Tag Archives: Eagles

Patriots reportedly trade for Michael Bennett

We are 6 days away from the official start to NFL free agency, but that doesn’t mean the rumor mill stops turning. With a multitude of cuts and trades happening, or not happening (cough*Antonio Brown*cough), the Patriots were bound to get in on the action.

A plethora of sources are reporting that New England has traded for the Eagles’ DE Michael Bennett. The trade is reportedly only for draft pick compensation and no players are involved. It is rumored that the Patriots will swap their 2020 5th round pick for Philadelphia’s 2020 7th rounder. However, no trades can be processed until March 14th, so we will officially know then.

This is a bombshell of a report, as the Patriots are well documented in their search for veteran stars. Whether it be Odell Beckham Jr. or some mystery player, New England hasn’t been afraid to poke around. This still reigns true as Michael Bennett is one of the premier pass rushers in the NFL.

Setting aside his activities outside of football for now, Bennett is no doubt one of the better defensive players in the league. He finished last year with nine sacks and two forced fumbles, still proving he can get to the quarterback. Bennett was also the sole reason the Seahawks almost beat the Pats in Super Bowl 49, hammering Brady several times.

The first instinct that comes to mind when thinking of this trade is bye-bye Trey Flowers. While this does reinforce the fact that the Patriots might be preparing for Flowers’ departure, it doesn’t 100% guarantee it. Michael Bennett is owed around $7 million dollars for 2019, which is relatively cheap considering his productivity. He also won’t take a pay cut, so that’s off the table. On the other hand, Flowers is going to get paid anywhere from $15-17 million dollars annually.

With the Patriots current cap situation, Flowers and Bennett both can’t be on the team without compromising other depth areas. However, if the Patriots were to cut someone like Adrian Clayborn, it makes more fiscal sense. A Clayborn cut would free up nearly $6 million in cap space, which is only $1 million less than Bennett.

The addition of Bennett most likely means the Patriots are bracing for the departure of Trey Flowers. They probably still believe they can sign him, but players would now need to be cut for that to happen. Adrian Clayborn makes the most sense, but Bill Belichick has been known for his surprise cuts.

While this trade looks like a homerun on paper, there is still the elephant in the room to deal with. Michael Bennett is no stranger to controversy, as he was caught lying to police in Las Vegas before the 2017 season. He was attending the Floyd Mayweather-Connor McGregor fight, and had an altercation with police afterwards.

Long story short, Bennett attempted to play the race card and claim the police brutally attacked him based on this. This was proven to be absolutely untrue, but Bennett got off without major charges. However, he was indicted for another incident following Super Bowl 51, when he attacked an elderly paraplegic working the game.

These run-ins with the law are certainly not what you want when looking at potential players. New England has housed troubled players in the past, but Bennett is a new breed. Even still, Bill Belichick will not tolerate this behavior whatsoever, and Michael will get firsthand knowledge of this from his brother Martellus, 2 year Patriots veteran.

No matter what you think of Michael Bennett the person, the fact remains he is a good football player. He will upgrade the defensive line and could make a lethal 1-2 punch with Trey Flowers if the Pats resign him. It is safe to assume Belichick will be able to keep Bennett on the right side of the law, but the worry is there.

This reported trade will become official once NFL free agency starts on March 14th.

Why AJ Dillon is the Best College Football Player Right Now

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I know it is early in the college football season, but AJ Dillon has continued to impress since he stepped foot on the field last year. He is so valuable in making Boston College a legit football team for the first time since the Matt Ryan days. Dillon grew up in Massachusetts, and went to Lawrence Academy for high school. He had many offers from around the country like Michigan, Notre Dame, and Florida State, but decided to stay home and make Boston College football great. AJ is a very big running back, standing at 6’0″ tall and 245 pounds. His physical attributes brought one scout to say:

“If our league had a one-and-done like the NBA, AJ Dillon would be the perfect guy”

AJ Dillon burst onto the scene in 2017, and has only piled onto his resume ever since.

2017 Season:

The Eagles last year started the season 2-4 in their first six games. They averaged only 16 points per game in that span. The teams they beat were Central Michigan and Northern Illinois, while they lost to were Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Clemson, and Notre Dame. The season started with everyone thinking Boston College is the same team as the past few years. However, this was not true.

After that 2-4 start, Eagles’ head coach Steve Addazio made AJ Dillon the starting running back against Louisville. This proved to be one of the smartest coaching decisions of the year in all of college football. In AJ Dillon’s first start in his college football career he put up 272 rush yards, and four TDs as the Eagles beat Louisville 45-42 for their first conference win in two years. Dillon disrespected the Cardinals defense many times, but a 75 yard touchdown really opened a lot of eyes.

Dillon would not stop there, though. Over the span of three weeks against all conference opponents (Virginia, Florida ST, NC ST) Dillon racked up 434 yards and two TDs. The Eagles were 2-1 in those three games. His 2017 campaign concluded in a bowl loss to Iowa, where he had 157 rush yards and one TD. Dillon finished the year with 1,589 rush yards and 14 rushing TD in only six starts. When the Eagles started Dillon last year they were 5-2 with an average of 33.7 points per game. AJ Dillon won ACC Freshman of the Year for his 2017 performance, and was the first Eagles player to win that award.

