NFL Wild Card Weekend is in the Books | Nasser Erakat

For the first time in NFL history all four road teams won. There was some strange finishes. First we had the Bengals melt down against the Steelers and then the chip shot field goal missed by the Vikings. The Houston Texan's didn't belong in the Playoffs, losing 30-0 showed that. We saw the Green Bay Packers offense show up. The Divisional round 

will show which teams will make a run for the Super Bowl. All these teams that made it so far were the better teams. I am going to make a prediction about who is going to be in the NFC and AFC Championship Games. Arizona Vs. Carolina and New England Vs. Denver. That's my opinion. Even though Kansas City Chiefs won 30-0 there was a little bit for concern. They were leading 13-0 at the half with 4 turnovers and a Kickoff return on the first play of the game. If a decent team played instead of the Houston Texans, the game could have turned out different. Not taking anything away from KC but New England is not Houston.

NFL Wild Card Weekend is in the Books | Nasser Erakat

NFL Power Rankings: Packers rising after Wild Card Weekend

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15-1 PANTHERS

 

No movement for the top-ranked Panthers this week, yet there is one rather large development: Ron Rivera says Jonathan Stewart is set to suit up for practice on Wednesday. Who, with a season full of bumps and bruises under the belt, wants to tackle a fresh version of this hard-charging 235-pounder -- in weather that could get a bit nippy? Me neither. Welp, he's back, after missing the final three games of the regular season with a sprained foot. Stewart was the unheralded star in Carolina, a workhorse who at one point in the season posted eight straight games of 20-plus carries. His 989 rushing yards in 13 games, and physical style of play, were integral to thePanthers' success this season.

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13-3 CARDINALS

It was a well-deserved week off for the Cardinals, and perhaps an opportunity to lick their wounds from the shellacking they took at the hands of the Seahawks in Week 17. In fairness, Bruce Arians did start pulling players in the second half (most notably, Carson Palmer), but you can't tell me that the embarrassing defeat isn't lingering in some players' heads.

On Saturday night, the Packers come to town for the second time in three weeks. Yes, Arizona whooped 'em 38-8 in Week 16. No, this doesn't look like the same Green Bay club that laid down in that game. (The reigning MVP kinda looked like the reigning MVP on Sunday.)

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12-5 CHIEFS

Hard to not be impressed with the manner in which the Chiefs are playing football right now. It feels like they could beat a team full of Brett Favres. Jeremy Maclin's high-ankle sprain is a major concern, but how can you not move this team up after that resounding 30-zip road victory? As Bill Belichick said Sunday, per the Kansas City Star, there really is no blueprint for beating the team on an 11-game win streak: "The fact they haven't lost in so long, it's not like you can go to a game and say, 'Here's how this team has defeated them.' ... That just doesn't exist." Full Article

NFL Wild Card Weekend is in the Books | Nasser Erakat

Ben Roethlisberger has torn ligaments in shoulder

Ben Roethlisberger's status for Sunday's Divisional Round game is very much in doubt.

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback revealed during a radio interview Tuesday that he has torn ligaments in his throwing shoulder in addition to a sprained AC joint.

Roethlisberger said he is "definitely sore" and has yet to test the shoulder since Saturday's wild-card win over the Bengals.

"I'll go in tomorrow with the intent to see what I can do," Roethlisberger told KDKA-FM in Pittsburgh. "I honestly don't know. I haven't tried to throw a football since the game, and maybe that's not even the right thing to do right away. Full Article

NFL Week 17 is in the Books | Nasser Erakat

With NFL week 17 in the Books, what did the 2015 NFL season tell us about the none playoffs teams. Number one is that I think that the Oakland Raiders are trending up 

and next season they should make the playoffs. The 49ers fired first year head coach Jim Tomsula, did Jed York make a mistake in firing  Jim Harbaugh. The coaches that are out or will be out are Tom Coughlin, Sean Payton, Mike Pettine, and already Chip Kelly, Jim Tomsula. As a Raiders fan I happy that the Raiders showed improvement but it is sad that they might be moving to Los Angeles. It will be very sad to see the Raiders move after they are on the move towards the playoffs.

