There aren’t too many days you’ll drop by GetMoreSports.com and not find some kind of article, column or preview written by your humble narrator, me, Adam Greene. I try to keep a regular stream of, if not good, then at least funny or entertaining NFL writing coming your way. As always, you are welcome.
Part of my job here is, of course, to make predictions, pick games, be bold and interesting and so we come to that part of the season where we can all look back and see how well my boldness has served me, and you, gentle reader.
I begin every season with my Bold Predictions.
Now here’s the thing about a “Bold Prediction” It has to actually be “bold.” You can’t make a prediction like “The Patriots will make the playoffs,” and act like it’s “bold” because of course the Patriots will make the playoffs. God has abandoned humanity due to its sinful nature and before he destroys us all by his celestial fire, we must endure the New England Patriots. Read your Bible, heathens.
Nor is it “bold” to predict a team like the Bucs or the Titans would miss the playoffs, because the fact that even one of those teams was still alive for a postseason spot in November shows how crazy this NFL season turned out to be.
So here are my “bold” predictions, shared with all of humanity back on Sept. 1.
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How did a I do? A solid one-for-five on the boldness scale. My worst prediction isn’t that the Rams would make the NFC championship game (because with a real coach they could have) or that Johnny Manziel would win eight games as the Browns’ starting QB (under the assumption that Johnny Football was buried in an Ohio cistern somewhere). No, my worst “bold” prediction was that 12 quarterbacks would throw at least 35 touchdown passes in 2015-16. I was way off.
Only five guys hit 35 TDs and only one, Tom Brady, surpassed it with 36. Now, 11 guys threw for more than 30 so even now looking at it, I wasn’t so far off. But 35 is a lot, especially with the reemergence on the NFL running game. It’s something to factor into my predictions next season.
Where I really went wrong were my playoff and divisional predictions. Here, take a look.
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On the AFC side I had the Baltimore Ravens, the San Diego Chargers, Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts all making the playoffs. The Ravens were my Super Bowl pick for God’s sake.
On the NFC side, I had the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons and St. Louis Rams all making it. The Panthers? Nowhere to be seen. I picked them to go 9-7. The Arizona Cardinals? I had them going a very Jeff Fisher-ish 7-9.
I made the bold prediction that the Broncos wouldn’t even make the playoffs and now they’re the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
Now, as long as the Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl all my other flub picks become meaningless. But even I don’t think that’s going to happen now.
I run a weekly picks column I call the Friday Afternoon Quarterback. This year I haven’t done bad at all straight up. Against the spread, I’ve not crapped the bed so much as just kind of soiled the sheets enough to make the nurse wish she’d called in sick that morning.
Straight up I’m 141-115 right now and 119-137 against the spread. There’s no saving that spread record, but I can still do some damage straight up with 11 games to go in the postseason. Back in 2012 I finished 172-95 and that guy is still inside me somewhere, trying to make his presence known. I just have to listen to him. He knows what he’s talking about. And he and I are teaming up with one goal: perfection.
Can I make the perfect 11-0 straight up run through the playoffs? Is it possible? The best I’ve ever done is 8-3, but I’m feeling it now. I feel like I’m at best when the going gets tough. I’ve been put to the test but it’s never enough.
Yes. I have the touch. I have the power. Yeah!
