NFL Playoff Predictions-Divisional Round

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It is that time of year again. The time for NFL football has come and I for one am very happy about this! This weekend should be filled with great football action even if your team did not make it this far. Here are my predictions for each of the four games that will be played this weekend. Let’s start with the AFC.

Broncos Vs. Ravens.

The Broncos are favored in this game by 9.5 points. The first time these two teams met in the 2012 season, the Broncos walked away with a 34-17 victory so the line doesn’t surprise me at all. Fresh off of his 13 tackle performance last week, Ray Lewis is certain to be a factor in this game whether he is on the field or not. The Ravens will be playing with a ton of emotion because this could in fact be Rays last game. He has said that he plans to retire after this season which could end Sunday if the Ravens can’t find a way to pull out a win. Although Ray is one of my favorite players and he plays the game with passion, it saddens me to say that I think the Broncos will win this game 35-24. Peyton Manning has played very well despite coming back from neck surgery last year and has looked like the Peyton of old that everyone is used to. I think the game will be close but a costly Joe Flacco turnover late in the game will lead to the Broncos getting a late score that puts this game away.

Patriots Vs. Texans.

The Patriots are also favored in this game by 9.5 points. The first time these two teams met in 2012 was a nightmare of a game for the Texans. They were outplayed in every aspect of the game. The Texans went into Foxboro with a record of 12-1
(the best in the league at the time) and many believed they were the team to beat in the NFL. The Patriots ended up routing the Texans 42-14 which seemed to start the downfall of the Texans. Although I do not think that this game will be a blowout, I do think that the Patriots will come out with a victory and move on to the AFC championship game. The Patriots are tough to beat at home and only one teams has beaten them there since 2002(the San Francisco 49ers during the 2012 season) and I don’t see them losing there this Sunday. Final score, Patriots 31, Texans 20. Moving on to the NFC now.

Falcons Vs. Seahawks.

The Falcons are favored in this game by 2.5 points.They did not play in the 2012 season so this will be their first match up since 2011 that saw the Falcons come away with a 30-28 victory. To me, the Falcons played a very weak schedule this year, so their record seems inflated a little. Seattle is a very hot team right now and also a dangerous one. Russell Wilson played a great game last week against the Redskins despite being down 14-0 very early in that game. The Falcons haven’t played a game that matters in nearly three weeks, while the Seahawks have essentially been playing playoff games for nearly over a month. Seattle is riding a six game winning streak while Atlanta is coming off a bye and a loss in their last game against the Detroit Lions. I think this game may turn into a shootout and will come down to who has the ball last. Russell Wilson will have the ball last and lead this team to their seventh straight victory with the final score being Seahawks 41, Falcons 38.

49ers Vs. Packers.

The 49ers are favored in this game by 3 points. The first time these two teams met in 2012 was week 1 of the regular season at Lambeau Field. The 49ers came away with a 30-22 victory although Alex Smith was the starting quarterback for that game. On Saturday, Colin Kaepernick will lead the 49ers to battle in his fist playoff start of his young career. Justin Smith will be back for this game but he will not be at 100% as he will be playing with a partially torn triceps. The Packers avenged a week 17 loss to the Vikings last week in the wild card game that saw Aaron Rodgers looking in great form. The defense for Green Bay also looked to be on top of their game as they held Adrian Peterson under 100 yards rushing, a promise that the defense made before the game. I think this game will come down to the 49ers defense and Aaron Rodgers. The 49ers did a great job of containing Rodgers in the first half of their 2012 match up but slipped up a little in the second half. This should be a close game throughout but I think the 49ers will score late in the 4th to give them the separation needed to get the victory. Final score 49ers 31, Packers 21.

These are just my predictions, I’m sure many of you will not agree with them, so lets hear your predictions in the comment section below! Next week I plan on writing predictions for the NFC and AFC championship games as well. Until next time, stay classy!

