Sports Krunch w/DKROM

Well, and then there were four. NFL Conference Championship Weekend is here with only the Rams, Saints, Patriots and Chiefs alive in the race to Super Bowl LIII. Do you think these were the four best teams in the NFL this year, Hal?

1. Divisional Round Weekend Takeaways

-Chiefs DL over-powering Colts OL and Rams ground game gashing the Cowboys on the ground are things nobody expected…and that’s what makes football so great

-Hal: Saints had weakest rushing attack last weekend

2. Truth or Exaggeration

-The Bears didn’t downgrade as much as some think at DC with their hire of Chuck Pagano

-The Broncos did themselves a favor by not keeping Gary Kubiak as their OC and going with a more fresh face and modern scheme in former 49ers QB coach Rick Scangarello 

-Gary Kubiak is exactly who Kirk Cousins needs to take that next step for the Vikings

-Mike Mayock is an upgrade over Reggie McKenzie for the Raiders at GM

3. Rams/Saints

-Should the Rams keep that same run-first approach this weekend given the season-ending injury to Sheldon Rankins?

-The Saints offense didn’t have to do much last week. I think they’ll have to do a lot more this week, do you?

-Most important player for each team on offense and defense in this game

-Game-deciding matchups

-Prediction

4. Patriots/Chiefs

-Why can the Patriots have more success on the ground against the Chiefs than the Colts did last weekend? Why can this Patriots OL contain this Chiefs pass rush unlike the unit that went against the Broncos pass rush on the road in the 2015 AFCCG?

-Based on watching the film of their previous meeting this season, what concepts will the Patriots D use to try to contain and pressure Mahomes?

-Does the change in weather forecast alter your prediction somewhat?

-Most important player for each team on offense and defense in this game

-Game-deciding matchups

-Prediction

5. Divisional Round Weekend Bold Predictions

-Me: Patriots will gash the Chiefs for over 250 rushing yards

-Hal:

6. Challenge Flags

-Me: Chiefs…don’t be afraid to beat the Patriots at their own game by running the ball and playing keep-away from Tom Brady

-Hal: Rams…don’t abandon the run even if the Saints jump out ahead early

Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but tomorrow through Thursday, we will be back in Mobile, Alabama for the second straight year covering the 2019 Reese’s Senior Bowl. Stay tuned for daily updates and interviews throughout our stay down in Sweet Home Alabama. 

In the mean time, be sure to check out the episode archive as well as my blog at SportsKrunch.com!! And if you enjoy these podcast episodes please consider leaving us an iTunes review and donating to our Patreon at Patreon.com/SportsKrunch so we can improve our iTunes ranking and afford to produce even more shows with awesome guests like Hal.

Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. Well wild card weekend wasn’t as really wild as I expected it to be with the exception of the Eagles/Bears game, but divisional round weekend has a better chance to live up to such a description. Do you believe so Hal Bent? What makes this arguably the most exciting weekend on the entire NFL calendar?

1. Wild Card Weekend Takeaways

-Bears fans should be giving Treyvon Hester FAR more credit than Cody Parkey hell

-Hal: Went 0-4 on his picks last week

2. Head Coaching Hire Grades

-Grading each team’s hire

3. Colts/Chiefs

-The Chiefs have to expect the Colts to pound the ball religiously in this game. Do you think the Chiefs can win without stopping the run?

-Who is more likely to have a good game?: Chiefs DL and edge rushers versus Colts OL or Colts back seven versus Chiefs weapons 

-Other game-deciding matchup

-Prediction

4. Cowboys/Rams

-Is this the worst possible divisional round matchup the Rams could ask for?

-Should the Rams give CJ Anderson a healthy amount of touches even with Gurley back? Two-back sets with them to help compensate for Cooper Kupp’s absence since both backs are great receivers?

-Can the Rams win without stopping the run?

-Game-deciding matchups

-Prediction

5. Chargers/Patriots

-How concerning is the potential disadvantage for the Patriots OL going against that Chargers front?

