2017 - Ticket King Wisconsin

2018 Brewers Promotional Giveaways | Ticket King Milwaukee

It’s that time of year again! The Milwaukee Brewers have announced their 2018 promotional games and giveaways. On April 22, all fans will receive an Eric Thames bobble-head. For Sunday May 6, the first 20,000 fans will receive a Brewers lightweight hoodie. May 25, the first 20,000 fans will receive a Brewers hat.

Up next are a few interesting and unique items fans might want to get in line for. First, on May 27, all fans will receive a “Travis Shaw Mayor of Ding Dong City” bobble-head. Next on June 17 the first 20,000 fans will receive a “Mini Replica Bullpen Car.” On June 24, all fans will receive a Gauntlet bobble-head. For the game on July 2, the first 10,000 fans age 21 or over will get a wall flag.

On July 8, all fans will receive a Robin Yount replica jersey from the 1970’s, so don’t miss out on that one. After that we have two more unique items. First a “Ryan Braun Starting Lineup” figurine on July 22. Two weeks later, on August 5, maybe the most unique, bizarre, and fun item of the season. All fans will receive a “Bob Uecker Talking Bottle Opener.” In September all kids will get a puzzle cube on the 9^th. To finish out the promotions First 10,000 fans will get a hat on the 15^th, and on the 16^th the first 20,000 fans will get a Crew neck sweatshirt. There are plenty of chances for fans to get out to the ballpark in 2018. We hope to see you there!

Kenny Chesney Miller Park 2018 Show | Ticket King Inc.

Longtime great country music signer Kenny Chesney is coming to Miller Park on April 28, 2018. This tour stop is part of the “Trip Around The Sun” in 2018, which is scheduled to begin April 21 in Tampa, Florida. The Miller Park show will then be the second stop on his tour. Following the Miller Park concert, Chesney will head for Minneapolis on May 5, before heading south for shows in Texas. On May 17^th he will be in Woodlands at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Two days later he will be at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The tour will finish with back-to-back performances at Gillette Stadium on Boston on the 24^th and 25^thof August. Opening for Chesney on this tour will be the likes of Thomas Rhett, Old Dominion, and Brandon Lay.

Since his career began back in 1994, Chesney has recorded 20 albums, 14 of which have been certified Gold. His most recent Album, Cosmic Halleluiah, released in March of 2016, topped out at number one on the country charts and sold 235,000 copies. The interesting aspect of Chesney’s career is that unlike many musicians in his position who burst onto the scene, his career started out like many struggling artists. His first two albums failed to make it onto any notable lists, and it wasn’t until his fifth album that he cracked the top five on the country music charts. As the decade turned to the 2000’s, his career went from average to incredible. His last nine albums have topped out at number one on the country charts.

Badgers Head To Orange Bowl | Ticket King Inc.

On “Conference Championship Saturday,” the Wisconsin Badgers dream season came to a halt. They entered the Big Ten title game unbeaten, taking on Ohio State, a team that already had two losses on the year. After an injury scare the week before, Buckeye quarterback and NFL draft prospect J.T. Barrett was deemed fit to play, and he certainly did. He wasn’t great, but he did just enough. The Buckeyes got a big night from running back J.K. Dobbins, to the tune of 17 carries for 174 yards with a long of 77. The same question that always haunts the Badgers is the same question that took them out of the college football playoff in this game- They pad their record against inferior opponents, and every time (or almost every time,) they play a good team, they wind up losing. That was the case again this time. The Badgers then missed out on the college football playoff, and will play in the Orange Bowl on December 30against Miami. The question that faces the Badgers is the same question that they always face when they step outside of conference to play a team in Florida, the SEC, or a California-based PAC-12 team. Do they have enough speed as a team to keep up with their opponent?

Final Score: 34-27 Miami.

Let’s take a look at the other Big Ten bowl games.

Pinstripe Bowl – Iowa vs. Boston College

Another year, and another solid season for the Hawkeyes, who finished 7-5. Boston College, after an abysmal 2016 campaign, came back from the dead this season, finishing 7-5. It should be a low scoring, but solid game.

Final Score: 20-16 Iowa.

Holiday Bowl, – Michigan State vs. Washington State

Man, these Holiday Bowl matchups are always so much fun, and this edition will be no different. In this one we have the powerhouse Washington State offense vs the mighty Spartan defense. Who budges first?

Final Score: 27-24 Michigan State

Music City Bowl – Northwestern vs. Kentucky

Of all of the Big Ten bowl games, this one should be one of the least interesting. This is one of Pat Fitzgerald’s best Northwestern teams ever, and it features a quarterback draft prospect named Clayton Thorson who has come flying out of nowhere to a potential first round projection.

