'Melo Out People

Dear Dr. Brian Latwis AND fellow Knicks fans,

I could not let this moment go by without congratulating you on the signing of Carmelo Anthony….

I caught a bunch of shit this morning…perhaps deservedly so. It’s been over two weeks since my last blog (which, by the way, was one of the most favorably received blogs I have written). I’ve made promises to people, and it’s about time I deliver on them.

Hey Derrick Favors...this is how you wear a lid bro! (See last blog)

The past 6 months have been a whirlwind of emotion for the Knicks fan. After missing out on Lebron James, the bitter Knicks fan felt cheated to end up with Amare Stoudemire. Stoudemire was believed (by some) to be a player who hawked big numbers, but could not play defense, could not hustle, and could not hit shots in a big spot.

However, the Knick fan subsequently watched Mike D’Antoni’s high octane style translate into early season success: the Knicks won 29 games all of last year, they have won 28 already this year. The Knicks fan watched Landry Fields turn into a viable NBA player, and Raymond Felton turn into a near-elite NBA point guard. Oh by the way...Amare has been an animal.

"Psst Melo...On the count of three, say your favorite dinosaur...." Did we just become best friends?!?!?

But all the while, the Knicks fan knew there was something missing – another star to legitimize their playoff run. They now have their man. A summary of Monday night’s trade:

KNICKS GET:

Carmelo Anthony

Chauncey Billups

Corey Brewer

Anthony Carter

Sheldon Williams

Renaldo Balkman

NUGGETS GET:

Raymond Felton

Wilson Chandler

Danilo Gallinari

Timofey Mozgov (who?)

1st Rd 2014 Pick

2nd Rd 2013 & 2014 Picks from Golden State

$3 Million (from Knicks)

TIMBERWOLVES GET:
Anthony Randolph
Eddie Curry
$3 Million

So basically, the Knicks and Nuggets have completely different teams now. The Knickerbockers obviously upgraded, but the bad news is they had better start competing for a championship ASAP. They can no longer use the Isaiah Thomas excuse. They have cleared themselves of his wrath with this trade (Eddie Curry being jettisoned is proof of that).

These two curse the Knicks franchise no more!

This is to be considered the D'Antoni/Donnie Walsh group from here on out...Which puts a lot of pressure (in a good way) on the franchise. 

By the way, the previous blog (on DeRon Williams) was done to tweak the Knick fan. It was obviously posted just before this blog, but you might want to give it a read so some of the references in this blog fall into place.

NBA Trade of the Year!

One of our local metropolitan teams has made the biggest in-season splash in recent memory, trading for one of the game's best players just before the trade deadline.



One local team is now the toast of this town!



The team? The New Jersey Nets, of course, who this morning traded for Utah’s Deron Williams.

Instead of half their team, New Jersey was able to obtain Williams for an inconsistent (at times) Devin Harris and unproven first round pick Derrick Favors.  I kind of got the feeling (even on draft day) that the Nets were not in love with Favors. I felt they kind of drafted him because he was the highest rated player available at the #3 spot.



The underachieving Derrick Favors... I mean, either bend your hat or don't, dude. Can't be walking around like that.

After “losing” out on Carmelo Anthony, the Nets gain arguably the best point guard in basketball (if CP3 is 1, Williams is 1A). Williams averages 21 ppg, and dishes out just under 10 assists per game. The Nets now have an unquestioned young star around which to build, and can provide Williams with the NYC stage to build his star. Despite being routinely one of the best in the NBA, he has been hidden away in the heart of Mormon nation. See below.

Martin Harris dum dum dum....Lucy Harris smart.

Calling a spade a spade, the Nets are not going to make any noise this year. But they are now well-positioned to become a factor when/if the franchise moves to Brooklyn.

Is there any doubt that Deron Williams is the new face of New York City basketball?



Yo Devin...let me get your uniform real quick...



Who's the best A-ROD?

I know what you’re thinking. What is this blog doing getting rolled out right after the Super Bowl? Shouldn’t the next blog be about the game itself? What about the Knicks blog I was promised?

