Thoughts on Wrestlemania XXX

It’s been about 2 months since I’ve written an entry here in this blog (Superbowl XLIX). Of course, I was practically wrong in every way, so congratulations to the Seattle Seahawks. I’ve been quite busy with many things in between now and then, so it’s been hard to find a little bit of time to do things. I’m still running 3 businesses. Figuratively speaking, one, which has a lot of my full investment, another which I’m kind of keeping afloat (until the captain is able to wake up and steer the ship), while the last I’m still keeping the fuel passionately burning. I don’t intend to write this blog entry to talk about what I’ve been up to the last few months. (I’m sure if you’ve read this blog before, you might have an idea of how it may sound).

As I’m writing this entry, I am actually 10,000 feet above the air, on a flight en route to New Orleans, for a much needed vacation. It’s rare I take a vacation, and I probably should take a few more to enjoy life. I last had a vacation last August when I went to Las Vegas with my brothers and we celebrated our Summer birthdays together, but before that, my last “needed time off” (when I didn’t go out of town for business), was probably in 2011 when I went to Atlanta, but before that, in Spain in September 2009 (which I briefly discussed in this blog). My brother Angelico and I are on our way to watch World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) annual marquee event, Wrestlemania. This is the 30th edition of the show, and we are both avid wrestling fans, and we both decided months ago to take some time off to catch this event, as well as several other wrestling events surrounding that, as it seems to be a significant show, with it being the 30th edition and all.

Ever since Wrestlemania 27 in Atlanta, Georgia (which my brother and I also attended), my brother tries to attend each of these yearly Wrestlemania shows. With the exception of last year’s show (which he missed because of a wedding), he has held true. I only choose to go every few years when it’s worthwhile, as my schedule probably prohibits me to, plus, I have better ways to invest my “resources”. Regardless, the show itself, and the events and the week leading up to the show are a spectacle within itself, and it’s recommended, not only for wrestling fans, but for people who are just looking to have a great experience. 

I’ll get into why I’m a fan of wrestling (and of the wrestling business) in full depth in perhaps another entry. But as I said, my brother and I are huge avid fans of this business, and know a lot of the “inside information” and inner “workings” of this business. The fact that it’s “predetermined” (not “fake”), makes this business more intriguing to those who appreciate it. In fact, my brother even tried to get into this business as a performer at some point (until his age, worn out knees, and locker room politics caught up to him).

I am really writing this blog to offer my thoughts on the spectacle that is Wrestlemania, and on the actual show itself.

While down in New Orleans, we plan on absorbing the culture of the city. It is my first time in NOLA, and it has always been a place that I’ve always wanted to visit, and it’s a place I’ve probably wanted to go to for a while now. If no particular event was taking place, and I had a lot more “resources” (like time and money), I would have probably visited by now. I’ve heard so much about the culture, architecture, and the people, that it was definitely a city in my must visit list. Aside from briefly sightseeing and hanging out in the French Quarter and Bourbon Street, we plan to catch a few independent wrestling shows in the area (such as Dragon Gate, and Ring of Honor), as well as possibly a few conventions. We plan to attend the Hall of Fame ceremony the night before the show, and of course, enjoy the main show on our final night here on Sunday. We will catch a plane back to DC on late Monday afternoon.

Here are my thoughts on the actual Wrestlemania show, and the card itself. If you’re a wrestling fan, it could be an entertaining read. If not, a lot of what I’ll be saying may just be a bore. Brace yourself, I have a lot to say…

Personally, I think the show is stacked. WWE says every year, that the current Wrestlemania will be the biggest of all time. Many times, it ends up falling below many expectations. However, in this case, it looks as though they are making a true effort to really make this possibly the biggest they’ve ever had. With the launch of their new digital network, it has even been said that with the evolution of technology, this business may be due for another boom period. History has shown that every time there has been an evolution in media and technology, wrestling has experienced a “boom period”. In the mid-80s, network television was starting to evolve, which brought us the “Wrestling Renaissance era” of Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior, Ric Flair, and Randy Savage. In the late 90’s, we had the evolution of cable TV and a relatively young internet, which brought us the “Attitude Era” (arguably, the most successful era in pro wrestling), with Superstars such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, the Rock, and the NWO. Now, with the evolution of On-Demand digital content, and how information is delivered, with the launch of the WWE Network, this can possibly the start of another boom period for the professional wrestling business. However, I do believe this is contingent on the success of this show. Which may explain why they are stacking the card with great talent and story lines.

All their top names (with the exception of CM Punk… which is a whole other issue) is working on this show. Many throwbacks that are familiar to many (Undertaker, Triple H, Batista, Kane and Brock Lesnar) are featured in the card, along with a great mix of their current top stars, such as Randy Orton, John Cena, and Daniel Bryan, and up-and-comers, such as the Shield and Bray Wyatt. In fact, a lot of the roster who has at least a sliver of talent has a chance to showcase themselves in this card.

Here are my detailed predictions/thoughts on each match on this card.

4-way Tag-Team match for the WWE Tag Team Titles:

Uso Brothers (c) vs Jack Swagger & Cesaro vs Ryback & Curtis Axel vs Los Matadores

I don’t really have too much thoughts on this match, however, I do think it has a good balance of high energy fact paced wrestling, and power. Therefore, it should still make for an entertaining match. This match will probably grow the seed of a break up between the “Real Americans” team of Swagger & Cesaro, therefore although I do think they are deserving of a tag title run, it probably won’t happen because of these circumstances. I see the Uso brothers retaining in this match, which I said should be highly entertaining because of the contrast of styles.

Predicted Winner: Uso Brothers

Triple H vs Daniel Bryan

This is probably going to be the first match of the actual card, or what I would like to call, the undercard main feature, or the match that sets the whole pace of the show. The storyline behind this match is, that Triple H, who legitimately runs the WWE as an Executive VP (and COO on TV), is holding the most “over” fan favorite in years in Daniel Bryan. This storyline has been taking place since Bryan cleanly won the WWE Title from John Cena in Summerslam, in which Triple H later underhandedly destroyed him and practically handpicked his own champion in Randy Orton. Between August and now, this storyline of “The Man” holding down “The Every Man”, has taken forefront. And it looks like it will finally culminate here in Wrestlemania, with the winner of this match being inserted to the last match in the card for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. That said, this is going to be an entertaining, but tireless and brutal battle, with eventually, the fan favorite in Daniel Bryan coming out on top. Although, some can make the argument that putting Triple H in the main event adds more credibility to it, it’s clear WWE seems to want to showcase and build up their current, as well as up-and-coming stars. Which would mean that Bryan winning this match is the only logical conclusion.

