2011 NFL Schedule Thoughts For The SnoTap Favorites

We have a wide fanbase here on Snotap ranging from the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, and Indianapolis Colts. It might be pointless to do all of this because they might take away a couple of the games, I figure if I can provide a one-stop location for some fans than why not. I will leave my thoughts after each schedule



Green Bay: 
9/8- vs. New Orleans (NBC)              9/18- at Carolina (FOX)            9/25- at Chicago (FOX)
10/2- vs. Denver (CBS)                      10/9- at Atlanta (NBC)           10/16- vs. St. Louis (FOX)
10/23- at Minnesota (FOX)                10/30- BYE                            11/6- at San Diego (FOX)
11/14- vs. Minnesota (ESPN)            11/20- vs. Tampa Bay (FOX)  11/24- at Detroit (FOX)
12/4- at New York Giants (FOX)      12/11- vs. Oakland (CBS)       12/18- at Kansas City (CBS)
12/25- vs. Chicago (NBC)                     1/1- vs. Detroit (FOX)

Thoughts: Personally, I love this schedule.  I mean I don' t like road games in Atlanta and Kansas City, but other than that?  I really feel if the Pack have a season they can be 13-3 for sure.

Chicago Bears:
9/11- vs. Atlanta (FOX)                   9/18- at New Orleans (FOX)       9/25- vs. Green Bay (FOX)
10/2- vs. Carolina (FOX)                10/10- at Detroit (ESPN)             10/16- vs. Minnesota (NBC)
10/23- at Tampa Bay (FOX)           10/30- BYE                                 11/7- at Philadelphia (ESPN)
11/13- vs. Detroit (FOX)                 11/20- vs. San Diego (CBS)        11/27- at Oakland (FOX)
12/4-   vs. Kansas City (CBS)          12/11- at Denver (FOX)             12/18- vs. Seattle (FOX)
12/25- at Green Bay (FOX)                1/1- at Minnesota (FOX)

Thoughts: The Bears start off with three straight playoff teams, they have a Jay Cutler Reunion in the Mile High, which is exciting.  They also head to London to play Tampa, and Philly on Monday Night isn't fun.

Minnesota Vikings:
9/11- at San Diego (FOX)                 9/18- vs. Tampa Bay (FOX)      9/25- vs. Detroit (FOX)
10/2- at Kansas City (FOX)              10/9- vs. Arizona (FOX)           10/16- at Chicago (NBC)
10/23- vs. Green Bay (FOX)            10/30- at Carolina (FOX)          11/6- BYE
11/14- at Green Bay (ESPN)            11/20- vs. Oakland (CBS)         11/27- at Atlanta (FOX)
12/4- vs. Denver (CBS)                    12/11- at Detroit  (FOX)            12/18- vs. New Orleans (FOX)
12/24-at Washington (FOX)                1/1- vs. Chicago (FOX)

Thoughts: If the Vikings can find a quarterback (see not Donovan McNabb), I like their chances to be successful. This isn't a brutal schedule by any shape of the imagination. The only tough road games are Atlanta and Kansas City

Oakland Raiders: 
9/12- at Denver (ESPN)                   9/18- at Buffalo (CBS)                  9/25- vs. New York Jets (CBS)
10/2- vs. New England (CBS)          10/9- at Houston (CBS)               10/16- vs. Cleveland (CBS)
10/23- vs. Kansas City (CBS)          10/30- BYE                                 11/6- vs. Denver (CBS)
11/10- at San Diego (NFLN)           11/20- at Minnesota (CBS)         11/27- vs. Chicago (FOX)
12/4- at Miami (CBS)                      12/11- at Green Bay (CBS)         12/18- vs. Detroit (FOX)
12/24- at Kansas City (CBS)               1/1- vs. San Diego (CBS)

Thoughts: The Raiders have a weird schedule with most of their home games in the front part of their schedule therefore they need to win early. If they want to be successful, it's a must for them to beat either the Jets or the Patriots because they aren't winning in Green Bay/Kansas City in December.  

