The NFL Playoffs Are Finally Here!!!!

January 5, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 3 Comments

kamara

After enduring 17 weeks of mediocrity, the real stuff is finally upon us. Saturday afternoon, the NFL Playoffs commence with Wild Card Weekend. Despite the large “spreads” in each of the 4 impending games, expect entertaining, competitive football. And if all 4 games turn into blowouts, it beats the hell out of shoveling snow….

Tennessee Titans (5) @ Kansas City Chiefs (4) – 4:20 P.M. EST on ESPN

The Kansas City Chiefs’ season started on as high of a note as possible. They beat up the defending Super Bowl Champion, New England Patriots (42-27), in Foxborough, sending a message to the rest of the league. They started the season 5-0, and climbed to the top of the NFL Power Rankings. And then, the wheels started to fall off. They lost 6 of their next 7, including a loss to my wretched New York Jets. And then, the Chiefs flipped another switch, winning their final 4 games. You figure it out….

All you need to know about the Tennessee Titans is Marcus Mariota threw more interceptions (15) than touchdowns (13) this season. Also, Demarco Murray has been ruled out for this game. While the Chiefs aren’t a blow-you-out kind of offense, this is the 1 game that may get out of hand this weekend.

Prediction: Chiefs 31, Titans 20

Atlanta Falcons (6) @ Los Angeles Rams (3) – 8:15 P.M. EST on NBC

If going out in -2° is your thing, enjoy!! For the rest of the normal people out there, Saturday Night Football will keep you warm. Expect a high scoring affair between the ‘new look’ Rams and the defending NFC Champion, Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons have had a weird season. Some call it a Super Bowl Hangover. I call it regression to the mean. At no point throughout this season did I think the Falcons were a good team. Matt Ryan certainly didn’t play anywhere near his 2016 MVP level, and their backfield was littered with injuries all season.

We all saw what the Rams are capable of when they walloped the Seahawks 42-7 (Week 15). I don’t anticipate a whooping of those proportions, however, I do think they win handily. Todd Gurley will prove why he SHOULD be this season’s MVP.

Prediction: Rams 34, Falcons 27

To Sunday we go….

Buffalo Bills (6) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (3) – 1:05 P.M. EST on CBS

The Buffalo Bills are hoping to continue their celebration from Week 17. After not having made the playoffs since 1999, advancing to the Divisional Round, aka the get routed by the Patriots round, would be the overachievement of the century. With Lesean McCoy’s health in question, I see little chance of that happening.

The only way the Bills win this game is if Blake Bortles throws 3 interceptions and Lesean McCoy hits 100 yards rushing. Yes, Bortles is a walking interception, but I think the combination of the Jaguars’ defense and Leonard Fournette will ultimately be too much for the Bills too handle.

Prediction: Jaguars 23, Bills 17

Carolina Panthers (5) @ New Orleans Saints (4) – 4:40 P.M. EST on FOX

3rd time’s the charm?? The Carolina Panthers certainly hope so. The New Orleans Saints swept the season series with the Panthers. Yes, Cam Newton’s ceiling is WAY higher than most, but this isn’t his year. His own team traded away his top receiver (Kelvin Benjamin). Greg Olsen hasn’t been right all year. And their usually strong secondary, isn’t what it used to be.

On the other side of the line of scrimmage, the Saints aren’t what they used to be either — in a good way. The Saints actually have a defense worth writing home about. I guess firing Rob Ryan was a good idea. WHO KNEW?! They have the best rushing attack in the NFL. And Drew Brees is still, well, Drew Brees.

Prediction: Saints 30, Panthers 24

Who do you think will win this weekend?? 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: 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!!

Thursday Helped Me Procrastinate

December 8, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

jeter trades dee gordon

I haven’t started my Christmas shopping yet. Hell, I haven’t even thought about starting my Christmas shopping — until now. What you call procrastination, I call waiting for the right moment. Can I blame Thursday?? I’m going to blame Thursday.

Trade #1

The first of 2 major trades came from NBA land. Jhalil Okafor, the #3 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft (Duke), has had a rocky start to his professional career. Prior to being shipped out of Philadelphia on Thursday, Okafor had played just 25 total minutes this season. The 76ers are giving him a fresh start, as his new zip code will be 11218….

Brooklyn Nets Receive:

Jhalil Okafor, Nik Stauskas, and a 2019 2nd-round pick

Philadelphia 76ers Receive:

Trevor Booker

While I like Trevor Booker, this trade is a win for the Brooklyn Nets. Nets general manger, Sean Marks, continues to prove he knows what he’s doing. Most Gregg Popovich disciples do. This season alone, Marks has acquired the #2 and #3 picks from the solid 2015 NBA draft. I guess he was listening when Coach Popovich was talking.

