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NFL Wild Card Round Preview and Predictions

The 2017 NFL Postseason is finally upon us. This weekend teams will take their first crucial step on their journey to Super Bowl LII. These past seventeen weeks have earned these teams the right to play in January, while the rest clean out their lockers early. In this year’s playoffs there are a few familiar faces but mostly new contenders. The Patriots, Steelers, Falcons, and Chiefs are the only four teams making it back to the postseason after appearing last year. On the flip-side, the Rams, Bills, Jaguars, and Saints are all teams that had losing records last season and are now in the playoffs. This will surely be a dramatic postseason this year, starting with these eight teams that will face off in the Wild Card round this weekend:

Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs

The Titans had a quiet season but clinched the fifth seed in the waning moments of Week 17. At 9-7, they snuck into the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Their path to the postseason was almost squashed towards the end of the season as they dropped three of their last four games. However, a Week 17 win against their division rival Jaguars was all they needed to secure a spot to play in January.

The Titans are one of the few teams in the league that base their offensive solely on running the ball. Their running back committee of DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry carried the offense throughout the season as Marcus Mariota had a rather mundane year. With DeMarco Murray suffering a Grade 3 MCL tear in Week 16, Henry became a workhorse for the Titans against the Jaguars yesterday. Murray’s status seems bleak to make a return for the Wild Card, so coach Mike Mularkey will need to reconfigure his offensive scheme.

At the beginning of the season the Chiefs seemed to be the most dominant team in the league. They trounced the Patriots in Foxborough on opening night in September and went on to have a blaring 5-0 start. However they learned quickly that a NFL season is a marathon, not a sprint. From Weeks 6 to 13 the Chiefs only won a single game. They were able to hold on afterwards by winning out their final four games to secure a 10-6 record and a AFC West title. Their only trouble in the division came from the Chargers, who finished the season looming one game behind.

The Chiefs are without a doubt the fastest team in the league. Their offense consists of the speedy Tyreek Hill, rookie sensation Kareem Hunt, and widely overlooked quarterback Alex Smith. On the opposite end of the field they have talent with Marcus Peters, Reggie Ragland, Justin Houston, and the list goes on and on.

In the playoffs which Chiefs team will we see? The team that stomped New England or the one that had a meltdown in the fourth quarter to set up an ugly loss against the Jets? Andy Reid and the Chiefs’ coaching staff control their team’s future in January. The Titans might be the underdog in this game coming into Arrowhead, but if they can silence the crowd early they have a chance to pull an upset. Their run defense can stop Kareem Hunt at the line of scrimmage, but they do not have an answer for Kansas City’s air attack.

Prediction: 24-16 Chiefs

Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Rams

The Falcons secured the sixth seed in the NFC through their win-and-in scenario in Week 17. They had an inconsistent season to say the least. The highlight of their season came in Week 2 when they were able to stomp the Packers in the Georgia Dome’s inaugural game. However two weeks later they began to slide, losing three consecutive games in their trip through the AFC East. The Falcons were lost in their prime-time Super Bowl rematch against the Patriots.

At 10-6, they are certainly not the team that went for its first Super Bowl trophy almost a year ago. That doesn’t mean that they can’t play like the team that they were. Matt Ryan will have some slack to pick up with his offense to get things done. Their defense, ranked 23rd in the regular season, will be the focal point in order to succeed in the playoffs.

The Rams have had the one of the most dramatic transitions from last season to today. Their metamorphosis from a 4-12 joke last season to 11-5 NFC West champion now can be accredited to their new coach Sean McVay. The team’s identity lies within their striking offense that consists of MVP candidate Todd Gurley and legitimate franchise quarterback Jared Goff. Wade Phillips has also helped the team’s defense become top five in the league. The team aims to get their first playoff win since 2004.

This match-up will in no way be a blowout on either end. The Falcons might be held to harsh comparisons with their Super Bowl-aspiring selves from last year, but they still know how to get a win. Their offense might not be as electrifying as it was with Kyle Shanahan as their coordinator, but they still have the three-headed dragon of Matt Ryan, Devonta Freeman, and Julio Jones. This game will come down to which defense will let up first, and ranking-wise all signs point to Atlanta’s. Expect this game to be a shootout.

