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Robert Kraft should be in Canton

And now, it is with my great pleasure, that I intend to nominate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame – Robert Kraft!! The owner of the New England Patriots is more than worthy of a bronze bust in the hallowed halls of Canton. It is imperative that we campaign for this fine individual to receive his due. If there has been one individual responsible for creating the greatest dynasty in football history it has been this humble, generous, and likeable owner. Robert Kraft is one of the finest owners and executives in the NFL. It is difficult to fathom why he has not received more support for this. What follows is a journey through his life as the pivotal player in a franchise’s and sport’s success.

As a Fan

When a city loses a major sport franchise it is a disruptive and painful process. The region loses a common emotional denominator. The area loses a driving economic force and the team loses its identity and a portion of its identity and history.

Watching the recent process of this play out in the Rams, Thrashers and Expos. The relocation battles of the Raiders and the Columbus crew. Seeing the shocking moves of the Baltimore Colts and the Cleveland Browns can leave a fan base angry and hurt. Even if there is a reconciliation and the team stays, it can ill will for years to come. If there is something you can say about Robert Kraft. He is the ultimate fan. And was willing to do what it took to keep them in New England.

In 1971 he began his association with the Patriots with something that hundreds of fans do. He became a season ticket holder. When the team was playing he was in the same stands, eating and drinking the same food and cheering for the same players as everyone of us. In 1987 after an unsuccessful bid to purchase the team he instead chose to buy the Foxboro Raceways right next door. This ensured that he would be involved in the team’s future stadium decisions.

And involved he was. When the stadium was used as collateral for a Jackson 5 tour and subsequently place in bankruptcy Kraft stepped in. His ownership of the stadium and the lease was essential in preventing a move to Jacksonville.

Then in 1994 he refused to allow James Orthwein to break the lease in an attempt to move the team to St. Louis. Finally Kraft was able to complete the purchase and officially became the owner of the franchise.

As an Owner and Executive

One of the greatest sins a NFL owner can do is presume to know more about how to out a winning football team on the field than coaches and scouts. There are other considerations when running a franchise. Salary cap, marketing, cash flow for multi-million dollar salaries and television contracts that are important factors in the business. Many owners that have strayed from these areas and attempted to dive into the day-to-day runnings of the team have been met with frustrating failures. An inability to win football games and championships can hurt a brand far more than an incorrect marketing scheme.

When Kraft took over the Patriots he believed in allowing football people to run football teams. And it’s returned dividends on his investment beyond anyone’s imagination. When he took over the team, it’s 34 year win total was 229 including playoffs and a loss in Super Bowl XX. And in the 24 seasons that he’s owned the team they have tallied 294 victories and 9 more Super Bowl appearances with 5 Championships. He’s truly done what he set out to do when he purchased the franchise.

“My objective in buying the Patriots is to help bring a championship to New England.”
-ROBERT KRAFT, JAN. 21, 1994

As an Ambassador of the Sport

The NFL has a colorful cadre of characters in it’s ownership. Al Davis and his resistance of the league. Brash Jerry Jones’ Texas confidence and Jerry’s World opulence. And then it has it’s royalty and statesman. The Rooney family and the Mara family have all been a standard to learn from and emulate. Robert Kraft has joined those ranks and then some during his tenure as owner of the franchise.

Whether it’s been attempting to negotiate labor peace in the face of personal tragedy. Or promoting the sport abroad with the opening of the Kraft Family Sports Campus in Israel. And the countless charities that he personally and through the Patriots Foundation supports.

In New England we hear all of the little stories that have a big impact on people’s lives but may get lost in the shuffle of the world stage of Super Bowl victories. Replacing stolen wheelchairs for fan’s, providing experiences for ill children and honoring his late wife’s memory through the Women’s Association. If there is anyone worthy of being a face of the NFL it should be this man and his legacy will impact the sport for generations.

Get Him Now!

The path to a bronze bust and a gold jacket is difficult for players. The path for contributors is even more so. Many worthy candidates are forced to wait years before being considered and every inductee is honored and welcomed. The sport would be greatly benefited by having this pillar of it’s community enshrined while he is still active and engaged in the NFL’s well-being. The sad story of the posthumous honoring of Ralph Wilson and Art Rooney should never be repeated. If Jerry Jones’ can be inducted to football’s highest honor while he is still striving to direct the Dallas Cowboys to victories then the Hall of Fame voters should ensure that Robert Kraft is inducted as well.

All photos courtesy of Getty images unless noted otherwise.

Be sure to check out other great articles for all your favorite Boston sports teams on Bostonsportsextra.com

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Lesson Plan for Sony Michel

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The Patriots shocked everyone when they selected UG bulldog Sony Michel running back in the first round. But you don’t let your lead running back leave in free agency without a backup plan. Nearly 900 yards on the ground, and another 200 in the air.

Dion Lewis was an atypical lead back. His cutting style and small frame powering through the line of scrimmage. What’s more is that he played the part well. In the 2017 season he looked like a lead back. This production was bittersweet when he signed a free agent contract with the Tennessee Titans. Replacing the yards from his snaps would not be easy. The team did resign Rex Burkhead and looked for free agent options. Eventually deciding on Jeremy Hill as a low risk, veteran gamble.