2018 Season:

AJ Dillon has kept the hype train alive through three games this season. In his first game of the year against UMass, Dillon only played in the first half where he had 98 yards. Against Holy Cross, Dillon only had six carries. However, in those rushes Dillon racked up 149 yards and three TDs, which is absolutely insane production. His first real test of the year came against Wake Forest. Before this game against the Eagles, Wake Forest was 2-0. The Demon Deacons wanted to crush Dillon’s Heisman hopes, but they could not. Dillon had 185 yards and one TD en route to a 41-34 inter-conference win. So far in the 2018 campaign, Dillon has 432 rushing yards and four TDs.

Dillon is a very powerful and exciting running back. Even though he was not ranked to win the Heisman before the season started according to bookmakers, he is now at 40/1 odds to win the award. If he can keep this up, Boston College will be very competitive at the top, and he might win the Heisman.

The Case of Ja’Whaun Bentley

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“With the No. 143 pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select Ja’Whaun Bentley, ILB, Purdue. He is a 6-foot-2, 260 pounds off-the-ball linebacker who’s considered to some as a contact player.”

Following the Super Bowl, a glaring need for the Patriots was a coverage linebacker. When New England drafted Ja’Whaun Bentley, the NFL community didn’t think as much of it. After all, his draft profile from the NFL.com didn’t show much promise.

“…Bentley has athletic limitations that hinder his effectiveness as an NFL finisher and he’s ill-suited to handle coverage duties against the pass. Bentley lacks ideal speed and reaction time…”

He has been proving this profile wrong as he continues to impress in preseason games. In his debut, he logged six tackles (two for loss) and a quarterback hit in addition to four stops in coverage. This performance earned him a 90.0 PFF grade and a spot in PFF’s Team of the Week Defense.

In his second preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles, he started over Elandon Roberts and ended the game again with six tackles and more notably returned a fumble back for a touchdown. He also forced incompletions against the likes of Jay Ajayi and Dallas Goedert.

Strip sack! Recovery!

TO THE HOUSE. @Patriots #PHIvsNE https://t.co/uxrXTHeJv9

— NFL (@NFL) August 17, 2018

Bright Future for the Rookie

One of his biggest concerns about Bentley was his speed and coverage skills. He shined in both of these areas in the two preseason games he had played. He has been able to keep up with both tight ends and running backs which is a good sign for the young rookie and a sign of relief for New England fans. Scott Zolak even noted how Bentley looked like a young Jerod Mayo out there, except Mayo was never that fast.

Another important fact of note is that the rookie donned the green dot on his helmet, meaning that he was the one calling plays for the first team defense. The New England staff has a lot of faith in him.

“He’s always been the middle linebacker, the signal caller, the guy right in the middle of the defense,” Bill Belichick said, citing Bentley’s experience as a four-year captain at Purdue. “He does a good job of handling the communication and some of the adjustments that have to be made from the center of the field, which that’s his position; that’s part of it. He’s been able to do that pretty well since he’s come here… He’s got a long way to go, but he’s handled those things well.” (USA Today)

All in all, Ja’Whaun Bentley has been impressing on all cylinders. He’s smart, intuitive, strong, and possesses a huge build. If he continues to play like he has been, Bentley can take over Elandon Roberts’ spot as the starter.

Revis vs. Gilmore: Who was better for the Patriots?

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On July 24, 2018, Darrelle Revis officially retired as a Jet. He even posed in front of a real Revis Island at his farewell. So far, both Revis and star corner, Stephon Gilmore, played one full season for New England. So it bodes the question, with all due respect to both players, who played better for the Patriots?

Darrelle Revis stands in front of an island on his retirement day

REVIS’ 2014 STINT WITH NEW ENGLAND

On March 12, 2014, Darrelle Revis had signed one year contract worth 12 million dollars with the New England Patriots. The Pats had paired him with ex-Seahawk, Brandon Browner, in the secondary. Revis had amassed 2 interceptions, 16 passes defended, 47 tackles, and 1 forced fumble (Pro Football Reference). He allowed 532 yards through the air against him throughout the season (NESN).

His playoff performance was outstanding. After having 2 pass interference calls defending Steve Smith, he had only allowed 1 completion in the AFC Championship and Superbowl combined. Darrelle Revis greatly contributed to New England getting their fourth ring.

Photo Credit: Patriots Gab

GILMORE’S 2017 SEASON WITH THE PATRIOTS

On March 9, 2017, the New England Patriots signed Stephon Gilmore to a 5-year contract worth 65 million dollars. The Gilmore/Butler duo was supposed to be one of the best in the NFL, only it didn’t turn out that way. Butler had a down year, allowing a 103.3 passer rating in coverage and earned himself an 81.0 PFF grade.

Gilmore himself had a rough start to the season, a large part due to the lack of communication. He picked his game up and really shined in the second half of the season, clearly proving himself as the best cornerback on the roster. Gilmore finished 2017 with 2 interceptions, 50 combined tackles, and 9 passes defended.

