Reasons Why the Warriors or Cavs Will Win the NBA Finals

By: Kyle Boris

The Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers are meeting in the NBA Finals for the fourth consecutive year. Steve Kerr and the Warriors have won 2-out-of-3 thus far with a third championship in reach. Seemingly, the only person in their way is, arguably, the greatest basketball player of all-time.

Some complain that they would have preferred a different matchup this time around, seeing as though we’ve seen this movie play out already for the past three seasons. But, unlike The Hangover 3, Little Fockers and every other terrible sequel, this franchise just seems to keep coming with hit after hit.

The fourth movie in this installment has added the injury questions with 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodola and 5-time All-Star Kevin Love. Nick Young and JaVale McGee are the buddy cop duo you never you knew you needed in this blockbuster. Then, there’s the role players don’t feature in many scenes, but if they shine, could make or break the film for a certain team. I’m looking at you Jordan Clarkson, Jeff Green and George Hill.

With all the different storylines intertwined in the 2018 NBA Finals, it’s difficult to come up with a definitive reason as to why either team will hoist the O’Brien Trophy this year. That is why I went to social media to ask for one reason, one word or one sentence why the Cavs or Warriors will win the NBA Finals. After going through all of them, let’s check out the results.

1.) Warriors because they know how to put the ball in the basket

These two Twitter users believe the Warriors’ offense is just too much to keep up with and they might be right. Durant, Curry and Thompson are all among the top 20 in points per game this postseason while the Cavs have only one player. That one player happens to be Lebron James who finds himself at number 1 with 34 points per game. That being said, Kevin Love is the next guy on the list for the Cavs, but he lands all the way at 42 with only 13.9 ppg.

The Warriors have three guys who could legitimately drop 30 a night, while the Cavs struggle to have a player other than Lebron drop 20. Kevin Love has scored 20+ just four times, while the rest of the Cavs have combined for two 20-point games, one from J.R. Smith and another from George Hill.

This postseason the Warriors have played one less game than the Cavs, but still have outscored Cleveland 1,855 to 1,821. The offensive fire power cannot be questioned and Lebron and co. will have to either try to keep up with Golden State, shut them down or just keep relying on the King. But, can they actually do that for a fourth consecutive series?

2. Warriors because Lebron is playing WAY too many minutes

Lebron James is a player unlike any we’ve ever seen before. He rarely misses games, he plays entire contests and he looks like he might actually play forever. But eventually, that has to take a toll on him, right? Right?!

The man has AVERAGED 41.3 minutes per game. The four main guys for Golden State are all averaging around 38 minutes per game with Curry getting the most rest at 35.7 mpg. A 3-minute difference might not seem like a lot, but when every minute counts, that little bit of rest could be the difference especially when the Warriors can rain 3’s on a team at the snap of Thanos’ fingers.

And when Lebron is on the court, he’s leading the postseason in usage rate regarding players who have played at least 7 games. James’ usage rate is at 35.9 while Durant is the highest Warrior at 31.2.

There have been rumblings that Lebron is exhausted and that he’s getting tired. Even so, he still has found a way to take his team to victories over the Pacers, Raptors and Celtics. Even so, that could be a different story once he attempts to tackle the Warriors. Let’s say Lebron and Durnat take a play off together, the Warriors STILL have the Splash Brothers(remember them) to rely on, while the Cavs would be lucky to have a healthy Kevin Love.

Can the Cavs afford to take out Lebron? Can they afford to not have him involved in most possessions? Maybe none of that actually matters?

3.) Cavs because the NBA is…RIGGED

I for one find this hard to believe because I like to believe that everyone is a good soul and no bad would ever be done in the world of the National Basketball Association. But…but! There are plenty of people out there who feel very strongly that our beloved NBA is indeed rigged.

A quick advanced Twitter search using the words ‘NBA’ and ‘rigged’ from May 27th(when the Cavs clinched) until now, will result in thousands of tweets from users who believe the NBA is definitely rigged.

I’m all about rigged television. I’ll tune into WWE each and every week even if it’s rigged so that Roman Reigns wins all the time. You bet I’m into some scripted entertainment, but if the NBA was actually rigged, the lights would go out before Game 1 and Russell Westbrook would show up in a Cavs uniform.

4.) Warriors because the Cavs just don’t have enough

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It was mentioned earlier that Cavs players not named Lebron or Kevin have struggled to make an impact and in order for them to have a chance this series, they’ll need a Kyle, a Jordan, a Jeff and a George, and maybe even a Rodney to show up and contribute.

The Warriors have multiple players that contribute every night whether it be their four All-Stars or their role players such as Shaun Livingston and Kevon Looney. To be able to take down a team like the Warriors, it’ll take more than just Lebron and Kevin(if healthy) to get the job done. That was evident in Golden State’s series vs. the Rockets.

Houston was able to win three games that series and it was no coincidence that role players stepped up to match the big four of the Warriors. In Game 2, P.J. scored 22, Trevor dropped 19 and Eric put up 27. In their Game 4 and Game 5 wins, Gordon also scored 14 and 23 to help take the load off James and Chris.

The Cavaliers’ versions of Eric, Trevor and P.J. can be seen in Kyle, Jeff and J.R., but those guys haven’t proven that they can consistently help out Lebron. If that’s not the case when the Finals begins, we very well might be looking at a sweep.

5.) Cavs because Whatever Happened to Predictability?

You can never go wrong with 80’s/90’s sitcom parodies and CBS Sports tweeted out a fantastic mash-up to get you ready for the NBA Finals with the Family Matters theme song to put the icing on the cake.

“Season 4 of Cavs vs. Warriors was recorded in front of a live studio audience.” pic.twitter.com/xQJOdJAHSl

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) May 29, 2018

Did the makers of the video use Kevin Durant eating a cupcake on accident? Was it intentional that Klay Thompson was shown missing a dunk? Do they know something we don’t? Maybe “Coach Perk” is the X-factor that the Cavs needed all along?

6.) Warriors because they have SNIPERS

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At the end of the day, the Golden Warriors are sending three of the best shooters in the world onto the court each and every night. During the regular season, Durant, Curry and Thompson combined to make 614 3’s and all three were in the top 10 in 3-point percentage among players who took at least 300 3’s.

That’s tough to swallow and even tougher to prepare for.

The Rockets had the bodies to compete with the Warriors thanks to their ability to score the basket at a high rate. But, how will the Cavs do the same when some of their best shooters are under-performing during the playoffs?

During the regular season J.R. Smith shot a respectable .403 from the field, but has seen that number drop to .356 thus far in the playoffs. Jordan Clarkson, another sharp-shooter, had a .456 field goal percentage, but that number has plummeted in the playoffs to .309.

The J.R. Smith Experience pic.twitter.com/1l9292w9lE

— Sherwob Holmes (@World_Wide_Wob) May 26, 2018

Those numbers got the Cavs by in the earlier rounds, but when up against a behemoth like the Warriors, Clarkson and J.R. are going to need to improve for Cleveland to have a chance.

Even if Jordan Clarkson and J.R. Smith shoot better, it’s no given that it will be enough. The Warriors have three MVP Awards between Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. It’s not often you see former NBA MVP’s playing together while both are still in their prime and it’s scary to think these two could be along for the ride for the foreseeable future.

Both guys averaged exactly 26.4 ppg during the regular season which just further showcases just how in-sync the duo is. The only other team to have two players average over 25 ppg was the Pelicans’ duo of Anthony Davis(28.1) and DeMarcus Cousins(25.2) with the latter only playing 48 games due to his season-ending injury.

Durant and Curry are at the top of their games and if Steph keeps shining and shimmying, while Durant keeps making contested long-range shots, the Warriors could be on their way to back-to-back titles.

7.) Cavs because Lebron James

Sometimes the answer is just two simple words.

Lebron James is playing at an almost unfathomable level right now and only he knows just how far he can actually take this team.

James has played in 18 games this postseason. Here’s some of his scoring numbers in those games.

He’s been a fan of scoring 40+ points as he’s put up 46, 46, 45, 44, 44, 43 and 42 so far.

He’s shot at least 50% from the field in 13-of-18 games. He’s also had a double-double in 13-of-18 games.

DON’T YOU EVER FIX YOUR MOUTH TO SAY SOMETHING BAD ABOUT LEBRON AGAIN pic.twitter.com/qLvG7JvRD4

— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) May 6, 2018

But somehow that’s just the norm for Lebron James. You would think after playing an entire NBA season there might be some lay-off, but he’s actually just doing what he does in the regular season and carrying it into the playoffs. James shot 54% from the field in the regular season. His field goal percentage during the playoffs? 54%.

He’s also just staying on the court more than ever in order to make sure his team has the best chance at winning. King James averaged 41 minutes in the Conference Finals vs. the Celtics in order to help lead the Cavs to victory. Will that kind of effort be enough for the Cavs to win another championship with Lebron at the helm? There’s not many players that could take down a dynasty-in-the-making like the Warriors, but if there’s someone not to bet against, it’s Lebron James.

As Twitter user @Da_Manveer said, “Cavs will probably not but hopefully win because(Lebron James) is the greatest basketball player of all time.” And if that doesn’t sum up most of America’s feelings, I don’t know what does.

8.) Whoever Wins 4 Games First

The real answer to this question was quite obvious all along. Basketball fans around the world will be gifted another entertaining series whether the Warriors sweep, Lebron pulls off the unthinkable with a miracle series-winning shot in Game 7, Nick Young and J.R. Smith do Nick Young and J.R. Smith things, or Cedi Osman gets in a game. The 2018 NBA Finals are here so let’s enjoy this fourth installment in this series before the credits roll on another NBA season.

