Panthers fall in a heartbreaker to Seahawks, 30-27.

Sunday afternoon the Carolina Panthers dropped their 3rd straight game, this one to the Seattle Seahawks, 30-27.  

Considering that Carolina punted just once the entire game, you would probably think 27 points seems like a pretty low amount, and you’d be correct.  After forcing Seattle into a quick punt to start the game, Carolina got the ball deep into the red zone. Four straight runs, however, led to a turnover on downs.

Once again, Carolina’s defense forced another quick punt from Seattle, and the offensive series started much the same.  Two long pass plays of a combined 50 yards had Carolina right in the red zone again. It was only logical, however, that after passing the ball right up the field it would be smart to run the ball up the gut three straight times (making that seven straight red zone runs overall).  

Graham Gano made a short field goal to put the Panthers up 3-0. However, anyone that has ever watched a Carolina game knows that these“missed opportunities” would come back to bite the team.

The teams traded punches for the rest the of the first half which included a touchdown from Curtis Samuel, and another Gano field goal as time expired in the half (another drive that most feel should’ve finished in a TD). Going into the locker room, the score was 13-10.

If you thought that a 25% TD conversion rate in the red zone was bad, then you were even more disappointed when a fifth Carolina red zone trip turned up empty at the start of the 3rd quarter.  Cam Newton dropped back and threw a pass off of his back foot to Chris Manhertz in the back of the end zone. Bradley McDougald jumped up for the 50/50 ball with Manhertz, tipped it to himself, and picked it off. Considering Manhertz had just one catch all season and was in triple coverage, it seems like a bit of an ill-advised throw (and play call).  Again, missed opportunities reigned supreme over those who consider themselves Panthers fans. 

As is the Carolina way, we paid for the turnover and Seattle took their first lead of the day when Wilson threw a dart to Tyler Lockett.  Yeah, those first two stops for the Carolina defense were an anomaly for the day (actually, for the season). Part of this can be attributed to rookie stud Donte Jackson missing all but the first play with an injury, leaving James Bradberry, Corn Elder, and Captain Munnerlyn as the only other corners active on Sunday. Elder, playing to his namesake, was not very quick on his feet against Seattle.

When it felt like Carolina finally had the game at their grasps with about three minutes to go, they let up a 4th and 10, 35-yard bomb from Wilson to Moore to tie the game at 27.  Who was guarding Moore, you might ask?

None other than Panthers’ legend Corn Elder.

This isn’t an attempt to single out one player.  Captain Munnerlyn belongs in a retirement home; he gave up a 43-yard bomb to Tyler Lockett with less than a minute to go (on third down, as well).  This is just after Graham Gano missed a 52-yard field goal to give the Panthers a lead.

Yes, you read that correctly, Gano missed another big field goal.

I could see where you may think I was talking about the one he missed in the Super Bowl, or the one he missed in a Wild Card game last year, or even the one he missed last week. No, Graham Gano missed another field goal, and it was just after Charles Davis, who was commentating the game for FOX Sports, was talking about how great Gano has been over the past two seasons.

Anyways, after that long completion for Seattle, over.  Janikowski kicked an easy 31-yard field goal for the win (after some bad clock management by Carolina) and sent the Panthers to 6-5.  

When your offense misses 4 touchdown opportunities in the red zone, pass rush is nonexistent without blitzing, and the secondary is burnt toast, that’s not a recipe for success.

It would take a miracle to turn this season around, but the silver lining is that Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore were each phenomenal.  McCaffrey finished with 125 rush yards and 112 receiving yards, while Moore finished with 91 receiving yards.

The future may be bright in Charlotte with those two, but it will require a lot more accountability within the organization and coaching staff to succeed at an expected level.

The NBA Is Back!

The time has finally arrived! Our beloved basketball season has finally returned. There is nothing quite like already knowing who the champion of the league is going to be before the season starts but still sitting down every evening to watch meaningless games. That’s what the NBA has become, and we are all very much still here for it.

Sure you and I both may complain at times about how there’s no parity and Golden State is more than likely going to win it all, so what does it even matter? Yet, it does matter, because we are all still gonna sit down and witness greatness.

With that said, I will go ahead and post my last minute preseason predictions.

