Week 2 Quick Picks: We Introduce a New Sports Metric That Will Change Football Analysis Forever!

Hello again, friends. I hope you’re all enjoying some college football on this fine Saturday. It’s time again for quick picks, although they won’t have to be quite as quick as last week’s rundown. And because we’re actually doing this the day before the games kick off instead of the hour, we can include fantasy advice with our predictions for each game! Happy Birthday!

Exciting news! Here at the Redding Report, we’ve developed a new statistic to introduce into the sports universe. It’s called the GAD metric and is applied to determine how important or irrelevant a particular game is. The GAD (or Give A Damn) metric incorporates factors such as the date, time, competing teams, history of those teams, talent gap, and what is at stake for each game to help you decided whether or not you should, well, give a damn. By using the GAD metric, we’re hoping to save you from rushing home on Thursday night, only to see the Giants and Redskins play out a 10-3 stinker that makes you want to gouge your eyes out. The GAD rating of each game will be included in Quick Picks starting this week.

Before we get to all of that exciting stuff, however, let’s get serious. It’s been a very tough week for the NFL with the Ray Rice situation, the allegations placed on commissioner Goodell thereafter, and now the child abuse charges coming against Vikings superstar Adrian Peterson. The problem with all of this is social media. Social media has turned the Average Joe into judge and jury of situations far more complex and critical than they understand. Yes, Ray Rice hit his wife and we shouldn’t accept that as permissible for anyone, but the screaming masses crying out for Rice’s blood are what led to his indefinite suspension from the NFL. When thousands of “HOW COULD THIS MAN BE ALLOWED TO PLAY IN THE NFL?!” tweets, calls, and emails flood the league office, fear of protests and boycotts force their hand. The fact of the matter is that a one-time mistake that Ray Rice made in a heated moment does not warrant his livelihood being snatched away, his image being thrown through a wood chipper, and his name being forever synonymous with scandal.

In Adrian Peterson’s case, the same story plays out. When an average NFL fan sees everyone else commenting on Peterson’s allegations and claiming that he’s an unfit father/role model for any kid, their sheep mentality tells them that they must take the same stance. And not only must they believe the same thing as all those other people, they need to believe it LOUDLY. Truthfully, there are millions of people who were frequently told to “go outside and get a switch” when being disciplined by their parents as kids. It’s nothing new, it’s not unusually cruel, and tomorrow it’s not going to matter. My two siblings and I were hit with switches, among other objects, when were younger too. And now we’re normal people who learn from our mistakes. If the NFL thinks they can have a say in how every facet of every player’s life should look, they have a long and futile battle ahead of them.

Heavy stuff, I know, but it’s the truth.  Are you guys as ready as I am to see these games tomorrow? It’s been a very, very long week and I want to do nothing more than consume some good ol’ football on my dad’s couch and feel like all is right in the world. We went 7-9 with our picks last week, but expect immediate improvement. We just had to feel out the league, ya know? Let’s do this! (Remember that times listed with games are based my San Diego clock)

Patriots at Vikings, Sunday 10:00 am

GAD Rating: 5.7- This should be a routine win for the Patriots, especially with AP being deactivated, but should you notice an unusually close score in those updates at the bottom of your screen then go ahead and pay attention. An 0-2 start for New England would carry plenty of intrigue.

Fantasy Outlook: If you’re playing in a PPR league, Julian Edelman is always good for 8-10 catches and Josh McDaniels will continue to get Shane Vereen the ball any way he can. Minnesota will most likely be force-feeding Cordarelle Patterson the ball in the running and passing game in order to compensate for Peterson’s absence.

Winner: An angry Patriots team with something to prove and the talent to back it up should prove overmatched against the Vikings

Dolphins at Bills, Sunday 10:00 am

GAD Rating: 7.3- This may not be a necessarily marquee matchup, but it could turn into the surprise nail-biter of Sunday morning. These teams look to be evenly matched with adequate defenses and offenses with explosive potential. It could also turn into a 6-3 yawn-fest, though.

Fantasy Outlook: Miami’s receivers will likely be largely held in check by Buffalo’s formidable secondary led by cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller should have nice outings against a relatively weak Dolphins linebacker corps.

Winner: The Bills stout defense is just stingy enough to hold the Dolphins at crucial points in this one

Jaguars at Redskins, Sunday 10:00 am

GAD Rating: 3.0- Nobody outside of Jacksonville or Washington should care about this game. And even then I wouldn’t tune into this matchup between 2 of the worst 3 teams in the league.

Fantasy Outlook: Washington’s defense isn’t horrible; it did take Houston a good while to start scoring last week, so the Jaguars’ “skill” players may not be very productive. However, Freddy Morris could (and should) have at least 100 yards.

Winner: I should probably be picking the Redskins here, but I’m going to go with Jacksonville. Even if they won’t start Blake Bortles.

Cowboys at Titans, Sunday 10:00 am

GAD Rating: 6.4- Dallas’ offense is trying to capitalize on the momentum it finally found late in the game last week while Tennessee’s defense looked surprisingly dominant against the Chiefs. Flip over to this game if Romo and The Boys can get the sparks flying early.

Fantasy Outlook: Dallas’ less-than-stellar defense will give receivers Justin Hunter and Kendall Wright the opportunity to shine if Jake Locker can find them downfield. If Romo struggles early on, Dallas will feed Demarco Murray to control the pace of the game and give the passing game a chance to get on the same page.  