Final Score: 34-17 Northwestern

Cotton Bowl, USC vs. Ohio State

This game is going to be a classic. The top overall prospect on the board, USC quarterback Sam Darnold goes up against Ohio State. J.T. Barrett isn’t too shabby in his own right, and this game will give him an opportunity build his own draft stock.

Final Score: 31-28 USC

Fiesta Bowl – Washington vs. Penn State

This is going to be another classic. Washington quarterback Jake Browning, another in this loaded quarterback draft class, gets one more chance to improve his draft stock against Penn State, who features the best running back in the country, Saquon Barkley, who is currently projected to go second in the draft behind USC’s Sam Darnold.

Final Score: 30-24 Washington

Outback Bowl, Michigan vs. South Carolina

Simply put, these two teams are going to beat each other into an oblivion in this game, and points will be at a premium.

Final Score: 16-13 Michigan

Things To Do In Wisconsin This Weekend | Ticket King Inc.

It’s December here in Wisconsin, and for sports fans, that means Badgers football is coming down the stretch, Badgers basketball is in full swing, the young and talented Milwaukee Bucks are off to a solid start. And of course, there are the Milwaukee Admirals, considered to be one of the better minor league sports teams in the country, known for its fan experience and atmosphere. Let’s have a little “water cooler” talk on all of them.

The Wisconsin Badgers football team is having another fine season. To this point they are 12-0, unbeaten, and headed for a showdown with the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big 10 Championship game this weekend. If the Badgers win, they will be in the college football playoffs. If not, they still have an outside chance, but a very slim one. It all comes down to what the committee thinks. The Badgers, as usual, are led by a strong running game. Running back Jonathan Taylor is third in the country with 1,806 rushing yards at the moment. They also have yet another great defense, which has only let Northwestern (with quarterback Clayton Thorson who is considered as a possible top-two round draft choice next May,) score over 20 points on them this season. They will need both Taylor and that stout defense to come out on top Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Badgers basketball team, which has been one of the best in the country the last few years, is not expected to have as good of a season as their last few. They currently sit at 3-4, and have lost to those four games to ranked teams. Their three wins came against South Carolina State, Yale, and Milwaukee. Still, they have plenty of time to prove the doubters wrong.

The Milwaukee Bucks are off to a 10-9 start this season. There have been some ups, some downs, and currently holding the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, although it’s very early. They need to find a way to squeeze out a few more points per game. They currently stand with the fourth lowest scoring offense in the Eastern Conference, at 102.9 points per game. This number puts them as the worst of the current playoff contenders. They can’t ask anything more of the likes of Giannis or Khris Middleton. Maybe someone off that bench, such as Thon Maker or John Henson, can give them a few more points per game.

If you are looking for an outing with some family or friends, but you are on a budget, the Milwaukee Admirals might be just the ticket for you. The team is off to a good start this season. They currently sit at 11-8, good for second place in the AHL’s Central Division. The Admirals haven’t scored a ton of goals, but they haven’t given up a ton either. They are currently tied for the AHL’s seventh-best defense, with just 53 goals allowed. Their roster currently features some promising young talent, such as 20-year-old Russian Yakov Trenin, 20-year-old winger Anthony Richard, and 21-year-old defensemen Jack Dougherty.

Packers Versus Lions Tonight | Ticket King Inc.

Tonight the Packers return from a welcome bye week and host the Lions at Lambeau Field. This will be the second start for quarterback Brett Hundley, who took over for an injured Aaron Rodgers three weeks ago in Minnesota. Depending on how the Packers play, Hundley could be the quarterback for the rest of the season. Here is our preview.

Brett Hundley– In his first career start against the Saints, Hundley showed flashes of his natural talent, especially when Mike McCarthy was creative in his play calling. He also looked a bit lost, and repeatedly failed to see open receivers in that first start. Having Aaron Rodgers in the building from this point forward will be a boost to the entire team, but especially Hundley. Hundley needs to play better, with consistency, for the entire game.

Mike McCarthy- McCarthy also needs to be much better tonight. McCarthy’s play calling was great in the first half. He mixed it up, he got creative, and the Packers ran the ball. Hundley benefited from the fact that the Packers consistently moved the ball down the field the entire first half. But in the second half, McCarthy reverted back to his “base 22” offensive scheme. It’s a conservative style of play calling that he is known to ask for at times. It’s basically meant to clear the way for Rodgers to see the field and respond based on the defense. However this is Brett Hundley, not Aaron Rodgers. He needs to ditch base 22 for the rest of the season.