Western Conference

1. Golden St. Warriors
2. Houston Rockets
3. Utah Jazz
4. L.A. Lakers
5. OKC Thunder
6. Denver Nuggets
7. Minnesota Timberwolves
8. San Antonio Spurs
9. Portland Trailblazers
10. Dallas Mavericks
11. N.O. Pelicans
12. L.A. Clippers
13. Phoenix Suns
14. Memphis Grizzlies
15. Sacramento Kings

Nothing too new here. The Warriors are even stronger, they now have DeMarcus Cousins pretty much resting on the bench until the playoffs. I think that tally’s them at five All-Stars. That’s kind of impressive, probably shouldn’t be legal but i’m not gonna knock them for being great.

I had the Lakers at #3 but then switched them out for Utah. The Jazz have a REALLY good team and with a hopefully healthy Rudy Gobert all season, I think they can be a dark horse candidate to sneak their way into the Western Finals.

LeBron’s meme team is a thing. I suppose I’m of here for it. A lot of people seem to think LeBron is taking a late career red shirt year. Makes sense, rest his body up and let the Lakers youth grow and give Magic Johnson some time to find another all-star. However, I don’t think it happens that way, LeBron doesn’t strike me as a take a year off kind of a guy. He can probably pull off a top five seed here and at the very least annoy the Warriors again in the playoffs.

The Denver Nuggets are a team I think makes a giant leap in the West. They won 40 games last season in a tough western conference, and just missed getting the 8th seed in the final game of the season, in an overtime loss to the Timberwolves. A healthy Paul Millsap this time around and a more experienced Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray should give them better results in the win column.

With all the drama circulating around the Timberwolves, I still think they have too much talent to miss out on the playoffs. Assuming Jimmy Butler remains on the team, the trio of him, Andrew Wiggins, and Karl-Anthony Towns should power them into the playoffs.

Everyone seems to be knocking the Spurs. Folks, you can never doubt Gregg Popovich. The Spurs have been to the playoffs for 21 straight seasons and there is no way I am going to bet against them now. They made it last year and Kawhi Leonard didn’t even play! They flipped him for an All-Star in DeMar Derozen, and somehow they’re supposed to regress? I get the injury bug is hitting their point guards, but all those guys are inexperienced anyways. They still have Patty Mills who is good enough to start and they’ll find someone off the streets to contribute. No worries for them, they will sneak their way in.

Now, I have never seen a team snatch another team’s soul quite like the Pelicans did to the Trailblazers in the playoffs. Portland was the #3 seed and now it seems like they’re falling apart. You hate to see it. On the flip side, the Pelicans lost very key pieces in Rajon Rondo and Cousins, and I can’t see them replacing what those guys did for them last season. Even with Anthony Davis’ greatness, I expect a big drop off.

Everyone else in this conference are probably bottom feeders. I can see a scenario where Dallas is making some noise. I like Luka Doncic a lot, but don’t think they’re quite ready to push for a playoff spot. It looks like Phoenix hit on the DeAndre Ayton pick. If they can find a competent point guard, they may be a year away from the playoffs.

Eastern Conference

1. Boston Celtics
2. Philadelphia 76ers
3. Milwaukee Bucks
4. Toronto Raptors
5. Indiana Pacers
6. Charlotte Hornets
7. Washington Wizards
8. Detroit Pistons
9. Miami Heat
10. Brooklyn Nets
11. Cleveland Cavaliers
12. Orlando Magic
13. Chicago Bulls
14. New York Knicks
15. Atlanta Hawks

LeBron’s reign in the East is finally over, it’s time to rise. Boston should be even better this year. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are now seasoned playoff veterans. Kyrie is healthy, Gordon Hayward is almost fully healthy. That’s two of the leagues best scorers being added back to a team that was extremely close to making the finals.

Same case for Philadelphia. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons who are already really good can only get better, which is scary. Markell Fultz might actually be able to shoot now, and everyone else can contribute in some way. If Embiid can stay healthy, they should remain among the eastern conference elites.

I’m looking for big things from the Bucks this year. Coach Budenholzer might be able to unlock Giannis’ shooting ability, and no one in the league needs that. Kris Middleton doesn’t get enough credit and the addition of Brook Lopez is going to be huge for this team I think. The Raptors are gonna be great, don’t let the 4th seed confuse you, I think the top 4 teams are going to be super close, and all very good. I think there can be some growing pains, and i’m not certain if Leonard can give them a full season, but he will definitely be on a mission to prove he’s still that guy this season.