His biggest play of the season was in the AFC Championship. We all know what I’m talking about. It’s fourth down, Blake Bortles steps up in the pocket and throws it deep. Stephon Gilmore in coverage leaps up and tips it away. He sealed the deal for the Patriots and allowed them to go to their third Superbowl in four years. Unfortunately, he was basically the only bright spot on a horrendous Superbowl defense without Malcolm Butler.

Photo Credit: Heavy.com

CONCLUSION

Both cornerbacks ended up being great signings for the Patriots. As of right now, Revis did play better for the Patriots. Although he had fewer tackles, he was more efficient in coverage and ended up getting a ring

Gilmore had an up-and-down year with little help from his teammates. However, he will continue his strong showings from the later part of the season, and I have a feeling this conclusion won’t remain the same next year.

Northeastern Huskies Beanpot Champions

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“For the first time in 30 years, the Northeastern Huskies are college hockey’s Beanpot champions. Can you believe it?” – Joe Castigilione, probably.

David Versus Goliath

For as often as this biblical phrase is part of sentences, it truly fits the Huskies and Terriers rivalry. From a historical standpoint alone, Boston University is the favorite to win the Beanpot every season. After all, thirty Beanpot Championship trophies and banners in their trophy case back that up. Not to mention their incredibly hot goalie, Jake Oettinger, and their nine game unbeaten streak coming into the game, Boston University is in familiar waters. On the other hand, 2018 is a different season.

As I stated in the previous Beanpot article, Northeastern is the favorite this year. The number 12 ranked Northeastern Huskies came into the Garden, the favorites to win it all. At the present time, Matthews’ Arena is home to one of, if not the, best lines in all of College Hockey. Right wing Dylan Sikura, center Adam Gaudette, and left wing Nolan Stevens are making what is most likely their last season together a memorable one. To say nothing of Cayden Primeau, who carriers a 1.97 GAA, and a .925 SV%. Northeastern’s Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are keeping the Dog House rocking all season long. Stevens, Gaudette, and Sikura put 61 goals in the net this season. This is no cakewalk for the Terriers.0 BU is also hurt by the absence of Jordan Greenway who looks to become an American hero in the Olympics this year.

The Game

“I am sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team the Terriers have. Screw ‘em! This is our time. Let’s go out there and take it!” – Jim Madigan’s pregame speech, probably.

In what was one of the most entertaining open periods in college hockey history, the 2018 Beanpot did not disappoint. BU immediately took the lead. While the first Terrier goal did not count due to goaltender interference, Boston University quickly scored again. Cayden Primeau wass kicking himself after sending the puck into his own net. Logan Cockerill was credited with the goal. As a result, Northeastern jacked it up a notch, as Nolan Stevens took advantage of a BU penalty. Throughout the game Primeau stood tall, making 38 saves in the contest. Adam Gaudette will live forever in Beanpot legend as his hat-trick was the difference maker in this one. Gaudette also continued to write Northeastern history as he became the all-time school leader in power play goals.

Jim Madigan obviously understands the importance of the Beanpot. He is a Huskie through and through, from a player to a coach. After the game, Coach Madigan’s quote embodies this, “The first thing I thought about was ‘Hey we’re finally over the hump’’’. For now, Northeastern is the best college hockey program in Boston. While that itself is impressive, they know the season is not over, and they want to continue to make history.

Follow Matt McGurn on Twitter: @MickGurn

Cover image courtesy of The Boston Globe.

Huskies and Terriers Set For A Dogfight

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How many dog puns can I make? With just three days removed from the Super bowl and Opening Day still 50 days away, we turn to college hockey and the Beanpot to help put us in a better mood. The Semi-finals fell on Monday, just as our Super Bowl hangovers were starting to go away. The Northeastern Huskies took on the Boston College Eagles, not Philadelphia. The Boston University Terriers battled the Harvard Crimson. Both were some of the best college hockey games put on television this season. Not to mention, cured some of our Super Bowl depression.

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Huskies vs. Eagles

For one of the first times in Beanpot history, Northeastern University came in as one of the favorites to win the whole thing. If they could do that, it would be their first Beanpot title since 1988, and just their fifth in history. Northeastern has not be able to fight off the other Boston-based teams. Boston University has been champions an astounding 30 times. Boston college is right behind them with 20 championships. Harvard scoots in with 11.

The past is in the past and Northeastern is in it for the long haul. They are currently ranked 15^th, in the NCAA. The Huskies also play one of the best goalies in college hockey, Cayden Primeau. In what was a thrilling game, Northeastern defeated the Eagles 3-0. Regardless of BC’s high powered offense, Primeau was able to stop all 37 shots. The big 3 kept doing what they have been doing all season for the Huskies: putting points on the board. Adam Gaudette, Dylan Sikura, and Nolan Stevens each scored.

Watch the highlights here.

