Notes on College Football Through Week 12

Nick Chubb
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Georgia's Late Push for the College Football Playoff

Georgia had an extremely impressive win over Auburn last night. They won 34-7, Auburn only scored on the first drive of the game. Todd Gurley returned for the Bulldogs and the duo of Gurley and Nick Chubb was unstoppable. Gurley had 29 carries for 138 yards and a touchdown, while Nick Chubb had 19 carriers for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Both running backs tore up a very good Auburn defense. The only negative to come out of the game was that Gurley went down with a torn ACL in the fourth quarter and is out for the rest of the season. Georgia's two losses have not been good (38-35 loss to 5-5 South Carolina and a 38-20 loss to 5-4 Florida) and that will hold them back in the polls. However, if Georgia wins out, Missouri loses at least one more game, and Georgia beats the SEC West champ in the SEC Championship game, do they make the College Football Playoff? Yes, they have two losses, but, the quality of the Georgia team last night is championship worthy.

TCU's Devastating Win

TCU won on Saturday, 34-30. They came back from ten points down in the third quarter to win the game. While on the surface the win would be expected to help them in the polls, it is going to hurt them badly. This is because TCU beat Kansas.

Kansas has been the worst team in the Big 12 this decade. The have won only four conference games in the last six years. Even if TCU had won by ten points, it may have hurt them more then help in the polls. TCU will drop out of the top four and may even drop behind fellow conference mate, Baylor. There will not be a win this year that will hurt a team more than TCU's win over Kansas will hurt the Horned Frogs.

Melvin Gordon and Wisconsin's Chances

Melvin Gordon
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Yesterday's Nebraska vs. Wisconsin game was billed as the battle of the running backs. Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon were two of the three running backs in the country heading into yesterday's game. After the game, there was a clear number one back in the country.

Melvin Gordon ran for an NCAA record 408 yards on only 25 carries with four touchdowns in the Badger's 59-24 rout of the Cornhuskers. Gordon broke the previous record of 406 rushing yards, held by LaDanion Tomlinson, in only three quarters of action. If given the opportunity, Gordon would have rushed for 500 yards easily. The performance was legendary. Gordon is now the leading rusher in the country with 1909 rushing yards, 231 more yards than current runner-up Tevin Coleman of Indiana. He has vaulted himself into the top two of the Heisman race with Oregon QB Marcus Mariota.

Wisconsin is now 8-2 on the year and is number one in the Big Ten West. They will need a lot of help to even have a chance of getting into the College Football Playoff. However, a strong finish can get them into a high-profile New Year's Day Bowl Game.

Thundering Under the Radar


The Marshall Thundering Herd are 10-0. They have won by an average margin of about 31 points. The closest margin of victory in a single game was 15 points. Quarterback Rakeem Cato is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the game. Running back Devon Johnson is top five in Division I in rushing yards and has only rushed for under 100 yards once (not including game vs. Southern Miss that he did not play in). The defense is stout and has been playing very well. Marshall is not going to get into the Playoff, which is expected, but they should get some recognition if they go undefeated. Going undefeated in mid-level conference is extremely difficult and they should be acknowledged for their accomplishments. 

Coastal Carolina and Harvard

Coastal Carolina QB Alex Ross
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Florida State and Marshall are the only undefeated teams left in the FBS. However, there are two other Division I teams that are undefeated: Coastal Carolina and Harvard, both FCS teams. Coastal Carolina is 11-0 with an average win margin of 21.4 points. The only game that threatened the Chanticleers perfect schedule was a 37-31 2OT win over Furman. Coastal Carolina has clinched the conference title and have one more game before the playoffs start. Harvard is 9-0 on the season. The Crimson have the best defense in the FCS, giving up only 11.0 points per game and only 12 touchdowns the whole season. Their offense is also good, averaging over 230 rushing yards and 230 passing yards per game. The Crimson have one more game, vs. Yale and it will decide the Ivy League championship. The game is getting national attention, as ESPN's College GameDay will be hosting from Cambridge on Saturday. 

Gerold Holliman

Holliman has the most interceptions in a season in this century with 13 and has three more games to play. The most interceptions in a season for an FBS player is 14 (Al Worley, 1968, Washington) and the most by any player across NCAA's three divisions is 15 (Ben Matthews, 2000, Bethel University (MN), DIII and Mark Dorner, 1987, Juniata College (PA), DIII). Both record are in damage of being broken. He has been a ball hawk at safety for the Louisville Cardinals. In this weekend's game at Boston College, Holliman had three interceptions. That was his fourth multi-interception game of the season. Holliman, a sophomore, is making a name for himself and becoming a legitimate top prospect in the 2016 NFL Draft. 

Division II and Division III Playoff Brackets Set

Stagg Bowl XLII Logo
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The Division II and Division III brackets were released today. The DII bracket has 24 teams in four regionals, with the top two seeds getting byes. There are five undefeated teams in the bracket: Concord University (WV), Ferris State University (MI), Lenoir-Rhyne University (NC), University of Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota State University-Mankato, and Quachita Baptist University (AK). Defending champions Northwestern Missouri State are the fifth seed in super regional three and will play Minnesota-Duluth in the first round.

In the DIII bracket, the bracket is lined up for a final between rivals University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (DIII Champs: 2007, 2009-2011, 2013) and Mount Union (OH) (DIII Champs: 1993, 1996-1998, 2000-20022005-2006, 2008, 2012). Both teams are undefeated, but will the road to the Stagg Bowl will not be easy. Other defeated teams include: Centre College (KY), Hobart College (NY), Johns Hopkins, The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (TX), MIT, The College of St. Scholastica (MN), Wartberg College (IA), and Wheaton College (IL), Widener University (PA).

College Football Playoff Top Four and First Four Out Through 12 Weeks

1. Florida State (10-0)
2. Oregon (9-1)
3. Alabama (9-1)
4. Mississippi State (9-1)

5. Baylor (8-1)
6. TCU (9-1)
7. Ohio State (9-1)
8. Georgia (8-2)

Jarryd Hayne's Switch From Rugby League to American Football

Jarryd Hayne
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Jarryd Hayne was one of the best rugby league players in the world on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he was not.

