Heisman Watch Week 2

I  want to stress something I wrote in last week's post: the Heisman campaign is just getting started. It's way too early to make any real predictions for December. History is littered with guys like Denard Robinson, Leonard Fournette, Trevone Boykin, and Saquon Barkley who looked like sure-fire Heisman winners before their Heisman train ran out of steam. Still, it looks like the Heisman race is over for our preseason pick Khalil Tate. His Arizona Wildcats got throttled by Houston and he threw for more two more picks than touchdowns. We also say goodbye to Kelly Bryant. Though his Clemson Tigers beat Texas A&M, Bryant's performance was uninspiring.

That being said, these early weeks are still important. They let us gauge the early contenders and start to get a feel for the race ahead. Any rankings now are still somewhat arbitrary but they help us stay organized. Let's get started.

10. Drew Lock, Missouri (Last Week: NR)- Lock's name slowly began to enter the college football sphere late last season when whispers about his draft stock began. Now, he's regarded as a first-round prospect and his Heisman campaign is beginning to heat up. He went 33 for 45 with 398 yards and four scores.

9. Justin Herbert, Oregon (Last Week: NR)- You might not have realized it, but Oregon is ranked #20. A big reason why is QB Justin Herbert. In the 62-14 Week 2 win over Portland State, he went 20 for 26 with four passing touchdowns. He now has 531 passing yards and nine TD throws on the year. If you're looking for a dark horse to put some money on, you can't do much better than Herbert.

8. Trace McSorley, Penn State (Last Week: 5)- McSorley takes a bit of a tumble after Week 2. Yes, Penn State won 51-6 but it was an ugly win. McSorley went 14 for 30 for only 145 yards and looked just lackluster. If he wants to move up, he's going to need a big Week 3 performance against Kent State.

7. Bryce Love, Stanford (Last Week: 8)- After a disappointing Week 1 showing, Love bounced back against #17 USC. He had 22 carries for 136 yards and a score as the Cardinals held off the Trojans to stay undefeated. While he is trending in the right direction, we do have to limit his upward movement as he will not take the field against UC Davis in Week 3. The nature of the injury is undisclosed and we do not know how long he'll be out for.

6. Ed Oliver, Houston (Last Week: 6)- Oliver's Houston team looked great against Arizona and he did a great job of bottling up fellow Heisman contender Khalil Tate. Oliver racked up eight tackles and should do more of the same against Texas Tech on Sunday.

5. Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State (Last Week: 9)- Haskins was nearly perfect in a conference game against Rutgers. He went 20 for 23 with four touchdowns as the Buckeyes won 52-3. With Mike Weber not really getting any shine in this game, Haskins is now comfortably Ohio State's top Heisman contender.

4. Jake Fromm, Georgia (Last Week: 1)- Fromm drops three spots from the top after getting overshadowed by Justin Fields in Georgia's win over #24 South Carolina. Fromm's Heisman campaign is still alive but he needs to start standing out more if he wants to be considered a frontrunner.

3. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama (Last Week: 4)- Tagovailoa had as many touchdowns (four) as he had incomplete passes (six) in 'Bama's win over Arkansas State. He also ran for 20 yards. Jalen Hurts also played well but Tagovailoa still has the starting job on lock. Alabama starts their conference play in Week 3 when they take on Ole Miss.

2. Will Grier, West Virginia (Last Week: 3)- Grier was sensational in Week 2 against Youngstown State as the Mountaineers won 52-17. He went 21 for 26 with 332 yards and four touchdowns to keep up with the great numbers posted by guys like Haskins and Oklahoma's Kyler Murray (who is an honorable mention this week).

1. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 2)- Taylor moves up to #1 on our Heisman watch after racking up a career-high 253 running yards against New Mexico. He also scored three times and looked genuinely incredible. He is by far the running back with the best Heisman chances.

Thanks for reading everyone. 

Heisman Watch Week 1

With the first week of the 2018-2019 college football season over, the Heisman race has finally begun. It's important to note that no one is out of the race yet. They may have had a bad game in Week 1 but there is plenty of time for them to bounce back. There is absolutely no time to overreact here.

Our rankings for this Week will be based on our preseason rankings, so go check those out if you haven't already. It may be a little unfair to use some arbitrary rankings as the base but in the end, does it really matter? The best player and most deserving of the Heisman will rise to the top. Let's get started.

10. Kelly Bryant, Clemson (Last Week: 9)- Bryant by no means had a bad game in Clemson's dominating 48-7 win over Furman. Still, it was over Furman and he wasn't even the biggest QB story on the field. All of those headlines belonged to star freshman Trevor Lawrence, who impressed many people with his debut performance. Bryant meanwhile, went 11 for 17 and threw for 132 yards and one touchdown. At least he's still the starter.

9. Dwyane Haskins, Ohio State (Last Week: NR)- In our preseason rankings, the only player we had listed in the top ten was running back J.K. Dobbins. Unfortunately for him, he was at best the third most impressive player in OSU's win over Oregon State. Mike Weber was second and Haskins was #1. The sophomore threw for five touchdowns and 313 yards as the Buckeyes put up 77 (yes, 77) on the poor Beavers.

8. Bryce Love, Stanford (Last Week: 3)- No Heisman hopeful had a more disappointing Week 1 performance than last year's runner-up (except for perhaps our next entry). Going against the San Diego State Aztecs should have been a way for him to relax and pad out his stats. Instead, he struggled mightily and ran for a mere 29 yards on 18 carries. This was definitely the worst performance of Love's collegiate career. We could excuse this performance if the rest of his team struggled but that simply wasn't the case. QB K.J. Costello threw for 332 yards and four scores while JJ Arcega-Whiteside scored four times. Love will need a big game against USC next week to move back up these rankings.

7. Ed Oliver, Houston (Last Week: 7)- As I said in our preseason post, Oliver would need to go above and beyond in order to get some Heisman consideration. He certainly did that in Houston's opening game against Rice. The junior DT racked up 13 total tackles as his Cougars handily beat the Owls 45-27.

6. Khalil Tate, Arizona (Last Week: 1)- A QB doesn't need to be on the best team to win the Heisman but it certainly helps (see Newton, Cam and Winston, Jameis). He at least needs to be on a ranked team (see Manziel, Johnny and Griffin III, Robert). Tate may not have either one of those things. The Arizona Wildcats are not ranked and they dropped their season opener to Brigham Young. Tate only completed 50% of his pass attempts for just one touchdown. The dual-threat specialist also failed to inspire with his ground performance as he rushed for a paltry 14 yards on 8 carries.

5. Trace McSorley, Penn State (Last Week: 5)- Penn State needed overtime to beat Appalachian State but at least McSorley had a good performance. He went 20 for 35 with 229 yards and one score. And even though he's not known as a running quarterback, he managed to rack up 53 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.

4. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama (Last Week: 8)- Finally, Alabama has its starter. No, it's not the man who went 26-2 and led the Crimson Tide to two straight national title games. Instead, it's the hero from last year's championship game and boy, does he deserve it. Tagovailoa completed 12 of his 16 passes with 227 yards and two scores for a QB rating of 99.1. He also picked up a TD on the ground.

3. Will Grier, West Virginia (Last Week: 6)- A lot of people have Grier as their current Heisman frontrunner and it's not hard to see why. In West Virginia's 40-14 win over Tennessee, Grier threw for an incredible 429 yards and five touchdowns. On a related note, his star receiver David Sills V (who caught seven passes for 140 yards and two scores) is also getting some much-deserved Heisman buzz.

2. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 4)- Wisconsin looks like a real national title contender and Taylor looks like a real Heisman contender. His 18 carries led to  145 rushing yards and two touchdowns as the Badgers trounced Western Kentucky, who by the way has the best nickname of all-time. Go Hilltoppers!

1. Jake Fromm, Georgia (Last Week: 2)- Fromm finds himself in a similar situation as Kelly Bryant. He played well but his play was overshadowed by the new star freshman QB. In this case, it was Justin Fields. Side note: I have followed Fields for months and I think the world of him. He's a future star for sure. Still, I think Fromm has this starting job on lock, something I can't totally say for Bryant.

Thanks for reading everyone. Check back next week for our Week 2 rankings.

Rapid-fire NFL 2018-2019 Predictions

If you've followed us here at TSE at all, you know we like our predictions. We enjoy taking a deep dive into every single team and agonize over all of the individual season awards. But that's not going to happen this time. Instead, we're going to make some rapid-fire predictions for the upcoming season. Why? Because it's nice to mix things up every now and then (and also because the season starts tomorrow and there isn't time for a full predictions post). We'll predict the final standings for each division, the postseason seeding, the postseason itself, and all of the awards. Ready? Then let's get started.

NFC North:

4. Chicago Bears- This all depends on how well Mitchell Trubisky does this year. At least their defense is stacked.

3. Detroit Lions- Remember, they came super close to making the playoffs last year. Their defense is still a major question mark but at least their run game should be a lot better.'

2. Green Bay Packers- Without Aaron Rodgers, the Packers are a middling team at best. With him, they're pretty much a lock to make the playoffs.

1. Minnesota Vikings- Some pundits think the Vikings are the best team in football. I don't think they're that good, but they're definitely Super Bowl contenders, especially with a healthy Dalvin Cook.

NFC East:

4. Washington Redskins- The Redskins are years away from the team that won this division three years ago. The injury-ridden Redskins are going to need a lot of luck to make the playoffs.

3. Dallas Cowboys- The biggest question in Dallas is about the receiving corps. Michael Gallup, Tavon Austin, and the others are going to have to step up big time.

2. New York Giants- It seems unlikely that a team who won three games last season can contend for a playoff spot but it's definitely possible here. New HC Pat Shurmur can revitalize Eli Manning, OBJ is healthy, and Saquon looks like the real deal.

1. Philadephia Eagles- It's hard to rank the defending Super Bowl champions any lower than this. They have an absolutely loaded roster and will be even better when Carson Wentz returns.

NFC South:

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- All of the Hard Knocks hype has disappeared. Both starting QB Jameis Winston and head coach Dirk Koetter need big seasons to potentially save their jobs.

3. Carolina Panthers- The Panthers are a great team but it feels like they may get shut out of the playoffs simply because the NFC South is so loaded.

2. Atlanta Falcons- The Falcons managed to avoid the dreaded Super Bowl runner-up hangover and made it to the divisional round next year. Unless second-year offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian steps up in a big way, that's where their ceiling probably is.

1. New Orleans Saints- I really think the Saints might be the best team in the NFC. Drew Brees is an all-timer, they have the best RB tandem in the league, and that defense is to die for. What's not to love?

NFC West:

4. Arizona Cardinals- The Cards will only be interesting when Josh Rosen takes over for Sam Bradford.

3. Seattle Seahawks- Even with Earl Thomas back, Seattle's defense is full of question marks. Meanwhile, Russell Wilson is the only true positive on the offensive side of the football.

2. San Francisco 49ers-  There's no way Jimmy Garoppolo continues his undefeated streak the entire year (probably). Still, he should have a very good season and develop into the franchise QB John Lynch believes him to be.

1. Los Angeles Rams- There's a chance that the Rams' Frankenstein defense implodes. There's also a chance that it's the league's best.

NFC Seeding:

1. Los Angeles Rams 2. Philadelphia Eagles 3. Minnesota Vikings 4. New Orleans Saints 5. Green Bay Packers 6. Atlanta Falcons

AFC North:

4. Cleveland Browns- The Browns most likely will not go winless this year, which is obviously a great thing. Four or five wins should be enough to save Hue Jackson's job.

3. Cincinnati Bengals- The Bengals might be one of the least interesting teams in the NFL. They're also miles away from the playoffs.

2. Baltimore Ravens- Will Lamar Jackson replace Joe Flacco this year? That all depends if the Ravens are in the playoff hunt.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers- Not having Le'Veon Bell seriously hurts the Steelers. If he does return partway through the year, their fortunes immediately take an upturn.

AFC East:

4. Buffalo Bills- I still can't believe the Bills made the playoffs last year. They should be a nothing team this year.

3. Miami Dolphins- This could be the last year of Ryan Tannehill starting for the Dolphins. He'll at least need to get them into the playoff hunt to keep his job.

2. New York Jets- The Jets seriously overachieved last year and won five games. Adding Sam Darnold and Isaiah Crowell should increase that number.

1. New England Patriots- Yes, the Patriots are arguably the best team in football but they also play in what is probably the league's worst division. It'll be interesting to see how Tom Brady does without Danny Amendola and Brandin Cooks.

AFC South:

4. Indianapolis Colts- Getting Andrew Luck back is obviously huge, but the Colts need more than that. They're seriously lacking on both sides of the ball and face incredibly long odds of making the playoffs.

3. Tennessee Titans- Even though the Titans won a playoff game last year, it's hard to see them making the playoffs this year. Marcus Mariota has struggled as of late and he doesn't have anyone elite to throw it to.

2. Houston Texans- This all depends on how well Deshaun Watson does. He played like a Pro Bowler in limited action last year but that could fall apart if he gets injured again. Remember, he has torn two ACLs.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars- The Jaguars were one of last year's big surprises last year and look to continue that trend. It will certainly help if Leonard Fournette can stay out of trouble.

AFC West:

4. Oakland Raiders- Without Khalil Mack, the Raiders defense is about as useful as stopping the run as aluminum foil. Derek Carr will probably need to have a lot of big games in order for the Raiders to contend for the playoffs.

3. Denver Broncos- The Broncos' QB situation is an utter mess and has been so for many years. Is Case Keenum the answer?

2. Kansas City Chiefs- The Chiefs have built up an offense that will allow new QB Patrick Mahomes to hit the ground running. He should feel very comfortable with weapons like Tyreke Hill, Travis Kelce, and Kareem Hunt.

1. Los Angeles Chargers- The ancient Aztec curse that causes the Chargers to underachieve and suffer notable injury losses has to be kept at bay here. If it lies dormant, then the Chargers are division favorites.

