Empire... State Your Mind

Matt, Chris and Nick discuss the Super Bowl that turned out to be a one-sided affair. Brady and the Bucs take care of business at home. While Mahomes and the Chiefs were unable to score a touchdown. Do you blame this loss on Mahomes or injuries and drops?

A lot of unrelated questions raised in this episode: Who won the Stafford trade, Rams or Lions?  Looking forward, are the Bucs prime to make another run with Brady? Has an NBA team won a championship with only won star player? Would you rather be a Cinderella or Contender?

Matt, Chris and Nick discuss James Harden coming to the Nets. Harden loses about 50lbs. and has one hell of a debut game with a 30+ point triple double. However, Kyrie Irving was not on the court. How will Harden and Kyrie mesh? Meanwhile, the Knicks go from a 5 game skid to winning a back to back. Although they lack stars, the Knicks continue to play hard.

The lack of stars in MSG brings up a few tangents. Were the trio of Garnett, Pierce and Allen on the same level as the trio of LeBron, Wade and Bosh? How would you rank the players 1-6?

Then, we travel east towards the harbor and to the Garden where the Celtics get smacked by the Knicks. Having said that, the Celtics were playing without Tatum and still waiting for Kemba to return from injury. Can the Celtics make it through the gauntlet of the East?

The NHL is back in action. Thus far, the Devils have been the surprise of the East bringing the Bruins to OT twice and stealing a win with 1.7 seconds left on the clock. Then, you have the Sabres who have collected some talent in the offseason. With higher expectations than usual, they drop the first 2 games to the Caps.

In a shortened Covid season with a new playoff system, it is pivotal for every team to get off to a fast start. It seems the Rangers never received the memo as they get shutout in game 1, 4-0 vs. the Islanders. In game 2, the script was flipped as the Rangers get a shutout of their own 5-0 vs. the same Islanders team.

Let It Ride on Championship weekend:

Matt:

Packers -3.5 (Packers ML)

Bills +3 (Bills ML)

Chris:

Bucs +3.5 (Bucs ML)

Bills +3 (Bills ML)

Nick:

Bucs +3.5 (Bucs ML)

Chiefs -3 (Chiefs ML)

Facebook Live for Bills @ Chiefs?

Matt, Chris and Nick address the fact that Brian Cashman must be listening. In addition to resigning DJ LeMahieu, the Yankees sign Corey Kluber. Did Uncle Steven force the Yanks hand? As the New York baseball teams make big moves, the Red Sox stay put and hope to rebuild as Chaim Bloom did many times in Tampa. While Chris and Nick discuss recent baseball history, Matt offers to sell his fanship for a price of course.

Then the gang gets right into the NFL Divisional Round. It seems the bye week served the Packers well, as Rodgers passes for almost 300 yards and the Packers backfield adds an additional 180+ yards on the ground. Aaron Rodgers gets his wish as the Super Bowl runs through Lambeau.

After that, we get into the game we live streamed on Facebook. For those of you who joined, Thank you!!! The wagons were circled in Buffalo once again. The Bills defense and the wind stifles Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense holding them to only 3 points. While the Bills D gets a touchdown of their own. Chris feels vindicated that Lamar, although a great playmaker, is not a great QB. There’s only one person who had a worse game, debatably the best kicker in the NFL, Justin Tucker.

Although the Browns kept trying to give the game away, they are given the opportunity of a lifetime. Mahomes gets knocked out of the game in the 3rd quarter, the Browns pull within 5 points and get the ball back with 8:00 left in the game. One 1st down later and a punt, they never see the ball again. On 3rd and 14, Henne runs for 13 yards to make it a 4th and 1. The Chiefs elect to go for it, convert and ice the game. Now, will Mahomes be back in time for the AFC Championship game?

The game Roger was waiting for but apparently did not attend. Brady vs. Brees, a heavyweight matchup turned into a 1st round knockout. Brees looked all but washed up as Brady made timely throws and limited his mistakes. For the first time in his career, Brady will be advancing to the NFC Championship game. While the Saints have big questions to answer this offseason. Does Brees retire? If so, who replaces him?