All stats via Basketball-Reference

Twitter: @KyleNoStyle

WWE Hell in a Cell Predictions

Smackdown Live has been know for exciting matches and feuds because of the way the talent is utilized and the matches are usually the focus compared to Raw which has always been known for it’s gripping and compelling storylines. So, with that being said, Hell in a Cell should produce some thrilling moments. With two traditional Hell in a Cell matches slated for the PPV along with a few title matches, the balanced card is capable of exceeding expectations.

1.) Kickoff Match

Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin vs. Hype Bros

Kyle Boris: The fact that this match is taking place on the Kickoff show should give Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin a decent amount of time to show off some of their chemistry. The Hype Bros have been teasing a break-up for a few weeks now and expect to see that culminate at Hell in a Cell as they the animosity grows. I wouldn’t be surprised to See Zack Ryder leave Mojo hanging as he looks for the hot tag.

Prediction: Gable & Benjamin by pinfall

Jason Zoblin: The kickoff match should be a great way for Shelton Benjamin to get back into the spotlight. It is great to see him back in WWE and his new partnership is a great addition to the tag division. On the other side, the Hype Bros are a great mix of fun and this match will do what it’s supposed to do; get the crowd HYPE. I think because of his experience and the roll they are on, Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable will pick up the win.

Prediction: Gable & Benjamin by pinfall

2.) Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler

KB: GLORIOUS! Following in Nakamura’s footsteps of working with Dolph Ziggler for his first program on Smackdown Live, look for Bobby Roode to make his presence known as he picks up his first big win on the main roster. I’d love to see this match open the show so a hot crowd can really get behind Roode. Another loss for Ziggler will really leave him in no man’s land and maybe the only answer is a move to RAW.

Prediction: Roode by pinfall

Bobby_Roode_bio--dc4b8dac0de3c9e3fa7358e5b7ec1ed7 — via WWE

JZ: Dolph Ziggler has always been an underrated superstar in WWE. His in-ring abilities and mic skills are uncanny, but it always seems like something is missing. Bobby Roode is the best new superstar on Smackdown Live and has easily transitioned after his successful career in NXT. Roode is incredibly talented, and no matter what Ziggler says, Bobby has the best entrance in the business. I ultimately think this match will be a stepping stone for him to move up on the roster and Bobby Roode will have a GLORIOUS win over Dolph Ziggler.

Prediction: Roode by pinfall

3.) Randy Orton vs. Rusev

KB: Can handsome Rusev get a big PPV win? The man is one of the more talented members of the Blue Brand, but has gotten lost in the shuffle along with the likes of Sami Zayn. Randy Orton recently appeared on Edge and Christian’s podcast and stated he knows where he is in his career and wants to help put over some of the younger guys. Maybe he does that this Sunday, though I expect some shenanigans from Aiden English to help Rusev pick up the huge victory over The Viper.

Prediction: Rusev by pinfall

JZ: This feud has been brewing ever since SummerSlam. Both of the matches between these two have been quick and we really haven’t seen how well these two can fight each other. At the end of the night, because of Orton’s experience, he should come up with the win thanks to an RKO outta nowhere!

Prediction: Orton by pinfall

4.) Women’s Championship

Natalya(c) vs. Charlotte

KB: Is anyone enjoying Natalya’s reign as champion? I know she’s been in the business for a while now and this is a great milestone for her, but it’s disappointing that we still haven’t gotten a feud between Charlotte and Becky Lynch. That’s the feud everyone wants to see and hopefully we get that sooner than later. It can begin to take shape with a championship win for Charlotte at Hell in a Cell.

Prediction: Charlotte by submission

JZ: Natalya has been a successful champion as of late and she has proven herself to be an absolute force. With all the competition in the division, it has made her look stronger because she is the one holding the belt. However, this is no question Charlotte’s time to shine. The second she became a Smackdown Live superstar she has wanted the title and now as a babyface, she’ll have the crowd behind her and I think she will conquer the women’s division on the Blue Brand.

Prediction: Charlotte by pinfall

5.) United States Championship

AJ Styles(c) vs. Baron Corbin

KB: The Phenomenal One can make anyone look good so I’m looking forward to seeing some of Corbin’s best work, yet. Styles will bring out the best in Corbin to make him look like a formidable opponent, but at the end of the day Corbin will be no match for Styles and his extensive offensive arsenal. Styles should eventually move onto bigger things and enter the WWE Title picture, but Corbin shouldn’t be the one to take the belt away from him.

Prediction: Styles by pinfall

JZ: AJ Styles has been a perfect addition to not only Smackdown, but to WWE in general. He is easily one of the best athletes in the business and is extremely exciting to watch. At this point, I think Baron Corbin is essentially a waste after he lost his Money in the Bank cash-in against Jinder.

Eventually, good heels become great when they get some fan recognition, but unfortunately Corbin hasn’t reached that level, yet. I really think this match should have been a Triple Threat with Tye Dillinger thrown in the mix but unfortunately it did not happen. This will be a quick match where AJ will retain, and hopefully it will get Corbin out of the title race, because he is not as deserving as Dillinger.

Prediction: Styles by pinfall

6.) Tag Team Championship – Hell in a Cell

New Day(c) vs. The Usos

KB: This match, like it seemingly always does, will probably steal the show. These two teams put on great match after great match and now they’re heading into Hell in a Cell. In what should be the final match of their feud, I’m preparing to see a back and forth affair between two fantastic teams. I think the hot potato with the belts will come to an end, however, as the New Day get the win and move onto new competition.

Prediction: New Day by pinfall

JZ: This feud has become personal throughout the weeks and it has progressed into probably the most brutal stipulation to date, Hell in a Cell.

The Usos are brash, raw and they can flat out wrestle. The New Day’s gimmick can get tired at times, but they have always remained relevant and they can seriously work a crowd. I feel this will be the last match between them for awhile and another tag team will be waiting for the winner. I see the New Day ultimately retaining.

Prediction: New Day by pinfall

7.) Hell in a Cell

Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon

KB: Kevin Owens precisely said he was going to throw Shane McMahon off the Hell in a Cell. I don’t think he’ll actually do that… I mean, he can’t, right?

Either way, we all know these two are capable of performing some crazy stunts and will probably lead to some of the best moments of the night. I really do believe that Owens is going to do what he said and just beat down Shane until he can’t anymore.

Prediction: Owens by pinfall

JZ: With Kevin Owens destroying Vince and insulting Shane’s family, this rivalry has gotten so vindictive that this match will be brutal. Something will big happen whether Shane jumps off the cell again or someone goes through it, but because of the circumstances of the feud and how personal it has become, Shane will be victorious and be the hero for the company.

Prediction: McMahon by pinfall

8.) WWE Championship

Jinder Mahal(c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

KB: Nakamura has wrestled all over the world against some of the best competitors in the world. That being said, I can’t see a wrestler of that nature losing to Jinder Mahal twice. No offense to the Modern Day Maharaja, but the Jinder Mahal project isn’t working and it needs to come to an end. This reign has built him up enough that when the WWE goes on their India tour, it won’t matter if he has the belt or not. Shinsuke is where the money is and it’s time for the belt to change hands.

Prediction: Nakamura by pinfall

JZ: To be honest, I think this whole fiasco with Jinder should end soon. WWE really wanted to grow their fanbase in India so this experiment was plausible, but I did not think it would last this long. Shinsuke is a great competitor and is absolutely flawless in the ring. He deserves to win, but I’m afraid this Jinder Mahal reign might last a little longer.

Prediction: Mahal by pinfall

Twitter: @KyleNoStyle

10 Possible WrestleMania 33 Moments

WrestleMania is already right around the corner and the card is shaping up to be an exciting, yet long(13 matches), night of wrestling. All of the major belts are on the line, personal feuds will shine bright and returning stars will make their presence felt. With plenty of action at the helm, fans can be in store for quite a few “WrestleMania moments”. Moments like when Hogan slammed Andre, Lesnar broke the streak, and Daniel Bryan rising to the top of the WWE are just a few examples of WrestleMania moments that will be remembered for a lifetime.

Where on the card will the best WrestleMania moments come from this year in Orlando? Will a breakout star solidify her place in the business? Could two monsters of the industry make up for a poor match years ago? Will the fans chant for a victorious Roman Reigns?(probably not that one) We won’t find out for sure until April 2nd, but let’s take a look at 10 Possible WrestleMania Moments that could define the show.

Samoa Joe or Braun Strowman Win The Andre the Giant Battle Royal

Right now, the Andre the Giant Battle Royal boasts Curt Hawkins…Mojo Rawley…Apollo Crews…and the Big Show as the only participants in this year’s annual event so far. Not really the Mount Rushmore of the WWE. The rest of the entrants will probably consist of Ziggler, Breezango, Jinder Mahal, Kalisto, Titus O’Neil and whoever else doesn’t have a place on the card. However, none of those guys look primed to win this year’s event.

There are, however, a couple of big names without a match. Braun Strowman and Samoa Joe are both without a match even though they will probably be involved with major angles during the show. Strowman could possibly interfere in the Taker/Roman showdown while Joe could make his presence felt by helping either Kevin Owens or HHH.

Hopefully, one of these men get the chance to actually have a match. Either man could potentially use the battle royal to showcase their dominance as they steamroll through the competition rather easily. The ending would probably come down to them ultimately eliminating Sami Zayn(sorry Sami) to win the match and go on to hoist the Andre the Giant trophy after a dominating performance.

