FROM THE RCN-TV STAFF
GAMES
VS Saint Joe’s on Saturday, November 25, LIVE at 1:00 on RCN-TV
VS Selinsgrove on Friday, November 24, LIVE at 7:00 PM on RCN-TV
Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 10-4; OVERALL – 101-58 – 64%)
Week Twelve
Greetings, Games, Guesses
The Competition
Even though I am sure the Eagles were quite happy that every team in the NFC East lost this past Sunday while they were enjoying a pleasant bye week, this week’s results actually did not help them as much as one might think.
Right now, the Eagles have the best record in the NFC and, for that matter, all of football. But, that honor is a precarious one. The Vikings, the Saints, and the Rams all won their games this past Sunday and they are all 7-2 and certainly ready to become the team with the best record in the NFC should the Eagles falter.
If you are so inclined to use analytics, a crystal ball, or tarot cards, take a look at the remaining schedule for the Eagles and the teams chasing them:
- Vikings (2 game lead in division) – Rams, Lions, Falcons, Panthers, Bengals, Packers, and Bears
- LA Rams (1 game lead in division) – Vikings, Saints, Cardinals, Eagles, Seahawks, Titans, and 49’ers
- Saints (1 game lead in division) – Redskins, Rams, Panthers, Falcons, Jets, Falcons, and Bucs
- Eagles (3 game lead in division) – Cowboys, Bears, Seahawks, Giants, Raiders, and Cowboys
The Eagles will certainly win their division – their toughest opponent may be the Seahawks. They will not encounter a suspended Ezekial Elliott the first time around against Dallas and may miss facing left offensive tackle Tyrone Smith for both games with the Cowboys.
The Vikings look like the most likely team to surpass the Eagles for the home field advantage based on remaining schedules.
There are, also, teams lingering: Dallas (5-4), Atlanta (5-4), Detroit (5-4), Carolina (6-3), and Seattle (6-3). Remember there are four division winners and two wild card teams in the playoffs.
The final six weeks should be very interesting and Eagles fans should be excited! They could not be in a better position at this stage in the season.
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- Did you see where Colin Kaepernick was named “Citizen of the Year” by GQ magazine? In the article entitled “Colin Kaepernick Will Not Be Silenced”, he is not quoted once.
- In case you were wondering, the win Sunday by the Patriots was the 270th for Bill Belichick. He is now tied for third place with the Cowboys’ Tom Landry. Do you know who #1 and #2 are? The answer is at the end of the musings.
- According to the ESPN Power Rankings, the 76ers are now #11 up from #17 last week. This could be the year that proves the last five awful years were worth the pain!
- Well, Notre Dame and Penn State fans in the Valley (and there are plenty of them) have been in tears the last few weeks. Penn State lost two in a row before this weekend and Notre Dame was routed by Miami on Saturday after climbing into the Top Four. Notre Dame is now #9 and Penn State is #13. Maybe they could play each other in a bowl game. It would not be for a national championship, but the stadium and television interest would be off the charts!
- Parkland will try to win their sixth straight District XI AAAAAA championship this Friday when they take on Freedom. The game will be LIVE on RCN-TV at 7:00 from Northampton.
- On Saturday RCN-TV will have the 153rd addition of Lafayette–Lehigh, college football’s most played rivalry. Game time is 12:30.
P.S. #1 – Don Shula (347); #2 – George Halas (324)
Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 9-5; OVERALL – 91-54 – 63%)
Week Eleven
DETROIT
TAMPA BAY
GREEN BAY
RAMS
ARIZONA
JACKSONVILLE
NEW ORLEANS
CHARGERS
CINCINNATI
NEW ENGLAND
PHILADELPHIA
ATLANTA
Important Games in November
It has been a long time since the Lafayette Leopards have played an important game in November. They have not won a November game since beating Lehigh at Yankee Stadium in 2014. The Leopards won only three games total the past two seasons and certainly were not part of any Patriot League Championship conversation. All of that has changed.
Going into the last two weekends of the season, Lafayette is 3-1 and tied at the top of the Patriot League with Colgate and with Lehigh. Their next two games, as you might have guessed, are against both Colgate and Lehigh. If Colgate gets by Lafayette, they should win easily the following week against a Georgetown team that has won only one game. However, should Lehigh beat both Holy Cross and Lafayette, Lehigh holds the tie-breaker with a controversial win over Colgate.
None of that will matter, however, if Lafayette can win against Colgate and Lehigh. And the Leopards have found a formula for winning – little or no offense and the stingiest of defenses.