Trade #2

Let the salary dump begin!! The Miami Marlins, are in the midst of a complete tear down. EVERYTHING MUST GO!! Marlins fans have seen this movie before. The only difference is, Derek Jeter has his finger on the button this time around. Jeter became Marlins’ CEO when he and his group purchased the team back in August. And he made his first major move yesterday.

Seattle Mariners Receive:

Dee Gordon

Miami Marlins Receive:

3 Minor League Players (Robert Dugger, Nick Neidert and Christopher Torres)

With a log jam in the middle infield, the Mariners plan to play Gordon in center field. This is a very solid trade for the Mariners, as they also receive $1 million in International money. This makes them leaders in the clubhouse in the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes.

Thursday Night Football

Thursday night provided an entertaining football game, however, the moral of the story is simple; you HAVE to score more than 17 points when the opposing quarterback throws 3 interceptions. Yes, Matt Ryan threw 3 interceptions last night. No, the Saints did not capitalize on those opportunities. Being held to a season-low 50 rushing yards probably didn’t help matters.

And I don’t care that they got it. Going for it, on 4th and 1, on Atlanta’s 24-yard line, trailing 20-17, on the road, with under 2 minutes left, was STUPID!!

A decision and the result are 2 separate entities.

Drew Brees iced the game, as he threw an interception in the end zone with 1 minute and 25 seconds left. Brees’ interception was just his 2nd since October 22nd!! Brees and company will look to bounce back when they host the New York Jets next week. And they won’t have to wait long for a shot at redemption. The Falcons come to town on Christmas Eve. You won’t want to miss that rematch, as it could determine the NFC South champion.

What was the biggest story from Thursday?? Tell me all about it 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. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

Patriots Take Their Talents South Of The Border

November 20, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

Mexico Patriots Raiders Football

Hola NFL!

Bienvenidos a Mexico!

On Sunday, the people of Mexico, welcomed the NFL with open arms. For the 2nd consecutive season, a November matchup was slated to be played in Estadio Azteca (a famed soccer stadium in the heart of Mexico City). Last season, the Oakland Raiders beat the Houston Texans 27-20. This season, Los Raiders would return to battle the New England Patriots. Unfortunately, the Raiders left their battle at home. The Patriots jumped out to a slight advantage. Because nothing says competitive like 30 unanswered points!! The Patriots thought it’d be a good idea to make the score look respectable, so they let the Raiders score a touchdown in the 4th quarter.

La gente de Mexico got to see the best the NFL has to offer; the New England Patriots. Although the words hate and Patriots often collide in the same sentence in my household, the word respect is usually mixed in as well.

Tom Brady is the best quarterback of all-time.

And it’s not even that close.

Tom Brady’s afternoon in la Ciudad de Mexico: 30-37, 339 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions

Tom Brady, at 40 years old, is still the best quarterback in the NFL. After a 2-2 start, the Patriots have now won 6 straight games. They’re the best team in the AFC and favorites to represent their conference in the Super Bowl — again. The Patriots will look to follow-up their 33-8 victory over the Raiders with a beat down of the Miami Dolphins next Sunday.

Only one question remains: When will father time catch up to Tom Brady??

__________________________________________________________________________________________

As for the rest of Week 11, blow out or overtime loss, there was no in between.

Giants….Win?!

I’m still not sure how, but the New York Giants beat the Kansas City Chiefs (12-9). Being the ugliest game of the year didn’t hurt, but the Giants have no business winning football games. The Giants scored the game’s lone touchdown in the 2nd quarter on an Orleans Darkwa run. In typical G-Men fashion, Aldrick Rosas missed the extra point. They actually could have won this game handily if it weren’t for the dumbest trick play known to man. On the Giants 1st offensive possession, they enjoyed a nearly 7 minute drive, down to the Chiefs’ 18-yard line. They inexplicably thought that was the right place, and time, to let their running back attempt a pass. It’s not like there were 50 mph wind gusts at MetLife Stadium or anything….It’s not Shane Vereen’s fault, but his pass was picked off at the 1-yard line.

Luckily for the Giants, they won the turnover battle (3-1), and won their 2nd game of the year. They’ll get back to their losing ways when they take on the Washington Redskins on Thanksgiving.

What A Comeback!!

