NFL WEEK CONFIDENCE PICKS WEEK 8 10/25,28,29

Welcome to our 6th year of NFL CONFIDENCE PICKS  !!!!! This also marks the 99th SEASON OF THE NFL!! 45 year old COLT Adam Vinatieri  JUST SET RECORD for “POINTS SCORED”.  With the second half yet to come. Still has HALF a SEASON  to add to it.   Finally !  For our mobile readers.  scroll to bottom of  page; and tap “SWITCH TO MOBILE”  This will allow you to rotate device and view full pick sheet. Seven weeks; TEN  OTs .  Did we have that many for the whole season last year.   Is it because of the rule changes or are we seeing more parity in the league. BELOW is a link to the NFL rule changes for 2018 https://fromthemiddle.blog/2018/09/12/new-nfl-rules-for-2018/ BELOW  is a link to to explanation of FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING https://fromthemiddle.blog/2018/10/16/nfl-flexible-scheduling-explained/ For those of you who do not know how confidence ranking goes, let me explain. If we were playing an office pool,(which we ARE NOT).  The object is to score the most points. To obtain the score YOU rank the teams by how confident you are a team will win its game.  EXAMPLE:  Say this week we have 16 games.  The team you are most confident will win you would assign the number 16 and follow down to the team you are least confident in and assign that number 1.   You add up the TOTAL CORRECT PICKS.. That would be your score.  We use the Monday night (Last game played) as a TIE BREAKER.  The tie is broken by the closest to the total (that is the COMBINED score of the two participating teams) final score, without going over. If we were playing this is how my sheet would look;  My pick will be in bold Capital letters.  you can use circling, underlining, or highlighting.  I will show my correct points in Bold YOU can adopt the scoring  described above.  Or, the optional method.  A  negative score for missed games.  We will continue to get a positive score for correct predictions.  EXAMPLE:   if you scored          1 pt on the first game and you had 15 pts on the second game and lost you would still have a 1 on regular scoring.  1.  HOWEVER. with the same scenario new scoring system would result with a –14 score. I will fill in my picks Thursday.  Until then feel free to: Just copy and paste for your own Fun Pool Use.  Or to see if you can beat me. IF YOU SEE I MADE A MIS-COPY OF THE GAMES AND TIMES FEEL  FREE TO EMAIL ME AND TELL ME I GOOFED. GOOD LUCK TO ALL. BYE WEEK: FALCONS, COWBOYS, TITANS, and CHARGERS  All Times AST (Atlantic Standard Time)  Alias EDT  GAME # TV VISITOR SCORE   HOME SCORE CONFIDENCE RUNNING SCORE THUR   10/25/18 20:20           1 FOX Dolphins 23 @ TEXANS 42 9 9/9     SUNDAY 10/28/18 09:30 2 NFL EAGLES 24 @ Jaguars 18 5 14/14 SUNDAY 10/28/18 13:00 3 CBS Broncos 23 @ CHIEFS 30 14 28/28 4 CBS Browns 18 @ STEELERS 33 12 40/40 5 FOX REDSKINS 20 @ Giants 13 1 41/41 6 FOX Seahawks 28 @ LIONS 14 6 41/35 7 FOX Buccaneers 34 @ BENGALS 37 8 49/43 8 CBS Jets 10 @ BEARS 24 11 60/54 9 CBS RAVENS 21 @ Panthers 36 4 60/50 SUNDAY 10/28/18 16:05 10 CBS COLTS 42 Raiders 28 7 67/57 SUNDAY 10/28/18 16:25 11 FOX 49’ers 15 @ Cardinals 18 2 67/55 12 FOX Packers 27 @ RAMS 29 10 77/65 SUNDAY 10/28/18 20:20 13 NBC Saints 30 @ VIKINGS 20 3 77/62 MONDAY 10/29/18 20:15 14 ESPN PATRIOTS 25 @ Bills 6 13 90/75 GAMES Points Possible 105 Tie Break (Total score Last Game) Total Points Off   Views: 98

