BUFFALO BILLS - 2024 Season Preview

BUFFALO BILLS                                                                                   

2023 Record - 11-6

Head Coach - Sean McDermott 

Key Additions - Curtis Samuel (WR), Will Clapp (OL), La'el Collins (OL), Nick Morrow (LB), Austin Johnson (DL), DeShawn Williams (DL)

Key Losses - Stefon Diggs (WR), Gabe Davis (WR), Mitch Morse (OL), Leonard Floyd (DL), Micah Hyde (DB), Jordan Poyer (DB), Tyrel Dodson (LB), Jordan Phillips (DL)

2023 STATS LINE 

PASSING - Josh Allen (4,306 yards, 29 TD, 18 INT)

RUSHING - James Cook (1,122 yards, 4.7 ypc, 2 TD)

RECEIVING - Stefon Diggs (107 receptions, 1,183 yards, 8 TD)

SACKS - Leonard Floyd (10 1/2)

INTERCEPTIONS - Rasul Douglas (5)

 

OUTLOOK FOR 2024 - After finishing fourth overall in the NFL in total offense last year, the Bills will be in transition with two new wideouts for the passing game after Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis departed this off-season. Quarterback Josh Allen is one the best in the NFL and he will have new faces on hand along with tight end Dalton Kincaid, who had 73 receptions a year ago. Wide receiver Curtis Samuel comes over from Washington and will be a big factor for the passing game.

James Cook leads the running game and Allen will also take off and get some yardage with his legs as well as the team ranked in the top ten in both areas. The Bills put up 26.5 points per game last season and will have to be able to equal that if they want to win another AFC East title. Both Miami and the New York Jets are getting big time hype to take down the Bills this time around. Buffalo averaged 375 yards per game last year and Allen will look to keep the team on a steady track to continue the winning this year.

The Buffalo defense took a hit last year when linebacker Matt Milano was injured, so getting him back healthy is a big time gain and edge rusher Von Miller will look to team with tackle Ed Oliver to cause chaos up front. The defense ranked ninth last year, allowing 307 YPG while also getting 18 interceptions and amassing 54 sacks. Opponents averaged 18.3 PPG against the Bills defense. 

The Bills should be right there in early January and Head Coach Sean McDermott will be looking for his team to make more noise in the playoffs as they narrowly missed getting to the AFC Championship Game a year ago. If the Bills are to make a deep push in January, they will have to figure out a way to beat Kansas City, which has been their nemesis the last few seasons.

TEAM SCHEDULE 

Week One - vs. Arizona 

Week Two - at Miami 

Week Three - vs. Jacksonville 

Week Four - at Baltimore 

Week Five - at Houston 

Week Six - at N.Y. Jets 

Week Seven - vs. Tennessee 

Week Eight - at Seattle 

Week Nine - vs. Miami 

Week Ten - at Indianapolis 

Week Eleven - vs. Kansas City 

Week Twelve - BYE

Week Thirteen - vs. San Francisco 

Week Fourteen - at L.A. Rams 

Week Fifteen - at Detroit 

Week Sixteen - vs. New England 

Week Seventeen - vs. N.Y. Jets 

Week Eighteen - at New England 

CHICAGO BEARS - 2024 Season Preview

CHICAGO BEARS                                                                    

2023 Record - 7-10 

Head Coach - Matt Eberflus 

Key Additions - Keenan Allen (WR), D'Andre Swift (RB), Gerald Everett (TE), Kevin Byard (S), Jonathan Owens (S)

Key Losses - Dustin Jones (DL), Justin Fields (QB), Eddie Jackson (S), Cody Whitehair (OL), Yannick Ngakoue (DL)

 

2023 STATS LINE 

PASSING - Justin Fields (2,562 yards, 16 TD, 9 INT)

RUSHING - Justin Fields (657 yards, 5.3 ypc, 4 TD); Khalil Herbert (611 yards, 4.6 ypc, 2 TD) 

RECEIVING - DJ Moore (96 receptions, 1,364 yards, 8 TD) 

