All Chips In

New Orleans Saints @ Seattle Seahawks -9: This is the first game of the Divisional round of this weekend. Nine points is a lot for a playoff game especially between two very good teams. Just like last week all this week all you hearing is about how the Saints was blown out by the Seahawks the last time they played each other. Aslo all the talk has been  about  how it is difficult to win in Seattle. The Saints seem to have problems with the defense of the Seahawks, but what team in the NFL don't have trouble with them. Sometimes in the NFL a team is a bad  match up for against another team, and that is what we have here. Percy Harvin is playing in his second game as a Seahawk since being traded to them this off-season. Hopefully with Harvin in the line up it can  help get Russell Wilson an the offense back on track. Wilson and the Seahawks offense have been struggling the last four games. For the Saints to win this game they have to keep themselves out of second and long, third and long situations. Mark Ingram showed up last week when they needed him too. This week they will need the same game from him plus more, not just from him but from their other running backs. Whether it is Drren Sporles, or rookie Khiry Robinson, all the Saints running backs need to take the pressure off of Drew Brees. I don't see the Saints winning this game, but I don't see this game being a blow out either. So I'm All Chips In on the points.

Indianapolis Colts @ New England Patriots -7.5: Andrew Luck performance last week is how you make yourself a legend in this league. With his team down 38-10 in the third quarter Luck led his team on five scoring drives in the second half to beat the Chiefs. As good as Luck played against the Chiefs he had some kind of luck on his side. Jamaal Charles left the game six plays into the first quarter and did not return. The Kansas City Chiefs constantly kept losing players from their secondary. Which allowed T.Y Hilton to have  a huge game. Last game the Colts was home this game they are on the road in Foxboro. It is not expected to be cold in New England but it is suppose to be raining and windy during the game. Even though the Patriots defense has had injuries to a lot of key players, one thing they still have is their head coach Bill Belicheck. Belicheck can get the most out of any player and can get any player do what every he wants on the field, whether that is having a linebacker play the safety position or a wide receiver play defensive back. I have a feeling we will see a big game from the LeGarrette Blount and the Patriots running backs. I like the Patriots in this game but I'm not sure I like 7.5 points, but I'm going All Chips In on the Patriots and the points.

San Francisco 49ers @ Carolina Panthers +1: This match up is between two teams who are mirrior images of each other. Both teams have great defenses that are about applying pressure and playing tough man coverage. The Niners and the Panthers both have young quarterbacks who can beat you with their arms as well as their legs. That is why the point spread is only one point ( which means it is a pick'em game). I love the way Colin Kaepernick  plays when  Michael Crabtree is in the line up. He plays with no thought process, as to when Crabtree was out with injury and Kaepernick seem to be playing as to not to make a mistake an would stare down his receivers from the snap of the ball. For the Niners to win this game they need Colin to play like he did against the Packers. Run when he has the chance to and don't force anything. Last week he got away with a lot of mistakes that could have cost his team the game. If he makes those same mistakes against the Panthers the 49ers will lose. There is a different  game plan for the Panthers. With Steve Smith not being 100% for this game expect Cam Newton to be Superman that he claims to be. Both Steve Smith and Jontathan Stewart are banged up coming into the game, so somebody else has to step up for Cam and the offense. I see a big game for Ten Ginn Jr against his former team. I like the Panthers in this close match up game, just because they are home. I'm All Chips In on the Panthers

San Diego Chargers @ Denver Broncos -9: Another playoff game which is a rematch from the regular season. The Chargers was the last team to beat the Broncos. An their gameplan is what a lot of teams try to do when they play Peyton Manning led teams, that is keep the ball away from him, keep him on the side line and score touchdowns instead of fieldgoals. It worked very well when they saw each other in week 15. Charger's defensive coordinator Jon Pagano kept disguising his scheme which had Manning off balance through out the game. The one thing that may cause the Chargers to lose this game is Manning himself. Usually after a team has gotten the best of Peyton and he gets the chance to see them again that year he will adapt to whatever gameplan they had against him. Plus Wes Welker will be playing Sunday giving Peyton all of his offense weapons. After losing last year to the Ravens in this same round of the playoffs. There is a lot of pressure on Manning to get to the Championship game. I see Peyton handling the pressure just like he handled the cold weather talk. Peyton loves when people start to doubt his ability or say he can't do something. Like I said about the Saints/Seahawks game nine points is a lot of points, especially for two teams that is playing each other for the third time this year. I like the Broncos to win the game, but I'm All Chips In on the points. 

