The scene was set. The Eagles had just scored on a Nick Foles to Zach Ertz touchdown pass.  First, and of course, it needed to be reviewed and, I’m sure, no one understands the “catch” rule.  NBC was forced to show replay after replay and the fans and viewers were forced to wait out the most critical of calls.

Finally, another aspect of the “catch” rule came into play – when does the receiver become a runner? Zach Ertz became a runner, not a receiver, when he broke the plane of the goal line.  The Eagles went for the two-point conversion and failed.  Instead of being ahead by seven, the Eagles were up 38-33, but there was 2:21 left on the clock.

The scene was set, alright. It was set for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots to go down the field and win another Super Bowl.  How many times have all the other teams around the league endured this kind of New England victory?

Brady had not been sacked all day and, we all know, when he has time, receivers Gronkowski and Amendola shine. I’m sure every Eagles’ fan was expecting the worst.  But Brandon Graham forced a Brady fumble and rookie Derek Barnett recovered.  The Eagles scored again with 1:01 on the clock.  The margin now was eight.  New England could only tie them.

It did not happen. Eagles 41- New England 33.

The Eagles won their first Super Bowl. I watched their last championship in 1960 (I was 14 at the time).  The game was played on the day after Christmas in Philadelphia against Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers.  The Eagles won the game 17-13.  It was the only playoff loss suffered by a Vince Lombardi team.  Bethlehem native Chuck Bednarik (nicknamed “60-minutes Chuck”) played center on offense and linebacker on defense.  He was awesome.

Fifty-eight years is a long time to wait between championships, but his one was sweeter than most because, much like the Packers in 1960, the Patriots today were thought to be invincible and unbeatable.

NFL football certainly had their problems this year – the National Anthem protest, lower ratings, injuries to many of their elite players (Aaron Rodgers and T. J. Watt to name just two), review after review of plays leading to longer and longer games, and the biggest problem of all – the continuing concussion and brain damage effects of playing the game.

But today, that is a discussion for another time. The Eagles are the Super Bowl champions for 2017!  Oh, myyyyy!!

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME SUPER BOWL MUSINGS) 

1. In the biggest game of the year, why did NBC elect NOT to have a retired official in the booth? Two of the biggest plays in the game, the Alshon Jeffery catch for a touchdown and the Zach Ertz catch in the fourth quarter certainly could have used another set of eyes.
2. Can’t Bill Belichick just once dress like a normal person? I threw a party at my house and everyone at the party was dressed better than he was!
3. Overall, despite some great challengers (like the M&M commercial with Danny DeVito), I thought the Tide commercials were the most creative. My only question was whether the Super Bowl was loaded with their target audience. I’ll let the marketing people decide if it was a stroke of genius or money that was not well-spent.
4. I’m sure you saw the young man who became the focus of the Justin Timberlake half-time show when Timberlake went into the stands. Timberlake ended up taking a “selfie” at the end of the performance with the youngster. If you can believe social media, the boy did not even know who Justin Timberlake was.
5. Be honest. Could Nick Foles and his wife have a cuter baby? And the baby seemed to enjoy every minute of her time on camera.

 Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 1-0; OVERALL – 172-94 – 65%)

SUPER BOWL CHAMPION

Never wrote this before:

THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES!!

Be honest. Even if the Eagles weren’t the team playing the Patriots, wouldn’t you root for the other team anyway?  Aren’t you sick of seeing Bill Belichick trying to smile after winning the big game, but looking like he’s already thinking about the opening game of the following season?  “Enjoy the moment” just doesn’t seem to be in his psyche.

Of course, Tom Brady is the best quarterback to play the game. But this is his eighth Super Bowl.  When you see him holding the trophy over his head after another win, are you sure the media is not using an old photograph?  They all look the same.  And most of us are really tired of that picture.

So, can we agree that we all want the Eagles to win? The real question is, “Can they?”

I do not think anyone would have thought Tom Brady would be taking on Nick Foles for the ultimate NFL prize. But, this game is not necessarily about who is the better quarterback.  That’s Brady, for sure.  Football is a team game and the Eagles have played with a team mentality all year.