NFL CONFIDENCE PICKS WEEK 7 10/18,21,22/2018

Welcome to our 6th year of NFL CONFIDENCE PICKS  !!!!! This also marks the 99th SEASON OF THE NFL!! NOTE: SUNDAY CHANGE SCHEDULE.  RAMS/ 49ERS AT 16:25    BENGALS/CHIEFS at 20:15 Flexible schedule started in week 5.  Below is an explanation of FLEXIBLE SCHEDLE.  In short it means some games may be switched to Sunday NIGHT from day game and the Sunday Night game may be played during the day.  IF you already know about FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING  or just really don’t care just scroll on down to the bracked. FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING Allows teams to play their way onto the Sunday night schedule In 2006 the NFL implemented a primetime “flexible scheduling” element on Sundays in Weeks 10-15 and in Week 17. In 2014 that was extended so that games between Weeks 5 and 17 could be affected by flex scheduling. However, only two games may be flexed into Sunday Night between Week 5 and 10. Flexible scheduling ensured quality matchups on Sunday night in those weeks and gave surprise teams a chance to play their way onto primetime. The NBC Sunday night time slot for “flex” weeks lists the game tentatively scheduled for Sunday night. Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, in which case the tentatively scheduled Sunday night game will be moved to an afternoon start time. Flexible scheduling will not be applied to games airing on Thursday, Saturday or Monday nights. Just as the six major college football conferences have done for many years, the NFL has the flexibility to move the start times of games on Sundays, using a 12-day notice format. For example, a game scheduled for a Sunday could move from a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff to an 8:15 p.m. start, but the change would be made and announced no later than the prior Tuesday, 12 days prior. Sunday afternoon games, as in the past, can still be moved between 1:00 and 4:05 or 4:25 p.m. ET. In Week 17, in order to ensure a Sunday night game with playoff implications, the decision to move the start time may be made on six days notice. NFL FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING 101 Begins Sunday of Week 5 In effect during Weeks 5-17 Up to 2 games may be flexed into Sunday Night between Weeks 5-10 Only Sunday afternoon games are subject to being moved into the Sunday night window. The game that has been tentatively scheduled for Sunday night during flex weeks will be listed at 8:15 p.m. ET. The majority of games on Sundays will be listed at 1:00 p.m. ET during flex weeks except for games played in Pacific or Mountain Time zones which will be listed at 4:05 or 4:15 p.m. ET. No impact on Thursday, Saturday or Monday night games. The NFL will decide (after consultation with CBS, FOX, NBC) and announce as early as possible the game being played at 8:15 p.m. ET. The announcement will come no later than 12 days prior to the game. The NFL may also announce games moving to 4:05 p.m. ET and 4:25 p.m. ET. Week 17 start time changes could be decided on 6 days notice to ensure a game with playoff implications. The NBC Sunday night time slot in “flex” weeks will list the game that has been tentatively scheduled for Sunday night. Fans and ticket holders must be aware that NFL games in flex weeks are subject to change 12 days in advance (6 days in Week 17) and should plan accordingly. NFL schedules all games. Teams will be informed as soon as they are no longer under consideration or eligible for a move to Sunday night. EARLY GAME:  09:30 SUNDAY 10/21/2018 We apologize to our mobile viewers.  As with (seemingly with all  new formats there are bugs to be worked out), we are working on the problem of full post not showing.  Thank you for your patience.. Six weeks; NINE OTs .  Yeah we have had 6 OTs  One each of the first 3 weeks and 3 LAST week. ADD 2 more in week 5.  We now have had 9 OTS in 6 weeks.  Did we have that many for the whole season last year.   Is it because of the rule changes or are we seeing more parity in the league. BELOW is a link to the new NFL rules for 2018 https://fromthemiddle.blog/2018/09/12/new-nfl-rules-for-2018/ For those of you who do not know how confidence ranking goes, let me explain. If we were playing an office pool,(which we ARE NOT).  The object is to score the most points. To obtain the score YOU rank the teams by how confident you are a team will win its game.  EXAMPLE:  Say this week we have 16 games.  The team you are most confident will win you would assign the number 16 and follow down to the team you are least confident in and assign that number 1.   You add up the TOTAL CORRECT PICKS.. That would be your score.  We use the Monday night (Last game played) as a TIE BREAKER.  The tie is broken by the closest to the total (that is the COMBINED score of the two participating teams) final score, without going over. If we were playing this is how my sheet would look;  My pick will be in bold Capital letters.  you can use circling, underlining, or highlighting.  I will show my correct points in Bold YOU can adopt the scoring  described above.  Or, the optional method.  A  negative score for missed games.  We will continue to get a positive score for correct predictions.  EXAMPLE:   if you scored          1 pt on the first game and you had 15 pts on the second game and lost you would still have a 1 on regular scoring.  1.  HOWEVER. with the same scenario new scoring system would result with a –14 score. I will fill in my picks Thursday.  Until then feel free to: Just copy and paste for your own Fun 7Pool Use.  Or to see if you can beat me. IF YOU SEE I MADE A MIS-COPY OF THE GAMES AND TIMES FEEL  FREE TO EMAIL ME AND TELL ME I GOOFED. GOOD LUCK TO ALL.… Continue reading NFL CONFIDENCE PICKS WEEK 7 10/18,21,22/2018

