After a four-month-long regular season, three rounds of playoffs, and one rest week before the fireworks begin, Super Bowl LV between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers is coming up on Sunday with a chance to win one of the biggest titles in sports on the line.

The Chiefs, the defending Super Bowl champions led by legendary coach Andy Reid and the biggest current star in the league in quarterback Patrick Mahomes, will have a tough task if they want to repeat as champs.

Quarterback Tom Brady shocked the football world by leaving the New England Patriots after twenty seasons, six Super Bowl titles, and three NFL MVP Awards and heading to the upstart Tampa Bay Buccaneers to revitalize the franchise, which hadn’t made the playoffs since 2007.

So, who will win the big game? Let’s break it down and choose a winner.

Offense

The biggest draw of this matchup is the incredible duel that should take place between Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady, arguably the league’s best two quarterbacks.

Not only this, but both teams have elite receiving weapons. Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Sammy Watkins have been a nightmare for opposing secondaries on the Chiefs’ end, while the Buccaneers’ group including recently un-retired Rob Gronkowski and star receiver Mike Evans don’t fall far behind.

The two teams’ running games might not have much of an impact on the game, but the Chiefs are more of a threat to use their backs both on the ground.

Advantage: Slightly Chiefs

Defense

One of the reasons that so many people are choosing a shootout in this game is because neither the Chiefs nor the Buccaneers are quite known for having an elite defense.

Just ask the Tampa Bay secondary about how much it struggled in their first meeting against Kansas City. Tyreek Hill was able to total 269 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns, and Mahomes put up 462 in a 27-24 win.

While neither team has a great secondary, though we do think the Chiefs’ is slightly better, the Bucs do at least have one elite group: its run defense. They allowed fewer yards than any other team in the league, but will it matter against a pass-heavy Chiefs offense?

Advantage: Draw

Special Teams/Coaching

When it comes to kickers and punters, there is virtually nothing separating these two teams. Both Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker and Bucs kicker Ryan Succop made more than 90% of their field goals this season, while KC punter Tommy Townsend and Tampa punter Bradley Pinion both averaged just over 45 yards per punt.

Both teams are mediocre at returning punts, but KC has had more kickoff return success, averaging 25.8 yards per return and even racking up a touchdown thanks to Tyreek Hill’s work here.

Andy Reid and Bruce Arians are both excellent coaches in their own regard, but we have to give the Chiefs the edge, as Reid has won this level magnitude of game before and has decades of experience while Arians has been a head coach for less than a decade.

Advantage: Chiefs

Prediction

This could end up being a Super Bowl for the ages as two of the best offenses in recent league history duel.

It is difficult to pick against a player of Tom Brady’s pedigree, but the Chiefs are a more complete team and come into the game with the confidence of having done this before.

I predict that Kansas City will win a 34-30 shootout.

The post Predicting Super Bowl LV: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After a weekend that saw four teams advance after winning their respective divisional playoff games, the Conference Championship games are now set with two tickets to the Super Bowl on the line.

The Packers and Buccaneers will face off at Lambeau Field in Green Bay to kick off Championship Sunday, and the nightcap will see the Bills visit Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

Let’s break down both of the games and make a prediction as we set our eyes on the two teams which will face off to try to take home football’s biggest prize.

AFC Championship Game: Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The conference’s best two regular-season teams will match up as the Chiefs host the Bills. This will be a matchup between the reigning champions and a team that hasn’t been to a Super Bowl in nearly three decades.

The Chiefs are still unsure if star quarterback and reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes will play after suffering a concussion in their win over the Browns last Sunday, but it appears he will play.

Kansas City has not been tested like this so far this season, and the Bills have a “nothing to lose” attitude. Much of their success will hinge on how much of an impact Josh Allen’s arm can make and if they can slow down KC’s deadly offense.

While they might be able to do so partially, the Chiefs are once again the strongest overall team in the league and we expect them to survive a close battle on Sunday and advance to their second consecutive Super Bowl.

Prediction: Chiefs 24, Bills 20

NFC Championship Game: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Green Bay Packers

Tom Brady left the New England Patriots in what was considered the riskiest move of his career, but after leading a once-mediocre franchise to the NFC Championship Game, he proved that he continues to be one of the league’s elite.

Aaron Rodgers’ Packers will have their hands full at Lambeau Field, and their secondary will get quite a workout against Brady and his top-notch pack of wide receivers.

The Packers, however, will not miss out on their chance to claim the title at their home field and we expect them to win a nail-biter.

Prediction: Packers 35, Buccaneers 34

The post Predicting the 2021 NFL Conference Championship Games appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The 2021 NFL Playoffs got off to a thrilling start in the Wild Card Round with a few upsets that have led us to some surprising Divisional Round matchups as eight teams continue to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive.

Four games await in this weekend’s divisional rounds, and there is plenty to analyze. Let’s take a look at the games and pick a winner for each one!

Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills

The Ravens avenged their early playoff exit at the hands of the Tennessee Titans with a 20-13 win at Nissan Field last weekend, and they will look to advance even further on Saturday against a very tough Bills team.

Buffalo has been a magical story this year, but Lamar Jackson and the Ravens appear to be on a revenge tour and they proved to have defensive meddle last week that could help them slow down Bills quarterback Josh Allen. We like them in a road upset.

Pick: Ravens 27, Bills 21

Cleveland Browns vs. Kansas City Chiefs

No one expected the Cleveland Browns to walk out of Heinz Field alive last weekend after facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they made easy work of their opposition. Their reward? A date against the reigning Super Bowl champions and this season’s presumptive favorites.