Predicted Winner: Daniel Bryan

Andre the Giant Memorial 30-man Battle Royal

This is what is considered to be the filler match, that features practically most of the main roster. Although, when a match similar to this was done in Wrestlemanias past, it seemed to be a random occurrence with random winners (such as the Great Khali, and Yoshi Tatsu) that didn’t really build any stars. They’ve placed more emphasis on it this time around with Hulk Hogan putting a heavy endorsement on it, and putting Andre the Giant’s name on it. They’ve also used significant TV time in their programming to build up this match. That said, the match will be booked in a way so practically everybody can show what they can do (or can’t do), but I’ll be surprised if the match goes over 15 minutes. It may sound ridiculous, but I think the Miz will win this battle royal. He’s had a lot of PPV “anti-momentum” going for him, and he has never “lost” in Wrestlemania, so I’m picking him as the one to win this match. Not to mention, this could give him an opportunity to get back into the “upper-mid card” and have people talking about him again. Although, the person I would like to see win this most is Zack Ryder, although, it is highly unlikely it will happen and would be a huge curveball if it does.

Predicted Winner: The Miz

The Shield vs Kane and the New Age Outllaws

On paper, the way the younger, more talented Shield stable has been built up in the last year and a half, they should destroy their much older opposition at Wrestlemania. However, I think that is what the company wants you to think. Something is going to happen in this match that will cost the fan favorites the match. Either a turn with one of the Shield members, or an unmentioned X-factor interfering (such as Kevin Nash, old NWO, or Kliq members?, etc). Fact is, it’s not gonna end clean, and will set the wheels in motion to get the Shield broken up and experience individual success. Personally, if I was booking this match, I would have Kane do something on Raw that will stack the cards against them, like have them fight each other for Dean Ambrose’s US Title. But, since they didn’t do that, looks like it will go as is, and a Shield loss will be less believable. Somehow, I do think they’ll find a way to book them for a loss.

Predicted Winner: Kane and the Outlaws

John Cena vs Bray Wyatt

Don’t really want to get to the story of this match, because it’s a little complex, but the buildup for this match has been spectacular. All I got to say, is that one of their biggest names in John Cena is booked to go against one of their hottest new up-and-comers in Bray Wyatt, who is probably the most intriguing character since probably the Undertaker. I don’t think Cena will lose the match, but he will somehow put Bray Wyatt over. It will be booked as a gruesome match, with probably Bray Wyatt dominating the whole way, with Cena just sliding by with a victory, sort of like how the Triple H vs Undertaker was in WM XXVII.

Predicted Winner: John Cena

Vickie Guerrero Divas Championship Invitational

This is probably gonna be the “Bathroom Break” match, which is the “intermission” match that people probably care least about to slow down the show. This match won’t be long, and I’ll be surprised if it lasts more than 8 minutes. I see AJ Lee retaining her championship. If any of the other divas won it (with the exception of Tamina, Naomi, or Brie Bella), it would seem like a random result without meaning. The reasons why I don’t think the 3 aforementioned will win is because Naomi doesn’t seem to be a marquee name (yet), and it wouldn’t make sense if she won, Brie Bella doesn’t need the championship to stay credible since she has her reality show, and Tamina won’t win because it can set a storyline down the road for a feud with AJ if she doesn't win the title. So with that, AJ continues her run as one of the more successful WWE women wrestlers in recent memory.

Projected Winner: AJ Lee

Brock Lesnar vs Undertaker

I am excited for this match, but it’s very predictable and not much to it. It will probably booked as a brutal slugfest that’s gonna tell a good story, with Brock Lesnar probably dominating a good amount of the match as a monster and credible former UFC star. However, Undertaker will go toe-to-toe with him and will be competitive at times. In the end, Undertaker’s streak isn’t going to end. If Undertaker gets hit by a bus in the middle of the ring, so long as it’s Wrestlemania, he will kick out at two every single time.

Projected Winner: The Undertaker

Main Event: Randy Orton (c) vs Batista vs (Daniel Bryan) for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

This match is the coup de gras of the card. I can’t really tell how this match is gonna be booked, but the crowd should be up for this match, and they will finally see their hero win the belt against two comparable opponents who were the company’s “chosen ones”. This is the result that makes sense, as the feud and storyline of “The Man vs The Everyman” has been going on since August, and it will be the payoff for the protagonist, and the people cheering for him. If this match doesn’t disappoint, like I think it won’t, I think this may be a match that people may be talking about for a while. 

Projected Winner: Daniel Bryan (new champion)

As you can see, I truly am a fan of this business, and have kind of put thought into this. It makes me look like a nerd, or a “mark”, but I have been a fan of this business since I was a kid, and although it’s staged, many aspects of it are applicable to be successful in my trade in motivational speaking and in life. (Be engaging, entertaining, always re-invent yourself, work hard, etc). In fact, if I’m ever up to it, I’ll probably write a blog on how being a fan of pro wrestling has helped me in life.

But other than that, that’s what I got to say about Wrestlmania. As I said, if the wrestling business is going to experience another "boom period", it may be contingent on the success of this card. And personally, I think it's gonna deliver. Not sure how it will compare to the greatest and more memorable Wrestlemanias but I truly believe it has potential for greatness, and could get people interested in wrestling again.

This blog has been long enough, so I think I will end it here. I don’t want to spend too much of my vacation writing this. (Started this on the plane, finished it in my hotel room hours later). Regardless, I hope you enjoyed reading this? I hope your answer is…

YES! YES! YES!

#OBE

"Big Game" Predictions, XLVIII edition

I haven't done a blog for a while, but I wanted to get one in before the "Big Game". (In this entry, I will refer to this game as the "Big Game" because unless you are not an official sponsor of the game, you can get in trouble. I do realize that this rule likely doesn't apply to a blog in the middle of the nether regions of the Internet (like mine), but I thought it would be fun.

Before I get to the predictions, I thought I'd discuss a few of the story lines.

When the Seahawks beat the Redskins in last year's playoffs, my resentment for the Seahawks were magnified. Don't get me wrong, they are a great organization, and are actually an antithesis of how my favorite team was built, but them knocking my team off the playoffs 3 times in a row doesn't help me in wanting to cheer for them. Not to mention, Richard Sherman taunting Trent Williams at the end of that game didn't sit right with me either. So, therefore, based on that, you can guess what team I'm not pulling for.

Speaking of Richard Sherman, believe it or not, during the last couple of weeks, I've actually warmed up a little bit to the guy. As I said, I didn't really appreciate his schtick since he pulled against the Redskins a year ago as well, but any one has to admit that he's a calculated genius. He backed up his words in the football field by making that huge play, and pulled the WWE-like promo in the end. At first, because I didn't like him too much going in, I thought it was a bit annoying. But the more I thought about it, the more I found that it was pure genius (given that he was a salutatorian in high school, and graduated in Stanford with a 3.7 GPA, so he's definitely not dumb). The majority of the last two weeks were focused on him, and all are talking about him. If he wasn't a household name before then, he surely is now. The fact that the Big Game is in New York also helps his cause too.

Seahawks are a good organization, so if they win, even though I don't currently like them, I surely won't be terribly mad if they do, like I would be if, say, the Dallas Cowboys, won (although, I would prefer them not to win). Therefore, I'd be rooting for the Broncos. There's so many reasons I would cheer for the Broncos...