NFL CONFIDENCE PICKS WEEK 6 10/11,14,15/2018

Welcome to our 6th year of NFL CONFIDENCE PICKS  !!!!! This also marks the 99th SEASON OF THE NFL!! We apologize to our mobile viewers.  As with (seemingly with all  new formats there are bugs to be worked out), we are working on the problem of full post not showing.  Thank you for your patience.. Drew Brees sets most PASSING YARDS RECORD!  Move over Peyton Manning there is a new career leader YOU  are now in second place following Drew Brees record setting night.  Brees now has over 71,968 yards.  (On a personal note:  Those of us who watched him play at Purdue; considered him a Really Good College QB.  But had little faith he could carry that over to the NFL.  We even scoffed when he was drafted.  BOY!  Are our faces RED now. PANTHER  GRAHAM GANO  NAILS 63 YARD FG  in closing seconds of regulation to lift Carolina over NY Giants.   This puts him in a 5-way tie for second longest FG; behind   MATT PRATER who hit a 64 yd FG  for the BRONCOS  ( in the thin air of Denver) in 2013. Five weeks; EIGHT OTs .  Yeah we have had 6 OTs  One each of the first 3 weeks and 3 LAST week. ADD 2 more in week 5.  We now have had 8 OTS in 5 weeks.  Did we have that many for the whole season last year.   Is it because of the rule changes or are we seeing more parity in the league. https://fromthemiddle.blog/2018/09/12/new-nfl-rules-for-2018/ For those of you who do not know how confidence ranking goes, let me explain. If we were playing an office pool,(which we ARE NOT).  The object is to score the most points. To obtain the score YOU rank the teams by how confident you are a team will win its game.  EXAMPLE:  Say this week we have 16 games.  The team you are most confident will win you would assign the number 16 and follow down to the team you are least confident in and assign that number 1.   You add up the TOTAL CORRECT PICKS.. That would be your score.  We use the Monday night (Last game played) as a TIE BREAKER.  The tie is broken by the closest to the total (that is the COMBINED score of the two participating teams) final score, without going over. If we were playing this is how my sheet would look;  My pick will be in bold Capital letters.  you can use circling, underlining, or highlighting.  I will show my correct points in Bold YOU can adopt the scoring  described above.  Or, the optional method.  A  negative score for missed games.  We will continue to get a positive score for correct predictions.  EXAMPLE:   if you scored          1 pt on the first game and you had 15 pts on the second game and lost you would still have a 1 on regular scoring.  1.  HOWEVER. with the same scenario new scoring system would result with a –14 score. I will fill in my picks Thursday.  Until then feel free to: Just copy and paste for your own Fun 7Pool Use.  Or to see if you can beat me. IF YOU SEE I MADE A MIS-COPY OF THE GAMES AND TIMES FEEL  FREE TO EMAIL ME AND TELL ME I GOOFED. GOOD LUCK TO ALL. BYE WEEK: LIONS and SAINTS All Times AST (Atlantic Standard Time)  Alias EDT  GAME # TV VISITOR SCORE   HOME SCORE CONFIDENCE RUNNING SCORE THUR 10/11/18  20:20           1 FOX EAGLES 34 @ Giants 13 3 3/3     SUNDAY 10/14/18 13:00 2 FOX Buccaneers 29 @ FALCONS 34 9 12/12 3 FOX Panthers 17 @ REDSKINS 23 1 13/13 4 FOX SEAHAWKS 27 @ Raiders 3 6 19/19 5 CBS Colts 34 @ JETS 42 7 26/26 6 FOX Cardinals 17 @ VIKINGS 27 15 41/41 7 CBS Steelers 28 @ BENGALS 21 4 41/37 8 CBS CHARGERS 38 @ Browns 14 2 42/39 9 CBS Bills 13 @ TEXANS 20 14 56/53 10 FOX BEARS 28 @ Dolphins 31(OT) 10 56/43 SUNDAY 10/14/18 14:05 11 FOX RAMS 23 @ Broncos 20 12 68/55 SUNDAY 10/14/18 14:25 12 CBS RAVENS 21 @ Titans 0 5 73/60 13 CBS JAGUARS 7 @ Cowboys 40 8 73/52 SUNDAY 10/14/18 20:20 14 NBC Chiefs 40 @ PATRIOTS 43 11 84/63 MONDAY 10/15/18 20:15 15 ESPN 49’ERS 30 @ PACKERS 33 13 97/76 GAMES Points Possible 120 Tie Break (Total score Last Game) 48 80%/13% 80%/63% Total 63 Points Off -15   Views: 85

NFL CONFIDENCE PICKS WEEK 5 10/4,7,8/2018

Welcome to our 6th year of NFL CONFIDENCE PICKS  !!!!! This also marks the 99th SEASON OF THE NFL!! PANTHER  GRAHAM GANO  NAILS 63 YARD FG  in closing seconds of regulation to lift Carolina over NY Giants.   This puts him in a 5-way tie for second longest FG; behind   MATT PRATER who hit a 64 yd FG  for the BRONCOS  ( in the thin air of Denver) in 2013. Four weeks; SIX OTs .  Yeah we have had 6 OTs  One each of the first 3 weeks and 3 this week.   Is it because of the rule changes or are we seeing more parity in the league. The COLTS situatioa.  Tie or win.  USUALLY, I would favor going for the win.  HOWEVER in the present status of the COLTS,  I would have welcomed a tie.  I didn’t feel they have what it takes at this time of  the season, to risk a win.  Had they been deeper in the Texans field I probably would go for the win.  But from their field position, there is just NO WAY. Here is a list of the rule changes, as I understand them. https://fromthemiddle.blog/2018/09/12/new-nfl-rules-for-2018/ For those of you who do not know how confidence ranking goes, let me explain. If we were playing an office pool,(which we ARE NOT).  The object is to score the most points. To obtain the score YOU rank the teams by how confident you are a team will win its game.  EXAMPLE:  Say this week we have 16 games.  The team you are most confident will win you would assign the number 16 and follow down to the team you are least confident in and assign that number 1.   You add up the TOTAL CORRECT PICKS.. That would be your score.  We use the Monday night (Last game played) as a TIE BREAKER.  The tie is broken by the closest to the total (that is the COMBINED score of the two participating teams) final score, without going over. If we were playing this is how my sheet would look;  My pick will be in bold Capital letters.  you can use circling, underlining, or highlighting.  I will show my correct points in Bold YOU can adopt the scoring  described above.  Or, the optional method.  A  negative score for missed games.  We will continue to get a positive score for correct predictions.  EXAMPLE:   if you scored          1 pt on the first game and you had 15 pts on the second game and lost you would still have a 1 on regular scoring.  1.  HOWEVER. with the same scenario new scoring system would result with a –14 score. I will fill in my picks Thursday.  Until then feel free to: Just copy and paste for your own Fun 7Pool Use.  Or to see if you can beat me. IF YOU SEE I MADE A MIS-COPY OF THE GAMES AND TIMES FEEL  FREE TO EMAIL ME AND TELL ME I GOOFED. GOOD LUCK TO ALL. BYE WEEK: BEARS and BUCCANEERS All Times AST (Atlantic Standard Time)  Alias EDT  GAME # TV VISITOR SCORE   HOME SCORE CONFIDENCE RUNNING SCORE THURSDAY   10/4/18 2020           1 FOX Colts 24 @ PATRIOTS 38 15 15/15     SUNDAY 10/7/18 13:00 2 CBS TITANS 12 Bills 13 3 15/12 3 FOX Falcons 17 STEELERS 41 6 21/18 4 CBS Broncos 16 JETS 24 1 22/19 5 CBS Jaguars 14 CHIEFS 30 4 26/23 6 FOX PACKERS 23 Lions 31 2 26/21 7 CBS RAVENS 9 Browns 12 (OT) 13 26/8 8 FOX Giants 31 PANTHERS 33 8 34/16 9 CBS Dolphins 17 BENGALS 27 11 45/27 SUNDAY 10/7/18 16:05 10 CBS Raiders 10 CHARGERS 26 10 55/37 SUNDAY 10/7/18 16:25 11 FOX Cardinals 28 49’ERS 18 9 55/28 12 FOX Vikings 23 EAGLES 21 5 55/23 13 FOX RAMS 33 Seahawks 31 14 69/37 SUNDAY 10/7/18 20:20 14 NBC Cowboys 16 TEXANS 19 (OT) 7 76/44 MONDAY 10/08/18 20:15 .. 15 ESPN Redskins 19 SAINTS 43 12 88/56 GAMES Points Possible 120 Tie Break (Total score Last Game) 51 Total 62 Points Off -11   Views: 101