Winner: Romo’s big arm and bigger receivers should eventually (if not immediately) overwhelm this Titans defense

Cardinals at That Other Team in New Jersey, Sunday 10:00 am

GAD Rating: 2.5- I would have given this game a 0, but there should probably plenty of Eli Manning Face in this game, which we can all appreciate.

Fantasy Outlook: San Diego’s Ryan Mathews gained mostly short yardage until late into the game, and it will likely be the same story for Rashard Jennings against a solid Cardinals run defense. Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, and Andre Ellington, however, should all be starting for your team.

Winner: Arizona should have no problems placing another game in the win column on Sunday

Saints at Browns, Sunday 10:00 am

GAD Rating: 4.2- This game won’t be very interesting. New Orleans needs a win to stay in stride with the Falcons and Cleveland’s offense can’t compete with Drew Brees’ high-flying unit.

Fantasy Outlook: The Browns do boast a brick wall of a run defense, so don’t depend on Mark Ingram or Pierre Thomas for RB1 production. Jimmy Graham and Brandin Cooks should be just fine, and Brian Hoyer will likely be looking for Jordan Cameron underneath quite often.

Winner: It’s almost impossible for the Saints to lose this game

Falcons at Bengals, Sunday 10:00 am

GAD Rating: 8.3- With the playmaking receivers that will be on the field in this game, it has the potential to become a barn-burner very quickly

Fantasy Outlook: Cincinnati doesn’t have the receiving firepower that Atlanta features, so look for them to supplement by getting the ball to Gio Bernard early and often. The Bengal’s defense should limit, but not shut down, Matt Ryan all morning.

Winner: With the advantage of playing in their home stadium, I’m going to give this one to the Bengals

Lions at Panthers, Sunday 10:00 am

GAD Rating: 9.3- With Cam Newton making his 2014 debut, this game should have everything you want to see on Sunday morning: a duel between talented quarterbacks, exciting gash plays on the ground, and inexplicable catches from Calvin Johnson

Fantasy Outlook: Carolina’s secondary was weakened in the offseason so Golden Tate should have plenty of room to run while the defense focuses on Johnson. The Panther’s running back tandem of Stewart and Williams should be able to find consistent success.

Winner: In a close contest, I say the Lions win this one by virtue of their superior offense

Rams at Buccaneers, Sunday 1:05 pm

GAD Rating: 5.7- Like San Francisco’s demolition of Dallas last week, this should be an afternoon snoozer. If you’re like me and love to see defenses dominate, there is potential here for a game you’ll love.

Fantasy Outlook: Doug Martin is ready to improve on his dismal performance from last week. That will happen as long as his O-line can get him past St. Louis’ defensive line. Tampa’s big receivers shouldn’t have very much trouble getting open down the field.

Winner: Tampa Bay fixes their mistakes from week 1 and moves easily past the Rams

Seahawks at Chargers, Sunday 1:05 pm

GAD Rating: 9.8- Not only are the Seahawks the most exciting team the NFL has to offer, but the Chargers’ ability to adjust to tough defenses and create space will make you wait until commercial breaks to refill that bowl of chips.

Fantasy Outlook: Marshawn Lynch’s beastly 2-touchdown performance against Green Bay should roll right on ahead against San Diego. Seattle may struggle to get the ball downfield, but Percy Harvin will still be productive when he touches the ball. A week against the Seahawks is a sit-week in my fantasy playbook.

Winner: I doubt I’ll pick against Seattle this entire season

Texans at Raiders, Sunday 1:25 pm

GAD Rating: 4.4- This game will probably be background noise for an afternoon nap, but don’t write off the must-see potential of Derek Carr against a weak Texans defense.

Fantasy Outlook: If Oakland can protect Carr from Watt and Clowney long enough, Rod Streater and James Jones will find favorable matchups in the secondary. If they can’t…you’ll hear about it. Arian Foster should have another 100-yard game here.

Winner: Maybe I just have to touch the stove twice to realize that it’s hot, but I’m picking the Raiders. They have a chance to put up points if the coaches will open the playbook and allow Derek Carr to show off his arm.

Jets at Packers, Sunday 1:25 pm

GAD Rating: 6.4- The contest won’t likely be very close, but Aaron Rodgers is ready to take advantage of a New Jersey defense that proved to be susceptible to the pass in week 1.

Fantasy Outlook: Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb should have their numbers called consistently throughout this game, and Green Bay will continue to feed Eddie Lacy if he is cleared to play.

Winner: The Packers won’t have a hard time getting past the Jets to notch their first win of the season

Chiefs at Broncos, 1:25 pm

GAD Rating: 6.5- After an abysmal showing against the Titans, Kansas City limps into Mile High Stadium with very little chance of holding the Broncos under 35 points.

Fantasy Outlook: Peyton Manning has quickly found chemistry with Emmanuel Sanders while Wes Welker serves his suspension, so don’t be afraid to start him. All of Denver’s receivers should get plenty of opportunities.

Winner: Kansas City may split this series when the Broncos travel to Arrowhead, but for now Denver wins

Bears at 49ers, Sunday 1:25 pm

GAD Rating: 10.0- If Chicago’s offense can get off to a good start; this could be the most exciting battle of the week. Should they make mistakes early on, San Francisco’s defense will capitalize and never let up.

Fantasy Outlook: The 9ers simply don’t have the secondary to stop Chicago’s offense, but safety Eric Reid gives them an advantage. Between Reid and the disciplined linebacker corps, it should be rough goings for Martellus Bennett and Matt Forte all afternoon.

