Porzingis Leads 4th Quarter Comeback At The Garden!!

November 6, 2017November 6, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

porzingis

It’s a miracle!!

The New York Knicks have a winning record (5-4)!!

We can thank 1 man for that. No, not James Dolan. Not Phil Jackson. Not Jesus.

KRISTAPS PORZINGIS!!

Thanks to the Latvian wonder boy, the Knicks are winners of 5 of their last 6 games. Most notably, a road, blowout win over the Cleveland Cavaliers last Sunday (114-95). While impressive, Porzingis took his early season achievements to new heights last night. Down 12 to the Indiana Pacers entering the 4th quarter, Porzingis put on a show. He scored 17 of his 40 points in the 4th quarter, claiming a 108-101 victory. Yes, you heard that right — 40!!

Porzingis’ Stat-Line: 40 points (15-24), 8 rebounds, 6 blocks, and 1 assist

At the ripe old age of 22, Kristaps Porzingis is carrying the weight of an entire city on his shoulders. And this isn’t any old city. This is the Big Apple. Many have succumb to the pressure of succeeding in New York. Not Porzingis. He’s taken the reigns as the centerpiece of the Post-Melo Knicks, and he’s steering the ship in the right direction. The question is, can the Knicks surround Porzingis with enough talent to compete, and ultimately, stay in New York??

Knowing my Knicks, they’ll figure out how to screw this up. Until then, let’s enjoy Mr. Latvia.

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There is little doubt who the best team in the NFL is; The Philadelphia Eagles. As for teams 2 through 12, I have no freakin’ clue. The Eagles now stand at 8-1, after a dominating 51-23 victory over the hapless Denver Broncos. Hey Denver, how did you think starting Brock Osweiler at quarterback was going to go?!

We saw something in the Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers game, we may never see again — ever. Julio Jones, one of the most talented, sure-handed wide receivers in the NFL, dropped the easiest touchdown in the history of touchdowns. If you didn’t see it, check it out here.

Dropping a wide open touchdown hurts all the time, but down 10, with 8:23 to play, on 4th & 7 adds salt to the wound. “I’m sure this won’t haunt you forever.”

Apparently yesterday was boxing day. No, not the day after Christmas in places that don’t matter. There were a lot of fights in the NFL….

AJ Green showed the world his best UFC style choke slam on Sunday. Jacksonville Jaguars’ cornerback Jalen Ramsey was his victim. Check out brawl #1 of many here. Both players were promptly ejected.

Mike Evans thought it was a good idea to blindside Marshon Lattimore. Brawl #2 ensued. Click here to watch the stupidity. Inexplicably, no one was ejected.

And last but not least, the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers got into a straight up brawl. Following a late hit to 49ers’ quarterback, C.J. Beathard, fisticuffs happened. Click here to watch the melee.

What did you watch on Sunday?? Tell me all about it in the comment section below. Just don’t try to fight me please.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

The NFL Should Erase The Tapes From Week 7

October 24, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

landry hurdle

It was all downhill from there.

After Thursday Night Football provided the game of the year (so far), we knew it couldn’t get any better. Week 7 was filled with lackluster performances, disappointing primetime showdowns, and head-scratching losses. Let’s start with my team:

Nice Throw Buddy!

The New York Jets lose games in ways only they can. After storming out to a 28-14 lead, and “starting” Dolphins’ quarterback, Jay Cutler, went down with an injury, most would’ve thought the Jets had this one in the bag. Most would not be Jets’ fans. At no point did I feel less confident in the Jets than when Matt Moore stepped onto the field. Yes, the Matt Moore I said should be the Dolphins’ quarterback the day Ryan Tannehill went down for the season. 2 Kenny Stills’ touchdowns later, the game was tied.

Door opens..the way the Jets do things enters….

The momentum is all on Miami’s side. You’re on the road. There’s 47 seconds left in regulation, and you’re on your own 15-yard line. You have a mediocre quarterback, with a mediocre arm, and a mediocre receiving core. What do you do????

According to 99.9% of the world, you take a knee, and head to overtime.

According to Todd Bowles, you throw an out-route that gets intercepted — easily.

This was arguably the worst throw of the year by Josh McCown. But it’s not his fault. Bowles SHOULD NOT have put his quarterback in that position. Not a fireable offense, but pretty close.

