NFL Picks Week 3: The Risk of Trading Trent Richardson

I swear news always break when I go to the gym. This is an unfortunate thing for me because most of the time when SportsCenter or one of ESPN/NBCSN/FOX original programming is on, I tend to watch reality television instead.  Why? Well, it is live-action absolutely brain-numbing entertainment that I can enjoy when I work out, do not judge me. My latest miss was Trent Richardson getting dealt to the Indianapolis Colts for a 2014 first-round draft pick. There is so much to look at with this trade, but right now, it makes Indianapolis smell like a rose and Cleveland like hot garbage. The key word for Cleveland is right now.

Indianapolis finally has their rushing attack to go along with Andrew Luck. This is something Peyton Manning lacked periodically throughout his Indianapolis career and the Colts front office made sure they would not have the same thing with Luck. The former number one draft pick gets a running back who can wear teams down late in games, pass protect and occasionally provide a safety valve in the backfield for passing. The Colts really have all you need in an offense when it comes to weapons although they miss a big part with a weak offensive line. It is hard to tell whether Richardson will do well there because every system is different, but going to one with an offensive coordinator who runs their offense like a college team, it seems like it would bode well for Richardson.

Cleveland is dealing with a public relations disaster. It is a damn good thing they are on the road this week. The fans basically feel like the team has given up the season in Week 3.  The value may never be higher for Richardson and they had to pull the trigger or they really do not give a shit about the fans. The latter is very possible. Cleveland wants to start fresh with their guys, their attitude and get everyone on the same page. The 2014 NFL Draft now becomes extremely important for Cleveland with their cornucopia of draft picks. If they mess up the 2014 NFL Draft, it will be the undoing of this franchise, not just the front office. These are the type of moves that define a franchise. Cleveland fans deserve to be pissed, but you never know what's down the pipeline.

St. Louis (1-1) at Dallas (1-1) (-4) 12:00 pm (FOX) - Fun game I think in the early slate of games. After St. Louis woke up from their slumber, they played pretty well on Sunday afternoon against Atlanta. Sam Bradford played one of his best games to date. Dez Bryant had a big game albeit a bad drop battling through injuries and will definitely could have a major impact again with Julio Jones having a 150+ yard game against this secondary. I really do not have a read on this game. I feel like it will be close and competitive with Dallas pulling it out. DAL 23-20

San Diego (1-1) at Tennessee (1-1) (-3) 12:00 pm (CBS) - In the first two weeks, these are the two teams I had a complete misfire on. San Diego's offense looks rejuvenated with Ken Wisenhunt calling plays for Phillip Rivers. Tennessee should be 2-0 but they let Houston find a way to win the game at the very end. This is the home opener for the Titans and I think they come in there with a little more fire than usual plus even with Rivers playing better, I worry about that defense. TENN 27-17

Cleveland (0-2) at Minnesota (0-2) (-7) 12:00 pm (CBS) - What an awful combination for Cleveland. They have to travel to the Metrodome for the Vikings first home game, Brian Hoyer is starting at quarterback and the Trent Richardson trade has people shook on the team. Minnesota needs this win badly and they smell blood in the water. Big day from all parties involved in the Minnesota offense. MINN 31-14

Green Bay (1-1) (-3)  at Cincinnati (1-1) 12:00 pm (FOX) - See our Packer preview up earlier this morning and feel free to check out the Packer playlist as well.

Tampa Bay (0-2) at New England (2-0) (-7) 12:00 pm (FOX) - The Adrian Clayborn Bowl!! Remember the former Iowa defensive end looked he impaled Tom Brady's knee in training camp when these two team scrimmaged. The Patriots have not been impressive thus far, but they will have a chance to make a statement. I also really think Tampa Bay's chemistry is still warped and not really working right now. This one will be closer than the spread leads on because the Patriots receivers are bad then add a tough secondary, it will become very tough for the Patriots receivers to get open leading to another frustrating day for Tom Brady. NE 24-20

Arizona (1-1) at New Orleans (2-0) (-7) 12:00 pm (FOX) - This should be a real fun matchup with Drew Brees and his receiving core versus the stacked secondary of Arizona.  It comes down to what 'weak link steps up for the team?'  Arizona offense or New Orleans defense? The Saints have sneaky been good on the defensive side of the football and the Cardinals are using a weaken Larry Fitzgerald. I like the Saints to pull away late in this one. NO 28-17

