Thursday, September 29, 2011

NFL Week 3 Recap

(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Eli Manning and the Giants defeated the Eagles 29-16 on Sunday. Manning had a
great game, throwing for four touchdowns and no interceptions

This Week's Record: 9-7
Overall Record: 30-18

Patriots vs. Bills: 34-31 Bills
Patriots Player of the Week: Wes Welker- 16 receptions, 217 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
Bills Player of the Week: Fred Jackson- 74 rushing yards, 87 receiving yards, touchdown

Believe it or not, the Bills defeated the Patriots Sunday, and improved their record to 3-0. Buffalo came back from 21-0 deficit and intercepted Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady, four times. Ryan Fitzpatrick continued to do wonders for the Bills, as he threw for over 350 yards and two touchdowns

Niners vs. Bengals: 13-8 Niners
Niners Player of the Week: Vernon Davis- 8 receptions, 114 receiving yards
Bengals Player of the Week: Cedric Benson- 64 rushing yards

In a game full of sloppy mistakes, the 49'ers beat the Bengals by an awkward score of 13-8. The only touchdown of the game came from San Fransisco's backup running back Kendall Hunter.

Dolphins vs. Browns: 17-16 Browns
Dolphins Player of the Week: Daniel Thomas- 95 rushing yards, 27 receiving yards, touchdown
Browns Player of the Week: D'Qwell Jackson- 11 tackles, .5 sack, fumble recovery

The Browns were able to beat the Dolphins, despite the fact that Peyton Hillis didn't play. Hillis was sidelined with strep throat on Sunday. The Dolphins rookie running back, Daniel Thomas, had a great game but it wasn't enough to give the Dolphins their first win of the season.

Titans vs. Broncos: 17-14 Titans
Titans Player of the Week: Nate Washington- 8 receptions, 92 receiving yards, touchdown
Broncos Player of the Week: Willis McGahee- 52 rushing yards, touchdown

The Titans won this week, but also lost Kenny Britt for the season after he tore his ACL in the game. Nate Washington stepped it up for Tennessee in Britt's absence since Chris Johnson has yet to rush for over 100 yards in a game this season.

Giants vs. Eagles: 29-16 Giants
Giants Player of the Week: Eli Manning- 254 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, 145.7 passer rating
Eagles Player of the Week: LeSean McCoy- 128 rushing yards, touchdown

The Giants beat up on Michael Vick and the Eagles and defeated them by a score of 29-16. Eli Manning played flawless for the first time this season, and the Giants really connected on the field. Victor Cruz also had a great game filling in for Mario Manningham, catching two touchdowns and having over 100 receiving yards.

Lions vs. Vikings: 26-23 Lions
Lions Player of the Week: Calvin Johnson- 7 receptions, 108 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
Vikings Player of the Week: Adrian Peterson- 78 rushing yards, touchdown

The Lions came back to beat the Vikings after trailing 20-0 in the first half. Matt Stafford had another good game and connected with Calvin Johnson for two touchdowns. The Lions are 3-0 and are the most exciting team in football right now.

Texans vs. Saints: 40-33 Saints
Texans Player of the Week: Matt Schaub- 373 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 103.9 passer rating
Saints Player of the Week: Jimmy Graham- 4 receptions, 100 receiving yards, touchdown

The Saints were able to hold on to another victory against the Texans. Houston was without running back Arian Foster, who has been injured this season. The Texans led in the 4th quarter, but the Saints came back and scored 23 points in the final quarter.

Panthers vs. Jaguars: 16-10 Panthers
Panthers Player of the Week: Greg Olsen- 7 receptions, 59 receiving yards, touchdown
Jaguars Player of the Week: Maurice Jones-Drew- 128 rushing yards, 47 receiving yards

Cam Newton and the Panthers won their first game of the season Sunday, after defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars. Newton only threw for one touchdown, but had no interceptions. In Blaine Gabbert's first start for the Jags, he completed 12 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown, but also had an interception.

Jets vs. Raiders: 34-24 Raiders
Jets Player of the Week: LaDainian Tomlinson- 38 rushing yards, 116 receiving yards, touchdown
Raiders Player of the Week: Darren McFadden- 179 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns

Raiders' football looks to be finally back. The Raiders beat the Jets, and had a got a huge performance out of their running back, Darren McFadden. For the last two seasons, McFadden has come out of his shell and is playing like a top ten running back in the league.

Ravens vs. Rams: 37-7 Ravens
Ravens Player of the Week: Torrey Smith- 5 receptions, 152 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns
Rams Player of the Week: Brandon Gibson- 5 receptions, 55 receiving yards, touchdown

The Ravens demolished the Rams Sunday and might have found a new stud wide receiver. Torrey Smith's first three catches in the NFL all went for touchdowns. Flacco had a great game too, throwing for 388 yards, 3 touchdowns, and a passer rating of 103.6.

Chargers vs. Chiefs: 20-17 Chargers
Chargers Player of the Week: Ryan Matthews- 98 rushing yards, 51 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
Chiefs Player of the Week: Dwyane Bowe- 6 receptions, 63 receiving yards, touchdown

The Chargers didn't play well but still were able to defeat the Chiefs. Antonio Gates didn't play, and Philip Rivers had a mediocre game, but thanks to Ryan Matthews, the Chargers came out on top. The Chiefs look like they want Andrew Luck, and their injured players all in uniform.

Packers vs. Bears: 27-17 Packers
Packers Player of the Week: Jermichael Finley- 7 receptions, 85 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns
Bears Player of the Week: Johnny Knox- 4 receptions, 84 yards

The Packers are 3-0 after beating the Bears in Chicago. Green Bay played a great game offensively from Aaron Rodgers and Jermichael Finley. The Bears are now 1-2 after losing their last two games to the Saints and Packers.

Cardinals vs. Seahawks: 13-10 Seahawks
Cardinals Player of the Week: Larry Fitzgerald- 5 receptions, 64 receiving yards, touchdown
Seahawks Player of the Week: Sidney Rice- 8 receptions, 109 receiving yards

The Seahawks won their first win of the season after defeating the Cardinals 13-10. The Seahawks didn't play great offensively but had a pretty impressive performance by their defense.

Falcons vs. Bucs: 16-13 Bucs
Falcons Player of the Week: Roddy White- 9 receptions, 140 receiving yards
Bucs Player of the Week: Ronde Barber- 4 tackles, interception, fumble recovery

The Falcons disappointed fans again after losing to the Bucs. The 1-2 Falcons were supposed to be Super Bowl contenders this year after trading up and taking Julio Jones in the draft, but find themselves tied for last in the NFC South.

Steelers vs. Colts: 23-20 Steelers
Steelers Player of the Week: Mike Wallace- 5 receptions, 141 receiving yards, touchdown
Colts Player of the Week: Joseph Addai- 86 rushing yards, touchdown

It really shows how much one player can impact a team. The Colts without Peyton Manning is like a human body without a brain. The Colts can't function without No. 18. The Steelers improved to 2-1 and have seemed to forget about their embarrassing Week 1 loss to the Ravens.