John Cena Proposes to Nikki Bella

Sometimes, the WWE is more than just wrestling. Okay, more than just sometimes. Even though the idea of John Cena getting on one knee and proposing to his girlfriend is nauseating to most, it would be a great opportunity for the company to gain mainstream attention. The Total Bellas’ cameras will probably be filming as well so they could kill two birds with one stone.

The story writes itself and it would give WWE a love angle that could turn into not only a WrestleMania moment, but also a viral moment. WWE doesn’t always do romance angles right, but when they do, like when Miss Elizabeth and Randy Savage reunited, it makes for a great feel-good experience. I personally want to see it happen so that I can say I witnessed a grown man propose in jorts.

Bray Wyatt Picks Up His First WrestleMania Win

Who would have thought that a year after being humiliated by John Cena and The Rock at WrestleMania 32, Bray Wyatt would be defending the WWE Championship and headlining WrestleMania 33?

skysports-bray-wyatt-wwe-champion-smackdown-live_3895476 — via SkySports

It truly is remarkable, but this moment could leave a sour taste in our mouths if Wyatt is defeated by Randy Orton and sent back down the totem pole. Wyatt is on top of the world right now and is destined to be the future and lead Smackdown following WrestleMania. He deserves to defeat Orton CLEANLY and celebrate as the jam-packed arena light up their phones and bow to the Wyatt that runs the riot…err…the Bray that runs the fray…I’m sure he’ll think of something better.

The Cruiserweights Receive a Standing Ovation

Slowly, but surely, the cruiserweights are starting to find their groove. It started with the rambunctious Rich Swann oozing personality into the division. Then, it got a serious player in Neville thrown into the mix. Jack Gallagher provided his gentleman ways along with his unique style to the group. All three have put on great matches at the last few RAW ppv’s, but finally the cruiserweights may be ready to take it to the next level with the help of Double A .

Austin Aries had been sitting out for months on the commentating team, but when he stepped back in the ring, he immediately became the most dangerous man in the division besides Neville. The two have the experience and star power to put on a great match that should have the crowd on their feet and could theoretically begin the real Cruiserweight Revolution.

Sasha Banks Turns on Bayley

Just picture it now. Bayley overcomes the odds and retains the Raw Women’s Championship on the biggest stage of them all. Sasha and Bayley celebrate in the middle ring and Bayley offers one of her signature hugs only for Banks to strike the champion and steal her WrestleMania moment.

Banks is a great heel and we know from their days in NXT that the two former friends can put on a classic every time out. It only makes sense for the two to finally come to blows because of Sasha’s jealousy and desire to be champion.

Former Divas Fight for the Smackdown Women’s Championship

This Smackdown Women’s Title match has a lot of mystery surrounding it. We don’t even know what kind of match it’s going to be. We can probably cross out Gravy Bowl or Evening Gown matches because it’s 2017(hit up the network to see the state of women’s wrestling in the early 2000’s). The most likely scenario is a battle royal of some sorts.

Alexa Bliss is slated to face every available women on the roster which as of now is Natalya, Becky Lynch, Mickie James, Carmella and possibly Naomi, if healthy. There has to be more though, right? If not, why not just call it a fatal five way and build with what you have?

That being said, this could be a great opportunity for the WWE to bring back some former divas into the match. Kelly Kelly, Victoria, Lita and maybe even soon-to-be Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix could join in on the fun and get one more WrestleMania moment.

Jericho and Owens Hug It Out

First Brangelina. Then, JeriKO. Is everything we know about friendship and love a lie?

Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho’s friendship carried RAW for much of 2016. Whether it be their hilarious segments or 5-star matches, the two were able to captivate the audience every time out. That was until, of course, the Festival of Friendship when we found out everything was a lie.

The break-up has set up a match months in the making and ultimately could end up stealing the show in Orlando. The two are sure to have great chemistry and will put forth an emotional contest. No matter who wins, it would be great to see the two hug it out at the end just to give us a slither hope that life isn’t a lie…even if it ends with Owens attacking Jericho just like Y2J did to HBK years earlier.

AJ Hits the Styles Clash…off the Stage?

The sole purpose of this match is for them to do something crazy, right? But what could it be? AJ can carry anyone in the ring, but Shane’s move-set, besides jumping off things and those ridiculous punches, is pretty much non-existent.

They already did the table spot on Smackdown so that’s out of the question. There’s no cell for Shane to jump off so we won’t be seeing that. The only thing that comes to mind is…the stage?

Shane likes to jump. He takes your White Men Can’t Jump and jumps even higher. Hopping from crazy idea to the next, the man just won’t give up. Did he have to fight the Undertaker? Absolutely not. His legacy was already set in stone. But, he did it and fans loved him even more. Certainly he would be done after that, right? Nope. Now, he faces the best wrestler in the business and we all know he’s going to attempt to top last year’s feat. How could he possibly do that? Climb to the top of the freaking stage and ultimately eat the Styles Clash as the two fall into the abyss…

Something Spectacular for Goldberg/Lesnar

All signs are pointing to Goldberg and Brock Lesnar headlining WrestleMania and ending the show. If I would have told you that a year ago you would have thought I was stuck in 2004. But here we are. Goldberg has Brock’s number so everyone assumes Lesnar will win this time around. The question though is how?

If these two go on last, the WWE must have something special in store. If Lesnar were to just squash Goldberg it would be no different that Survivor Series and would probably lead to resonating boo’s. No one knows what it will be, but let’s just hope for something worthy of a WrestleMania moment.

Roman Reigns Beats the Undertaker Using the Tombstone

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Imagine?

No, but seriously, we all know Roman is going to beat The Undertaker, right? The Deadman doesn’t need a win and Reigns can benefit significantly from a win over the future hall of famer. Just imagine if all the seeds of a Reigns heel turn led to him getting boo’d out of the stadium after taking down The Undertaker with his own finishing move and in part claiming his yard. The Roman Reigns era would officially begin and half of the WWE Universe would hate nothing more than Reigns while the other half might come to respect the Big Dawg.

Kyle Boris is the co-creator of YourSitch.com

Twitter: @KyleNoStyle

Front 4: NFL Week 15

Week 14: Overall:

Daisy: 5 Ryan: 37 Points

Ryan: 4 Carlos: 36 Points

Kyle: 4 Kyle: 33 Points

Carlos: 2 Daisy: 33 Points

Daisy was able to sneak by and come out with a 5-point victory in Week 14 as the rest of the panel only managed four points. The Front 4 team will now shift their focus to Week 15 of the NFL season where they’ll take a look at the Lions/Giants match up, whether or not the Browns can win in Buffalo and if the Panthers can go into Washington and win on Monday night.

Lions@Giants

Daisy: Giants

With only three weeks of regular-season football left, the Giants and Lions both need a win this week to keep a strong hold on their playoff positions. The Giants and Lions are both coming off pretty big wins, however, if you look at the overall schedules of both teams, the Lions have had it a bit easier and their real test will be these next couple of weeks. This is going to be an extremely close game and I am going to go with the Giants because I feel that their defense is the real deal at the moment.

Matthew Stafford — Lions at Redskins 8/20/15

Kyle: Lions

The Giants are coming off an emotional win against the Cowboys and have been on a tear of late. This could be a preview of a first-round match up in the playoffs which should be enough motivation for both teams. The Giants’ defense was fantastic last week, but besides one amazing catch and run from Odell, their offense was non-existent. I expect a close game and the Lions have proven time and again that they can close out games especially this season. Give me Detroit by a field goal.

Carlos: Lions

Both teams are riding high and are having great seasons. The Giants are coming off a big win against the Cowboys and the Lions have won 5 straight. The Lions have had a slightly better offense as they score 22 points per game compared to New York’s 19 points per game. Winning becomes a habit and the Lions are trying to clinch the NFC North. This will be a close and fun game, but Detroit will come out on top.

Ryan: Giants

This is a battle of two teams that just find ways to win. The Lions have been losing at the start of every 4th quarter except one and yet still lead the NFC North, while the Giants look abysmal on offense but have a record of 9-4. I expect this game to be decided late and by only a few points.

How Many Florida Teams Will Win?

Dolphins@NYJ, Jaguars@HOU, Buccaneers@Cowboys

Daisy: Two

Despite Ryan Tannehill’s injury, I think the Dolphins have a chance to take advantage of a very weak Jets team that doesn’t have a proven Quarterback. I also expect an upset from either the Jags or Bucs.

Kyle: One

I could potentially see all 3 teams win and I could also see all 3 teams lose. The Bucs/Cowboys game is an extremely intriguing match up, but I think Dallas needs a bounce-back win and will be ready to go. As for the Jags/Texans, I still don’t know what to think of Houston. They win games, but get nothing from DeAndre Hopkins and Brock. Then again the Jags wish they had Houston’s problems. As for the Dolphins, it’s their first game without Tannehill and its on a Saturday so Moore didn’t have as much time to prepare. I think the Dolphins have the best shot to win so I’ll go with 1.

Carlos: Zero

The Dolphins may have the better record, but they aren’t that much better than the Jets. They both allow around 24 points per game. The Dolphins do have an advantage in points scored per game with 21 compared to 17 for the Jets. The Texans will win because of a better defense. The Jags allow almost 10 more points per game then the Texans do. The Bucs will not beat the Cowboys. That O-line is not losing two in a row. Plus, Dallas’s record is 11 and Giants, I mean 2. Get it? They only lose to the Giants. Am I funny yet, Kyle?

Ryan: One

With the overrated Ryan Tannehill out, this game should be close but the Dolphins are definitely still favored. The Jags don’t have much of a chance against the Texans, but I like the Bucs against the Cowboys since their defense has been on fire recently. One of the Bucs or Fins will win.

