Week 4 NFL Picks, Storylines, Minus Domestic Violence Edition

Can it be true? Oh, can it be true? No conflicts have occurred this week. That shocks me and I know you are shocked too.

This week has a host of storylines starting with the Thursday night game. The New York Football Giants will travel to Washington. Both teams come into the contest with a 1-2 record. The loser of this game will most likely fall to 1-5. That record still may be good enough to win the NFC East.

Other storylines from around the league:

• Can the Chargers winning streak continue without a running game?
• How will Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles fair in their 1^st NFL starts?
• Will the Patriots a Play well against a “good” team?
• Can Da Bears or 49ers play a complete game?
• Will Geno Smith or Ryan Tannehill get benched?

The Down the Line Sports Blog has on again had a winning week. Actually going into last week, my picks were better than all of the experts on NFL Sunday Countdown on ESPN.

Last week: 9-7

Overall: 31-17

Bye: Arizona, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Seattle, St. Louis

New York (N) over Washington

HOUSTON over Buffalo

CHICAGO over Green Bay

INDIANAPOLIS over Tennessee

PITTSBURGH over Tampa Bay

BALTIMORE over Carolina

Detroit over NEW YORK (A)

Miami over OAKLAND

SAN DIEGO over Jacksonville

MINNESOTA over Atlanta

Philadelphia over SAN FRANCISCO

DALLAS over New Orleans

KANSAS CITY over New England

Week 3 Picks, Domestic Abuse, Public Relations

Welcome back to the NFL’s season premiere of Domestic Violence Throwdown. This season we have a star-studded cast. Contestants include Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson, Ray McDonald, Greg Hardy, and Jonathan Dwyer. Roger Goodell will be the host and face of the show that will not be at fault for any mistakes our contestants make.

Seriously, the NFL has a problem that needs to be handled quickly. As a person who has studied public relations I can honestly tell you that this situation could be much better.

1. The best way of managing a crisis is by preventing a crisis from occurring. This was not the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth time someone has been a victim of domestic violence. Proactive>Reactive
2. Be honest. If the media asks questions answer them fully in a reasonable amount of time. (The Arizona Cardinals are no fools. They learned from what other teams did not do.)
3. This happens to be a great time for people all over to know why domestic abuse should not transpire. It is ridiculous that so much information has come out in the past two weeks. I love watching Pardon the Interruption on ESPN, but when the leading topic covers the same subject there is a problem. Maybe problem is a bad word. How about epidemic.
4. (To the media and other organizations)- Let the fans decide what happens in the NFL. Don’t say that fans are outraged and they want Goodell out of office. Reason being, if fans do not like what is occurring the stadiums will be empty and no one will be watching television on Sundays.
   1. Smoking can cause cancer, however people still smoke.
   2. McDonald’s food is unhealthy, yet people still dine there.
   3. Chris Brown beat Rhianna, however people still buy his music.

Let’s get to the games.

Last week was a good week. I was one of five people in the world to call the San Diego Chargers victory. (Pat on the back) Conversely, I did pick the Raiders. Hey, I don’t judge your mistakes.

Last week: 10-6

Overall: 22-10

Reminder Byes begin next week.

ATLANTA over Tampa Bay

BUFFALO over San Diego

CINNCINATI over Tennessee

DETROIT over Green Bay

Indianapolis over JACKSONVILLE

NEW ENGLAND over Oakland

CLEVELAND over Baltimore

Dallas over ST. LOUIS (Pick’em)

Houston over NEW YORK (N)

NEW ORLEANS over Minnesota

PHILADELPHIA over Washington

San Francisco over ARIZONA

MIAMI over Kansas City

SEATTLE over Denver

CAROLINA over Pittsburgh

NEW YORK (A) over Chicago

Expect a good week for Down the Line Sports.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter @regisjwelch.

WEEK 2

Well, what a week in the NFL. We will address the crisis management issues concerning the NFL later this week after the next crisis occurs. In that article all of the important issues will covered.

Let’s get back to business. Last week Down the Line Sports went 12-4. Yeah, it was a great week that can only get better.