Aaron Jones– The first month of the season, Jones was sitting on the bench. Now he is a fantasy football superstar. Jones needs to keep running with the same authority he has the last few games. The Packers may have found their long-term solution at running back.

Defense- The Packers defense has been playing better the last few weeks, and getting healthier at the same time. If this team is going to survive, and give themselves a chance for Rodgers to return to the lineup in December, they need all hands on deck. The defense needs to keep up its recent performance.

How the Packers win: The Packers have a shot at a win because this Lions defense is bad, and badly banged up at the moment. Aaron Jones would need to run for over 150 yards, and Brett Hundley needs to take care of the football, all game long. Mike McCarthy will improve his play calling and the Packers will win.

How the Packers could lose: This is a team that is designed to be led to victory by great quarterback play. You can’t just switch a team’s playing style mid-season and expect it to work flawlessly. This team is not used to the Hundle

y format, they have yet to get used to the way he plays, and their slide continues as they lose.

Packers Should Draft Rodgers' Replacement Now | Ticket King Inc.

The Green Bay Packers were 4-1 entering the NFC North showdown in Minnesota against the Vikings. With the way the rest of the NFC is, or was playing at that moment, the Packers appeared to be taking control of the NFC as they got healthier. And then one play changed everything.

When Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone, the football world was stunned. The anger vented by many Packers fans in the following moments was understandable. Rodgers himself had expressed his frustration regarding the matter. Every “expert” on the planet was quick to pronounce the Packers season as “over” which could be true, depending on how Brett Hundley plays. The general consensus right now is that this is the worst thing in the world that has ever happened to the Packers. However, now that the dust has settled, our in-house analyst T.J. Bryce doesn’t see it that way. The following is his take on the Packers’ future.

Pain. Anger. Rage. Resentment. Frustration. Sadness. Sorrow. Depression. These are some of the many emotions that were flying around in the moments following the devastating diagnosis that Aaron Rodgers had a broken collarbone, and would in all likelihood miss the rest of the season. As my emotions began to settle down in the coming days, I was able to fully process what had happened. Then I examined the full scope of the situation, and it hit me, this is not going to be the worst thing to happen to the Packers in the long haul. In fact, in its own unique way, it may be a good thing.

At this point, let me clear up some possible confusion. How can Aaron Rodgers breaking his collarbone not be the worst thing to happen to the Packers? And for that matter, how can it be a good thing?

Aaron Rodgers has said he would like to play until he is 40, just like Peyton Manning did, just like Tom Brady has. I have always questioned that. Playing until you are 40 is more about your style of play than it is about your skill to begin with. Both Brady and Manning have been able to do this because of their style of play. Neither one of them relied on natural athletic ability like Rodgers does to be successful. Neither one of them has taken the pounding that Rodgers has. In fact, Peyton Manning was the master of the “self sack,” meaning that if he realized a sack was inevitable, he would take a slide and once he does the play is over, he can’t be touched, rather than take an unnecessary hit. In comparison, Rodgers could have six pass rushers coming at him and he would still be thinking “How can in the world can I get out of this and still make a play?”

For 10 years we have raved about Aaron Rodgers’ skill set, and his great ability to make miraculous escapes and still make plays. His ability to combine incredible arm strength with lethal precision. How well he takes care of the football, despite putting up absurd numbers. At the same time, for as great as this is, it also comes with a price, and this style of play exposes him to many a potential injury. Let’s face it, because after all, it’s pretty much a fact, Aaron Rodgers is not exactly the most durable quarterback ever. This is now his third major injury, his second broken collarbone, he has had two concussions, and has a history of hamstring issues. Oh yeah, he is going to be 34-years-old in December and is not getting any younger.

What am I getting at? It is time for the Packers to face reality. As I stated before, I have never believed for a moment Rodgers would play until he is 40. All of these injuries have probably taken a year off of his career. This latest collarbone injury, because of its severity and the fact that it is on his throwing shoulder, probably took another year off of his career. So where does that leave us? I say he’s got just three to four years left on his career. The math lines up perfectly.

It’s time for the Packers to pick Aaron Rodgers successor. We’ve been down this road before with this franchise. Don’t pretend like you don’t know what I’m talking about. We all remember the Favre retirement debacle and it still gives fans headaches to this day, just thinking about it. But that was then, and this is now. To be honest, I think we have all learned from that experience. This time around, it should be far more formal, more civilized, and much more peaceful for everybody involved. Also, think about this. Like a shining light from the sky, the Packers now get to pick Aaron Rodgers successor, with the deepest quarterback draft class in history at their disposal.

