NFL Championship Week

          It feels like the NFL season just started and now there is only three games left. After what was an amazing weekend of football last week, we have two games that should be very entertaining themselves. With that said I think it’s time for me to make two predictions that may surprise you.

New England Patriots vs Baltimore Ravens

          The New England Patriots have the best quarterback left in the playoffs and probably the best quarterback in the NFL. He has carried them all season with a magical elf named Wes and a giant they call Gronk. The Patriots are 7-point favorites playing at home in Foxboro. Many are picking the Patriots to win this game. However, I just don't think they are going to. I'm not sure what it is, but I have a feeling the Raven defense is going to take away Gronkowski and pressure Brady all game. I think the New England defense is going to struggle like they have for most of the season. This game is going to come down to the Baltimore defense versus Tom Brady. I think Ed Reed intercepts Brady or at the very least makes a few game changing plays with the game on the line. I believe Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs harrass Brady for most of the game and impose their will on that Patriot offense. The team that wins the battle of the trenches wins the game. The Ravens win this battle and they win a very Raven-like (ugly) game.

Baltimore Ravens: 20         New England Patriots: 17

Will Ray Lewis (right) be able to put enough pressure on Brady (left)
to disrupt the high powered Patriot offense?

New York Giants vs San Francisco 49ers


          This game should be the better of the two games this weekend. On paper, this game is a toss up. San Francisco has a very good defense and they are at home. They are a 2.5-point favorite and are coming off of a huge win against the Saints last week. Can they beat the Giants and punch a ticket to the Super Bowl? My answer is no, they can’t and they won’t. New York has an elite quarterback in Eli Manning. Does San Francisco? No, they have a solid quarterback in Alex Smith, but he is certainly not elite. Eli Manning has a pro bowl level wide receiving core. Victor Cruz has come out of nowhere and had a tremendous year. Hakeem Nicks has had four touchdown catches in just two playoff games and Mario Manningham is about as good of a #3 wideout as you can find in the NFL today.  The most important part to the Giants success is their physical defensive line. They are big, athletic, quick and they get to the quarterback. I think that Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, and Osi Umenyiora are going to keep Alex Smith uncomfortable all game, which will shut down the 49er offense. The G-Men have won five games in a row dating back to the regular season and are the hotest team in the NFL. But, as I mentioned earlier San Francisco is at home, they have a great defense and will not go down without a fight. With that said, I’ll take the Giants in a tight one.

New York Giants: 24 San Francisco 49ers: 16




Eli Manning (left) and Alex Smith (right) face off, with the winner
punching his ticket to the Super Bowl.



Apartment Building Destroyed

               Apartment Building Destroyed

                                    Citizens’ left wondering where to go from here.

                                                                  By James Rapien

At 10 a.m. Wednesday morning Firefighters’ responded to a call at the Sycamore Apartments on 122 South Congress Street. By the time crews arrived, the fire had already engulfed the building. 30 Cincinnati firefighters’ fought the blaze that would continue for about three more hours.

            There are around 50 people that live in the Sycamore Apartments and now they are left with nothing but the clothes on their back. Thankfully, everyone made it out of the building without life threatening injuries. Four residents were taken to University Hospital. The victim’s names and condition have not been released at this time.

77-year-old Mason Monroe escaped safely from his 6^th floor apartment. Monroe was grateful for the firefighters’ help even though he had all of his possessions destroyed saying: “the smoke was intense on the floors above us, and I’m sure some people there would not have made it out had it not been for the firefighters.”

             The damage to the apartment building is estimated at $250,000. The cause of the fire is not known at this time, but it is under investigation. Building manager Steve Wilson said that residents of the lower six floors escaped safely and did not need any medical treatment.

           

            This blaze was not routine for the fire department by any means. Cincinnati Fire Captain Marvin Jones told reporters: “It was one of the worst fires I’ve seen in the past couple years. Several people had been trapped by the smoke and flames, and we were fortunate that were able to get them out alive.”

           

Funny Name?

Here Are the Things That Nobody Says

Their Time Will Come

          The Cincinnati Bengals came into the 2011 season with very low expectations. Their franchise quarterback retired and they went in to opening weekend starting three rookies at key positions on offense. The expectations began to change as the young and competitive Bengals started the season 6-2, which included a five game winning streak. Since their hot start, the Bengals have lost four of five and are on the outside looking in when it comes to a playoff berth. Their latest loss came at home to the Houston Texans. The Texans were starting their third string quarterback T.J. Yates, who led them downfield for the go ahead score with two seconds remaining in the game. The Bengals had the lead the whole game up until that point. Since the heartbreaking loss all I am hearing from fans in the area is that it is “the same old Bengals” or that “Marvin needs to go.”