One, I love Peyton Manning as a football player. He is probably the best football player I have ever seen for as long as I have had the ability to mildly understand the game of football. Barry Sanders is in that argument, but his heyday was just before that time, and he retired at a time when he arguably hasn't given his best yet. He's already won one title, and he's already a first ballot hall of famer if he doesn't win another, but winning this one is probably very important to him. One, he's gonna be one of the rare QBs that won multiple titles. However, if he wins this one, he will be one to win one in different teams. That's a rarity.

I also wouldn't mind seeing Champ Bailey win. He started his career here in Washington as a Redskin, and he was one of my favorite players when he played here (I had his burgundy "24"). He gave a lot when he played here, and it continued when he was traded to Denver. He will probably make the Hall of Fame as well, so if he wins a title, it can definitely help his chances. He's a great player, and I will root for him.

So with that, I think this will be a good game. Seattle's defense is tough, and it's always been said that defense wins championships. And, in my opinion, if this Seattle defense played last year's Ravens offense, Seattle would've won last year's title. But, this Denver offense is a whole different monster. Not only do you have Peyton Manning slinging the rock, but he can sling them to 4 solid pass catching receivers. As good and as big as the Seahawks secondary is, I don't know if they can shut down this attack. Not to mention, once they get up, they can play ball control offense as well.

Not to mention, although Russell Wilson is a good young QB, and they have an awesome running game, I see the Broncos taking the lead early and not likely relinquishing it. If they get down like they did last game against the Niners (which you got to admit, a lot of calls went their way too), I don't see them getting back in it.

Prediction: Denver 31 Seattle 24 (so I have the "Over")

With that, here are some predictions for the crazy prop bets...
National Anthem: Over (2 min 30 sec)
Number of Times Peyton Manning Says "Omaha": Surprisingly, Under (27 1/2)
Number of Times "Beast Mode" Will Be Mentioned": Over (2)
Color Gatorade Dumped on Winning Coach: Orange (3/1)

There are more prop bets, but I don't wanna go through all of them. Remember, these are for entertainment purposes only.

Enjoy the game, and don't forget to celebrate responsibly!

I'm really looking forward to the commercials! :)

#OBE

"DC" Skins PREgame #12 - vs Minnesota - Purple and Horned

First I want to get some more apologies out of the way for not blogging a lot more during this holiday break. I was spending some quality time with my family, mostly my nephew and niece. I hope you have had as nice and interesting of a few days as I have this holiday. Let's just say I am probably one of the most experienced single, child-rearing adults out there who has never actually sired a seed of his own, nor babysits for a living (that's a blog for another time). But, win or lose, since I've been consistent with doing my Redskins predictions week in and week out, I figured I should keep with it. I will make this short though.

The Vikings fired their coach this week. Does it mean that the organization and team will be inspired with new leadership and possibly play harder? Maybe. Take a look at the Cowboys.

With that being said, the Vikings still have been a mess as a team, and in the center of all that (literally and figuratively) has been their QB Brett Favre. His turnover numbers and passer rating are just plain atrocious, he's been playing hurt, and he's definitely had one of his worst years he's had in recent memory. And I didn't even get into his off-the field issues. (Let's just say that he's appropriate that he is a Viking, because his situation with Jen Sterger shows that he is one "horny" dude.) Favre is slated to start, but I do think the Vikings have a better chance if he gets out of the game (which, in my opinion, he may).

As far as the Redskins are concerned, even though the win against the Titans have gave them some renewed hope for the season, they are still a mess as an organization too. Not to mention, that win last week came with a huge price, as most of the players ended up banged up, or hurt considerably (as in the case of Clinton Portis and others, hurt for the whole year).

I think the Redskins will win this game. Though the Redskins are banged up (most especially on the offensive line), the offense should do enough, while their defense will probably carry the team by causing the Viking offense (mainly Favre) to make mistakes and put them in decent field position. However, I do think the Vikings will keep this game close. As I said, the Redskins are a dysfunctional organization as well, and some of that is going to show on the field somehow. Not to mention, though Favre will probably be expected to make mistakes, Adrian Peterson can ease him off a little bit on offense, as that Viking O-line is a lot more solid than the Redskins'. Furthermore, I did say earlier that the Vikes may have more of a chance if Bret Favre comes out sometime during the game. And with the history of the Redskins defense hurting people this year, there might be a chance he comes out... which may actually help them.

Final Prediction Redskins 21 Vikings 17

I just have a feeling this will be an ugly game, on both ends. And I think the Vikings the "ugliness" can hurt the Vikings more. As of now, it doesn't look like any serious championship contenders will be playing in this game, and it will probably show in the scoreboard.

The Redskins also have proven to play down to their competition, which is why I picked such a close score. But, I do think the Redskins need this game. They need all the wins they can get though, and they must pick up the games that they are expected to win down the stretch. Since they are at home, this could be one of those wins.

If the Redskins win, they will go 6-5. They simply can't go in a key matchup next week against the Giants at 5-6. Therefore, the sense of urgency should be up (despite what we've seen this season), and it should help make a difference. 

But, we'll see come roughly quarter after 4 PM EST.

HTTR,

-OBE

"DC" Skins PREgame #11 - at Tennessee - Remember the Titans

The Redskins are coming off one of the most disappointing losses in recent memory against the Eagles. In my opinion they simply have to get a win here to get back in the conversation as far as "playoff contenders". Most people aren't picking the Redskins to do a lot in this game, and that's understandable, considering that they stunk it up on National TV last week, and the Titans have some weapons on offense, and are pretty solid in defense. If they win a game that they are supposedly not to win, that will at least get a little of that bad taste out of their mouth, and get them confident for the next week.

But, as far as if it's actually gonna happen, that may be a whole different story. After this past week, most of the fans have been dejected and disappointed, and even the most loyal ones realistically believe they can't win this game, and to expect disappointment again. As it was said, Tennessee has way too many offensive weapons, with Chris Johnson, Vince Young, and Randy Moss (who was acquired not too long ago). And with the way the Redskins offense has been playing lately (mainly, the offensive line getting McNabb destroyed), the Titans D can shut them down.

I consider myself a pretty loyal Redskins fan. But realistically, like a lot of other Redskins fans out there, if you look at the situation realistically, it's just hard to pick them in anything right now. They're offensive line is terrible, they're missing a few key players on defense, and right now, they're just not a good team.

Prediction: Redskins 21 Titans 37

I will say, that Clinton Portis finally coming back should help the Redskins out a lot, and can possibly get McNabb that pass protection he needs, as a solid blocking running back. Ironically, Albert Haynesworth can be an ex-factor in this game too. He's coming back to his original team, and might be motivated to play, since that is where his brother died. Conversely, the way Shanahan and the defensive coaches play Haynesworth could have a huge say on this game as well.

As I always do whenever I picked the Skins to lose... I hope I'm wrong. But right now, all signs point to the Titans winning, and I just can't avoid those signs (especially if they're too obvious). Fortunately, realistically picking a team to win, and hoping for a win are two different things. So, although I'm doing the former, there's no reason that I can't believe in the latter.

But like I said, we'll see what happens.

HTTR,

-OBE

PS: If there are a lot of mistakes in this blog, I did most of it when I was only half awake. (Just so you know).