The Chiefs went 14-2 in the regular season for a reason, as they have the game’s deadliest offense led by superstar QB Patrick Mahomes. They’ll use this to exploit the Browns’ shaky secondary and cruise to a win, ending the Cinderella story.

Pick: Chiefs 41, Browns 24

Los Angeles Rams vs. Green Bay Packers

The Packers had a first round bye after finishing first in the NFC during the regular season, and they watched as the Rams upset the Seahawks despite their team’s injury problems and lack of a healthy starting quarterback.

The Rams have a great defense, but will they and cornerback Jalen Ramsey be able to do enough to slow down Aaron Rodgers and the conference’s best passing offense? We think they will put up a valiant fight but fall short at a frigid Lambeau Field.

Pick: Packers 30, Rams 17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints

The Sunday night special pits Tom Brady’s Buccaneers against Drew Brees’s Saints in a matchup of two of this generation’s best signal-callers. So, who will come out on top?

The Saints handled Tampa Bay in each of their two regular-season matchups, including a 38-3 home win in early November. The Bucs’ offense is doing better now, but we think they will come up just short in a bid to advance to the NFC Championship Game.

Pick: Saints 38, Buccaneers 34

The post Predicting the 2021 NFL Divisional Round Games appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The 2020 NFL season has been full of surprises, COVID-19 related chaos, and tight races that have put some of the league’s playoff berths completely up in the air with just one month of regular season action left.

Five regular season games remain for most teams, and plenty of the league’s coveted playoff berths are still yet to be decided.

Which ones should you be paying attention to over the final weeks of the season? Here are some of the most unsettled and potentially volatile races that you should be watching in December.

AFC Wild Card

Everything is up for grabs in the AFC’s wild card race, as a handful of three-loss teams and four-loss teams will jockey for the three Wild Card spots the conference has to offer.

The Browns (8-3), Dolphins (7-4), and Colts (7-4) currently hold the three spots, but the Ravens (6-4) and Raiders (6-5) are hot on their tails and a hot streak or a cold run for any of these teams could seal their fate.

Keep in mind that the Dolphins and Colts are both still very much alive in their respective division races, trailing the Bills and Titans by one game, respectively.

NFC West

In a division that many expected to be won by the San Francisco 49ers on the heels of their Super Bowl berth last season, it is instead the division’s other three teams which will be fighting to take home the division title and a guaranteed top-three seed.

The Seahawks (8-3) currently lead the Rams (7-4) and the Cardinals (6-5) for the division crown, and with the league’s most lethal offense, they look to be the best bet to win the division, leaving L.A. and Arizona to fight for Wild Card berths.

However, with the Rams holding a potential tiebreaker over Seattle and a hot Arizona team looking like a candidate to win every week, nothing is certain at this point.

NFC East

The NFL’s saddest division in 2020 has been the NFC East, where a foursome of sub-500 teams are battling it out to try to sneak into the playoffs as one of the weakest postseason teams in the league’s history.

The 4-7 Giants are currently tied with Washington for the division lead, and would win it if the season ended today based on a tiebreaker.

However, the arguably more-talented Eagles (3-7-1) and Cowboys (3-8) could both still easily sneak ahead and claim a playoff spot which would feel like a miracle to any of the four teams involved.

Which teams do you think will make the playoffs?

The post NFL Playoff Races to Watch in the Season’s Last Month appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The NFL regular season has reached its halfway point, which means that it’s time to start thinking about which teams we can expect to compete for a Super Bowl berth.

There are a few teams that are clearly favorites to compete for a title in the AFC (think the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens), but there’s a big group of teams in the other conference which have been pretty good without being excellent this season whose statuses are still up in the air.

Let’s take a look at some of the good, but not great, teams in the NFC which look like a decent bet to make the playoffs but whose Super Bowl contention statuses are still to be determined.

Green Bay Packers (6-2)

The Packers are seemingly in the hunt for a playoff berth and a Super Bowl bid every season and that’s once again the case in 2020. Aaron Rodgers might not have long left in the league, but he’s hit his stride this season, throwing for 24 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions this season despite a fairly average receiving corps and a sputtering run offense.

In the wide-open NFC, betting against Rodgers would be a mistake. The team has holes and its defense is decidedly average, but a hot Rodgers in the playoffs would be plenty to lead them all the way to the big game.

Status: Contender

New Orleans Saints (6-2)

The Saints had the biggest win of any team in Week 9, absolutely demolishing Tom Brady’s resurgent Buccaneers by a 34-3 final score. This was New Orleans at its best: its secondary confused Tom Brady and forced 3 interceptions and Drew Brees was nearly impeccable, throwing for 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.

Brees isn’t the player he once was, but he remains one of the most intelligent signal-callers in the game and has plenty of wide receiving weapons at his disposal. Can their defense be good enough to propel them forward to the Super Bowl? They just might be.

Status: Contender

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3)

Tom Brady’s Bucs were the talk of the league during much of the first half of the season as the future Hall of Famer turned Tampa into a near-lock for the playoffs after years of mediocrity.

Nonetheless, this team isn’t even comparable to the Patriots teams that Brady won several Super Bowls during his tenure there. They’ve fallen short against the Saints twice (while getting severely out-coached), and they only have a 2-3 record against teams with winning records. This team appears to be a paper tiger.

Status: Pretender

Seattle Seahawks (6-2)

Let’s get one thing straight: Russell Wilson is the best quarterback in the league and is the odds-on favorite to walk away with this season’s NFL MVP Award. What he has done is truly outstanding, and he’s currently on a pace to challenge and break Peyton Manning’s record of 55 touchdown passes in a single season.