Detroit (1-1) at Washington (0-2) (-1.5) 12:00 pm (FOX) - Man... Washington is a in a must-win situation. The Lions do not really play well on the road, but they have a potent offense who could explode against the Redskins defense. If Detroit wants to be the team that some people have talked about in September, they need to win these kind of football games where they are a small underdog against a weaker opponent. The Lions looked weak without Reggie Bush who may or may not play plus the Redskins will channel all of the negative talk towards them this week. WASH 30-21

New York Giants (0-2) (-1) at Carolina (0-2) 12:00 pm (FOX) - Both teams in desperate need for a win. If the Panthers lose again, Ron Rivera's seat will get extremely hot. If the Giants lose, we can start up the 'Fire Tom Coughlin' columns for the 904th time which let's be honest would be fun.  The Giants are struggling as a team whether it be with turnovers or their defense being average at best. This will be an unexpected shootout. Eli Manning and Cam Newton both have the opportunity to have major games this week as the defensive backfield of both teams does not look great. I will trust Manning and Coughlin in a late game situation more so than Rivera who is basically as trustworthy as a three dollar bill. NYG 38-34

Houston (2-0) at Baltimore (1-1) (-2.5) 12:00 pm (CBS) - If there is a game where I will tell you to 'Lock it up', it is strangely Baltimore. I am not buying into anything Houston is selling right now. The Texans escaped two games with two great fourth quarters, that's it. I do not know if Baltimore will allow such a thing. Sure, this has not been the best start for the defending Super Bowl champs, but this is the game where everyone starts to come together for them. BALT 28-13

Atlanta (1-1) at Miami (2-0) (-3) 3:05 pm (FOX) - This is a Katy Perry 'Hot and Cold' game for me. I am hot on Miami. I know they do not play well at home, but the Dolphins look like the real deal this year with a tough defense plus Ryan Tannehill keeps doing good things. I am cold on Atlanta. They have a ton of key injuries with Sean Weatherspoon, Kroy Biermann and Steven Jackson. Matt Ryan can only do so much and their defense does not really surprise anybody. I will take the Dolphins in a solid win. MIA 21-16

Buffalo (1-1) at New York Jets (1-1) (-3) 3:25 pm (CBS) - Maybe I am alone here, but it is weird to see both these teams .500 with a legitimate thought they could be 2-1.  E.J. Manuel and Geno Smith are also taking center stage against each other. The Jets and Bills actually play more defense than people give them credit for and we will see it displayed, overshadowing the Smith/Manuel matchup for most of the game. I will take the Bills because it would not truly be an NFL season if Buffalo did not start off blazing hot. BUFF 16-13

Indianapolis (1-1) at San Francisco (1-1) (-10) 3:25 pm (CBS) - Indianapolis did add Trent Richardson but this team has some problems right now. Their offensive line is a mess and hearing that before facing San Francisco on the road is probably not a good thing. Additionally, I expect Colin Kaepernick to do a lot more running this week as the Colts struggled with Terrelle Pryor ability to get out into space. The Niners will roll in this one. SF 30-14

Jacksonville (0-2) at Seattle (2-0) (-19) 3:25 pm (CBS) - There is no way Seattle is covering this spread. I realize the Seahawks can put up points with offense, defense and special teams, but Gus Bradley, the Jaguars head coach did coach the Seahawks defense, he knows them a little bit better than Las Vegas is giving him credit for.  Seattle will win this game, but in no way, do they cover this spread. SEA 35-20

Chicago (2-0) (-3) at Pittsburgh (0-2) 7:30 pm NBC - The Steelers need this win badly, but I just do not know what this offense can really do right now. I would love to tell you Pittsburgh is going to come in there and reverse their fortune but I cannot. Chicago's offense looked like a well-oiled machine in the first two games plus they have a secondary that can create some nightmares for Ben Roethlisberger.  I am not picking Pittsburgh until they show me something.  CHI 24-14

Oakland (1-1) at Denver (2-0) (-15) 7:40 pm ESPN - Peyton Manning on Monday Night Football is like a fine wine or a good bourbon. You just know it will be smooth, clean and great. Denver rolls again and gets 40 again. DEN 45-17

Straight up: 23-9
ATS: 14-18 (Complete newbie central here)

Charlie.