You thought the 1983 NFL draft was loaded with quarterbacks. You thought the 1998 draft was loaded as well. We haven’t seen anything like this, ever. Depending on which draft board you look at, there could are as many as 14 (count them,) quarterbacks worthy of being selected in the first two rounds. Who are these top draft picks? Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen, Mason Rudolph, Lamar Jackson, Luke Falk, Baker Mayfield, Jake Browning, Ryan Finley, Jarrett Stidham, Quinton Flowers, J.T. Barrett, Riley Ferguson, and Clayton Thorson. That many QB’s up for grabs is absurd. This could change, depending on who declares himself eligible for the draft, and who doesn’t. It also comes down to which players continue to impress and who the scouts like/don’t like, but right now, this is how the next draft class looks. If the Packers contend with Hundley, okay. But I don’t see that happening. So, this is going to allow them to be in a high enough position to begin the draft that they can make sure they get the guy they want to replace Rodgers. The Packers are also expected to receive four compensation selections for the 2018 draft, and they also could trade Randall Cobb for a pair of draft choices. That would give them 13 selections at the start of the draft, which means if they wanted to go up to get the guy they want, they could do so with ease. They are not getting Sam Darnold from USC. He will go first overall. But every other quarterback is on the table. So which ones could fit?

Josh Rosen/UCLA– He is the second quarterback on most boards. He has great mechanics and a big arm. However, he is not a scrambler by any means. Think Joe Flacco here, with a much better attitude.

Lamar Jackson/Louisville- He may be the most electrifying player in college football, and Jackson has skills that most great quarterbacks dream of. A superb athlete to begin with, Jackson has an arm like few others, with the ability to make throws that nobody else can. However, there are serious questions about his size, and whether or not he is nothing more than the next Michael Vick, which in this era, may not translate to the NFL. He is considered a long-range prospect, which is in the Packers favor, and he could play while he develops.

Baker Mayfield/Oklahoma- This is a tough scrappy competitor who also happens to have some skill. Mayfield can do some of everything. His biggest knock is size and lack of arm strength.

Luke Falk/Washington State- A tall lengthy pocket passer much in the mold of the Manning brothers, Falk has put up big numbers at Washington State. With time, he should translate well to the NFL.

Josh Allen/Wyoming- Allen has everything one could want in a quarterback. Size, big arm, athletic ability. Some have even said he is Aaron Rodgers with three more inches and 10 more pounds. However, if you look at his current play level, he is considered to be a long-range prospect, much like Jackson, but unlike Jackson, sitting or playing could determine the difference between success or failure. (This is the guy I want the Packers to choose.)

Whether the Packers choose one of the quarterbacks listed above, or someone else such as Clayton Thorson, Mason Rudolph, Jake Browning, Riley Ferguson, or somebody else, or even if they decide to wait until the 2019 draft, they need to be careful as they select Rodger’s successor. They need to make sure they don’t go out of their way to go hunting for the next Aaron Rodgers, potentially missing out on a great quarterback in his own right, just because he doesn’t look or play like Aaron Rodgers. When they drafted Aaron Rodgers, they didn’t go hunting for the next Brett Favre. They went hunting for the guy that fit what they wanted for their next quarterback. For as great as Rodgers’s arm is, Rodgers is a mixture of arm strength, precision, and once athletic ability, but it’s not Brett Favre’s arm. Favre’s arm was once in a lifetime special. We will never see an arm that strong again in our lifetimes. What I am getting at is that Aaron Rodgers was a different quarterback than Brett Favre. Doesn’t mean Favre wasn’t special. Just means they are different. Perhaps their next quarterback is a classic, oversized, strong-armed drop back pocket passer, nothing like Aaron Rodgers.

Whoever they decided to get, they need to get him now, or in 2019 at the latest. They have a golden opportunity to follow the same protocol they followed from Favre to Rodgers. Get a guy, sit him down for three years, develop him properly, and then much like Rodgers, give a well seasoned player the keys to the car. When they gave Rodgers the keys to the car in his fourth season, he was nothing like the quarterback that put the Packers hat on the day he was drafted. They completely overhauled his mechanics. He was bigger, he was stronger, he added arm strength, his accuracy was much better, and his football I.Q. was finally up to speed. Because he was able to sit for three years, without worrying about having to play on Sundays, he was able to work on these things, which is why he is the great quarterback he is today.