AFC Seeding:

1. New England Patriots 2. Pittsburgh Steelers 3. Jacksonville Jaguars 4. Los Angeles Chargers 5. Houston Texans 6. Kansas City Chiefs

Wild-Card Round:

#6 Atlanta Falcons at #3 Minnesota Vikings- The talent gap is really close here and home-field advantage just might be the decider here. Pick: Minnesota

#5 Green Bay Packers at #4 New Orleans Saints- I trust the Saints defense much more than the Packers defense, Rodgers or no Rodgers. Pick: New Orleans

#6 Kansas City Chiefs at #3 Jacksonville Jaguars- Mahomes may be a better QB than Blake Bortles but Bortles has proven playoff experience. Pick: Jacksonville

#5 Houston Texans at #4 Los Angeles Chargers- If the Texans are healthy, they can go with the best of 'em. There's always at least one upset in the first round and this seems the most likely. Pick: Houston

Divisional Round:

#4 New Orleans Saints at #1 Los Angeles Rams- The Saints were a fluke play away from meeting the Eagles in last year's NFC title game. They should make it this year.  Pick: New Orleans

#3 Minnesota Vikings at #2 Philadelphia Eagles- As much as I want to pick the Vikings, I can't forget about the beating they received in last year's NFC Title game against the Eagles. This game should be closer though. Pick: Philadelphia

#5 Houston Texans at #1 New England Patriots- I really think the Texans could upset the Pats here but Tom Brady changes everything. The man has engineered more postseason comebacks than Deshaun Watson has had pro starts. Pick: New England

#3 Jacksonville Jaguars at #2 Pittsburgh Steelers- The Jaguars handily beat the Steelers last year and have only gotten better since then. I just can't see the Steelers overcoming their internal strife. Pick: Jacksonville

Conference Championships:

#4 New Orleans Saints at #2 Philadelphia Eagles- The Philly fans will be absolutely ravenous but Drew Brees is experienced enough to not let it faze him. Super Bowl champions rarely repeat and this will probably be where the champs fall. Pick: New Orleans

#3 Jacksonville Jaguars at #1 New England Patriots- The Jaguars came close to beating the Pats last year and while they've gotten better, you can't say the same about the Patriots, who have big questions about the o-line and defense. Pick: Jacksonville

Super Bowl:

New Orleans Saints vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

On paper, these two teams are evenly matched. This should be an excellent and competitive game with the Saints squeaking out a close one.

Pick: Saints
Super Bowl MVP: Drew Brees

Regular Season Awards:
MVP: Aaron Rodgers
Offensive Player: Todd Gurley
Defensive Player: Joey Bosa
Offensive Rookie: Saquon Barkley
Defensive Rookie: Bradley Chubb
Coach: Pat Shurmur
Comeback Player: Andrew Luck

Thanks for reading everyone. Comment below and let me know your NFL predictions. 

Which NFL Team has the Best Chance of Going First to Worst?

The New England Patriots are the model of consistency in the NFL. If you ignore the 2008 season where star QB Tom Brady tore his ACL, they last failed to make the postseason in 2002. Furthermore, they have won nine straight division crowns, a feat that no other team has come close to replicating. Seeing as the rest of the division has more chance of Bill Belichick revealing any useful info at a press conference than they do of overthrowing the Pats,  let's go ahead and make it ten straight,

But what about these teams that finished at the bottom of their division last year? It may seem crazy, but a lot of those teams have a chance at winning their division. In other words, they have a chance of going from worst to first. This is by no means a rare phenomenon, both the Jacksonville Jaguars and the defending champions Philadelphia Eagles did it last year. Some of you might be asking, how is this even possible? Well, this is the NFL, a highly volatile league where it doesn't take much to increase (or decrease) your stock drastically. So in this article, we're going to look at all of the eight cellar dwellers from last year and rank their chances of winning their division. Let's get started.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFC South- This ranking is more about the competition Tampa faces rather than Tampa itself. The NFC South had three teams go to the playoffs last year and the last two NFC Champions are in the division. It just seems highly unlikely that Tampa can breakthrough that incredible wall. New Orleans, Carolina, and Atlanta are all top contenders to make the playoffs and are just much better teams than Tampa.

The Hard Knocks effect was very evident this time last year when the Bucs were expected to contend for the playoffs. Instead, they had a wholly unremarkable season and finished in the cellar. Now, starting QB Jameis Winston is suspended for the first three games of the season and rookie RB Ronald Jones II has been nothing short of disappointing in the preseason. Yes, I know it's the preseason, but that still doesn't totally excuse his underwhelming results thus far. DeSean Jackson and Winston failed to develop much of a connection last year, leaving Mike Evans as the only true receiver other defenses have to worry about. For the Bucs to make the playoffs, a lot of things will have to fall into place. That just seems unlikely.

7. New York Jets, AFC East- The Bucs are probably a better team than the Jets, but this ranking all comes down to the division. While the NFC South is probably the best division in the league, the AFC East is probably the worst. Besides the New England Patriots, there is next to nothing going on in this division. Yes, the Buffalo Bills made the playoffs last year, but that was mostly because of Tyrod Taylor and there wasn't any other competition in the AFC.

To be fair to the Jets, their prospects are certainly improving. Rookie QB Sam Darnold looks like the real deal and should get some valuable experience this year. Head coach Todd Bowles is a defensive-minded coach and led the Jets to a better than expected season last year. There's a chance that they could even contend for a playoff spot, though that's probably just a pipe dream.

6. Chicago Bears, NFC North- The Bears find themselves in an unusual spot this year. They were comfortably in the basement of the NFC North last year and were definitely the worst team in the division. Now, they find themselves a much better team thanks to additions such as Allen Robinson, Trey Burton, Roquan Smith, and of course, Khalil Mack. Add to that the continued development of sophomore QB Mitchell Trubisky and the exciting running back duo of Jordan Howard & Tarik Cohen, and you get a recipe for a team on the rise. This time won't take off immediately, especially with Trubisky still having some growing pains, but things are looking up.

With that being said, the Bears certainly won't even make the top two of this division. The Minnesota Vikings made the NFC Title game last year and many pundits consider them to be the best team in the entire league. Then we have the Green Bay Packers, who have the best QB in the league in Aaron Rodgers. It doesn't matter who else the Packers have, they're a playoff contender as long as Rodgers is healthy. The only team the Bears have a realistic shot at beating is the Detroit Lions, and that's not even a sure thing. Their new coach is defensive guru Matt Patricia and they've done a lot to revitalize their run game, including by drafting Auburn star Kerryon Johnson and using their first-round pick on Frank Ragnow. On top of that, the Lions were extremely close to making the playoffs last year. The odds are certainly not in Chicago's favor.

5. Cleveland Browns, AFC North- How can a team go from 1-32 in the previous two seasons to winning a division? It's certainly implausible, but not impossible. Thanks to the additions of Tyrod Taylor and Baker Mayfield, the Browns have the best QB situation in years. They also have additions such as Antonio Callaway, Damarious Randall, Nick Chubb, Carlos Hyde, and Jarvis Landry roaring to go. Basically, the Browns are a much better team than their record says.

So how do they stack up with the rest of their division? Realistically, the only ream they'll be able to pass is the Cincinnati Bengals. The injury-ridden Bengals started a big slide last season and that doesn't show any sign of slowing down anytime soon. The Baltimore Ravens are a middling team and one that realistically shouldn't be serious title contenders or cellar-dwellers. That leaves the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ignore everything about the Le'Veon Bell holdout and remember, the Steelers have one of the best offenses in the league and are serious Super Bowl contenders. The Browns have no chance of toppling the Steelers and will probably just scrape together a few wins.

4. Denver Broncos, AFC West- The fate of the Broncos completely depends on their QB play. Former first-round pick Paxton Lynch completely flamed out, Brock Osweiler's moment in the sun is long over, and Case Keenum has had a grand total of one productive NFL season. Let's just say for a moment, that Keenum does manage to replicate his shocking success with the Vikings last year. How far can the Broncos go then? Well, they would then be in the hunt for a division crown. Remember, the Broncos won the Super Bowl only two years ago, and many members of that team are still dressing up in the Mile High City. Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders are both still top-notch receivers and Von Miller is still one of the best defensive players in the entire league. Let's add rookie running back Royce Freeman to the mix and you potentially have a smooth, dangerous offense.

The AFC West is probably the most open division in the entire NFL. The defending champs, the Kansas City Chiefs, have a new QB in sophomore Patrick Mahomes, the Los Angeles Chargers have injury problems and are chronic underachievers, and the Oakland Raiders must adjust to new head coach Jon Gruden and life without defensive stalwart Khalil Mack. Thus, there is a wide array of possibilities for the Broncos and all of them are equally possible.