With that being said, what Wilson has done is so remarkable precisely because of just how bad this team’s defense is. They allow 455 yards per game, the league’s worst mark by a whopping 28 yards. They have no shot at showing down quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Kyler Murray, nor in the regular season nor in the playoffs. You can’t win in the playoffs without a functional defense, and Seattle doesn’t have one.

Status: Pretender

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The NFL, which is optimistic about its 2020 season taking place without a hitch despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, released its 2020 regular season schedule on Thursday.

The regular season, which will begin on September 10th and finish on December 27th, has a ton of big matchups in store and will provide plenty of intrigue after big moves this offseason saw some of the game’s most familiar faces moving to new teams.

Opening weekend is always a delight for football fans, and there will be plenty of juicy matchups to analyze and watch this season. Here are our top three picks for games to watch during the first round of games.

Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs

The defending Super Bowl champions will begin the defense of their title on Thursday night in the season’s opening game. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs won’t have it easy, however, as they welcome DeShaun Watson and the Texans in a matchup of two of the league’s premier young quarterbacks.

The Texans and Chiefs faced off in the divisional round of last year’s playoffs, with the Texans stunning fans at Arrowhead Stadium after taking a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. Kansas City stormed back to win, however, in the first victory of a Super Bowl march in what was a thrilling 51-31 shootout. The season’s opening game this year promises much of the same thrilling action.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints

Tampa Bay is going to be one of the most scrutinized teams in the 2020 season after they added former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in one of the league’s most stunning moves. Joining him will be tight end Rob Gronkowski and a host of attention that will turn them into one of the league’s biggest draws.

They won’t have an easy matchup in Week 1, as they will visit the always-hostile Superdome and the 2019 division champion New Orleans Saints. Tom Brady and Saints QB Drew Brees, despite both being over 40-years-old, are still two of the league’s top signal-callers and should provide an entertaining matchup.

Los Angeles Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals

Are you looking for a game that should provide plenty of intrigue related to the 2020 NFL Draft? This Week 1 matchup might feature two teams that registered double-digit losses last season, but it also promises to feature the debuts of two of the premier players picked in this year’s draft.

Top overall pick and potential franchise savior Joe Burrow is expected to make his debut with his team in this Week 1 matchup at home against the Chargers, who selected quarterback Justin Herbert with the sixth overall pick this year. Week 1 could provide us with a fascinating showdown between these two prime targets to become NFL stars.

The post The 2020 NFL Season’s Most Intriguing Opening Week Games appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The first six picks of the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday night saw three quarterbacks selected, with LSU’s Joe Burrow going to the Cincinnati Bengals with the top overall pick and Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa being taken by the Miami Dolphins with the fifth selection.

The next quarterback taken, Oregon’s Justin Herbert, went to the Los Angeles Chargers with the sixth overall pick and has the potential to turn his new team’s offense into one of the league’s most deadly attacks.

Pre-draft opinion on Herbert was largely mixed, with some evaluators praising Herbert’s 6’6″, 240 pound frame and top-class speed for the quarterback position. His arm strength. intelligence, and composure were other factors that led to him being a top ten pick.

On the other hand, some aren’t so sold on the former Oregon Duck, pointing out inconsistencies in decision-making and passing accuracy which could hamper his ability to succeed in the National Football League.

Herbert, however, has the potential to make his new team an offensive juggernaut after being placed in an offense that looks almost custom-tailored for his success.

The Eugene, Oregon native spent three and a half seasons as a starting quarterback in college, compiling a 29-14 win-loss record and throwing 95 touchdowns compared to only 25 interceptions.

Herbert’s Ducks, until his final season with the team which ended with a Pac-12 Championship and a Rose Bowl trophy, were a largely mediocre to above-average team that didn’t surround the quarterback with the weapons that Burrow and Tagovailoa had.

This, however, will completely change for the 22-year-old in Los Angeles.

The Chargers have one of the most talented and complete receiving corps in the National Football League, an advantage that Herbert largely lacked during his time in college. This will lead to the quarterback’s natural arm strength and play-making ability to take off, teaming up with threats such as Keenan Allen, Mike Henry, and Hunter Henry to pair a massively-talented signal caller with an elite group of pass catchers.

Herbert also gives the Chargers a new dimension of running ability, as he is lauded for his foot speed and agility. Coaches largely told Herbert not to run while in college due to concerns about his health, however, his 4.68 second 40 yard dash time shows just how talented of a runner he can be.

Herbert will have work to do in order to adjust to the NFL game and become accustomed to the speed of defenses in the league, and he would still benefit from the Chargers making some upgrades at the offensive line positions in order to protect him better.

However, it’s clear that the elements of Herbert along with a skilled and talented group of wide receivers give the Chargers the unique ability to become one of the league’s most electric offenses in the near future.

The post QB Justin Herbert Could Propel the Chargers to Having a Top, Dynamic Offense appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The annual National Football League draft, which is set to take begin on Thursday, April 23rd, will have a different flavor than usual thanks to the current COVID-19 pandemic which is forcing the league to do a virtual version of the event.

However, the draft will still go on as planned, and will feature seven rounds of picks and both teams and amateur players looking to make moves that will bring them success in the future.

Let’s take a shot at predicting the top five picks of the draft, which could end up changing the fortunes of the franchises that select these players.

First Pick, Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

Burrow is a near-lock to be the first overall pick in the draft, and it’s easy to see why. The Bengals need a quarterback and a franchise player, and the talented and steady Burrow is the perfect man to fill that role. Choosing a player who grew up in Ohio could even give Cincinnati the added plus of energizing a fan base that hasn’t had much to cheer about recently.