Prediction: 31-21 Rams

Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars

The New Year’s celebration started earlier than most for the Bills. A late touchdown from Andy Dalton and the Bengals was enough to knock the Ravens out of the playoffs. The Bills ended the longest playoff drought in American sports, not making the playoffs since 1999. They will also aim to win a playoff game for the first time since 1995.

Nobody was bigger Bengals fans yesterday than Bills players (via stephenhauschka4/Instagram) https://t.co/oJZZhybhj7

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 1, 2018

After a 9-7 season, the Bills deserved a playoff spot. Coach Sean McDermott reshaped the team into playoff contenders after his failed experiment with starting Nathan Peterman. The team’s success comes from LeSean McCoy, who suffered an ankle injury in Week 17. Being without him will hurt, but the Bills’ synergy can hold the team together.

The Jaguars are another team that have had a mammoth reshaping to make them a playoff squad. On a side note, not to brag or anything but I called it back in August that they’d clinch. Without Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, the offense was able to run on the shoulders of rookie Leonard Fournette. The Jaguars’ defense has been the staple of the team, dubbing their city as Sacksonville. They are one of the most dangerous defenses to face this season. Blake Bortles, though inconsistent, was able to put together an admirable finishing push to the season to achieve the AFC South title and the third seed. The last time the team finished with a 10 win season was in 2007, coincidentally the last time they appeared in the playoffs.

Though the Bills slipped into the playoffs this game certainly won’t be easy for the Jags. Both teams have strong defenses and rather weak offenses. The key to this game is how Leonard Fournette performs for the Jaguars. The Bills’ rushing defense had a nightmare game against the Saints, but since then has improved. If Blake Bortles is forced to go to the air then the Jaguars’ chances to win almost deplete. If there is going to be an upset in the Wild Card round, it’d be here.

Prediction: 17-15 Bills

Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints

The Panthers had a solid bounce-back season from last year’s nightmare. Finishing 11-5, they very well have the power to make a run. This is another case of a two-faced team, however. The Panthers came up big when they needed to, and a prime example of this is bullying the Packers at home. However, there were games this season where they looked lost. If Cam Newton is rolling, then the defense follows in suit. Christian McCaffrey has helped Cam’s game open up this season, whereas compared to last season he had no chance to be mobile. A good mobile quarterback must be accompanied by a viable running back to keep the defense guessing. That’s something that the Panthers lacked last season.

The Saints’ season started out ugly early on. Their offense was erratic and while having the parts to succeed simply couldn’t. Moving Adrian Peterson was the Saints’ defining move this season. Quickly afterwards the running back committee shortened to focus on Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara. From there the duo hasn’t stopped shining, and in turn opened up Drew Brees’s passing game. The Saints have one of the best offenses in the league, and were able to build a solid defense after trading Brandin Cooks for assets to do so. The Saints also finished 11-5, but clinched the division after the Panthers fell to the Falcons in Week 17.

This game will be perfect to watch for anyone who loves offense. The defining factor is that the Panthers lost to the Saints twice already this season. In both of those games the Saints scored more than thirty points. The Panthers need to stay at that scoring pace or their defense will have to play like they did against Aaron Rodgers a few weeks ago.

Prediction: 41-28 Saints

Media Credit

www.panthers.com

Getty Images

www.nfl.com

www.hollywoodreporter.com

51 Super Bowls in 51 Days

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For all the fans excited about @spot_bills running series on all 51 Super Bowls, here is the full list of all the articles published so far. Relive your favorite Big Games or discover new ones. Be sure to comment and chat with our authors and fans.