Charles Woodson, one of the Greatest of all TIME!!!

NFL Week 17 is in the Books | Nasser Erakat

Ranking the NFL playoff teams

The Carolina Panthers won the 2015 NFL regular season with a 15-1 record, but as coach Ron Rivera pointed out Sunday, much work lies ahead. Carolina, a playoff winner over the Ryan Lindley-quarterbacked Arizona Cardinals a season ago, has not yet won enough when it counts to command the respect playoff-proven teams enjoy.

A personnel director reached Sunday night ranked the Panthers only fifth among the 12 playoff teams. Two other evaluators had Carolina first, with Seattle second. Arizona remained firmly in the conversation despite absorbing the third-worst Week 17 defeat a playoff team has suffered under the current seeding format. There was some thought New England could re-emerge as the team to beat once receiver Julian Edelman and tackle Sebastian Vollmer return from injuries, but there was little hope Peyton Manning could rescue Denver's offense.

I've ranked the 12 playoff teams below without regard for how their paths through the postseason might influence their Super Bowl chances. The odds are solidly against Seattle beating Minnesota, Carolina and (most likely) Arizona on the road before winning the Super Bowl, for example, but I still saw the Seahawks as the best team right now. Green Bay finished lower on this list than I could have possibly anticipated early in the season.

Here's the list, which features plenty of other surprises: Full Article

NFL Week 17 is in the Books | Nasser Erakat

Wildcard weekends starts and who will move on and who will go home. I have a feeling that all the home teams might win for maybe except one. I still see the New England Patriots coming out of the AFC. In the NFC, I think three teams could make it, Carolina, Arizona and Seattle. Could we get a rematch of last years Super Bowl? I hope not. I would like to see two teams that we have not seen in a while in Super Bowl 50. We will have to wait and see. We will know something this weekends, which teams go home and which teams move on.

NFL Week 16 is in the Books | Nasser Erakat

On Christmas Eve the Oakland Raiders would win their last home season game for Charles Woodson.  Some people say that this might have been the last game 

played in Oakland, since next month the NFL owners will vote on which teams moves to Los Angeles. The game in general was sloppy and Derek Carr would throw a first quarter interception. The game did go to overtime and Raiders got the victory. There is one more game left this season for the Raiders and I would love a victory against the Chiefs and go 8 and 8 this season. I don't like to play the should have game but the Raiders should have beat the Chiefs in Oakland and they would have if Derek Carr doesn't throw three 4th quarter interception, which two of them lead to touchdowns. Derek needs to go into this offseason and get better in making those decisions. Derek Carr has one more game to put a stamp on the 2015 NFL Season.

NFL Week 16 is in the Books | Nasser Erakat

Raiders' King highlights Week 16 Players of Week

In a tight victory over the Chargers in Oakland on Christmas Eve, Raiders punter Marquette Kingkicked the ball eight times for a total of 400 yards. This news alone is not unusual for King, now in his third year as Oakland's every day punter. He has always been associated with a dynamite leg, like a driving specialist in golf. But against San Diego, six of those eight punts pinned the Chargers inside their own 20-yard line. There is absolutely no question that such miserable starting field position changes the game, and King, according to ESPN, has already set the Raiders' franchise record for most punts inside the 20-yard line this season (35). The Raiders, by the way, have employed some pretty good punters over the years.

King also has one of the lowest return rates in football, one of the lowest return yard totals in football and is tied for the longest single punt of the year (70 yards). Punters and kickers are often bypassed during the players of the week highlight, but sometimes it's good to stop and think about just how much they can impact a game. Kudos to King, who earned this week's AFC special teams player of the week award. Full Article

NFL Week 16 is in the Books | Nasser Erakat

One more week to go. The Oakland Raiders have surprised a lot of people this year. They have a lot of work to do but I am happy that we have a offseason to look forward to. The Raiders will need to get better on defense. Hopefully these close games they lost this year will turn into wins next year. It is upsetting to know that now that the Raiders are on the up and up they might be playing in Los Angeles. I hope they don't leave and we see the playoff run here in Oakland.