Take allllll the time you need, fellas #GoNU pic.twitter.com/2wzVwLB3Ra

— Northeastern Men’s Hockey (@GoNUmhockey) February 6, 2018

Crimson vs. Terriers

It took two overtime periods, but Boston University was finally able to wash the Crimson away.Ty Amonte’s double-overtime goal ended the game 3-2. Terrier goalie Jake Oettinger kept Boston University in the entire game despite constant threats from Harvard. Harvard defenseman John Marino’s penalty allowed Logan Cockerill to get the points going putting BU ahead. At the end of the second period, Ty Pelton-Byce tied the game with a beautiful assist from Ryan Donato.

Thirty-two seconds into the third period, BU Captain Brandon Hickey put the Terriers ahead once again. Nonetheless, Harvard immediately answered back less than two minutes later. Jack Badini is a bad man and tied the game up. The rest of the game saw highlight saves from both Jake Oettinger, and Harvard net minder Merrick Madsen. Following a series of chance after the chance, the two teams found themselves with tired legs in the second overtime period. Three minutes in, Ty Amonte took the puck across the country and slammed the door closed for the Terrier victory.

Wednesday Night

Boston University will be looking to mimic 2015 magic when the Terriers barked down Harvard in the semifinals and chased Northeastern out of their yard to win the whole thing. The number 30 carries special meaning for both these teams. It has been 30 years since Northeaster’s last Beanpot championship in 1988. Could the Terriers add another to their already 30 Beanpot Championships? If this game were a history test, BU would pass with flying colors. In their last 20 Beanpot matchups, Boston University has taken a bite out of the Huskies 18 times. However, this is 2018, not 2015. This season Northeastern broke their leash and defeated the Huskies twice. Boston University will not have much time to recover and rest following the slobbering game versus Harvard. This will be a truly excellent game to watch.

Follow Matt McGurn on Twitter: @MickGurn @TA_CawHawkey

Positional Group Comparisons for Super Bowl LII

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Amid the pomp and circumstance of Super Bowl week, there is actually a game that will be played. Let’s allow everybody else to focus on the pageantry of the event. We are going to dive into a position by position evaluation ahead of the big game. Let’s start with on the offensive side of the ball.

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK

If there is one clear-cut advantage for either team in this game, it’s at the quarterback position. Tom Brady is the consummate professional. He will demonstrate great poise throughout the game regardless of the literal and figurative noise around him. Nick Foles played perhaps the best game of his entire life in the NFC championship game against a stellar Minnesota Vikings defense. He will need to replicate that performance to give his team a chance.

RUNNING BACKS

The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles almost mirror one another in the way they use their running backs. As the season progressed, Dion Lewis saw his role expand. He is known for his elusiveness, but he runs with deceptive power as well. James White’s track record in the postseason speaks for itself. He was a savior in last season’s Super Bowl. White possesses great hands and his quarterback has the utmost trust in his abilities. Rex Burkhead is another solid option as he can spell either Lewis or White.

When the Eagles obtained Jay Ajayi, they showed the NFL they were all-in on this season. Ajayi would be a feature back on many teams like he was with the Miami Dolphins. However, Philadelphia has excellent depth in the backfield. LeGarrette Blount is the power option while Corey Clement specializes in the passing attack. Last week, the Jacksonville Jaguars moved the ball easily at New England as they replaced Leonard Fournette with seldom-used Corey Grant. Look for the Eagles to keep the fresh back in the game and do a lot of different things with their halfbacks.

RECEIVERS

Rob Gronkowski is arguably the greatest tight end to ever play the game. He is hardly the lone threat for the Patriots on offense, though. As we witnessed last week, Danny Amendola is as clutch as it gets. Brandin Cooks added six receptions for 100 yards and one critical drop. Brady has been looking deep more regularly in 2017 than ever before. Hence, if Cooks gets behind the Eagles gambling defensive backs and Brady connects, that could be a game-changer. The Pats’ will try it at least once per half. Chris Hogan and Philip Dorsett are also versatile, useful receivers. New England will be ultra-tough to stop if this game turns into a shootout.

The Eagles have a few weapons of their own. Alshon Jeffery has seen his career rejuvenated by coming over to Philly. He was huge in beating Minnesota’s all-world defensive backfield. His 53-yarder proved to be the dagger in the Eagles rout of the Vikings. Nelson Algohar and Torrey Smith are good second and third options on the outside, but not great. The Eagles’ tight ends have been a strength this season especially Zach Ertz. How many times did Foles hit Ertz on third down in the NFC championship game? Ertz keeps improving and the Eagles will look to exploit this advantage Sunday.

OFFENSIVE LINE

The Eagles from top to bottom have the better offensive line. Their center Jason Kelce is a terrific athlete and perhaps the best screen blocker in the game today. Likewise, Lane Johnson is a powerful right tackle. Since Foles is not as much of a threat to move in the pocket as Carson Wentz is, Johnson’s play has taken on a more magnified role. When watching the film, he has passed with flying colors. Halapoulivaati Vaitai is the weak link on this strong line. Look for Bill Belichick to switch between Trey Flowers and James Harrison over Vaitai to keep the backup tackle off-balance.

The Patriots’ offensive line has experienced some inconsistencies. Cameron Fleming has struggled to step into Marcus Cannon’s large shoes at right tackle. On the other hand, the interior has been stout especially when run-blocking. David Andrews is a star in the making and surrounds himself with Shaq Mason and Joe Thuney. That trio means more time for Brady to pick his poison.