Hayne announced on Wednesday that he would be quitting the sport of rugby league in order to pursue a career in the NFL.

The Australian is 26 years old, was a member of the Parramatta Eels of Australia's National Rugby League, the Australian rugby league national team, and the New South Wales rugby league team. Hayne had just won his second Daily M Medal this year for being the best player in the NRL and also won the award for best fullback.

The decision shocked Australia. While Hayne said at his announcement that he was thinking about doing this for almost two years, it came as a surprise. The NRL could have used a clause to keep him in the league, but both the league and Eels gave Hayne their best wishes and told him to go fulfill his dream. 

Hayne is not the only prominent rugby league player to leave the sport this year. Sam Burgess and Sonny Bill Williams also left the sport at the end of the 2014 season. Both switched to rugby union.

The comparison being made to Hayne's decision is to when Michael Jordan switched from basketball at the height of his career to baseball. While, the comparison can be made, it is not close to being the same. Jordan left basketball to play baseball, a sport that is popular in the USA. Hayne is leaving to play in american football, a sport that is not popular in Australia, and is also being played on the other side of the Earth. You also have to remember that Hayne is not the only rugby league star leaving the sport. There has never been anything like this before.

Jarryd Hayne
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If Hayne makes it to the NFL, he would most likely be a running back who may also return kicks and punts. Hayne could be a tenacious runner out of the backfield, especially in goal-line and short distance situations. He has the intangibles to be a complete running back, both with his speed, his power, and his hands. If kicking returns does not work, he could also be a great special teamer. 

It is being reported that Hayne is being looked at by at least six NFL teams, one of those teams being the Detroit Lions. Hayne may be signed before the season ends, but the chance he plays in a NFL game this year is pretty much impossible. 

Hayne can make it to the NFL. He has the physical attributes and the work ethic to play in the NFL by next season. His success playing american football could be very high, and it could also be low. The key to Hayne's success how quickly he will understand a playbook and how much knowledge of the game he will have. I look forward to seeing Hayne on a football field on Sundays next Fall.

Three Weeks Into NFL Season: RGIII, Sanu, and More

Robert Griffin III vs. Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins
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Even though the Washington Redskins lost 37-34 to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Redskins QB Kirk Cousins had a career game. Even with a rough 4th quarter, Cousins passed for 437 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, a passer rating of 103.4, a QBR of 75.8, and a interception. On top of that performance, Cousins threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns along with a QBR of 93.4 and passer rating of 109.4 in three plus quarters of action against the Jaguars after Griffin went down in the first quarter. Cousins has the starting job for the near future with the timetable for Griffin's ankle unset. However, it is time for the reins of the team to be handed over to Cousins. Cousins, like Griffin, is in his third professional season, but unlike Griffin, has not had two surgeries on his ACL and currently has a dislocated ankle. The appeal to RGIII in the 2012 NFL Draft was his passing and running ability. Now that his legs are fragile and will have to run less, his effectiveness will go down. Cousins is a pocket passer who knows the system and shinned in when replacing Griffin both this year and in 2012 (He was not good during the 2013 season). It's time for the Redskins to move on from RGIII. Cousins does and will given them the best chance to win.

The Bad Bucs

The Tampa Bay Bucanners are 0-3 and coming off one of the worst losses in franchise history. Atlanta smashed them 56-14 and the Bucs did not score a point until the fourth quarter. QB Josh McCown, who the Tampa Bay signed after a career year in Chicago last season, has been disappointing and has a sprained thumb. Doug Martin is hurt, as well as Vincent Jackson and Gerald McCoy. This is turning out to be another year of sorrow in Tampa Bay, as it is going to be all but impossible to make the playoffs with an 0-3 record in the tough NFC South. What Bucs fans should be hoping for now is the number one pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Mohamed Sanu: Passing Wide Receiver

Mohamed Sanu and Andy Dalton
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In the Cincinnati Bengals' game vs. Tennessee, Andy Dalton pitched the ball back to Mohamed Sanu who, after running horizontally for a few yards, threw the ball back to Dalton. Dalton caught the ball and ran the ball into the end zone for the score. That pass was the fourth ever pass thrown by Sanu. Of those four passes, all four have been completed. The first ever pass Sanu threw was in 2012, his rookie season. It was the week three game against Washington. It was the first play from scrimmage and Sanu was lined up as the QB in a shot gun formation. He took the snap and lofted a deep ball for AJ Green, who caught it and ran it into the end zone for a 73 yard touchdown. In 2013, Sanu threw a 25 yard pass to Giovani Bernard. Sanu also threw a pass in Week 2 against the Falcons. He ran an end around and after Dalton faked the handoff to the running back, he pitched the ball to Sanu. Sanu received the ball and threw a beautiful ball to Golden Tate, who had one defender draped on him and one coming to help. Sanu's career passing stats are: 4/4, 2 TD, 166 yards, and a perfect 158.3 passer rating.

Cleveland Browns Trickery

Speaking of unusual plays, the Browns pulled off a very unique play, but had to be called off. After Johnny Manziel handed the ball off to Isiaih Crowell, he ran over to the sideline, except Johnny Football stayed on the field. He was a facing away from the field, looking at the sideline. When the ball was snapped, Manziel started running and Brian Hoyer threw Manziel the ball, who caught it and picked up 39 yards on the play. The only problem was that the Browns were penalized because running back Terrence West was not set when the play started. However, according to the rules, that was not the only problem on the play. The Browns should have also been assessed a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty because Manziel lined up within five yards of the sideline. While the rule is that the play is illegal, it was still a smart idea and worked perfectly.

49ers Struggles

Frank Gore
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The San Francisco 49ers are currently 1-2 and at a crisis point in their season. After beating the Cowboys handedly in Week 1, the 49ers gave up 21 points in the fourth quarter and lost to the Bears in Week 2 and then were beaten by the Cardinals in Week 3. The 49ers have a big match-up against the 3-0 Eagles on Sunday. A loss to Philadelphia would put the 49ers in full blown panic mode. The Seahawks and Cardinals are both currently on path for great seasons and a 1-3 start for the 49ers would be a season ruiner. They need the offensive to pick up in the second half of games. In three games, they have scored only three points in the second half. For the offense to be successful in the second half and in general, they are going to end better production from Frank Gore. Gore rushed for 10 yards on six carries against Arizona. While the 49ers went with a more passing attack vs. the Cardinals, Gore did nothing with his touches. They need Gore to play for the 49ers to be successful and get their season around.