Indianapolis Colts:
9/11- at Houston (CBS)                   9/18- vs. Cleveland (CBS)             9/25- vs. Pittsburgh (NBC)
10/3- at Tampa Bay (ESPN)            10/9- vs. Kansas City (CBS)        10/16- at Cincinnati (CBS)
10/23- at New Orleans (NBC)        10/30- at Tennessee (CBS)           11/6-  vs. Atlanta (FOX)
11/13- vs. Jacksonville (CBS)         11/20- BYE                                  11/27- vs. Carolina (FOX)
12/4-   at New England (NBC)       12/11- at Baltimore (CBS)            12/18- vs. Tennessee (CBS)
12/22- vs. Houston (NFLN)             1/1-   at Jacksonville (CBS)

Thoughts: Peyton Manning hopes for a healthy team this year with road trips to the Big Easy and Foxboro plus home games against Pittsburgh and Atlanta. It always seems they have a tough schedule, and a primetime game against Houston to make the Texans relevant.

-Charlie.

Bob Sanders Now An Ex-Colt

Indianapolis Colts owner Tom Isray has decided to part ways with former Pro Bowl safety Bob Sanders. He could not stay healthy enough in his six years in the NFL for the Colts to justify keeping him.

The former Colts safety is a two time Pro Bowler and won the 2007 AP Defensive Player of the Year award and was big help in their Super Bowl XLI victory back in the 2006. That was a season where he missed the majority of the year but returned just in time for the playoffs.

The Colts have a guy named Melvin Bullitt that is more than capable of replacing Sanders. Bullitt has been the main replacement for the oft-injured Sanders in he came into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2007 and has done a stand-up job.

Where does Bob Sanders go from here? I'd imagine he'll catch on with someone who needs help in the secondary. Carolina, Seattle, Miami and Cincinnati come to mind right away. Carolina needs help everywhere. Seattle's Lawyer Milloy is ageless. Yeremiah Bell is nothing special and the Bengals will take a chance on anyone. 

Sanders just needs to stay healthy and he could be a Hall of Famer some time down the road.

-Mitch

My Thoughts on the Weekend that Was.....

It started off so great. Sitting in a box suite, enjoying the Heat's overtime win in Milwaukee, I felt that it was a sign of good things to come. Granted the Big 3 shot a combined total of just under 35%.

The Seattle Seahawks defeated the defending champion Saints. Awesome. This weekend will be great. Now hopefully the NFL will take off all those Tracy Porter Saints fans commercials which suddenly gives me an urge to slap a small baby. Nobody predicted the rout that would ensue on Saturday afternoon, but I think the one telling statistic I heard before the playoff game was the New Orleans Saints have never won a road playoff game. Ah well.....



On to the tragedy that was the demise of the Indianapolis Colts. Let me begin with stating that Jason Whitlock of Fox Sports may be the biggest African-American homer of all-time. If you want to laugh whilest reading an absurd piece from somebody who is supposed to be an unbiased professional sports writer please feel free. Michael Vick, the dog-killing, middle-finger-pointing, gambling-ring-backing, EX-CONVICT!, is more mature and grown up than Peyton Manning. Good Lord.

Now to the game. The Jets simply outplayed the Colts at every position except quarterback. Their offensive scheme of setting up the run with the pass was pure brilliance mixed with absurdity. The Colts' maligned defense had no answer for the Jets in the second half, and the ignorance of Special Teams by the Colts once again rears its ugly head in the form of a 44 yard kick off return with under two minutes to go. I give all the credit in the world to Rex Ryan. He rushed with four the entire game, sat back with 8 in the defensive backfield and forced Manning to check to a run. The lack of any run game killed the Colts in the regular season, and its 2 for 6 on third and 1 will serve as the most important key statistic when I look back on the day that I wish to forget.

Peyton Manning is no 9-10 in the playoffs. He has 1 super bowl title and better statistical playoff numbers than his nemesis, Tom Brady, except for record. My argument has been made perfectly clear in previous posts. The Colts lack of coaching prowess, special teams blunders, and no running game or defense of the running game are the sole reasons why they lost this game. Once again, Manning is under scrutiny for losing against a team that, besides his position, is extremely better. It's unfortunate, but hey, c'est la vie.