SACKS - Montez Sweat (6)

INTERCEPTIONS - Jaylon Johnson (4); Tremaine Edmunds (4); Tyrique Stevenson (4)

 

OUTLOOK FOR 2024 - The Bears finished strong last year, especially on defense and this season will look to get the offense up to par as they drafted quarterback Caleb Williams (USC) with the first pick in the NFL draft. The Bears offense ranked 20th overall in 2023, averaging 323 yards per game and they scored 21.2 points per game. The offensive line was an issue a year ago, allowing 50 sacks, so that is a priority to improve as they look to protect their new quarterback. 

Along with a new QB, Chicago brought in All-Pro wide receiver Keenan Allen (from L.A. Chargers) and he had 108 receptions for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns. Tight end Gerald Everett (also from Chargers) and running back D'Andre Swift (1,049 rushing yards, 4.6 ypc and five TD with Philadelphia) also came over in the off-season to give them multiple weapons. DJ Moore is the top dog in the Bears receiving corps and should be their main target again this season. Rookie first round pick wide receiver  Rome Odunze (Washington) will be in the mix as well.

The defense is led by a fierce pass rush, which was bolstered by defensive end Montez Sweat halfway through the 2023 season. The Bears had just 30 sacks, but their defense was 12th overall, allowing 324 YPG and allowed 22.3 PPG and they had the best run defense in the NFL. The secondary is superb, getting 22 interceptions last year (tied for first overall) and they have several ball hawks that can cause problems for opposing offenses. 

If Chicago can stay healthy and rookie QB Caleb Williams proves to be the real deal, this team should improve from 7-10 a year ago and could be a playoff team. Head Coach Matt Eberflus will be feeling the heat if the team doesn't compete with the big boys of the NFC North (Detroit and Green Bay) but in the topsy turvy world of the NFL, things can change quickly and that is what the Bears are counting on this season.

TEAM SCHEDULE 

Week One - vs. Tennessee 

Week Two - at Houston 

Week Three - at Indianapolis

Week Four - vs. L.A. Rams 

Week Five - vs. Carolina 

Week Six - vs. Jacksonville (London, England) 

Week Seven - BYE 

Week Eight - at Washington 

Week Nine - at Arizona 

Week Ten - vs. New England 

Week Eleven - vs. Green Bay 

Week Twelve - vs. Minnesota 

Week Thirteen - at Detroit 

Week Fourteen - at San Francisco 

Week Fifteen - at Minnesota 

Week Sixteen - vs. Detroit 

Week Seventeen - vs. Seattle 

Week Eighteen - at Green Bay 

 

 

 

 

DALLAS COWBOYS - 2024 Season Preview

DALLAS COWBOYS                                                                              

2023 Record - 12-5 

Head Coach - Mike McCarthy 

Key Additions - Eric Kendricks (LB), Martavis Bryant (WR), Ezekiel Elliott (RB)

Key Losses - Tyron Smith (LB), Stephon Gilmore (CB), Tony Pollard (RB), Michael Gallup (WR), Johnathan Hankins (DT)

2023 STATS LINE 

PASSING - Dak Prescott (4,516 yards, 36 TD, 9 INT)

RUSHING - Ezekiel Elliott (635 yards, 3.5 ypc, 3 TD) (with New England)

RECEIVING - CeeDee Lamb (135 receptions, 1,749 yards, 12 TD)

SACKS - Micah Parsons (14)

INTERCEPTIONS - DaRon Bland (9)

OUTLOOK FOR 2024 - The Cowboys keep putting up good numbers each season, then go belly up in the playoffs. 

The heat is on Head Coach Mike McCarthy to get this team moving on in the post-season or it could be curtains for him this time around. The offense can score points in bunches and quarterback Dak Prescott needs to put up or shut up when the playoffs begin. He annually has impressive stats during the regular season, but in crunch time doesn't get it done. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is the featured target in the passing game and Ezekiel Elliott is back after one season with New England to lead the running game after Tony Pollard wasn't re-signed. The Cowboys averaged just under 30 points per game last year and ranked fifth in the NFL in total offense, averaging 372 yards per game.

