​

​

This year, the NBA will be starting its 2020-21 season during Christmas week, on December 22 specifically. The late start is a result of the last year's unusual stretch known as the NBA bubble, dating back from July to October with the L.A. Lakers winning the championship. While the NBA on Christmas has always been one of the most popular events of the season, it might not be the best idea to start basketball during that week.

Here's why:

In the past, the NBA on Christmas is one of the season's most popular events. Usually, the matchups consist of the top teams and players with high expectations coming into the season. These games are highly anticipated with both teams battling for a statement win. Most of the time, they live up to the hype with highlight plays and fantastic endings. Additionally, this wouldn't be the first time the NBA began on Christmas, as they began following the conclusion of the 2011 lockout. 

However, this doesn't change the fact that the NBA shouldn't start during this time of year. For one, the resting period for the teams who weren't in the bubble will be significantly longer than teams who did. To be specific, teams not in the bubble will have over 200 days of rest by the time the season begins, whereas the Finals participants - the Lakers and Miami Heat - will have under 70 days of rest. Even teams that bowed out of the playoffs early will have less than 100 days of rest compared to teams who weren't invited to the bubble. Players such as LeBron James used social media as a source to show their unhappiness when the schedule announcement was made. In particular, he pointed out this offseason, consisting of 71 days, will be the shortest in any sport.

Another reason why the season shouldn't start around Christmas is that it will be occurring shortly after the offseason. NBA trades along with the draft occurred just about a week ago, and free agency is still going on even though most teams have probably moved past it at this point. This will make it difficult for teams to prepare for the season following their recent offseason moves. As for the players, they probably have to adjust to their new teams, along with their life off the court. Currently, this schedule will consist of a 72 game season, with the finals concluding in August. Its announcement coming three weeks before the season is a far cry from other years, where teams had a lot more notice.

One way to solve the flaws within this year's schedule would be to have all offseason transactions occur earlier than their actual time. That would usually be about two to three weeks after the Finals, which should've been the case for this year, rather than over a month following the season's conclusion. This could've allowed players who were drafted, or have signed with a new team, to get comfortable in their new situation. Another possible way of fixing the schedule would be to start the season one or two weeks later. That method can satisfy the players who stayed in the bubble until late September or October, giving them more time to rest. Both solutions could have been options for the NBA to smoothly move forward into next season.  

The NBA bubble was a period that we won't forget. It was a cool experience to watch, but the NBA should have done its best to get back on schedule where all players can have an adequate amount of rest before the season starts. Starting the season only two months after the Finals isn't the way to go. 

While this year has been unusual in many ways, it isn't an excuse for another abysmal year of New York Sports. With basketball not starting until December, the Jets and Giants - both at the bottom of the standings - are the only option for fans to watch. Here are all the teams we'll be looking at: the Jets, Giants, Knicks, Nets Yankees, and Mets. 

Football:
New York Jets - The Jets have been so bad this season that fans are just hoping for the team to tank for a higher draft pick. Head coach Adam Gase is at the center of this storm, not only for how terribly the team is playing, but for Sam Darnold's regression. In addition, Gase's lack of adjustments during halftime and failure to take responsibility after losses hasn't sat well with players. The team is currently in line to select Clemson's phenom quarterback Trevor Lawrence, but they have many more improvements to make, starting with a new coaching staff. 

New York Giants - Despite Head Coach Joe Judge making a solid impression, it hasn't translated to wins, as the Giants are in the midst of another rough year at 2-7. Their franchise cornerstone Saquon Barkley is out for the season with a torn ACL, which hasn't helped Daniel Jones in what has been a disappointing sophomore season. General Manager Dave Gettleman will likely get axed at the end of the year, leading the Giants to find a new GM to pair with their rookie coach.

Basketball:
New York Knicks - This upcoming season will likely be another rebuilding year, as the Knicks are still far away from contention. They do have some bright spots such as R.J. Barrett and Mitchell Robinson, who are both building blocks for this franchise. To become a playoff team, they must trade for a proven leader such as Chris Paul to really give some of their young players a boost of confidence. However, their owner James Dolan, who's responsible for the team's dysfunction over the years, has most recently been blamed for his refusal to condemn systematic racism which could make players reluctant to join. 

Brooklyn Nets - This team and its fans have many reasons to be excited for next season. With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving poised to share the court for the first time following injuries, hopes for a possible championship are high. They also have a new coach in Hall of Fame point guard (and Durant's friend) Steve Nash, who knows a thing or two about winning dating back to his playing career. Brooklyn's only issues, are Durant's sensitivity and Irving's occasional criticism towards teammates, which could lead to a tumultuous season. 

Baseball:
New York Yankees - As of now, there is still a sour taste of disappointment stemming from the team's loss against the Rays in the divisional series. In what was another season filled with injuries, they weren't able to adapt this time compared to last year, leading to a roller coaster season. There's no question that it would've helped if the team adjusted better to baseball's new environment this season, like other teams with high expectations such as the Dodgers. Fortunately with the strong possibility of MVP candidate DJ Lemahieu resigning, they will likely have a chance to run it back next season.