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NFL Week 2 Liquor Cabinet

For the entire NFL season, we will be breaking down the rest of the NFL not named Green Bay by looking at it like a liquor cabinet. Why did we choose this method? I like to booze and it makes things really easy to determine what's great, average and poor.  

TOP SHELF
Seattle looks decent - I talked about Seattle's struggles last Sunday and felt like San Francisco would make a statement in Seattle. The Seahawks made a statement and dominated all facets of the football game on Sunday. Russell Wilson did not have the best day, but he did not need to with how the defense played plus the rushing attack was solid. To think, they are missing four top flight stars as well makes Seattle pretty scary for the rest of the season.

Cutty comes back - 4th quarter comebacks are overblown, but I am impressed overall with the Chicago Bears offense. Jay Cutler finally has a tight end who can catch the football. Remember Cutler went to his tight ends fairly often even last year with Kellan Davis who dropped at least half of them last season. Cutler stayed protected for the most part as well.  Additionally, the worries about the Bears defense might be overstated.  Minnesota's defense and special teams both had a touchdown meaning Chicago only allowed 16 points.  

Denver just going to blow everyone out? - It looks like it right now.  Who cares if the Denver defense might not be that good, but their second half against New York was eye-opening. The Broncos had a slow build with it too. They scored a late third quarter touchdown with Knowshon Moreno who somehow is still on the Broncos, force the Giants with a three-and-out and they get another touchdown with Peyton Manning throwing to Julius Thomas. Trindon Holiday delivered the knockout punch with the punt return to put the Broncos up 21 points somehow in game that was close for three quarters.

Miami... Sneaky good or too early? - I sold low on Miami to start the year, but they are playing well so far this season. The Dolphins started out the season with consecutive road games and won both of them holding both Cleveland and Indianapolis under 20 points. Ryan Tannehill went for over 300 yards and got Mike Wallace's season started with a 100 yard game. One thing the young quarterback has to cut it is the fumbles. He lost three balls but thankfully, Tannehill recovered two of them.  We shall see how they look at home though as they have been worse there in years past.  

MIDDLE SHELF
Texans pull another one out of their asses - Everyone is talking about the Patriots being the worst 2-0 team right now, but why not Houston? They played one good quarter against San Diego and then they trailed Tennessee by eight with four minutes left in the game yet found a way to win the game in overtime. People will say the cliche line of 'Good teams find a way to win football games' but still, Houston seems a bit overrated to me.  

Atlanta holds on - The Falcons jumped out to a 24-3 lead on Sunday afternoon against St. Louis yet they could not stomp the foot on the throat.  Atlanta kept letting St. Louis come back in this game and thankfully got a big drive from Matt Ryan and Jacob Snelling in the fourth quarter. But the Falcons are going to be without Kroy Biermann, Sean Weatherspoon and Steven Jackson next week, all three are vital to the team's success. Biermann is done for the year, Weatherspoon is on selective IR but that's not a guarantee he will be back this season. Atlanta is much more of a mess than people are talking about right now.  

Joe Flacco does not catch flak... Surprising? - I am somewhat surprised Joe Flacco did not receive much backlash for not being there for the birth of his second child. I asked both my mom and dad about it because they had two kids. Both of them said the same thing, 'Well it's not the first child, the second child, it's more of a been there, done that.' If my sister Annie is reading, please take this up with them, not me.

Eagles score points but cannot stop anyone - Philadelphia might be a year away. It is still super early to say something like that, but it seems like there are some significant holes in that defense. Sure, they can put up 30+ points with the best of them, but their defense cannot stop anybody. I realize San Diego has some tools on offense yet I would never expect them to have 33 points on the road.

BOTTOM SHELF
Oh noooo Dez - Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant balled out on Sunday with nine catches for over 150 yards, but he made two vital errors. Bryant had a crucial drop that probably cost the Cowboys a game. We can have a discussion about Dallas's inabilities to win on the road, but I feel that might be overstated. Dez also retweeted a picture of a vagina, not a great moment in social media.

Ron Rivera or Greg Schiano... Who gets fired first? - Oh boy, I think both of these coaches might be getting the pink slip before November 1st. Let's remember Carolina had the toughest schedule in the NFL before the season started this year.  The Panthers play New York Giants at home this week and then a bye week before two road games in Arizona and Minnesota. If they get blown out by New York, it becomes a real awkward two weeks for Ron Rivera. As for Tampa Bay, the chemistry seems completely off with Schiano and yes, they are two field goals away from being 2-0, yet it does not seem like a good situation.  They play in New England this week before heading home to play Arizona before a bye week.  I will take Rivera.