Redskins vs. Cowboys: 18-16 Cowboys
Redskins Player of the Week: Tim Hightower- 41 rushing yards, 39 receiving yards, touchdown
Cowboys Player of the Week: Dan Bailey- 6 field goals made, 18 points

The Cowboys handed the Redskins their first loss of the season on Monday Night, thanks to their kicker, Dan Bailey, who successfully kicked six field goals. Good news for the Cowboys also is that Felix Jones has gained his mojo back after rushing for 115 yards.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

College Football Week 4 Review

(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Brandon Weeden helped lead the Oklahoma State Cowboys over the Texas A&M 
Aggies Saturday, completing 47 passes and throwing for over 400 yards.
This week in college football, five teams in the Top 25 lost this week. (8)Texas A&M lost to (7)Oklahoma State, (11) Florida State lost to (21) Clemson, (14) Arkansas lost to (3) Alabama, (16) West Virginia lost to (2) LSU, and (23) USC lost to unranked Arizona State. Also this week, LSU passed Oklahoma as the top team in the nation despite the Sooners defeating Missouri.

Top 3 Performances by Player or Team:
1.Oklahoma State QB Brandon Weeden- Weeden completed 47 passes on Saturday, helping his Cowboys defeat the Texas A&M Aggies in a close one. The Oklahoma State quarterback passed for 438 yards and threw two touchdowns.
2. Baylor QB Robert Griffin III- Griffin had another incredible game Saturday, adding to his heisman campaign. Griffin passed for 338 and five touchdowns, while he ran for another 51 and ran another touchdown in. Griffin has led the Bears to a 3-0 record this season, and has thrown more touchdown passes than incomplete passes.
3. Oregon RB LaMichael James- James had a record night at Arizona, rushing for 288 yards and two touchdowns. James and the Ducks defeated the Wildcats 56-31 and are 3-1.

Top 3 Disappointments by Player or Team:
1. The Big 12 Conference- The conference formerly known as the Big 12 is losing members by the week, and amid all this chaos, Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe has resigned. Rumors are that the Big 12 powerhouses, Texas, and Oklahoma are moving to the Pac 12. This conference used to be one of the strongest in the country, and now they are close to not existing anymore.
2. Florida State Seminoles- The Seminoles are on a two game losing streak after losing to Oklahoma and Clemson. Also, quarterback EJ Manuel is injured which hurts their chances of winning. The Seminoles play in the ACC and will need to win out if they want to make a BCS bowl game.
3. USC Trojans- The Trojans finally returned to the Top 25 this week, just to lose to Arizona State. Matt Barkley had a bad week throwing for two interceptions and only one touchdown. USC won't be playing in any bowl this season, so the regular season should be their time to shine.

Game of the Week: (7) Oklahoma State vs. (8) Texas A&M

In this week's "Game of the Week", The Oklahoma State Cowboys defeated the Texas A&M Aggies 30-29. Early in the game the Aggiest jumped out to a 10-3 lead, and ended up finishing the first half 20-3 in their advantage. Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden led the Cowboys back in the second half and Oklahoma State led after the third quarter 24-20, scoring 21 unanswered points. The fourth quarter started off with two field goals by the Cowboys to give them a 30-20 lead. The Aggies would score on a touchdown, and eventually force a safety out of Oklahoma State but it would be too late. The Cowboys had a great game offensively, having two receivers with over 10 receptions and 100 receiving. Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill played well for the most part, but his three interceptions hurt the Aggies late in the game. The Cowboys defeated the Aggiest 30-28.

Next Week's Five Intriguing Matchups:
1. (7) Wisconsin vs. (8) Nebraska- This game will be a historic game for both teams. It is Nebraska's first conference game in the Big 10, and it is also Russell Wilson's first big test as the new quarterback of the Wisconsin Badgers.
2. (3) Alabama vs. (12) Florida- Florida plays Alabama and LSU in it's next two games and is looking to steal a win from one of the two. Although John Brantley hasn't looked sharp this season, the Gators will look to rely on running back Chris Rainey.
3. (10) South Carolina vs. Auburn- Will Auburn return to the Top 25 if they defeat the Gamecocks, or will Lattimore, Jeffrey, and Garcia lead South Carolina to another victory?
4. (11) Clemson vs. (13) Virginia Tech- Clemson is coming off of an upset victory over the Florida State Seminoles. CAn they continue their streak and knock of the Hokies?
5. (14) Texas A&M vs. (18) Arkansas- Both teams lost last weekend to Oklahoma State and Alabama respectively  Which team will rebound this week and which team will fall again?

Sunday, September 25, 2011

NFL Week 3 Predictions


(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Lions have been playing great football this season
and might improve to 3-0, something they haven't done
since Stafford and most of the team were born.

Patriots vs Bills: 31-20 Patriots
The Bills have started off the season on a roll but all good things have to come to an end. The Patriots are playing like Super Bowl contenders so far, and as usual should be able to take care of the Bills.

Niners vs Bengals: 20-17 Bengals
The Bengals have surprisingly been decent this season despite all the offseason chaos. Andy Dalton has settled down as the team's future quarterback and AJ Green has already shown his explosiveness at wide receiver. The 49'ers are a good team, but their only win so far is against the Seahawks, which does not say much. Bengals win in a close one.

Dolphins vs Browns: 20-13 Dolphins
The Dolphins will win their first game of the season against the Browns. Peyton Hillis is sick and will not play which is terrible news for the Browns' offense. The Dolphins will look and see if Daniel Thomas can take over the majority of carries from Reggie Bush as he did last week.

Broncos vs Titans: 27-20 Titans
As long as Chris Johnson can finally play to his potential, this game should be a no brainer. The Broncos   have a bunch of injured players and still have questions to answer. Kenny Britt has been great this season and as long as Matt Hasselbeck can keep connecting with his receivers, the Titans will win this game.

Lions vs Vikings: 34-21 Lions
For maybe the second time in eight years, the Lions will be the favorites to win this game. The Lions have come out ferocious this season dominating their opponents in both games. The Vikings have had some trouble throwing the ball this season, with veteran Donovan McNabb behind center. If the Vikings want to win this week, they need to see big improvements from McNabb.

Texans vs Saints: 35-20 Saints
Arian Foster is not playing again which really hurts the Texans' chances of winning this game. The Saints have played great this season so far, and Drew Brees has yet to throw an interception. The Texans should be alright with the passing game still great, but their defense will be tested a lot Sunday by the Saints.

Giants vs Eagles: 28-17 Eagles
This one hurts to predict, but the Eagles are the better team. The Giants are beat up on offense and defense, and Eli Manning has been sub-par this year. If Vick doesn't play, then the Giants have a good chance of winning, but he's likely to play.

Jaguars vs Panthers: 35-17 Panthers
Cam Newton will get his first NFL win Sunday when the Panthers crush the Jaguars. The Panthers have played the Cardinals and Packers so far this season, and Cam Newton has still been able to pass for 400+ yards in both games. Maurice Jones-Drew is the Jaguars only hope Sunday, because overall the Panthers are the better team.