​New York Mets - For the Mets, this season was very disappointing. With optimism heading into the season, they never came close to sniffing the playoffs. They do have talented players such as Jacob DeGrom, Pete Alonso, and a couple of impressive rookies in David Peterson and Andres Gimenez, who could have important future roles. Their biggest and most recent change is Steve Cohen's purchase of the team, which may be the fresh start this team needs. 

Although there are some reasons for fans to be positive, most New York sports teams still have ways to go before a championship is on the horizon.  When the Yankees, who are the city's best team, exit early in the playoffs, that just doesn't add up to a good year. Whether these teams are losing  because of their ownership, coaching, or players, disappointment is the perfect term to sum up New York sports. 

The New York Jets have been abysmal in their first two games. They look unprepared, make no adjustments, and should be embarrassed at this point. At the center of this atrocity, is head coach Adam Gase. Dubbed a "brilliant offensive mind", he hasn't lived up to that title and should be fired at some point between now or the end of the season. 

1. Development of Sam Darnold
Gase was hired in the 2019 offseason to groom Sam Darnold into a franchise quarterback. It was an odd move at the time given his back to back non-playoff seasons with the Miami Dolphins. But after he was recommended by Peyton Manning and approved by Sam Darnold, there was hope that this was the coaching change the Jets needed. The team also added pieces around Darnold such as Le'Veon Bell, and there was lots of optimism for next season. Instead, Darnold got mono, which affected him in the first game and sidelined him for the next three games. The Jets got off to an 0-4 start, which had some people calling for Gase to be fired. But with a healthy Darnold, he showed promise, going 6-2 in the second half of the season while throwing for 19 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. There was still room for Darnold to improve, but Gase hasn't been using Darnold to his strengths. He never has him throw to reliable targets or roll outside of the pocket which is something that Darnold is good at. For us to see how Darnold really is, Gase has to go. 

2. Doing things his way
In addition, Gase only tries to win games his way. He's never willing to make adjustments on offense even if his game plan is failing. He also doesn't like to use his weapons. Bell came to the Jets as one of the league's best all-purpose running backs, but Gase always does basic and predictable run plays with Bell. He's also a good receiver out of the backfield, but Gase never has Darnold throw to him. When Bell does get targets, the Jets offense is clearly better, but that's very rare. Other notable weapons for Darnold are tight ends Chris Herndon IV and Ryan Griffin. Both players have established chemistry with Darnold during  his first two seasons and there was optimism that Gase would call the offensive plays with both of them on the field. They've instead had limited action with both of them not even combining for 10 receptions yet. The worst thing is that Gase has boasted about these players during training camp.

3. Lack of preparation
There have only been two games of the regular season so far, but there are times where Jets haven't looked prepared before games. Even though last year was promising, their lack of preparation was sometimes apparent dating back to last season when they gave the Dolphins and Bengals their first wins. This year, their unpreparedness is evident. In their opening game against the Buffalo Bills, the offense's first five possessions went nowhere, which included three straight 3 and outs along with an interception. Against the San Fransisco 49ers, they let Raheem Mostert score a touchdown on the opening play. At halftime in both games, they were down 21-3: not a good trend. Gase's own players are starting to note the team's lack of preparation in practices.

https://twitter.com/RichCimini/status/1308820311442370563?s=20

4. No accountability
After games in press conferences, Gase never holds himself accountable. He never regrets his horrible play calling, which has usually featured a bunch of dive plays on the ground and screen passes to backup wide receivers in the air. During halftime of the 49ers game, he blamed the entire first half on the defense. They didn't play a good first half without question, but Gase also should've held his play calling accountable as well. His press conferences were no different, stating "That s--t is no fun getting your ass beat." Shortly after he said, "If we execute the play called we'll be fine." That is simply not a good recipe for winning. Head coaches have to take responsibility just like the players, and Gase hasn't done that nor is there a reason to believe he will hold himself accountable at some point. 

https://twitter.com/ConnorJRogers/status/1308795979970248706?s=20

Last year, Gase showed a little promise going 6-2 in the second half of the season despite injuries to players such as C.J. Mosley and Darnold. This year's team has also been plagued with injuries as well as the departure of their best player Jamal Adams, but there are still no excuses. The 49ers didn't have any of their core players either, but they didn't use that as an excuse last Sunday. Gase on the other hand calls a soft game plan every week and then doesn't hold himself accountable. That's not a way to win games and for that, Gase has to go. 

As a Jets fan, it's hard to see another likable player leave. I was disappointed in Jamal Adams for wanting out just so he could get paid, despite two years remaining on his contract. However, I can't pretend that the Jets front office doesn't deserve some blame for not communicating with him. During his time in green and white, Adams gave the Jets an impressive three seasons, and general manager Joe Douglas wanted to keep him as a long term piece. That was until the Seattle Seahawks gave them an offer that was too good to pass up. Let's go over what each team is getting. 

From day one, it was clear Adams was going to be a star. After a strong rookie season, Adams broke out in his second year recording 115 tackles, one pick, and three forced fumbles. He was awarded a pro bowl selection, where he won defensive MVP, and second team all pro. Last season was his best, as he recorded 75 tackles, two touchdowns, and an amazing 6.5 sacks. He was a big reason why the Jets went 6-2 in the second half of the season, which granted him another pro bowl selection and a first team all pro nod. He went into the offseason confident he'd get a contract extension, but when that wasn't gonna happen immediately, he started to criticize the front office for lying to him. Eventually he wanted out in June, but the Jets wanted to keep him unless they received a big offer. That came from the Seahawks, who offered them two first round picks in 2021 and 2022, a third round pick in 2021, and a fourth round pick in 2022. Safety Bradley McDougald was also included in the trade. While the Jets did give up their best player, this trade gives them the chance to fill in other position needs.