What looked like the upset of the week, turned into the game of the week. Midway through the 3rd quarter, the Washington Redskins jumped out to a 24-13 lead over the New Orleans Saints (in New Orleans). The Redskins would extend their lead to 31-16 with just 5:58 to play. Obviously, the Redskins went into a super prevent defense, allowing an easy touchdown in just 3 minutes and 5 seconds (on 9 yards per play). This is the moment that drives me nuts!! Don’t start playing a soft defense because you’re holding a 15-point lead. Continue doing what helped build that lead in the first place.

The Redskins predictably went 3 and out, only burning 1 minute off the clock. 87 yards and 48 seconds later, the Saints brought the game within 2 points. Alvin Kamara successfully converted the 2-point conversion, sending the game to overtime. The Redskins started with the ball in overtime, but that didn’t help matters. They went backwards 10 yards before punting. 2 runs by Mark Ingram was all it took (31 and 20 yards). Will Lutz drove home a 28-yard field goal for the 34-31 victory. And with the win, the Saints became the 1st team in NFL history to win 8 consecutive games after starting a season 0-2.

Smart Move Brandon Beane!!

Brandon Beane is the general manager of the Buffalo Bills, and he is not very bright. Beane replaced Doug Whaley who was unceremoniously fired in April. Just 7 months into the job, Beane thought it would be a good idea to bench his starting quarterback, Tyrod Taylor for rookie quarterback, Nathan Peterman.

How’d that work out for ya?!

Peterman tied a dubious NFL record on Sunday: Most interceptions in his 1st career start (5). He tied Keith Null who set the record for the St. Louis Rams in 2009. Peterman almost assuredly would have broken the record, for he was pulled for Tyrod Taylor just after halftime. Taylor, who should have never been benched in the first place, put up decent numbers. But it was too little, too late, as the Chargers stomped out the Bills 54-24!!

What were you watching on Sunday?? Would you like to see an NFL team in Mexico City permanently?? Tell me in the comment section below.

Yes, That Rotting Smell IS The NFL

November 13, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

NFL: New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers

There was a lot of stink radiating from the NFL this past Sunday.

The NFL is not what it used to be. We can blame rule changes, the most recent CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement), etc. Whatever the main culprit is, the level of play has simply taken a nosedive over the last decade. Here at DaveTalksSports, we enjoy a good list:

Nice Sack, Nice Sack, Nice Sa….Hey, Does Anyone Here Know How To Block?!

8.) I said it the second Ezekiel Elliot was (finally) suspended, “The world is going to recognize Elliot’s worth (on a football field).” One player does not make a football team, but one player can greatly effect a football team. With Elliot’s suspension hanging over the Dallas Cowboys like a black cloud, the rain finally came. And the Cowboys were ill prepared to weather the storm. After taking a 7-0 lead, it was all Falcons the rest of the way. The Falcons would score 27 unanswered points, sacking Dak Prescott 8 times in the process.

So much for having the best offensive line in the NFL.

Does He Know What Color Jersey He’s Wearing????

7.) Tom Savage.

Need I say more?

The Los Angeles Rams continued their winning ways (4 in a row), stomping out the Houston Texans 33-7. Tom Savage showed us, yet again, why he’s not fit to play quarterback at the professional level. Because nothing says victory like a 50% completion percentage and 2 interceptions….

How Is It That You’re Employed?!

6.) Speaking of quarterbacks who don’t belong in the NFL, Brock Osweiler still has a job. To answer your question, I’m not sure. Last time I checked, 18 for 33 with an interception isn’t going to cut it against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. This one got so out of hand (41-16), Brian Hoyer took 9 snaps under center for the Patriots. The Broncos are now losers of 5 straight.

You Embarrass Yourself!!

5.) When the team you’re facing is 2-6, and is without their 2 best players, you should win. But you wouldn’t be the New York Jets. The Jets, looking to get to .500, travelled to Tampa, to take on the Buccaneers. And in predictable fashion, the Jets ‘pooped the bed’. Against a middling Buccaneers defense, the Jets mustered just 3 points. Yes, Josh McCown threw a garbage-time touchdown with 28 seconds left, but that doesn’t count.

My favorite part of the game was the back-to-back interceptions thrown by the 2 most journeymen quarterbacks in the history of the NFL.

The Jets are who we thought they were, only slightly better. While the #1 pick is out of reach, and Jets’ fans should enjoy the young players’ progress, they’re still the good ol’ Jets.

Beat Downs Like This Should Be Illegal

4.) Holy Water Buffalo!! The Buffalo Bills have now been blown out in consecutive weeks. Their week 9 loss to the Jets was bad, but they took LOSS to a whole new level in week 10. 47-10. No need to adjust your glasses, that’s the right score. The Buffalo Bills allowed the New Orleans Saints to come into their house, and rush for 298 yards and 6 touchdowns!!!!