NFL Confidence Picks Week 3 9/20,23,24/2018

Welcome to our 6th year of NFL CONFIDENCE PICKS  !!!!! This also marks the 99th SEASON OF THE NFL!! Week 2 went and we had our second game end in a tie (I really don’t like ties.  Basketball games don’t end in ties; nor do Baseball games.  Why FOOTBALL?  I have to think it is something the players want.  Because they don’t want to play any more minutes than they have to. We had one game end with a mere point separation.  Two games with 3 point deficents Here is a list of the rule changes, as I understand them. https://fromthemiddle.blog/2018/09/12/new-nfl-rules-for-2018/ For those of you who do not know how confidence ranking goes, let me explain. If we were playing an office pool,(which we ARE NOT).  The object is to score the most points. To obtain the score YOU rank the teams by how confident you are a team will win its game.  EXAMPLE:  Say this week we have 16 games.  The team you are most confident will win you would assign the number 16 and follow down to the team you are least confident in and assign that number 1.   You add up the TOTAL CORRECT PICKS.. That would be your score.  We use the Monday night (Last game played) as a TIE BREAKER.  The tie is broken by the closest to the total (that is the COMBINED score of the two participating teams) final score, without going over. If we were playing this is how my sheet would look;  My pick will be in bold Capital letters.  you can use circling, underlining, or highlighting.  I will show my correct points in Bold YOU can adopt the scoring  described above.  Or, the optional method.  A  negative score for missed games.  We will continue to get a positive score for correct predictions.  EXAMPLE:   if you scored          1 pt on the first game and you had 15 pts on the second game and lost you would still have a 1 on regular scoring.  1.  HOWEVER. with the same scenario new scoring system would result with a –14 score. I will fill in my picks Thursday.  Until then feel free to: Just copy and paste for your own Fun Pool Use.  Or to see if you can beat me. IF YOU SEE I MADE A MIS-COPY OF THE GAMES AND TIMES FEEL  FREE TO EMAIL ME AND TELL ME I GOOFED. GOOD LUCK TO ALL. BYE WEEK:  NONE All Times AST (Atlantic Standard Time)  Alias EDT  GAME # TV VISITOR SCORE   HOME SCORE CONFIDENCE RUNNING SCORE  THUR   09/20/18 20:20       1 NBC Jets 17 @ BROWNS 21 4 4/4     SUNDAY 09/23/18 13;00 2 FOX Saints 36 @ FALCONS 43 (OT) 5 9/9 3 FOX PACKERS 17 @ Redskins 31 3 9/6 4 FOX Colts 16 @ EAGLES 20 13 22/19 5 CBS Bills 27 @ VIKINGS 6 16 22/3 6 CBS Raiders 20 @ DOLPHINS 28 6 28/9 9 CBS Broncos 14 @ RAVENS 27 9 37/18 8 CBS Bengals 21 @ PANTHERS 31 7 44/25 9 FOX Giants 27 @ TEXANS 22 12 44/13 10 FOX Titans 9 @ JAGUARS 6 15 44/2 11 FOX 49’ers 27 @ CHIEFS 38 11 55/9 SUNDAY 09/23/18 14:05 12 CBS Chargers 23 @ RAMS 35 10 65/19 SUNDAY 09/23/17 14:25 13 FOX Cowboys 13 @ SEAHAWKS 24 2 67/21 14 FOX BEARS 16 @ Cardinals 14 8 75/29 SUNDAY 09/2317 20:20 15 NBC PATRIOTS 10 @ Lions 26 14 75/15 MONDAY 09/24/18 20:15 16 ESPN STEELERS 30 @ Buccaneers 27 1 76/16 GAMES 10/6 63%/37% 56%/12%  Points Possible 136 Tie Break  (Total score Last Game) 52 Actual  Total 57 Points  Off -5 Views: 93