As for the Seahawks, they have been one of the best teams since drafting Russell Wilson, and trading for Adams gives them a chance to make another Super Bowl run. Adams could be the missing piece to a secondary that's slowly re-emerging as one of the Seahawk's best units. In addition, he can also help their pass rush production, as the closest player on the Seahawks behind his 6.5 sacks is Quinton Jefferson with 3.5. Seattle also invested a lot for guy who doesn't play a valuable position, so they must have a plan to give him a long term extension, especially with a possible salary cap drop looming in 2021.  

Personally, I think that the Seahawks are in a good position to win now, but they are under pressure to make a deep playoff run having given up a lot for Adams. For the Jets to get two first round picks and Bradley McDougald, for a guy who doesn't play a valued position, is a win for the Jets. There have been three other recent trades involving two first round picks for a player. Those guys were edge rusher Khalil Mack to the Bears, offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Texans, and cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Rams, all guys that play important positions. It is true that even with a possible change in the salary cap, the Seahawks will still be able to sign Adams. But as I mentioned before, the Jets will be able to use their draft picks to fill in position needs. The picks will probably be late in the first round, but lots of good players in today's game such as MVP Lamar Jackson, have been selected late in the first round. For Joe Douglas to prove himself to this franchise, it will be by making the right drafting decisions with those picks, which previous general managers haven't done well in the past. 

This was definitely late timing for a trade to happen. Whether it was to get paid or not, Adams definitely tried to force Douglas to extend or trade him. While Douglas traded him, he did it on his own terms, which isn't easy for a general manager who is not even through his first full offseason. Both teams invested a lot, and while it's not the kind of trade you typically see for a strong safety, time will tell who won. 

Events of the past several weeks have shown that there is profound social unrest in our country. Over centuries, African Americans have been discriminated against in many different ways, recently escalating with incidents of police brutality and violence. At least three African Americans - Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd - were killed by either the police or white civilians earlier this year. Thousands of protests are happening all over America as a way of responding to the injustice. As a result, many athletes have been using their social platform to create change, take a stand, and call for action. 

Notable athletes have been vocal for change, using their platform to speak out. One of those players has been none other than LeBron James. He has made many social media posts expressing the difficulties of being an African American, letting people know the reasons for his activism, and stating that white people always command African Americans what to do. He made an emotional video with the sound of a basketball hitting the floor and as the ball hit the floor, a new white command would pop up. The captions went from "Shut up and dribble", which Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham told him back in 2018, to "Shut up and lay still." James concluded the video saying, "This is why we can't just stick to sports. Do you understand now?" Colin Kaepernick has probably earned the most praise from other athletes and coaches since he kneeled for the national anthem during the 2016 NFL season. His purpose was to draw attention to all of the racism and police brutality against African-Americans. He's now became a symbol of resistance to the unfair treatment of African Americans. Recently, he created a legal defense initiative called Know Your Rights Camp "for victims of excessive force by police terrorism and civil rights violations."  

NFL and MLB players have created group videos for their own respective leagues condemning racism. The NFL video featured Patrick Mahomes, Michael Thomas, Deshaun Watson, and others. All of the players pushed the NFL to make a statement condemning racism, saying "What will it take? For one of us to be brutally murdered by the police?" They named numerous African Americans who were killed, that could've been them. The video concludes with all of them stating, "On behalf of the National Football League this is what we, the players would like to hear you state: We the National Football League condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people. We the National Football League admit wrong in silencing our players from peacefully protesting. We the National Football League believe Black Lives Matter."  www.instagram.com/p/CBN8b4Kn4S0/ 

As for baseball, Giancarlo Stanton tweeted a video which included him and other players such as Aaron Judge and Mookie Betts. They used #Players4BLM while vowing to make their voices louder toward creating change. Their message was, "We've been told that our peaceful pleas were not made at the right time, at the right place, in the right way. We've been told to 'wait.' But we remember when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. warned us that the word 'wait' has almost always meant never. We will wait no longer. We will make our voices louder for all of us who can and for all of those who could not."   www.instagram.com/p/CBeefY6lNeu/  

Former NBA player Stephen Jackson was a longtime friend of George Floyd. After hearing the news of his death, he flew to Minneapolis, where he's spoken at rallies about Floyd's story to bring attention to the police brutality that still occurs. Soon, he became an unforeseen spokesman for the family and the Black Lives Matter movement which has gained momentum around the world. He also gave a passionate speech on May 29 during a news conference at Minneapolis City Hall. At Floyd's funeral in Houston, he sat next to Floyd's daughter Gianna and later held her up on her shoulders at a rally. Jackson not only promises to take care of Gianna, but to bring justice for the family. His work earned lots of praise from many players, commissioner Adam Silver, former teammates, and coaches. 