The playoffs are set and the teams that are in, really do not have that much experience at quarterback other then Tom Brady. It should be an interesting playoffs. Which teams will be playing in Santa Clara. Will it be Alex Smith, Tom Brady or even Aron Rogers. These players have the bay area connection. I still think we will see from the AFC, New England. In the NFC, we will see either Arizona or Carolina. Carolina did lose this past week but that doesn't mean anything. If Carolina wins om Sunday, they will have home field advantage throughout.

Golden State Warriors 28-1 |Nasser Erakat

One of the biggest basketball games on Christmas day was the Cleveland Cavilers vs. the Golden State Warriors. So much talk about how the Golden State Warriors, "were lucky?" Cleveland also said that if they were healthy the Finals would have turned 

out different. The Cavilers were healthy but this time it was the Warriors who were banged up. Harrison Barns is still out and Stephen Curry is not a 100% oh and the Warriors still do not have their head coach. For most of the game the Warriors lead and even thought it was a slow pace game the Warriors looked like they would win the game. Eventually they did and they improve their record to 28-1. Which makes them the, Golden State Warriors 28-1 | Nasser Erakat. Also on Christmas the Spurs and Thunder both lost. All these people talking about the Warriors and how they have not played anybody yet? Huh? Was the Cavilers their first test? Is that what people were saying? Well not only did they have the longest streak to start the season but they have beat everyone that made the playoffs last year. What excuse is going to be next? The crazy thing is that the Warriors are not playing well. They can play so much better. That's scary.

Golden State Warriors 28-1 |Nasser Erakat

Warriors not happy with their play, despite record

Memo to the 29 NBA teams that haven’t spent the entire 2015-16 season flirting with perfection: The defending champion Golden State Warriors, 28-1 record be darned, don’t think they’re playing very well.

And that, as they see it, is an exciting reality to embrace.

“I still don't think we've played well,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said after their 89-83 win over the Cavs in a Finals rematch on Friday. “That's part of it that pisses me off, and the part of it that makes me very, very happy. I think we've got a lot of improving to do, and we will.”

Said Warriors center Andrew Bogut: “The last 10 games, we haven’t had great games – even though we won them. We just know how to win, but we felt like we weren't playing that well. So without sounding arrogant ... we're 28-1 and we're saying we haven't played that well, that we have things to work on.”

Yet what may sound crazy at first is, in fact, true. From their Nov. 30 win against the Utah Jazz to the defensively dominant defeat of the Cavs on Christmas Day 11 games later, the Warriors – whose lone loss came at the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 12 – have fallen short of their lofty standards. Full Article

Golden State Warriors 28-1 |Nasser Erakat

Once the Warriors start playing up to their potential and get healthy, I think we may see another streak in the making. I can see the Golden State Warriors in June defending their title. I can also see that in June if they win it all again and win back to back titles, come the start of the following season someone will make another excuse why they won. Stop disrespecting and start watching something special. This team may be on the verge of something special. Keep disrespecting and keep making excuses. Thanks for taking the time to read this article.

NFL Week 15 is in the Books | Nasser Erakat

The Oakland Raiders were eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday when 

they lost to the Green Bay Packers. The game started off very bad for the Raiders. They spotted the Green Bay Packers 14 points. You can't give a team 14 points and expect to win. The Raiders did take the lead and made it 20-17 but that score didn't hold up. The kick off after the Raiders took the lead was taken to the 47 and three plays later Green Bay took the lead and pretty much it was over. Green Bay (10-4) would go on to win the game 30-20 and Oakland (6-8) will have to wait until next year for the playoffs.

I will say that I was very happy with the team this year. They competed until Sunday, Week 15. When was the last time the Raiders were still in it until Week 15. I predicted 6-10 and they already have there 6 wins which doubled their win total from last year. These young players Carr,Cooper and Mack are the foundation of the future.