Poor Jacksonville - I just feel bad for Jacksonville. Just struggling. I am not really going to go in what's wrong with them because it does not matter as they have all sorts of problems. Also they have all the Tim Tebow shit, it is entirely annoying and I feel for the fanbase. Shock the world this week in Seattle.

Detroit remembers they are Detroit - Everyone started to get real excited about Detroit in Week 1 forgetting how much the Lions struggle on the road.  They had a 14-10 lead at halftime, but their offense went silent in the second half. DeAndre Levy netted them an interception return in the third quarter, but that was it for scoring from Detroit. Arizona's defense is good, but if Detroit is as good as everyone wanted them to be in Week 1, their offense does not go scoreless in the second half.

Charlie.

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Snotap Predicts... Kramer's NFL Picks

The SnoTap staff is making their predictions on the NFL season. Odds are one or two of us will be right, but in the end like most people, we will look like idiots. 

NFC EAST                                                                    

1. Dallas

2. NY Giants

3. Philadelphia  

4. Washington

- How bout dem Cowboys!!!

NFC NORTH

1. Green Bay

2. Minnesota - Wild Card

3. Detroit    

4. Chicago

-I really wanted to pick Minnesota to win the division because I love the young talent GM Rick Spielman is getting on that team.  Still, I think a healthy GB Packers is a force to be reckoned with.  A Rod should make up for the O line issues, and that front 7 should be solid this year.

NFC SOUTH

1. New Orleans

2. Atlanta 
3. Tampa Bay

4. Carolina

-I think New Orleans will give New Englands point in a season record a run for its money this year. They will simply outscore teams, and Rob Ryan will be aggressive with his leads.

NFC WEST

1. Seattle
2. San Francisco - Wild Card

3. St. Louis

4. Arizona

-I said after the playoffs last year that the 2012 Seahawks reminded me a lot of the 1991 Cowboys. Just a year away from dominance. The 1992 Cowboys went 13-3 and won the Super Bowl. I think the 2013 Seahawks have a similar year.

AFC EAST
1. New England  

2. Buffalo
3. Miami   

4. NY Jets

-I really like the Bills team this year, and don't be surprised if they give New England some problems... but who am I kidding, NE is winning this division.

AFC NORTH

1. Baltimore   

2. Cincinnati - Wild Card  

3. Cleveland
4. Pittsburgh  

- I think the Ravens are more talented this year than they were last year. Yup, more talented. Adding Dumervil, Michael Huff, Arthur Brown, Matt Elam, and getting Lardarius Webb back from injury will be huge. Baltimore picks up where it left off last year.

AFC SOUTH

1. Houston

2. Tennessee 
3. Indianapolis

4. Jacksonville

- Tennessee is a team that I think will give people problems this year, but Houston is a regular season monster.

AFC West

1. Kansas City

2. Denver - Wild Card

3. San Diego

4. Oakland

- To be fair, I picked the Chiefs to win this division last year. Whoops. I love what they did in the off season, and they should capitalize off their easier schedule. I think Denver struggles out of the gate without Dumervil and Von Miller, and will have to settle for a Wild Card spot.


Playoff
NFC: 3. New Orleans beats 6. Minnesota 5. San Francisco beats 4. Dallas
AFC: 3. New England beats 6. Cincinatti 5. Denver beats 4. Kansas City

NFC: 1. Seattle beats 5. San Francisco 3. New Orleans beats 2. Green Bay
AFC: 5. Denver beats 1. Houston 2. Baltimore beats 3. New England

NFC: 1. Seattle beats 3. New Orleans
AFC: 5. Denver beats 2. Baltimore

Super Bowl: Seattle beats Denver

I think the 2013-14 Seattle Seahawks will be one of those special teams that people tag the year with them, ala the 2007 New England Patriots. If they stay healthy and get Percy back in a couple of months, I don't see another roster in the league with the depth that Seattle has. The AFC is a toss up, but I think Pete Carroll will be hoisting up the Lombardi Trophy on the frozen Meadowlands in February.

Kramer.

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Tap's Thursday Night Pick: Ravens at Broncos

Thursday night picks will be a couple of the college games and the NFL game. Usually, we just do ranked teams, but for Thursday night, we will add some unranked games just for the hell of it. Ed. Note: No games worth talking about in college football so it's all the big boys tonight.  

