Trending East

Week 17 in the NFL is approaching and it’s more than just another game for 13 out of the 16 matchups. Teams are playing for conference and division bragging rights, but eight teams will play for a shot at postseason action. HA, and we all thought Roger Goodell didn’t know what he was doing. Ending the season schedule with division rivals should keep ratings up for all teams except for the 2-13 Houston Texans and the 3-12 Washington Redskins.

The Texans were 12-4 last year and the Redskins were 10-6. Both teams reached the playoffs and were expected to be in the postseason this year.

So as a Redskin fan, what could I possibly be looking forward to, besides the embarrassing season to end as quickly as possible? I was talking with a friend of mine who is an Eagles fan (he’s one of the few Eagles fans that I don’t want to punch in the face) about how the Redskins have helped determine the past three Super Bowl Champions. I then learned that the Eagles also have a similar Super Bowl trend but they are on a four-year streak.

Factor in the entire NFC East and its gets more interesting. The past four Super Bowl Champions have all played at Philadelphia for the Eagles first home game of the regular season. The Redskins have beaten the past three Super Bowl Champs in FedEx during the regular season. Dallas played and lost to the past three Super Bowl Champs. The Giants played and lost to the past three Super Bowl Champs.

Being the nerd that I am, I put it into excel for a visual.

 

The scary trend is that the San Diego Chargers are trending to the Lombardi Trophy.

But, in order for the Chargers to get into the playoffs this year, they will need to pray to the sports gods for losses from both the Dolphins and the Ravens. Miami will host the Jets and the Ravens will be visiting the Bengals on Sunday.

We’re still five weeks away from Super Bowl XL VIII (48) and while I still have not seen Te’o’s girlfriend, I do have my eyes on the Chargers. Phillip Rivers & Co. have won the past three games and Rivers was impressive during the Chargers upset over Peyton Manning’s Broncos in Denver.

It might be a long shot, but if the San Diego Chargers make it to the post season, they too will be trending east.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

While the holiday season is in full swing of spreading holiday cheer there is not much to cheer about if you’re a Washington Redskins fan. It was obvious when Santa’s little helpers (from Kansas City) dropped off a big red stocking full of coal at FedEx last week that said RG3-10.

Coaches, players and fans may have given up on this dysfunctional team, but there are still some of us fans who are still trying to make the last home game fun, even when our team is the 2^nd worst team in the entire NFL.

I have been extremely blessed by being invited to every home game for the past five seasons from the White family.  Clearly, they are saints to put up with my shenanigans. (For the record. Jim provokes it and Tom instigates it.) Last year Jim lost a bet to me and had to dress up like Santa for the Dallas game.  So naturally, we bet on who would dress like Santa for this years Dallas game. I won, again and Jim would be Santa (even though he looks more like Willie from Bad Santa).

Somehow the bet changed during the Atlanta game.

I was clearly bad luck as I watched the game. I saw all of Atlanta’s 17 points in the first half, but then I saw Moss drop balls and three consecutive fumbles for the Redskins. I managed to miss all 21 of the Redskins points in the first half. (Potty break, first turnover had to change into a different Redskins shirt, threw the remote and knocked over my Diet Mt. Dew so I was cleaning up my mess instead of looking at the TV). At halftime I realized that I had to keep distracting myself when we were on offense and then we would score. “Labels Out” just like the Bud Light commercial, superstitions work, right?!

When Atlanta went up 24-20 in the 3^rd I was told during a group text to shop for a Mrs. Claus costume. So I did. I now know where the ‘ho’ in holidays comes from. But I managed to find a costume that with boots will cover most of my skin. (We were going for Mrs. Claus, not Granny Claus.) Costume approved by Jim and a shipping confirmation later I was wondering how I just agreed to dress up as Mrs. Claus? I didn’t lose the bet! What just happened? And just as I looked at the TV and Atlanta drills a 51 yarder to go up 27-20. Seconds later the group text-er’s yell at me to stop watching, busted!