"DC" Skins PREgame #10 - vs Philadelphia - Redemption Part 2

This is only going to be a quick thoughts blog, just because it a bit after 8:15 PM kickoff is in more or less 15 minutes. I'm just going to get a few quick thoughts in, and then my predictions.

First thought... the Redskins had a very long bye week to sit on their loss. They played the early game in Week 8, and play the final Monday Night game in Week 10. Unless they have huge injuries (like Clinton Portis) there should be no excuses that they aren't prepared or refreshed for this match.

In the two weeks leading into this matchup, all that the DC sports media can talk about is benchgate... did Shanahan do the right thing benching McNabb?, how would this affect McNabb and contract negotiations?, the long-term future of the Redskins?. But whatever happened two weeks ago, is the past. The Redskins have a chance to forget what happened two weeks ago with a huge victory tonight and right the ship (so to speak).

Some breaking news took place today as well. McNabb finally signed his contract extension. This is important because he doesn't have to worry about a contract anymore, and he can just focus mainly on football.

I do think the Redskins are going to win this game, but it's gonna be far from easy. The Eagles are coming off one of their biggest wins of the season against Peyton Manning and the Colts, a team that the Redskins lost to. The Eagles defense were able to contain Peyton Manning and the offense, and Mike Vick and their running back were able to capitalize on the suspect running defense of Indy. 

With that being said, the Redskins should be prepared with their two weeks off. McNabb and his team needs to redeem themselves after letting an opportunity slip two weeks ago. And given it's the Eagles and it's McNabb's former team and it's Monday Night football, they should be giving a bit more effort.

Prediction Eagles 24 Redskins 27

Whether I'm right and wrong in this prediction, we can all agree that this game is a crossroads of destiny for this Redskins team. In my opinion, whatever the results will be will be a huge indicator of how they will finish the season.

HTTR...

-OBE

"DC" Skins PREgame #8 - at Detroit - A Win is Needed... I Ain't Lion.

I'm gonna try to keep this short... the Redskins need to win this game.

As this game is played, the Redskins have a huge chance to go into their bye week with a lot of momentum... as they currently have with a 4-3 winning record, a 2-1 NFC record, and they're unblemished at 2-0 in their own division. If they win against Detroit, they will be 5-3, and be alone in 2nd in the NFC East, and only a half-a-game behind the New York Giants for the division lead.

However, they can't afford to look back. The Lions are 1-5, and some people say the Redskins should win this game (since they should be motivated after what happened in Week 3 last year), but it's gonna be far from an easy win. As I said in last week's blog, the Lions have been in every single game they were in, and their win-loss record does not do them justice of how good this team is this year.

And, despite of the 1-5 record, this team has improved from last year. They've drafted a playmaking pass-rusher in defense with Ndamukong Suh, who can potentially have a field day and give McNabb a lot of trouble. They still have Calvin Johnson, who look like he's gotten even better. Their running back Jahvid Best, though struggling currently, is a solid young guy. And on top of that, their quarterback with the big arm, Matt Stafford should be back, who had his way with the Skins last year. Add that to the fact that the gamblers at Vegas are favoring the Lions to beat the Redskins to win by around 3 points, this should be far from an "easy win".

However, do I think the Redskins can rise above all that and pull of a win? Yes I do. Although, I do potentially see McNabb having some problems with the improved Lions pass rush, I do think he'll get some off to his tight ends. Not to mention, as crazy as it may sound, Ryan Torain and the Redskins running attack can have a big game this week. And I do think the Redskins defense will be aggressive against Stafford, and will never get that Detroit running game going. I do think that they will remember the loss from last year, and really use it as fuel to turn up the aggressiveness. Add that to the fact that the Redskins have put someone out in just about every game this year... the Lions may not be an exception, and can potentially hurt someone.

Final prediction... Redskins 27 Lions 19

Like I said, the Redskins really need this win, and the players and the coaches should be up for it. It would not only be great to go into a bye week with a win, but they'll go in as one of the more solid teams in the NFC with a 5-3 record. Add that to the motivation they should have for being humiliated last year, should add up to a Redskins win. Afterward, they can rest up on a long bye week and meet the Eagles at their homefield on 11/15. If they can pull off the win, it looks like the stars may start to align for a nice run for a playoff spot, or a division crown during the 2nd half of the season.

But, one thing I find interesting is that in this game, two specific players are playing in opposing teams... Kevin Barnes and Jahvid Best. This is what happened the last time these two met (in the college level)...

I doubt this would happen, considering that Kevin Barnes is far down the depth chart for the Redskins, but the fact that these two are on opposing sidelines. I'm kind of surprised this sports potpourri hasn't been mentioned in the airwaves (if it has, I must not have heard it).

Hopefully, I'm right with this prediction. A win really will get people around here very excited for the first half of November, and that's something I'd like to look forward to.

HTTR!!!

-OBE

"DC" Skins PREgame #7 - at Chicago - Contender or Pretender?

For the Redskins, this game against Chicago has to be the biggest non-divisional game they've had this year. They are 3-3, and the Chicago Bears are 4-2. If you check at various power rankings, most "experts" will have these two teams ranked close to each other. More importantly, this game would put a bit of separation between the "midcard" (to put it in pro-wrestling terms), against the headliners of the NFC. To put it in layman's terms, this game will make the losers look like pretenders, and the winners look a little more like contenders possibly in line for a "push".

So, to break it down...

To win this game, the Redskins have to continue the ground game going. Ryan Torain had a pretty good game last week against Indianapolis. Although, as I said before, the Colts, have historically had bad run defenses. Chicago's defense, in my estimation, should be a bit tougher (as they have 3 playmakers in Urlacher, Briggs, and Peppers). So, if Torain doesn't have a good a game as he had last week, there shouldn't be a surprise. On the other end, they shouldn't allow big plays to opposing running backs (who happen to be slumping). During the past two weeks, Brandon Jackson of Green Bay, and Joseph Addai from Indy, who managed to be slumping, caught the Redskins in big plays. Matt Forte of the Bears is also slumping in the ground, and if the Redskins somehow let him get off the snide for this game, it may be tough.

But the most important key to the game, I feel, is that the Bears offensive line is allowing the most sacks against their quarterbacks, 29 total. Their starter Jay Cutler, got sacked 23 times alone. If the Redskins can take advantage of this and keep this going, and not give Cutler the opportunity to use that strong arm of his to find his receivers, and make him look like Peyton Manning, the Redskins are going to be picked apart.

An X-Factor for the Bears, would be their returner Devin Hester. He's returned a few back for touchdowns this year, and seems to be back in the saddle when it comes to his return game. One interesting storyline they've talked about in regards to Devin Hester as it relates to this game, is that he has a chance to beat the record of Brian Mitchell (a Washington Redskins alumni) when it comes to returning punts.