Winner: Eager to get back on track after a surprising loss to the Bills last week, I believe the Bears will find a way to deflate the 49er faithful’s bright spirits

Eagles at Colts, Sunday 5:30 pm

GAD Rating: 9.3- This should be an offensive affair for all to enjoy, both teams feature potent offenses and secondaries that aren’t necessarily locking the field down.

Fantasy Outlook: Andrew Luck over Nick Foles

Winner: Nick Foles may not throw seven touchdowns, but the stronger ground attack will give Philadelphia the ability to control the game’s tempo. Which they will most likely turn to 100mph on their way to a second win this season.

You can count on these picks, I swear! Now go watch the Florida-Kentucky game for me, I have to work a closing shift at my job tonight and won’t see a single play. Until next time!

NFL Week 1 Review: The Season Kicked Off About A Week Ago

Can you believe it? The first week of NFL action is officially in the books! I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t be more excited to have football back in my life. The opening weekend of real game action provided us all with some suspense, some heartbreak, and more than a few “holy crap these guys can’t be humans” moments. A few high-expectation teams like the Patriots and Bears were less than impressive while the Falcons and Dolphins climbed out of the shadows of their division bullies.

Per usual, fans have begun freaking out and abandoning everything they believed about a week ago (insert Shmoney Dance here). Browns fans who saw a 15-minute glimmer of hope went back to accepting that God hates Cleveland right around the time that Antonio Brown turned into King Leonidas. 

But have no fear! The Redding Report is here to tell you what’s a serious issue, what’s being blown way out of proportion, and how my fantasy team is doing because I know you’re all wondering. Also thrown into the mix will be notable individual performances and probably a bunch of jokes about how much the jets suck. You guys ready? Let’s kick off our first Week Review of the 2014 season!

Don’t Believe The Hype

Every season there are a few bottom-feeder teams that manage to win their first three or four games before remembering who they are and proceeding with their regularly scheduled abysmal season. Don’t be fooled, people! For example, the Vikings beat the Rams 34-6 on Sunday. Soon after, there was a buzz about their improved defense and dynamic offensive attack. I can tell you why Minnesota won that game. BECAUSE THEY WERE PLAYING AGAINST THE RAMS. Again with the Dolphins, who pulled off a surprising win (at home) over the Patriots and are suddenly Super Bowl contenders. The Dolphins are a tough team to beat at home, and New England’s offensive line is adjusting to life without Logan Mankins, but come January these two teams will be reprising their usual roles.

I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but Allen Hurns is not your underachieving fantasy team’s savior. Sure, he scored two touchdowns in the first quarter of Jacksonville’s game against the Eagles, but the team only managed three more points the entire game as they got blown out. Not to mention that he was targeted nine more times in that game and only caught one pass. And on top of all that, he plays for the Jaguars. All week I’ve seen people scrambling to snatch this guy off of the waiver wire and it breaks my heart for them. Heck, my own friend who I co-own an ESPN team with even asked if we should pick up Hurns and drop T.Y. Hilton. Are you kidding me?? This is blasphemy! If Hurns proves that he’s a legitimate productive receiver after a few weeks then by all means, pick him up. But don’t go blowing up your roster after one week just to get a guy who will probably score five touchdowns all season.

I would tell you not to believe the hype surrounding the Bills, but any team that can go toe-to-toe with the Bears offense has to be doing something right. Even though they may not be a playoffs team down the stretch, Buffalo is looking like a tough matchup for any team they face this year. They may have given up 350 yards and 2 touchdowns to Jay Cutler, but the Bills nabbed two interceptions on the day and the D-line was in Cutler’s face all day. Their ability to bring pressure on the quarterback will give their secondary time to improve as they try to fill the rather big shoes left by Jarius Byrd.

Fantasy Football Triumph and Glory Story of the Week

This season I swore I would only have two fantasy teams. The stress had gotten to me a little too much in previous seasons, so I wanted to cut back to prevent myself from developing high blood pressure at the age of twenty. But of course, on the night before the Seahawks and Packers kicked off the season, two turned into four. Any of those teams may be featured in our Triumph and Glory segment every week, so I want to make sure you’re familiar with all of them. There’s my 12-team Yahoo league with the friends I worked with over summer (SS League), 8-team NFL power league with my fellow youth volunteers (Dodgeball League), 10-team ESPN league with guys from my SDSU bible study (1825 League), and finally the team I co-own with my mentor every year, which is in a 10-team ESPN PPR league (Mentor League).

Okay, so this week’s story is comin’ at ya from the Mentor League. Going into Sunday afternoon, we were projected to lose by at least 30 points. They weren’t even giving us a chance! With disappointing efforts from Zac Stacy and Nick Foles it looked like we really were going to take a brutal beating, especially when Kaepernick decided to make sure Vernon Davis, our opponent’s tight end, had the game of his life. We only picked up 10 more points between T.Y. Hilton and the Bucs defense, so on Monday night we had every reason to give up and look ahead to week 2. But lo, enter: Megatron! His 164 yards and 2 touchdowns lifted us to an improbable comeback and one-point margin of victory, 132-131. Oh, how sweet it is. This week we’re matched against Team Perrone, featuring Drew Brees throwing against Cleveland’s defense. Wish us luck. 

Heroes of the Week

Every week we’ll highlight a few guys who put forth the extra effort and carried their teams to victory. Whether it was with a monster day of receiving or a timely interception, this list is open to anyone who proves themselves worthy on the gridiron. You should expect this list to change from week to week; new heroes will arise constantly, but don’t be surprised if a few guys show up on a normal basis. You know, like, Tom Brady for instance. Or Julian Edelman. Guys that just really deserve to be honored. Let’s get into it!