To those who dare to hope, I apologize. But, as Michael Scott would say, the timing of the blog is nothing short of predominant. The reason… Super Bowl Sunday was a perfect storm of A-Rodry. There were A-Rods around everywhere you looked. Infused in our conversations, and all over our televisions. The moment at hand had me begin to wonder...which A-Rod is best? The candidates:

·        Alex Rodriguez

·        Aaron Rodgers

·        Andy Roddick

All three made their presence felt during yesterday’s Super Bowl. There were times on Sunday where I thought, “Damn, he’s the man…” about each one of these athletes. Below is the argument for each:

Alex Rodriguez

The original A-Rod. He was given the nickname (publicly) when he came up with the Mariners in 1995, and has gone on to a Hall of Fame career. He had the name first, so that’s a feather in his cap. However, he secures even more momentum in this discussion due to what occurred on Sunday. During Super Bowl XLV, cameras caught a glimpse of A-Rod #1 getting popcorn fed to him by Cameron Diaz. His woman was feeding him popcorn. On national TV. During the most watched broadcast of the year. That’s straight pimp.



"C'mere Alex. Let me place this kernel in between your soft purple lips."  By the way, have you seen my baseball?

Alex has 2600 hits, 613 home runs, 1800 RBI to go along with a .300 lifetime average and a World Series ring. But this past Super Bowl Sunday might have been his greatest public moment.

Aaron Rodgers

In this discussion for obvious reasons. Super Bowl XLV Champions & Super Bowl XLV MVP. Got out of Brett Favre’s shadow in the biggest way possible. At times on Sunday, it looked like the only one who could stop A-Rod #2 was Jordy Nelson. Luckily, Nelson found it necessary to catch 9 of the 15 balls thrown his way, to the tune of 140 yards and a score.

On the left, a Super Bowl MVP. On the right, a total douche. Although less so than Jay Cutler.

Rodgers elevated himself into company with Brady, Manning, and Brees as elite QB’s (stat-wise) who also have a Super Bowl ring. Like A-Rod #1, Rodgers is in the discussion based mostly on his athletic merit. It is said that Rodgers is low-key, humble, and prefers to keep his personal life out of the spotlight (unlike the other two). This makes him an intriguing A-Rod.

Andy Roddick

What’s he doing in this discussion? The oft underachieving tennis star has a propensity to rub me the wrong way. He has been on the US tennis scene for about 10 years, being heralded as “the future” on many occasions. While he has had relative success and made a lot of money, he only has ONE grand slam title under his belt. In terms of athletic achievement, he falls a distant third to the other two.

So, why is he in this company? Those who pay attention know exactly why. Two words. BROOKLYN DECKER. A-Rod #3’s supermodel wife was all over the television this weekend, as her movie Just Go With It was highly publicized this weekend. Adam Sandler and Jennifer Anniston were even on the NFL Network’s pregame show to talk about the movie. Every man in America watching yesterday’s Super Bowl will now go to see that movie. A stroke of marketing genius.



Who cares if Andy Roddick never wins anything important? Brooklyn Decker picks up the slack in the area of A-Rod legitimacy. By the way, I bet you're glad you read this blog right now! How many of you rewound your DVR a few times when this commercial came on last night?

Andy Roddick is above average as a tennis player, but he enters the mix here as a viable candidate because of Brooklyn Decker.

THE "BEST A-ROD" PICK = ALEX RODRIGUEZ

Although I had fun with this, there is only one A-Rod if you are a Yankee fan. Aaron Rodgers is the man of the hour, so I have no problem going with "A-Rodge" instead of "A-Rod". And Andy Roddick....well, he's an underachieving weenie. He moves up a notch (to notch #1) in my book though after this weekend.

Super Bowl XLV

This is about as intriguing a Super Bowl matchup as one could have possibly asked for this year. Perennial AFC contender Pittsburgh against “new guy” Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Somebody who understands gambling will have to explain to me how the Packers are favored in this game (#6 seed…so many injuries…no Super Bowl experience)

Both teams possess a storied tradition. The Packers will be looking to close the gap on Super Bowl wins to 6-4.

The Packers have tradition. The Steelers have tradition (including more recent tradition).

The Steelers have a great defense. So do the Packers.

The Packers have a Pro Bowl-elected quarterback. The Steelers have a Super Bowl-winning quarterback.

Both teams have run the ball well in the playoffs.

The Steelers are a franchise much like the New York Yankees, Dallas Cowboys, or Los Angeles Lakers. You are either a fan, or you DESPISE them. They have players like Hines Ward, James Harrison, and Ben Roethlisberger who you love if you are a towel-waver, but whom you’d like to kick in the nuts if you’re not.