Brady is providing almost all of the New England offense. He threw 91 passes in the last two games – 91!!  New England cannot run the football.  I expect Brady to throw on almost every down (@50 for the game).  Brady is the master of the quick pass so it is imperative that the Eagles win the battle up front.  And, it appears that Rob Gronkowski will be back after the two-week layoff (good for Gronk; bad for Eagles).

The Eagles have a much more balanced offensive attack with their stable of running backs and good receivers and the Eagles’ defense stops the run better than any team, which means they can concentrate on stopping Brady. The magic defensive potion this year has been the depth of their line.  They are always fresh and, because of that, they can continuously get after the quarterback.

Don’t disregard the underdog status and the fan support. The Philadelphia Eagles have never won a Super Bowl.  This team lost valuable player after valuable player as the year progressed (Sproles, Peters, Hicks, Wentz, Sturgis) and still overcame those obstacles.  These fans have never experienced the euphoria of this victory and have inspired the Eagles onto greatness, for sure.

The Eagles are 4 ½ point underdogs. That’s good.  They were underdogs against Atlanta and they were underdogs against Minnesota.

Two years ago, after more than a hundred years, the Chicago Cubs finally won a World Series. Why not the Eagles?  Why not the Eagles?

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. Just for musing purposes, in the last few weeks, there were rumblings about Bill Belichick going to the Giants (obviously, that won’t happen) and Brady continuing to play. Brady has never played for any other NFL coach. It begs the question: Who is more valuable to the Patriots – Brady or Belichick? Argue about that at your Super Bowl party before the game.
2. Six NFL coaches were fired and one retired. One could make the case that seven more could have been let go. If you take this job, you have a one in five chance of keeping it until you decide to leave.
3. Minnesota fans have not forgotten the way some Eagles’ fans treated them last weekend. It turns out the Eagles’ players are having difficulty getting dinner reservations once they identify themselves. Throwing beer cans, picking fights, pushing, cursing, and booing the Viking fans in Philadelphia has not been forgotten, I guess.
4. The Eagles and the Patriots met in the 2005 Super Bowl (XXXIX), and the Pats won 24-21. That was the game where Donovan McNabb vomited on the field and the Eagles suffered from poor clock management. Please don’t let New England forge another comeback and win by three or less. In their five wins, New England has won by an average of 3.8 points. A late comeback win by New England may cause upset stomachs in all of us.
5. Believe it or not, there are only three more regular season games in the EPC and the Colonial League. RCN-TV has Freedom at Liberty and Bethlehem Catholic at Easton on Friday. Next Monday, it’s Allen at Parkland and Emmaus at Nazareth. Teams are fighting to qualify for their conference and district spots. Watch it all unfold on RCN-TV.

 Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 2-0; OVERALL – 171-94 – 65%)

 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION

 E-A-G-L-E-S!! Eagles, Eagles, Eagles!

The Eagles are in Super Bowl LII (that’s 52 for all of you non-Romans). After absolutely dominating the Vikings this past Sunday and facing the revered and hated Patriots in two weeks, what Eagles’ fan would not want to make the trip to Minnesota to watch the Super Bowl?

I mean, attending ANY Super Bowl is pretty much on every sports fan’s “bucket list”. And now that the Eagles are actually in the game, is now the time to make the dream come true?

First, a little history – This will be the third appearance for the Eagles in the Super Bowl. They lost the previous two. The Oakland Raiders beat them in 1980 and the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXIX in 2004 when they scored 10 fourth-quarter points to win 24-21 (sound like a familiar Patriots game?).

They have won three NFL championships – all prior to the existence of a Super Bowl in 1948, 1949, and in 1960 (with Chuck Bednarik going both ways and Norm Van Brocklin at quarterback). That’s 58 years ago!

We could conclude that if you want to see the Eagles in a Super Bowl, it only happens, at best, around every 15 years or so.  Have I convinced you that this might be the year to actually go?

Now, there are a few things to consider. First, and most importantly, there is the cost of a ticket.  The Eagles will get about 5,800 tickets for the game.  The cheapest ticket (you can imagine where that is) will cost you $950.  But, your chance of getting one of those tickets is slim to none.