A Week To Forget

Of the 15 games played in Week 7, only 4 were decided by a touchdown or less. 13 teams scored 17 points or less, including 3 shutouts. Calling this week ugly would be putting it nicely. Cam Newton joined DeShone Kizer (who got pulled again), Drew Brees, and Andy Dalton with 2 interception games. And make room on the injured reserve Aaron Rodgers, because here comes Carson Palmer. Palmer broke his left arm in the Cardinals’ 33-0 blowout loss in London. Oh hey, Drew Stanton.

So Much For A Rematch

Here it was. The game we’d all been waiting for. Week 7’s Super Bowl rematch between the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots had finally arrived. Me, my couch, Sunday Night Football, and some guacamole. What could be better?? Sleep. The answer is sleep. Or anything. Anything would have been better than this game. All those who thought the Falcons were ready to exact some type of revenge on the Patriots were sorely mistaken. 23-0 is not the way you want to start a game — ever. The Falcons would score a touchdown with 4:09 left to play.

There is something wrong with the Falcons.

After starting the season 3-0, they have now lost 3 consecutive games (to AFC East teams). Don’t worry Falcons’ fans. A date with the New York Jets is ALWAYS a recipe for reviving your season. Catch the Falcons in action as they blowout the Jets this coming Sunday, October 29th @ 1:00 P.M. EST.

What game(s) did you watch this past week?? Write about it in the comment section below.

The Jets Win — Again?

October 2, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

jets suck

This is the most conflicted season Jets’ fans have ever had. Should Jets’ fans be rooting for their team to lose?? Should they be happy when they win??

Being a fan sounds simple. Root for your team to win every game. Be happy when they win. Be sad when they lose. Well, being a Jets’ fan is never simple. Trust me.

The 2017, New York Jets’ roster was constructed in a way to lose games on purpose. This phenomenon is known as ‘Tanking’. The purpose of ‘Tanking’ is to sacrifice the present, to secure the best draft pick possible. This process, while painful, can produce a championship level roster in the future. Fans, players, coaches, and experts alike are torn on the subject (and whether it works).

Personally, I’m on board with ‘Tanking’. As a lifelong Jets’ fan, I’ve experienced more sorrow, despair, and misery than any human should. The Jets’ organization has a systematic defect that needs to be reset (or thrown in the bottom of ocean). Either way. Either way’s fine.

In today’s NFL, it is nearly impossible to succeed without a franchise quarterback. With a plethora of potential star quarterbacks in the upcoming draft, this is an ideal season to ‘Tank’. Only problem is, in typical Jets’ fashion, they can’t even lose right.

Jets’ Current Record: 2-2 (same as the Patriots)

With 2 wins, the Jets have already exceeded expectations. They’ve won 2 games in a row, against the Miami Dolphins and the Jacksonville Jaguars, and will head to Cleveland to take on the hapless Browns next week. Yes, the Jets could be 3-2, but that doesn’t mean a top-5 pick in the NFL Draft is out of reach. Prior to the start of the season, I saw 4 winnable games on their schedule (Dolphins, Jaguars, Browns, and Bills). I assumed they’d win half of those games and finish 2-14. So far no good, but it’s a long season.

Injuries haven’t piled up yet, most notably for Josh McCown (who has a propensity of getting hurt). And their tough schedule hasn’t set-in yet. Don’t worry Jets’ fans, the Jets have a lot of losing left to get out of their system this year.

Speaking of losing, how bad are the Miami Dolphins?!?! They just got out shutout by the worst defense in the history of mankind (the New Orleans Saints). And if not for a garbage-time touchdown against the Jets in Week 3, the Dolphins would have been shutout in consecutive weeks. How are you enjoying that $10 million Jay Cutler?? Is it treating you nicely?? Did you sew those $100’s together to make a blanket to help you sleep at night?? Man, I bet the Dolphins want a mulligan on that one.

As for the rest of the AFC East, the Patriots lost their 2nd game, at home, proving they have the worst defense in the NFL. On the brighter side of things, the Buffalo Bills have sole possession of 1st place for the 1st time since Week 2 of the 2014 season (although they haven’t won the AFC East since 1995). I’d say they’re due….but I still like the Patriots chances.