Second Pick, Washington Redskins

Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

Chase Young might just be the best player in the draft on a pure talent level, and while Washington might be tempted to select a quarterback here, we think they will ultimately pick the game-changing Buckeye here. Young is a destructive pass-rushing force that will give an immediate boost to a team that needs talent at all positions on the field

Third Pick, Detroit Lions

Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State

Looking to shore up a leaky pass defense like the Lions have had lately? Jeff Okudah, the top secondary player in this year’s draft, is a no-brainer for the team here. Detroit allowed the most pass yards in the league last year and only intercepted 7 balls, so Okudah would be a great addition for them to take a step forward in this regard.

Fourth Pick, New York Giants

Tristan Wirfs, OL, Iowa

The Giants are a pretty big wild card in the draft, with no real read on them having a clear preference for any player in particular. With Daniel Jones looking like the team’s current preference at QB, they probably won’t take a signal caller, so we think that they will take Wirfs, the best pass-blocker in the draft, with the #4 pick.

Fifth Pick, Miami Dolphins

Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

Much has been written and debated about who will be the second quarterback taken in this year’s draft. The discussion centers around Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and Oregon’s Justin Herbert, which most drafts have going in the top ten. We think the Dolphins will take the big, talented right-hander from Oregon over Tagovailoa, however, due to his cleaner bill of health and his more traditional QB traits.

The post Predicting the Top Five Picks in the 2020 NFL Draft appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The NBA is one of the principal leagues that has found its 2019-20 season put on hold as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the world of sports and society in general.

The league came to a grinding halt in early March after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus after coming down ill just before a game, sending the league into a state of suspension.

Currently, the coronavirus outbreak in North America continues to grow and doesn’t show any signs of letting up. Despite social distancing and “stay at home” policies enacted by many governmental organizations, it seems like quite a bit of time will past until basketball and other sports are able to return.

With that being said, we think that the NBA still has the opportunity to finish the 2019-20 season with a memorable set of playoffs come summertime when athletes should be able to convene again to compete.

How would the NBA do this? By calling off the rest of the regular season and shortening the playoffs.

In a normal season, the NBA Playoffs are a very long and drawn-out process. Under the current system, 16 of the league’s 30 teams make the playoffs and participate in a long-winded system involving four rounds of games that are part of a best-of-seven series.

While the NBA Playoffs begin in late April, they don’t finish until the end of June. Teams typically reconvene for training camp only a couple of months later, at the end of September or the beginning of October.

So, how could the NBA make the process faster and compact the playoffs to only a month or so? The solution could be in reducing the number of teams that compete.

The best solution for being able to hold the Playoffs and crown an NBA Champion for the 2019-20 season starts by halving the number of teams that compete in the competition. In doing this, the system could be compressed into only 4-5 weeks, especially if series were shortened to best-of-five for at least some rounds.

After reading this, you might be thinking, “But what about the fifth through eighth-seeded teams in their conferences? Wouldn’t they be upset about missing out on the playoffs?”

Well, yes, they probably wouldn’t be happy. But, the facts are the facts. The last time a team seeded lower than #4 in the Playoffs made the NBA Finals was in the 1999 season, and the last time a team seeded lower than #4 won the NBA Finals was twenty years ago when the sixth-seeded Rockets won the whole thing.

The reality of the current NBA landscape is that no matter the length of the Playoffs, two of the league’s eight top teams always make the Finals, and reducing the field in this way would provide the most satisfying end to the season.

The post The NBA’s Best Solution For Finishing the 2019-20 Season is to Shorten the Playoffs appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Carolina Panthers’ quarterback situation changed drastically on Tuesday night. Reports leaked out that the NFC South team had agreed to a free agent deal with QB Teddy Bridgewater, meaning that former #1 pick Cam Newton’s tenure in Carolina is nearing its end.

The divorce began to get ugly after the team reported that it had “given permission for Newton to seek a trade,” with the quarterback responding in an Instagram comment that the team had forced him into that situation.

In any case, Newton will now be available for suitors all over the league who are looking for an upgrade at the quarterback position. Let’s take a look at some of the best fits for the superstar.

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers are now looking for a new quarterback after Philip Rivers left for the Indianapolis Colts in free agency. With the team quite possibly looking to draft a quarterback like Justin Herbert or Tua Tagovailoa in the draft, Newton could be the perfect short-term solution.

The former 1st overall pick probably can’t be counted on for an entire season of play due to his injury problems, let alone multiple seasons, but Newton would be a perfect bridge to a young quarterback in the short-term.

His presence would also allow the Chargers to compete in the short-term considering the dynamic weapons, including Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Hunter Henry. Is this the perfect fit for Newton?

Chicago Bears

The Bears have been rumored as a potential landing spot for the 30-year-old quarterback, and it’s easy to see why. Mitchell Trubisky, who was drafted 2nd overall by the team only three years ago, has underwhelmed during his first three seasons with the team.

Could Newton be the quarterback to challenge Trubisky and possibly take his starting spot, if healthy? The team went 8-8 last season, and many thought that Trubisky held them back from making the playoffs. It could be beneficial for Newton to take over, add a little more talent at the position, and lead the Bears forward for the time being.

With Marcus Mariota, Philip Rivers, and Tom Brady off of the table, could this be Ryan Pace’s best option left on the table?

New England Patriots

The Patriots and Bill Belichick are still reeling from Tom Brady’s departure to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Could they go with another supremely talented quarterback to replace him? Newton could be a great option.

While Newton’s playstyle is totally different from Brady’s, he has shown a willingness to learn and adapt in different schemes during his time in Carolina. The possibility of playing for the NFL’s most highly-respected organization certainly wouldn’t be a disadvantage, either.

Let’s be honest: neither Cody Kessler nor Jarrett Stidham are going to start 2020 as the Patriots’ starting quarterback. Why not give Newton a shot to lead you to glory once again?