2014 College Football Preview: Games of the Week and Playoff Predictions

Week 1

Texas A&M @ South Carolina: A great way to start of the SEC season, this is South Carolina's game to lose.

Clemson @ Georgia: Whoever loses this game will be in a hole for the rest of the season, while the winner will have a step above the rest.

Wisconsin vs. LSU: A game that can have a large impact in both the SEC and Big Ten.

Week 2

Michigan State @ Oregon: This game could have major backlash in both the PAC-12 and Big Ten. If Michigan State loses, the Big Ten becomes wide open. If Oregon loses, they cannot lose again if they want to make the playoff.

Week 3

Georgia @ South Carolina: The two best teams in the SEC East play very early in the season. That means the loser will have time to recuperate and get better.

Week 4

Auburn @ Kansas State: An Auburn loss may ruin their chances of making the playoff while a Kansas State win may propel them to the top of the Big 12.

Clemson @ Florida State: Probably the biggest game on the ACC slate. Clemson is most likely the only ACC team to put up a big challenge to the Seminoles.

Week 5

UCLA @ Arizona State: Arizona State are an under the radar squad in the PAC-12. If they pull of the early season upset, it may springboard them to a PAC-12 Championships.

Stanford @ Washington: Two of the top three teams in PAC-12 North face off in a key match-up that will be very important.

Week 6

LSU @ Auburn: A big game in the SEC West with the loser having a lot of ground to make.

Week 7

Oregon @ UCLA: Two of the best quarterbacks in the country face off in the biggest game on the PAC-12 calendar. Both teams have the best chance of any PAC-12 team of making the playoff. The loser will have to climb back up and stay perfect the rest of the way.

Oklahoma vs. Texas: After Texas' annihilation of the Sooners last year, Oklahoma has a chip on their shoulder. Bob Stoops' squad will leave it all on the field.

Week 8

Washington @ Oregon: After the big game the week before, Oregon has to bounce back and face a very good Washington squad. Oregon may be vulnerable after their big game against UCLA, while Washington will be ready to fight.

Week 9

Ole Miss @ LSU: Ole Miss have an extremely talented squad but because they are in the SEC West, the Rebels are never given much publicity. But if Ole Miss pulls off the upset, they will become Playoff contenders.

Week 10

Stanford @ Oregon: A battle between old fashion smash mouth football and the new uptempo, speed offense will have major significance in the PAC-12. The winner will be the new favorite in the PAC-12 North.

Florida @ Georgia: When rivals face off, even the big underdog (in this case Florida) can pull off the biggest upsets (for example: Oklahoma-Texas last year).

Week 11

Alabama @ LSU: Always one of the biggest match-ups of the year, LSU-Alabama will be great agin this year. If LSU's Leonard Fourentte has a big game, LSU will pull off the upset.

Ohio State @ Michigan State: If Ohio State can stay successful without Braxton Miller, this game will be very important in the weak Big Ten. The winner will have a much easier time the rest of the season.

Baylor @ Oklahoma: The two best teams in the Big 12 face off for supremacy. The winner will most likely be the champion of the conference, or will finish second.

Week 12

Nebraska @ Wisconsin: If Ohio State and Michigan State falter, this match-up may become very important in the outlook of the Big Ten.

Week 13

North Carolina @ Duke: A big match-up in the Coastal Division of the ACC, these two rivals have this game circled. The winner will most likely be the ACC Coastal Division champion.

Week 14

Stanford @ UCLA: This game may play a big part in who plays in the following week's PAC-12 Championship. The loser may find themselves out of the Championship Game and out of Playoff contention.

Auburn @ Alabama: The Iron Bowl will be an exciting game. If both Alabama and Auburn are undefeated to this point, this game will be extremely important.

Week 15

PAC-12 Championship: Maybe the best game of the whole year if it is a rematch of UCLA and Oregon.

ACC Championship: Florida State will make it to this game and will win it.

SEC Championship: Always a great match-up of some of the best teams in the country. This year it will be LSU vs. Georgia.

Week 16

Navy vs. Army: Army-Navy is always a big game. It is always a fun game to watch and this year will be no different.

Four Playoff Teams

1. Florida State
2. UCLA
3. LSU
4. Oregon

Semi-Finals

LSU over UCLA
Oregon over Florida State

Finals

Oregon over LSU

2014 NFL Mock Draft for Round One

#1 Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
#2 St Louis Rams: Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
#3 Jacksonville Jaguars: Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
#4 Cleveland Browns: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
#5 Oakland Raiders: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
#6 Atlanta Falcons: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
#7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo
#8 Minnesota Vikings: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
#9 Buffalo Bills: Eric Ebron, TE, UNC
#10 Detroit Lions: Darqueze Denard, CB, Michigan State
#11 Tennessee Titans: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama 
#12 New York Giants: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
#13 St. Louis Rams: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
#14 Chicago Bears: Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
#15 Pittsburgh Steelers: Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
#16 Dallas Cowboys: Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville
#17 Baltimore Ravens: Odell Beckham Jr, WR, LSU
#18 New York Jets: Marquese Lee, WR, USC
#19 Miami Dolphins: Zach Martin, OT, Notre Dame
#20 Arizona Cardinals: Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA
#21 Green Bay Packers: Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State
#22 Philadelphia Eagles: CJ Mosley, ILB, Alabama
#23 Kansas City Chiefs: Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
#24 Cincinnati Bengals: Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
#25 San Diego Chargers: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU
#26 Cleveland Browns: Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt 
#27 New Orleans Saints: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State
#28 Carolina Panthers: Cyrus Kouandijo, OT, Alabama
#29 New England Patriots: Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame
#30 San Francisco 49ers: Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State
#31 Denver Broncos: Demarcus Lawerence, DE, Boise State
#32 Seattle Seahawks: Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG, UCLA