The Lesson

One only has to look at the Dallas Cowboys as a recent lesson. They did not properly plan for a succession at that position. DeMarco Murray’s production was not immediately replaced when he left in free agency. The Cowboys scrambled with a group that produced a thousand yard rusher in Darren McFadden and little else. In response to this, the Cowboys scrambled and drafted Ezekiel Elliott the next year. This ensured that the position was set. The Patriots have made one thing clear. It’s that they won’t allow that sequence of poor performance to sink a chance at a championship.

Michel carrying the ball for the Bulldogs

The Method

The selection of a running back in the first round is in defiance of current mode for thinking for NFL draft strategy. A common line of thought is to get multiple talented individuals and rotate them. The Patriots have themselves been a primary proponent of this philosophy. This year, however, they swam against the current of this method. With pick 31 they got Michel, an offensive weapon that could rival some of the best in the NFL.

The Application

How best can the Patriots utilize Michel talents? Ideally, he could come in and replace every one of Dion Lewis’s snaps and provide a home run threat at running back. The teams haven’t had a threat in the backfield like that since the early promise of Laurence Maroney, or even as far back as prime Corey Dillon years.

Michel’s skill set is ideally suited for today’s NFL running game. His pass-catching skills and route running are very developed for a soon to be rookie. He is falling forward or getting those extra yards after contact. Michel’s biggest need for improvement will be in pass blocking. In film study he made read errors such as staying in when he should’ve been running a route for a hot read or getting caught up in traffic and not able to make a clean block. When he was able to square up and put everything into it, I saw a blocker that looks like they will be able to learn and grow as an NFL blocker.

The Application Part II

His running style reminds me the most of a more upright Devonta Freeman. His offense at Georgia utilized a lot of the cutback and outlet passes. He commits decisively and does not waste too much time dancing in the backfield. When he sees daylight his second and third gear are activated very quickly. Michel is at his best when he’s trying to let a hole develop he is very patient and almost looks Le’veon Bell-esque. Allows the blocks to open up and keeps his feet moving and eyes up until he sees what he wants and then goes.

Conclusions

At the very worst, the Patriots have drafted for themselves a contributor that will learn from the veterans on the roster. Michel will hone the weaker parts of his game and be ready to steal all the snaps in future seasons. At best they may have drafted a complete running back in today’s NFL that can have his name read with the games great. An exciting future for sure.

NFL Week 15 Winners and Losers

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Week 15 featured a plethora of the season’s best match ups on paper. Chiefs vs Chargers, Panthers vs Aaron Rod- I mean the Packers, Seahawks vs Rams and of course: New England at Pittsburgh. Many of you probably know how the latter ended and are filled with either joy or rage based on geographic location. If you do not know how it ended, New England won 27-24 thanks to another heroic performance by Tom Brady, as well as a controversial call. Both teams played well enough to win and appear to be on a collision course to meet in the AFC Championship, therefore neither made the Winner or Loser list this week. Anyways, With playoff implications running haywire, let’s see who prevailed and who failed.

P.S. this week’s winners and losers lists are predominantly focused towards teams with playoff scenarios

Week 15 Winners

Dallas Cowboys: 20-17 W @ Oakland

I feel as though Dallas has been featured in this segment on almost a weekly basis. I guess that says something about the inconsistency of Dak and company sans Ezekiel Elliott. The Cowboys have very quietly won three straight games. This win streak has them right in the thick of wild card contention. Dallas will have to win their last two games, which will be tough. In Week 16 they host Seattle and then travel to Philly to face the Wentz-less Eagles. Good news for Dallas: Zeke returns this week and they are seemingly a completely different team when he plays. His return makes their final two games look a lot more winnable. I don’t think any team wants to face Dallas with a well-rested Zeke come playoff time.

Cowboys playoff scenarios: if Detroit loses one of their final two games AND New Orleans, Atlanta or Carolina lose their final two games, then Dallas will earn a wildcard spot.

Detroit Lions: 20-10 W vs Chicago

Okay, a 10 point win at home vs the 4-9 Bears? Big deal. Certainly not the most impressive win, but it was not unimpressive. More importantly, Detroit did what they had to do to remain in playoff contention. This win improved their record to 8-6. Perhaps the best news for Detroit this week was Aaron Rodgers being placed on IR. This means that in Week 17 Detroit will get to host the Rodgers-less Packers, making it a very winnable game. Well, before I get ahead of myself they still have to rely on teams above them to collapse as well as win at Cincinnati in Week 16. Should not be a very tall task versus a team that has been outscored 67-14 over the past two weeks. But hey, you never know. I mean, wouldn’t that be the most Lions-y thing to do?

San Francisco 49ers: 25-23 W vs Tennessee

I feel as though the Niners deserve a spot under this column. Jimmy G and company delivered a quality win over a quality opponent. Jimmy G carried the load offensively going 31-43 with a TD, no picks and a 89.5 QBR. This performance included a clutch fourth quarter drive. Jimmy G took the Niners down the field from their own 25 with a little over a minute remaining. After going 3-4 for 45 yards, Garoppolo set up the 45 yard game-winning field goal for Robbie Gould. And just like that, San Fran has now won three straight with Jimmy under center.

