In depth: Seattle Seahawks

by | Feb 2, 2012 | 2011 season, 2012 season, NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

When the 2011 season started, I expected to hear a lot of talk about Seattle competing for the rights to draft Andrew Luck. As the season wore on, the Seahawks did get more and more media attention, but it was for the strong play of Marshawn Lynch and a resurgent second half of the season, not for a push toward futility.

There are a number of areas where the Seahawks still have room for significant improvement. But if they can add a few pieces this team could be a threat as soon as 2012, says Keith Myers, editor and lead writer of the Seahawks’ fan blog called 12th Man Rising. Myers recently shared his thoughts on where Seattle should be headed from here with Zoneblitz. Here’s what he had to say:

Zoneblitz: Is Tarvaris Jackson a long-term answer at quarterback or will the team have to address that position again? (more…)

NFL Best Bets 2011 Season, Super Bowl

by | Feb 2, 2012 | NFL Gambling

I’ve been on a brutal stretch dating back to the last week of the regular season. I managed to get just one of four bets correct on Championship weekend and that dropped my postseason picks to 4-8 overall.

So perhaps it’s for the best that the season ends Sunday.

The New York Giants and New England engage in their rematch. Tell you what — I thought I had a pretty good read on their first Super Bowl matchup. I picked the Patriots to win the AFC and the Super Bowl during a trek to Vegas before training camp started.

And it looked pretty good until David Tyree pinned that miracle catch to his helmet, ultimately helping cost me a nice payday.

I was pretty confident in the Patriots that season. I feel less strongly about either of the participants this year. The Giants are playing the more well-rounded football right now. But the Patriots offense can come together and outscore anyone when they are on. (more…)

In depth: Kansas City Chiefs

by | Jan 31, 2012 | 2011 season, 2012 season, NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

The Kansas City Chiefs won 10 games in total between 2007 and 2009 before shocking the world with a 10-win, division championship season in 2010.

The Chiefs came back to Earth in 2011, however, as injuries combined with a tougher schedule to ruin expectations, ultimately costing Todd Haley his head coaching position.

It’s an important off-season, with several important players returning from injuries (Jamaal Charles, Matt Cassel, Tony Moeaki, Eric Berry to name a few) and more up for free agency (Dwayne Bowe). Lifelong Chiefs fan Patrick Allen is the senior editor of the Arrowhead Addict blog. He gave us some thoughts on how 2011 went and what’s in store for 2012.

Zoneblitz: What went wrong in 2011 after such a positive 2010 season? (more…)

NFL Picks: Super Bowl XLVI

by | Jan 30, 2012 | 2011 season, NFL Picks, NFL Random Thoughts

Well, here it is, folks. It’s Super Bowl week. Depending on how you look at it, this week is either the ultimate finale to the football season … or the beginning of a depressing several-month stretch during which there will be no football on television (though that actually started this weekend, unless you count the glorified touch football game that is the Pro Bowl).

Before we get to our Super Bowl predictions, here’s a quick recap of our picks for the season.

I won the regular season competition with my brother, hitting a fairly solid 172-84 mark, three games ahead of Tony.

Those results have flip-flopped in the playoffs. I have been terrible, missing both Championship Weekend games and dropping to 3-7. Tony hit both of those games, moving his mark to 7-3. This has been an ugly turn of events.

And I’m not sure I have a real good read on the Super Bowl either, but we’ll give it a go anyway.

(more…)

In depth: Buffalo Bills

by | Jan 29, 2012 | 2011 season, 2012 season, NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

Ryan Fitzpatrick got off to a hot start in 2011 and, in following his lead, so did the Buffalo Bills. Seven games in, the Bills sat at 5-2 and looked to be a real playoff contender. Then Fitzpatrick cooled and the team ran off seven losses in a row.

So who are the real Bills? Does Chan Gailey have this team on the right track? Or will Buffalo and the team’s fans struggle to climb from the basement of the AFC East once again in 2012? Brian Galliford, editor-in-chief of BuffaloRumblings.com, shared his thoughts with Zoneblitz.

Zoneblitz: Bills got off to a hot start and then fizzled as the season wore on, resulting in a 6-10 finish and a two game improvement from last season. Is the season a success, a failure or somewhere in between and why? (more…)