Notes to Prepare You for the 2013 NFL Playoffs

Denver Broncos 

• NFL Records Peyton Manning Broke Include...
• Touchdowns in a Single Season with 55
• Passing Yards in a Single Season with 5,477
• Tied for Touchdowns in a Game with 7 against Baltimore on 9/5
• NFL Team Records Include...
• Scoring in a Single Season with 606
• First Team to Score over 600 points in a Season
• More Peyton Manning's Stats this Year
• 68.3 completion percentage
• 342.3 passing yards per game
• 8.3 TD percentage
• 10 INTs
• 111.1 Passer Rating
• Kicker Matt Prater season...
• 25/26 on Field Goals
• 6/7 on 50+ yard Field Goals  
• 75/75 on PATs
• The Missed FG was from 52 yards out vs KC on 11/17
• Set record by hitting a 64 yard FG against Tennessee on 12/8

New England Patriots

• Season Highlighted By Comebacks
• 9/8 vs. Buffalo: Down 21-20 with 4:31 left, Won 23-21 on GW Field Goal
• 10/13 vs. New Orleans: Down 27-23 with 2:24 left, Won 30-27 on GW TD Pass with 5 seconds left
• 10/20 vs. New York Jets: Down 27-24 with 2:10 left, Game-Tying FG with 16 seconds left
• 11/24 vs. Denver: Down 24-0, Won 34-31
• 12/8 vs. Cleveland: Down 26-14 with less then 65 seconds left, won 27-26
• LeGarrette Blount had a career day against Buffalo in the last week of the season (189 yards, 7.9 per carry, 2 Rushing TDs, 145 kickoff return yards, and 72.5 yards per kickoff return)
• The Patriots have arguably the most depth at running back with Blount, Steven Ridley, Shane Vereen, and Brandon Bolden
• Only one player has over 60 catches of the Pats: Julian Edelman
• Edelman had 21 catches in 2012, 4 in 2011, and 7 in 2010
• To compare, he had 18 total tackles in 2011 and ended up playing defensive back due to injuries
• It's been a rough year for Brady, having to play with inexperienced and off-injured wide receivers and tight ends, however, I still trust him with a game on the line

Cincinnati Bengals

• Andy Dalton:
• 61.9% Completion Percentage
• 4296 Passing Yards
• 33 TDs
• 20 INT
• 88.8 QB Rating
• Dalton to AJ Green: 
• 98 completions
• 180 targets
• 1426 yards
• 14.6 average yards
• 18 20+ Yard Plays
• RB Giovani Bernard can run and catch the ball
• 170 rushing attempts
• 695 rushing yards
• 4.1 yards per carry
• 5 rushing touchdowns
• 56 receptions (second on team)
• 514 receiving yards
• 422 yards after catch
• 3 receiving touchdowns
• Vontaze Burfict is the league leader in combined tackles with 171
• Missing defense stalwart Geno Atkins (torn ACL)

Indianapolis Colts

• Three large improvements in Andrew Luck's game this year
1. Completion Percentage: 60.2% compared to 54.1% last year
2. Interceptions: 9 this year compared to 18 last year
3. Fumbles: 5 this year compared to 9 last year
• 23 of Luck's 63 rushing attempts have resulted in first downs
• Without Reggie Wayne, Luck has relied on TY Hilton
• Hilton is the only member of the team with 55+ receptions and 610+ receiving yards
• Hilton and Coby Fleener are the only with receivers with 40+ receptions
• Trent Richardson has been a let down
• 2.9 yards per attempt
• 32.7 yards per game
• 1 20+ yard carry
• Robert Mathis is having his best season of his career
• 19.5 sacks
• 8 forced fumbles
• Number one in the league for both
• Jarrell Freeman is one of the most underrated linebackers in the game
• 126 combined tackles
• 5.5 sacks
• 6 forced fumbles
• 6 passes deflected

Kansas City Chiefs 

• Jamaal Charles led the team in rushing and receiving and was second in scoring (DNP in Week 17)
• His 114 points scored this season is the most by a non-kicker
• He rushed for...
• 1,287 yards
• 5 yards per carry
• 12 touchdowns
• 72 first downs 
• His receiving stats are 
• 70 receptions
• 104 targets
• 693 receiving yards
• 630 yards after catch
• 7 touchdowns
• 32 first downs
• Outside Linebackers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali both had 11 sacks on the season
• Fellow linebacker Derrick Johnson had 107 tackles
• For the Chiefs to be successful, they need to
• Establish the run
• Put the offense in 3rd and Long
• Win on Special Teams

San Diego Chargers

• Phillip Rivers is having a great year
• 378/544 or a 69.5 completion percentage
• 4478 passing yards
• 32 TDs
• 11 INTs
• 60 20+ yard passes
• 105.5 passer rating
• Rivers has two great targets to throw to: Keenan Allen and Antonio Gates
• Allen's stats this year:
• 71 receptions
• 105 targets
• 1046 receiving yards
• 8 TDs
• 16 20+ yard catches
• Gates' stats this year:
• 77 receptions
• 116 targets
• 872 receiving yards
• 4 TDs
• Saftey Eric Weddle is total defender
• 115 combined tackles
• 10 pass deflections
• 2 picks
• 1 forced fumble
• 2 fumble recoveries

Seattle Seahawks

• 15-1 at home over the last two seasons
• Have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs
• The Seahawk defense is the best in the league
• They are first in the NFL in...
• Yards Allowed in 4378
• Yards Allowed per Game with 273.6
• Passing Yards with 2752
• Passing Yards per Game with 172.0
• Points Allowed with 231
• Points Allowed per Game with 14.4
• Richard Sherman is the best corner in the league
• 8 picks (#1 in the NFL)
• 16 pass deflections 
• 3 picks in the fourth quarter with the game within 7 points this year
• 20 picks last three years
• 57 pass deflections last three seasons
• Free Safety Earl Thomas may also be the best at his position
• 105 combined tackles
• 8 pass deflections
• 5 interceptions
• 2 forced fumbles
• Russell Wilson has been very efficient
• 63.1 completion percentage
• 26 TDs
• 9 INTs
• 101.2 passer rating

