BL Predicts: Super Bowl XLIX Boycott

Who gives a shit who wins Super Bowl XLIX?

A bunch of cheating scum led by Bill Belichick are being rewarded yet again for their behavior.

I refuse to be a part of it.

Super Bowl XLIX is being boycotted by the Brown Log.  I won't watch one millisecond of a game that involves people whose behaviors don't match my own values.   Super Bowl XLIX is a farce.

The BL Finish the NFL season with a 10-6 regular season record & in the playoffs our prediction record was 6-4.

BL Predicts: NFL Conference Finals

The BL take a 5-3 playoff prediction record in this season's playoffs into the conference finals.
Here we go:

New England vs Indianapolis:

I continue to shake my head at the success of Bill Belichick because I remain convinced that he brazenly continues to use any advantage he can find to win, including cheating.  Occasionally during the season, an opponent will make the Pats look like easy game.   For example, early in the season Kansas City made New England look foolish beating them 41-14.   A few years ago, Rod Chudzinski took his Cleveland Browns into New England and dominated the Pats for 3 1/2 quarters.   Had it not been for a few bad ref calls the Browns would have won.

My contention is that some teams, with a bit of knowledge of how Belichick truly operates, change their play calling schemes when they match up against the Pats.   A run call is recoded to long pass and becomes an easy touchdown.   Suddenly the Pats, with knowledge that their opponent is "on to them" find themselves on equal footing and struggle all game long.

Lo and behold, Rod Chudzinski now works for the Colts.  Look for the Colts to break a few big plays today and defeat evil.

BL Predicts:

Colts       24
Pats         21


Green Bay vs Seattle:

If Aaron Rodgers, who is the best QB in the NFL, were not nursing a serious calf injury I would be more conflicted about this choice.  However Rodgers is seriously hurt and the Seahawks are at home with a healthy Super Bowl caliber QB in Russell Wilson.  Seattle also has the nastiest defense in the NFL and as we all know, defense wins championships even in the pass happy NFL.

It should not even be close today:

BL Predicts:

Seattle          27
Green Bay   17

BL Predicts: NFL Playoffs - Round 2

In week 1 thanks to the referees in Dallas the BL went 2-2, missing as we do every year on the Bengals

Week 2 of the NFL playoffs is all about the home field advantage.   The Brown Log will courageously predict that the home team will sweep the playoffs in Round 2.

BL Predicts:

Baltimore loses to New England by 14
Carolina loses to Seattle by 17
Dallas loses to Green Bay by 10
Indianapolis loses to Denver by 3

BL Predicts: Round 1 NFL Playoffs

After closing the year out 10-6 predicting Browns games, the Brown Log continue their yearly tradition of post season predictions.

This season's round 1 presents the most difficult set of games to predict that I can ever recall, so here goes:

Arizona vs Carolina:
Even though the Panthers finished 7-8 & 1, it must be noted that Arizona is down to their 3rd string QB, Ryan Lindley, whose play thus far would indicate that he's the kind of QB the Cleveland Browns would likely employ.  In other words, he's just awful.   I always give heavy consideration to the fact that the home field advantage is huge in the NFL.  The home team wins 58% of the time in the National Football League.

Finally, Cam Newton has endured a season of injuries that he has courageously played through and he is emerging both physically but more important, as a leader.   Look for a close game but I think Cam can make a few big plays against the incredible Arizona D and help his team advance

BL Predicts:  Carolina ends Arizona's wonderful season
Carolina    17
Arizona     12

Baltimore vs Pittsburgh
The loss of Le'veon Bell is big for the Steelers but I think they have more than enough guns remaining to handle the slumping Ravens at home.

BL Predicts:   Steelers handle Ravens
Pittsburgh   26
Baltimore    17

Cincinnati vs Indianapolis
I really like this Bengals team and every year in round 1, some home team is astounded by a visitor.  The Bengals D is loaded with speed and big play talent.   Jeremy Hill is a force at running back, capable of dominating and changing a game.  

What makes Bengal's fans nervous is that Andy Dalton has never played well in big games but here's an insight that most pundits haven't connected the dots on.  In the view of the Brown Log, it's not that Dalton can't play well in big games, his problem is that he's not a good QB in bad weather.  Paradoxically, the home field is a disadvantage for Dalton in the Bengals open air field, so it's a blessing in disguise to play in the Colts dome stadium.

Look for Hill to run for over 100 yards, Dalton to avoid big mistakes and Luck to make a few critical mistakes.

BL Predicts:  Bengals in an upset
Cincinnati     30
Colts             24


Detroit vs Dallas
Finally the game I've agonized most over.   I really want to pick Detroit here because I love the big play talent of Calvin Johnson but in the end, this seems to be a year of destiny for Tony Romo.   Look for the Dallas Cowboys dominant offensive line to continue to make big holes for DeMarcus Murray and Tony Romo to spring the occasional big play.

BL Predicts:  Cowboys steamroll the Lions
Dallas            35
Detroit           24