Two Years Jammed in a Week

The NFL’s last regular season game, final day of 2013, day one of 2014, Christmas, Kwanzaa & NYE all packed in with selections made, 5 coaches fired, 2 hires and playoffs deciphered. Too many bowls to even mention, (an entire column I won’t address now) Peyton breaking records and even Tebow-mania is going down south.

Destinations are prelavant and prolific with weathers’ variable depending on where your plane is heading

Honolulu, HI  bound Noah’s Arc will sail, playoff permitting with all the NFL but 5 teams (Falcons, Jets, Giants, Packers, Jaguars) or a partridge and a pear tree.

8 Chiefs, 8  Niners, 7 Seahawks, 6 Broncos,  5 Panthers, 5 Browns, 4 Ravens, 4 Dolphins, 4 Patriots, 3 Cardinals, 3 Bills, 2 Cowboys, 2 Bengals, 2 Chargers, 2 Lions, 2 Bear, 2 Texans,  2 Rams, 2 Buccaneers, 1 Titan, 1 Redskin, 1 Viking, 1 Colt, 1 Raider.

By now you’ve all heard or seen the 86 Pro Bowl selections, but what you might not know is the new format.  This year will be “unconferenced”,  no longer will it be AFC vs NFC as in the past 43 years, they will be drafted by HOF’s Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders who will select their respective teams January 22nd on The NFL Network for the first ever Pro Bowl Draft.  A new element where players could potentially be playing against team mates.

Hunt for a spot, the last week of the regular season had many implications, percentages and equations especially where the AFC was concerned, Week 17 gave 59% to the Dolphins, who were the only team of the 4  that had the power in their hands, all they had to do was beat the Jets and they were in.  Ravens needed a little more help,  Fins to lose and come out with a win in Cincinnati, Steelers needed the most help, which after a 0-4 start is quite miraculous, they needed three teams to lose and beat the Browns.  Three of the four vying for a spot were morning games all but the Chargers who somehow found themselves kicking off with their own fate in their hands.  A crazy perfect storm arrived in San Diego vs a JV KC team, missed possible game winning FG, missed penalty, which had Steelers outraged and even warranted an apology from the NFL.  A 4th and long fake punt conversion by forward progress in OT finds the Chargers heading to the post for the first time since the 2009 season.

The NFC wasn’t quite so dramatic, more straight forward as Aaron Rodgers was back and Packers edged over the Bears for the NFC North.   Chip Kelly or I should say Nick Foles Eagles eliminated the Cowboys. In Less than 24 hours after the season ends, 5 coaches get walking papers, Black Monday started Sunday night.  Browns Rob Chudzinski was fired after the game, having lost his final 7 games and going (4-12).

“I was shocked and disappointed to hear the news that I was fired,” said Chudzinski, who grew up a Browns fan. “I am a Cleveland Brown to the core, and always will be. It was an honor to lead our players and coaches, and I appreciate their dedication and sacrifice. I was more excited than ever for this team, as I know we were building a great foundation for future success.”

Monday RedSkins’ Mike Shanahan, Lions’ Jim Schwartz, Vikings’ Leslie Frazier and Bucc’s Greg Schiano were terminated as well.

 

“It’s a harsh business,” safety Harrison Smith said. “As a player, we all love coach Frazier, as a coach, as a man. You can’t meet a better guy. And also as a player, we didn’t make enough plays on the field. So you just feel like you let him down a little bit.”

Also, Gary Kubiak who was fired a few weeks ago by Houston, however, State College, PA will be looking for a new HC as Penn States’ Bill O’Brien leaves a five year contract three years early and heads back to the NFL as Head Coach with the Texans.

Interesting to re-read his introduction presser for the Nittany Lions’ almost 2 years ago.

Wednesday evening Lovie Smith returns to the NFL warmly greeted by Tampa as he becomes their fourth Head Coach in the last six years.

“I’m so excited for Lovie and the Bucs,” said former linebacker Derrick Brooks. “It means so much to me personally. Hard to express it in words. Hard not to feel the franchise just got better tonight.”

Weather and Blackouts looming;   Green Bay and Cleveland stand a chance that the game will be blacked out locally, hoping and thinking this will all be sorted by the time this comes out.  However if your into great playoff weather games, your in luck, looks like well have snow, wet and cold unless your in indy in the dome.

Of the twelve teams that move into the post three come from the AFCWest.

WILDCARD WEEKEND

SATURDAY JANUARY 4TH

• 4:35 PM EST KO @ Lucas Oil Stadium  37ºF/24ºF 0% Precip
• Chiefs (11-5, 6-2 away) at Colts (11-5, 6-2 home)

NFL rules for roof opening

The home team determines if the roof is to be opened or closed 90 minutes before kickoff. The roof remains open unless precipitation or lightning is within the vicinity of the stadium, the temperature drops below 40 °F (4 °C), or wind gusts are greater than 40 miles per hour (64 km/h), in which case the roof operators will close the roof. Once the roof is closed, it may not be reopened.

• 8:10 PM EST KO @ Lincoln Financial Field  33ºF/26ºF
• Saints (11-5, 3-5 away) at Eagles (10-6, 4-4 home) 13-6 all time in home playoff games

 SUNDAY JANUARY 5th

• 1:05PM EST KO @ Paul Brown Stadium   37ºF/1ºF precip 100%
• Chargers (9-7, 4-4 away) at Bengals (11-5, 8-0 home)
• Breezy with rain changing to snow, 1-3″; watch for a rapid freeze up in the afternoon

• 4:40 PM EST KO @  Lambeau Field -3ºF/-20ºF
• 49ers (12-4, 6-2 away) at Packers (8-7-1, 4-3-1 home)
• Areas of low clouds, breezy and colder; extreme cold can be dangerous for outdoor activities

Lastly, Big congratulations to two Bronco’s QB’s. Mad props to current one and only Peyton Manning who somehow not exploited by the press surpasses Tom Brady with 55 TD passes in a single regular season.  In case you were wondering where the former QB Tim Tebow was, ESPN just hired him for SEC Network, you will be seeing him regularly in his broadcast debut soon.