Carolina Panthers

• Cam Newton had Career Highs In...
• Competition Percentage with 61.7%
• Touchdowns with 24
• QB Rating with 88.8
• And Career Lows In...
• Fumbles with 3
• Luke Kuechly is fourth in the league with 156 combined tackles
• He also had 4 interceptions and 11 passes deflected
• His 320 tackles in his first two seasons is more then these players in their first two years...
• Patrick Willis (315)
• Ray Lewis (293)
• DeMeco Ryans (284)
• Jon Beason (278)
• Brian Urlacher (239)
• Derrick Brooks (210)
• NaVarro Bowman (189)
• Kuechly had 24 combined tackles vs. New Orleans on 12/22
• The 24 tackles was the most in a game this season
• Kuechly is the best linebacker in the league and the anchor of the defense
• DE Greg Hardy had 15.0 sacks on the season

Philadelphia Eagles

• Nick Foles is 8-2 in games he is the starting QB
• Foles since the start of November
• 151/227 or a 66.5 completion percentage
• 2269 passing yards
• 21 TDs
• 2 INTs
• 101 first downs
• 43 passes of 20+ yards
• 7 Wins
• 1 Loss
• LeSean McCoy is the leading rusher in the league with 1607 rushing yards
• McCoy since the start of November
• 158 rushing attempts
• 874 yards
• 5.5 rushing yards per carry
• 6 TDs
• 43 first downs
• 7 Wins
• 1 Loss
• CB Brandon Boykin
• 6 picks
• 17 pass deflections
• 2 forced fumbles
• 205 kick-off return yards
• Boykin is the x-factor for the Eagles, he is not only becoming a great corner, but he can also be deadly in the return game

Green Bay Packers

• With Aaron Rodgers playing the whole game, the Pack are 6-2
• Without the 2011 MVP, the Packers are 2-5-1
• In Rodgers' return from injury: 
• 25/39
• 318 yards
• 2 TDs
• 2 INTs
• 85.2 QB Rating 
• Not great, but not awful
• Eddie Lacy is the first 1,000 yard rusher for the Packers since Ryan Grant in 2009
• Lacy has...
• 1178 rushing yards
• 11 TDs
• 61 first downs
• All-Pro Clay Matthews is out for the playoffs
• However, they still have constamint pro, ILB AJ Hawk 
• 118 combined tackles
• 1 forced fumble
• Green Bay's defense gives up the most points of any team in the league with an average of 26.8 points allowed per game

San Fransisco 49ers

• The Best Linebacking Core In Football
• NaVarro Bowman
• 145 combined tackles
• 120 total tackles
• 5 sacks
• 4 forced fumbles
• 9 pass deflections
• 2 picks
• 2014 Pro Bowler
• Patrick Willis (In 14 games)
• 104 total tackles
• 3 sacks
• 7 tackles for loss
• 2 forced fumbles
• 2014 Pro Bowler
• Ahmad Brooks
• 8.5 sacks
• 6 tackles for loss
• 60 combined tackles
• 2014 Pro Bowler
• Aldon Smith (In 11 games)
• 8.5 sacks
• 34 tackles

New Orleans Saints

• Cameron Jordan and Junior Galette are becoming one of the best 1-2 punches when rushing the quarterback
• Jordan this season:
• 12.5 sacks
• 47 combined tackles
• 2 forced fumbles
• 2014 Pro Bowler
• Galette this season:
• 12.0 sacks
• 40 combined tackles
• 6 tackles for loss
• The Saints can't run the ball (CHECK ALL)
• 1473 rushing yards (25th in the NFL)
• 391 rushing attempts (26th)
• 3.8 yards per attempt (26th)
• 92.1 rushing yards per game (25th)
• They can, however, pass the ball
• Drew Brees' stats:
• 5162 passing yards (2nd)
• 68.6 completion percentage (2nd)
• 39 TDs (2nd)
• 104.7 passer rating (6th)
• 70.5 QBR (4th)

2013 FCS Playoff Preview: Three Teams To Watch

North Dakota State

Brock Jensen
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The Bison are the number one seed in the tournament and that is well deserved. Not only are they the only undefeated team in the FCS, they have won the last two FCS titles and have not lost a game since October 13th, 2012. Some of their notable wins this season have been against Kansas State, an FBS team, Northern Iowa, and rivals South Dakota State. They have outscored their opponents by at least ten points in all but two games. Their offensive strength is their outstanding run game. Sam Ojuri averages 6.6 yards per run and John Crockett averages 6.1 yards. Their average rushing yards per game is 237.2 yards. QB Brock Jensen is highly-efficient; he has a 26-6 TD-INT ratio. Their defense allows under twelve points per game, which is best in the country, and is in the third in yards allowed per game with 243.0. They are not only stout on both sides of the ball, the Bison are great on special teams. Christian Dudzik has two punt returns for touchdowns while Ryan Smith has one. North Dakota State are the best team in the FCS and probably are better then some teams in FBS-AQ conferences. It is their title to lose.

Southeastern Louisiana

The Lions are the four seed in the playoffs and are destined to go far. They went undefeated in the Southland Conference that featured the FCS runner-up two years in a row, Sam Houston State, and 10-2 McNeese State. The offense is based around a extraordinary running game. Duel Threat quarterback Bryan Bennett leads the team in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, passing yards, and passing touchdowns. Rasheed Harrell and Xavier Roberson are both high-quality players. On the defensive side of the ball, LB Isiah Corbett has sixteen tackles for a loss and seven sacks and DL Jacob Newman has 13.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Southeastern Louisiana is going to make a run.

Fordham

Michael Nebrich
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Two years ago, the Fordham Rams were 1-10 and one of the teams in college football. Now, they are 11-1 and in the FCS Playoffs. The team's only loss was to Lafayette on November 16th. The offense is passing-based and they have a great quarterback in Michael Nebrich. Nebrich leads the FCS in completion percentage at 74.9%, is second in passing efficiency at 175.4, and is in the top five in passing yards per game with 325.1. He also has 28 touchdowns to only six picks. The running game is pretty good as well. It is headlined by Carlton Koonce, who averages over 111 rushing yards per game. Fordham is a sneaky team that may surprise some people and make a run behind their star signal-caller. 

