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NFL Sunday Brunch: Pre-kickoff storylines for Week 2

Week Two is often seen as a “correction” week in the NFL, when week one’s surprise teams get their comeuppance and struggling playoff contenders get a chance to right their course. It’s also a chance to see if the hidden trends that emerged in Week One continue to play out and define the story of […]

NFL Genius vs the Spread, Week 2: History be Damned edition

There’s an odd thing about the NFL schedule this week: there’s not a single divisional game on the schedule. Odds-makers and bettors love the wealth of history that exists in divisional games. A three-year trend can be built on six games’ worth of data — more if they’ve met in the playoffs as well. But […]

Michael Vick returns: Atlanta welcomes its prodigal son.

Michael Vick, now happily ensconced as quarterback for the Super Bowl-ready Philadelphia Eagles, told the Atlanta media yesterday that “the Georgia Dome is Matt Ryan’s house now.” An impartial accounting of the number of #7 jerseys still in the Dome on game-days might say otherwise. In his brief, incendiary time in a Falcons uniform, Michael […]

It’s early, but for some teams, it’s already getting late

Every year some would-be contender falls into an 0-2 hole, and find themselves struggling all season long to dig themselves out. Some do, some don’t, but the odds are certainly stacked against them. Here are four teams who find themselves on the brink, and need to reverse course. Pittsburgh SteelersLosing badly to your chief division […]

Fantasy MIA: Week 1

Let’s imagine a nightmare draft strategy, playing out in Week 1. You get a top-five pick and are ecstatic when Chris Johnson falls to you. Coming back around, you pair the speedster with a classic power back in LeGarrette Blount, then debate between going RB-heavy in the third round, or taking your first receiver. You […]

Enter Cam Newton

It’s only one game, but suddenly everyone around the league has been forced to stand up and take notice of Cam Newton. That’s what happens when you obliterate Peyton Manning’s rookie passing debut by more than 100 yards, and single-handedly account for three touchdowns and 440 of your team’s 496 total yards. Starting your top […]

NFL Genius vs the Spread: Week 1, Haiku Edition

  I’m an unfortunate soul when it comes to football fandom. I was raised in Tampa Bay Buccaneers country during the original creamsicle era, and had to unlearn multiple curse words as a toddler before being allowed into polite company. (I still vividly remember those heady days when everyone believed that Vinny Testaverde was going […]

Time To Get Real: These Rams Are Ready For The Playoffs

The end of a typical football game looks a lot like a wrap party at the end of four-act play. The actors who were mortal enemies acting out generations-old grudges with murderous passion for the last three hours take off the helmets, hug, slap hands, and make plans to meet up later. For these professionals, […]

Changing of the Guard: The Next Generation of Tight Ends Emerge

Let’s consider washing your socks on a Saturday morning. Not exactly unpleasant, but something you have to do, and can just get done without worrying your hangover by thinking too hard. Just like drafting one of the stalwart big-name tight ends, Antonio Gates, Dallas Clark, or Jason Witten, used to be in fantasy football. The […]

Changing of the Guard: The Next Generation of Tight Ends Emerge

Let’s consider washing your socks on a Saturday morning. Not exactly unpleasant, but something you have to do, and can just get done without worrying your hangover by thinking too hard. Just like drafting one of the stalwart big-name tight ends, Antonio Gates, Dallas Clark, or Jason Witten, used to be in fantasy football. The […]

Road to the Playoffs: Detroit Lions

A 1964 ½ Ford Mustang previews the 2011 Detroit Lions season. I think it’s fair to say, without getting ahead of myself, that nobody has seen anything quite like me, or these Lions, come out of Detroit before. This is the first time this combination of power, speed, handling and pure fun have come together […]

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