TM is all fired up about the Miami Miracle and the boys discuss it. Also some Heisman talk and the NFL Playoff Picture slowly takes shape. The boys also make their NFL Week 15 picks and look at the Binge Media Fantasy Playoff Match Ups…
“Hi Chad! Thank You For Supporting me in Minnesota! Love You!” – KC
Remember to call us with your questions/comments/suggestions for the show #708-316-8822…
Remember to call us with your questions/comments/suggestions for the show #708-316-8822…
0:06:10 – BSV: Right off the hop! The guys check in on the BS Voicemail. MLB Free Agents, Rugby concussions, and Binge Fantasy Football!
0:30:05 – 60 SECONDS: New Segment where we highlight as many topics in 60 sesconds and pick one to discuss. GO!
0:44:48 – COLLEGE ROUNDUP: The College Football Playoff is set. The Championship games were a bit of a disappointment, but does it really matter? Did the committee get it right? Ohio State fans are pissed, but should they be?
0:57:07 – AROUND THE LEAGUE: What’s happening with the NFL? We’ve got guys taking cheap shots during plays and after the whistle. Teams firing coaches and GMs who said they’d never fire anyone during the season. All this… and it’s actually overshadowing what is looking to be a pretty fun playoff run! (In the NFC at least).
1:27:18 – THE PICKS: TM and PJ had good weeks… 4 weeks to go. Can PJ catch TM? Chad D helps out with the guest picks
1:36:50 – FANTASY: We have our playoff picture set! TM was locked into first, but did he outscore Chad C enough to win that money? Who’s in? Who’s out? and Who’s in the Toilet… we’ll give you one guess! Playoffs Start this week! Hold on to your butts!
Keep an eye out for the Binge Sportscast on a weekly basis through the NFL season!
And here we go. Welcome to Binge Media and welcome back to Binge Sports’ coverage of the NFL Playoffs. We’ve got one game to go for all the marbles. Super Bowl XLIX. It’s the New England Patriots versus the Seattle Seahawks. As usual, I’ll give you a quick breakdown of the teams and how they got here and as always, you’ll have a chance to vote on who you think wins this Sunday. But a special event like this calls for a little extra.
Most of you reading this are probably familiar with a squares board. It’s 100 squares with one team listed on the side and one team listed on the top. As soon as I get 100 of you signed up, I’ll run the numbers 0-9 at random on both sides and draw each name at random for your spot on the board. As you can see below, the board is ready to go. I’m just waiting on you.
All you have to do to enter is put your name in the comments section, or enter your name on the Binge Media facebook pageor @BingeMedia, @BingeSports, or @THElukenorris on Twitter. The first 100 get in so I suggest getting to it quickly as I’m sure the squares will fill up fast. There will be two winners, one at halftime and one at the end of the game. Each winner will receive their very own Binge Media T-shirt. Aren’t we so damn nice?
I suppose you want to talk about the game now. Let’s get to it.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (14-4, AFC CHAMPIONS)
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (14-4, NFC CHAMPIONS)
HOW THEY GOT HERE:
New England: 1st round bye, def. Baltimore 35-31, def. Indianapolis 45-7
Seattle: 1st round bye, def. Carolina 31-17, def. Green Bay 28-22
WHEN: Sunday, February 1, 2015-6:30 Eastern/5:30 Central/4:30 Mountain/3:30 Pacific
WHERE: University of Phoenix Stadium-Glendale, Arizona
TV: NBC
CURRENT BETTING LINE: Patriots favored by 1
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: For the same reason everyone else does. For the commercials. Okay, maybe that’s not the entire truth as this should be a very, very good football game. I’ll spare you the X’s and O’s of the game as I know ESPN has that covered on a minute-to-minute basis, I mean, when they’re not talking about the deflation of footballs. Seriously, are you as sick of this story as I am? I refuse to spend one more second talking about it, so that’s my take on Deflate-gate.
It’s the biggest game of the year with some of the game’s biggest stars. Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Richard Sherman, Rob Gronkowski, and the always entertaining Marshawn Lynch. To be honest with you, I have no rooting interest in this game. I want an entertaining contest, but with that said, the only reason I’d like to see Seattle win is to give Marshawn Lynch a chance at the MVP, just so he has to give the live interview at the end.