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-ii

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-iii

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-iv

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-v

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-vi

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-vii

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-viii

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-ix

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-x

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-xi

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-xii

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-xiii

https://bostonsportsextra.com/nfl/2017/12/51-super-bowls-51-days-super-bowl-xiv

Draft Profile: Quinton Flowers, QB at USF

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Quinton Flowers might be the most overlooked quarterback in the 2018 Draft Class. Flowers has been regarded as one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country during his college career. That being said he still has to fight to be selected in the draft in April. Flowers recently completed his four-year career with the University of South Florida Bulls. The team struggled for the majority of his collegiate career, but he was able to lead the team to be nationally ranked this year.

Early Years

The Miami native became noticed by Division I teams while playing at Miami Jackson High School. There Flowers posted video game-like stats, passing for 6,042 yards and 32 touchdowns, along with 2,002 rushing yards. His exemplary play came through emotional hardship off the field. When Quinton was seven his father was a victim of a drive-by shooting. In 2012 he also lost his mother to cancer. Flowers was heavily affected by his mother’s death, telling Sports Illustrated, “It was a time where I felt like football wasn’t the same, because I lost the main woman in my life”.

Flowers heavily considered quitting football during his sophomore year in high school. However, the overwhelming support he received from his family and mentors after his mother passed kept him going. His high school coach, former NFL receiver Antonio Brown, urged him to continue playing.

Credit to canesinsight.com

College

Quinton was recruited by Alabama as a receiver, South Carolina as a defensive back, and Miami as a running back. He was adamant about being a quarterback, and South Florida agreed. Toward the end of his freshman year he claimed the starting job and he never looked back. At USF Flowers claimed 37 school records, and led the school to be nationally ranked twice in the The American East. In 41 games, Flowers threw for 7,819 yards and 67 touchdowns and ran for 3,566 yards along with 40 scores.

His team appeared in the 2015 Miami Beach Bowl and the past two Birmingham Bowls. He earned MVP titles in his last two bowl games, along with AAC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-AAC in 2016. He also was named CFPA National Performer of the Year and was ranked #2 in QBR according to ESPN in 2016. His career highs came this season against UCF, where he had 605 total yards and 5 touchdowns.

Draft Stock

Quinton Flowers has the mobility and arm strength to gain the attention of NFL scouts. However, his size of 6’0 and 200 pounds does not help him. Scouts are also turned off by his inconsistent throwing motion. Early into the draft season, Flowers is projected to be ushered into the third day of the draft, and possibly go undrafted. He will need to show his pocket-passing ability to climb and avoid talk of changing positions. He will have the East-West Shrine game and the Combine to prove himself to scouts in those areas.

At his current draft position I see him as a severely underrated prospect. His collegiate career exhibited that he has talent and I could see his draft stock rising before April. He is shrouded by the big names at QB that the 2018 Draft class has to offer. In my opinion he is not a prospect to be overlooked. I would like to see him become a backup for a team to gauge how he transitions into the NFL. Drafting him late would be low risk high reward in my opinion if he were to stay as a 7th round prospect.

In my wildest dreams the team I’d like to see him on is the Redskins. Pending Kirk Cousins’s departure from Washington I would like to see the Redskins experiment with more of a West Coast offense. Quinton Flowers would flourish in a mobile scheme like that. The most realistic fit for him in my opinion might be in Buffalo. The NFL is an ever-changing machine however, so we will see where Quinton Flowers lands.

Credit to USF Athletics.

Credit to herosports.com for the featured image.

Rift Between Alex Guerrero and the Patriots

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Tension Between Alex Guerrero and the Patriots

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 27: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates with trainer Alex Guerrero after defeating the New York Jets with a score of 22 to 17 at MetLife Stadium on November 27, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Alex Guerrero has been working with Tom Brady for a long time. Guerrero has his own personal office and travels with the team. In a story by the Boston Globe today, Alex Guerrero has had his privileges revoked recently, Players besides Brady have worked with Guerrero such has Chris Hogan, Rob Gronkowski, and Julian Edelman. All have had negative results.