Jets vs Raiders: 24-21 Jets
The Jets will win this one in the final minutes once again. The Raiders have improved over the last few seasons, and their running game has become a legitimate threat to defenses. The Jets are still the better team, but Oakland will give them a fight.

Ravens vs Rams: 24-14 Ravens
The Rams will unfortunately start off the season 0-3. The good news is that all three losses have been to top-tier teams in the NFL. The Rams will improve this season, but they won't win this week when they play the Ravens. The Ravens' defense will be too much for Sam Bradford to handle and the offense will be too much for Steve Spagnuolo to handle.

Chiefs vs Chargers: 34-13 Chargers
Coming off a tough loss to the Patriots, the Chargers will bounce back and crush the Chiefs. Since losing Eric Berry and Jamaal Charles, the Chiefs have lost all motivation to win on Sunday's. Vincent Jackson played incredible last week, and should have another great game with Antonio Gates out for the Bolts.

Packers vs Bears: 28-24 Packers
The defending Super Bowl champs will defeat the Bears in Chicago, in a very close game. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense will be a great matchup against the Bears' defense. If Matt Forte continues to play like he has this season, and Jay Cutler  plays smart football, the Bears will have a chance to beat the Packers.

Cardinals vs Seahawks: 27-10 Cardinals
The Seahawks have been terrible so far this season. Seattle has no offensive threats and their defense has many holes too. The Cardinals will improve to 2-1 Sunday after they defeat the "Shehawks'. Expect the Cardinals' offense to explode early vs the Seahawks.

Falcons vs Bucs: 28-20 Falcons
The Falcons came back to win a close one last Sunday night, after knocking out Michael Vick late in the third quarter. The Falcons' offense should have no problem vs the Bucs defense. The Bucs have been playing overrated this season, with high expectations made in the offseason.

Steelers vs Colts: 31-13 Steelers
The Steelers seemed to have forgotten all about their Week 1 embarrassment against the Ravens. The Steelers shut out the Seahawks last week, and will have a similar result this week against the Colts. The Colts have shown the nation why Peyton Manning is a four time MVP winner, without him the team just sucks.

Cowboys vs Redskins: 27-23 Cowboys
As long as the Cowboys are healthy and have Tony Romo and Dez Bryant play Monday, they should defeat the surprisingly 2-0 Redskins. The Cowboys are coming off a tough loss to the Jets, in which they blew a 14 point lead late in the game. The Redskins do have a chance of winning this game though, if Rex Grossman continues to play like he has so far this season and the Redskins defense plays tough, Washington could win on Monday Night.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

NFL Week 2 Recap

(AP Photo/David Duprey)
Fred Jackson and Bills are the talk of town through two weeks in the NFL.
The Bills are 2-0 after defeating the Chiefs and Raiders.

This week's record: 11-5
Overall record: 21-11

Raiders vs Bills: 38-35 Bills
Raiders Player of the Week: Denarius Moore- 5 receptions, 146 receiving yards, touchdown
Bills Player of the Week: 117 rushing yards, 23 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns

The Bills defeated the Raiders to start off the season 2-0, something that hasn't happened since 1999 in Buffalo. The Bills' offense was on fire again Sunday when Ryan Fitzpatrick and Fred Jackson lit up the Raiders' defense. The Raiders did find a new wide receiver in Denarius Moore who will be getting more targets after an impressive game Sunday.

Lions vs Chiefs: 48-3
Lions Player of the Week: Matthew Stafford- 294 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, 106.1 passer rating
Chiefs Player of the Week: Dwayne Bowe- 5 receptions, 101 receiving yards

The Lions crushed the Chiefs Sunday and improved to 2-0 for the first time in a decade. The Lions have looked fierce this year with an incredible defense, and an offense that is just as impressive. The maturity and health of quarterback Matthew Stafford has been key for the Lions.

Titans vs Ravens: 26-13 Titans
Titans Player of the Week: Kenny Britt- 9 receptions, 134 receiving yards, touchdown
Ravens Player of the Week: Ray Rice- 43 rushing yards, 53 receiving yards, touchdown

The Titans defeated the Ravens just a week after the Ravens crushed the Steelers in Week 1. The Titans were also able to defeat the Ravens without a good performance by running back Chris Johnson. Kenny Britt has taken a lot of responsibility for the Titans' offense this year with Johnson's game not great this season.

Browns vs Colts: 27-19 Browns
Browns Player of the Week: Peyton Hillis- 94 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns
Colts Player of the Week: Joseph Addai- 64 rushing yards, 37 receiving yards

It is a fact that when the Browns give the ball to Peyton Hillis, they have a much better chance of winning than if they didn't give him the ball. The Browns struggled in Week 1 to give Hillis scoring opportunities, and made sure not to make the same mistake this week. The Colts fall to 0-2, something that hasn't happened in 13 years.

Bucs vs Vikings: 24-20 Bucs
Bucs Player of the Week: LeGarrette Blunt- 71 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns
Vikings Player of the Week: Adrian Peterson- 125 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns

The Bucs rebounded from a bad loss in Week 1 and defeated the Vikings who fall to 0-2. Although Adrian Peterson looked fantastic on Sunday, Donovan McNabb has yet to prove himself in Minnesota. Will we be seeing Christian Ponder taking snaps at all this season? Donovan needs to step his game up if he wants to keep his job.

Bears vs Saints: 30-13 Saints
Bears Player of the Week: Matt Forte- 47 rushing yards, 10 receptions, 117 receiving yards
Saints Player of the Week: Drew Brees- 270 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 118.1 passer rating

Drew Brees hasn't thrown an interception yet this season which is a great sign for the Saints. Brees is an elite quarterback but had problems last year with a high interception count. The Saints defeated the Bears  just a week after the Bears beat down on the Falcons. If the Bears want to be an elite team in the NFL they need to protect their quarterback, Jay Cutler, who was sacked six times on Sunday.

Jaguars vs Jets: 32-3 Jets
Jaguars Player of the Week: Maurice Jones- Drew- 88 rushing yards, 19 receiving yards
Jets Player of the Week: Dustin Keller- 6 receptions, 101 receiving yards, touchdown

The Jets intercepted Luke McCown four times before he was pulled this week. Backup rookie Blaine Gabbert still wasn't able to help out the Jaguars offense who failed to reach the endzone on Sunday. Mark Sanchez didn't look great on Sunday, but the overall offense was fine and Jets defense was impressive as usual.

Steelers vs Seahawks: 24-0 Steelers
Steelers Player of the Week: Mike Wallace- 8 receptions, 126 receiving yards, touchdown
Seahawks: Jon Ryan- 8 punts, 385 punting yards, 3 kicks inside the 20

The Steelers redeemed themselves after shutting out the Seahawks. The Seahawks are 0-2 this season and have the worst offense in the league, scoring one touchdown all season. If the Seahawks can't figure out how to get in the endzone soon, Andrew Luck will be playing quarterback for them next year.