If Hines Ward is on your side, you think he's one tough SOB. If he's not, then you think he's just an SOB.

The Packers have seemingly cornered the market on bandwagon jumpers (myself included) during the playoffs. Each win has brought more and more Super Bowl bravado for Green Bay, and on Sunday it all comes to a head. I’d like to be able to say that pulling for the Packers is NOT fueled by my Brett Favre hatred, but I can’t really do that with a straight face. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than watching Aaron Rodgers celebrate a Super Bowl victory with HIS team, validating the faith that Green Bay had in him.

It sucks that when you Google Image "Aaron Rodgers", the first four pictures that come up are pictures of him with Brett Favre. Maybe after Sunday, the first four will be pictures of him with the Lombardi trophy. 

 Gun to my head, I’m picking the Steelers. They have a host of players with a Super Bowl ring, including their QB with 2. They are proven, balanced, and seemingly focused.

I just really want to be able to root for my pick in the Super Bowl. Sometimes, to become a “Super Bowl-winning quarterback” you have to beat a "Super Bowl-winning quarterback." Drew Brees proved that last year. Here’s hoping A-Rodge does this year.

THE PICK: PACKERS 23, STEELERS 20 (OT)

And now for some Super Bowl quick hitters….Some of these are “prop bets” I have come across in doing my blog research. I’m going to have some fun and make some picks!

1.       Over/Under 45 points à The Pick = UNDER  (that’s a tough one to pick!)

2.       Game’s first touchdown à The Pick = PACKERS

3.       Over/Under 2.5 times the announcers talk about Brett Favre à The Pick = OVER (that’s a slam dunk)

4.       Game’s first punt à The Pick = PACKERS

5.       Aaron Rodgers over/under 300 yards passing à The Pick = UNDER

6.       Ben Roethlisberger over/under 225 yards passing à The Pick = OVER

7.       Game’s longest rush over/under 35 yards à The Pick = UNDER

8.       Game’s longest pass over/under 50 yards à The Pick = OVER

9.       First forced turnover à The Pick = STEELERS

10.   Team to call the first timeout à The Pick = PACKERS

11.   Game’s leading rusher à The Pick = Rashard Mendenhall

12.   Game’s leading receiver à The Pick = Greg Jennings

13.   Halftime score à Steelers 10, Packers 10

14.   Team with the most sacks à The Pick = PACKERS

15.   Team with the most field goals à The Pick = PACKERS

16.   Super Bowl XLV MVP à The Pick = Aaron Rodgers

NFL Conference Championship Weekend

Green Bay (12-6) at Chicago (12-5)           
Sunday 3:00PM



What if Da' Bears were all 14 inches tall?

Is there even a question as to who I am picking in this game? Loyal blog followers are privvy to my feelings on Jay Cutler, so they know what is coming here. The Pack is the trendy pick in NFL circles, and so far, I've resisted hopping aboard. But this time, I'm going all in on them.

Aaron Rodgers is playing at a level that would (if they end up winning a championship), catapult him into "elite quarterback" discussions. James Jones had a big game versus Atlanta, and if he emerges even further in this passing attack, the Pack will be tough to stop.

You could make the argument that Chicago has had the most consistently solid defense in the NFC this year, but that Green Bay's defense has been playing the best of late. I'm calling the defenses a wash in this one, and placing the game solely on the shoulders of the quarterbacks. Advantage Green Bay. Especially with me.

There is no way this guy is beating Aaron Rodgers and the Pack. Yes, that is King Douche Jay Cutler in all his glory!

This one will be hard-fought and low scoring, especially on the shores of Lake Michigan.

I thought it was a mini-Ditka!

THE PICK: Packers 17, Bears 13

NY Jets (13-5) at Pittsburgh (13-4)                

Sunday 6:30PM


All week I've been hearing the Jets fan call up radio circles and cautiously predict a Super Bowl appearance. Believe it or not, they seem to not be too scarred from previous disappointing finishes. Why?

One man - Rex Ryan - has changed the mindset of the Jets fan...

I lauded Rex's arrogant approach in my "Best in the AFC" blog, then killed it the week that they crashed in New England. Truthfully, Rex makes me want to root for the Jets to do well. Especially since I've always loved to see the Steelers go down.

