The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an
actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I
take a look at the filmography of "Jackie" star Natalie Portman.
Films starring Natalie Portman that I've seen:
Leon: The Professional
Mars Attacks!
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
V for Vendetta
Black Swan
No Strings Attached
Your Highness
Thor
Hesher
Thor: The Dark World
Jane Got a Gun
Best Performance: Black Swan (2010)
Portman's Academy Award-winning performance as a ballerina whose life is turned upside when she lands the lead role in Swan Lake is so haunting, intoxicating and layered that one Oscar doesn't seem like enough of an honor for it. The transformation she makes from unassuming, sheltered young woman to obsessive, paranoid lunatic is truly terrifying and serves as the anchor for one of the most insane psychological thrillers ever made.
Worst Performance: Your Highness (2011)
Comedy has never been Portman's strong suit and those lack of chops were on full display in David Gordon Green's medieval stoner comedy Your Highness. Portman can't keep up with the rapid-fire improv bombs dropped by her co-stars (primarily Danny McBride and James Franco) and her visible discomfort on-screen went a long way in dragging down the quality of this thoroughly average film.
Best Film: Black Swan (2010)
Darren Aronofsky is one of Hollywood's most twisted, dynamic directors and there's no finer example of his demented genius than Black Swan. Black Swan is the type of movie that takes pleasure in twisting the viewer's brain into a pretzel. The constant uncertainty and misdirection as to what is actually going on makes this a brilliant, enthralling mindfuck that dominated my thoughts long after the credits rolled.
Worst Film: Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
I was born in 1992, so like a lot of people in my generation, my first exposure to Star Wars came with The Phantom Menace. When I first saw it in theaters as a kid, I legitimately loved it. I found everything from the Podracing scenes to Darth Maul's double-edged lightsaber to be cool as shit. I was such a big fan of this movie that I even dressed up as Darth Maul for Halloween that year. That love disappeared when I re-watched The Phantom Menance when I was about 14 (roughly 2-3 years after I watched all of the original trilogy) and realized that everything outside of the final fight scene with Darth Maul was pretty awful. The primary plot surrounding Queen Amidala (Portman) and the liberation of her people is dumb, Jake Lloyd is god awful as young Anakin Skywalker and Jar Jar Binks is arguably the most punchable fictional character in the history of cinema. I feel for every Star Wars fan that had their souls crushed by this weak-ass movie after waiting 16 years for a prequel.
Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst
of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "La La Land" star Emma Stone.
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
As We Proceed Episode #5
In this month's episode of As We Proceed, Feliciano and I discuss Frank Ocean's decision to boycott the Grammy's, new songs from Freddie Gibbs and John Legend, and A Tribe Called Quest's hotly-anticipated comeback album We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service.
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/asweproceedpodcast/we-dont-know-what-were-doingthank-you-4-listening
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/as-we-proceed/id1122163104?mt=2
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/asweproceedpodcast/we-dont-know-what-were-doingthank-you-4-listening
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/as-we-proceed/id1122163104?mt=2
Week 12 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers
Quarterback
MVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
Drew Brees once again set the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on fire in Week 12. Brees embarrassed a Rams pass defense that has been one of the best in the league for most of this season by hanging 310 YDS, 4 TD's and a 1-yard rushing TD on them in a huge statement win for the 5-6 Saints. Brees will be back in the friendly confines of the Superdome in Week 13 to face a leaky Lions pass defense that has allowed the 5th most fantasy points to QB's this season.
Honorable Mentions: Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Ryan Tannehill (Dolphins), Colin Kaepernick (49ers)
LVP: Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
Russell Wilson's otherwise strong November ended on a pretty sour note in Tampa Bay on Sunday afternoon. The Seahawks signal-caller had no answers for the Buccaneers shockingly aggressive defensive game plan, putting up just 231 total yards (151 passing, 80 rushing), 0 TD's and 2 INT's in a rough road loss. Wilson and the Seahawks return home in Week 13 to take on a banged-up Panthers secondary that has allowed multiple passing TD's in 4 of their last 6 games.
Dishonorable Mentions: Andy Dalton (Bengals), Matthew Stafford (Lions), Jameis Winston (Buccaneers)
Running Back
MVP: Mark Ingram (Saints)
Mark Ingram's 2016 campaign continues to deify logic. The up-and down Saints running back was able to gas a Rams rushing attack that has held the likes of David Johnson and Jay Ajayi to under 100 yards this season for 167 total yards (146 rushing, 21 receiving) and a pair of TD's on 15 touches on the afternoon. Ingram has yet to piece together back-to-back impressive performances this season and that benchmark seems like its going to allude him once again as he is set to face a Lions defense that has allowed the 5th least fantasy points to RB's in Week 13.
Honorable Mentions: LeSean McCoy (Bills), Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys), David Johnson (Cardinals)
LVP: Frank Gore (Colts)
Frank Gore was practically doomed to fail in Week 12. With Andrew Luck sidelined by a concussion and an already talent-deprived offensive line missing 4 starters tasked with blocking for him, the Steelers stacked the box and ended up holding the ageless workhorse back to 31 yards (28 rushing, 3 receiving) on 16 touches. Gore has another rough assignment in Week 13 as he faces the Jets 4th-ranked rush D.
Dishonorable Mentions: Lamar Miller (Texans), Rashad Jennings (Giants), Matt Forte (Jets)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Antonio Brown (Steelers)
Antonio Brown reaffirmed his status as a fantasy football legend with a magical performance on Thanksgiving night against the Colts. Brown made the most of a pretty moderate amount of targets (6), hauling in 5 receptions for 91 YDS and 3 TD's. 2016 has been a down year by Brown's absurdly high standards (82 REC, 998 YDS, 10 TD's through 11 games), but he is still a top 5 fantasy receiver and an uncontested weekly matchup-proof starter.
Honorable Mentions: Tyreek Hill (Chiefs), Davante Adams (Packers), Michael Thomas (Saints)
LVP: Amari Cooper (Raiders)
You could make a solid argument for giving the LVP to Julio Jones after his quiet afternoon against Patrick Peterson or Brandin Cooks following his shocking doughnut against the Rams, but given the ease of matchup, I have to give this dreaded distinction to Amari Cooper. Cooper let Michael Crabtree, Seth Roberts and Clive Walford get all the shine against the Panthers depleted secondary, finishing the game with a paltry 22 yards on 4 receptions. Even though he's only found paydirt 3 times in 2016, Cooper has had an excellent sophomore season, and is a strong contender to be a top 10 wideout against the Bills in Week 13.
Dishonorable Mentions: Julio Jones (Falcons), Allen Robinson (Jaguars), Brandin Cooks (Saints)
Tight End
MVP: Jordan Reed (Redskins)
Despite suffering a separated shoulder in the 2nd quarter, Jordan Reed managed to play through the pain and put together his best game of the year so far. Reed served as the catalyst for the Redskins 2nd-half offensive explosion, picking up 95 yards and 2 TD's on 10 receptions in their narrow loss to the Cowboys. Reed's status is up in the air for Week 13, but he'll be a must start against the Cardinals tough pass defense if he's active.
Honorable Mentions: Tyler Eifert (Bengals), Delanie Walker (Titans), Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
LVP: Eric Ebron (Lions)
A week after finally delivering a top-tier performance, Eric Ebron slipped right back into the realm of disappointment. The Lions tight end was invisible on Thanksgiving against the Vikings, putting up a goose egg and only getting targeted 1 time on a day where Matthew Stafford threw the ball 40 times. Despite his erratic play, Ebron should be used as a TE1 for his week 13 tilt against the Saints.
Dishonorable Mentions: Zach Ertz (Eagles), Greg Olsen (Panthers), Jason Witten (Cowboys)
Defense
MVP: New York Giants
The Browns got an early jump on the holiday season by showing off their immense generosity and giving the Giants D a ton of fantasy points. The Giants were able to string together one of the impressive beatdowns of the Browns helpless offense to-date, picking up 7 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries and a TD in their 27-13 win in front of the eternally-suffering Dawg Pound. The Giants have turned into a viable fantasy defense over the past month, but their owners should look for other options in Week 13 as they face a Steelers offense that has only allowed 3 sacks and committed 1 turnover since returning from bye in Week 9.
Honorable Mentions: Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers
LVP: Buffalo Bills
The Bills D once again failed to capitalize on a sensational matchup in Week 12. The Bills picked up a mere 2 sacks, forced 0 takeaways and allowed 21 points to a Jaguars offense that has been dysfunctional and turnover-prone for a vast majority of the season. The Bills have fallen from grace after their incredible start to the season and shouldn't be played in any circumstances in Week 13 as they travel across the country to take on the Raiders potent, turnover-averse offense.
Dishonorable Mentions: Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans
MVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
Drew Brees once again set the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on fire in Week 12. Brees embarrassed a Rams pass defense that has been one of the best in the league for most of this season by hanging 310 YDS, 4 TD's and a 1-yard rushing TD on them in a huge statement win for the 5-6 Saints. Brees will be back in the friendly confines of the Superdome in Week 13 to face a leaky Lions pass defense that has allowed the 5th most fantasy points to QB's this season.
Honorable Mentions: Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Ryan Tannehill (Dolphins), Colin Kaepernick (49ers)
LVP: Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
Russell Wilson's otherwise strong November ended on a pretty sour note in Tampa Bay on Sunday afternoon. The Seahawks signal-caller had no answers for the Buccaneers shockingly aggressive defensive game plan, putting up just 231 total yards (151 passing, 80 rushing), 0 TD's and 2 INT's in a rough road loss. Wilson and the Seahawks return home in Week 13 to take on a banged-up Panthers secondary that has allowed multiple passing TD's in 4 of their last 6 games.
Dishonorable Mentions: Andy Dalton (Bengals), Matthew Stafford (Lions), Jameis Winston (Buccaneers)
Running Back
MVP: Mark Ingram (Saints)
Mark Ingram's 2016 campaign continues to deify logic. The up-and down Saints running back was able to gas a Rams rushing attack that has held the likes of David Johnson and Jay Ajayi to under 100 yards this season for 167 total yards (146 rushing, 21 receiving) and a pair of TD's on 15 touches on the afternoon. Ingram has yet to piece together back-to-back impressive performances this season and that benchmark seems like its going to allude him once again as he is set to face a Lions defense that has allowed the 5th least fantasy points to RB's in Week 13.
Honorable Mentions: LeSean McCoy (Bills), Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys), David Johnson (Cardinals)
LVP: Frank Gore (Colts)
Frank Gore was practically doomed to fail in Week 12. With Andrew Luck sidelined by a concussion and an already talent-deprived offensive line missing 4 starters tasked with blocking for him, the Steelers stacked the box and ended up holding the ageless workhorse back to 31 yards (28 rushing, 3 receiving) on 16 touches. Gore has another rough assignment in Week 13 as he faces the Jets 4th-ranked rush D.
Dishonorable Mentions: Lamar Miller (Texans), Rashad Jennings (Giants), Matt Forte (Jets)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Antonio Brown (Steelers)
Antonio Brown reaffirmed his status as a fantasy football legend with a magical performance on Thanksgiving night against the Colts. Brown made the most of a pretty moderate amount of targets (6), hauling in 5 receptions for 91 YDS and 3 TD's. 2016 has been a down year by Brown's absurdly high standards (82 REC, 998 YDS, 10 TD's through 11 games), but he is still a top 5 fantasy receiver and an uncontested weekly matchup-proof starter.
Honorable Mentions: Tyreek Hill (Chiefs), Davante Adams (Packers), Michael Thomas (Saints)
LVP: Amari Cooper (Raiders)
You could make a solid argument for giving the LVP to Julio Jones after his quiet afternoon against Patrick Peterson or Brandin Cooks following his shocking doughnut against the Rams, but given the ease of matchup, I have to give this dreaded distinction to Amari Cooper. Cooper let Michael Crabtree, Seth Roberts and Clive Walford get all the shine against the Panthers depleted secondary, finishing the game with a paltry 22 yards on 4 receptions. Even though he's only found paydirt 3 times in 2016, Cooper has had an excellent sophomore season, and is a strong contender to be a top 10 wideout against the Bills in Week 13.
Dishonorable Mentions: Julio Jones (Falcons), Allen Robinson (Jaguars), Brandin Cooks (Saints)
Tight End
MVP: Jordan Reed (Redskins)
Despite suffering a separated shoulder in the 2nd quarter, Jordan Reed managed to play through the pain and put together his best game of the year so far. Reed served as the catalyst for the Redskins 2nd-half offensive explosion, picking up 95 yards and 2 TD's on 10 receptions in their narrow loss to the Cowboys. Reed's status is up in the air for Week 13, but he'll be a must start against the Cardinals tough pass defense if he's active.
Honorable Mentions: Tyler Eifert (Bengals), Delanie Walker (Titans), Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
LVP: Eric Ebron (Lions)
A week after finally delivering a top-tier performance, Eric Ebron slipped right back into the realm of disappointment. The Lions tight end was invisible on Thanksgiving against the Vikings, putting up a goose egg and only getting targeted 1 time on a day where Matthew Stafford threw the ball 40 times. Despite his erratic play, Ebron should be used as a TE1 for his week 13 tilt against the Saints.
Dishonorable Mentions: Zach Ertz (Eagles), Greg Olsen (Panthers), Jason Witten (Cowboys)
Defense
MVP: New York Giants
The Browns got an early jump on the holiday season by showing off their immense generosity and giving the Giants D a ton of fantasy points. The Giants were able to string together one of the impressive beatdowns of the Browns helpless offense to-date, picking up 7 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries and a TD in their 27-13 win in front of the eternally-suffering Dawg Pound. The Giants have turned into a viable fantasy defense over the past month, but their owners should look for other options in Week 13 as they face a Steelers offense that has only allowed 3 sacks and committed 1 turnover since returning from bye in Week 9.
Honorable Mentions: Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers
LVP: Buffalo Bills
The Bills D once again failed to capitalize on a sensational matchup in Week 12. The Bills picked up a mere 2 sacks, forced 0 takeaways and allowed 21 points to a Jaguars offense that has been dysfunctional and turnover-prone for a vast majority of the season. The Bills have fallen from grace after their incredible start to the season and shouldn't be played in any circumstances in Week 13 as they travel across the country to take on the Raiders potent, turnover-averse offense.
Dishonorable Mentions: Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans
Week 13 NFL Power Rankings
()=last week's ranking
1. (1) Dallas Cowboys (10-1) Week 13 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
2. (3) New England Patriots (9-2) Week 13 opponent: Los Angeles Rams
3. (4) Oakland Raiders (9-2) Week 13 opponent: Buffalo Bills
4. (2) Seattle Seahawks (7-3-1) Week 13 opponent: Carolina Panthers
5. (6) Kansas City Chiefs (8-3) Week 13 opponent: Atlanta Falcons
6. (7) New York Giants (8-3) Week 13 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
7. (5) Denver Broncos (7-4) Week 13 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
8. (8) Atlanta Falcons (7-4) Week 13 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
9. (10) Detroit Lions (7-4) Week 13 opponent: New Orleans Saints
10. (10) Washington Redskins (6-4-1) Week 13 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
11. (11) Miami Dolphins (7-4) Week 13 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
12. (14) Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) Week 13 opponent: New York Giants
13. (15) Baltimore Ravens (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Miami Dolphins
14. (20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) Week 13 opponent: San Diego Chargers
15. (12) Houston Texans (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Green Bay Packers
16. (17) Buffalo Bills (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Oakland Raiders
17. (16) Minnesota Vikings (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
18. (13) Philadelphia Eagles (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
19. (22) New Orleans Saints (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Detroit Lions
20. (21) Tennessee Titans (6-6) Week 13 opponent: Bye Week
21. (19) Indianapolis Colts (5-6) Week 13 opponent: New York Jets
22. (23) San Diego Chargers (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
23. (27) Green Bay Packers (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Houston Texans
24. (18) Arizona Cardinals (4-6-1) Week 13 opponent: Washington Redskins
25. (24) Carolina Panthers (4-7) Week 13 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
26. (25) Cincinnati Bengals (3-7-1) Week 13 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
27. (26) Los Angeles Rams (4-7) Week 13 opponent: New England Patriots
28. (28) New York Jets (3-8) Week 13 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
29. (29) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9) Week 13 opponent: Denver Broncos
30. (30) Chicago Bears (2-9) Week 13 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
31. (31) San Francisco 49ers (2-9) Week 13 opponent: Chicago Bears
32. (32) Cleveland Browns (0-12) Week 13 opponent: Bye Week
1. (1) Dallas Cowboys (10-1) Week 13 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
2. (3) New England Patriots (9-2) Week 13 opponent: Los Angeles Rams
3. (4) Oakland Raiders (9-2) Week 13 opponent: Buffalo Bills
4. (2) Seattle Seahawks (7-3-1) Week 13 opponent: Carolina Panthers
5. (6) Kansas City Chiefs (8-3) Week 13 opponent: Atlanta Falcons
6. (7) New York Giants (8-3) Week 13 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
7. (5) Denver Broncos (7-4) Week 13 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
8. (8) Atlanta Falcons (7-4) Week 13 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
9. (10) Detroit Lions (7-4) Week 13 opponent: New Orleans Saints
10. (10) Washington Redskins (6-4-1) Week 13 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
11. (11) Miami Dolphins (7-4) Week 13 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
12. (14) Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) Week 13 opponent: New York Giants
13. (15) Baltimore Ravens (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Miami Dolphins
14. (20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) Week 13 opponent: San Diego Chargers
15. (12) Houston Texans (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Green Bay Packers
16. (17) Buffalo Bills (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Oakland Raiders
17. (16) Minnesota Vikings (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
18. (13) Philadelphia Eagles (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
19. (22) New Orleans Saints (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Detroit Lions
20. (21) Tennessee Titans (6-6) Week 13 opponent: Bye Week
21. (19) Indianapolis Colts (5-6) Week 13 opponent: New York Jets
22. (23) San Diego Chargers (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
23. (27) Green Bay Packers (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Houston Texans
24. (18) Arizona Cardinals (4-6-1) Week 13 opponent: Washington Redskins
25. (24) Carolina Panthers (4-7) Week 13 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
26. (25) Cincinnati Bengals (3-7-1) Week 13 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
27. (26) Los Angeles Rams (4-7) Week 13 opponent: New England Patriots
28. (28) New York Jets (3-8) Week 13 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
29. (29) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9) Week 13 opponent: Denver Broncos
30. (30) Chicago Bears (2-9) Week 13 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
31. (31) San Francisco 49ers (2-9) Week 13 opponent: Chicago Bears
32. (32) Cleveland Browns (0-12) Week 13 opponent: Bye Week
Monday, November 28, 2016
Quick Movie Reviews: Hacksaw Ridge, Bleed for This, The Edge of Seventeen
Hacksaw Ridge: Mel Gibson is officially back. The controversial thespian's return to the director's chair is a heartfelt, narrative-driven antithesis to the flood of masturbatory, propaganda-filled Iraq/Afghanistan war films that have been released in the past several years. Hacksaw Ridge is every bit as focused on Desmond Doss (a phenomenal Andrew Garfield) the man as it is on his remarkable military accomplishments and that focus on character development allows the film to have the emotional backbone that the genre's recent entries have sorely lacked. The scenes detailing his upbringing in Virginia paint a vivid, powerful picture of the events that made him so staunchly oppose violence and get you firmly invested in what happens to him once he steps foot on the battlefield in Okinawa. While the scenes away from the carnage of Okinawa struck me the most, the combat sequences are undeniably impressive. Gibson makes sure the viewer feels the unrelenting terror that defined that The Battle of Okinawa with graphic, long-cut battle sequences that highlight the mass suffering and loss of life that both sides endured during this nearly three-month conflict. Hacksaw Ridge reinforces Gibson's talent as a filmmaker and is easily the best war film since Saving Private Ryan.