ChipTalk NFL Awards

MVP

Peyton Manning QB, Denver Broncos- Two years was removed due  to neck surgery, arm strength is not what it use to be, had a bad high ankle sprain for the latter part of the season. And yet Manning still had a record season in passing yards (5,477), and touchdowns (55).Peyton is the greatest quarterback I have ever seen hands down.

(Runner up) LeSean McCoy RB, Philadelphia Eagles

Offensive Player of the Year

LeSean McCoy RB, Philadelphia Eagles- A Record setting year from Peyton Manning stops LeSean McCoy from being the MVP of the entire NFL. McCoy finished as the leading rusher with 1,607 yards with 9 rushing touchdowns. He also added 52 catches and over 500 receiving yards plus 2 touchdowns coming in the air. LeSean McCoy was the Eagles best player this year even with a great year from Nick Foles.

(Runner up) Jamaal Charles RB, Kansas City Chiefs

Defensive Player of the Year

Robert Mathis LB, Indianapolis Colts- At the riping age of 32 Robert Mathis proved he is not past his prime yet. Mathis finished three sacks (19.5) away from tying the season sack record (22.5) which is held by Michael Strahan. Robert was the Colts best pass rusher and was clearly the best pass rusher in the league this year. Robert Mathis also finished fifth on the team with 59 total tackles, which was the third most in his career.

(Runner up) Richard Sherman CB, Seattle Seahawks

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Eddie Lacey RB, Green Bay Packers: This award came down to two players to me Gio Bernard or Eddie Lacey. Lacey won the award because he just seem to be more important to the Packers once Aaron Rodgers got injury. Eddie Lacey had the most rushing yards out all the rookie running backs (1,178) and he had 11 touchdowns. In the beginning of the season Lacey look out of place, but he got stronger as he got deeper into the season and showed why the Packers spent a second round draft pick on him.

(Runner up) Gio Bernard RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Kiko Alonso LB, Buffalo Bills: Kiko Alonso was the cream of the crop when it came to rookie defensive players. Hell Alonso is becoming one of the best young linebackers in the NFL and this is his first year. Kiko led the Bills with 159 tackles, 87 of them was solo. he also led the team with four  picks. Alonso finished third in tackles in the league at the end of the season ten spots ahead of the next rookie Paul Worrilow from Atlanta.

(Runner up) Ezekiel Ansah DE, Detroit Lions

Coach of the Year

Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals: Last year Bruce Arians won the coach of the year award for stepping in for Chuck Pagano. This year I'm giving him the award because he did a terrific job with the Cardinals this year. All that time on the job as the head man with the Colts paid off. The Cardinals finished with a 10-6 record just missing the playoffs. Bruce seem to do wonders with the team, their offense  finished in the top 15 in passing and tops in rushing defense.

(Runner up) Joe Philbin, Miami Dolphins

A Piece of Chip

Bulls****: Monday night the Chicago Bulls traded their number one scorer this year to the Cleveland Cavs for  Andrew Bynum and three future draft picks. I really dislike this trade, no I really hate this trade. It seem like the Bulls are giving up on this season because Derrick Rose went down with another knee injury. Even though they don't plan on keeping Bynum on the team and will waive him for his contract money. This does not improve the Bulls team but improves a Cavs team in a very weak Eastern conference. I see this trade as being one sided until the Bulls prove me wrong.