Who Will Have More Passing Yards in the Steelers/Bengals Game?

Daisy: Ben Roethlisberger

Despite Big Ben struggling on the road and the Bengals having a pretty solid defense, I feel Ben will have more passing yards in this game.

Kyle: Andy Dalton

I think the Steelers have realized they can rely on Bell which means less passing yards for Big Ben.

Carlos: Ben Roethlisberger

It is hard to go against a Quarterback like Big Ben as he has been one of the best for many seasons. I know Andy Dalton is averaging more yards per game and the Bengals do have a slightly better defense against the pass allowing only 238 yards per game compared to the Steelers’ 251 yards per game. But my gut says Big Ben because of his history of showing up in December.

Ryan: Andy Dalton

Big Ben away from home has not been the best this season and the Bengals will certainly be in “I’m-going-to-kill-you” mode on defense because they are the Bengals.

Which Top Rusher Gains the Most Yards?

Ezekiel Elliott, Le’Veon Bell, David Johnson

Daisy: Ezekiel Elliott

People of America, I would like for you to place your hand on your heart and let me introduce you to America’s hero and potential MVP…Ezekiel Elliot.

However, his true test, against perhaps the hottest defense in the league right now which is the Buccaneers, will show whether he is worthy of such a distinction.

Kyle: Le’Veon Bell

Give me Bell. He’s coming off the best performance of his career in snowy Buffalo. He looked better in snow than Frosty.

Carlos: Le’Veon Bell

Le’Veon Bell will rush for the most yards because of the 3 defenses the Bengals have the worst defense against the run.

Ryan: Le’Veon Bell

The Bucs have been stellar on defense recently and Dak is getting cold. David Johnson could get a lot of touches against a terrible Saints team, but Le’Veon Bell can’t be stopped right now.

Will T.Y. Hilton or Stefon Diggs Have More Receptions in the Colts/Vikings Game?

Daisy: Stefon Diggs

Luck’s lack of protection will be a big reason why many Colts receivers including T.Y Hilton won’t get the ball as often and that’s why I am going with Stefon Diggs to get more receptions. However, I won’t be mad if I get this wrong.

Kyle: T.Y. Hilton

Both teams are solid against the pass as they’re both in the top half of the league in receptions allowed. That being said, I think this could come down to time of possession and its very interesting because the Vikings rank second in the league in time of possession in home games with an average of 33:06 per game. However, the Colts rank 1st in the league in time of possession on the road with an average of 32:39. I’ll take Hilton in a toss up, but this one could just come down to which team has the ball longer and creates more opportunities.

Carlos: Stefon Diggs

Stefon Diggs will have more receptions in the Colts/Vikings game because Indy’s defense against the pass is one of the worst in the league. The Colts are ranked 26th in yards allowed per game with 262 yards per game. If teams are getting yards on them they are getting receptions as well. The Vikings on the other hand have one of the best defenses against the pass, ranked 3rd with 202 passing yard allowed per game.

Ryan: T.Y. Hilton

TY had 13 targets last week with Donte Moncreif out and with the Colts’ #2 receiver out again this week, look for Luck to lean on his favorite target even more than usual.

Panthers@Redskins

Daisy: Redskins

With the looks of how this season has gone, the struggling Panthers will fall short against Washington. Despite the Panthers’ secondary looking great last week, I don’t think it’s enough to defeat Washington.

Kyle: Panthers

Both teams are coming off wins in Week 14. The Redskins desperately need this game to stay in contention for a wild-card spot. The Panthers aren’t playing for much, but with the spotlight on them on MNF, everyone will be talking about their poor season. I think this motivates them to take down Kirk Cousins and give a glimpse of hope for their team heading into next season.

Kirk Cousins — Eagles at Redskins 10/04/15

Carlos: Redskins

The Redskins seem to be overlooked by many teams and many members of the media. That could change after a solid performance on MNF. I think the Redskins will win this game rather easily actually. They have the advantage on offense and even though it seems to be more even on the defensive side, the Panthers still allow more points per game.

Ryan: Redskins

I think the Redskins can make the playoffs and I think they think they can make the playoffs. I also think the Panthers have given up.

How Many Points Will the Falcons Beat the 49ers By?

0-10, 11-20, 21-30, 30+, 49ers Win

Daisy: 21-30 Points

According to NFL.com, the 49ers are giving up on average 413.5 yards per game which could land them a spot on a very bad list of the top 5 WORST defensive seasons since the merger. A game against the Falcons isn’t gonna help their cause.

Kyle: 21-30 Points

The Falcons have scored 40+ points 4 times this season and are coming off a 28 point win against the Rams. I think we should expect more of the same here especially since they’re at home. I’ll take the Falcons by 21-30 points.

Carlos: 21-30 Points

The worst defense in the league is taking on the best offense in the league. The 49ers are so bad they couldn’t hold on to beat the Jets. At times, the Jets’ offense made the 49ers’ defense look like a high school team. The Falcons are a much better offense than the Jets so this could get ugly. Just to give you a little sample of how good the offense has been, the Falcons score 32 points per game and the next best is Oakland with 27 points per game.

Ryan: 11-20 Points

Hope y’all have a lot of Falcons in your fantasy football lineups this week.

Will the Browns Win in Buffalo?

Daisy: No

No, the only way for this to happen is if Isaiah Crowell goes off. Even then, I still don’t see the Browns picking up their first win.

Kyle: No

I trusted Cleveland last week and they threw a flea flicker from the endzone that led to an interception. Give me the Bills.

Carlos: No

I said it last week and I’ll say it again. The Browns are not winning a game this season. The Bills score more points than the Browns and also allow less points. The Browns need to continue to fight for the first pick in the draft so they can get that player that will take them to the glory days. For the Browns, that means 5 wins.

Ryan: No

Hahahahaha. Oh wait this is a serious question?

Upset of the Week?

Daisy: Titans over Chiefs

Marcus Mariota and DeMarco Murray will have to step up and if they do they could be able to take down the Chiefs.

Kyle: Titans over Chiefs

The Titans might have my favorite offense in the league besides the Cowboys. Mariota is coming into form and after taking down the Broncos last week they’ll get another tough task, but a win could not only help their division-title hopes, but also strengthen their wild card hopes.

Carlos: Jets over Dolphins

I believe that spark that Petty gave us at the end of the game last week was anything but a fluke. There is more where that came from and he will show it against Miami. The Jets need to take advantage of these useless games and find out what they have on this roster.

Ryan: Jets over Dolphins

SCREW IT! I’M PICKING THE JETS! LET’S GO PETTY!

In Dallas on Sunday, Who Will Have More?

Mavericks’ Points Against Kings or Ezekiel Elliott Rushing Yards Against Bucs

Daisy: Ezekiel Elliott

The Mavs are not the same team they’ve been in the past so I am going to go with Zeke.

Kyle: Ezekiel Elliott

The Mavericks only scored 89 points against the Kings at home on December 7th. Zeke is in store for a big game so I’ll take the Cowboys’ rookie back.

Carlos: Ezekiel Elliott

That O-line, Dak, and Zeke want to prove they have what it takes to not only make it to the playoffs, but also be a Super Bowl contender. Also, the Mavs score the least amount of points per game so it does make my prediction a little easier.

Ryan: Mavericks

Zeke isn’t a sure bet to hit triple digits, but I think the Mavs are.

Tiebreaker: Who Will Have the Most Receptions?

Daisy: Antonio Brown

Kyle: Larry Fitzgerald

Carlos: Jarvis Landry

Ryan: T.Y. Hilton

Well there you have it! Those are our predictions for Week 15 of the NFL season. Let us know in the comments if you agree or disagree!

Digging Into What Could be an Exciting Finish to the NFL Season

By Kyle Boris

Sure, there’s been some sloppy football played this season and yes, games are being scrutinized and debated because of poor officiating. However, the NFL may be able to save its image thanks in part to an exciting second half.

As it stands, it looks like the New England Patriots are the only team in the NFL guaranteed a playoff spot. The Raiders and Cowboys are in good positions, but they also play in the two best divisions. A couple of losses and they could find themselves looking up at another team.

The Browns, Jaguars, Bears and 49ers are probably already eliminated because their poor performances in the first half of the season will be too much to overcome. Then, we come to everyone else.

via NFL.com

The Broncos, Chiefs and Falcons lead the pack with six wins each. The remaining 22 teams all have either 3, 4, or 5 wins to their name. With all of these teams fighting for division titles and wildcard berths, every game should be important. We could be in store for a crazy end of the season with tiebreaker scenarios a plenty. Millions of fans will still be watching because their team still has a chance to play deep into January. The playoff push in the NFL is just beginning and not even poor officiating or sloppy play can change that.

We’ll start off with the defending NFC champs. At 3-5, the Carolina Panthers are currently 13th in the NFC and are only ahead of the Bears and the 49ers. Don’t give up Panthers fans. The Panthers are one game behind the Redskins(who currently hold the second wild card spot) in the win column. The only problem is that there are 7 teams between Carolina and Washington.

Would you be surprised if the Panthers snuck into the playoffs as the 6 seed? You shouldn’t be seeing as though they were able to rattle off 15 wins last season. They also have the luxury of playing the Saints, Seahawks, Redskins, Falcons and Buccaneers in the second half of the season so they’ll be in prime position to make up ground.

As for the AFC, three of their divisions will be flat-out bananas going down to the wire. We know the AFC West has the best chance to send three teams to the playoffs thanks to the Raiders, Broncos and Chiefs. Even if the AFC North and South only send one team each, the races will be still exciting.

