I Bill-ieve In Miracles

Calling all fans of the mucial group Hot Chocolate, I do "Bill-ieve" in miracles, but this is not something of the kind.  For the second straight week, the resilient Buffalo Bills have managed a comeback after facing an improbable deficit of 18 or more points in the first half.  But this week, versus the New England Patriots, it was more than just a game. In what could prove to be a defining moment, the beginning of a new era if you will, the "No-Name-Bills" have passed their first true test that vouches for belonging among the list of 2011's elite NFL teams.

It is these same unlikely "No-Name-Bills" that now hold the only 3-0 record in the AFC of the National Football League.  Who would have thunk?

The national disrespect of the Bills' talent because the lack of name recognition adds fuel to the fire for the team.  Starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, a 7th round pick, and the first Harvard quarterback to throw a pass for a Pro-Football game in more than 40 years, has "Bill-ieved" from the very beginning.

Confirming his awareness of the underappreciation, Fitzpatrick notes, “Everyone’s been making a big deal about us not having any big names and we are the no-names. In the outside world we’re nothing. Nobody believes in us. We feed off of that.”

Division III Coe College's Fred Jackson, another oft-overlooked player, has endured a roller-coaster ride to the spotlight.  Deservingly, without the likes of Marshawn Lynch around, the starting running back position is now securely held in Jackson's grasp. 

Some say, "With money comes power", but for the 4th leading rusher in the NFL after week 3, he righteously has been hinting "With power comes money".  His age is 30, which is widely considered the age that NFL running backs begin breaking down.  However, more than anything, Jackson shows signs of youth. Through week 3 "F-Jax" has compiled 303 yards (6.4 ypa) on the ground, and 115 yards receiving (14.4 ypc), looking stronger and more focused than ever.

Although one could argue that he is the most important part of this Bills team, Jackson will earn a salary of $1.75 million in 2011, tenth most on the team.  It is hard to recall if there were ever a more appropriate time for Bills owner Ralph Wilson Jr. to break the bank.

“We’re just a bunch of undrafted guys and seventh-round picks. We want to show we can play against anybody – the Patriots, whatever.” 

Ironically, it looks like the misfits might be just the right fit.  If Buffalo's General Manager Buddy Nix is smart (which will be another test of the new era Bills) they will continue to exercise contract negotiations to lock-down offensive standouts Ryan Fitzpatrick, Fred Jackson, and Stevie Johnson (2008 7th Round Pick - Kentucky).

It's been 11 years since the Bills have circled the wagons like this.  Perhaps the undefeated, number 1 scoring offense in the NFL can finally break that playoff draught this season. 

Defensive leader (and Super Bowl Champion) Nick Barnett explains, "It’s too early to talk about we're going to the Super Bowl or this and that. We still got some growth to do. But I think we're playing [well]. If the offense keeps putting up 30 points, there’s no way we should lose, ever." 

I think I can speak for all of the Buffalo faithful when saying, we "Bill-ieve" in miracles, you sexy thing.

Nice Hair Bro

TMZ - has obtained the mug shot of Denver Broncos running back Laurence Maroney -- who was arrested in St. Louis on weapons and drug charges late Monday night.  Maroney -- a star running back for the Denver Broncos -- was allegedly high on drugs while in possession of a firearm.  Maroney's rep insists he had a permit to carry the weapon -- and has since been released from jail.

The Broncos player was in the car with 5 other people, all smoking, 3 of which had firearms, 2 handguns and a rifle.  A rifle?  Obviously it was just a misunderstanding, and the boys were taking off on a big-game hinting trip in the middle of St. Louis right?  At least Patriot fans have something to smile about this week.

The Head Games Continue...

Rotoworld - Fox Sports' Jay Glazer presented a video on Fox NFL Sunday that showed the Patriots appearing to setup a Sal Alosi type wall in their first meeting with the Jets this season.  The Jets claimed at the time of Alosi fiasco that the Patriots were guilty of the same crime, but did not have the video evidence to prove it. Glazer has now done that for them, but it's obviously too late for the NFL to reduce the $100,000 fine it imposed on New York last month. It's unclear what action, if any, the league will take on the Patriots.

Can the Jets please just lose so I can stop hearing all this shit, or are they going to specifically go out of their way to find some more things the Patriots did that are illegal? Another attempt to get in the Patriots heads right before the game?  I think so.  If you can't when with skill and smarts, I guess you have to resort to the mental game.  There's no way Alosi should've been fined 100 grand and fired, dude got screwed, it's not like he's a player that makes millions of dollars. 

The Jets organization gets an A for being a snitch through.   The concept of the "wall" was stolen from the Patriots because you weren't swift enough to think of it yourself, then you report the Pats as the reason that Alosi setup the wall and tripped a player.  Way to take responsibility.  Are the Jets really that jealous of the Patriots success that they had to rat them out.  Would the Jets have ratted the Patriots out if the Jets weren't caught in the act? The answer is no.  The Patriots tripped no one, Sal Alosi of the Jets did.  Just another reason to root against the Jets today.  Looks like the New York Post had the role of the Rats wrong on the back page.  Rexterminator?  Pretty fuckin' creative post...

Vince Wilfork Taking us Out of the Shitter and Into the Divisional Round of the Playoffs

Why is Vince leading the way?  Because he and the New England Patriots are going to take a giant shit on the Jets.  I don't even like Wilfork, he's an asshole on the field, but you gotta give credit where credit is due.  It ain't no walk in the park for a 325 pounder to take a shit in a porta-potty while fully padded.  Fuck Fireman Ed, Rex "Feet" Ryan, and Antonio Cromartie with all 47 of his kids.  Your welcome Handy House for the free publicity.  Enjoy the longest fucking blog post of all time, here's the picks...

