Eyes On NFL: Wild Card Round

By @TrueGodImmortal

The time has arrived. The NFL playoffs have begun. This weekend will see the start of the playoffs and the road to the Super Bowl begin. Of course, there are four games this weekend that will determine what the second round of the playoffs will be. Which teams will advance to face the Eagles, the Vikings, the Patriots, and Steelers? Let's take a look at the wild card round.

*Kansas City Chiefs vs Tennessee Titans 

-I have no desire to really watch this game. I'll be honest. The Chiefs and the Titans are two teams I didn't want to see in the playoffs. The Chiefs haven't been at their best since the first few weeks of the season and the Titans aren't a true threat. Marcus Mariota is a solid quarterback, but the biggest question mark about the Titans going forward is their defense. Can they stop Kareem Hunt, Alex Smith, and their receiving core? That will be the true question that decides this game. The Chiefs have played better than I expected the last few weeks, but that's mostly due to the level of competition. Their schedule allowed them to make it this far, but I think their luck doesn't run out just yet. The Titans will put up a fight, but the Chiefs will have more answers for them. I predict the Chiefs will walk away with the victory here.

Winner: Chiefs

*Atlanta Falcons vs Los Angeles Rams 

-I see a lot of people saying this game will be won by the Falcons. I'm not so sure. I think the fight within the Falcons will help them get an edge early in the game, but I don't think they have enough  to sustain Todd Gurley, who could be the difference maker in the game. The Falcons seem to be a bit banged up and that could be a difference maker in this game. The Rams have that great offense and with Jared Goff, Gurley, and all of the receivers playing, it might be tougher for the Falcons to slow them down. The fact remains however that the Falcons do have more playoff experience, but this is one and done. If the Rams come out firing, this game will be their victory and I predict they will win a close one.

Winner: Rams

*Buffalo Bills vs Jacksonville  Jaguars 

-I don't have high hopes for this one at all. This game might be ugly. I never expected to see the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs and I sincerely hope they don't win this game. Their defense has been surprisingly good against lesser offensive foes, but the Jaguars run game will be a big issue for them to stop. Blake Bortles has flashes of brilliance along with his usual mediocre play, but I can't determine what type of performance he will give us in this game. However, Tyrod Taylor has a lot to prove in this game after the benching debacle earlier in the season, and with the chance of Shady missing this game, it could really get ugly for the Bills. Still, I think this game will end up being a solid one with the Jaguars winning by 10 points. The Jaguars defense will need to step up and make things happen in order for Jacksonville to advance.

Winner: Jaguars

*Carolina Panthers vs New Orleans Saints 

-This is the most interesting game of the weekend. Two NFC South rivals with two important quarterbacks will do battle. The difference maker in this will be defense. All signs would point to the Saints being able to slow down the Panthers, who have struggled a bit, but the Saints are by default the NFC South Champions. Their run game is deadly, their passing game can be deadly if Drew Brees is focused, and they have an improved defense after the early problems they experienced. The question is, do they have what it takes to beat the Panthers? This is going to be a tougher battle than I believe most expect and for some reason, I can see Cam Newton having one of his best games this season and leading the Carolina offense down the field throughout. I think this could go either way, but I do believe that we'll see the Panthers pull off what has to be considered an upset.

Winner: Panthers

-True

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Eyes on the Ring 11:55 PM  No comment

Eyes On NFL: Week 17 Games To Watch

By @TrueGodImmortal

This is it. After everything that's transpired in the NFL season so far, from the kneeling controversy  (funny how that went away quickly) to the numerous injuries, it all comes to an end for a majority of teams. With the playoffs lurking and so close, I wanted to take a look at the games that matter this week. Most of the playoff spots have been solidified and the divisions have been decided, except one. The AFC West, South, East, and North have all been won. The NFC West, East, and North have all been won. The only division that hasn't been decided? The NFC South, the most competitive division this year. This week will decide that division, as well as a few of the final playoff spots. So, what games should you be tuned into? Let's take a look.

*Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee Titans 

-This game is important for one reason: if the Jaguars win, the Titans don't make the playoffs. The Jaguars want to keep their momentum up for the playoffs, so they likely want to play their starters to make sure they are a bit rusty for the Wild Card, but the facts are, the Jaguars are having a bigger year than any of us expected. The Jaguars want to bounce back due to that 49ers loss, and they definitely seem like they have a focus heading into this week. Their defense will be interesting to watch against Marcus Mariota, who has an opportunity to make the playoffs after coming so close last year. Who wins? My money is on the Jaguars here.

*Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins 

-The Bills are in the playoff picture and could end up in their with a win over the Dolphins, a Chargers' loss, and a loss by the Titans. As crazy as that sounds, I actually expect them to get the win here and possibly make the playoffs. However, if karma is dictating the fate of this team, they will NOT walk away with any victory due to the one game where they benched Tyrod Taylor for no reason essentially. Still, in this game? I predict the Bills pull it off. Whether or not they make the playoffs is another story.

*Arizona Cardinals vs Seattle Seahawks 

-The final NFC playoff spot is up for grabs and it is literally two teams vying for it. The Seahawks should have an advantage going into this one, as the Cardinals haven't looked great all season, and with their playoff hopes on the line, it seems as if the Seahawks have continued to rise to the occasion. While it is strange not seeing them already clinched for a playoff berth, I will say that the Seahawks are still in a good position, and if Russell Wilson has anything to say about it, the Seahawks will win this game and move on to what's next, which is hopefully a playoff berth for them.

*Carolina Panthers vs Atlanta Falcons 

-The most important game of the week. For the Panthers, a win could mean they take their division. For the Falcons, a win could mean they are in the playoffs. For both teams, a lot is at stake. The Panthers, who have struggled at times with the Falcons, might want to take this game even more seriously than before, as a possible Falcons playoff berth could signal an issue for the Panthers in the postseason. Still, I feel like the Falcons will pull this off, as they seem hungry, but the biggest question mark will be whether or not the Falcons will have Julio Jones at full strength as he missed practice once. If Julio is healthy, the Falcons should see a victory. If the Panthers have any luck, Julio won't be effective and they can coast to a win. My money however is on the Falcons.

*New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

-This game only matters because it will likely decide the fate of the NFC South. Will the Saints get it together and make something happen? Will they be able to hold off the disgruntled Bucs who have to be disappointed in their season? I think they might. However, with the Saints comfortably in a playoff spot, they might not play as tough, while the Bucs want to leave their lasting impression for the season with a statement win, so it is entirely possible we see the Bucs sneak away with a victory in this game. For me, I think the Saints pull it off, but I'm not 100% sold on that. Still, this last week should be fun for football. I'll be tuned in, as should you.

-True 

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Eyes on the Ring 11:33 PM  No comment

Eyes On NFL: Week 6 Games To Watch

By @TrueGodImmortal

Week 6 of the NFL season is upon us. We've seen some interesting things during the season, and with the middle of the season approaching, a lot of teams know where they stand going forward. While there aren't too many games that stick out this week as being possibly great, there are a few that will be interesting. Let's take a look at those.

*Philadelphia Eagles vs Carolina Panthers 

-This is one of the most interesting games for sure. With both teams coming into this one at 4-1, it'll be interesting to see what the outcome is. Carson Wentz is playing well, but the Panthers defense has provided some trouble for a number of quarterbacks so far this year and it could be the same for Wentz. On the other hand, Cam Newton is playing absolutely like the MVP and shows no signs of letting up. Will Cam end continuing his winning ways with another great performance? Or will the Eagles soar to another victory?

*Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings 

-I am usually not excited for NFC North battles and this isn't really much different. The Packers are 4-1 however, and with Sam Bradford back (I think Case Keenum will start likely), this game could get interesting. I would keep an eye on Stefon Diggs for the Vikings, but of course, the man to watch in this game is AR12, Aaron Rodgers. The Vikings defense is solid, but Rodgers breaks down defenses quite often. Can he do it again? All signs can seem to point to a yes, and for that reason alone, this game is one to look out for. Here's hoping Rodgers puts up 300 plus yards and at least 3 TDs.

*Detroit Lions vs New Orleans Saints

-In a way, this game has no business being on this list. The Lions, on paper, should be heavy favorites, as they've proven that they are a good enough time. However, Drew Brees is still Drew Brees and with the Adrian Peterson situation taken care of, perhaps the offense will flow much smoother. Matt Stafford will likely have a good game against this terrible Saints defense, but will it be enough? I would say yes, and I predict the Lions pull out the win in what should be a shootout.

*New England Patriots vs New York Jets 

-First things first, the Patriots defense is still terrible. Don't be fooled by the horrible field goal kicks and the miscues from Jameis, the Patriots should have lost to the Bucs. The Bucks had a touchdown overturned and missed about 4 field goals, most of which should have been easy to make. The Patriots secondary still hasn't found their niche yet, but perhaps they won't have to against the Jets. Surprisingly, both teams have the same record and I would have never guessed that would be the case going into week 6. However, the Jets and the Patriots could be interesting if the Patriots defense doesn't step up. I expect the Patriots to win, but wouldn't be surprised to see the Jets pull off an upset.

