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: AFC and NFC Championship

By @TrueGodImmortal

We have arrived. After a long and brutal season, there are only four teams left. There are only four. With that being said, the championship round is not quite what we expected it to be. Many expected a rematch between the Steelers and the Patriots, while logic would have told you to expect a NFC Title battle between the Saints and the Falcons, but... as I said last week, anything is possible and I am not at all shocked at what occurred here. The Eagles vs Vikings and the story of the season, the Jacksonville Jaguars will take on the favorite to win it all, the New England Patriots. With all of these things set in motion now, the Super Bowl is so close and after this weekend, there will be two teams left standing. The entire season, all the ups and downs, all the controversy, from the kneeling to the suspensions to the injuries, has led us to this point. Who will make it to the Super Bowl? Let's take a look.

*AFC Championship
New England Patriots vs Jacksonville Jaguars 

-I would be pretty stupid to bet against the Patriots here right? So, I won't.... HOWEVER, if I had to pick the team I want to see win this one, it's the Jaguars. They are similar to the Ravens in 2000, similar to the Broncos in 2016, in the sense that their defense has got them this far, and could take them to the Super Bowl. After the way they gave the Steelers hell, one would be a bit foolish to expect the Patriots to completely demolish this Jaguars defense, but anything is possible. I would expect to see the Patriots take some punishment and while they have the top tier offense this season, one has to wonder can they slow down the run game. The most important factor in this game? Blake Bortles. If Bortles can play like he did for that stretch previously in the season, and the Jaguars play their best defense of the season? An upset could happen. For now, I'll go with the safe bet, but I honestly think the Jaguars could pull it off.

Winner: Patriots

*NFC Championship
Philadelphia Eagles vs Minnesota Vikings 

-After watching the defensive showing from both of these teams, I am extremely excited to see where this goes. This could be a turning point for the NFC, or at least a moment in time that we won't forget. Case Keenum led his team to a huge shocker of a victory against the Saints and Nick Foles did just enough to get the Eagles to this point, so with these two teams just barely making it to the dance, the no. 1 and 2 seed in the NFC now have their date with destiny. I'm not 100% convinced that this game will be high scoring, but I do see the potential for it. If it turns into a shootout... which it likely won't but still, I would have to lean towards the Vikings. If it goes through the run game and defense, I would have to go for the Eagles. This is really a tough one to call and any result is one that's fine with me. HOWEVER, I think fate might be on the side of the Vikings so that they can be the first team to host the Super Bowl ever. The narrative fits perfectly for what the NFL needs in terms of revenue and attention. Still, I'll go with my gut, and lean towards the Eagles, as Nick Foles might do just enough to lead Philly to the Super Bowl. Patriots vs Eagles? I think so. I would rather the Jaguars vs Eagles however, but we shall see.

Winner: Eagles

-True 

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Eyes on the Ring 12:21 AM  6 comments

Eyes On NFL: Divisional Round Playoffs

By @TrueGodImmortal

This is unusually early for this article, but it is appropriate. With the playoffs winding down and the divisional round about to kick off very soon, it's only fair we take a look at the games that will shape the AFC and NFC Championship Games. Who will walk out as a winner this week in the second round of the playoffs? Let's take a look.

*Atlanta Falcons vs Philadelphia Eagles

-I don't know what to really make of this game. Going forward, it's honestly interesting to see that the Falcons might be able to secure their ticket to the NFC Championship once again, and guess what? They might be the favorites considering the fact that the Eagles don't have Carson Wentz at QB, but for some reason.... after seeing the performance by the Falcons against the young Rams team, I'm not 100% convinced that the Falcons are going to walk into Philly and defeat the Eagles. The Eagles have a solid run game and a solid core of receivers and honestly, if Foles can play it sort of safe here and get the right throws and scores..... the Eagles could pull this off. While the smart money says the Falcons will win..... for me, I would like to think the Eagles have been well rested, fired up, and are ready to pull off a big time victory that would be the first time in history that a first seed upset a sixth seed.... at home. Atlanta fans, I know you want to get back to the Super Bowl....but I think the Falcons will take the Eagles lightly and that will be their downfall.

Winner: Eagles

*New England Patriots vs Tennessee Titans 

-I wish the Titans were better than this. I really do. Their coaching is suspect. Their defense isn't the greatest and we watched them make a comeback on a Chiefs team that is known for choking. Let's be clear: that was a fluke victory over the Chiefs, but the Patriots will not allow the same thing. If the Patriots have a 21-3 lead going into the half, you can bet the game is pretty much over. Tom Brady is precise in the playoffs and you'd be silly to beat against him..... HOWEVER, if we can get a top tier Marcus Mariota performance and Derrick Henry can run his ass off..... there might be something to this. The Titans for the upset? Unlikely, but if it does happen.... social media would crumble. Social media would fall.