How about going to StubHub? Right after the game, their site was advertising tickets for the upper deck of the end zone for a meager $5,935 which included their fees.  They do have tickets near the field for a bit more than $20,000 apiece.

Another site will seat you at midfield in the second row for $41,400 (how can you possibly pass that up?). Better yet, why not take a 20-person suite for just $405,955 (at least it’s not $406,000).

I would go into the additional cost of a flight, a hotel room, meals, etc., but I would imagine your desire to attend has subsided.

Now I would like to remind you that you can buy some food, some liquid refreshment, and an Eagles’ jersey and invite as many friends as you would like to your “suite” and watch the game in the comfort of your own home for considerably less money.

Use whatever money you save by not attending the game on eliminating your mortgage, a more practical item on your “bucket list”.

Enjoy the game!

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. ESPN’s Todd McShay has selected Saquan Barkley as the #1 draft pick for 2018. Here is what he says:Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State*
   Grade: 95 | Previous rank: 2
   Barkley was the best running back in the nation this season, racking up over 1,200 yards on 5.9 yards per carry and 18 TDs despite regularly facing eight-and-nine men in the box. Barkley has a distinctive combination of size, agility and power. There just aren’t many 230-plus pound backs with his feet and acceleration. Barkley is also a three-down back with solid hands as a receiver and above-average blocking skills in pass protection. Making it an even easier evaluation is the fact that Barkley is a driven competitor with very good leadership skills and no off-the-field issues. This guy is clean and complete as they come.Not bad for a local kid!
2. Tom Brady played “pretty well” this past Sunday for a guy who had 12 stitches in his throwing hand. He gashed his right thumb in practice handing the ball off to a running back. I have to admit I was skeptical about the injury the week prior, but then I saw a picture. So the legend of Brady is only enhanced after the comeback against the Jaguars.
3. It’s not an NFL game without some officiating controversy. Did you think the Jaguars were unfairly treated by the officials? They suffered 98 yards on six penalties called against them, while the Patriots were only penalized once for 10 yards. The Jaguars, by the way, were the least penalized defense in the NFL during the regular season and had only five pass interference penalties all year. They had two this past Sunday. Hmm…
4. Rob Gronkowski was the latest victim of a concussion with a helmet-to-helmet hit on Sunday. Football needs to create better helmets and do it quickly or no parent will let their child play the game.

• Mark your calendar for Friday night’s Central at Bethlehem Catholic basketball game. We’ll have it LIVE on RCN-TV at 7:00pm.
  

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 2-0; OVERALL – 171-94 – 65%)

SUPER BOWL CHAMPION

COMING NEXT WEEK!

Everyone in the sports world has heard the term “team of destiny”. It is often used when a team which is not supposed to win a championship, wins!  And… it is only used AFTER a team has accomplished what most prognosticators believed they could not accomplish.  It is always after the fact and leaves one little opportunity for debate.

So, looking at this past weekend of the NFL playoffs, we are left with three teams that look like they may be “teams of destiny”.

First, of the four teams still playing, there is one team that just doesn’t fit the definition – the New England Patriots. The Patriots have won 15 AFC titles in the last 17 seasons and they have appeared in the Super Bowl nine times, winning six.  Of the four games this past weekend, the only game that was over long before the end was New England’s drubbing of the Tennessee Titans 35-14.  The win means the Patriots are going to their seventh straight AFC championship game.  You obviously could conclude that the Patriots are the ultimate “team of destiny” or, if you are SUPPOSED to win it all every year, there is no surprise.

The other three teams, however, all won in dramatic fashion, so those who believe in such things, would argue it was meant to be, like fate, like destiny. The Steelers were favored to easily beat the Jaguars and, in fact, were talking more about New England before the game than they were talking about the Jaguars.  That was a big mistake – the “game of destiny” – Pittsburgh at New England will not happen.  Are the Jaguars a “team of destiny”?

The Eagles needed a tremendous defensive goal-line stand at the very end of their game with the Falcons going in for the winning touchdown. They held and won 15-10.  They will play for the NFC championship for the tenth time, but they haven’t won it since 2004 and last played in the conference championship in 2008.  Did the goal-line stand make them the “team of destiny”?