3. New York Giant, NFC East- It feels weird to say that a team that went 3-13 last year has a chance to win their division, but its' true. Remember, this Giants team made the playoffs two years ago. The offense was NY's main problem last year but new head coach Pat Shurmur worked wonders with Case Keenum and the Vikings last year. They also have quite possibly the best rookie in the league in Saquon Barkley and the best young WR in OBJ. If all of the pieces come together, G-men fans will be very happy.

The main problem: the reigning champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. If anything, the Eagles will only be better since starting QB Carson Wentz is on his way back from the hospital bed. Then we have the Dallas Cowboys, who made the playoffs two years ago and are looking for a bounce-back season. Then there's the Washington Redskins, who made the playoffs three years ago and are looking to soar in the post- Kirk Cousins era. This division is potentially loaded, but the Giants have the personnel and talent to rise above it all (or at least finish second and fight for a wild-card spot. Yeah, they probably won't make the playoffs).

2. San Francisco 49ers, NFC West- The 'Niners and the Los Angeles Rams are the only real contenders in the NFC West. The Arizona Cardinals are rebuilding around rookie QB Josh Rosen and don't have the talent to contend for the playoffs and the depleted Seattle Seahawks are miles away from the team that won two straight NFC Championships. Still, the Rams are a far better team than the 'Niners. They handily won the division last year and have made significant additions to the team, including wide receiver Brandin Cooks, secondary star Aqib Talib, and five-time Pro Bowler Ndamukong Suh.

That being said, SF winning the division wouldn't shock everyone, at least not fans in the Bay Area. New franchise QB Jimmy Garoppolo has proven himself to be the real deal and he has some solid weapons in guys like Pierre Garcon, Matt Brieda, and George Kittle. Yes, the loss of Jerrick McKinnon is a big blow and yes, the defense is nowhere near as good as the Rams', but this is still a young, hungry team on the upswing. That's a formula for success.

1. Houston Texans, AFC South- This all hinges on one player: Deshaun Watson. When he was healthy last year, the Texans looked like one of the best teams in the league and Watson seemed a shoo-in for Offensive Rookie of the Year. When he tore his ACL, the Texans took a mighty tumble. Now that Watson is back and healthy, no one would be surprised if Houston won the AFC South. The duo of DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller V is an extremely dangerous one and if J.J. Watt is healthy, then he's one of the most important players in the entire NFL.

The AFC South used to be the laughingstock of the NFL, now they have four legitimate playoff contenders. The Jacksonville Jaguars went to the AFC Title game last year, the Tennessee Titans made it to the divisional round last year, and the Indianapolis Colts are playoff contenders with Andrew Luck back. If the Houston Texans break out of this group, they'll certainly earn it.

Thanks for reading everyone.

The 2017 Sports Examiner Awards

2017 was a year to remember for sports. We saw an unbelievable game in the NCAAF championship game, a logic-defying comeback in the Super Bowl, one of the greatest NBA postseason runs of all-time,  an incredible NFL rookie class, multiple blockbuster NBA trades, and so much more. So how can we possibly break that down? Why, the 2017 Sports Examiner awards of course. Let's get started.

NFL:

Player of the Year: Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Touchdown Tommy was at it again this year. It started back in February when Brady led his Patriots to a 34-28 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in OT. That itself is impressive, but let's not forget that the Patriots found themselves down 28-3 before Brady engineered the comeback of a lifetime. He finished the game as MVP after throwing for 466 yards and a touchdown. But that was just on one evening in February. What about the rest of the year? Well, he led the Patriots to a #1 seed in the playoffs, led the league in passing yards, was third in passing touchdowns, and is the favorite to win the regular season MVP award yet again.

2016 Winner: Dallas's Offensive Line
2015 Winner: Tom Brady

Rookie of the Year: Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

Kamara wasn't supposed to be in contention for this award. It was supposed to be about guys like Corey Davis, Leonard Fournette, Myles Garrett, Derek Barnett, and Jamal Adams. Instead, Kamara emerged from (relative) obscurity and teamed up with Mark Ingram to form the best running back duo in the NFL, taking the crown from their fellow NFC South duo of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. Kamara trailed only Kareem Hunt and Fournette in rushing yards among rookies, led all rookies in receptions, trailed only JuJu Smith-Schuster and Cooper Kupp in rookie receiving yards, and trailed only Deshaun Watson and Deshone Kizer in rookie touchdowns. On top of that, the Saints won the NFC South and are among the favorites to win the NFC Championship.

2016 Winner: Ezekiel Elliot

Coach of the Year: Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams

The Rams were nothing short of a disappointment next year. Jeff Fisher went 4-9 before he was fired. Enter the devastatingly handsome and shockingly young Sean McVay. It's fitting that he's the coach of the Los Angeles Rams because this is a Hollywood movie waiting to be made. The Rams went 11-5 this year and won the NFC West. On top of that, McVay, known as a QB whisperer, turned around the career of young Jared Goff, turning him from a top-notch bust to a franchise QB. Now it's just a question of who plays him in the upcoming movie. Andrew Garfield maybe? I can see that.

2016 Winner: Bill Belichick

Offensive Player of the Year: Todd Gurley

Gurley may have had a disappointing sophomore year but he bounced back in incredible fashion. It's reasonable to say that he was the biggest offensive juggernaut of the 2017 regular season. He was second in the league in rushing yards (behind only Hunt), led the league in rushing touchdowns, and his L.A. Rams won the NFC West and look like they're set up for the next few seasons.

2016 Winner: Matt Ryan

Defensive Player of the Year: Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars

It goes without reason that the Jaguars have an incredible defensive unit. And while there are a lot of superstars on that unit, such as Malik Jackson and Jalen Ramsey, the heart and soul of the unit. He's second in the NFL in sacks, forced three fumbles, and recorded 67 tackles. He's one of the frontrunners for DPOY and his Jags are a sleeper pick to win it all.

2016 Winner: Von Miller

Most Improved Player: Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams

When Goff was selected #1 overall in 2016, there was some skepticism. He had had a quiet career at Cal but flashed enough potential to intrigue the Rams. Flash forward a few months later, and it looked like Goff was just another bust. The Rams had a disappointing season and Goff looked totally out of his league. Flash forward another year and things are totally different. Goff is a proven franchise QB, the Rams won the NFC West, and Goff was even a fringe MVP candidate throughout the season. He finished the regular season with 28 touchdowns, 3,804 passing yards, and accumulated a rating of 100.5.

Breakout Star of the Year: Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs

Hunt wasn't even supposed to play this year. Drafted in the third round, Hunt was supposed to be a backup to Spencer Ware. Instead, Ware got injured in a preseason game and Hunt was thrust into the starting role. He has yet to look back. Hunt led the league in rushing yards and was the biggest playmaker for the AFC West Champions. Andy Reid may forget about him sometimes but he still racked up 455 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns. Remember his name.

2016 Winner: Dak Prescott

Comeback Star of the Year: Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

When the Patriots won the Super Bowl in February, they did so without their biggest offensive weapon. Gronk had been on the sidelines for a few months after getting surgery to repair a herniated disk. He returned with a vengeance in 2017 as the Pats won the AFC East and picked up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. He had 1,084 receiving yards in the regular season and eight touchdown catches.

Rising Star of the Year: Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans

When Watson started the year on the bench, Houston fans clamored for him to start. And when he finally did, he blew everyone's expectations out of the water. In the six games he started, Watson threw for 1,699 yards and 19 touchdowns while also rushing for 269 yards and two scores. Among all rookies, he was third in passing yards and first in touchdowns. Watson may seem a strange pick for this award, meant to signify someone on the verge of becoming a superstar, but his injury halted his progress. But he should be healthy next season, so watch out.