Cardinals vs Redskins: 22-21 Redskins
Cardinals Player of the Week: Larry Fitzgerald- 7 receptions, 133 receiving yards, touchdown
Redskins Player of the Week: Fred Davis- 6 receptions, 88 receiving yards, touchdown

The Redskins are miraculously 2-0 to start off the season after defeating the Giants and now the Cardinals. Rex Grossman has been spectacular so far for the Redskins, and has proved to the team that he is the starting quarterback. You would never believe it a month ago, but after two weeks of football, the Redskins are in first place in the NFC East.

Packers vs Panthers: 30-23 Packers
Packers Player of the Week: Charles Woodson- 5 tackles, 2 interceptions, fumble recovery
Panthers Player of the Week: Steve Smith- 6 receptions, 156 yards

The Packers escaped Charlotte after a close game with the Panthers. The Panthers offense was productive once again, and Cam Newton passed for 432 yards, but his three interceptions really killed the Panthers' chances of winning. Aaron Rodgers had a solid game and the Packers improved to 2-0.

Cowboys vs Niners: 27-24 (OT) Cowboys
Cowboys Player of the Week: Miles Austin- 9 receptions, 143 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns
Niners Player of the Week: Frank Gore- 47 rushing yards, touchdown

The Cowboys defeated the 49'ers in OT in a big effort by Miles Austin and Tony Romo, who came back to play after being knocked out earlier in the game with a injured rib and punctured lung. Miles had a monstrous game catching all three Cowboys' touchdowns.

Bengals vs Broncos: 24-22 Broncos
Bengals Player of the Week: AJ Green- 10 receptions, 124 receiving yards, touchdown
Broncos Player of the Week: Eric Decker- 5 receptions, 113 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns

Even without Brandon Lloyd and Knowshon Moreno, the Broncos were able to beat the Bengals Sunday. Back-ups Willis McGahee and Eric Decker both had over 100 yards rushing and receiving respecitvly and helped lead an injured Broncos offense.

Texans vs Dolphins: 23-13 Texans
Texans Player of the Week: Andre Johnson- 7 receptions, 93 receiving yards, touchdown
Dolphins Player of the Week: Brandon Marshall- 6 receptions 73 receiving yards, touchdown


Arian Foster barely played after re-aggravated his hamstring and the Texans still beat the Dolphins. The game was much closer than expected, but the Texans ended up with the win despite a late second half push by the 'Fins. Ben Tate did a great job backing up Arian Foster and rushed for over 100 yards.

Chargers vs Patriots: 35-21 Patriots
Chargers Player of the Week: Vincent Jackson- 10 receptions, 172 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
Patriots Player of the Week: Tom Brady- 426 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 135.7 passer rating

The Patriots proved Sunday that they are the best team in the AFC and possibly the best team in the whole NFL. Tom Brady has been flawless this season passing for over 500 and 400 yards in his first two games, and the Patriots defense has been stellar too. The Patriots play the Jets in three weeks but also platy the 2-0 Bills a week before.

Eagles vs Falcons: 35-31 Falcons
Eagles Player of the Week: Jeremy Maclin- 13 receptions, 171 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
Falcons Player of the Week: 114 rushing yards, 32 receiving yards, touchdown

The Eagles led the Falcons late in the third quarter but once ex-Falcons quarterback Michael Vick go knocked out of the game with a concussion, the Falcons took advantage and ended up defeating the Vick-less Eagles 35-31. After getting embarrassed in Week 1, the Falcons have bounced back and are not looking back.

Giants vs Rams: 28-16 Giants
Giants Player of the Week: Michael Boley- 6 tackles, fumble recovery, touchdown
Rams Player of the Week: Danario Alexander- 3 receptions, 122 receiving yards, touchdown

The Giants bounced back from an ugly Week 1 loss and defeated the Rams on Monday Night. Although the Giants still didn't look great it was enough to bring their record up to 1-1. Sam Bradford and the Rams are 0-2 after facing the Eagles and Giants, and playing mostly without Steven Jackson who injured his quad early in the season opener.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Rivera Saves No. 602

(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Mariano Rivera has passed Trevor Hoffman for the most
saves in MLB history with 602 saves.

The Sandman entered Monday and saved his 602nd game. New York Yankees closer, Mariano Rivera, passed Trevor Hoffman for most career saves after  finishing off the top of the ninth inning in a 6-4 Yankees win. The save was Rivera's 43rd save of the season. Also, Mariano has not blown a save in his last 16 appearances. Mo will go down in the books not only as one of the best Yankees pitchers of all time, but one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history.

Rivera's journey started 16 years ago, when he made his debut May 23rd, 1995. He appeared in 19 games in 1995, but eventually took over the starting job as the New York Yankees closer in 1997. In his first year as the starting closer, Mo saved 43 games for the Yanks and struck out 68 batters.

Throughout his career Mariano has finished in the top three of the Cy Young Award voting four times. Also Rivera has recorded 40+ saves in eight MLB seasons, including a career high 53 in 2004. Since taking over the starting closer role for the Yankees, Rivera has only had less than 30 saves in a season once, and that is because he only appeared in 45 games.

Mariano, as well as Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada have been Yankees throughout their whole careers. All of them have won five World Series rings together and have been top players in the MLB over the past decade and a half.

Rivera is the best closer of all-time but it's not just because of his 602 regular season saves. Rivera is also the greatest postseason closer, or even pitcher of all time. Mariano is the all-time postseason saves leader with 42 saves, a record that is not even within 20 saves of second place. In 15 years of postseason baseball, Mariano has a lethal ERA of just .71 in over 139 innings pitched.

What has made Mariano such a respected player in the game, is also his personality. While many closers love to brag and boast after recording saves and strikeouts, Rivera has always respected his opponents and the game. Rivera is also one of the most humble New York Yankees ever; while Jeter may be the face of the franchise, Mariano has been just as important to the Yankees in a quieter way. Rivera is also one of the few Yankees that is respected throughout the league, even by the Yankees' rivals, the Boston Red Sox.

Rivera has appeared in 12 All-Star games, won the ALCS MVP Award in 2003, and won the World Series MVP Award in 1999, after the Yankees won the World Series. He also has won the Relief Pitcher of the Year Award five times.

Mariano Rivera will go down in the record books as the best closer in the game of baseball. His 602 saves (and counting) are an MLB record, and are not close to being broken. Rivera has been one of the greatest players to ever play the game, and has had a positive impact on and off the field. Congrats Mariano, you deserve it.

Monday, September 19, 2011

College Football Week 3 Review

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
The Sooners survived in Tallahasee this week,
but will they keep their #1 rank when they play Missouri this week?

Week 3 in the college football world was full of surprises and exciting games as six teams in the Top 25 lost. The #5 Florida State Seminoles lost to #1 Oklahoma, and #25 Mississippi State lost to #3 LSU.  The other teams in the Top 25 who lost were #15 Michigan State, who were upset by Notre Dame, #17 Ohio State, who lost to Miami, #21 Auburn, who lost to Clemson, and #22 Arizona State, who lost to Illinois.

