Sports Krunch w/DKROM

NFL Week 9 is upon us, and that means we will officially reach the halfway point of the 2018 season at some point on Sunday. Week 8 didn’t bring us quite as many exciting finishes as we’ve been used to seeing on a weekly basis this year, and Thursday night’s Raiders/Niners game was a classic stinker. But with Rams/Saints and the battle for NFC supremacy plus Rodgers vs. Brady Part II on tap for Sunday, I think Week 9 should provide us with far more heart-palpitations than Week 8 did.

Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01

1. Week 8 Takeaways

-The Jameis Winston experiment in Tampa must end…and end NOW

-Why did it take THIS long for the Browns to fire Hue Jackson?

2. Trading Deadline Recap

-Which of the following three contenders made the best deal: Texans, Eagles or Rams? Who made the worst deal?

3. Rams/Saints

-The Packers defense last week gave the perfect blueprint for slowing down the Rams offense, and you can expect the Saints to follow suit. However, Cooper Kupp is expected to return for the Rams this week. How much easier does Cooper Kupp make it for the Rams to execute against such a defensive game plan?

-Meanwhile, the Saints will be without an underrated piece on defense. Rookie DE Marcus Davenport appeared to be hitting his stride, but he is out at least a month with a toe injury. How limited will the Saints be from a scheming perspective on defense without his services this Sunday?

-Game-deciding matchups (Donald/Suh vs. Saints OL)

-Prediction

4. Packers/Patriots

-How difficult a test will Kenny Clark and Mike Daniels be for the Patriots interior OL?

-Do you think Tom Brady will be tempted to avoid throwing to Jaire Alexander as much as humanly possible?

-Whose absence affects their team the most in this game: Geronimo Allison or Sony Michel?

-Game-deciding matchups

-Prediction

5. We have a new feature here on Sports Krunch…our Top Choice Athletics Trivia Question of the Week. The winner of this weekly contest will be the recipient of some of the best sporting equipment from Top Choice Athletic!! This week’s trivia question is simply to name the birthplace (city and country) of HOF kicker Morten Andersen. Winner will be announced on next week’s show!!!

Post your answer in the comments section of the post pinned to the Sports Krunch Facebook page. This first one to answer correctly wins!

6. Rapid Fire Predictions

-Chiefs/Browns

-Steelers/Ravens

-Bears/Bills

-Lions/Vikings

-Jets/Dolphins

-Buccaneers/Panthers

-Falcons/Redskins

-Texans/Broncos

-Chargers/Seahawks

-Cowboys/Titans

7. Week 9 Bold Predictions

-Me: The Texans and Broncos defenses combine for more than 12 sacks

-Hal:

8. Challenge Flags

-Me: Rams…if you want to be the man….you have to beat the man. Play the game of your lives on Sunday!!!

-Hal:

Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week for Week 10…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.

For Hal Bent our producer Chris Brodhead, this is David Kromelow saying so long, and as usual, stay awesome!!!

It is hard to believe we are almost halfway through the 2018 NFL season. It’s been a wild ride so far, so wild it seems like a year has gone by. But if you think what we just went through these past seven weeks was wild….you ain’t seen nothing yet.

Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01

1. Week 7 Takeaways

-After getting EMBARRASSED in the “TNF Stinker Bowl”…the clock has to start ticking on Steve Wilks in Arizona

-Jaguars will forever regret drafting Leonard Fournette over Mahomes and Watson…and extending Blake Bortles instead of signing Teddy Bridgewater

2. Trade Tsunami

-At this time (on paper), how historically horrendous does the Cowboys trade for Amari Cooper look? How many All Pro (or Pro Bowl) campaigns does Cooper need to have with the Cowboys in order to meet the value of this trade?

-If you were a contender like the Chiefs who need all the defensive help they can get, would you be willing to trade a first-round pick for Patrick Peterson?

-What trade value, if any, does Le’Veon Bell have?

-If you’re the Broncos, do you trade Demaryius Thomas for anything you can get (even a seventh-round pick) so you can clear 2019 cap space and get Courtland Sutton more snaps?

3. Packers/Rams

-Does anything about this Packers defense, who had trouble with C.J. Beathard and the 49ers, make you confident that they can contain this Rams offense?