Saturday, January 15

     Vs.    

  Baltimore Ravens               Pittsburgh Steelers

If it weren't for the Jets-Patriots hype, this game would absolutely be getting more attention than it is.  The line has the Ravens getting 3 points on the road.  These inner-division rivals will be meeting each other for the third time after splitting the regular season series in two tight, low-scoring games. 

Rumor has it that Ray Rice is has been ill all of Friday, spending more time vomiting than studying.  When you're facing a defense as strong as the Steelers, you'll need all the time you can get to study them.  For this reason Ray Rice is the determining factor of the game.  Don't get me wrong, Flacco has been a good solid quarterback all year, but good doesn't cut it versus the Steelers defense, especially without your star running back. 

I have a feeling Rice will be over the sickness by Saturday morning, but that missed study time is key.  You can probably say that the Steelers D and Ravens revitalized defense cancel each other out.  But, Joe Flacco and an unprepared Ray Rice don't matchup favorably against Big Ben Rapelisberger and a fully prepared Rashard Mendenhall.  The Black & Yellow take this one and cover the spread at home.  Steelers win 21-13.

Pittsburgh Steelers -3

     Vs.    

Green Bay Packers               Atlanta Falcons      

Atlanta is favored by 3 in this game.  All the talk about this game has been Aaron Rodgers against Matt Ryan, and James Starks of UB.  It's more than that.  Honestly all of this year I haven't given two shits about whats going on in the NFC because when it's all said and done, the champ will be from the AFC. 

However, that won't keep me from making my pick.  I give Aaron Rodgers a slight edge on Matt Ryan as an overall quarterback.  Rodgers is packin' heat with weapons like Greg Jennings, old man Donald Driver, and James Starks.  Matty Ice has Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, and Michael Turner.  Like the first game Saturday, the running back is the difference maker.  Congratulations to James Starks on an outstanding NFL playoff game, but you are unproven and certainly not Michael Turner.  The Burner's ability to run through the Packer's solid defense will be the deciding factor in whether the Falcons can squeeze past the Cheeseheads.

Based on the Falcons numbers at home (20-2), you've gotta stick with them as the pick to win in the dome.  But with the Cheeseheads having a slightly better quarterback, and a much better star-studded defense, it'll be extremely close.  If the Falcons win, it will be by less than 3, but they can very easy lose.  Mason Crosby kicking in a dome on the last drive is pretty attractive if you're a Packer fan.  Either the Falcons win 21-20, or the Pack take their talents to the NFC Championship game with a 23-21 win.

Green Bay Packers +3

Sunday, January 16

     Vs.    

Seattle Seahawks               Chicago Bears     

Good Fucking story.  Great story.  ESPN loved talking about the team that shouldn't have been in the playoffs winning their playoff game against the defending champion New Orleans Saints last week.  The win failed to install any confidence in critics though, as the Seahawks are 10 point underdogs this week at Chicago. 

Way back in week 6, the Seahawks edged out a victory over the Bears in Chicago 23-20.  Of course the weather in mid-October is a lot more attractive than it is mid-January, when it counts.  Hasselbeck didn't thrown 4 touchdowns in 20 degree weather on the road.  Let's face it, even though Marshawn Lynch's run was spectacular, Seattle won last week because of Matt Hasselbeck throwing 4 touchdowns at home against a sub-par Saints defense.  This season Hasselbeck didn't throw for more than 2 touchdowns in any games, and threw 2 touchdowns in only 3 games in the regular season.  Basically there's no way that Hasselbeck repeats his 4 touchdown performance against one of the best defenses in the league.  Realistically I'd say he has a better chance of throwing more interceptions than touchdowns, than throwing 2 or more touchdowns.

The Bears D and Saints defense are night and day.  The rested Bears have been waiting for two weeks to step back on the field for some live game action, and now the NFC's 2 seed has their chance at redemption from the regular season.  Everything's working against the 'Hawks; no 12th man, inclimate weather, and poor defense versus a great defense.  Cutler's inconsistency at times makes him look like he should be working at a gas station, other times he's playing like a Pro Bowl starter, but his inconsistency won't cost the Bears the game, it will only keep it close, less than 10 points.  Bears win 27-20 but fail to cover the spread.

Seattle Seahawks -10

     Vs.    

             New York Jets               New England Patriots   

The Jets have definitely caught the Pats' attention judging by Wes Welker's press conference that sticks the foot back in Rex Ryan's mouth (I had to) in the more suttle fashion possible.  The guy seriously deserves an award for the acting, I would've been cracking up all over the podium.  Notice that the flamboyant Jets Coach hasn't said a word since Welker put his "best foot forward" at his press conference. 

The Vegas line has the Jets as a 9 point underdog.  Yes, The Patriots did completely obliterate them the last time they took the field, but that isn't something that happens more than once in one season, especially between two playoff teams.  Keep in mind that this will be the third meeting between the two teams just this year, so they know each other's personnel and packages well.  Like last week, I expect Rex to implement a run-happy game plan to keep Tom Brady off the field as much as possible, if it turns into a high scoring affair, New York has no chance.

Belichick is one of the best NFL coaches of all time, Rex Ryan hasn't won or proved shit besides the fact that he loves feet.  Although the Jets offense is much is all around more efficient than last year, it doesn't match an offense ran by Tom Brady.  The Jets have the better defense of the two teams, but Belichick, being a defensive minded coach, won't let his players slouch in a game of this importance.  The New England Patriots will earn the win and advance to the AFC Championship game, barely covering the spread.  The Darkside prevails, Pats win 24-14.

New England Patriots -9

Don't blame me if you lose your fuckin' bets, I'm probably wrong as much as you are.  Good luck this weekend Assholes.