4/5 Stars
Bleed for This: Writer/director Ben Younger's (Boiler Room, Prime) return to the big screen after a decade-plus hiatus isn't exactly the runaway success many had hoped it would be. His dramatization of Rhode Island boxer's Vinny Paz's unlikely return to the ring after suffering a broken neck in a car accident is as formulaic and cliched as a fact-based sports dramas could possibly be. There's numerous inspirational training sequences set to '80's hair metal, at least a half-dozen of the obligatory "I'm not going to give up" monologues sprinkled throughout the film and of course, Paz's family is a bunch of self-absorbed, overbearing pricks that don't always have Vinny's best interest at heart. However, when a film is as well-acted and engaging as Bleed for This, the avalanche of cliches found in the script can be somewhat forgiven. Miles Teller and Aaron Eckhart are sensational as Paz and Kevin Rooney, Paz's washed-up, alcoholic trainer respectively and despite Younger's overly conventional narrative approach, the perseverance and unwavering mental toughness that are found in Paz's story is hard to not be impressed by. Bleed for This is a respectable albeit completely unessential entry into the endless mountain of sports biopics that is worth checking out if you're a fan of Paz or boxing films.
3.5/5 Stars
The Edge of Seventeen: The Edge of Seventeen is an A++ example of a film that has fallen victim to the cruelness of the hype train. While it has a handful of poignant scenes, features an impressive lead performance from Hailee Steinfeld and absolutely nails the painful awkwardness that plagues the actions and conversations of high school-age kids that feel like they don't fit in, there's nothing in this movie that hasn't been done better by countless other coming-of-age movies in recent years. Unlike other recent coming-of-age standouts (Dope, The Spectacular Now, The Kings of Summer), The Edge of Seventeen doesn't have the healthy amount of heart, laughs or insight needed to offset the lack of innovation present in its storytelling and become something really memorable. It may be a pleasant, entertaining movie with some solid acting and bursts of amusing dialogue, but it's not one that I see myself ever revisiting in the future.
3.5/5 Stars
4/5 Stars
Bleed for This: Writer/director Ben Younger's (Boiler Room, Prime) return to the big screen after a decade-plus hiatus isn't exactly the runaway success many had hoped it would be. His dramatization of Rhode Island boxer's Vinny Paz's unlikely return to the ring after suffering a broken neck in a car accident is as formulaic and cliched as a fact-based sports dramas could possibly be. There's numerous inspirational training sequences set to '80's hair metal, at least a half-dozen of the obligatory "I'm not going to give up" monologues sprinkled throughout the film and of course, Paz's family is a bunch of self-absorbed, overbearing pricks that don't always have Vinny's best interest at heart. However, when a film is as well-acted and engaging as Bleed for This, the avalanche of cliches found in the script can be somewhat forgiven. Miles Teller and Aaron Eckhart are sensational as Paz and Kevin Rooney, Paz's washed-up, alcoholic trainer respectively and despite Younger's overly conventional narrative approach, the perseverance and unwavering mental toughness that are found in Paz's story is hard to not be impressed by. Bleed for This is a respectable albeit completely unessential entry into the endless mountain of sports biopics that is worth checking out if you're a fan of Paz or boxing films.
3.5/5 Stars
The Edge of Seventeen: The Edge of Seventeen is an A++ example of a film that has fallen victim to the cruelness of the hype train. While it has a handful of poignant scenes, features an impressive lead performance from Hailee Steinfeld and absolutely nails the painful awkwardness that plagues the actions and conversations of high school-age kids that feel like they don't fit in, there's nothing in this movie that hasn't been done better by countless other coming-of-age movies in recent years. Unlike other recent coming-of-age standouts (Dope, The Spectacular Now, The Kings of Summer), The Edge of Seventeen doesn't have the healthy amount of heart, laughs or insight needed to offset the lack of innovation present in its storytelling and become something really memorable. It may be a pleasant, entertaining movie with some solid acting and bursts of amusing dialogue, but it's not one that I see myself ever revisiting in the future.
3.5/5 Stars
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
The End of the Cutler Era in Chicago
(Editor's Note: I'm aware that John Fox said in his press conference this afternoon that Jay Cutler isn't out for the year, but given his history of misdirecting the media, I don't buy that shit for a second.)
News broke Monday afternoon that Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler will miss the rest of the 2016 season after suffering a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder in the team's 22-16 loss to the New York Giants last Sunday. This unfortunate injury now all but guarantees that Cutler has played his last snap as a member of the Bears. Given his age (he'll be 34 in April) and cap hit ($16 mil) going into 2017, the time has finally come for the Bears to take the next step in their rebuilding process by going in a different direction under center.
Watching Cutler play for the Bears over the past 8 seasons has been a simultaneously exhilarating, depressing and nerve-wracking experience that has probably taken a solid 10-15 years off my life. There were highs (the 2010 NFC Championship Game appearance, the 15 4th quarterback comeback wins), lows (the back-breaking turnovers, everything that happened during 2014) and a whole lot of mediocrity (basically every other seasons that wasn't previously mentioned). His knack for making jaw-dropping deep, tight-window throws was fun as hell to watch and his tendency to turn the ball over at the most inopportune time has launched me into more expletive-laden outbursts than I could possibly count.
As erratic as his play could be, I always felt like the Bears had a shot to win when Cutler was on the field. This might sound insane to people who don't follow the Bears or the segment of the fanbase that thought whatever asshat (Caleb Hanie or Josh McCown anyone?) that was trotted out as an injury fill-in was the answer, but whatever small amount of success the squad has enjoyed since their once-elite defense and GOAT kick returner Devin Hester succumbed to Father Time 5 years ago can primarily be attributed to the bitter, stone-faced gunslinger from Santa Claus, Indiana. He can make any throw you ask of him at any point of the game, his arm strength is absolutely ridiculous and his mental toughness is among the strongest of any quarterback I've ever watched play.
There's perhaps no greater example of how essential Cutler is to the functionality of this team than what transpired while he was out with a broken thumb earlier this season. The offense under the guidance of Brian Hoyer can only be described as a sad, limp-dicked disgrace. Sure there was less turnovers during Hoyer's 5-game stint under center, but his inability to throw the ball more than 5 yards down the field, sustain a drive in the 2nd half or SCORE A FUCKING TOUCHDOWN IN THE REDZONE cost the team at least 2 wins in the month of October. I can say with complete honesty that watching the losses that were caused by Hoyer's weekly bubble screen bonanza was infinitely worse than any of the multi-turnover trainwrecks that Cutler put up over the years.
The most unfair, fucked up thing about this whole situation is that history is going to point to Cutler as the sole reason for the disappointment and dysfunction that occurred his 8-year tenure with the team. While his inconsistent play and inability to show any emotion has done its fair share of damage to the team, Cutler has served as the scapegoat for the woes of a team that has consistently made awful personnel decisions (every draft before Ryan Pace got there, trading Greg Olsen in 2011 because "tight ends had no place" in Mike Martz's offense, hiring Marc "I won a couple of CFL titles so I must have what it takes to win in the NFL" Trestman over proven offensive wizard Bruce Arians as head coach in 2013, countless other), burned through 6 different offensive coordinators and dealt with the worst luck of any team outside of Cleveland or Buffalo (never forget the snake-bitten campaigns of 2011-13) during his 8-year tenure. The deck has been stacked against Cutler since he arrived in Chicago and that unwavering adversity played a pivotal role in his inability to live up to the top-tier franchise quarterback expectations that were placed upon him. By the time they brought in a general manager (Ryan Pace) and head coach (John Fox) with the football acumen required to turn things around, Cutler's prime years had past and the roster around him was almost completely deprived of cornerstone talent. It's honestly sad to think about how great this team could've been if the Bears ownership had tried to to solve their front office and coaching issues in a more timely fashion.
While I completely understand and agree with the decision to move on from Cutler, I'm not going to pretend like the team's future prospects without him aren't terrifying. Knowing exactly what you're going to get at quarterback week-in and week-out for the past 8 seasons has been pretty dope and that peace of mind suddenly disappearing is just another reason to start grief-drinking at 9 A.M. every gameday. I have no idea if they're going to acquire a veteran or use their guaranteed top-5 draft pick to select a member of this universally-panned upcoming quarterback class (if history repeats itself, the Bears will do the latter and it will end horribly) to fill the void, but none of the potential starting options for 2017 fill me with a lot of joy or optimism. Tony Romo is a geriatric that happens to be made of glass, Jimmy Garoppolo is a huge gamble that more than likely won't be available unless he does something to piss off Fuhrer Belichick over the next 6 months, DeShaun Watson is basically Johnny Manziel without the blow habit, Brad Kaaya (aka Spawn of Felicia from Friday) is reportedly leaning towards staying in school for another year, Mitch Trubisky is a fucking mystery man that seems like a strong contender to be sentenced to a multi-year stint at the Cleveland Browns Sadness Factory* (trademark pending) and the mere thought of them possibly re-signing Hoyer makes me want to throw myself off of Willis Tower. In other words, the 2017 offseason is going to be exactly the type of sadistic torture Bears fans haven't been able to shake for a majority of the past 2 decades and if it wasn't for a certain apocalyptic event taking place on January 20th, it would be the thing I'm least looking forward to experiencing next year. It sure as shit wasn't always pretty, but I'm going to miss having that reckless, miserable, cigarette-smoking bastard as my team's quarterback and I hope he enjoys a lot of success as the next quarterback of the New York Jets.
News broke Monday afternoon that Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler will miss the rest of the 2016 season after suffering a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder in the team's 22-16 loss to the New York Giants last Sunday. This unfortunate injury now all but guarantees that Cutler has played his last snap as a member of the Bears. Given his age (he'll be 34 in April) and cap hit ($16 mil) going into 2017, the time has finally come for the Bears to take the next step in their rebuilding process by going in a different direction under center.
Watching Cutler play for the Bears over the past 8 seasons has been a simultaneously exhilarating, depressing and nerve-wracking experience that has probably taken a solid 10-15 years off my life. There were highs (the 2010 NFC Championship Game appearance, the 15 4th quarterback comeback wins), lows (the back-breaking turnovers, everything that happened during 2014) and a whole lot of mediocrity (basically every other seasons that wasn't previously mentioned). His knack for making jaw-dropping deep, tight-window throws was fun as hell to watch and his tendency to turn the ball over at the most inopportune time has launched me into more expletive-laden outbursts than I could possibly count.
As erratic as his play could be, I always felt like the Bears had a shot to win when Cutler was on the field. This might sound insane to people who don't follow the Bears or the segment of the fanbase that thought whatever asshat (Caleb Hanie or Josh McCown anyone?) that was trotted out as an injury fill-in was the answer, but whatever small amount of success the squad has enjoyed since their once-elite defense and GOAT kick returner Devin Hester succumbed to Father Time 5 years ago can primarily be attributed to the bitter, stone-faced gunslinger from Santa Claus, Indiana. He can make any throw you ask of him at any point of the game, his arm strength is absolutely ridiculous and his mental toughness is among the strongest of any quarterback I've ever watched play.
There's perhaps no greater example of how essential Cutler is to the functionality of this team than what transpired while he was out with a broken thumb earlier this season. The offense under the guidance of Brian Hoyer can only be described as a sad, limp-dicked disgrace. Sure there was less turnovers during Hoyer's 5-game stint under center, but his inability to throw the ball more than 5 yards down the field, sustain a drive in the 2nd half or SCORE A FUCKING TOUCHDOWN IN THE REDZONE cost the team at least 2 wins in the month of October. I can say with complete honesty that watching the losses that were caused by Hoyer's weekly bubble screen bonanza was infinitely worse than any of the multi-turnover trainwrecks that Cutler put up over the years.
The most unfair, fucked up thing about this whole situation is that history is going to point to Cutler as the sole reason for the disappointment and dysfunction that occurred his 8-year tenure with the team. While his inconsistent play and inability to show any emotion has done its fair share of damage to the team, Cutler has served as the scapegoat for the woes of a team that has consistently made awful personnel decisions (every draft before Ryan Pace got there, trading Greg Olsen in 2011 because "tight ends had no place" in Mike Martz's offense, hiring Marc "I won a couple of CFL titles so I must have what it takes to win in the NFL" Trestman over proven offensive wizard Bruce Arians as head coach in 2013, countless other), burned through 6 different offensive coordinators and dealt with the worst luck of any team outside of Cleveland or Buffalo (never forget the snake-bitten campaigns of 2011-13) during his 8-year tenure. The deck has been stacked against Cutler since he arrived in Chicago and that unwavering adversity played a pivotal role in his inability to live up to the top-tier franchise quarterback expectations that were placed upon him. By the time they brought in a general manager (Ryan Pace) and head coach (John Fox) with the football acumen required to turn things around, Cutler's prime years had past and the roster around him was almost completely deprived of cornerstone talent. It's honestly sad to think about how great this team could've been if the Bears ownership had tried to to solve their front office and coaching issues in a more timely fashion.
While I completely understand and agree with the decision to move on from Cutler, I'm not going to pretend like the team's future prospects without him aren't terrifying. Knowing exactly what you're going to get at quarterback week-in and week-out for the past 8 seasons has been pretty dope and that peace of mind suddenly disappearing is just another reason to start grief-drinking at 9 A.M. every gameday. I have no idea if they're going to acquire a veteran or use their guaranteed top-5 draft pick to select a member of this universally-panned upcoming quarterback class (if history repeats itself, the Bears will do the latter and it will end horribly) to fill the void, but none of the potential starting options for 2017 fill me with a lot of joy or optimism. Tony Romo is a geriatric that happens to be made of glass, Jimmy Garoppolo is a huge gamble that more than likely won't be available unless he does something to piss off Fuhrer Belichick over the next 6 months, DeShaun Watson is basically Johnny Manziel without the blow habit, Brad Kaaya (aka Spawn of Felicia from Friday) is reportedly leaning towards staying in school for another year, Mitch Trubisky is a fucking mystery man that seems like a strong contender to be sentenced to a multi-year stint at the Cleveland Browns Sadness Factory* (trademark pending) and the mere thought of them possibly re-signing Hoyer makes me want to throw myself off of Willis Tower. In other words, the 2017 offseason is going to be exactly the type of sadistic torture Bears fans haven't been able to shake for a majority of the past 2 decades and if it wasn't for a certain apocalyptic event taking place on January 20th, it would be the thing I'm least looking forward to experiencing next year. It sure as shit wasn't always pretty, but I'm going to miss having that reckless, miserable, cigarette-smoking bastard as my team's quarterback and I hope he enjoys a lot of success as the next quarterback of the New York Jets.
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Week 11 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers
Quarterback
MVP: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
Another miserable real-life week for the Packers, another terrific fantasy performance for Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers threw for 351 YDS and 3 TD and added an additional 33 yards on the ground in an ugly road loss against the Redskins on Sunday night. Rodgers has been a fantasy gold mine for the past month and with his team getting the piss beaten out of them week after week, there's no reason to believe this run is going to come to an end anytime soon.
Honorable Mentions: Tom Brady (Patriots), Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Dak Prescott (Cowboys)
LVP: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
Ben Roethlisberger is arguably the least reliable elite quarterback in the NFL and he proved that unfortunate distinction to be true once again in Week 11. Despite facing the lowly Browns, Roethlisberger was mediocre as hell, finishing the game with 167 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT's and a successful 2-point conversion. Roethlisberger has another road bout against the lowly Colts defense on the docket in Week 12, so another middling-to-bad performance could be in the cards.