Expect this division to straighten itself out over the next 2 months. Until then, Jets and Bills’ fans can enjoy their winning streaks….

How do you feel about the Jets winning games?? Are you happy or sad?? Let your emotions out in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:10 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

Any Given Sunday….Can Be The Craziest Sunday You’ve Ever Seen….Ever!!

September 25, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

Jake-Elliott

This is why we will ALWAYS watch. Despite the “extracurricular” activites, and the controversy, and the injury risks, NFL fans will always be just that; fans. Week 3 has been a prime example of that.

The best word I can use to describe Week 3 in the NFL is — WOW!!!! Actually, the best way to sum up Sunday’s action would be, “HOLY CRAP!!”, but that wouldn’t maintain the level of sophistication you’ve grown accustomed to here at DaveTalksSports :).

While difficult, I’ve done you the favor of ranking Sunday’s insanity:

7.) Baltimore Ravens vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Ravens and Jaguars took their talents across the pond on Sunday. No one, outside of die-hard, Jaguars’ fans, thought they would win. And NO ONE, could have predicted the way in which they won. This game can be summarized in one-line, Joe Flacco’s stat-line: 8 for 18 for 28 yards and 2 interceptions.

Hey Joe, I’ve never seen a QBR of 0.5 before, so thanks for that. Remember when the storyline was, ‘When will Blake Bortles get pulled from the game’?? That quickly turned into, ‘Joe Flacco actually got pulled from the game’. Final Score: Jaguars 44, – Ravens 7.

6.) Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Chicago Bears

In one of the many shocking results on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Chicago Bears in overtime, 23-17. Antonio Brown and company had to come charging back to force overtime, as they found themselves down 17-7 at halftime. The halftime score SHOULD have been 21-7, if it weren’t for Marcus Cooper doing his best Leon Lett impersonation. With 6 seconds left in the 1st half, the Steelers had a 35-yard field goal attempt blocked. Cooper picked up the ball and streaked toward the endzone. Rather than sprint his way in for the score, he inexplicably slowed to a tortoise pace at the 2-yard line. Vance Mcdonald of the Steelers tracked him down and swatted the ball from his hands. The ball travelled out of the back of the endzone, and the Bears were afforded 1 untimed down from the 1-yard line. You’ll have to see it to believe it. Click here to see the madness.

5.) Green Bay Packers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

With 10:20 left in the 2nd quarter, Aaron Rodgers dropped back to pass. In atypical Aaron Rodgers’ fashion, he stared down his receiver, throwing a bad interception. This interception was returned 75-yards for a touchdown, giving the Bengals a 21-7 lead (in Green Bay). But, as any Bengals fan will tell you, they never felt less confident in their team in that moment. In typical Benagals’ fashion, they scored a whopping 3 points in the 2nd half, allowing Rodgers and the Packers to creep back into the game.

Throughout the 4th quarter and overtime, Aaron Rodgers did what Aaron Rodgers does. You never thought you’d hear the name Geronimo Allison so many times did you?? Rodgers hit Allison 3 times on the game-tying drive, as well as the all important 72-yard connection in overtime. This set up a chip-shot field goal, leading the Packers to a wild 27-24 victory and keeping my hopes alive in my ‘suicide pool’.

4.) New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins

SAY WHATTTTTT?!?!?! The New York Jets won a football game?? And it wasn’t against the Browns?? Ohhhh, it was against the Dolphins. That makes sense. As maligned as the Dolphins franchise is, this may be a new low….

The New York Jets are trying to lose on purpose, and they can’t even do that right. As a Jets’ fan, I’m on board with this strategy, so thanks a lot Jay Cutler!! Believe it or not, the 20-6 score doesn’t do it justice. The Dolphins were completely and utterly dominated, and if it not for an ULTIMATE ‘GARBARGE-TIME’ touchdown (as time expired) to DeVante Parker, they would have been shutout. Why 6?? Because the Dolphins missed the extra-point. “HA-ha!” (Nelson’s laugh in the Simpsons). That’s why.

3.) New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The New York Giants travelled to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles in as close to a must-win as can be in Week 3. Their offensive line, and offense as a whole, has looked putrid through 2 weeks. And until the 4th quarter, the Giants were laying a golden goose egg again (they were down 14-0). Then, Odell Beckham Jr. showed his worth. Beckham Jr. scored 2 touchdowns in the span of 1 minute and 46 seconds. He also managed to receive a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for his inane TD celebration, as well as lay down in the middle of the field, stopping play, when there was nothing wrong with him.

