Week 2 NFL Power Rankings: Robert Griffin III has arrived

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Alex Smith (pictured above) outplayed reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers as the 49ers got a huge victory in the opener at Lambeau Field.

By Wesley Kaminsky

Last season, it was Cam Newton who dazzled us all, throwing for 422 yards in his NFL debut. One year later, Robert Griffin III went into the Superdome, threw for 322 yards, two touchdowns, and beat the Saints. It took awhile Washington, but your quarterback has finally arrived. The Redskins will make some noise in the NFC East this season.

Griffin was just one of many stories through Week 1 of the NFL season. In case you missed it, here’s a quick recap.

Taking over this weeks number one spot in the power rankings are the 49ers, who marched into Lambeau Field and beat the Packers. Another team that made a statement was Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. Manning finished 19-26 for 253 yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Steelers.

Ah, so much to get to. Where does your team rank after Week 1?

1. San Francisco 49ers (4): 1-0. That was a statement win for the 49ers in Green Bay. Alex Smith outplayed Aaron Rodgers. Impressive. (Next game: vs. Detroit on SNF)

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2012 NFL Power Rankings: Beware of the Chicago Bears

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Are Jay Cutler (pictured above) and the Chicago Bears poised for a big year in 2012? Our very own Wesley Kaminsky thinks so.

By Wesley Kaminsky

The NFL off-season always seems too long, doesn’t it? In an off-season dominated by Tim Tebow and the New York Jets, it’s that other team in New York who are the reigning Super Bowl champions. They shocked the NFL world a season ago, getting hot at the right time, beating the likes of the Packers, 49ers, and then eventually the Patriots. That takes guts.

With teams such as the Packers, 49ers, Bears, Saints, and Falcons, just to name a few, the NFC is becoming a powerhouse. I didn’t even touch on the NFC East.

In the AFC, the Patriots look like the clear-cut team to beat, as they added more weapons to an already lethal offense and revamped their defense.

Can the Ravens finally get over the hump? Will Peyton Manning return with a vengeance?

These questions will be answered in due time.

Throwback Saturday Part XIII

Photo courtesy of cleveland.com. A year ago, Kobe Bryant (pictured above) was not a happy camper for a number of reasons. Will things brighten up this Spring for the LA superstar?

By Josh Kramer

Lucky number thirteen.  Over three months later and “Throwback Saturdays” are still going strong.  What was happening on April 14, 2011?  How about on April 14, 2012?  Let’s find out.

One year ago..

A Rough Go for Kobe

Here is a snippet..

The past couple of days have been an absolute whirlwind for Lakers superstar, Kobe Bryant.  First, a key piece of the Lakers championship puzzle, Andrew Bynum, goes down with yet another knee injury.  Then, later in the game, Kobe picks up a technical foul. But the technical was not out of the ordinary for Bryant, who is 2nd in the League this year in technical fouls to Superman himself, Dwight Howard.

Bryant frequently argues with referees and actually has ranked in the top ten in the League for technical fouls each of the past six seasons. I do not like when guys jabber at opposing players or whine to  the referees.  But I do respect Bryant’s drive and his ability to “Refuse to Lose.”  He is emotional.  The man just hates losing.  It is a trait that Michael Jordan had.  It is a trait that Tiger Woods had.  Losing is not something that any of these guys ever seem to think is possible.  So they each have had their fair share of temper tantrums over the years.  And do not think for a second that guys like Jordan did not cry to the refs or that the other stars in today’s game remain mum towards the referees.  It just isn’t true.  Stars complain.  And they complain frequently.

But in the San Antonio game, Kobe made a big time mistake to go along with his technical foul.  He appears to have directed an offensive gay slur towards the referee.  Cursing is one thing.  When racist, religious, or gay slurs get brought into the game, it takes things to another level.  Kobe crossed the line (To finish reading this post, click this link).

Throwback Saturday Part III

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. A year ago today, I gave a preview for Super Bowl XLV predicting that the Steelers would come out victorious. I was wrong.

By Josh Kramer

A wise man once told me, “There is no present or future, only the past, happening over and over again.”  Though, I am not in full agreement with that statement, it does set the stage for the third edition of “Throwback Saturday.”  What was happening on February 4, 2010 in sports?  How about on February 4, 2009?  Let’s find out.

One year ago..

Super Bowl XLV

Here is a snippet from the end..

My X-Factor in this game goes to the coaching staff.  Yes I said it.  I feel like Dick LeBeau’s amazing defensive mentality will give Rodgers just enough fits to lead the Steelers to a victory.  In addition, I think that the Steelers will get more production from Mendenhall than the Packers will get from Starks.  But the difference in the game will come down to coaching.  I give the Steelers and D-Coordinator Dick LeBeau the edge.

I got the Steelers winning an absolute thrilling game 24 to 21.  It should be fun.  Big Ben will join some elite company with his 3rd Super Bowl Title.  Do not sleep on the Packers though.  Aaron Rodgers and the Cheeseheads will be back (To finish reading the post, click this link).

Final NFL Regular Season Power Rankings: It’s Playoff Time

Photo courtesy of sports.gearlive.com. The Packers have been number one in the power rankings all season long. Can they hold up their end of the bargain and repeat as Super Bowl champions?

By Wesley Kaminsky

In the final edition of power rankings before postseason play starts next weekend, I’m ranking teams on their entire body of work for the 2011 season. It was a crazy season, just as it always is, and one of the most exciting regular seasons we have seen in quite some time.

Some of the wild events just to name a few were “Tebow Mania,” the Packers near run of perfection, and Dan Marino’s single season passing record getting broken (twice). We truly have seen the gamut this season.