Tom Brady Benefits from Alex Guerrero’s Treatment

(Foxboro, MA, 08/07/17) New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his nutritionist Alex Guerrero during Patriots Training Camp Joint Practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium on Monday, August 07, 2017. Staff photo by Matt Stone

It seems like the only player who has benefited from Alex is Tom Brady. At a press conference today Belichick was asked only one question about if he meets with Brady weekly. When Garoppolo was traded he offered up the information that he met with Garoppolo weekly. Belichick’s response was “I meet with all of the players all of the time”. He was then asked today about his relationship with Tom Brady. “Well, every year is different”. Very interesting responses from the person he’s spent 18 years with.

Colin Cowherd said once before that Brady and Belichick aren’t best friends. He doesn’t like Belichick. He respects him as a person and all of is loyalty is to Robert Kraft.

Belichick and Brady Won’t Comment on the Situation

Belichick declined to comment on a rift with Guerrero. He was asked in an interview with WEEI and said, “Yeah, I’m not really going to get into that”. Brady also wouldn’t comment on it either, saying, “I don’t have any comment on that. Other than to say Alex, it’s been well-documented, has been a huge part of what I do. I’m so fortunate to have him not only as a friend, but with everything that we’ve been able to do together”. Belichick was not asked about the Boston Globe story. All he was asked was his relationship with Brady. Also a bunch of players that aren’t really the main focus today.

Three Teams That the Patriots Should Worry About

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I am a Jets fan, which I’ve shown in previous articles. The Jets are bad, and got worse after the injury to Josh McCown. They’re done and are doing what their original plan was: tank. But, still being a football fan, I’ll talk about the best team in the AFC. That’s the Patriots. They pulled off another miraculous comeback win against the Steelers, thanks to Rob Gronkowski and a classic Big Ben play. The Patriots look primed to make it to the AFC Championship again.

Is there anyone who can stop the Pats from getting yet another AFC crown? There are three teams that the Patriots should look at worrying about down the final stretch of the season. The teams? They’re the Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Buffalo Bills. Before you exit the article, let me make the case for each team. They are all good football teams that have their individual reasons in why they could defeat the New England Patriots.

The Case for the Jaguars

“Sacksonville” has applied pressure consistently on any opponent throughout the year and have earned their nickname. They have the most sacks in the league. The Patriots have a decent line, but it is not the best. The cornerbacks in Jacksonville are the best in the league as well, limiting to opponents to just 169 passing yards per game this season. Brandin Cooks, Gronk and Co. will have tough match-ups ahead of them if New England faces the Jags. Blake Bortles is playing consistently, and Leonard Fournette is one of the best backs in the league. The Jags rolled the Texans 45-7, and did not have Allen Hurns, Marquise Lee or Fournette this past week.

The Jags have everything it takes to play in the cold as well: a great defense and a top-tier running back. It will be a challenge for Bill Belichick and the Pats coaching staff to limit the playmakers on both sides of the ball for Jacksonville if the two AFC powerhouse teams face each other this January. If this showdown does occur, NFL fans should buckle up. They are in for a great game.

The Case for the Steelers

Yeah, Gronk dominated the Steelers’ defensive backs. Yes, the Pats held a very good Pittsburgh offense to 24 points. But, if this match-up goes down in January, coach Mike Tomlin may want to look for a solution to Gronk. The task will not be easy, but maybe the Steelers’ staff can muster something up, which should include a double team.

A key piece was missing from this past weekend, and that was Antonio Brown. The greatest receiver in Steelers history should be back come playoff time after tearing his calf muscle in the first quarter. Le’Veon Bell should be there, along with rookie standout JuJu Smith-Schuster, with Martavis Bryant, etc. The Steelers defense is adequate enough to hold the Patriots to under 30, as seen Sunday. That can give the Pittsburgh offense enough room to outscore the Patriots. But it all starts with limiting Gronk, which is the toughest challenge for any defensive coordinator in the NFL today.