Offensively, the Leopards against Patriot League opponents are averaging just 9.5 points per game, but they are giving up just 4.25 points. That’s not a misprint – their defense has been phenomenal in the League. They have not yielded a point in the last nine quarters and no touchdowns in the last 10 quarters. They beat Holy Cross 10-7; Fordham 14-10; lost to Bucknell 13-7 in overtime with both Bucknell scores coming on interceptions returned for touchdowns. This past weekend, Lafayette beat Georgetown 7-0.
No matter what happens on Saturday, John Garrett, Lafayette’s first year head coach, has made the last two weeks of the season important again. Their last championship came in 2013 after winning three championships in a row in ’04, ’05, and ’06. 2013 was also the last year they had a winning record in the Patriot League.
Not to put a damper on anyone’s expectations, but the Leopards will be underdogs the next two weeks. They certainly will not win either game by scoring nine points. But there is an adage in football that “defense wins championships”. If that is true, then Lafayette has a chance to do what at the beginning of the season seemed virtually impossible – win a Patriot League championship!
If you can make it to Fisher Stadium, you will be rewarded:
If you cannot get there, watch the game on the Lafayette Sports Network or on the internet on the Patriot League Network.
I can’t wait for the kickoff on Saturday at 12:30pm!
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- Undefeated Parkland trailed Liberty by nine going into the fourth quarter of Friday’s 6A quarterfinal game. It was their first real scare of the year. They responded with 22 unanswered points to win their eleventh straight game. This game, however, may have given Easton and Freedom some hope that the Trojans can be beaten. Parkland has won five straight District titles.
- The Colonial League had to be proud of the performances by the Saucon Valley and Southern Lehigh football teams this past weekend. They both beat EPC teams handily. Saucon beat Central Catholic and Southern Lehigh beat East Stroudsburg South. Both will have a chance to do it again this weekend for District championships.
- Penn State football managed to let another game get away this past weekend at Michigan State, losing on the final play of the game. No invitation to the championship playoffs will be forthcoming. And the Heisman dreams for Saquon Barkley may also be fading. Let’s hope both the team and Saquon have great finishes to the season.
- The Penn State basketball team played at Lafayette on Saturday and won going away 102-80. Despite the score, I see why the Big Ten prognosticators see Penn State as a middle-of-the-pack team. They are good, but not impressively good. Lafayette’s problems remain the same – rebounding and defense.
- District football playoffs continue this week. Parkland will host Easton on Friday night at 7:00pm on RCN-TV in a 6A semifinal. Whitehall and Southern Lehigh will battle for the 5A championship at 10:00pm. Saturday RCN-TV will have the huge Patriot League matchup between Colgate and Lafayette at 12:30p, (see above). At 9:30pm, RCN-TV will bring you the 4A championship game featuring Bethlehem Catholic against Saucon Valley.
P.S. Two weeks ago, I picked the Astros to win the World Series in seven. (I wish I believed my own predictions – I could make them financially beneficial).
Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 9-4; OVERALL – 82-49 – 63%)
Week Ten
Oh, Those Browns
This past week the Cleveland Browns left the USA to lose another football game. Playing in London against the Minnesota Vikings, the Browns actually led at the half, 13-12. It was their first halftime lead of the year.
In a game televised back home in the morning, there seemed to be little fan interest at the stadium and the game itself was lackluster. But the Browns did manage to play terrible football in the second half and lost again 33-16.
It just doesn’t seem worthwhile to play these games in England. The home team loses a game in their stadium; the players lose valuable practice time; and American fans must watch early Sunday morning. There are big crowds, for sure (@ 75,000 on Sunday), but ticket prices are very, very low compared to NFL prices back home. I understand the NFL is trying to expand their global footprint, but it doesn’t seem to be working.
Speaking of not working – the Browns are currently 0-8 and showing little signs that they will win a game this year. Their coach, Hue Jackson, has won one game and is now 1-23 in his two-year tenure with Cleveland. They lost 14 games in a row and were 1-15 last year. Their quarterback, DeShone Jackson, is learning on the job, but he is far from being an NFL quarterback right now. To add to their woes, their receivers are just not very good.
And the Browns can only blame themselves. You probably remember that it was the Browns who traded their #2 draft pick because they did not believe in Carson Wentz – yes, the Eagles’ Carson Wentz. Right now with his team at 7-1, sporting the best record in the NFL, Carson Wentz is probably the League’s MVP. The Browns were quoted as feeling Wentz would never be a top-20 quarterback in the NFL.