The defense was decent last season and is led by linebacker/edge rusher Micah Parsons along with a strong secondary that features DaRon Bland, Travon Diggs (coming off knee surgery) and Malik Hooker. The Dallas defense had 46 sacks in 2023 and picked off 17 passes while allowing 18.5 PPG and was fifth in total defense in the NFL, allowing 300 yards per game.

Another playoff appearance should be in the cards, but they will have to fight it out with Philadelphia again to repeat as NFC East champions. No team has won back-to-back division titles in the NFC East in 20 years. The bottom line for this team in 2024 is making noise in the playoffs. That could happen if they keep their focus and avoid injuries to key players. Once again, a Super Bowl appearance is not likely to happen.

 

TEAM SCHEDULE 

Week One - at Cleveland 

Week Two - vs. New Orleans 

Week Three - vs. Baltimore 

Week Four - at N.Y. Giants 

Week Five - at Pittsburgh 

Week Six - vs. Detroit 

Week Seven - BYE 

Week Eight - at San Francisco 

Week Nine - at Atlanta 

Week Ten - vs. Philadelphia 

Week Eleven - vs. Houston 

Week Twelve - at Washington 

Week Thirteen - vs. N.Y. Giants 

Week Fourteen - vs. Cincinnati 

Week Fifteen - at Carolina 

Week Sixteen - vs. Tampa Bay 

Week Seventeen - at Philadelphia 

Week Eighteen - vs. Washington 

 

President Joe Biden Drops Out

President Joe Biden made it official earlier today in a statement that he will not seek another term as President of the United States by dropping out of the 2024 campaign. 

 

So now what? 

 

 

He endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the top spot on the Democratic ticket to challenge former POTUS and convicted felon Republican Donald J. Trump this November. 

 

Buckle up because the so called main stream media (corporate controlled media) will be doing all it can collectively to smear her and continue to kiss the ass of Trump. The people of this country spoke loud and clear four years ago that we want no more of the Trump shit show and now it's time to do it again in this election cycle. 

It could very well come down to our democracy in this country or perhaps fascism with Trump and his enablers along with the Project 2025 plan drawn up by the Heritage Foundation. 

Go Kamala Go!

It's up to we the American people to decide. 

God Bless America!

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL - All Star Break

It's the annual All-Star break around Major League Baseball for the 2024 season and it's time for a brief look at how teams have fared so far and a sneak preview as to what might happen the last two months or so leading into October and the post-season. 

In the American League, the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees have been going back and forth in the American League East division for first place and so far it's been a two-team chase. However, the surprising Boston Red Sox are within 4 1/2 games of first place at the break and manager Alex Cora has to be the front runner for the A.L. Manager of the Year for their effort. 

A close second behind Cora for that individual honor would be Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt (first year manager) as they have the best record in the junior circuit to this point. They are equally surprising to Boston as not too many people expected them to be doing this. But baseball is a funny game and the unexpected always seems to pop up. The Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals will look to keep the pressure on the Guardians in the A.L. Central race while also contending for a wild card spot.

Out west, the Seattle Mariners have a slim lead over the surging Houston Astros for the division lead and the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers are still trying to prove last year wasn't a fluke as they look to get closer for the wild card chase in the American League. 

In the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies are the team to beat as they have the best record in all of baseball and are the only team with 60-plus victories to this point. They are way out in front of the Atlanta Braves in the National League East division with the New York Mets sneaking up and contending for a wild card spot. 

The Milwaukee Brewers lead the N.L. Central and their manager Pat Murphy should be considered the N.L. Manager of the Year to this point as the Brew Crew has surpassed many expectations after losing three top notch pitchers this year. Their ace starter Corbin Burnes was dealt to the Orioles in the off-season and Brandon Woodruff is out for the year (Tommy John surgery) while All-Star closer Devin Williams has been out with injuries as well. Kudos to the Brewers as they lead the second place St. Louis Cardinals by 4 1/2 games. 