With a win against the Ravens, the Steelers could have given themselves some serious space between them and the rest of the division. Unfortunately for them, their offense didn’t show up until the 4th quarter against Baltimore. Now, the Steelers and Ravens have identical 4-4 records with the Bengals only one game back in the win column. Cincinnati still has two games remaining with the Ravens including a game at home on the final day of the season. The Bengals could play average football the rest of the way and still pull out an AFC North Division title with two wins against the Ravens.

As for the AFC South, well that crazy train is just about ready to board. The Texans have looked great one week(see wins against the Lions and Chiefs) and then have looked terrible other weeks(see blowout losses to the Patriots, Vikings and Broncos). With that being said, they still sit two games up in the loss column ahead of the Titans and Colts. However, Houston still has road games at Indianapolis Week 14 and at Tennessee Week 17.

NFL: Preseason-Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans — Marcus Mariotta will look to lead the Titans to their first playoff appearance since 2008

The AFC South has been and will seemingly always be tough to predict. The Titans have games against the Packers, Colts and Bears before heading into their late bye week. If they’re still in the race heading into the bye, they’ll be able to come out of it fresh with four games remaining. Of their final four games , three will be against teams ahead of them in the Broncos, Chiefs and Texans with a match-up in Jacksonville as well.

The Colts may be 4-5, but Andrew Luck and Co shouldn’t be counted out just yet. Of their five losses, four have come by four points or less. They’re heading into their bye after a big win in Green Bay and coming out of the break they’ll have to keep their foot on the gas as they have remaining games with the Titans, Steelers, Jets, Texans and Raiders.

The AFC then has its share of dark horses. The Chargers, Bills and Dolphins will have a tough time winning their divisions, but they still have the opportunity to sneak up and snatch one of the wild-card spots. All three teams have four wins and are coming off good performances in Week 9. Even though the Bills were the only ones who lost, they might have looked the best in a close game in Seattle on national television.

tyrod_taylor_against_the_texans-1 — Tyrod Taylor will try to build off his performance in Seattle

The Bills will have time to get over the officiating in their MNF loss as they head into their bye week. They’ll have to move on eventually though as they still have a chance down the stretch. Buffalo has home games remaining against the Jaguars and Browns in what should be winnable games if they’re to be considered a playoff contender. Their remaining five games are all against teams still in the race as they have the Bengals, Raiders, Steelers, Dolphins and Jets on the schedule.

The Dolphins are an interesting team because they have some key wins and some key losses. They’ve lost to the Bengals and Titans which could hurt them in tiebreakers, but they also have wins over better wild card teams in the Steelers and the Bills. The Dolphins have a Week 10 match up against San Diego and have the opportunity to add to their tiebreaker advantages. They also have the Ravens and the Bills again remaining on the schedule and their second game against the Patriots comes during Week 17 when the Patriots might be lucky enough to rest some players.

The most intriguing of the bunch is of course the Chargers. We all know that the Chargers blew a few leads early in the season, but they seem to have gotten over the hump recently with wins over the Broncos, Falcons and Titans. They have crucial games against the Dolphins and Texans coming up that could dictate whether they have a legit shot at the postseason this year. A meeting with the Chiefs on the final day of the season could also be of importance.

The NFC wild card scenario is even more jam packed as the Giants and Redskins are currently the proud owners of the 5th and 6th seeds with 5-3 and 4-3-1 records respectively. They shouldn’t get comfortable, though, because the Lions, Saints, Packers, Eagles and Cardinals are all right behind them with just four losses. The Rams, Buccaneers and Panthers are just two games back with five losses.

The Cardinals were in the NFC Championship game last season, but haven’t looked the same so far this year. They don’t have any wins over teams in the mix and that’ll need to change for them to have a shot. They have games against the Vikings, Falcons, Redskins, Saints, Seahawks and Rams so there is room for them to move up.

2012_packers_vs_giants_-_eli_manning — Can Eli Manning lead the Giants to another playoff run?

As for the team that everyone is chasing, the Giants, they’ll have to continue to put together wins. New York is the only team who has beaten the Cowboys this year and could still make a run at the NFC East title with another win against Dallas. The Giants also have wins over the Saints and Eagles which could help in tiebreaker situations, but they have losses against the Redskins, Vikings and Packers which could hurt them. Their last four games of the season against the Cowboys, Lions, Eagles and Redskins could play a big part in whether or not they keep playing throughout January.

The Packers are a team that when hot could be a huge threat, but for most of the season they’ve been cold. Even with just a 4-4 record, Aaron Rodgers has a chance to lead his team to another playoff appearance. The Packers still have games at Washington and Philadelphia as well home games against the Seahawks and Vikings. Their last game of the season could have huge implications as they travel to Detroit.

The Redskins seemed to have flown under the radar so far. A loss to the Lions and a tie in London against the Benglas over their last two games are probably the reasoning behind that. Washington should be taken more seriously though because they already have wins over the Giants and Eagles. That doesn’t mean things will be any easier because Washington finishes its season with a handful of games against teams surrounding them. They have the Vikings, Packers, Panthers and Giants at home, but they still have to travel to Dallas, Arizona and Philadelphia. They truly control their own destiny the rest of the way.

Will all of these teams still be alive after a few weeks? Probably not. But, that just means we’re getting important football in Week 10 of the NFL. A couple wins for one of these teams and suddenly they’re in the driver’s seat. Back-to-back losses? Well, they might just be out of it. The NFL is not used to these poor ratings, but with all of these teams still in contention, fans around the country might just stick around to see how this thing plays out.

Kyle Boris is the co-founder of YourSitch.com

Twitter: @KyleNoStyle

Front 4: NFL Week 9

Our newest member, Carlos, was able to win rather easily and climb the overall leaderboard:

WEEK 8: OVERALL:

Carlos: 7 points Ryan: 16 points

Ryan: 4 points Carlos: 15 points

Daisy: 4 points Daisy: 14 points

Kyle: 2 points Kyle: 13 points

As we reach the half-way point of the season, each passing week is getting more and more interesting. This week the Front 4 team will debate the huge AFC West showdown between the Broncos and the Raiders. Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck, DeMarco Murray and Melvin Gordon are also all topics of discussion as Week 9 of the NFL season is set to kick off.

Will the Broncos or Raiders Win on Sunday Night Football?

Carlos: Broncos

The Broncos will take over 1st place in the AFC West. It will be a close game and even though the Raiders offense has been good, scoring 26 points per game, Denver’s defense has been outstanding and has carried them. Also, the Raiders are at home and for most teams that would be an advantage, but the Raiders’ only two losses have been in Oakland. They look way better on the road with a 5 – 0 record.

Ryan: Broncos

The Raiders always make it hard on themselves to win, but Derek Carr always finds a way to overcome the mistakes. That’ll be hard to do against the best defense in the league. I would love to see Derek Carr, an elite two-minute quarterback, get the ball down a touchdown late in the 4th. Barring that epic showdown, I’ll say the Broncos make the most of Oakland’s mistakes and get the win.

Daisy: Raiders

Oakland and Denver are coming into Sunday night with quite a few similarities. Both share a 6 – 2 record in the same division [AFC West] and both are on a two-game win streak. Denver has one of the league’s best defenses, while Oakland has Derek Carr. Carr is coming off a great game against Tampa Bay and I think he will continue to add to his impressive 2016 campaign with a win against the Broncos.

Kyle: Raiders

The Broncos are 8-2 in their last ten games against the Raiders dating back to 2011. However, the Raiders split the two meetings last year and the games were each decided by less than a touchdown. The Raiders have improved and I think this will be Derek Carr and Jack Del Rio’s biggest test by far. If the Raiders win, and I think they do, they’ll have to be considered one of the top teams to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

How Many Points Will the Cowboys Win By?

0-10, 11-20, 21-30, 30+, Browns will win

Carlos: 11-20

The Browns offense isn’t the greatest, but it can still put up 20 points a game. The defense has been the issue because they allow 30 points per game. Look for another solid performance from Dak Prescott who has a QBR of 81.4 which is good enough for number 3 in the league.

Ryan: 11-20

Ah the Browns. The Browns make me feel good about my own football team. Ok, maybe not good, but the Browns are just terrible. Still, they are a professional team and they did just upgrade their defense so I’ll say they lose by a respectable 11-20 points.

Daisy: 11-20

I feel bad for the Browns because their schedule isn’t getting easier any time soon. As cool as it would be for the Browns to get their first win against the Cowboys, I have to be realistic. The Cowboys will stomp all over the Browns and win by 20 points.

Kyle: 11-20

Four of the Browns’ eight losses have come by six points or fewer. That shows that they’ve been at least competing in half their games. They’ll be going against a Cowboys team that’s on a role, but has been bit by the injury bug of late, especially to their defense. I think the Browns put up some points, but lose by two touchdowns.

Will Andrew Luck or Aaron Rodgers Throw for More Yards in the Colts/Packers Game?

Carlos: Aaron Rodgers

The Colts defense allows 402 yards per game which is 29th in the league. On top of that, Green Bay only allows 321 yards per game which is number 7 in the league. I’ll take Rodgers over Luck.

Ryan: Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers has been rounding into form recently and is facing one of the softest defenses in the league. Luck has been fantastic this season, but he is constantly under pressure.

Daisy: Andrew Luck

Luck is ranked 7th in passing yards so far this season. Even though I think Aaron Rodgers and the Packers have the advantage with their team returning to Lambeau Field, Luck will produce more passing yards.