Matt Ryan

“Matty Ice” had a lot to prove coming into that matchup with the Saints. The Falcons spiraled into an abyss of failure last season and the fans wanted to know if Ryan had lost his rhythm with the team. Drew Brees and the Saints came on strong, determined to begin their own war campaign for reclaimed dominance in the NFC South, but Ryan led Atlanta’s offense with poise and precision. Breaking the Falcons’ franchise records for both single-game passing yards and career touchdown passes, Ryan couldn’t be stopped on Sunday with 448 yards and 3 touchdowns. Matty’s ability to stay calm in the face of a 13-0 deficit and lead his team to an overtime victory may just be the first signs of a new era in the South.

William Moore

I didn’t want to pull two heroes from the same game, but I couldn’t help it. After Matt Bryant (who honestly could have made this list too) knocked in a 51-yard field goal to send the Falcons-Saints game into overtime, William Moore made his mark. New Orleans was given first possession of the ball and Drew Brees threw an early-down pass to Marques Colston, who stripped by Moore. Atlanta recovered and another Matt Bryant field goal, this one 52 yards, sealed the win.

Fred Jackson

The Bills’ win over the Bears on Sunday was one of the most surprising of the weekend. All game long I just kept thinking, “Okay, this is when Chicago wakes up and takes over, right? Right?”. When the two teams entered overtime tied at 20, I thought that surely someone in a Bears uniform would make sure the game ended in their favor, but instead Fred Jackson broke off a 38 yard run that featured one of the meanest stiff arms I’ve seen in a while and took Buffalo to Chicago’s one yard line. The vet was plenty clutch that day. 

A.J. Green

It was business as usual in Baltimore this past Sunday. The Ravens have grown somewhat accustomed to being overcome by the Bengals due to last-second touchdowns by A.J. Green. He just seems to have a knack for besting the Ravens in the most ridiculous ways possible. After Steve Smith scored an 80-yard touchdown that gave Baltimore a one point lead, Cincy finally broke out of their field-goal kicking ways as Andy Dalton connected with Green on a 77-yard touchdown to score on a drive that lasted less than a minute. Bang.

Michael Floyd

I would have called Carson Palmer the hero of Arizona’s win over the Chargers on Monday night, but he missed on too many throws to really be lifted up as the savior. Instead, let’s focus on Michael Floyd. The second-year receiver had a 5 catch, 119 yard day against San Diego and seemed to be everywhere Palmer needed him to be in third-down situations. Floyd was called upon to carry the workload while Larry Fitzgerald was only targeted a few times in the entire game. Why? I don’t know. The point is, Arizona wouldn’t have been able to score the game-winning touchdown without the Herculean effort of Floyd all night.

Teams That Won This Week and Won’t Win Next Week

I think this is going to become my favorite segment in these weekly reviews. We’ll point out the impostors every week that pulled off surprising wins and are on their way to being exposed in the next matchup. I have a feeling that this is going to be a whole lot of fun. Shall we?

Miami Dolphins

It sure felt good in Miami when the Dolphins upset the Patriots, but I have a feeling that a rude awakening is coming their way in Buffalo. The Bills defense held Chicago’s passing attack in check last week, so I don’t expect Ryan Tannehill and Brian Hartline to necessarily have a field day. When you add in the fact that Miami celebrated their win over New England like the Super Bowl and are probably emotionally exhausted, a letdown loss is only inevitable.

Atlanta Falcons

Their overtime win against the Saints was a spectacular team effort that bodes well for the future, but I believe that Atlanta is gearing up for a loss this Sunday. Cincinnati’s tough defense will be harder to pick apart than Rob Ryan’s unit in New Orleans, and Geno Atkins will be happy to contain the Falcons’ already suspect running attack.

Minnesota Vikings

I hope the Vikings had fun beating up on the Rams, because now they’re going to have to face a pissed-off Patriots team with a real defense and a quarterback who wasn’t thrown into the game because Sam Bradford’s ACLs are made of pull-apart cheese sticks.

New Jersey Jets

BECAUSE THEY SUCK

There it is, my friends. Our first weekly review is on the record. Sadly, we’ve only got 19 more to go, so we’d better make the most of them. Don’t forget to check your fantasy lineups ahead of tonight’s contest between the Steelers and the Ravens. Justin Forsett is a good start, Bernard Pierce is not. Le’Veon Bell over LeGarrette Blount and start Joe Flacco if you want to, but the Steelers are usually a tough matchup for him. Be sure to catch the game tonight on CBS Thursday Night Football at 8:25 pm EST. Until next time!

Breaking News: Ray Rice released, terminated indefinitely

As most of you know, Ray Rice was suspended for two games after a video was leaked of him dragging his fiancée out of an elevator in July. The Baltimore police and NFL both had access to the same evidence while assessing Rice’s punishment. Rice was not arrested and it was assumed that the evidence was inconclusive about whether or not Rice had actually hit his fiancée.

Today a video was leaked by TMZ that actually shows Rice knocking his fiancée out in the elevator

As the video spread around the internet, outrage rose and more voices joined the calls for Rice’s head. Seemingly in an act of justice, the Ravens terminated Rice’s contract (which had three years left on it) and the NFL suspended him indefinitely. However, don’t be fooled by Roger Goodell’s actions. The NFL stated that the video was “new” evidence, but it has been reported that the NFL and Atlantic City police had the elevator footage when they originally assessed Rice’s punishment. If the NFL really did see the video for the first time today (which is completely bogus), how could you not ask for all available evidence involved in your investigation?