The NFL playoffs have taken shape and pretty much we know who is in and who is out.

NFL Week 15 is in the Books | Nasser Erakat

Raiders' Charles Woodson to retire after 2015 season

Charles Woodson will leave the NFL playing as well as he did upon entering the league 18 years ago.

The Oakland Raiders safety announced Monday evening that he will retire after the 2015 season.

"2015 is going to be my last season playing in the NFL," Woodson said. "Was it a tough decision? Kind of in a way. But a couple weeks ago it hit me that this would be it. It's important for me to let Raider Nation know now."

One of the most versatile, talented and productive defensive backs in NFL history, Woodson was a three-time first-team All-Pro at cornerback for the Raiders and Green Bay Packers before successfully converting to safety in his twilight years.

After edging Peyton Manning out for the Heisman Trophy as a rare "two-way player" at the college level, the former Michigan star earned NFL Rookie of the Year honors as the defensive equivalent to fellow first-year phenom Randy Moss in 1998.

"When he learns more about technique," then-Ramsreceivers coach Al Saunders said at the time, "he has a chance to be one of the best to ever play the position." Full Article

NFL Week 15 is in the Books | Nasser Erakat

Odell Beckham Jr. Suspended for Hit on Josh Norman: Latest Comments and Reaction

Beckham was penalized three times for unnecessary roughness, including a late helmet-to-helmet hit against a defenseless player in which Beckham left his feet prior to contact to spring forward and upward into his opponent, lowered his helmet and initiated forcible contact with his helmet, and forcibly struck the defenseless player's head. This "blindside block" was particularly flagrant because Beckham, with a 10-yard running start, had an unobstructed path to his opponent, the position of the opponent was not impacted by any other player, and the contact with the head/neck was avoidable.

The suspension was imposed by NFL Vice President of Football Operations Merton Hanks. Hanks ruled that Beckham's actions placed his opponents at unnecessary risk of injury and should have been avoided.

In a letter to Beckham, Hanks noted, "At numerous times during yesterday's game against the Carolina Panthers, your actions placed a fellow player at unnecessary risk...and clearly did not represent the high standards of sportsmanship expected." Full Article

NFL Week 14 is in the Books | Nasser Erakat

The Oakland Raiders on Sunday did the impossible. At the half Denver was up by 12 and the Raiders had -12 Total yards. The Raiders would go on to win 15-12 in Denver. 

Khalil Mack had 5 sacks and destroyed Brock Osweiler. The Raiders who for the second time this season held Denver without an offense scoring touchdown. The First meeting could have went the Raiders way if those two turnovers didn't occur.  The playoffs are practically here and the Raiders are still in the hunt. I still think it will be very hard to make it but if they finish 7-9, 8-8 or even 9-7, this season is a success.

NFL Week 14 is in the Books | Nasser Erakat

Jack Del Rio on Khalil Mack's five-sack day: 'He was unblockable'

Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio was beaming a day after pass-rusher Khalil Mack put together one of the best individual defensive performances in team history.

After he had a chance to digest the tape, Del Rio was clearly blown away with what the second-year player did in Oakland’s 15-12 upset win at Denver. This is exactly what Mack did to Denver: five sacks in the second half, including one for a safety.

“It was a special, special performance,” Del Rio said. “He just really was unblockable most of the day. Whether it was against the run or the pass, he was showing up in the backfield being very disruptive.”

Mack is the first player to record five sacks in a game since Aldon Smith did it for San Francisco in 2012, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He tied Hall of Famer Howie Long for the most sacks in a game in team history. Long had his five-sack game in 1983. Mack, who has nine sacks in the past three games, has an NFL-high 14 sacks on the season. The No. 5 overall pick in 2014, Mack had four sacks as a rookie.

Del Rio said he has seen Mack make big strides.