In the West, the heavily favored Los Angeles Dodgers lead the way and Arizona is in second with San Diego and San Francisco looking to stay relevant (along with Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and the Chicago Cubs) in the wild card chase. 

Many things could happen and it should be fun to watch as Pittsburgh Pirates rookie ace pitcher Paul Skenes attempts to continue his domination at the big league level. Also, can Texas Rangers rookie outfielder Wyatt Langford continue to show progress and help them back to the post-season? Will Yankees slugger Aaron Judge (34 HR to lead all of baseball so far) shatter his own A.L. single season record of 62 home runs (set in 2022) to help the Bronx Bombers get to the playoffs after missing out last season?

So many possibilities and it remains to be seen how the last ten weeks or so will play out, but it should be exciting as the pennant races continue. So here is a take on how things could be looking once the playoffs start in October. 

 

American League

Wild Card playoffs teams

NY Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox;  Houston Astros vs. Minnesota Twins 

Bye teams - Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians  

National League 

Wild Card playoffs teams

Atlanta Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals;  Milwaukee Brewers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

Bye teams - Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers 

 

               WORLD SERIES PREDICTION -  Baltimore Orioles over Philadelphia Phillies

 

 

Chaos At Trump Campaign Rally - Gee, What A Surprise

 

Thoughts and prayers . . . 

So a registered republican voter took some shots with an  AR-15 assault rifle at Donald Trump's campaign rally in western Pennsylvania on Saturday evening. 

Thoughts and prayers . . . 

Will this change things in regard to gun violence and the insane attacks that take place pretty much regularly in our country? Not likely. 

Thoughts and prayers . . . 

Trump is an advocate for violence and helped to incite the failed coup attempt on our government on January 6th (2021) and now he himself has been targeted by a gun toting loony. 

Thoughts and prayers . . .

There are questions already circulating as to whether this was staged to get pressure off Trump for the Jeffrey Epstein controversies of which his name is on the list for the sexual exploitation of underage girls. It's said how convenient it is now that the list has been released that this event occurred. Conspiracy theories abound so where is Alex Jones for this latest one? 

Thoughts and prayers . . . 

The Republican National Convention begins this week in Milwaukee so now Trump can pretend he is a martyr (of sorts) for the cult that hangs on his every word and action. 

Thoughts and prayers . . . 

The convicted felon and traitor Trump can say things against President Joe Biden and other political figures and he made fun of that hammer attack on Nancy Pelosi's husband two years ago, so why shouldn't people go after him when he gets the violent treatment? It's called KARMA. 

Thoughts and prayers . . . 

You reap what you sow, Mr. Trump. 

Thoughts and prayers . . . 

Yep - that infamous republican mantra whenever a school shooting or any other mass shooting occurs throughout the land  . . .  

Thoughts and prayers.

Let's all be safe out there and carry on. 

God Bless America!

 

 

 

 

 

 

RUN JOE RUN

 

President Joe Biden isn't going anywhere. 

After nearly four years of a superb presidential record since taking the oath of office, Joe Biden has come under fire from not only his political opponents, but also from within the Democratic party to withdraw from this year's election following a poor debate "performance" two weeks ago. 

 

That debate, hosted by CNN and "moderated" by Dana Bash and Jake Tapper (two political reporting hacks) was actually an ambush against the incumbent president to jump start a "political HORSE RACE" mentality throughout the country in an effort (for whatever insane reasons) to help get a convicted felon and traitor to the United States into the White House. 

Donald Trump is a traitor and convicted felon who MUST be treated as such as the election comes around in a little less than four months. 

Why anyone would vote for him is beyond comprehension and it shows just how far the levity of people is and also how far our collective moral compass has fallen in this country in recent times. 

That is the reason why Joe Biden is the nominee for re-election of the presidency this November. 

