Why the NFL is on a Crash Course for an AFC Championship Re-Match

Mathew Huff

9/28/2016

Last year saw the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots pitted against each other for the battle of the AFC. The Broncos went on to win the game and carry the momentum to capture Super
Bowl 50. While many speculated that both teams may decline this year, it looks as of right now that we are on a crash course for an AFC Championship re-match. With both teams undefeated and looking unstoppable, it doesn't look like anyone else can match up within the league. 

The Patriots had questions around them all off-season with Brady being suspended for the first 5 games. However; those doubts have been laid to rest after shutting out the Houston Texans with a 3rd string quarterback last Thursday night. Bill Belicheck has proven time and again that he can make mountains out of mole hills. Well, with the rest of the talent this team possesses outside of the quarterback position, there seems to be only one team in the league that is standing in their way. That would be their AFC rival, the Denver Broncos. Despite being the defending champions, the Broncos have been utterly disrespected from when they won the championship. With every one counting them out due to their "key losses," the Broncos have just played with a chip on their shoulder like they did last year. With a offensive line that is finally good enough, and a young, spry quarterback that has shown great potential, there really is no reason for Denver not to be a favorite to repeat. With their core of the defense still intact, the Broncos have once again been striking fear into opposing offenses. Therefore; it is safe to say Denver's biggest threat to them defending the crown is the New England Patriots. The Patriots will have a new-found attitude of seeking vengeance on their AFC foes when they face off later in the year in a game that may decide home-field advantage for the post season. Meanwhile, the Broncos will have finally fully adapted to Gary Kubiak's offensive scheme and possibly even, I know it's scary to think about, improved their defense a bit. One thing is for certain, no other team in the AFC as of right now is on the level these two teams are on at this point. 

The Steelers showed major issues against the Eagles, the Chiefs and Raiders are still having trouble finding consistency, and the Bengals have some weaknesses of their own that will hurt them in the playoffs. The Patriots and Broncos are the two best equipped teams to make a run at Super Bowl 51. While things could change later in the year barring injuries, suspensions, and other risks, the reality here approaching week 4 is that things seem to be headed towards an AFC Championship re-match. While I am going to avoid predicting a winner between these two teams to remain as objective as possible, it is safe to say that a game between these two teams with the talent they have will be very fun to watch and analyze.

The Top 5 Most Underrated Players in the NBA right now

Mathew Huff

8/21/16

The NBA has always been a league that has featured the best of the best. From franchise players, to solid role players, all the way down to good players coming off the bench, the NBA is filled with talent. As a result of this, sometimes a select few get overlooked by the general fan base, or have their talent taken for granted by teams throughout the league. Therefore, it is important for NBA fans to start paying attention to these 5 players who are the most underrated players in the entire league as of right now.

5. Gordon Hayward/ Utah Jazz SF.

            Hayward is a low-key solid small forward who can guard the opposition’s best player. Unfortunately, since the Jazz haven’t gotten the coverage lately that their used to getting normally, he has been massively overlooked. The fact that the Jazz roster features a stockpile of youthful talent like Trey Burke, Rudy Gobert, and Dante Exum has also had much to do with Hayward’s development being overshadowed. Many people remember Hayward as the guy who almost upset Duke in the NCAA championship by nearly nailing a half-court buzzer beater which would have cemented his alma-mater, Butler, as one of the best Cinderella stories of all time. While the shot did not go in, it still caught many fan’s attention, and rightfully so since Hayward is now on pace to becoming a top 10 small forward in today’s NBA.

4. Eric Bledsoe/ Phoenix Suns PG.

            The Phoenix Suns looked like a disaster last year, but they were actually formidable at the beginning of the season. What was a major factor in their downfall was losing Eric Bledsoe to a season ending knee injury, which showcased just how important he is to his team. In a league that is filled with more star point guards than ever before, it is easy to overlook a nice talent like Eric Bledsoe. Bledsoe may not have Russell Westbrook-like athleticism, but he is still more than capable of breaking a couple of ankles. Many people speculate that Bledsoe got overpaid with his new contract, but if you have seen this guy play and how he can lead this Suns team, then you would see why he demanded the contract he obtained. I firmly believe that Bledsoe could be a great addition to many other teams in the NBA despite the fact that point guards are elevating their level to superstar status. Any point guard that can give you 20.4 points per game, 4 boards per game, and 6.1 assists per game is not one to be taken lightly by opposing defenses.