Baltimore at Denver 7:30 NBC - For some Milwaukee and surrounding Milwaukee area residents, the National Football League will not get off to a rosy start for them. Time Warner Cable and WTMJ, the NBC affiliate have been at cable war since late July and neither side is showing signs of letting up. This means both NBC games cannot been seen unless someone buys an antenna for the cool price of 25 dollars or finds some bunny ears lying around the house. My best recommendation is pick up the antenna or head to a bar. I would do the latter, it's Thursday, it is a great excuse to get drunk to celebrate football returning for another season.  As for the game itself....

Both teams come in with some questions even though they have established players all over the field. For the Ravens, this will be their first game without Ray Lewis or Ed Reed even being on the sidelines. While I think the Ravens will be better as a unit, it is still going to take time. The Broncos have similar concerns on defense as Von Miller and Champ Bailey will be missing from action. Miller provided a majority of the pass rush for the Broncos so someone will need to set up in that category. As for Bailey, he cannot get exposed again by Torrey Smith and that's a shame.

With the questions on defense, Joe Flacco and Peyton Manning should both have field days out there. With Flacco's new contract and the way he played to finish out the year, it will be interesting to see how much of the team belongs to him versus Ray Rice still getting some love. Manning will have a new weapon with Wes Welker and I assume he uses it very well.

I do think we get a high scoring game to start the year and even though, the Ravens are on the road, it is tough to bet against history as the defending Super Bowl champions have never lost this Thursday night. I am taking the Ravens in an extremely tight one coming down to a field goal. Baltimore 31-28  

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SnoTap Predicts... Dougy's NFL Predictions

The SnoTap staff is making their predictions on the NFL season. Odds are one or two of us will be right, but in the end like most people, we will look like idiots. 

AFC WEST

Denver
Kansas City
San Diego
Oakland

AFC SOUTH
Houston
Indianapolis*

Jacksonville
Tennessee

AFC NORTH
Pittsburgh
Baltimore*
Cincinnati
Cleveland

AFC EAST
New England
Miami
Buffalo
NY Jets

NFC WEST
San Francisco
Arizona
Seattle
St. Louis

NFC SOUTH
Tampa Bay
Atlanta*
New Orleans
Carolina

NFC NORTH
Green Bay
Minnesota
Detroit
Chicago

NFC EAST
NY Giants
Washington*
Philadelphia
Dallas

Super Bowl: New England def. New York Giants - just to piss people off. 

Dougy.  

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SnoTap Predicts... Adam Hatlak's NFL Predictions

The SnoTap staff is making their predictions on the NFL season. Odds are one or two of us will be right, but in the end like most people, we will look like idiots. 

NFC East

Cowboys

Giants

Eagles

Redskins

NFC North

Packers

Lions

Bears

Vikings

NFC South

Saints

Falcons

Panthers

Buccaneers

NFC West

Seahawks

49ers

Rams

Cardinals

AFC East

Patriots

Bills

Dolphins

Jets

AFC North

Bengals

Ravens

Browns

Steelers

AFC South

Texans

Colts

Titans

Jaguars

AFC West

Chiefs

Broncos

Chargers

Raiders

AFC Championship

Broncos over Bengals

NFC Championship

Seahawks over Saints

Super Bowl Champ

Broncos

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SnoTap Predicts... Kazz's NFL Predictions

The SnoTap staff is making their predictions on the NFL season. Odds are one or two of us will be right, but in the end like most people, we will look like idiots

NFC                AFC

North               North

Packers            Bengals
Bears               Ravens
Lions               Steelers
Vikings            Browns

East                East
Cowboys        Patriots
Redskins         Dolphins
Eagles             Bills
Giants             Jets

South             South
Falcons          Texans
Buccaneers    Colts
Saints             Titans
Panthers         Jaguars

West              West
Niners            Broncos
Seahawks      Chiefs
Rams             Raiders
Cardinals       Chargers

Playoffs
AFC
1) Broncos

2) Patriots
3) Bengals
4) Texans
5) Chiefs
6) Colts

NFC
1) 49ers
2) Falcons
3) Packers
4) Cowboys
5) Seahawks
6) Bears

Super Bowl                          
49ers def. Broncos

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SnoTap Predicts... Bryan Reynolds' NFL Predictions

The SnoTap staff is making their predictions on the NFL season. Odds are one or two of us will be right, but in the end like most people, we will look like idiots. 