The post The Best Potential Landing Spots For QB Cam Newton appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After a four-month-long regular season, three rounds of playoffs, and one rest week before the fireworks begin, Super Bowl LV between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers is coming up on Sunday with a chance to win one of the biggest titles in sports on the line.

The Chiefs, the defending Super Bowl champions led by legendary coach Andy Reid and the biggest current star in the league in quarterback Patrick Mahomes, will have a tough task if they want to repeat as champs.

Quarterback Tom Brady shocked the football world by leaving the New England Patriots after twenty seasons, six Super Bowl titles, and three NFL MVP Awards and heading to the upstart Tampa Bay Buccaneers to revitalize the franchise, which hadn’t made the playoffs since 2007.

So, who will win the big game? Let’s break it down and choose a winner.

Offense

The biggest draw of this matchup is the incredible duel that should take place between Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady, arguably the league’s best two quarterbacks.

Not only this, but both teams have elite receiving weapons. Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Sammy Watkins have been a nightmare for opposing secondaries on the Chiefs’ end, while the Buccaneers’ group including recently un-retired Rob Gronkowski and star receiver Mike Evans don’t fall far behind.

The two teams’ running games might not have much of an impact on the game, but the Chiefs are more of a threat to use their backs both on the ground.

Advantage: Slightly Chiefs

Defense

One of the reasons that so many people are choosing a shootout in this game is because neither the Chiefs nor the Buccaneers are quite known for having an elite defense.

Just ask the Tampa Bay secondary about how much it struggled in their first meeting against Kansas City. Tyreek Hill was able to total 269 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns, and Mahomes put up 462 in a 27-24 win.

While neither team has a great secondary, though we do think the Chiefs’ is slightly better, the Bucs do at least have one elite group: its run defense. They allowed fewer yards than any other team in the league, but will it matter against a pass-heavy Chiefs offense?

Advantage: Draw

Special Teams/Coaching

When it comes to kickers and punters, there is virtually nothing separating these two teams. Both Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker and Bucs kicker Ryan Succop made more than 90% of their field goals this season, while KC punter Tommy Townsend and Tampa punter Bradley Pinion both averaged just over 45 yards per punt.

Both teams are mediocre at returning punts, but KC has had more kickoff return success, averaging 25.8 yards per return and even racking up a touchdown thanks to Tyreek Hill’s work here.

Andy Reid and Bruce Arians are both excellent coaches in their own regard, but we have to give the Chiefs the edge, as Reid has won this level magnitude of game before and has decades of experience while Arians has been a head coach for less than a decade.

Advantage: Chiefs

Prediction

This could end up being a Super Bowl for the ages as two of the best offenses in recent league history duel.

It is difficult to pick against a player of Tom Brady’s pedigree, but the Chiefs are a more complete team and come into the game with the confidence of having done this before.

I predict that Kansas City will win a 34-30 shootout.

The post Predicting Super Bowl LV: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After a weekend that saw four teams advance after winning their respective divisional playoff games, the Conference Championship games are now set with two tickets to the Super Bowl on the line.

The Packers and Buccaneers will face off at Lambeau Field in Green Bay to kick off Championship Sunday, and the nightcap will see the Bills visit Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

Let’s break down both of the games and make a prediction as we set our eyes on the two teams which will face off to try to take home football’s biggest prize.

AFC Championship Game: Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The conference’s best two regular-season teams will match up as the Chiefs host the Bills. This will be a matchup between the reigning champions and a team that hasn’t been to a Super Bowl in nearly three decades.

The Chiefs are still unsure if star quarterback and reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes will play after suffering a concussion in their win over the Browns last Sunday, but it appears he will play.

Kansas City has not been tested like this so far this season, and the Bills have a “nothing to lose” attitude. Much of their success will hinge on how much of an impact Josh Allen’s arm can make and if they can slow down KC’s deadly offense.

While they might be able to do so partially, the Chiefs are once again the strongest overall team in the league and we expect them to survive a close battle on Sunday and advance to their second consecutive Super Bowl.

Prediction: Chiefs 24, Bills 20

NFC Championship Game: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Green Bay Packers

Tom Brady left the New England Patriots in what was considered the riskiest move of his career, but after leading a once-mediocre franchise to the NFC Championship Game, he proved that he continues to be one of the league’s elite.

Aaron Rodgers’ Packers will have their hands full at Lambeau Field, and their secondary will get quite a workout against Brady and his top-notch pack of wide receivers.

The Packers, however, will not miss out on their chance to claim the title at their home field and we expect them to win a nail-biter.

Prediction: Packers 35, Buccaneers 34

The post Predicting the 2021 NFL Conference Championship Games appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The 2021 NFL Playoffs got off to a thrilling start in the Wild Card Round with a few upsets that have led us to some surprising Divisional Round matchups as eight teams continue to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive.

Four games await in this weekend’s divisional rounds, and there is plenty to analyze. Let’s take a look at the games and pick a winner for each one!

Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills

The Ravens avenged their early playoff exit at the hands of the Tennessee Titans with a 20-13 win at Nissan Field last weekend, and they will look to advance even further on Saturday against a very tough Bills team.

Buffalo has been a magical story this year, but Lamar Jackson and the Ravens appear to be on a revenge tour and they proved to have defensive meddle last week that could help them slow down Bills quarterback Josh Allen. We like them in a road upset.

Pick: Ravens 27, Bills 21

Cleveland Browns vs. Kansas City Chiefs

No one expected the Cleveland Browns to walk out of Heinz Field alive last weekend after facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they made easy work of their opposition. Their reward? A date against the reigning Super Bowl champions and this season’s presumptive favorites.