The sports week that was: 2/5/12-2/12/12

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On Sunday February 5, 2012 the New York Giants and New England Patriots battled for the most coveted trophy in professional football, the Lombardi Trophy. After the first quarter seemed to be dominated by the Giants, the Patriots bounced back in the second quarter to take a 10-9 lead at the half. After another touchdown put the Pats up 17-9, the Giants were able to tack on two field goals to make the score 15-17 in favor of New England at the end of three quarters. After some stops from each team in the first half of the fourth quarter, Eli Manning got the ball back on his own 12 yard line with 3:46 left in the game. He then led his team on what would be the game winning drive that was capped off on a 6 yard touchdown run by Ahmad Bradshaw. Eli Manning was named the games MVP and finished with 296 yards, one touchdown and went 30 for 40(75% completion) on passes.

The NBA has been taken over by a new phenomenon by the name of Jeremy Lin. “Linning” is a new phrase being thrown around a lot lately and it is great for the game. A kid that bounced around from team to team may have just found himself a home in New York with the Knicks. The hottest selling jersey in New York is not Carmelo Anthony, A’mare Stoudemire or Tyson Chandler, but that of Jeremy Lin. They can’t print them fast enough! I am interested to see how Lins game will be once a healthy Carmelo returns to the line up. He sure is something special to watch and I for one can not wait to see more!

Below are the current standings for each conference almost halfway through the season.

If you are a fan of basketball like myself, then you have been treated to some great college games early this season. Some great players that are emerging to become superstars are Austin Rivers, Seth Curry, Anthony Davis, Tyler Zeller, Thomas Robinson and Jared Sullinger just to name a few. We were treated to a game that came down to a Austin Rivers buzzer beating shot to win it this week by North Carolina and Duke. Coach K and Roy Williams have always been two coaches who I look forward to seeing on the sidelines. This is an exciting time for college basketball and I am looking forward to the March Madness tourney this year more than I have in the past few years! Below are the most current rankings.

 

 

MLB quick hits……The pitchers and catchers are set to return by February 22nd……..Jose Canseco has announced that he will give it a shot in a Mexican League…..Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers had another relapse episode in his alcohol addiction battle…..AJ Burnett may be on the move to Pittsburg if the Yankees and Pirates can work out all of the numbers money wise……The Texas Rangers and catcher Mike Napoli reached a one year 9.2 million dollar deal to avoid arbitration……Boston Redsox 3rd baseman Kevin Youkillis is now engaged to Patriots quarterback Tom Bradys sister……Asdrubal Cabrera and the Cleveland Indians agreed to a one year 4.55 million dollar deal to avoid arbitration, Cabrera was easily the Indians best player last year so this is a win-win for both sides. Until next week, stay classy KnuckleHeadz!

We’re Baaaaaaaaaaaack!

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Mark your calendars!!!! January 12, 2012, 7pm right on this very website. The 2 KnuckleHeadz are back in action with a all new live webcast sports talk show! Join Jeff and Edward as they discuss all of the latest sports topics and give away gift cards and maybe even a pair of San Antonio Spurs tickets!

A Stern Reaction

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This morning, Mr(s). David Stern and the owners blocked a potential trade that would have sent Chris Paul to the Lakers in a three team deal. I first learned of this blockbuster deal last night, only to wake up to hear that it was blocked by said commish. What really made me irate (ground my gears) was hearing that Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cavaliers, wrote a letter to the league stating that the proposed trade was “a travesty” and that it would be a simply be another case of a superstar demanding to be traded. In other words, the small market v. big market dichotomy.

Well Mr(s). Stern and Mr(s). Gilbert, I assume you fail to recognize the rise of the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. Let’s not forget that the Spurs, a small makret team that gets no love from any of the major sports networks, have won four (count them) championships since 1999. Furthermore, that Oklahoma City has rising stars Durant, Westbrook, et al., who gave the current champs (still won’t give them credit!) a run for their money. The small market/big market dilemma in this case is null & void. The trade would have made ALL of the teams involved better. Bottom line.