I've gone two consecutive Jets blogs without mention of their greatest asset, so in this blog I'm bringing him into the discussion. There were countless calls to WFAN this week about the Jets involving this offensive weapon (not Tony Pepe...that's a different weapon)...enough to warrant mentioning him here.

BRAD SMITH!

The Jets have been bringing in the Brad Smith package on 2nd & short for most of the year (yes, that's a down on which most teams throw downfield). Some have predicted that Brad Smith would be throwing it downfield out of that set this week, but I don't see the Jets taking that kind of risk.

Will Brian Schottenheimer call this guy's number this week? Some are counting on it!

They will run the ball, run the ball, run the ball....as will Pittsburgh. The X-factor is that Pittsburgh has a two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback, while the Jets have a 2nd year quarterback in the process of finding his way.

Logic says the Steelers will win. An experienced, proven, playoff winner at QB. A solid running game. The best safety in the NFL healthy again, and ready to lead one of the league's best defenses.

But sometimes, you just have to go with your heart. The Jet fan deserves this one, and I will be happy to see them get it......

THE PICK: Jets 20, Steelers 17   

NFL Divisional Weekend

Baltimore (13-4) at Pittsburgh (12-4)           
Saturday 4:30PM



The newly engaged (Yes...you read that correctly) Ben Roethlisberger leads the Steelers on their home field against the high-flying Baltimore Ravens. How great are the AFC playoffs this year? This is the matchup I most look forward to this weekend, as both teams have the balance on both sides of the ball consistent with a Super Bowl team.

The Ravens are hoping these two can lead them to dominance on each side of the ball.

The Ravens have just a few more offensive weapons than the Steelers, but Big Ben is the great equalizer. With the Saints and Colts both eliminated last weekend, the Pats and Steelers are the only remaining teams that run out a Super Bowl Champion QB this week. In the playoffs, that matters a lot. By the way...he seriously is engaged.

In the year's greatest underdog story, Big Ben managed to nab this chick as the one he can molest for the rest of his life. Way to go, bro. You've come a long way since your "Drink Like a Champion" days (see "Best in AFC" blog).

This is a must-see game that could end up as a playoff classic. Many are picking the Ravens (and some have picked them as the AFC Super Bowl representative) but I find it very hard to pick against the Steelers at home in the playoffs. Both teams have very good defenses, and since they are both AFC North teams, they know each other well. Translation - low scoring game.

THE PICK: Steelers 17, Ravens 13

Green Bay (11-6) at Atlanta (13-3)                

Saturday 8:00PM


Everybody LOVES the Pack in the NFC (except me last week, apparently). They are the trendy pick to make a run and quite honestly, the fact that James Starks went nuts in Philly last week is a very good sign for them. They have the best defense of any remaining team in the NFC, and they could be playing their best football at the right time.

James Starks saw the field so little this regular season, it was hard to even find this picture of him IN uniform. He proved last weekend that he can be a difference maker, and he could be the key to the Packers hopes of advancement.

The Falcons have almost been a forgotten team this year when some mention the league's elite. They have been extremely successful, but seem to lack that defining moment this year that makes people say "Wow, the Falcons are the real deal..." Just to give you an idea, the Packers had that moment (beating the Giants and Bears in consecutive weeks to make the playoffs). They had some quality wins (Ravens), but did not seem to gain much notoriety, despite winning the most competitive division in the NFC.


Maybe the Falcons haven't gotten that much recognition because their coach's name is "Mike Smith".  As vanilla as his name is, this guy can coach.

I picked them weeks ago to go to the Super Bowl in my "Best in the NFC" blog, and I'm sticking with the pick. They control the time of possession clock with Turner, and Matty Ice is able to find White and Tony Gonzalez enough in the passing game to get the Falcons to the NFC Championship.

THE PICK: Falcons 35, Packers 28   

Seattle (8-9) at Chicago (11-5)                  
Sunday 1:00PM

 I'm going to make this statement with a straight face, and with some conviction. The Seattle Seahawks have a legitimate shot to HOST the NFC Championship game. If they are able to keep it rolling against Chicago, and the Packers upset the Falcons, Qwest Field is getting the NFC title game.

Hmm..In school they always taught me that a "u" must come after a Q....what the hell? 