My homerism is showing with seeding the Charlotte Hornets at #6. I think there’s a significant drop off in talent after the Pacers at 5. Indiana was a shocking surprise last season, and it seems like Myles Turner and Sabonis are ready to take the next step. I think Charlotte might be the surprise team of this year. There’s always one that jumps out (Utah and Indiana last season) and this time that could very well be them.

Everyone else just really isn’t good. The 7th and 8th seed will be fought for by Washington, Detroit, Miami and Brooklyn. The Wizards are the best of the bunch but that team may have more drama than the Timberwolves. I think all of these teams finish around the same record. The Bulls, Knicks and Hawks are going to be must see TV if you enjoy watching teams purposefully lose games.

Regular Season Awards

MVP – Giannis Antetokoumpo – As I said before, if he starts making three pointers at a solid rate he is going to be SCARY. If he can push the Bucks to a top 3 seed in the East, this award is all his.

Others: LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Joel Embiid.

ROY – DeAndre Ayton – I really don’t believe Ayton is actually 19 years old. He’s gotta be at least 27, someone needs to do an investigation on him. He’s already dominating players in the low post. If he’s anything like what he showed us in this preseason this should be a cake walk for him.

Others: Luka Doncic, Miles Bridges, Trae Young

COY – Mike Budenholzer – I’m 100% on the Bucks bandwagon. Same case goes for Giannis. If the Bucks end the season in a top 3 seed with one of the best 5 records in the NBA, he should be at the top of every voters list.

Others: Brad Stevens, Nick Nurse, Luke Walton, James Borrego

Most Improved Player – Brandon Ingram – LeBron needs a second option. Right now that’s looking like Ingram. He’s ready to blow up and has the perfect skill set to do so. Elite shooter, can guard just about every position at his height, even plays some point guard when needed. If the Lakers finish in a top 5 seed, look for Ingram to snatch this award.

Others: Malik Monk, Lonzo Ball, DeAngelo Russell, Aaron Gordon

Lets get ready for another highlight fueled season. Check for the majority of my Hornets content over at http://www.atthehive.com.

Carolina Panthers Bye Week Food for Thought

Three weeks have now quickly passed in the Carolina Panthers season and I can say that I have already experienced every single emotion a fan can possibly go through in that short of a timespan. At the conclusion of the Bengals game I genuinely had no idea what the identity of our team is but for somehow, thats done a complete 180 and I am oddly confident in the middle of this break.

To briefly recap the first three weeks. We started out the season with a ugly win against Dallas finishing with a score of 16-8. The Cowboys are not very good, and that game should not have been nearly as close as it was. It ended up coming down to the last few drives which isn’t a good sign for a team looking to make a Super Bowl push. At the time of this I thought, first game kinks, no worries, we will smooth it out. I think optimistically  a lot. Our makeshift offensive line was actually solid, and this “new” accurate Cam Newton was great, but the problem on offense came from the receivers who were unable to create any separation and dropped some easy balls. The defense made the Cowboys offense irrelevant for three quarters, containing Ezekiel Elliot, and making Das Prescott beat them. So, same old Panthers I guess.

Moving into the week 2 at Atlanta. The Falcons were coming off a loss to the Super Bowl Champion Eagles in what was an atrocious game. They actually looked horrid, couldn’t function at all in the red zone. So us losing 31-24, and pretty much letting them score every time they reached the red zone wasn’t the happiest of feelings for me.

Sure, we were in the game and lost on the final drive of the game, but everything leading up to that was the most frustrating piece of football I have seen from this team in a long time. Matt Ryan carved our defense up going 23/28 for 272, had a pair of touchdowns and a pick. Kinda standard, whatever. The issue came in the run defense where we allowed Tevin Coleman –the backup running back, a good one I guess, but still a backup–  to go off for 107 yards, while averaging almost 7 yards a carry. I really don’t even remember the last time our defense gave up 100 yards to a running back.

This is what we pushed me over the edge though.

I mean.. are you joking? Also, our receivers just looked bad again and I feel like I can already say DJ Moore is the best receiver on this team. Hopefully Curtis Samuel comes back soon and can bring what he brought to the preseason to the team. However for the time being, I need more of this.

Moving on to week 3 at home against the Bengals. I rate the Bengals pretty highly at the moment, in my AFC Preview I had them finishing this season at 9-7. With the state of the AFC North at the moment, they might just win that division.