-Given the Rams D’s vulnerabilities against TE, would you try to target Jimmy Graham 8-10 times (or more) if you’re the Packers?

-With Cooper Kupp doubtful to play again, how much can that potentially limit the Rams offense?

-Game-deciding matchups

-Prediction

4. Saints/Vikings

-With the Vikings likely without their shutdown corner Xavier Rhodes, LB Anthony Barr and Everson Griffen (even though he’s back) and the Saints having problems with Joe Flacco last week…do you see a shootout that exceeds the over of 52.5 points?

-Marshon Lattimore vs. Adam Thielen….who has the edge and why?

-Other game-deciding matchups

-Prediction

5. SET MY LINEUP

Matt Fleischer (PPR)

-QB: Goff, Stafford

-RB: Gurley, AP, Hines, Malcolm Brown

-WR: Shepard, Edelman, Demaryius, Kupp, Callaway

-TE: Kelce

-Flex:

6. Rapid Fire Predictions

-Dolphins/Texans

-Eagles/Jaguars

-Redskins/Giants

-Seahawks/Lions

-Jets/Bears

-Ravens/Panthers

-Buccaneers/Bengals

-Browns/Steelers

-Broncos/Chiefs

-Colts/Raiders

-49ers/Cardinals

-Patriots/Bills

7. Week 8 Bold Predictions

-Me: The Browns and Steelers will go to OT again…and it will end on a last-second FG by Boswell

-Hal: Rams will be 7-4 headed into their bye week

8. Challenge Flags

-Me: Eagles…play with urgency for 60 minutes!!!!

-Hal: Jay Gruden….keep your eye on the prize. Jon…trade ANYONE with value

Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week for Week 9…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.

For Hal Bent our producer Chris Brodhead, this is David Kromelow saying so long, and as usual, stay awesome!!!

Every single week of this 2018 NFL season has consisted of more heart-palpitating finishes to start a season than I can remember. We have had games go to OT every single week, and even though this Week 7 slate of games doesn’t look quite as delicious as those of previous weeks, we should expect even more near-heart attacks this week and for the rest of the season.

Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01

1. Week 6 Takeaways

-Buffalo Bills….talk about an historical difference between offense/defense. Per Football Outsiders, the Bills defense is third best in total DVOA, but their offense is the second worst ever through six games in total DVOA behind only the 2004 Miami Dolphins

-All the Patrick Mahomes doubters/haters can zip it

2. Truth/Exaggeration

-The era of dominant NFL defenses is over

-Despite the Bears heartbreaking loss last week, their fans should be very optimistic about Mitchell Trubisky going forward

-The Los Angeles Chargers are a serious threat to win the AFC West…and the AFC

-The Minnesota Vikings are the current favorites to win the NFC North

3. Saints/Ravens

-The Ravens have had Drew Brees number during his career as a Saint (Brees is 0-3 against Baltimore in that capacity). The Saints enter this game third in total offense, and the Ravens number one in total defense. How well does this Ravens D match up with the Saints? How is this Saints offense better equipped to attack such a physical defense compared to years past?

-This game can turn out a lot of different ways. Do you expect a high-scoring affair, a low-scoring defensive struggle, or something in between?

-Game-deciding matchup?

-Prediction

4. Bengals/Chiefs

-Who should be the key focal point of the Bengals offense in this game: Andy Dalton and the passing game, or Joe Mixon and the running game?

-Geno Atkins has been absolutely outstanding this season and the Chiefs interior OL is decimated by injury headed into this game. How possible or likely is it that this mismatch can be the big difference between a win and loss for the Chiefs?

-Game-deciding matchup

-Prediction

5. SET MY LINEUP

Raj Chandra (non-PPR)

-QB: Mahomes, Bortles

-RB: Elliott, Hunt, Freeman, Crowell, Ito Smith

-WR: Gordon, Gabriel, Marvin Jones, Davante Adams (on BYE)

-TE: Howard, Reed

-Flex:

6. Rapid Fire Predictions

-Broncos/Cardinals

-Titans/Chargers

-Patriots/Bears

-Lions/Dolphins

-Vikings/Jets

-Bills/Colts

-Texans/Jaguars

-Browns/Buccaneers

-Panthers/Eagles

-Cowboys/Redskins

-Rams/49ers

-Giants/Falcons

7. Week 7 Bold Predictions

-Me: The Broncos will yield another 200-yard rusher as David Johnson sets the single-game rushing yardage record tomorrow night!!!