The Case for the Bills

Lol. That’s probably the first thought going through anyone who read that I consider the Bills a danger to the Pats. That could be true, but the Bills face the Pats next week, meaning they could get the Pats out of home field advantage. The Bills are also actually in the playoff picture, and winning out would give them a playoff berth. If the Bills happened to play the Patriots for a third time, it’d be in Foxborough. Probably not an ideal location for the Bills, but it’s the hand they are dealt.

Sean McDermott is a good coach, but probably won’t outcoach Belicheck. They would be forced to rely on LeSean McCoy and, I don’t know, actually use that athletic freak they acquired from Carolina? Charles Clay can also be a guy Tyrod Taylor relies upon, like we saw against the Dolphins. The defense of Preston Brown, Micah Hyde and Tre’Davious White will have to try to limit Rob Gronkowski, something that will be very difficult to do for a defense that simply does not have the raw talent to defend a 6’7″ monster.

Patriots Fans Embrace the Hate

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Like the children of overly strict parents, America hates the New England Patriots and their fans. We’re your daddy. Sure, occasionally you get one over on us – or two in Eli Manning’s case – but for the better part of seventeen years we’ve spanked you and sent you to your rooms crying.

Make no mistake, it’s not enough for us to simply lift Lombardi’s. No, we want to make you angry. We relish your resentful jealousy. We bathe in the salty tears of your disappointment. The fires of your hate keep us warm in the cold New England winters.

Tears of the Vanquished

The truly great thing about being a Patriots fan is this: it doesn’t matter who we beat, the whole country loses their minds about it. Those of us who are old enough to remember watching Steve Grogan or Tony Eason know that we need to cherish every victory; we haven’t always been so fortunate. But some victories are sweeter than others.

Beating the Steelers – as we do with simply absurd frequency – always satisfies the soul more than a normal win. To do it in Pittsburgh, after a textbook Brady 4^th quarter drive and an end zone interception rivaled only by Malcolm Butler’s Super Bowl clinching INT over Seattle – makes it even more special.

But the greatest part, it’s what gets us up early to troll the internet, listen to sports talk radio or, God forbid, turn on ESPN is getting to hear the incessant whining. From the Pittsburgh locker room, the legions of Steelers fans, and the incalculable throngs of Patriot haters from Buffalo to Denver – the chorus of complaints is music to our ears.

New England: Not Arrogant, Just Better Than You

Pittsburgh was the better team for much of last night’s game. What was billed as the game of the year lived up to the hype. For once, Tomlin’s squad wasn’t steamrolled. They moved the ball well, dominated possession, and got pressure on Brady. The Steelers did almost everything they needed to win. They should have won.

Embed from Getty Images

They didn’t win for a number of reasons. First, obviously, Big Ben went bust and threw a terrible pick. Second, obviously, Jesse James dropped what should have been the game winning touchdown. And third, inexplicably, they decided not to double Gronk at any point on New England’s final drive or two-point conversion.

Pittsburgh was the better team until it actually mattered. Then, as usual, they got out played.

The Catch That Wasn’t

Like everyone watching the game live, I thought James caught the ball, broke the plane, and maintained possession. That’s because the live shot was from the backside of the play and a million feet away. The second America saw the replay it was clear the ball not only moved, but touched the ground.

It doesn’t matter if he broke the plane. It doesn’t matter that he wasn’t touched by a defender. He didn’t maintain control through the ground. As famed Patriot-hater Tony Dungy said on Football Night In America, “this is absolutely the right call based on the rule”.

There isn’t a league official or football analyst who thinks that Jesse James caught that ball by the letter of the rule. Not one. It’s clear that he lost possession as he went to the ground. We can argue about the ridiculous nature of the rule all we want, but from Calvin Jonson to Dez Bryant to Adam Thielen last week, that’s always been an incomplete pass.

The Glory of Twitter

The greatest aspect of not just this win, but how this win was achieved, has to be the reaction across the Twittersphere. Pittsburgh’s Scott Kacsmar (@FO_ScottKacsmar) spent hours criticizing the rule and then shifted his attention to how weak the AFC East is. Ironic that this comes for a guy whose team plays the Browns and Bengals twice a year.