Hey everybody, LOOK AT ME!!

Despite a valiant effort by the Giants, they coughed up a lead in the 4th quarter — twice. With the game tied at 24, overtime looked like a certainty. But the Eagles took a final shot from their own 38-yard line (thanks to an awful punt by the Giants), and 13 seconds left in regulation. After a 19-yard completion to Alshon Jeffrey, the Eagles sent rookie kicker, Jake Elliot, onto the field to try a 61-yard, miracle field goal. ELLIOT MADE THE KICK!! He skimmed the inside of the right field goal post with about 2 yards to spare. And as time expired, the Eagles put the Giants away 27-24.

2.) New England Patriots vs. Houston Texans

Deshaun Watson nearly did what no rookie quarterback has ever done before, win in Foxborough. But, yet again, if you’ve ever seen the Patriots play, you knew they weren’t losing this football game. When the Houson Texans failed to score a touchdown, settling for a field goal with 2:24 to play, you knew it was over. Tom Brady, down 5, from his own 25, is the surest bet in sports. They even spotted the Texans 10 yards, pushing their drive back to their own 15-yard line (thanks to a holding penalty). And not even when it was 3rd and 18, with 54 seconds left, from his own 48, should anyone have doubted the greatest QB of all-time. 2 plays, 52 yards and 31 seconds later, the game was over. I can’t actually stomach writing this, so while I vomit, watch the final drive by clicking here. The Patriots beat the Houston Texans 36-33 in dramatic fashion, but it’s only dramatic to the unaware. To the rest of us, it’s Tom Brady being Tom Brady.

1.) Atlanta Falcons vs. Detroit Lions

All I have to say is what in the hell was that?? Okay, maybe that’s not all I have to say, but I have never seen a game end like that. Matthew Stafford and the Lions had the ball, down 30-26 with 2:23 left to play. Starting at their own 26-yard line, they drove the ball all the way to the Falcons’ 1-yard line. So let’s set the table: 1st and Goal from the 1 with 19 seconds left. You have to score, don’t you?! Not if you’re the Detroit Lions. After 2 quick incompletions, Stafford found Golden Tate on 3rd down. He dove into the endzone with 8 seconds left, and the Lions had done it!! Until they didn’t. The play was reviewed and ultimately reversed. The official said Tate’s knee hit the ground prior to him crossing the goal line.

Lions huddle: “Alright guys, let’s re-group and score this touchdown on 4th down!!”

Referee: “Game over!”

According to the dumbest NFL rule in existence, there must be a 10-second run off due to the Lions having no timeouts left. Therefore, the game was over. That’s the most RIDICULOUS thing I’ve ever seen on an NFL field.

And that’s saying a lot….

What were you watching on Sunday?? Tell me the craziest thing you saw in the comment section below.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends.

NFC South Preview

August 31, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

nfc south

Is it possible for every team in 1 division to be .500 or better?? If it’s going to happen in 2017, it’s going to happen in the NFC South. This division will feature 4 very good football teams competing for playoff spots in the NFC…..

Last Season’s Standings:

Atlanta Falcons: 11-5

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9-7

New Orleans Saints: 7-9

Carolina Panthers: 6-10

From worst-to-first we go….

New Orleans Saints

Notoriously good on offense. Notoriously bad on defense. That’s been the headline in New Orleans for the past few years. Expect more of the same. Only this year, Drew Brees has his work cut out for him. Brees is a future hall of famer, so he’ll steer the ship in the right direction, but it’s not easy when your #1 receiver is Michael Thomas. No offense to Thomas, after a phenomenal rookie season, but he’s not a #1 receiver — yet. For all you fantasy lovers, anticipate an Adrian Peterson resurrection. This, of course, depends on Mark Ingram’s carries, but those have declined steadily every year Ingram has been in the league.

