BY SIN BLITZERS
Ladies and Gentlemen football season is back and so is the Sports Insanity Network’s coverage. We will still have our regular pre/postgame articles (in a different format) as well as Thursday Night Gridiron and Sunday Sideline Report. But before the season kicks off some of our guys weighed in on some big topics on the upcoming season.
- Who are the biggest threats to the Chiefs and 49ers in their respective conferences?
1A) Bill Murphy : For the Chiefs I think the biggest threat are the Baltimore Ravens. After last season, Lamar Jackson will extra motivated, and the signing of Derrick Henry adds a different element to the offense.
2A) Mike Rifkin : : Cincinnati Bengals: Who is the biggest threat to Patrick Mahomes? Well how about the only quarterback outside of Tom Brady to go into KC and win a playoff game. If Joe Burrow is healthy the Bengals are the biggest threat in the AFC. Yes, Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson requested trades, but they’re both still there. Oh and Ja’Marr Chase is also pretty good.
3A) Mark Halpern : I agree with Mike, I think the Bengals are the biggest threat to the Chiefs. A healthy Joe Burrow, who is chomping at the bit to come back. I think the Bengals are on a mission.
1B) Bill Murphy : I’m going to say the Dallas Cowboys. Dak Prescott and Mike Mccarthy are each playing/coaching for their jobs here. If the Cowboys aren’t playing in an NFC Championship game big changes are coming.
2B) Mark Halpern : It’s hard for me to pick one team. The Cowboys, Eagles, and Lions are all teams to watch in the NFC and can all be a major threat to San Fran.
3B) Mike Rifkin : They were so close to beating the Niners in the NFC Title game, but a plethora of mistakes cost them in the second half. They improved the secondary bringing in Carlton Davis from the Bucs and drafting Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. They also went to Jared’s for their quarterback by extending Jared Goff. The Lions are on the prowl in the NFC.
- COACH (OR TEAM) WITH THE MOST TO PROVE AND WHY ?
Mark Halpern : Bill alluded to it above, it’s Mike McCarthy and the Cowboys. As a fan I am tired of all the talk and have been ready for some action. The only thing Jerry Jones has given me over the years, is rightfully putting Jimmy Johnson in the ring of honor. If McCarthy doesn’t reach the NFC title game he’s going to be a footnote in Cowboys history.
Bill Murphy : Robert Salah of the Jets. He’s had the excuse of not having a quarterback throughout his years as Jets coach, well now all the eggs are in the basket of 41 year old Aaron Rodgers, if Salah doesn’t succeed this season, he’s out of a job.
Mike Rifkin: Jets, Robert Salah – It’s time for the Jets to put up or shut up. Every year under Salah the fans can say he hasn’t had a quarterback, well now Aaron Rodgers is healthy, and anything short of an AFC title game appearance should be unacceptable. If the Jets continue the longest active playoff drought in the NFL Salah, Joe Douglass and Rodgers might be looking for employment elsewhere.
- PLAYER WITH THE MOST TO PROVE AND WHY
Mike Rifkin: Deshaun Watson- Browns : Watson got a fully guaranteed contract after being acquired by the Browns, Watson has 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 12 games. Joe Flacco played well enough to get the Browns to the playoffs, now it’s time for the 230 million dollar man to show up.
Mark Halpern : Aaron Rodgers only played four snaps last season after that the Jets season spiraled down. Now they’re banking on the 41 year old to end the longest playoff drought in sports (current).
Bill Murphy : Russell Wilson : He flopped in Denver and is looking to get back on the horse with the Steelers. He was named the starter beating out Justin Fields, even though some don’t think it was much of a competition. If Russ doesn’t play well, he might not just lose his job, his career could be in jeopardy.
- WHO WILL BE THE FIRST COACH FIRED? (IF ANY)
Bill : Dennis Allen (Saints) – The Saints thought after Sean Payton retired, they could just name a guy off of his staff to have the same success. Well, Dennis Allen hasn’t had the same success.
Mark : Brian Daboll (Giants) : The Giants won 11 games miraculously a few seasons ago, they took a massive step back last season. But if Daniel Jones struggles again, Daboll might not be the guy who can lead the Giants back to prominence.
Mike : Dennis Allen – Saints : If the Saints struggle this season, it might be time to pull the plug on a lot of things and start this thing over. They felt keeping Allen, who was on the staff when Sean Payton “retired” was the right call, but the Saints have a lot of veterans and it might be time to start things over
- FAVORITE/LEAST FAVORITE OFFSEASON MOVES
5A) MARK/ BILL : The Texans added a 1,000 yard rusher and receiver this offseason with Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs. Getting more weapons for CJ Stroud and make a run at this thing now. They also upgraded on defense with Danielle Hunter
Mike : Derrick Henry / Ravens, Saquon Barkley / Eagles : How do you improve two of the best mobile QB’S in the league, you give them elite running backs. Henry will provide that punch to the Ravens offense, to go with Lamar’s speed. Barkley brings Philly the zone read that was so successful two seasons ago. Both should have extraordinary seasons.
