Blog Archives
The NFC West Los Angeles Changers ?
By James Fedewa – 2/19/2015
The Chargers and Raiders announced a possible joint-venture today, mutually perusing a $1.7 billion stadium option in Carson, California. A “super” stadium / mega-complex that both teams could call their home. Initial football fan thoughts have been very negative, regarding two divisional rivals, that share a mutual hate for each other, splitting the same home field. But moving one of those two teams to the NFC West makes this move a very interesting scenario and discussion, which could be a very smart business move for the Raiders, Chargers and the NFL.
If you are a Chargers fan, your biggest rival are the Raiders. Same applies with the Broncos and the Chiefs, who call the Raiders their largest Rival. 75% of the AFC West hate the Raiders the most, which is outstanding, considering the Raiders that have been the worst team in the NFL over the last ten years. Yet the Raiders are still the largest rival and most hated team in the AFC West.
In contrast, the mere words “San Diego” generally makes people smile. The beach, the warm weather, the lifestyle, the fun… it’s a vacation city. If the Chargers dropped their team name and just went with their city name, the team would still have a large fan base. Would you be a fan of The San Diego’s? YES! Granted, a city does not necessary make a team (but it could in San Diego). Other than the actual team, what creates and generates an overall team? THE FANS. Chargers fans are generally a very nice bunch, which makes it easy, fun (and some what mild) to root for the Chargers.
So which team would join the NFC West? The Raiders or The Chargers?
Could the Raiders sell out a stadium in Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle or St. Louis? Probably (San Francisco for sure because of the Bay Area Oakland fans, but one of those city will be moved to the AFC West).
Could the Chargers sell out a stadium in Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle or St. Louis? This is debatable, but probable. San Diego fans could travel to Phoenix and San Francisco fairly easy, and Seattle is an old rival from when they were in the AFC West. If any teams FANS would be more accepting of a team moving cities, it will be a mild (and loyal) Chargers fan. Losing the Raiders, Chiefs and Broncos rivalry would be devastating for those Charges fans though, but Chargers fans might like a mix up (like Seattle did not too long ago)…
To keep the most rivalries in the AFC West, the Raiders would be the logical team to stay in the AFC West, but which team leave the NFC West? St. Louis Rams? And that’s another debatable geographical oddity for the NFL. Best case scenario for the real fans and the NFL to leave everything alone and move the St. Louis Rams to Carson instead. (sorry St. Louis fans, L.A. is the real home for the Rams)
The Seattle-Screw / Bad Call, Good Win
Monday Night Football came down to a controversial call/replay, last-second, Hail-Mary Pass that resulted in a touchdown and a come from behind win for the Seattle Seahawks (The Seattle Screw). Blame the replacement referees, blame the instant replay rules, blame the NFL rules in general, but don’t over analyze the results, that catch, the touchdown, the points on the board, or the win.
No one cheated, so it’s a win. Even if the Seahawks did cheat, they still won. It’s the referees call, and the replay could be looked as a legitimate touchdown (by rule). Dozens of MISSED CALLS or FLAGS alter football games every week, so why is this TD so differnt? Replacement Refs are under a microscope, NFL is under a microscope, Packers are widely touted and the national spotlight of Monday Night Footaball will over analyze this games result. There are 32 teams in the NFL that play 16 games each year, and any team would love to take a win every week, any way you can get it. So any team would take this win. Think about if the roles were reversed and quarterback Aaron Rogers threw that ball to wide receiver Jordy Nelson, would this win be so controversial? Probably not, because the Packers are the Packers. If wins gets you into the playoffs, then wins are what you demand. So take the win and enjoy it.
2012 NFL Predictions (Super Bowl: San Diego over Seattle)
The 2012 NFL Season is near, and an opinionated, yet semi-educated, guess/prediction of what will happen this season needs to be noted, by me, for you to read. So I’ll make a few guesses and point out division winners (and losers) without TOO much invested in actual records, plus an estiamted playoff picture with MVP’s and seasoned indivdual award tacked in there too.
After this seasons Super Bowl, we can all look back and see how amazingly CORRECT I was, or how totally incorrect I can be. After all, this is only a guess, right?
MY DIVISION PICKS
AFC East
1. New England
2. Buffalo
3. New York Jets
4. Miami
AFC North
1. Baltimore
2. Cincinnati
3. Pittsburgh
4. Cleveland
AFC South
1. Houston
2. Tennessee
3. Indianapolis
4. Jacksonville
AFC West
1. San Diego
2. Kansas City
3. Denver
4. Oakland
NFC East
1. Philadelphia
2. Dallas
3. New York Giants
4. Washington
NFC North
1. Green Bay
2. Chicago
3. Detroit
4. Minnesota
NFC South
1. Atlanta
2. New Orleans
3. Carolina
4. Tampa Bay
NFC West
1. Seattle
2. San Francisco
3. St. Louis
4. Arizona
ANNUAL AWARDS
Best regular season teams: San Diego & Green Bay, with a 12-4 record
Worst regular season team: Cleveland, with a 2-14 record
MVP: Phillip Rivers, San Diego
Defensive Player of the Year: Mario Williams, Buffalo
Offensive Player of the Year: Andy Dalton, Cincinnati
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Andrew Luck, Indianapolis
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Melvin Ingram, San Diego
Coach of the Year: Pete Carroll, Seattle
Most surprising team (positive): San Diego
Most surprising team (negative): Denver
First coach to be fired: Leslie Frazier, Minnesota
PLAYOFFS
AFC wild card games: Houston over Cincinnati, Baltimore over Tennessee
Divisional round: San Diego over Houston, Baltimore over New England
AFC Championship Game: San Diego over Baltimore
NFC wild card games: Atlanta over Chicago, San Francisco over Philadelphia,
Divisional round: Seattle over Philadelphia, Green Bay over San Francisco
NFC Championship Game: Seattle over Green Bay
Super Bowl: San Diego over Seattle
National Fanatic 