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Brads NFL Picks Super Bowl 51 2016 – 2017

Brads NFL Picks   Super Bowl 51   2016 – 2017
 
Brads Picks was 0 – 2 last week and is 6 – 4 in the post season and  164 – 100 – 2  on the year.  Here’s what happened last week:
Atlanta 44, Packers 21  –  It was 24 to 0 at the half.  Bad time for Rodgers to cool off, but the Packers were beat up at the WR position, enough so that they activated rookie Max McCaffrey from the PS.  Julio Jones caught 9 for 180 and two TDs, despite the Packers pretty much shutting down the run game.  Matt Ryan threw for 392 yards and 4 TDs and also had a rushing TD of 14 yards.
New England 36, Steelers 17  –  Tom the Cheater threw for 384 yards abd 3 TDs,  It was Cheaters 17, Steelers 9 at the half.  Le’Veon Bell had just 20 yards on 6 carries for the Steelers  before leaving the game with a groin injury.  His back up, DeAngelo Williams, had just 34 on 14.

Continue reading Brads NFL Picks Super Bowl 51 2016 – 2017

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017

SB 50 Review

(For a bit of nostalgia, this is what I wrote about 50 weeks ago)

Super Bowl 50 Review

Denver 24, Carolina 10  –  At the end of the 1st quarter, it was Denver 10, Carolina 0.  At the half it was Denver 13, Carolina 7.  After the third, it was Denver 16, Carolina 7.  Midway through the 4th it was Denver 16, Carolina 10.  You know the final score.  So, as predicted, Denver won going away.

Neither QB threw a TD pass.  Both threw one INT.  Newton was sacked 6 times (Ted Ginn was sacked once- the 7 sacks tied the SB record, with the 85 Chicago Bears).  Manning was sacked 5 times.  Manning threw a pass for a two point conversion for the final score in the game.
The only two offensive TDs were on short running plays, by Jonathan Stewart, who leaped over, and CJ Anderson, who burrowed under.  The other TD was a fumble recovery by Malik Jackson who recovered in the end zone after Von Miller stripped the ball from Cam Newton.

The game was played by the number 1 offense (Carolina) and the number 1 defense (Denver), and a good Carolina defense against a mediocre Denver offense.  The story of the game was that Denver’s defense was far superior to Carolina’s offense, and the Bronco offense did just enough against the Carolina defense.

Continue reading SB 50 Review

Who Would Be Your Ideal NFL Broadcast Team?

Here’s the quest: you are in charge of a network that airs NFL Sunday afternoon coverage.  You have full power to choose whoever you want to be in front of the microphone and camera to commentate on the sport.  Here are the jobs that you need to fill:

  • Six game broadcast teams, each consisting of a play-by-play commentator, a color commentator, and a sideline reporter.
  • A studio crew that consists of one host, and as many analysts as you feel is practical (though explain why you’re adding them and how much they’re going to be on the air).

You don’t have to be limited to current NFL talent, but try to stay practical in noting that those who have NFL broadcast experience may perform better.

Brads NFL Picks Super Bowl 50

(What I wrote a year ago)

 

 

Brads NFL Picks   –   Super Bowl 50

     Two Weeks ago – the Conference Championship games:

Denver 20 Patriots 18  –  The game wasn’t quite as close as the score indicates.  Manning made a bonehead play in the 1st quarter when he threw a lateral to Ronnie Hillman, who wasn’t looking for it.  Cheaters recovered at the Bronco 22.  A 21 yard pass and a one yard run and the Cheaters had a TD.

Continue reading Brads NFL Picks Super Bowl 50

Tale Of The Tape: John Elway vs. Ryan Grigson

As most Broncos fans know well, a grave injustice was done when Ryan Grigson edged out John Elway for Executive of the Year in 2012.  While this subject will always contain a little bit of soreness, history has vindicated this injustice, as can be illustrated in these respective links for Grigson and Elway.

Now that the Grigson era has ended in Indianapolis, I feel that we should close the chapter on this by taking a detailed look at the transactions that Elway and Grigson each executed during their overlapping reins as GMs.  This means that I’m not giving Elway credit for 2011, and his stellar acquisitions such as Von Miller, Julius Thomas, and Chris Harris.  But as you’ll see, he doesn’t even need that year.

This list represents the opinion that I’m expressing in this article.  The grades that I’ve given each transaction are subjective, but I feel they are also fair. Continue reading Tale Of The Tape: John Elway vs. Ryan Grigson

More Like “Coach (That Exceeded Low Expectations) Of The Year”

I have always found the Coach Of The Year awards in the NFL to be among the most useless.  You probably have a good idea why: it’s rarely awarded to the head coach that’s actually the most outstanding of that season. Instead, all too often it’s given to the head coach that turns a bad team into a good team.  This year, it’s almost certain that Coach Of The Year votes will largely go to Jason Garrett (taking the Cowboys from 4-12 to 13-3), with the runner up being Jack Del Rio (taking the Raiders from 7-9 to 12-4).  What’s something that those two teams have in common?  Yep, they were both one and done in the playoffs.  Furthermore, does anyone really think that either Garrett or Del Rio belongs in the top five among head coaches when considering the entire body of their work?

This article will further expose the problem with how this award is handed out–and also attempt to find a more reliable metric to include in future consideration. Continue reading More Like “Coach (That Exceeded Low Expectations) Of The Year”

Brads NFL Picks The Championship Games 2016 – 2017

 

 

Brads NFL Picks   The Championship Games   2016-2017
 
Brads Picks was 4 – 0 last week and is 164 – 98 – 2   on the season. Here’s what happened last week:
 
the good:
 
Atlanta 36, Seahawks 20  –  Squacks took the opening kick off and reeled off 89 yards and a TD on 10 runs for 49 yards and Russell Wilson going 4 – 4 for 40 yards and the TD.  But Atlanta came  back and went 75 yards on 13 plays and tied the score at 7.  Score was Atlanta 19, Quacks 10 at the half.
Matt Ryan was 26-37-338 and 3 TDs against a pretty good Quack defense.
One fun note – Ben Garland, former Air Force Academy DL and former Bronco DL and OL, who is now the Falcons backup Center, was in as a DT on at least one play. Quacks had the ball at their own 4.  Garland shot through and fell on Russell Wilson in the end zone for a safety.
New England 34, Texans 16  –  New England 17, Texans 13 at the half.  Cheaters unleashed a secret weapon, diminutive RB Dion Lewis.  Lewis, who’s been bouncing around the league for 6 years, became the first player in the post season to score a TD by a reception, a handoff, and a kick return.  Outside of those three plays, he was pretty pedestrian but 21 points is 21 points – more than the Texans could manage.
Packers 34, Dallas 31  –  Helluva game.  Packers total yards – 413; Dallas had 429.  Each team had one turnover (both on INTs).  Time of possession – Packers 29:46, Dallas 30:14.  But with time running out,  Aaron Rodgers, while on the run, made a fantastic throw and Jared Cook made a fantastic catch on the sideline.  That 36 yard completion allowed the Packers to attempt a 51 yard field goal, and Mason Crosby put it through as time expired.
Steelers 18, Kansas City 16  –  The Steelers couldn’t buy a TD, but Chris Boswell set a playoff record with six field goals.  KC scored a late TD to make it 18-16.  The two point attempt was good, but called back on a holding penalty.  The next attempt failed.  Steelers got the kickoff and managed to run out the clock.

Continue reading Brads NFL Picks The Championship Games 2016 – 2017