Top Three Performances by Player or Team:
1. Boise State QB Kellen Moore- Moore had a great game passing for 455 yards and throwing five touchdowns. Moore helped lead Boise State to a 40-15 win over Toledo.
2. South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore- Without Lattimore, the Gamecocks would have lost to Navy on Saturday. The heisman hopeful rushed for 246 yards and all three South Carolina touchdowns.
3. Oregon RB LaMichael James- James has improved since his bad start against LSU. This week James rushed for 204 yards and three touchdowns, helping Oregon win 56-7.

Top Three Disappointments by Player or Team:
1. Florida State QB EJ Manuel- Manuel did face the #1 Oklahoma Sooners Saturday, but that isn't an excuse for his poor play. Manuel threw for under 200 yards, no touchdowns, but had two interceptions. When he was knocked out of the game, backup Clint Trickett gave them a chance to win the game, after leading them from behind tie up the game, but once Manuel returned the Seminoles ultimately lost.
2. Michigan State Spartans- Michigan State became the first team this season to lose to Notre Dame. Their run game was terrible, and their defense also wasn't very good. If Michigan State wants to keep up it's reputation of being a good basketball and football team in the Big Ten, they need to prove it.
3. Ohio State Buckeyes vs Miami Hurricanes- This game was overall a giant disappointment. Both teams committed NCAA violations and had players sitting out because of the violations. In the past decade, these two teams have both been top teams in the country and even played in the National Championship game ten years ago.

Game of the Week: #1 Oklahoma vs #5 Florida State
This game proved that the Oklahoma Sooner's #1 ranking wasn't a mistake. A lot of people criticized the Sooners saying they weren't the best team in the country, but they like the best team in the country Saturday. The Sooners ended the half with a 13-3 lead in Tallahassee, stopping the Florida State offense from reaching the endzone. The Sooners picked off Seminoles' quarterback EJ Manuel twice and knocked him out of the game with a shoulder injury. Even when Florida State came out of the second half strong and tied up the game, Oklahoma fought all the way through, and ended up finishing the game on a 10-0 run.

Next Week's Five Intriguing Matchups:
1. #3 Alabama vs # 14 Arkansas- Can the Tide fight off an aggressive Razorback team?
2. #7 Oklahoma State vs #8 Texas A&M- Both teams have dynamic offenses, so at the end of the day who will have scored more touchdowns?
3. #2 LSU vs #16 West Virginia- LSU faces another tough opponent in the red hot Mountaineers. Can LSU pull off another victory vs a ranked team?
4. #1 Oklahoma vs Missouri- This game is close every year and although Missouri dropped from the rankings, they will still make this game interesting.
5. #11 Florida State vs #21 Clemson- Can Florida State can rebound from a tough loss at home, or will Clemson continue it's streak and knock off another ranked team?

Saturday, September 17, 2011

NFL Week 2 Predictions

(Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
 Can Eli Manning and the Giants bounce back from an embarrassing
loss in Week 1 and beat the Rams on Monday Night?
Raiders vs Bills: 24-20 Raiders
The Bills put on an impressive show in Week 1 vs the Chiefs but will lose to the Raiders Sunday. The Raiders have a great run game, and despite losing Nnamdi Asomugha have a great defense as well. The Bills will improve this year, but they won't bring the explosiveness they brought to Kansas City this week.

Chiefs vs Lions: 27-17 Lions
The Lions are impressing everyone this year with a solid offense when Stafford is healthy, and a great defense. The Chiefs were great last season but were embarrassing to watch last week when they got whooped by the Bills. The Lions should win this one if Stafford plays well and continues to hit up Calvin Johnson in the endzone.

Ravens vs Titans: 31-13 Ravens
The Ravens demolished the Steelers last week, and should demolish the Titans this week. The Titans are coming off a weak loss to the Jaguars, and although Kenny Britt played great, Chris Johnson did not. If the Titans want to have any chance of winning this game, they need Chris Johnson to play up to his contract, or even better.

Browns vs Colts: 20-17 Browns
The Colts simply have no offense without #18. Kerry Collins did a mediocre job last week against the Texans despite having great receivers like Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon, and tight end Dallas Clark. The Browns are coming off a loss to the Bengals but should bounce back against the Manning-less Colts. Expect Peyton Hillis to have a big game with Colts defensive veteran Gary Brackett out.

Bucs vs Vikings: 27-20 Vikings
The Bucs played terrible against the Lions last week, and will lose again to the Vikings this week. Their offense was atrocious as the run game and pass game both failed them. The Vikings are coming off a loss to the Chargers, a game that Donovan McNabb would like to forget. Adrian Peterson should have a fantastic game, and McNabb should rebound from a bad start in Week 1.

Bears vs Saints: 31-23 Saints
The Bears are coming off of a strong win against the Falcons last week, but were sad to hear the passing of Brian Urlacher's mother. This game will be an emotional one for Urlacher and the Bears, but the Saints will pull through with the win. The Saints are coming off of a close loss to the Packers in Week 1, but showed good signs on offense. Drew Brees played smart football, and as long as the defense plays decent, they should be able to defeat the Bears at home.

Jaguars vs Jets: 31-17 Jets
Both teams are coming off close wins in Week 1, as the Jaguars beat the Titans and the Jets beat the Cowboys. Even though both teams are 1-0, the Jets are by far the better team. The Jets defense will show the Jaguars that Luke McCown is not a legitimate starting quarterback in the NFL.

Seahawks vs Steelers: 35-10 Steelers
Both teams are 0-1 after embarrassing losses in Week 1. The only difference between both teams is that the Steelers are actually good and the Seahawks are terrible. Big Ben and the Steelers' offense will rebound Sunday and the defense should be able to get their mojo back, when they face off against Tarvaris Jackson and the Seahawks' offense.

Cardinals vs Redskins: 24-23 Cardinals
Both the Cardinals and Redskins are 1-0 after beating the Panthers and Giants respectively. The Cardinals' offense is better than the Redskins, despite the Redskins scoring 28 points on the Giants. Kevin Kolb gets the nod over Rex Grossman and Larry Fitzgerald gets the nod over all of the Redskins' receivers combined.

Panthers vs Packers: 35-21 Packers
Cam Newton had a terrific performance in Week 1 despite losing to the Cardinals. He will not however, have the same results when the Panthers play the defending championship Packers Sunday. Aaron Rodgers will have a field day against the Panthers' defense, after Jon Beason went down with a season ending ACL injury.

Cowboys vs Niners: 24-16 Cowboys
The Cowboys should have won last week, and will get the win this week vs the 49'ers. Dez Bryan has proved that he is a big time threat to defenses this season and Miles Austin is just as big of a threat opposite Bryant. As long as Romo is throwing completions to the Cowboys and not the Niners' secondary, the Cowboys should pull out a victory in Week 2.

Bengals vs Broncos: 24-13 Broncos
The Broncos are coming off of a close loss to the Raiders on MNF  as the Bengals are coming off of a surprising win vs the Browns. The Bengals offense will have a harder time scoring against the Broncos defense, and the Broncos offense should have an easier time scoring on the Bengals defense. Look for the Broncos to rebound and win in Week 2. Sorry Tim Tebow, but Kyle Orton will survive as the starting quarterback for another week.