I really don’t have a prediction for you as I think this really is going to be a great game. The Seattle defense is absolutely great, giving up an average of only nine points per game over their eight game winning streak. But the Patriots are averaging forty points so far in these playoffs. We should be in for one hell of a football game. But hey, we all said that last year too. What’s your call?
[yop_poll id=”170″]
So there you have it. I’ll announce the poll results soon after the game. As I said, as soon as I get 100 people signed up, I’ll fill up that board and get it up on the website so you know what your numbers are. So get those votes in and get me your name. Good luck.
And don’t forget about the halftime show with Katy Perry. Note to self: put it on mute and pray for another wardrobe malfunction.
Well, we’re into the one-week season as playoff football is in full swing. If you asked me who I want to see the Pats play, I’d be lying if I told you another tilt with the Ravens would have been my first choice, but after giving it some thought I couldn’t be more excited for the matchup. You see, the past few years I’ve been really luck to see a couple games at Gillette, but my first game is the one you see me pictured at below:
About three years ago now, I got to see the Pats take on the Ravens in the AFC title game. This probably doesn’t matter to most of you, but you football fans may remember this play:
I got to see that happen live and in person. It was an amazing experience, not because it was the Patriots, and not because it was to go to the Super Bowl (although all of that helped), but more so because it was the simultaneous reaction of 80000 people all losing their fucking minds at once. It’s a high I can’t describe, but anyone who has seen something like this in person gets it. Despite the season not going our way in the end, this was an incredible moment for me, and it’s stuck with me since it happened. It’s part of why I love football, and it’s moments like this one that get me extra excited for this Saturday’s matchup.
These days I’m not as big into video games as I used to be, but I fucking love me some Dark Souls. The first one was one of the best games I’ve ever played, and for my style of play it seems like they perfected the formula with Dark Souls 2. Anyone who has played it knows the style, but I’ll give you an idea of the difficulty curve, which is just as demanding/rewarding as you might have heard it is. Basically, you are a “hollow”, or a soulless husk/zombie that is exploring the world of Drangleic. The world is inhabited by bad guys varying from demons to evil knights and other humanoid characters. You have a health bar, which is sparse and a stamina bar that dictates your ability to sprint, block, swing your sword, cast your spells or dodge an attack. You have to manage your stamina and health in a battle of wits with each and every enemy in the game. Make the wrong move and you will fucking die. Try to rush through an area without thinking and you will fucking die. Do all of these things properly but make a small misstep and you will fucking die. However, when you beat an area and progress there is absolutely nothing better than the feeling of knowing you beat the FUCK out of it. Patience and persistence are key for this game, but it is one of the best.
Last week I gave you my yearly rankings of the films of 2014 that I got a chance to see. Whiplash was high on my must-see list, but because of where I live and the fact that God hates me I was not presented an opportunity to see the flick last year. Luckily, anonymous movie guy delivered it today and I gave it a watch. This is, without question, exactly the kind of movie I love. A tightly-written, skillfully performed story with great characters, pitch-perfect direction, a dynamite soundtrack and some really fantastic moments throughout. Whiplash hit me the same way Birdman did, and had I seen it last year it would have been the second 10 on 10 rating of the year. I hate Miles Teller but here, well, he’s perfect. The kid gets across the angst and discomfort of mediocrity and the lack of recognition some of his family and friends give to him. J.K. Simmons is winning AT LEAST the Oscar for Supporting Actor this year and I can’t see the director not getting noticed for his work. Whiplash is the kind of movie that maintains its timelessness by planting its feet firmly in the emotion and feeling of its characters rather than the conventions of the time in which the story is set. Movie like Whiplash come around MAYBE once a year, if you’re lucky, so get on that shit if you haven’t already.
Get your hands on Whiplash and see it NOW. I cannot stress this enough. Go Pats and Binge On!
As always happens, I’ve been floored by a new BingeCast recommendation. Black Mirror is one of the most fresh new shows I’ve seen in a long time. I don’t really consider the bad side of technology much at all. Hell, I’m studying to work in the industry and I constantly advocate for more and better ways to utilize current technologies. Black Mirror has me second guessing that line of thought. I’ve gotta say, after having gotten through the first series, episode 1 was probably the most affecting of the bunch thus far. I love the moral confusion put on display by the Prime Minister, his staff and the country at large in response to what happens. Episode 2, dealing with some sort of dystopian prison/work house was also really fantastic storytelling, even if I felt like the end was a little convenient. Episode 3 was fantastic, showing a concept that on its own could be its own series. All in all, a great series that I’m thoroughly enjoying, high marks so far.