NFL CONFIDENCE PICKS WEEK 2 09/13-09-16, 17/2018

Welcome to our 6th year of NFL CONFIDENCE PICKS  !!!!! This also marks the 99th SEASON OF THE NFL!! Here is a list of the rule changes, as I understand them. https://fromthemiddle.blog/2018/09/12/new-nfl-rules-for-2018/ For those of you who do not know how confidence ranking goes, let me explain.   If we were playing an office pool,(which we ARE NOT).  The object is to score the most points. To obtain the score YOU rank the teams by how confident you are a team will win its game.  EXAMPLE:  Say this week we have 16 games.  The team you are most confident will win you would assign the number 16 and follow down to the team you are least confident in and assign that number 1.   We use the Monday night game as a TIE BREAKER.  The tie is broke by the closest to the total (that is the COMBINED score of the two participating teams) final score, without going over. If we were playing this is how my sheet would look;  My pick will be in bold Capital letters.  you can use circling, underlining, or highlighting.  I will show my correct points in Bold YOU can adopt the scoring  described above.  Or, the optional method.  A  negative score for missed games.  We will continue to get a positive score for correct predictions.  EXAMPLE:   if you scored 1 pt on the first game and you had 15 pts on the second game and lost you would still have a Positive 1.  HOWEVER. with the same scenario new scoring system would result with a –14 score. I will fill in my picks Thursday.  Until then feel free to: Just copy and paste for your own Fun Pool Use.  Or to see if you can beat me. IF YOU SEE I MADE A MIS-COPY OF THE GAMES AND TIMES FEEL  FREE TO EMAIL ME AND TELL ME I GOOFED. GOOD LUCK TO ALL. BYE WEEK:  NONE All Times AST (Atlantic Standard Time)  Alias EDT GAME # TV VISITOR SCORE   HOME SCORE CONFIDENCE RUNNING SCORE  THUR   09/13/18 20:20       1 NBC RAVENS 23 @ Bengals 34 2 0/2     SUNDAY 09/15/18 13;00 2 FOX Panthers 24 @ FALCONS 31 10 10/8 3 CBS Colts 21 @ REDSKINS 9 12 10/04 4 CBS TEXANS 7 @ Titans 20 3 10/07 5 FOX EAGLES 21 @ Buccaneers 27 8 10/10 6 CBS Chiefs 42 @ STEELERS 37 9 10/19 9 CBS Dolphins 20 @ JETS 12 5 10/28 8 CBS CHARGERS 31 @ Bills 20 14 24/14 9 FOX Vikings 29 @ PACKERS 29 TIE 1 24/14 10 FOX Browns 18 @ SAINTS 21 15 39/01 SUNDAY 09/16/17 14:25 11 FOX Lions 27 @ 49’ers 30 11 50/12 12 FOX Cardinals 0 @ RAMS 34 16 66/28 SUNDAY 09/16/17 14:25 13 CBS PATRIOTS 20 @ Jaguars 31 11 66/17 14 CBS Raiders 19 @ BRONCOS 20 13 79/30 SUNDAY 09/16/17 20:20 15 NBC Giants 13 @ COWBOYS 20 6 85/36 MONDAY 09/17/18 20:15 16 ESPN Seahawks 17 @ BEARS 24 7 92/43 GAMES 7/9  Points Possible 136 Tie Break  (Total score Last Game) 43 44%/46% 68%/32% Actual  Total 41 Points  Off ×2 Views: 93

