I AM PICKING CHIEFS & PACKERS

Today we get to see the ultimate in NFL football games – the AFC and NFC conference championships. Once revered to be the champioships to in football before the merging of the two leagues, it is still the best to watch. More often than not they are better games than the Super Bowl. For two reasons. First, they are both in outdoor stadiums and in typically cold weather. Even the 49ers game against the Packers wll be cold and possibly raining, which will make the game very muddy and messy, like a playoff game should be.

Because of this weather and the fact that these two teams have already played each other this season in week 12, I am picking the Green Bay Packers to come out of the NFC. Yeah I know! Green Bay got destroyed the last time they played, but I believe that will make for a great comeback.

On the side of the NFL, the Tennessee Titans will visit the Kansas City Chiefs in what I view as a ground attack from the Titans led by Derrick Henry (who has been unstoppable since the playoffs started) vs the Amazing Air Assault led by Patrick Mahomes who lit it up against the Texans last week. Because of last week’s come from behind win against Houston, I am picking the Chiefs to win in this battle. Although Tennesse has great defense, Kansas City has shown a lot of reesliency in the past 2 years and I believe this is finally their time.

Maybe this is payback for losing the very first Super Bowl against the Green Bay Packers in January of 1967.

I AM PICKING CHIEFS & PACKERS

Today we get to see the ultimate in NFL football games – the AFC and NFC conference championships. Once revered to be the champioships to in football before the merging of the two leagues, it is still the best to watch. More often than not they are better games than the Super Bowl. For two reasons. First, they are both in outdoor stadiums and in typically cold weather. Even the 49ers game against the Packers wll be cold and possibly raining, which will make the game very muddy and messy, like a playoff game should be.

Because of this weather and the fact that these two teams have already played each other this season in week 12, I am picking the Green Bay Packers to come out of the NFC. Yeah I know! Green Bay got destroyed the last time they played, but I believe that will make for a great comeback.

On the side of the NFL, the Tennessee Titans will visit the Kansas City Chiefs in what I view as a ground attack from the Titans led by Derrick Henry (who has been unstoppable since the playoffs started) vs the Amazing Air Assault led by Patrick Mahomes who lit it up against the Texans last week. Because of last week’s come from behind win against Houston, I am picking the Chiefs to win in this battle. Although Tennesse has great defense, Kansas City has shown a lot of reesliency in the past 2 years and I believe this is finally their time.

Maybe this is payback for losing the very first Super Bowl against the Green Bay Packers in January of 1967.

Lebron is Running LA/ Not Kawhi

I am not saying this because I like it. As a diehard Lakers fan and self proclaimed #1 fan of that organization, I see changes that I don’t like about the team. Lebron James is running the team. I don’t care if it’s by accident, on purpose, luck or cosmic coincidence. There are too many things happening that channel that thinking for me.

Let’s start with Anthony Davis saying he wanted to test free agency last week and the following day, he gets injured. No way am I indicating Lebron James wished that but it’s kind of weird that those two things were reported not even 24 hours within each other.

The team has been winning and AD and Lebron along with Kuz and the rest playing well. Then Bam!! That was weird. Now let’s get to Kyle Kuzma who is an amazing player with lots of confidence some might label conceit. Last year during a game against the Clippers in March, Kuzma was filmed pushing Lebron to play defense. I am sure Lebron did not forget that. And with Kuzma’s trainer calling out Lebron against Kawhi, now we have trade rumours circulating about him before the trade deadline. Last year’s fiasco with Lebron James requesting to play with Anthony Davis and then President of Basketball Operations Earvin Magic Johnson negotiating on the phone with Pelicans to see if that can happen.

It’s bothersome to see a player get so much influence over the Lakers. Maybe Magic did the same in his day as the team’s starting point guard during the 1980s.

Then we have Kawhi Leonard, who is born in LA and came to the Clippers last summer because he was informed Paul George was going to join him. That was it. No other issues. He won a championship for the Toronto Raptors in his only year there. And then came to LA. No drama, just basketball and a little talk about load management.

As I am reviewing this, it sounds like I am in favor of Kawhi. But I am still old school and like it when players start and grow with one team and then I can overlook their influence on the team.

I just don’t want drama on the basketball court.

The Ravens’ Letdown & Beatdown

The Baltimore Ravens didn’t lose. They got beat down by the Titans. Tennessee took care of business in Saturday’s AFC Division Playoffs against the Baltimore Ravens  just like they did against the Cleveland Browns in the season opener. Tennessee dominated on the ground with Running Back Henry, in the air with some amazing catches and with very tough defense brought by coach Vrabel’s knowledge and experience, having played himself with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots.

Whether you expected this to happen or not, it did! Some say it was the amount of time off while others like myself thought something different—A running quarterback is not the key to winning a Super Bowl.The game seems to be designed around a good passing attack, some running and tremendous defense.

Everyone was raving about Lamar Jackson who did throw 59 times for 365 yards but completed only 31 times. They stopped doing what he was famous for—Running.  Running Quarterbacks have been a nightmare in the playoffs in terms of success. Jackson was not the only player to play this way. People forget Randall Cunningham, Steve Young and Michael Vick and Colin Kapernick  played that way. But they could only get so far in the playoffs. Kapernick was the closest to win a Super Bowl that way, but the 49ers changed strategies immediately the following year with Chip Kelly. Steve Young did win a Super Bowl, but only after he had adapted successfully to Bill Wash and George Siefert’s  style of staying in the pocket and passing the ball.

This year we were finally seeing the light with the explosive running quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Ravens’ coach bought into that style. All of a sudden, there first playoff game of the year and they played like they did not trust their original game plan. It did not make sense. And that is why they got beat down!

Roughnecks & Renegades On Their Way

I’m excited about a new league in the spring— the XFL!!
There’s nothing like hearing Roughnecks, Renegades, and Vipers battling it out. And don’t forget the Dragons(must be an all girl team) and the Guardians. It sounds like wrestling style football. At one point I think AFL players had to pin their opponents down on the ground for a few seconds. I’m excited and hoping for the best.
Go L.A. Wildcats!!

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