So that's the rah-rah involving the Seahawks, but did you seriously think that I would blog about this game without pointing out that Bears QB Jay Cutler is a total douche. My loyal readers know exactly how the Pepevibe feels about Cutler, and I'm sticking to it. He stinks, takes risks, and is not a Super Bowl QB.

Rumor has it that the Seahawks D will be wearing these under their pads this weekend to properly greet Jay Cutler. See the "Best in the NFC" blog for a particularly douchey picture of Cutler.

Unfortunately, the Bears D is just too damn good for Seattle to do to it what it did to New Orleans. And so, we wait another week for Cutler to be exposed. Make no bones about it, I'll be rooting HARD for the Seahawks in this one, but it will take another miracle...

THE PICK: Bears 31, Seahawks 10

New York Jets (12-5) at New England Patriots (14-2)                
Sunday 4:30PM



OK, here we go. All week long, Jets fans have BEGGED me not to pick the Jets to win. Maybe it had something to do with my 0-4 showing in the wild card games. I dogged both the Jets and Nick Folk, and both proved me wrong....thanks in part to Jim Caldwell's Herman Edwards-like clock management.

Sorry Jets fans, but this guy screwed me so many times as a Cowboy that I just figured it was inevitable. I guess he screwed me again by making the kick that sent me to 0-4 on my picks.

This game has generated such a buzz in the New York area, but the Jets are honestly up against it this week. In Week Two, the Jets thumped the Pats 28-14 and looked good doing it. At the time, it looked as though the balance of power was shifting in the AFC East. However, after some uninspired wins (Broncos, Lions, Browns) that were almost losses, the Jets hardly looked like an AFC power.

True to form, Brady and company embarrassed and humiliated Gang Green on a national stage. The Jets looked lost and the Patriots looked unstoppable. They might be. The amazing thing is that the Pats are rolling with almost no other "big names" on offense. They are a collection of role players with puppet master Tom Brady orchestrating a well-oiled offensive machine.

Tom Brady promised to throw at Antonio Cromartie 10 times on Sunday - once for each of his kids. Wait, where are the other 7?

The Jets need a big day on the ground in order to control the clock and keep it out of Brady's hands. They have proven that they are capable of going into Foxboro and winning, but they haven't done it in the playoffs. They get their shot this weekend to change the tide.


Moxie, swagger, and confidence go a long way at this stage in the game, and the Jets have the playoff experience to hang (within 30 minutes of the Super Bowl last season).

I picked the Patriots earlier in the year to come out of the AFC and win the Super Bowl, but I have to take this opportunity to tweak the Jet fan. Especially after receiving so many "0-4" texts after last weeks picks.

Sorry Jets fans, but...

THE PICK: Jets 31, Patriots 21

NFL Wild Card Weekend

New Orleans (11-5) at Seattle (7-9)           
Saturday 4:30PM

Pete left USC in shambles (with NCAA sanctions) for the greener pastures of the (7-9) Seattle Seahawks. If Justin Forsett's fantasy owners could get their hands on you...

The 5^th seeded Saints visit the 4^th seeded NFC West Champion Seahawks. That just sounds odd to say. If Seattle had lost to St. Louis in Week 17 (to finish 6-10), they would have the EIGHTH pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Wow…

Drew Brees has a proven track record as a winner in the playoffs. New Orleans is decimated at running back (Chris Ivory and Pierre Thomas both on IR), but they have been succeeding with different faces all year long. Expect Julius Jones to get 10-13 carries, and Brees to supplement the running game with short passes out of the backfield to Reggie Bush.

Pete Carroll thinks he is sly by withholding who their starting QB is going to be, but it doesn’t matter because they both suck. Look for Seattle to target a QB in this year’s draft (might have been easier to do if they had lost that last game….eh?) Expect the Seahawks to stay in the game until the opening kickoff.

This game has to be played at some point, so might as well get it out of the way first. At least there is a marquee game in prime time…

THE PICK: Saints 38, Seahawks 3

New York (11-5) at Indianapolis (10-6)                

Saturday 8:00PM

Peyton and Rex square off. This should be a good one!

Another game in which the road “underdog” actually has a better record than the host – yet a much different situation. ..

This home division champion has a QB who has taken them to 2 Super Bowls, winning once. They have had a small army of faces take turns in their backfield this year (Joseph Addai, Donald Brown, Mike Hart, Javarris James, and now Dominic Rhodes.