NFL CONFIDENCE PICKS WEEK 1 09/06-09-10/2018

Welcome to our 6th year of NFL CONFIDENCE PICKS  !!!!! This also marks the 99th SEASON OF THE NFL!!          SORRY FOR THE DELAY IN POSTING.  WE         ENCOUNTERED  A FEW TECHNICAL DIFICULTIES. WE saw a new NFL record set Sunday:  LONGEST GAME.  Due to the LIGHTNING delay the Titans/Dolphins game set the record at 7 hours, 10 minutes.  Previous record: 5 hours, 16 minutes – Bears vs. Ravens  in 1970.   (There may have been a longer game before the NFL-AFL merger). After reviewing the “QUESTIONABLE  INCOMPLETE”, call for Atlanta Falcon’s  Julio Jones.  I must concur the call was correct,  It appeared the ball touched the ground before he gained control of the ball.  Unless I am in error of my understanding.  THE new POLICY, regarding STANDING FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.  Is still a P-O-L-I-C–Y!  Which is what it was last year, when the NFL said a POLICY is not a rule, and cannot be enforced.  The only thing I see different is the OPTION to not come on the field.  So it appears NFL only publicized it as appeasement to UNITED STATES CITIZENS.  The only enforcement will be up to the owners,(and we saw they didn’t enforce it last year. Rule changes and point of EMPHASIS will only appear here this one time.  I will try to put them on a separate post with a link to that post on future weeks. So if you don’t want to read these changes just page down to the bracket. Here is a list of the rule changes, as I understand them. 2018 NFL RULES CHANGES USE OF HELMET The most significant change for 2018 is the new Use of Helmet rule. The rule states that it is a foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opponent. This rule pertains to all players on the field, and to all areas of the field. Visit the searchable 2018 NFL Rulebook. The officiating standards for the Use of Helmet rule are:  Lowering the head (not to include bracing for contact) Initiating contact with the helmet to any part of an opponent. Contact does not have to be to an opponent’s head or neck area — lowering the head and initiating contact to an opponent’s torso, hips, and lower body, is also a foul. Making contact on an opponent (both offense and defense) Players can be ejected for use of helmet fouls — and all ejections will be reviewed by senior officials in Art McNally GameDay Central in New York. The standards for ejection are, if:  The player lowers his helmet to establish a linear body posture prior to initiating and making contact with the helmet; The player delivering the blow had an unobstructed path to his opponent; and if The contact was clearly avoidable KICKOFF RULES  Owners voted to change the kickoff rules for the 2018 season. The Committee will reevaluate the effects of the changes in the offseason. New kickoff rules for the 2018 NFL season. Beginning this season:  The kickoff team must have five players on each side of the ball and cannot line up more than one-yard from the restraining line. For example, the kicking team will line up at the 34-yard line for a kickoff from the 35-yard line. At least two players must be lined up outside the yard-line number and two players between the inbounds lines (hash marks) and the yard-line number. At least eight players of the receiving team must be lined up in the 15-yard “setup zone” prior to kickoff; only three receiving-team players can remain outside of the setup zone. No wedge blocks are permitted. A wedge block is defined as “two or more players intentionally aligning shoulder-to-shoulder within two yards of each other, and who move forward together in an attempt to block for the runner.” Players initially lined up in the setup zone may still double-team a block if it is not a wedge block. Until the ball is touched or hits the ground, no player on either the receiving or kicking team may block within the 15-yard area from the kicking team’s restraining line. On an onside kick, the kicking team may not block in the first 10 yards. The ball is dead if it is not touched by the receiving team and touches the ground in the end zone (touchback). Visit the NFL rulebook to see the official language for the 2018 kickoff rules. CATCH RULE  Owners voted to simplify the standards of a catch. There are now three main requirements for completing a catch. The player must:  Owners voted to simplify the standards of a catch.  Have control of the ball Get two feet or another body part down Make a football move, such as a third step, reaching or extending for the line-to-gain, or having the ability to perform such an act A player no longer must control the ball through the ground for a completed catch, and movement of the ball does not automatically result in loss of control. If a player loses control of the ball, it is an incomplete pass if the ball hits the ground before he regains control, or if he regains control out of bounds. A receiver is considered defenseless throughout the entire process of a catch, up until the player is capable of avoiding or warding off impending contact. ILLEGAL BATTING AND KICKING THE BALL It is an illegal bat if:  Any player bats or punches a loose ball in the field of play toward his opponent’s goal line Any player bats or punches a loose ball (that has touched the ground) in any direction, if it is in either end zone An offensive player bats a backward pass in flight toward his opponent’s goal line. A forward pass in flight may be tipped, batted, or deflected in any direction by any eligible player at any time. No player may deliberately kick a loose ball or a ball that is in a player’s… Continue reading NFL CONFIDENCE PICKS WEEK 1 09/06-09-10/2018

NFL Confidence Picks WEEK 17 12/31/ 2017

Everyone seems to be making an ado, about NO SUNDAY NIGHT GAME.  As if it were something the NFL  just arbitrarily changed at the last minute.  THEY DIDN’T.  The schedule you see printed here is the one I got from the NFL before the season started.  So, if sportscasters, coaches, players, etc. seem surprised….I guess they were only looking at one week at a time. INDIANA, legislators working to compel full face refund by end of 1st period if players kneel during National Anthem.  GOOD FOR THEM.  If the NFL won’t enforce their POLICY/RULES; at least in INDIANA, if the proposal passes, will give the PATRIOTIC FANS a little more say. For those of you who do not know how confidence ranking works, let me explain. If we were playing an office pool,(which we ARE NOT).  The object is to score the most points. To obtain the score YOU rank the teams by how confident you are a team will win its game.  EXAMPLE:  Say this week we have 16 games.  The team you are most confident will win you would assign the number 16 and follow down to the team you are least confident in and assign that number 1.   We use the Monday night game(last game) as a TIE BREAKER.  The tie is broken by the closest to the total (that is the COMBINED score of the two participating teams) final score, without going over. If we were playing this is how my sheet would look;  My pick will be in bold Capital letters.  you can use circling, underlining, or highlighting.  I will show my correct points in Bold YOU can adopt the scoring  described above.  Or, the optional method.  A  negative score for missed games.  We will continue to get a positive score for correct predictions.  EXAMPLE:   if you scored 1 pt on the first game and you had 15 pts on the second game and lost you would still have a Positive 1.  HOWEVER. with the same scenario new scoring system would result with a -14 score. I will fill in my picks Thursday.  Until then feel free to: Just copy and paste for your own Fun Pool Use.  Or to see if you can beat me. IF YOU SEE I MADE A MIS-COPY OF THE GAMES AND TIMES FEEL  FREE TO CONTACT ME AND TELL ME I GOOFED. GOOD LUCK TO ALL. BYE WEEK:  NONE NOTE: Flexible Scheduling     NO Thursday or Monday Games.   ALL GAMES SUNDAY. NO NEW YEARS DAY GAME.  ENJOY THE COLLEGE BOWLS All Times EST  GAME # TV VISITOR SCORE   HOME SCORE CONFIDENCE RUNNING SCORE SUNDAY  12:31 13:00           1 FOX Panthers @ Falcons 2 CBS Bengals  @ Ravens 3 CBS  Jaguars @ Titans 4 FOX Saints @  Buccaneers 5 CBS Browns @ Steelers 6 FOX Packers @  Lions 7 CBS   Texans @ Colts 8 CBS Bills @ Dolphins  9 FOX Bears @ Vikings  10 CBS Jets @ Patriots 11 FOX Redskins @  Giants 12 FOX Cowboys @  Eagles SUNDAY  12:31  16:25 13 CBS Raiders @  Chargers 14 CBS Chiefs @  Broncos 15 FOX 49’ers @  Ram 16 FOX  Cardinals @ Seahawks  GAMES  136 Pts Possible   Tie Break (Sunday 2 team  total Actual Views: 108