-Hal: Brees throws for less than 150 yards

8. Challenge Flags

-Me: Matt Nagy…keep the ship steady

-Hal: Mike Vrabel…toughen up the Titans and make it a game against the Chargers

Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week for Week 8…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.

For Hal Bent our producer Chris Brodhead, this is David Kromelow saying so long, and as usual, stay awesome!!!

Week 5 in the NFL brought us some more dramatic action. With two more OT finishes in Cleveland and Houston, an amazing last-second finish in Carolina, plus another gutsy play call in crunch time by Sean McVay, the NFL delivered once again in Week 5…as it has done every week this season. And now Week 6 arguably brings THE most exciting matchup of the season to date as a rising star QB battles the greatest QB of all time in prime time. And what better guest is there to preview that game plus the rest of the NFL’s Week 6 slate than my buddy and right-hand man Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com!!

Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01

1. Week 5 Takeaways

-Jason Garrett = GUTLESS

-Drew Brees and Tom Brady make history in tremendous fashion

2. Truth/Exaggeration

-The NFC East is the worst division in the NFL right now

-The Saints defense has turned a corner and will play more like the unit they were last season the rest of the way

-Mike Tomlin and Mike McCarthy should get fired if their respective teams don’t make the playoffs

-If Fletcher Cox is neutralized, the Eagles defense can’t stop anybody

3. Chiefs/Patriots

-Rodney Harrison said today on a conference call with the New England-area media that he doesn’t believe in either the Chiefs or Patriots defense. Do you believe in any of them in this game?

-The over/under for this game is 58.5…and only one such game has closed with such an over/under since 2003. Would you bet the over or under in this game…and why?

-This Andy Reid offense gave the Patriots defense FITS last year. Are they better equipped to stop it this time around?

-Should we expect to see Josh Gordon’s heaviest workload as a Patriot to date this Sunday?

-As bad as their defense is, the Chiefs currently lead the league in third-down defensive efficiency. Is that a mirage…or do they do some things right in that situation?

-Most important player in this game for each team not named Mahomes or Brady

-Prediction

4. SET MY LINEUP

BeeJay Strickley (non-PPR)

-QB: Newton, Wentz

-RB: Carson, Lindsay, Howard, L. Murray

-WR: Beckham, Julio, Edelman, J. Brown

-TE: Cook, Njoku (if applicable)

-Flex: Julian Edelman

5. Rapid Fire Predictions

-Eagles/Giants

-Steelers/Bengals

-Chargers/Browns

-Bills/Texans

-Bears/Dolphins

-Cardinals/Vikings

-Colts/Jets

-Seahawks/Raiders

-Panthers/Redskins

-Buccaneers/Falcons

-Rams/Broncos

-Ravens/Titans

-Jaguars/Cowboys

-49ers/Packers

7. Week 6 Bold Predictions

-Me: Mitchell Trubisky will throw six INT’s

-Hal: Mayfield, Darnold, Allen and Rosen will go 4-0 combined for the second straight week

8. Challenge Flags

-Me: Denver Broncos….EMBRACE THE TANK!!!!

-Hal: Marvin Lewis/Bengals…PROVE ME RIGHT!!!

Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week for Week 7…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.

For Hal Bent our producer Chris Brodhead, this is David Kromelow saying so long, and as usual, stay awesome!!!

It’s hard to believe…but we’re already one quarter of the way through the 2018 NFL season. And Week 4 gave us some amazing performances. Career games for Jared Goff and Mitchell Trubisky, an impressive debut and “coming of age” game for Patrick Mahomes, three OT games plus two last-second finishes in regulation were a fitting conclusion to the first month of the season…and what we saw this past week is likely just a preview of what awaits us these next 13 weeks. And the journey begins tonight with the beginning of Week 5…and it’s a pleasure to bring back my right-hand man Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com to help us preview what should be another exciting weekend of NFL action.

Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01

1. Week 4 Takeaways

-I owe the Jaguars AND Titans an apology

-Doug Pederson has revolutionized the game for the better

2. QUARTER-POLE AWARDS

Patrick Mahomes

Jared Goff

Khalil Mack...

