at least you'll still be in a warm state.

Next 4 games: vs Pittsburgh, at Tennessee, vs Cleveland, vs Miami

Difficulty: 9/10

Tennessee Titans: 1-3, 3rd in division

Grade: D

Okay, this team is a bit of quandary, not because of how good or obviously bad this team has played. It because I thought with the pieces they collected via the draft and the fact that Ken Whisenhunt chose this team over the Detroit Lions( which looks insane now), they would be where Houston is right now, or at least in second place of the division. They main issue is that this team can't stop ANYONE from passing it, but has a defensive line that stop the run. So hopefully they can catch their stride and look at it this way: Atleast you won a game, which is more than can be said for the team below you.

Next 4 games: vs Cleveland, vs Jacksonville, at Washington, vs Houston

Difficulty: 8.5/10

Indianapolis Colts: 2-2, 2nd in division

Grade: B

Now this grade of a B isn't because of who they beat, actually its because who they lost to. Ill give you that Philadelphia soundly came back and whooped the Colts, but that isn't my beef with this team. My beef is with that first game. You are down against the Denver Broncos, make a comeback, and your defense can't hold steady and stop a overrated( ill get to that later in the week) Denver Broncos. And for Broncos fans reading this, calm down because you didnt win by 20, you won by 7, meaning victory wasn't fully in your grasp. Now to the Colts, you should be 3-1 alongside Houston, but as of now I'm giving you the B for the first four game because what I stated above and because you beat who you were supposed to be, Jacksonville and Tennessee, soundly. This season for should be the season where Andrew Luck proves the hype around him is real, because for people like Donovan McNabb and Jaws of ESPN to crown him the 5th best QB in the league (which is a farther stretch than saying the name Stretch Armstrong) he needs to prove it against tough opponents. Luckily ( get it) he will have that opportunity.

Next 4 games: vs Baltimore, at Houston, vs Cincinnati, at Pittsburgh

Difficulty: 8/10

1st Quarter Mark Grades: AFC North

Now lets look at the other Northern division in football, the AFC North. Normally, Pittsburgh and Baltimore would be running this division but now it seems that like the NFC North, a group of cats are kings of the jungle... Lets break it all down, and pass out some grades shall we?

Pittsburgh Steelers: 2-2, 3rd in the division

Grade: C-

This team, and no offense to anyone that is a Steelers fan, should be known as the Pittsburgh AARP. That defense is still way too old and they didnt do much to fix it in the offseason, but that neither here nor there. Looking at the first 4 games, this team goes through ups and downs each week. Dominant one week, weak the next. In fact, if you look at the first game they played, they should be 1-3, if not for their defense actually playing like a good team would. Im glad the Le'Veon Bell is doing well but this is only going to go so far. Also looking at the last of the four games, i understand that in the NFL anyone can win, but seriously how do you allow the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the same Tampa Bay that got smashed by Atlanta, to put up 27 points in a comeback win? Completely unacceptable, which makes me question your next 4 games and the only reason they have a C- is due to them shutting down Cam Newton and the Panthers.

Next 4 games: at Jacksonville, at Cleveland, vs Houston, vs Indianapolis 

Difficulty:9.5/10

Cleveland Browns: 1-2( bye week on week 4), 4th in the division

Grade: D

Im going to start off by saying something that needs to be said and I hope you agree:

CUT THE CRAP AND START JOHNNY MANZIEL. This team season is over, yes I know its early but lets not kid ourselves, this team has only one win, and thats against a New Orleans team that can't stop ANYONE on defense. The issue I have is that Clevelands next 4 games are very winnable only if  Johnny Football is playing. Manziel needs to play and get acclimated to live NFL games, because eventually this season, your big gun in Josh Gordon will be coming back. Hopefully they realize it before its too late and stop with this "Oh Brian Hoyer is better than Manziel" lie. 

Next 4 games: at Tennessee, vs Pittsburgh, at Jacksonville, vs Oakland

Difficulty: 5.5/10

Baltimore Ravens: 3-1, 2nd in the division

Grade: A-

This team is like a bad plague: it just won't go away. Baltimore doesn't have much issues after the first 4 teams, except they have to run into Cincinnati one more time later on in the season. But looking at the first four games, despite the Ray Rice issue they had and have, this team looks like it could get a Wild Card spot. The defense needs to play a bit better, particularly in the pass defense, but they should make some noise later on. 

Next 4 games: at Indianapolis, at Tampa Bay, vs Atlanta, at Cincinnati

Difficulty: 8/10

Cincinnati Bengals: 3-0, 1st in the division

Grade: A+

Dominant. That's it, they have been dominant for the first 3 games of the season. Check this out, they are 9th in passing yards, and 17th and 18th in defense passing and rushing. On top of this, they have allowing a combined 33 points to the combined 80 points they have racked up. Now while the teams they have played are a bit of some pushovers, they can't get complacent. They have 2 difficult but winnable games coming up, and a divisional game that might decide how good they are. But while they are currently one of two undefeated, the question that needs to be asked in the city of Cincinnati is this: is this a sign of things to come in the form of a playoff win, or will they just raise our hopes to let us down in January?