With three minutes left in the game I had to leave my house. I’m not sure what was worse, the Redskins or my decision to go to the mall during the holiday season on a Sunday. #Fail #Fail #Fail I live two miles from the mall and it look me 33 minutes to get there. I listened to the game on the radio and my horn honking in celebration of Santa Moss’s TD blended in with the other “friendly” drivers horn honking in traffic. Then, I hear they are going for two and trying to go for the win with 18 seconds left. My fist thought was is Shanahan trying to get fired? If Kia made the extra point and the game was tied then the Redskins still had a chance to play and win in OT. But leave it to those Shananhan’s to make a statement by saying if they go for two and win, then they look like they are trying to win. If they kick the extra point and tie, they still have to coach/work and go to OT. Both teams have no chance at a post-season appearance so the game meant nothing to the NFL.

But WINS mean everything to the fans and Mike & Kyle made a statement by saying it’s time for them to go. 

Pictures of Mrs. Claus may or may not be posted on Instagram: ALISONSTCLAIR4

Have You Hurd…

All I'm Thinking About! (Jalen Hurd Instagram post)

The University of Tennessee football, team 117, ended their season 5-7 and will not play in a bowl game. The seniors won their final SEC game on the road and left a small spark of what it feels like to win on the road in the SEC.

This program, University, fan base, and all of Vol Nation have witnessed the crash to rock bottom over the past six years. A program that was once revered in the world of college football had now become a somber, stagnant team in the SEC.

But that tiny spark from a win on the road is all team 118 will need to carry the torch and revive one the most hollowed programs in all of college football.

Following recruiting classes hasn’t been one of my focus points. Mostly, because I think high school kids have commitment issues and they can change their decision daily. With enough disappointment in Knoxville, I just wait it out and see who makes it to the first game of the season. But this year has been different.

In March, I got a text alert that Todd Kelly Jr. had followed in his fathers’ footsteps and committed to be a Vol For Life (VFL). My twin brother sent me text a few minutes later that said this is only the beginning; magic is about to be restored in Knoxville. Byron (my twin) treats National Signing Day like a national holiday and takes off work to witness the letters of intent. If there was going to be year to follow recruiting, he assured me that this was the year. So I’ve committed to following the recruiting class of 2014. 

Byron was right. This recruiting class has already changed the future without even stepping in Neyland stadium.  

The momentum of this recruiting class is astonishing. A program that is 14-34 in SEC games over the last six seasons is also the program with the second best recruiting class in the country. Clearly, recruits are not committing based on the win-loss record. These recruits are recruiting each other. After TKJr, UT signed Rivals 5-star RB (ranked #1 in the state of Tennessee) Jalen Hurd. Maybe it’s all the high light videos I’ve watched of this stud, but I’ve got my eye on this gem. Based on his athletic ability alone, he is going to be something special.

Hurd received offers from some of the best programs in country (Alabama, Florida, Stanford, Ohio State, LSU, and Georgia just to name a few), but he was only interested in playing for the Orange and White.

If you haven't Hurd of the UT Legacy Class 14’ here’s a shot list of the caliber of talent the future holds: Vic Wharton*, Dillon Bates*, Evan Berry*, Elliott Berry*, Orlando Brown, D'Andre Payne have all committed and Neiko Creamer*, Josh Malone and Jarran Reed (JUCO) have all declared early enrollment. The (*) = the recruit is a Vol legacy.

Most top recruits are still young kids. And coming out of high school the easiest way to a career in the NFL is by choosing a powerhouse university where the road has already been paved for them. But these kids who are committing to be a VFL are the athletes who are determined to pave their own route from scratch, brick-by-brick. Together, they share a vision and a bond that will forever make them teammates and brothers. These young men are leaders who embody the foundation of teamwork and success. Choosing to wear Orange isn’t just making a statement. It’s committing to working harder. It’s dedicating their collegiate career with a passion to win as a team and inscribe champion back in the Power T.

They have coined themselves as the UT Legacy Class 14’. But their legacy will not be who their father is. Their legacy will be written as the class who laid the foundation to rise to the top and restore a dynasty back in college football.