As unpredictable as the NFL was in the first two weeks of its 2018 season, week three emphatically yelled: HOLD MY BEER! In week 3, we witnessed the third largest upset in NFL history as Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills went into Minnesota as 16.5 point underdogs and absolutely HUMILIATED the Vikings…the same Vikings team I predicted to win Super Bowl LIII. Also, Baker Mayfield was forced into action and led the Browns to their first victory since December 2016 in remarkable, come-from-behind fashion. And after three weeks, who would’ve thought that the only three 3-0 teams would be the Rams, Chiefs…and the Miami Dolphins? You truly can’t predict the NFL…and that’s what makes it the greatest thing in sports. And this ride is only about to get more bumpier and unpredictable in Week 4…and what better person is there to preview Week 4 with than my right-hand man Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com.

Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01

1. Week 4 Takeaways

-Jaguars played down to their...

Two weeks into the 2018 NFL season, unpredictability remains king of America’s real pastime. Who had the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Ryan Fitzpatrick starting the year 2-0 having the league’s top offense? Who had the league on pace to have 16 games end in a tie two weeks in? What more exciting twist and turns await the NFL in Week 3? And what better person is there to give us an answer then my right-hand man Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com!

Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01

1. Week 2 Takeaways

-Nice job of responding to my challenge flag last week Atlanta Falcons!! A perfect 4/4 in the red zone.

-The decision making of the Cleveland Browns has hit a new low... and I’m not talking about the Josh Gordon trade. How on Earth did the Browns not waive or IR Zane Gonzalez before Week 1? Had they done that and signed a proven veteran kicker, they’d likely be 2-0 now. Instead they do it two weeks too late and sign an unproven journeyman

2. FOUR QUESTIONS

-Which of these 2-0 teams is the...

The NFL couldn’t have delivered a better product for opening week of its 2018 season. The drama, several amazing finishes (including a tie and a comeback for the ages), and amazing performances by stars and future stars showed why the NFL has been missed badly these past seven months…and why it’s great to have it back. Now, it’s on to Week 2…and once again, what better person can we have on the program to help me preview another fun week of pro football than my great friend Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com.

Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01

1. Week 1 Takeaways

-Stellar QB performances by present and future stars: Rodgers, Brees, Brady, Darnold, Mahomes

-Pass rush clinics by Von Miller, Khalil Mack

2. Vikings/Packers

-Based on Aaron Rodgers’ press availability today, he sounded like he is more likely than not going to play on Sunday, albeit at less than 100%. But as he showed last Sunday against the Bears (and in 2016), a wounded Rodgers is just as dangerous (if not even more...

I have been waiting seven months to say these seven words: “NFL football is officially back in action.” Tomorrow night, the 2018 season of the National Football League, the greatest reality TV show every conceived, begins in earnest as the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles host the Atlanta Falcons. And we here at Sports Krunch couldn’t have been more excited for 22 weeks of the non-stop, unpredictable drama that is the NFL and me and my right-hand man Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com will have you covered every step of the way. It’s absolutely wonderful to cover yet another intriguing season of pro football with you, Hal. What makes the 2018 NFL season potentially more intriguing than these past seven seasons or so?

Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01

1. Falcons/Eagles

-With Nick Foles under center and Alshon Jeffery sidelined, what is the best way for the Eagles to attack this freakishly fast and athletic Falcons defense?

-How much will the Eagles be missing LB...

The preseason has concluded and we are less than a week away from the real beginning of the 2018 NFL regular season. Right now, the NFL is in the midst of its most brutal 48-hour period of the year as all 32 clubs are in the process of cutting down their rosters from 90 to 53, which they must do by 4 PM ET today. However, as much as I feel the pain of many of those players getting their dreams deferred right now, I would rather devote the time to discussing the excitement surrounding the National Football League this season…and that’s why today, we are doing our annual “NFL Predictions” episode. And once again, is there any better guy to do it with than my buddy Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com?

Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01

1. This week, the New York Jets did exactly what you recommended they do as they traded Teddy Bridgewater and a 2019 sixth-round pick to the Saints for a 2019 third-round pick. While you cannot ignore Mike Maccagnan’s brilliance in the QB market this...