If I can sprinkle some good into this article, the Saints are winners of their last 7. Watch out NFC….

It’s Hard Finding New Ways To Lose EVERY Week

3.) Just when you think you’ve seen it all, the Los Angeles Chargers prove you wrong. Intercepting a Blake Bortles’ pass, with 2 minutes left and a 3-point lead, is usually a recipe for success. Not if you’re the Chargers. ONLY the Chargers can fumble the ball trying to run out the clock. ONLY the Chargers can intercept another Blake Bortles’ pass, seemingly icing the game, but then go 3 and out giving the ball back to the Jaguars. ONLY the Chargers can let the Jaguars gain 36-yards in 47 seconds, allowing their former kicker, Josh Lambo, to kick a game-tying field goal to send the game to overtime. ONLY the Chargers can throw an interception in overtime, leading to a game-winning field goal by the Jaguars. 20-17 F/OT. Yikes!!

The Giants Would Be the Worst Team In the NFL If The Browns Didn’t Exist

2.) The New York Giants season has been filled with turmoil, drama, and dissention. Injuries + a poorly constructed roster + anonymous players ripping their own coach = 1-8. Only a dumpster fire of epic proportions could get blown out by the winless San Francisco 49ers. 31-21 doesn’t do it justice. But hey, Giants’ fans, look at the bright side. The Giants will probably draft a franchise quarterback who will end up in the Hall of Fame. If only the Jets could figure that out….

Oh Cleveland, Poor, Sweet Cleveland….How Could You Be So Stupid?!

1.) Allow me to create imagery. There’s 15 seconds left in the 1st half. It’s 2nd down. And the Cleveland Browns have the ball on the Detroit Lions’ 2-yard line. THE BROWNS HAVE NO TIMEOUTS. The score is inconsequential, but it’s 17-17. If you’re the Browns, what do you do?? My 10-year old daughter knows the answer to this question by the way. You throw the ball twice, while avoiding a sack, in hopes of scoring a touchdown. If you don’t score a touchdown, you kick a field goal. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WHATSOEVER DO YOU RUN THE BALL, BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T SCORE, THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO RUN ANOTHER PLAY!!!!

So obviously the Browns ran the ball….

The score was still 17-17 at the half. And they lost 38-24.

Which disaster of a football game did you watch on Sunday?? Tell me all 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 .

Get Used To Me Couch, The NFL Is Back!!!!

September 11, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

jets stink

That was fun!! We should do that every week. What do you say, we get together next Sunday, around 1 o’ clock?? Yeah, you can come over, and we’ll watch football for 11 straight hours while we eat guacamole and drink beer. It’ll be great!!

After being forced to wait 7 months for football, the NFL finally returned, and it did not disappoint. My team, however, is another story:

New York Jets

1 down, 15 to go. As a lifelong Jets’ fan, this is going to be the weirdest season I’ve ever experienced. Today, I am glad they lost. Their performance was encouraging. It showed me they are capable of losing to anyone. Although their defense is decent, they will be on the field too often to impact the game positively. They lost 21-12 to the 1st place Buffalo Bills (man that sounds weird).

New York Giants

Few teams looked worse than the Jets yesterday. The Giants were one of them. They lost to the Dallas Cowboys 19-3. 3. 3 points.

“7. 7 miles per hour. And usually when I pull someone over they pull over to the side of the road!”

Last time I checked it’s hard to win a football game when you only score 3 points. Did I mention the Giants only scored 3 points?? People can talk about Odell Beckham Jr. not playing all they want, but it all boils down to the Giants’ offensive line. They can’t protect Eli Manning. They can’t provide running lanes for their running backs. I’m surprised they don’t get penalized more often. Last night, they made the Cowboys defense look like the ‘Steel Curtain’.

The Giants have the worst offensive line in the NFL.

Stinky QB Play

Two quarterbacks were pulled from their respective games yesterday, Tom Savage and Scott Tolzien. I’m not sure who was worse….

Scott Tolzien: 9/18 for 128 yards, 2 INT’s, and 1 fumble

Tom Savage: 7/13 for 62 yards and 2 lost fumbles

Tolzien was pulled from the game for newly acquired Jacoby Brissett. Brissett has only been on the Indianapolis Colts for 8 days, so he will be given a longer leash than Tolzien. It’s safe to say the Colts can’t wait for Andrew Luck to return to the field. For my eyeballs’ sake, I can’t either.

Despite having the emotional Houston crowd behind him, Savage was only able to muster 62 yards passing against a mediocre Jacksonville Jaguars defense. Oh, and the Jaguars had 10 sacks. Savage was replaced with rookie Deshaun Watson. Watson looked good, scoring a touchdown on his opening drive, but it was too little, way too late. The damage had been done. Hopefully, the Texans are smart enough to start Watson next week.