Despite the momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement, there is still controversy over some methods of protesting. Drew Brees said in an interview that he will never agree with anyone who kneels during the National Anthem. Many people such as James and even Brees's teammates spoke out against Brees. Even though Brees is well-liked within the football community, his comments show the lack of understanding he and many other Americans still have about racism. The responses from many fans and players who were upset by his comments shows the increase in their support toward protests against discrimination. Shortly after the interview, Brees issued an apology pledging to be an ally for the African-American community in fighting for racial equality and social justice.  

This is the first time that athletes of all sports are using their social platform to create change. LeBron James recently created an initiative called More Than a Vote with the goal of standing up against racist voter suppression by educating, energizing, and protecting communities. Other athletes and entertainers have teamed up together to reach out to communities. Within one month, the organization has already identified major cities in key states in hopes of having an impact. 

During this month, NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace spoke out against the Confederate flag, saying it was a symbol of hate, not heritage. He successfully used his platform as the the only full-time African American driver at the top level to call for Confederate flags to be banned at NASCAR events. His viewpoints have caused him to give up sponsorships, but he has always put his beliefs over money. Shortly after he took this stand, a rope was found in his garage which was thought to be a noose. After investigations, it turned out not to be a hate crime, but the support he received was encouraging. This included an emotional procession of other drivers following Wallace who was driving his car to the front of the pit road.
​
This is a unique time for our country. It's important that athletes contribute to society in other ways besides just playing sports. Those ways may be varied, but recently many have come together with the purpose of working toward racial equality. It's time for the rest of the world to not just approve the work that athletes are doing, but rather make our own effort to make a difference in some way.
Here are some links to organizations founded by and supported by athletes: 
https://www.knowyourrightscamp.com
https://www.morethanavote.org
https://202assist.com
https://purpose.nike.com/how-we-stand-up-for-equality?cp=83541123252_osoc_
http://shentertainment.com/about.html
​


 

​

​

Joe Douglas, the general manager of the New York Jets, was hired two months after last year's draft in June. Since it was at a late time in the offseason, Douglas didn't make a lot of big moves up until this year's draft. Douglas previously helped the Baltimore Ravens win 2 Super Bowl champions as a scout, and the Philadelphia Eagles win their first as Vice President of Player Personnel, but this was the first time he was actually making selections. By filling in position needs and gaining more picks, he had a strong class. Here's what to know about the Jets did in this year's draft.

The Jets entered the draft having offensive tackle and wide receiver as their biggest position needs. With the 11th pick, Douglas used his first draft pick on the 6' 7", 364 pound, mammoth tackle, Mekhi Becton. He did get into trouble by failing his drug test, but has stated that he's learned from it. On the field however, he's trouble for his opponents since he's a pancake machine. In addition, he recorded an impressive 5.10 seconds in the 40 yard dash at the scouting Combine. With these attributes, Sam Darnold has someone to protect his blindside for the future. In the next round, they filled in their need for receiver with the selection of Denzel Mims. It looked like the Jets were going to take him at no. 48, but then they traded down with the Seattle Seahawks for the 59th pick in the second and 101st pick in the fourth. Despite waiting 11 spots, Mims still fell into their lap when they were on the clock. He has the ability to stretch the field and make contested catches, two of Robby Anderson's best abilities when he was with the team. Letting Anderson walk was a questionable decision, but if Mims surpasses Anderson as Darnold's new reliable receiver, it could make up for that decision.

In this draft Douglas wasn't afraid to select players who's draft stock might've fell because of injuries. He used the pick he acquired from trading defensive lineman Leonard Williams to select safety Ashtyn Davis in the third round. Although he went through surgical procedure after injuring his groin in November, he was an athletic player who could also return kicks. Eleven picks later they picked edge rusher Jabari Zuniga. While he did deal with ankle injuries toward the end of his tenure at Florida, he recorded 18.5 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss when healthy. In the fifth round, Douglas selected Bryce Hall. He's one of the draft's most intriguing players because he was emerging as one of the top cornerback prospects before a dislocated ankle caused his status to fall. If he can recover from the injury, the Jets will have a huge steal.

When Joe Douglas was hired, the Jets only had seven picks. By the time the draft concluded, he had turned those seven picks into 13 players. Toward the end of last offseason up to the trade deadline, Douglas traded conditional draft picks for contributors such as Demaryius Thomas, Alex Lewis, and Nate Hairston. When he traded Williams to the New York Giants at the deadline, he received a third round pick for this year's draft and a fifth in 2021. In the draft, he traded down with the Seattle Seahawks in the second round to get the 58th pick, which became Mims, and a fourth round pick. He traded that fourth round pick to the New England Patriots for two fourth round picks later in the round and got back the sixth round pick that they traded to get Thomas. With little money spent in free agency, this year's draft will be essential for how this roster performs.

Having gone through three general managers in their nine year playoff drought, the Jets are hoping that Douglas can finally be the answer to their problems. His desire to fill in the roster's flaws through the draft over free agency is evident. If this draft can not only meet expectations, but overachieve, it could be a turning point for the franchise.

During the first week of no sporting events, the NFL offseason provided something that sports fans could focus on during this quarantine period. With lots of stunning trades and free agents signings, fans weren't let down. With that being said, let's go over the biggest moves.