*Los Angeles Rams vs Jacksonville Jaguars 

-This game could very be one of the most intriguing of the season. I never expected either team to be where they are right now and that's with winning records. While that could all change by the next week or two, I still think this game could be interesting. Could the Jaguars defense slow down the production of the Rams offense, mainly Todd Gurley? Can Blake Bortles actually have a good game offensively for once? Can Jared Goff shine in this game? Who walks away from this game with the victory? Those questions are enough to make me tune in.

*Pittsburgh Steelers vs Kansas City Chiefs 

-Big Ben looks washed. He doesn't seem the same. While he can still manage to get some passes in, he hasn't looked great this season and father time might be calling him to the retirement land. Still, the Steelers have Le'Veon Ball and Antonio Brown, along with a solid defense, so you can't count them out. However, the Chiefs come into this game undefeated and with all the momentum in the world on their side. They could very well end up 6-0 in this game. Kareem Hunt is a beast, and Alex Smith is playing the best football of his career. Can the Chiefs maintain their undefeated run and defeat the Steelers? I think they will and they'll get a measure of revenge for what occurred in the playoffs last season. This is probably the most must see game of the week, as the Chiefs are still reigning as the best team in football until further notice.

-True 

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Eyes on the Ring 2:37 AM  No comment

Eyes On NFL: Week 5 Games To Watch

By @TrueGodImmortal

The NFL is experiencing a great turn of events as it seems the pace has picked up after the first four weeks. With week 5 getting closer and closer, we figured it was time to return with another look at the games that you want to keep an eye on this week. Let's get right into it.

*New England Patriots vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

-The Patriots don't look as good as we expected them to. They added more pieces this year and while their offense is still solid, the defense isn't doing their job. The Patriots got lucky against the Texans, but their breakdown against the Panthers was interesting. Tom Brady is still as good as ever, but admittedly, that hasn't been good enough. The Patriots should really be 1-3, but that's another story. Their defense doesn't seem like it'll get better as the season progresses, in fact, it could get worse. If that is the case, then the Bucs could pull out a victory. I expect the Patriots to pull out a victory, but I wouldn't be shocked to see a poised Jameis surprise the world and exploit that defense. By the time you read this, I'm sure the game will have already taken place.

*Carolina Panthers vs Detroit Lions 

-Cam Newton is all over the news again. Only this time, the Panthers are winning. There is no "dab on them folks" happening right now, not even Superman Cam, he's just very anti media it seems at the moment and while I personally enjoy that, it hasn't rubbed the media and society the right way. That aside, Cam is shining on the field again, and the Panthers could make a statement in this game. The Lions look solid this year and this is a make or break game for both teams. Can Cam show up? Can the Panthers defense control the Lions and their offense? Will Matt Stafford have a big game? Only time will tell. I predict the Panthers pull out a victory in a close game, but it can go either way.

*Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Rams 

-The Rams are 3-1. I would have never expected to read that. Granted, they haven't been tested heavily, minus the Cowboys game, but they look great this year. Jared Goff isn't elite, but he looks solid this year and I could see him continuing the trend against the Seahawks. Todd Gurley is the one to watch, as he has been a beast this season and doesn't show signs of slowing down. Seattle and their defense will be a challenge to battle against, but the Rams seem up to the challenge. The Seahawks will have a slightly tougher task than the Colts with the Rams, so this could go either way. I think the Seahawks could take it, but I actually am pulling for the Rams to continue to their run towards winning the division.

*Green Bay Packers vs Dallas Cowboys 

-The playoff rematch that I was waiting on really. After watching the Packers and the Falcons, I was curious to see how the Packers and Cowboys would play out. It could go either way really, with Aaron Rodgers dominating the Cowboys defense, or Dak and Zeke taking advantage of the injury stricken Packers defense, and their defense going at the injury stricken Packers offensive line. Both teams have something to lose here, and I think we could see a great game. If I had to pick a winner, I would probably go with the Packers by a touchdown, but I expect a great performance from Aaron Rodgers, but a lot of pressure from the Cowboys defense and solid performances from Dak and Zeke.

