The games weren't the only unforeseen stories to come out of this week's NFL news cycle. The Chargers are now in Los Angeles despite LA not really caring too heavily about the team they just acquired last season. They will play at Stubhub Stadium, which only holds 27,000 fans, until they can get their shared stadium with the Rams in 2019. Hopefully for the sake of innovation, they get rebranded with a new nickname and logo then as well because the current new logo is far too similar to that of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
| Seems kind of LAzy to me. |
In unexpected coaching news, five of the six head coaching openings have now been filled by four new names and just one retread that barely feels like a retread since Doug Marrone abandoned Buffalo after two seasons, the last of which being a 9-7 year with Kyle Orton as his quarterback. Many found Jacksonville's hiring of Marrone dull and lifeless but, he's not that far removed from success, knows the roster well (has been on staff since 2015) and will have a highly successful football mind monitoring the ins and outs of the roster above him in 2-time Super Bowl champion Tom Coughlin. Only time will tell if any of the newbie head coaches work out (Vance Joseph in Denver, Sean McDermott in Buffalo, Sean McVay for the Rams and Anthony Lynn for the Chargers) but, it's nice to see some new, young minds getting a chance to replace the Rex Ryans and Jeff Fishers of the world.
On to the upcoming weekend of football action!...
Falcons 41 - Seahawks 20
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| Curtis Compton Matt Ryan has surprised many by evolving into an MVP candidate in his ninth NFL season. |
The Lions could not exploit Seattle's weaknesses in the wildcard round thanks to Matthew Stafford's busted middle finger. Matt Ryan has no such problems and led the most potent offense in the NFL this regular season. Safety Earl Thomas's absence will be felt and against players like Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu and Taylor Gabriel, the floodgates will be open for the first time in a long time versus a Pete Carrol defense. Speaking of holes in the Seahawk foundation, their offensive line can not pass block at all and Vic Beasley (the NFL's sack leader in 2016) plus Dwight Freeney (122.5 career sacks) equals plenty of desperate scrambling from Russell Wilson.
Patriots 31 - Texans 10
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| Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Bill Belichick shows no mercy to former assistants that served under him like Bill O'Brien. |
Many were shocked by Brock Osweiler's solid performance last weekend but, considering how reliant Oakland was on their run defense, 15/26 should have been more like 20/26 for any reasonable NFL playoff quarterback. Enjoy every second of Texans football you see this weekend because it's the last we'll see until August. New England shut them out in week 3 with J.J. Watt on the field and Tom Brady out. The only reason I see Houston getting any points is the lack of now-Browns linebacker Jamie Collins. Yawn.
Packers 34 - Cowboys 31
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| Al Bello/Getty Images Offensive linemen like Bryan Bulaga will be counted on helping Aaron Rodgers look for targets. |
Week 6 saw Dallas dominate a Green Bay team with Cole Beasley catching two touchdowns, Ezekiel Elliott rushing for 157 yards and Aaron Rodgers' scrambling being held to a minimum as Dallas won in convincing fashion. Dallas has not changed much in the three months since but, Green Bay is now without WR Jordy Nelson (ribs), RB Eddie Lacy and a whole lot of their starting defensive backfield. None of that has gotten in the way of Aaron Rodgers' success these last seven weeks yet, there is reason for some hesitation in a Green Bay pick this week since the Nelson injury is a new, unpredictable wrinkle in their attempt to "run the table". This should be the best game of the weekend and I am going to lean back on my preseason pick of the Packers winning the NFC.
Chiefs 29 - Steelers 24
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| Troy Toarmina - USA TODAY Sports Eric Berry should be able to force at least one turnover in sloppy conditions. |
This Sunday's game in Kansas City, Missouri has been pushed back to primetime as an ice storm is set to turn the Midwest into hell for much of Sunday. The actual game itself might not be quite as treacherous as the drive on the way to Arrowhead and as much as we would all love a defensive battle in classic football weather, the delay might save Ben Roethlisberger from breaking every bone in his body. Both defenses are wildly unpredictable with Kansas City giving up big plays yet forcing more turnovers than any team in the league and Pittsburgh's hot pass-rushers yet propensity to give up long drives to competent, non-Dolphin opponents. Pittsburgh killed the Chiefs 43-14 in week 4 without LB Justin Houston available for KC and Le'Veon Bell making his first start of the season on extremely fresh legs. This game should be totally different from that glorified preseason match and the weather might have enough of an impact that this is a completely unpredictable game. When in doubt, invoke the home-field advantage that Arrowhead provides.
Good luck to your playoff bandwagon of choice and may the new coaching tenures not end in embarrassment.
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