Now, it’s the best time of the year, the playoffs. Who will be this years Packers? Or will the Packers win back to back Super Bowls?

Week 17 NFL Power Rankings: Playoff Implicatio​ns on the Line

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Drew Brees (pictured above) made history on Monday Night. Can he lead New Orleans to another Super Bowl?

By Wesley Kaminsky

Just as it is every year, Week 17 will be defined by playoff implications and high stake games. The NFC East is on the line Sunday Night in the Big Apple when the Cowboys and Giants go to war.

In the AFC, Kyle Orton returns to Denver with a chance to knock Tim Tebow out of the playoffs. Do you think Orton wants to win this game? After being run out of Denver, Orton now has a chance to prove himself to Broncos ownership and exact revenge on the franchise that showed him the door.

Get your popcorn ready, it’s going to be a hell of a week.

Week 16 NFL Power Rankings: Chiefs End Packers Run of Perfection

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. In his debut as Head Coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, Romeo Crennel (pictured above) shocked the world and took down the formerly undefeated Green Bay Packers.

By Wesley Kaminsky

Just when you thought you had everything figured out, right? In Week 15, the games were highlighted by streaks being broken. The Texans saw a seven game losing streak come to an end, while the Packers run of perfection got halted by the Chiefs in Arrowhead. Meanwhile, in Indianapolis, the Colts finally won a game without Peyton Manning, as they took down the Titans 27-13. That’s a relief.

Also, the Broncos six game winning streak was spoiled by the Patriots, as Tim Tebow couldn’t quite keep up with Tom Brady in a 41-23 loss. There was no “Tebow Time” on Sunday for the first time in quite a while.

Even though the Packers lost, they retain the top spot with the Saints holding on to the number two spot right behind them. Beyond those two teams, a plethora of changes took place in this weeks power rankings.

Week 15 NFL Power Rankings: Giants Save Season With Comeback Win

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. It appeared all over in Dallas after Dez Bryant (pictured above) scored on a 50-yard strike midway through the 4th. Sadly for the Cowboys, the lead did not hold up and it is a whole new ballgame in the NFC East now.

By Wesley Kaminsky

On 2nd and 11, with 5 minutes and 52 seconds left, the Cowboys led the Giants 27-22. Then, Tony Romo connected with a wide open Dez Bryant for a 50 yard touchdown, as the Cowboys took a 34-22 lead with 5:41 left. The Cowboys were about to end the Giants season and take control of the NFC East.

Eli Manning had something to say about that though. Manning orchestrated two beautiful drives as the Giants did the improbable, and won in Dallas 37-34, on a Jason Pierre-Paul blocked field goal. Now, it’s the Giants division to lose, and it might just come down to Week 17 when they meet again, at the Meadowlands.

That wasn’t the only thrilling finish in Week 14 though. T.J. Yates, in just his second career start, threw the game winning touchdown pass to Kevin Walter with two seconds left to lead the Texans to the franchises first playoff berth.

And then of course, there were the Broncos, who overcame a 10-0 deficit with 4:34 seconds remaining. The Bears are just another team on what is becoming a long list, who have been “Tebowed,” which has become the most popular expression of the 2011 NFL season. It’s amazing how much this Broncos team believes in Tim Tebow and I can’t say enough about it. The guy is just a winner.

NFL Week 13 Predictions

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Ben Roethlisberger (pictured above) has made a career off of winning big games. How will he respond in a huge game at Heinz Field on Sunday against division rival Cincinnati?

By Josh Kramer

We have now reached the final quarter of the NFL season.  And there are a few things we know for sure.  The Colts are absolutely awful.  Green Bay is the team to beat.  And the “North” appears to be the elite division in both the AFC and NFC.  The Harbaughs may be the NFL’s power family now, but there are still many other key players as we enter the home stretch of the regular season.

As has become the tradition, we are once again having “TheSportsKraze Pick’em Challenge.”

The participants this season are as follows:

TheSportsKraze (TSK) (defending champion)-Josh Kramer-Founder/Editor-In-Chief of “TheSportsKraze” and former ESPN intern.

CV3-Chad Vordenberge-An elite high school wide receiver and a very successful business owner.

CB-Craig Baker-A former collegiate baseball player and current special education teacher.

DC-David Clark-A dedicated sports fan who was coached by TheSportsKraze on his fraternity flag football team.  After playing for TheSportsKraze, he has developed a slow but steady motivation to show his coach who the real pick’em champion is.

After Week 12, here is the scoreboard.

CB-111

TSK-118

CV3-109

DC-108

Week 13 Slate:

Too quick of a whistle

Photo courtesy of tusconcitizen.com. Are NFL referees to quick with the whistle in terms of roughing the passer penalties?

By Andrew McNeil

Daily I hear that the NFL has gotten soft.  That the league is taking the aggressiveness out of football. This is true especially when it comes to the quarterback.  You can barely touch the field general without it being a penalty.  Every week you see a ridiculous roughing the passer penalty that quite frankly makes you sick. There are also many complaints that the calls are not consistent.  That players such as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees get the penalty flags more frequently than other quarterbacks such as Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Vick. In an interview with ESPN’s Jim Rome, Roethlisberger said, “I think in part because the league doesn’t want certain games to be played without certain quarterbacks,” Roethlisberger continues to say. “No offense to the other Patriots, but whose going to watch the Patriots
without Tom Brady and the Saints without Drew Brees. That’s the way it is. They want to protect those guys because they are the marquee guys of this league, and you don’t want them to get hurt.” Vick also had similar complaints after one of his team’s losses this season.