So to beat these guys 31-21 is a quality win in my eyes. The only negative in my eyes was the safety position. Colin Jones spent a lot of time looking at the back of receivers jerseys. Not his fault, he’s a special teams player, so please leave him there, Ron Rivera. Lastly, Christian McCaffrey is proving everyone who thinks he can’t run between the tackles wrong. 28 carries for 184, averaging almost 7 a pop is going to win you almost every game.

“Too Small,” they say.

So, Carolina is 2-1 at the bye week and looking at ways to improve. The offensive line could use some tuning, receivers need to get focused, and safety could definitely use a major upgrade with losing Searcy to injured reserve. So we go out and give the Bills a late 2021 pick for Marshall Newhouse. Bills fans don’t seem to like him, so cool I guess. Then we turn around and sign former pro bowl safety, Eric Reid and then I proceeded to lose my mind in the most positive way possible.

Assuming he still has juice in the tank, Reid is going to bring some quality play at safety, and leadership to go along with that. I don’t expect Reid to be great coming out of the gate, he has missed a lot of time, but this is a step in the right direction not only for our secondary, but for the state of the franchise. With this being a “strictly football decision” Panthers new Owner, David Tepper, is showing that he will do what it takes to improve this football team, even if that means going against the league. Something that would have never been done during the Jerry Richardson regime.

This signing was extra special to me not only because we desperately need a safety but because it seems like I have spent an eternity explaining why Reid and Colin Kaepernick deserve a spot on a NFL roster. For my team to make that happen is amazing to me.

This move has me excited again and I think the Panthers are getting ready to take off coming out of the bye week. With Reid joining the team, and Thomas Davis returning soon, the team morale is getting ready to receive a major boost that should benefit this organization greatly.

AFC Preview

Following up my last preview on the NFC we’ll take a look at the AFC. At this moment this conference seems very weak compared to its NFC counterparts. The AFC North and AFC East divisions in particular to me are worst in football. There may be a surprise team that jumps out of the East, but I wouldn’t bet high money on that.

The AFC West is intriguing, and I think they could have 3 of their teams finish 8-8 or above. Where I struggled the most though was with the AFC South. I believe Jacksonville, Houston and Tennessee all have a chance to reach double digit wins if things work out in their favor. Their strength of schedule is particularly weak as they play the AFC and NFC East, two very weak divisions outside of their leaders. Look for those 3 teams to be in a very tight playoff race by the end of the season.

Enjoy Week 1!

AFC North

1. Pittsburgh Steelers: Prediction: 11-5, 2017 Record: 13-3

After a disappointing end to their 2017 season the Steelers will look to get back on track this year and make another run to the Super Bowl. This could very well be their last chance to accomplish this goal. Its tough to say how many years Ben Roethlisberger has left in him and the Le’Veon Bell situation will cause some chemistry shake ups early on the in the season. However, I do believe backup running back, James Conner, will be able to feel that void in the Pittsburgh backfield and keep the Steelers rushing attack productive.

2. Cincinnati Bengals: Prediction: 9-7, 2017 Record: 7-9

I don’t know how Marvin Lewis is still the head coach of this football team but the Bengals are my AFC sleeper team this year. I think they will actually be a lot better than most people think. They’re roster top to bottom seems to be very solid this season and it really just depends on the play of Andy Dalton to determine how things end up for Cincinnati. I see them fighting for a wild card spot come end of season.

3.Baltimore Ravens: Prediction: 8-8, 2017 Record: 9-7

After overhauling the offense this off-season, Baltimore is looking to get back to the playoffs for the first time in 3 years. Quarterback, Joe Flacco, did not play very well at all last season, and he will be fighting for his job with every single game this season. With 1st round draft pick Lamar Jackson waiting for his opportunity, Flacco is going to have to play out of this world for the Ravens to not sit him. They return most of their starters on defense but failed to add any big game changers. I can’t see them being good enough to win this division or make a push for a wildcard spot.

4. Cleveland Browns: Prediction: 6-10, 2017 Record: 0-16

You can only go up after going not winning a game in the previous season. The Browns on paper actually look kind of impressive and I have seen a lot of people mock them to be in the playoff hunt. However, people need to slow down and realize that they are still the Browns. This is the first season after a complete roster turnover, so there are going to be some growing pains at first. I can see them being one of those teams who are competitive in a lot of games but can’t seem to find a way to win. Judging by hard knocks, that will be due to coaching. Next season the Browns should be closer to where they want to be.