3. Kemba Walker/ Charlotte Hornets PG.

            Kemba Walker, much like Bledsoe, is also overshadowed by an array of point guards at an elite level like Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, and Russell Westbrook. You combine this with the fact that Charlotte can be so inconsistent at times, it’s easy to forget about their star Kemba Walker. You may remember Walker as the clutch point guard for UConn that delivered in the 4^th quarter, something that helped fuel their run to a NCAA title and is now adored by the UConn faithful. Walker has a very similar offensive stat line to Eric Bledsoe’s averaging just a tad more points per game. Kemba Walker is already a good defender, but yet still has more upside which could be frightening to other teams in the near future.

2. Nikola Vucevic/ Orlando Magic PF/C

            Here’s a shocking revelation for some NBA fans, but the Orlando Magic actually have some nice pieces on their roster they have constructed. A lot of people seem to discount the international big man in Nikola Vucevic who is a rebounding specimen. When people think of the Magic, they tend to think of Shaq and Dwight Howard leaving the franchise high and dry, or they think of Victor Oladipo (before he was traded), and Aaron Gordon right now, but they fail to recognize how much of a problem Vucevic can be on the boards against the opposition. Even with Orlando trading for Serge Ibaka from the Oklahoma City Thunder, one should not discount Nikola Vucevic making an impact in the paint this upcoming season.

1. LaMarcus Aldridge/ San Antonio Spurs PF/C

            This may come as a surprise to many fans, and sting in particular for Portland Trail Blazers fans, but I vigorously believe Aldridge is still the most underrated player in the NBA. Before Damian Lillard’s arrival to Portland, Aldridge helped anchor the Trail Blazers year in and year out consistently, but quietly putting up all-star numbers along the way. Aldridge is one of the toughest players in the league which was evidence by him having surgery on his thumb one year and still finding a way not to miss any time at all. Even though Aldridge doesn’t put up insane numbers during the all-star game like Russell Westbrook or Paul George, the man is a 5 time all-star, and continues to still be a star in the league even in Gregg Popovich’s system that showcases more of a get the best out of every player approach, rather than getting the star players the majority of the touches like most teams in the league do today. The Chicago Bulls just have to be kicking themselves for drafting this man and trading him away with the impact this player can bring to any team.

            It is safe to say that these 5 players can play with the best of them. There should be no doubt about that, but the fact of the matter is that when it comes a league as star studded as the NBA, there are bound to be good players that go unnoticed. However, that does not mean NBA fans should take these underrated players for granted due to the fact that many of these athletes are vitally important to their respective teams. These 5 NBA players have the potential to make or break an NBA team.

The Three Best Corner-backs in the NFL right now

Mathew Huff

8/19/2016

There are many great defensive backs in the NFL right now. From Richard Sherman all the way to Josh Norman, corner-backs are still finding a way to be elite despite the rules for guarding wide receivers becoming more restrictive year after year. The question that arises from this fact is who are the best as of right now at the defensive back position. So, here are my top 3 corner-backs in the entire NFL now in no particular order in my opinion. 

1. Patrick Peterson/ Cardinals CB.

Believe it or not, Patrick Peterson still seems to be overlooked by many NFL fans. Not only is Peterson a great defender, he has proven to be an electric punt returner at times as well. The combination of him along with Tryon Mathieu roaming the back field is already a deadly combination for opposing offenses, which is now becoming more known throughout the league when it pertains to fans paying attention to the Arizona Cardinals. Last season, Peterson had a bounce back year after a down season the previous year which should continue to fuel Peterson to become more known as a lock-down defender this coming season. 

2. Chris Harris Jr./ Broncos CB. 

Before Harris Jr. met Antonio Brown last year, he had not given up a touchdown for multiple seasons. That is something very few defensive backs in the league can claim. Chris Harris Jr. in my opinion, is still the most underrated corner-back in the league, which I believe helps him play at an elite level and come up under the radar compared to other well known defensive backs. Let's not forget that he is also the best slot corner in the game right now. While coming off of a Super Bowl victory and Harris Jr.'s cohort Aqib Talib facing possible suspension, Chris Harris Jr. will still be a relatively unknown yet feared defensive back by quarterbacks throughout the NFL. 