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINE

Simply put, Brandon Graham is superb. He is an elite pass rusher who garnered 9.5 sacks and 47 tackles while sharing time with former Patriot Chris Long at defensive end. The Eagles have a nice interior as well with high-priced Timmy Jernigan and Fletcher Cox. The Patriots have experienced multiple injuries along the line, but appear to be at their most healthy coming into the game Sunday.

Malcolm Brown, Alan Branch and Deatrich Wise Jr. all claim to be 100% ready to play. Trey Flowers is the unsung man on the Patriots. He was enormous in the Super Bowl last year. Twice, the Atlanta Falcons could have put New England in a world of hurt. The Pats’ failed to recover an onside kick giving Atlanta the short field. Flowers sacked Matt Ryan ending the threat. Later in the game, Flowers got Ryan again after a miraculous Julio Jones reception set up Atlanta nicely. Flowers will have another big game this year. Adding James Harrison was the most necessary and incredible move Coach Belichick made during the season. Harrison’s phenomenal play in the 2009 Super Bowl against the Arizona Cardinals is one of the greatest moments in professional football history.

LINEBACKERS

The Eagles appear to have the better group at linebacker. The underrated duo on the outside, Mychal Kendricks and Nigel Bradham, are solid tacklers who defend the pass expertly. The Eagles’ linebackers and edge rushers were flying around the field in the second half of the NFC championship game. For the true fan of the intricacies of the game, it was such a pleasure to watch Jim Schwartz defense in action. They play a smart scheme with throwback relentlessness.

New England lacks experience and depth. Julian Edelman’s injury made the headlines, but Dont’a Hightower’s absence is one of the underplayed stories of the week. People close to the organization recognize Hightower’s greatness. While it is more juicy to discuss a perceived riff in the relationship between Brady and Belichick or how the Patriots get all the officiating breaks, there is an actual news item regarding these Patriots. They miss the terrific Hightower. In both the 2015 and 2017 Super Bowls, Hightower made signature game-altering stops. The Eagles have the tight ends and receiving backs to out-man the Patriots linebackers.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Both teams look good on the back end. Everybody remembers Malcolm Butler’s iconic play as a rookie in the 2015 Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks. That was a career-builder for Butler, not a one play wonder. Butler is scrappy, turnover-conscious and gives 100% on every play. Hence, Belichick loves him. On the other side, Stephon Gilmore is susceptible to penalties, but has big play ability as was on display in the last minute of the AFC championship game. Safeties Pat Chung and Devin McCourty are in their fourth Super Bowls. Along with Duran Harmon, they epitomize the bend but don’t break style of Patriot defense. New England gives up a lot of yards, but not a lot of points. That is a recipe for victory.

The Eagles are well-positioned at corner as well. Preseason acquisition Ronald Darby and lockdown guy Jalen Mills join nickelback Patrick Robinson to form a trio that stopped Atlanta with a goal-line stand and had a pick six against Minnesota. While the patriots do not possess the star power of a Julio Jones or Adam Thielen, their receiver by committee will be quite the test for Philadelphia’s backfield. Malcolm Jenkins is one of the best in the game at his position and will have his hands full deciding where to help out.

The Patriots typically plan an offensive attack that has not been seen before. Will they feature Gronk like they did when they won in Pittsburgh? Or will they try to get their backs involved in the passing game? Perhaps they will do something totally different. Your guess is as good as mine. When Schwartz was the defensive coordinator for the Bills in 2014, Tom Brady threw for 361 yards and the Pats’ scored 37 points against one of the best defenses in the league that year. The game will be decided by whoever wins the matchup between the Patriot receivers and Eagle defensive backs. One thing is for sure: Coach Schwartz will have a busy week and a stressful Super Bowl night.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Overall, the Patriots have the edge in the kicking game. Veteran Stephen Gostkowski has been doing his thing for New England for 12 seasons. He has a big, dependable leg. Jake Elliott’s highlight came in a Week 3 win for the Eagles over the New York Giants. He boomed a 61-yard field goal at the buzzer. Each team has a reliable, if not spectacular, punter. The Eagles Donnie Jones has a rocket for a leg while the Patriots lefty Ryan Allen does a great job pinning the opposition deep with his directional gems. He flew under the radar with a strong second half performance against the Jaguars. Belichick was content to get into a field position game and it paid off.

As if New England isn’t tough enough to defeat, the Eagles will have to be mindful of two veteran threats. Danny Amendola provided a spark in the punt game against Jacksonville when he set up his own game-winning touchdown with a 20-yard return. Dion Lewis returned a kickoff for a touchdown in last year’s playoffs and another one this season at Denver.

Obviously, these ball clubs match up well. The Patriots have the better offense, the Eagles have the better defense. However, only one of these teams has Coach Belichick. That is a pretty significant factor. The better overall team comes from Philadelphia. The better coach and quarterback come from New England. This should be a fabulous contest.