Texans vs Dolphins: 28-17 Texans
The Texans looked incredible against the Colts this week, and should have another great game vs the Dolphins this week. The Texans' offense is just too good for most defenses in the league to handle, and Arian Foster playing will just make it more difficult for defenses.

Chargers vs Patriots: 28-27 Patriots
These two AFC powerhouses should have an exciting, down to the wire game this Sunday. The Chargers defense looked fantastic last week, and Tom Brady and the Patriots had a flawless night offensively, vs the Dolphins last week. Should be a nail-biter but advantage to the Patriots.

Eagles vs Falcons: 31-28 Eagles
Unfortunately, the Falcons will start off 0-2 which will surprise a lot of people. Michael Vick will have an emotional game vs his old team, but knowing Vick, he should have a spectacular game in the spotlight. The Falcons offense will be better than it was last week, but still won't be able to keep up with the explosive Eagles offense.

Rams vs Giants: 24-10 Giants
Both teams are coming off disappointing losses in Week 1. The Giants defense is almost all back-ups with most of the starters out with injuries. The Rams also got banged up in Week 1, with Steven Jackson getting injured early in the game. Jackson is a game time decision, but it won't even matter because whether or not he plays, the Giants will take this one on Monday night.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

NFL Week 1 Recap

(Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
Tom Brady threw for over 500 yards Monday in route to a 38-24victory over the Dolphins

In this recap of the first week of NFL season, a player of the game will be announced for each team with stats and a quick recap of the game.

Record for this week: 10-6
Overall record: 10-6

Saints vs Packers: 34-42 Packers
Saints Player of the Week: Drew Brees- 419 yards, 3 pass touchdowns, 112.5 passer rating
Packers Player of the Week: Aaron Rodgers- 312 yards, 3 pass touchdowns, 132.1 passer rating
The Packers and Saints kicked off the NFL season last Thursday. The Packers got an early lead, and despite late efforts to come-back the Saints fall just short of forcing OT.

Falcons vs Bears: 30-12 Bears
Falcons Player of the Week: Michael Turner- 100 rushing yards, 40 receiving yards, 3 receptions
Bears Player of the Week: Matt Forte- 68 rushing yards, 90 receiving yards, receiving touchdown
The Bears blewout Atlanta at home as Matt Ryan failed to throw a touchdown. Jay Cutler looked solid and the Bears defensive looked impressive with Brian Urlacher returning a fumble for a touchdown.

Bengals vs Browns: 27-17 Bengals
Bengals Player of the Week: Cedric Benson- 121 rushing yards, touchdown
Browns Player of the Week: D'Qwell Jackson- 11 tackles, a tackle for a loss, 2 sacks
The new-look Bengals surprised the Browns at home with a ten point victory. The Bengals shut down the Browns offense for the most part, and showed some good signs on offense.

Bills vs Chiefs: 41-7 Bills
Bills Player of the Week: Ryan Fitzpatrick- 208 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, 133.0 passer rating
Chiefs Player of the Week: Tamba Hali- 6 tackles, two tackles for a loss, sack
The Bills shocked the Chiefs who were 7-1 at home last season. The Bills offense looked great while the Chiefs offense looked embarrassing, gaining barely over 200 yards of total offense.

Eagles vs Rams: 31-13 Eagles
Eagles Player of the Week: LeSean McCoy- 122 rushing yards, 15 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
Rams Player of the Week: James Laurinaitis- 6 tackles, tackle for a loss, fumble recovery
The Eagles blew out a banged up Rams team in St. Louis as Micahel Vick and the offense impressed many. 

Lions vs Bucs- 27-20 Lions
Lions Player of the Week: Matt Stafford- 305 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 118.9 passer rating
Bucs Player of the Week: Aqib Talib- 4 tackles, interception, touchdown
The Lions started off the 2011 season on a good note with a great performance against the Bucs. The Lions defense gave Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman trouble all day while the offense was productive.

Titans vs Jaguars: 14-16 Jaguars
Titans Player of the Week: Kenny Britt- 5 receptions, 136 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
Jaguars Player of the Week: Maurice Jones-Drew- 97 rushing yards, touchdown
The Jaguars defeated the Titans by two thanks to a great performance by their defense. On the offensive end, the Jaguars quarterback Luke McCown did a decent job but let MJD do most of the work.

Steelers vs Ravens: 35-7 Ravens
Steelers Player of the Week: Mike Wallace- 8 receptions, 107 receiving yards
Ravens Player of the Week: Ray Rice- 107 rushing yards, 42 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
The Ravens demolished their rivals in Baltimore, while Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh offense was the most unproductive they have been in years.

Colts vs Texans: 34-7 Texans
Colts Player of the Week: Reggie Wayne-7 receptions, 16 receiving yards, touchdown
Texans Player of the Week: Ben Tate- 116 rushing yards, touchdown
The Texans destroyed the Manning-less Colts Sunday without their star running back Arian Foster who was out with a hamstring injury. Foster's injury didn't seem to matter for the Texans as the back-up running backs and the rest of the offense had no problem finding the endzone.

Panthers vs Cardinals- 28-21 Cardinals
Panthers Player of the Week: Cam Newton- rookie record 422 passing yards, 3 touchdowns (1 rush) 110.4 passer rating
Cardinals Player of the Week: Kevin Kolb- 309 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, 130.0 passer rating
The Cardinals picked up the victory despite rookie Cam Newton passing for a record 422 yards in his first game in the NFL. 

Giants vs Redksins: 28-14 Redskins
Giants Player of the Week: Jason Pierre-Paul- 6 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks
Redskins Player of the Week: Rex Grossman- 305 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, 110.5 passer rating
The Redskins defeated the injured Giants by two touchdowns Sunday. Rex Grossman proved that at least for now, he can lead and be the starting quarterback for the Washington Redskins.

Vikings vs Chargers: 24-17 Chargers
Vikings Player of the Week: Antoine Winfield- 10 tackles, tackle for a loss, interception
Chargers Player of the Week: Mike Tolbert- 35 rushing yards, 58 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns
The Chargers defense dominated the Vikings, holding Donovan McNabb to only 39 passing yards.

Seahawks vs Niners: 33-17 Niners
Seahawks Player of the Week: Doug Baldwin- 4 receptions, 83 receiving yards, touchdown
Niners Player of the Week: Ted Ginn Jr- 102 yard kick return touchdown, 55 yard punt return touchdown.
The Niners defeated the Seahawks thanks to Ted Ginn Jr.'s two return touchdowns.

Cowboys vs Jets: 27-24 Jets
Cowboys Player of the Week: Sean Lee- 12 Tackles, interception, touchdown
Jets Player of the Week: Darrelle Revis- 6 tackles, interception
The Jets came back from being down two touchdowns to defeat the Cowboys. Revis picked off Romo with under a minute to play, which set up the game-winning field goal.