2016 Winner: Carson Wentz

Team of the Year: New England Patriots

We've talked a lot about the Patriots so far, so you're undoubtedly aware of everything they accomplished this season. A quick summary: overcame a 25-point deficit to win the Super Bowl in February and then picked up the #1 seed in the AFC.

2016 Winner: Denver Broncos

NBA:

Most Improved Player of the Year: Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers

When the Indiana Pacers traded away franchise star Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Oladipo and Domantis Sabonis. Everyone assumed that the Pacers had been fleeced, that they had been taken for a ride. Instead, pretty much the exact opposite has happened. Paul George and the Thunder have failed to develop chemistry while Oladipo has emerged as a breakout star. Before this season, Oladipo's best stats were: 17.9 ppg, 4.1 apg, 4.8 rpg, 1.7 spg, and 0.8 bpg. Remember, that is over the course of four seasons. Now, Oladipo is averaging 24.5 ppg, 4.1 apg, 5.2 rpg, 1.9 spg, and 1.0 bpg. Furthermore, Indiana is firmly entrenched in the playoff conversation.

Player of the Year: Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors

When Durant announced he was joining the Golden State Warriors on July 4th, 2016, the basketball world exploded. The Warriors had just come off of the greatest regular season of all-time and Durant was one of the best players in the world. But once the initial excitement wore off, skepticism began to creep in. Could this crazy experiment actually work? Could Steve Kerr strike a balance between all four of his superstar players? It's been about 18 months since that fateful day, and we now know that the experiment has worked. The Warriors claimed their second title in three years while only losing one game in the postseason. Durant meanwhile, was named an All-Star, made the All-NBA Second Team, and was named Finals MVP. He has looked just as impressive thus far in the 2018 season as the Warriors seem ready to win yet another championship. Our runner-up here is James Harden, the runner-up for the 2017 MVP award and Durant's former teammate.

2016 Winner: LeBron James
2015 Winner: Steph Curry

Coach of the Year: Mike D'Antoni, Houston Rockets

The 2017 Coach of the Year is the easy pick here. In his first season with the Houston Rockets, he convinced star James Harden to switch to point guard and totally shift his game. The switch worked and Harden put up MVP numbers while the Rockets won 55 games and made it to the Western Conference semifinals. D'Antoni has also shown his versatility in the 2018 season by successfully integrating new Rocket Chris Paul into the lineup.

2016 Winner: Steve Kerr

Breakout Star of the Year: Kyle Kuzma, Los Angeles Lakers

With the second pick in the 2017 NBA draft, the Lakers selected UCLA's Lonzo Ball. This was a pick highly covered by the media (thanks to a certain father) and Ball was anointed as the future of the Lakers. And while Ball has played well, the spotlight has shifted on to another rookie: Kyle Kuzma. The former Utah Ute was named the MVP of the Summer League Championship Game, is averaging 17.1 ppg, and was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month in November.

2016 Winner: Kristaps Porzingis

Rookie of the Year: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers

After being taken #1 overall by the 76ers in 2016, Simmons sat out the entire season after breaking his right foot. He returned with a vengeance this season as the 'Sixers make a push for the playoffs. The Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in November has already recorded three triple-doubles and is the first player in NBA history to notch 170 points, 100 rebounds, and 80 assists in the first ten games of the season. Trust the process indeed.

2016 Winner: Karl-Anthony Towns

Comeback Player of the Year: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Embiid's entire professional career has been defined by injuries. Thanks to injuries in his right foot, he missed the first two seasons before finally seeing action in 2016. As many expected, Embiid went on a tear. He was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for the first three months of the season and was eventually named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Unfortunately, he suffered another injury in February and missed the rest of the season. He returned to fine form for the 2018 season as he became the first player since Dr. J to get 40 points, seven assists, and seven blocks in a game while keeping Philly in the race for a playoff spot.

2016 Winner: Paul George

Rising Star of the Year: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

The Celtics were pretty high on Tatum when they selected him #3 overall in the latest draft. But even they have to be surprised with his level of play. Injuries to both Gordon Hayward and Marcus Morris could have derailed Boston's title hopes were it not for the upstart rookie. Tatum is not only draining three but is also playing top-notch defense for arguably the league's best defensive team.

2016 Winner: Andre Drummond

Team of the Year: Golden State Warriors

Who else would it be? The Warriors went 16-1 in the 2017 playoffs to win their second championship in three years while cementing themselves as the team to beat in the NBA. And in the 2018 season, nothing has changed. If anything, thanks to rookie Jordan Bell, they're even deeper and more dangerous than ever before. It could be years before we see the Warriors get dethroned.

2016 Winner: Cleveland Cavaliers

NHL:

Coach of the Year: John Tortorella, Columbus Blue Jackets

Tortorella won the 2017 Jack Adams Coach of the Year award, marking the second time he won the award. The 2016-2017 season was one of the best in Columbus history. They won 50 games and finished third in the division.

Player of the Year: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

Not only was a finalist for the prestigious Hart Trophy, but he and the Pittsburgh Penguins won yet another Stanley Cup. On top of that, Crosby won the Conn Smythe trophy, given to the MVP of the NHL playoffs. Crosby is only the third player, besides Bernie Parent and Mario Lemieux, to win the award in consecutive years.

2016 Winner: Sidney Crosby

Goalie of the Year: Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets

Tortorella wasn't the only reason the Blue Jackets had such a great season. Bobrovsky won the 2017 Vezina Award (given to the best goalie) in a bit of a landslide. He was also a Hart Trophy finalist. Bobrovsky has carried his great 2017 into the 2018 season. His save percentage trails only seven other goalies, he's sixth in goals against average, and is second in shutouts.

2016 Winner: Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals

Team of the Year: Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins have got a bit of a dynasty going on. They won their second Stanley Cup in a row and find themselves in prime position to make the playoffs next year (they are currently fifth in the Metropolitan Division).

2016 Winner: Pittsburgh Penguins

MLB:

Manager of the Year: Paul Molitor, Minnesota Twins

Molitor was named AL Manager of the Year after leading the Twins to the postseason. The Twins became the first team in MLB history to lose 100 games in a season and then make the playoffs the next season. Molitor is now the second person, besides Frank Robinson, to be a Hall of Fame player and win Manager of the Year.

2016 Winner: Terry Francona

Pitcher of the Year: Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians

Kluber is the only Cleveland Indian to win a Cy Young twice. He won the award after an incredible 2017 that saw him go 18-4, led the MLB with a 2.25 ERA, and had 265 strikeouts. Our runner-up for this award is last year's winner, Max Scherzer. The Washington National won his second consecutive NL Cy Young while throwing an NL-best 268 strikeouts and going 16-6.

2016 Winner: Max Scherzer

Rookie of the Year: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

While Cody Bellinger made a good case to be the second Dodger in a row to win this award, this honor ultimately goes to Judge. The Yankee led the AL with 52 homers, scored 128 runs, and was named the AL Rookie of the Year unanimously.

2016 Winner: Corey Seager

Player of the Year: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros

Altuve left 2017 with a lot of hardware. He won the AL Aaron Award (the first Astro to ever do so) thanks to his MLB-best .346 batting average and 24 home runs, won the AL MVP thanks to his 32 stolen bases and AL-best 204 hits, and won the World Series. Oh, and he also became the first player in MLB history to lead either league in hits outright for four consecutive years.