AFC East

1. New England Patriots: Prediction: 12-4, 2017 Record: 13-3

Once again you can pencil the Patriots down as AFC East division champs before the season even starts. You could say this is the worst Patriots team we have seen in a long
time but it doesn’t matter because everyone else in their division is just terrible. As long as Bill Belichik and Tom Brady can will this team into the playoffs, they will have a chance at a Super Bowl appearance.

2. Miami Dolphins: Prediction: 5-11, 2017 Record: 6-10

Miami added a lot of different personnel to the offensive side of the ball this off-season in order to turn things around, but I don’t think it will matter too much. My main concern with the Dolphins is if Ryan Tannehill can stay healthy. If he can and shows flashes of his solid 2016 season then maybe I would bump them up a couple wins. However, I think he struggles having lost two major weapons in Jarvis Landry and Jay Ajayi.

3. New York Jets: Prediction: 4-12, 2017 Record: 5-11

After two consecutive seasons of finishing 5-11, the Jets are desperately looking to be competitive again. Their hope lies with rookie quarterback Sam Darnold who is being thrown into the fire. I like Darnold and think he will be a solid pro one day, but I can’t see any scenario in which he is able to turn this team around and achieve a winning record. They have very little weapons on offense, Robbie Anderson has shown flashes but lacks consistency, and its unknown if Quincy Enunwa can return to the form he showed before getting injured. The defensive front 7 is their strength and may be able to keep them in some games, but the secondary is a major problem and will more than likely be exposed by good offenses.

4. Buffalo Bills: Prediction: 2-14, 2017 Record: 9-7

Bills fans close your eyes. Somehow after making the playoffs for the first time in 17 years the Bills have regressed so far to possibly being the worst team in the NFL. However, its weird, because I would say they’re on the right path to getting back to success. Getting rid of Tyrod Taylor was probably the worst decision they could have made for this season. The Bills front office and coaching staff seemed to neglect Taylor last year for willing them to a playoff appearance. Remember when they benched him for literally no reason –while they were in the heat of the playoff race– for Nathan Peterman who threw 4 interceptions in his first 9 passes. Bizarre. Peterman has been named the starter for week 1 ahead of first round draft pick, Josh Allen, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out. Allen definitely has the better arm but judging off of pre season, his accuracy can be very wild at times. I don’t think it matters who plays most of the season at quarterback for the Bills, their lack of offensive weapons outside of LeSean McCoy will be worrisome and the defense has definitely regressed from what it was the past couple of seasons. The secondary is solid but that won’t be enough to win games.

AFC South

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Prediction 11-5, 2017 Record: 10-6

Everyone seems to writing the Jaguars off just after making it to the AFC championship last season. It may have something to do with their roster being so young and not believing they can live up to the expectations they have placed in front of themselves. This Jaguars defense is one of the best in the NFL and the offense has been tuned to make another playoff push. As long as they can stay atop of the division then the only worry I have is if Blake Bortles can be consistent enough to win them big games, which they will have to do in this division.

2. Houston Texans: Prediction 10-6, 2017 Record: 4-12

Finally healthy, the Texans should be looking to make a strong case for a playoff position. Jaguars cornerback, Jalen Ramsey, is right. One day Deshaun Watson should have an MVP award to his name, and that year may come sooner than people think. Watson was proving all of his doubters wrong last season, terrorizing his opponents before he got injured and if he can grasp that form again the Texans will be a problem for the entire league. Watson is backed by a solid supporting cast in DeAndre Hopkins, Lamar Miller, and Will Fuller who should make life so much easier for Watson. On the defensive side JJ Watt is finally healthy, and can re join Jadeveon Clowney on the defensive line, and the addition of Tyrann Mathieu at safety will prove to be one of the best signings in the league. As long as the offensive line can give Watson time, the Texans should be playoff bound.

3. Tennessee Titans: Prediction 10-6, 2017 Record: 9-7

A new staff in Tennessee will look to fine tune this Titans team to get them back into the playoffs. 2017 ended with the Titans winning a close wild card matchup in Kansas City then getting smacked by the Patriots. Quarterback, Marcus Mariota, will be looking to turn things around after having statistically the worst season of his career with just 13 Touchdowns and 15 interceptions. New offensive coordinator, Matt LeFleur, who is coming from the Los Angeles Rams, will be looking to get Mariota back on track. Tennessee should remain solid on defense and as long as they can slow down Houston and Jacksonville, and win the “easy” games, the Titans may sneak their way back into the playoffs.