Texas Strong: This past Sunday Texas University hired their new football coach Charlie Strong. I'm happy for Strong that he is getting this opportunity, but I don't like that Charlie left Louisville. Louisville Cardinals took a chance on Strong four years ago and it paid off for the university. Strong turn the program around making it a winning program. Last year the Cardinals made their first BCS bowl game since 2006 beating Florida in the Sugar Bowl. An just like Texas, the big program it is they jump on the chance to snatch up a upcoming head coach, which left a program like Louisville in the cold.

If ain't Broke....: News has surface that the NFL suits are thinking about adding two more teams to the playoffs. Don't see the reason why they would even consider the notion. The playoff setup is fine and is working. Now I understand why Cowboys owner Jerry Jones brought it up last week. I thought he was just saying it because his team missed the playoffs again for the third straight season, but it seem like this talk has been on the agenda in those yearly owners meeting the NFL has. This can't be a money issue because the NFL don't have those type of problems, even with the recent court issues. So it is coming off as greed to me and most NFL fans I have talked too. I'm stating to the NFL to please keep things the way it is. You don't spit into the wind, you don't tug on Superman's cape, and you don't mess with the NFL's playoff system.

Fired cause of Loyalty? : Tennessee Titans fired their head coach Mike Munchak after they offer him a contract extension which would have double his salary. From what I heard they gave him the pink slip because he decline to fire anybody from his coaching staff  when the Titans front office ask him to do so. To me this whole thing seem fishy to me. Did Munchak really want keep his job? An if he did why didn't he take the contract extension when the organization offer it and was showing signs that they had faith in him after missing the playoffs three straight seasons. Some might see Munchak as being a great boss by declining to give anybody the axe, but what about those coaches who was not on that list to be fired? They are now out of a job because Mike was thinking with his heart instead of his brain. A good boss would have let those coaches go but give other teams a phone call referring them. That is how you take care of people who you care about. Now everybody is out a job. Great job coach

The End Of A Era

That is how you suppose to end a era, The BCS era ended on a high note this year when Florida State beat Auburn at the Rose Bowl stadium  34-31. Florida State won their first national championship title since 1999, when they was the second team to win a title once the BCS was incremented back in 1998. The Bowl Championship Series was created to try to make things easy when it came to deciding the best team in college. Before the BCS came along a team had to finish undefeated to be seen as the number one team in college. That was the only way to decide the best team in college football, but the problem was when they had two or three undefeated teams left at the end of the year. That is why 11 times since 1960 there have been more then one team who has claim the number spot in a college season.

Sixteen years is how long the BCS has been in affect. When it first came on the scene it was welcome with open arms from the sports world, that lasted all but five years. It all stem from how the teams was picked to be ranked in the BCS rankings. Most people did not understand the computer system and how it work. So much that ESPN had to hire people who only job was to figure out the BCS computer system and how it worked. I'm still not quite sure how the computer picks the teams. Which is why we had games like in 2003 when Oklahoma play LSU in the title game after they lost to Kansas State in the Big 12 championship game. The following year there was three undefeated teams at the end of the season ( Auburn, Boise State, Utah) and either one of them played in the national title game. Two other times there was undefeated teams who did not play in the national championship either because they played in non automatic BCS conference. Which had people shaking their head at the system, because that is why they put it into play to get the best teams against each other and not have the confusion of who was the best team in college. Even with the BCS system in place it seem like the non automatic conference had no chance of making the title game no matter how many games they won.

The BCS title game was not just full of controversies, it also gave us some great moments. Like in 2003 when Ohio State beat the mighty Miami Hurricanes in double overtime to win the Big Ten one and only BCS championship. Or like in 2005 when the legend of Vince Young was born when he led the Longhorns down the field for the winning touchdown on 4th down from USC 9 yard line. Cam Newton and Tim Tebow both finished off great regular seasons with National title wins. Through all the good games there have been some stinkers also. When Ohio State went to back to back national championship just to get beat down by Florida one year and LSU the following year. How about the year that we had to watch the rematch of two SEC teams when Alabama went against LSU in 2012. That resulted in the first ever shut out in BSC history when the Tide won 21-0, and was the only time that two teams from the same conference faced off in the BCS title game.

