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2021 Predictions

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Thank God 2020 is done! Who invited that idiot to the party anyway? Geez.  Now that the worst year ever is done and dusted, it’s time to look ahead to the year that will be, as we make our 2021 Predictions.

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that you should never know what to expect in the NFL.
Covid was the main factor in the 2020 season, taking fans out of the games, and featuring a series of checks and balances that kept every team on their toes.
We’ve seen dynasties rise (Chiefs), fall (Patriots), continue to fall further (Jets), and teams that just implode on themselves in pressure situations. (Browns/ Falcons/ Jags).

So, what can we expect in 2021? Here are out top predictions.

No London Games

Covid 19 is still on the field, which means that everything planned is once again on hold. The London NFL games involve travel, meeting new people, and engaging with fans…all things that we still aren’t allowed to do under this new normal. With the London games usually announced in the spring, it would seem highly unlikely that the league would risk pushing ahead with UK games given the uncertainty of next season. It’s no secret that players and coaches aren’t fans of traveling across the pond to play games, so the looming spectre of 2021 Covid will be enough for the NFLPA to pump the brakes on London games. Teams would also find it difficult to get insurance for such a trek, not to mention the potential of having zero fans at Wembley, which would make it feel like a ‘Little Mix’ concert.

Covid Rules

It seems highly unlikely that we will have a vaccine and protocols in place for live sports viewing completed within the next few months, which means we will be once again under stricter protocols. While 2021 might be less rigorous in Covid control, there are still several billion people on the planet who are potentially at risk. We’ve already seen how the virus adapts to stay alive, which makes it the New York Jets of infections. Like the Jets, hopefully Covid still won’t have a chance next season.

Sports Bars Die

Don’t mix with other households. Don’t scream or yell. Don’t stand at the bar.
We got a brief glimpse of this in 2020, as governments cracked down on public gatherings in an effort to control the spread. With the virus still with us for the foreseeable future, these restrictions will continue to flex in and out as our frontline workers battle the ever changing nature of the beast.
Sadly sports bars will continue to suffer under this weight. Fans have already started to get use to watching at home, as well as saving money drinking at home.
While nothing can replace the excitement of watching sports with mates, the NFL will be a casualty to football.
We’ve already seen the Premier League move later on Sunday nights, making it an easier choice for bars to go with the low-hanging fruit of a football fan, rather than cater to niche American football fans.
The sports bar is in for a rough ride in 2021, and the NFL right along with it.

Not the Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs are primed to repeat as Super Bowl champions in 2021…or are they. If the year has taught us anything, it’s that anything can happen. Pittsburgh went undefeated to then lose to a bunch of losers and put their playoffs at risk. The Bears blew a huge run of games to expose their true talent. The Jets couldn’t even properly tank to get the best new player next year.
Everything you think is going to happen…doesn’t.
With that in mind, this year’s Super Bowl will not be made up of favourites.
Can the NFC East mount a challenger to go all the way? It’s happened before, and it can happen again.

Sam Darnold

‘To me, you are perfect’. Those are the kind of ‘Love Actually’ signs that Darnold could find popping up on his back porch. Adam Gase took a perfectly good, shiny new toy, and left it outside to rust. The Jets will move on from Gase and Darnold, which will allow a new suitor to pick him up and mould him into something other teams will fear.
That team? Why not the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rivers Retires

Old Man Rivers has been fortunate to get another run at the game after leaving the Chargers. Sure, the Colts have looked goodish, but Rivers isn’t the passer he once was. Like any man in his late 30s’, the balls are starting to drop and wobble more. Rivers has already hinted that this might be his last season, so a big Colts loss in the post season could have him call it a day.
Like other former Colts QBs who retire, he will be taken out behind the shed and shot in the head.

Bears Keep Trubisky

You can’t get rid of herpes, you can only contain its flares. Mitch has itched his way to the top of the shaft once again, pushing out points as the Bears make a late playoff squirt.
The best discharge scenario is to scrape Mitch from the tip, and start fresh and clean again…or is it?
No one is going to want to take a Trubisky Ride after seeing him spooge bad decisions every week, so the Bears might just want to wrap him up and keep him in the back pocket.
The Bears will need to rebuild a are program under a new QB, but until then, you gotta itch Mitch.

Bye Bye Julio

Julio Jones is as much Atlanta as a peach tree, but it’s time for this little peach to leave the farm. After all, what’s more vulnerable than a peach? Julio is getting on in years, and you wonder how much more he has left in the tank? With Hopkins and other older receivers still finding ways to make hay, it would seem logical that he test his skills on a new team in 2021.
Which teams would Julio make interesting in 2021? The Chargers, Broncos and Jaguars all could be interesting spots in 2021.

Among some of the other bold predictions we have for the 2021 season include:

-The Jaguars will make the playoffs in the 2021 season.
-Jimmy Garoppolo returns to the 49ers who mount a decent comeback.
-Matt Stafford moves from Detroit to either the Colts, Broncos, or Patriots. 
-Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson will turn the XFL into a viable spring league. 
-Dak resigns with the Cowboys, but they have another frustrating season. 
-Allen Robinson leaves the Bears for the Dolphins.
-Shaq Barret leaves the Bucs for the Patriots. 
-Kenny Golladay signs with the Colts.
-Tom Brady retires after the end of the 2021 season after losing once again in the NFC Championship final. 