When the Packers let go of Favre, they let go of a man who apparently had one more run left in him. But in the process, they traded one more year of Favre, of what looks to be 14 years of the greatness of Aaron Rodgers. The Packers may have to let Rodgers go one year before he is truly finished, but I would rather they let go of Rodgers one year too early, than bang their heads against the wall for the next 15 years because they let the young guy go to keep the old guy and hang onto the past.

The Packers need to get their next quarterback now, and they have a lot talent with various styles of play to choose from. Whoever they get, they need to make sure he’s the right one.”

Aaron Rodgers "Perfect" Drive at Dallas Recap | Ticket King Inc.

There are few words that can properly describe how great the Packers-Cowboys game was last Sunday. The Packers found themselves down 21-6 late in the second half. This team does not have a history of a great comebacks, and usually, when the score reaches that point, Mike McCarthy will “pull the plug sooner” than most coaches. Not this time. The Packers scored a touchdown late in the first half, and just like with their first touchdown, Mason Crosby missed the extra point. Fortunately for the Packers, Crosby was able to work out the issues with his replacement holder in the second half. We will see how this may come into play, long term.

The second half of that game was spectacular. Back and forth they both went. There were five lead changes in the fourth quarter alone. On that final drive, the Cowboys did everything right. They took nine minutes off the clock, methodically moved the ball down the field, and scored the go-ahead touchdown on the drive’s 17^th play. There’s just one little problem. They left Aaron Rodgers with 73 seconds and a timeout, going up against rookie corners, and needing just a field goal to tie, or a touchdown to win. With Rodgers having to shield his eyes from the sun during those first few plays, Cowboys fans surely felt confident that a home team victory was in the bag, over, done.

To say Aaron Rodgers was magnificent on that final drive would be a serious understatement. Rodgers was “perfect.” The final 73 seconds of that game shows the vast difference between a team with an elite franchise quarterback, and a team without one. In 73 seconds, Aaron Rodgers took the Packers from what was surely to be a 3-2 record to 4-1. With complete control over the offense, as he has had for almost a decade, Rodgers made one perfect decision after another. This includes a gutsy call to run the ball on second and ten from the 45, which resulted in a 15-yard gain. What about the final two plays Aaron Rodgers made on that drive? Watch the replay and you will call it “The Miracle Escape” that resulted in an 18-yard gain. Watch him take a second shot at the same play that failed on the first try, this time tossing a back shoulder fade “on a frozen rope.” It was a perfect throw to Davante Adams, and it was the game winning touchdown. Could any other quarterback put that combination of plays together, with the game on the line?

Now the team moves onto the Vikings. At this point in time, we have no clue as to who is going to start at quarterback for Minnesota (or even finish the game for that matter.) Sam Bradford’s knee won’t quit flaring up. Casey Keenum has been pulled and reinserted several times over. It is almost that time to make way for the “Teddy Train,” as Bridgewater is about to come off the PUP. Then there is also the un-drafted, free agent rookie Kyle Sloter who spent training camp with the Broncos. All three, Sloter, Keenum, or Bradford, could come into play on Sunday. In future games, Bridgewater will make it four, after he is ready to go. We could preview the game, but nobody really has any clue how this game is going to unfold. For now, Packers fans hope that the spark that turned to flame in Dallas, still burns in Minnesota this Sunday.

Milwaukee Bucks Look to Improve Upon Their 2017 Season | Ticket King Inc.

The NBA season is almost upon us, and here in Wisconsin, that means Bucks basketball. Considering the circumstances, the Bucks had a very good season a year ago, finishing the year with a record of 42-40, and made it as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Sadly, they lost to the Toronto Raptors in six games. The Bucks accomplished all of this without star forward Jabari Parker, who injured his leg for the second time in his young career. The team better be careful with Parker’s minutes going forward, perhaps even turning him into the team’s 6^th man, so he doesn’t turn into the next Derrick Rose.

As far as the rest of the team is concerned, the pecking order has been established. This is Giannis’ team going forward, and the towering forward from Greece has become one of the NBA’s prized young players. Giannis is just 22, and it looks like he will only get better. It would help Giannis significantly if small forward Khris Middleton built upon his play from a year ago, when he averaged nearly 15 points a game. The bucks will also continue to look to get something out of former first round draft choice power forward John Henson, and center Greg Monroe. Both players have fallen short of expectations to this point. Speaking of first round draft choices, the Bucks were 17^thoverall, and focused on power forward D.J. Wilson from Michigan. He may not start the year with the team, but expect him to be called up sooner rather than later.