Key Additions: Adrian Peterson, Ted Ginn, Larry Warford

Key Losses: Brandin Cooks, Tim Lelito, Roman Harper

Carolina Panthers

I foresee the Carolina Panthers bouncing back in a big way. Last season, Cam Newton was coming off an injury. He, along with the Panthers defense, got off to a slow start. Expect Newton to return to MVP form and drive his team to success. Their defense is still very solid, led by Luke Kuechly at the middle linebacker position. The Panthers should compete for an NFC Wild Card spot this season. The addition of Matt Kalil will be important. Kalil will help protect Newton’s blind side, keeping Newton from ending up on his back every 5 seconds.

Key Additions: Matt Kalil, Captain Munnerlyn, Mike Adams

Key Losses: Michael Oher, Ted Ginn, Mike Tolbert

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

If you haven’t watched Jameis Winston play, you’re missing out. He is as talented a player as you’ll find in this league. The question is, can he take another step forward this season. His improvements from his rookie to sophomore campaign were noticeable, and the addition of DeSean Jackson won’t hurt. Their defense is solid. And while I don’t love their running attack, Winston’s arm is such a threat, he opens up running lanes for Jacquizz Rodgers and Doug Martin. Don’t be surprised when the Buccaneers challenge the Falcons for the NFC South Division Title.

Key Additions: J.J, Wilcox, Desean Jackson, Nick Folk

Key Losses: Vincent Jackson, Alterraun Verner, Daryl Smith

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons had a magical 2016 season. Even though they blew the biggest lead in Super Bowl history, they greatly exceeded expectations. This year, they will do the opposite. Everyone expects them to waltz through this division, like a stroll through Central Park. While I think they’re a good team, slight regression is on the horizon. Matt Ryan has finally received the credit he’s been due for the better part of a decade, and Devonta Freeman is shaping into a top-5 running back in the league. Their defense, however, will let them down. Don’t believe me?? You’ll see the light soon, don’t worry. I still have them winning the NFC South by virtue of a tiebreak over the Buccaneers.

Key Additions: Dontari Poe, Hugh Thornton, Jack Crawford

Key Losses: Dwight Freeney, Sean Weatherspoon, Jacob Tamme

This Season’s Predictions:

Atlanta Falcons: 10-6

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10-6

Carolina Panthers: 8-8

New Orleans Saints: 6-10

This is going to be a really solid division.

They have 4 great quarterbacks in a league that is run by quarterbacks.

Who do you think will win the NFC South?? Post your predictions in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

I’d Ask, But I Know You Are Ready For Some Football!!

September 5, 2013September 6, 2013 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

Your birthday? Nope. Your anniversary? Nah. That day you randomly find a $20 in your jacket that you haven’t worn in 3 months? Almost, but no. So what is the best day of the year? It is today; Opening Day of the NFL Season. It is the day you’ve been waiting for ever since the unbelievably annoying Ray Lewis hoisted The Lombardi Trophy over is head in February. Well, the wait is over. You can have a snickers bar and you can watch some football. You can finally see how your fantasy picks will pan out. And, you all have a reason to sit on the couch and do nothing. Enjoy what should undoubtedly be made a National Holiday.

The 2013 NFL Season kicks off tonight, Thursday September 5th, with the defending champion Baltimore Ravens taking on the Denver Broncos (I think we all remember what happened the last time these teams met). To say The Broncos will be looking for revenge would be an understatement. The Broncos enter the season with extremely high expectations. Some have them in or winning The Super Bowl this year thanks to the additions of Wes Welker and others. Even with their best defender, Von Miller, suspended for the first 4 games of the season they are still looked at as the favorites in the AFC. On the other hand, the defending champion Ravens enter the season with a handful of question marks. How do they replace Ray Lewis and Ed Reed? Will Joe Flacco live up to the astronomically high contract he was given last year? Can you really win with just 1 wide receiver? That last one was a joke, but seriously how are you going to win with Torrey Smith and me at wide receiver? Despite his impressive Super Bowl performance and his wonderful (haha) showing on Dancing With The Stars, Jacoby Jones is actually not very good at football. These are some of the questions that will certainly be answered once the season gets under way. You can catch tonight’s opening game on NBC at 8:30 P.M. Who do you like to win this game? I have Denver (at home) winning a relatively close game 24-17.