Dishonorable Mentions: Matthew Stafford (Lions), Tyrod Taylor (Bills), Cam Newton (Panthers)
Running Back
MVP: Rob Kelley (Redskins)
The people that were savvy enough to pick up Rob Kelley on the waiver wire over the past 2-3 weeks were handsomely rewarded for their gamble. The newly-minted Redskins starting running back crushed the suddenly hole-filled Packers front 7, picking up 137 YDS and 3 TD on 24 carries. Despite his success over the past 2 games, Kelley has a brutal upcoming schedule and will be nothing more than a risky RB2/FLEX play the rest of the way.
Honorable Mentions: David Johnson (Cardinals), Le'Veon Bell (Steelers), Rashad Jennings (Giants)
LVP: Isaiah Crowell (Browns)
The disheartening struggles of Isaiah Crowell continued in Week 11. Crowell couldn't get anything going against a Steelers defense that has allowed 3 100+ yard-rushers in their previous 4 games, finishing the afternoon with an awful 23 yards (10 rushing, 13 receiving) on 13 touches. Crowell has been thoroughly unreliable since mid-October and shouldn't be started unless your completely desperate.
Dishonorable Mentions: Jeremy Hill (Bengals), Giovani Bernard (Bengals), Spencer Ware (Chiefs)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Dez Bryant (Cowboys)
After going through some inevitable chemistry growing pains with rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, the Dez Bryant that fantasy owners have come to know and love over the past 7 years appears to be back for good. Bryant made a mockery of the Ravens banged-up secondary, reeling in 6-of-8 targets for 80 yards and 2 TD. Bryant will be a low-end WR1 in a Thanksgiving Day tilt with lockdown corner Josh Norman and the Redskins in Week 12.
Honorable Mentions: Jamison Crowder (Redskins), Steve Smith Sr. (Ravens), T.Y. Hilton (Colts)
LVP: Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants)
Odell Beckham Jr.'s roller-coaster 2016 season had one of its lowest points to-date in Week 11. OBJ couldn't take advantage of a stellar matchup against the Bears injury-depleted secondary, who had allowed the most fantasy points to WR's heading into the week, getting held to just 46 yards on 5 receptions. Despite his season-long inconsistency, Beckham Jr. seems primed for a bounceback game in Week 12 against the Browns talent-barren secondary.
Dishonorable Mentions: Brandin Cooks (Saints), Golden Tate (Lions), Willie Snead (Saints)
Tight End
MVP: Eric Ebron (Lions)
Eric Ebron finally rose from tease to breadwinner in Week 11. Ebron caught 3 of the 5 passes thrown his way for 70 yards and scored a rushing TD on a trick play at the goal line that helped the Lions squeak out a win over the Jaguars. Ebron's healthy dose of weekly targets put him on the TE1 radar, but his lack of scores firmly place him into the dreaded low-floor/high-ceiling category.
Honorable Mentions: Zach Miller (Bears), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)
LVP: Martellus Bennett (Patriots)
Martellus Bennett's weak performance in Week 11 is honestly shocking. Put in an excellent position to succeed without Rob Gronkowski in the lineup against a porous 49ers defense, Bennett struggled to get open and managed to get just a single catch for 14 yards on the afternoon. The always erratic Bennett will once again be on the TE1 radar in a decent-enough Week 12 matchup against the Jets with Gronkowski's availability currently up in the air.
Dishonorable Mentions: Greg Olsen (Panthers), Delanie Walker (Titans), Tyler Eifert (Bengals)
Defense
MVP: Pittsburgh Steelers
Apparently all a struggling defense needs to get back on track is to play the Browns. The Steelers defense looked liked a staunch unit, as they picked up 8 sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery, a TD and allowed just 9 points against the Browns offense. Despite this runaway success, the Steelers defense have proven time and time again this year that they can't be counted on as a full-time starting defense.
Honorable Mentions: Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills
LVP: Dallas Cowboys
In a week were most of the defenses with good matchups delivered, the Cowboys were the clear biggest letdown. The Cowboys couldn't getting anything against turnover-prone quarterback Joe Flacco and the Ravens banged-up offensive line, as they finished the game with 1 sack, 0 takeaways and 17 points allowed. The Cowboys D has cooled off considerably in the past few weeks and won't be a great play this week as they take on a Redskins offense that has only surrendered 4 sacks and 2 turnovers in their last 3 games.
Dishonorable Mentions: Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens
MVP: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
Another miserable real-life week for the Packers, another terrific fantasy performance for Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers threw for 351 YDS and 3 TD and added an additional 33 yards on the ground in an ugly road loss against the Redskins on Sunday night. Rodgers has been a fantasy gold mine for the past month and with his team getting the piss beaten out of them week after week, there's no reason to believe this run is going to come to an end anytime soon.
Honorable Mentions: Tom Brady (Patriots), Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Dak Prescott (Cowboys)
LVP: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
Ben Roethlisberger is arguably the least reliable elite quarterback in the NFL and he proved that unfortunate distinction to be true once again in Week 11. Despite facing the lowly Browns, Roethlisberger was mediocre as hell, finishing the game with 167 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT's and a successful 2-point conversion. Roethlisberger has another road bout against the lowly Colts defense on the docket in Week 12, so another middling-to-bad performance could be in the cards.
Dishonorable Mentions: Matthew Stafford (Lions), Tyrod Taylor (Bills), Cam Newton (Panthers)
Running Back
MVP: Rob Kelley (Redskins)
The people that were savvy enough to pick up Rob Kelley on the waiver wire over the past 2-3 weeks were handsomely rewarded for their gamble. The newly-minted Redskins starting running back crushed the suddenly hole-filled Packers front 7, picking up 137 YDS and 3 TD on 24 carries. Despite his success over the past 2 games, Kelley has a brutal upcoming schedule and will be nothing more than a risky RB2/FLEX play the rest of the way.
Honorable Mentions: David Johnson (Cardinals), Le'Veon Bell (Steelers), Rashad Jennings (Giants)
LVP: Isaiah Crowell (Browns)
The disheartening struggles of Isaiah Crowell continued in Week 11. Crowell couldn't get anything going against a Steelers defense that has allowed 3 100+ yard-rushers in their previous 4 games, finishing the afternoon with an awful 23 yards (10 rushing, 13 receiving) on 13 touches. Crowell has been thoroughly unreliable since mid-October and shouldn't be started unless your completely desperate.
Dishonorable Mentions: Jeremy Hill (Bengals), Giovani Bernard (Bengals), Spencer Ware (Chiefs)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Dez Bryant (Cowboys)
After going through some inevitable chemistry growing pains with rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, the Dez Bryant that fantasy owners have come to know and love over the past 7 years appears to be back for good. Bryant made a mockery of the Ravens banged-up secondary, reeling in 6-of-8 targets for 80 yards and 2 TD. Bryant will be a low-end WR1 in a Thanksgiving Day tilt with lockdown corner Josh Norman and the Redskins in Week 12.
Honorable Mentions: Jamison Crowder (Redskins), Steve Smith Sr. (Ravens), T.Y. Hilton (Colts)
LVP: Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants)
Odell Beckham Jr.'s roller-coaster 2016 season had one of its lowest points to-date in Week 11. OBJ couldn't take advantage of a stellar matchup against the Bears injury-depleted secondary, who had allowed the most fantasy points to WR's heading into the week, getting held to just 46 yards on 5 receptions. Despite his season-long inconsistency, Beckham Jr. seems primed for a bounceback game in Week 12 against the Browns talent-barren secondary.
Dishonorable Mentions: Brandin Cooks (Saints), Golden Tate (Lions), Willie Snead (Saints)
Tight End
MVP: Eric Ebron (Lions)
Eric Ebron finally rose from tease to breadwinner in Week 11. Ebron caught 3 of the 5 passes thrown his way for 70 yards and scored a rushing TD on a trick play at the goal line that helped the Lions squeak out a win over the Jaguars. Ebron's healthy dose of weekly targets put him on the TE1 radar, but his lack of scores firmly place him into the dreaded low-floor/high-ceiling category.
Honorable Mentions: Zach Miller (Bears), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)
LVP: Martellus Bennett (Patriots)
Martellus Bennett's weak performance in Week 11 is honestly shocking. Put in an excellent position to succeed without Rob Gronkowski in the lineup against a porous 49ers defense, Bennett struggled to get open and managed to get just a single catch for 14 yards on the afternoon. The always erratic Bennett will once again be on the TE1 radar in a decent-enough Week 12 matchup against the Jets with Gronkowski's availability currently up in the air.
Dishonorable Mentions: Greg Olsen (Panthers), Delanie Walker (Titans), Tyler Eifert (Bengals)
Defense
MVP: Pittsburgh Steelers
Apparently all a struggling defense needs to get back on track is to play the Browns. The Steelers defense looked liked a staunch unit, as they picked up 8 sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery, a TD and allowed just 9 points against the Browns offense. Despite this runaway success, the Steelers defense have proven time and time again this year that they can't be counted on as a full-time starting defense.
Honorable Mentions: Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills
LVP: Dallas Cowboys
In a week were most of the defenses with good matchups delivered, the Cowboys were the clear biggest letdown. The Cowboys couldn't getting anything against turnover-prone quarterback Joe Flacco and the Ravens banged-up offensive line, as they finished the game with 1 sack, 0 takeaways and 17 points allowed. The Cowboys D has cooled off considerably in the past few weeks and won't be a great play this week as they take on a Redskins offense that has only surrendered 4 sacks and 2 turnovers in their last 3 games.
Dishonorable Mentions: Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens
Week 12 NFL Power Rankings
()=last week's rankings
1. (1) Dallas Cowboys (9-1) Week 12 opponent: Washington Redskins
2. (2) Seattle Seahawks (7-2-1) Week 12 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3. (3) New England Patriots (8-2) Week 12 opponent: New York Jets
4. (5) Oakland Raiders (8-2) Week 12 opponent: Carolina Panthers
5. (6) Denver Broncos (7-3) Week 12 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
6. (4) Kansas City Chiefs (7-3) Week 12 opponent: Denver Broncos
7. (7) New York Giants (7-3) Week 12 opponent: Cleveland Browns
8. (8) Atlanta Falcons (6-4) Week 12 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
9. (12) Washington Redskins (6-3-1) Week 12 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
10. (10) Detroit Lions (6-4) Week 12 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
11. (13) Miami Dolphins (6-4) Week 12 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
12. (11) Houston Texans (6-4) Week 12 opponent: San Diego Chargers
13. (9) Philadelphia Eagles (5-5) Week 12 opponent: Green Bay Packers
14. (16) Pittsburgh Steelers (5-5) Week 12 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
15. (14) Baltimore Ravens (5-5) Week 12 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
16. (20) Minnesota Vikings (6-4) Week 12 opponent: Detroit Lions
17. (17) Buffalo Bills (5-5) Week 12 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
18. (15) Arizona Cardinals (4-5-1) Week 12 opponent: Atlanta Falcons
19. (24) Indianapolis Colts (5-5) Week 12 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
20. (25) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-5) Week 12 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
21. (18) Tennessee Titans (5-6) Week 12 opponent: Chicago Bears
22. (19) New Orleans Saints (4-6) Week 12 opponent: Los Angeles Rams
23. (23) San Diego Chargers (4-6) Week 12 opponent: Houston Texans
24. (27) Carolina Panthers (4-6) Week 12 opponent: Oakland Raiders
25. (22) Cincinnati Bengals (3-6-1) Week 12 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
26. (26) Los Angeles Rams (4-6) Week 12 opponent: New Orleans Saints
27. (21) Green Bay Packers (4-6) Week 12 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
28. (28) New York Jets (3-7) Week 12 opponent: New England Patriots
29. (29) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8) Week 12 opponent: Buffalo Bills
30. (30) Chicago Bears (2-8) Week 12 opponent: Tennessee Titans
31. (31) San Francisco 49ers (1-9) Week 12 opponent: Miami Dolphins
32. (32) Cleveland Browns (0-11) Week 12 opponent: New York Giants
1. (1) Dallas Cowboys (9-1) Week 12 opponent: Washington Redskins
2. (2) Seattle Seahawks (7-2-1) Week 12 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3. (3) New England Patriots (8-2) Week 12 opponent: New York Jets
4. (5) Oakland Raiders (8-2) Week 12 opponent: Carolina Panthers
5. (6) Denver Broncos (7-3) Week 12 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
6. (4) Kansas City Chiefs (7-3) Week 12 opponent: Denver Broncos
7. (7) New York Giants (7-3) Week 12 opponent: Cleveland Browns
8. (8) Atlanta Falcons (6-4) Week 12 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
9. (12) Washington Redskins (6-3-1) Week 12 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
10. (10) Detroit Lions (6-4) Week 12 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
11. (13) Miami Dolphins (6-4) Week 12 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
12. (11) Houston Texans (6-4) Week 12 opponent: San Diego Chargers
13. (9) Philadelphia Eagles (5-5) Week 12 opponent: Green Bay Packers
14. (16) Pittsburgh Steelers (5-5) Week 12 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
15. (14) Baltimore Ravens (5-5) Week 12 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
16. (20) Minnesota Vikings (6-4) Week 12 opponent: Detroit Lions
17. (17) Buffalo Bills (5-5) Week 12 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
18. (15) Arizona Cardinals (4-5-1) Week 12 opponent: Atlanta Falcons
19. (24) Indianapolis Colts (5-5) Week 12 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
20. (25) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-5) Week 12 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
21. (18) Tennessee Titans (5-6) Week 12 opponent: Chicago Bears
22. (19) New Orleans Saints (4-6) Week 12 opponent: Los Angeles Rams
23. (23) San Diego Chargers (4-6) Week 12 opponent: Houston Texans
24. (27) Carolina Panthers (4-6) Week 12 opponent: Oakland Raiders
25. (22) Cincinnati Bengals (3-6-1) Week 12 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
26. (26) Los Angeles Rams (4-6) Week 12 opponent: New Orleans Saints
27. (21) Green Bay Packers (4-6) Week 12 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
28. (28) New York Jets (3-7) Week 12 opponent: New England Patriots
29. (29) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8) Week 12 opponent: Buffalo Bills
30. (30) Chicago Bears (2-8) Week 12 opponent: Tennessee Titans
31. (31) San Francisco 49ers (1-9) Week 12 opponent: Miami Dolphins
32. (32) Cleveland Browns (0-11) Week 12 opponent: New York Giants
Monday, November 21, 2016
The Best and Worst of Billy Bob Thornton
The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an
actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I
take a look at the filmography of "Bad Santa 2" star Billy Bob Thornton.
Film starring Billy Bob Thornton that I've seen:
Sling Blade
Armageddon
Bad Santa
Love Actually
Friday Night Lights
Bad News Bears
School for Scoundrels
Mr. Woodcock
Eagle Eye
Faster
Puss in Boots
The Judge
Entourage
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
Best Performance: Sling Blade (1996)
There aren't too many performances that have blown me away more than this one. Thornton's portrayal of a mentally-handicapped Arkansas man that's recently been released from a psychiatric hospital after killing his mother and her abusive boyfriend as a teenager is sensitive, heartbreaking and utterly mesmerizing.
Worst Performance: Mr. Woodcock (2007)
While he usually gravitates towards dramatic fare, Thornton has shown a knack for comedy over the years with hilarious performances in Bad Santa, Bad News Bears and Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Those comedic chops were nowhere to be found in Mr.Woodcock. Despite playing the type of snarky asshole character he's perfected over the years, Thornton was unfunny and obnoxious for the entirety of this cinematic dumpster fire.
Best Film: Friday Night Lights (2004)
Sports dramas don't get much better than Peter Berg's Friday Night Lights. The phenomenal acting, emotional heft and genuine insight on high school football culture in rural American towns makes this film a consistently compelling, highly rewatchable triumph.
Worst Film: Mr. Woodcock (2007)
I consider myself to be someone that is easily amused. I've found widely-panned films such as Freddy Got Fingered, Along Came Polly and Sex Drive to be absolutely fucking hilarious. Craig Gillespie's Mr. Woodcock is one of the rare films that completely failed to tickle my easily-triggered funnybone. Mr.Woodcock wastes a capable cast (Seann William Scott, Thornton, Susan Sarandon, Amy Poehler, Ethan Suplee) on a film full of awful characters and jokes that are so played-out that most CBS sitcoms wouldn't use them.
Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Jackie" star Natalie Portman.
Film starring Billy Bob Thornton that I've seen:
Sling Blade
Armageddon
Bad Santa
Love Actually
Friday Night Lights
Bad News Bears
School for Scoundrels
Mr. Woodcock
Eagle Eye
Faster
Puss in Boots
The Judge
Entourage
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
Best Performance: Sling Blade (1996)
There aren't too many performances that have blown me away more than this one. Thornton's portrayal of a mentally-handicapped Arkansas man that's recently been released from a psychiatric hospital after killing his mother and her abusive boyfriend as a teenager is sensitive, heartbreaking and utterly mesmerizing.
Worst Performance: Mr. Woodcock (2007)
While he usually gravitates towards dramatic fare, Thornton has shown a knack for comedy over the years with hilarious performances in Bad Santa, Bad News Bears and Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Those comedic chops were nowhere to be found in Mr.Woodcock. Despite playing the type of snarky asshole character he's perfected over the years, Thornton was unfunny and obnoxious for the entirety of this cinematic dumpster fire.
Best Film: Friday Night Lights (2004)
Sports dramas don't get much better than Peter Berg's Friday Night Lights. The phenomenal acting, emotional heft and genuine insight on high school football culture in rural American towns makes this film a consistently compelling, highly rewatchable triumph.