4. Indianapolis Colts: Prediction 4-12, 2017 Record: 4-12

Andrew Luck is finally healthy, and thats great, but the Colts still need a lot of work in order to return to what they once were. Luck returns to a team that has failed to obtain solid weapons in his absence. 4 time Pro bowl wide receiver T.Y. Hilton is still there and fellow pro bowler Jack Doyle will join him at tight end as Luck’s main receiving options. After that there is a significant drop off. The offensive line may be better than it was when Luck went down, but it won’t be enough to compete in this division. The Colts defense may have been the worst in the league last season and that doesn’t seem to be changing at this moment. The AFC south definitely isn’t the cake walk that it once was and Indianapolis will surely struggle in the division.

AFC West

1. Los Angeles Chargers: Prediction 12-4, 2017 Record: 9-7

This may finally be the year the Chargers are able to get over the hump and get back into the playoffs. With the Broncos and Raiders declining and coming off losing records, and the previous divisions champs, Kansas City Chiefs, losing Alex Smith and Marcus Peters, this is the perfect time for the Chargers to bounce back to the top. This team will go as far as Philip Rivers will take them and he may finally be ready to make that Super Bowl push again. His receiving core in Keenan Allen, Tyrell Williams and Travis Benjamin is loaded with talent. Unfortunately, tight end Hunter Henry is out for the season with a torn ACL suffered in OTA’s but they have enough depth at the tight end position to fill that void for the time being. Melvin Gordon is back and will be looking to make a statement in a contract season. Los Angeles defense has potential to be the one of the best in the league. Rushers Joey Bosa, and Melvin Ingram are a formidable force and the star studded secondary may be the best in the league. As long as they can slow down the run and stay healthy, this Chargers team will be very good. The NFL may very well get the Los Angeles vs. Los Angeles Super Bowl they want.

2. Kansas City Chiefs: Prediction: 9-7, 2017 Record: 10-6

Don’t expect much of a drop off for the Chiefs this season. Alex Smith is being replaced by Patrick Mahomes at quarterback who is oozing with potential but very unproven. They’re all in on Mahomes and it should be a fun roller coaster to watch. Mahomes will be surrounded by solid talent to make his life a little easier. Wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins and Tight End, Travis Kelce, will be very solid options for Mahomes to have in his debut season. Kareem Hunt in the backfield should return to being one of the best backs in the league and can carry the load for the Chiefs offense at times. Kansas City will need work on their run defense if they want to remain among the AFC’s elite. Replacing Peters with Kendall Fuller in the Smith trade is solid and the return of safety, Eric Berry, after tearing his achilles in the season opener last season, will be helpful for the defense.

3. Denver Broncos: Prediction: 8-8, 2017 Record: 5-11

The Broncos main problem the past few seasons has been quarterback. If Case Keenum’s MVP caliber season in 2017 wasn’t a fluke then they may have temporarily solved it. He’ll have solid receiving weapons to work with in Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. Devonte Booker and Royce Freeman in the backfield may end up being a very solid 1-2 punch for Denver. If Keenum can replicate his 2017 season then Denver’s offense may be able to put up a lot of points. Denvers defense isn’t what it once was but the addition of Bradley Chubb will get things pointed in the right direction. Losing Aqib Talib at cornerback is a big blow but they’re hopeful Bradley Roby can step up to the plate. Look for the Broncos to be competitive once again.

4. Oakland Raiders: Prediction 6-10, 2017 Record: 6-10

What is even going on in Oakland? At the moment there seems to be a huge disconnect from Jon Gruden’s staff and his team. There are maybe six or seven guys in the NFL right now, that without a doubt you would not trade away from your team, no matter the circumstance. Khalil Mack is one of those guys. Without Mack this defensive unit drops significantly. However, this Raiders team is far too talented in other aspects of the field to completely fade off. While Gruden’s coaching may not be what it once was the talent level on the roster should be able to carry them to some quality wins. If Derek Carr can stay healthy and return to his 2016 form then the offense should be solid with Amari Cooper at receiver, and running back Marshawn Lynch. However, I think they’re still about a year away around from being where they want to be.