The Chiefs went 14-2 in the regular season for a reason, as they have the game’s deadliest offense led by superstar QB Patrick Mahomes. They’ll use this to exploit the Browns’ shaky secondary and cruise to a win, ending the Cinderella story.

Pick: Chiefs 41, Browns 24

Los Angeles Rams vs. Green Bay Packers

The Packers had a first round bye after finishing first in the NFC during the regular season, and they watched as the Rams upset the Seahawks despite their team’s injury problems and lack of a healthy starting quarterback.

The Rams have a great defense, but will they and cornerback Jalen Ramsey be able to do enough to slow down Aaron Rodgers and the conference’s best passing offense? We think they will put up a valiant fight but fall short at a frigid Lambeau Field.

Pick: Packers 30, Rams 17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints

The Sunday night special pits Tom Brady’s Buccaneers against Drew Brees’s Saints in a matchup of two of this generation’s best signal-callers. So, who will come out on top?

The Saints handled Tampa Bay in each of their two regular-season matchups, including a 38-3 home win in early November. The Bucs’ offense is doing better now, but we think they will come up just short in a bid to advance to the NFC Championship Game.

Pick: Saints 38, Buccaneers 34

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The 2020 NFL season has been full of surprises, COVID-19 related chaos, and tight races that have put some of the league’s playoff berths completely up in the air with just one month of regular season action left.

Five regular season games remain for most teams, and plenty of the league’s coveted playoff berths are still yet to be decided.

Which ones should you be paying attention to over the final weeks of the season? Here are some of the most unsettled and potentially volatile races that you should be watching in December.

AFC Wild Card

Everything is up for grabs in the AFC’s wild card race, as a handful of three-loss teams and four-loss teams will jockey for the three Wild Card spots the conference has to offer.

The Browns (8-3), Dolphins (7-4), and Colts (7-4) currently hold the three spots, but the Ravens (6-4) and Raiders (6-5) are hot on their tails and a hot streak or a cold run for any of these teams could seal their fate.

Keep in mind that the Dolphins and Colts are both still very much alive in their respective division races, trailing the Bills and Titans by one game, respectively.

NFC West

In a division that many expected to be won by the San Francisco 49ers on the heels of their Super Bowl berth last season, it is instead the division’s other three teams which will be fighting to take home the division title and a guaranteed top-three seed.

The Seahawks (8-3) currently lead the Rams (7-4) and the Cardinals (6-5) for the division crown, and with the league’s most lethal offense, they look to be the best bet to win the division, leaving L.A. and Arizona to fight for Wild Card berths.

However, with the Rams holding a potential tiebreaker over Seattle and a hot Arizona team looking like a candidate to win every week, nothing is certain at this point.

NFC East

The NFL’s saddest division in 2020 has been the NFC East, where a foursome of sub-500 teams are battling it out to try to sneak into the playoffs as one of the weakest postseason teams in the league’s history.

The 4-7 Giants are currently tied with Washington for the division lead, and would win it if the season ended today based on a tiebreaker.

However, the arguably more-talented Eagles (3-7-1) and Cowboys (3-8) could both still easily sneak ahead and claim a playoff spot which would feel like a miracle to any of the four teams involved.

Which teams do you think will make the playoffs?

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The NFL regular season has reached its halfway point, which means that it’s time to start thinking about which teams we can expect to compete for a Super Bowl berth.

There are a few teams that are clearly favorites to compete for a title in the AFC (think the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens), but there’s a big group of teams in the other conference which have been pretty good without being excellent this season whose statuses are still up in the air.

Let’s take a look at some of the good, but not great, teams in the NFC which look like a decent bet to make the playoffs but whose Super Bowl contention statuses are still to be determined.

Green Bay Packers (6-2)

The Packers are seemingly in the hunt for a playoff berth and a Super Bowl bid every season and that’s once again the case in 2020. Aaron Rodgers might not have long left in the league, but he’s hit his stride this season, throwing for 24 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions this season despite a fairly average receiving corps and a sputtering run offense.

In the wide-open NFC, betting against Rodgers would be a mistake. The team has holes and its defense is decidedly average, but a hot Rodgers in the playoffs would be plenty to lead them all the way to the big game.

Status: Contender

New Orleans Saints (6-2)

The Saints had the biggest win of any team in Week 9, absolutely demolishing Tom Brady’s resurgent Buccaneers by a 34-3 final score. This was New Orleans at its best: its secondary confused Tom Brady and forced 3 interceptions and Drew Brees was nearly impeccable, throwing for 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.

Brees isn’t the player he once was, but he remains one of the most intelligent signal-callers in the game and has plenty of wide receiving weapons at his disposal. Can their defense be good enough to propel them forward to the Super Bowl? They just might be.

Status: Contender

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3)

Tom Brady’s Bucs were the talk of the league during much of the first half of the season as the future Hall of Famer turned Tampa into a near-lock for the playoffs after years of mediocrity.

Nonetheless, this team isn’t even comparable to the Patriots teams that Brady won several Super Bowls during his tenure there. They’ve fallen short against the Saints twice (while getting severely out-coached), and they only have a 2-3 record against teams with winning records. This team appears to be a paper tiger.

Status: Pretender

Seattle Seahawks (6-2)

Let’s get one thing straight: Russell Wilson is the best quarterback in the league and is the odds-on favorite to walk away with this season’s NFL MVP Award. What he has done is truly outstanding, and he’s currently on a pace to challenge and break Peyton Manning’s record of 55 touchdown passes in a single season.

With that being said, what Wilson has done is so remarkable precisely because of just how bad this team’s defense is. They allow 455 yards per game, the league’s worst mark by a whopping 28 yards. They have no shot at showing down quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Kyler Murray, nor in the regular season nor in the playoffs. You can’t win in the playoffs without a functional defense, and Seattle doesn’t have one.