Or does the term belong to the unlikeliest winner this past weekend – the Minnesota Vikings? They won on the very last play on a desperation pass from an undrafted backup   quarterback, who was himself a backup to a backup.  The Saints secondary made a huge blunder and ended up sending the Vikings to their tenth NFC title game, but their first since 2009.  Destiny?

So, which of the three, based on this past weekend, is a “team of destiny”? Or does New England just simply win another Conference title and another Super Bowl?  Remember a “team of destiny” has to win their LAST game.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. The NFL is a tough business. After the Tennessee Titans lost badly to New England on Saturday, their head coach, Mike Mularkey, and the team agreed to part ways. Mularkey had gotten the Titans to their first postseason appearance since 2008 and they did face New England. I guess he was still expected to win that game, too.
2. Even though the Conference championships will be played in Foxborough, Massachusetts and Philadelphia, it appears the weather will be much kinder than it was this past weekend. Jacksonville will face 48 degrees and cloudy, while the Vikings will see even warmer weather – 53 degrees and cloudy. In conclusion, the weather should not be a factor.
3. Does it seem like replay is used almost every other play any more in football? Much of the responsibility has been taken away from the officials. If they make a call, they know the NFL can always “go back to New York”. Everybody is getting a little sick of “going back to New York”.
4. The Eagles were the first #1 seeded team not to be favored in their first game of the postseason. The Falcons were favored by three. The Eagles are also not favored this week either – 3.5 point underdogs. Lane Johnson broke out the underdog mask this past week after the win over Atlanta. I assume he still has it in his possession.
5. There were two shocking upsets this week in high school basketball. On Friday, the Freedom girls beat the defending state champions, Bethlehem Catholic – 66-59. On Saturday the Dieruff boys beat cross-town rival and previously undefeated Central Catholic 40-37. It must be getting close to the playoffs!!

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 3-1; OVERALL – 169-94 – 64%)

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

NEW ENGLAND

PHILADELPHIA

The guys and gals who cover the NFL are not giving the Eagles much of a chance to win a game, let alone multiple games in the NFL playoffs.  Of course, the media also felt that the Chiefs and the Rams would win their wild card games.  The Chiefs were favored by 9 and the Rams were favored by 6.  Both lost.  Andy Reid, once again, could not put a winning game plan together and get a playoff victory at home.  The Rams are young with a young head coach and could not deal with the experienced Falcons.

On the other hand, two teams who were favored – the Saints and the Jaguars – won their Sunday wild card games. So it is off to the AFC and NFC semifinals.

Based on what we have seen so far, it is hard to be comfortable with Nick Foles at quarterback for the Eagles. The Eagles certainly can run the ball with their stable of outstanding backs, but if they are forced to rely on Foles to win the game, my confidence sinks way down.  I do like the Eagles’ defense and I like Doug Pederson at the helm.  Do I like them enough to pick them?  Go to “Gary’s Guesses”.

Most think the Eagles will lose this first round matchup which will give the Vikings the home field advantage throughout. If, and it is a big IF, the Vikings can beat a very good Saints team with an outstanding quarterback in Drew Brees.  The Vikings have proven to be good enough to win the NFC title, but are they good enough to beat the Saints? The Vikings have an outstanding defense and an adequate offense.  It would be a shock if the Vikings did not get to the Super Bowl.

Everyone is anticipating a Pittsburgh–New England AFC championship game with the votes split on who would win it. New England won a couple of weeks ago when the famous no-catch rule came into effect.  The Steelers’ Antonio Brown should be back for this one and running back Le’Veon Bell should be healthy.  New England, if the match-up occurs, would be the home team, but weather-wise, playing in New England or playing in Pittsburgh in January should not make much difference.

Now all both teams have to do is get to the championship game. The Jaguars are no match for the Steelers and New England will beat Tennessee.  Of this, I am certain.

 ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. A number of “so-called” experts have Saquon Barkley being drafted by the Cleveland Browns as the fourth overall selection. I, for one, hope not. This town just held a mock parade “celebrating” Cleveland’s 0-16 season. The Giants and the Colts would have a chance to beat Cleveland to the punch. I hope they do.
2. The story going around the Patriots is that Tom Brady was happy to see his backup QB, Jimmy Garoppolo, go to the 49’ers and Bill Belichick was not. Again, supposedly, owner Robert Kraft ordered Belichick to trade Garoppolo. Now rumors are saying Belichick is ready to move on to the Giants as head coach. Sounds like a great soap opera.
3. Eagles’ fans – are you feeling a bit uneasy about playing the Atlanta Falcons next weekend? The Falcons upset the Rams 26-13 and looked very good doing it on both sides of the ball. QB Matt Ryan is a Philly native, playing high school football at Penn Charter High School. The Falcons, as you know, are trying to get back to the Super Bowl. Without Carson Wentz, the top-seeded Eagles are the underdog.
4. If you want the best example of an overbearing parent, look no further than LaVar Ball. His oldest son, Lonzo, is a member of the LA Lakers and Lonzo said this week no one on the team wants to play for or respects the head coach of the Lakers, Luke Walton. This is the same father who took his other two sons LiAngelo and LaMelo out of college and high school to Lithuania to play professionally because, you guessed it, he did not like the coaches.
5. AAAAAA high school basketball in District XI is up for grabs. No one team looks to be the favorite to win it all at the end of the season. With Beca (AAAA), Central (AAAAA), Pocono Mountain West (AAAAAA), and a wild card, the EPC playoffs, which will mix up the classifications, and should be even more entertaining than the Districts.

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 2-2; OVERALL – 166-93 – 64%)

 DIVISIONAL ROUND

PHILADELPHIA

NEW ENGLAND

PITTSBURGH

MINNESOTA

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 9-7; OVERALL – 164-91 – 64%)

WILD CARD WEEKEND

RAMS

NEW ORLEANS

JACKSONVILLE

KANSAS CITY

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 12-4; OVERALL – 155-84 – 65%)
 
Week Seventeen
 
BALTIMORE
DETROIT
BUFFALO
CAROLINA
NEW ORLEANS
TENNESSEE
NEW ENGLAND
INDIANAPOLIS
PITTSBURGH
WASHINGTON
MINNESOTA
PHILADELPHIA
CHARGERS
SEATTLE
KANSAS CITY
RAMS

I know this is the time of the year when most writers look back on the past year and reminisce on the highlights of the 2017. You will be able to find plenty of those articles and opinions in the next week or so.  I am not much for looking back.  I tend to think except for the nostalgia value, not much is gained by it.  Instead, I like to look ahead – you know, have a reason to look forward to the next day and the one after that.

So, with that in mind, and since this will be my last blog for the year (“Gary’s Guesses” will continue, however), I thought I would offer up some of the questions I look forward to the future answering in 2018. They are in no particular order:

1. Can the Eagles actually get to and win the Super Bowl?
2. Are there better NFL games to watch than the Steelers against the Patriots?
3. With that in mind, when is a catch a catch in the NFL?
4. Will there be any prominent males left in positions of power at the end of 2018 or will they all have harassed someone and left their positions?
5. Since it is a foregone conclusion that Penn State and Whitehall football player Saquan Barkley will head for the NFL draft, will he sign with a team I can root for? (I certainly want to root for him).
6. Now that it looks like all Philadelphia sports teams are on the rise, will the spring and summer (Phils), fall and winter (Flyers, 76’ers, Eagles) all create year-round excitement in the City of Brotherly Love?
7. When will there be a positive story about the concussion problem in football – like advancements being made? (The Larry Johnson story in Sunday’s Morning Call was very difficult to read, but well worth reading).
8. Will the District XI use the PPL Center again for their showcase high school winter sports (wrestling and basketball)?
9. Jay Wright and his Villanova Wildcats are #1 in the nation in college basketball. Can they stay there and win their second national championship in three years?
10. Will excitement return to College Hill in Lafayette football and basketball?