Looking at the Bucks early season schedule, right out of the gate, they get the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the two teams involved in that mega-swap this off season of all-star point guards. The game against Cleveland is the first of four straight at home, with the next three opponents being Portland, Charlotte, and Boston. After that the Bucks play five of their next six on the road, with the sole home game in between all of that coming against the new look Oklahoma City Thunder on Halloween. If the Bucks want to compete with Cleveland and Boston this season, they need to get off to a fast start.

Brewers Impress Throughout the Season | Will They Repeat in 2018? | Ticket King Inc.

To say that the Milwaukee Brewers have defied logic in 2017 would be an understatement. Every analyst on the planet has been waiting for the moment this season when the Brewers fall back to earth. While the Brewers missed the playoffs by just a couple games, that “fall back to earth” moment really never came.

The Brewers had indeed been the story in baseball of 2017. On the night of September 19, the Milwaukee Brewers sat at 81-70 which placed them currently 3.5 games behind the first place Chicago Cubs. More importantly, the Brewers were at that moment, one game back of the Colorado Rockies for the second Wild Card spot. The Brewers had won three in a row, and were 8-2 in those last 10 games. There was still a chance the Brewers could have won the division, but it was more more likely they would reach the playoffs via the Wild Card at that point. The Cubs had gotten their act together and won seven in a row. The Rockies and Diamondbacks meanwhile, were both sputtering to the finish line. Can we find a sports writer that declared that the Brewers would have been deciding their fate in the last ten days of the 2017 season? No, we can’t.

So how exactly had the Brewers defied logic in 2017? Their offense had been up and down all season, but their pitching had been phenomenal. Zach Davies became the Brewers new ace for the time being. Davies was 17-9 with a 3.89 ERA. Closer Corey Knebel has been outstanding. For the season, Knebel had 37 saves at that point, a strikeout-per-9 ratio of 15.3, a WHIP of 1.10, and an ERA of 1.29. For a closer, that was wandering into the “Joe Nathan” zone of the territory of insanity.

On the offensive side, we do have to notice that certain batters got “hot” just as others went cold. The fact that there was always a core of batters that could put up runs, the team was able to stay in the hunt. As of this post, the Brewers announced that their entire staff will be returning in 2017. Can the team keep riding that high in 2018. Chances are good.

2017 NFL Predictions | Ticket King Inc.

NFL Preview

The 2017 NFL season is finally upon us, so that can only mean one thing. It is time for our big NFL preview. Ticket King likes to turn to T.J. Bryce for his take on all things NFL. We’re holding him to these predictions, and will revisit this exhaustive list in January 2018.

Opening remarks from Mr. Bryce:
“As I examine the landscape of the NFL just before the start of the 2017 season, I see a stark contrast compared to the past several seasons. In recent years, the NFL has been ruled by mediocrity. This year, I see a clear difference between the good and the bad. Let’s begin with the AFC East.”

AFC

AFC East

New England Patriots (12-4) – Did anyone really think I was going to pick any other team here? The Patriots will win the AFC East based on the overall weakness of the division, but they may not be as strong of a team as they were a year ago. I don’t care what anyone says or how well he takes care of himself, “Father Time” is undefeated, and he’s coming for Tom Brady. The Patriots will also be without their top receiver Julian Edelman, for the entire season. Guys may step up, but that’s a huge loss for New England.

Miami Dolphins (9-7) – Yes, Jay Cutler is a better quarterback than Colin Kaepernick, and yes, he fits this system better. However, the Dolphins Super Bowl aspirations will not come to be in 2017.

Buffalo Bills (6-10) – Tyrod Taylor is not the long term answer in Buffalo, and I predict that he struggles mightily through the 2017 season. The longest playoff drought in North American professional sports marches on.

New York Jets (0-16) – Yes, you see that right. 0-16. This may be the worst NFL team I have ever seen in my (young) life. The Jets won’t just lose every game. They are going to get blown out of the freaking building in at least twelve of them. Why? Their QB is 38 years old, and can claim just two victories in the last twenty-two starts. His best wideout has been on the team for about five minutes, and that guy’s biggest weapon (his speed) won’t be utilized by a QB that’s too old to throw it that far. If the Bills can manage to lose the opener, against these Jets, that will be the only victory for this hapless franchise.

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) – The best offense in the AFC currently resides in Pittsburgh. All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell has ended his holdout and reported to the team. For what it’s worth, Some fans may hope that James Connor runs for 1,500 yards as the Steelers kick Bell out the front door. But Bell is still a Steeler, and he will play a part in this season for the team. My guess is he’ll play at least the first six weeks. Don’t be surprised if the team tries to move him before the trade deadline.

Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) – Okay, maybe we overreacted saying this was the best roster in the league a year ago. Still, they are not as bad as their 2016 record indicates. But is the team good enough to make the playoffs in 2017?

Baltimore Ravens (7-9) – The Ravens are going to struggle through another injury-plagued season, highlighted by Joe Flacco and his knee. They really need to focus on getting him healthy and making sure he stays that way.

Cleveland Browns (2-14)- Sorry, I think DeShone Kizer is going to be a terrible NFL quarterback, and that will show this season as the Browns struggle through yet another bad year.

AFC South

Tennessee Titans (11-5)- The rise of Marcus Mariota is coming, if it didn’t start already. Mariota is healthy, and ready to lead the Titans back to the playoffs. This team plays classic smash-mouth football, a throwback to the days of yesteryear.

Houston Texans (8-8)- Yes the Texans defense may be Super Bowl ready, but their quarterback position isn’t. Tom Savage is just a placeholder, and I don’t think Deshaun Watson is going to be anything more than a below-average NFL starter.

Indianapolis Colts (8-8)- This will be a strange season for the Colts. They will dig themselves into an early hole while Andrew Luck gets healthy. The hole will become too deep to dig out of, but they will try. I think if they find themselves in too deep a hole, they should just send Luck home and concentrate on him being fully healthy for a return to the lineup in 2018.

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13)- The Jaguars are just bad, and Blake Bortles is on his way out the door. Moving along.

AFC West

Oakland Raiders (14-2)- The Oakland Raiders are the best team in the AFC. Just let that sink in for a minute. The Raiders have some elite high impact players, and their depth is vastly improved from two years ago. Could this be the year the Raiders return to the Super Bowl?

Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)- The Chiefs had a very unstable off season, but things appear to have calmed down. Alex Smith is just buying time for Pat Mahomes to learn the system, and the Chiefs will be good enough that he will sit the entire season.

Denver Broncos (6-10)- Towards the end of 2016, the fabled luck this franchise has enjoyed the last several seasons began to run out. With the luck gone, the holes in this roster, specifically at the quarterback position, will be exposed.

Los Angeles Chargers (5-11)- Another year, another good statistical season for Phillip Rivers, another missed playoff year for the franchise. Phillip Rivers is the Dan Marino of this generation.

AFC Playoffs
Seeds: 1. Raiders 2. Steelers 3. Patriots 4. Titans 5. Chiefs 6. Dolphins

Wild Ward Weekend
Patriots vs. Dolphins- This is an “interesting” game, but one the Patriots win, 34-20.
Titans vs. Chiefs- Marcus Mariota makes his NFL playoff debut as the Titans roll on, 24-10.

Divisional Playoff Weekend
Steelers vs. Patriots- Big Ben gets one last crack at the Patriots, and it ends well for him. Steelers win 34-24.
Raiders vs. Titans- The new look Raiders make their debut as the big boys on the block in convincing fashion. One of the big blowouts of the playoffs. 38-17 Raiders.

Raiders vs. Steelers- This will be a very high scoring game as Derek Carr throws for five touchdowns and the Raiders win 38-31.

NFC

NFC East

New York Giants (13-3) – Three years back I predicted the rise of the Giants. The Giants will get back to being the Giants, and win the NFC East with an elite pass rush and top rated passing game. This is Manning’s 14h season, and the clock it ticking. He may not put up 2015 numbers this season, but he won’t need to.

Philadelphia Eagles (10-6) – Carson Wentz is the real deal, and he’s part of a collection of elite young quarterbacks in this league. The Eagles continue to add pieces to support him, and it could get them back to the playoffs in 2017.

Dallas Cowboys (8-8) – There may be a number of Cowboys fans screaming at me through their computers right now. I’m just not sold on Dak Prescott. There was an element to his success in 2016 that a lot of people do not take into consideration. It’s called “shock value” and later on this season, I will explain further. Nobody expected Prescott to play a year ago, and nobody had any tape of him in a pro-style offense. The nature and style of his play came from his college years, just like all other QB’s that come into the league. Every team will be ready for him now. The Cowboys are about to find out that they have bet the house on a mediocre quarterback.

Washington Redskins (6-10) – Boy, what a mess this team made of themselves during the offseason. They were finally finding their way out of the wilderness. Daniel Snyder didn’t like the fact that he wasn’t the reason why. All I can say is “Yikes!” The drama will carry over into the regular season, as Cousins forces his way out the door. It’s “All Aboard” for a one-way trip to San Francisco for “Team Cousins.”