-Is there anybody in the league not named Derwin James capable of slowing down Gronk on a good day for Gronk?

-What advantages do the Chargers offense have against the Pats D and vice versa?

-Game-deciding matchup

-Prediction

6. Eagles/Saints

-The Eagles incredible run to this point began when Timmy Jernigan returned to the lineup. Just how important is he?

-Wouldn’t you say the Eagles should be given a better chance to win given the Saints inconsistencies in the secondary? 

-Is there a weakness for the Eagles DL to exploit against this rock solid Saints OL?

-Game-deciding matchups

-Prediction

7. Divisional Round Weekend Bold Predictions

-Me: Nick Foles throws for 350 yards, 3 TD’s and 65%+ of his passes….and still loses

-Hal: Andrew Luck throws for 400 yards and 4 TD’s and completes 75% of his passes…and still loses

8. Challenge Flags

-Me: Chargers….this may be your lest best chance to win a Super Bowl with Philip Rivers. PLAY LIKE IT! 

-Hal: Eagles….pull out all of the stops and prove me wrong. PLAY LIKE A CHAMPION AND GO DOWN SWINGING!!!!

Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week to preview the Conference Championships…so stay tuned! I am also pleased to announce that Sports Krunch will be back on the ground in Mobile, Alabama for the second straight year covering the 2019 Reese’s Senior Bowl. Also, should things currently transpiring behind the scenes continue their course into these next few weeks, Sports Krunch will undergo a fascinating makeover…so stay tuned for a huge announcement if that happens. 

In the mean time, be sure to check out the episode archive as well as my blog at SportsKrunch.com!! And if you enjoy these podcast episodes please consider leaving us an iTunes review and donating to our Patreon at Patreon.com/SportsKrunch so we can improve our iTunes ranking and afford to produce even more shows with awesome guests like Hal.

 Well the NFL playoffs are finally here with Wild Card Weekend about to commence and Hal Bent, I don’t think I’ve ever been excited for a Wild Card weekend like this one. Have you?

Week 17 Takeaways

-Kirk Cousins looking like a colossal waste of money

-Teddy Bridgewater doesn’t look like the future in New Orleans

Coaching Carousel

-Jets are pursuing Baylor head coach Matt Rhule. Given college football’s increasing influence on NFL offensive scheming, this might be the best possible hire for the Jets. What do you think?

-If the Jets hire Rhule, do you think Adam Gase should go to the Cardinals?

-It’s been rumored for several months that Mike McCarthy would become the new head coach of the Browns. Given his previous relationship with John Dorsey plus Baker Mayfield likely only going to get better, how good of a fit would that be? 

-Best coaching fits for each opening: Browns, Dolphins, Broncos, Cardinals, Jets, Packers, Bengals, Buccaneers

Colts/Texans

-How will the lack of receiving weapons outside of DeAndre Hopkins hinder the Texans offense?

-DeAndre Hopkins announced on Thursday that he will be dedicating this game to Jazmine Barnes, a 7-year old girl killed in a drive-by shooting in the Houston area. Nuk will be donating this week’s game-check to the Barnes family in order to help pay for the funeral costs. If I’m the Colts, I would not discount the fact that this heartbreaking story that touched Hopkins so much has the potential to make him go absolutely gangbusters on Saturday. He’s playing for Jazmine’s memory and her family. Would you have that same mindset if you were the Colts secondary?

-How big is the mismatch between the Colts receiving options and the Texans secondary?

-Prediction

Seahawks/Cowboys

-Which battle will be most decisive in this game? The battle between QB’s, defenses, or ground games?

-Game-deciding matchups

-Prediction

Chargers/Ravens

-Which is bigger: The Chargers advantage of playing the Ravens for a second time in three weeks or the disadvantage Chargers having to play a 1 PM ET game on the east coast?

-What is the main thing the Chargers have to do on both sides of the ball better than their previous rendezvous with the Ravens in order to win?

-Game-deciding matchup

-Prediction

Eagles/Bears

-REGARDLESS of the outcome of this game, do you think the Bears were dumb to not bench their starters early in the game against the Vikings?