Yes, that’s right, once again we run the AFC East. It’s always great to go to a game, but it’s much sweeter when, given a shitty first half, our boys come out and beat the fuck out of our opponent. It’s that much better when it’s a divisional rival, especially one that rather consistently has our number in their own house. Condolences for crushing Dolphins fans playoff hopes for the year, but it’s Gillette fucking Stadium. If we lose there, it’s a fluke. Doesn’t matter how it gets done, if Brady throws 4 TDs or the ground game gets unleashed. I will say, though, Brandon Browner is pissing me right the fuck off. The guy draws a flag from farting in the direction of a ref and I think at this point they’re just sending him a message. I’m ont arguing that he didn’t commit those penalties, but he has to be smarter going forward. Also, Gronk catch ball, Gronk score, pants dropped. All in a great Sunday, wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Almost through the December insanity, I’m a little over a week away from being done with it for the year. This time of year is taxing for everyone, but combine final exams with the entire weight of a small business in its busiest week of the year and you get the idea. Keep an eye out soon for my Year in Review article, and as always, Binge On!
Borderlands 2, Parks and Rec, The Wire, Patriots Football and
Jim Lawlapalooza Reflections (From the Outside)
Have I mentioned that Steam is, literally, the greatest thing ever done for video games? Well it is, and one of the amazing byproducts of my revitalized love of PC gaming is revisiting games that I initially may have rushed through. Case-in-point: Borderlands 2. I don’t know how, but my first play-through of this game left me wanting a lot more. I think that was probably due to the fact that, because my brothers aren’t into the games I am I was playing solely by myself. What a mistake, as multiplayer Borderlands 2 is like a completely different game. It’s incredible how high the replay value becomes once you have three other people participating in the mayhem. Again, if you’re on steam, hit me up and let’s play.
I’m happy to report I’ve officially jumped on the Parks and Rec bandwagon. I added the Swanson Pyramid of Greatness to this article because it is literally the moment in this show where I finally got it. The comedy here is solid, layered and full of good characters. I’m now on season 3 and the inclusion of Rob Lowe and Adam Scott is really enjoyable, particularly Rob Lowe, whose comedic chops are on full display here. Once again, glad I stuck it out for this one as it’s becoming a staple in the house.
For those of you keeping track at home, I’m rounding out season 2 of The Wire in prep for our upcoming commentaries. I said it on the BingeCast earlier and I’ll say it here again; give season 2 a break. David Simon went in a totally new direction and gave viewers something radically different than anything done on TV before or since, but that’s far from a bad thing. Frank Sobotka is a great character and provides a strong connection to the normal working class in Baltimore, something very important to the overall journey of the series. I’m actually looking forward to the season 2 commentaries more than season 1, call me crazy.
I can’t believe football is finally here. I’m so ready for this season I can’t stand it, and at 1:00pm this Sunday my ass will be planted firmly in front of a gigantic TV, hopefully with a nice brew and some great company. I’m over the moon for my boys’ roster this year, and the (surprise) announcement that Gronk is good to go for game 1. While Gronk seems to be the lynchpin for the offense in the eyes of many analysts, I try to remember that last year, with a core of rookie receivers and a decimated defense, the Pats still made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game. The consistency of this team is, at this moment, unrivaled across the league, and I’m ecstatic because of that. I’m also glad that Jimmy Garoppolo is getting the backup job this year behind Brady, as I’ve never been too impressed with Ryan Mallett’s production whatsoever. Garoppolo already looks like he understands the mechanics and timing of a football game better than Mallett ever did. I’m not saying the kid is the next Aaron Rodgers, but he looks solid and willing to learn, two traits that made Tommy Touchdown the champ he is today. I’m calling it now, AT LEAST 14-2 this season.
I wanted to take a minute to acknowledge this past weekend’s Jim Lawlapalooza. First of all, thank you gents for the call during the show, it was great to be there in spirit. Second of all, and to all my fellow BingeFans/Staff, how fucking FUN did that look/sound? I’m there next year, by hook or by crook, no doubt. Here’s hoping the boys come out to New York so we can go get drunk outside the New York Public Library and quote Ghostbusters lines. Check back later this week for our daily blogs and a new Strain commentary (which kicked major ass this week!). Binge on!