2016 Winner: Kris Bryant

Hitter of the Year: Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees

While Altuve won the AL Aaron Award, Stanton won the NL counterpart. His 59 home runs and 132 RBIs set both career highs and franchise records for the Miami Marlins. Those numbers also topped MLB. It's going to very exciting next year to watch him and Judge make opposing pitchers miserable.

2016 Winner: David Ortiz

Team of the Year: Houston Astros

In late summer, Hurricane Harvey made landfall in the U.S. and ravaged a number of cities, including Houston. Harvey eventually became the costliest tropical cyclone on record and caused 91 fatalities. Needless to say, the city of Houston was looking for anything to soothe the pain. That relief came in the form of the Astros, who knocked off the heavily favored Los Angeles Dodgers to win their second ever World Series.

2016 Winners: Chicago Cubs

NCAAF:

Player of the Year: Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma

Mayfield might be one of the most decisive athletes in all of sports, but you can't deny the guy has talent. A year after finishing third in the Heisman race, Mayfield won it in 2017 in a bit of a blowout. He also walked away with the Maxwell Award and led Oklahoma to a Big 12 Championship and a spot in the fourth-ever college football playoffs.

2016 Winner: Lamar Jackson
2015 Winner: Christian McCaffrey

Breakout Star of the Year: Bryce Love, Stanford

While Mayfield won the Heisman, Love was the runner-up. He wasn't even supposed to be in contention, let alone be a finalist. The speedster made Cardinals fans forget all about Christian McCaffrey. Love ran for 2,118 yards and 19 touchdowns as the Cardinals finished 9-5.

2016 Winner: Lamar Jackson

Rising Star of the Year: Trace McSorley, Penn State

The focus in Penn State may have been on Saquon Barkley, but Trace McSorley managed to get some love as well. McSorley was a fringe Heisman contender for a good part of the season, though he fell off in the end thanks to a string of losses. Still, McSorley is considered one of the top returning QBs in college football and is one of the trendy Heisman picks for 2018.

2016 Winner: Derrius Guice

Coach of the Year: Scott Frost, UCF

Two years ago, Central Florida lost every single game it played. This year, they finished the season undefeated, the only team to do so, and sixth in the final AP rankings. A huge chunk of that credit goes to Scott Frost, who was also named Coach of the Year. He may be going to Nebraska next season, but he's certainly turned the once ailing program around.

2016 Winner: Nick Saban, Alabama

Comeback Star of the Year: Derwin James, Florida State

James played only two games for the 'Noles last season as he tore his meniscus in a game against Charleston Southern. He returned in 2017 healthy and ready to go. He finished the year with two interceptions, one touchdown, and 84 tackles. Although FSU had a disappointing season, James is absolved of all blame. He is considered one of the top defensive prospects in the upcoming NFL draft.

2016 Winner: James Conner

Team of the Year: Clemson

Clemson QB Deshaun Watson threw a touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow as time expired to win the national championship for Clemson. The Tigers capitalized on that momentum by winning the AFC Championship again and securing the #1 seed in the College Football Playoffs.

2016 Winner: Alabama

Individual Sports:

Female Golfer of the Year: Sung Hyun Park (2017 was her rookie year)

Park topped the 2017 money list by taking in more than $2.3 million. She also won the U.S. Open, giving the South Korean her first major. Of course, 2017 was her rookie year, so expect more of the same next year.

2016 Winner: Ariya Jutanugarn

Female Tennis Player of the Year: Caroline Wozniacki

We give the nod here to Wozniacki over Muguruza in one of this year's toughest categories. Wozniacki finished second in the WTA Rankings, one spot ahead of Muguraza; was third in prize money to Muguruza's second, was tenth in aces (Muguruza did not make the top ten), won Player of the Month in October (Muguruza won it in June), won Shot of the Month and was nominated another three times (Mugurauza was never even nominated), and reached more tournament finals than any other player.

2016 Winner: Angelique Werber
2015 Winner: Serena Williams

Male Tennis Player of the Year: Rafael Nadal

In case you forgot why Rafa is considered one of the best tennis players of this generation, the Spaniard happily reminded you. He was named ATP Player of the Year, ranked #1 in the ATP, won the most prize money, made the most tournament finals, won six titles (behind only Roger Federer's seven), and won the US Open.

2016 Winner: Andy Murray

Male Golfer of the Year: Justin Thomas

Both of our previous winners could have taken the award again, but their fellow American rises to the occasion. Thomas, the 2017 PGA Championship winner, had a huge breakout year in 2017. He was the tour's money leader, won the PGA Championship, was the third best player for the winning U.S. team in the Presidents Cup, won the Jack Nicklaus Trophy, won PGA Player of the Year, and won the FedEx Cup. Let's hope that 2017 was not an anomaly and we see more of the same in years to come.

2016 Winner: Dustin Johnson
2015 Winner: Jordan Spieth

Female Swimmer of the Year: Sarah Sjostrom

The Swedish swimmer is the first woman since 2012 to win Swimming World's Female World Swimmer of the Year and not be named Katie Ledecky. She earned that title (and this one) by winning three gold medals and a silver one at the 2017 World Championships.

2016 Winner: Katie Ledecky

Male Swimmer of the Year: Caeleb Dressel

You may not know Dressel's name, but you will soon. He won seven gold medals at the 2017 World Championships (setting multiple American records while doing so) and was named male swimmer of the meet. The only other swimmer to win seven gold medals at a World Championship- some guy by the name of Michael Phelps.

2016 Winner: Michael Phelps

Soccer:

Premier League Team of the Year: Chelsea

After a disappointing 2015-2016 season, Chelsea rebounded nicely by winning the Premier League. They did so with their 38 wins and 93 points, edging out Tottenham Hotspurs by seven points. They also had the longest winning streak with 13 matches.

2016 Winner: Leicester City

Male Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo wins this award for the second year in a row after winning the Ballon d'Or for the second year in a row (and five times overall). It's hard to argue with his results, as he led Madrid to a La Liga, Champions League, and Spanish Super Club treble in 2017. The Portuguese star scored 49 goals in total this year and became the first player in Champions League history to score in each of his club's group-stage matches.

2016 Winner: Cristiano Ronaldo
2015 Winner: Lionel Messi

Female Player of the Year: Lieke Martens

Martens was named The Best FIFA Women's Player for 2017. This was mainly due to her leading the Netherlands to the UEPA Europe 2017 title. Her three goals and two assists led to her being named player of the tournament. She also helped FC Barcelona reach the round of 16 of the Champions League.

2016 Winner: Melanie Behringer
2015 Winner: Carli Lloyd

MLS Player of the Year: Diego Valeri

The Portland Timbers star won the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award after being just the second player in league history to record at least 20 goals and 10 assists in the same season. He also set the record for scoring goals in consecutive games with nine. The Timbers meanwhile, reached the conference semifinals of the MLS Cup playoffs.

2016 Winner: David Villa

MLS Team of the Year: Toronto FC

In 2016, the Sounders defeated Toronto FC to win the MLS Cup. This year, the results were switched. and Toronto won 2-0 to win their first MLS Cup. They used that momentum to capture their second straight Canadian Championship.

2016 Winner: Seattle Sounders

Premier League Player of the Year: Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur

If a new international soccer star was created this year, it was Kane. The striker's 29 goals led the Premier League and had four of the league's 11 hat-tricks this year. He also was named Player of the Month once and made the PFA Team of the Year. Our runner-up is N'Golo Kante, who was named Premier League Player of the Year and finished eigthth in the Ballon d'Or voting (two spots ahead of Kane).

International Team of the Year: Germany

In June 2017, Germany became the #1 team ranked in the world. Seven months later, they have yet to give up the throne. A big reason for that: they won the 10th FIFA Confederations Cup, beating Chile 1-0 in the finals.