Kyle: Andrew Luck

I picked Rodgers last week against Matt Ryan and he let me down. Rodgers is only throwing for 248 yards per game and that doesn’t give me much confidence even against a poor Colts defense. I’ll take my chances with Luck.

How Many NY Teams Will Win?

Giants vs. PHI, Jets @ MIA, Bills @ SEA

Carlos: One

The Jets will be the only team from New York to win. The Jets are coming off two victories and need this game if they have any plans of making the playoffs. Both teams have similar numbers on both sides of the ball. The only slight advantage the Jets have is in total yards. The Jets have produced about 2700 yards compared to Miami’s 2400.

Ryan: Two

I think the Giants and Jets will both win this week so technicallyyyyyyyy *pushes up nerd glasses* no team that plays in New York will win.

Daisy: One

The only favorable outcome I see for New York this weekend is in the Jets game. There you go Jets fans. This is your chance.

Kyle: One

All three teams are on the road against tough teams. I think the Bills have a shot to pull off an upset because we’ve seen crazier things on Monday Night Football. (I’m looking at you Vikings)

Will DeMarco Murray or Melvin Gordon Have More Rushing Yards in the Titans/Chargers Game?

Carlos: DeMarco Murray

Murray has the slight advantage because he averages more yards per attempt. Murray averages 4.7 yards per attempt and Gordon averages 3.6 yards per attempt. The numbers will be close because Tennessee and San Diego have both been good at stopping the run.

Ryan: Melvin Gordon

With Derrick Henry proving a reliable Option B, look for the Titans to give DeMarco Murray a little less than his usual workload in this one, while Melvin Gordon continues his streak of games with 22+ touches.

635996998377398435-nas-titans0524-010 — via The Tennessean

Daisy: DeMarco Murray

DeMarco Murray leads the AFC in rushing yards and is only second in the NFL behind Zeke. I don’t expect that to change this week as he rushes for more yards than Gordon.

Kyle: DeMarco Murray

The Titans and Chargers have two of the best defenses when it comes to stopping the run. The Titans only allow 82 yards a game while the Chargers allow 86. Both running backs are going to have tough match ups, but I think Murray rushes for more yards to improve on his stellar season of 94 yards per game which is good enough for second place in the NFL.

Higher Total in LA on Sunday: Todd Gurley Rushing Yards or Lakers Points

Carlos: Lakers

The Panthers have not been a great team, but the one thing they have been able to do is stop the run. The Panthers have only allowed 561 rushing yards this season. The Rams have not had a good running game so this isn’t a favorable match up. As for the Lakers, they have been able to average 107 points per game and the Suns have allowed teams to score 112 points per game.

Ryan: Lakers

The Lakers are averaging over 100 points per game this season and the Suns allow a preposterous 112 points per game. Suffice it to say that Todd Gurley will be facing a tougher defense even if the Panthers don’t show up.

Daisy: Lakers

The Rams are averaging 80 yards per game this season so I am going to go with the safe choice and choose the Lakers here to score a ton against the Suns.

Kyle: Lakers

Despite the Panthers’ poor play, they’ve only allowed 80 rushing yards per game. The Lakers are coming off a huge win over the Warriors. In their two home games this year the Lakers have scored 120 and 117 against the Rockets and the Warriors. A match-up against the Suns should mean plenty of points once again.

Will the Saints or 49ers Reach Their Average Passing Yards Per Game?

Saints(1st): 326 PY/G, 49ers(Last): 161 PY/G

Carlos: Both

The 49ers defense allows 407 yards a game which means the Saints will easily be able to throw all over them. The 49ers will not be successful against the Saints, but will atleast be able to get to their average passing yards per game as well because of the Saints mediocre defense.

Ryan: Both

Both defenses are just awful. Just awful. Meanwhile, Drew Brees is not awful and Colin Kaepernick is not 161 yards awful. Kaep gets over the threshold in garbage time while Brees runs up the numbers in a must-win game for the Saints.

Daisy: Both

I think both teams will remain consistent and play to the averages.

Kyle: Both

Colin Kaepernick threw for over 160 yards against the Bills in his last game so he should be able to do more of the same against this Saints defense. I also have confidence in Drew Brees to pick apart this 49ers defense.

Will the Steelers/Ravens Game be Decided by 7 Points or Less?

Carlos: Yes

Both teams come in with losing streaks so they’ll both be looking for a much needed win in a close game. Both defenses have been pretty good as Baltimore has a slight edge by allowing 19 points per game while the Steelers have allowed 21 points per game. Where Pittsburgh has the best advantage is in scoring. The Steelers score 24 points per game compared to Baltimore’s 19 points per game.

Ryan: Yes

Divisional games are always close and a rivalry like Steelers-Ravens just brings out the best in the players. There’s no way either team is giving up an easy win one way or the other.

Daisy: Yes

In the past two years the Steelers have managed to defeat the Ravens just once and the last two times these teams faced each other the game was decided by a field goal. I think that pattern continues and the game will be decided by less than a touchdown.

Kyle: No

The Ravens won both match-ups last season by a field goal in low scoring games. The first match up this season between division rivals could be dependent on whether or not Big Ben takes the field. He’s currently a game-time decision. The Steelers have more play makers and that’ll be the difference in this one as Pittsburgh wins by 10 points.

How Many Times Will the Chiefs Pick off Blake Bortles?

Carlos: Three

The Chiefs defense will be too much for Bortles to handle and it will lead to a long game for him and Jacksonville. When he has faced teams that force a lot of takeaways, he has not played well. Oakland picked him off twice a couple weeks ago and Baltimore got him three times earlier in the season.

Ryan: Two

The Chiefs may be the best in the league at intercepting the ball, but Bortles has thrown three picks in a game this year just once. He’ll be dropping back a lot just like last week, but I say he does slightly better and only throws two picks.

Daisy: Two

The Chiefs will pick off Blake Bortles twice in this game and I think Marcus Peters will be a big reason why.

Kyle: Zero

This game screams upset. The Chiefes will be without Alex Smith, Jamaal Charles and Spencer Ware. On the other side of things, it seems like everyone on the Jaguars team, coaching staff and front office is on the hot seat. Bortles is due for a signature game and just maybe this is it.

How Many Last Place Teams Will Win?

Jets@MIA, Browns vs. DAL, Jaguars@KC, Chargers vs. TEN, Panthers@LA, 49ers vs. NO

Carlos: One

The Jets are coming off two victories and need this game if they have any plans of making the playoffs. This game will not be an easy task for the Jets. Both teams have similar numbers on both sides of the ball. The only slight advantage the Jets have are in total yards. The Jets have produced 2,700 yards compared to Miami’s 2,400. Of the Jets’ three wins, two have come on the road so this could be their chance to add their third road victory.

Ryan: Two

I already picked the Jets to win, but none of these other teams inspire much confidence. I can see a desperate Panthers team rising to the occasion, but it’ll take a lot for these other teams to earn a victory in week 9.

Daisy: Three

The Jets, Chargers and Panthers should all be to help their chances of getting out of 4th place in their divisions.

Kyle: Two

If the Panthers want to keep any playoff hopes alive they HAVE to beat the Rams and I think they’re able to. The Browns and 49ers are going to have tough times finding a win. That leaves the Jets, Jags and Chargers. All three have winnable games, but I don’t trust any of them to actually pull through. I’ll stick with my upset, though, and say the Jaguars finally get a solid win.

Tiebreaker: Which Player Will Rush for the Most Yards in Week 9?

Carlos: DeMarco Murray

Ryan: Ezekiel Elliott

Daisy: Ezekiel Elliott

Kyle: Le’Veon Bell

Do you agree with our predictions? Let us know in the comments how you think Week 9 of the NFL will play out.

Twitter: @YourSitchTweets

The Natural Opinion: Russell Wilson

russell_wilson_vs_vikings_november_4_2012 — via wikimedia

By Adriel “The Natural”

It’s time for Russell Wilson to be universally recognized as the best young quarterback in the game.

Now this piece has been a long time coming for yours truly. I will never forget, one day maybe six years ago, I was watching SportsCenter. There was a piece on this college football player who overcame the unfortunate passing of his father and went on to be one of the best players in college football. His name, of course, was Russell Wilson.

I’m sure we’ve all heard plenty of stories like this where professional athletes use real-life tragedies to inspire them to do great things. This particular story, however, struck me because the story aligned with something very similar that happened to me in my life.

I lost my younger brother when I was just 19 years old. He was 15 at the time and his death hit my entire family pretty hard. We were never the same after that. I was never the same after that. Before his death, I believed my life couldn’t be better. I had a family who loved and supported me, along with some great friends as well and a girlfriend who loved me completely. But anyone, a professional football player, a doctor, a celebrity, you, or me can have that taken away in an instant.

On the evening of July 18, 1998, my father told me that he got a call and we needed to go to the hospital. “Something happened to your brother,” he told me. Even though I knew something was wrong, I couldn’t bring myself to accept the worst case scenario until I actually saw for myself, that he was gone.

I tell this story because on that day my mentality began to change. I realized that there will always be obstacles in life no matter how great things may seem today. And then when I sat and watched the piece on Russell Wilson as he reminisced about his relationship with his father and how it affected him, it really touched me. Russell talked about how he became mentally stronger and how he no longer wanted to fit in. Instead, he wanted to be a leader because once you’ve gone through such ultimate sadness and disappointment there is nothing in this life that you cannot overcome.