Next 4 games: at New England, vs Carolina, at Indianapolis, vs Baltimore

Difficulty: 7.5/10

1st Quarter Mark Grades: NFC North

First, understand that this is what I did because of what my hometown Detroit Lions have done so far:

https://vine.co/v/MZlEXYlw6Pr

So excusing that cheesy youtube link, lets talk NFC North. The Packers and Bears have run this division with Detroit and Minnesota picking up the rear and fighting to be second. But after this week, things look a bit different. Lets break this down.

Chicago Bears: 2-2, Tied for 2nd 

Grade : C- 

If I was a fan of this team, I wouldnt know whether to demand Jay Cutler be removed from his starting position, or ask for the team to take the season off, find a boat and search for the fountain of youth. This team has had two great games, one against the Jets and another against the 49ers. But they have two losses against the Bills and the Packers, one by a overtime margin and another was an absolute blowout. The Bears need to lockdown and focus more on defense because in the division you are in, you are going against 2 teams that can shoot down your defense in a heartbeat. This team is in serious trouble as they have a loss in the division, which isn't good to start out with.

Next 4 games: at Carolina, at Atlanta, vs Miami, at New England 

Difficulty: 7/10

Minnesota Vikings: 2-2, Tied for 2nd

Grade: C

First lets get rid of the elephant in the room. This grade has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that number 28 is not playing this season. But it doesn't mean that it won't affect them this season. They came out like gangbusters vs the Rams, but that win can be poo-poo'ed because of the fact that St. Louis has no QB. Now they had New England on the ropes for a minute but the defense let them down along with the fact they played against Tom Brady. The same formula could be said for the game against New Orleans and if they had a bye for week 4, i would have given them a D. But then week 4 wasn't a bye, it was the first career start for Teddy Bridgewater against a Atlanta Falcons team that just hung 40+ on Tampa Bay. And not only did they win, they did impressively. Matt Asiata balled out and Teddy Bridgewater, i mean what else can be said, there is a reason he was taken in the first round and a lot of teams that passed him up( cough Houston, Cleveland, Buffalo, Jacksonville) are going to look sad because he is going to shine in this division which will make him a star.

Next 4 games: at Green Bay, vs Detroit, at Buffalo, at Tampa Bay 

Difficulty: 8/10

Green Bay Packers: 2-2, Tied for 2nd

Grade: B

This team has won the division for the past 3 years. 3 Straight years, hell they even won it last year with a 8-7-1 record. And you would think that because Aaron Rodgers tells the Packers fans to "RELAX" that I would do the same. I don't think so. First lets address the first 4 games, particularly the losses. First and foremost both teams played the exact same on defense only difference is that the Seattle win wasn't as embarrassing as the Detroit loss because A) they are the defending champs and B) for the most part, Aaron Rodgers is such a threat that the Packers should have put up a better fight. But that didnt happen. The reason the Packers lost is because they realized Green Bay's critical flaw: The O-line and D-line is weaker than a pack of tissue dumped in a pool and your running game isn't all its cracked up to be. Green Bay needs to fix both sides if they want to make the playoffs and what makes it worse it that your wins, while impressive, proved nothing. You allowed Geno Smith and the Jets to put 24 on you and almost won the game if not for a boneheaded timeout, and you outshot the Bears( which if you've gotten this far, you know why). Green Bay will always pose a threat in this division if the offense plays like this, but think about this: What do you trust more: that the division will fall apart, ready for you to take it or that your defense can hold teams to 17 points every week and you can put up 20+ points offensively? Only time will tell.

Next 4 games: vs Minnesota, at Miami, vs Carolina, at New Orleans 

Difficulty: 6/10

Detroit Lions: 3-1, 1st Place

Grade: B+

Now why would i give this team a B+ despite the fact that they are in 1st place? Why would I give a team that has a dangerous offense, a deadly defense, new coaching and winning despite major injury losses to both sides of the ball? Because they can and should be more dangerous. Lets look at the teams they have played:

NY Giants (2-2)

Green Bay Packers (2-2)

Carolina Panthers (1-3)

NY Jets (2-2)

Guess which game sticks out like a sore thumb for this team in first place? The Carolina game. I can't believe that a team this potent on offense and defense lost to the Panthers, who look like a complete and utter shell of themselves. But you can't win every game so lets breakdown what we have learned about this team so far. First off, we've learned this team, despite targeting Calvin Johnson the first 3 games, doesn't need to rely on Calvin to win football games, and that was evident in the Jets and Packers win. We also learned that this defense is dangerous and only gets more dangerous the more its hurt. They have lost Linebackers, DBs, and 2 of their draft picks to injury( although Kyle Van Noy is set to come back by the halfway point of the season) and everyone would paint this team for dead. This team reminds me of the DC comics villain Doomsday. Injure it, and not only does it come back but it can't be hurt the way it was before. If this team plays like that, hopefully not with anymore injuries, they can go from being a divisional threat to a conference threat. 

