PIGSKIN 2018: CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY

PIGSKIN

CHAMPIONSHIP 

SUNDAY

RESULTS

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

Week Four

Week Five

Week Six
Week Seven
Week Eight
Week Nine
Week Ten

Week Eleven
Thanksgiving Day
Week Twelve
Week Thirteen
Week Fourteen
Week Fifteen
Week Sixteen
Week Seventeen
Wild Card Round
Divisional Round

SCOREBOARD:

Division Round Record:  2-2

Overall Record:  98-126-11
Bagels in the Basket:  -45

• Going with 20 bagels per game..!
• Line: Saturday NYP

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

Patriots +3 (CHIEFS)

Correct me if I'm mistaken, but the Chargers entered last week's game rated among the top defenses in the AFC, no?  As I was saying ... Paper Tiger!  Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and the New England Patriots completely short circuited the San Diego Los Angeles Bolts by playing fundamentally simple, no-nonsense, unadulterated smash mouth football.  No gimmicks, just in your face pigskin.  They called formations and plays straight out of the 1960s.  The only thing missing were leather helmets.  It was beauty to behold.  That's why I ignore those who scream from the hilltops about how the game has changed.  The Patriots possessed the ball for over 38-freaking minutes!  Change that!  Know why the Pats possessed the ball for so long?  They rushed for 154 yards and four touchdowns, while Julian Edelman/James White accounted for another 248 yards receiving.  In other words the Chargers had no answer; didn't know how to adjust ... that's why.  Along with Brady, the four Minutemen put forth such a dominant effort that (hobbled) Gronk was only asked to make one reception all game.  Otherwise, he was busy creating daylight with great effectiveness for RB Sony Michel.  If the Patriots managed 40-points against the Bolts, what do you suppose can happen against a porous Chiefs defense that allowed 421 regular season points (26.3 points per game)?  I know I said that last week, but I'll also reiterate the Colts looked more ready for the glue factory than for an NFL playoff game.  Furthermore, I maintain the Patriots defense is underrated.  Just ask a disrupted, harassed, and ultimately beaten-down Philip Rivers, who completed a miserable 25 of 51 passes with an INT.  He was sacked twice and roughed-up another seven times.  Playing from behind throughout, the Chargers rushed just nine times all game.  All this being said, there was little or nothing about Kansas City's victory over the Colts that I found the least bit impressive.  I repeat, nothing.  Dare I say the Colts flat out sucked.  Kansas City really had nothing to do with Indy's futility.  The Nags did everything imaginable to kick themselves in their own posterior.  As Charles Barkley would say, "Trrrible."  Then there's Andy Reid.  When it comes to coaching, this really is a battle of the have and have-not.  Reid just can't seem to get over that hump.  Sure Belichick has lost big games before - lots of times.  But he's won a lot of big games as well.  These teams last met in Week Twelve; the Patriots won by three.  Brady put in his typical work, and Sony Michel rushed for over 100 yards.  Pat Mahomes on the other hand threw two picks and Kareem Hunt is no longer on the team.  If bad weather becomes a factor, I like the Patriots even more.
WIN; 37-31 Patriots

NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

SAINTS -3 (Rams)

I was long ago convinced the Saints would wind up in the championship game.  But now what?  What can a bad shoulder do to a quarterback's game, much less his season?  Ask Cam Newton.  He sucked this season and nobody really knew why.  Turns out he played hurt and the Panthers wound up losing seven in a row.  I bring this up, as I was pointed out by the TV pundits how Drew Brees was under-throwing his receivers last week.  And by-golly, they're right!  The question then begs to be asked: is he really hurt?  Consider how the Eagles lost! Saints won.  Just a thought.  Drew Brees was actually 28/38 for 301 yards, two TD's, and one big WTF interception.  The Saints also ran the ball 31 times, and therefore maintained a measure of play calling balance.  The O-line only allowed two sacks, and that's my biggest question concerning the Rams: can they get to Brees?  The Rams finished t-19 in the NFL with 38 sacks, and just one last week against he Cowboys.  The Cowboys managed 22-points against the Rams; the Saints 20-points against the Eagles.  Dallas nor the Chargers get after the QB like Philly or the Saints can.  New Orleans finished the season t-5th with 49 sacks, but none against the Eagles.  The Saints/Rams met midway through the season.  Neither QB was sacked; the Saints got in five QB hits, and the Rams four.  Goff threw three TD's and one pick; Brees threw four TD's and no picks.  Ironically, the Rams were better this season at picking off passes than New New Orleans.  How'd that work out for them?  Both teams feature the so called offensive triumvirate; both teams scored over 500 points this season.  The Saints are 6-2 at home; the Rams 6-2 on the road.  Yeah ... at the end of the day, this boils down to defense.  Time for stupid math tricks.  The Saints allowed 353 regular season points; the Rams 384; for a +31 in favor of New Orleans.  What that means, I'm not sure.  But I do know the Saints defeated the Rams by ten points back in November.  The Saints defense kept Nick Foles and the Eagles scoreless over the final three quarters of last week's game ... barely!  I believe they can beat the Rams by four.
Loss; 26-23 Rams

Saints got screwed ...!