15279885950_de3b5c3e2e_b — Wilson avoids a sack against the Redskins

The piece did a fantastic job of highlighting Wilson’s only year at the University of Wisconsin where he stepped onto the practice field as a transfer from North Carolina State and immediately commanded everyone’s respect. He talked about how his confidence came from his never-ending desire to prepare and how his mental preparation was just as important as how he prepared physically. Those attributes reminded me of mental giants in sports such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Tom Brady. The way he spoke reminded me of countless interviews I’ve heard where these guys expressed the same views in the same exact way . It’s no coincidence that Russell Wilson even referred to Michael Jordan as being his favorite athlete. Being a Jordan fan is hardly exclusive to Russell Wilson, but he had the talent to seek his own athletic greatness because he was that good. I immediately became a fan.

Watching the University of Wisconsin that year, I was impressed by how the game seemed so easy to him. The football was always out on time and always on the mark. That’s when I knew this kid was special. That year Wilson finished with 33 touchdown passes and just four interceptions. No, that was not a typo. He threw four interceptions.

Going into the 2012 draft, all the buzz was about Andrew Luck and RG3 going #1 and #2 respectively. All I heard about Wilson was that he was too short to play the position. At the time, I never paid attention to how tall he was because all I saw was a great quarterback who can do it all. Fortunately for the Seattle Seahawks, their General Manager John Schneider saw him the same way. The Seattle Seahawks drafted him in the 3rd round and he would go on to not regret that decision.

russell_wilson_with_lombardi_trophy — via wikimedia

Russell Wilson is a Super Bowl Champion and all he’s done is continue to get better and better. It began his rookie season when he beat out Matt Flynn to become the starting quarterback for the Seahawks. Wilson has continually embarrassed his naysayers by going about his business and earning enormous amounts of respect amongst his peers. Four years later and he still has his naysayers saying the same things.

“He’s just a game manager.”

“He’s nothing without that defense.”

“He will be nothing without Marshawn Lynch. “

Now we sit four games into the 2016 season and the Seattle Seahawks are 3-1 after their bye week. The Seahawks still have plenty of competition especially defensively as the Broncos are still one of the teams to beat thanks to their all-time great defense. However, Russell Wilson’s young quarterback peers of Andrew Luck and Cam Newton are struggling mightily as both their teams have started out with a combined three wins.

As we look toward potential Super Bowl match ups, the two favorites out of the AFC are the Broncos and the Patriots. Brady is back from suspension and everyone assumes he will run through the league as if he’s just playing against air with no resistance. While I belive Brady will do what we’ve come to expect, I don’t think he’ll be any match for that Denver Bronco pass defense. Brady’s lack of mobility will be his undoing come playoff time once he goes up against the Broncos pass rush. just like it was last season in the AFC Championship Game.

That brings us back to Russell Wilson. Coming off his best statistical season a year ago where he completed 68.1% of his passes for 4024 yards, 34 touchdown passes and just 8 interceptions, Wilson is poised to do the unthinkable and become the first quarterback to solve this historic Denver Broncos defense. As the unquestioned leader of the Seattle offense and with Marshawn Lynch no longer around, Wilson is now free to spread his wings and show the world that he is truly the best young quarterback in the NFL.

The Seattle Seahawks are the only team capable of solving the Denver Broncos on the biggest stage. After prevailing through so much adversity and after continuously being overlooked, Wilson has gained the mental and physical power needed to get the job done. With his smarts and his other worldly athleticism, Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks are just beginning to hit their stride. See you in the Super Bowl.

Adriel “The Natural” is a contributing writer for YourSitch.com

The Fate of Super Bowl Losers in the 32-Team NFL Era

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By Jackson Baird

A season ago, the Carolina Panthers bulldozed their way to the best record in the NFL. Their 15-1 mark did not equate to a ring, however, as Ron Rivera’s crew was stopped dead in its tracks by a transcendent Denver Broncos defense. As a result of their 24-10 loss in Super Bowl 50, Carolina fell into the infamous category of Super Bowl losers.

Much has been said about how difficult it is to successfully defend a title in the NFL. Only eight squads have ever been able to repeat as champs, the most recent instance coming courtesy of the New England Patriots in Super Bowls XXXVIII and XXXIX. Well if the winner of the big game has a hard time scaling the mountain the following year, it stands to reason that the loser would find their road to glory even more perilous.

Indeed, only one team in the Super Bowl era lost the title game one year and ended up winning it the next: The Miami Dolphins. After the 1971 campaign, Miami lost Super Bowl VI to the Dallas Cowboys 24-3. Apparently they were so upset by their loss that they just decided to beat literally everyone they played the following year, completing the first (and only, at the time of this writing) perfect season by defeating the Washington Redskins 14-7 in Super Bowl VII. So it’s clear the Panthers have their work cut out for them if history is any indication.

But the NFL has grown and evolved over the decades, with the current playoff format having only been around since 2002. That was the inaugural season for the Houston Texans, and thus the inaugural season of the eight division setup. So if we’re going to give a history lesson, that seems like a good place to start.

What sort of history is Carolina pitted against as we gear up for the 2016 NFL season? Let’s take a look at all the Super Bowl losers since the inception of the current playoff format to find out.

The Dark Times (2002-2007)

Year	SB Loser (record that season)	Record Following Year	Made Playoffs Next Year?
2002	Raiders (11-5)	4-12	No
2003	Panthers (11-5)	7-9	No
2004	Eagles (13-3)	6-10	No
2005	Seahawks (13-3)	9-7	Yes
2006	Bears (13-3)	7-9	No
2007	Patriots (16-0)	11-5	No

Records via NFL.com

The early years of the revised NFL were quite harsh to the Super Bowl losers. Five of the first six teams who lost the Super Bowl under the new format missed the playoffs altogether the following season. The lone exception was the 2006 Seahawks, who took the NFC West by one game over the 8-8 Rams that year, and eventually edged the Cowboys 21-20 in the Wild Card round in the now infamous Tony Romo Botched-Field-Goal-Hold game. Their season ended at the hands of the eventual NFC champion Chicago Bears, who themselves would suffer a similar fate to most Super Bowl losers during this time frame.

As one might imagine, extenuating circumstances (namely injuries) played a big role in the decline of many of these teams. Rich Gannon won the MVP award for the Raiders in 2002, but suffered a season-ending injury in Week Seven of the following year against Kansas City (though Oakland was only 2-4 entering that game).

Donovan McNabb played most of the 2005 campaign for the Eagles injured until finally being put on the shelf for good after a Week 10 loss to Dallas. That season also featured the bizarre Terrell Owens saga which ended with the Eagles suspending the wideout for the final nine games of the year.

Chicago’s secondary was decimated by injuries the year after losing to the Colts in the Super Bowl, and they never really settled on a quarterback all season long, flipping between Rex Grossman and Brian Griese for much of the year.

The Patriots just got unlucky, managing to become the first team since the playoffs expanded to 12 teams in 1990 (different format, same number of playoff slots) to win 11 games and not qualify for the postseason. That was also the year Matt Cassel led the offense after New England lost Tom Brady to a torn ACL in Week One.

A Step in the Right Direction (2008-2014)

Year	SB Loser (record that season)	Record Following Year	Made Playoffs Next Year?
2008	Cardinals (9-7)	10-6	Yes
2009	Colts (14-2)	10-6	Yes
2010	Steelers (12-4)	12-4	Yes
2011	Patriots (13-3)	12-4	Yes
2012	49ers (11-4-1)	12-4	Yes
2013	Broncos (13-3)	12-4	Yes
2014	Seahawks (12-4)	10-6	Yes
2015	Panthers (15-1)	?	?

Records via NFL.com

Now that’s more like it. Beginning with the Cardinals, every team coming off a season in which they came up short in the title game has made the playoffs the following year. In fact, no team since has finished with less than 10 wins.

But success can be relative though, and if we’re looking for a team who followed up a Super Bowl loss with a Super Bowl win, we still have yet to find one. The Patriots and the 49ers came the closest, both reaching their respective conference title games the year after falling in the Super Bowl.

Extenuating circumstances were kinder to the Super Bowl losers during this time frame, but that doesn’t mean they were nonexistent. A year after the Steelers went 12-4, won the AFC North and lost to the Packers in Super Bowl XLV, Pittsburgh notched another 12-4 mark, but this time had to settle for a Wild Card berth after Baltimore took the division. The Steelers then traveled to Denver in the Wild Card round and promptly got Tebowed in overtime.

The Patriots came close to returning to the Super Bowl in 2012, but an injury to Rob Gronkowski that forced him to miss Weeks 12 through 16 plus the AFC Championship game arguably cost the Patriots that return trip.

Seattle’s 2015 squad was without the services of Kam Chancellor for the first two games of the season due to the player’s holdout, and also had to deal with the newly imported Jimmy Graham’s season-ending injury during Week 12.

The Royals celebrate after winning the 2015 #WorldSeries. — via wikimedia

So this is what the 2016 Carolina Panthers are up against. Looking at the other three major North American sports leagues, you would think winning it all after a loss in the final round would be no sweat. The most recent champion crowned in both MLB (Kansas City Royals) and the NBA (Cleveland Cavaliers) were teams who failed in that same exact spot one year prior. In the NHL, one only has to go back to the 2008-09 season to find the last time a team (Pittsburgh Penguins) turned the trick. But for whatever reason, the 1972 Dolphins are alone in the NFL’s version of this category.

The Panthers have most of their key pieces back, and will even add wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin after losing him for all of 2015 to a torn ACL. The goal is obvious: The Vince Lombardi Trophy. But to reach it, they’ll have to navigate a grinding regular season and an intense postseason, evade the ever-present injury bug, and chase down the ghost of the only undefeated team the league has ever seen. Best of luck Carolina, we’ll be watching.