Worst Film: Mr. Woodcock (2007)
I consider myself to be someone that is easily amused. I've found widely-panned films such as Freddy Got Fingered, Along Came Polly and Sex Drive to be absolutely fucking hilarious. Craig Gillespie's Mr. Woodcock is one of the rare films that completely failed to tickle my easily-triggered funnybone. Mr.Woodcock wastes a capable cast (Seann William Scott, Thornton, Susan Sarandon, Amy Poehler, Ethan Suplee) on a film full of awful characters and jokes that are so played-out that most CBS sitcoms wouldn't use them.
Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Jackie" star Natalie Portman.
Friday, November 18, 2016
The Best and Worst of Casey Affleck
The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an
actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I
take a look at the filmography of "Manchester by the Sea" star Casey Affleck.
Films starring Casey Affleck that I've seen:
Chasing Amy
Good Will Hunting
American Pie
American Pie 2
Ocean's Eleven
Ocean's Twelve
Ocean's Thirteen
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Gone Baby Gone
Tower Heist
Interstellar
Out of the Furnace
The Finest Hours
Triple 9
Best Performance: Gone Baby Gone (2007)
Affleck is one of those actors that I feel like Hollywood has slept on for far too long. He's consistently put together strong performances over the course of his 20-year career without receiving any of the fanfare or accolades that typically come with that strong track record. The strongest example of Affleck getting shafted by the year-end awards circuit came in his turn as a Boston-based private investigator in his brother Ben's masterful directorial debut Gone Baby Gone. With his combination of unrelenting intensity and emotional transparency, Affleck was able to turn a potential stock tough-guy character into a rich, emphatic protagonist that is very easy to root for.
Worst Performance: The Finest Hours (2016)
This is a classic example of bad material failing a good actor. Affleck isn't anywhere near awful in his role as an oil tanker engineer, the character just happens to be a one-note snoozefest that couldn't be made interesting by any actor in the history of cinema.
Best Film: Good Will Hunting (1997)
I really have beaten my love of this film to the death over the course of this series. Coming-of-age dramas have a way of finding soft spots in my mostly black heart and Good Will Hunting is without question among the genre's most moving films. The acting is pretty much perfect, the dialogue is sharp and there are approximately 10-12 scenes that generate a strong emotional reaction from me every single time I watch it.
Worst Film: Ocean's Twelve (2004)
As far as I'm concerned, there is no stronger argument against the existence of movie sequels than Ocean's Twelve. The fast-paced fun of the first installment was nowhere to be found in this lifeless, convoluted follow-up. I've honestly seen funeral processions with more joy and energy than this repulsive turd disguised as a piece of entertainment.
Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Bad Santa 2" star Billy Bob Thornton.
Films starring Casey Affleck that I've seen:
Chasing Amy
Good Will Hunting
American Pie
American Pie 2
Ocean's Eleven
Ocean's Twelve
Ocean's Thirteen
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Gone Baby Gone
Tower Heist
Interstellar
Out of the Furnace
The Finest Hours
Triple 9
Best Performance: Gone Baby Gone (2007)
Affleck is one of those actors that I feel like Hollywood has slept on for far too long. He's consistently put together strong performances over the course of his 20-year career without receiving any of the fanfare or accolades that typically come with that strong track record. The strongest example of Affleck getting shafted by the year-end awards circuit came in his turn as a Boston-based private investigator in his brother Ben's masterful directorial debut Gone Baby Gone. With his combination of unrelenting intensity and emotional transparency, Affleck was able to turn a potential stock tough-guy character into a rich, emphatic protagonist that is very easy to root for.
Worst Performance: The Finest Hours (2016)
This is a classic example of bad material failing a good actor. Affleck isn't anywhere near awful in his role as an oil tanker engineer, the character just happens to be a one-note snoozefest that couldn't be made interesting by any actor in the history of cinema.
Best Film: Good Will Hunting (1997)
I really have beaten my love of this film to the death over the course of this series. Coming-of-age dramas have a way of finding soft spots in my mostly black heart and Good Will Hunting is without question among the genre's most moving films. The acting is pretty much perfect, the dialogue is sharp and there are approximately 10-12 scenes that generate a strong emotional reaction from me every single time I watch it.
Worst Film: Ocean's Twelve (2004)
As far as I'm concerned, there is no stronger argument against the existence of movie sequels than Ocean's Twelve. The fast-paced fun of the first installment was nowhere to be found in this lifeless, convoluted follow-up. I've honestly seen funeral processions with more joy and energy than this repulsive turd disguised as a piece of entertainment.
Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Bad Santa 2" star Billy Bob Thornton.
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Concert Review: The Dillinger Escape Plan-- Boston, MA-- November 16th, 2016
Lineup: The Dillinger Escape Plan/O'Brother/Car Bomb/Cult Leader/Bentknee
Venue: Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
Date: November 16th, 2016
Last night was a bittersweet evening for me. One of my all-time favorite bands, The Dillinger Escape Plan, played their final show in Boston and it conjured up a set of emotions that are usually reserved for major life milestones like getting a new job or graduating from high school. Those conflicting emotions were briefly set aside once they hit the stage as the mathcore pioneers delivered yet another mesmerizing, exhilarating and immensely satisfying performance for the sold-out crowd at the Paradise Rock Club.
Per usual, Dillinger loaded their farewell tour with a very eclectic group of support acts that have little-to-nothing in common with them. Post-hardcore act O'Brother made for a painfully out-of-place direct support band, under-the-radar mathcore veterans Car Bomb were devastatingly heavy, Boston's own Bentknee are talented as hell, but way too mellow for my tastes and hardcore/sludge hybrid Cult Leader reminded me why they're one of the most destructive forces in metal right now. No disrespect to any of the opening bands, but this night was about 900+ people saying goodbye to one of the most well-respected metal bands of all-time and everything else that preceded it was nothing more than time-eating appetizer.
Anyone that's followed metal closely over the past 15 years or so is aware of the buzz that surrounds The Dillinger Escape Plan's live show. They've become notorious for constant stage dives, using each venue as their own personal jungle gym and just generally destroying everything that crosses their path. Going to one of their shows is a truly unforgettable experience that can't be shaken or duplicated by another act under any circumstances and the feeling that it evokes can't be accurately describe with words.
This particular performance was exactly the type of legacy-cementing swan song I'd hoped it would be. The setlist was driven by standout material that spanned their entire discography, the room had an electric vibe that didn't let up for the entire 80 minutes they were on stage and the breakneck energy that's defined their performances since their inception was once again on full-display. They left everything they had on the stage and ensured that their fans got to experience the carnival of chaos that is their show one last time. There are no shortage of reasons why I'm going to miss Dillinger, but the unrivaled intensity and insanity of their live shows easily tops the list.
While it's not remotely surprising given their track record, Dillinger Escape Plan delivered a flawless final performance in the great city of Boston. It's going to be painful to live in a world without The Dillinger Escape Plan, but I can take solace in the fact that they went out while they were still on the top of their game.
Scores:
Bentknee 6.5/10
Cult Leader 8.5/10
Car Bomb 8/10
O'Brother 5/10
The Dillinger Escape Plan 10/10
Setlists:
Cult Leader:
Great I Am
Suffer Louder
Broken Blades
Mongrel
Walking Wastelands
A Good Life
Gutter Gods
Hate Offering
Sympathetic
Driftwood
The Dillinger Escape Plan:
Limerent Death
Panasonic Youth
Symptom of Terminal Illness
Farewell, Mona Lisa
When I Lost My Best
Sugar Coated Sour
Black Bubblegum
Surrogate
Hero of the Soviet Union
Milk Lizard
Low Feels Blvd
One of Us is the Killer
Nothing to Forget
Prancer
Encore:
Mouth of Ghosts
Sunshine the Werewolf
43% Burnt
Venue: Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
Date: November 16th, 2016
Last night was a bittersweet evening for me. One of my all-time favorite bands, The Dillinger Escape Plan, played their final show in Boston and it conjured up a set of emotions that are usually reserved for major life milestones like getting a new job or graduating from high school. Those conflicting emotions were briefly set aside once they hit the stage as the mathcore pioneers delivered yet another mesmerizing, exhilarating and immensely satisfying performance for the sold-out crowd at the Paradise Rock Club.
Per usual, Dillinger loaded their farewell tour with a very eclectic group of support acts that have little-to-nothing in common with them. Post-hardcore act O'Brother made for a painfully out-of-place direct support band, under-the-radar mathcore veterans Car Bomb were devastatingly heavy, Boston's own Bentknee are talented as hell, but way too mellow for my tastes and hardcore/sludge hybrid Cult Leader reminded me why they're one of the most destructive forces in metal right now. No disrespect to any of the opening bands, but this night was about 900+ people saying goodbye to one of the most well-respected metal bands of all-time and everything else that preceded it was nothing more than time-eating appetizer.
Anyone that's followed metal closely over the past 15 years or so is aware of the buzz that surrounds The Dillinger Escape Plan's live show. They've become notorious for constant stage dives, using each venue as their own personal jungle gym and just generally destroying everything that crosses their path. Going to one of their shows is a truly unforgettable experience that can't be shaken or duplicated by another act under any circumstances and the feeling that it evokes can't be accurately describe with words.
This particular performance was exactly the type of legacy-cementing swan song I'd hoped it would be. The setlist was driven by standout material that spanned their entire discography, the room had an electric vibe that didn't let up for the entire 80 minutes they were on stage and the breakneck energy that's defined their performances since their inception was once again on full-display. They left everything they had on the stage and ensured that their fans got to experience the carnival of chaos that is their show one last time. There are no shortage of reasons why I'm going to miss Dillinger, but the unrivaled intensity and insanity of their live shows easily tops the list.
While it's not remotely surprising given their track record, Dillinger Escape Plan delivered a flawless final performance in the great city of Boston. It's going to be painful to live in a world without The Dillinger Escape Plan, but I can take solace in the fact that they went out while they were still on the top of their game.
Scores:
Bentknee 6.5/10
Cult Leader 8.5/10
Car Bomb 8/10
O'Brother 5/10
The Dillinger Escape Plan 10/10
Setlists:
Cult Leader:
Great I Am
Suffer Louder
Broken Blades
Mongrel
Walking Wastelands
A Good Life
Gutter Gods
Hate Offering
Sympathetic
Driftwood
The Dillinger Escape Plan:
Limerent Death
Panasonic Youth
Symptom of Terminal Illness
Farewell, Mona Lisa
When I Lost My Best
Sugar Coated Sour
Black Bubblegum
Surrogate
Hero of the Soviet Union
Milk Lizard
Low Feels Blvd
One of Us is the Killer
Nothing to Forget
Prancer
Encore:
Mouth of Ghosts
Sunshine the Werewolf
43% Burnt
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Movie Review: Arrival
Timeliness aside, Arrival manages to be a satisfying moviegoing experience because of how unique it is from other alien invasion films. Instead of opting to go the intergalactic warfare route like Independence Day, Transformers and countless other films have over the past two decades, Arrival tells an intimate, personal story about human emotions and relationships that just happens to have aliens in it. The lack of alien vs. human battles gives Arrival a distinct, minimalist feel and allows it to have an emotional core that you don't typically find in the sci-fi genre. I'm not going to pretend like I don't love massive, action-packed sci-fi blockbuster spectacles, but it was really cool to see a film take a more subdued approach to the classic human vs. alien storyline.
I will caution viewers that Arrival is a slow-burn film that requires some patience to sit through. The first hour or so has some pacing issues and will leave the audience confused as to what the hell is going on at times. However, once a plot twist reveals the answer to the central mystery of why the aliens landed on Earth, the full scope of the film's narrative materializes and it leads to a richly rewarding final act that will leave a lot of viewers emotionally-shaken.
Arrival is exactly the type of inventive, deep and powerful film you hope to see at the end of every calendar year. There's no doubt in my mind that it will pick up a slew of Academy Award nominations (and possibly a long-overdue win for its terrific star Amy Adams) and promptly become a cult sci-fi classic. There's still a barrage of intriguing titles set for release over the next two months, but Arrival is currently one of my favorite films of the year and a hell of way to inject some life into the cinematic landscape after a disappointing start to Hollywood's fall slate.
4/5 Stars
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Week 10 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers
Quarterback
MVP: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
While it was a painful afternoon for the suddenly-incompetent Packers against the suddenly-respectable Titans, Aaron Rodgers still delivered for his fantasy owners. The Packers signal-caller took full advantage of garbage time to put up 399 total yards (371 passing, 27 rushing) and 3 TD's (2 passing, 1 rushing) in one of the most embarrassing losses in recent history for the Cheeseheads. He may be in the middle of one of the worst seasons of his 12-year career, but Rodgers is still a matchup-proof QB1 for fantasy purposes.
Honorable Mentions: Marcus Mariota (Titans), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
LVP: Tom Brady (Patriots)
I'll admit that this isn't exactly a fair pick because of the matchup, but no other prominent QB put up a weaker performance than Tom Brady did in Week 10. Brady look like a mere mortal for the first time since returning from his Deflategate suspension in Week 5, picking up 316 YDS, 0 TD and an INT against the Seahawks aggressive defense. Brady is highly unlikely to falter again in Week 11 as he returns to his hometown to take on the pathetic 49ers.
Dishonorable Mentions: Matt Ryan (Falcons), Andy Dalton (Bengals), Carson Wentz (Eagles)
Running Back
MVP: Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys)
Ezekiel Elliott just continues to wow. The Cowboys rookie standout put up arguably his finest performance to-date as he carved up the Steelers defense for 209 YDS (114 rushing, 95 receiving) and 3 TD's (2 rushing, 1 receiving) on 23 touches in an exhilarating shootout at Heinz Field on Sunday afternoon. Elliott will look to continue his month-long reign of terror against the Ravens top-ranked rush defense in Week 11.
Honorable Mentions: Ryan Matthews (Eagles), DeMarco Murray (Titans), Le'Veon Bell (Steelers)
LVP: Jonathan Stewart (Panthers)
The recent struggles for Jonathan Stewart (a.k.a. the world's most polarizing fantasy running back) continued in Week 10. Stewart couldn't find any room to run against the Chiefs weak run D, finishing with just 39 yards on 13 carries. Stewart has chance to get back on track this week against a Saints defense that he picked up 85 YDS and 2 TD's against in Week 6.
Dishonorable Mentions: Carlos Hyde (49ers), Mark Ingram (Saints), Tim Hightower (Saints)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Doug Baldwin (Seahawks)
Don't look now, but the late-season, touchdown-vulturing version of Doug Baldwin might be back. Baldwin caught all 3 of Russell Wilson's touchdown passes to beef up an otherwise average statline (6 receptions, 59 yards) in the Seahawks upset win over the Patriots on Sunday night. The Seahawks balanced attack and Wilson's love of spreading the ball around to different receivers will result in underwhelming performances, but Baldwin is still an undeniable WR2 with low-end WR1 upside.
Honorable Mentions: Antonio Brown (Steelers), Allen Robinson (Jaguars), Jordy Nelson (Packers)
LVP: Alshon Jeffrey (Bears)
The funk that Alshon Jeffrey has been in for all of 2016 doesn't seem like it can be broken. Despite being handed a dream matchup against the Buccaneers struggling secondary, Jeffrey couldn't produce, finishing the game with just 4 receptions for 47 yards. Jeffrey was just suspended for the next 4 games after testing positive for a banned substance, so his owners should look to pick up Cameron Meredith or Eddie Royal off of waivers to replace him.
Dishonorable Mentions: Brandon Marshall (Jets), Randall Cobb (Packers), DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)
Tight End
MVP: Delanie Walker (Titans)
Week 10 was Delanie Walker's way of showing how important he is to the functionality of the Titans offense. Walker provided a huge spark to the Titans inconsistent passing attack with a 9 REC/124 YDS/1 TD performance that helped lead his squad to a huge blowout win over the Packers. Walker's favorable late-season schedule and guaranteed weekly flurry of targets makes him a candidate to be a top-3 TE1 come year's end.
Honorable Mentions: Cameron Brate (Buccaneers), Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), Antonio Gates (Chargers)
LVP: Zach Miller (Bears)
There were a lot of victims of Jay Cutler's horrific performance against the Buccaneers, but Zach Miller is arguably at the top of that list. Miller was ignored for most of the day and as a result, he failed to take advantage of a stellar matchup, finishing the afternoon with just 32 yards on 4 receptions. Despite his weak performance in Week 10, Miller is the top candidate to receive an uptick in targets in the wake of Alshon Jeffrey's suspension, and should be viewed as a top-end TE1 for the next 4 weeks.
Dishonorable Mentions: Jordan Reed (Redskins), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)
Defense
MVP: Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens became the latest defense to victimize the poor Cleveland Browns offense. They picked up 4 sacks, 2 INT and a fumble recovery while allowing just 7 points to the NFL's worst team in yet another Thursday Night Football instant classic. The Ravens defense has exceeded their preseason expectations and can now be classified as a solid weekly fantasy option for owners in 12-14 team leagues.
Honorable Mentions: Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans
LVP: Green Bay Packers
The recent problems with the Packers defense escalated to a new level in Week 10. The Titans put up a whopping 47 points and completely avoided turning the ball over against the once-vaunted D on Sunday afternoon. With a tough schedule on the horizon and no end to their struggles in sight, the Packers D can safely be dropped.
Dishonorable Mentions: Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots
MVP: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
While it was a painful afternoon for the suddenly-incompetent Packers against the suddenly-respectable Titans, Aaron Rodgers still delivered for his fantasy owners. The Packers signal-caller took full advantage of garbage time to put up 399 total yards (371 passing, 27 rushing) and 3 TD's (2 passing, 1 rushing) in one of the most embarrassing losses in recent history for the Cheeseheads. He may be in the middle of one of the worst seasons of his 12-year career, but Rodgers is still a matchup-proof QB1 for fantasy purposes.
