Eyes On NFL: Ranking The Last 5 Super Bowls

By @TrueGodImmortal

Super Bowl 52 has just concluded and it was quite possibly one of the best we've seen in years, maybe a top 5 Super Bowl ever. Aside from the horrid halftime show, the game delivered on so many levels from an offensive standpoint with huge defensive stops coming at some of the most clutch moments. With that being said, the last five years have been interesting for the NFL and the Super Bowl and we wanted to take the time to rank them in order. Is SB 52 the best Super Bowl of the last 5 years? What Super Bowl is the worst of the last 5? Let's take a look.

5. Super Bowl 48
(Seahawks vs Broncos, 43-8)

-Of all the Super Bowls eligible to make the list, this is by far the worst of them. By far. As a Broncos fan, there might be nothing else more boring than watching a Super Bowl with them in it, but this was just sad. The Seahawks defense tore apart the Broncos offense at will, with Malcolm Smith winning the Super Bowl MVP award. The score was 22-0 at the half, and the Broncos couldn't get anything going as Peyton Manning finished 34/49 and 280 yards with only 1 TD and 2 INTs, while a more poised Russell Wilson finished 18/25 for 206 yards and 2 TDs. This game wasn't what anyone expected and as disappointing as it was, it marked a big moment for the Seahawks.

4. Super Bowl 50
(Broncos vs Panthers, 24-10)

-Simply put, this is quite possibly one of the most boring Super Bowls to watch even as a Broncos fan. There was very little suspense, with the Broncos mostly controlling the game throughout with their defense. The defense was the reason that they got there in the first place, as Peyton Manning was a shell of his self, and Cam Newton couldn't seem to get it going. Maybe it was the big stage, maybe it was the playoff experience, maybe it was all of these things combined, but the Broncos managed to overcome the Panthers in a mostly easy fashion, with Von Miller and his defensive pressure walking away with the Super Bowl MVP. The Panthers fought hard, but it just wasn't their night. Still, there wasn't much excitement behind the game.

3. Super Bowl 49
(Patriots vs Seahawks, 28-24)

-I hate this game personally. It felt as if the Seahawks had the win in the bag and they gave it away on purpose. With the ball on the 1 yard line, they threw it instead of letting Marshawn Lynch run it, even though he had put up over 100 yards on the ground. Russell Wilson was decent with 12/21 on 247 yards and 2 TDs with an INT, but Lynch was the one they needed to go to on that final play, which resulted in the Malcolm Butler interception that sealed the victory. I'll be honest, Brady wasn't necessarily spectacular in this game, but he would win Super Bowl MVP and his 4th championship, marking a return to Super Bowl greatness for the Patriots after a 10 year drought.

2. Super Bowl 51
(Patriots vs Falcons, 34-28)

-This. Game. The dreaded 28-3 game is one of the most historical Super Bowls in history just for how it turned out and how it ends. The Falcons controlled the first half, scoring at will and destroying the Patriots defense. The Patriots couldn't score. They couldn't get anything rolling, and as a result, they would end up down at the half 21-3. The Falcons would take a 28-3 lead early on in the 3rd quarter and it seemed as if they had the game in the bag. After the 3rd quarter, they were still up 28-9, and all they needed to do was get down the field for a field goal or one more TD and the game was essentially out of reach. 15 minutes. One more quarter. Unfortunately, 19 unanswered points would do them in, and take this game to OT. The Patriots would make the comeback complete with one final touchdown to win the game and the Super Bowl. It's the biggest choke job ever by a team in the Super Bowl and the Falcons should be ashamed without a doubt. Tom Brady rightfully wins the Super Bowl MVP and this solidified his legacy as the greatest. His fifth ring came in an amazing performance that saw him go 43/62 for 466 yards and 2 touchdowns.