My personal favorite comes from Buffalo’s Sal Maiorana (@salmaiorana). You know, Buffalo – home of the “Bills Mafia” and epicenter of drunken tailgate videos and Super Bowl runner-ups. Inside of twenty minutes, Sal made my night almost as much as the Patriots. He called it “one of the worst calls you’ll ever see” and proclaimed he loved it “when the most entitled fan base in the universe revels in its good fortune with the very arrogance that [we] loathe most about them”. Music to my ears.

That someone is so obsessed with New England that they dedicate their lives to crying about games their team wasn’t even in is glorious. Sal, buddy, you complete me. I take so much joy in your suffering I can’t even explain it. When, not if, Brady wins his sixth Super Bowl we’ll have Bob Kraft fly you in for the party. It’s the only way you’ll get that close to a Lombardi.

Game of the Year Lived up to the Hype

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Patriots-Steelers: Game of the Year

That game yesterday was just what the doctor ordered. It was the highest rated game on CBS for three years. The Patriots get the number one seed and clinch the easy AFC East once again. The Patriots never really have two bad games in a row but yesterday they really didn’t play all that great. Injuries showed for the defense, which attributed to Ben Roethlisberger’s success.

The Final Drive…

To the drive and play everyone is talking about. Tight end Jesse James caught a pass from Ben Roethlisberger and as he crossed the plane the ball came loose and hit the ground. Was it a touchdown? No. Was it an incomplete pass? That’s a no too. You can clearly see his knee touch the ground before the ball crossed the plane and he lost control of it. It should’ve been first and goal at the one yard line for Pittsburgh. Secondly though what is Pittsburgh doing throwing on that final play? All they had to do was spike it and kick a field goal.

Brady Is Always Clutch

At the end of the day Brady is going to be Brady. Those Brady to Gronk completions were great during the final drive of that game. The defense gave up that big catch and run and then with a little help from the refs the Steelers lost the game after not electing to go for a field goal. The defense once they get the players back the Patriots should be better. That wasn’t there best performance and you don’t win that game without Tom Brady.

Now the Patriots have two easy cupcake games before heading into the playoffs with home field throughout. Get ready for a shootout in the AFC Championship game when the Steelers come to Foxborough at a chance to go to the Super Bowl.

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)*

Patriots Steelers: Game of the Year

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Patriots Travel to Pittsburgh

Football: AFC Playoffs: New England Patriots QB Tom Brady (12) calling signals vs Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium.
Foxborough, MA 1/22/2017
CREDIT: Erick W. Rasco (Photo by Erick W. Rasco /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)
(Set Number: SI702 TK1 )

The Patriots travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers Sunday for the game of the season. Both teams are trying to get the number one seed in the playoffs. The Patriots couldn’t get anything going in Miami while the Steelers took care of business against the Ravens. Belichick wasn’t too happy with a reporter asking if the Patriots overlooked the Miami game on Monday shaking his head.

Tom Brady Has an Injury

DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 12: Tom Brady (12) of the New England Patriots and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels talk in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos. The Denver Broncos hosted the New England Patriots at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, November 12, 2017. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Tom Brady is battling an Achilles injury which has kept him out of practice last week. Brady did practice yesterday and will be ready to go on Sunday. The Patriots don’t usually lose two in a row and tend to have a breakout game after playing a bad one. Brady loves the “in decline” talk that the loud mouths say on TV. He proves them wrong and shuts the haters up that say he doesn’t have it anymore.

Bill Belichick’s Thoughts on Pittsburgh

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick speaks to the media following an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) ORG XMIT: NYOTK

Belichick spoke to the media yesterday at his weekly press conference talking about the Steelers saying:

“Pittsburgh is having a great year, very talented team, playing very well right now. They’ve been playing well all year but especially over the last couple of months. They’ve put a lot of big wins together, played a lot of good football at the most critical times of the game when they needed to. It’s a well-balanced team, very explosive on offense, good on defense, good in the kicking game, have a lot of great players, well coached, tough, hard-nosed, physical team. We’ve had a long history of great competitive games with [them]. I’m sure it will be a great environment there Sunday afternoon.”