Well, that’s enough to chew on for a while, with new questions cropping up every week. Before I call it a year, I do want to thank all the people who made this past year so gratifying – the RCN-TV crew and management (they are an amazing group); athletic directors and coaches (their cooperation is essential); the players (your dedication and effort inspires me every game); the Lafayette Sports Information Department (you make me feel like part of the team); and, especially, you, the fans.  Nothing makes our day than when so many of you take the time to tell us how much you enjoy our product.

I hope we all can spend 2018 together once again!

 Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 13-3; OVERALL – 143-80 – 64%)

 Week Sixteen

 BALTIMORE

MINNESOTA

DETROIT

CHARGERS

RAMS

CHICAGO

CAROLINA

NEW ORLEANS

WASHINGTON

KANSAS CITY

NEW ENGLAND

JACKSONVILLE

GIANTS

DALLAS

PITTSBURGH

PHILADELPHIA

Carson Wentz just got done throwing a record-setting 33^rd TD pass to Alshon Jeffery when he left the field.  After watching the hard, sandwich hit he took on what turned out to be a non-play due to a penalty, I was amazed he went back into the huddle to play another down.  But, Carson Wentz played another four plays throwing a TD pass on fourth down.  He walked off the field and appeared to be limping just a little.  And then, he went into that dreaded tent.  When that happens in a game, my first thought is always “concussion protocol”.  Not this time.

Wentz left the tent and walked, under his own power, to the locker room. The injury still did not look season-ending.  But, on Monday it was reported he had suffered an ACL injury.  That injury would put him out for the season this year and, perhaps, next year.  The Eagles can ill afford to take any chances with their franchise quarterback.  They must give him the time to fully recover.

So with arguably the NFL’s MVP out for the season, how will the Eagles fare without Wentz?   Perhaps, the better question is, “Can the Eagles win with Nick Foles?”  Foles started one game for the Chiefs last year and posted a QB rating of 12.5 (not close to being even mediocre).  He certainly does not have Wentz’s mobility and was injured in each of his years with the Eagles.  Next up would be third–string QB Nate Sudfeld who has never thrown an NFL pass.  Or… dare I say it – Colin Kaepernick?

So is there hope? Yes – the Eagles can certainly run the ball with Blount, Ajayi, and Clement.  They should be able to throw safe and short passes to their three tight ends.  The Eagles’ defense is solid and seems to play at their very best with their backs against the wall.  And there should be time to learn to mesh with Foles.  They have the Giants away, and the Raiders and Cowboys at home.  They should be able to win those games and give Foles a chance to get comfortable.  Win them all and they are guaranteed the top seed in the NFC.

In 1990 the Giants won the Super Bowl with Jeff Hostetler, who was in the lineup because Phil Sims went down in Week 15. The Giants won the Super Bowl that year.

Can the Eagles do the same without Carson Wentz? I, along with throngs of Eagles’ fans have our doubts.  The season has been magical so far and it might need a true magician to reach the desired finish.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. 1. Seahawks defensive lineman, Quentin Jefferson, tried to go into the stands on Sunday in Jacksonville when, after being ejected, a fan threw a drink on him. His attempt was thwarted by an equipment manager.
   2. I was at the December 23, 1979, hockey game between the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins played at Madison Square Garden when every Bruins player except one went into the stands after a Rangers fan reached over the glass and hit a Bruin player. I was far enough away to just be a spectator, but when we left the arena, angry fans had surrounded the Bruins bus. It looked like the entire NY police force was there to allow the players to leave the city. No one seemed to be in the holiday spirit. (There were suspensions, lawsuits, and installation on higher glass).
   3. Thanks to the NFL Red Zone, I was able to watch a great deal of the Bills–Colts game played in blizzard-like conditions on Sunday. I now understand what weathermen mean by “lake-effect snow.” The Bills won in overtime in a surreal environment.
   4. The Browns just cannot win a game. Even after wide receiver Josh Gordon caught his first TD pass since 2013 and having a 21-7 lead going into the fourth quarter, they still managed to lose to the Packers in OT 28-21. They now are 0-13. The Ravens are next.
   5. No one would argue that it has been a good winter so far for a Philadelphia sports fan (except for the Flyers) – the Eagles are great; the ’76-ers play exciting and winning NBA basketball; and the Villanova Wildcats are now the #1 college basketball team in the nation (Duke and Kansas both lost this week).