NFC Preview

We have finally arrived to everyone’s favorite part of the calendar year, the soothing time of fall. The leaves changing colors can mean one thing and one thing only, football season is upon us. We have all so dearly missed the big plays, dramatic moments, terrible rule changes, and highly questionable ownership that makeup the foundation of this beautiful league.

This means it’s time to roll out season previews and predictions, before the season starts so that I’m not already behind with my first official blog post.

I spent a good portion of a slow evening, going through each week of the NFL schedule -game by game- to come up with these records and standings that I’ll be posting, but still take it with a grain of salt.

With that said, I’ll begin.

NFC North

1. Minnesota Vikings: Prediction 12- 4, 2017 Record: 13-3

Following a very impressive 2017 campaign Minnesota will look to improve in the very few places they had problems. Case Keenum played well last season but the addition of Kirk Cousins at quarterback should prove to be a huge difference for Minnesota’s offense. Its very hard to repeat a 13 win season, but I still have them being one of the best teams in the NFC.

2. Green Bay Packers: Prediction 10-6, 2017 Record: 7-9

Winning 7 games with Brett Hundley at quarterback is impressive in its own right. Getting Aaron Rodgers back is massive, and it’s worth at least an additional 3 games. I don’t fancy the weapons around Rodgers, but there’s no doubt he will make some magic happen.

3. Chicago Bears: Prediction 8-8, 2017 Record: 5-11

A year under Mitch Trubisky’s belt should help things slow down for him. The big addition of Khalil Mack will help solidify an already solid defense. Look for the Bears to cause problems to their division foes.

4. Detroit Lions: Prediction 6-10, 2017 Record: 9-7

The Lions will be better than their record shows. Detroit will fall victim to everyone in their division simply being further along the curve than they are. I think they will be one of those teams where it seems almost all of their losses come from within 6 points. Also I can’t confidently say I’m a huge believer in new Head Coach, Matt Patricia.

NFC East

1. Philadelphia Eagles: Prediction 11-5, 2017 Record: 13-3

It seems like very rarely do teams coming off of a Super Bowl run repeat that success the following season barring the Patriots. I believe the Eagles will still be a force to be reckon with in the league but they will end up taking a small step back from 2017. Fortunately enough for them, the rest of their division is no where near as talented as they are. I think they start off slow with Wentz being out but pick it up big time in the second half of the season to surge into the playoffs.

2. New York Giants: Prediction 9-7, 2017 Record: 3-13

A solid turnaround for the Giants this season will see them become competitive in the league once again. The addition of Saquon Barkley will be massive, and the receiving core around quarter back, Eli Manning, is the best it’s been in years. This may very well be Eli’s last chance to prove he still has something left in his tank. On the opposite side of the ball, a very solid defensive unit should be able to keep them in any game this season.

3. Washington Redskins: Prediction 8-8, 2017 Record: 7-9

Washington’s big addition this season was trading for Alex Smith for one of their young star corners in Kendall Fuller after they lost Kirk Cousins. Its hard to say what this will do to the Redskins, I think they stay more or less the same as last season, with no significant strides. Look for them to be competitive to a handful of good teams and turnaround and lose games they should easily win.

4. Dallas Cowboys: Prediction 4-12, 2017 Record: 9-7

I don’t know if a single thing has gone right for the Cowboys this off-season. It seems like there is always something negative surrounding Dallas and I believe the product of that will show on the field. They’re star studded offensive line may start the season missing three starters in Zach Martin, Travis Frederick and La’el Collins. Outside of Ezekiel Elliot in the backfield, quarterback Dak Prescott has no proven weapons around him besides Cole Beasley. If it remains that way for the remainder of the season, Dallas could find themselves in a massive hole.

NFC South

1. Carolina Panthers: Prediction 12-4, 2017 Record: 11-5

My bias may be showing here but I truly believe the Panthers take the next step this season. As a Panthers fan I can confidently say everything seems to be clicking and working just as planned for Carolina. Quarterback Cam Newton is healthy for the first time in years and seems confident as ever. Running back Christian McCaffrey is looking like the every down back fans are dreaming he can be, and out of nowhere Carolina found themselves a solid receiving core where you can say you have heard of more than one of their receivers on the roster. The secondary and offensive line seem to be the main concern at the moment, but you can count on Luke Keuchly and the Panthers defense to always have the ability to make sure their not out of a game.