Overall, unlike the Wildcard round, the gang is on a heater with their Divisional picks:

Matt: 7/8

Chris 6/8

Nick 4/8

Matt, Chris and Nick “Let It Ride” in the NFL Divisional Round:

Matt:

Packers -7

Bills -2

Browns +10 (Browns ML)

Bucs +3 (Bucs ML)

Chris:

Rams +7 (Rams ML)

Bills -2

Browns +10 (Chiefs ML)

Bucs +3 (Bucs ML)

Nick:

Rams +7 (Packers ML)

Ravens +2 (Ravens ML)

Chiefs -10

Bucs +3 (Bucs ML)

While 8 NFL teams continue to pursue their championship aspirations, the College Football Champion has been crowned…Roll Tide. Alabama rolls (pun intended) Ohio State 52-24 and raises some questions about Justin Fields. Will Fields still be the 2nd QB taken off the board? Also, Mac Jones and Devonta Smith stock continues to rise.

Also, now that it seems like Smith is out of reach for the Giants, how will they address their need at WR through the draft or Free Agency?

The Deshaun Watson sweepstakes have begun and the first bidding seems to be the Dolphins. What team is the best fit for him?

Shout out Ed Raso!!!

Matt, Chris and Nick start the podcast in song and discuss (believe it or not) the MLB first. On the heels of Lindor being traded to the Mets, again, Nick has a few choice words for the Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman. Is Cashman’s back against the wall to not only sign DJ but another free agent as well?

Then, we bounce it quickly to the NBA. The Celtics’ games have been postponed this week due to Covid. The Knicks have gone from a 3 game win streak to a 3 game skid. As the Nets continue their run at .500. Durant and Irving have missed 4 of 11 games and the Nets are 4-4 when at least one of them is on the court. Conclusion, possible live stream for the Knicks @ Celtics game Sunday, 1:00 pm ET.

NFL Wildcard weekend was a doozy consisting of some great games, duds and upsets. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson each get their first playoff win, earning the right to play each other. Both Allen and Jackson were 1st round picks back in 2018. Meanwhile, in Seattle, the dream of another title is over for Russell Wilson. The Rams defense stifled Wilson and Metcalf. Which brings up a great tangent, is Donald the best defensive player in the league? Then, the matchup Roger has been waiting for is now set, Brady vs. Brees. While Brady looked electric vs. the Washington “R” words, Brees and the Saints were mostly carried by their defense. After the Bears/Saints lay an egg on Nickelodeon. The Browns shock the world on Sunday Night football going up 28-0 in the first quarter. However, every viewer thought the Browns were going to pull a Browns and blow this game. Yet, the Browns closed the door on JuJu and the Steelers. With that win, Cleveland has earned the right to make their way to Arrowhead. Although it was a tough Saturday for the gang, there was a bit of redemption Sunday.

In prompt to running back discussion and early 2000s NFL memories.

Nick joins the gang once again to discuss week 16 of the NFL season. With back-to-back wins, the Jets have officially lost their chance to draft Trevor Lawrence with the #1 overall pick. As the Jets have found their groove, the Giants have lost any swagger they gained from their win over the Seahawks. They have dropped their last 3 games and have fallen to 5-10. However, with a win and a Washington loss in week 17, the Giants would be crowned as the NFC LEast champions. Meanwhile, the Bills continue to roll as Josh Allen makes a strong case for league MVP. Additionally, the guys go over the NFL playoff picture and predict what 14 teams will make it into the big dance.

The NBA season is officially a week in and the Knicks have not looked like a complete dumpster fire. In fact, they beat the Bucks (#1 seed in the East last year) by 20 points. Are they starting to build towards the future? While the Nets are looking to be a title contender this year… 4 games in and load management has begun, Durant and Kyrie spectate during game 4 of the season. To the Northeast of Brooklyn, you have the Celtics’ star Jayson Tatum taking an ill-advised 3 at the buzzer in a 1 point game. Although all three teams share the same record, 2-2, each fanbase has a different perspective on being .500.

Cashman has officially been put on notice by Nick, as he questions the decisions being made to win in 2021. Will his demands be heard and will DJ be signed?

Thoughts and Prayers go out to Lundy!! Get well soon!!!