Okay, so San Fran is still just 4-10 and has absolutely no shot at even coming close to a playoff spot. However, the Niners deserve this high praise for heading in a very good direction towards a bright future. Plenty of other franchises are probably jealous of San Fran due to the fact that they have found a franchise QB. quality QB’s are a hot commodity nowadays. However, San Fran still lacks a few key pieces on both sides of the ball. Also, they really need to work on red zone efficiency. During their 3 game win streak they have scored just three touchdowns while kicking 15 field goals. Too many points left on the board.

Side note: imagine next year’s NFC West with a much improved 49ers squad?

Week 15 Losers

Seattle Seahawks: 42-7 L vs LA Rams

Cringe-worthy loss in week 15 for Seattle. Of course, key injuries have made it nearly impossible for Seattle to dominate like in years past, but come on, 42-7 at home with massive playoff and division title implications on the line? Not impressed. This loss really made the playoffs seem like a stretch for this years Seahawks. Still though, credit the Rams, who rolled into Seattle seeking revenge from their last meeting and got what they wanted. Also, credit Todd Gurley for being pretty much unstoppable. He ran for 152 yards and three TD’s on 21 carries. Oh and he had three catches for 28 yards and another TD. Imagine if it was a close game and Gurley remained in the lead-back role for all four quarters? He probably would have had six touchdowns and 300 total yards. Oh… right, this was supposed to be about the Seahawks. Oh well, it’s onto Dallas for Seattle for a true “must win”.

Los Angeles chargers: 30-13 loss @ Kansas City

I was really hoping that the Chargers would prove to me that they are legit. I can not help but root for those guys. Phillip Rivers is often criticized for turnovers and poor attitude. However, he is a very good QB and is putting together a very solid season. Entering this game he had 19 TD’s and just three interceptions over his past 10 games. His most impressive characteristic in my opinion is his competitiveness. If you watch this guy, it is easy to tell he wants to win. Some claim he is a cry baby or a poor sport, I think those people are confusing his fire and passion for whining. Anyways, it was time for LA to prove to the league they are for real. Fighting for the division title on the road, a win could have been a statement, so what did they do? Flop.

Fortunately, it is not over for LA who currently hold a record of 7-7. Kansas City is only a game ahead in the AFC West while Buffalo, Baltimore and Tennessee are also only a game ahead in the wild card race.

Oakland Raiders: 20-17 loss vs Dallas

What was supposed to be a fantastic season for Oakland turned out to be a disaster. The home loss to Dallas put Oakland at 6-8 for the season. Theoretically, the Raiders could still sneak into the playoffs but the Chiefs, Chargers, Ravens, Titans, Dolphins and Bills would have to lose a combined 8032753238203 games, pretty unlikely. Really not sure what to think of this team moving forward. Hoping, for their sake that this year was the fluke and not last year, but I am not convinced. Also, what the bleep was Derek Carr thinking trying to score on that final play of the game? I understand he was trying to win the game for his team, but he already had the first down and needed just a field goal in order to tie the game. It would have been first and goal from the three yard line had he just ran out of bounds. This one is one is on him. Come on Derek Carr, you’re better than that… or are you?

*Questions or comments? Find me at @MLBfromNH (Kevin Civiello)*

NFL Week 15 Playoff Implications: Win or Out

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Playoff Race Heats Up

Well, it’s Week 15 and nearly every game carries playoff implications. In fact, every game aside from the one that already occurred (Denver at Indy) carries playoff implications. Some teams are fighting for the division title, while others desperately try to claw their way into wild card contention. Only two divisions have been clinched thus far as the two teams representing Pennsylvania have clinched their respective divisions. In the rather weak AFC, it seems as though almost every team still has a shot to get it. The Jags and Titans are still battling for the AFC South crown. The AFC West is as hectic as you will ever see. The Chiefs, Chargers and Raiders are all within a game of each other. With a lack of quality teams in the AFC, it appears nine wins will be enough to earn a playoff spot.

Over in the far more competitive NFC, nine wins ain’t going to cut it. I’m not even sure if 10 wins will be enough. The NFC currently contains ten teams with a winning record. Tight battles are still being fought for the NFC West crown as well as the NFC South. Football fans have the luxury of witnessing the Rams roll into Seattle this Sunday. LA will certainly be seeking revenge on their rival as they lost 16-10 at home vs Seattle in Week 5. Also, the three team race for the NFC South ensues as the Falcons, Saints and Panthers are all separated by just one game.

So, which teams face an absolute must win scenario if they wish to keep their playoff hopes alive?

Detroit Lions vs Chicago

The Lions continue to fly under the radar in the NFC. Detroit lurks in the shadows of the NFC bullies such as the Eagles, Saints, Rams and Vikings. However, the fact of the matter is that Detroit (7-6) still has a shot at making the playoffs. Their final lunge into the playoffs will start this week with a very winnable home game against the Bears. Their luck will continue into Week 16 as they will travel to Cincinnati to face a team that will only be playing for pride. Unfortunately, their luck will end there because healthy Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will roll into town, also fighting for a playoff spot. Lions fans: when Week 17 arrives, it’s best you wish for two things:

1. Aaron Rodgers is still a little rusty

2. Stafford will have one final fourth quarter game-winning drives left in the tank.

Green Bay Packers at Carolina

Very tough test here for the Pack. Luckily they have their superstar QB returning this week. Unfortunately, they have to travel to Carolina to face a team that has won five of its last six games. Carolina has been scoring in bunches over their past four games, averaging 33 points during that span. Hopefully for Packers fans, Rodgers will be fully healthy, any signs of rustiness could be the difference this week. Also, much unlike the aforementioned Detroit Lions, the Packers have a harsh schedule to close out the season. After Carolina will be Minnesota at home and then of course at Detroit. Green Bay will need Aaron Rodgers to be Aaron Rodgers if they want to participate in the playoffs this season.