Carson Wentz is certainly much, much better than a Top 20 QB. He is an elite QB. He stands in the pocket despite heavy rushes; he runs with abandon when chased out of that pocket; sees defensive weaknesses as he spreads the ball around to all of his receivers; and he shows toughness and mental acuity at the same time.
Carson Wentz is just what the Browns needed and, typical of the Cleveland Browns front office, they just didn’t know it. It’s been ten years since the Browns had a winning record; it has been NEVER since they did not win ANY games. This could very well be their year to “accomplish” that. I’m not sure their current fan base even remembers how to spell V-I-C-T-O-R-Y.
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- I don’t mean to brag (by the way, anytime someone says that, they DO mean to brag), but after a couple of dismal weeks of NFL picks, I had a perfect 13-0 week! I have never done that before. The past two weeks I am 24-4 (88%). I don’t mean to brag.
- After Saturday’s heartbreaking loss to Ohio State, it does not appear that Penn State will play for a national championship this season. The Nittany Lions will need some help from other teams and must win out themselves.
- Gabe Kapler, the director of player development for the Dodgers, is the new Phillies manager. He beat out Red Sox manager John Farrell and Iron Pigs manager Dusty Watham. Kapler played for six major league teams and is known to have a very strong background in analytics (the buzz word of the day in professional sports).
- The 76ers are looking better, but their #1 draft choice Markelle Fultz will be out indefinitely due to a shoulder injury. Fans should be resigned to the fact that the Sixers seem to only draft players who can’t play the first year.
- District football playoffs begin this week. Parkland looks unbeatable in 6A, Whitehall and Southern Lehigh should battle for the 5A championship, 4A and 3A are up for grabs. It all starts Friday night on RCN-TV with Freedom taking on Emmaus LIVE at 7:00 and Nazareth going back to Easton at 10:00. Saturday RCN-TV will have the Saucon Valley–Central game LIVE at 6:00.
RCN TV will have exhibition college basketball with Penn State taking on Lafayette LIVE at 1:00 on Saturday afternoon. This game is a charity event to help disaster victims.
Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 13-0; OVERALL – 73-45 – 62%)
Week Nine
Day of Rest?
Saturday, for many, is a day of rest. The daily grind of the previous week is over and you can look forward to doing things you love to do – work around the house, attend an event, watch your favorite sports team, or do nothing.
Saturday, for me, is never a day of rest, but it sure is a day of great anticipation and expectation. This Saturday offered both to the extreme. I like to start the day with a nice morning walk. It was a beautiful day and the walk was just the right way to ease into the afternoon.
At 1:00, I headed to Lafayette College for the much-anticipated Lafayette – Bucknell Patriot League game set to begin at 3:30. Lafayette was 2-0 and tied at the top of the Patriot League standings. Bucknell was 0-1. Both teams had formidable defenses, the best in the League. I expected a low-scoring fast game. “Fast” was something I hoped for because my wife and I had tickets to a show in Bethlehem at 8:00.
The game was a nail-biter! Bucknell scored a defensive touchdown on the fourth play when they intercepted a pass and took it in for a six points. It was 7-0 and we had only played for two minutes and four seconds. No one scored the rest of the first half. I liked the speed of the game, but not the score.
The first time Lafayette had the ball in the second half, they marched 60 yards in eight plays and scored their first rushing touchdown of the season. It was 7-7! The game continued to move along at a very rapid pace. I was not concerned any longer about making the show on time.
But no one scored again! Lafayette blocked what would have been a winning field goal by Bucknell with less than a minute to go. The game would not be done early – it was going overtime.
On Lafayette’s first overtime possession on the very first play, Bucknell intercepted a Leopard pass and ran it back 95 yards for a touchdown – Game Over!! Bucknell wins – Lafayette loses a heartbreaker without giving up a defensive point.
It was time to jump in the car and pick up my wife for the 8:00 curtain. The tickets included a “Meet and Greet” with the performers. The last time this happened there were cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. I would turn this into my dinner and drinks. But, alas, we met members of the cast, but there were no drinks and, more importantly, no munchies (in my case – dinner).
The show was very good and enjoyable. It lasted two full hours.
After arriving home, I broke the news that I would be spending the rest of Saturday into the wee hours of Sunday morning watching the Penn State-Michigan game. I did not know anything about the outcome so, thanks to TIVO, I watched from the very beginning and marveled at Penn State’s efficiency and Whitehall’s Saquon Barkley’s talent. The Lions won and would remain #2 in the nation.