With that being said, I do feel the Redskins will do enough to win. If Haynesworth is back (which early reports say that he will be), there will be a huge body eating double teams from that bad offensive line, and the pass rush will definitely get to Cutler. And if that's the case, the Redskins will definitely get a few sacks, and possibly get some picks and add on to their turnover ratio. The Redskins offense may have some troubles against this defense, but I feel they will do enough in this game to score more than the opponents. As far as the "X-Factor" is concerned, I do believe that the Redskins would shut down Devin Hester and not let them break Brian Mitchell's record.

Final prediction: Redskins 31 Bears 21

I do feel the Redskins need this game more than the Bears, because if they lose, they'll be 3-4, with a worse chance of recovering in a competitive division (in which 2 teams are currently tied for 1st at 4-2), than the Bears who will be at 4-3 at a competitive, yet recently slumping division (Packers lost 2 in a row, and the Vikings had a slow start). Hence, I'm picking the Redskins win. It's not necessarily gonna be an easy game, but I do think they should win.

Hopefully, when all is said and done, my hometown team will look more like a contender than a pretender.

HTTR,

-OBE

"DC" Skins PREgame #6 - vs Indianapolis - Man(ning) Up

After last week's win, Redskins Nation feels good. They are 3-2, coming off consecutive wins over 2 teams that most people didn't give them a chance with, they played hard when it counted, and shut down a couple of high powered offenses down the stretch. Therefore, Redskins fans felt pretty good all week, and they have all the confidence in the world against the Colts.

I, on the other hand, probably wouldn't be as confident as every Redskins fan in this area. This Colts team really worries the heck out of me. Considering how much Donovan McNabb got hit last week by Clay Matthews, Dwight Freeney has the potential to do the same and leave Donovan sore the next day. Not to mention, overall, the defense has been solid this year, while the Redskins offense still lacks a running game, doesn't scare anyone in the passing game (and outside of Cooley and Moss, doesn't have a weapon that can scare you), and they've had issues with the offensive line.

As far as the Colts offense, they are still solid, and solid for one reason... Peyton Manning. No matter who you give him at receiver, he will find a way to use him, and make him a threat, (with Pierre Garcon, and Austin Collie being prime examples). Not to mention, they still have a solid wide receiver in Reggie Wayne, and Dallas Clark. And though the Colt running game hasn't been on par this year, it's probably as solid as the Redskins (if not, more threatening than the Redskins').

The Redskins do have a chance in this game though. The Redskins defense has been great when it mattered, especially late in games. They got pressure on the quarterback, and got key stops. If the Redskins can keep this up for most of the game, continue to get to Manning and get key stops, they have a great chance of winning. However, it would be a tough task, because Manning is such a great quarterback, and can direct an offense like no other QB in the game today. Technically, he's his own offensive coordinator. And as good as Aaron Rodgers is, and was last week until he was shut down by the Redskins in overtime, in my opinion, Manning is in a different level. He has been in the dance for a while... and have a tall task in shutting him down.

But, the best way to shut down that offense is to keep it off the field. As I said last week, it is CRUCIAL they find a running game and find some balance in that offense. Historically in the last few years, Indy has been weaker on the run. If they can keep the ball on the ground, play ground control offense, and pass when they need to... they can wear this Indy defense down, and more importantly, keep Peyton Manning and that offense off the field. If they do all this, the Redskins have an AWESOME chance of winning.

Many fans, and even prognosticators and radio hosts in this area are high on the Redskins, and feel they have a nice shot at winning this game. They feel the Skins have a lot of momentum going for them, their defense have been playing well, and they will ride this high to hold off Peyton Manning and the Colts (who have not been as impressive as they have been last year) at primetime. 

Although I do think the Redskins have a shot at winning this game, I don't think it's a big shot. Honestly, I do think that Manning would be too much. He has a high quarterback IQ and may figure out the Redskins and how to pick them apart. Not to mention, although the Redskins offensive line is healthier they have been than the past three weeks, I still think they are too banged up to contain the playmakers in the Colts' defense. So here's my prediction...

Colts 31, Redskins 24

I do think the Redskins will score some points, but the Colts will outscore them by a touchdown. I think Peyton Manning and his weapons will be too much for the Skins defense, and the Colts defense will be too much for McNabb, unfortunately.

However, I will say that an another reason I'm picking the Colts to win, is for reverse psychological purposes. I want the Redskins to win, and the past few weeks, I have been wrong more than I am right (regarding football prognostication). I'd be glad to admit I'm wrong if I'm proven wrong.

So to the Redskins, please prove me wrong. Hope they show me that Peyton Manning wouldn't be the calculating beast that I portrayed him to be in this blog entry.

HTTR,

-OBE

Mister Rodger's Offensive Neighborhood - "DC" Skins Pregame #5 - vs Green Bay

I haven't really had much of a chance to think about the Redskins game against the Packers. However, being the semi-pro motivational sports blogger that I am, I will still offer my thoughts.

Just at first glance, Green Bay has a high powered passing offense. Not only is Aaron Rodgers is probably one of the best young quarterbacks in the game, but he has a lot of toys to play with at the passing game. He has 4 viable weapons to throw to in his team, and his offensive line has kept him relatively clean. That offense does have a significant hole in their running game though, ever since Ryan Grant was lost for the season earlier in the year. On top of their offense, their defense is decently solid too. They have a great pass defense led by an outstanding corner in Charles Woodson, and they have very good young LBs in Clay Matthews and AJ Hawk. So based on all this, the Redskins have a lot of concerns.

However, I do believe that the Redskins can give this team a competitive game. If the game against Philadelphia last week wasn't an indication of how solid this Redskins team can be when it wants to be, then I'm not sure what is. Although Clinton Portis is out, the Redskins slowly look like they are starting to find their running game, and through Mike Shanahan-like fashion, possibly having a no-name tailback start to produce on the ground for the team. Not to mention, the offensive line is slowly getting healthy again. If you give a chance for McNabb to make some plays, he could really punish you, as he did previously against Dallas and Houston, and last week against Philly.

Although the Redskins look like they can make this game competitive... do I think they can actually win? I honestly think it may be a tough game. Although the Skins are coming off a huge win against a division rival with a lot of confidence and momentum, and even though they have proven they can step up their game when needed, and although the Packers haven't looked that impressive during the last few weeks (especially in their almost loss against the Lions)... realistically, I just see so many obstacles for the Redskins to overcome. They still don't have as many proven weapons as the Packers, and the new defensive scheme still hasn't fully adjusted to it's personnel.

Prediction... Redskins 24 Packers 27

Like I said, I do think that the Redskins should make this competitive, and the game might be decided late in the 4th quarter. However, if the Redskins could steal this game, I do see special teams having to do with that. The Redskins changed to a more solid punter, and the kicker has been pretty solid so far this year. And the return game has big play speed and capability.

If special teams does end up playing a factor and even steal a win for the Skins, then that would be great for Redskins fans, as it would be a huge win against another solid team. And that would be huge considering the next few games they have coming up in the weeks after. I'm hoping that is the case, but we'll see.

HTTR

-OBE

"DC" Skins Postgame #4 - Mac 5 Race for Redemption

Well, I won't keep this entry long, as you will probably read enough about this game in the blogosphere. But, as far as how much television drama this game produced before, during, and after the game, I would say that it didn't disappoint. This game definitely made for good must-see television.

