THE NEW YEAR IS COMING SO ARE ...

Christmas is is viewed throughout the world as a time of giving, a time of sharing good times and good food with family and friends. We all go to great lengths to be with the ones we love. This year was no different, although it was the first year in several that we put the recent pandemic on the back burner (keeping a wary eye on it of course) and we gathered in groups like times of old. We traveled, we laughed and joked at parties, we filled buses and planes and trains and airports. Things have started to get back to normal, kind of.

Nowhere have we seen a back to normalcy and routine more so then in the NFL. The teams we thought would be great at the beginning of the season have turned into a bust, a raging smoldering dumpster fire for some, just like before. The teams we doubted in making the playoffs when they started 0-2 are now the talk of the town (I’m guilty in this respect). It’s been a very up and down season. An emotional roller coaster made more acute by the fact that it goes well beyond the holidays into the depth of winter. Eventually it will end and we’ll be down to the two final teams in the Super Bowl, the one game that in America makes the The World Cup Final look like a playground side show. Normal right?

Just like in normal times in days gone past The Miami Dolphins are having an end of season melt down. I’m not surprised in the least. It was bound to happen sooner or later because that’s Dolphins football. They’ve lost 4 straight. If Christmas Day is a day of giving, I think Dolphins QB Tua Turntheballova (sorry) took things a little too far by gifting the Green Bay Packers three straight interceptions on the Dolphins final three drives of the game loosing 26-20. It may be a ripe time for the Dolphins to start shopping for another QB. In my dreams, I think about where we could have been with Justin Herbert, picked 6th in the draft where The Dolphins picked Tua 5th. For some reason in this same dream I hear Lamar Jackson’s voice, strange. Then I wake up. In the end, Santa brought the Packers a brand new shiney bike, The Dolphins got a bag of rocks. The worst part about the whole affair is that the national sports media outlets will now elevate Arron Rogers to God-Like status once again and we’ll have to suffer through 300 hours of interviews with him dispensing his own personal brand of football wisdom. Normal right?

No one is really sure what’s going on in Denver with The Denver Broncos. They imploded on Christmas Day loosing 51-14 to The LA Rams. Obviously there are issues with Russell Wilson. The guy that the Broncos paid huge cash for, along with a bucket load of draft picks, it hasn’t turned into that office or Christmas party present one expected, more like that passed around box of old dry cookies. Did something happen on the road between Seattle and Denver? Was he kidnapped by aliens and redeposited on planet earth with no football skills? It’s a complete mystery. Only Seattle Head Coach Pete Carroll knows for sure I think. Not to worry Denver, Wilson’s contract only lasts 4 more years. Just another normal year in Denver right!?! Broncos Nation…….let’s ride!

It seems like just about every game is Christmas for The Tampa Bay Bucks and Tom Brady. Santa might get stuck in the chimney but he always seems to wiggle his way out. Sure, they’ve lost some games this year but not enough to keep them out of a close playoff hunt in the NFC South at 7-8. As I’ve said before, getting into the playoffs is key. You can be 15-1 going into the playoffs and loose that first playoff game and it’s over. If a 7-8 team gets hot and makes a run they could be the ones lifting the Lombardi Trophy. Definitely food for thought. With number 12 at the helm I like Tampa Bay’s chances. Of course, for Tom Brady this end of season scenario is pretty much normal right? It business as usual for Tom Terrific.

Looking ahead we now see that New Years is upon us and the tidings look very good for several teams as 2023 approaches.

No one is hotter right now than The SanFransisco 49ers. Brock Purdy may or may not be a flash in the pan but either way the 49ers are a legitimate contender to win it all. Not only are they hot offensively they also have one of the best defenses in the League. I may take a wait and see attitude here but for our pick em pools it looks like they may be the favorite. Joining them of course are The Cowboys, The Philadelphia Eagles, The Cincinnati Bengels, The Kansas City Chiefs, The Minnesota Vikings and last but not least The Buffalo Bills. Each of these teams have their eye on the ultimate prize and each are a legitimate candidate to win The Super Bowl but first they have to win through the playoffs. Remember, loose just one game and you go home. Whatever happens I’m sure that exciting games are in our future!

Finally let’s not forget that New Years means college football Bowl Season for many of us. Yes, that are many many bowl games. Yes, there are many that are seemingly insignificant but it’s the spirit of the game and the quest for competition that counts right? In the end the two bowl games that matter the most, until 2024 at least, are the ones pitting the final four college football teams against each other on New Years Eve. TCU vs. Michigan in The Vrbo Bowl and Ohio State vs. Georgia in The Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. For my pick I went with The Georgia Bull Dogs in a heartbeat to win it all. After a long season of chewing up schools in the SEC I think their last two victims will be Ohio State and then Michigan who should handle TCU no problem. But then there’s a reason why they play the games right? Do we smell an upset brewing? Watch and see and get your picks in early! It should be a barn burner!

Kev