I did not watch the Chiefs Ravens game because I couldn't figure out who would want to.

All of the people across the USA. I love my Green Bay Packers. Let's first put it out there. The Philadelphia Eagles were not the better team. The Packers exploited their lack of depth in the defensive secondary, and their lack of a significant pass rush. Aaron Rodgers has a 121.83 quarterback passer rating in two playoff games. I would use my Peyton Manning argument in defense of Rodgers as well. It certainly was not his fault for the loss in Arizona or the close game in Philadelphia. His greatness will be something to behold in future years. To be fair, I did say he would prove to be a better quarterback all-time than Brett Favre, and I stand by that prediction.

The Packers over 100 yard rushing performance is a little over-hyped however. James Starks had a great game on Sunday; however, there were consistent 7 man fronts with sometimes 3 safeties back deep. Do not expect this to occur in Atlanta. The Falcons are an experienced, fast, and strong defense. Rodgers and the defense will need to try and win this one again. I think they will pull off the slight upset.

I was torn between a good weekend bad weekend situation with the Colts losing, and the Packers winning. The clincher for a good weekend came with Lebron's first forty point performance of the season and a consecutive overtime win for the Miami Heat. Uh oh, Charlie. I think I'm getting ready to order my six pack of Spotted Cow.

My Drinking Buddies as Playoff Teams: AFC

I apologize for this taking until Sunday but I like to party hard so that takes the place of blogging sometimes. I would like to think I won the 'title belt' for my performance last night, but that's a whole another story for another time.

1.) New England Patriots- E: The reason E gets this spot because I don't remember a lot of times where E told me he wasn't going out on a weekend. Is he bad influence sometimes?  Yes but does he always bring the party? Yes.  The Pats are the best team in the NFL right now and E's performance of being at a bar from 9 am to 8 pm on a Saturday will never be forgotten like the streak Tom Brady had this season.

2.) Pittsburgh Steelers- Doz:  I like this spot for the Doz because he is a consistent drinker just like the Steelers are a consistent team. I have witness this guy as John Gruden would say pound near 15 beers without phasing him. He has been known to get a little wild, but nothing like Big Ben.  Also I wrestled with him once, and never doing that again. I feel like that's how it is to go against the Steel Curtain.

3.) Indianapolis Colts- Mitz: My partner in crime last night gets this spot because he isn't going to wow you with his drinking skills, but he always gets the job the done.  He is always thinking about the next step like Peyton Manning. The only time he gets the expressionless look that Jim Caldwell has is when he gets flashed in the kitchen.
'
4.) Kansas City Chiefs- Benny VDubbs: One of my younger drinking buddy who will be turning 21 this coming week. I am excited/scared to see what he has to offer at the bars in the upcoming months. A lot like the Chiefs who have a bunch of young talented that could be really good in the upcoming years. I really like their young nucleus of Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe.

5.) Baltimore Ravens- Big Cat: I had trouble placing the BC but he gets this spot.  The Ravens will make big hits, they will make statements to the league (see Terrell Suggs, Ray Lews), and get aggressive. When Big Cat comes out of his lair, this basically describes a night out with him.  He will start with the Goose, then laid out Mitz while walking to bars, and speak the truth to women. Bless his heart.

6.) New York Jets- Patty P:  Him and I haven't drank as much as we probably should have, but I know there is a ton of talent there.  Kinda like how the Jets have skills that aren't always used  Additionally, he has a firey mouth that may get him into trouble, but usually says just enough to get people to laugh it off.  A lot like this....



Take care enjoy your weekend, playoff reactions/National Championship breakdown/ Return of Daily Debates

-Charlie.

bisons n' buffalos

Did y'all see that art showcase @ The Beauty Shop yesterday? Camille's style is fucking ill. My boy Jason Burkhardt of the P.A.C. crew dropped some bills on a piece of this, and I gotta say, it's gonna look fly wherever he puts it.