1. DeAndre Hopkins
In the most stunning move, DeAndre Hopkins was traded to the Arizona Cardinals. Throughout his seven seasons in the league, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has established himself as one of the most valuable non-QBs in the NFL. His tenure with the Houston Texans included four pro bowl appearances, three straight first-team all pro selections, and one second team all pro. He is one of the youngest receivers to record 600 receptions and 8000 receiving yards. Though his route running, size, and speed are amazing, his hands are a different story. He's always guaranteed to make tough catches in crucial situations that not a lot of other receivers could make. With franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson, Hopkins' production finally resulted in more wins with the two  winning their first playoff game together. But on the first day of the legal tampering period, rumors started to pile up about Houston shopping Hopkins for draft picks. Those rumors became true shortly after when they sent him to the Arizona Cardinals for running back David Johnson, a second and fourth round pick this year, and a fourth round pick next year. It's a big win for the Cardinals, as they didn't give up much to get quarterback and Rookie of the Year Kyler Murray, a reliable long term weapon. He and the Cardinals' offense will be heading into next season with a lot of momentum.  

2. Tom Brady
After 20 years, Tom Brady announced that he would be leaving the New England Patriots before signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers later that day. In his 20 seasons playing football's most important position, Brady's reign with the Patriots may be one of the best tenures an athlete has had. He won MVP three times, holds the record for career touchdown passes in the regular season and postseason with 614, and made both the 2000s and 2010s all decade team. His best ability is winning: something he's often done a record 249 times. Six of those wins came in the Super Bowl where he won MVP in four of those. However, things started to change when longtime coach Bill Belichick made him available at the 2017 trade deadline causing their friendship to take a hit. Although their success in the regular and postseason continued, Brady was plotting his exit, which became more of a reality when their season ended. On the second day of the legal tampering period, he announced his farewell to New England before signing with the Buccaneers hours after the announcement. Brady's age and decline in the second half of last season do bring some concerns to the signing. But with an offense featuring the best wide receiver duo in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Brady has the chance to change the culture by making one last playoff run. 

3. Darius Slay Jr. 
In what was an expected move to eventually happen, the Philadelphia Eagles traded for cornerback Darius Slay Jr. of the Detroit Lions. Though he didn't make an immediate impact as a rookie, Slay has since emerged as one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL despite the losses piling up for the Lions in recent years. His ball skills are probably his best quality which is seen from his 19 career interceptions. Eight of those came in 2017: his breakout season that earned him an all pro appearance and the first of three straight pro bowl appearances. But that's not his only attribute. He has the ability to not only travel with the best receivers in the league, but hold them in check. This is demonstrated by the opponent's passer rating he's allowed in the last three years, which has never been higher than 81.6. Slay was happy for the his first five seasons as a Lion, but things changed when coach Matt Patricia was hired in 2018. He told Slay that he "wasn't elite" and later insulted him for previously applauding a teammate during a team meeting. Slay didn't fight back, but eventually requested a fresh start which he was granted in a trade to the Eagles for a third and fifth round pick. This is a major boast for an Eagles' secondary that hasn't been the same unit since winning the Super Bowl three years ago. Philly should be able to rely on Slay's cover skills to fill in their defense's biggest need. 

4. Stefon Diggs
After tweeting that he wanted out of Minnesota, wide receiver Stefon Diggs got his wish in a trade to the Buffalo Bills. Despite being drafted in the fifth round by the Minnesota Vikings, wide receiver Diggs has had a productive five seasons. Since leading the team in receiving yards as a rookie, his role on the offense has increased. In his last three seasons, he never caught less than 94 passes and his receiving yards total has gone up. In addition, he helped the Vikings make the playoffs twice in that span with one play sticking out. Facing elimination with 10 seconds left in the divisional round against the New Orleans Saints, Diggs caught a pass and stayed inbounds en route to a time expiring touchdown dubbed the Minneapolis Miracle. But despite the fact that Diggs' role with the team has increased, he felt like he should treated as the man. Rumors came out about Diggs' frustration in which he expressed at various times of the season. Although the team ended up advancing to the divisional round, Diggs still felt unhappy about his situation and demanded a trade. Later that day, he was sent to the Bills for a first and sixth round pick this year, and a fourth next year. Out of all the trades I mentioned, his was probably the most even trade. Minnesota got a strong return from Buffalo, and Diggs will be relied upon to provide young quarterback Josh Allen with another weapon after making the playoffs. 

It's unfortunate that we have to wait until the NFL draft for some sporting events to occur, but this period of trades and free agent signings has kept us in tabs with sports. With all of the player transactions I mentioned, it'll be intriguing to see which move will make the biggest impact next season. 

The 100th NFL season concluded with a Super Bowl matchup of 2 of the league's best teams in the Kansas City Chiefs and San Fransisco 49ers. The Chiefs won in a game that we can draw a lot of observations from. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes didn't have one of his vintage performances where he is unstoppable, but was still crowned the game's MVP, the defense after getting carved up in the 3rd quarter finally buckled down, and the 49ers slowly unraveled down the stretch. 