There are a lot of people who are happy the BCS is going away and that college football is finally going with a playoff system. The BCS era showed us how dominant the SEC conference was. The conference won nine championships out of the 16 years. That was the most out all the conferences in college football. The Big 12 and the ACC both tied for second with two titles each. The Big Ten and the Big East ( which is now the AAC) each won one championship. SEC also went to the title game 11 times the only conference even close to that was the Big 12 who went 7 times.

I can't wait until next year when the playoff system is in place, cause now instead of a computer we have a human committee who will decide the rankings for the four teams. Let's hope that the playoff system does not go down the same road as the BCS did when it was in affect. So even though I did not like the BCS a little part of me is sad to see it end. Just like all those undefeated teams who watched their chance go by because of a little O computer I guess.   

All Chips In

Kansas City Chiefs @ Indianapolis Colts -1:  Coming off their week 16 match up in which the Colts won in Kansas City 23-7. The betting line has this match up a lot closer then the last game. I don't see it that way. Even though the Colts won the game I did not like the way they could not stop Jamaal Charles. Charles ran all over the Colts defense averaging nine yards per carry. Now you put him indoors in a controlled atmosphere it spells a big game for Jamaal. Add into the fact that I see Andy Reid opening up the the play book and will let Alex Smith throw the ball a little more down the field. Most people may think I'm crazy especially since the Colts was 3-1 in their last four games. Not allowing more then 10 points in the three victories, but beside the Chiefs the other two wins was against teams with losing records ( Jaguars, Texans). I see a more entertaining game then the last one, but I'm All Chips In on the Chiefs.

New Orleans Saints @ Philadelphia Eagles -2.5: Everybody is paying more attention to the weather during the game then the actually game. By now you have heard how the Saints have struggled this season on the road, and how they have not won a playoff game on the road since Brees and Sean Payton been there. I'm here to tell you that that will all end this weekend when the Saints finally win a playoff game on the road. Nick Foles has really impress me with his play this year. You have to give a lot of credit to Chip Kelly because this is not the same Foles from last year. But the last three games of the season for the Eagles was not convincing enough for me to ride with them in the playoff, even if some experts say they are the hottest team in the NFC. The Eagles put up big numbers against the Lions in the infamous snow game, but struggled against the Vikings with out their first and second string running backs. They slaughtered the Bears defense when the Bears really needed that game to win the NFC North division, but it came down to Kyle Orton throwing a bad pass for them to beat the Cowboys on the road. The Saints defense is the toughest the Eagles offense has seen since the Cardinals in week 13. That is why I'm All Chips In on the Saints against the spread.

San Diego Chargers @ Cincinnati Bengals -6.5: This is a tough match up for me, I like the Bengals team even with Andy Dalton as their quarterback, he is very inconsistent too me , but I'm really impress with what the Chargers did this year. Phillip Rivers is doing a lot with little this year and their defense is very good even though their secondary is sub-par. It is going to be too much for the Chargers against the Bengals since they struggled with the Chiefs back up. For the Chargers to have any chance they need to get turnovers and score off those turnovers because Dalton has been known to force the ball into double coverage ever now and then. Unlike the game in Philly I feel the weather will affect the Chargers and the traveling from the west to the east have been a problem for west coast teams. I'm All Chips In on the Bengals and the points.

San Francisco 49ers @ Green Bay Packers +2.5: There are somethings that bother me about this game and there is things I care about. One of the things that don't bother me is that the 49ers have a better record then the Packers and is the road team unlike some ESPN experts. The things I do care about is it being zero degrees once the game is suppose to start on Sunday evening. Also that Aaron Rodgers is back quarterbacking for the Packers after missing seven weeks because of a broken collarbone of the non throwing arm. AA- Rod came back last week at the right time and supplied his magic to convert a 4th- and- 8th to Randall Cobb for the winning score. The one problem I'm having that is stopping me from picking the Packers is that Green Bay are 0-3 against the Niners in the last two years. Back to back years they have lost to them in the first game of the season, in which the Niners average 32 points against their defense with a healthy Clay Matthews. Matthews is going to miss Sunday game. Which means the Packers plays more bend don't break type defense. Michael Crabtree return to the line up has giving Colin Kaepernick a deep threat on the edge  he has been missing all year long. Even with the weather and the magic of Aaron Rodgers I'm still All In Chips in on the  NIners.