Either way, Rice’s suspension is really just Roger Goodell’s attempt to backpedal, save his face, and act like he’s suspending Rice for any other reason than the fact that this video and Baltimore’s decision to release Rice, which did happen first, backed them into a corner. Ray Rice was 100% in the wrong, but this is yet another example of Goodell’s inability to handle these league-defining situations. As much as Rice should never be reinstated back into the NFL, Goodell should resign ASAP.  
Rice has still not been arrested, but his current punishment will hopefully spark a change in his behaviors. He and his now-wife are still together as of now, so hopefully she will be safe at this time and do what is necessary to find a safe place should those circumstances change. 

Week 1 Quick Picks! And We Mean Quick!

Okay, folks. The time is 8:55 am in San Diego. Football officially kicks off at 10:00 am. That means I’m about to set a world record for fastest picks article written. We have one hour to predict who’s going to win each game and make a bold claim about those games. This endeavor will take every ounce of my semi-semi-professional journalistic powers. You with me, people?? Let’s do this!

Packers at Seahawks, Thursday 5:30 pm

Winner: This game already happened, but if you really picked Green Bay to beat Seattle on opening day in their own house then you’re a lost cause anyway.

Bold Prediction: The Seahawks will do to every team on their schedule what they did to Green Bay and head to the Super Bowl with an 18-0 record

Patriots at Dolphins, Sunday 10:00 am

Winner: New England has been waiting a long time to get some real game action for their revamped defense and now-experienced receiving corps. Not to mention, they’ve won 10 season openers in a row.

Bold Prediction: Julian Edelman will score twice while the Patriots secondary comes up with three interceptions

Saints at Falcons, Sunday 10:00 am

Winner: New Orleans’ defense got stronger during the offseason, and the draft produced a talented young receiver for Brees to add to his arsenal. Drew Brees getting more weapons is bad news for anybody outside of New Orleans. Saints take it.

Bold Prediction: Drew Brees will throw five touchdowns and three of them will be to some guy that is owned on 1% of fantasy teams

Vikings at Rams, Sunday 10:00 am

Winner: I would give this one to St. Louis were Sam Bradford healthy, but him not being on the field (AGAIN) is a serious blow to that team. Because they have Adrian Peterson and Cordarelle Patterson, plus some talented young safeties that are looking to take advantage of Bradford’s stand-in, this one goes to Minnesota.

Bold Prediction: Cordarelle Patterson will have 200 all-purpose yards

Browns at Steelers, Sunday 10:00 am

Winner: I’m among the minority that believes Brian Hoyer will guide the Browns to a winning record this year, but without Josh Gordon that might take a few weeks to kick in. If Cleveland can’t contain Antonio Brown, this could get ugly. Steelers 1-0.

Bold Prediction: No passes will be completed against Joe Haden today

Jaguars at Eagles, Sunday 10:00 am

Winner: I can not, in good conscience, pick the Jaguars to win this game. It would go against my journalistic integrity. All I can do is hope that Jacksonville gives Bortles the ball and makes the game a little more exciting.

Bold Prediction: Chip Kelly’s new toy, Darren Sproles, will have almost 300 all-purpose yards

Raiders at Jets, Sunday 10:00 am

Winner: Call me crazy, but I’m going with the Raiders today. Rookie QB Derek Carr looked like a veteran against the Seahawks defense in Week 4 of the preseason. He was actually going at Richard Sherman and completing passes right in his face. I’ll believe in this Oakland squad until they give me a reason not to. Plus I hate the jets.

Bold Prediction: A Raiders receiver will eclipse 100 receiving yards today

Bengals at Ravens, Sunday 10:00 am

Winner: Baltimore will want to re-establish the dominance they once had over Cincinnati, but I believe the Bengals will prove that their division crown last season was no fluke. With Geno Atkins healthy and ready to harass Joe Flacco, Cincy’s defense should be able to shut down the Ray Rice-less Ravens offense.

Bold Prediction: Giovani Bernard will gain over 150 yards on the ground

Bills at Bears, Sunday 10:00 am

Winner: The Bills have 99 problems, but winning games ain’t one. Until EJ Manuel can stay healthy and prove himself as the franchise QB, Buffalo will be on the losing end of a lot of contests. Expect the Bears offense to unleash its full potential on a Bills defense that lost their star safety in free agency.

Bold Prediction: Two Bears receivers will gain over 100 receiving yards

Redskins at Texans, Sunday 10:00 am

Winner: Can the team who wins this game even be considered a winner? Houston is looking for a quarterback to step up and lead them back to the playoffs while Washington is just plain looking for their quarterback—because he’s somewhere shooting a commercial. If RGIII and Desean Jackson can find a connection, it might be the Redskin’s saving grace.

Bold Prediction: Arian Foster will touch the ball more than any Texans receiver

Titans at Chiefs, Sunday 10:00 am

Winner: The Titans don’t have the talent to beat KC in Arrowhead Stadium (whose fans have rivaled Seattle’s for the league’s loudest). Andy Reid will find some creative ways to use DeAnthony Thomas and keep his Chiefs two steps ahead this morning.

Bold Prediction: Jamaal Charles will score (at least) four touchdowns. Rushing and receiving.

Panthers at Buccaneers, Sunday 1:25 pm

Winner: Cam Newton’s two favorite receivers have jumped ship, meaning the team will be asking a lot more of him. If Cam feels the pressure and starts making mistakes, you better believe that the Bucs defense will take advantage. This one goes to Tampa Bay.