NFC Division Champs:

Dallas, Atlanta, Seattle, Green Bay

NFC Wild Cards:

New Orleans, Philadelphia

AFC Division Champs:

Cincinnati, New England, Denver, Houston

AFC Wild Cards:

Cleveland, Miami

 

Yes, I left San Francisco out of the playoff picture but I think it is possible. I think the will come blasting out of the gates but with one injury to Kaepernick or Gore this team is done. We saw last year with Chicago, that a good defense alone cannot carry you to success. I think Dallas is due for one hell of a year. The NFC East will be a dog fight as usually but Dez Bryant is the truth, and I expect him to have an incredible season.

Cleveland will make the playoffs. I said it shortly after the superbowl last year and I believe it to be true to this day. With some major changes in management and some great off season additions, the Browns are due to finally break through. It also helps there cause that the AFC is very weak this year and they will be playing a 4th place schedule. Leaving Baltimore out of the picture could be a mistake, but I think their luck has run out.

My Playoff Picture:

 AFC Championship: Cincinnati vs. Denver (Winner: Cincinnati)

NFC: Dallas vs. Atlanta (Winner: Atlanta)

Super Bowl: Atlanta defeating Cincinnati 

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SnoTap Predicts... The Chief's NFL Predictions

The SnoTap staff is making their predictions on the NFL season. Odds are one or two of us will be right, but in the end like most people, we will look like idiots. 

NFC EAST                                                                    

Dallas

Washington

Philadelphia  

NY Giants   

- I am drinking the Dallas kool-aid for what feels like the seventh straight year. Maybe this will be the year!

NFC NORTH

Green Bay  

Chicago - Wild Card  

Detroit    

Minnesota

-The final game between Green Bay-Chicago could decide the division maybe even a spot in the playoffs. Don't get the sudden Lions hype.    

NFC SOUTH

New Orleans

Atlanta

Tampa Bay

Carolina

-New Orleans is going to be ridin' around with two middle fingers to Roger Goodell and Atlanta is overrated, their defense is awful.

NFC WEST

Seattle
San Francisco - Wild Card

Arizona

St. Louis

-Really thought about putting only one NFC West team, but I feel like sometimes when you try to be too outside-the-box, you get burned.

AFC EAST
New England  

Miami   

Buffalo  

NY Jets

-Cakewalk city.

AFC NORTH

Pittsburgh   

Baltimore - Wild Card  

Cincinnati   

Cleveland  

- I am the last person in America to not believe in the Bengals. I feel like Pittsburgh and Baltimore are better teams. This team just feels an 8-8 team after all the hype this offseason.

AFC SOUTH

Houston

Indianapolis

Jacksonville

Tennessee

- Houston wins this one by default. I think the Colts regress like everybody else.

AFC West

Denver

Kansas City - Wild Card   

San Diego

Oakland  

-Cakewalk city means the Chiefs and Broncos might get four wins before even leaving the division. Both will get enough to be in the playoffs.

Playoffs (Denver, New England get byes)
NFC: 3. Green Bay beats 6. Chicago 5. San Francisco beats 4. Dallas
AFC: 3. Pittsburgh beats 6. Kansas City, 5. Baltimore beats 4. Houston

NFC: 5. San Francisco beats 1. New Orleans 3. Green Bay beats 2. Seattle
AFC: 1. Denver beats 5. Baltimore 3. Pittsburgh beats 2. New England

NFC: 3. Green Bay beats 5. San Francisco
AFC: 3. Pittsburgh beats 1. Denver

Super Bowl: Green Bay beats Pittsburgh

I almost went without making a homer pick and taking the Packers. Honestly, I have not really seen the team at full strength nor do I know what they might be. The potential is very alluring and I like them versus the other teams in the NFC. San Francisco and Seattle are getting way too much hype to begin the year and I really feel like the NFC West will wear down the entire division. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just could not pick against the team.

As for Pittsburgh, the AFC is completely wide open. Denver and New England are getting byes because their division is so weak. Pittsburgh will find themselves in pole position in the AFC North and find a way to win on the road for two straight weeks. It's fitting to have these squads play in the first cold Super Bowl.

Charlie.