Honorable Mentions: Marcus Mariota (Titans), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
LVP: Tom Brady (Patriots)
I'll admit that this isn't exactly a fair pick because of the matchup, but no other prominent QB put up a weaker performance than Tom Brady did in Week 10. Brady look like a mere mortal for the first time since returning from his Deflategate suspension in Week 5, picking up 316 YDS, 0 TD and an INT against the Seahawks aggressive defense. Brady is highly unlikely to falter again in Week 11 as he returns to his hometown to take on the pathetic 49ers.
Dishonorable Mentions: Matt Ryan (Falcons), Andy Dalton (Bengals), Carson Wentz (Eagles)
Running Back
MVP: Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys)
Ezekiel Elliott just continues to wow. The Cowboys rookie standout put up arguably his finest performance to-date as he carved up the Steelers defense for 209 YDS (114 rushing, 95 receiving) and 3 TD's (2 rushing, 1 receiving) on 23 touches in an exhilarating shootout at Heinz Field on Sunday afternoon. Elliott will look to continue his month-long reign of terror against the Ravens top-ranked rush defense in Week 11.
Honorable Mentions: Ryan Matthews (Eagles), DeMarco Murray (Titans), Le'Veon Bell (Steelers)
LVP: Jonathan Stewart (Panthers)
The recent struggles for Jonathan Stewart (a.k.a. the world's most polarizing fantasy running back) continued in Week 10. Stewart couldn't find any room to run against the Chiefs weak run D, finishing with just 39 yards on 13 carries. Stewart has chance to get back on track this week against a Saints defense that he picked up 85 YDS and 2 TD's against in Week 6.
Dishonorable Mentions: Carlos Hyde (49ers), Mark Ingram (Saints), Tim Hightower (Saints)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Doug Baldwin (Seahawks)
Don't look now, but the late-season, touchdown-vulturing version of Doug Baldwin might be back. Baldwin caught all 3 of Russell Wilson's touchdown passes to beef up an otherwise average statline (6 receptions, 59 yards) in the Seahawks upset win over the Patriots on Sunday night. The Seahawks balanced attack and Wilson's love of spreading the ball around to different receivers will result in underwhelming performances, but Baldwin is still an undeniable WR2 with low-end WR1 upside.
Honorable Mentions: Antonio Brown (Steelers), Allen Robinson (Jaguars), Jordy Nelson (Packers)
LVP: Alshon Jeffrey (Bears)
The funk that Alshon Jeffrey has been in for all of 2016 doesn't seem like it can be broken. Despite being handed a dream matchup against the Buccaneers struggling secondary, Jeffrey couldn't produce, finishing the game with just 4 receptions for 47 yards. Jeffrey was just suspended for the next 4 games after testing positive for a banned substance, so his owners should look to pick up Cameron Meredith or Eddie Royal off of waivers to replace him.
Dishonorable Mentions: Brandon Marshall (Jets), Randall Cobb (Packers), DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)
Tight End
MVP: Delanie Walker (Titans)
Week 10 was Delanie Walker's way of showing how important he is to the functionality of the Titans offense. Walker provided a huge spark to the Titans inconsistent passing attack with a 9 REC/124 YDS/1 TD performance that helped lead his squad to a huge blowout win over the Packers. Walker's favorable late-season schedule and guaranteed weekly flurry of targets makes him a candidate to be a top-3 TE1 come year's end.
Honorable Mentions: Cameron Brate (Buccaneers), Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), Antonio Gates (Chargers)
LVP: Zach Miller (Bears)
There were a lot of victims of Jay Cutler's horrific performance against the Buccaneers, but Zach Miller is arguably at the top of that list. Miller was ignored for most of the day and as a result, he failed to take advantage of a stellar matchup, finishing the afternoon with just 32 yards on 4 receptions. Despite his weak performance in Week 10, Miller is the top candidate to receive an uptick in targets in the wake of Alshon Jeffrey's suspension, and should be viewed as a top-end TE1 for the next 4 weeks.
Dishonorable Mentions: Jordan Reed (Redskins), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)
Defense
MVP: Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens became the latest defense to victimize the poor Cleveland Browns offense. They picked up 4 sacks, 2 INT and a fumble recovery while allowing just 7 points to the NFL's worst team in yet another Thursday Night Football instant classic. The Ravens defense has exceeded their preseason expectations and can now be classified as a solid weekly fantasy option for owners in 12-14 team leagues.
Honorable Mentions: Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans
LVP: Green Bay Packers
The recent problems with the Packers defense escalated to a new level in Week 10. The Titans put up a whopping 47 points and completely avoided turning the ball over against the once-vaunted D on Sunday afternoon. With a tough schedule on the horizon and no end to their struggles in sight, the Packers D can safely be dropped.
Dishonorable Mentions: Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots
Week 11 NFL Power Rankings
() =last week's ranking
1. (2) Dallas Cowboys (8-1) Week 11 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
2. (4) Seattle Seahawks (6-2-1) Week 11 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
3. (1) New England Patriots (7-2) Week 11 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
4. (3) Kansas City Chiefs (7-2) Week 11 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5. (5) Oakland Raiders (7-2) Week 11 opponent: Houston Texans
6. (7) Denver Broncos (7-3) Week 11 opponent: Bye Week
7. (8) New York Giants (6-3) Week 11 opponent: Chicago Bears
8. (7) Atlanta Falcons (6-4) Week 11 opponent: Bye Week
9. (10) Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) Week 11 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
10. (9) Detroit Lions (5-4) Week 11 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
11. (12) Houston Texans (6-3) Week 11 opponent: Oakland Raiders
12. (13) Washington Redskins (5-3-1) Week 11 opponent: Green Bay Packers
13. (23) Miami Dolphins (5-4) Week 11 opponent: Los Angeles Rams
14. (20) Baltimore Ravens (5-4) Week 11 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
15. (19) Arizona Cardinals (4-4-1) Week 11 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
16. (14) Pittsburgh Steelers (4-5) Week 11 opponent: Cleveland Browns
17. (17) Buffalo Bills (4-5) Week 11 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
18. (22) Tennessee Titans (5-5) Week 11 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
19. (16) New Orleans Saints (4-5) Week 11 opponent: Carolina Panthers
20. (11) Minnesota Vikings (5-4) Week 11 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
21. (15) Green Bay Packers (4-5) Week 11 opponent: Washington Redskins
22. (18) Cincinnati Bengals (3-5-1) Week 11 opponent: Buffalo Bills
23. (21) San Diego Chargers (4-6) Week 11 opponent: Bye Week
24. (24) Indianapolis Colts (4-5) Week 11 opponent: Tennessee Titans
25. (26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) Week 11 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
26. (27) Los Angeles Rams (4-5) Week 11 opponent: Miami Dolphins
27. (25) Carolina Panthers (3-6) Week 11 opponent: New Orleans Saints
28. (28) New York Jets (3-7) Week 11 opponent: Bye Week
29. (30) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7) Week 11 opponent: Detroit Lions
30. (29) Chicago Bears (2-7) Week 11 opponent: New York Giants
31. (31) San Francisco 49ers (1-8) Week 11 opponent: New England Patriots
32. (32) Cleveland Browns (0-10) Week 11 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
1. (2) Dallas Cowboys (8-1) Week 11 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
2. (4) Seattle Seahawks (6-2-1) Week 11 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
3. (1) New England Patriots (7-2) Week 11 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
4. (3) Kansas City Chiefs (7-2) Week 11 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5. (5) Oakland Raiders (7-2) Week 11 opponent: Houston Texans
6. (7) Denver Broncos (7-3) Week 11 opponent: Bye Week
7. (8) New York Giants (6-3) Week 11 opponent: Chicago Bears
8. (7) Atlanta Falcons (6-4) Week 11 opponent: Bye Week
9. (10) Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) Week 11 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
10. (9) Detroit Lions (5-4) Week 11 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
11. (12) Houston Texans (6-3) Week 11 opponent: Oakland Raiders
12. (13) Washington Redskins (5-3-1) Week 11 opponent: Green Bay Packers
13. (23) Miami Dolphins (5-4) Week 11 opponent: Los Angeles Rams
14. (20) Baltimore Ravens (5-4) Week 11 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
15. (19) Arizona Cardinals (4-4-1) Week 11 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
16. (14) Pittsburgh Steelers (4-5) Week 11 opponent: Cleveland Browns
17. (17) Buffalo Bills (4-5) Week 11 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
18. (22) Tennessee Titans (5-5) Week 11 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
19. (16) New Orleans Saints (4-5) Week 11 opponent: Carolina Panthers
20. (11) Minnesota Vikings (5-4) Week 11 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
21. (15) Green Bay Packers (4-5) Week 11 opponent: Washington Redskins
22. (18) Cincinnati Bengals (3-5-1) Week 11 opponent: Buffalo Bills
23. (21) San Diego Chargers (4-6) Week 11 opponent: Bye Week
24. (24) Indianapolis Colts (4-5) Week 11 opponent: Tennessee Titans
25. (26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) Week 11 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
26. (27) Los Angeles Rams (4-5) Week 11 opponent: Miami Dolphins
27. (25) Carolina Panthers (3-6) Week 11 opponent: New Orleans Saints
28. (28) New York Jets (3-7) Week 11 opponent: Bye Week
29. (30) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7) Week 11 opponent: Detroit Lions
30. (29) Chicago Bears (2-7) Week 11 opponent: New York Giants
31. (31) San Francisco 49ers (1-8) Week 11 opponent: New England Patriots
32. (32) Cleveland Browns (0-10) Week 11 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
Monday, November 14, 2016
Concert Review: Young Thug-- Lowell, MA-- November 11th, 2016
Lineup: Young Thug/21 Savage/Divine Council ("The Hi-Horsed Tour")
Venue: Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, MA
Date: November 11th, 2016
Divine Council: Divine Council was a last-minute addition to The Hi-Horsed Tour (their involvement was announced last Wednesday when the tour kicked off) and as I expected, their presence added literally nothing to the proceedings. The up-and-coming quartet tried to emulate the sound and dynamic of other trap collectives like Migos and Rae Sremmurd without any of the larger-than-life personality or sneaky cleverness that makes those groups special. If you're hitting up this tour over the next month, don't bother getting their early to check out Divine Council.
21 Savage: 21 Savage is arguably one of the most hated young MC's in hip-hop right now. His rapping style is basically rhythmic talking, he rarely every rhymes and his sense of variation is non-existent. Personally, I find his emotionless delivery and naturally gritty persona to be a really interesting diversion from the colorful, high-energy personalities that are typically found in the trap genre.
As much as I appreciate his music, his live show was sorely lacking the raw charm or entertainment value that his studio material provides in spades. He had a posse of six guys on stage aiding him with every song and his set was so comically short (20 minutes) that he had no time to build up any momentum or elicit much of a reaction from the crowd. 21 Savage is going to need to clean up his live show if he wants to enjoy any longevity in today's densely populated hip-hop climate.
Young Thug: 2016 is the year where I finally hoped aboard. His bizarre array of flows and nearly-indecipherable delivery had grated on me since he first blew up in mid-2014, but around the time Jeffrey came out at the end of August, I began to appreciate the zaniness and originality he brought to the table. It was only fitting that I ended the year where I experienced my personal Young Thug renaissance by going to see him perform live.
I'd read a number of bad things about his live shows in the bowels of the infallible internet and with me being the pessimistic asshole that I am, I was really nervous that this show was going to end up being a trainwreck. Thug's well-documented love of a certain cough syrup and soda concoction, massive ego and tendency to deify convention at all costs made him a solid candidate to put on a god awful show. Thankfully, my string of fears didn't come to fruition.
Outside of the two awkward intermissions he took to change his outfit and his refusal to play any of his songs all the way through, Thugga managed to put on an enjoyable set. It was apparent that he was having a blast performing for the nearly sold-out crowd and for as ridiculous as his lyrics often are, this show proved that he oozes legitimate mic talent. It also helped that the uniqueness that defines his studio material wasn't lost in his performance. There are a lot of rappers who aren't nearly as unique in a live setting, so it was cool to see an artist that retained all of their distinct quirks live. Now that the sense of fear surrounding his live show is gone, I'd love to go see Young Thug again with a better group of support artists and less douchey crowd.
Scores:
Divine Council 5/10
21 Savage 4/10
Young Thug 7.5/10
Setlists
21 Savage included:
No Heart
Mad High
Savage Mode
X
Young Thug:
Wyclef Jean
Memo
Swiss Beatz
With Them
Harambe
Slime Shit
Kanye West
Worth It
Digits
Webbie
Guwop
Future Swag
RiRi
Floyd Mayweather
Faneto
X (w/21 Savage)
About the Money (T.I. cover)
Check
Stoner
2 Bitches
Pick Up the Phone
Big Racks
Pull Up on a Kid
Lifestyle (Rich Gang cover)
Best Friend
Venue: Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, MA
Date: November 11th, 2016
Divine Council: Divine Council was a last-minute addition to The Hi-Horsed Tour (their involvement was announced last Wednesday when the tour kicked off) and as I expected, their presence added literally nothing to the proceedings. The up-and-coming quartet tried to emulate the sound and dynamic of other trap collectives like Migos and Rae Sremmurd without any of the larger-than-life personality or sneaky cleverness that makes those groups special. If you're hitting up this tour over the next month, don't bother getting their early to check out Divine Council.
21 Savage: 21 Savage is arguably one of the most hated young MC's in hip-hop right now. His rapping style is basically rhythmic talking, he rarely every rhymes and his sense of variation is non-existent. Personally, I find his emotionless delivery and naturally gritty persona to be a really interesting diversion from the colorful, high-energy personalities that are typically found in the trap genre.
As much as I appreciate his music, his live show was sorely lacking the raw charm or entertainment value that his studio material provides in spades. He had a posse of six guys on stage aiding him with every song and his set was so comically short (20 minutes) that he had no time to build up any momentum or elicit much of a reaction from the crowd. 21 Savage is going to need to clean up his live show if he wants to enjoy any longevity in today's densely populated hip-hop climate.
Young Thug: 2016 is the year where I finally hoped aboard. His bizarre array of flows and nearly-indecipherable delivery had grated on me since he first blew up in mid-2014, but around the time Jeffrey came out at the end of August, I began to appreciate the zaniness and originality he brought to the table. It was only fitting that I ended the year where I experienced my personal Young Thug renaissance by going to see him perform live.
I'd read a number of bad things about his live shows in the bowels of the infallible internet and with me being the pessimistic asshole that I am, I was really nervous that this show was going to end up being a trainwreck. Thug's well-documented love of a certain cough syrup and soda concoction, massive ego and tendency to deify convention at all costs made him a solid candidate to put on a god awful show. Thankfully, my string of fears didn't come to fruition.
Outside of the two awkward intermissions he took to change his outfit and his refusal to play any of his songs all the way through, Thugga managed to put on an enjoyable set. It was apparent that he was having a blast performing for the nearly sold-out crowd and for as ridiculous as his lyrics often are, this show proved that he oozes legitimate mic talent. It also helped that the uniqueness that defines his studio material wasn't lost in his performance. There are a lot of rappers who aren't nearly as unique in a live setting, so it was cool to see an artist that retained all of their distinct quirks live. Now that the sense of fear surrounding his live show is gone, I'd love to go see Young Thug again with a better group of support artists and less douchey crowd.
Scores:
Divine Council 5/10
21 Savage 4/10
Young Thug 7.5/10
Setlists
21 Savage included:
No Heart
Mad High
Savage Mode
X
Young Thug:
Wyclef Jean
Memo
Swiss Beatz
With Them
Harambe
Slime Shit
Kanye West
Worth It
Digits
Webbie
Guwop
Future Swag
RiRi
Floyd Mayweather
Faneto
X (w/21 Savage)
About the Money (T.I. cover)
Check
Stoner
2 Bitches
Pick Up the Phone
Big Racks
Pull Up on a Kid
Lifestyle (Rich Gang cover)
Best Friend
Thursday, November 10, 2016
The Best and Worst of Amy Adams
The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an
actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I
take a look at the filmography of "Arrival" star Amy Adams.
Films starring Amy Adams that I've seen:
Catch Me If You Can
Junebug
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Charlie Wilson's War
Sunshine Cleaning
Doubt
The Fighter
The Muppets
Trouble with the Curve
Man of Steel
Her
American Hustle
Big Eyes
Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice
Best Performance: American Hustle (2013)
Adams' ascension to Hollywood's A-list has come on the back of a number of fantastic performances in a wide variety of films (Doubt, The Fighter, Big Eyes) over the past decade, which made picking a standout performance for her one of the more difficult tasks this series has presented me in quite some time. Upon deep reflection of her strong resume, I have to give her work in American Hustle a slight edge over the rest of the pack. Adams uses her vast emotional depth and supreme confidence to make Sydney Prosser the most charismatic yet sleazy individual in a film full of reprehensible characters.
Worst Performance: Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
As flawed as Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice was, the acting was generally pretty good overall. That competent level of acting makes Adams', who is one of the most consistently strong actors in Hollywood, horrendous performance that much more shocking. You'd never guess that you were watching a five-time Academy Award nominee perform as she stumbles through her lines with a Mark Wahlberg-esque look of blank confusion for two and a half hours.
Best Film: The Fighter (2010)
The story of Massachusetts-bred boxing champion "Irish" Micky Ward isn't just great a sports dramas, it's one of the best films of this decade so far. Director David O. Russell subverts the traditional sports biopic formula by making Ward's unwavering loyalty to his selfish family a huge part of the story of his unlikely rise to the top of the boxing world and the acting from the primary cast (Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Adams, Melissa Leo) is nothing short of incredible.