Bold Prediction: Lavonte David will record more tackles than Luke Keuchly and notch an interception

49ers at Cowboys, Sunday 1:25 pm

Winner: San Francisco’s defense lost some key players this offseason and won’t be the dominant unit we’re used to seeing. Meanwhile, Dallas’ offense is ready to burn that field to the ground. Sorry Frisco.

Bold Prediction: Both Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams have at least 10 catches with 100 yards and a touchdown

Colts at Broncos, Sunday 5:30 pm

Winner: Andrew Luck has been lauded as the future of the NFL, but Peyton Manning is its past and it’s present. If Aqib Talib can stay healthy long enough to shut down Reggie Wayne, Denver’s D-Line will have a field day pressuring Luck. But with Wes Welker and his Mollys out of the game, Denver’s offense will need some time to get on the same page. Indy takes it.

Bold Prediction: T.Y. Hilton will have 100 yards and 2 touchdowns today (this is really just me hoping for the sake of my fantasy team)

Giants at Lions, Monday 4:10 pm

Winner: That team in new jersey that I can’t name in this blog space for legal reasons doesn’t have the secondary to stop Megatron and new Lions receiver Golden Tate. When the defense starts getting tunnel vision trying to stop them, Reggie Bush will take over. Lions win.

Bold Prediction: Matt Stafford will throw four touchdowns and no interceptions this afternoon

Chargers at Cardinals, Monday 7:20 pm

Winner: The Chargers are out to prove something this season, and I believe it will start by beating a very good Arizona team on the road this Monday night. Philip Rivers and Keenan Allen will need every bit of the chemistry they developed last season to be these Cardinals.

Bold Prediction: San Diego will not give up a sack

Okay, that’s it! Now let’s watch some football! I’m ready to see my Patriots enjoy a nice sushi meal today in Miami. Rep your team loud and proud in the comments section and then let the football take you to a better place. And as a treat for all the Dolphins fans out there, remember Tom Brady’s 99-yard touchdown? You’re welcome. Never forget. Until next time!  

10:10, not bad huh?

The Wisdom of Arrogance: NFC Predictions as Football Returns!

TODAY FOLKS! TODAY! Can you believe that tonight we’ll actually be able to watch a meaningful NFL game?? Counting towards playoffs positioning and everything, I mean this thing is for real! Which means, by the way, that you all need to be sure to check your fantasy lineups. You may want to sit any Packers you own as they’ll be taking on the best defense in the NFL, in their own house, in primetime, in the season opener. So, you know, the Seahawks might be just a little jacked up for this game.

Just like Tuesday, we’ll be predicting the division winners, playoff teams, statistical leaders, individual award winners, and Super Bowl attendee of the National Conference. These calls will be a little harder to make because the NFC is loaded with gunslinger quarterbacks, inhuman receivers, and punishing defenses. Every NFC division should be loaded with high drama this season and the Wild West will be an all-out brawl that even the Rams might get in on. I’m ready to start being right about stuff, but first…a segment we like to call “Welcome to the NFL, Michael Sam”.

Welcome to the NFL, Michael Sam

Back in April, before the draft, Michael Sam made himself a walking storyline by revealing himself to be a homosexual. By becoming history’s first openly gay football player, Sam instantly grabbed the attention of the entire nation. In the process, many spectators forgot that playing in the NFL takes more than non-stop media coverage. Sam was drafted in the sixth round, and subsequently released this past weekend by the St. Louis Rams. There were a lot of people (all who don’t know the difference between a touchdown and a homerun, I assume) who were in uproar over Sam’s release. I, however, applaud the Rams. No matter what Sam does when he goes home, the NFL isn’t going to change and that means he’ll have to earn what he wants. Sam signed on with Dallas’ practice squad today and if he can earn a starting job in the future, more power to him. The NFL has always been about hard work over a good story and that’s not going to change anytime soon.

Hey, journalists are just people who think their opinions are better than everyone else’s. Hate the game. Anyway, I’m ready to predict stuff! We’ll have to put the pedal to the metal today because I’ve got three weeks’ worth of laundry to do and a music gig at the mall. Let it begiiiiiin!

Division Winners

NFC East: This division is a toss-up every year, usually because all four teams have an 8-8 record. However, the winds of change are blowing in the NFC East this season. Washington and that other team in new jersey are likely finishing their season at the bottom of the barrel, but Philadelphia and Dallas have the feel of legitimate playoff contenders. Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, Demarco Murray, and Terrance Williams are ready to torch defenses all over the league. Chip Kelly’s fast-flying Eagles are out to prove that their debut season was no fluke, but it remains to be seen how the machine will run without Desean Jackson. I’m giving the advantage to the Cowboys.

NFC South: Last season Riverboat Ron’s gambling Panthers took the NFC South by storm in an amazing worst-to-first effort. However, I wouldn’t expect them to hold court at the top. Nobody has repeated as NFC South division champion since about 2006. Every year a different team comes out on top (except the Bucs, of course) and I don’t expect that to change now. The Falcons may be on a revenge tour from their humiliating, injury-ridden, 2-14 campaign in 2013, but I’m giving this one to the Saints. New Orleans added star safety Jarius Byrd in the offseason to pair with the young playmaker Kenny Vaccaro which will make their already formidable defense even more adept at stopping the pass-happy offenses they’ll see in the NFC.