-Who is more important for a Bears win on Sunday: Mitchell Trubisky or Jordan Howard?

-Outside of Nick Foles, who has been the key to the Eagles late-season turnaround?

-Does this seem to be a defensive battle to you given the fact both offenses run pretty similar systems?

-Prediction

Wild Card Weekend Bold Predictions

-Me: Darius Leonard has 3.5 sacks, 1 extra TFL and a FF to set up the game-winning field goal…clinching himself DROY honors

-Hal: Mitchell Trubisky throws 4 TD’s and for over 375 yards 

Challenge Flags

-Me: Bears...play with the “if you wanna BE the champs…you have to BEAT the champs” mindset. Prove Louis Riddick (and Hal) right and me wrong 

-Hal: Andrew Luck, if you have to throw 50 times to win this game, DO IT!

Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week to preview Divisional Round Weekend…so stay tuned! Meanwhile, be sure to check out the episode archive as well as my blog at SportsKrunch.com!! And if you enjoy these podcast episodes please consider leaving us an iTunes review and donating to our Patreon at Patreon.com/SportsKrunch so we can improve our iTunes ranking and afford to produce even more shows with awesome guests like Hal.

Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. Well, the 2018 NFL regular season comes to an end this weekend with three playoff teams and 11 seeds still yet to be determined. But as we’ve been saying for weeks, just as it appears the ride is ending, it’s really just beginning. Isn’t it Hal Bent?

1. Week 16 Takeaways

-Jets have opened a GOLDEN window of opportunity with Sam Darnold…and they CANNOT afford to squander it. Firing Mike Maccagnan must be SQUARELY on the table

-Nick Foles blew Hal’s bold prediction out of the water

-Chargers laid an egg at the worst possible time. Can they bounce back? 

2. Truth/Exaggeration

-Regardless of what happens this Sunday, John Harbaugh has earned another contract extension as head coach of the Ravens

-Injuries and/or lack of depth in the defensive back seven will lead to one-an-done playoff performances for the Chiefs and Texans 

-The Ravens and Colts are the two main teams NOBODY will want to face in the playoffs

-If there were an award for unsung hero of the year, it would be given to Saints DT Sheldon Rankins this season

-Aaron Donald will break Michael Strahan’s single-season sack record this weekend

-Even though the Bears ended up winning last week, the tape their defense put up against the 49ers proves why Eddie Jackson is arguably the third most important person on their defense behind only Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks

3. Colts/Titans

-Whose absence will hurt their team more: Ryan Kelly or Jurrell Casey?

-How much of a downgrade is Blaine Gabbert from Marcus Mariota? Is the Titans O a better unit than the Colts D with Mariota? Without him?

-This game has a feel to it that whoever runs the ball better will win. Doesn’t it? 

-Game-deciding matchups

-Prediction

4.  Rapid Fire Predictions

-Dolphins/Bills

-Lions/Packers

-Jaguars/Texans

-Jets/Patriots

-Panthers/Saints

-Cowboys/Giants

-Falcons/Buccaneers

-Browns/Ravens

-Raiders/Chiefs

-Bears/Vikings

-Bengals/Steelers

-Eagles/Redskins

-Chargers/Broncos

-49ers/Rams

-Cardinals/Seahawks

5. If you had to predict today, who would face off in Super Bowl LIII, and who would win?

-Me: Patriots and Saints with the Saints winning 30-27

-Hal: Saints and Chiefs with the Saints winning 31-13

6. Week 17 Bold Predictions

-Me: Teddy Bridgewater punches his ticket to a mega-deal in free agency by going 20/25 for 275 yards and 3 TD’s

-Hal: Ravens enter fourth quarter with a 13-3 lead, and Mayfield throws three 4th quarter TD’s to pull off the upset

7. Challenge Flags

-Me: Kirk Cousins…this is your biggest chance to change the narrative on your career. Prove the doubters wrong!!

