peyton manning Tag

I was really hoping that my predictions would hold on last weekend but I ended up at .500 after going 2 out of 4.  The good news I am still 6-2 in the 2013 playoffs so I can at least hang my hat on that for another day or so.  Last weekend was one of the best playoff weekends that I can remember in a while.  The Patriots and Texans game was the only one that wasn't up to playoff excitement standards.  The outcome of that game was pretty clear from the first quarter on.  The Texans just didn't have enough to beat New England at home.  It just seems like the Patriots have this whole football thing figured out.

Before I get to this week's games I do want to review the other 3 games briefly.  The Broncos and Ravens game was great and I like seeing Ray Lewis continue his swan song but that was ridiculous.  The Broncos flat gave that game away and it was hard for me to see Peyton Manning contribute so much to a loss.  Manning will receive a ton of MVP votes this season and had an amazing season this year but he kinda choked at the end.  Sad to seem him struggle in the clutch like that.

The opening weekend of the NFL playoffs ended up about how I expected.  I felt pretty good about going 4 out of 4 with my picks last week but I will also admit that the choices seemed pretty easy.  The major disappointment of the weekend was the status of the clearly injured RGIII.  I was really looking forward to that game but it proved to be pretty lack luster after Seattle gained their composure.  I'm not sure where I stand on the issue with starting Griffin, but if they knew the extent of the injury then there is no excuse for starting him.  I don't think we will ever know for sure how much information the Redskins had on his injury but we can be certain that RGIII is a competitor and will be a force in the NFC for years to come.

This week the picks are a little harder to make but I feel confident with my football instincts at the moment.  I'm hoping to make it a perfect 8 for 8 so without further due lets take a look at each game this weekend.

The grind of the NFL regular season has come to an end.  The slates have been cleared and nothing from the regular season matters any more.  This is what is known as "crunch time".  We are now in the 2 minute drill of the NFL season and its win or go home.  It is hard to believe that this incredible season is already over.  There were stories of triumph, episodes of tragedy, as well as many amazing achievements in 2012.  One of the most intriguing stories this season has been the success of 3 rookie quarterbacks.

The first and second overall picks in last year's draft have already brought their teams to the post-season.  Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III have been tremendous for their teams but ROY honors might go to third rounder Russell Wilson in Seattle.  All three sensations will be in action on Wild Card weekend including a showdown between RG3 and Wilson in Landover, MD.

Here is a detailed look at the NFL Playoff games this weekend and a look ahead to Divisional match-ups.

Today marks the beginning of a new era in the NFL.  Number 18 for the Colts will no longer be future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning.

Guess Roger Goodell and the people in the NFL scheduling department have to find a new team that the Patriots will magically play every year.

Calling this an emotional time for Peyton, the Manning family, the Colts organization, and Colts fans would be a colossal understatement.  It is too difficult to truly state how much value Peyton has to the Colts and the city of Indianapolis.  Not only is he a great QB but he has continually showed that he is just as great off the field.  Not to mention it is hard to find a personality so magnetic to go along with his skills on the football field.  Manning marketability is hard to come by and is comparable to the endorsement giants that are Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan.

If you would have told me a year ago that the Indianapolis Colts would even consider trading Peyton Manning then I would have completely dismissed the idea and deemed the thought completely ludicrous.  Fast forward to today.  Comments from the All-Pro QB during an interview with The Indianapolis Star were released earlier today.  In the interview Peyton talks about the new environment in Indianapolis and how it leaves him feeling bewildered.

It may be only week 2 of the NFL season but emotions are already running high and week 1 was as action packed as anyone could hope for.  In only one week of football games we have already seen a game winning goal line stand, Tom Brady explode for over 500 yards passing, an uncharacteristic beat down for the Steelers, and a classic Tony Romo 4th quarter blunder.  The first week was full of story lines and the rest of the season looks to be more and more exciting as we move along.  Given that it was only week 1 of the season it is hard to take away too much from what we were able to observe during the first 16 games.  However, some things are clear after watching football this past weekend.

After many long months of talks, rumors, hesitation, and excitement, the owners and the NFLPA have agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement, formally ending the NFL Lockout. Starting the week of July 25, teams can now negotiate with all free agents & draft picks, make trades, and most importantly, start training camp.

The Green Bay Packers can now start planning on repeating as Super Bowl champions.  In the world of the NFL, it is very difficult to win the Super Bowl in back-to-back years.   The Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, & New York Jets are all teams who can win this season.