Patriots vs Dolphins 38-24 Patriots
Patriots Player of the Week: Tom Brady- 517 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, 121.6 passer rating
Dolphins Player of the Week: Brandon Marshall- 7 receptions, 139 yards
The Patriots defeated the Dolphins in the first game of the Monday Night double-header, thanks to Tom Brady who passed for over 500 yards.

Raiders vs Broncos: 23-21 Raiders
Raiders Player of the Week: Darren McFadden- 150 rushing yards
Broncos Player of the Week: Brandon Lloyd- 6 receptions, 89 yards
The Raiders beat the Broncos in the second game of the double-header. Kicker Sebastian Janikowski kicked three field goals, including a 63 yard one that tied an NFL record.

Novak Djokovic Wins The U.S. Open

(usopen.org)
Djokovic ends an incredible year with victory over
Rafael Nadal in the finals of the U.S Open Finals
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal squared off in the finals of the U.S. Open Monday, a day after Samantha Stosur defeated Serena Williams in the Women's final. Djokovic defeated Nadal 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1 in a very intense four set match. The #1 and #2 seeds respectively, met up in the finals after Nadal defeated Andy Murray and Djokovic defeated Roger Federer, despite losing the first two sets.

Although the match was only four sets, it was the 4th longest U.S. Opens Final in history, clocking in at four hours and ten minutes.

Nadal came out early, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first set, just to have Djokovic win the next six straight games. Nadal would again get a 2-0 lead in the second set but Djokovic fought back and took the second set 6-4.

Nadal took the next set in a tiebreak 7-6 (7-3). Djokovic was starting to hurt out on the court and had his trainer work on him in between breaks. Seemed like the trainer did a pretty well job, because Djokovic won the final set 6-1.

With all four Grand Slams completed in 2011, Novak Djokovic had arguably the best single season in Men's Tennis history. Djokovic won three out of the four majors (The Australian Open, Wimbledon, and The U.S. Open) and finished with an overall record composed of 64 wins and only two losses.
 Nadal and Djokovic also met up in the finals of Wimbledon this summer where once again, Djokovic defeated Nadal in four sets.

Congrats to Novak Djokovic on another win this year. The last time there was a player who had a year like this, it was John McEnroe back in 1984 when he posted a 66-2 record. McEnroe only won two Grand Slam tournaments that year though, one less than Djokovic won this year.

Monday, September 12, 2011

College Football Week 2 Review

(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
Roy Roundtree caught the game winning touchdown Saturday night,
giving Michigan the win in the first ever night game at The Big House.

Week Two of the college football season was just as exciting as the first. In this past week, history was made at the University of Michigan. The Wolverines hosted their first night game ever at The Big House, defeating Notre Dame in one of the most exciting games this year. The only three teams in the Top 25 that lost this week were #23 Penn State, who lost at home to #3 Alabama, #16 Mississippi State who lost at Auburn and #21 Missouri who lost at Arizona State.

Top Three Performances by Team or Player:
1. Oregon QB Darron Thomas- Thomas tied a school record Saturday when he threw six touchdowns against Nevada. He threw for 295 yards and also led his team in rushing yards with 81.
2. Michigan QB Denard Robinson- Robinson helped Michigan come back in one of the most thrilling games this year, throwing four touchdowns and running in one. Robinson threw for 338 yards and ran for another 108 yards in a 35-31 victory over Notre Dame.
3. South Carolina DE Melvin Ingram- The senior defensive end is known for his efforts on defense, but scored on a 68 yard run against Georgia. Ingram also came up big later in the game when he recovered a fumble and ran it back for the game clinching touchdown.

Top Three Disappointments by a Team Or Player:
1. Notre Dame- The Fighting Irish are 0-2 after losses to South Florida and Michigan. The Fighting Irish were up 24-7 going into the final quarter but still ended up losing the game. You have to feel bad for coach Brian Kelly after leaving Cincinnati to coach in South Bend.
2. Texas QB Garrett Gilbert- No one expected this kid to be as good as Colt McCoy, but he has played way below expectations. Last season he led Texas to a terrible 5-7 record and this year has not improved. He was eventually pulled from the game Saturday, after throwing two interceptions vs BYU.
3.Penn State- Penn State got whooped by Alabama last year, and this year they were supposed to make up for it with a win at home. That wasn't the case Saturday as the Nittany Lions lost again and failed to even score a touchdown.

Game of the Week:
The first ever night game at Michigan Stadium will be a great memory for the Wolverines. Michigan trailed 24-7 going into the fourth and final quarter, just in time for quarterback Denard Robinson to click in. After two early touchdown passes by Robinson in the fourth quarter, Michigan trailed Notre Dame 21-24 with under two minutes to play. With 1:12 left in the game, Robinson connected with his running back Vincent Smith on a screen pass for 21 yards that would give Michigan a 28-24 lead. Notre Dame marched back down the field and with :30 seconds left reclaimed the lead when quarterback Tommy Rees connected with Theo Riddick for 29 yards. Michigan wasn't done finished yet, because Robinson connected with wide receiver Jeremy Gallon on a 64 yard pass with under ten seconds left, putting Michigan in field goal range. With one last play left before having to kick a game tying field goal, Robinson threw a jump ball in the endzone that was caught by Roy Roundtree to give Michigan the victory. Hail to the Victors!

Next Week's Five Intriguing Matchups:
1. #1 Oklahoma vs #5 Florida State- Two of the top teams in the country square off in Tallahassee Saturday as EJ Manuel and the Seminoles get set to face Landry Jones and the Oklahoma Sooners.
2. #17 Ohio State vs Miami- The two teams in the country with the worst reputation play each other Saturday. After barely beating Toledo last week, can the Buckeyes come out strong and defeat Jacory Harris and the Hurricanes?
3. #15 Michigan State vs Notre Dame- Will Notre Dame pick up it's first win of the season against Sparty, or will the Fighting Irish fall to 0-3?
4. #3 LSU vs #25 Mississippi State- Can Mississippi State recover from an upset by Auburn, and pull an upset of their own vs LSU?
5. #22 Arizona State vs Illinois- The Sun Devils face off against the Fighting Illini this Saturday, in their first game being ranked in the Top 25 this season.

Monday, September 5, 2011

NFL Week 1 Predictions

(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
He says his hamstring isn't a problem,so will
Arian Foster have another great season this year?

Saints vs Packers: 37-30 Packers
The defending champs will start the season off 1-0 when they defeat the Saints on Thursday night. The quarterback duel of Aaron Rodgers vs Drew Brees should be a good one to watch. The reason the Packers have an edge in this one over the Saints is because of their defense, and the fact that this game is being played in Green Bay.

Giants vs Redskins: 27-13 Giants
Even though both teams did not have great off-seasons, the Giants are still the better of the two. Rex Grossman is not a legitimate starting quarterback in the NFL, and the Redskins will learn that on Saturday. The Giants offense will be too much for the Redskins' defense to handle.

Falcons vs Bears: 24-20 Falcons
Both teams are very talented, but Atlanta's offense will eventually take over this game. After adding another threat in Julio Jones, the Falcons not only have one of the best running games in the league but one of the best passing games as well.