I finished up the game around 1:15 AM. I was pretty exhausted from my Saturday/Sunday “day of rest”.
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- It’s the Astros against the Dodgers in the World Series. Two exceptional teams with great pitching staffs. Most are picking the Dodgers. I like the Astros in seven.
- The NFL regained some semblance of normalcy this week. It wasn’t just the Browns that did what they were supposed to do – lose. I went 11-4 and would have been even better if Oakland had not beaten Kansas City on the last play of the game and the Jets would not have blown a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter. After the previous two weeks I am ecstatic with 11-4. And the Eagles have the best record in the NFL.
- The Broncos and the Colts were shut out this past Sunday for the first time in 20-plus years.
- The Colonial League never seems to disappoint when we go to do one of their football games. We had a shoot-out this past Friday when Notre Dame beat Saucon Valley 52-34. The game was back and forth until late into the fourth quarter. The talents of Alston Wolfe, Zach Petiet (SV), and Cole DeFranco (ND) were awesome. This was a really good “Friday night under the lights.”
- It is hard to believe that the regular season of high school football ends this Friday and we have two big games for you – Emmaus at undefeated Parkland followed by Nazareth at Easton. Saturday we are happy to give you Allen vs. Dieruff, two football teams that get very little TV exposure. Here is their chance to shine. District playoffs are in two weeks.
Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 11-4; OVERALL – 60-45 – 57%)
Week Eight
BALTIMORE
MINNESOTA
NEW ORLEANS
ATLANTA
CAROLINA
PHILADELPHIA
BUFFALO
CINCINNATI
NEW ENGLAND
SEATTLE
DALLAS
PITTSBURGH
KANSAS CI
Pro Football – C’mon!
I know many of you remember my shtick on WZZO with Bearman and Keith. I know you do because people still yell, “Gaaaaryyy Laubach!!”, when I see them around the Valley. Some woman even yelled it when I was getting on an elevator on a cruise ship somewhere in the Atlantic. I would chit-chat with Bearman and Keith on Monday mornings and make my NFL picks on Friday mornings. My picks were often spot on and it was always a fun time.
Someone at RCN thought it would be a good idea to continue offering up my thoughts on a weekly blog and make NFL picks each week – thus, “Gary’s Guesses”. It seemed like a good idea at the time and for many years I looked like I knew what I was doing. Until this season -it has been almost impossible to confidently pick any NFL game.
Sure, I can always pick the Browns to lose (1-21 the past two seasons) and the Patriots to win (although they just eked out a win over the Jets so even the Patriots are a bit shaky). As I prepare to make picks again this week, how do I account for:
The Packers losing Aaron Rodgers?
The Giants beating Denver Sunday night without any notable receivers and still being just 1-5?
The Ravens who look like a different team every week (they just lost to the Bears)?
Speaking of the Bears, how do I deal with a team that is almost a sure bet to lose, except when they don’t, like this week?
Dallas losing Ezekiel Elliott this week through Thanksgiving, given that they are only 2-3 with him?
The Falcons losing two straight to lesser teams?
The Cardinals – did you see them against the Eagles?
The 0-6 49’ers, who have lost their last five games by 3 or fewer points?
A decent Oakland team that has lost 4 in a row?
The Lions looking good and then not?
The Dolphins, Lions, Texans, Jets, Jaguars, Chargers, Saints, Steelers, Rams, etc.?
Despite my misgivings and going 10-18 the past two weeks, I will make my guesses again. But my confidence is certainly shaken. I hope no one is using my picks as their picks. I am on the verge of just using a Ouija board. I couldn’t do any worse. One of my friends, a Steelers fan, implores me to pick them to lose every week knowing they would then win.
In fact, except for the Browns, who I can count on to lose every week, the most dependable team right now looks like (dare I say it), the Eagles! And now, I have just jinxed them!!
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- NFL officiating sure creates controversy every week. Take a look at this call that cost the Jets a touchdown against New England:The Jets lost by 7.
- http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=21033522
- #2 Clemson lost to Syracuse in a shocker, 27-24, which allowed Penn State to move up to #2 without even playing a game. Can they stay there with Michigan at home, Ohio State, and Michigan State on the road up next? Win those three in a row and no one will doubt their ranking.
- Speaking of Penn State, Saquon Barkley was back home in Whitehall this past weekend and attended the Whitehall-Bethlehem Catholic game on Friday night. He was kind enough to grant us an interview during our broadcast. He was his usual modest self and, in fact, was hoping not too many people would know he was there. He told us he did not want to detract from the game. Truth be told, he is a bit too famous these days not to be noticed. He graciously signed autographs.