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

Super Bowl LII Preview and Prediction

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Super Bowl LII

After all that developed during the 2017-2018 season, it will conclude with the two top-seeded teams squaring off in U.S. Bank Stadium. Fans and media have huddled around the drama, adversity and success (or lack thereof), of each NFL franchise since August. This year’s playoffs featured twelve teams which all had the potential to have their ticket to the Super Bowl punched. The Bills made their first playoff appearance in decades. Chiefs fans left Arrowhead Stadium disappointed after the Titans pulled off a comeback upset in the Wild Card. The Saints were one play away from advancing to the NFC Championship, until the Minneapolis Miracle happened. The postseason has been filled with surprises and highlights, but in the end, there can only be one victor.

On February 4th, the New England Patriots, and Philadelphia Eagles, will battle to make history. All thirty-two teams in the NFL share a common goal: to win the Super Bowl. Every franchise grinds from August to January to earn a spot in the playoffs. The twenty that fail to make it plan accordingly to ensure that they will be present in January next season. The Super Bowl is the mecca of the football world, where sports and entertainment collide. Numbers, statistics and odds circle around the media in the two week break between the Championship games and the Super Bowl. This guide contains for betting on an array of props in the Super Bowl, ranging from points scored to the color of Gatorade poured on the winning coach.

Super Bowl LII- Patriots vs. Eagles: Three Things to Know

1. Experience is Key

Nick Foles will be making his first Super Bowl appearance, to add to his four postseason starts, in his six year career. Though impressive, it is a ninth of Tom Brady’s thirty-six starts in the playoffs. This will be Brady’s eighth Super Bowl appearance in his career, he has only lost in two of them. Coincidentally, the last time the Eagles appeared in the Super Bowl was in 2004, and they lost to none other than Tom Brady and the Pats. Fast forward fourteen years, both teams are completely different except for Bill Belichick and Tom Brady leading New England.

Brady and Belichick might have the upper edge with Super Bowl experience, but they have not faced the Eagles since 2015. Head coach, Doug Pederson, is a crafty play caller and defensive coordinator. Jim Schwartz coaches a young and hungry defense, that leads the league in defensive scoring. Nick Foles might be rattled in his first few drives in a Super Bowl environment, but the Eagles’ planning prior to kickoff could cause a few surprises.

2. Offensive Maestros

Nick Foles unexpectedly became a starter for the Eagles late into the season, after Carson Wentz suffered an ACL injury. He started out rusty the first few games, but was able to pull out a win in each of his starts, except for one. Foles is a talented veteran, and a scary backup, to have on a team. He picked up right where Wentz left off, with little turbulence.

Carson Wentz might have locked up the first seed in the playoffs for the Eagles, but it’s no fluke that Foles has gotten the team to the Super Bowl. In the NFC Championship, Foles tore apart the Vikings’ stingy defense. He posted 352 passing yards, and three touchdowns, in a blowout victory. The Eagles’ running back trio of Jay Ajayi, LaGarrette Blount, and Corey Clement, are all great weapons for Foles to utilize in the backfield as well. The Eagles’ boast a stacked receiving corp as well. Wrapping up the offense, Lane Johnson and his o-line, are one of the best in the league.

The best offensive tackle performances from the 2017 playoffs! pic.twitter.com/m69Q63IAlY

— PFF (@PFF) January 24, 2018

The opposing offense is extremely resilient. The Patriots are missing multiple starters to injury, but still cannot seem to lose. Dion Lewis is having a career year at the team’s primary running back position. Rob Gronkowski, whose availability is up in the air at the moment, can be a spark to the offense on every drive. Both Brandin Cooks and Danny Amendola, are posting career numbers in the playoffs. Amendola has been a key receiver in the playoffs, and came in clutch on Sunday against the Jaguars.

Danny Amendola came up with the clutch plays as the Patriots completed the comeback to take down the Jaguarshttps://t.co/5k4Q9QCVzl pic.twitter.com/s6dHScZfSK

— PFF (@PFF) January 21, 2018

However, only one team has Tom Brady. He has mounted a whopping eight postseason comebacks, upon a plethora more in the regular season. He completed an MVP-worthy season, without one of his best receivers, and an occasionally faulty offensive line. Only Brady could make a season like this look like a clinic.

3. Protect the Throne

Coming into this year, almost everyone expected the Patriots to make a deep playoff run. No one held the Eagles to the same standard. The Eagles are hungry for a Super Bowl trophy. Despite losing their starting quarterback, they came out swinging in every playoff match-up. They are not scared of Tom Brady, or the Patriots, but rather they are excited to dethrone them:

The Eagles are coming for Tom Brady's crown. pic.twitter.com/mZuDrdbSgM

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 22, 2018

The Eagles want nothing more than to have a repeat of the beat-down they gave to the Vikings. Though they are the one seed in the NFC, they were written off in the Divisional Round. The Eagles embraced their underdog role, and played their hearts out throughout the playoffs. Now in the Super Bowl, the odds are against them once again. This time, however, they will battle one of the most methodical teams in the NFL. The Patriots are elite because of the preparation they put into each game. Their game-plan changes depending on what team they face. They have two weeks to study film, and see how the Eagles play. Bill Belichick is amazing at pointing out teams’ weaknesses, so it is safe to say the Patriots will be ready. We’ll all have to see how this match-up fares out on Super Bowl Sunday.