Dallas Cowboys at Oakland

Both teams are featured in bold in the headline because they both MUST win this game to keep playoff hopes alive. It will be a tall task for either team to make the playoffs as they both have tough remaining schedules. Oakland of course starts with Dallas at home then travels to Philadelphia and then to LA to face the Chargers. The Eagles sans Wentz are certainly less intimidating but still a force to be reckoned with. The road tilt in LA will not be any easier as the Chargers are playing as well as almost anyone in the AFC. It will be tough, but if Oakland manages to win out, then they will have a great shot at getting into the playoffs.

It will not be any easier for the Cowboys. Starting with the match up of iconic franchises in Oakland. Dallas will attempt to get by one final time without their superstar running back. If they manage to win in Oakland and get Ezekiel Elliott back for the Seahawks and Eagles then they certainly have a chance. However, never mind Seattle and Philadelphia for now because it is “win or out” for Dallas as they will need 10 wins to make the playoffs.

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo

Well it certainly seems as though the ‘Fins season was over long ago after suffering some embarrassing losses this year. However, their embarrassing losses seem to be cancelled out by impressive wins, most notably their Week 14 win. Miami pulled off what was potentially the upset of the year as they handed New England a 27-20 loss. It is quite remarkable that Miami ranks 27th in the NFL in point differential at -82 but they are still fighting for a playoff spot. It will be a very tough road for Miami as they are at Buffalo, at Kansas City and then back home against Buffalo to wrap up the season. Miami will need to win all three of their remaining games if they wish to be playing in mid-January. Unfortunately, KC and Buffalo are both fighting for a playoff spot as well so Miami will have to be at their very best.

*Follow me on twitter @MLBfromNH (Kevin Civiello)*

Week 11 Winners and Losers

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As I was writing this article I realized that this week’s winners and losers are oddly similar to last week’s. Quite interesting if you ask me, it seems that many teams across the league are trending rapidly up or down. Down the stretch it will be interesting to see which struggling teams can turn it around and which contenders will turn into pretenders. Let’s get to it.

WEEK 11 WINNERS

ATLANTA FALCONS, 34-31 WIN AT SEATTLE

Don’t look now but it looks like Atlanta is turning into Hotlanta. With back-to-back impressive wins, the Falcons have found themselves back in the NFC playoff picture. Their win over Seattle moved them up to the sixth seed in the NFC. The key to Atlanta’s recent resurgence? Their relentless pass rush. Adrian Clayborn and Grady Jarrett were chasing Russell Wilson out of the pocket all night, not allowing him to get comfortable. Also, Matt Ryan was efficient as he completed over 70% of his passes for 195 yards and two TD’s. Well done Atlanta, welcome back to NFC-relevancy. five of Atlanta’s last six games are against division opponents, including four home games. Up next: a very winnable game at home vs Tampa Bay.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, 34-31 OT WIN VS WASHINGTON

Beginning to wonder if anyone can beat this team. They just won their eighth straight game in a dramatic fourth quarter comeback lead by two perfect drives from Brees. It was vintage Drew, which is something we have not seen much this year because Mark Ingram, Alvin Kamara and the defense have been so good. How perfect was Brees on the last two comeback drives? 11-11 for 164 yards, two TD’s and a two-point conversion. Yup, he can still carry the team when necessary. The Saints are the first team in the modern era to start a season 0-2 and then win eight straight. Also, can we start acknowledging that Alvin Kamara is the best rookie running back in the league? He had another 116 scrimmage yards and a TD on just 14 touches.

Side note: I really feel for the Redskins. They might be the most injured team in the league and have had an absolutely brutal schedule. So far the ‘Skins have faced the Eagles twice, the Rams, Saints, Vikings, 49ers, Raiders, Cowboys, Seahawks and Chiefs. Washington is one of the best 4-6 teams I have ever seen, along with this years Chargers.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS, 24-7 WIN VS LA RAMS

Dominant win versus the red-hot Rams. The Vikings are legit and another impressive win has them in my “Winners” column for consecutive weeks. Did anyone think Minnesota would be 8-2 considering their injuries to key players and relatively tough schedule? I sure didn’t. I feel like I owe these guys an apology for picking them to lose almost every week. They have proved me wrong week in and week out and it is time I accept the fact that this team is for real. Holding the NFL’s highest scoring offense to a measly seven points was very impressive. Equally impressive is their 11th ranked offense in terms of point per game, sans Bradford, Bridgewater and Dalvin Cook. Who would have thought that Case Keenum would carry this offense so well. Up next: At Lions then at Falcons, two more tough tests.