Pregame started by the crowd cheering McNabb, then quickly jeering him after leading the Redskins to a quick 14-0 lead. Then, Michael Vick, who was arguably the hottest QB in the NFL, gets hurt. Thus, putting Kevin Kolb (the Eagles' original hand picked successor to McNabb) against his former mentor. What a turn of events.

The game ended up being close. The Eagles scored a couple of field goals and a TD (with an unsuccessful 2-pt conversion), and the Redskins added another field goal to make it a 5 point game. And, that's what the final score ended up being... Redskins 17, Eagles 12. 

As far as what I saw in the game, although I'm happy McNabb got his redemption and that the Redskins are momentarily the NFC East division leaders, I felt the Redskins played their usual ugly game. As soon as Vick went out, and Kolb came in, it seemed like the Redskins let up a lot (and in my opinion, played down from not being worried about Michael Vick anymore). And even though this was his homecoming, McNabb did NOT have a good game (~60 passer rating is not going to cut it). They kept dropping interceptions, and the offense really slowed down during the 2nd half... again.

In my opinion, even though Kevin Kolb wasn't overly impressive filling in for Vick (and may not get his starting job back if Vick is good to go next week), I felt he still had a more efficient game than McNabb, and he outplayed him during the minutes when they were directly competing against each other. Kolb moved the ball, he was efficient, and even had a higher quarterback rating. If the Eagles weren't stupid with a lot of their penalties, the Eagles could have won this game. They left a lot of points on the board, and the Eagles could have just as easily won as they lost.

As a Redskins fan, the bright side for my team and it's fans is, that the running game looked significantly better during this game. And overall, as this team adjusts to the schemes, this Redskins team could just get better during the season. Not to mention, this is definitely a win that they can build on emotionally, and carry that emotion into the next few games, which will undoubtedly be very tough (as they play the Packers and the Colts in the next two weeks).

So I'm definitely happy with the result of this game, both as a Redskins fan, and as a general football fan. But, I do feel that they could still play a lot better, and they still have a long long way to go to be considered a serious contender. The next few weeks against the Packers, Colts, and Bears will definitely be a good measuring stick as far as where this team stands.

I will say that I'm equally as glad that many people in the area will be happy this week, and that the Eagle fans I know can't talk smack to me this week. :-)

Til next week...

HTTR

-OBE

VickNabb - "DC" Skins Pregame #4 - at Philadelphia

From last week's result, the media and fans around the area have been extremely worried coming into this football game. With the embarrassing, and humiliating loss to St. Louis Rams last week, there's good reason for a lot of worry. 

The Skins are still near the bottom of the league when it comes to their ground attack, and the defense still haven't gotten in sync. Many people say it's the scheme, others say that it's personnel. Maybe, it's a little bit of both.

I was driving home yesterday, and I heard a replay of a Chris Cooley interview on Sports Radio. The radio hosts apologetically (and unintentionally) attacked his team and how they played during the last 5 quarters. Cooley even said that it was disappointing because it was somber in the locker room after the loss, and the whole team probably felt they let Coach Shanahan down. 

However, based from the Cooley's voice inflection and tone during the interview, the Redskins seem confident with their gameplan on Sunday, and he feels that they can really beat their team. Maybe they see something in the game film that they can exploit, or maybe they like a few matchups. But, what I got most out of this interview, is that they are really anxious to redeem themselves, and want to get this win for their coach, as well as their quarterback.

Whether they'll do it or not... we'll see. I will say, that based on what we've seen from the Eagles during the last two weeks, as compared to the Redskins... Redskins fans have a lot to worry about. Michael Vick has arguably been the hottest quarterback in the league, and he has weapons to utilize (mainly, the explosive DeSean Jackson). Not to mention, as it looks right now, the Eagle running game is certainly done better than the Skins', and their defense has been solid when it counted. So on paper, the Eagles should DESTROY the Redskins.

My inner homer fanboy instinct tells me to give the Redskins the benefit on this one. From what it looks like this early in the season, this team plays up to their competition, and could probably play a lot better if they really have a reason to be fired up to. For Week 1, it was a season opener against the hated Dallas Cowboys... enough said. For Week 2, they played well for 3 quarters until they poo-pooed a 17 point lead during the last quarter and a half against Houston because they were probably "content". In Week 3, it just seemed they were uninspired during the whole and expecting to rollover a team they should have beaten and prayed some really bad football. 

This week, the big story line is McNabb going back to Philadelphia... What's going on inside his head when he has to play the team he's played for 11 years? How will the Philadelphia crowd react to him? How will he compare to the QB that he lobbied so hard to go to Philadelphia last year... the QB that no one wanted? There are a lot of story lines in this match... and a lot of reasons to get up for this match. And with McNabb being the leader that he is, and being extra motivated to play against the city that traded him... I think he will play so hard because he doesn't want to be disappointed. That could make a significant difference.

But to add on, there's a lot in the line... as the winner of this game has the inside track for the division lead, and will momentarily be in first place of the NFC East.

The line for this game is that Vegas is picking the Eagles to win by 5.5 (maybe 6) points. Here's my prediction...

Redskins 33 Eagles 27

I don't think the Redskins defense will do extraordinarily well, but I do think they are due for a decent running game. Both teams will put up points, and could have a potential for a shootout. I don't think the Redskins will stop the Eagles from putting up points in the board, but do I think McNabb and the offense will do just as well against the Eagles D? Quite possibly. Based on the Cooley interview I discussed a few paragraphs ago, there might be some holes in the Eagles defense they can exploit, and McNabb has played against that defense for 11 years.

Maybe my fanboyishness of predicting the Redskins to win may make me look like a fool. The Eagles look so much better on paper. But, my I do have a gut feeling about this game. And, I do believe that something other than stat sheet measurables can influence this game. And that's where I feel the Redskins have the advantage.

This should be an exciting game though. Based on the storylines alone, this is some must-see TV. My brother, as well as a few of my friends are Eagles fans. So, I'm hoping that for my sake, I'll be smiling after this game is over... rather than getting an earful.

HTTR

-OBE

"DC" Skins Pregame - Week 3 - at St. Louis

After the last week Redskins disappointing yet encouraging loss, they are playing an 0-2 St. Louis Rams team. As I said last week, this good be a perfect bounce-back game for them, and I'm sticking by that.

When I listened to the DC media all through out the week, I heard that there were some worried about the game. Many were worried because of how the Skins played the Rams last year when they almost blew it, and also when they played them two years ago, when they blew it and gave them their first win. Some were worried because they played New England Patriots in the preseason, in the notable 3rd game that played the starters, and pretty much played well against them. Despite all of this, I am going against what a lot of people around here are saying, and say that this will be a relatively easy win for the Redskins. Here's why...