And here we go. Welcome to the first of a series of previews as Binge Media Sports coverage of the 2014 NFL season begins. Each preview will give you a look at eight teams, four from the AFC and four from the NFC. I’ll tell you how they did last season, followed by a quick look at the highlights (and lowlights for some) of the team this year. We are having some issues on the site with the voting options, but as soon as the boys sober up from Lawlapalooza, I’m hopeful we can get it taken care of. I’ve been told to leave the title of the poll up, so the plug-in team can see what they’re dealing with, so know that I’m not a moron and just forgot to list the teams. I may end up making the vote its own post later next week, so just keep checking in. But let’s move ahead with at least the previews. We’ll start today with the teams in the AFC and NFC East. Enjoy.
BUFFALO BILLS
LAST SEASON: 6-10, FINISHED 4TH IN THE AFC EAST, MISSED PLAYOFFS
2014 PREVIEW: Wide receiver Sammy Watkins is the biggest addition to a Buffalo (not Toronto, sorry Bon Jovi) team that is still looking to break through just to get to .500. It’s been almost a decade since they’ve done that. The question remains whether or not last year’s first round pick, QB EJ Manuel can get Watkins the ball. He’s still got some improving to do, but a nice 1-2 running back combo in CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson may open up the field a bit.
The defense is on the rise. CB Stephen Gilmore comes back from a broken wrist and could very well become a top corner in the entire NFL if he can play to potential. On the line, they’re still waiting for the Mario Williams signing to pan out, but the real beast is Kyle Williams. He’s made three of the last four Pro Bowls and d0uble teams on him could allow everybody else to step it up.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
LAST SEASON: 8-8, FINISHED TIED FOR 2ND IN THE AFC EAST, MISSED PLAYOFFS
2014 PREVIEW: The Dolphins are looking to get beyond the Richie Incognito drama that plagued them last year. They’ve started that process by completely overhauling the offensive line to protect QB Ryan Tannehill, who got knocked around in the 2013 campaign. WR Brian Hartline seems to have become his favorite target, even though they still have Mike Wallace, who still has to be laughing at all the money he was given. A new system that allows Tannehill to move around a little more should help everybody.
The defense is the strong suit of this team. A solid line that includes Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon, who finished with 11 1/2 sacks in just his second year, mixed with a decent secondary should keep Miami near the playoff hunt throughout the season.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
LAST SEASON: 12-4, WON THE AFC EAST, LOST AFC CHAMPIONSHIP TO THE DENVER BRONCOS
2014 PREVIEW: Even with the hodgepodge of receivers he had to work with last year, QB Tom Brady still led the Pats to the second best record in the AFC and a spot in the AFC Championship, eventually losing to rival Peyton Manning. It seems that no matter who they put on the field, they find a way to get things done. If the injuries can remain limited, especially to Shane Vereen and Rob Gronkowski, the offense should be very sharp.
The dangerous thing about New England this season is the upgrade on the defensive side of the football, the biggest addition being perennial All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis, who signed after a very short time in Tampa. He can change the way an entire offense plays, which may help if they run into the Broncos again in the playoffs. I’ll go ahead and cast my vote here. The Patriots will win this division and are a strong contender for the Super Bowl. (How happy did I just make Jack?)
NEW YORK JETS
LAST SEASON: 8-8, FINISHED TIED FOR 2ND IN THE AFC EAST, MISSED PLAYOFFS
2014 PREVIEW: J.E.T.S., J.E.T.S., J.E.T.S., JETS, JETS, JETS!!!!! That’s about as excited as anyone can get about the green and white this season. Sure, they brought in some big names to fill the back page in Michael Vick and Chris Johnson, but neither are anywhere near their prime. Instead, Jets fans get Geno Smith and Chris Ivory, who just aren’t ready to compete for this division.
The defense doesn’t help much. Muhammad Wilkerson is a monster and 2013 Defensive Rookie of the Year Sheldon Richardson is up and coming, but the secondary is atrocious. They’ll squeak out four or five wins, but is that enough to save Rex Ryan’s job again?
[yop_poll id=”144″]
Before I write anything, just know that I root for the Dallas Cowboys, but I’m still a professional, so I’ll still talk about the positive aspects of the other teams that I despise so much in this division. I just wanted you all to know how painful it is for me. Let’s continue.
