Playoff Predictions: Why the Patriots Will Win It All

       With wild card weekend coming to a close, its clear to the nation who the best four teams are. But what's not clear is the outcome of the super bowl, and who will follow the path to it. To me, the outcome isn't so hard to predict. The Patriots will win the 2015 super bowl. 

       The reasoning behind my prediction is due to one thing is particular; consistency. In the past 15 years, no other franchise in NFL history has had the success of the New England Patriots. In a large part, this is because of Bill Belichick. Another part is Tom Brady. But two people don't win a super bowl. So what does? A physical defense does. A sound running game to compliment the passing game does. A handful of talented wide outs and tight ends does. A great coaching staff also helps. The Patriots have it all, which is why they will win the super bowl. 

       The Patriots rank in the top 5 in points per game, and the top ten in pass yards per game. With a high powered offense, defenses will have a very tough time slowing down Brady and the offense, especially in Foxboro. With that high powered offense comes a defense that ranks 8th in points allowed (19.6), and 9th in rush yards allowed (104.3). With predominantly passing teams left in the AFC, the patriots will have to focus on dropping more men into coverage, with help over the top and a man on man situation on certain receivers. Belichick will have his hands full with the opposing Ravens team, as they have proved challenging in the playoffs before. With a tough defense that ranks in the top ten in rush yards per game, points per game, and yards per game, the Patriots will have to utilize the Ravens weak pass defense to their advantage. 

        After the Ravens, the Patriots will play a strong Broncos team at home. This will be their easiest playoff game, as the Denver offense will struggle to move the ball on the ground, and will be forced to throw long passes down the field. The Broncos defense will also struggle against the pass game, and will be stretched apart. This will cause them to be susceptible to the run game. With two strong backs, the Pats could really wear down the Denver defense. The final game will be the super bowl against Seattle. Playing in Arizona will provide a neutral location, so both teams will feel the pressure of not having a home field advantage. Although the Seahawks have the best defense, they are still vulnerable, and I expect Brady to come out ready to play. I also expect that Gronk will be a huge factor in the game, along with LaFell. The final score of the super bowl will be 24-21, Patriots. 

A Powerhouse Division

       All throughout the NFL, teams come and go, and powerhouses rise and decline throughout the years. Some years, teams rise to the top, like the Jets, who went to the AFC Championship game a few years ago, only to have a losing season the year after. Other times, teams stay right at the top, like the Seahawks, who have an impressive record of 9-4 after the year they won the Super Bowl. One division who has 4 impressive teams this year is the AFC North. Each team has a record north of .500, and each team still has a shot to make the playoffs. 

       The top team in the division is the Cincinnati Bengals, who are 8-4-1. They have two divisional losses (Browns, Steelers), and 4 conference losses (Browns, Steelers, Colts, Patriots). They also have one tie, with the Panthers. The Bengals have a mediocre at best quarterback in Andy Dalton, with two excellent receivers on the outside (Green, Sanu). They are the tenth best rushing team in the league, with around 120 yards per game. I expect them to finish second in the division, and be a wild card team. 

       The second team in the division is the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are 8-5. They have a win against the Ravens, putting them is second place. Big Ben, the all time leading passer for the Steelers, leads the team, along with La'Veon Bell. I expect them to finish third in the division. 

       The third team in the division is the Baltimore Ravens, who are also 8-5. With a very easy remaining schedule, I expect the Ravens to finish first in the division this year. The Ravens are led by Joe Flacco, with an experienced defense to help him out, along with a great wide receiver in Steve Smith. 

       In last place are the Cleveland Browns. The Browns have no defined leader on offense, but have Joe Hadden, a pro bowl corner-back leading the defense. the Browns will finish in last place, but they have certainly made resounding improvements this year. At 7-6, the Browns already have improved their record from last year by three games, and may be able to improve their record from last year even more. 

       I have not seen a division in my life where every team was fighting for a playoff spot, and now I can say that I have. The next questions I have is, what will the NFC south look like next year?