1. Super Bowl 52
(Eagles vs Patriots, 41-33)

-The greatest of the last 5 years by far. There is so much to this Super Bowl that makes it the best that it's hard to really explain. For one, the Patriots survived a game that I think they should have lost against the Jaguars, while the Eagles had the best underdog Super Bowl run in quite some time. After losing a number of players to injury, including the real MVP (Carson Wentz) and some important pieces, the Eagles had the odds stacked against them. With Nick Foles as the QB, most people wouldn't expect him to keep up in a shootout with Tom Brady. How mistaken we were. The Patriots trailed a majority of this game as the Eagles put up a dominant performance and kept their poise throughout even when the Patriots came back to take the lead for a brief period. The Eagles would win 41-33, in one hell of an exciting game, the best one of the last 5 to 10 years easily, with Nick Foles walking away with the Super Bowl MVP trophy. This is easily the best Super Bowl of the last five years without question.

-True

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Eyes on the Ring 2:33 AM  No comment

Eyes On NFL: Power Rankings

By @CondomsIUse 

Introduction
The NFL season is nearing the end and with that being said, we wanted to rank the top 5 teams in the entire league. Which teams rank at the top of the pack? Who are the top 5 teams? Well, we got a listing from Melvin, and these are his top 5 teams in the NFL. Let's get into it.

1. New England Patriots (11-3)

-Patriots are the same beast they have been for the past 17 years. They are the best team in football and will most likely return back to the Super Bowl. With Tom Brady playing at a MVP level, Gronk being healthy this year, AND Lewis stepping it up, who can stop them?

2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)

-The Eagles without Wentz are still monsters and can play with anybody. They have one of the best front 7’s in football and an offense so explosive even Foles can dominate and make any defense look silly with those weapons they have.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4)

Jaguars have the best defense in football, statistically and historically one of the best defenses in NFL history, and are on their way to the playoffs. I see them as being the New England stoppers, on some Mark Sanchez type shit.

4. Minnesota Vikings (11-3)

-Vikings are a complete team with a great defense, the best corner and safety in football, and an offense that can catch hot whenever they feel like. They will probably have home field advantage along with the Eagles, unless if they pull a late season collapse and give it to the Saints.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3)

Steelers are still a top 5 team in football despite the loss to the Patriots. However, last sunday we saw how VALUABLE Antonio Brown is to his team. Is it possible we might see history this year and see a WR for the first time in history be awarded MVP?

-Mel

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Eyes on the Ring 1:12 AM  No comment

Eyes On NFL: The Three Best QBs This Season

Introduction 

The NFL has been pretty good this season despite the obvious issues. One thing that's been interesting this season has been the QB play this year. Aaron Rodgers missed an extended period of time, Deshaun Watson is out, Andrew Luck was out, and now Carson Wentz is done for the season. Still, there have been some great QBs this year, including Wentz, so with that, I gathered up some of the guys to talk about their 3 top QBs this season, let's get into it.

@Peagle05
Of course, my list is up through week 14, so my choices should be no shock.

*Carson Wentz
-Despite the season ending injury, Wentz has been better than expected with his second year jump, led the Eagles to the best record in the NFC, has crazy elusiveness and vision for a QB as well. Can't wait to see how he does when he gets back.

*Tom Brady
-No shock here, he is 40 and still putting up numbers and running an efficient offense. That definitely matters.

*Russell Wilson
-He has been performing night in and night out with no offensive line and little to no running game and still finding ways to win. That's extremely impressive for a number of reasons.

@CondomsIUse
It has been jumping up and down from QB to QB. For the first five games, the best QB was by far Alex Smith (never thought i’d say that). But that changed. Here are my three choices.

1. Russell Wilson
-Wilson has been playing at an MVP level this season. With multiple injuries affecting the team, he’s carried the Seahawks on his back, leading them to 8 wins so far, has tossed 29 TD’s and 3500 yards. I think he is the MVP this season.

2. Carson Wentz
-Extraordinary season he’s had. He made a big jump from last season, tossing 33 TD’s and has led the Eagles to an NFC best 11-2 record.

3. Tom Brady
-Tom again doing his GOAT duties. 10-3 record, leads the NFL in yards, and is on his way to another Super Bowl. What else did I expect from him?

@TrueBlueLowry21
For my three choices, I had to REALLY look into the numbers and see how things have gone. Let's take a look at my three choices.

*Tom Brady
-Based off how he’s been performing, and his low interceptions, I think you have to give Brady some credit, especially being 40. That matters a lot.

*Carson Wentz
-Despite his injury, you have to include Wentz because the Philly offense has really taken off with his play, and he's been pretty good all season, and was likely to be a top MVP candidate. 