Those are our predictions for the NFL in 2021, hopefully it’s not all that bleak and sad.
We all want the NFL to return to normal, to have games back in London once again, and for all of us to meet up together to share in the joy of the NFL games.
The sooner this happens, the better a place the world will be.

Good luck to everyone in 2021, happy new year.

London Throwback

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With the 2020 NFL season almost done and dusted, we thought we would hit you with a bit of nostalgia, as we give you a London Throwback video.

The year was 2018. Trump was still president, the youth were still glued to their phones, Corona was still a watered down Mexican beer, and we could watch the NFL in public.
Oh what a time to be alive!

This game would be later known as the ‘Minneapolis Miracle’, for an incredible game which saw the Minnesota Vikings come back after being down to the New Orleans Saints.
Those of us gathered in a former London casino in the wee hours of a cold January night were in for a treat of a game.
Who could forget the heroics of a certain Case Keenum  who took over from Sam Bradford & Teddy Bridgewater to mount a comeback against the plucky play of Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.

The last play brought with it a ‘Buffalo Right-Seven Heaven’ which saw Case toss the ball to a leaping Stefon Diggs who would go on to score.
Marcus Williams would go on to be a 2018 meme for his missed tackle, and last efforts that saw the Vikings move on.

Where were you for the Minneapolis Miracle? Did you join us at the casino to watch the game? Who was the guy at the end screaming at Saints fans? Did you happen to say hi to Cecil?

The NFL is better when we can all watch it with you! We look forward to that potential in 2021.

Stay safe, sane and have a happy new year everyone!

Week 16 Memes

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Eesh, what a week it was in the NFL. To honour some of the odd games we experienced, we have collected and collated the best Week 16 Memes out there.
For those of you who were eliminated from your fantasy pool-we feel you.
If your team is struggling for that last playoff spot, we here you.
If you are a Jets fan complaining how you lost Trevor Lawrence, screw you.
Stop being a baby.

Week 12 Preview

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The Turkey Bowl games are done, which leaves us with the rest of the games in our week 12 preview podcast.
Wade & Ryan look back at the two blow-out games we were treated to on Thursday night, as well as look ahead to the full run of games set for week 12 in the NFL.
There are a few teams looking to make some moves this week as the playoffs loom, and there are still a few plucky contenders out there looking to wreck havoc on the win columns of those looking to reach a bye in the first week.
Some of the big games the boys have there eyes on this week include:

Cardinals (6-4) vs Patriots (4-6)
Cardinals -2.5  +49.5

This could be the week that the Patriots are eliminated from the playoffs and Cam’s status for next week in jeopardy. Bill has failed to gel the team in the post TB12 days, so it might be time to pack it in and prepare for next season.
Cam Newton now runs like the Iron Giant, and he doesn’t have the running support to make the offence mush of a threat.
Kyler and the boys are fresh and feisty. They have a great scoring game, even if their D lets up almost as many points.
The weather could be  big factor here, but the Cardinals have enough of  squad to put this one to rest easily. Ryan & Wade both like Arizona.
Ryan- Cardinals 27 Patriots 20
Wade- Cardinals 31 Patriots 27

Browns (7-3) vs Jaguars (1-9)
Browns -6  +49

Cleveland is 7-3, but they sure don’t feel it. Like a used car you wonder what that clunky feeling is every time you turn right, they are barely starting and don’t look like they will go the distance.
Baker Mayfield has yet to fine his new OBJ, and his running game the only thing that’s keeping him the games, plus the occasional nice play from the D.
Jacksonville blows, and counters the Jets for their suck factor. Mike Glennon might be the best thing to get this team going again, as only their D has been making plays and rattling some of the top QBs to keep them close.
Wade & Ryan are both big on the Browns here, as they need a big W to start to feel like they can take down a team like the Steelers.
Ryan- Browns 24 Jags 20
Wade- Browns 30 Jags 18

Titans (7-3) vs Colts (7-3)
Colts-3  +51

The Colts are alive once again thanks to the return to health of most of their team, their comeback against the Packers showed that they have the mustard to spread it on when they need it.
Luckily for them they are playing the Titans….again. Way to go NFL to schedule two teams that so recently played, there will be little difference in the result.
Tennessee is still hurting across the board, as Tannehill struggles to find the time and openness to hit any receivers. Henry will be shown the same wall he was pushed into 2 weeks ago, as the Colts will just use the same playbook to rattle their bones.
Indianapolis is feeling the playoff smile now, with recent wins outplaying some of the struggles they had in the early part of the season.
Rivers is finally able to open up the field, and Taylor should improve on the previous performance of Nyheim Hines when they last played.
Ryan and Wade both like the Colts here, but with different results.
Ryan- Colts 24 Titans 23
Wade- Colts 30 Titans 24

Some of the other games that the boys like for your spread betting tips:

Ryan-Raiders, Giants, Panthers, Jets & Bears.
Wade-Falcons, Bills, Bucs, & Seahawks

That’s it for our week 12 preview podcast, hope you like it and keep listening. If you really like it, make sure you share it with your friends, after all-the best gift this holiday season is a free one.
We’re always looking for new guests and writers, so if you feel up for it please reach out and we will see what we can do. We reach over 130,000 people a week here, so your unpaid (for now) stuff will be at least published to more eyes than a local newspaper. That’s something.