- I am enjoying the baseball playoffs after watching very little during the regular season. The starting pitching is awesome, almost unhittable. Defense has been outstanding. The games are extremely tense right up to the last out. The pace is still a bit taxing, however.
- I am happy to report that Mike Joseph and I are in the Colonial League this Friday night with a great match-up: Notre Dame at Saucon Valley. Game two on Friday is Nazareth at Liberty, an important game in the AAAAAA district picture. Saturday the Lafayette Leopards, tied at the top of the Patriot League at 2-0 will take on the Bucknell Bison at 3:30. At 7:00, Bethlehem Catholic takes on Freedom.
Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 6-8; OVERALL – 49-41 – 54%)
Week Seven
KANSAS CITY
TENNESSEE
JACKSONVILLE
PITTSBURGH
MINNESOTA
JETS
BUFFALO
CAROLINA
NEW ORLEANS
RAMS
DALLAS
SEATTLE
DENVER
NEW ENGLAND
PHILADELPHIA
Stand, Kneel, Etc.
As many of you know, I taught school for almost thirty years. In all of those years, I only encountered one protest concerning the American flag. Throughout the US, a school day began with the Pledge of Allegiance as everyone, teachers and students combined, stood and, in unison, said, “I pledge allegiance to the United States of America…”
On one occasion, a student in my homeroom refused to stand and recite the pledge. After he did that the first time, I asked him why he refused to stand. He said that he was protesting America’s involvement in Viet Nam and the country’s aggressive stance throughout the world. I was not happy with his stance, but I also understood everyone’s right to protest.
After all, in my English class I taught a unit called Books That Changed the World. One of those books (a pamphlet, actually) was Thomas Paine’s Common Sense. That treatise was a call for America’s thirteen colonies to break away from England and become a nation unto itself. For Paine, this call to action just made “common sense”.
The most important impetus for this action, according to Paine, was “if a government requires you to do something you believe is morally wrong, you are morally obligated not to do it.” This is exactly what this student believed he was doing. Would I be hypocritical to deny him that right? I believed I would be, but I sought out higher authorities for their position. They decided he did not have to stand, but he needed to go out in the hall during the Pledge.
This is where the NFL player protest has gotten. Players on some teams may either stand or kneel. However, some owners are now insisting the players, who wish to protest, “go out into the hall” by staying in the locker room while the Anthem is being played. Some owners have threatened that if a player does not stand, he will not play and may even lose his job, ala Colin Kaepernick.
I am somewhat mystified how a protest against what are perceived as unwarranted shootings by police by some has been turned into disrespecting our troops and our country, but it has. But for every action, there is usually a reaction. That has certainly been the case here. Thomas Paine was well-aware that if you protested, you must be willing to accept the consequences of those actions. Gandhi knew that; Martin Luther King knew that; Nelson Mandela knew that and all of them paid the consequences in order to create change.
So whether a player decides to stand, kneel, or stay in the locker room, it is a personal decision with potential consequences. But isn’t that how great changes in the world have come about?
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay both agree that Penn State’s Saquon Barkley is the best running back in college football. How will he fare in the NFL draft? Here is their take:
http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/20960145/mel-kiper-todd-mcshay-just-how-good-penn-state-nittany-lion-runnning-back-saquon-barkley - What is happening in the NFL? Jacksonville crushes Pittsburgh; the Giants are 0-5 with a completely depleted receiving corps; Dallas has a losing record; New England has already lost two games and is tied with the Jets and Bills in the standings… I could go on and on. Has the cliché, “On any given Sunday…” ever had more meaning? And the Eagles are in first place! Is this the world as we know it?
- The Lafayette Leopards are 2-0 in the Patriot League after another nail-biting win over the favored Fordham Rams. They won 14-10 after trailing 10-0 at the end of three quarters. This is the first time since 2013 that the team is 2-0 in the League. They ended up as Patriot League champions that year. Dare we dream?
- I have to offer some praise to Bob Andrews, the highly respected referee in the Parkland-Beca game on Friday night. If you watched our broadcast, we were quite critical of a number of calls in the first half. One call actually kept Beca from scoring a touchdown on a fumble. The officials said it was not a fumble. Our replay showed otherwise. There were three other calls that seemed to be unwarranted or incorrect. I saw Bob at the Lafayette game the next day and he had watched our replay that morning. We discussed each play. He was in agreement with some of our opinions and disagreed with others. He felt each one would become a teaching lesson for his fellow officials. We both learned from the experience.
