IN YOUR FACE, AND STAYING THERE

Russell Wilson's stiff arm of Denver Bronco's defender Champ Bailey on a scramble in Superbowl 48 was captured by the cameras, but also captured the mood of the entire Seahawks season.  This was a team that would not be denied.  The question now is, can they put the same collective stiff arm on their off-season detractors.

 

By now, any pro football fan is well aware of Seattle's jaw-dropping, no mercy belittling of the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 48.  We have all seen the highlights and have pondered how a game could be so one-sided in favor of what was deemed the lesser team.  We have all subsequently admitted that defense DOES win championships and conceded that the more complete team did win the game.

However, even after feeling the rarest of emotions while actually pitying Peyton Manning for a month or two, most of America has moved away from the shock and simply given the Seahawks the credit the fully deserve as simply the best defense in recent memory.  But, will they be the same come August?

No.  Not a chance. 

It astonishes me when pundits and armchair analysts alike pose this question as if it is a question that has ever been answered with a "yes."  The idea in the NFL is to continue to improve and constant change is a necessary and constant adjunct towards that goal.  No team, including and especially a Super Bowl champion, would aspire to "be the same" the as last season.  It simply makes you predictable and that means death in the NFL.

Yes the Seahawks have lost a few key components on both sides of the ball.  The best way to look at it though is that they lost key components in the 2013 off season as well.  The truth that nobody wants to admit it this:  The Seahawks have not reached their own pinnacle.  Not by a long shot.

I believe that the 'Hawks 2014 schedule  makes it unlikely that they will be the number 1 seed, especially given the fact that the NFC West continues to solidify it's claim to the greatest division in football.  I see them taking a step back in regular season wins (I will give them 11).  That may actually be good enough to win the NFC west due to the historically stacked defenses and team to team likenesses.  Mathematically, they are all going to hurt each others chances at the number 1 seed.

With that being said, it won't matter what seed the Seahawks secure for the playoffs, they may run the board again once their.  Once you play 6 games against NFC West opponents, nothing scares you.

Add to that the new found championship experience, new speed in their offense and another monster defense, and you have a team that will still be a Super Bowl 49 favorite if they make it again.

One thing is certain, The Seahawks are here for a while.

Wild Card Picks

It's finally here! The playoffs! In the past several years, being a wild card team has been a plus rather than a curse. In fact, three of the last five Super Bowls have been won by a wild card team. (2005 Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL, the 2007 New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII, and the 2010 Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV)

Will the underdog domination continue?

Week 17

Record: 11-5 Overall: 167-87 (66%)



Wild Card winners:

Bengals, Saints, Falcons, Steelers

Can They Run The Table?

Texans starting quarterback Matt Schaub injured his foot in Week 10, Back-up Matt Leinart stepped in and promptly broke his collar bone. For most NFL teams, that would simply be it. Instead, rookie third stringer T.J. Yates stepped in and ensured the franchise's first playoff berth and first division title. Great story right? Well.... not so much.

The Texans have limped into Wild Card Weekend with a three game losing streak and a mountain of concerns. On the forefront of those concerns is their opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals, the same team that T.J Yates drove down the field on in the fourth quarter twice in the fourth quarter for touchdowns, both at the end of drives over 80 yards. That won't sit well with the Bengals coming into this week's contest with a grudge.

The reason for T.J. Yates success against the Bengals earlier this season was two fold. One, no defense will play a pass heavy defense against a third string quarterback, especially when they are facing the leagues second ranked rushing attack. These run heavy defensive sets brought extra corner and safety help into the box in preparation for the Texans to lean on that run game, which is to be expected when injuries to the quarterback makes a team one-dimensional. With every extra pass rusher coming in the from the Bengals run blitz, another receiver pops open for eight to twelve yards. T.J. Yates surprised the Bengals by completing those passes and that was the difference in the game.

It won't be this time.