First of all, this Redskins team is clearly a different team from the last two years. They are better coached and seem to now have leadership at quarterback. So results that took place in the last two years shouldn't be overestimated. As far as these Rams blowing up the Patriots in pre-season, even though the starters got most of the reps that game, it still doesn't mean jack. I've noticed that most of the great teams in preseasons use the exhibition games more as tuneups rather than a serious measure of skill. And teams that usually end up very solid throughout the regular season would have bad pre-seasons (such as the Colts, who more often that not, have terrible pre-seasons).

Even though the Redskins lost last week, I still felt the positives outweighed the negatives. It's always bad to give up a 17 point lead, and currently have a 32nd ranked (out 32) running game, but McNabb and the passing game seemed to have woken up, and they lit up the scoreboard with just about everyone involved last week.

The Redskins defense was only bad for 1 quarter this season, and I don't think they'll be that bad at any point against the Rams. I see this defense getting to Sam Bradford, as he is still green and will commit mistakes, and the Rams offensive line has as much issues as the Redskins (if not more). The only notable weapon they have on offense is their running back Stephen Jackson, and I don't see him carrying the team enough to win the game.

And, as far as the Redskins' 32nd ranked running game, this is a good game to get better, as the Rams' have the 32nd ranked defense against the run. Clinton Portis, and whoever else will be in the backfield should have solid games and should break a combined 3-digits on the ground, which should ultimately set up the pass. And, after the defense got embarrassed last week in the final quarter, they should be looking for some redemption, and should protect the lead better should they get it.

The Vegas line has the Redskins as 4 point road favorites. I have them covering that total easily, as I see this being a double-digit win for the Redskins. Ultimately, the Rams still have more general issues all-around in both sides of the ball, and it should show up in the scoreboard. And like I said, the Redskins should be looking for some redemption.

Final score prediction... Redskins 31 Rams 17

I see the Redskins up significantly after the 3rd quarter, and I don't see them blowing that lead. I do see them giving up a garbage touchdown towards the 4th quarter during a prevent defense, but they should pretty much hold the Rams in check. 

I will say though, if the Redskins do happen to screw up, and blow this game, people around this area will start panicking. Although, people always say that it's hard to win in this level (since everybody is a professional), this is a game the Redskins should win. But, with how things turned out last year for the Redskins (with the team dealing many winless teams their first win), it would be understandable why this sentiment would be prevalent in this area.

But as I said, I feel this is a different team, and the results shouldn't be the typical results that fans of this team have come to expect during the past few years. We'll see in about 20 1/2 hours if I'm correct. I think I will be.

D4P...PD!!!

-OBE

"DC" Skins Pregame - Week 2 - vs Houston

As I said in last week's blog, I'm going to try to make these pregame and postgame blogs a weekly weekend habit, because this NFL football is a topic people in the blogosphere can really get into, and it is also a topic I love to talk about. Gives this blog a little bit of balance. ;-)

However, like I said last week, I'm just gonna focus on Redskins games. If I talked about a lot of different teams every week and all of the games playing this week, I don't think I could get all my thoughts down. (I mean, I can, but it would just take forever) I'm not a sports journalist, nor do I work for the organization. I just want to offer my particular "out-of-the-box" authentic view as a genuine fan of the game. (I will say, that to make these entries easier to identify, I'll prefix these particular blogs will be prefixed with "DC" Skins (Pre/Post game...). 

Now that I got the housekeeping out of the way, let me get this started...

This week, I'm not going to get into the off-the-field drama with the women in the locker room remark by Clinton Portis about Inez Sainz and the New York Jets locker room, or whether or not Albert Haynesworth is injured or not. I will just be focusing on my thoughts primarily about the game itself (such as players to watch, other notables), what I think the keys to victory are, and my predictions (as I hope to do every week).


With that being said, as a Redskins fan, this game scares me. Even though the 'Skins should be familiar with the offense because Kyle Shanahan coordinated the Texans offense last year, it still doesn't look as good in the Redskins' point of view. The Texans put up 34 points against a formidable Colts team, whom many are picking to go to the Superbowl. They have arguably the best wide receiver in the game in Andre Johnson, and they have the top (non-passing) offensive player of Week 1 with the sudden emergence of their running back Arian Foster, who had 231 yards rushing last week (and undoubtedly got picked up by many Fantasy Football owners). Their offense is clicking, and they outgunned Peyton Manning and the Colts (which says a lot).


The Redskins offense has a lot to do before catching up to this offense. Although they are patterned similarly, Houston is way ahead. The 'Skins didn't put up an offensive TD last week, and was outgained by Dallas in about a 2.5/1 ratio. And, as I said last week, even though I appreciated the win, the Redskins were extremely fortunate to get the win, considering how much Dallas shot themselves in the foot.

Many are saying if the Redskins are gonna have a shot at winning, the defense has to step up big time. I agree. The Redskins defense played relatively well against Dallas by keeping points off the board and making some plays (that turnover to TD to end the half didn't just happen by itself... DeAngelo Hall was a big part of that), however Dallas' bad playcalling and mistakes had a lot to with them not scoring many points either. I'm sure Houston's offense would be a lot more disciplined, and the defense has to match them.


Arguably, as it looks right now, the Redskins defense is better than the Colts defense, and I don't think they're gonna let Arain Foster put up 231 yds in the ground against them. And since they showed that they can make plays and force mistakes, that can really help them out. But, they still have to stop the big play, and not let Houston march up and down the field willingly (like Dallas during the end of the game). If they do, the game will be a lot uglier than last week's Dallas game.


I will say though, that these teams do know each other pretty well, despite being in opposite conferences. Houston head coach Gary Kubiak is under the Mike Shanahan coaching tree since he was his coordinator in Denver, and Kyle Shanahan (Mike's son) coordinated under Kubiak last year in Houston, and practically built Houston's high powered offense. Based on that, it should be an interesting chess match, especially on offense.


But based on everything I've said so far, and from what was seen last week, the overall edge goes to Houston. The Skins haven't really gotten their running game going yet, and the only the tight ends have shown some glimmer of hope on the offensive side of the ball. And like I said, the Skins still haven't scored an offensive touchdown. And even though I think the Redskins may have the edge on defense, Houston's defense is still nothing to sneeze at. The gap between the 2 offenses, in my opinion, is larger than the gap against the two defenses. As far as special teams go, when all is said and done, I don't think we'll be talking about ST come the end of the game. 

So I give the edge to Houston. The line for this game is Houston by 3. I think that sounds about right. As much as I would like the Redskins to win every game, and I would like to think that Redskins will perform better than they did last week, but even if they do perform better, the realist and prognosticator in me would think that it may not be enough.


Game prediction... Houston 28, Redskins 24.



Of course, I will be more than happy if I'm wrong and if the Redskins happen to pull out a win. It should be an interesting game nonetheless. Like I said, the coaching staff is familiar with each other, and from that, it should be an interesting match to watch.


HTTR,
-OBE



PS: I do regret, I probably won't be watching the whole game though. On an unrelated note, I do start my first day as a Youth Counselor in my church that evening, (which is another way to make an impact with "our future"). Therefore, I may miss a good chunk of the 2nd half. But, I will still post my postgame blog sometime after the game.

