San Francisco Bolster's Up Their Secondary

With the draft just mere weeks away San Francisco 49'ers coach, Jim Harbaugh can still taste the bitterness of defeat. After losing decisively to the Baltimore Ravens, Harbaugh and San Francisco management upgraded their entire team...and it was already elite.

Nnamdi in San Francisco

To accompany Carlos Rodgers in the backfield, the 49'ers pursued star cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. After a lackluster season with the Philadelphia Eagles, he was not revered as such a great pickup. However, the Oakland Raiders faithful know full well what he is capable of when utilized in the correct defensive schemes. Now loaded in the secondary, the 49'ers become an even more dominant team on paper. However, general manager Trent Baalke did not stop there. He pursued a new target for quarterbacks Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick: All-Pro Wide Receiver (fresh off of a super bowl victory) Anquan Boldin.

Boldin adds a great deep target, and can double as a possession receiver making him formidable for opponents to cover. Combined with the incredible hands of Michael Crabtree, the long reach of Randy Moss, and the flashiness of Mario Manningham, Boldin completes a wide receiver corps that other quarterbacks only dream of having.

Given the emergence of a former Oregon standout LeMichael James at running back to spell an aging Frank Gore, the 49'ers give every indication of being completely poised for success. Each position has exceptionally talented newcomers (Kaepernick, Crabtree, James, and more), along with veteran counterparts for mentorship (Patrick Willis, Smith, Moss, and Gore). Look to these relationships to pay huge dividends. One thing is certain: San Francisco fans aren't expecting anything less than the hardware this year.

Don't Crown a Super Bowl Champion Just Yet

We are down to an improbable four. However, far too many so-called gurus are ready to proclaim the New England Patriots, champions once again. Not so fast. First and foremost, the exciting divisional playoff weekend was stuffed with spectacular games. More importantly these games were phenomenal in terms of tension and upsets. Two games that very few people really saw coming were the Baltimore Ravens vs. Denver Broncos, and the San Francisco 49'ers vs. the Green Bay Packers.

If the Ravens, who were nearly 10 point underdogs, were able to pull off one of the most stunning road upsets in the history of the playoffs who is to say they can't repeat next week in Foxboro? There is a lot of animosity between New England and Baltimore going back to last year's heartbreaking AFC championship loss. There are 101 reasons why the Ravens have the right combination of talent and mojo to pull off the upset. Also, few people talk about the fact that New England has been playoff losers their last 4 postseason appearances. Of course this doesn't mean they are a bad team whatsoever. But it does make you wonder...


Not many suspected that the mighty, Aaron Rodgers would be bested twice by the same team. We were all wary of a suspect pass offense, and another read-option quarterback in Colin Kaepernick. However, how wrong us doubters were. He put up a searing 180 yards rushing, an all-time record for any quarterback in any game. Also, he routinely spread the ball to receivers and tight end Randy Moss, Michael Crabtree, and Vernon Davis. All of this confusion made the Packers appear to be a second class team. If the Patriots advance and the 49'ers advance, look for a strong run contingency from Kaepernick and the 49'ers. If executed properly, it could result in the 5th straight playoff loss for New England's beloved Pats...

And Then There Were 8.....

Is it always good for a team to be on the bye week? Not necessarily. In the past three playoff seasons, teams who didn't have a bye week had more wins and more momentum going into the final games of the season. Yes, it helps the team recover from injuries, but it seems as though the risks far outweigh the benefits. As coaches, and team management begin to understand this, look for teams to aim for a valuable #3 seed. This will never be something that no team/coach will ever admit, but it will be done.

Case in point: Many people didn't feel like Green Bay played their hardest football in the final quarter of the final game of the season, vs. the Minnesota Viking. They were playing for a bye, but came up short. The Packers appeared nonchalant and unmotivated to win. Were they strategically aiming for the #3 sport, or were they outplayed? Now that the league knows more about the practice, look for sanctions to be put into play.....

SGAAASVY3VBW

2012-2013 Wild Card Predictions

There are many who say wild card teams, or teams with a relatively low record, do not have a chance to come close to winning the super bowl. Startling statistics show that the wild card teams are sometimes dominant forces in the playoffs. In recent history, the 2011 Green Bay Packers, and the 2010 New York Giants were able to make incredibly runs from the playoff spot to hoist the Lombardi trophy. What does this mean? That a record number of wild card teams are doing better, since the switch to the 12 team playoff format adopted in 1990. Here are some of our bold predictions.

Wild Card Weekend NFC Playmakers

Minnesota over Green Bay. Though the Packers have a vaunted defense led by Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji, the offense led by captain Aaron Rodgers is prolific. Is that enough of a crutch to match the speed of 2000 yard rusher Adrian Peterson? In week 17, the Packers lost to the surging Vikings on the last play of the game. Look for the Vikings to show up confidently ready to make a huge statement. Though the game will be close, we can easily see the Vikings putting the game on Peterson's shoulder to control the clock and wear down the defense. Also, we predict Ponder having a passer rating of over 85.00. This is because he will only have to connect with receivers enough times to keep the Packers Defense guessing as to what the next play is going to be. They have met 18 times in the post season and the team to win in the last game before the postseason won just over 55% of the actual post-season game. So history is definitely on the side of the vikings.