Does Mr(s). Stern & Co. actually believe that they can block this deal simply for “basketball reasons?” The backlash has been fierce and CP3 is considering legal action. What really bugs me is that Dell Demps, the Hornets manager, was given the green light to make this deal and when they presented it to the league office, it was shut down immediately. What repercussions will this have for the rest of the league? Will Stern shut down a Howard trade or Tyson Chandler signing? Highly doubtful. Where is the justification? What will the Hornets get in return will CP3 ultimately leaves after this truncated season?

Nothing.

…and that’s what I think of Mr(s). Stern, Mr(s). Gilbert.

 

Love & Basketball: The day I fell in love with the game…

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The date was June 19th, 1988. I can remember it like it was yesterday. My dad had some family and friends over to watch game 6 of the finals that featured the western conference champions, the Los Angeles Lakers, against the eastern conference champions, the Detroit Pistons.

I had been watching the entire series with my dad and his pals, who were all Lakers fans and was forced to hear about how great they were all series long. Which indeed was true, let’s face it, a team that featured hall of famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Earvin “Magic” Johnson and James Worthy. Not to mention key contributors Byron Scott, A.C. Green, Michael Cooper and who could forget Kurt Rambis?! Now that is one tough line up to deal with night in and night out without a doubt, but I was fed up with my dad and his pals bragging about this team! So just to spite them, I decided to root for Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman, Joe Dumars and the rest of the “Bad Boys”.

The Pistons were up 3 games to 2 in the best of seven series, so this was an elimination game for Magic Johnson and company. Like I said, I had been watching the entire series but I did not really start paying attention until this game. I am not going to sit here and bore you with all the stats and what happened quarter by quarter. But what I will mention is what everyone mentions when they talk about game 6 of this series: Isiah Thomas’ sprained ankle. The one quarter that I do want to talk about is the 3rd one, where Thomas put on a classic performance. Oh and I must mention he did this with one severely sprained ankle for the last four minutes or so!

Despite playing with a sprained ankle, Thomas managed to score a NBA finals record 25 points in the 3rd quarter, a record that still stands to this day. The sprain came with a little under five minutes to go in the 3rd quarter when Thomas was making a pass to teammate Joe Dumars. Thomas had scored 14 points up until this moment but immediately after spraining the ankle, he could not even walk much less put pressure on the ankle. After sitting out for a minute(game time not real time) or so, Isiah checked back into the game and managed to score 11 of the Pistons last 15 points to give them a two point lead after trailing by eight points just a couple minutes earlier in the game.

It was then when I was amazed at how a man could play on basically one leg and still dominate the game and help his team come back after trailing for most of the game. Naturally, with the team that I was rooting for leading after the 3rd quarter, I began to rub it in my dad’s face. This began a face off that his friends did not hesitate to join in on! The rest of the game was back and forth with everyone yelling when each team would score a basket. It was official, I fell in LOVE with the game of basketball that night and haven’t fallen out of love ever since.

The next day I remember going to our back yard and pretending I was Isiah Thomas, shooting the ball on one leg and limping around as if I had sprained my ankle. Being young and blind I also thought that Earvin’s real name was “Magic” and thought that this was the coolest thing ever! I would imitate Kareem’s sky hook and shoot 3′s from the corner and yell “Michaellllll Cooooooooper”, just as the announcer would yell every time he hit a 3 pointer. I was hooked on this game and could not get enough! Every year, 95% of my friends and family anticipate the start of the NFL and NCAA football seasons, not I. I ALWAYS look forward to the start of the NBA season year after year, so it pains me to see this lockout continue to go on day after day with the chance of it ending growing smaller and smaller as the days go by.

So this was the moment that I fell in love with the game of basketball, what was yours?

In the World of Futbol 25

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The Houston Dynamo became Eastern Conference Champions when they defeated Sporting Kansas City 2-0.  Andre Hainault (53rd minute) and Carlo Costly (87th minute) scored for Houston.