-Hal: Bengals, Jets, Broncos, Buccaneers, Cardinals, Lions…do NOT be afraid to start over

Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week to preview Wild Card Weekend and break down the looming NFL coaching carousel…so stay tuned! Meanwhile, be sure to check out the episode archive as well as my blog at SportsKrunch.com!! And if you enjoy these podcast episodes please consider leaving us an iTunes review and donating to our Patreon at Patreon.com/SportsKrunch so we can improve our iTunes ranking and afford to produce even more shows with awesome guests like Hal.

Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. It’s hard to believe, but the 2018 NFL regular season is already down to its final two weeks. And usually at this point in the year, a single team or a tiny group of teams emerge as clear front-runners to win the Super Bowl. But this year, I don’t see such a front-runner right now.  

1. Week 15 Takeaways

-Bears might have broke the Rams, Cowboys might have broke the Saints

-Even though they might win one more Super Bowl with Tom Brady, the end of the Patriots amazing run seems closer than it’s ever been 

2. Truth/Exaggeration

-The Patriots won’t make it far in the playoffs if Rob Gronkowski is indeed declining

-The Cardinals should fire HC Steve Wilks AND GM Steve Keim in order to build the roster around Josh Rosen going forward

-Vance Joseph’s gutless decision on fourth-and-one has eliminated any remaining chances he has at keeping his job as head coach of the Broncos

-If the Jets end up with the third overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, they should highly consider trading down given the holes on their roster and the fact they do not have a second-round pick this year

-Even though he probably won’t get the honor, Khalil Mack deserves robust consideration to be 2018’s Defensive Player of the Year

-The NFL must get rid of the Pro Bowl altogether in the next CBA

-The Vikings change at OC from John DeFilippo to Kevin Stefanski will make them the biggest sleeping giant in the playoffs should they get in

3. Make The Case

-MVP: Drew Brees or Patrick Mahomes?

-Coach of the Year: Anthony Lynn or Matt Nagy?

-Comeback Player of the Year: Andrew Luck or JJ Watt?

-Most Disappointing Team: Jaguars or Eagles?

-Executive of the Year: Ryan Pace or Chris Ballard?

4. Steelers/Saints

-Do you think Father Time is playing a role in Drew Brees’ performance these past three games?

-What does Jaylen Samuels bring to the Steelers offense that Le’Veon Bell and James Connor do not?

-Saints D has been cooking since Week 10. They are first in PPG allowed, third in YPG allowed, first in sacks per game, and tied for third in turnovers forced per game. That is a night and day difference compared to the first nine weeks of the season. What has been the biggest factor in this impressive turnaround?

-Game-deciding matchups

-Prediction

5. Chiefs/Seahawks

-The Seahawks defense was just torched through the air by the 49ers last week. They gave up four pass plays of 20 or more yards. How ominous of a sign is that with Pat Mahomes and the Chiefs coming to town??

-Most important defensive player for the Seahawks not named Bobby Wagner in this game

-Who did the Chiefs offense miss more last week: Sammy Watkins or Spencer Ware?

-Prediction

6.  Rapid Fire Predictions

-Redskins/Titans

-Ravens/Chargers

-Giants/Colts

-Jaguars/Dolphins

-Falcons/Panthers

-Bengals/Browns

-Buccaneers/Cowboys

-Vikings/Lions

-Bills/Patriots

-Packers/Jets

-Texans/Eagles

-Rams/Cardinals

-Bears/49ers

-Broncos/Raiders

7. Week 15 Bold Predictions

-Me: Darius Leonard and Andrew Luck go HAM on Sunday. Luck throws for 4 TD’s and Darius Leonard registers 2 sacks, 4 TFL’s, and a forced fumble

-Hal: Foles throws for 30/40 370 yards and 3 TD

8. Challenge Flags

-Me: Chargers…play your two best games of the season to close out 2018

-Hal: Chargers…home field advantage is there for the taking. Take it!

Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week to preview Week 17…so stay tuned! Meanwhile, be sure to check out the episode archive as well as my blog at SportsKrunch.com!! And if you enjoy these podcast episodes pleas