Winner: Patriots

*New Orleans Saints vs Minnesota Vikings

-This is the most intriguing of the two NFC games. The Vikings have a wonderful defense, and their offense is just good enough to make something happen for them and led them to the NFC North title and a top 2 seed in the Conference. The Saints have a great offense, but after watching the refs help them secure the game against the Panthers, it's obvious that they could possibly be vulnerable going into this game and the Vikings could take advantage of this. Drew Brees had a vintage game against the Panthers, but the Vikings are a better team here. Many people are expecting to see a Falcons vs Saints NFC Title game.... but I don't see it. I expect to see the Falcons and the Saints lose for some reason, and we get the NFC Title game that no one expected: Nick Foles vs Case Keenum.

Winner: Vikings

*Pittsburgh Steelers vs Jacksonville Jaguars 

-I want to go ahead and say the AFC Title Game will be the Titans vs Jaguars and honestly.... if the NFL didn't have the sketchy referees that they have.... I would definitely see this being the case. The truth is however, the Steelers are out for blood and that's obvious. Antonio Brown will be back. The Steelers will mostly be healthy this game and their offense is deadly. We are on a collision course for these two teams and those teams are the Patriots and the Steelers. I think the Steelers are on a mission and although I wouldn't mind seeing the Jaguars win... I think this is the Steelers' year to win the AFC.... Steelers will find a way to win.

Winner: Steelers

-True

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Eyes on the Ring 11:53 PM  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 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 3 Games To Watch

By @TrueGodImmortal

Week 3 is amongst us. I would be lying if I didn't admit that the NFL season so far hasn't been that great. For some reason, the games weren't that great, and while it isn't likely we see a lot of great games this week, there are a few to keep your eyes open for. Let's take a look at those.

*Denver Broncos vs Buffalo Bills

-So, my bias is showing. This game shouldn't be that close, but you never know. The Broncos are coming off two solid wins, while the Bills look rather uneven in the games we've seen them in so far. Will Trevor Siemian have another solid performance and continue his growth as a QB? Will the Denver defense dominate once again? This alone makes it worth the watch. I have Denver winning in convincing fashion, but it could honestly go either way depending on how the defense shows up.

*Houston Texans vs New England Patriots 

-Technically, this game shouldn't even be close. However, the Patriots aren't as unstoppable as they once seemed. After a win over the terrible Saints defense, one has to wonder what will happen against a better Texans defense? Tom Brady had a great game in week 2, and I expect him to continue that. What happens if he doesn't? The Patriots fall to 1-2, and the Texans walk away with a huge upset. It's unlikely that the Texans will win, but I would definitely like to see it happen. For that reason alone, the game is worth watching.

*New Orleans Saints vs Carolina Panthers 

-Let me be clear: The Saints are terrible. However, the Panthers are trying to find their form despite being 2-0. Can the Panthers improve? Will the loss of Greg Olsen really hurt them? Will Drew Brees finally turn those stats into a victory? While the Saints aren't a threat to win anything in the NFC South, it'll be very interesting to see how this plays out and if the Panthers can start the season with a 3-0 start, a far cry from how they started the season last year.

*Detroit Lions vs Atlanta Falcons

-In terms of the most competitive game of the week, this should be the one. Matthew Stafford and the 2-0 Lions against the defending NFC Champions and the reigning MVP, Matt Ryan and the 2-0 Atlanta Falcons. This is a big time game as both teams are undefeated and one will leave with a blemish on their season record. This could be a shootout and a tale of two defenses slugging it out, which could work in favor of the Falcons. Will the Lions walk away with the win or can the Falcons get the W and start 3-0 to help continue to try and wash away the memory of blowing that 28-3 Super Bowl lead.

*New York Giants vs Philadelphia Eagles 

-The Giants suck right now. They're at the bottom of the NFC East and need a win badly. Will they get one this week? Not if the Eagles have anything to say about it. The Eagles have a chance to surprise the world by taking a win and possibly moving into the top spot in the division. Eli Manning isn't looking too good so far in his first two games and even with the return of Odell, it doesn't seem like the Giants are going to do the damage expected. Will we see the Eagles and Carson Wentz pull out a big time victory and the Giants fall further? All signs right now point to yes, but one can never be too sure with a team as unpredictable as the Eagles. That makes the game intriguing to watch.

*Oakland Raiders vs Washington Redskins 

-This is the last game I'll discuss and I'm actually excited to see this one. The Raiders look pretty good and the Redskins bounced back and pulled out a solid win after a tough week 1 loss. While Washington doesn't look too impressive, they have a tough team that can fight until the end and win a game. The Raiders however are looking more and more comfortable on the field and with Marshawn Lynch getting accustomed once again to the football field and Derek Carr already looking like a MVP candidate again, I would bet on the Raiders winning this one, but not without a fight from the Redskins. This game looks easy to pick like all of the games on this list, but they all could go either way, which makes them so intriguing to watch.

-True 

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Eyes on the Ring 2:17 AM  3 comments