Prediction: 33-24 Patriots

Cover image courtesy of PennLive.com.

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days – Super Bowl XXXIX

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The Super Bowl is just 13 days away. Let’s look at the Super Bowl from 13 years ago to honor this not-so-significant occasion!

Jacksonville hosted Super Bowl XXXIX on February 6, 2005. The game pitted the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles against the defending World Champion New England Patriots. The Patriots looked to become the first time to repeat since the Dallas Cowboys 11 years earlier.

New England Patriots 13 Years Ago

The Patriots made a significant change on offense during the offseason adding the powerful running back Corey Dillon. In 2004, Dillon rushed for a career-high 1635 yards. Consequently, the ’04 Patriots were the best of their teams to date.

On opening night, they dispatched their rivals, the Indianapolis Colts, yet again 27-24. When they defeated the Seahawks in the sixth game, New England recorded an NFL record 21st consecutive win overall. The following week, they were plastered on Halloween by Pittsburgh to end the run. But, they would store that performance in their memory banks.

Patriots Swagger

In the playoffs, the Patriots would get another crack at the Colts and Steelers. Many pundits felt this could be the season Peyton Manning’s would conquer New England. It was not to be. The Patriots’ defense did something that had not occurred all season. They stonewalled Indianapolis’ top-ranked offense. In an absolute statement, the Pats embarrassed the Colts 20-3. In the following game, the Patriots would get their revenge on Pittsburgh.

The Patriots jumped all over the Steelers from the get-go at Heinz Field. The 15-1 Steelers led by rookie sensation Ben Roethlisberger were behind the eight-ball all night. They had no answer for the third-year wide receiver out of Louisville, Deion Branch. Branch went for 153 yards and 2 touchdowns. The dagger was Rodney Harrison’s 87-yard interception return before the break. That score gave New England a 24-3 lead en route to the 41-27 victory.

Philadelphia Eagles 13 Years Ago

The 2004 Eagles were in the midst of their best stretch of football in franchise history. They were coming off three consecutive losses in the NFC championship game and clinched homefield advantage throughout the playoffs with a 13-1 start to the season. The Eagles had three Pro Bowl players on offense including QB Donovan McNabb, RB Brian Westbrook and All-Pro WR Terrell Owens. On defense, the Eagles were led by the fantastic Brian Dawkins and their stellar secondary.

In the playoffs, the Eagles proved way too strong for Minnesota and Atlanta despite Owens being out with a severe ankle injury. The Eagles held Mike Vick to just 136 yards passing and 26 rushing. Philly went 7 for 14 on third down conversions and that proved to be the difference as Atlanta just could not possess the ball enough for Vick to make something happen. Therefore, the Eagles advanced to their second Super Bowl!

Competitive First Half

The first half of Super Bowl XXXIX was very interesting and competitive. The Patriots registered 27 yards and 4 punts to start the game. Philadelphia did slightly better when it came to moving the chains, but consecutive drives ended in turnovers. Likewise, Brady fumbled near the goal-line for a critical Patriots’ turnover. Both teams scored touchdowns on their final drives of the first half. The Eagles scored on a pass down the middle to tight end L.J. Smith. New England countered with a brilliant drive consisting of several screen passes. Brady made a magnificent pass to David Givens for the tying score just before the break.

Eagles Exhaustion

New England took their first drive of the second half right down the field as well. Brady consistently hit Branch to get into the red zone on both of their second half touchdown drives. Mike Vrabel put the Patriots up 14-7. Philadelphia answered with a Westbrook score and the game went into the fourth tied at 14. The Patriots proved too tough in the final frame.

With the score 24-14, the Eagles used too much clock on their final scoring drive. After they did not recover the onside kick, they were forced to use their timeouts. They did not get the ball back until there were just seconds to play and they were stuck at their own goal-line. Rodney Harrison intercepted McNabb to seal the deal.

The Patriots were officially a dynasty as of February 2005. But, they had much, much more things in store under Coach Belichick. The Eagles, on the other hand, never captured a World Championship under Andy Reid. In fact, 2017 was the best Eagles’ squad since Super Bowl XXXIX. With Carson Wentz at quarterback, the future looks bright!

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

NFL Championship Sunday Preview and Predictions

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The stage has been set for some of the most talented teams in football to compete in the Conference Championship. They devoted over 1,500 hours, or six days a week from August to January, to train for a shot at an appearance in Super Bowl LII. The postseason isn’t just an extension of the regular season, it’s what teams grind for all season. In the playoffs fans and players are shrouded by the fear that there might not be another week to play. One mistake could end a season. It’s go big or go home. Fans and their teams mesh together to create an electric atmosphere, all equally knowing what is at stake. Regular season stats are thrown out of the window. When faced with a win or go home situation adrenaline takes over, causing players to dig deeper than ever.