Anyway, I was at our Medical Unit in Mt. Pleasant, when our lobby television displayed the local news, highlighting C.C.I. fav's The Olympics. Shit was ballin' outrageous.

Peep the official link right here. Good to see our bro's killin' it and taking their sound to the next level.

What else do we have in the file here... Oh, my playoff record thus far is 1-1. Not quite the 4-0 I imagined, but then again, who really thought the Seahawks would take it to the Saints? Congrat's to LT and the Jets for actually proving their worth under Rex Ryan by beating the Colts with a solid, last second field goal attempt.

Blahh, other than that, mellow day here. I'm gonna hit the sack. Proofreading mixtape selections and what-not. You take it easy though!

C.C.I. xxxx

NFL Wild Card Picks

The playoffs are here and I have gotten superstitious.  There are certain things I refuse to eat, places I refuse to go, and chairs where I refuse to sit.  Last year, it wasn't that bad but this year seems to have some good vibes going so I will keep it for the Packers on Sunday. Here we go with the Wild Card Picks.

Saturday
5.) New Orleans at 4.) Seattle- I am scheduling a nap for the beginning of this game. I will be disgusted if a 7-9 team actually gets a playoff win, but it could happen.  Matt Hassleback is lethal against the blitz and the Saints only have two healthy running backs. That might be a bigger concern for the upcoming game if the Saints win.  It will be close and people will start wondering how lucky Chicago/Atlanta could get if the Hawks win the game.  The Who Dat crew pulls away in the fourth quarter.  NO 35-20

6. New York Jets at 3.) Indianapolis- Rex Ryan is running his mouth about Peyton Manning and my only explanation is he loves to put his foot in his mouth if he's wrong. I really haven't seen a great performance from Manning in the past month, but that doesn't mean he can't do it again.  I will be curious to see how much Antonio Cromartie gets picked on as they will likely stay away from Darrelle Revis. The Colts can't run the ball, and I don't buy the Colts are all the sudden better at stopping the run. The Jets wear down the clock in the fourth quarter for the W.   NYJ 24-16

Sunday
5.) Baltimore at 4.) Kansas City- You might think that GB-PHI is the most puzzling game of the weekend, but I think it's this one. I like the Ravens, but I have felt they have been overrated throughout the year. Joe Flacco shits the bed every time in late game situations, and their running game has been nonexistent against certain teams. The Chiefs looked unimpressive against the Oakland Raiders last week but they are much better than people give them credit for in my opinion. But I cannot take the Chiefs.  The Ravens struggled against stopping the pass, but are in the top five in stopping the run, which is the KC's speciality. You always have to take the defense. I don't think this is the last time we will see the Chiefs in the playoffs.  BALT 20-14

6. Green Bay at 3.) Philadelphia- Am I worried that people are riding Green Bay?  Yes.  But do I feel confident?  Yes.  The Eagles do not have a good secondary, and their offensive line is much maligned like the Pack last season. So that translates into Aaron Rodgers tearing through that secondary like a tender steak, and the Packers throwing the kitchen sink at Michael Vick. I do have two worries.. Sam Shields gets exposed even though he can keep up with Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson, and the screen game with LeSean McCoy. I love the Packers to have a comfortable lead in the fourth quarter and I am doing tequila shots at Hectors in celebration with the Ryans.  GB 31-20 

-Charlie.  

Post-Season NFL Picks Vol. I

-- C.C.I. Playoff Picks --

New Orleans Saints @ Seattle Seahawks

After an abysmal NFC West 'showdown' Sunday night, the Seattle Seahawks became the first team in NFL history to reach the playoffs with a losing record (7-9). Pete Carroll, the team's first year coach, said that this feat didn't bother him, and rather embraced the 'innovation' behind Seattle being handed another football game in Qwest stadium. The Seahawks finished the season by losing 7-of-10, their quarterback, and a large portion of fan support, and somehow stumble into a home-field playoff spot vs. the defending Super Bowl Champions.

So how does Seattle upset New Orleans? Simple. They don't.