Orange Bowl
Clemson Tigers vs Ohio State Buckeyes -2.5: Two high scoring teams face off in a match up I'm looking forward too. In the beginning  of the season everybody on was the Tajh Boyd ban wagon, that is until the Tigers met FSU and they got expose by the Seminoles defense. The Buckeyes on the other side was underrated the whole season because of the quality of the Big Ten competition. That is until they beat Michigan and was one win away from the National Championship game. Just like Clemson their offense was shut down when they play a big time defense. I like the Buckeyes offense but what concerns me is their defense and the ability to stop deep passes. This game is gong to be a shot out, but I'm All Chips IN on the Buckeyes and the points.



    

Help Wanted!!!!

Week 17 games started and finished. The day head coaches of bad teams have dread since week 13 "Black Monday" has hit the NFL and it was not as bad as expected. Both New York teams look like they are keeping their head coaches when a lot of people wanted them to started over, or thought they should. Jerry Jones has shown faith in Jason Garrett even though this is his third 8-8 finish. The one firing where it makes you shake your head cause you are not quite sure what is going on is in Cleveland. After one season Rob Chudzinski was shown the door along with  a $10 million dollae pay out. In total there was six head coaches that was given the pink slip on Monday ( Browns,Lions,Vikings,Texans, Skins,Buccaneers). I rated the jobs from the best on the market to the the one most coaches are not to thrilled to interview for.

Detroit Lions: Just like the Kansas City Chiefs of last year the Lions are stocked and the right coach signing away from winning their division and more. With Calvin Johnson the best wide out in the NFL along with Reggie Bush the Lions have the star power on offense. They have one of the best defensive lines in the league, they might need to add another pass rusher since they had only one player with more then seven (Ezekiel Ansah) sacks this year. Now the question is what to do with quarterback Matthew Stafford, and is he a product of having the best receiver in the game or is he really that good. Stafford just needs somebody to help him with his mechanics, not a complete overhaul but a little retooling. With the Lions picking in the top ten in a loaded draft this coming April, the Detroit Lions is the job most coaches should want to coach next year.

Houston Texans: I'm still not sure what happen to the Texans this year. They was a Super Bowl contender before the season started. Two games into the season they looked like they was on their way to make that prediction true. 15 games later and they fired Gary Kubiak and Wade Phillips (interim). Unlike the Lions Houston  have quarterback issues. I was never a Matt Schaub fan from the jump and I felt much of his success was from Andre Johnson and Adrian Foster. Case Keenum may not be the answer either which. The one thing they have going for them is on the defense with JJ Watt and Brain Crushing leading this unit they have the ability to be a top 10 defense again.What makes the Texans a good job is they have the first pick in the draft and can go any way, whether it is picking a quarterback or trading down for more draft picks.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Another team with quarterback issues with no answer in sight. Just two years ago the Bucs looked like a young team on the move up the ladder in the NFC South. They had what it seem like a very good young quarterback in Josh Freeman, great young defense and a young coach who looked to be leading them in the right direction. Greg Schiano fate was determined not because he started the season 0-8, but I believe because the way he handle the Josh Freeman situation. The way everything went down Schiano in my opinion lost the respect of some of the players in the locker room. Greg did not leave the cupboard bare, well not on the defense side of the ball. Even with a bottom of the barrel offense the defense finished in the middle of the pack on defense. With the third pick in the draft it gives the in coming coach the opportunity to pick their share of offensive players to fit their system.

Washington Redskins: No first round draft pick because they traded their picked to the Rams last year to move up which resulted in the Skins picking Robert Giffin III. A franchise quarterback who is still struggling to recover from his ACL injury last year. Not every coach is equpped to take the Skins job I feel it is better suited for a lay back coach who has a background in defense, and can work with a young quarterback. With RG3 and Alfred Morris they have a form-able back field. Pierre Garcon is turning out to be a solid number one receiver. The defense has potential, but it is going to be hard work with no first round draft pick and playing in the NFC east does not help.