*Drew Brees
-Despite his issues early on, it seems as if he’s playing like his old self and that has N.O. playing good football right now. Will it continue into the playoffs and to end the season? That remains to be seen.

@TrueGodImmortal
My choices are tough to pick because there are a lot of good QBs who will miss my list. I'll keep it simple and list my three and a small reason like everyone else.

*Carson Wentz
-The Best QB this season. Mainly because he isn't a legend. He isn't Rodgers. He isn't Big Ben. He isn't Cam. He isn't Brees. And he was never expected to be. However, he led the Eagles to an amazing 11-2 run and though he will miss the rest of the season, he is still the best QB this year and the most improved in the league. Period.

*Russell Wilson
-The Seahawks have no offensive line and their secondary is a bit depleted, but Russell Wilson has led them with ease. He's been getting banged up a bit, but he's a perennial MVP candidate and with a few more wins under his belt, he might just be able to pull away with the trophy. His numbers are outstanding and his ability is beyond belief. Russ is my 2nd choice for the best QB this year.

*Tom Brady
-I have never been a Brady fan. With that being said, I still think there is much to be said about his performance this season. The Patriots are 10-3 and will likely end up with that first round bye week in the playoffs and possibly home field advantage. That's mostly due to Brady. Sure, he has a number of weapons on offense, but it's his accuracy and poise on the field that drives that team. Brady is another favorite for MVP and with Wentz out, he could very well win it.

Outro
Big Ben, Cam Newton, Alex Smith, and Philip Rivers have had good but somewhat inconsistent years, but overall, they just didn't make any of our lists. Still, this is a good year for QBs... at least from a stats perspective. Who are your top 3? Tell us in the comments below.

-EOTR 

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Eyes on the Ring 11:11 PM  No comment

Eyes On NFL: Week 14 Games To Watch

By @TrueGodImmortal

As the playoffs and the end of the regular season get closer and closer, it's only right we return with a look at Week 14 and these huge games that will go down this week. While there are some games that won't matter as much, there are plenty of games that do matter and those are the ones we will focus on here. Division rivalries, jockeying for playoff positioning and more, this week is a pivotal week in the NFL. Let's take a look.

*New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons

-This is a huge game for the NFC South. The Saints are 9-3 and they have all the momentum in the world. Brees isn't the same QB we have come to know, but Ingram and Kamara have picked up the slack for the offense and their defense has played much better than the first few weeks. The Falcons are struggling some, but they have one last shot at the playoffs and this game is the one. If they can pull off a win here, they stay alive in the hunt. If the Saints win, they are pretty much out of the picture, or at least their road to make the playoffs from 7-6 with the type of schedule they have is going to be extremely tough. This game is big for both teams as the Saints would inch closer to a NFC South title with a win, and the Falcons keep their playoff hopes alive with a win.

*Kansas City Chiefs vs Oakland Raiders 

-This game could end up being the determining factor in who wins the AFC West. These teams are tied for the no. 1 spot with the Chargers and both teams need a win. Expect both teams to play their hardest and go as hard as possible here. I don't know who will walk away with the win, but the Chiefs have to turn it around after a long losing streak, while the Raiders are building momentum. It'll come down to who wants it more, and with playoff possibilities riding on a game like this one, this should be a classic. 

*Minnesota Vikings vs Carolina Panthers 

-This game means a lot for both teams. It really does. The Vikings are at the top of the NFC. The Panthers are still in the Wildcard. Home field advantage in the playoffs is important and the Vikings inch closer to it and lock up their NFC North title with a win here. For Case Keenum and their offense, they need to exploit the Panthers defense. For the Panthers, Cam Newton has to play well and their defense has to step up. For the Panthers, a win here keeps their NFC South title hopes alive and also keeps them in the playoff hunt. The Vikings are solidified almost in the playoffs now, but a win here makes them ahead of the pack. Big game for both.