Great Slate of Football Games Over The Weekend

Florida State @ Clemson

Tajh Boyd
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This is the game of the weekend. Florida State (#5 in the AP Poll/#5 in the USA Today Poll) goes to Death Valley to meet another top five team, Clemson (#3/#4). This game has national impact. The winner will immediately become a challenger for the BCS Championship, while the other will be out of contention. Both teams have superstar quarterbacks. Clemson's signal caller is senior Tajh Boyd. Boyd has been a high-level quarterback in his first two years as the starter, but this year he has taken it to another level. His maturity shows in his ratio of touchdowns to interceptions. He has fifteen passing touchdowns compared to two picks. The Seminoles quarterback, Jameis Winston is a redshirt freshman and he has been outstanding. He has a completion percentage of about 73%, 17 passing touchdowns, and a passer rating of about 214. The key to this game will be the defense. Who will be able to quiet the opposing quarterback for at least a few possessions. This game will be a shootout and will come down to the wire. In the end, Clemson will pull out the win in the end.

UCLA @ Stanford

After Stanford (#13/#13) was upset the 4-3 Utah Utes, the balance shifted in the PAC-12. They became the third highest ranked team in country, falling behind 6-0 Oregon (#2/#2) and 5-0 UCLA (#9/#10), their opponent this week. UCLA's success has been centered around their good defense and quarterback Brett Hundley. Hundley is a very good quarterback and that is evident by last weeks game against Cal. He threw for 410 yards, three touchdowns, and completed 75.6% of his passes. For Stanford, quarterback Kevin Hogan struggled against Utah last week and Washington the week before. Hogan needs to put those two games behind him. If his struggles get in his head, it is going to be another long game for the junior QB. After a devastating loss last week, Stanford will be rejuvenated by the home fans and will take home the W against the Bruins.

Auburn @ Texas A&M

Nick Marshall
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After an awful season last year, the Auburn Tigers (#24/NR) are 5-1 and have returned to the top 25. This week, they face Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M (#7/#7). This is a big game for the Tigers. They beat a top 25 team in Ole Miss, but they lost to a top ten team, LSU. This game will show us where the Tigers rank in big time college football. If they win, when it's all said and done they may be a top 15 team. If they lose, they are a barely a top 25 team. For Auburn to win, quarterback Nick Marshal needs to be on his game. In their loss to LSU, the running game was working, with Tre Mason having a great game. Marshall, however, completed just over 50% of his passes and threw two picks. He needs to be a better play maker for Auburn to have a chance. For Texas A&M, the defense needs to the stop the run game and Johnny Football needs to be Johnny Football. I am not sure if the Auburn defense can stop Manziel and the the Aggie offense. Because of that, I am pick the Aggies to win by at least ten points.

Sam Houston State @ McNeese State

This is the FCS matchup of the week and it is a good one. Sam Houston State is number two in the FCS, while McNeese State is number eight. Both teams are 5-1, are 1-0 in conference, and are in the Southland Conference. Sam Houston State's only loss was to FBS school Texas A&M. the Cowboys lost to Northern Iowa. The Bearcats' offense is based around it's run game. Three of their four leading rushers average 7.0 yards per carry. Their main running back, Timot Flanders, already has nine touchdowns and 849 rushing yards. McNeese is more passing oriented, but running back Marcus Wiltz is coming off a great week and is having an excellent season. The Bearcats' are the better team, and they will beat the Cowboys. 

Cincinnati @ Detroit

This week, there are only two games where both teams have winning record. One is Denver-Indy. The other is surprising. It is not Houston-Kansas City, or Baltimore-Pittsburgh. No, its the Bengals against the Lions. The Lions have been a surprise team so far. They are currently tied for the lead in the NFC North with a 4-2 record. Their offense has been good, even with Calvin Johnson struggling with injury. Reggie Bush is running the ball very well, giving the offense a whole new dimension. On defense, they have been very good, led by LB DeAndre Levy who is having a career year. The Bengals are also 4-2 and are also in the led of their division the AFC North. Two of their wins have been against Green Bay and New England, both high quality teams. The Lions have surprised so far, and they will shock Cincinnati. 

Denver @ Indianapolis

Jim Irsay
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Not only is this a match-up between Super Bowl contenders, but it is also the return of Peyton Manning to Indy. There will be a ceremony for Manning before the game, but the comments flying around make it a little awkward. Colts owner Jim Irsay made some comments this week that "dis" Manning. He said that they have changed how they run the team with Andrew Luck as QB so they can win more then one Super Bowl. He also said that he loved the "Star Wars" numbers Manning put up, but those numbers didn't matter in the post season and they would not advance. He later apologized, but the damage was done. Instead of their being a happy and light atmosphere, it will be cold and awkward. The key to the game is going to the Colts defense. The Broncos are firing on all cylinders and for the Colts to have a chance to win will be if their defense comes up clutch. This is going to be a good game; however, Denver is unstoppable right now. The Colts will put up a fight, but Denver will improve to 7-0.

2013 NFL Preview

AFC East

Best Quarterback: Tom Brady: Is this even a question? Who else am I going to pick, Mark Sanchez, EJ Manuel, Ryan Tannelhill? Brady is one of the best quarterbacks in history.  He has dominated this division for a decade, and has shown no signs of slowing down. Brady is a great quarterback and is going to have another great year. 

Most Important Offensive Player (Non-QB): Danny Amendola: Amendola may have never played a snap in the regular season with the Patriots, but he will be crucial to the team's success. Amendola is replacing Wes Welker as Brady's go to wide receiver. Amendola can become a player just as good as Welker, the key is going to be to keep healthy.

Breakout Star: Stevan Ridley: Ridley had a little bit of a breakout season last year, having the most rushing yards by a Patriot since Corey Dillon in 2004. Now, I believe he will be a top five rusher in the league. Since the Patriots have a core of young and inexperienced wide receivers, they will be relying heavily on run.  Especially in the first few games and definitely throughout the year. Ridley proved he can be a very good back in the league. Now, he has the potential to be one of the best in the biz. 