He knows how to get the job done and he isn't running to keep his own ass out of jail unlike Trump, who was an absolute sellout to world dictators along with criminal activity during his four year run as president. 

Run Joe Run

  . . . and do not give in to the minority of panicking voices within the Democratic party wanting to go with a younger candidate to take on the 78 year old Trump, who is no spring chicken himself. 

Granted, Biden is 81 years old and has shown signs of slowing down as we all do as we age. The fact is Trump himself has made just as many if not more verbal gaffes than Biden and he is backed by extremist right wing political people (Heritage Foundation among many others) who want to take this country back nearly two centuries with their ideology. 

Newsflash . . .  It's not going to happen. 

Go out and look up PROJECT 2025 . . . which a is a manifesto that would have made Adolf Hitler proud. These people are nuts and think they are kings and queens and the rest of us nothing more than serfs in their warped view of this world.

The people of this country are not going to let the so called "main stream" media dictate how OUR election process should go. 

The corporate controlled media in the United States has been bombarding people with nothing but Biden should drop out of the presidential "race" while they also ignore all the criminality of Trump. That is due to a BOUGHT AND PAID FOR legal system that has been bending over backwards to keep Trump relevant for the election and also keep him out of prison. 

The U.S. Supreme Court is compromised and basically has become a legal defense team for traitorous felon Trump as well as Aileen Cannon, another so called judge in Florida who is interfering in the prosecution of Trump for stealing classified documents after his presidency ended in January of 2021. 

The media ignores all of that and pounds on Joe Biden for a debate that was totally bogus with no fact checking of the lies Trump spewed for over an hour. 

The fourth estate has been relegated to a shambles ever since the Reagan years (1981-89) and needs to get back to doing their job, not being cheerleaders for an extremist minority right wing agenda for this country. 

Therefore, it is with pride and civic duty that Joe Biden is the endorsed candidate to serve another four years as President of the United States of America. 

Run Joe Run!  

And God Bless the United States of America.

The United States of America - Love It or Leave It

 

Here it is the 4th of July holiday once again and the United States of America  could very well be at a cross roads.

The election in November could determine whether we as a nation (a free and independent country since 1776) stay a democracy or go down the dreaded and gloomy road of fascism. It's simple folks, current President Joe Biden stands for truth, justice and the American way as we have known for nearly 250 years. 

 

 

On the other hand, republican nominee and former president and convicted felon Donald J. Trump represents the oligarchs he serves (including his puppet master Vladimir Putin of Russia) and wants to be a dictator. 

Phooey! 

The good people of this country who served in World War II were brave soldiers who battled Adolf Hitler and the Nazis and I will be damned to see this country piss on the graves of those who fought against what Trump and his goons want to bring to the USA . . .  fascism.

The 4th of July is a time to celebrate our independence from kings and tyrants as the Founding Fathers intended. 

However, the current edition of the United States Supreme Court (more like a kangaroo court these days) decided that the President of the United States should be a king. 

WTF !!!

The six right wing political hacks on the SCOTUS (John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney-Barrett) are hell bent on getting Trump back into the White House and have bent over backwards on his behalf by declaring that the president has immunity when it comes to breaking the law. 

What in the actual hell is that all about? 

These people are demented. Pure and simple. 

When it comes to the United States of America, the country is meant to be a beacon of light, not a nation of doom and gloom that comes with fascism reigning over the people of the land. There are those who are wanting to see that happen. I would be willing to bet these same folks have never been in the military and would not know the duty of defending their country if called to do so. 

Cowards is what they are. 

But on this holiday of the red, white and blue and stars and stripes, let us celebrate the greatness of the USA and all that is good and that could be again as long as We The People (the first words in our U.S. Constitution) make it happen at the ballot box on November 5th. 

Election Day! 

The feeling here is the good people of this country will keep us a democracy rather than a shit hole country that is known as a fascist one. 

God Bless America and if you are one of those who want to differ with our democracy, then get the hell out and move to Russia or somewhere else on this planet. 

This is the United States of America - so love it or leave it. 

Happy 4th of July!