Are You Ready for Some Football??? 2010 Edition

In case you don't know, the NFL Season kicks off tonight. It seems like there's a lot of buzz throughout this particular season, and from the looks of it (at least from my viewpoint) many people are more excited than they have been in a long time. It may have something to do from all the free agents who switched teams (ie: McNabb, T.O.), to this year's overpaid draft class (ie: Sam Bradford, Tebow, Suh, and Bryant), to all the drama that's been taking place in the offseason (Haynesworth, usual Brett Favre, etc), people are undoubtedly talking a lot about the football season. Add to that with the fact that there's a possibility that there might not be a season next year due to a need for a new collective bargaining agreement, this season may be one to remember for years to come.

I'm going to do this blog entry in a similar way that I did last year, offer a few thoughts and opinions about a few teams/storylines going into this season, then offer some general predictions, such as superbowl matchups, as well as what I generally think might happen to a few players or a few teams. I will also still not offer predictions of divisional champions, playoff berths, nor a Super Bowl Champion. So here are some predictions (minus my opinions on the Redskins)...

Thoughts...

• Most of the teams seem significantly improved, and it appears hard to separate the teams this early in the preseason. Therefore, I would say there's no team (or teams) that really separates itself from the rest of the league.
• The bay area teams will be surprising and much improved. 49ers have a solid chance of clinching the NFC West, and Jason Campbell will improve the Raiders.
• The Jets may be overrated, and I think they will fall short from the expectations they have hyped themselves up for.
• The AFC South is STACKED!

Predictions

• This will be Bret Favre's final year!
• The Bills and the Seahawks will be the worst teams in the league.
• The Steelers will fall in a big hole in the first few games and won't recover in what seems to be a 2-horse AFC North race.
• with the Rams' O-line issues Sam Bradford will be hurt before the year is over (God forbid)
• Dallas won't become the first team to host the Superbowl in their own stadium
• Early Superbowl Matchup Prediction: Ravens vs Vikings (all purple Super Bowl)

In case you're wondering the reasoning behind the Super Bowl Matchup, after some thought, even though I feel the Vikings may not be as good as they were last year and don't look as good on paper as teams like Dallas or even Green Bay, they are still solid all around in every position, and if you catch a break or two in the playoffs... you never know. As far as the Ravens, I usually pick them high every year considering I'm pretty familiar with them, but they look like a great team this year, with significant upgrades on offense, an always solid defense with unbelievable leadership, and they have some sick depth.


So those are my general thoughts/predictions of the upcoming 2010 season. You may have noticed though that I have withheld my thoughts on the Redskins. I have a whole separate blog (or few) for that in the future. I may offer a few thoughts on the team in general, and I will definitely offer a few thoughts on this initial game in Dallas. So stay tuned.


Let the gridiron theater begin. As I said last year, I love this time of the year! This season should be a lot of fun.


D4P...PD!!!
-OBE

Super Bowl XLIV: Who Dat? or Who Da Man(ning)?

In a few hours, the biggest sports and entertainment extravaganza in America is about to take place. Millions of people will be watching the spectacle that is the Superbowl... the epic matchup between the Indianapolis Colts of the AFC against the New Orleans Saints of the NFC.

This is a battle between two high profile offenses, who know how to put points on the board. The Saints is the league's #1 offense this year, while the Colts have Peyton Manning, who will be in the discussion as far as the "Greatest of All Time" when all is said and done. Both Manning and Brees (QB of the Saints) know how to make the best of the receiving talent that is put in front of them, making them legitimate threats when they were previously in nobody's radar (who's heard of Pierre Garcon or Lance Moore before these 2 QBs had them).

As far as weaknesses are concerned, many people have been quick to point out the weak secondary of the Saints (even my terrible Washington Redskins shredded them when they played them early December). As far as the Colts, they don't have a great running game, mainly because Manning does the majority of the offensive management and doesn't really play a lot of "ball control" offense.

So based on all of this, this game is expected to be a high octane offensive game, where most of the points are going to be scored in the air. But, I noticed over the years, when much hype is made of a particular matchup or a particular detail of either team, that hype usually doesn't live up. So although people are expecting a lot of points to be scored, I don't think it's going to be as much as it's going to be. In fact, don't be surprised if you see a score or two in defense.

As far as who I'm picking... if I was a gambling man, I would probably pick the Colts, since overall, they probably are the more well-rounded, and more talented team overall. Not to mention, they have arguably the best player in the game right now in Peyton Manning. But, luckily for the Saints, I'm not a gambler. I'm rooting for the Saints because the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana has been through a lot with Hurricane Katrina a few years ago, and a Superbowl win can definitely help lift up some spirits in that area, and could help the economy a little bit, since it will gain a little bit of interest in that area. Therefore, since I am rooting for the Saints, and my heart is saying New Orleans... I will be picking them for the upset. Like I said, don't be surprised if we see an unexpected wild card that can possibly steal this game for the Saints, and I think there's a good possibility in that. And since I said that this might not be as huge as far as score as everybody's predicting (over-under 57.5), here's my prediction...

Saints 27 Colts 24

MVP: Drew Brees

Who dat?

Are You Ready for Some Football???

I sure am!!!

The NFL season officially kicks off tomorrow, and I am pretty excited about it. I just want to take a little time to offer some thoughts, and just make a few simple and non-serious predictions (for entertainment purposes of course)...

Thoughts...

• The top teams looking the most solid going into the season would be the Patriots, Ravens, and the Eagles. The Chargers should also be even better since they'll get "Light's Out" back.
  
• The Bears, 49ers, and Jaguars could probably be the surprise teams this season.
• The Cowboys and Giants aren't gonna be as great as some people are saying they will be.
• Brett Favre will either make or break the Vikings

Predictions...

• The Lions will NOT go 0-16.
• Brett Favre will either be injured or not starting if the Vikings don't have a winning record by the bye week and/or if they don't beat the Packers. (They'd already have played the Packers twice and have a favorable first half schedule, with the exception of the Steelers).
• Vick will be a valuable weapon in the Philly offense.
• Regular Season... Best: Chargers, Worst: Buccaneers, Sleeper: 49ers (picking them to challenge for the NFC West)
  
• Fantasy... Stud: Phillip Rivers, Dud: Tony Romo, Sleeper: Ray Rice
  
• Superbowl matchup: Eagles vs. Ravens

As far as my Redskins are concerned, they are not as bad as most people are saying they are gonna be. They have a decent chance to go over 10 wins (but also a decent chance to lose 10, if not careful). Regardless, I don't think they will lose that much, considering the talent level. I am also predicting that their 5th-string WR Marko Mitchell could potentially be their version of Marques Colston, and could make it to the #2 WR spot by the end of the season. And, since I said the Cowboys and Giants may not be as good as people say they will be, I believe they have a decent chance to challenge in the division.

One reason why I really love football season, is that it provides the best drama out of all the sports, and provides great story telling, with several plot lines, characters, and coverage. And as a speaker, I can appreciate that kind of "art".

But, those are just a few thoughts. I am so pumped for this season. I love this time of the year!

D4P...PD!!!
-John