Through he's recognized as one of the best players in the game, Patrick Mahomes wasn't the unstoppable player he is throughout the first 3 and a half quarters, but still won MVP thanks to a great finish. But during those 3 quarters, he actually wasn't even close to himself. He was constantly being hurried and sacked by the 49ers' front 7. When he was able to get off a pass, he was ineffective throwing 2 picks in the second half. But in sports, finishing always matters in the end and that's what Mahomes did. Facing a 3rd&15 in the 4th, he unleashed a bomb to wide receiver Tyreek Hill that set up a touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce inside the 5. After a stop by the defense, Mahomes unleashed another big time throw. This time to Sammy Watkins who beat Richard Sherman to put the Chiefs in scoring position. Another short touchdown pass to Damien Williams this time, and the Chiefs took the lead and never looked back. 

But we can also not ignore the performance of the Chiefs' defense down the stretch. After a rough start to the season, they became one of the best defenses in the league as they entered the Super Bowl. But by the 4th quarter, it was hard to see them having any effect. The 49ers' offense had been carving them up by balancing the run and the pass. But after a Mahomes' interception, the defense decided to wake up and they picked the best time possible. The last 4 possessions saw them make the most meaningful stops of the season. Last year, their defense was a big reason why they lsst in heartbreaking fashion to the Patriots in the championship game and in the offseason, they restocked  bringing in defensive leaders such as Tyrann Mathieu and Frank Clark. Though these investments weren't cheap, they was worth every penny. 

Another contribution to the Chiefs' comeback wasn't the team's play, but rather the collapse of the 49ers. Though they had a potent passing game, San Fransisco was a run-first team and though running back Raheem Mostert scored yet another touchdown in the playoffs, they stopped running the ball. When they were throwing it, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was either getting hurried or missing receivers when he had time. None of his missed throws were worse than when he missed what would've been a touchdown to wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, which led to a turnover on downs. Three plays later a Williams touchdown was the dagger to what was a great turnaround. 

If there was any way that the final football season of the 2010s as well as the NFL's 100th season to end, this was it. Both teams showed their potential for football's new decade in what was a hard fought Super Bowl. In the end, the Chiefs with Mahomes were too much for the 49ers. Hopefully, both teams won't disappoint in the future. 

​

This 100th NFL season has been nothing but eventful. From the beginning of the season all the way to the end, so much predictions have changed. From thinking that the Browns and Chargers being a contender, to Rams and Bears being possible Super Bowl teams, to the Patriots looking like they could be undefeated after getting Antonio Brown, and to the Colts potentially winning the AFC South, those opinions have changed quickly. There are other teams that have unexpectedly earned their reputation as a possible Super Bowl team. Some of those teams are the 49ers who started the season 8-0, the Ravens who are riding a 12 game winning streak, and the Packers who now have a potent running game and defense that can benefit Aaron Rodgers, are now carrying humongous Super Bowl ambitions going into the new decade. So how about we go into information about every team and my predictions. 

AFC: 

1. Baltimore Ravens: ​This team has every reason to be excited about a Super Bowl title. Though they were 2-2 by the end of the first quarter, they reeled off 3 straight wins before a statement win against the Patriots really put the NFL on notice. Since that, they've stretched their winning steak to 12 games, finishing with the best record in football. Their coach John Harbaugh has really established a great culture with this team. One of their strengths comes in the secondary featuring safety Earl Thomas and cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters. In particular, their offense has a strong set of skill players with running back Mark Ingram II, wide receiver Marquise Brown, and tight end Mark Andrews have complemented each other very well this season. The heart of the team however is Lamar Jackson. His evolution as a passer while maintaining his skills at running the football has been an amazing sight. What isn't closely analyzed, is his leadership. Though he's just in his second year, he has set a great example of unselfishness and responsibility, two things that can really make a team jell. While this core hasn't had this season under their belt, they are a legitimate threat.

2. Kansas City Chiefs: Coming into the season, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and co. were expected to build off last season's campaign that saw Mahomes win MVP leading one of the most explosive offenses. Throughout the first 4 games, it looked  to be the case as they scored 28 or more points en route to a 4-0 start. Then all of a sudden, inconsistent play by the offense and defense, as well as an injury to Mahomes in the first quarter of their week 7 matchup against the Denver Broncos, put them in a position in which they were only leading the AFC West by half a game at 6-4. But just in the blink of an eye, their defense which went through major changes in the offseason finally was able to complement the offense starting in a win against the Chargers in Mexico where field conditions were atrocious. Since then, 21 points is the highest they've allowed in this 6 game winning streak. With safety Tyrann Mathieu and pass rusher Frank Clark taking over games along with Mahomes regaining his form, this team still has a legit shot at competing for a Super Bowl title just like most people predicted at the beginning of the season. 

3. New England Patriots: Doesn't time go by fast in the season? The Patriots looked like they hit a major jackpot with the signing of wide receiver Antonio Brown to complement quarterback Tom Brady. Even with the retirement of Rob Gronkowski, they looked like they had the best receiving core in the AFC with Brown, Josh Gordon, and Julian Edelman. They breezed out the gate winning their first 2 games, but the Brown experiment was a major failure as he was released after sexual assault allegations. Even with the failed experiment, they still reeled off 6 more wins to be at 8-0 thanks to a dominating defense led by cornerback Stephon Gilmore. After that, they've been okay at best. But they have lots of reasons to be concerned with the biggest being that they don't have a first round bye. They've always had a first round bye in the playoffs, but after getting upset in the last game to the Dolphins at home, they will have to settle for a wild card spot. The last time they were in a wild card spot, they lost to the Ravens at home. That was a long time ago however, and considering how many times they've prevailed through adversity, it's hard to write them off.

