Tap's Thursday Night Picks

There is nothing better than having the NFL Network for the entire Thursday night slate. As most of you know, tonight's game will be on the NFL Network and all Thursday games until Thanksgiving then a couple more in December.  I am happy this will be my first full season and I am looking forward to watching all the games this season. What's weird is I am still without our NBC affiliate here in Milwaukee so for the second straight year, I am not fully locked and loaded. Remember we are picking both the NFL and college games for Thursday.

Thursday Night NFL: New York Jets at New England (-13) 7:25pm NFLN - The Patriots come into this game banged up and not really impressed anyone in the first game of the season. They will likely be without Danny Amendola and Rob Gronkowski plus Zac Sudfield and Shane Vereen will be gone for the week. If this is a time for New York to beat New England, this is it. The Patriots will need something from Kenbrell Tompkins who looked like the bright lights suffocated him last week. New England's defense looked alright considering they only gave up 14 points.  I would not count them out especially against the Jets.

Now the Jets played better than we all expected last week.  They were hitting the Tampa Bay offense pretty good and keeping them out of the endzone. Geno Smith looked great, all things considered, but he will have to travel into the bright lights of Foxboro with a drunk as hell crowd fired up to see their team for the first time. Rex Ryan does coach well against Grandmaster Hoodie for at least the first three quarters of the game. Low scoring game, but the Patriots prevail.  NE 23-14

Thursday Night CFB: 24.) TCU at Texas Tech 6:30 pm ESPN - Not a bad secondary option for all the football fans out there. TCU bounced back against SE Louisiana last week after falling to LSU although they looked impressive against the Tigers. Trevone Boykin takes the reigns of the offense as Casey Pachall is out with a fractured arm. Many times I would be nervous about a backup quarterback taking over, but Boykin had a ton of experience from last year.  Texas Tech is a ragtag team and I like Kliff Kingsburgy's attitude, but a walk-on quarterback, Baker Mayfield, taking on a tough TCU defense does not equal a Thursday night upset. TCU 28-24

Charlie.

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NFL Liquor Cabinet: Week 1

We are back for another season of the Liquor Cabinet. Some of you are new to Sports News on Tap so let me explain... I look at the NFL week like I do when I head to Ray's Liquor Store in Wauwatosa. Top Shelf is all the booze I cannot afford to buy because I still work part-time at age 25 but it is the real good stuff thus the NFL moments are the real good ones from the week. The middle shelf is stuff I can afford but it is really not good booze meaning the above average/average moments of the NFL slate. The bottom shelf is the stuff guaranteeing you with a hangover that involving puking more than Jason Witten hence the bad stuff that happened this weekend.  

Top Shelf
Chip Kelly's 'gimmick offense' sure looked great - The Eagles ran 77 plays last night. They had 53 of them in the first half keeping an unreal pace that looked like Chip Kelly's Oregon teams with better athletes. LeSean McCoy looked like a new player and Michael Vick seemed to finally fit in an offense.  Philadelphia struggled a bit in the second half, but still, they looked tremendous. Like I said, this team would be a tough read and they are showing it thus far. Tap writer Pat Luce pointed out to me the Eagles only scored 33 or more points last year and it was in a defeat against the Dallas Cowboys.

Reggie Bush and the Lions defense dazzle - I am still not fully bought into the Lions hype, but I will say they looked great in their first game of the season. Reggie Bush played like a monster including people make ridiculous comparisons to Barry Sanders (SANDERS AND BUSH, ONE IN THE SAME? MY COLUMN:). He did play really well and creates a secondary threat for the Lions offense taking some pressure off Matthew Stafford. Their defense deserves some credit as they held Adrian Peterson to 15 yards after his 78 yard run to begin the season. While Ndamukong Suh gets the headlines, they were strong for the greater part.

Statement win by New Orleans - Like what I saw from New Orleans on Sunday. At least for one game, they showed more of a commitment to run the football by running it 29 times although it is still a running back by committee format which needs to change at some point this month.  They also held Atlanta to 17 points, one of the best offenses in the league. New Orleans forced two turnovers as well including a great stand to end the game. I like what the Saints have cooking here at least for the first game of the season.  