          Well, I think that Bengal fans need to calm down and realize that the Bengals probably aren’t a playoff team. That may be hard to grasp considering their hot start, but it’s the truth. In fact, this team still has a decent shot to make the playoffs if they win their final three games, which is very possible. What if they don’t win out and they do not make the postseason for the third time since 1990? Are Bengals fans going to say the same lines I mentioned above? If so, I have two questions for them: How? And why? How is this 2011 team like all of the others? When have the Bengals had two rookies bust on the scene and show that they are budding NFL superstars? Why does Marvin need to go? Wasn’t this team supposed to go winless? Rick Reilly predicted that the Bengals would go 0-16. Now, Bengal fans want to moan and grown when the Bengals fall to 7-6? I was disappointed after the loss and I will never accept losing, but I am not going to let it spoil this season. I am not going to say Marvin needs to go or that these Bengals are just like the Bengal teams of past years. I am going to have perspective. Why? Because these young Cats can play. A.J. Green is already one of the best wide receivers in the game and he is just a rookie. Andy Dalton has been compared to Tom Brady this season. The potential for this team is sky high, but they just need time to grow and address a few weak spots.

          The Bengals are probably going to finish 8-8 or 9-7 this season. Any fan that wants to complain should ask an Indianapolis fan how they feel about their season. There is no way that I am going to complain about what the Bengals have done this year. This team feels like it is close to breaking out and that break out could be in the next three games to lead to a playoff run or it could be next season. Either way, relax Bengals fans and be patient because a winning team is forming in Cincinnati.

Andy Dalton (left) and A.J. Green (right) are young players who have
 the talent to lead this team to great things for years to come.
(Photo Courtesy of Cincinnati.com)

Week 9 Picks

Week 9 already? Wasn't this season supposed to be cancelled? Or was that the NBA? The NFL season has been very exciting and the Bengals are surprising a lot of people. If they get a win this week I might go all in on the young team from Cincinnati. Right now, they are a feel good story that comes back down to earth this week.

I'll take the NY Jets over Buffalo, Houston over Cleveland, Atlanta over Indy, New Orleans over Tampa, San Francisco over Washington, St. Louis over Arizona, Tennesee over Cincinnati (I hope I'm wrong), Green Bay over San Diego and New England over the NY Giants.

Intriguing game of the Week: Oakland over Denver- Carson Palmer makes his first start as a Raider against the immortal Tim Tebow. The fact is, Oakland has a better running game and defense even with their star running back out. Tim Tebow will keep his team in the game, but Oakland wins by a FG.
Oakland: 24    Denver: 21

Upset Special- Miami over Kansas City- Miami played well last week and almost got their first win. Now, they face a Kansas City team who has won four games in a row. Kansas City seems like a lock right? Wrong. Miami's run defense will hold Jackie Battle and co. in check and the Miami Dolphins will get their first win of the season.  Miami:17    Kansas City: 14

Lock of the Week- Dallas over Seattle- The Cowboys are at home and need a win this week. I think Cowboys' QB Tony Romo leads his team to a much needed victory. Dallas is a very good survivor pool play this week.
Dallas: 31   Seattle:17

Game of the Week: Pittsburgh over Baltimore- The Steelers were dominated bythe Ravens in week one. Well, since then Pittsburgh has went 6-1 and is fresh off of a big win over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. I think Pittsburgh gets their revenge.
Pittsburgh: 20    Baltimore: 17

I think Big Ben and the Steelers will come out and get revenge
on Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens.

NFL Picks Week 4

How great is it to have football back? Sundays are entertaining and on Mondays there's always something to talk about. The baseball playoffs started, who knew? Well, last week I had a solid record with my NFL picks. I was 11-5. I got my two locks right (Pittsburgh and San Diego) and hope to one up myself this week with a better performance. My overall record is 25-7 (didn't make picks the first week). Well, there's no reason to keep you waiting any longer. Here are my NFL picks for week 4: Buffalo over Cincinnati, Cleveland over Tennessee, Detroit over Dallas, Philadelphia over San Francisco, Minnesota over Kansas City, NY Giants over Arizona, Atlanta over Seattle, Green Bay over Denver, New England over Oakland, San Diego over Miami and Tampa over Indy.


Lock of the week is: New Orleans over Jacksonville.

Upset Special: St. Louis over Washington 

My Survivor Pool Pick this week: Chicago over Carolina. Also considered Buffalo over Cincinnati.
Use one of those if your in a survivor pool and you should make it one more week.

Must watch games of the Week: Pittsburgh vs Houston and NY Jets vs Baltimore.

I'll take Pittsburgh and Baltimore in those games.

Sam Bradford can't let his Rams fall to 0-4. They won 7 games
last year and were my pick to win the NFC West this year.
I think they knock off Washington this week.