WEEK 11 LOSERS

BUFFALO BILLS, 54-24 LOSS AT LA CHARGERS

Oh man, just when it could not have gotten uglier, it did. Another blow out loss for Buffalo makes it three straight losses. They have lost their last two games by a total of 67 points *cringe*. I am going to be conservative here and throw 90% of the blame on Head Coach Sean McDermott. “Mr. McDermott, if you don’t mind me asking, what the hell are you doing?”. My brain short fuses every time I try to understand why he benched Tyrod Taylor for rookie Nathan Peterman. Sure, they had lost two games straight, so what? It happens. The correct way to respond to back to back losses is to practice hard, get back to the basics, study your opponent and show up to play. Not bench your starting QB, who was absolutely not the problem.

Tyrod is no Tom Brady but he has proven to be a viable starting QB. Also, this bonehead move sends a message to the players from the coach saying “Well we have lost two straight games, I think I am going to give up on my 5-4 team and start thinking about next year”. Let’s see how Nathan Peterman fared in his first NFL start, shall we? He completed 11 passes, unfortunately five of them were completed to the wrong team. Peterman’s stat line was: 6-14, 5 interceptions for 66 yards. Tyrod came in for the second half and went 15-25 for 158 yards, four carries for 38 yards and 2 total TD’s. Yeah, I wonder who the better QB is? Smooth move Mr. McDermott.

Luckily for Buffalo, the AFC wildcard race is wide open. The Bills have two very winnable games vs the Dolphins and a home game vs Indy remaining. If they can win those three as well as steal one of their two remaining games against the Pats or win in Kansas City then I like their chances of getting a wildcard spot.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, 12-9 LOSS AT NY GIANTS

Uh oh, the team that seemed like it was on top of the NFL after five weeks has now lost four of its last five. That’s right, the Chiefs are now just 6-4 after starting 5-0. Their previous three losses were not so concerning considering they came against quality teams (Pittsburgh, Oakland and Dallas). However, this loss is very concerning considering that the Giants entered the contest with a record of 1-8. Also, the Chiefs’ offense that has been a powerhouse almost all season only managed nine points against a team that is allowing 24.7 points per game. That kind of effort is not going to cut it. Luckily for Kansas City, the entire AFC West is underachieving and they lead both the Raiders and Chargers by two games. Up next: A home game vs the ailing Bills.

DALLAS COWBOYS, 37-9 LOSS VS PHILADELPHIA

Congratulations Dallas, you have earned yourself a spot under in the losers column for the second consecutive week. Back-to-back blowout losses for the ‘Boys. Two weeks ago they lost 27-7 at Atlanta and then they got embarrassed in a prime time game at home against a division rival. Yes, I agree that they were out-matched and I did not expect them to win this one. However, I expected it to be close, but they could not even keep it a three possession game.

The main concern for Dallas is how bad their offense is without Zeke. Dak looks like a different player out there sans his best weapon. Dallas is averaging just eight points without their superstar RB and boy do they need him back. Unfortunately for the Cowboys there are a surplus of playoff-caliber teams in the NFC and at 5-5, it may be time for Dallas to start thinking about next year. Up next: LA Chargers in big D.

*Follow me on Twitter: @MLBfromNH (Kevin Civiello)*

WEEK 11: KEY MATCH-UPS AND SCORE PREDICTIONS

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Week 11 features some tantalizing match-ups for football fans. Plenty are “Game of the Week” worthy, thus making my decision for the true highlight event quite difficult. Of all the high-profile match-ups, I have to say Rams at Vikings intrigues me the most. I feel as though many fans circled Philadelphia at Dallas due to the whole divisional-rival thing, but Los Angeles at Minnesota is the real attention grabber of week 11. Other notable match ups this week include Atlanta at Seattle, New England at Oakland in Mexico City, and Washington at New Orleans.

Let’s get to it.

LOS ANGELES RAMS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Stoked for this game. Who would have expected both of these teams to be 7-2? No one. Especially the Rams, who have been one of the worst teams in the league over the past decade-and-a-half or so. The last time they finished over .500 was 2003. Last year, they went 4-12 with a -170 point differential. What a turnaround it has been this year. Los Angeles leads the NFC West at 7-2 and own a league leading point differential at +134.

Then we have the Vikings, who certainly had higher expectations in 2017 than the Rams but I do not think many expected them to be where they are at. Sure, Rodgers going down for the season has given them a pretty clear lane to the division title but with the level they are playing at, they are deserving of it. Their defense is as anticipated but the surprise is the offensive production with Case Keenum under center. Sans Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Bradford and Dalvin Cook, the Vikings have proven that they are at the very least a playoff team. I expect this to be a very close game but I have to give the rollin’ Rams the slight edge here: 24-23.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT DALLAS COWBOYS

This match up just has a pleasant ring to it. It seems like any NFC East match-up is always one that gets the fans excited. I love this game, but it has to fall second to the LA and Minnesota game solely because it will be lacking a guy named Ezekiel Elliott. You know, that guy who wears #21 for the Cowboys? Yeah him, he’s pretty good. Unfortunately he is serving a six game suspension so the ‘Boys will attempt to get the job done without him. Luckily, they are at home which helps but I do not think they can pull this one off against Philadelphia.

