1. Carolina Panthers
History doesn’t bode well for them getting back to the Super Bowl, but most teams didn’t have Cam Newton as their QB though.
2. New Orleans Saints
The defense last year was a disaster. It won’t be that bad this year.
3. Atlanta Falcons
They need to be more balanced on offense and try not to force the issue.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If former head coach Lovie Smith was only given two years to turn this around, how long does Dirk Koetter have?
Eastern Conference
Wild Card Team #2 vs. Metropolitan Division Winner
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Washington Capitals
Players to Watch: F Wayne Simmonds and G Braden Holtby
Who Wins: Capitals in 6 games
Metropolitan Division #3 vs. Metropolitan Division #2
New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Players to Watch: F Derek Stepan and F Phil Kessel
Who Wins: Penguins in 7 games
Wild Card Team #1 vs. Atlantic Division Winner
New York Islanders vs. Florida Panthers
Players to Watch: F John Tavares and D Aaron Ekblad
Who Wins: Panthers in 6 games
Atlantic Division #3 vs. Atlantic Division #2
Detroit Red Wings vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Players to Watch: F Dylan Larkin and G Ben Bishop
Who Wins: Lightning in 6 games
Western Conference
Wild Card Team #2 vs. Central Division Winner
Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars
Players to Watch: F Zach Parise and F Tyler Seguin
Who Wins: Stars in 6 games
Central Division #3 vs. Central Division #2
Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues
Players to Watch: F Patrick Kane and F Vladimir Tarasenko
Who Wins: Blackhawks in 6 games
Wild Card Team #1 vs. Pacific Division Winner
Nashville Predators vs. Anaheim Ducks
Players to Watch: F Filip Forsberg and F Ryan Kesler
Who Wins: Ducks in 6 games
Pacific Division #3 vs. Pacific Division #2
San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings
Players to Watch: F Joe Pavelski and D Drew Doughty
Who Wins: Kings in 6 games
Denver Broncos Von Miller (58) strips the ball from Carolina Panthers Cam Newton (1) during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 50 football game Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. The Broncos recovered the ball for a touchdown. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Defense Was The Name Of The Game
This wasn’t the best game nor was it the best year for the Super Bowl ads in my opinion. The halftime show could have been better and it could have been worse. Continue reading
I must say that this is probably the first year that I have avoided all the hoopla that surrounds two weeks of hyping one football game. I barely watched a few minutes of any sports network’s coverage of this years Super Bowl and frankly I’m glad because this year they seemed to be struggling to try and come up with some unique storylines. For one, anyone trying to make a point about Cam Newton and the way he conducts himself on the field was tiresome and disingenuous. What he does on the field is fine with me and if you don’t like it, keep him out of the endzone. No one was going to get the exclusive from Peyton Manning that this would be his final game regardless of the outcome. That was pretty comical to see everyone try to get it from him and politely pushed it to the side. With that said, here’s my outlook on the big game. Continue reading
Denver Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe (95) sacks New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady during the first half the NFL football AFC Championship game between the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Too Much Pressure
All the attention is going to be paid to the fact that the Patriots reliable kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed an extra point in the first quarter. If he didn’t miss that extra point, then perhaps he would have made his next one late in the game when the Patriots scored a touchdown that would bring them to within a point of Denver. Continue reading
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