I expect that the Texans will strive for balance but will ultimately be forced to lean again on the run game. The Bengals will hold linebackers at home and avoid bringing the rush to keep them in the running lanes, forcing Yates to make tougher throws out towards the sidelines. Expect stacked boxes of seven and eight defenders and a tight cover two on the majority of snaps from the Bengals defense. This set would be a bad idea versus the likes of Drew Brees or Matt Ryan who have several deep threats to exploit the man coverages along the sidelines. A double move or a "sluggo" route can put the lights out. the Bengals have no such fears with T.J. Yates. they will likely make him throw tougher routes from the pocket while favoring the run coverage.

When you put T.J. Yates up against Andy Dalton, the Bengals have the edge. I expect a Bengals victory on the road in Houston. Give me Cinci by 11.

Week 17 Picks

With an 11-5 performance on week 16, Dafoozball surged to 156 wins, just four short of our benchmark goal of 160. Now we have to avoid pulling a Romo and giving it all away in the end. This week will obviously be a challenge to pick when the leagues best teams are more likely to drop games by resting their star players for the playoffs. In the end, we will look to place our playoff picks as successfully as we have placed our regular season.


Week 16

Record: 11-5 Overall: 156-82 (65%)



Week 17 winners:

Lions, 'Niners, Jets, Bears, Patriots, Panthers, Eagles, Colts, Titans, Falcons, Ravens, Steelers, Chiefs, Chargers, Seahawks, Giants

How will the ball fall?

Of all the games that could change the playoff picture in the AFC, none of them will match the sheer hatred inherent in this week's doomsday game in the NFC East. Most of this year, fans and analysts alike have had no idea who would step up and claim the playoff ticket from the division, a task made no easier by the neck and neck slug-fest played by the giants and Cowboys on December 11th. New York won the contest 37-34 by way of a missed game saving field goal by Dallas, the second such ending for the Cowboys in as many weeks to that point. In winning that game, the Giants snapped a four game skid that allowed Dallas back into the race. In losing that game, the Cowboys lost their second straight in continuation of their inconsistent and unorganized play. You would think that would make the week 17 match-up anti-climactic. You would be wrong!

Of the two teams, Dallas has performed better versus their 2011 opponents forcing 39 more points than they have allowed. Conversely, New York, who is in first place by virtue of holding the all-important tie breaker over Dallas, has allowed 23 more points than they have forced.

That said, the Giants have scored 363 points so far this season, a mark that outranks the Texans, Ravens, Steelers, Broncos, and 49ers, all of which are also first in their divisions. In fact, only the Packers, Saints, Patriots, Chargers and Panthers have scored more NFL wide this year. The Cowboys have scored 355 points, a respectable amount at this point, but a total that ranks near the league average.

So then... will New York's 28th ranked defense allow Dallas to to score more points as they have done all season? Or, will New York's 7th ranked offense edge out Dallas' 10th ranked defense?

Alas, Dafoozball will break the media confusion. NYG 36 DAL 13

Week 16 Picks

How many upsets will we see this season? It feels like every time we are certain a team will lose, they knock the greater opponent on their wallet. But, before we cry about our 8-8 week, we are reminded that we have topped 145 wins with 2 weeks to go! With the expert benchmark at around 160 wins, we are sitting pretty, even with an ugly week 15 in our rear-view.


Week 15

Record: 8-8 Overall: 145-77 (65%)



Week 16 winners:

Texans, Bills, Bengals, Titans, Chiefs, Patriots, Giants, Steelers, Redskins, Panthers, Ravens, Chargers, Cowboys, 'Niners, Packers, Saints.

Week 15 Picks

Dafoozball crushed it in week 14 going 13-3 overall setting the stage for a 160+ win season. This is no small accomplishment considering the lockout and the shortened free agency time. If you aren't as excited as we are about those numbers... Tough! We like bragging.


Week 14

Record: 13-3 Overall: 137-69 (67%)



Week 15 winners:

Falcons, Cowboys, Bills, Seahawks, Titans, Packers, Bengals, Saints, Giants, Texans, Lions, Patriots, Jets, Cards, Ravens, Steelers