The rest of Week 1 will be played on Sunday and Monday. So, clear your schedules for the weekend, find that ass groove in the couch that has missed you so dearly, and lets get ready for some football. I am now ready to give you some of my thoughts and predictions on the upcoming season. Everyone has an opinion on their own favorite team and who they think will win, but football more than any other sport is incredibly unpredictable. Players get injured at a very high rate, and every year we seem to have a completely unknown player climb out of the woodwork and land right in the limelight. Nonetheless, lets make some predictions. I shall start with my favorite “team”, The New York Jets. Their team can be summed up in one word: Joke. They are a complete and utter joke. I see them winning 4 games at most, but most likely will only pull off 3 lucky victories. With that being said, I still believe it is not fair for ESPN to rank the Jets as the worst team in the NFL. That distinction clearly should be held by The Oakland Raiders (Chris Berman voice). Anyway, I see the Raiders, Jets, and Jaguars all being very very bad, and I wouldn’t be surprised if any of these teams wound up as the worst team in the league. And now, I will provide you with the Division winners, Wild Card teams, and Super Bowl Champion that will make up the 2013 playoffs.

In the AFC East, I don’t see how any other team will come out of that division than The New England Patriots. Everyone can talk about how much better The Miami Dolphins will be, but I’m sorry Ryan Tannehill, I’m just not buying it. The AFC West is also a pretty easy division to figure out. The Denver Broncos will handily win this division. Most people are eager to hop on the Kansas City Chiefs bandwagon, but I’m also not prepared to do that either. Will they be in a hunt for the Wild Card with 3 games to go? It’s very possible, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if they were 4-9 by then either. Oh, they have Alex Smith? Well then, that changes everything, they’ll probably win The Super Bowl. What was I thinking? The AFC North and South are a little tougher to figure out, and will probably provide the playoffs with the other 4 teams in the AFC this year. The AFC North will be a tightly contested division, but I feel that The Cincinnati Bengals will prevail. I also believe that The Ravens, not The Steelers will land a Wild Card spot this year. The Steelers have no running game, and Big Ben just isn’t good enough to win without a good supporting cast and top 10 defense. The AFC South is a fun division and should also bring 2 playoff teams to the mix this year. The Indianapolis Colts will win this division behind the strong play of Andrew Luck (he is the real deal and will be the best 2nd year QB in the NFL this season). The Texans will land the other Wild Card spot this year.

AFC Playoff Picture

1.) Denver Broncos
2.) New England Patriots
3.) Indianapolis Colts
4.) Cincinnati Bengals
5.) Baltimore Ravens
6.) Houston Texans

I envision The Denver Broncos beating The New England Patriots in the AFC Championship (and giving everyone that one last Peyton Vs. Tom showdown everyone was looking for last year).

As for the NFC, I see this as the much harder conference to predict. The NFC East by itself is like flipping a 4-sided coin. But, here goes nothing. In the NFC East, as much as I hate them and love watching them crumble under pressure, I see the Dallas Cowboys narrowly pulling out the division title this year. I think The New York Giants will be in the fight for a Wild Card spot all season but will fall just short of the playoffs yet again this season. The NFC West, which is seen as the strongest division in the NFL should definitely bring 2 teams to the playoffs this year. I have The San Francisco 49ers winning the division, and The Seattle Seahawks winning a Wild Card spot. The NFC North should be a battle between 2 long time rivals; The Packers and Da Bears. I see The Packers edging out the Bears for the Division while Jay Cutler will once again be watching the playoffs from home this season. Last, but certainly not least, there is my favorite division in football, The NFC South. This division should also produce 2 playoff teams this season. The Atlanta Falcons will once again win the division while the New Orleans Saints will land the final playoff spot this season.

NFC Playoff Picture

1.) San Francisco
2.) Atlanta Falcons
3.) Green Bay Packers
4.) Dallas Cowboys
5.) Seattle Seahawks
6.) New Orleans Saints

Let me repeat how unpredictable the NFC is going to be this season. Don’t be surprised if the Wild Cards consist of The Bears, Redskins, Giants, or Redskins. However, based off my predictions, I see The San Francisco 49ers beating the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship in a rematch of last year. As for the Super Bowl, I see Peyton Manning prevailing to win his 2nd Lombardi Trophy, while Colin Kaepernick suffers his 2nd straight defeat in the Super Bowl. And that my friends, is how I see the NFL season playing out this year. It is a long road, and it all starts tonight. However it plays out, enjoy it!!