4. Houston Texans: Like Baltimore, there were questions about whether the Texans could repeat last year's campaign, which they won their division but lost to the Colts. Those questions intensified when they lost some reliable assets via free agency, and gave a lot of draft picks to get good but not great players on offense. This all-in approach which was done to support their quarterback and receiver duo of Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins was looking shaky at first, but the Texans were able to jell together pretty well. Besides some surprising losses at home to the Panthers and Broncos, they had some important victories. Some of those victories included an upset of the Chiefs on the road, a Sunday Night victory against the Patriots, and securing the division against the Titans. There's a lot of reasons to be excited about a deep run. Watson is having a magnificent season, Hopkins is posting his usual numbers, but they also have huge x-factors in receiver Will Fuller and cornerback Bradley Roby. Finally, they have all pro defensive end J.J. Watt coming back from a torn pec. With a healthy roster, this all-in approach could very much work out in January. 

5. Buffalo Bills: Despite having one of the easiest schedules in football, no one really gave the Bills a chance to make the playoffs. But with a very stingy defense, this team started out fast at 3-0. It only got better as after the first quarter of the season, sophomore quarterback Josh Allen finally showed drastic improvement on cutting down his turnovers. Their four come from behind victories shows a lot of growth in a young team and that'll be essential for the playoffs. However, the main strength of this team is the defense. With cornerback Tre'Davious White tying the league lead for interceptions with 6 along with a solid front 7 to complement his play, this defense has allowed 24 points or fewer in 15 of their 16 games. While there's not much concern for the defense, the factor that will determine this game is the offense. They need their 2 best offensive players not named Allen in running back Devin Singletary and wide receiver John Brown to take pressure off of Allen. If the defense plays like they've played all season and Singletary and Brown can prevail, a deep playoff run is definitely possible.

6. Tennessee Titans: Sometimes, a desperate move can provide more than just a spark. That's what happened when backup quarterback Ryan Tannehill was promoted to starter in week 7. Since then, he's in the top 5 in passer rating and QBR. Perhaps more important, is the fact that they went 7-3 since the change occurred. Tannehill isn't the only one doing all of the work. Running back Derrick Henry has been one of the best running backs in football, winning the rushing title with a ridiculous 1,540 yards, 5.1 yards per carry, and 16 touchdowns. He's also been a better player than than the last time he played in a playoff game, which he also dominated. However, both of those players also have a lot of help at the receiving end in A.J. Brown. With 52 receptions, 1,051 yards, and 8 touchdowns, he's basically a lock for offensive rookie of the year and will probably be essential for this team in the years to come. On defense, they have a strong secondary led by one of the best ballhawks in Kevin Byard and one of the top slot cornerbacks in Logan Ryan. This year may not be their year, but they will have all of the tools to contend in the future. 

NFC:

1. San Fransisco 49ers: This team had a roster that was capable enough to make a playoff appearance, but most people viewed it as unlikely as quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was coming back from injury and the defense with high profile additions may need some time to jell together. However, this team instead chose to finish the season with a 13-3 record with all of their losses coming in the final minute. Without question, there's a lot to be excited about. On offense, Garoppolo has regained his form, tight end George Kittle has proved that his breakout campaign last year wasn't a fluke, and they have one of the best rushing attacks in all of football with the trio of Tevin Coleman, Raheem Mostert, and Matt Breida. What has been spectacular, is the defense. Their front 7 which I previously mentioned in my article about teams to keep an eye on, overachieved to the point where even I didn't expect it. The defensive line of Dee Ford, DeForest Buckner, and Nick Bosa has been one of the best in the league, while Fred Warner and Kwon Alexander formed a solid linebacking duo. Even with Alexander's season ending injury, that didn't stop them from still dominating. The secondary lead by cornerback Richard Sherman has also been a strong unit. With some of their wins in the second half coming against potential playoff opponents, this team has a lot of reasons to make a Super Bowl appearance.

2. Green Bay Packers: When you surround a great quarterback with other assets that are apart of different units of the team, you deserve to be 13-3. That's the case with the Packers. Aaron Rodgers has still been the brilliant passer that he's always been and his chemistry with Davante Adams is still one of the best in the league. But then again, they have lots of overachieving players on both sides of the ball. Running back Aaron Jones put up brilliant numbers this year. All of them career highs and there's been some games where they won because of him instead of Rodgers. On defense, Their front 7 of Za'Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Kenny Clark, and Blake Martinez has been strong throughout the entire year while Jaire Alexander has been able to build off his rookie campaign from last year. By the midway point they started off 7-1 and eventually finished with 13 wins. The only reason why people may not be so sold on them is because of their blowout loss to the 49ers in November. But then again, that was back in November, and with a team that's been good on both sides of the ball, there is a lot of optimism for a 14th NFL championship. 