*Kansas City Chiefs vs Houston Texans 

-This should be a great game. The Texans are on the heels of that epic performance against the Titans and the Chiefs are 4-0. There's a perfect storm brewing and this game has a chance to be the best game of the week. Who will emerge victorious? That remains to be seen, but I like this matchup. Deshaun Watson has been superb and Kareem Hunt has been excellent. These two are the players to watch in this game, and I think Alex Smith could be the difference maker. This should be a close one, but I'll go with the Chiefs to hold on in a close game. If the Texans managed to steal a win however, it wouldn't surprise me either. Of all the games this week, this is the one I'll keep the closest eye on just because I expect a great one.

-True 

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Eyes on the Ring 6:30 PM  No comment

Eyes On NFL: The Carolina Panthers Need A New Head Coach

By @AmeenKnows

The Panthers have been in existence for 23 years. They first started play in 1995. In those 23 years, we have had four head coaches. None have been able to achieve the feat of having back to back winning seasons. Why is this important? Because it defines a mode of inconsistency and stagnation that has left this franchise running in place for the entirety of its existence. Which brings us to the here and now.

Ron Rivera has been head coach of the Carolina Panthers since 2011 with a record of 50-35-1. He is a 2x Coach of the Year Winner, won the NFC South Division 3x and has made a Super Bowl apperance in 2015. Impressive? On paper, yes. Let's analyze. Of those 7 years, Rivera has only 2 winning seasons. His Coach of the Year seasons are his only winning seasons and the only seasons in which he has reached 8 wins or more (12-4 in 2013, 15-1 in 2015.) With 2017 still pending, he has a record of 19-29-1 with his winning seasons unincluded. Sandwiched between two winning seasons is a 7-8-1 season that was good enough in a horrible NFC South to win the division. He's 3-3 in the playoffs. In all 3 losses, he was severely outcoached by Jim Harbaugh, Pete Carroll and Gary Kubiak.

Now let's talk philosophy. Rivera comes from the Mike Ditka coaching tree and has said many of times that Ditka has been one of his biggest influences as a head coach. That being said, his mentor has a direct correlation to the Panthers identity as a team. Ground and pound and play hard defense right? The year he became head coach, Cam Newton was selected first overall in the NFL Draft. In his first season, the offense took off under the rookie sensation, going from being ranked 32nd to 7th in one year! 

In 2012, the team finished in the top 15 once again. Both offenses were led by Rob Chudzinski. In the 2013 offseason, Chud took the Cleveland Browns head coaching gig (was fired after one season and works for the Colts now). Quarterbacks coach Mike Shula was called up to replace Chud as the Offensive Coordinator. That year the team finished with a 12-4 record with the 2nd ranked defense in the League. The offense? They fell off a Cliff, going from 12th to 26th. In 2014, the offense finished 16th with another top 10 defense. In 2015 with the league MVP calling the shots, they were still only good enough for 11th but did lead the league in scoring. In the Super Bowl, they failed to make any second half offensive adjustments and did not score the rest of the game. In 2016, the offense finished 19th with the defense falling below the top 10 for the first time since drafting Luke Kuechly. One of the reasons why is because of Rivera's inability to see that his offensive coordinator, who is the play caller, is hurting his team.

Which brings me to another point. I really question how much Rivera cares about his Quarterback who has become the scapegoat for everything that ails the Panthers. Cam Newton has regularly taken a beating from fans and media for not developing into a Brady-esque pocket passer. What is unbeknownst or simply ignored by most is that Rivera has essentially stunted Newton's growth by refusing to find him better coaching to surround him with. When your offense regularly finishes outside the top 15 that calls for changes to be made. Rivera has also criticized his Quarterback to the media, telling them he looked shook last season and even benched him for a series for not wearing a tie on the Seattle trip. Another reason I question him is how he handles Cam's health. A clearly concussed Newton was allowed back into the game against Denver in 2016 after taking multiple direct hits to the head and led them to what would have been the game winning field goal had Graham Gano not missed. 

Later in the season when Newton suffered a slightly torn rotator cuff in Week 13 against San Diego, he allowed Newton to finish playing through the rest of the season. This begs me to question why would Rivera, who shut down Kuechly with a concussion for the rest of the year, allow his QB to aggravate an injury in his throwing shoulder in the final three games with nothing to play for? That's gross negligence on his behalf. Through 3 games this year, Cam Newton still does not look even 60% healthy or confident in that shoulder yet Rivera won't save him from himself and sit him.

I understand that I can't blame Rivera for the front office not surrounding the franchise QB with better pieces however I refuse to support the decision to hold on to an incompetent Offensive Coordinator and not protect said QB. The Super Bowl hangover is over. When your own Linebacker shows he cares more than your head coach on the sideline, you have a problem. It's time to move on.

-Ameen 

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Eyes on the Ring 9:33 PM  No comment