The Cowboys only hope is that Alfred Morris and Rod Smith can run it down the Eagles throat, which I just do not see happening. Philadelphia is ranked first in the league in rush yards allowed per game at 66.4. I expect it to be competitive but ultimately Dak and company will lack the fire power to keep up with Wentzylvania. Eagles 31 Cowboys 20.

ATLANTA FALCONS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

This will be a rematch of last years NFC Divisional playoff round. The Falcons took that one 36-20 at home vs Seattle. You bet Pete Carroll’s team will be seeking revenge. Both teams are missing an extremely valuable player. Devonta Freeman will (listed as doubtful) be out with a concussion and Richard Sherman is out for the year with a ruptured achilles. Tevin Coleman will play a key role for Atlanta. If Freeman does sit this one out, Coleman will be heavily relied on out of the backfield, with some help from Terron Ward.

Seattle will rely on quality play from corner backs’ Jeremy Lane and Shaquill Griffin to to fill the role of Richard Sherman. This could be a tough task for them as they will be going up against the big and fast Atlanta receivers, Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu. The Falcons looked great last week, but one solid performance is not a enough to convince me they are back to last year’s form yet. I am going with Seattle in this one: 26-20.

SCORE PREDICTIONS:

Jacksonville 27, Cleveland 10

Tampa Bay 16, Miami 17

Baltimore 20, Green Bay 17

Detroit 23, Chicago 17

LA Rams 24, Minnesota 23

Arizona 20, Houston 13

Kansas City 27, NY Giants 16

Washington 20, New Orleans 31

Buffalo 17, LA Chargers 23

Cincinnati 16, Denver 20

New England 31, Oakland 23

Philadelphia 31, Dallas 20

Atlanta 20, Seattle 26

Week 10 Winners and Losers

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For a football nerd like me, it is easy to open with a generic statement like “Wow what an eventful week!”. Well, week 10 was truly deserving of the cliche. It featured 13 games (thus far), seven of which resulted in a one-possession game. Road teams experienced mild success this week, going 6-7 collectively. We saw an OT thriller, a game-winning field goal and a winless team notch its first W. Other headlines include the persistent dominance by the Saints and Rams while the Vikings and Titans keep finding ways to win and the Browns and Giants still suck.

We are a little over half way through the regular season and playoff races are starting to heat up. It feels as though we are beginning to grasp which teams are contenders and which teams are pretenders. Alright, let’s get to it. Presented below are the week 10 teams that shined bright and the teams feeling up tight.

WEEK 10 WINNERS

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, 47-10 WIN AT BUFFALO

The sun keeps on rising and the Saints keep on winning. Their dominant week 10 win against a good Buffalo team further supports the notion that this team is legit. Make it seven straight for Sean Payton and company. There is something different about this team than we have seen in recent years. They actually look like a complete football team. It is no longer Drew Brees miraculously willing his team to victory by throwing for 400 yards and 4 TD’s over and over again. It is a much more balanced attack as the Saints backfield has established itself as one of the league’s best.

Mark Ingram has been phenomenal and rookie Alvin Kamara is playing so well that he should be in the conversation with Kareem Hunt and Leonard Fournette for offensive rookie of the year. This duo is an absolute two-headed monster. It reminds me of the 2016 version of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. On Sunday the Saints backs ran all over Buffalo. Ingram logged 21 carries for 131 yards and three TD’s while Kamara added none carries for 106 yards and a TD. Even Trey Edmunds had nne rushes for 48 yards and a score. Who? Exactly.

Also, something has to be said about the defense. The Saints defense has been atrocious recently but they have really turned it around this season. Since starting the season 0-2 and allowing 29 and then 36 points, they have held six of their last seven opponents to 17 points or less. They rank fifth in the league in points allowed per game this year at 18.3. Week 10 in Buffalo was a tough task and they made light work of it. They will face a real tough test in two weeks when they travel to Los Angeles to face the 7-2 Rams.

ATLANTA FALCONS, 27-7 WIN VS DALLAS

Statement made in week 10 by Atlanta. They proved that they can still play like the team they were last year. Atlanta dominated on both sides of the ball and in the trenches. The offensive line held up nicely as Ryan was only sacked once. The defense looked hungry and angry just like they did last year. Dan Quinn’s defense recorded eight sacks, including six from Adrian Clayborn. Prior to Sunday, only three other players in NFL history had recorded six sacks in a single game.

The only bummer about Sunday’s game was that star running back Devonta Freeman left the game with a concussion and is unlikely to play next week at Seattle. Luckily, they still have Tevin Coleman in the backfield, who has proven in the past he can handle a significant workload. Atlanta looks to build off of their impressive week 10 win when they fly out west to take on the 6-3 Seahawks.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS, 38-30 WIN AT WASHINGTON

Minnesota never really does anything flashy but they just know how to win football games. They are very quietly riding a five-game win streak and stand at 7-2 on the season. I think many worried about Dalvin Cook going down with a torn ACL. However, Minnesota has done just fine without him. The defense has dominated all year as they are fifth in the league in points allowed per game.

It seems as though a different offensive player comes to the rescue each week, whether it be Case Keenum, Jerrick McKinnon or Stefon Diggs. This week it was Adam Thielen who had eight catches for 166 yards and a TD. It sure seems like the Vikings have a stranglehold on the NFC North title this year as they lead both Detroit and Green Bay by two games. Next up a tough match up against another 7-2 division leader: vs the Los Angeles Rams.