The LA Galaxy became Western Conference Champions when they defeated Real Salt Lake 3-1. Landon Donovan scored during the 23rd minute off a penalty kick, Mike Magee scored during the 58th minute, and Robbie Keane scored during the 68th minute for the Galaxy.  Alvaro Saborio scored during the 25th minute for Real Salt Lake.

Houston will take on the Galaxy November 20th at 9 PM EST for the MLS Cup.

In the World of Futbol 24

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The LA Galaxy defeated the NY Red Bulls 2-1 (3-1 on Aggregate) to advance to the Conference Championship.  The Red Bulls started off very quickly with a goal from Luke Rodgers during the 4th minute, however Mike Magee (42nd minute) and Landon Donovan (75th minute penalty kick) solidified their fate.

The Seattle Sounders defeated Real Salt Lake 2-0 but it wasn’t enough to advance to the Conference Championship since Real Salt Lake held on for a 3-2 aggregate victory.  Osvaldo Alonso (56th minute penalty kick) and Lamar Neagle (61st minute) scored for the Sounders.

LA will take on Real Salt Lake November 6th at 9pm ET for the Western Conference Championship.  The winner of this match will advance to the MLS Cup Finals.

Sporting Kansas City defeated the Colorado Rapids to advance to their conference finals with a 4-0 aggregate. Aurelien Collin (28th minute) and C.J. Sapong (76th minute) scored for Sporting.

The Houston Dynamo defeated the Philadelphia Union 1-0 to advance to the conference finals with a 3-1 aggregate. Brian Ching scored the lone goal during the 48th minute.

Sporting Kansas City will take on the Houston Dynamo Sunday November 6th at 5:30 pm ET.  The winner will advance to play either the LA Galaxy or Real Salt Lake.

 

In the World of Futbol 23

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The New York Red Bulls defeated FC Dallas 2-0 to advance to the semifinals.Joel Lindpere 61st minute, and Thierry Henry 98th minute scored. Since they were the lowest seed in a wild card match, they took on the LA Galaxy in the semifinals.

The LA Galaxy defeated the New York Red Bulls 1-0.  Mike Magee scored the only goal during the 15th minute mark. The second leg between these two will be November 3rd at 11 pm ET.

The Colorado Rapids defeated Columbus Crew 1-0 to advance to the semifinals as well.! Omar Cummings scored the lone goal during the 46th minute. They will face Sporting Kansas City in the next round.

Sporting Kansas City defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-0. Teal Bunbury scored both goals (49th and 59th minute mark). The next match up between these two will be November 2nd at 8 pm ET.

Real Salt Lake defeated the Seattle Sounders 3-0.  Alvaro Saborio (41st and 53rd minute) and Ned Grabavoy scored for RSL.  These two face off again November 2nd at 10 pm ET.

The Houston Dynamo defeated the Philadelphia Union 2-1.  Andre Hainault (6th minute) and Calen Carr (30th minute) scored for Houston.  Sebastien Le Toux scored during the 7th minute for Philadelphia.  These two meet again November 3rd at 8:30 pm ET.

MLSSOCCER.COM allows you to download the bracket here.

In the World of Futbol 22

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Well soccer fans, we’re back after an unforeseen hiatus on my part and we’re just in time for the MLS playoffs which start on October 26th and end November 20th.

Western Conference:

Wild Card Match:One game will decide who advances from the Wild Card Matches.

Colorado Rapids take on Columbus Crew.

Western Conference Semifinals:Each match-up will play a Home and Away game and the aggregate total will determine who advances.

LA Galaxy will take on the winner of the Wild Card Match.

Seattle Sounders take on Real Salt Lake.

Eastern Conference:

Wild Card Match: FC Dallas will take on the New York Red Bulls.

Eastern Conference Semifinals:

Sporting Kansas City will face the winner of the Wild Card Match.

Houston Dynamo will take on the Philadelphia Union.

The Playoff Bracket with the schedule:

(source: mlssoccer.com)

We want to hear from YOU. Who are you rooting for? What are your predictions? Leave your responses in the comments, tweet us @2knuckleheadzST , or look us up on our facebook page!