NFL Confidence Picks WEEK 16 12/23,23,24,25/ 2017

Two more weeks of  regular NFL football season.  I watched  just one game this year.  If I wanted to support NON-AMERICANS ,  play games,  I would simply subscribe to foreign channels.  By Non-American I am really saying NON-PATRIOTS.  BUT…that is a part of living in this great nation.  IT IS THEIR RIGHT.  So long as they do not break the law.  HOWEVER they have INFRINGED upon my right to enjoy what was once my enjoyment of the game.  The SPINELESS OWNERS and COMMISSIONER,  who chose not to enforce, POLICY/RULES.  I have made it through this year.  Maybe next year I won’t watch any games again.  Or EVER.  Baseball is one game I have not missed since the season of the BIG STRIKE.  (Except 1 game).   NBA has nothing to offer since they have changed all the RULES.  (Allowing Palming the ball, Not counting Steps as travelling,  Offensive Goal Tending).  I was watching a clip of Michael Jordan.  He dribbled 6 times bringing the ball down the court,  taking a couple steps each time he palmed, (placing the hand under the ball between dribbles, and taking at least 2 steps.  I also counted a MINIMUM of 4 steps before OFFENSIVE GOAL TENDING, [slam dunk, which allows the hand to occupy the imaginary area above the rim, {NOTE:  Defensive players are not allowed in this area}.  I am rapidly running out of sports.  Maybe Austrailan Rules Football will gain popularity here.   AND TOTALLY FORGET SOCCER.  I  am only talking about sports here.  ICE HOCKEY I can enjoy, Maybe I will start watching more of it.  I may find it has unpatriotic players too.  Have to check it out.   As for Olympians:  Never think you are playing for the President or anyone but yourself, and your Country.  (Few successful American Olympians are not quite well off financially.  So you see they are playing for their own selves,  representing your Country is merely a side affect). _______________________________________________ You can skip this part if you want. NON SPORTS RELATED  Most of the RETIREES on Social Security I have spoken with, once again,  are going in the hole with the so-called “RAISE”,  The government claimed to give them.  Everyone I spoke to either get a smaller check or stay where they have been for many years now.  The “RAISE”, was eaten up in Medicare payments.   The increased deductible, etc. Imagine if you will paying a portion of your check into a non-interest bearing retirement fund for 50 years.  Your money would buy more when you invested it, than it will now.  Imagine if you have not had a real raise for several years.  Your employee insurance does not cover a great deal of your medical expenses,  NO MORE Dental,  “but you need dental work, all out of your pocket.  You have to pay 15% of what you bring home for INSURANCE to cover the costs not covered by the employee insurance. EXAMPLE:  YOUR GROSS PER WEEK  $295 –(insurance) $32 =$263– (deductible) $43= $220 – (co-insurance to pick up what original insurance does not cover) $116= $104. Now subtract Dental, Vision, (I just got new glasses, cost me $1180).  Utility bills, FOOD, Home/renters Insurance, Home Maintenance, Transportation costs, (Fares, gas, Insurance for  auto,  Maintenance, etc). Prescriptions not covered,  Entertainment? And let’s not forget the little Over The Counter medicines, aspirin, cold, flu, allergy, etc.  Gifts for your childeren, spouse, parents?  How are you doing?  OH yes I did forget SHELTER, didn’t I.  WHAT CAN YOU GIVE UP???  Pets, If you live alone, you really need a pet. I know some of you are saying “YOU should have saved some of your own income for retirement”.   I know people who did.  However They lost a lot in the “RECESSION”  pre -2009.  The cut backs.  Jobs lost due to closures.  I know of one person who has 2 bachelor degrees, 2 masters, degrees, and 2 doctorals.  After 25 years in his field, (too young for SS).  Applied for an entry level job. Actually below entry level, ( in his field.  Was told, “Sorry you don’t meet the minimum requirements”.  In reality they were telling him TOO OLD.  But since that would be discrimination…. Had to live on that savings for 8 years, until reaching SS retirement.  Either OVER/UNDER qualified.   Truthful now could you do it.    MOVIE REVIEW:  THE LAST JEDI After last year’s installment of the STAR WARS saga,  I was ready to give it up.  ROUGUE ONE, was the ABSOLUTE WORST of all Star wars movies.  Pushing to worst movie of all time. I really did not want to pay that money if I was going to sleep through most of it, as I did Rougue One.   A friend talked me into going (They paid). I was amazed how Last Jedi, returned to the greatness of past Star Wars.  The story line was much more coherent, the cinemagraphics, was a GIANT leap, from Rougue One.   The actors did not seem to be forcing lines, as they did in Rougue One.  The use of 3-D excellent, (Rougue One, I had to keep checking to assure myself the movie really was 3-D).   Even went out of the theater to be sure I was in the correct one.  I was.  By taking in a Noon showing on Sunday, it was like a private showing, only 17 of us in the theater.  Goodrich Quality Theaters offered a Tuesday showing, (not 3-D) to loyalty members for $5.  If not for prior commitments I would have watched it again. 5 stars for 3-D version.  Highly recommend this one for all Star Wars fans. ————————————————————————————— For those of you who do not know how confidence ranking works, let me explain. If we were playing an office pool,(which we ARE NOT).  The object is to score the most points. To obtain the score YOU rank the teams by how confident you are a team will win its game.  EXAMPLE:  Say this week we have 16 games.  The team you are most confident will win you would assign the number 16 and follow down to the team… Continue reading NFL Confidence Picks WEEK 16 12/23,23,24,25/ 2017