DALLAS COWBOYS
LAST SEASON: 8-8, FINISHED 2ND IN THE NFC EAST, MISSED PLAYOFFS
2014 PREVIEW: The offense is there. Bash Tony Romo all you like, but the guy puts up numbers. TE Jason Witten may be the most consistent player on this team and maybe one of the most consistent in the league. Year after year, he continues to produce. The maturity of wideout Dez Bryant has made him one of the best receivers in football, and he could have his best year yet. RB DeMarco Murray could be an All-Pro if he could only stay healthy, but that’s a really big if. Throw in arguably the best offensive line in the league, and the Cowboys could put up 35 a game.
The problem is that they’ll give up 36. After the worst year in franchise history on that side of the ball, something has to change. Just when the offense would do something great, the defense would do something equally awful to hinder any momentum. Throw in the fact that DeMarcus Ware moved to Denver, and there could be real trouble in Big D. People have been waiting for years for this team to realize its potential, and we may have to continue to wait. The talent is there, but the coaching is not. As a fan, I hope they surprise me, but if I had any big money to throw around, the easiest bet in football right now is an 8-8 finish.
NEW YORK GIANTS
LAST SEASON: 7-9, FINISHED 3RD IN THE NFC EAST, MISSED PLAYOFFS
2014 PREVIEW: The Giants are moving to a West Coast offense. What? After ten years of playing in a system, Eli Manning looks to bounce back after a dreadful 2013. It will be interesting to see if this new style can limit his interception total. He’s got some good receivers in Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle to get the ball to.
The defense could go either way depending on injuries. Jason Pierre-Paul is getting older and didn’t have a great year last year, so he’ll be looking to get the defensive line back on track. They didn’t get to the quarterback much last year, which you have to do in this division. The secondary isn’t spectacular, but can be very efficient. But here’s the thing about New York. Every time I count them out, they end up going on a run and sneaking into the playoffs. We’ll see if the new schemes can get them back on track.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
LAST SEASON: 10-6, WON THE NFC EAST, LOST IN THE WILD CARD ROUND TO THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
2014 PREVIEW: Head coach Chip Kelly surprised everyone last year by making a smooth transition to the NFL. He won’t be able to sneak up on teams anymore, but they’re still going to be very good. Quarterback Nick Foles became a star last year, yes you read that right. In his ten starts, he threw for 27 touchdowns while only throwing 2 picks. Mix that kind of passing efficiency with a strong 1-2 punch at running back and you’ve got a recipe to win football games. LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles can change an entire game with the ability to run and catch passes out of the backfield. Look for this offense to score a ton of points.
The defense isn’t terrible either. It could certainly be better, but part of the reason that they give up so many yards is because the offense scores so quickly. But some free agent signings like Malcolm Jenkins and the improvement on the corners of Bradley Fletcher and Cary Williams could move them in the right direction. The Eagles have to be considered the favorite in this division. (I just threw up in my mouth a little.)
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
LAST SEASON: 3-13, FINISHED 4TH IN THE NFC EAST, MISSED PLAYOFFS
2014 PREVIEW: The biggest topic in the offseason was actually just the team name itself. On the field, all eyes will obviously be on Robert Griffin III. New head coach Jay Gruden is looking to limit how much RG3 runs the ball, but we’ll have to wait and see if that becomes a reality. He’s a hell of an athlete, but he’s got to learn how to throw the football. Former Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson gives him another option opposite Pierre Garcon. Injury will always be a question for Griffin, but they’ve got a great backup in Kirk Cousins, who may still end up on another team.
Defensively, the ‘Skins need to improve. There’s really no other way to say it. The numbers aren’t as bad as the rival Cowboys’, but something needs to change. They take a ton of chances on defense and have a tendency to get burned. I think they’ll get more than the three wins they got last year, but not by much.
[yop_poll id=”145″]
8 down, 24 to go. Next time I’ll take a look at the North Divisions, so I know my loyal Illinois readers will be excited about the Bears preview, but I’ll also be looking at the Packers, Lions, Vikings, Bengals, Steelers, Ravens, and Browns. There will certainly be plenty to discuss with those teams. Again, I really hope our voting system gets fixed quickly and I’ll let you know as soon as it does. If you want to leave a vote in the comments section, feel free to do so and we can punch it in later, and I know I’ll have at least one Pats vote (yes, Jack, I’m talking to you). But if you’re thinking upsets or otherwise, let me know below or follow me and tweet @THElukenorris.