“I think his understanding of how to finish,” Del Rio said of Mack’s biggest area of recent improvement. “His understanding of different leverage points and how he can counter what they’re trying to do. Really, the finish around the quarterback is the biggest thing -- instead of being close, to be able to finish with a sack. … He’s developing that awareness on the angles and how to finish on the quarterback that will allow him to continue to have tremendous production.” Full Article

NFL Week 14 is in the Books | Nasser Erakat

The Carolina Panthers seemed to be position to go undefeated this season. Can they make it to the Super Bowl and go 19-0? The Bengals lose Dalton, the Chiefs win for their 6 straight in a row. The Steelers are making a push. Oh yeah and New England won again but they did have to Place Blunt on IR. Who will win it all? Which two teams will be playing in Super Bowl 50? Well Thanks for Reading and Go Raiders!!! The Raiders are on the up and up.

NFL Week 13 is in the Books | Nasser Erakat

I'm am going to start with my Raiders. They had a shot of winning on Sunday but Derek Carr made some costly mistakes, that knocked them out of the playoffs. 

Think about that for a moment, the Oakland Raiders were playing for playoffs. The Raiders haven't been playing for anything in about 12 years and yes I know about Hue Jackson and the 4-2 season that became 8-8. As I mentioned I predicted the Raiders this year 6-10, and they will win one more game. They are way ahead of schedule and next year will be a 10-6 season and playoffs. I'm am so happy that Derek Carr is my quarterback for the next 10 years. He will be better then what we have had for the last 10 years. To the Raiders I want to Thank you for a wonderful season.

NFL Week 13 is in the Books | Nasser Erakat

NFL Power Rankings, Week 14: Seahawks climb; Patriots drop

The not-so-ugly reared their heads this weekend.

Week 14 Power Rankings are in, with a nod to the teams many of us thought were formidable in the preseason finally making their moves. The Seahawks dominated the Vikings. The Steelers trounced the Colts. And the Cardinals, well, they kept rolling with another not to worry, we're still in control win in St. Louis. The top 10 seen below could be precisely the same 10 at season's end, and that is not a bad thing.

Yep, a couple of 2015's best -- i.e., the Patriots and Vikings -- did fall. The alarming facts included whom New England fell to, where the Pats and Vikes fell (both at home) and how badly Minnesota was taken down. Each team stayed in the top 10, however.

As for Nos. 11-32, see below. There is appreciable movement all throughout the ranks. As always, feel free to share your take on such matters. @HarrisonNFL is the place.

Let the dissension commence!

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12-0 PANTHERS

Quite a scare in New Orleans on multiple fronts for the Panthers, who ultimately didn't succumb to the trap game -- or the divisional road game or the first loss of the season game, or whatever else league observers were calling the matchup with the Saints. Also scary were a couple of hits to the head suffered by today's MVP favorite, Cam Newton. With Carolina's usually formidable defense unable to stop New Orleans, the offense won the day.

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10-2 CARDINALS

Arizona rolls on, playing Cardinal football in St. Louis while the Rams played, well, Rams football. The only issue for Bruce Arians' club is maintaining the health of a running back who doesn't fumble. That man might be Kerwynn Williams. Just ask him. You're welcome.

RANK 3

10-2 BENGALS

Cincy sure looked darn good Sunday. (Of course, if you divide by the Browns factor, maybe they were simply solid.) Everyone got into the act: Jeremy Hill rushed for 98 yards, A.J. Green posted 102 yards in the first half and Marvin Jones contributed a nice touchdown late. Meanwhile, the defense accomplished something no NFL team has been able to do: contain Austin Davis. Full Article

NFL Week 13 is in the Books | Nasser Erakat

Which two teams will face in Super Bowl 50. I say it will be Carolina vs New England. Those are the two best teams in the NFL. New England will get back to their winning ways and Carolina will finish the regular season without a loss. For the other good teams like Arizona, Seattle and Denver they will have to wait another year. The NFL regular season is coming to end and for teams who are out of it,now you become a football fan. Well Thanks for reading.