Worst Film: Man of Steel (2013)
There was no reason that Man of Steel shouldn't have been successful. It had an accomplished action director in Zach Snyder (300, Watchmen), a cast that featured the likes of Russell Crowe, Michael Shannon and Adams, and a set of trailers that were reminiscent of Christopher Nolan's brilliant Dark Knight trilogy. Unfortunately, it ended up being one of the biggest disasters the superhero genre has ever dropped upon the world. The action scenes looked like they were shot from a blimp, the acting ranged from mediocre (Adams, Crowe) to flat-out awful (Shannon, Henry Cavill) and worst of all, it was about as engrossing as an awkward game of Chinese Checkers with an estranged elderly relative. Snyder and co. were able to fix some of Man of Steel's cornucopia of problems (action scenes, acting, quality villain) with Batman v. Superman, but they still have a long way to go if they want to make a film that truly standouts in the oversaturated superhero genre.
Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Manchester by the Sea" star Casey Affleck.
Films starring Amy Adams that I've seen:
Catch Me If You Can
Junebug
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Charlie Wilson's War
Sunshine Cleaning
Doubt
The Fighter
The Muppets
Trouble with the Curve
Man of Steel
Her
American Hustle
Big Eyes
Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice
Best Performance: American Hustle (2013)
Adams' ascension to Hollywood's A-list has come on the back of a number of fantastic performances in a wide variety of films (Doubt, The Fighter, Big Eyes) over the past decade, which made picking a standout performance for her one of the more difficult tasks this series has presented me in quite some time. Upon deep reflection of her strong resume, I have to give her work in American Hustle a slight edge over the rest of the pack. Adams uses her vast emotional depth and supreme confidence to make Sydney Prosser the most charismatic yet sleazy individual in a film full of reprehensible characters.
Worst Performance: Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
As flawed as Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice was, the acting was generally pretty good overall. That competent level of acting makes Adams', who is one of the most consistently strong actors in Hollywood, horrendous performance that much more shocking. You'd never guess that you were watching a five-time Academy Award nominee perform as she stumbles through her lines with a Mark Wahlberg-esque look of blank confusion for two and a half hours.
Best Film: The Fighter (2010)
The story of Massachusetts-bred boxing champion "Irish" Micky Ward isn't just great a sports dramas, it's one of the best films of this decade so far. Director David O. Russell subverts the traditional sports biopic formula by making Ward's unwavering loyalty to his selfish family a huge part of the story of his unlikely rise to the top of the boxing world and the acting from the primary cast (Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Adams, Melissa Leo) is nothing short of incredible.
Worst Film: Man of Steel (2013)
There was no reason that Man of Steel shouldn't have been successful. It had an accomplished action director in Zach Snyder (300, Watchmen), a cast that featured the likes of Russell Crowe, Michael Shannon and Adams, and a set of trailers that were reminiscent of Christopher Nolan's brilliant Dark Knight trilogy. Unfortunately, it ended up being one of the biggest disasters the superhero genre has ever dropped upon the world. The action scenes looked like they were shot from a blimp, the acting ranged from mediocre (Adams, Crowe) to flat-out awful (Shannon, Henry Cavill) and worst of all, it was about as engrossing as an awkward game of Chinese Checkers with an estranged elderly relative. Snyder and co. were able to fix some of Man of Steel's cornucopia of problems (action scenes, acting, quality villain) with Batman v. Superman, but they still have a long way to go if they want to make a film that truly standouts in the oversaturated superhero genre.
Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Manchester by the Sea" star Casey Affleck.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Week 9 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers
Quarterback
MVP: Matt Ryan (Falcons)
Matt Ryan continued to make his case for 2016 fantasy MVP in Week 9 against the Buccaneers. Ryan shredded the Bucs weak secondary for 344 YDS and 4 TD in one of the most impressive performances of his stellar 2016 campaign. Ryan has another solid matchup this week against the Eagles, who just allowed 4 TD to Eli Manning.
Honorable Mention: Marcus Mariota (Titans), Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Tyrod Taylor (Bills)
LVP: Derek Carr (Raiders)
As expected, Derek Carr followed-up his career-best performance in Tampa Bay with a pretty average one against the Broncos tough secondary. Carr was conservative through the air in this brutal matchup, completing 20 of his 31 passes for 184 YDS and 0 TD, as the Raiders rode their running game to a huge victory over the defending Super Bowl champs. Carr has a nice stretch of opponents following his Week 10 bye (Bills, Panthers, Chargers) and should be able to return to the top-tier QB1 form he's displayed for a majority of this season.
Dishonorable Mentions: Carson Wentz (Eagles), Andrew Luck (Colts), Cam Newton (Panthers)
Running Back
MVP: Melvin Gordon (Chargers)
The Melvin Gordon fantasy explosion reached a whole new level in Week 9. Gordon was borderline unstoppable all day, picking up 261 total yards (196 rushing, 65 receiving) and a TD on 36 touches as the Chargers eeked out a victory over the Titans in a ridiculous 43-35 shootout. Gordon's success this season has rendered me speechless and there are only a handful of guys in the league (David Johnson, Le'Veon Bell, Ezekiel Elliott, DeMarco Murray, LeSean McCoy) I'd rather have as my RB1 right now.
Honorable Mentions: Latavius Murray (Raiders), Mark Ingram (Saints), Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys)
LVP: Terrence West (Ravens)
A prime matchup against a struggling Steelers run defense wasn't enough to re-energize Terrence West. West was once again DOA, picking up a sorry 27 total yards (21 rushing, 6 receiving) on 16 touches. The Ravens running game hasn't gotten any better under new offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and that continued ineptness makes it really hard to justify starting West moving forward.
Honorable Mentions: Devonate Booker (Broncos), Jonathan Stewart (Panthers), Rashad Jennings (Giants)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Mike Evans (Buccaneers)
On a rough night for the Buccaneers, Mike Evans still managed to be sensational. The 3rd year wideout conquered every coverage strategy the Falcons threw at him, finishing the game with 150 YDS and 2 TD on 11 receptions. Evans has bounced back beautifully after a rough 2015 season and he'll be a contender for the top overall fantasy receiver as the playoff race starts to heat up over the next couple of weeks.
Honorable Mentions: Michael Thomas (Saints), Mike Wallace (Ravens), Julio Jones (Falcons)
LVP: Dez Bryant (Cowboys)
Dez Bryant was pretty much the only player on the Cowboys that didn't have a huge game on Sunday against the Browns. Bryant was targeted just 4 times and hauled in just 1 catch for 19 yards against a Browns defense that has allowed the 7th most fantasy points to WR's this season. Bryant has an excellent shot of redeeming himself in Week 10 against a Steelers secondary that is ranked 24th against the pass.
Dishonorable Mentions: DeVante Parker (Dolphins), Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos), Jarvis Landry (Dolphins)
Tight End
MVP: Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)
Jimmy Graham made up for his Week 9 New Orleans homecoming debacle with an absolute gem this week. Graham was the catalyst for the Seahawks offensive explosion against the Bills, picking up 103 yards and 2 TD's on 8 receptions. Graham has made one hell of a comeback from the brutal patellar tendon injury that ended his 2015 season and can once again be counted as an elite weekly TE1 option.
Honorable Mentions: Jason Witten (Cowboys), Antonio Gates (Chargers), Greg Olsen (Panthers)
LVP: Gary Barnidge (Browns)
The up-and-down season for Gary Barnidge continued this week with another underwhelming performance against the Cowboys. Barnidge reeled in all 3 of his targets for just 23 yards on another stagnant afternoon for the Browns offense. Barnidge is still on the TE1 radar, but he's susceptible to putting up stinkers like this as the young Browns offense continues to go through growing pains.
Dishonorable Mentions: Dennis Pitta (Ravens), Julius Thomas (Jaguars), Coby Fleener (Saints)
Defense
MVP: San Diego Chargers
The Chargers became the 2nd defense (the Eagles were the other) of 2016 to earn a fantasy defensive MVP in unconventional fashion. Despite allowing 35 points and not getting a single sack against the Titans, the Chargers were the top fantasy defense thanks to 3 takeaways (2 INT's and a fumble recovery) and 2 touchdowns. The Chargers have come on strong over the past month and are an excellent option for anyone that's currently looking for a defense on the waiver wire in deeper leagues.
Honorable Mentions: Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs
LVP: Denver Broncos
Even juggernauts like the Broncos D have their off-days. The Broncos had no answers for the Raiders powerhouse offense, allowing 30 points, failing to get a takeaway and picking up just 2 sacks against their stout offensive line. Week 10 will serve as another tall order for the Broncos D as they have to travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints elite offense.
Dishonorable Mentions: New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles
MVP: Matt Ryan (Falcons)
Matt Ryan continued to make his case for 2016 fantasy MVP in Week 9 against the Buccaneers. Ryan shredded the Bucs weak secondary for 344 YDS and 4 TD in one of the most impressive performances of his stellar 2016 campaign. Ryan has another solid matchup this week against the Eagles, who just allowed 4 TD to Eli Manning.
Honorable Mention: Marcus Mariota (Titans), Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Tyrod Taylor (Bills)
LVP: Derek Carr (Raiders)
As expected, Derek Carr followed-up his career-best performance in Tampa Bay with a pretty average one against the Broncos tough secondary. Carr was conservative through the air in this brutal matchup, completing 20 of his 31 passes for 184 YDS and 0 TD, as the Raiders rode their running game to a huge victory over the defending Super Bowl champs. Carr has a nice stretch of opponents following his Week 10 bye (Bills, Panthers, Chargers) and should be able to return to the top-tier QB1 form he's displayed for a majority of this season.
Dishonorable Mentions: Carson Wentz (Eagles), Andrew Luck (Colts), Cam Newton (Panthers)
Running Back
MVP: Melvin Gordon (Chargers)
The Melvin Gordon fantasy explosion reached a whole new level in Week 9. Gordon was borderline unstoppable all day, picking up 261 total yards (196 rushing, 65 receiving) and a TD on 36 touches as the Chargers eeked out a victory over the Titans in a ridiculous 43-35 shootout. Gordon's success this season has rendered me speechless and there are only a handful of guys in the league (David Johnson, Le'Veon Bell, Ezekiel Elliott, DeMarco Murray, LeSean McCoy) I'd rather have as my RB1 right now.
Honorable Mentions: Latavius Murray (Raiders), Mark Ingram (Saints), Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys)
LVP: Terrence West (Ravens)
A prime matchup against a struggling Steelers run defense wasn't enough to re-energize Terrence West. West was once again DOA, picking up a sorry 27 total yards (21 rushing, 6 receiving) on 16 touches. The Ravens running game hasn't gotten any better under new offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and that continued ineptness makes it really hard to justify starting West moving forward.
Honorable Mentions: Devonate Booker (Broncos), Jonathan Stewart (Panthers), Rashad Jennings (Giants)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Mike Evans (Buccaneers)
On a rough night for the Buccaneers, Mike Evans still managed to be sensational. The 3rd year wideout conquered every coverage strategy the Falcons threw at him, finishing the game with 150 YDS and 2 TD on 11 receptions. Evans has bounced back beautifully after a rough 2015 season and he'll be a contender for the top overall fantasy receiver as the playoff race starts to heat up over the next couple of weeks.
Honorable Mentions: Michael Thomas (Saints), Mike Wallace (Ravens), Julio Jones (Falcons)
LVP: Dez Bryant (Cowboys)
Dez Bryant was pretty much the only player on the Cowboys that didn't have a huge game on Sunday against the Browns. Bryant was targeted just 4 times and hauled in just 1 catch for 19 yards against a Browns defense that has allowed the 7th most fantasy points to WR's this season. Bryant has an excellent shot of redeeming himself in Week 10 against a Steelers secondary that is ranked 24th against the pass.
Dishonorable Mentions: DeVante Parker (Dolphins), Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos), Jarvis Landry (Dolphins)
Tight End
MVP: Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)
Jimmy Graham made up for his Week 9 New Orleans homecoming debacle with an absolute gem this week. Graham was the catalyst for the Seahawks offensive explosion against the Bills, picking up 103 yards and 2 TD's on 8 receptions. Graham has made one hell of a comeback from the brutal patellar tendon injury that ended his 2015 season and can once again be counted as an elite weekly TE1 option.
Honorable Mentions: Jason Witten (Cowboys), Antonio Gates (Chargers), Greg Olsen (Panthers)
LVP: Gary Barnidge (Browns)
The up-and-down season for Gary Barnidge continued this week with another underwhelming performance against the Cowboys. Barnidge reeled in all 3 of his targets for just 23 yards on another stagnant afternoon for the Browns offense. Barnidge is still on the TE1 radar, but he's susceptible to putting up stinkers like this as the young Browns offense continues to go through growing pains.
Dishonorable Mentions: Dennis Pitta (Ravens), Julius Thomas (Jaguars), Coby Fleener (Saints)
Defense
MVP: San Diego Chargers
The Chargers became the 2nd defense (the Eagles were the other) of 2016 to earn a fantasy defensive MVP in unconventional fashion. Despite allowing 35 points and not getting a single sack against the Titans, the Chargers were the top fantasy defense thanks to 3 takeaways (2 INT's and a fumble recovery) and 2 touchdowns. The Chargers have come on strong over the past month and are an excellent option for anyone that's currently looking for a defense on the waiver wire in deeper leagues.
Honorable Mentions: Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs
LVP: Denver Broncos
Even juggernauts like the Broncos D have their off-days. The Broncos had no answers for the Raiders powerhouse offense, allowing 30 points, failing to get a takeaway and picking up just 2 sacks against their stout offensive line. Week 10 will serve as another tall order for the Broncos D as they have to travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints elite offense.
Dishonorable Mentions: New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles
Week 10 NFL Power Rankings
=last week's ranking
1. (1) New England Patriots (7-1) Week 10 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
2. (2) Dallas Cowboys (7-1) Week 10 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
3. (4) Kansas City Chiefs (6-2) Week 10 opponent: Carolina Panthers
4. (5) Seattle Seahawks (5-2-1) Week 10 opponent: New England Patriots
5. (6) Oakland Raiders (7-2) Week 10 opponent: Bye Week
6. (7) Atlanta Falcons (6-3) Week 10 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
7. (3) Denver Broncos (6-3) Week 10 opponent: New Orleans Saints
8. (16) New York Giants (5-3) Week 10 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
9. (14) Detroit Lions (5-4) Week 10 opponent: Bye Week
10. (8) Philadelphia Eagles (4-4) Week 10 opponent: Atlanta Falcons
11. (9) Minnesota Vikings (5-3) Week 10 opponent: Washington Redskins
12. (12) Houston Texans (5-3) Week 10 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
13. (13) Washington Redskins (4-3-1) Week 10 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
14. (11) Pittsburgh Steelers (4-4) Week 10 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
15. (10) Green Bay Packers (4-4) Week 10 opponent: Tennessee Titans
16. (20) New Orleans Saints (4-4) Week 10 opponent: Denver Broncos
17. (16) Buffalo Bills (4-5) Week 10 opponent: Bye Week
18. (18) Cincinnati Bengals (3-4-1) Week 10 opponent: New York Giants
19. (19) Arizona Cardinals (3-4-1) Week 10 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
20. (21) Baltimore Ravens (4-4) Week 10 opponent: Cleveland Browns
21. (23) San Diego Chargers (4-5) Week 10 opponent: Miami Dolphins
22. (17) Tennessee Titans (4-5) Week 10 opponent: Green Bay Packers
23. (25) Miami Dolphins (4-4) Week 10 opponent: San Diego Chargers
24. (26) Indianapolis Colts (4-5) Week 10 opponent: Bye Week
25. (28) Carolina Panthers (3-5) Week 10 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
26. (24) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5) Week 10 opponent: Chicago Bears
27. (22) Los Angeles Rams (3-5) Week 10 opponent: New York Jets
28. (27) New York Jets (3-6) Week 10 opponent: Los Angeles Rams
29. (29) Chicago Bears (2-6) Week 10 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
30. (30) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) Week 10 opponent: Houston Texans
31. (31) San Francisco 49ers (1-7) Week 10 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
32. (32) Cleveland Browns (0-9) Week 10 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
1. (1) New England Patriots (7-1) Week 10 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
2. (2) Dallas Cowboys (7-1) Week 10 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
3. (4) Kansas City Chiefs (6-2) Week 10 opponent: Carolina Panthers
4. (5) Seattle Seahawks (5-2-1) Week 10 opponent: New England Patriots
5. (6) Oakland Raiders (7-2) Week 10 opponent: Bye Week
6. (7) Atlanta Falcons (6-3) Week 10 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
7. (3) Denver Broncos (6-3) Week 10 opponent: New Orleans Saints
8. (16) New York Giants (5-3) Week 10 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
9. (14) Detroit Lions (5-4) Week 10 opponent: Bye Week
10. (8) Philadelphia Eagles (4-4) Week 10 opponent: Atlanta Falcons
11. (9) Minnesota Vikings (5-3) Week 10 opponent: Washington Redskins
12. (12) Houston Texans (5-3) Week 10 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
13. (13) Washington Redskins (4-3-1) Week 10 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
14. (11) Pittsburgh Steelers (4-4) Week 10 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
15. (10) Green Bay Packers (4-4) Week 10 opponent: Tennessee Titans
16. (20) New Orleans Saints (4-4) Week 10 opponent: Denver Broncos
17. (16) Buffalo Bills (4-5) Week 10 opponent: Bye Week
18. (18) Cincinnati Bengals (3-4-1) Week 10 opponent: New York Giants
19. (19) Arizona Cardinals (3-4-1) Week 10 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
20. (21) Baltimore Ravens (4-4) Week 10 opponent: Cleveland Browns
21. (23) San Diego Chargers (4-5) Week 10 opponent: Miami Dolphins
22. (17) Tennessee Titans (4-5) Week 10 opponent: Green Bay Packers
23. (25) Miami Dolphins (4-4) Week 10 opponent: San Diego Chargers
24. (26) Indianapolis Colts (4-5) Week 10 opponent: Bye Week
25. (28) Carolina Panthers (3-5) Week 10 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
26. (24) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5) Week 10 opponent: Chicago Bears
27. (22) Los Angeles Rams (3-5) Week 10 opponent: New York Jets
28. (27) New York Jets (3-6) Week 10 opponent: Los Angeles Rams
29. (29) Chicago Bears (2-6) Week 10 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
30. (30) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) Week 10 opponent: Houston Texans
31. (31) San Francisco 49ers (1-7) Week 10 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
32. (32) Cleveland Browns (0-9) Week 10 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
Monday, November 7, 2016
Movie Review: Moonlight
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Moonlight tells the story of a Miami-bred gay man named Chiron (Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, Trevante Rhodes in childhood, teenage years and adulthood respectively) over three periods of his life. Facing constant torment from his peers over his sexuality and living with a crack-addicted mother (Naomie Harris) that neglects and emotionally-abuses him, Chiron fears being his true self and chooses to live a life of solitude to mask his internal pain. Chiron's lone source of comfort comes in the form of Kevin (Jaden Piner, Jharrell Jarome, Andre Holland), a classmate who shares his fear of exposing his true self to others. When Kevin betrays him during high school, Chiron goes into a downward spiral that results in him becoming a drug dealer in Atlanta. Several years later, Chiron begins to question his life choices once Kevin suddenly re-enters his life again as an adult.