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32 in 31: Denver Broncos

Another year of 32 in 31. Sports News on Tap takes the month of August to preview the National Football League. We spend every day of the month looking at a new team and how they will fare in 2013.

Denver Broncos had a typical Peyton Manning year. They have a great regular season and fall short in the playoffs. This is not a knock to Manning, rather he just seems to not be the same quarterback in the playoffs. This is a 'Do or Die' year for the Broncos. Manning is not getting any younger at age 37 and his window is likely closing quicker than other quarterbacks in the NFL. They play in a weak AFC West, but there will be a lot of challenges for the upcoming season.

OFFENSE
The Broncos made sure Manning would have more weapons this season as they signed Wes Welker. This could be football porn with the way Manning uses his slot receivers. Welker should have a direct impact on the Broncos offense creating major problems for opposing defense running around in the slot.  The other thing that should be exciting for Bronco fans is Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker could take their games to another level as they mature as pro athletes.

After adding Welker, the Broncos went to the draft and picked Montee Ball from Wisconsin. This is an interesting pick for the Broncos specifically because Ball reminds me of former Bronco Willis McGehee in terms of the way he runs the football but he is no a pass catcher.  At Wisconsin, Ball had one season where he had a big year catching the football with 24 receptions and 306 yards with six touchdowns.  While catching the ball is usually not the most important thing for a running back, not every quarterback in front of them is a Manning.

The biggest concern for the Broncos is their shaky interior line. They lost Dan Koppen for the season in training camp with an ACL injury meaning there is not a center who knows how to deal with Manning. He is a different bird with all of his audibles and it could really effect this team during the season. Manny Ramirez, no not that one, is going to be the first man up to the challenge. This could be an unnoticed problem for the Broncos this year.

DEFENSE
This defense took a hit when Elvis Dumervil went to their new rival Baltimore this offseason and then it is possible they will be losing their superstar linebacker Von Miller for six games for violating the substance-abuse policy. Miller is said to appeal meaning he might only lose four games, but even if the suspension is reduced, the Broncos defense will be completely lost without Miller.  He is an absolute game-changer whether it be rushing the quarterback or making a play in pass coverage. Now Shuan Phillips coming from San Diego might lighten the load on losing Miller, but the weakside linebacker looks like a complete wasteland.

I would also worry about the cornerback position this season. Adding Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will help, but I am not sure Champ Bailey will be the same player as he has been in years past. Bailey looked exposed in the playoff loss to Baltimore and it is really hard for me to fathom he will be a better player next season. Now Bailey is one of the best ever and it could have been just a bad stretch for him, but as we have seen with cornerbacks, if they lose it, they really lose it.  

SPECIAL TEAMS
One of the best in the the league with Matt Prater even if he has a ridiculous tattoo and Britton Colquitt. Both players can dictate a game for the Broncos. They also made one of the best free-agent signing mid-season acquiring Trinton Holiday to return kicks and punts.  

KEY ADDITIONS
WR Wes Welker, LB Stewart Bradley, LB Shaun Phillips, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, OG Louis Vasquez - We have touched on most of these players already but one we did not is Vasquez. He could be a very important part to the Broncos interior line staying together.

KEY SUBTRACTIONS
LB Elvis Dumervil, DT Justin Bannan, LB Keith Brooking, WR Brandon Stokley, LB DJ Williams

BRONCOS DRAFT PICKS
DT Slyvester Williams, RB Montee Ball, CB Kayvon Webster, DE Quanterus Smith, WR Tavarres King, OT/OG Vinston Painter, QB Zac Dysert - Apparently, folks did not love the King pick but I could see him being a game-changer late in the season. Great deep threat at Georgia.

GAME TO WATCH
Sunday October 27 vs. Washington 3:25 pm - Mike Shananhan returns to Mile High for the first time since leaving Denver. Also you have Robert Griffin III vs. Manning, it will be a fun game.

WIN TOTAL
10-11 - Honestly, if they have Miller out for multiple games, this team might be struggling in the beginning part of the season and their schedule does not do them any favors.  With Miller possibly out, this team is a complete unknown.

Charlie.

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Keys to a Successful Fantasy Football Draft

As part of our continued increase in fantasy sports coverage here at SnoTap, this week we will look into some good strategies to take with you into your draft. If you missed last week’s article on how to improve your league here it is: Enhancing your Fantasy Football League

The draft is perhaps the most important day in your fantasy football league for multiple reasons. First off, if you’re able to do the draft in person, it’s the day that is the most fun, as you will gather together with the whole league. Second, it’s when you fill out your roster with the guys you will be working with through the rest of the year, whether it’s starting them, trading them, or cutting them when they don’t work out. Bryan Reynolds and I have put together some strategies we use for each draft. Feel free to use and of your favorites for your league this season.