Most Important Defensive Player: Cameron Wake: I love Wake. He is one of the most underrated players in the game. He is a sack master and a perennial All-Pro. It would not surprise me if he is in the top three in the league in sacks. He had an excellent year last year, recording eighteen sacks, and will have to live up to that for the Dolphins to be good.

Division Winner: New England Patriots: This may be the easiest division in football. The Jets and Bills will be bad this year. The Dolphins may be decent, but not good enough to overtake New England. For the eleventh time in thirteen years, the Patriots will win the division. And they will win it by at least four games.

AFC North

Best Quarterback: Joe Flacco: After winning the Super Bowl and receiving a very big pay check, Flacco is as high as a quarterback could be. I rate him as just a better quarterback then Ben Roethlisberger because Flacco is a better quarterback. I feel Roethlisberger can be overrated due to his two Super Bowls. Flacco is a very good passer and knows how to win games. He may not be an elite quarterback or worth his paycheck, but he is the Best QB in the AFC North. 

Most Important Offensive Player (Non-QB): AJ Green: Who knows how successful Andy Dalton and the Bengals would be without AJ Green? Green is one of the best deep threats in the game, second only to Calvin Johnson. He will catch about 100 balls and have 1450 receiving yards. He is destined to be an All-Pro wide out this year.

Breakout Star: Jordan Cameron: Cameron is in a very good situation in Cleveland. His quarterback, Brandon Weeden, is young and inexperienced. Young and inexperienced quarterbacks usually rely on their tight ends. Not only does Cameron have that going for him, the Browns new offensive coordinator Norv Turner uses tight ends a lot in his offense. I also think Cameron is a good TE. With all these factors working for him, he will have a great year.

Most Important Defensive Player: Geno Atkins: Atkins is underrated. He is not doubt one of the best interior defense players in the game. After recording 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles last year, he is on pace to have an even better year. Without Atkins, the Bengals defense would be substantially worse. Atkins improves them like no other player in the league. He will be a top candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.

Division Winner: Cincinnati Bengals: This is the year the Bengals win the division. After two years of making the playoffs as a wild card team, Cincinnati is going to win the AFC North title. They have a good offense and defense. The defending Super Bowl champs, the Ravens, don't look like they will be as good as they were last year, while the Steelers are not a great team. This is the Bengals' year. 

AFC South

Best Quarterback: Andrew Luck: Luck may only be in his sophomore season, but he is the best quarterback in the AFC South. He has the potential to be one day end up in the Hall of Fame. I love his game. He has a good arm and is mobile when he needs to. He does have some issues he needs to work out. Luck needs to complete more passes and throw less picks. If he does that, he will be very successful.

Most Important Offensive Player (Non-QB): Arian Foster: Foster has changed the Houston Texans. He sets up their offense. Even since he rushed for 1616 yards, Houston has made the playoffs. That is because the opposing defense became focused on stopping Foster, which opened up the passing game. Matt Schaub is a decent quarterback, and is much better when the defense focuses on the rushing game, which leaves holes in the secondary. Foster not only is a top three running back, he helps the passing game.

Breakout Star: Vick Ballard: Ballard had a very good second half last year. This year I expect him to make a big jump. I expect the Colts to run the ball more then they did last year and this means more attempts and more yards for Ballard. Ballard could be a very good running back and this year we will see him take a big step. He will be one of the top 15 running backs in the league this year.

Most Important Defensive Player: JJ Watt: I like many players on the Texans defense, especially Brian Cushing and Jonathan Joseph. I think both are excellent players, but they are better because of Watt. Watt, the 2012 Defensive Player of the Year, was outstanding. He had 20.5 sacks and 16 deflected passes. He wreaks havoc on offenses. There is not one player who improves their defense like Watt.

Division Winner: Houston Texans: The Texans are a very good team. They have no glaring weaknesses. On offense, they have Arian Foster and wide receiver Andre Johnson. On defense, they have JJ Watt, Brian Cushing, and Jonathan Joseph. I have been a fan of the Texans for a long time and they look like they are bound for another playoff season.

AFC West

Best Quarterback: Peyton Manning: Manning came back from four neck surgeries last year and still was one of the best quarterback in the game. He can call and run a game like no one else. And now, with a great wide receiver core, he is destined to have a great season. Even at 37, he looks like he can still be one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

Most Important Offensive Player (Non-QB): Jamaal Charles: Charles is an excellent running back. He can easily rush for two hundred yards. Charles is electrifying and a spark plug. The Chiefs success will be based upon how well Charles does. The better he is, the more success Kansas City will have.

Breakout Star: Wesley Woodyard: With Elvis Dumerville in Baltimore and Von Miller suspended for the first six games of the year, someone on Denver's front seven is going to have to step up. Wesley Woodyard is going to be that guy. Last year, he was the team's leading tackler with 114 tackles. I think he will need to keep up those numbers and put some pressure on the quarterback for Denver's D to be successful.

Most Important Defensive Player: Von Miller: Even though he is suspended for the first six games of the season, Miller is still an elite player. He improves the Broncos defense drastically. When he gets pressure on the quarterback, he either gets the sacks or forces a bad play. When he returns to the Broncos, you will see an immediate improvement on defense. 

Division Winner: Denver Broncos: This is not a very strong division. The Raiders are awful and the Chargers are not a very good team. I do like the Chiefs this year. They had a very good team last year, but because they did not have a quarterback, they stunk. While I will need to see Alex Smith perform like he did in 2011, he will lead the Chiefs to a .500 record.

NFC East

Best Quarterback: Eli Manning: This was a tough decision to make, but Manning edges RGIII due to senoirty and he is not coming off an injury. Manning has won two Super Bowl titles and two Super Bowl MVPs. But, he still needs to improve. He had his worst competition percentage in five years. The most important stat involving Eli Manning is his playoff record in years that he did not win the Super Bowl. It is 0-3. Manning is very hit or miss, and it would not surprise me if RGIII overtakes him as the division's top signal caller by the end of the year.

Most Important Offensive Player (Non-QB): Alfred Morris: Morris had an outstanding rookie season last year. This year I expect him to be even better. With RGIII coming off a torn ACL, they will want to ease him back into the game and have him run less. And by doing that by handing the ball off to Morris a lot. That means a lot of carries and a lot of yards.