For a film that is centered around a topic that hasn't been explored in modern American film, Moonlight feels oddly familiar. Aside from the protagonist being a gay male, there's nothing even remotely unique about Moonlight. Anyone that's seen films like Boyz n The Hood or Juice will be able to telegraph every move of Chiron's story well before it happens and that level of predictability prevents a majority of the film's emotional moments from having their desired impact.
While the cliched script and missed opportunities at making power emotional statements left me cold, the terrific acting was enough to keep me engaged. All three actors that portray Chiron and Kevin are believable, natural fits for the role. Jenkins has stated in multiple interviews that he didn't allow any of the actors to meet each other until after production had wrapped and that decision allows each actor to bring their personal touch to their portion of the story without breaking from the true soul of the character.
The collective of actors that play Chiron and Kevin deserve a lot of credit for pulling off such a complex role, but it's Harris' turn as Chiron's mother that serves as the film's clear standout element. Every one of the handful of emotional moments that land in this film can be attributed to Harris' raw delivery and magnetic yet terrifying presence. This is the type of powerhouse performance that commands the attention of the Academy and I wouldn't be shocked if she ultimately took home Best Supporting Actress in February.
Moonlight is a beautifully-shot, impressively-acted film that is completely respectable yet almost never exceptional. This film's subject matter and storytelling approach will undoubtedly connect with a large number of audiences, I just felt like it didn't offer up any serious or interesting insight on what its like to be a black gay man growing up in America. I plan on revisiting Moonlight later in awards season to see if a second viewing will change my feelings, but for now I can't help but be disappointed by its reliance on cliches and lack of emotional punch.
3.5/5 Stars
Thursday, November 3, 2016
2016 NFL Mid-Season Awards
MVP: Derek Carr, quarterback (Raiders)
Tom Brady has made a strong case for this award with his play over the past month, but a 4 game sample size isn't enough to name some mid-season MVP. With Brady out of the equation, the crown has to go to Derek Carr. Carr has overcome a shaky defense (31st in yards allowed, 23rd in points allowed) and team-wide lack of discipline (they're averaging 10.8 penalties per game, which is almost 1.5 more than anyone else in the league) to lead the Raiders to a 6-2 record, and a legitimate shot at clinching their first playoff berth since 2002.
Honorable Mentions: Matt Ryan (Falcons), Tom Brady (Patriots), Drew Brees (Saints)
Top Offensive Player: David Johnson, running back (Cardinals)
2016's running back headlines have been dominated by Ezekiel Elliott's breakout rookie campaign and DeMarco Murray's unexpected return to form, but David Johnson has quietly been the most dominant running back in football this season. Johnson has picked a league-leading 1,112 all-purpose yards (705 rushing, 407 receiving) behind an injury-riddled offensive line and is the primary reason the Cardinals offense has been able to stay afloat during their disappointing 3-4-1 start.
Honorable Mentions: Julio Jones (Falcons), Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
Top Defensive Player: Von Miller (Broncos)
A huge new contract has not changed Von Miller in the slightest. The NFL's highest-paid defensive player has once again proven why he's the best outside linebacker of his generation by consistently flashing his rare combination of run-stuffing (26 run stops, 4th most in the NFL among edge defenders) and pass-rushing prowess (45 quarterback pressures and 8.5 sacks, most and 2nd most in the league respectively) during the first 8 games of the season.
Honorable Mentions: Aaron Donald (Rams), Linval Joseph (Vikings), Patrick Peterson (Cardinals)
Top Offensive Rookie: Ezekiel Elliott, running back (Cowboys)
In one of this season's least shocking developments, Ezekiel Elliott has found instant success in the NFL. After a merely average first 2 games, the Cowboys running back been a nearly unstoppable wrecking ball, carving up defenses at will with his punishing rushing style. With a favorable second-half schedule and an elite offensive line blocking for him, it seems like a safe bet to assume Elliott will hold onto the league-lead in rushing yards for the rest of the season and cruise to an Offensive Rookie of the Year win.
Honorable Mentions: Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Carson Wentz (Eagles), Jack Conklin (Titans)
Top Defensive Rookie: Joey Bosa, outside linebacker (Chargers)
The 1st defensive player selected in this year's draft got off to a late start to the season after engaging in an inexplicable contract dispute and missing the first 4 games of the year with a hamstring injury, but he has more than managed to make up for his lengthy absence since he stepped on the field for the 1st time in early October. Bosa has been every bit of the edge-rushing force he was touted to be coming out of Ohio State, racking up 26 quarterback pressures, 13 tackles and 4 sacks in just 4 games. Bosa is the clear king of the defensive rookies and it would be a massive shock if anyone was able to match or exceed his level of play in the 2nd half of the season.
Honorable Mentions: Keanu Neal (Falcons), Karl Joseph (Raiders), Michael Pierce (Ravens)
Top Comeback Player: Terrelle Pryor Sr. (Browns)
You could easily give this award to DeMarco Murray, but his comeback from a down season with the Eagles isn't nearly as impressive as what Terrelle Pryor Sr. has done this season. Pryor has been out of the league for almost 2 full seasons (he appeared in 1 game for the Browns last year) and is still honing his skill set as a wide receiver after playing as a quarterback for the first 3 years of his NFL career yet has still managed to emerge as one of the few reliable contributors on a talent-barren Browns squad with 532 yards (18th most in the league, more than DeAndre Hopkins, Jeremy Maclin and Jordy Nelson) and 3 TD's (tied for 21st in the league, more than Amari Cooper, Alshon Jeffrey and Brandon Marshall). While those aren't Pro Bowl/All-Pro caliber numbers, it's still wildly impressive for a newly-converted wideout that has been forced to catch passes from 5 different quarterbacks this year.
Honorable Mentions: DeMarco Murray (Titans), Terrance West (Ravens), Morris Claiborne (Cowboys)
Top Coach: Jack Del Rio (Raiders)
What Jack Del Rio has done with the Raiders this season is nothing short of incredible. Del Rio's resilience and dice-rolling mentality has helped the Raiders overcome a slew of obstacles (porous defense, league-leading number of penalties, revolving door at running back), and put them on the right track to end their nearly 15-year playoff drought.
Honorable Mentions: Mike Zimmer (Vikings), Doug Pederson (Eagles), Dan Quinn (Falcons)
Top 3 Surprise Teams:
1.Eagles
2.Falcons
3.Titans
Top 3 Disappointments:
1.Panthers
2.Cardinals
3.Bengals
Revised Playoff Picks:
AFC:
1.Patriots
2.Broncos
3.Steelers
4.Texans
5.Chiefs
6.Raiders
Wild Card:
Steelers over Raiders
Chiefs over Texans
Divisional Round:
Patriots over Chiefs
Steelers over Broncos
AFC Championship:
Patriots over Steelers
NFC:
1.Cowboys
2.Seahawks
3.Vikings
4.Falcons
5.Packers
6.Redskins
Wild Card:
Vikings over Redskins
Packers over Falcons
Divisional Round:
Cowboys over Packers
Vikings over Seahawks
NFC Championship:
Cowboys over Vikings
Super Bowl:
Patriots over Cowboys
Tom Brady has made a strong case for this award with his play over the past month, but a 4 game sample size isn't enough to name some mid-season MVP. With Brady out of the equation, the crown has to go to Derek Carr. Carr has overcome a shaky defense (31st in yards allowed, 23rd in points allowed) and team-wide lack of discipline (they're averaging 10.8 penalties per game, which is almost 1.5 more than anyone else in the league) to lead the Raiders to a 6-2 record, and a legitimate shot at clinching their first playoff berth since 2002.
Honorable Mentions: Matt Ryan (Falcons), Tom Brady (Patriots), Drew Brees (Saints)
Top Offensive Player: David Johnson, running back (Cardinals)
2016's running back headlines have been dominated by Ezekiel Elliott's breakout rookie campaign and DeMarco Murray's unexpected return to form, but David Johnson has quietly been the most dominant running back in football this season. Johnson has picked a league-leading 1,112 all-purpose yards (705 rushing, 407 receiving) behind an injury-riddled offensive line and is the primary reason the Cardinals offense has been able to stay afloat during their disappointing 3-4-1 start.
Honorable Mentions: Julio Jones (Falcons), Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
Top Defensive Player: Von Miller (Broncos)
A huge new contract has not changed Von Miller in the slightest. The NFL's highest-paid defensive player has once again proven why he's the best outside linebacker of his generation by consistently flashing his rare combination of run-stuffing (26 run stops, 4th most in the NFL among edge defenders) and pass-rushing prowess (45 quarterback pressures and 8.5 sacks, most and 2nd most in the league respectively) during the first 8 games of the season.
Honorable Mentions: Aaron Donald (Rams), Linval Joseph (Vikings), Patrick Peterson (Cardinals)
Top Offensive Rookie: Ezekiel Elliott, running back (Cowboys)
In one of this season's least shocking developments, Ezekiel Elliott has found instant success in the NFL. After a merely average first 2 games, the Cowboys running back been a nearly unstoppable wrecking ball, carving up defenses at will with his punishing rushing style. With a favorable second-half schedule and an elite offensive line blocking for him, it seems like a safe bet to assume Elliott will hold onto the league-lead in rushing yards for the rest of the season and cruise to an Offensive Rookie of the Year win.
Honorable Mentions: Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Carson Wentz (Eagles), Jack Conklin (Titans)
Top Defensive Rookie: Joey Bosa, outside linebacker (Chargers)
The 1st defensive player selected in this year's draft got off to a late start to the season after engaging in an inexplicable contract dispute and missing the first 4 games of the year with a hamstring injury, but he has more than managed to make up for his lengthy absence since he stepped on the field for the 1st time in early October. Bosa has been every bit of the edge-rushing force he was touted to be coming out of Ohio State, racking up 26 quarterback pressures, 13 tackles and 4 sacks in just 4 games. Bosa is the clear king of the defensive rookies and it would be a massive shock if anyone was able to match or exceed his level of play in the 2nd half of the season.
Honorable Mentions: Keanu Neal (Falcons), Karl Joseph (Raiders), Michael Pierce (Ravens)
Top Comeback Player: Terrelle Pryor Sr. (Browns)
You could easily give this award to DeMarco Murray, but his comeback from a down season with the Eagles isn't nearly as impressive as what Terrelle Pryor Sr. has done this season. Pryor has been out of the league for almost 2 full seasons (he appeared in 1 game for the Browns last year) and is still honing his skill set as a wide receiver after playing as a quarterback for the first 3 years of his NFL career yet has still managed to emerge as one of the few reliable contributors on a talent-barren Browns squad with 532 yards (18th most in the league, more than DeAndre Hopkins, Jeremy Maclin and Jordy Nelson) and 3 TD's (tied for 21st in the league, more than Amari Cooper, Alshon Jeffrey and Brandon Marshall). While those aren't Pro Bowl/All-Pro caliber numbers, it's still wildly impressive for a newly-converted wideout that has been forced to catch passes from 5 different quarterbacks this year.
Honorable Mentions: DeMarco Murray (Titans), Terrance West (Ravens), Morris Claiborne (Cowboys)
Top Coach: Jack Del Rio (Raiders)
What Jack Del Rio has done with the Raiders this season is nothing short of incredible. Del Rio's resilience and dice-rolling mentality has helped the Raiders overcome a slew of obstacles (porous defense, league-leading number of penalties, revolving door at running back), and put them on the right track to end their nearly 15-year playoff drought.
Honorable Mentions: Mike Zimmer (Vikings), Doug Pederson (Eagles), Dan Quinn (Falcons)
Top 3 Surprise Teams:
1.Eagles
2.Falcons
3.Titans
Top 3 Disappointments:
1.Panthers
2.Cardinals
3.Bengals
Revised Playoff Picks:
AFC:
1.Patriots
2.Broncos
3.Steelers
4.Texans
5.Chiefs
6.Raiders
Wild Card:
Steelers over Raiders
Chiefs over Texans
Divisional Round:
Patriots over Chiefs
Steelers over Broncos
AFC Championship:
Patriots over Steelers
NFC:
1.Cowboys
2.Seahawks
3.Vikings
4.Falcons
5.Packers
6.Redskins
Wild Card:
Vikings over Redskins
Packers over Falcons
Divisional Round:
Cowboys over Packers
Vikings over Seahawks
NFC Championship:
Cowboys over Vikings
Super Bowl:
Patriots over Cowboys
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Quick Album Reviews: Korn-The Serenity of Suffering, Tove Lo-Lady Wood, Serpentine Dominion-Serpentine Dominion, Gucci Mane-Woptober, Dance Gavin Dance-Mothership
Korn-The Serenity of Suffering: In a plot twist so shocking that M. Night Shymalan couldn't have scripted it, nu-metal icons Korn have managed to release a worthwhile album in 2016. After a decade of churning out lazy alt-metal records and ill-advised collaborations with various trendy dubstep artists, Korn has suddenly rediscovered their creative flame with The Serenity of Suffering. The Serenity of Suffering is a nostalgia bomb full of the massive bass grooves and raw aggression that made them a relatable voice of rage for angst-ridden suburban white kids in the 90's and 2000's. It was so refreshing to listen to a Korn record that was consistently fun, heavy and catchy after watching them waste away as they put out stagnant horseshit for the past 13 years. The Serenity of Suffering isn't anywhere near as good as Korn's signature releases (s/t, Issues, Follow the Leader) but it's still a shocking return to form for a group that long appeared to be DOA.
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Die Yet Another Night 2.The Hating 3.Next in Line
Tove Lo-Lady Wood: Tove Lo isn't your average pop star. She hails from Sweden, utilizes a style of production that is heavily rooted in European techno/house music and has autobiographical lyrics that sting with brutal honesty. Her second LP, Lady Wood, further establishes that pop outsider formula with a collection of consistently strong songs that serve as a natural progression from her 2014 debut Queen of the Clouds. The general structure and tone of the material is very much in line with her previous work, but the more dynamic production and greatly-improved vocals make Lady Wood a clear improvement over its predecessor.
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Don't Talk About It 2.Flashes 3.True Disaster
Serpentine Dominion-Serpentine Dominion: The long-awaited release from the George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher (Cannibal Corpse)/Adam Dutkiewicz (Killswitch Engage)/Shannon Lucas (ex-The Black Dahlia Murder/All That Remains) supergroup does not disappoint. Serpentine Dominion's unique combination of old-school death metal ferocity with metalcore undertones makes this is a breezy, riff-driven release (it clocks in at just under 27 minutes) with a ton of replay value. While it's not likely going to go down as one of 2016's most important metal releases, Serpentine Dominion is still a blistering gutpunch of a release that is guaranteed to please the people that had been patiently waiting for this project to come out.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Vanquished Onto Thee 2.Jagged Crossed Legions 3.The Vengeance in Me
Gucci Mane-Woptober: The post-prison/sober Gucci Mane-era is quickly shaping up to be one of the finest of his storied career. Woptober-Guwop's second LP since being released from jail in May-blows the doors off of his excellent July release Everybody Looking with a set of certified club bangers and infectious street anthems that are almost all instant classics. The production handled by a team of heavy-hitters including Metro Boomin, Zaytoven and London on Da Track is absolutely majestic and sobriety has made Gucci's rapping much tighter without losing of the bite behind his signature gritty delivery. It's been a long time since Gucci has been this strong on the mic and I hope that the fire that he's had since getting out of jail doesn't fizzle out anytime soon.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Wop 2.Right on Time 3.Aggressive
Dance Gavin Dance-Mothership: Veteran post-hardcore outfit Dance Gavin Dance has followed-up their brilliant 2015 release Instant Gratification with a slightly less infectious yet still very impressive release in Mothership. The more melodic sound allows Tilian Pearson's staggering falsetto vocals and the band's soul influences to take center stage, which makes for a nice contrast from the near-constant chaos that was found on Instant Gratification. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't hoped for more of guitarist Will Swan's signature sweep pick spazzouts and soaring hooks from Pearson, but those petty complaints aren't nearly enough to take away from Mothership's awe-inspiring musicianship and eccentric charm.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Chucky vs. the Giant Tortoise 2.Young Robot 3.Frozen One
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Die Yet Another Night 2.The Hating 3.Next in Line
Tove Lo-Lady Wood: Tove Lo isn't your average pop star. She hails from Sweden, utilizes a style of production that is heavily rooted in European techno/house music and has autobiographical lyrics that sting with brutal honesty. Her second LP, Lady Wood, further establishes that pop outsider formula with a collection of consistently strong songs that serve as a natural progression from her 2014 debut Queen of the Clouds. The general structure and tone of the material is very much in line with her previous work, but the more dynamic production and greatly-improved vocals make Lady Wood a clear improvement over its predecessor.