2. New Orleans Saints: Prediction 10-6, 2017 Record: 11-5

Not a whole lot happened to New Orleans this off season to suggest they would take a dip or improve off of a solid 2017 season. As long as Drew Brees is behind center you can count on the Saints having a solid season. Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas should continue to make big plays and their defense is as good as ever. I think they once again show they’re a force in the NFC.

3. Atlanta Falcons: Prediction 8-8, 2017 Record: 10-6

I think this is the year we see Atlanta regress to their struggling ways. From the outside looking in they seem like a organization that’s ready to pop if they don’t find success and find it quick. They don’t function properly when they play on the road outside of the dome and they have a good amount of this season in some really tough places to play. I think it will be tough for Matt Ryan and gang this season.

4. Tampa Bay: Prediction 2-14, 2017 Record: 5-11

Its been a hurricane down in Tampa Bay yet again with another Jameis Winston situation. How well will the Bucs cope this time? Not too well I think. Tampa Bay hasn’t made any moves that would suggest they could drastically improve. I think its a long shot and they end with the worst record in the league.

NFC West

1. Los Angeles Rams: Prediction 14-2, 2017 Record: 11-5

Rams will be looking to build on an impressive first season under Head Coach, Sean McVay. This may very well be the best roster in the NFL top to bottom. Assuming Jared Goff can continue to make strides like he has, the Rams should be looking at being among the upper echelon of teams once again this year. They had one of if not the best defensive units last season, and they only got better with their off-season additions.  I can’t wait to watch Ndamukong Suh, who is still one of the most feared defensive linemen in the league, lineup next to Aaron Donald who is one of the most physically dominant players in the entire league, it’s is going to be amazing.

2. San Francisco 49ers: Prediction 9-7, 2017 Record: 6-10

San Francisco will be looking to build off an impressive end to the 2017 season after going 5-0 with Jimmy Garroppolo as a starter. While the honeymoon was nice, reality will hit soon. The Niners first half of the season is tough but I think they may be able to do just enough to have some wild-card hopes at the end of the year.

3. Seattle Seahawks: Prediction 5-11, 2017 Record: 9-7

Things seem to be going down hill for the Seahawks quickly. The legion of boom is no more, Marshawn Lynch is long gone, the only thing left standing (barely) from their glory days is quarterback Russell Wilson. If they have any ounce of a success this season it will be willed by that man.

4. Arizona Cardinals: 4-12, 2017 Record: 8-8

The Cardinals will finally have some stability at quarterback and if (and its a big if) Sam Bradford can stay healthy I think they can be at least an 8-8 team again. However, I don’t think Bradford makes it through the season and at some point rookie quarterback Sam Darnold will take over and I think they’ll go through some bad growing pains.

That will wrap things up for the NFC. I will aim to have the AFC predictions up this weekend before Sunday’s slate of games kick off. If anyone has made it this far, feel free to comment and tell me I’m wrong.

Welcome To Scoop n’ Score

Greetings all,

If you have stumbled upon this page that must mean you have at least the slightest interest in what exactly I have gotten myself into this time. Honestly, I might be on to something this time around. I am very excited to announce that this page, Scoop n’ Score (I tried to go for something clever, its like a double entendre, it’s cool trust me), is going to be my official blog for the foreseeable future!

Now, you’re all more than likely wondering what exactly am I going to be writing about on this here blog? Well, if you know me, then you know how huge my love for sports is, you know how wide of a net that my interest can cast at points, and that’s exactly what this blog will mainly be about. Sports, and other stuff that I think is kind of cool…

For the most part, my posts will focus on my favorite teams; The Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets, and Liverpool Football Club. I’ll try to touch on other teams, happenings and my opinions within the NFL, NBA, European soccer, and college sports. Along with my opinions on certain hot topics going around in the sporting universe.

To start, things here will mainly be NFL related as the season is finally beginning after a long, LONG, offseason. I might sprinkle in some college sports, however thats really not my forte, but hey, we’ll see what happens.

I do also want to write about random, interesting things going on in my life. Possibly some pop culture topics, and maybe some movie and video games reviews down the line as well. All things that I really enjoy and things that can really turn this page into my own little creative space.

With that, I will conclude this introduction post and thank you all for taking the time to visit and read my first blog. I genuinely can’t wait to fan with you all!