Finally, the pre-season is over. With 6 days until the NFL regular season kicks off with the Eagles hosting the Atlanta Falcons, here's our predictions for the winners of each division across the league and our playoff match-ups (as well as the Super Bowl).
AFC East: New England Patriots AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers AFC West: Los Angeles Chargers AFC South: Houston Texans NFC East: Dallas Cowboys NFC North: Minnesota Vikings NFC West: Los Angeles Rams NFC South: Atlanta Falcons PLAYOFFS AFC Wild Card: (6) Kansas City Chiefs vs. (3) Houston Texans, (4) Los Angeles Chargers vs. (5) Jacksonville Jaguars NFC Wild Card: (6) Green Bay Packers vs. (3) Atlanta Falcons, (4) Dallas Cowboys vs. (5) New Orleans Saints AFC Divisional Round: (1) Pittsburgh Steelers vs. (5) Jacksonville Jaguars, (2) New England Patriots vs. (3) Houston Texans NFC Divisional Round: (1) Los Angeles Rams vs. (6) Green Bay Packers, (2) Minnesota Vikings vs. (5) New Orleans Saints AFC Championship: (2) New England Patriots vs. (5) Jacksonville Jaguars NFC Championship: (1) Los Angeles Rams vs. (2) Minnesota Vikings Super Bowl: (1) Los Angeles Rams vs. (2) New England Patriots
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Today is a very special day in New England. No, it isn't Christmas, or any holiday for that matter (although it probably should be). It's someone's birthday. That person just happens to wear #12 for a certain team that dawns red, white and blue each Sunday from September-February (hopefully). Tom Brady turns 41-years old today, and what better way to celebrate than with 5,000 Patriots fans at a capacity crowd Training Camp session? Unfortunately, I couldn't be there to wish Tom a happy birthday in person, so that's the purpose for this article. I'm counting down 12 moments throughout the G.O.A.T's historic career that were worth celebrating. #12: The Last Second Prayer (vs. New Orleans 2013) Anyone that left this game early, I'm sorry. This is one of the more impressive feats Brady has ever accomplished, considering the "weapons" that were with him on that offense. Brady would lead the Patriots, who were trailing 27-23 with 1:13 remaining, on a 70-yard drive with no timeouts to win the game. Brady would loft a beautiful pass to Kenbrell Thompkins for the game winner. #11: 5 TD's in a Quarter (vs. Tennessee 2009) Anything can happen in New England. That's true for weather, and sports. On this Sunday in October back in 2009, that was certainly the case. With the snow falling at a rapid pace in Foxboro, points were flying up on the scoreboard. Brady would hit Randy Moss for two touchdowns, then Wes Welker for two and Kevin Faulk for one, all in the SAME quarter. New England would go on to win 59-0. #10: "Tom Brady you are Tom Terrific" (vs. Bills 2009) Ah, yes. Tom Terrific. Indeed he is terrific, and he would have to be on this night. It was the opening night of the season when the Patriots would host the Buffalo Bills. But not only was this the return of Patriots football in 2009, it was the return of Tom Brady off his torn ACL that he suffered in week one the year prior. Then, down 24-13 with 2:06 to go, the comeback kid would do what he does best. Brady rifled a touchdown to TE Ben Watson to cut the lead to 24-19. The Pats special teams would recover a fumble and Brady would go to work again. With :50 seconds to go, Brady would again find his tight end Watson for a 20-yard TD strike, and the Pats would go on to win 25-24. #9: Slicing up the Jags (AFC Championship 2018) Going into the AFC Championship, many people didn't know if Brady would even be able to play. Earlier in the week, Brady had sliced open his thumb on a hand-off in practice, and required several stitches to close the wound. Brady insisted he would play, and he did, delivering another classic playoff performance. Trailing 20-10 with ten minutes to go against the NFL's number one ranked defense, Brady carved up the Jacksonville secondary, punching New England's ticket to the Super Bowl. #8: 50 TD's 2007 was a historic season for both the Patriots, as well as Tom Brady. Brady would lead the Pats to a 16-0 record, the highest scoring offense in NFL history, he would win his first NFL MVP, and he also would shatter the NFL single-season TD passing record, which was previously held by his arch rival, Peyton Manning. #7: Super Bowl XLIX 4th Quarter Comeback Are you surprised? Another comeback! There's a trend here.... Anyway, Brady and the Pats were in search of their elusive fourth Super Bowl and trailing by 10 in the 4th quarter, it appeared they would have to wait. But Tom Brady said not so fast. Up against another #1 defense, the "Legion of Boom" Brady would lead his troops down the field and fin Danny Amendola for a TD to cut the lead to three, and then Julian Edelman for the go-ahead score. New England would ultimately win 28-24 on the back of Malcolm Butler's game saving INT. #6: Brady returns with a vengeance Following perhaps the most ridiculous suspension ever handed out in the history of pro sports, Tom Brady came jogging out on the field in Cleveland in week 5 of the 2016 season with one thing on his mind: revenge. Brady would start out on the right foot, shredding the helpless Cleveland defense and racking up 406 yards to go with 3 TD's in a 33-13 blowout. #5: 2010 MVP 2010 was another dominant year for Tom Brady, and perhaps the most efficient of his career as well. Brady carved up defenses for the entirety of the season, going a span of 355 passes without being picked off, and finished the season tallying 36 TD's and 4 INT's. #4: 103 degree fever (AFC Championship @ Steelers 2005) New England was looking to go to their third Super Bowl in four years, but on the Saturday before the AFC Championship, Tom Brady was lying on the bed in his hotel room with an IV stuck in his arm, not knowing if he would be able to play the following evening. Brady would indeed take the field, battling a 103 degree fever, and leading the Patriots to a 41-27 victory over the Steel Curtain. #3: Age is Just a Number Brady entered his age 40 season in 2017, and many members of the media *cough* Max Kellerman *cough* predicted Brady to have a significant fall off. He not only proved them all wrong, he enhanced his play to a new level, becoming the only QB to win an MVP 40 or older. Brady would finish the year with 32 TD and 8 INT. #2: Put a Ring On It 24 year-old Tom Brady was thrust into the spotlight in 2001 when Drew Bledsoe went down with a burst blood vessel in his chest. This unproven kid (at the time) would step in and take the reigns and lead the Patriots past the Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers and the "Greatest Show on Turf" St. Louis Rams. New England was 14.5 point underdogs, but the didn't back down from the mighty Rams, and were locked in a 17-17 game with 1:21 to play. Brady would rally the troops and set up Adam Vinatieri to boom a 48-yard FG for the Patriots first championship in franchise history. #1: 25-point comeback Everyone knows the story behind this game. Super Bowl LI. 28-3. A comeback so amazing, you just have to watch and relive it yourself. Enjoy the glory. Happy Birthday, Tom. Can't wait for more 2018 memories. #GOAT |