We have seen a multitude of spectacular moments already in the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Patriots will appear in their seventh consecutive AFC Championship game and are searching for their sixth Super Bowl ring. Their opponents, the Jacksonville Jaguars, have shocked the league by steamrolling their way deep into the playoffs after several failed seasons. In the NFC the Vikings and Eagles will square off after both securing late fourth quarter wins last weekend. Unfortunately, two teams must go home after this Sunday. This guide includes tips for betting on this weekend’s NFL championship games. These are the match-ups that we will be talking about all week:

AFC Championship: Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots

For the past five seasons the Jaguars were a laughing stock in the NFL. From 2012 to 2016 they failed to eclipse five wins on the season. However this year the Jaguars were on a mission. They finished with a winning record for the first time since 2007; coincidentally the last time the team appeared in the playoffs. In a low-scoring affair the Jags were able to survive the Bills, winning 10-3 in the Wild Card round. Critics scoffed at the idea that they would surpass the Divisional game in Pittsburgh. Their low offensive output in the first round of the playoffs was deemed futile against one of the AFC’s premier squads.

Everyone doubted the Jaguars except for themselves. The Steelers spent the week preparing for the Patriots rather than their current opponent. They seemed to forget that the Jaguars’ defense had a field day on Ben Roethlisberger back in Week Five, where he was picked five times. Last weekend “Sacksonville” was able to secure a 45-42 upset victory over the Steelers behind their running back corps’ four scores. The Jags’ defensive nightmare that they create for offenses is always something to worry about.

The Patriots played exemplary football so far in the postseason. They are held to high expectations because they are always able to ascertain them. It’s always hard to figure out what the Patriots are planning going into each match-up. They have the offensive weapons to pick apart any defense. Interestingly enough Tom Brady is the only quarterback left in the playoffs who has won a Super Bowl ring. The Patriots have the poise and experience to make another deep playoff run.

What is the most admirable about them is that Bill Belichick can remove a vital player on the opposing team from the game. Consequently this always makes the opponent squirm and eventually sputter out as the Pats skirt on by for a win. That was the case for their Divisional game last weekend against the Titans. Running the football is the basis of the Titans’ offense, and without Demarco Murray the running back corps was slim. Play after play Derrick Henry slammed into a wall of defenders and was only able to pick up twenty-eight yards against the Patriots. On the other side of the field Tom Brady outplayed Titans defenders through the air. The Patriots sailed to an easy 35-14 victory.

The Patriots will have their work cut out for them against Jacksonville’s stingy defense. The key to keep them afloat is for their offensive line to have a repeat of last weekend. Against the Titans the o-line didn’t allow Brady to be sacked once. On the other side Blake Bortles is always unpredictable and Leornard Fournette has been a huge cog for the Jags’ offense. They must strike early and keep Brady off the field as often as possible to pull out a win. The first defense to break down will dictate who will win the AFC Championship.

Prediction: 27-17 Patriots

NFC Championship: Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles

The Vikings quietly had one of the best seasons in the league this year. Their defense was phenomenal behind Pro Bowlers Everson Griffen, Xavier Rhodes, and Anthony Barr. Also, despite all odds and injuries suffered on offense the Vikes were able to get to where they are today. The loss of rookie Dalvin Cook caused the run game to take a hit, but since then balanced out. Teddy Bridgewater, the team’s original starter, sat out with a brutal knee injury for one and a half seasons. His place was taken over by the man with the hot hand: Case Keenum. Keenum went from the bench in Los Angeles at the end of last season to a strong MVP candidate in Minnesota. Teams wrote him off but his leadership brought the Vikings to the conference championship for the first time since 2009.

In an insane chain of events the Vikings came out on top over the Saints 29-24 on the final play of the Divisional game. A last play touchdown by Stefon Diggs is now regarded as the Minneapolis Miracle.

The Eagles were the team to beat for the majority of the regular season. Their year was going perfectly up until when the injury bug took away their star quarterback (and probable MVP) Carson Wentz. Since then there has been a little turbulence for the Eagles since Nick Foles took the helm. The Eagles locked up the number one seed in the NFC despite losing Wentz, yet things felt different. The once dangerous offense the Eagles possessed became mundane. Those strikes down the middle of the field for huge gains became less common. Nick Foles has done what’s in his power to lead the Eagles through the playoffs, but their offense is not as dangerous as they once were weeks ago. Home field advantage has been a saving grace for the team.

The Eagles’ Divisional match up against the Falcons was a physical defensive bout. Though the Eagles failed to score a touchdown against the Falcons they snuck by with a 15-10 win. All credit for the victory goes to the defense, who shut down Devonta Freeman and Julio Jones.

The Eagles’ defense will be a huge test for Case Keenum and the Vikings. On the flip-side, the Eagles will have to put their running game into high gear to jump-start the offense. The key for this match-up will lie in the trenches. Foles will need a scapegoat to open up his passing game. Jay Ajayi also has to be a prime performer to make a dent in the Vikings’ defense. However Minnesota is one win away from being the first team to play in a Super Bowl that they are hosting, and they are going to fire on all cylinders.

Prediction: 20-14 Vikings

Follow Mike Clement on Twitter @MClementMedia

Cover photo courtesy of Todd Rosenberg/NFL.