NFC North: The race for the NFC North crown will be one of the most exciting storylines we’re treated to this season. Featuring three of the league’s premier strong-arm quarterbacks (Jay Cutler, Matt Stafford, Aaron Rodgers) and four of the most unstoppable receivers in the game (Megatron, Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Jordy Nelson), there will be no shortage of ridiculous highlights when the Bears, Packers, and Lions take the field. With Josh Morgan, Martellus Bennett, and Matt Forte added to the mix, Chicago definitely has the most complete offense. They’ve been in the habit of narrowly conceding the crown to Green Bay in recent years, but I’m putting my faith in Cutler and the Boys (ya know, if they ever formed a band) to control the North this season.

NFC W(B)est: The competition in the NFC’s wild, wild west will likely be the closest contest when the end of the season comes around, but it may look differently than most of you are expecting. Because of the dramatic battle for the NFC Championship between the Seahawks and 49ers last year, they are commonly perceived as the two top teams in the conference, and rightfully so. However, offseason movement and natural regression may have actually produced an alternative result. The Arizona Cardinals missed the playoffs with a 10-6 record last season, but something tells me they won’t be denied a second time. Carson Palmer has resurged as a top-flight starter, and having the league’s best cornerback (Patrick Peterson) and a freakishly talented young safety (Tyrann Mathieu) lurking in your secondary doesn’t hurt when you’re trying to stop the likes of Aaron Rodgers and Tony Romo. Nobody’s taking this division from Seattle any time soon, but expect the Cardinals to be on their heels.

Playoff Spots

1.      Seattle Seahawks

2.      New Orleans Saints

3.      Chicago Bears

4.      Dallas Cowboys

5.      Arizona Cardinals

6.      Green Bay Packers

It was hard to leave the 49ers, Eagles, Lions, Falcons, and Panthers off of this list. Let it be a testament to how stacked the NFC is. I’m pretty confident about everything I ever say, obviously, but let’s just say I have a lot more faith in my predictions for the AFC. The talent gap between the American and National conferences is beginning to resemble the NFL of the 80’s and early 90’s when the NFC won 13 straight Super Bowl titles, and not by a slim margin.

Stats Leaders

Passing Leaders

1.      Aaron Rodgers- 5,564 yards (47 TD)

2.      Matt Stafford- 5,400 (35 TD)

3.      Jay Cutler- 5,100 yards (42 TD)

Romo and Brees will likely put up numbers right in the same neighborhood as these guys, but I think I’ve picked the cream of the crop. Cutler barely edged out Brees because he’ll have four dynamic receivers plus Matt Forte catching passes from the backfield, while Brees will be adjusting to life without Darren Sproles.

Rushing Leaders

1.      LeSean McCoy- 1,750 yards (19 TD)

2.      Marshawn Lynch- 1,530 yards (16 TD)

3.      Demarco Murray- 1,400 yards (17 TD)

4.      Andre Ellington- 1,377 yards (15 TD)

Now I know this list went four-deep as opposed to the standard like every other category, but I had to mention Andre Ellington. Ellington was a workhorse for the Cardinals last season and is looking to increase his production as he returns to the feature back role. Ellington will be a fantasy steal for many owners this year, and has a real chance to prove himself among the other NFC bell-cows.

Receiving Leaders

1.      Calvin Johnson- 2,300 yards (15 TD)

2.      Dez Bryant- 1,590 yards (11 TD)

3.      Alshon Jeffery- 1,440 yards (9 TD)

My projections for Megatron probably seem a little ambitious, but I just don’t know what to anticipate now that he’ll have a legitimate second receiver to relieve him of the triple coverage he’s been seeing for the past few years. Either way, I’m confident that he’ll lead the league in both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. It’s a good bet that Johnson will lead the NFL in “MY. GOD.” catches this season as well.

Interceptions

1.      Patrick Peterson- 8

2.      Earl Thomas- 6

3.      Lavonte David- 6

Individual Awards

MVP: Aaron Rodgers

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ka’deem Carey

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Anthony Barr

Offensive Player of the Year: Reggie Bush

Defensive Player of the Year: Earl Thomas

Comeback Player of the Year: Tyrann Mathieu

There it is! A whole bunch of stuff for me to gloat about in January. A mulligan from our AFC predictions, I absent-mindedly named Sammy Watkins as my candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Actually I’m throwing the gauntlet to Blake Bortles and Derek Carr, the AFC’s promising rookie quarterbacks who should be starting week 1 for their teams. My bad. Oh, and I almost forgot…the Seahawks are definitely going back to the Super Bowl! I hope you weren’t kept in too much suspense about that one. Be sure to catch them in action tonight on NBC as they host the Packers. Football is back, baby! And it never looked so good. Until next time!

The Wisdom of Arrogance: Predictions for the 2014 Season, AFC Edition

Forget the formalities, folks! FOOTBALL SEASON STARTS IN TWO DAYS!! We don’t have time to talk about a bunch of random (although hilarious) stuff that I just spout off the top of my head! We’ve only got two days to lay down all of the Redding Report’s biased, arbitrary, sickeningly arrogant yet always correct predictions for this upcoming season. We can’t have your brains overloading right before you’re going to stuff them chock-full of NFL goodness, so we’ll cover the AFC today and worry about the NFC tomorrow. But first, a segment I like to call “The Hard Life of a Patriots Fan”.

The Hard Life of a Patriots Fan

On August 26, Bill Belicheck traded Pro Bowl guard and long-time Patriot Logan Mankins to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for tight end Tim Wright and a fourth-round draft pick. Effectively, he tore out the hearts of Patriots fans everywhere. Mankins was the unchallenged leader of New England’s O-line and sworn protector of their most important player. Even Tom Brady was upset, commenting “Logan was a great friend of mine. Nobody stood for Patriot football more than him” and added, “Yeah, I dealt with whatever feelings I had last week, but I’ve moved on”. You can’t upset Tommy, Bill! As a Patriots fan, you live life with the constant fear of The Hoodie trading away some beloved veteran. Just like in 2001 when he sent star safety Lawyer Milloy packing, and then the Patriots won the Super Bowl. We are an oppressed people, but alas, In Bill We Trust.