Andy Reid looks like a ketchup bottle and the Chiefs - Man, I love Andy Reid. Maybe it is because he looks like a walrus or Mike Holmgren's brother, but I just enjoy the guy and would welcome an opportunity to eat ribs with him. He looked like a bottle of ketchup Sunday, from now on, he is Mr. Heinz until further notice. The Chiefs played well against the Jaguars, but the jury is still out on them. Kansas City-Dallas at Arrowhead should be fun next week.

Middle Shelf
Smoke and mirrors in Seattle? - If I were a Seahawks fan, I would be concerned about Week 1.  If DeAngelo Williams does not fumble around the goal line, Seattle likely loses their first game of the season. Russell Wilson spent more time outside the pocket than inside as the Seahawks offensive line could not protect him to save their soul. All three NFC West foes have great defensive lines. I will be real interested to watch this line against the Niners next week.

T-PEEZY IF YOU'RE NASTY -  Probably too early to get excited about Terrelle Pryor, but he rushed for over 100 yards and kept the Oakland Raiders in a game on the road against a playoff team last season.  Pryor looked like an NFL quarterback out there, and I have always banged the drum that Pryor played in the wrong college system. If Pryor becomes a competent quarterback, it can make Jadeveon Clowney a no-brainer in the first round.

Still Unknown: Houston and San Diego - I have no idea what happened on late Monday night. The Chargers had a massive first half only to pull their best Norv Turner impression in the third and fourth quarter with the Texas imposing their will on offense.  I cannot believe the Texans found a way to win this game and how San Diego lost it.

Defining the Middle Shelf... Patriots win over Buffalo - Remember how we talked about what the middle shelf was earlier? The Patriots are defining it as of now. The Patriots hung in there for the whole game, but they did not really play well at all. They are all sorts of banged up for their Thursday night game against the New York Jets and I would be a little concerned if I were a Patriot fan.

Future is bright in St. Louis and Phoenix - Arizona and St. Louis played a pretty good game on Sunday. Jared Cook finally looked like he might be worth his potential. Larry Fitzgerald finally has a quarterback. Both defenses did alright. I feel like we are watching two teams on the cusp of really having something with their teams.

Bottom Shelf
Lavonte David... Not a wise move, bro - He is one of the best young linebackers in the league, but right now, the Tampa Bay linebacker is known as the guy whom pushed Geno Smith after he went out of bounds leading the Jets to getting a game-winning field goal. David will be fine, but this defines the Buccaneers right now. They still have yet to fix the undisciplined play and that should concern Bucs fans.

Let's talk about Pittsburgh - I picked this team to go to the Super Bowl and they only scored nine points against Tennessee. The Steelers also lost Maurkice Pouncey, Larry Foote and LeRod Stephens-Howling for the season, all three important players to this team. I am starting to believe the 2010 team sold their soul to the devil to get to the Super Bowl because they have not seem to catch a break in quite some time. It does not get any easier heading to Cincinnati on Monday Night Football.  Pittsburgh does not need to win, but they need to at least look like they have a pulse.

Giants might need a running back - The New York Giants running back combination of David Wilson, DaRell Scott and Michael Cox is not a good look for them right now. They had multiple turnovers and struggled the whole game. Willis McGahee and Michael Turner might be options for them. But the fact the Giants are looking at Brandon Jacobs should scare the complete shit out of New York.

Rey Maualuga loses his cool and the football game for Cincinnati - The Bengals looked like they were going to get another chance against the Chicago Bears and then the former USC standout had an unsportsman-like conduct leading to an automatic Bears first down and a Bears win. Cincinnati had an eleven point lead after having a punishing opening second half drive and they stalled from there. The Bengals had two three-and-outs plus a turnover in the red zone.  A team whose supposed to be a Super Bowl contender does not have games like this one.