*Philadelphia Eagles vs Los Angeles Rams 

-This game is huge. Two of the most exciting teams in the NFL go at it with two of the most intriguing second year QBs going at it. Will this be a classic? Let's see. Two great offenses and two very good defenses both fighting to hold onto their top playoff spots? I would have to guess this will turn out to be a classic and if you would have told me last year that a primetime game of Carson Wentz vs Jared Goff would be an anticipated game for me, I would have laughed in your face. However, here we are and I'm excited for the game. It should be great. I pick the Eagles to barely pull out a close game that goes down to the wire.

*Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers 

-A really important game, this could decide the AFC North division. Will the Ravens win out the rest of the season? If they pull off this victory, it's very possible. The Steelers have this physical game to look forward to, after their rough battle with the Bengals, and they have another battle with the Patriots following it. This is a game for the Ravens to steal and I think they will. Their offense is getting better and with the Steelers banged up, they might be able to pull this one off.

There are more games to look out for like the Seahawks vs the Jaguars, and of course, we might want to see how Josh Gordon does in his second game back, but these five games are the ones to look out for. This could be the best week of the season so far.

-True 

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Eyes on the Ring 11:43 PM  No comment

Eyes On NFL: The MVP Race

By @TrueGodImmortal

Here we are. The NFL season is winding down and the question is now coming up.... who should be the MVP this season? After 11 games for most of the teams in the book, it's honestly a toss up at the moment between two QBs, one of which has been here before, and the other, no one expected to get here, at least not this fast. However, you could also add a few other names to this discussion as well, which leads me to this small list of MVP candidates for this year. To be fair, you'll see a few candidates who likely won't win at all and a few possible candidates left off from winning teams (it's hard to pinpoint a true MVP for the Steelers and the Vikings can't seriously place faith in Case Keenum just yet), but for the most part, this is really a two man race at the moment, but anything can happen in the NFL over the next 5 weeks. Who will win MVP? Let's take a look.

*Todd Gurley

-A long shot? Yes. Deserving? Probably not of the award. But as far as the consistency goes, it's either Jared Goff or Gurley who deserve the credit for their huge success this year and the lead in the NFC West. The beauty of the NFL MVP award is that it changes so quickly due to the fact that one or two games can alter the entire race. Gurley has well over 1100 yards from scrimmage already and has been a huge factor in the Rams being successful. Will Gurley end up as the MVP? Doubtful, but his hard work this season can't be ignored and should at least be somewhat recognized.

*Cam Newton 

-This is a huge long shot.... a huge long shot. However, Cam has shown flashes of greatness and somehow, the Panthers are deadlocked in a tie for first place in what is currently the most competitive division, the NFC South. If the Panthers can win the division and obtain a top 4 seed in the NFC, there might be a discussion to be had about Cam and another MVP. Once again, I don't expect Cam to actually seriously be considered, as this is mostly a two man race, but much like in all sports, there have to be other choices on the outside. Cam hasn't been perfect, but if the Panthers could finish the season at 11-5 or even 12-4, Cam might deserve a mention at least.

*Drew Brees 

-Does Brees deserve MVP consideration? Maybe... but if we had to pick someone, perhaps Kamara deserves it a little more? No? Well, fine. Brees hasn't been his usual stat stuffing self, but it hasn't mattered. He still has over 3000 yards passing so far, and can likely hit over the 4000 yard mark before the season ends, and although his total number of touchdowns are below his average, the Saints are 8-3, and likely a playoff team if they can keep this up. Brees is a big part of that success, as evidenced by his heroics in a recent game against the Redskins. Will Drew Brees be a serious MVP contender? Probably not, but he deserves a little bit of discussion in the conversation.

*Tom Brady

-This is a broken record. Brady likely has a chance to win but I'll be honest, his consistency this season is the main reason why he should be given the top consideration. His numbers this season are amazing, and at 40, the way he controls the game is beyond belief. Where he loses this argument somewhat is the fact that the Patriots haven't shown too many flashes of greatness at times, and they should more likely be 7-4 than 9-2. However, their record seems to be better than the actual team this year, but much like the Cavs in the NBA this year, they'll likely be in the Super Bowl. Brady is the biggest reason for their success and any other year, he would be an easy and undisputed choice for MVP, but I just don't think this year is his year... though he has a big chance to win, there is one player who has rose up to become the man who could steal it from Brady and the front-runner at the moment.