Adam: Know your opponent:

Perhaps the most important aspect of fantasy football is to know your competition. What kind of player are they, what level of knowledge do they have about the sport, who are their favorite teams, who do they hate? This can be important because you can tell what they are going to do. For example, if you have someone who is an avid Packer fan, and not very experienced in fantasy sports, they’re likely to take Aaron Rodgers with their first pick, no matter where that falls in the draft. If you’re targeting Aaron as your stud QB, it’s important to pick him before that player. Knowing your enemy can tell you a lot about who they are going to draft, and help form your strategy.

Bryan: Know which position you can wait for:

Find which positions you are comfortable waiting for the 10^th-12^thbest player. An example of this is in the 2013 season, which will definitely be noticeable while looking at the QB and TE position. Rodgers leads the group of top tier QB’s, but he is one of few. The second tier is so large that there is likely a minimal difference between taking the fourth rated QB and the 10^th. Same goes for TE, where Jimmy Graham is running away with the top rank, but the difference is minimal after that.

Adam: Don’t Panic:

Every draft I have been featured a panic rush on players. In most seasons, there will be one position that is a little bit weaker than others, for instance this year it is running backs. What happens in these leagues is owners will reach for players above their value, and the players at that position will drop like flies. Next thing you know, you’re taking DeMarco Murray and Reggie Bush in the second round. My advice here is go against the trend. Instead of panicking, and taking a lesser value running back, take someone who will dominate their position. If you have top five players at QB, WR, and TE, you can patch together running backs from the waiver wire later in the season once injuries start happening. The key to this strategy is to look for sleepers later in the draft, once everyone else thinks they're set, and then finding quality contributors off of the waiver wire once the season has started.

Bryan: Analyze Defenses and Divisions:

It is important to analyze DEF season schedules and division matchups before the draft. I like to start the draft with three or four defenses in my head I am targeting for my team. A team like San Diego had a solid defense last year, but we have to remember they will face Denver twice throughout the season. Also, a team that can consistently stop opponents is better, as there is no method to calculate how many turnovers you can count on each week.

Adam: Know your scoring:

When looking at expert’s rankings, it is important to understand which scoring format they are considering. For example, most rankings assume four points-passing touchdown, no PPR, one point-ten yards rushing/receiving. Know where your scoring differentiates between the general leagues. If your league has six points per passing touchdown, some of the more pure passing quarterbacks will move up in the ranks, and not everyone may realize it. A lot of experts have Peyton Manning and Cam Newton on the same tier for quarterbacks. In a league where passing touchdowns are only four points, Cam might take the edge because of his rushing ability. However, if you’re looking at six points for a passing touchdown, Manning all of a sudden takes the lead, as he will rack up the points in that category. The same goes for teammates Julio Jones and Roddy White. Jones usually leads in touchdowns, but White gets more targets meaning more receptions.

Bryan: Visualize your Team:

Print off the list of rankings we will produce here on SnoTap (coming next 2 weeks) or use another site’s, such as ESPN. Once printed, go through each position and highlight your ideal candidate for each position. Obviously, it will be impossible for you to get all these players, so go through the categories again and highlight a few players outside of your top 5 that will sufficiently fit the role. You may find it helpful to highlight a lot of players in the WR and RB categories, as they will comprise a majority of your bench positions.

Adam: Look for Opportunity:

The key to all fantasy sports is playing time and opportunities to showcase skills. The players who provide the most points won’t always be the leaders in the talent department. For the last few years, Michael Turner has been a leader at the running back position, despite not being overwhelming in the talent department. What set him apart however was having no clear challenge to playing time, staying healthy, and having a team that wanted to utilize him. It allowed him to consistently deliver, while other, more talented running backs where stuck on the bench or the injured reserve.

Did we miss any strategies? What do you use for your league? Make sure to test out a few different strategies on various fantasy sites’ mock drafts. Next week, we will have rankings for the QB and TE positions. If you have any fantasy sports questions, send them to Snotap12@gmail.com, and we will make sure to get them answered in the following week’s column.

Adam

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