NFC North

Green Bay Packers (13-3) – Aaron Rodgers enters the 2017 smoking hot, unlike a year ago, and is recommitted to his work ethic. This could very well be the year Aaron Rodgers finally goes an entire season without turning the ball over. Crazy as that sounds, Rodgers is prepped and ready, with lots of targets to throw to.

Minnesota Vikings (9-7) – It is no secret the Vikings brass has put Spielman and Zimmer on the hot seat. Based on how this team looks at the moment, the chances of Spielman and Zimmer still being there in 2018 are not great. The rumors are something like “Make the Super Bowl or you’re fired” for Spielman.

Detroit Lions (8-8) – Matthew Stafford is now the highest paid player in the NFL. Too bad it’s still the same old Lions. This team may be a spoiler for a game or two, but not much else will come from paying Stafford top dollar.

Chicago Bears (4-12) – The Bears are in the midst of a rebuild. They bet the house on Mitch Trubisky in the draft. That will pay off for them in the long run, but not in 2017.

NFC South

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4) – This is a hot young team. I believe that Derek Carr and Jameis Winston are on their way to being the two best quarterbacks in the game at some point in the future.

Carolina Panthers (10-6) – The Panthers have been up and down the last few years. 10-6 may be their happy medium.

Atlanta Falcons (10-6) – The Falcons will still be a good team this year, but the biggest meltdown in sports history will affect them more than it won’t.

New Orleans Saints (7-9) – This team kind of frustrates me. They operate as if it still 2009. They need to let the bottom drop out, and start from zero. Their schedule in 2017 is tough. They face the Patriots, Packers, Buccaneers, and Dolphins, all in the first half of the season.

NFC West

Seattle Seahawks (10-6) – The Seahawks have really settled down as a solid, but not elite, team. That trend will continue in 2017. “Good, but not great.”

Arizona Cardinals (8-8) – The Cardinals are an old team on their last legs in 2017. Too bad it won’t end with Palmer and Fitzgerald riding off into the sunset as Super Bowl champions. When you look at their schedule, they could possibly pick up a couple more wins and make the playoffs as a Wild Card opponent, but don’t count on it.

Los Angeles Rams (5-11) – Jared Goff needs some stability, and now that they know who their head coach is going to be for the foreseeable future, perhaps he can get that stability. They won’t see the results this season, and I wonder how long until Todd Gurley wants out of Los Angeles, based on what we know about his personality.

San Francisco 49ers (2-14) – I think John Lynch will make for a good NFL general manager. I listened to him when he did play by play, and his grasp of the game makes me think he would fit perfectly as a “front office” executive. The 49ers may be bad now, but they won’t be bad forever.

NFC Playoffs

Seeds: 1. Giants 2. Packers 3. Buccaneers 4. Seahawks 5. Panthers 6. Falcons

Wild Card Weekend
Buccaneers vs. Falcons – “Famous Jameis” makes his playoff debut in style, throwing for three touchdowns and leading the Buccaneers to 34-27 victory.

Seahawks vs. Panthers – This is the type of team that can go into Seattle and win a road game. Newton and his Panthers advance 24-16.

Divisional Playoff Weekend
Packers vs. Buccaneers- This is going to be a very good game. Home field advantage is what wins this one, and the Packers advance 35-28.

Giants vs. Panthers – One thing is for sure. These two teams are going to beat each other into oblivion in this one. We might see upwards of 10 penalties for late hits. 13-10 Giants.

NFC Championship

Giants vs. Packers – I don’t think these Packers and their fans could take another conference championship loss. But it is what it is. The Giants advance to the Super Bowl 31-24.

Awards
Rookie of the Year: Christian McCaffery/RB/Panthers- McCaffery will play a huge role in the Panthers return to the playoffs.

Coach of the Year: Jack Del Rio/Raiders- Del Rio gets this award based on his ability to keep the Raiders focused despite all of the Las Vegas talk.

Defensive Player of the Year: Khalil Mack/OLB/Raiders- Mack has his best season to date, leading the Raiders to the Super Bowl.

MVP: Aaron Rodgers/QB/Packers- Rodgers adds a third MVP award to his shelf, and has the best season statistically, of his career.

Super Bowl

Giants vs. Raiders – The Super Bowl will be played in Minnesota this year. The hot young Raiders vs Eli and his band of angry Giants. I know the Raiders had a marvelous season, but this is the Super Bowl. Age and wisdom reign supreme in February. Prediction: 30-27 Giants.