Sidebar – Did anyone expect to see Dominic Rhodes running productively in the NFL ever again?

Peyton seems to have some type of magical pixie dust that he sprinkles on little known players which makes them good. OK, what I just typed came out really wrong.  You get the picture. Any team with Peyton Manning has a real shot to win any game in which it plays. Period. That said, their defense has given up over 200 points the past 7 games, so they need to stop somebody at some point if they expect to win.

The Jets, on the other hand, have been both lauded and killed by Pepevibe this year. They have a question “mark” in the health of Mark Sanchez (bahhh-zing). They’ve had some key injuries, but some of their most important offensive weapons (LT, Greene, Braylon, Holmes, Keller) have stayed healthy.

Expect a heavy dose of Tomlinson and Greene in this one, and not just because Sanchez is banged up. The Jets need to dominate time of possession to keep it out of Peyton’s hands.

Prediction: Nick Folk will miss a big kick in a big spot that costs the Jets dearly…

THE PICK: Colts 31, Jets 28   

Baltimore (12-4) at Kansas City (10-6)                  
Sunday 1:00PM

KC needs Jamaal Charles to take the game over if they want to have a shot at knocking off the Ravens - the preseason Super Bowl pick of many a sports analyst.

And here we have another matchup in which the higher seeded home team has a worse record than the visitor. Some might say this is the “Seahawks-Saints” of Sunday’s slate, but I’m giving the Chiefs more than a puncher’s chance here.

Their offense has really come into its own late in the season (excluding the Brodie Croyle game), and they are capable of moving the ball and keeping it out of Flacco & Co.’s hands. They have their own version of Ray Rice in Jamaal Charles, who they have kept fresh by having him split carries with Thomas Jones.

Expect the Chiefs to unleash a heavy dose of touches for Charles in this one, and it will be up to Ray Lewis and the defense to stop them. I guess I have to mention the blossoming Matt Cassell-Dwayne Bowe romance from this year, but I am still bitter that Bowe did not show up in the playoffs for my fantasy team. Cassell is legit and so are the Chiefs.

The Ravens offense has looked potent at times and very average at other times. If they get Ray Rice in a rhythm, the Ravens could very well be the team that has the best chance of beating New England in the AFC. However, they also have to play 3 road games in hostile environments if they plan on doing that. I think they have their hands full here. Upset special…

THE PICK: Chiefs 35, Ravens 31

Green Bay (10-6) at Philadelphia (10-6)                
Sunday 4:30PM

Michael Vick has won in the playoffs against the Packers in the past. Eagles fans (generally dirtbags) are hoping that he can recapture that success. Just kidding my Eagle fan friends (about the dirtbag thing....for some of you). 

This is – by all accounts – the best game of the weekend. The Pack is rolling with consecutive wins over the Giants and Bears. The Bears gave them a full blown effort, and the Packers pulled it out.

Sidebar – Didn’t I tell you that Jay Cutler sucks?

The Packers seem to have some momentum, while Michael Vick and the Eagles are a little banged up. I should say… Michael Vick is a little banged up. The Eagles are coming off two horse-pooh efforts against two of the NFC’s worst – Minnesota & Dallas. Will they be able to regain the moxie that fueled their comeback against the Giants?

Vick has won a big playoff game against the Packers previously, and this time he’s at home. If he is able to dominate like he has showed at times this year, the Eagles are a tough out. LeSean McCoy has opened plenty of eyes this year as a playmaker out of the backfield, and DeSean Jackson/Jeremy Maclin could score any time they touch the ball. The Pack will have their hands full in stopping Philly’s playmakers.

The Pack has functioned at times without a running game, and expect no different here. Aaron Rodgers is healthy and is playing like a quarterback who badly wants playoff success. A win on the road in Philadelphia would make the Packers as solid a pick as any to get to the Super Bowl.

In order to pull this one out, they will have to keep the ball out of Vick’s hands and control the clock. Rodgers at times shows the ability to surgically pick apart a defense, but they will need to get some kind of running game going in order to do so. If Vick, McCoy, Jackson, and Maclin are on the field long enough, it’s only a matter of time before they make plays – against any defense.

As much as it pains me…

THE PICK: Eagles 31, Packers 20