NFL Confidence Picks WEEK 15 12/14,16,17,18/11/ 2017

I must admit.  I did watch the Colts and Bills game.  It was good to watch a game Being played in the natural elements.  Like before the move to warmer climates, and domed stadiums.  (Indoor stadiums; BAH HUMBUG!) I do think the Colts got ripped off.  As mo st of the people I heard talking about the game.  The Colts successfuly scored as conversion play.  THEN! About 2-3 minutes (at least);  in reL time passed THEN a flag was thrown nullifying the winning score.  I truly believe there should be a time limit forf throwing a flag.  This one was ridiculous.   The thought of these people I listened to is;  Colts had nothing to gain with a win.  The Bill’s, a possible play off spot.  So the officials decided to throw the L A T  E   flag in order to give the Bills a second chance.   I think they have a point. What do you think.  Should there be a time limit for a flag to be thrown.  Looking to the suspensions of  former players for  “SEXUAL HARASSMENT” .  My,Oh My.  What a travesty.  I find it absolutely appalling that a WOMAN, is able to make ACCUSATIONS of  Sexual Harassment, without offering any proof.  People accept these accusations, (which can destroy a persons life), as fact.  Remember in the USA a person is ”  INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY”.   However, that does not seem to be the case here.  Public figures, as well as anyone else, can be the object of this CHARACTER ASSANIATION.   A woman can do this, however if a MAN were to say similar things about a woman he would be totally ignored.   I am merely asking that a woman OR a man, be prepared to prove the things they say.  A majority of these ACCUSERS have no proof.  It is merely a case of  SHE said, HE said.  I find it difficult to believe, any one sexually harassing some one would do it in PUBLIC.   Therefore a “SHE said, He said.  I am certain some of these may occur in a a public setting.  Did anyone actually see it?  Will they be able to support the accusations.  So many of these accusations, took place long ago. I have also noticed many of these women have accepted some kind of  “SETTLEMENT”.  Then when they think they can get another 15 minutes of fame.  BRING it up again, in public media.   I am not saying these things did not happen.  Only that ACCUSERS powered by the media are ruining people’s lives just by intimiting these improprieties.  Because of  you lemmings out there choose to believe anything the MEDIA puts out there.  SHAME on you.  For letting the media CONTROL YOU. This is merely my opinion.  and I can live with it.  If you can live with yourselves for being a lamb led to slaughter without questioning it…….   For those of you who do not know how confidence ranking works, let me explain. If we were playing an office pool,(which we ARE NOT).  The object is to score the most points. To obtain the score YOU rank the teams by how confident you are a team will win its game.  EXAMPLE:  Say this week we have 16 games.  The team you are most confident will win you would assign the number 16 and follow down to the team you are least confident in and assign that number 1.   We use the Monday night game(last game) as a TIE BREAKER.  The tie is broken by the closest to the total (that is the COMBINED score of the two participating teams) final score, without going over. If we were playing this is how my sheet would look;  My pick will be in bold Capital letters.  you can use circling, underlining, or highlighting.  I will show my correct points in Bold YOU can adopt the scoring  described above.  Or, the optional method.  A  negative score for missed games.  We will continue to get a positive score for correct predictions.  EXAMPLE:   if you scored 1 pt on the first game and you had 15 pts on the second game and lost you would still have a Positive 1.  HOWEVER. with the same scenario new scoring system would result with a -14 score. I will fill in my picks Thursday.  Until then feel free to: Just copy and paste for your own Fun Pool Use.  Or to see if you can beat me. IF YOU SEE I MADE A MIS-COPY OF THE GAMES AND TIMES FEEL  FREE TO EMAIL ME AND TELL ME I GOOFED. GOOD LUCK TO ALL.  NOTE: Flexible Scheduling      2 Saturday games.  16:30, and                                                                         20:25 All Times EST  GAME # TV VISITOR SCORE   HOME SCORE CONFIDENCE RUNNING SCORE THUR  12/14/17 20:25         1 NBC Broncos @  Colts    Saturday  12/16/17  16:30  2 NFL  Bears  @  Lions Saturday    12/16/17 20:25  3 NFL Chargers  @  Chiefs Sunday 12/17/17 13:00 4 CBS Texans @ Jaguars 5 CBS Ravens @ Browns 6 FOX Packers @ Panthers  7 CBS  Dolphins @ Bills 8 CBS   Bengals @ Vikings  9 FOX Cardinals @ Redskins 10 FOX Eagles @ Giants  11 CBS Jets @  Saints Sunday  12/17/17 16:05 12 FOX Rams @ Seahawks Sunday  12/17/17 16:25 13 CBS  Titans @ 49’ers 14 CBS  Patriots  @ Steelers Sunday  12/17/17 20:30 15 NBC Cowboys @ Raiders MONDAY 112/18/17 16  ESPN  Falcons @ Buccaneers GAMES 136 Pts Possible GAMES Tie Break (Sunday 2 team  total  Actual Score  Points Off Views: 104