End Of Discussion

       There are rumors circulating around. Rumors that are being asked to be tested by millions of people across our great country. These rumors may or may not be true, but they have certainly caused quite a stir in the world of sports. The questions is: Could J.J Watt be a better tight end than Rob Grownkowski? This is a hot topic of the league, and has been brought up numerous times. A section on the show Sports-nation dove into this debate, as well as multiple writers from ESPN. There is also a country wide dispute, with Houston fans claiming that Watt could be better, while New England fans scream in protest and claim that Gronk is the best. So, again I propose the question, who do you choose?

       If you chose J.J Watt, you probably have an argument that he has played tight end only three plays this year, and has three touchdowns. Yes, great argument. In only three explosive routes run, Watt has caught three balls for three touchdowns. Combine that with about thirty seconds of play time, and you have the best tight end with no film to ever play the game of football. But, we can't forget the fact that J.J Watt played tight end at Central Michigan University for a year. Surprisingly, he only recorded 8 catches for 77 total yards. To me, his stats at Central Michigan University scare me away from calling him better that Gronk. starting all games, but only catching at passes for 77 yards is an eye opener: of surprise, that is. Although Watt definitely has the size, speed, and hands for the job, he may not be a natural tight end like Grownkowski. Also, not playing tight end consistently in four years may have diminished Watt's receiving skills quite a bit. Yet, he has still managed to find a way to score three touchdowns this season as a receiver. 

     If you chose Rob Grownkowski as the better tight end, you probably have more sense. With an excellent quarterback, a great offensive line, and a weak division, Gronk is poised for success. If put on a bad team, with a bad quarterback and offensive line, in the best division, how would Gronk fare? Well, in my expert opinion, Grownkowski would still excel on the field. He was recognized as one of the best tight ends in college, even though he missed his whole junior year because of a back surgery. As a rookie in the NFL, Gronk broke records for the most reception touchdowns by a rookie tight end in a season, and came back even stronger with 17 touchdown receptions, leading all players. Granted, he also has the best QB to ever play the game. 

       Obviously, there is much controversy over this topic. Whether you decide Gronk is better, or Watt is better is beside me. There is no way to really test this except for putting each player in the same scenario and testing their skills. One thing for sure is that this is not the end of this debate. 

Breakthrough

       Recently, the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs hired a new assistant coach. The crazy thing about this is not race, or height, or even previous scandals or a criminal record. No, it is much bigger than that. Becky Hammon, the new assistant coach, is a woman. There has been no bigger news story in sports about genders in a long, long time. In fact, the last time there was news this big about women entering a male dominated field was when Robin Roberts became the most prominent sports journalist and reporter for ESPN. But that happened in the 70's. Why is it such a big deal now? There are still millions of people in our country who believe women are the "lesser gender". There are stereotypes as to women being better cleaners and cookers, and how they belong "in the kitchen". With the new hiring of Becky Hammon, views of women, in sports and in general, may change. Becky Hammon played 16 seasons in the WNBA, and is 5th all time in assists. Sure, she's a great athlete. Men can respect that. But when she transitioned over to the NBA, people lost their cool. Millions of people said the NBA is meant to be strictly for men. But the NBA is strictly for male PLAYERS. There are no guidelines, regulations, or rules stating a woman cannot be a coach, or an active part of the teams success. If Becky Hammon can prove that she is a legitimate coach in the NBA, she will win over the heart of all fans, not just women. One could argue that the fate of gender equality in the world of sports depends largely on her success. She's worried about the Spurs, but in reality, it's much bigger than that. 

NFL Prediction Center: Who Will Win?

       The previous week in the NFL was full of great games. For example, Tampa Bay winning it with seven seconds left on  touchdown pass to Vincent Jackson. It also had its share of blowouts, like the Patriots losing 41-14 to the Chiefs, and underdog team. This upcoming week in the NFL should be a good one, with multiple match-ups where the games could go either way. Below are all of the NFL match-ups for week 5, with an analysis of each game

       Thursday, October 2nd. Minnesota Vikings will be playing in Green Bay at Lambeau Field, where a vicious crowd will overwhelm Viking's quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Although the Vikings are coming off of a 41-28 victory over the Falcons, don't expect another one. Green Bay will put up 31 points, with three touchdown passes from Aron Rodgers. Also, look for the Green Bay defense to put on the heat and force Bridgewater to throw quickly. The Final score will be 31-10, Green Bay.