Cleveland Browns: Inconsistently at the quarterback position will always get a coach fired and it has bitten another coach working for the Browns organization . After trading Trent Richardson it seem like the Browns was willing to rebuild with Rob Chudzinski as their head coach. Nobody would  have guessed that the Browns was going to fire him after one season. Chudzinski had to deal with the most  inconsistent play from his quarterbacks this year, with the future being drafting another quarterback in the first round. There was a some Cleveland players who was in disbelief  when they found out that Rob was getting fired. The Browns are one of the worst job openings this year. They have Josh Gordon, Jordan Cameron, and Greg Little, but nothing else on offense. On defense Joe Hayden and TJ Ward are a solid one-two in the secondary. But the Browns are going to need a lot more then those players to win the AFC North or even a wild card spot in the future.

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings are in worst shape then the Browns. Who else besides Adrian Peterson do the Vikings have on the offense that can make the opponents defense coordinator fear them? Nobody. The signing of Josh Freeman did not work out like they plan. Matt Cassel  or Christian Ponder does not seem to be franchise quarterbacks. Cordarrelle Patterson was a nice pick up in last year draft though, reminds me of a bigger Percy Harvin. The defense has no young stud but is workable for the incoming coach. The Vikings have to figure out whether they want to sign Jared Allen back. Plus the Vikings will be moving to a new stadium in 2015, so next season they will play all their home games at the university of Minnesota stadium. That is a lot for a coach to think about when deciding to sign a contract with the Vikings.
           

Chip Talk All-Pro team

With the first inaugural Pro Bowl draft in the next two days, we have the first Chip Talk All-Pro team.

Offense

QB- Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos: Season passing yard record, season touchdown record, fifth MVP, enough said
RB- LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles: Finished the season as the leading rusher, and was Philly's best player
LT- Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys: Is becoming the best left tackle in the game
LG- Kyle Long, Chicago Bears: I believe the steal of the 2013 draft
C- Mike Pouncey, Miami Dolphins: This year he took his brother spot as the best center in the game
RG-  Logan Mankins, New England: The one consistent player on the Patriots on offense, besides Tom Brady
RT- Branden Albert, Kansas City Chiefs: Running tackle ( check Jamaal Charles stats)
WR- Calvin Johnson, Detriot Lions: Down year in stats, but still the best wide out in the game
WR- Josh Gordon, Cleveland Browns: Break out year for himself and fantasy owners who drafted him
Flex Back- Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs: Andy Reid has another do everything back (Westbrook, McCoy)
TE- Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints: Brees go to weapon, you stop him the Saints can be beaten

Defense

DE- Robert Quinn, St Louis Rams: Career high 19 sacks
DT- Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions: Less news about his fines and more news about his disruptive play on the field
DT- Haloti Ngata, Baltimore Ravens: His play is less about stats, still the anchor of a top 15 defense
DE- Greg Hardy, Carolina Panthers: Hardy is that pass rusher that helps lead the team to a Super Bowl
LB- Robert Mathis, Indianapolis Colts: Showed he still has some gas left in the tank, leading the league in sacks (19.5)
LB- Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers: The best middle linbacker in the league (1b)
LB-NaVorro Bowman,San Francisco 49ers: Still number one middle linebacker in the NFL (1a)
CB- Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals: Becoming the Deion Sanders of this time
CB- Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks: Big corner, big talker, shows up in big time games
FS- Earl Thomas, Seattle Seahawks: With Sherman on one side he is able to roam the field and be the playmaker he is
SS- Antrel Rolle, New York Giants: The best player on the Giants this entire year ( not saying much), but the best stats out of all strong safeties this year
Punter-Jon Ryan, Seattle Seahawks: His punts equal to the lease punt return yards this year
Place Kicker- Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens: 38 out of 41 field goals made this year, almost kicked the Ravens into the playoffs