Brandon Weeden's hype deflates like a popped balloon - Out of all the people who had bad starts, Weeden probably depressed me the most. I did not really buy into the Browns hype like others, but at the same time, I felt like their offensive could be much better than years past. Weeden had three interceptions in the first half and it was curtains from there. The Browns really do not have much moving forward at quarterback and they have to ride it out.

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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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... 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... 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: New England Patriots

Another year of 32 for 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. 

It is hard to remember if the New England Patriots had a rougher offseason in their time of being a powerhouse in the NFL. Usually, they mind their business, maybe Tom Brady gets caught dancing like a fool, but that is about it.  This year, things were completely different. The Patriots first signed Tim Tebow which went together for the national media like peanut butter and jelly. Give New England credit, the Tebow stuff has died down at least for the start of training camp; who knows what happens when he breaks a 48 yard run in preseason probably back to threat level over-excitement.  

Things went from just frantic to terrifying. In the late June, former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was charged in the murder of Odin Lloyd. While the Patriots released Hernandez 90 minutes after his arrest, the black cloud hung over the team. They were the ones faced with a majority of the Hernandez questions, but as the Patriots usually do, they handled it like the utmost gentlemen. Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and Vince Wilfork all showed why they are leaders. Hernandez will probably be a discussion in correlation with this team for at least this year, but if anyone can handle a distraction in a orange jumpsuit, it's the Patriots. 

OFFENSE 

They have some real issues going on for the first time in a long while. The biggest problem is they will not have their top five receivers back from last season. Four of them are no longer on the team and the other will be battling injury to begin the year. They are definitely different quarterbacks by style, Brady and Brett Favre have some similarities in terms of personnel.  Favre never had many big name receivers and they all worked like a turnstile. Brady has had some notable names, but most have came and went. The one Brady does have going for him in the passing game is the offensive line should be pretty stacked. Nate Soldier is a beast along with Sebastian Vollmer plus their two mainstays at guard.  The running game will also be by committee to start as Steven Ridley still recovers from his injury suffered in the final game of the season.  

DEFENSE 

The Patriots are still looking for the days of Tedy Bruschi, Ty Law and others, but they will be improved this year.  I expect big years from Dont'a Hightower and Chandler Jones both entering their second season as professionals, to create some havoc in the front seven. Jared Mayo and Wilfork are the two more consistent players on this defense. They get a full year of Aqib Talib which will definitely help them in the secondary.  They also added Adrian Wilson from the Arizona Cardinals to help their secondary out which is probably their softest spot on defense.

SPECIAL TEAMS

One of the best in the business at both kicking and punting with Stephan Gostkowski who set a franchise record last year for his accuracy rate last season at 84.4.  Zoltan Mesko can boom punts with the best of them. They also got better in the return game adding Leon Washington who can break any kick or punt.  

KEY ADDITIONS 

WR Danny Amendola, RB LeGarrette Blount, WR Michael Jenkins DT Tommy Kelly, RB/KR Leon Washington, S Adrian Wilson - If the pressure was not enough for Amedola to replace Wes Welker, he will also try to make up for the Hernandez void as well. He must stay healthy and if he does, he will be a great addition to this team. 

KEY DEPARTURES 

WR Wes Welker, WR Deion Branch, S Patrick Chung, WR Brandon Lloyd, G Donald Thomas, RB Danny Woodhead, TE Aaron Hernandez 

PATRIOTS DRAFT PICKS 

DE/LB Jamie Collins, WR Aaron Dobson, CB Logan Ryan, S Duron Harmon, WR Josh Boyce, DE Michael Buchanan, LB Steve Beauharnais - Dobson is the one to watch in this group as he is a physical freak and will be asked to contribute right away.   

GAME TO WATCH

November 24th: vs. Denver 7:30 pm (NBC) - The annual Brady-Peyton Manning game will have a little more spice with Welker returning to Foxboro. Both teams will likely be healthy and trying to shape up for the postseason. It could also be a battle for gets homefield for the playoffs. 

PREDICTION 

10 to 12 wins - They have a tough schedule facing the AFC North and NFC South, two of the better divisions in football, but the Patriots are still the Patriots. I do not expect a significant drop-off especially in the weak AFC East.  

Charlie.  

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