Status: Pretender

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The NFL, which is optimistic about its 2020 season taking place without a hitch despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, released its 2020 regular season schedule on Thursday.

The regular season, which will begin on September 10th and finish on December 27th, has a ton of big matchups in store and will provide plenty of intrigue after big moves this offseason saw some of the game’s most familiar faces moving to new teams.

Opening weekend is always a delight for football fans, and there will be plenty of juicy matchups to analyze and watch this season. Here are our top three picks for games to watch during the first round of games.

Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs

The defending Super Bowl champions will begin the defense of their title on Thursday night in the season’s opening game. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs won’t have it easy, however, as they welcome DeShaun Watson and the Texans in a matchup of two of the league’s premier young quarterbacks.

The Texans and Chiefs faced off in the divisional round of last year’s playoffs, with the Texans stunning fans at Arrowhead Stadium after taking a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. Kansas City stormed back to win, however, in the first victory of a Super Bowl march in what was a thrilling 51-31 shootout. The season’s opening game this year promises much of the same thrilling action.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints

Tampa Bay is going to be one of the most scrutinized teams in the 2020 season after they added former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in one of the league’s most stunning moves. Joining him will be tight end Rob Gronkowski and a host of attention that will turn them into one of the league’s biggest draws.

They won’t have an easy matchup in Week 1, as they will visit the always-hostile Superdome and the 2019 division champion New Orleans Saints. Tom Brady and Saints QB Drew Brees, despite both being over 40-years-old, are still two of the league’s top signal-callers and should provide an entertaining matchup.

Los Angeles Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals

Are you looking for a game that should provide plenty of intrigue related to the 2020 NFL Draft? This Week 1 matchup might feature two teams that registered double-digit losses last season, but it also promises to feature the debuts of two of the premier players picked in this year’s draft.

Top overall pick and potential franchise savior Joe Burrow is expected to make his debut with his team in this Week 1 matchup at home against the Chargers, who selected quarterback Justin Herbert with the sixth overall pick this year. Week 1 could provide us with a fascinating showdown between these two prime targets to become NFL stars.

The post The 2020 NFL Season’s Most Intriguing Opening Week Games appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The first six picks of the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday night saw three quarterbacks selected, with LSU’s Joe Burrow going to the Cincinnati Bengals with the top overall pick and Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa being taken by the Miami Dolphins with the fifth selection.

The next quarterback taken, Oregon’s Justin Herbert, went to the Los Angeles Chargers with the sixth overall pick and has the potential to turn his new team’s offense into one of the league’s most deadly attacks.

Pre-draft opinion on Herbert was largely mixed, with some evaluators praising Herbert’s 6’6″, 240 pound frame and top-class speed for the quarterback position. His arm strength. intelligence, and composure were other factors that led to him being a top ten pick.

On the other hand, some aren’t so sold on the former Oregon Duck, pointing out inconsistencies in decision-making and passing accuracy which could hamper his ability to succeed in the National Football League.

Herbert, however, has the potential to make his new team an offensive juggernaut after being placed in an offense that looks almost custom-tailored for his success.

The Eugene, Oregon native spent three and a half seasons as a starting quarterback in college, compiling a 29-14 win-loss record and throwing 95 touchdowns compared to only 25 interceptions.

Herbert’s Ducks, until his final season with the team which ended with a Pac-12 Championship and a Rose Bowl trophy, were a largely mediocre to above-average team that didn’t surround the quarterback with the weapons that Burrow and Tagovailoa had.

This, however, will completely change for the 22-year-old in Los Angeles.

The Chargers have one of the most talented and complete receiving corps in the National Football League, an advantage that Herbert largely lacked during his time in college. This will lead to the quarterback’s natural arm strength and play-making ability to take off, teaming up with threats such as Keenan Allen, Mike Henry, and Hunter Henry to pair a massively-talented signal caller with an elite group of pass catchers.

Herbert also gives the Chargers a new dimension of running ability, as he is lauded for his foot speed and agility. Coaches largely told Herbert not to run while in college due to concerns about his health, however, his 4.68 second 40 yard dash time shows just how talented of a runner he can be.

Herbert will have work to do in order to adjust to the NFL game and become accustomed to the speed of defenses in the league, and he would still benefit from the Chargers making some upgrades at the offensive line positions in order to protect him better.

However, it’s clear that the elements of Herbert along with a skilled and talented group of wide receivers give the Chargers the unique ability to become one of the league’s most electric offenses in the near future.

The post QB Justin Herbert Could Propel the Chargers to Having a Top, Dynamic Offense appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The annual National Football League draft, which is set to take begin on Thursday, April 23rd, will have a different flavor than usual thanks to the current COVID-19 pandemic which is forcing the league to do a virtual version of the event.

However, the draft will still go on as planned, and will feature seven rounds of picks and both teams and amateur players looking to make moves that will bring them success in the future.

Let’s take a shot at predicting the top five picks of the draft, which could end up changing the fortunes of the franchises that select these players.

First Pick, Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

Burrow is a near-lock to be the first overall pick in the draft, and it’s easy to see why. The Bengals need a quarterback and a franchise player, and the talented and steady Burrow is the perfect man to fill that role. Choosing a player who grew up in Ohio could even give Cincinnati the added plus of energizing a fan base that hasn’t had much to cheer about recently.