       Sunday, October 5th. Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers. Carolina will have their hands full this week as Jay Cutler will lead the Bears to a 24-13 victory. Look out for Matt Forte and Martellus Bennett, who will both have monster games. 

       Sunday, October 5th. Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans. This will be the least exciting game, as two very weak teams square off in a kicking battle from 35 yards and up. There might be a touchdown or two throw in, but this game will be a boring one. Titans will win 10-3.

       Sunday, October 5th. St. Louis Rams at Philadelphia Eagles. Don't bother watching this game because it will be a blowout. The Eagles will run wild on the Rams defense, and will score early and often. The score will be 38-13, Eagles.

       Sunday, October 5th.  Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants. this game will be a close one, 21-17. Atlanta will pull through, based off of their offensive air attack, which will really stretch out the giants defense and open up the run game. Look out for big games from Julio Jones, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Steven Jackson.

     Sunday, October 5th. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints. The Saints, led by Drew Brees, will breeze by the Bucs in the Superdome. Drew Brees will hit all of his receivers multiple times, and will most definitely keep the weak Buccaneer defense off guard. Saints will win 21-7.

     Sunday, October 5th. Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys. Houston will win, mainly due to the defense cracking down on the run game. This will cause Tony Romo to sling the ball around, which Dallas does not want to happen, mainly because of Tony's inability to hit a school bus from ten feet away. The score will be 28-17, Houston.

       Sunday, October 5th. Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions. This game will be an upset, as Buffalo will win by four in Detroit. EJ Manuel will rush for two TD's and throw for one more, and Buffalo's defense will really step it up and keep the Lions at two touchdowns and a field goal. Final score will be 21-14 Buffalo.

       Sunday, October 5th. Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts. The Colts will finally win this week and will start to turn their season around. Andrew Luck will throw four touchdowns, spreading them to T.Y Hilton, Hakeem  Nicks, and Reggie Wayne(2). Colts win 28-27. This is my GAME OF THE WEEK.

       Sunday, October 5th. Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars. This game will be a joke for the Steelers, as they will be preying on arguably the worst team in the league. Although the Steelers are not too strong this year, they will have easy match ups across the board. Watch out for Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell to have monster games. Steelers win, 28-7.

      Sunday, October 5th. Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos. Denver should breeze through this game, as Manning and the rest of the threats on the Denver offense should have a field day.  Peyton Manning will throw five TD's, and Denver will win 35-24.

       Sunday, October 5th. Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers. This game will be a great one, with both teams coming off of great wins. This will be a great game to watch, as both teams will really step up the defense. Ever score will be a field goal or a big play. This is my second game of the week, as the Colts-Ravens game will be even better than this. Look for the score for this game to be 14-13, San Francisco winning.

       Sunday, October 5th. New York Jets at San Diego Chargers. This will be an upset game, as the Jets will trounce the Chargers on their own field. The Jets will force three turnovers, which will ultimately tip the balance of the game in their favor. The score will be 28-21, Jets.

       Sunday, October 5th. Cincinnati Bengals at New England Patriots. This game will be the jump start to the season that the Patriots are looking for. Darrell Revis will allow no receptions for AJ Green, which will cause the Bengals to focus on the running game, which will be stopped by constant blitzes and stunts by the Patriots defense. Look for Tom Brady to start being more confident in the pocket, and to start hitting other receivers besides Edelman. Patriots will win 24-17.

       Monday, October 6th. Seattle Seahawks at Washington Redskins. This game will be a blowout, no questions asked. Seattle, 42-14.

       

                  Side Effects: Take A Day Off

       All athletes know working out and maintaining a fit level of physical condition is crucial for competing at any level. Working out is great for muscle strength and endurance, and usually makes you feel great. But, what happens when you push yourself too hard, and the line crosses from safety to stupidity? Working out is great, but in controlled time frames. In this article, the negative effects of over-training will be portrayed. 