It’s hard to hold the tears back after reading that, I know. But we’ve got to move on! From here on, our only topics of discussion will be who with think (sorry, KNOW) is going to win each AFC division, grab the six available playoff spots, lead the conference in stats categories, win individual honors, and of course, go to the Super Bowl. Let it begiiiiiiiiiiiin!

Division Winners

AFC South: This one is a no-brainer. Just like the days when Peyton Manning led their offense up and down the field, Andrew Luck and the Colts have no real competition within their division. The Bortles-led Jaguars will be as irrelevant as the anybody-led Jaguars have ever been (except you, Mark Brunell), albeit possibly exciting. The Texans may be able to rally and split their series with Indy if they can figure out who their starting quarterback is and he actually plays well. Either way, my vote is cast 100% for the Colts to win the AFC South.

AFC East: I’ll take this time to point out that “biased” and “sickeningly arrogant” were both listed in the descriptions of this year’s predictions. Don’t say it…..don’t say…that rhymed! Sorry, had to say it. Anyway with that being said, you already know I’m choosing the Patriots to stand alone atop this division. The Jets suck, the Dolphins suck, and the Bills suck too. With New England’s acquisition of Revis and Browner in the offseason, along with a healthy Gronkowski returning and all of Tom Brady’s receivers coming back, it looks like the Pats are ready to burn the AFC East to the ground.

AFC North: Last season I picked the Bengals to win their first division title in quite a few years, and I was right. Told you so. As the most complete team in the North, I believe Cincinnati will earn the division crown once again. Cincy had depth at the cornerback and running back positions, two of the most important in today’s NFL. Especially in the North, where they will have to stop receivers like Torrey Smith, Antonio Brown, and Josh…oh wait. Baltimore will probably finish a close second, but their shaky running back situation will make them more dependent on Joe Flacco, which is never good news for anybody.

AFC West: You might think I’m crazy, but I’m going with the Chargers to win this division. Madness, you say? Just hold tight, my friend. Last season Peyton Manning gave absolutely everything he had to win the Super Bowl and came up just short. “Just short” is a term which here means “got stomped out so bad that they might have had a better game if they decided not to show up”.  Now Eric Decker has left town, Wes Welker has suffered yet another concussion, Knowshon Moreno is soaking up the South Beach sun, and Peyton Manning is just another old man with a huge forehead. Meanwhile, Philip Rivers is at the peak of his game, Keenan Allen is going to be the best receiver in the division, and San Diego’s secondary is young and talented. You heard it here first.

Playoff Spots

1.      New England Patriots

2.      Cincinnati Bengals

3.      San Diego Chargers

4.      Indianapolis Colts

5.      Denver Broncos

6.      Kansas City Chiefs/Baltimore Ravens/Miami Dolphins

That last spot isn’t a cop-out, just a representation of how close the AFC playoffs race been in the last few years. Last season four different teams were still fighting for a spot in Week 17, and a missed field goal decided the outcome.

Stats Leaders

Passing Yards

1.      Tom Brady- 4,756 yards

2.      Philip Rivers- 4,460 yards

3.      Andrew Luck- 4,300 yards

Rushing Yards

1.   Jamaal Charles- 1,325 yards

2.   Ben Tate- 1,215 yards

3.   Giovani Bernard- 1,120 yards

You might be surprised to see Tate’s name in that second spot, but I believe that stepping out of Arian Foster’s shadow behind one of the NFL’s best offensive lines will allow him to have a breakout season. Just watch.

Receiving Yards

1.   A.J. Green- 1,625 yards

2.   Antonio Brown- 1,545 yards

3.   Demaryius Thomas- 1,360 yards

Antonio Brown was second in the NFL with 1,499 yards (behind Josh Gordon) last season. With Emmanuel Sanders now in Denver and Josh Gordon now on his couch, Brown’s excellent route-running and otherworldly speed could make him the most productive receiver in the league this season, but don’t count out that kid in Cincinnati.

Interceptions

1.   Devin McCourty- 7

2.   Joe Haden- 7

3.   Kiko Alonso/Jamie Collins- 5

Individual Awards

MVP- Tom Brady

Offensive Rookie of the Year- Sammy Watkins

Defensive Rookie of the Year- Darqueze Dennard

Offensive Player of the Year: A.J. Green

Defensive Player of the Year: Vontaze Burfict

Comeback Player of the Year: Darelle Revis

And last but not least, representing the AFC in Super Bowl XLIX, the New England Patriots! Now before you blame my bias, consider that last year New England reached the AFC Championship with inexperienced receivers and a secondary that couldn’t handle potent passing attacks. Now, with what might be the AFC’s best secondary and Tom Brady’s top five targets from 2013 healthy and comfortable in the system, I don’t see a team this side of Seattle that can stop them.

Well, folks, I’m on record now. Should these prognostications prove to be misguided (which they won’t) feel free to make fun of me from Super Bowl Sunday til’ the opening week of the 2015 season. However, when my predictions prove to be spot on like they always do, expect another “I Told You So” column coming your way. Victory is always so, so sweet. Be sure to check in tomorrow for our NFC predictions and break out your jerseys because the Seahawks are hosting the Packers this Thursday night, 8:30 p.m. EST on NBC. Until next time!