Bengals vs Browns: 20-17 Browns
With Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco out, and Andy Dalton and AJ Green in, it will be interesting to see how the Bengals offense does this year. Peyton Hillis will not have as good as a year as he did last year but will start off the season strong against a weak Bengals defense.

Bills vs Chiefs: 28-13 Chiefs
The Chiefs were great last season as Jamaal Charles emerged as one of the best running backs in the league. He will get more carries this season, which means more yards and more touchdowns. The Bills on the other hand, were not great last season, and should have a similar turnout this year.

Eagles vs Rams: 38-24 Eagles
The Rams will be good this season, but the Eagles' offense is just way too talented. The Eagles will look to make a statement this week, showing everyone that they have what it takes to go to the Super Bowl.

Lions vs Bucs: 24-23 Bucs
Both teams are young, talented teams on the rise and should have decent seasons. The reason the advantage goes to the Bucs in this game is simply because they are playing at home. Stafford vs Freeman should be a great matchup at quarterback but Freeman has a slight edge over Stafford right now.

Titans vs Jaguars: 28-24 Titans
Chris Johnson will be playing in week one and will make an impact right away. Maurice Jones-Drew vs Chris Johnson will be a great matchup to watch, but the advantage goes to the Titans. The Jaguars do not have answers at quarterback and have a weak defense.

Steelers vs Ravens: 24-17 Ravens
The game is being played in Baltimore, which is a huge advantage for the Ravens. Both teams have spectacular defenses and very good running games. The game will be a thriller to watch, but the Ravens should pull out the victory.

Colts vs Texans: 35-21 Texans
Peyton Manning is hurt, but whether or not he plays is not the issue. This will be the year the Texans finally overtake the Colts as the leader of the AFC South. The Texans have one of the best offenses in the football with a top three wide receiver, a top three running back, and a top ten quarterback. On top of that, the game is being played in Houston so look for a barnburner in favor of the Texans.

Panthers vs Cardinals: 20-13 Cardinals
Larry Fitzgerald has finally found someone to throw him the ball in Kevin Kolb. The Cardinals will beat the Panthers at home, and Cam Newton will have a decent game.

Vikings vs Chargers: 27-17 Chargers
The Vikings have the best running back in the league, but the Chargers are overall a much better team. In fact, many experts are predicting the Chargers to finally make it to the Super Bowl. Of course we know that they always choke in the playoffs but that is besides the point. The Chargers have an explosive offense with Vincent Jackson back, and added some players to the defensive side.

Seahawks vs 49'ers: 23-17 49'ers
Classic unpredictable NFC West showdown. This game can be decided by a coin flip because you never know how each team will play every week. Frank Gore is healthy (for now), and that should be enough to give the 49'ers a win at home over the Seahawks.

Jets vs Cowboys: 30-24 Jets
The Cowboys replaced their coach and cut half of their team this past year, while the Jets brought in two veterans wide receivers to help out Mark Sanchez. Both teams will bring explosiveness and energy to the game, but the Jets will come out on top.

Patriots vs Dolphins: 35-20 Patriots
The Patriots brought in a bunch of veteran players this season including Chad Ochocinco, Albert Haynesworth, and recently acquired Brian Waters. This could be the year they return to the Super Bowl, with Tom Brady and the offense ready to go. The Dolphins should be interesting to watch this year with Reggie Bush taking carries, but the Patriots will overpower Miami on Monday night.

Raiders vs Broncos:24-20 Raiders
The second Monday night game will be closer than the first, as the Raiders and Broncos square off in Denver. Darren McFadden should have another good season, while the Broncos have many questions to answer. Who will be playing quarterback in five weeks? Will Knowshown Moreno stay healthy? Is Von Miller a bust? Some of these questions will start to find answers after week one.

College Football Week 1 Review

Robert Griffin III and Baylor defeated #14 TCU 50-48, handing
the Horned Frogs their first loss in over a year.

The college football season kicked off this past week as teams across the nation showed us what is in store for this upcoming year. Although it is still too early to tell which teams will be playing in the national championship, and which player will be holding up the Heisman Trophy, there were definitely some teams and players that shined brighter than others. All of the teams in the top 25 won except #3 Oregon who was upset by #4 LSU, #14 TCU who was upset by Baylor, and #16 Notre Dame who was upset by South Florida.

Top Three Performances by Team or Player:
1. Robert Griffin III- RG3 had the game of his life this past weekend when he threw for over 350 yards and five touchdowns. Griffin helped lead his Baylor Bears over #14 TCU, handing them their first loss in over a year.
2. Kellen Moore- The Boise State Broncos defeated #19 Georgia Bulldogs at the Georgia Dome Saturday, making it the third straight year they have defeated a ranked team in week one. Moore had a spectacular game, passing for over 250 yards and three touchdowns.
3. Russell Wilson- In his first game for the Wisconsin Badgers, Wilson did not disappoint. Wilson threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns, but also ran for 62 yards and a touchdown all in just three quarters of play. The Badgers pulled their starters early once the score read 51-3.

Top Three Disappointments by Team or Player:
1. Notre Dame- With expectations this season to finally be back in form, Notre Dame lost at home to South Florida. It was even more disappointing when starting quarterback Dayne Crist was relieved by backup Tommy Rees.
2.Oregon-Many people predicted the Ducks to be back in the championship game this season with LaMichael James and Darron Thomas returning to school. After a poor performance by the Oregon running backs, and a 13 point defeat to the LSU Tigers, it does not look good for the Ducks this year.
3. John Brantley- Although the Florida Gators defeated FAU 41-3 Brantley did not play well. He threw only one touchdown but got two passes intercepted. Brantley will never be as good as Tim Tebow, and he needs to get over that and just play smart football. 

Game of the Week:
#14 TCU vs Baylor
From start to finish, this game was absolutely thrilling. It was unbelievable watching Baylor give TCU it's first loss in over a year. Robert Griffin III played flawless, throwing five touchdowns and no interceptions. It was also interesting to watch how TCU's new quarterback, Casey Pachall, would play and whether or not he would fill Andy Dalton's shoes. The game looked finished at the end of the third quarter when Baylor was up 47-23 but TCU fought all the way back taking a 48-47 lead. In the final minute though, RG3 lead one last drive which set up a potential game winning field goal.

Next Week's Five Intriguing Matchups:
1. #12 South Carolina vs #19 Georgia: Can Marcus Lattimore and the Gamecocks put the Bulldogs in a 0-2 hole?
2. Michigan vs #16 Notre Dame: In the first night game in Michigan Stadium history, can Denard Robinson lead the Wolverines to victory over higher ranked Notre Dame?
3. Penn State vs #2 Alabama: Although last year's meeting was a blowout by the Tide, Penn State might give Alabama a run for it's money this year.
4. #20 Mississippi State vs #23 Auburn: Can Auburn defeat the Bulldogs after a close call this week?
5. #25USC vs Utah: The Trojans will not play in a bowl game this year but that does not mean they are bad. Quarterback Matt Barkley is one of the best in the country, so it should be interesting how he plays against Utah's great defense.