To the picks:

BALTIMORE defeated Pittsburgh 28-6

BUFFALO over Miami

CAROLINA over Detroit

TENNESSEE over Dallas

New England over MINNESOTA

CLEVELAND over New Orleans

CINNCINATI over Atlanta

WASHINGTON over Jacksonville

NEW YORK (N) over Arizona

SAN DIEGO over Seattle

DENVER over Kansas City

OAKLAND over Houston

TAMPA BAY over St. Louis

GREEN BAY over New York (A)

SAN FRANCISCO over Chicago

INDIANAPOLIS over Philadelphia

2014 Predictions

2014 Postseason Playoff Contenders

AFC East: New England

AFC South: Indianapolis

AFC West: Denver

AFC North: Pittsburgh

Wild Cards: Cincinnati & San Diego

---

NFC East: Philadelphia

NFC South: Atlanta

NFC West: Seattle

NFC North: Green Bay

Wildcards: Arizona & New Orleans

---

Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale, AZ:

Indianapolis Colts vs. Seattle Seahawks

Champions: Seattle Seahawks

---

The 2014 NFL Preseason Awards

MVP and Offensive Player of the Year: Peyton Manning, again.

Until another power player comes along and puts an entire team on his back, this award will always go to Peyton Manning. He is the difference maker and he puts the most time and effort into preparing for a contest on a weekly basis. Reminder for the past two seasons he played with the same talent that Tim Tebow was privileged to.

Defensive Player of the Year: JJ Watt

His team was possibly the biggest disappointment in all of the NFL last season. There is no question that he is the best player on the defensive side of the ball for the Houston Texans. Because of that he will be a huge motivator and leader for his team. Expect the Texans to be in the playoff race.

Offensive Rookie of the Year Johnny Manziel..HAHA I made a funny. Zach Mettenberger is your winner:

I like Jake Locker, but something will happen that will force him out of the lineup. I’m thinking of another injury. There is a tremendous amount of talent at the wide receiver position for the Titans. Someone will have to get them the ball and I believe Metternberger will start at the helm by week 4.

Defensive Rookie of the Year Jadeveon Clowney:

I think that he and JJ Watt will be Batman and Robin. Clowney will get to the quarterback with no problem.

Coach of the Year Jay Gruden:

Washington went 3-13 last season. It’s pretty hard not to improve upon that. RG3 is healthy and the wide receiver core has been improved. They are in the worst division, which will help them out.

NFL WEEK 1

The 2014 NFL season is just hours away from returning. People have been waiting and it’s time to give them what they want. In tonight’s game the Seattle Seahawks will host the Green Bay Packers. The Seahawks have a number of questions that need to be answered.

• Will there be a Super Bowl hangover. In the past ten seasons only six champions have gone on to make the postseason the next year. None of those teams went on to repeat.
• Will Marshawn Lynch continue to be Beastmode? In the past three seasons the Seattle tailback has had 901 rushing attempts for over 4,000 yards. He is 28 years and ever so close to being labeled “over the hill”.
• Can the Seahawks win the NFC West? This maybe the best division in all of football. The winner will at least have eleven wins. Will San Fran improve on a dismal preseason? How about the Cardinals. Can they live up to expectations? Will the Rams pick a quarterback with the 1^st overall pick in the 2015 draft or stay with Sam Bradford, again?

I hope Green Bay has no expectations coming into this game because they have no chance of winning in Seattle. Expect the 12^th man to be louder than ever before. However, if the Packers can steal a win it will be a huge confidence booster!

Other huge storylines around the NFL:

• Who will be the starting quarterback in Cleveland? WHO CARES???
• How will Michael Sam fit in? Sam could not have had a better spot. Although he had a great preseason, he must improve at the defensive end position. Dallas has a JV defense and they are all prone to get injured. Expect to see the first openly gay on the field soon!
• Washington? Robert Grffin has no more excuses. Mike and Kyle Shanahan are both out like the Third wanted. He now has Jay Gruden as a head coach. DeSean Jackson will be a huge addition to an offense that should be electric. Can RG3 stay healthy and play in all 16 games? I highly doubt it!

Enough already! It’s time for the Week 1 picks.

SEATTLE over Green Bay

CHICAGO over Buffalo

PITTTSBURGH over Cleveland

PHILADELPHIA over Jacksonville

New England over MIAMI

ATLANTA over New Orleans

Cincinnati over BALTIMORE

HOUSTON over Washington

KANSAS CITY over Tennessee

Min over ST. Louis

NEW YORK JETS over Oakland

DALLAS over San Francisco

Carolina over TAMPA BAY

DENVER over Indianapolis

DETROIT over New York Giants

ARIZONA over San Diego

Thoughts from around the blogs:

Intothemindofasportslover

CW Sports Blog

thoughtsofkbyrne

KIBITZERS

Cortical Scrub