WEEK 10 LOSERS

BUFFALO BILLS, 47-10 LOSS VS NEW ORLEANS

Buffalo looked great through its first seven games, but they are beginning to fall off. In week eight, the Bills welcomed Oakland to Buffalo in the rudest way possible by embarrassing them 34-14. At that point in the season, Buffalo looked real solid. Some were saying that they would be battling the Patriots for the division title all year long. It felt as though they had finally put it all together and were ready to play like the great team they had shown flashes of in the recent past.

However, back-to-back ugly losses have ensued since they walloped Oakland in week eight. In week nine they lost to the Jets 34-21, but that game was not as close as the score indicates. Buffalo scored two touchdowns in garbage time after trailing 34-7 with a little over four minutes to play. Then this week they got trounced by the Saints. Sure, the Saints are playing as well as anyone right now, but still. If Buffalo considers themselves a playoff team then they can not lose by 37 points at home. It is not panic time yet, but it certainly seems like they are in a rapid downward spiral. Next up for Buffalo is the one of the best 3-6 teams you will ever see: At Los Angeles Chargers.

DALLAS COWBOYS, 27-7 LOSS AT ATLANTA

Ugly loss for the Cowboys but I do not want to take anything away from Atlanta. They played exceptionally welll. Dallas had a few odds stacked against them in this one. They were on the road and without their best offensive weapon in Ezekiel Elliott. However, they simply have to be better than they were on Sunday. The offensive line, which typically dominates, looked awful. Prescott had no time to throw and was sacked eight times. The main reason why Dallas made the losers list this week is the incompetence of the offense without Zeke. Zeke faces a six-game suspension. If the Cowboys can not move the ball without him then they will quickly fall out of the playoff race.

The run game looked awful without Zeke. Alfred Morris had two quality runs on the day, one for 20 yards and another for 14 yards. However, the game was pretty much out of reach at the time of those two carries. Aside from those two plays he had nine carries for 19 yards — not good enough. Up next, Dallas hosts the 8-1 Eagles. They will need more out of Morris, Smith and McFadden against the league’s best rushing defense (66.4 yards allowed per game) if they want a shot to win this one. Good luck.

*Follow me on twitter @MLBfromNH (Kevin Civiello)*

The Commish on the Ropes

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Among the most common qualities great leaders share are supreme competence in what they do and the ability to anticipate and deal with change. They are principled, and their values are consistent. Roger Goodell is none of these things.

I’ve spent my whole adult life surrounded by, working with, studying, and developing leaders. From infantry squad leaders to high ranking government officials and CEOs of Fortune 50 companies, I’ve seen some the best and the worst leaders in the country. The current commissioner of the NFL sits alone on the Iron Throne of incompetence.

False Accomplishments

Roger Goodell is a disgrace to the league. He is Portnoy’s clown, a caricature of a chief executive. Goodell’s defenders often cite the league’s financial standing as evidence of the commissioner’s accomplishments. They. Are. Not.

Goodell has received undue credit for the league’s financial strength over the past eleven years. Never mind the fact that the NFL was financially sound before he took over, environmental factors have made the NFL the juggernaut it is today. Goodells tenure (2006-present) coincided with the introduction and explosion of social media, live streaming, and a 300% increase in fantasy sports participation in North America alone.

Roger Goodell isn’t a business genius, he is Chauncey the Gardner, a dullard whose success has been coincidental.

Scandal Ridden Tenure

Rather than heaping unwarranted praise on the Commish for where the league is today, we should lay the blame at his feet as to where the league is heading tomorrow.

Truth in lending, I’ve hated Goodell long before he suspended Tom Brady for possibly being “generally aware” that an equipment manager may have done something that the league can’t prove and that science can disprove. This is a man who fines players for wearing the purple cleats to show support for domestic awareness, but is fine with players assaulting their wives and girlfriends off the field. Unless someone leaks the video to TMZ.

Goodell is a tone deaf, thin-skinned hypocrite. From his disgraceful handling of domestic abuse by players, to his inconsistent metering-out of punishment to players and owners, to his grandstanding about integrity of the game and player safety while stonewalling CTE investigations and settlements, abuse of office has been the defining characteristic of his tenure.

Where does Goodell choose to involve himself? Anthem protests. It’s clear that the NFL wants to appear to be the All-American game. You can’t attend one without some sort of display of fealty to the flag and a service member in uniform. But of course, that’s been largely fake too – after all the Department of Defense and the National Guard paid the NFL and its teams more than $12 million dollars for such patriotic displays between 2011 and 2015.

Face of the NFL

The list of great players who are also great people is nearly endless in the NFL. Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Dak Prescott, Deshaun Watson, JJ Watt. These should be the faces of the NFL, but they’re not. Instead it’s Colin Kaepernick, Ndamukong Suh, Vontaze Burfict, and Prescott’s woman abusing teammate Ezekiel Elliott.

A work stoppage in 2011 that was resolved by Bob Kraft. Plummeting ratings. Hundreds of arrested players. Ndamukong Suh choking an opponent on the field – and not getting fined. This is Roger Goodell’s NFL. It’s past time for him to go.