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Don't Talk About It 2.Flashes 3.True Disaster
Serpentine Dominion-Serpentine Dominion: The long-awaited release from the George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher (Cannibal Corpse)/Adam Dutkiewicz (Killswitch Engage)/Shannon Lucas (ex-The Black Dahlia Murder/All That Remains) supergroup does not disappoint. Serpentine Dominion's unique combination of old-school death metal ferocity with metalcore undertones makes this is a breezy, riff-driven release (it clocks in at just under 27 minutes) with a ton of replay value. While it's not likely going to go down as one of 2016's most important metal releases, Serpentine Dominion is still a blistering gutpunch of a release that is guaranteed to please the people that had been patiently waiting for this project to come out.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Vanquished Onto Thee 2.Jagged Crossed Legions 3.The Vengeance in Me
Gucci Mane-Woptober: The post-prison/sober Gucci Mane-era is quickly shaping up to be one of the finest of his storied career. Woptober-Guwop's second LP since being released from jail in May-blows the doors off of his excellent July release Everybody Looking with a set of certified club bangers and infectious street anthems that are almost all instant classics. The production handled by a team of heavy-hitters including Metro Boomin, Zaytoven and London on Da Track is absolutely majestic and sobriety has made Gucci's rapping much tighter without losing of the bite behind his signature gritty delivery. It's been a long time since Gucci has been this strong on the mic and I hope that the fire that he's had since getting out of jail doesn't fizzle out anytime soon.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Wop 2.Right on Time 3.Aggressive
Dance Gavin Dance-Mothership: Veteran post-hardcore outfit Dance Gavin Dance has followed-up their brilliant 2015 release Instant Gratification with a slightly less infectious yet still very impressive release in Mothership. The more melodic sound allows Tilian Pearson's staggering falsetto vocals and the band's soul influences to take center stage, which makes for a nice contrast from the near-constant chaos that was found on Instant Gratification. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't hoped for more of guitarist Will Swan's signature sweep pick spazzouts and soaring hooks from Pearson, but those petty complaints aren't nearly enough to take away from Mothership's awe-inspiring musicianship and eccentric charm.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Chucky vs. the Giant Tortoise 2.Young Robot 3.Frozen One
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Week 8 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers
Quarterback
MVP: Derek Carr (Raiders)
The game Derek Carr put together in Tampa Bay this past Sunday simply boggles the mind. Carr put together one of the most brilliant performances of 2016 so far (513 YDS/4 TD/13 rushing YDS) to help his Raiders overcome an NFL-record 23 penalties and pick up an overtime victory over the Buccaneers. Carr has had a phenomenal season thus far (Matt Ryan, Andrew Luck and Drew Brees are the only QB's with more fantasy points), but he'll be a risky start in Week 9 as he faces the stout Broncos D at home.
Honorable Mentions: Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Tom Brady (Patriots), Blake Bortles (Jaguars)
LVP: Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
Russell Wilson's recent dry spell was stretched to 3 weeks with yet another underwhelming performance in Week 8. Wilson couldn't get anything going against the Saints horrendous defense, finishing with just 264 total yards (253 passing, 11 rushing) an INT and 0 TD on the day. The knee and pectoral ailments Wilson is playing through at the moment are clearly hurting his production, but his upside is far too high to move on from him right now. Wilson has a decent chance of ending his cold streak in Week 9 as the Seahawks return home to face a Bills pass defense that is unreliable at best.
Dishonorable Mentions: Cam Newton (Panthers), Matthew Stafford (Lions), Carson Wentz (Eagles)
Running Back
MVP: Jordan Howard (Bears)
The small number of people that actually started Jordan Howard last night were handsomely rewarded for their faith. The rookie rusher overcame a brutal matchup against the Vikings 4th-ranked rush defense to put together the best game of his young career to-date, picking up 202 total yards (153 rushing, 49 receiving) and a touchdown on 30 touches as he played a pivotal role in leading the Bears to an upset victory over the NFC North's current top dogs. Howard has cemented himself as the uncontested starting running back for the Bears and he should continue to be a solid fantasy option when he returns from bye in Week 10.
Honorable Mentions: Jonathan Stewart (Panthers), Matt Forte (Jets), Theo Riddick (Lions)
LVP: Mark Ingram (Saints)
Mark Ingram decided to get an early start on Halloween by doing his best Casper impression on Sunday afternoon against the Seahawks. The Saints starting running back mustered just 5 yards on 3 carries and was promptly benched by head coach Sean Payton after losing a fumble that led to a defensive score for the Seahawks in the 1st quarter. Ingram has a tantalizing matchup against the 49ers porous run D this week, but the question mark surrounding his role in the offense make him hard to trust.
Dishonorable Mentions: James White (Patriots), Latavius Murray (Raiders), Chris Thompson (Redskins)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Amari Cooper (Raiders)
Amari Cooper was the primary beneficiary of Derek Carr's ridiculous performance in Week 8. Cooper turned his team-high 15 targets into 173 yards and a TD on 12 receptions as Vernon Hargreaves III and the rest of the Buccaneers secondary had no answers for the 2nd-year receiver on Sunday. Like Carr, Cooper has a strong chance of being limited by the Broncos excellent pass defense in Week 9, making him a low-end WR3 at best.
Honorable Mentions: Dez Bryant (Cowboys), Jamison Crowder (Redskins), Allen Hurns (Jaguars)
LVP: Julio Jones (Falcons)
Julio Jones put his 2nd stinker against a weak pass defense of the 2016 season in Week 8. Jones played a strangely small role in the Falcons come-from-behind victory against the Packers, finishing the afternoon with just 29 yards and 3 receptions on 5 targets. Jones has a tremendous shot of returning to his dominant form against the Buccaneers shaky secondary in Week 9.
Dishonorable Mentions: T.Y. Hilton (Colts), DeAndre Hopkins (Texans), Marvin Jones Jr. (Lions)
Tight End
MVP: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
I'm running out of ways to describe Rob Gronkowski's recent string of dominance. The Patriots tight end torched the Bills for 109 yards and 5 receptions as his team coasted to yet another easy win. Gronkowski is a cyborg and I don't think any other tight end will ever be able to match his absurd fantasy production.
Honorable Mentions: Tyler Eifert (Bengals), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Jordan Reed (Redskins)
LVP: Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)
Jimmy Graham's return to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome wasn't the bloodbath his fantasy owners hoped it would be. Graham was held to just 3 reception for 34 yards on a rough day for the Seahawks offense against the Saints notoriously inept defense. Even with Russell Wilson's recent struggles, Graham remains one of the strongest TE1 options out there and should continue to be started in all formats.
Dishonorable Mentions: Greg Olsen (Panthers), Zach Ertz (Eagles), Hunter Henry (Chargers)
Defense
MVP: Denver Broncos
After 2 straight middling performances, the Broncos defense returned to dominant form in Week 8. The Broncos eviscerated the Chargers offense, picking up 4 sacks, 3 INT, a blocked field goal and a touchdown while allowing just 13 points. The Broncos defense isn't quite the powerhouse they were last season, but they're still a reliable fantasy option with an elite ceiling.
Honorable Mentions: Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks
LVP: Minnesota Vikings
Outside of Julio Jones, there wasn't a more unexpected disappointment in Week 8 than the Vikings defense. The Vikings D failed to take advantage of the return of turnover-prone quarterback Jay Cutler and a banged-up offensive line as they mustered just 1 sack and failed to get a takeaway in their shocking 20-10 loss to the lowly Bears on Monday night. The Vikings defense has cooled off considerably in the last few weeks, but given their highly favorable schedule down the stretch, owners should ride out this current rough patch.
Dishonorable Mentions: New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals
MVP: Derek Carr (Raiders)
The game Derek Carr put together in Tampa Bay this past Sunday simply boggles the mind. Carr put together one of the most brilliant performances of 2016 so far (513 YDS/4 TD/13 rushing YDS) to help his Raiders overcome an NFL-record 23 penalties and pick up an overtime victory over the Buccaneers. Carr has had a phenomenal season thus far (Matt Ryan, Andrew Luck and Drew Brees are the only QB's with more fantasy points), but he'll be a risky start in Week 9 as he faces the stout Broncos D at home.
Honorable Mentions: Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Tom Brady (Patriots), Blake Bortles (Jaguars)
LVP: Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
Russell Wilson's recent dry spell was stretched to 3 weeks with yet another underwhelming performance in Week 8. Wilson couldn't get anything going against the Saints horrendous defense, finishing with just 264 total yards (253 passing, 11 rushing) an INT and 0 TD on the day. The knee and pectoral ailments Wilson is playing through at the moment are clearly hurting his production, but his upside is far too high to move on from him right now. Wilson has a decent chance of ending his cold streak in Week 9 as the Seahawks return home to face a Bills pass defense that is unreliable at best.
Dishonorable Mentions: Cam Newton (Panthers), Matthew Stafford (Lions), Carson Wentz (Eagles)
Running Back
MVP: Jordan Howard (Bears)
The small number of people that actually started Jordan Howard last night were handsomely rewarded for their faith. The rookie rusher overcame a brutal matchup against the Vikings 4th-ranked rush defense to put together the best game of his young career to-date, picking up 202 total yards (153 rushing, 49 receiving) and a touchdown on 30 touches as he played a pivotal role in leading the Bears to an upset victory over the NFC North's current top dogs. Howard has cemented himself as the uncontested starting running back for the Bears and he should continue to be a solid fantasy option when he returns from bye in Week 10.
Honorable Mentions: Jonathan Stewart (Panthers), Matt Forte (Jets), Theo Riddick (Lions)
LVP: Mark Ingram (Saints)
Mark Ingram decided to get an early start on Halloween by doing his best Casper impression on Sunday afternoon against the Seahawks. The Saints starting running back mustered just 5 yards on 3 carries and was promptly benched by head coach Sean Payton after losing a fumble that led to a defensive score for the Seahawks in the 1st quarter. Ingram has a tantalizing matchup against the 49ers porous run D this week, but the question mark surrounding his role in the offense make him hard to trust.
Dishonorable Mentions: James White (Patriots), Latavius Murray (Raiders), Chris Thompson (Redskins)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Amari Cooper (Raiders)
Amari Cooper was the primary beneficiary of Derek Carr's ridiculous performance in Week 8. Cooper turned his team-high 15 targets into 173 yards and a TD on 12 receptions as Vernon Hargreaves III and the rest of the Buccaneers secondary had no answers for the 2nd-year receiver on Sunday. Like Carr, Cooper has a strong chance of being limited by the Broncos excellent pass defense in Week 9, making him a low-end WR3 at best.
Honorable Mentions: Dez Bryant (Cowboys), Jamison Crowder (Redskins), Allen Hurns (Jaguars)
LVP: Julio Jones (Falcons)
Julio Jones put his 2nd stinker against a weak pass defense of the 2016 season in Week 8. Jones played a strangely small role in the Falcons come-from-behind victory against the Packers, finishing the afternoon with just 29 yards and 3 receptions on 5 targets. Jones has a tremendous shot of returning to his dominant form against the Buccaneers shaky secondary in Week 9.
Dishonorable Mentions: T.Y. Hilton (Colts), DeAndre Hopkins (Texans), Marvin Jones Jr. (Lions)
Tight End
MVP: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
I'm running out of ways to describe Rob Gronkowski's recent string of dominance. The Patriots tight end torched the Bills for 109 yards and 5 receptions as his team coasted to yet another easy win. Gronkowski is a cyborg and I don't think any other tight end will ever be able to match his absurd fantasy production.
Honorable Mentions: Tyler Eifert (Bengals), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Jordan Reed (Redskins)
LVP: Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)
Jimmy Graham's return to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome wasn't the bloodbath his fantasy owners hoped it would be. Graham was held to just 3 reception for 34 yards on a rough day for the Seahawks offense against the Saints notoriously inept defense. Even with Russell Wilson's recent struggles, Graham remains one of the strongest TE1 options out there and should continue to be started in all formats.
Dishonorable Mentions: Greg Olsen (Panthers), Zach Ertz (Eagles), Hunter Henry (Chargers)
Defense
MVP: Denver Broncos
After 2 straight middling performances, the Broncos defense returned to dominant form in Week 8. The Broncos eviscerated the Chargers offense, picking up 4 sacks, 3 INT, a blocked field goal and a touchdown while allowing just 13 points. The Broncos defense isn't quite the powerhouse they were last season, but they're still a reliable fantasy option with an elite ceiling.
Honorable Mentions: Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks
LVP: Minnesota Vikings
Outside of Julio Jones, there wasn't a more unexpected disappointment in Week 8 than the Vikings defense. The Vikings D failed to take advantage of the return of turnover-prone quarterback Jay Cutler and a banged-up offensive line as they mustered just 1 sack and failed to get a takeaway in their shocking 20-10 loss to the lowly Bears on Monday night. The Vikings defense has cooled off considerably in the last few weeks, but given their highly favorable schedule down the stretch, owners should ride out this current rough patch.
Dishonorable Mentions: New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals
Week 9 NFL Power Rankings
()=last week's ranking
1. (1) New England Patriots (7-1) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
2. (2) Dallas Cowboys (6-1) Week 9 opponent: Cleveland Browns
3. (5) Denver Broncos (6-2) Week 9 opponent: Oakland Raiders
4. (7) Kansas City Chiefs (5-2) Week 9 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
5. (4) Seattle Seahawks (4-2-1) Week 9 opponent: Buffalo Bills
6. (9) Oakland Raiders (6-2) Week 9 opponent: Denver Broncos
7. (10) Atlanta Falcons (5-3) Week 9 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8. (6) Philadelphia Eagles (4-3) Week 9 opponent: New York Giants
9. (3) Minnesota Vikings (5-2) Week 9 opponent: Detroit Lions
10. (8) Green Bay Packers (4-3) Week 9 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
11. (11) Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3) Week 9 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
12. (17) Houston Texans (5-3) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
13. (14) Washington Redskins (4-3-1) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
14. (13) Detroit Lions (4-4) Week 9 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
15. (12) Buffalo Bills (4-4) Week 9 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
16. (16) New York Giants (4-3) Week 9 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
17. (25) Tennessee Titans (4-4) Week 9 opponent: San Diego Chargers
18. (19) Cincinnati Bengals (3-4-1) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
19. (15) Arizona Cardinals (3-4-1) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
20. (26) New Orleans Saints (3-4) Week 9 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
21. (20) Baltimore Ravens (3-4) Week 9 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
22. (21) Los Angeles Rams (3-4) Week 9 opponent: Carolina Panthers
23. (18) San Diego Chargers (3-5) Week 9 opponent: Tennessee Titans
24. (22) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4) Week 9 opponent: Atlanta Falcons
25. (24) Miami Dolphins (3-4) Week 9 opponent: New York Jets
26. (23) Indianapolis Colts (3-5) Week 9 opponent: Green Bay Packers
27. (27) New York Jets (3-5) Week 9 opponent: Miami Dolphins
28. (28) Carolina Panthers (2-5) Week 9 opponent: Los Angeles Rams
29. (30) Chicago Bears (2-6) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
30. (29) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) Week 9 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
31. (31) San Francisco 49ers (1-6) Week 9 opponent: New Orleans Saints
32. (32) Cleveland Browns (0-8) Week 9 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
1. (1) New England Patriots (7-1) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
2. (2) Dallas Cowboys (6-1) Week 9 opponent: Cleveland Browns
3. (5) Denver Broncos (6-2) Week 9 opponent: Oakland Raiders
4. (7) Kansas City Chiefs (5-2) Week 9 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
5. (4) Seattle Seahawks (4-2-1) Week 9 opponent: Buffalo Bills
6. (9) Oakland Raiders (6-2) Week 9 opponent: Denver Broncos
7. (10) Atlanta Falcons (5-3) Week 9 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8. (6) Philadelphia Eagles (4-3) Week 9 opponent: New York Giants
9. (3) Minnesota Vikings (5-2) Week 9 opponent: Detroit Lions
10. (8) Green Bay Packers (4-3) Week 9 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
11. (11) Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3) Week 9 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
12. (17) Houston Texans (5-3) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
13. (14) Washington Redskins (4-3-1) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
14. (13) Detroit Lions (4-4) Week 9 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
15. (12) Buffalo Bills (4-4) Week 9 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
16. (16) New York Giants (4-3) Week 9 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
17. (25) Tennessee Titans (4-4) Week 9 opponent: San Diego Chargers
18. (19) Cincinnati Bengals (3-4-1) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
19. (15) Arizona Cardinals (3-4-1) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
20. (26) New Orleans Saints (3-4) Week 9 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
21. (20) Baltimore Ravens (3-4) Week 9 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
22. (21) Los Angeles Rams (3-4) Week 9 opponent: Carolina Panthers
23. (18) San Diego Chargers (3-5) Week 9 opponent: Tennessee Titans
24. (22) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4) Week 9 opponent: Atlanta Falcons
25. (24) Miami Dolphins (3-4) Week 9 opponent: New York Jets
26. (23) Indianapolis Colts (3-5) Week 9 opponent: Green Bay Packers
27. (27) New York Jets (3-5) Week 9 opponent: Miami Dolphins
28. (28) Carolina Panthers (2-5) Week 9 opponent: Los Angeles Rams
29. (30) Chicago Bears (2-6) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
30. (29) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) Week 9 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
31. (31) San Francisco 49ers (1-6) Week 9 opponent: New Orleans Saints
32. (32) Cleveland Browns (0-8) Week 9 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
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