2016 Winner: Argentina

General Awards:

Legend of the Year: Ara Parseghian

The man regarded as one of the most legendary college football coaches of all-time passed away on August 2nd of 2017. The 1980 College Football Hall of Fame inductee won two national championships when he was the Notre Dame coach.

2016 Winner: Muhammad Ali
2015 Winner: Kobe Bryant

Moment of the Year: Houston Astros win the World Series

As I said before, the city of Houston was absolutely devastated by Hurricane Harvey. J.J. Watt's charity efforts did help alleviate some of the pain, but a lot of the credit has to go to George Springer, Charlie Morton, Justin Verlander, Dallas Keuchel, Jose Altuve, and the rest of the Astros. This was a big moment for the Astros and for the city of Houston.

2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs win the World Series

Upset of the Year: Mississippi State Upsets UCONN in the Final Four

The UCONN women's basketball team might be the closest thing we have to a dynasty in modern sports. Coming into this game, they had won 111 straight games, had won four straight championships, and had made 10 straight Final Four appearances. This game against Mississippi State was supposed to be nothing more than a warm-up for the championship. After all, the Huskies had beaten Mississippi State by 60 points in 2016. Instead, Morgan Williams of the Bulldogs hit a jumped as time expired in overtime to beat the Huskies and end one of the greatest undefeated streaks in sports history.

2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs & Cleveland Cavaliers Come Back from 3-1
2015 Winner: Holly Holm beats Ronda Rousey

Play of the Year: Julian Edelman's Catch in the Super Bowl

As we all know, the Patriots fell behind in the Super Bowl. They quickly found themselves in a 28-3 deficit when they slowly but surely started making a comeback. But 25 points is a lot of ground to cover. With just over two minutes left in regulation, the Patriots were down by eight. Tom Brady launched a long pass that was tipped by a Falcons defender and bobbled around before finally being caught by Julian Edelman. Now, that play did not win the game for the Patriots (or even tie it), but it certainly helped. Plus, it was an amazing catch.

2016 Winner: Kris Jenkins's Three wins Villanova the title

Franchise of the Year: Houston Astros

What more is there to say about the Astros? Their story is simply magical and heart-warming. Not only did they lift the entire city of Houston up, but they captured the hearts of fans watching all across America.

2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs
2015 Winner: Golden State Warriors

Sports Star of the Year: Jose Altuve

For the first time ever, an individual athlete wins our highest award. And they don't get much more deserving than Altuve. The second baseman won the AL MVP award and batting title en route to helping the Astros win their second World Series title. His on-the-field actions may have made him a national name, but it was his off-the-field actions that really earned him this award. In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Altuve performed charity work, donated thousands of dollars to the recovery effort, and arranged a delivery of shoes to the needy for thousands of dollars. For this exemplary year, we are proud to name Jose Altuve our 2017 Sports Star of the Year.

2016 Winner: U.S. Olympic Swim Team
2015 Winner: American Pharaoh

Thanks for reading everyone. 

2018 NFL Playoff Predictions

With the end of 2017 brings 2018 and all of its sport-filled events. This includes the College Football Playoffs, the Winter Olympics, the World Series, the NBA draft, and of course, the NFL playoffs. 20 team are disappointed the season is over but 12 teams are ecstatic. Now begins the real journey: a brutal slate of games used to determine the best squad in the game. So who will emerge victoriously? That is exactly what we will try and determine here. Let's get started.

Wild-Card Round:

#5 Tennessee Titans at. #4 Kansas City Chiefs

How the Titans win: The Chiefs secondary is problematic thanks to the injury to star safety Eric Berry and Darrelle Revis no longer the elite cornerback he used to be. If Mariota, who has admittedly really struggled at throwing the ball this season, can find a way to get it to guys like Delanie Walker, Corey Davis, and Rishard Matthews, they could turn those passes into big plays and scores. The Titans will also need their underrated defense to contain Kansas City's big-time playmakers such as Kareem Hunt and Travis Kelce.

How the Chiefs win: The Chiefs offense should be able to overpower and outplay the mismatched Titans defense. Sure, Kevin Byard will be a problem, but the run game should thrive. The Chiefs will also need their elite special teams unit to dominate that aspect of the game.

The Pick: Kansas City- at this stage in the playoffs, the game can simply come down to who has more momentum from the regular season. KC easily has that edge since Tennessee dropped three of their last four.

#6 Buffalo Bills at #3 Jacksonville Jaguars

How the Bills win: The Bills don't have as great of a defensive front as they used to, but it's still a talented group. If Jerry Hughes and his teammates can put pressure on Blake Bortles and force him to make poor decisions, then they can shut down the Jags' passing game and force them to become one-dimensional.

How the Jaguars win: The Jaguars have the best defense in football and should make life miserable for Tyrod Taylor et al. It's also a safe bet to assume Leonard Fournette will be able to rack up big rushing yards and possibly a few big plays.

The Pick: Jacksonville- the Jags are simply a much better team than Buffalo. Besides, who's to say coach Sean McDermott doesn't put Nathan Peterman in halfway through the game?

#6 Atlanta Falcons at #3 Los Angeles Rams

How the Falcons win: Matt Ryan will need to play more like the MVP he was two years ago than the disappointment he was this year. If he can elude the dangerous Rams' pass-rushers and find Julio Jones and Mo Sanu, the Falcons will be able to keep the Rams on their toes and make big plays.

How the Rams win: Andrew Whitworth and the Rams' O-line will need to contain the likes of Adrian Clayborn to give Jared Goff enough time to find the open man. That should also open lanes for stud back Todd Gurley.

The Pick: Los Angeles -the Rams may be less experienced than Atlanta but their offense should run circles around the Falcons suspect D.

#5 Carolina Panthers at #4 New Orleans Saints

How the Panthers win: Coach Ron Rivera has seemed puzzled this year as to how to best use rookie back Christian McCaffrey, but the former Cardinal could be instrumental here. He can be used in all sorts of schemes and could give the Saints fits. That could open up the field for Carolina.

How the Saints win: Marshon Lattimore could shut down Devin Funchess and take away Cam Newton's best weapon. If that happens, the Panthers will have to rely on a run game that hasn't been very effective this year.

The Pick: New Orleans- Drew Brees has plenty of big-game experience and should play at an elite level here. Plus, it's hard to bet against a team that has both Mark Ingram AND Alvin Kamara.

Divisional Round:

#4 Kansas City Chiefs at #1 New England Patriots

How the Chiefs win: The Chiefs wallopped the Pats back in Week 1 and might feel similarly inspired. Kareem Hunt is talented enough to outmaneuver any scheme DC Matt Patricia may cook up and Alex Smith could return to his early-season MVP form.

How the Patriots win: New England's defense is a lot better now than it was back in Week 1. That unit has the talent to keep Smith, Kelce, etc. in check as they run over Kansas City's defense. Plus, they have Tom Brady. I heard he's pretty good.

The Pick: New England- when the Chiefs won in Week 1, they had safety Eric Berry, a player they are now without. It's hard to overstate the impact that Berry's absence has had on this team.

#3 Jacksonville Jaguars at #2 Pitsburgh Steelers

How the Jaguars win: With Ryan Shazier on the sidelines, Pittsburgh has a much less formidable defense. Sure, they still have guys like T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree, but Shazier is the heart and soul of that defense. His absence will make things easier for both Leonard Fournette and Blake Bortles. The Steelers also have a suspect secondary that Bortles should be able to exploit. Both Keelan Cole and Dede Westbrook have emerged in recent weeks as viable targets for the former UCF star.

