Make Your Picks ⛏️
No, this isn’t just a post about the Nuggets.
So, get your finger or mouse (or however you click) ready…
It’s time to make your picks!
First up: trivia!
Earlier this week, we read about the 10 starters for the upcoming NBA All-Star Game.
But let’s look at another way to measure who fans think is the best player: jersey sales!
Got your guess in? Good.
Because there were a bunch of great games in the NBA last night…
So, we’re moving from trivia to choose your own adventure!
You decide! Would you rather watch the highlights from:
The game with the player with the best-selling jersey (say that five times fast!).
Did you guess right?
P.S. Here’s the rest of the top 15!
The game with the closest score.
The game that went to overtime.
The battle for LA between the Clippers and Lakers.
Please tell me you’re not trying to choose “All of the above” again because we’ve got to move on to…
Prediction time!
The NFL’s conference championship games are on Sunday.
In the AFC, it’s the #1-seed Broncos hosting the #2-seed Patriots.
Here’s the case for each team, courtesy of ESPN:
For the Broncos:
“In the wake of the news that [QB Bo] Nix is out for the season… But there’s always a chance, and for the Broncos, it’s based on their defense countering what the Patriots do best. Denver’s defense will have to deliver an AFC Championship Game win and a trip to the Super Bowl. But it can.
The Broncos’ secondary boasts a superstar cornerback in Pat Surtain II, a strong nickel back in [Ja'Quan] McMillian and a hard-hitting safety in Talanoa Hufanga. The Broncos’ pass rush also has an advantage over New England’s offensive line, powered by players such as edge rusher Nik Bonitto and defensive tackle Zach Allen...
As for the Broncos’ biggest question, [backup QB Jarrett] Stidham will be protected by arguably the league’s best offensive line. While Stidham is clearly a massive downgrade from Nix, the rest of Denver’s roster is loaded.
That gives the Broncos a shot (albeit a long shot) to advance.”
For the Patriots:
“Jarrett Stidham is starting for Denver. There are many reasons the Patriots could and should win against the Broncos, but there’s nothing quite as impactful as Denver starting a backup quarterback. And it means that in the most important phase of any football game -- passing offense -- the Broncos are severely outmatched.
That’s not only because of Stidham. The Patriots have, in my view, the MVP from this regular season [in QB Drake Maye]… And though the Broncos’ pass rush and secondary will make life more difficult for Maye, he also led all quarterbacks in scramble rate (10.3%). Plus, Denver’s defense isn’t quite in the same league as the Texans, whom the Patriots just beat.
Maye will hardly have to be perfect because of who is on the other side. The Broncos will be diminished with Stidham at quarterback, and that should be enough for the best passing offense in the NFL. New England’s defense isn’t elite, but it’s a heck of a lot better with defensive tackle Milton Williams on the field and cornerback Christian Gonzalez’s recent improvement in the postseason.
Unless things go unexpectedly awry, the Patriots should be Super Bowl-bound.”
In the NFC, it’s the #1-seed Seahawks hosting the #5-seed Rams.
ESPN’s reasons why each team should win?
For the Seahawks:
“Because they’re the hottest team in football. Seattle is coming off back-to-back games against San Francisco in which… San Francisco scored nine points combined. So while the Seahawks split with the Rams in the regular season, Seattle’s defense looks better now than at any point this season.
Seattle can serve as the perfect counter to Los Angeles’ potent offense. The Rams had the highest success rate on designed runs in the regular season, but the Seahawks ranked first in defensive success rate on designed runs. And the Seahawks can get after the quarterback if they get the Rams behind the sticks.
Offensively, [QB Sam] Darnold played well Saturday, quieting some fears about his performance in the second half of the regular season. Seattle’s running game has been better, too.
Add in home-field advantage and an extra day of rest, and the Seahawks should be strong favorites.”
For the Rams:
“They have the advantage at the game’s most important position. Sometimes, the most obvious reason is the right one. Matthew Stafford might be the league’s MVP…
[T]hanks to Stafford and wide receiver Puka Nacua through the air, as well as a running game with the highest success rate in the NFL (50%), the Rams’ offense has been incredible this season.
And though their defense has had shaky moments, it still ranked 10th in EPA per play entering Sunday. So while the Rams have the advantage at quarterback, that’s not the only reason they’ll win.”
🧠 EPA stands for Expected Points Added and is an advanced way of measuring how much each play changes a team’s chance of scoring.
Now that you know all that…
Since we spent a bunch of time looking ahead… want to take eight minutes to look back?
2016 AFC Championship Game. Broncos vs. Patriots.
But instead of Stidham vs. Maye it was two of the greatest QBs of all time: Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
🎥Watch what happened!
And yes, the Broncos went on to win the Super Bowl.
Thanks for making your picks!
Want to hear my favorite pick-related joke?
What’s the difference between boogers and broccoli?
Kids don’t eat broccoli. 😂
Have a great weekend!
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