I really don’t see the Patriots losing this game. They have Gronk back this week which was a huge miss on Monday. The Patriots will be fine; they really don’t usually play well in Miami anyway. I don’t mean to make excuses, but the Patriots are the best at having a bad game one week to completely turning around the following week.

Top Five Boston Sports Moments of 2017

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It’s December, which means 2018 is right around the corner. A lot of things happened this year in Boston sports from the Patriots winning the Super Bowl to Kyrie Irving being a Boston Celtic. Claude Julien is no longer the coach of the Bruins and the Red Sox are looking to add a power hitter after the Yankees just got Stanton. It’s been a year of up and downs the Red Sox fired John Farrell and hired Alex Cora who is coming off a World Series win with the Houston Astros. Here are my top five Boston sports moments of 2017:

5. CLAUDE JULIEN GETTING FIRED:

The same day the Patriots had their victory parade after winning the Super Bowl The Bruins fired Claude Julien. Don Sweeney spoke about firing Julien saying.

“I had come to a conclusion that in moving this group forward with an eye toward the plans that have been put in place, that I wasn’t willing to commit to a longer term basis with Claude”.

Claude didn’t really interact with the younger guys on the team. Bruce Cassidy took over and is playing the younger guys which is giving the Bruins a better shot at winning.

4. JOHN FARRELL GETTING FIRED:

John Farrell exits as Red Sox manager.

After the Boston Red Sox were eliminated from the playoffs Dave Dombrowski fired John Farrell. The reason it’s number four on this list is because it was a move that had to be made and long time coming. It’s a fact that back-to-back division wins isn’t good enough, and they needed a change. The Red Sox hired Alex Cora as the new manager going forward. In conclusion John Farrell spoke about being fired last week in an interview on MLB Network saying:

“Hey, every situation has a shelf life and a change was made. I respect the change that did take place.”

3. JIMMY GAROPPOLO GETS TRADED:

Jimmy Garoppolo got traded to the San Francisco 49ers. This came a shock to many Patriots fans as they thought he would be the successor to Tom Brady. As a result Tom Brady at age 40 seems to not be slowing down anytime soon and still playing at a high level. Jimmy Garoppolo is 2-0 as a starter for the 49ers and 4-0 lifetime as a starter. General Manager for the 49ers John Lynch spoke after the trade:

“I am extremely pleased this came together today and we all think it is a big win for our organization”.

Brian Hoyer was the old backup for the 49ers singed back with the Patriots.

2. KYRIE IRVING GETS TRADED TO THE CELTICS:

The NBA off-season was a win for the Boston Celtics. The Celtics traded for Kyrie Irving sending Isaiah Thomas to the Cleveland Cavaliers. When the trade happened it shocked a lot of fans around the Boston area and in Cleveland. It was obvious Irving wanted to get away from LeBron James and win on his own. The Celtics also singed Gordon Hayward. But as he looks to make it back for at least the playoffs, Irving sets the tone for the Celtics and is the leader of the team. The Celtics currently have one of the best records in the NBA.

1. THE PATRIOTS WIN SUPER BOWL LI:

Number one on this list is pretty obvious. Super Bowl LI was not only the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, it was a landmark for Tom Brady. There is no question Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time. He and the Patriots never gave up in the game. They had the right leader leading the comeback. The best part of it a the Super Bowl win after Tom Brady’s suspension. The Patriots are on a clear path this year too as they’ll win the division game AFC Championship and go to the Super Bowl again.

2017 was a great year in Boston sports and it shows that Boston is the best sports city in the country. For 2018 it will be a fun exciting and roller coaster ride for the Boston Sports teams. How will the Red Sox respond to Stanton going to the Yankees? How will Alex Cora do as the manager? Will the Patriots win the Super Bowl? Are the Bruins going to make the playoffs? Will the Celtics make the NBA Finals? We’ll find out next year!