Next 4 games: vs Buffalo, at Minnesota, vs New Orleans, at Atlanta(UK Game) Difficulty: 6.5/10

4 Down, 12 to Go: Grades for the NFL at the 1st Quarter Mark of the Season

Well you made it! We are past the 1st four weeks of the season, and at this point we have a idea of how is going to do good, who might be a surprise and who isn't going to do well this season. But of course, you want to know the grades, particularly my grades for the 32 teams so far. So here is how its going to go:

1)We have 5 days until Week 5 starts with the Thursday game.

2)Sunday through Wednesday, I'm going to give you 2 divisions and break them down

3) Thursday, ill name who at this moment is playoff bound and who is upset bound

4) Each team will get broken down by division and the degree of difficulty they will face for the next 4 games

So, check back all throughout this week and see how your team is!!! 

Aiming for Greatness: Why Matthew Stafford will be the next star in the NFL

2009 1st round draft, the Detroit Lions select Matthew Stafford, Quarterback from Georgia. Right then and there, the 6-2, 230 pound QB from Georgia went from a streak of winning on the college and high school level to joining a NFL team that just came off of a 0-16 season. But hope looked good for the team with a young exciting QB taking the helm. then he got injured in 2009 and 2010, playing a total of 13 games. Enter the next season in better shape, and he plays the next 3 seasons from 2011-2013 in all 16 games but only wins 21 games in those 3 seasons. But now is a new season and a lot of people still don't trust the Lions, in particular Matthew Stafford. Right now, I'm going to show you why he should be trusted and at the age of 26, he is only poised to be more dangerous than you think.

First lets look at who he has to play every season in his division. He has to go against a Super Bowl winner in Aaron Rodgers and then another SEC QB only a 5 hour drive away in Jay Cutler. Both of these men have elite arms and can shootout any team they go against. But why is Matthew Stafford not mentioned as a elite arm? A lot of pundits would say its the team he is on but lets look at his stats. Since playing in the league in 2009, Stafford has these stats:

2009: 2267 yards, 13 TDs to 20 INTS in 10 games

2010: 535 yds, 6 TDs, 1 INT in 3 games

2011: 5038 yds, 41 TDs, 16 INTS in a full season

2012: 4967 yds, 20 TDs, 17 INTs in a full season

2013:  4650 yes, 29 TDs, 19 INTs in a full season

Now I know a lot of you naysayers will say " oh he has Calvin Johnson, of course he is going to have high stats". Really? You think Megatron is the reason his stats are so high? Well lets cut Megatrons numbers out of it then. 

2009: 1,283 yds, 8 TDs ( Calvin had 984 yds and 5 TDs)

2010: 303 yds, 6 TDs ( Calvin had 1120 yards and 12 TDs, but the rest come from the back-up)

2011: 3,357 yds, 25 TDs( Calvin had 1681 yds and 16 TDs)

2012: 3,003 yds, 15 TDs ( Calvin had 1964 yds and 5 TDs)

2013: 3,150 yds, 7 TDs ( Calvin had 1492 yds and 12 TDs)

See, look at that? So crunching the numbers, that means with Calvin Johnson, Matthew Stafford has an average of 3,4091 yards and 21.8 touchdowns. And without him, Stafford has 2,219 yards and 12.2 touchdowns, and both of these are with 2 injured plagued seasons to start his career.

But this isn't the sole reason Stafford is a rising star. Those stats above are from the Jim Schwartz era. His methodology has changed and only for the better, lets look at a play he did during the comeback win versus the Dallas Cowboys. http://youtu.be/MwDh6tqpyek?t=16s

Now look at the way Stafford was locked in to get the ball to Kris Durham. it was crisp, precise and damn near seamless. In the Schwartz era, you would only see that Stafford   if the game was on the line or if they were definitely better than the opposite team. Now lets look at Stafford in his first game of this season.

http://youtu.be/nWsZaIdI270?t=14s

Notice something different? Every play he threw on had that same type of tempo he had last year under the Schwartz era. The reason this is because of the retooling of Stafford via Jim Caldwell and Joe Lombardi. Both of these guys decided that in order for stafford to be the best version of himself they needed to keep his cannon for an arm, make him more responsible for deciding the play, lighten him up( physically), and make him more of a weapon instead of a game manager.

And that's why Stafford will be dangerous. Before this season, you could equate Stafford to a old school  boxer: great but always has that big punch that will either win him the fight or let him down more than once. Now Stafford is like a MMA fighter: he is the weapon on top of having various ways to attack you, which in my opinion his nickname should be "Arsenal". Now when a defense has to play the Lions you also have to worry about stafford escaping from the pocket buying time for his receivers to get open and make plays, and with the people he is with, that is the last thing you want to see. 

So in closing, in a league where everyone wants to find that next big QB, whether it be a QB who is playing backup for a legend, or a certain guy in Cleveland who won't start because the coach won't give him the chance, the NFL has a star waiting to be unveiled. Matthew Stafford has the ability and god given skills to make the Lions not only a team on the national spotlight, but also become a even greater QB than he already is. All he has to do is to keep shining and glow brighter.