*Carson Wentz

-Let's be honest... Wentz is the MVP and the award is his to lose at this point. While Brady has better numbers as I said, we can't forget that a lot of those early Patriots games saw their defense not get the job done, and the 9-2 Pats should probably be 6-5 or 7-4 heading into week 13. However, enough about Brady. It's time for Wentz now. This is his year and he's owning it. Success can be so fleeting in the NFL, but this year? Carson Wentz  is playing football at a much higher rate than anyone expected. Will Wentz continue playing well into the end of the season? If he does, he's the MVP. No one predicted the Eagles would be 10-1 and the no. 1 team in football, but here they are. They have a tough stretch going forward to close the season, but if they can come out of that with a few more wins and secure the no. 1 seed in the NFC, the MVP award will undoubtedly be his. The Patriots and Brady are exactly where we expected them to be, but the Eagles have exceeded that, exceeded the Patriots and then some. As of now, the MVP award will go to Carson Wentz, but as we know... anything is possible in the NFL.

-True

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Eyes on the Ring 10:42 PM  No comment

Eyes On NFL: Week 9 Games To Watch

By @TrueGodImmortal 

Week 9 is amongst us. The halfway point of the season has arrived and the playoff picture is shaping up well. This week, we'll see some interesting games and hopefully some classics will come. With that being said, let's take a look at the games that will have big implications this week.

*Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets 

-I would never have expected the AFC East to be semi competitive. Sure, the Patriots are leading the pack as expected, but the Jets and Bills have fought hard and the Bills have a chance to get to 6-2. Will the Bills end up winning this game and put the Jets further out of playoff contention? I'll go with the Bills to win this one, but this game could turn out better than I expected when I saw it on the schedule at the start of the season.

*Atlanta Falcons vs Carolina Panthers 

-NFC South is up for grabs. The Saints aren't solidified as the top team yet, nor should they be, and the rest of the teams are struggling to maintain. For these two teams, this is a must win. This is a game that the Falcons need. Julio and Matt Ryan have to have a big game. For the Panthers, Cam Newton will be under pressure. With the loss of Kelvin Benjamin, there doesn't seem to be much of a receiving core for him, so this will be intriguing. Will the Falcons get the victory and get one step closer to repeating as NFC South champions? Or will the Panthers reclaim their momentum on the way to trying to regain their NFC South crown?

*Denver Broncos vs Philadelphia Eagles 

-I was excited for this game until I saw Brock Osweiler is starting for the Broncos. Truthfully, I wanted to see how much of a wreck Siemian was going to be against this solid Eagles defense. The issue with the Broncos is rooted in their stupidity to not go after better QBs. That has been the downfall for them this season and will be the downfall here. Carson Wentz will have a solid game and though the Denver defense will put up a fight, they will get no help once again from their offense. I expect the Eagles to win this game and continue their quest for the no. 1 seed in the NFC.

*Kansas City Chiefs vs Dallas Cowboys

-Initially, this was a game I was excited for. I figured, the Cowboys and the Chiefs seemed like a big matchup. Ezekiel Elliott and Dak against Alex Smith and Kareem Hunt. It had potential. Then, the official suspension of Zeke came into play. Now, the excitement has gone down considerably, and I don't expect this game to be as good as I once thought. The Cowboys have to adjust without Zeke, who is their most dangerous offensive weapon, and I think the Chiefs will take advantage of that. The Chiefs are on their way to becoming the AFC West winners and they are hungry once again, so I expect the Cowboys to struggle against their rush and pass defense while Kareem Hunt will likely have a huge game after some struggles against the Denver defense. The Chiefs win.

*Oakland Raiders vs Miami Dolphins 

-Now without Jay Ajayi, the Dolphins might rely on the receiver talents of Jarvis Landry to help carry them, but my question is, will that be enough? The Raiders need a big game and a big win, and this is likely the game that will happen. The Dolphins are a middle of the road team and the Raiders are underachieving at the moment, but with Marshawn Lynch back, Derek Carr in need of a big performance, and more, it is very possible, that the Raiders walk away with the victory over Miami. If Miami pulls out a victory in this game, I would consider the Raiders' season to be over.

-True

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Eyes on the Ring 5:51 PM  No comment