How the Steelers win: Pittsburgh's biggest advantage here is that they are at home, meaning they get home Ben. Even if Antonio Brown doesn't play, Big Ben should have a great game here. Besides, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Martavis Bryant are both excellent receivers.

The Pick: Pittsburgh- the Jaguars will have to leave sunny Florida and play in a possibly snowy Heinz field. While the Steelers are used to playing in those brutal conditions, the Jags are not. Star running back Leonard Fournette even admitted a few weeks back that he was nervous about playing in the snow.

#4 New Orleans Saints at #1 Philadelphia Eagles

How the Saints win: Carson Wentz was playing like an MVP when he went down a few weeks ago. His absence gives the Saints' defense the edge in this matchup. Nick Foles doesn't have the experience Drew Brees does.

How the Eagles win: Nick Foles has been up and down this season but if he has an up game, the Eagles offense will be tough to stop. Even if he doesn't play very well, the four-headed run monster of guys like Jay Ajayi and Corey Clement might be too much for the Saints to deal with.

The Pick: New Orleans- if Nick Foles was playing a lesser defense than I would take the Eagles, but Cameron Jordan, Marshon Lattimore, and the rest of the Saints D should feast on Foles.

#3 Los Angeles Rams at #2 Minnesota Vikings

How the Rams win: Todd Gurley has been absolutely unreal this season. Go back and watch him take on the Seahawks a few weeks ago for further proof. The Vikings might have a great defense, but even they might struggle to contain Gurley.

How the Vikings win: With the possibility that the Vikings become the first ever home Super Bowl team in history, the home crowd here should be absolutely ravenous. That kind of electric atmosphere along might be all the Vikings need to win.

The Pick: Minnesota- Stefon Diggs might be the key here, as he has quietly amassed some stellar stats over the last few weeks. If he has another good game, along with the Vikings running backs, that might push the Vikings over the edge.

Conference Championships:

#2 Pittsburgh Steelers at #1 New England Patriots

How the Steelers win: AB is expected to be back for this game, and it always helps to have the best receiver in the game. The Patriots simply don't have anyone who can cover Brown. Even if they double-team him, that will leave Smith-Schuster and Bryant open.

How the Patriots win: There's a reason Tom Brady is the greatest quarterbacks of all-time. He's managed to win big game after big game even when he doesn't have the best targets. It's always hard betting against him.

The Pick: Pittsburgh- the Patriots may have won the head-to-head match a few weeks ago, but that may have been due to just bad officiating. I'm going with the upset here.

#4 New Orleans Saints at #2 Minnesota Vikings

How the Saints win: The Saints have the league's best running-back duo with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. They have been both absolutely unstoppable this year and should do the same here. The Saints will also need Drew Brees to have a big game here. He's been a lot quieter this year, thanks to the improved run game, but he's still one of the best in the game.

How the Vikings win: Case Keenum might now be Drew Brees, but he's still pretty damn good. If he can connect with guys like Stefon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph, it might be hard to slow down the Vikings offense.

The Pick: New Orleans- I'm going with another upset here. If Dalvin Cook had not torn his ACL, then I might have to pick Minnesota, but neither Jerrick McKinnon nor Latavious Murray are at his level.

Super Bowl: New Orleans Saints vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

How the Saints win: The absence of Ryan Shazier will really hurt the Steelers here. It will give more running room for Ingram and Kamara while taking some pressure off Drew Brees. Furthermore, rookie Marshon Lattimore might be one of the few guys in the league who can actually cover Antonio Brown.

How the Steelers win: Big Ben is 2-1 in Super Bowls and has a proven track record in big games. Besides, his trio of Brown, Smith-Schuster, and Bryant might be the best receiver trio in the NFL. He also has arguably the best RB in Le'Veon Bell.

The Pick: New Orleans- this should be an excellent game that comes down to the wire. I just have to go with the team who I think is more complete and ready to win. MVP: Drew Brees

Thanks for reading everyone. 

The Sports Examiner's Heisman Ballot and Playoff Predictions

This edition of our Heisman Watch will be a two-for-one special. First, we'll submit our mock Heisman ballot (since we don't have a real vote) and make our predictions for the College Football Playoffs. Before we get started, I want to say thank you to everyone who followed along with our Heisman Watch this season. This blog doesn't really have a big audience, but we want to make every reader matter. Let's get started.

3. Lamar Jackson, Louisville

Statistically speaking, Jackson had just as incredible a season as last year, when he won the Heisman. He's thrown for 3,489 yards (down from 3,543 last year), 25 touchdowns (30 last year), six picks (down from last year's nine), and his rating increased from 148.8 to 151.5. His rushing numbers are also similar: 208 carries for 1,443 yards and 17 touchdowns for a 6.9 average (he accumulated 1,571 yards and 21 touchdowns on 260 carries for a 6.0 average). But the difference this year is the fact that his Louisville Cardinals have struggled mightily, especially against better teams. Were it not for his stellar play, they might not have even reached 8-4. Still, Jackson deserves a ton of credit for his incredible stats and his return trip to New York is well deserved.

2. Bryce Love, Stanford

Love has made Stanford fans forget all about Heisman runner-up Christian McCaffrey. On 237 carries, the explosive back ran for 1,973 yards and 17 touchdowns for an incredible 8.3 average. By the way, his 1,973 rushing yards are second in the nation only to SDSU's Rashaad Penny. His average is fifth in the nation and his Cardinals won the Pac-12 North before falling to USC in the Pac-12 title game.

1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma

Unfortunately for our other finalists, the Heisman race has been over for weeks. Baker Mayfield has been sensation all season, even in Oklahoma's solitary loss, and has positioned the Sooners as the #2 team in the country with a shot at winning the program's first national title since 2000. His 4,340 passing yards are second only to in-state rival Mason Rudolph, his 41 passing touchdowns trail only Mizzou's Drew Lock, and his 203.8 rating leads his closest competitor by 19 points. It's not a question of whether Mayfield will win the Heisman, it's by how much.

Playoff Predictions:

#1 Clemson vs. #4 Alabama

In a rematch of last year's national championship, it will be top-ranked Clemson against one-loss Alabama. These two teams match up well but the key for Clemson will be QB Kelly Bryant. Although he has been doing his best Deshaun Watson impression this year, he's not Watson. The Texans star has a much better arm and much more big-game experience. Bryant is by no means a scrub but he isn't equipped to deal with that nasty Crimson Tide D. Expect Minkah Fitzpatrick and company to dominate Bryant and lead their team to victory.

#2 Oklahoma vs. #3 Georgia

It's hard to miss thanks to Baker Mayfield's stellar play, but Oklahoma's offensive line might be one of the country's best. They should be able to stop Georgia's ferocious rush attack, which is definitely their strongest aspect. If you take that away, then Oklahoma definitely has the upper hand. Georgia QB Jake Fromm has played well this season but has tended to make careless mistakes and slip up when the pressure gets to him. Baker Mayfield on the other hand, is playing in his second straight playoffs and shouldn't have any extra pressure. His composure and big-play ability, along with TE Mark Andrews, will give the Sooners the W.

#2 Oklahoma vs. #4 Alabama

This is a dream match: Oklahoma's high-powered offense against Alabama's hard-hitting defense. That being said, this game will likely rest on the shoulders of Alabama's Jalen Hurts. Throughout his collegiate career, Hurts hasn't been asked to do a whole lot. He'll throw about 17 times a game while the offense mainly runs the ball. He has often struggled in big games (like in this year's Iron Bowl) and that could really cost the Tide here.

Winner: Oklahoma Sooners

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