Kingslayer

Jerry Jones is a fraud, but he may also be our only hope. He is not the hero we deserve, but he is the hero we need. Jones has been the commissioner’s greatest champion for years – a lap dog when Goodell was abusing his power to punish Tom Brady without evidence.

But, now that Jones’ newest woman abuser has been suspended for six games, suddenly Jerry is all about reeling in the powers of the commissioner. Suddenly, the arbitrary administration of suspensions is unjust. Suddenly, Jerry thinks we need a change of leadership.

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Jerry cares about women. Just last week he proudly proclaimed that the Cowboys had a zero tolerance policy on domestic abuse. I’m sure Greg Hardy’s victim was glad to hear that.

Jones is, however, the kind of selfish, grudge-holding ass who might be able to mobilize 24 largely apathetic owners to block Goodell’s extension. That is doubtful, however, because this group of owners seem content printing their money and wrongly believe that Goodell is the reason they can.

Jerry’s palace coup probably won’t succeed. But, how it plays out will be telling for New England fans. Nobody has been on the receiving end of more horrible decisions and gross abuses of the powers of the commissioner than Robert Kraft and the New England Patriots.

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Kraft famously dropped his appeal of the Goodell’s over the top and unjustified punishment after deflategate. In doing so, he infuriated most of his fan base. If he sides against Jones, Kraft will send a loud and clear message that he cares more for the community of billionaires that are the NFL owners than he does for his team and his fans.

Breaking Down Potential Wild Card Weekend

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Potential Wild Card Weekend

Despite many NFL Sundays still ahead, it’s intriguing to ponder the potential matchups for the 2017-18 NFL Playoffs. With many surprises in the playoff picture, wild card weekend could in fact “be wild.” At the start of the season I did not anticipate Jacksonville to ever hold the AFC wild card lead. Yet here we are, just past the halfway point of the season, and the 5-3 Jags are even threatening for first in their division. With that said, if the playoffs started today, here’s what we would have to look forward to wild card weekend.

(5)Jacksonville @ (4)Tennessee

This inner divisional matchup would be a great way to kick off the NFL playoffs. Having two teams play each other three times in one season presents so much drama. Especially when considering these two close out the regular season against each other in Tennessee. If these two squared up in back to back weeks, the tension would be hot, leading to a brutal battle on the gridiron. The Jacksonville defense gave up a horrifying 37 points to the Titans in week two of the season. Since then, however, their defense has been rock solid, leading the league in opponent points per game average at just 14.6 (TeamRankings.com). The Jaguars are clawing for a rematch with Tennessee, and getting that chance twice in two weeks presents a fun watch for all football fans.

(6)Buffalo @ (3)Kansas City

The Chiefs came out the gate this season with a dominating first five weeks. It wasn’t until hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers, that things went south in Kansas City. The Chiefs have dropped three of their last four games, as they head into a desperately needed bye week. The Buffalo Bills have had some impressive wins of their own, but have a tough schedule up ahead. One of those games happens to be in Kansas City. What makes this such an exciting matchup, is Buffalo leads the league in turnover differential, and Kansas City falls one spot behind them at number two (ESPN.com). Because both teams protect the ball and like to cause turnovers, this game could come down to a single fault. Every play will matter, and everyone will have to play to perfection. Luckily, we don’t have to wait long to see this potential wildcard matchup. Buffalo’s regular season trip to Kansas City is just three weeks away.

(5)Carolina @ (4)Los Angeles (Rams)

Perhaps the most entertaining team to watch, the Rams, bring to the table a dominating offensive scheme. Los Angeles has put up absurd numbers this season, while Carolina’s strong defensive efforts have kept scores low. Carolina has definitely had the tougher schedule through this point of the season, having played New England, Philadelphia and Buffalo. Los Angeles, on the other hand, has faced an easier group of teams including Indianapolis, San Francisco and the New York Giants. Their win in Dallas was definitely impressive, but the game was a shootout, and that simply won’t happen against the Panthers. In order for the Rams to advance past wildcard weekend, they will need to wear down Carolina’s defense early and often. If the Rams are going to fall to Carolina, it will be because the Panthers control the tempo throughout the game, and that tempo will be very slow.

(6)Dallas @ (3)Minnesota

The funny thing about this matchup is it’s almost exactly like the Carolina-Los Angeles matchup. At this point in the season, Dallas is fourth in the NFL in points per game (TeamRankings.com). Minnesota, on the other hand, is third in the NFL in opponent points per game (Team Rankings.com). Both teams have won some games in impressive fashion, but the upper-hand definitely goes to the Vikings. Despite losing their starting quarterback at the start of the season, the Vikings have been able to craft a solid string of wins over the past few weeks. In two weeks Minnesota will host the Rams, which will be a strong indicator of how this potential matchup could unfold. Similarly, the Cowboys will host Seattle, who is a defensive powerhouse, thus allowing a “scrimmage” for what they could see against the Vikings. A final factor to ponder, who will be under center for the Vikings come January…?

Much will change in the playoff race between now and January. Some teams will drop the ball, while others will snag a spot in the playoffs. When I first heard these were the eight teams currently slated for wild card weekend, I was a bit shocked. After breaking down the matchups, I think wild card weekend will set the stage for an extremely entertaining playoffs.