Washington over Seattle. One of the greatest stories in football this year was "RG3". Robert Griffin III took the team over, and frustrated defenses all over the league with his strong arm, and incredibly quick feet. The addition of running back, Alfred Morris, added to that talent. Not only will Washington probably triumph, but they have the potential to be this year's dark horse NFC contender. This will be a very interesting game to watch, as Seattle has a very good chance to keep things close. We're looking for a great performance from Seahawk's running back, Marshawn Lynch. In addition, there will be many opportunities for Seahawk's quarter back, Russel Wilson to use his legs. He plays a similar style to RG3. However, we think Washington is a much more dynamic team than the Seahawks. Also, the Redskins have the coaching experience, under Mike Shanahan. We predict a 3 point victory for the Redskins.

Houston over Cincinnati. Everyone knows that the Bengals have been enjoying one of the biggest runs ever having won 7 out of their last 8 games. Also, Houston lost their number 1 seed and their right to a bye. However, even with Houston's sluggish performance, Cincinnati does not have the DB's and safeties to match up with Andre Johnson. Also, Arian Foster should be able to run the ball effectively against a suspect defensive line. His flexibility as a receiver will help him catch many screens out of the backfield as well. The interesting factor here, is that Andy Dalton grew up in Texas, and has played at Reliant Stadium in Houston. He has only lost one of those 3 times. This could be an X factor. However we still believe the Texans will roll to victory with big defensive plays out of "J.J. Swatt", candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.



Baltimore over Indianapolis. Before last week, we were prepared to say that the Colts were in a good position to win the game. However, after legendary linebacker, Ray Lewis, announced his retirement the Ravens were immediately fired up. Knowing this is the last run of Lewis, the man who played 17 seasons, and won Super Bowl MVP, they will be looking to put pressure on Andrew Luck early and often. Look for Luck's inexperience to be a factor in this game as he may throw at least 2 interceptions. Don't forget the bitter taste in the Raven's mouth that came from Billy Cundiff missing a critical field goal that would have led to overtime, last season. Luck, and the Colts, will definitely keep it closer than many people think, but the expertise of Ray Rice, and Torrey Smith should play a huge factor in this game. We're taking Baltimore by 7 points.


The scores don't always tell the whole story of the football games. We'll be sure to give you the breakdowns in the next post. See you in the next round!!

Injuries Abound in Week 14....

How do Injuries Affect Your Fantasy Playoffs?

Several of the key injuries that took place this week will undoubtedly make you think twice about starting them. Many key running backs are involved in tight divisional races. Consider the injuries on the following players:

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Ahmad Bradshaw, Running Back, New York Giants After showing some flashes of brilliance he once again hurt his knee and Coach Tom Coughlin is uncertain as to his ability to play next week.

Donald Brown, Running Back, Indianapolis Colts This powerhouse was a big contributor to Andrew Luck's success as a rookie. Brown's injury placed him on the injured reserve for the rest of the year

Fred Jackson, Running Back, Buffalo Bills If you're a fantasy owner you know how Jackson has top ten running back potential. After a Grade 1 knee sprain. The Bills coaching staff shut Jackson down for the season

Dez Bryant, Wide Receiver, Dallas Cowboys Since his Thanksgiving performance, Dez has been unstoppable. A fractured index may not keep him off the field, but it will surely hurt his ability to catch

Robert Griffin III, Quarterback, Washington Redskins After an MRI revealed a sprained knee, Griffin was given the option to practice. Griffin tweeted that he feels great and ready to go for Sunday. RG3 owners can only hope that his knee can sustain the running!

Good luck in your fantasy playoffs, and other football related endeavors!

NFL Fantasy Analysis for Week 14

What Running Backs Are Good For Your Lineup Week 14

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Perhaps you have made it to the coveted second round of your fantasy playoffs? Continue your playoff run, and take it to the next level by making all of the right calls!

Darren McFadden is scheduled to make his return to the Raider's starting line-up. Back up tailback, Michael Goodson should be back, also. What does this mean? There will be very few touches for Marcel Reece who was doing a great job bearing the load in Oakland.
Next, be sure to get C.J. Spiller in your lineup, if you have him. This Bill's running back has been seeing fewer carries because of the presence of a healthy Fred Jackson. However, like the new hybrid-style running back, Jamaal Charles, he knows exactly how to get large chunks of yards per carry. Also. With Bill's receiverStevie Johnson out with a strained hamstring, look for the Bill's to try to use Spiller in the screen game.
A surprising start on our list is Ahmad Bradshaw. The fiesty Giant's running back has only had a few breakout moments this season. However, after coming off a heartbreaking Monday night loss vs. the Redskins, Bradshaw will have a chance to gash the run-friendly N.O. Saints this week!

Who should you think twice before starting?

Although Dolphin's running back, Reggie Bush has had what some would call a fantastic year, he is facing a very stout San Francisco defense. This is one of the top run-defending defenses, and they are coming off a shocking overtime upset vs. St. Louis. Look for the 49'ers to load the box on Bush.
New England sensation, Stevan Ridley has had an outstanding season. We know the Texans are looking to make a statement game against the powerful New England offnese. J.J. Watt, and Brooks Reid are talented enough to contain the explosive Ridley from making long runs.
Abandon all hope you had leading up to the season that Ryan Matthews would have an amazing season. He has fallen far short of expectations this year. The Charger's are now relying on Philip River's arm to get them through the game.

Whoever you start, always check the match-ups, and last minute reports here for the latest news regarding fantasy, injuries, and NFL Highlights!