Please leave me your predictions for the upcoming NFL Season below in the comment section. Thank you.

If you enjoy my writing, follow me over to intheneutralzone.com where I am a contributing author there as well. Also you can follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like me on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!

In Case You missed It

March 20, 2013March 20, 2013 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

While everyone has been gearing up for the most exciting tournament of the year, there have been some other sporting events that you may have missed. I missed them as well, for good reason, but let me fill you in just in case you haven’t heard about them. Let me start with the most insignificant of them all. Did you guys really just storm the court for an NIT victory? I get it, Robert Morris probably isn’t supposed to beat anybody so beating Kentucky is a big deal, but it is the NIT. Who wants to watch the leftover scraps play basketball? This tournament isn’t meaningful, and I don’t know why we even have it. Most teams, like Kentucky, are so disappointed that they didn’t make it into the real tournament that they mail in an effort in the NIT. Congratulations Robert Morris, you beat a team that didn’t even want to be there.

Something else you definitely missed was the finals of the World Baseball Classic. Man is this tournament a bad idea. ALL PLAYERS should be with their respective REAL teams in March. You know, since they are holding this little thing called spring training right now. If you wanted to watch baseball’s watered down version of the ‘World Cup’, then I guess you were 1 of the 14 people who watched the World Baseball Classic. The Dominican Republic dominated the World Baseball Classic going 8-0 in the tournament. They capped off their run though the Classic with a 3-0 victory over Puerto Rico.

Also, over the past week we have seen a handful of free agent signings in the NFL. Steven Jackson signed with the Atlanta Falcons, bringing the size and strength their running game has been missing. Sure you can say, well what about Michael Turner wasn’t he a good strong back? No, no he wasn’t. The guy looked like he was running in quicksand. Jackson entering his 10th NFL season will be a better fit for the Falcons then Turner ever was. Greg Jennings has signed with the enemy; the Minnesota Vikings. There used to be a day when people would cringe when players signed with their rival, but the game has changed. In today’s NFL, there is no such thing is loyalty. It’s all about the Benjamin’s baby! Jennings should be a nice addition for the Vikings who traded Percy Harvin to the Seattle Seahawks prior to free agency. The New York Jets are still holding Darrelle Revis in limbo with his playing career. The Jets obviously aren’t pleased with the offers they are getting for Revis, or else he’d be gone by now. This begs the question, will Darrelle Revis be traded before this season or will the Jets get stuck with him? Ed Reed is a big name that has yet to sign on a dotted line, however Baltimore is showing interest in re-signing him and the Houston Texans have shown some interest as well. Lastly, you had one of the weirdest situations in the history of the NFL happen last week. Elvis Dumervil, the outstanding defender for the Denver Broncos, had until 4 p.m. on March 15th to decide whether he would restructure his contract or be released by the Broncos. He had decided to restructure, however his decision which was sent via fax was received by the Broncos just minutes after the deadline. This snafu could cost either Dumervil millions of dollars or the Broncos one of their best players. Either way it is definitely one of the most interesting situations in NFL history.

In basketball news, the Miami Heat still haven’t lost a basketball game in a little over 23 years. Oh my bad, I meant 23 games, they’ve extended their streak to 23 straight wins and they haven’t lost since January. Also flying under the radar are the Denver Nuggets. They beat the Oklahoma City Thunder Tuesday night to extend their winning streak to 13 games. In other mega-important news Tiger Woods is dating….ah who cares, just win golf tournaments buddy. And that about raps this past week in sports. It has been mostly irrelevant, but it was enough to hold us over until the main course; the NCAA tournament.

If you enjoy my writing, follow me over to intheneutralzone.com where I am a contributing author there as well. Also you can follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like me on Facebook athttp://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!

To Leave Or Not To Leave, That Is The Question (Either Way It’s All About The Benjamin’s Baby!!)

March 13, 2013 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 P.M. marked the beginning of free agency in the NFL. It didn’t take long for teams to start signing and resigning players shortly after the 4 O’ clock hour. There were many moves that happened right away, and there are many moves that are still going to take place. I will give you a recap of what moves have been made and where your favorite players will be suiting up next season. I will also give you a quick rundown of some key players who have yet to sign a new deal. Some of these moves make you scratch your head from a football standpoint, but you need to remember these moves are about one thing and one thing only; money. With that being said, let’s take this thing for a ride.