5B) Bill Murphy : Diontae Johnson – Panthers : The Panthers moved an arm and a leg to get Bryce Young (btw they could’ve gotten Caleb Williams) and so far the two big receivers they got were Adam Thielen and Johnson. Johnson isn’t bad but he’s had issues with drops.
Mike Rifkin : Steelers QB situation : There’s an old saying in football if you have two quarterbacks you have none. Well the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to start fresh with two new quarterbacks, they signed Russell Wilson and traded for Justin Fields. The question is why, if you go for one that’s alright, but going for both is dumb and arrogant on the part of the organization. At least just having Fields you might have your long term answer, who knows what you’re getting from Russ.
- WHICH FIRST YEAR HEAD COACH WINS THE MOST GAMES?
Bill : Mike Macdonald – Seahawks : The Seahawks might be a fringe playoff team and we know how hard it is to play in Seattle. If Macdonald’s defense along with the offensive firepower coexist the Seahawks can play in January.
Mike : Raheem Morris – Falcons – Well it doesn’t hurt he plays the Panthers twice. The Falcons have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball and we’ve waited for them to get into the QB market and they brought in Kirk Cousins. The Falcons should compete for the NFC South title.
- WHAT PLAYOFF TEAM FROM LAST SEASON WILL MISS THIS SEASON AND WHY ( 1 PER CONFERENCE)
AFC : – STEELERS – Yes all three of us have the Steelers missing the playoffs this season. After their week nine bye the Steelers will play all six division games plus an instate battle with the Eagles and a Christmas showdown with the Chiefs. Who knows how long the leash is on Russell Wilson, and who knows what you get from him. It’s hard to doubt Mike Tomlin, but this might be the year he goes under .500 for the first time.
NFC :
MARK/BILL – PACKERS : This is more about wanting to see more from Jordan Love and those young receivers more than anything else. If they don’t play well it could be a long year for the cheeseheads.
Mike : Tampa Bay Buccaneers : Predicting the NFC South every year is like finding something to eat at a place you don’t like, nothing really appetizing but you have to pick something. This is more about the depth of the NFC, the South gets only one bid and I am not sure if Baker produces like he did last season.
- WHAT NON PLAYOFF TEAM MAKES PLAYOFFS THIS SEASON AND WHY (1 PER CONFERENCE)
NFC
BILL – BEARS : They were extremely active this offseason. They grabbed their franchise QB (hopefully) in Caleb Williams. And they got weapons in Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze to compliment DJ Moore, they also brought in D’Andre Swift to help the running game.
Mike – Falcons – Yeah, I’m keeping this simple I think the Falcons win the NFC South and Kirk Cousins finds his way into the playoffs. And yes Kirk the people of Atlanta will like that.
AFC
Mike/Bill : Bengals – Well if you say the Bengals are the biggest threat to the Chiefs, they have to make the playoffs. The Bengals were competitive for a bit even after the Burrow injury, but at full strength they get in and they will be a force in the playoffs.
- AWARD PREDICTIONS
Bill : Marvin Harrison Jr (OROY)
Dallas Turner (DROY)
Christian McCaffrey (OPOY)
TJ Watt (DPOY)
Aaron Rodgers (Comeback player)
Dan Campbell (Coach of the year)
Lamar Jackson (MVP)
Mark : (OROY) Marvin Harrison Jr.
Micah Parsons (DPOY)
Ceedee Lamb (MVP)
Mike : (OROY) Malik Nabers
(DROY) Terrion Arnold
(OPOY) Saquon Barkley
(DPOY) Danielle Hunter
(Comeback) Aaron Rodgers
(Coach) Demeco Ryans
(MVP) Josh Allen
- Division Winners
AFC
East : Mike/Bill : Bills/ Mark: Dolphins
North : Mike/Bill/Mark : Ravens
South : All : Texans
West : All : Chiefs
NFC
East : Mark/Bill – Cowboys/ Mike Eagles
North : Lions
South : Mike/Bill – Falcons
West : Mike/Bill – 49ers/ Mark : Rams
- Conference title games
Mark : (NFC) Cowboys vs Rams. (AFC) : Dolphins vs Chiefs
Bill : (NFC) 49ERS VS Cowboys. (AFC) Chiefs vs Ravens
Mike : (NFC) 49ers vs Rams. (AFC) Chiefs vs Ravens
- SB PREDICTION
Mark : Cowboys def Dolphins
Bill : Ravens def 49ers
Mike : 49ers def Bengals
EVERYONE ENJOY FOOTBALL SEASON AND STAY TUNED TO SIN’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL SEASON!!!
The Sports Insanity Network 