3. New Orleans Saints: At first, their Super Bowl hopes appeared to have taken a big hit when quarterback Drew Brees injured his thumb in the second week of the season. However, Teddy Bridgewater came in relief and went undefeated as a starter, propelling the Saints to a 6-1 record. When Brees came back, he picked up from where he left off last season as one of the most prolific passers with 27 touchdowns while only throwing for 4 interceptions But Brees wasn't the only one dominating. Wide receiver Michael Thomas had one of the greatest seasons for a wide receiver in NFL history by setting an NFL record for receptions in a single season while leading the league with 1,725 receiving yards along with 9 touchdowns. Running back Alvin Kamara has appeared to regain his form as one of the best all purpose backs in the league, and the offensive line after committing a lot of penalties early in the season, has tremendously cut down on them. In addition, they have 2 playmakers in Taysom Hill and Deonte Harris. On defense, they have a ton of studs in defensive end Cameron Jordan, cornerback Marshon Lattimore, safety Marcus Williams, and linebacker Demario Davis. Hopefully, this team won't have to deal with any one in a million plays such as Stefan Diggs' Minneapolis Miracle and a terrible no call on pass interference in the championship game last year against the Rams. If none of those kinds of plays happen, Super Bowl title is very likely.

4. Philadelphia Eagles: Last year, everyone had the Eagles written off for good and this year was the same. At 5-7 fresh off a loss to the lowly Dolphins, things weren't looking good in any way. But then, quarterback Carson Wentz finally woke up and led the Eagles to 4 straight victories. Even with the division title however, there aren't a lot of high expectations. This team played in the worst division in all of football, but they are riding lots of momentum. With Wentz playing this well along with rookie running back Miles Sanders emerging as one of the top all purpose backs in the league, the offense has been playing very well, but if they want to play better, they need tight end Zach Ertz to return from injury. The defensive roster still has many players from their Super Bowl roster, but they have shown lots of weaknesses and that won't help come playoff time. However, they've been 4-1 in playoff games in the last 2 years and both they've entered every game as an underdog so maybe they'll make noise in the playoffs once again. 

5. Seattle Seahawks: One minute they were in a golden position to have home field advantage in the NFC for the playoffs. The next minute, they are now a wild card team. That doesn't necessarily mean that a deep playoff run is impossible. Quarterback Russell Wilson has put together arguably the best season of his career thanks to his ability to create amazing plays even if it breaks down. He's also formed one of the best QB WR duos of him and Tyler Lockett, which has been effective throughout this season. In addition, rookie wide receiver D.K. Metcalf has turned into a reciever with effectiveOn defense, the front 7 led by league's leading tackler and all-pro linebacker Bobby Wagner is one of the best in the league. Shaquill Griffin has also emerged as one of the top cornerbacks in the NFC as well. However, there is lots of concern and that is injuries to key players on both sides of the ball.  On offense running back Chris Carson is on IR and while fan favorite Marshawn Lynch is back, it may not make a huge difference. While Wilson was able to overcome the injury of  red zone favorite Will Dissly, it could very much affect them come postseason time. On defensive, their end Jadeveon Clowney who's best skill is always being around the ball, is nowhere to be found since his dominating performance against the 49ers. But Wilson and coach Pete Carroll know how to make the best even in heavy adversity. This January could be another example. 

6. Minnesota Vikings: ​After the first quarter of the season. There seemed to be no flow with this team. Their $84 million quarterback Kirk Cousins wasn't forming any chemistry with his top 2 receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. As a result, rumors of a potential Diggs trade began to heat up intensely. Then just in the blink of a eye, Cousins finally began to play consistent football. They went 8-4 for the rest of the season en route to a 10-6 record. This roster is very balanced. Cousins, Thielen, and Diggs have formed one of the best passing attacks in the league and even when Thielen was hurt, the attack remained very potent. The running game is also very superb. Third year back Dalvin Cook has put up a career year putting up 1,135 yards along with 13 touchdowns while rookie Alexander Mattison has emerged as one of more reliable no. 2 running backs in the NFC. The strength of this team however, is the defense. At every area, they are loaded. At the line, ends Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter have been creating havoc on opposing quarterbacks, linebackers Erik Kendricks and Anthony are entering their primes, and the safety duo of ball hawk Anthony Harris and the hard hitting Harrison Smith is one of the best in the league. What will be important is the play of Cousins who still could be more consistent against good teams and the health of Cook and Thielen. Those factors will determine whether this team can make a playoff run.

Predictions:

AFC:

Tennessee Titans 17
​New England Patriots 21
                                                           New England Patriots 13
                                                           Kansas City Chiefs 27
                                                                                                                  Kansas City Chiefs 31
                                                                                                                  Baltimore Ravens 34
                                                           Houston Texans 16
                                                           Baltimore Ravens 30

Buffalo Bills 20
Houston Texans 24

                                                                  New Orleans Saints 34                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                 ​Baltimore Ravens 24


NFC:

Minnesota Vikings 21
New Orleans Saints 31
 
                                                     New Orleans Saints 28
                                                     Green Bay Packers 24
                                                                                                                 New Orleans Saints 20
                                                                                                                 San Fransisco 49ers 17
                                                        Seattle Seahawks 17
                                                        San Fransisco 49ers 34
Seattle Seahawks 26
Philadelphia Eagles 17