3. Malcolm Butler/ Patriots CB.

This may be a surprise to many people, but I believe Butler will take a giant leap this year to get into this conversation. Yes, I believe he will carry more momentum from last year, and the season in which he saved the Super Bowl with the game winning interception to continually improve. Ever since his rookie year, Butler has done nothing but get better. This year, I believe Butler will surpass guys like Richard Sherman, his former teammate Darrelle Revis, and Josh Norman to get into the top 5 corner-back conversation. Butler will jump start New England's defense this year, and emerge as a key leader for the New England Patriots especially with Tom Brady missing the first four games of the year. 

Now, to be clear, I am in no way saying these are the only 3 good defensive backs in the league. I understand guys like Sherman and Revis are elite, but as I stated earlier this is purely my opinion on who are the best 3 corners in the game right now. Again this is in no particular order, so feel free to disagree if you want but I thoroughly believe this coming year these are the best 3 defensive backs in the game.

Why the Northwest Division will be Scary in the Next few Years

Mathew Huff

8/7/16

            The NBA consists of some very competitive divisions right now. However, one should not overlook the Northwest division. I know, right now a division that only consists of two playoff teams from last year does not look that impressive on paper, especially with Kevin Durant departing the Thunder. But if one looks closely at all the teams in the division, this division may be the best division in the league within the next couple of years. We all know the story about the Thunder already, their best player leaving which leaves them vulnerable and more than likely to lose their division crown. I simply can’t count out any team that still possesses a talent like Russell Westbrook who plays with a ferocity not seen in any other NBA player right now. The Thunder may not make it back to the Western Conference Finals, but they will still be competitive. Next, we have the Trail Blazers who shocked everyone last season by becoming one of the league’s best feel good stories. Everyone thought that LaMarcus Aldridge leaving for San Antonio would be the downfall of Portland last season, something that Damian Lillard used as motivation to fuel his team to the second round of the playoffs to many fans’ surprise. You combine that with C.J. McCollum emerging as a solid perimeter threat and winning Most Improved Player of the Year, and the Portland Trail Blazers still look like a team to keep an eye on considering their best players in Lillard and McCollum are still young. Of course, I can’t forget to discuss the Minnesota Timberwolves. With young stars like Karl Anthony-Towns and Andrew Wiggins, the Timberwolves are becoming the favorite to take over the league within the next five years. With Wiggins and Anthony-Towns’ potential it’s easy to see why many people are jumping on their bandwagon now. Let’s not forget Zach Lavine, the two time reigning Dunk Contest champion, is one of the most athletic players in the league and if he continues to grow and develop, he could form a formidable big three with the other two young stars. Third of all, I know I may get called out for covering my favorite team, but I’m telling you right now not to sleep on the Denver Nuggets. No, their youth is not as glamorous as Minnesota’s, they don’t have a go to star like the Thunder, or a great shooting back-court like Portland (as of yet anyway), but they do have potential. Nikola Jokic looks like the steal of last year’s draft, and with Emmanuel Mudiay developing his game, and Gary Harris hounding opposing players with his defense, this team could shock some fans. Jusuf Nurkic can also bully some of the best big men in the league when he is healthy, and if coach Mike Malone decides to start him along with Jokic down low, then suddenly the league may see glimpses of the past old school, get it down low and bang, gritty basketball, a style that has been forgotten with small ball taking the league over (you can thank Golden State for that). People often forget that Jokic actually finished ahead of Mudiay in Rookie of the Year votes and the Nuggets were one of the few teams to actually beat the Warriors in the regular season last year.  Finally, Utah was one Kobe Bryant sixty point farewell game away from sneaking into the playoffs last year. This Utah Jazz team is stacked with assets and if they can stay healthy, they can give teams fits. Gordon Hayward is one of the most overlooked players and Utah is like Denver where they can use their elevation to their advantage to tire opposing teams out and utilize their young talent on the fast break. Although this team doesn’t have any household names yet, they will have a legitimate shot to get into the playoffs as the eighth and seventh seed this coming season. While I understand there are still talented teams in the other divisions in the NBA, the Northwest Division seems to have the most potential to make some noise in the next few years. To be honest, I will not be surprised if three or four years from now every team or at least all but one of these teams are in the Western Conference playoffs, which is something I can’t say about any other division in the league.