Too Smart For Their Own Good

The Philadelphia Eagles looked good yesterday. Carson Wentz looked good yesterday. And most would say head coach, Doug Pederson, looked good yesterday. The Eagles beat the Washington Redskins 30-17. Pederson’s mathematical blunder went unnoticed because they were winning, but bonehead decisions like these will cost you games in the future. The Eagles returned a Kirk Cousins’ fumble for a touchdown, going up 28-17 with 1:29 left in the 4th quarter. Pederson and the Eagles proceeded to go for a 2-point conversion.

I’ll give you a second to let that sink in….

Now, if you know anything about football, or numbers, you’d know going for 2-points in this situation is the wrong decision. There is no difference in being up 12 (kicking the extra point) versus being up 13 (going for 2). The only risk is not converting the 2-point conversion, only being up 11, and allowing the Redskins to climb back into the game. If you didn’t notice this mistake, don’t feel bad. The professional commentators announcing the game didn’t notice either.

There are still 2 Monday Night Football games left to close out Week 1. The New Orleans Saints will visit the Minnesota Vikings @ 7:10 P.M. EST, and the Los Angeles Charges will visit the Denver Broncos @ 10:20 P.M. EST. Both games can be seen on ESPN. I will be sound asleep before the 2nd game starts.

What was your biggest take away from the 1st Sunday of the NFL season?? Tell me all about it 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.

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!!

What A Wild Wednesday!!

August 17, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

aaron judge 3

Who knew a Wednesday in August could provide so much entertainment?? From idiot doctors to MONSTER home run blasts, Wednesday provided as much fun as one guy can handle.

Misdiagnosis

There’s being bad at your job, and then there’s being BAAAAAAADDDD at your job. As the orthopedists for an NFL team, your only job is to properly diagnose players’ injuries and occasionally perform surgery — that’s it! Apparently, New Orleans Saints’ orthopedists Deryk Jones and Misty Suri couldn’t even do that. Jones and Suri misdiagnosed an injury to Saints’ #1 cornerback Delvin Breaux. Their official diagnosis was Breaux was dealing with a bone bruise, when in fact he FRACTURED HIS FIBULA!!!! WOW!! I mean, just WOW!! That’s like the school nurse sending you back to class with a bag of ice, when you have a bone sticking out of your arm.

Needless to say, Jones and Suri were promptly fired. Now, Jones and Suri are also the team doctors for the New Orleans Pelicans of the NBA, so it’ll be interesting to see what route they take with these 2 geniuses.

That Ball Went Reeeaaalllyyy Far!!

The game was tied at 1. It was the top of the 4th inning. Mets’ pitcher, Robert Gsellman, actually looked like a MLB starter through 3 innings of Game 3 of the Subway Series at CitiField. And then Aaron Judge happened. Aaron Judge hit a home run to left field that may be in orbit at the moment. Judge has struggled since the All-Star Break, but his power remains undeniable. “My logic is undeniable.” $20 bucks to anyone who knows what movie that’s from…..

Anyway, you have to see this blast to fully appreciate it, so click here and enjoy. HOLY CRAP!! Right?? ESPN measured that bad boy at 457 feet, but I’m calling for a re-measure. The best part of the video, depending on your team-allegiance, is Yoenis Cespedes’ reaction. Re-watch the video and you’ll notice Cespedes doesn’t move an inch or even turn around. He simply knew that baseball was destined for space travel.

Not My Kind Of Record

Aaron Judge’s evening wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies. Despite hitting a monstrous home run, and going 2 for 5, Judge landed on the wrong side of the record books. Judge has now struck-out in 33 consecutive games. This is the longest streak, by a non-pitcher, in MLB history. He surpassed strikeout machine, Adam Dunn.

The question is, how many more games in a row will Judge strikeout??

Screw You Trevor Rosenthal

As a Yankees’ fan, I know how important the outcome of Boston Red Sox games are, especially in August. With a Yankees’ W firmly in the books Wednesday evening, my attention turned to the Red Sox game. They trailed the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 in the bottom of the 9th inning. Here comes Cardinals’ closer, Trevor Rosenthal. A 1-2-3 inning would have been too much to ask for, right?? Instead, Rosenthal thought it would be a better idea to give up 2 runs without recording an out. Yay!! So rather than the Yankees cutting a game off the Red Sox’ lead in the AL East, they remain 4.5 games back. Thanks Mr. Rosenthal. Ya jerk!!

What were you watching on Wednesday night?? Tell me about it 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!!

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!

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