Second Pick, Washington Redskins

Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

Chase Young might just be the best player in the draft on a pure talent level, and while Washington might be tempted to select a quarterback here, we think they will ultimately pick the game-changing Buckeye here. Young is a destructive pass-rushing force that will give an immediate boost to a team that needs talent at all positions on the field

Third Pick, Detroit Lions

Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State

Looking to shore up a leaky pass defense like the Lions have had lately? Jeff Okudah, the top secondary player in this year’s draft, is a no-brainer for the team here. Detroit allowed the most pass yards in the league last year and only intercepted 7 balls, so Okudah would be a great addition for them to take a step forward in this regard.

Fourth Pick, New York Giants

Tristan Wirfs, OL, Iowa

The Giants are a pretty big wild card in the draft, with no real read on them having a clear preference for any player in particular. With Daniel Jones looking like the team’s current preference at QB, they probably won’t take a signal caller, so we think that they will take Wirfs, the best pass-blocker in the draft, with the #4 pick.

Fifth Pick, Miami Dolphins

Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

Much has been written and debated about who will be the second quarterback taken in this year’s draft. The discussion centers around Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and Oregon’s Justin Herbert, which most drafts have going in the top ten. We think the Dolphins will take the big, talented right-hander from Oregon over Tagovailoa, however, due to his cleaner bill of health and his more traditional QB traits.

The post Predicting the Top Five Picks in the 2020 NFL Draft appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The NBA is one of the principal leagues that has found its 2019-20 season put on hold as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the world of sports and society in general.

The league came to a grinding halt in early March after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus after coming down ill just before a game, sending the league into a state of suspension.

Currently, the coronavirus outbreak in North America continues to grow and doesn’t show any signs of letting up. Despite social distancing and “stay at home” policies enacted by many governmental organizations, it seems like quite a bit of time will past until basketball and other sports are able to return.

With that being said, we think that the NBA still has the opportunity to finish the 2019-20 season with a memorable set of playoffs come summertime when athletes should be able to convene again to compete.

How would the NBA do this? By calling off the rest of the regular season and shortening the playoffs.

In a normal season, the NBA Playoffs are a very long and drawn-out process. Under the current system, 16 of the league’s 30 teams make the playoffs and participate in a long-winded system involving four rounds of games that are part of a best-of-seven series.

While the NBA Playoffs begin in late April, they don’t finish until the end of June. Teams typically reconvene for training camp only a couple of months later, at the end of September or the beginning of October.

So, how could the NBA make the process faster and compact the playoffs to only a month or so? The solution could be in reducing the number of teams that compete.

The best solution for being able to hold the Playoffs and crown an NBA Champion for the 2019-20 season starts by halving the number of teams that compete in the competition. In doing this, the system could be compressed into only 4-5 weeks, especially if series were shortened to best-of-five for at least some rounds.

After reading this, you might be thinking, “But what about the fifth through eighth-seeded teams in their conferences? Wouldn’t they be upset about missing out on the playoffs?”

Well, yes, they probably wouldn’t be happy. But, the facts are the facts. The last time a team seeded lower than #4 in the Playoffs made the NBA Finals was in the 1999 season, and the last time a team seeded lower than #4 won the NBA Finals was twenty years ago when the sixth-seeded Rockets won the whole thing.

The reality of the current NBA landscape is that no matter the length of the Playoffs, two of the league’s eight top teams always make the Finals, and reducing the field in this way would provide the most satisfying end to the season.

The post The NBA’s Best Solution For Finishing the 2019-20 Season is to Shorten the Playoffs appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Carolina Panthers’ quarterback situation changed drastically on Tuesday night. Reports leaked out that the NFC South team had agreed to a free agent deal with QB Teddy Bridgewater, meaning that former #1 pick Cam Newton’s tenure in Carolina is nearing its end.

The divorce began to get ugly after the team reported that it had “given permission for Newton to seek a trade,” with the quarterback responding in an Instagram comment that the team had forced him into that situation.

In any case, Newton will now be available for suitors all over the league who are looking for an upgrade at the quarterback position. Let’s take a look at some of the best fits for the superstar.

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers are now looking for a new quarterback after Philip Rivers left for the Indianapolis Colts in free agency. With the team quite possibly looking to draft a quarterback like Justin Herbert or Tua Tagovailoa in the draft, Newton could be the perfect short-term solution.

The former 1st overall pick probably can’t be counted on for an entire season of play due to his injury problems, let alone multiple seasons, but Newton would be a perfect bridge to a young quarterback in the short-term.

His presence would also allow the Chargers to compete in the short-term considering the dynamic weapons, including Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Hunter Henry. Is this the perfect fit for Newton?

Chicago Bears

The Bears have been rumored as a potential landing spot for the 30-year-old quarterback, and it’s easy to see why. Mitchell Trubisky, who was drafted 2nd overall by the team only three years ago, has underwhelmed during his first three seasons with the team.

Could Newton be the quarterback to challenge Trubisky and possibly take his starting spot, if healthy? The team went 8-8 last season, and many thought that Trubisky held them back from making the playoffs. It could be beneficial for Newton to take over, add a little more talent at the position, and lead the Bears forward for the time being.

With Marcus Mariota, Philip Rivers, and Tom Brady off of the table, could this be Ryan Pace’s best option left on the table?

New England Patriots

The Patriots and Bill Belichick are still reeling from Tom Brady’s departure to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Could they go with another supremely talented quarterback to replace him? Newton could be a great option.

While Newton’s playstyle is totally different from Brady’s, he has shown a willingness to learn and adapt in different schemes during his time in Carolina. The possibility of playing for the NFL’s most highly-respected organization certainly wouldn’t be a disadvantage, either.

Let’s be honest: neither Cody Kessler nor Jarrett Stidham are going to start 2020 as the Patriots’ starting quarterback. Why not give Newton a shot to lead you to glory once again?

The post The Best Potential Landing Spots For QB Cam Newton appeared first on SportzBonanza.