One of the biggest signings so far has surely been Mike Wallace. Tuesday afternoon, the former Pittsburgh Steeler, signed the dotted line to play for the Miami Dolphins. The deal is reportedly for 5 years and 60 million dollars (30 million of which are guaranteed). It appears that the Steelers only offered Wallace 10 million per year, however Wallace was looking for a minimum of 12 million per year (cha ching). Another significant signing that occurred on Tuesday was the Cleveland Browns signing former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Paul Kruger to a 5 year, 40 million dollar contract. This is big money for a pretty unproven player in Kruger. He is a good linebacker but does not have the track record that would merit a contract of this magnitude. Only time will tell if the Browns made a smart move by signing Kruger (considering we are talking about the Browns I’m sure this move will backfire). There were a couple of moves at the tight end position Tuesday with Martellus Bennett and Anthony Fasano both on the move. Bennett, the former New York Giant, inked a 4 year, 20 million deal with the Chicago Bears, giving Jay Cutler another legitimate option other than Brandon Marshall. Anthony Fasano formerly of the Miami Dolphins signed with the already very busy Kansas City Chiefs. The deal is reportedly for 4 years and 16 million dollars. The Chiefs continue to improve their roster, and dare I say that the Chiefs might sniff at a winning record this season? Yeah you’re right, probably not. The biggest news at the tight end position by far was the decision by future Hall-Of-Famer Tony Gonzalez to come back to play one more season with the Atlanta Falcons. This season will be Gonzalez’s 18th, and based on his production from 2012, I’m sure the Falcons are giddy at the news of his comeback.

On the defensive side of the ball there hasn’t been as much noise, but there have been some moves that will impact the New York teams next season. The Giants had released Chris Canty who is now a member of the defending champion Baltimore Ravens. In his place, the Giants have brought in Cullen Jenkins formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles. The New York Jets made some noise a day prior to the free agent frenzy with the earth shattering signing of David Garrard, however they made a couple moves Tuesday as well. They restructured Santonio Holmes’ and Antonio Cromarties’ contracts and they can wave bye-bye to Mike Devito as he is off to the most popular place to live these days (apparently), Kansas City. Another noteworthy move from the defensive side of the ball was that the Eagles released Nnamdi Asomugha. Asomugha is one of the worst free agent signings in recent history (don’t worry Albert Haynesworth, your’e still #1 in my heart). Another notable release was Ryan Fitzpatrick being let go from the Buffalo Bills. At least they didn’t wipe their butt with all that money (haha). William Gay, formerly of the solid Arizona Cardinals defense will add some depth to an aging Pittsburgh Steelers defense. Also, Dunta Robinson, formerly of the Atlanta Falcons, signed with the new and improved Kansas City Chiefs.

At this point there are still some big names hanging out in free agency that have yet to sign somewhere. Most notably Wes Welker, Reggie Bush, Ahmad Bradshaw, Greg Jennings, Rashard Mendenhall, and Steven Jackson. All of these guys will find a home in the coming days, it is just a matter of where. You also have Victor Cruz in waiting as a restricted free agent. For those of you who don’t know what it means to be a restricted free agent allow me to explain: A restricted free agent can negotiate with any team until April 19th. If another team presents said free agent with an offer, the original team has an opportunity to match or exceed the offer. If the original team decides not to match the offer, they will receive draft compensation based on the qualifying offer. While I like Victor Cruz as a player (and I’m sure the Giants like him too), it’s not about the player, it’s about the money. Can the Giants keep Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz? I highly doubt it.

Let us move on to the other New York “team”, the Jets. The New York Jets are going to be one of the worst teams in the league this year. They have two quarterbacks who are both completely useless, and they are losing players in bulk this offseason. They already released Calvin Pace, Bart Scott, and Erik Smith in February. As I mentioned earlier, they lost mike Devito to free agency, they waived Sione Po’uha, and it is likely that Darrelle Revis will be traded before this years draft. It is safe to say that they are in rebuilding mode.

All in all it has been a busy couple of days in free agency, and the fun has only begun. As it stands so far, you’d have to say that the Kansas City Chiefs are the big winner so far. There are big names still left to sign so that may change in a heartbeat. Stay tuned for the rest of the moves around the NFL.