       One side effect of over training is muscle fatigue, which leads to body fatigue. Fatigue is when your body functions at a slower rate due to overuse, therefore resulting in tiredness, weakness, and lack of willpower. Overusing muscles in a lift can lead to muscle fatigue, which actually makes you weaker, taking away from the overall goal of fitness. It can also lead to permanent injury for the muscles, or surrounding ligaments around the muscles. Fatigue can add up, and can effect you every day if not taken care of. to avoid muscle fatigue, limit your workouts to 3-4 times a week, and take in more healthy calories instead of sugar (an example of healthy calories is carbohydrates or proteins). 

       Another side effect of over training is muscle loss. Yes, working out too much can in fact contribute to muscle loss. Over working the muscles can cause hormone imbalances in the muscles, making them shrink, and gives you the appearance of a less lean athlete. So, in retrospect, working out can actually make you weaker, if certain precautions are not taken. In order to avoid this, set your workout schedule for 3-4 days a week, and don't target one individual muscle group. Try to evenly distribute your workouts from legs, to shoulders, to your core. Being strong everywhere beats being strong in one spot, so add variety.

       Over training has many side effects, one being damaging of tendons and ligaments. training too much can put huge amounts of stress of joints and tendons, making them hurt, which is why you might feel pain in your knees, elbows, ankles, and wrists. It can tighten your ligaments, making you less flexible and slower, which no athlete wants to happen to them. Joint damage can also put athletes at a greater risk for dislocations, since the joint is not as strong and cannot properly hold the bones together.To try and avoid joint, tendon, and ligament damage, stretch before every workout, and limit the number of workouts per week to 3-4. For your stretches, try to build up a sweat before the workout, so you know that you're fully warmed up.

       In order to stay healthy this off season, just remember: take a day off. working out is a great thing, but in controlled amounts. Always try to have supervision, such as a spotter, there to help you. Always stay hydrated, and eat the correct foods to stay healthy and maximize the muscle gain. Great athletes, like Patrick Chung, never work out every day. Sometimes the best way to stay healthy is just to relax.

       

The punishment for domestic violence is hardy... Or is it?

            Just two days after Ray Rice was released and suspended indefinitely by the NFL, the Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson broke down while giving a speech about defensive end Greg Hardy. Hardy, a one time pro bowler (2013) was found guilty of domestic violence on July 15, but no disciplinary actions have been taken by the Panthers or the NFL. A new policy, put in place last month by the NFL, gives up to a six game suspension for domestic violence. But, with recent controversies over Ray Rice and Greg Hardy, is there an actual punishment? No actions have been taken by the NFL to properly discipline either player, and according to millions of opinions across the nation, the NFL actually covered the Ray Rice incident up.   (Roger Goodell, league commissioner)
           Should Goodell lose his job? According to multiple sites and organizations, he should. Rice and Hardy are not the only incidents of domestic violence that the NFL has covered up. Just three days after the new NFL ruling on domestic violence, Ray McDonald of the 49ers was arrested for domestic violence. How come nobody has heard about this case? Could Roger Goodell and the NFL be using Ray Rice's stardom to increase popularity because of his offence? What about Ray Lewis in 2000, who murdered someone but continued to play until retirement? Another strange case is that of A.J Jefferson, who in 2013 was found guilty of domestic violence. He was immediately cut from the Vikings and given a four game suspension, but Roger Goodell lifted the suspension. Who knows why? The last major unknown case of domestic violence comes from the best player on America's team, Dez Bryant. Bryant, a stand out wide receiver, who's blazing speed allows easy throws for a somewhat incapable quarterback, was arrested in 2012 for domestic violence.... against his mother. Why has nobody heard of and looked into these offences? These athletes are supposed to be role models to the general public, super humans who are to be admired, yet some fail to live up to these expectations. The question is, is the NFL indirectly responsible for all of these charges, back then to now? If by some chance the NFL decided to lock down on domestic violence and the harming and maiming of other individuals years ago, would there be less crime in the NFL now? Would Ray Rice have hit his fiancé if the punishment was banishment from the league? All I'm saying is, the NFL could have handled this better. A LOT better.

Ray Rice, pictured above