Sometimes luck is just talent hidden in modesty. Not in this case. Seattle should thank their lucky stars that they have one foot in the post-season. New Orleans should thank their lucky stars that they now practically have a first-round bye. Gregg Williams, New Orleans' phenom of a defensive coordinator, should thank his lucky stars that his looming opponent will be either playing a mediocre Hasselbeck, or a rookie at the QB position. I don't buy Seattle for a second. I do however, buy their jerseys. Seattle may have one of the most elegant uniforms in the NFL.



Verdict : New Orleans is a 10.5 favorite going into Seattle. I completely agree with that. New Orleans wins big behind Brees' post-season savvy.

New York Jets @ Indianapolis Colts

Minnesota, Dallas, and the Jets -- three teams that were absolutely surrounded in pre-season hype and hubbub by professionals and NFL regulars alike. Only the latter made the playoffs, so that should tell you a considerable about making your picks before the season begins.

Peyton Manning's coming off of an odd season, to say the least. The Colts have so many injuries this year that it's really is a wonder, and a mere miracle, that Indy's entered the post-season for an NFL-record tying 9th consecutive time. As a result of winning the AFC South's lone playoff berth, the Colts get the privilege of hosting Rex Ryan and his squadron of green and white in the good ol' state of Indiana.

I've grown pretty damn sick of the Jets this year, to be honest. Whether it was the two/three week long speculation of benching USC alum, Mark Sanchez, or Rex's irrelevant infatuation with feet, the Jets seemed to be on ESPN every waking minute of 2010. However, I refuse to believe that a banged-up Indy offense wins this key game. Peyton's good, but then again, St. Louis' Sam Bradford's pretty good, and did you see last night? If you wanna win solely because of QB play, then you certainly need somebody to catch the ball for you.

Verdict : Indy has a 2.5 swing going into this game -- reasonable, but not what I'm going with. I'll take the Jets to win in Indy.

Baltimore Ravens @ Kansas City Chiefs

First off, I do tip my hat to the Chiefs. Granted, their divisions a little awry, but none-the-less, KC deserved their post-season berth. Matt Cassel's looking strong, and of course, there's Jamaal Charles, the second-leading rusher in the NFL this season. On the other hand, coming off of a blowout loss at home to the Oakland Raiders didn't do much for any hopes that the Chiefs could represent the AFC in Dallas, something which Ray Rice and the Baltimore Ravens should know when they fly in for a less-than-friendly welcome at what has been described as the loudest stadium in the NFL.

Flacco's looking steady. The defense always roars. The Chiefs know this will be an uphill battle. The question is though, can the Ravens slow down the run? Jones may not be a factor, but Charles will.

Verdict : Beards and all, I have to give this one to Baltimore. Harbaugh's a solid coach, and it seems that the Ravens have been guaranteed a post-season slot each of his three years at the head of the table. Remember last year's routing of New England? Baltimore wasn't even favored to win, and pulled it off. Now, the Ravens are 2.5 favorites -- something I think they'll manage to cover.

Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles

Easily the most intriguing match-up to open off the postseason. Aaron Rodgers is one of the most regarded quarterbacks this season, much like his adversary, Michael Vick. The Pack just beat Chicago at Lambeau in a crucial game for Green Bay, while the Eagles rested Vick and took a one-point loss to Dallas. The talk of Vick playing Atlanta, his former home, is growing profusely. DeSean Jackson's still one of the biggest statement-makers in clutch games. Does Green Bay have the gall to halt Philly?

Maybe. That's what makes this so interesting. Both teams have played wonderfully, and then, there are times where both teams have been a bit lack-luster. It's all a question of who shows up to play ball.

Verdict : The Eagles are favored by 2.5 in this one. Vick's the talk of the NFL, and while he may not nab that MVP honor, he's easily the biggest comeback player in recent history. However, I give my nod to the Pack. They're much better up front then they've been in recent years, and last year's OT loss @ Arizona has to haunt Rodgers. Vick's battling a minor injury, and he's been a tad erratic lately. My pick of the week? The Pack upset Philly for either a repeat showdown with Chicago or a tall task in Atlanta.


Call 'em stone-cold locks. 4-4 baby!

CCI xxx