- The games may not be as meaningful this Friday night, but, boy, should they be entertaining. Bethlehem Catholic hosts Whitehall and points should come in abundance. That game will be followed by Freedom at Nazareth and points should come in abundance. Did I just repeat myself? You might be up late, but you should have fun watching.
Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 4-10; OVERALL – 43-33 – 57%)
Week Six
CAROLINA
WASHINGTON
ATLANTA
HOUSTON
NEW ORLEANS
BALTIMORE
GREEN BAY
NEW ENGLAND
ARIZONA
JACKSONVILLE
KANSAS CITY
OAKLAND
DENVER
TENNESSEE
The First Quadmester
Did “quadmester” get your attention? It is a word (much like semester and trimester) or it isn’t, but I used it to signify that, for the most part, one-quarter of the NFL season is now completed. I know that the Bucs and Dolphins did not play in Week 1 due to Irma, but, come on; there have been enough games to begin to fool around with what we currently know. Here are ten ramblings about the season so far (in no particular order):
- The Browns and 49ers are not good now and will not be good in the next trimester (notice the theme this week) either.
- Don’t gamble on the NFL for awhile. There have been numerous upsets the past two weeks (Panthers over New England, Jets over anybody, the Rams over the Cowboys, the Bills over the Falcons – need I go on?). I would assume there are quite a few who are already out of their survivor pool. Don’t start a new one. It might be that kind of year.
- The Rams are in first place and Seattle is not in the NFC West. The Jets are tied with the Patriots in the AFC East, but the Bills are in first place. The Eagles are in first place!
- The Buffalo Bills have given up an average of 13.5 points a game – in the NFL!
- The Dolphins were supposed to be good, but have lost to the Jets and the Saints with one total touchdown the last two weeks (and that came on the last play of the game against the Jets). They’re not so good.
- What’s wrong with the Patriots? Their defense! How long will Bill Belichick stand for these results before heads begin to roll?
- If I said a New York team might be the worst team in football, you and I would think I was talking about the Jets. But the New York Jets are 2-2 and the New York Giants are 0-4.
- Why is anyone a Cleveland Browns fan? They, too, are 0-4.
- On a positive note, the Los Angeles Rams are the most surprising team so far with their 3-1 start, especially after their 4-12 season a year ago in St. Louis. Is head coach Sean McVay that much better than Jeff Fisher? The next 13 weeks will tell.
- Go Eagles! So far, they have really been fun to watch and, did I mention, they are currently in first place in the NFC East. WITH ONLY A TRIMESTER TO GO!
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- Penn State ids 5-0 for the first time since 2008 and find themselves #4 in the nation. Saquon Barkley right now is the Vegas favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. He leads the nation in all-purpose yardage. This past weekend he ran the opening kickoff back for a TD and actually threw a pass for a TD. Amazing!!
- The Rams moved from St. Louis to Los Angeles this year, but their uniform jerseys remained the same and do not match their helmets or their pants. The NFL due to a “uniform alteration” timing rule would not allow it. Their helmets and pants are blue with white stripes and the jersey is blue with gold numbers.
- The Eagles are 3-1 – oh, my!! They are in first place in the NFC East. And, how about Jake Elliot? After winning the game the week before against the Giants with a 61-yard field goal, he made four more of 40+ yards this week (with a 53-yarder). The Eagles, also, can run the ball, a huge asset in the NFL. The Eagles next take on the Arizona Cardinals in Philadelphia.
- The Lafayette Leopards put up plenty of firsts this past Saturday in Worcester, Mass. By beating Holy Cross on the last play of the game, they attained their first win of the season; achieved a Patriot League victory in the first league game; took over first place in the PL; and gave Coach John Garrett his first-ever win as a college football coach.
- Bethlehem Catholic travels to Parkland this Friday in a battle of two unbeaten teams. You can watch the match-up LIVE on RCN at 7:00pm. Whitehall and Freedom follow at 9:30. Lafayette tries to win their second Patriot League game on Saturday at 3:30pm. Northampton plays Liberty Saturday night on RCN at 7:00pm.
Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 10-7; OVERALL – 39-23 – 63%)
Week Five
PITTSBURGH
RAIDERS
NEW ENGLAND
PHILADELPHIA
SAN FRANCISCO
BUFFALO
GIANTS
RAMS
MIAMI
JETS
CHICAGO
HOUSTON
DETROIT
DALLAS
The Red Zone
I know I have previously espoused the virtues of the NFL Red Zone in this space. But making the wild assumption you may have missed that particular blog (and, boy, is that a possibility), allow me to once again toot the horn of a product that any rabid football fan should have.
For those who might be unfamiliar with the channel, it is owned and operated by the NFL. It brings bits and pieces of every Sunday afternoon game, guaranteeing that you will see “every touchdown of every game” and they never fail in that mission. They call it “whip around coverage” and as each game heads towards moments of excitement The Red Zone takes you there. For an avid fantasy football player or fan, it never disappoints. Scott Hanson is the host and does a masterful job setting up the video.
If you needed any proof of how addicting this channel can be, just ask someone who had The Red Zone this past Sunday. There were five games that were decided in the final seconds of regulations or overtime and you could see all those finishes on one channel.
The Giants, desperate for a win (0-2 going into the game), looked like they were on their way to an overtime against the Eagles and the Giants had all the momentum. However, they were beaten in the last second by a 61-yard field goal by Jake Elliot. The Red Zone had all the excitement of the last two minutes.
The Atlanta Falcons had a four-point lead when Detroit’s Golden Tate caught what appeared to be a last second winning touchdown. A “pick” penalty was called against the Lions, 10 seconds were run off the clock due to the penalty and Atlanta won the game. There were plenty of “couch potato” second-guessing moments in those final seconds and The Red Zone offered up all the evidence you needed.
The Houston Texans had a fourth and inches on the Patriots 18-yard line with @2:30 to go and a two-point lead. The Texans chose to kick the field goal. Of course, Tom Brady took New England down the field, escaped a potential interception, and threw the game-winning touchdown. I guess it was another “Ho-hum” for Brady, but not for those of us watching The Red Zone looking for an upset by a team that was a 13.5 point underdog.
I do not like the NFL overtime rule which allows a team to score a touchdown for the win, without ever giving the opponent a chance to possess the football. That is what the Chicago Bears did to the Steelers on Sunday. There was plenty of chaos at the end of this one, but The Red Zone kept us informed.
Finally, the Bills beat the Broncos (the same team that demolished Dallas the previous week). There was a bizarre penalty in this one that allowed the Bills to kick a field goal and put the game out of reach. This was just another upset in a weekend of upsets that you could have experienced by watching The Red Zone.
The Red Zone costs $59.99 for the season on RCN. This past weekend, it was well-worth the investment. Actually, it’s true every weekend.
And… at the end of the day, they show every touchdown from every game, as promised!
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- This space has recently become my Saquon Barkley weekly call-out and this week is no exception. If you missed Penn State against Iowa on Saturday night (I did not, thanks to TIVO), go back and watch it. Whitehall’s Barkley had his best day ever rushing for 211 yards. He had 94 yards in receptions and set the Penn State record for all-purpose yards in a game. The Iowa coach said about Barkley, “The big difference in the game was that running back. He is a phenomenal player”. By the way, Penn State won on the very last play of the game 21-19.
- With the NFL and the NBA players now angry at the President, is MLB and the NHL far behind?
- Derek Jeter will soon be in charge of the Miami Marlins as the head of business and baseball operations. He will dismiss the current president and before that dismissal, Jeter wants him to fire Andre Dawson and Tony Perez (both Hall of Famers), Jeff Conine (former great Marlin player), and former manager Jack McKeon. This team will, obviously, be Derek’s team.
- The World Champion Chicago Cubs should clinch their division this week. Lafayette’s Joe Maddon is the manager and they seem ready to defend their title in October as they currently are playing great baseball. If I can’t root for the Phillies in the postseason, then I’m a Cubs’ fan.
- Parkland travels to Whitehall this Friday for a big rivalry match-up LIVE on RCN at 7:00pm. Lafayette opens the Patriot League season on Saturday afternoon in Worcester, Mass. at 1:00pm. That is where I will be. Northern Lehigh travels to Pen Argyl for a 7:00pm game.
Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 9-7; OVERALL – 29-17 – 63%)
Week Four
GREEN BAY
NEW ORLEANS
DALLAS
HOUSTON
DETROIT
ATLANTA
BALTIMORE
CINCINNATI
NEW ENGLAND
JACKSONVILLE
ARIZONA
PHILADELPHIA
GIANTS
DENVER
SEATTLE
KANSAS CITY
Guaranteed Losses
Penn State beat Georgia State on Saturday afternoon by a 56-0 score. This was their third win of the year, all over much lesser opponents – Akron – 52-0 and Pittsburgh – 33-14. Games one and three would be best described as “guarantee games”. The opponent is “guaranteed” a nice paycheck for playing Penn State and Penn State is “guaranteed” a win. Pitt is down in quality from many of their past teams, so this game proved to be no challenge either. All the teams have valid reasons for the match-ups: the losers for the money and the winner – well, Penn State head coach James Franklin probably said it best:
“The most important thing you can do, year-in and year-out, is schedule in a way that’s going to give your team the best chance to win your conference.”
That’s all good advice if you are the team that wins, but how about the teams that have no shot at winning? For example, Lafayette’s football team really took it on the chin this past weekend when they traveled to #7 Villanova to play the Wildcats. Villanova completely dominated the game by a 59-0 score and it could have been worse if Villanova hadn’t stopped throwing the ball in the second half. It was 49-0 at the half. And this game was not for the money.
Lafayette had already lost two games by a 31-12 score to Monmouth and 38-24 score to Sacred Heart. Both of these teams were laden with 5-year players who had a red-shirt season (an extra year to develop as a football player). Lafayette and the Patriot League do not allow red shirts except for injury. There is no extra year of physical maturity for the Leopards.
Up next for the Leopards is Princeton, a team they have beaten only three times in 48 tries. Their remaining non-conference opponent will be Harvard. The Crimson leads in this series 16-3 over Lafayette and have won five in a row. In the last 12 non-conference games, Lafayette has only two independent wins in the past three years – Wagner and Central Connecticut State.
John Garrett, the first-year Lafayette head coach, inherited a schedule which offers little chance of winning a non-conference game and a slim chance of winning a Patriot League game this year. They have only one Patriot League win in the past two years (over non-scholarship Georgetown). But, at least, the playing field is level when you play within the conference. Lafayette will just have to get better and will if they are not totally demoralized before the conference games begin.
I am well aware the schedules are developed years in advance (already in stone through 2020) and Coach Garrett knew what he was getting into when he accepted the job. Coming up in the next three years, Lafayette will play Delaware, William & Mary, Army, and Navy. Beating Delaware and/or William & Mary would be considered big upsets. Army beat Lafayette last season 62-7 and the Leopards will be no match for Navy.
John Garrett is one of the most positive individuals I have ever met. But when you are an Akron or Georgia State week in and week out, it is very difficult to instill that same positivity in the players and the fans.
If you don’t believe me, re-read Penn State’s Coach James Franklin’s quote:
“The most important thing you can do, year-in and year-out, is schedule in a way that’s going to give your team the best chance to win your conference.”
Lafayette needs to pin the message on the wall and remember it as they schedule for 2021. Please schedule a “guaranteed” win.
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- I’m sure many of you saw the play, but in case you missed Whitehall’s Saquon Barkley’s catch and run on Saturday here it is:He set the Penn State record for career receiving yardage for a running back in this game.
- https://www.roarlionsroar.com/penn-state-football/2017/09/2912/key-play-georgia-state-saquon-barkley-brandon-polk-trace-mcsorley
- Tom Brady of the Patriots took last week’s loss rather personally. He threw for 447 yards and three touchdowns in the Patriots’ win over New Orleans. In terms of consistent success, the Denver Broncos keep on winning as they stifled Dallas this past Sunday.
- The Cleveland Browns have not been favored to win a game since Week 14 of the 2015 season. They won that game, by the way, 24-10 over San Francisco in Cleveland. They have not been favored to win a road game since Week 7 of the 2014 season (they lost to the Jaguars 24-6). The Browns are 2.5 point favorites to beat the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis this week. I picked the Colts.
- East Stroudsburg South beating Central Catholic and Palisades drubbing Southern Lehigh were the most surprising high school football outcomes this past weekend.
- We have an inter-city rivalry on Friday night when undefeated Bethlehem Catholic plays Liberty at 7:00pm. Lafayette takes on Ivy League champion Princeton on Saturday night at 6:00pm on RCN-TV. There are also plenty of Celtic Classic festivities this weekend on RCN-TV.
Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 11-5; OVERALL – 21-10 – 68%)
Week Three
LA RAMS
BALTIMORE
INDIANAPOLIS
PITTSBURGH
MIAMI
DENVER
NEW ENGLAND
CAROLINA
TAMPA BAY
ATLANTA
PHILADELPHIA
TENNESSEE
KANSAS CITY
GREEN BAY
OAKLAND
DALLAS