Breakout Star Morris Claiborne: I think the Cowboys' starting cornerbacks, Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, are one of the best pairing the NFL. Both are good corners and Claiborne has the potential to be one of the better corners in the league. I think that he is going to have a great sophomore season and show his great playmaking skills.

Most Important Defensive Player: Jason Pierre-Paul: Pierre-Paul is a difference maker on defense and for the Giants. He had 16.5 sacks and 93 total tackles during the 2011 season and the Giants not only made the playoffs, they won. Last year he had 6.5 sacks and 66 total tackles and New York missed the playoffs. When Pierre-Paul is successful getting to the quarterback and stopping the run, the Giants can be unstoppable. When he is not, their defense suffers and they lose games. 

Division Winner: Washington Redskins: The Redskins are bound for their first back-to-back division titles since the 1982-83 season. I am a huge fan of the offense and I feel their defense is underrated. Their linebacker core featuring London Fletcher, Ryan Kerrigan, and Brian Orakpo is top notch. The Giants are too inconsistent to win the division, while the Cowboys are even more inconsistent. The Eagles are one or two years away from seriously contending. This is the Redskins year.

NFC North

Best Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers: Rodgers is one of the top quarterbacks in the league. He has a great arm and an excellent knowledge of the game. My favorite part of his game is his mobility. He is not going to be the guy who runs for one hundred yards a game. Rodgers can easily get out of the pocket and make the throw on the run. I am excited to see how he performs this year.

Most Important Offensive Player (Non-QB): Adrian Peterson: This is a very easy question. Peterson is the best running back in the game and is the main reason Minnesota made the playoffs last year. He is going to have another excellent year this year. 

Breakout Star: Randall Cobb: Cobb had a very good season last year as he became a regular in the wide receiver core. Now, with Greg Jennings in Minnesota, he looks like he could become Aaron Rodgers new favorite target. He will gain a lot of yards from the slot, in the return game, and possibly in the running game. Last year's leader in all-purpose yards is destined to aciculate even more as Aaron Rodgers go-to-guy.

Most Important Defensive Player: Lance Briggs: This is going to be a big year for Briggs and the Bears defense. Their leader for the last thirteen seasons, Brain Urlacher, has retired. That means the spot as the Bears' leader in the locker room and on defense is up for grabs. Briggs is the man who is going to fill the role. He is vocal enough to be the man and is also an All-Pro. If Briggs can fill the leadership role (which I am positive he will), the Bears should be in a playoff race.

Division Winner: Green Bay Packers: The Packers are the best team in the division. The Bears, Lions, and Vikings are good teams, but they are not on the level that Packers are on. As long as the Packers have Aaron Rodgers as the quarterback and their defense can be alright, they will be a very good team. 

NFC South

Best Quarterback: Drew Brees: Brees has been excellent the last few seasons. He has had back-to-back seasons of 5000 passing yards and 43+ touchdowns. He does need to cut down on his interceptions, but when you have as many pass attempts as him, it is understandable. Brees is bound for another excellent season.

Most Important Offensive Player: Tony Gonzalez: The Falcons have three top flight weapons for Matt Ryan. They are wide receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White and tight end Gonzalez. Gonzalez is more important then the wide outs because he is consistent and is a leader. White has been inconsistent and Jones can be shut down, while Gonzalez is pretty much unstoppable.  He also opens the field when the linebackers and safteys have to focus on him. That leaves gaps open for White and Jones. 

Breakout Star: Cameron Jordan: Jordan has steadily improved over the last two seasons. This year, I feel he is primed for a breakout year. The Saints defense was ranked last in yards and second-to-last in points the league in 2012. This year, they will be improved due to the return of head coach Sean Peyton and the hiring of new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. They are going to need someone to step up big. That man will be Cameron.

Most Important Defensive Player: Darrelle Revis: Tampa Bay's defense was awful last year. They were ranked 29th in yards and 23rd in points. So, during the off-season they picked up the best cornerback and arguably the best defensive player of the game, Darrelle Revis. Revis is now going to be the new leader on the new look defense. With Revis, their defense is much improved and will soon put them in contention for a playoff spot.

Division Winner: Atlanta Falcons: I think this division is one of the hardest in the NFL. All four teams are good team and all have weaknesses. The Falcons are an excellent regular season team. Ever since they drafted Matt Ryan, they have always finished above .500, missed the playoffs only once, and has won 13 games twice. They are always successful in the regular season and this year plans to be no different.

NFC West

Best Quarterback: Colin Kaepernick: Kaepernick just edges out Russell Wilson as the division's top quarterback. Kaepernick has all the skills to be the best quarterback in the league. He has a cannon for an arm and can make any throw. He also can out run the defense when he needs to. In two or three years, it would not surprise me if Kaepernick is a top three quarterback.

Most Important Offensive Player (Non-QB): Marshawn Lynch: The Seahwaks have made the playoffs two of the last three seasons. The mainstay on the offense during these years is Lynch. He has gone from second-string in Buffalo to one of the hardest and toughest runners in the league. When he picks up yards after yards, it forces the defense to anticipate the run. Then, Russell Wilson and the passing game work much more efficiently. 

Breakout Star: Stedman Bailey: The Rams drafted Tavon Austin eighth overall to give Sam Bradford a dynamic receiver in the slot. But, I loved their second third round pick, Stedman Bailey. Bailey has excellent hands. He rarely drops a ball. I think he is going to be Bradford's big play threat on deep balls. If the ball goes near him, he will to catch it.

Most Important Defensive Player: Navarro Bowman: There are so many players you can pick for this spot, including Richard Sherman, Patrick Willis, Aldon Smith, Patrick Peterson, James Laurinatis, among others. I pick Bowman because he is the back-bone of the 49ers defense. He is a tackle machine and many time goes unnoticed due to the fame of Willis. He is a great player.

Division Winner: San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers and the Seahawks are both one of the best teams in the league. This will be one of the best divisional races in a long time. I think San Fran will edge Seattle in the divisional race because I like their team just a little bit better.  Even though Seattle won't win the division, no doubt they will make the playoffs.