Jackson Baird is a contributing writer for YourSitch.com

Twitter: @jaxbaird124

7 Things Other Sports Can Learn From Soccer

By Ryan McAdams

The start of another soccer season is upon us and so is another season of me having to explain at length that not every game ends zero-zero. Rather than me tell you why you should love soccer, here are seven things that it does better than the “Big Four” American sports. Take note NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL!

1. Promotion/Relegation

One of the coolest things about each new soccer season is when new teams are added to the league. At the end of the season, the bottom three teams in the top tier league are replaced with the top three teams in the league below them.

135060 — Watford celebrates being promoted to the Premier League in 2015 (Source)

For example, in the Premier League, Newcastle United, Norwich City and Aston Villa finished at the bottom last year and will be replaced with Burnley, Middlesbrough and Hull City. One of the top benefits of this would be the obliteration of tanking. A team like the 76ers or Braves wouldn’t be able to throw complete seasons away for draft picks because they would risk dropping down to the second-tier league. This would make more teams competitive and create more drama for teams that otherwise have nothing to play for. Instead of Sabres fans cheering at their team losing a game to give them a better draft pick, that win becomes super important to the Sabres remaining in the NHL.

Additionally, you’d get to see new teams, players and jerseys each year when new teams get promoted to replace whoever happened to get relegated that year. One last bonus this plan adds is that money hungry leagues (all of them) can add expansion teams without the traditional negatives that come with adding new teams. Las Vegas wants a football team? Sure thing! But they start in the lower division and have to work their way up to the NFL without the ridiculousness of an expansion draft.

2. Loans

In soccer, players are allowed to be loaned to other clubs for a season or partial season in exchange for that team paying the players salary. Usually this occurs when teams want a young player to have more regular playing time than they can offer, or when they want to sell a player that’s hard to get rid of. The concept of loans in other sports leagues leads to a wide range of fascinating possibilities.

For my favorite football team the Jets, I love the possibility of loaning Geno Smith to another team to see if he can develop into anything resembling a starter, while the Jets still attempt to reach the playoffs with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Maybe Christian Hackenberg is loaned to the Browns after RGIII and Josh McCown suffer season-ending injuries and turns into a star by the end of the season due to regular playing time (ok this is a little too biased, reeling it in a little).

ny-jets-quarterbacks-elsa — MFW the Jets still can’t field a decent QB (Source)

Combining loans with the aforementioned promotion/relegation two-tiered sports leagues idea, we get even cooler possibilities. Maybe the Mets finally give Brandon Nimmo some playing time by loaning him to the Reds as part of the Jay Bruce deal, allowing Nimmo to avoid the corner-outfield logjam in Flushing for a year and giving the Reds an exciting young player to try and avoid relegation. Maybe instead of awkwardly backing up Brett Farve for three seasons before his eventual retirement/unretirement, Aaron Rodgers could have been loaned to the Las Vegas Cardsharks in League 2 and honed his craft there. Rodgers could have developed into an elite quarterback faster (theoretically), the Packers would have realized it’s time to move on from Farve (theoretically) and the Cardsharks could have rode Rodgers to a promotion to the NFL. Everyone wins!

If we attempt to reach an even crazier scenario with loans, maybe instead of leaving Cleveland in chase of rings, LeBron asks to be loaned to Miami for just a year instead, then returns to the Cavs without ever having to have to go through The Decision. Maybe Mike Trout is loaned to the Blue Jays for the rest of the year to create the most ridiculous lineup ever and give him a shot at a ring that he clearly won’t have any time soon in Los Angeles. Maybe JR Smith gets loaned to a team that lets him play games shirtless. The possibilities are endless!

3. Cups & Tournaments

On top of regular season games, there are multiple cups and tournaments going on throughout the year that teams participate in. These tournaments are great opportunities for small clubs (even from the other tiers) to make a name for themselves and for teams that wouldn’t normally have a chance at hardware to go for glory in an otherwise lost season.

maxresdefault1 — And really every season is a lost season if you’re the Browns (Source)

Imagine the Cubs avoiding the suffering of another World Series-less year as their season is redeemed by their brilliant run to the Jackie Robinson Cup (baseball’s tourney would be the easiest to name by far). Like soccer, these tournaments would run parallel to the season and offer hope, excitement and extra games to otherwise disinterested fanbases. Also, powerhouse teams like the Spurs or the Patriots would have to debate whether they want to ignore the cup(s) and put all their resources towards the league, or go for both if they think they can do it. Do you heavily rotate to focus on winning the championship despite being only a few wins away from a trophy in the Cup tournament?

New York Rangers fans could finally pretend their team matters with a Gretsky Cup victory, the Braves could shock everyone with hardware in a season they end up getting relegated to the second tier and the new Seattle Supersonics could upset the Warriors in the Brian Scalabrine Cup (working title) final in a legendary 2-OT game. While this probably wouldn’t work in the NFL due to player safety concerns, what fan of other leagues wouldn’t love to see more games, more playoff atmosphere and more excitement during the season?

4. Jerseys

When I first learned soccer teams get new jerseys made for them every year I thought it was dumb. It’s really just for teams to make more money each season, as crazy fans will end up buying at least a new jersey per season, if not all three (home, away, alternate). It’s a ton of fun to see teams wear throwback uniforms (unless you’re Chris Sale) so it actually makes a lot of sense for fans to be pumped up for new jerseys each year.

The release of these new threads always generates a lot of buzz in the offseason, creating more excitement during a time that usually has none. Sure, sometimes you won’t be crazy about one of your team’s jersey but everyone discussing their opinions on the looks just adds to the fun. Plus, it’s always fun to laugh at the ridiculous uniforms that your rivals will have to wear that year like these atrocities:

I mean, who approved those? But anyway this is a great idea because it’s a huge money maker for teams and leagues and the new designs will give fans something else to debate and argue over. Oh and this, from one team’s jersey launch:

5. Rule Consistency

The rules of soccer have, for the most part, stayed the same for as long as I can remember. And the one time they introduce new technology into the game (goal-line technology), it was a seamless transition that doesn’t take up game time and generally makes the game better and more accurate. Meanwhile in other sports:

And while the NFL can’t figure out the most basic of rules, the MLB and NBA are having trouble with replay. Both have recently implemented video review to help make sure umpires/referees get the call right. But neither has figured out how to have that happen quickly.

Video review on challenges or umpire reviews take excruciating long in baseball, a sport that has been trying everything to speed up their games. Basketball can’t efficiently review plays either and has been trying to tweak the rules to get rid of “hacking” for a while now. The NHL has actually had some good rule changes like taking out the stupid two-line pass rule but also implemented the trapezoid which is up for Dumbest Rule Change in Recent Sports History (not a real thing). Consistency goes a long way in gaining new fans and not pissing off existing fans with infuriating tweaks to da rules. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” should be adhered to by a lot more leagues.

6. Fan Songs

Every Big Four supporter gets behind their team in the most boring ways possible. “Let’s-go-[team]! Let’s-go-[team]!” Real creative Richard, they haven’t heard that one before, that’ll propell ‘em to victory. “D-Fence! D-Fence!” Thank god you were there to tell them you support them doing their job Deborah, what would they have done without you? It’s so uncreative that EVERY TEAM has a version of the same chants. And god forbid you have a stadium of split fans trying to out chant each other WITH THE SAME CHANT. You’ll have the entire stadium screaming “LETS-GO” and then a ridiculous mix of team names “CJOELTTSS!!!”

Meanwhile, in the rest of the world, fans have gotten much more creative and kick the crap out of our chants/cheers. If you watched any of the European Championships, you saw/heard Iceland’s fantastic and intimidating Viking clap:

THIS IS ALREADY A MILLION TIMES BETTER THAN ANYTHING WE HAVE AND THEY’RE JUST CLAPPING!

There are endless examples of great songs made by fans, but the best are when they’re making fun of athletes, like West Ham fans chanting at a former player that reminded them of a certain bald Harry Potter character:

There’s also a ton of great self deprecating chants like:

Do these chants actually help teams perform better? I don’t know, Google it. But it definitely sounds a lot better and is less boring that what we have now.

7. Less Commercials

Easily the best part of watching soccer is the uninterrupted flow of play. You get to enjoy 45+ straight minutes of gameplay, followed by a 15 minute break for halftime when TV gets all of its commercials out of the way/when you go refill the bowl of Doritos you spilled everywhere when your team scored and then another 45+ minutes of straight soccer homie. Never will you have to deal with the atrocities of the dreaded extra point-commercial-kickoff-commercial combo that watching football gets you.

Length of Game vs. Actual Gameplay–FIXED [OC] from dataisbeautiful

The above chart, which matches similar research online, gives you an idea of just how little action there actually is in other sports like football and baseball. Most of these broadcasts are made up of replays, analysis, commercials and players waiting around for the next play to start, with very little actually happening. All this is a part of soccer as well but in much smaller doses that lets you get into the flow of the game more.

I get that soccer isn’t for everyone (no sport is, especially NASCAR), and my reason for writing this article wasn’t to convince everyone to start loving it. Nor is it a perfect sport either (please don’t google flopping, racism in soccer, or European Super League). Rather, I thought it important to point out the things it gets right because while no sport has it all together, soccer looks to be leading the pack. And if the Big Four leagues are gonna screw around with their sports, they might as well learn a thing from a sport that has it’s shit together.

Ryan McAdams is a contributing editor for YourSitch.com

Twitter: @ryan7jets