• Two great wrestling matches will occur next week on RCN-TV when PA’s #1 team Bethlehem Catholic takes on Northampton on December 20 and Nazareth faces Easton on December 21. This is an early holiday gift for wrestling fan. High school basketball will be on RCN-TV Tuesday and Friday.

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 8-8; OVERALL – 130-77 – 63%)

Week Fifteen

DENVER

DETROIT

CHARGERS

PHILADELPHIA

CAROLINA

MINNESOTA

MIAMI

JACKSONVILLE

NEW ORLEANS

WASHINGTON

BALTIMORE

RAMS

NEW ENGLAND

TENNESSEE

DALLAS

ATLANTA

No one knows the source, but someone once said the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” I feel that way about this blog.  I want to make two points – one about college football and one about the Pennsylvania state football playoffs, knowing full well that this is a waste of computer space and will fall on deaf ears.  But, I will do it anyway.

Let’s start with the high school football playoffs. District XI, in my opinion, and I think most of our viewers would agree, has pretty good football.  This year we sent undefeated AAA Palisades , twice beaten (by AAAAAA schools) AAAA Bethlehem Catholic, AAAAA 9-3 Whitehall (2 losses to AAAAAA schools), and undefeated AAAAAA Parkland to the PIAA playoffs.  Three of the four were pummeled by Philadelphia private schools, where the student body of those schools had virtually no boundaries, not even by state. Palisades lost 34-17; Bethlehem Catholic lost 34-14; Parkland lost 49-14.  Whitehall did not lose to a Philadelphia school, but the team that beat them lost to one, Archbishop Wood, by a 41-14 score.

Now I understand this may sound like sour grapes. “Boo-hoo” – the Lehigh Valley teams lost and let the whining begin.  However, the playing field is not equal here.  Everyone knows it.  So since we all know the roster makeup of the Philly private schools will not be regulated, why not create a system where we have public school champions and private school champions?  If the PIAA is insistent on six classifications, then have four public and two private classifications.  May the best teams of both types, on an equal playing field, win!

Now that I have wasted my time on high school football, let me turn my attention to the college football playoffs – four teams in – Clemson, Oklahoma, Georgia, and Alabama; everybody else is out. That means Ohio State (Big 10 champion), Wisconsin (12-1), Auburn (beat Alabama), and USC (PAC 12 champions) and undefeated (the only one in the Top 25, by the way) UCF are all out.  I have no argument with the committee’s top four FBS selections; there just needs to be four more teams added to the mix.  That simply means one more week of football – eight teams to four; four to two; and the national championship game.  Ironically, the FCS (made up of schools like Lafayette and Lehigh) does it with many more teams – 24!  So arguments about time away from class and scheduling are moot.

There will still be plenty of arguments from teams below the top eight, but the volume of disgruntlement will be much less. Not having the Big Ten champion and the PAC 12 champion in the national playoffs just seems completely wrong.

The NCAA playoff system is in place until 2025 so no expansion is on the horizon.

In conclusion, the PIAA high school playoffs will not change; the NCAA college football playoffs will not change. Therefore, I have just wasted your time and my time.

But I plead “guilty by reason of insanity.”

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. A wise sage once told me that the reason a football game is lost can be broken down into five critical plays. Looking at the Eagles game on Monday against Seattle, how about these five:

• A fumble by Carson Wentz at the one-yard line
• An overthrow by Wentz to Nelson Agholor (probable TD)
• Alshon Jeffery holds on a play where LeGarrette Blount ran to the one- yard line
• Challenging a ball spot when the Eagles only needed an inch for a first down which they got on the next play
• Not challenging a forward lateral which would have stopped a scoring drive by the Seahawks
• That’s the game in a nutshell.

1. Beca’s opponent on Friday, Imhotep Charter, won 34-14 without top player Isheem Young. He was considered one of the top athletes in all of Pennsylvania. However, the morning of the game, he was charged with armed robbery of a WAWA in July. He has since been removed from the Penn State’s commitment list by a recruiting site.
2. I hope Eli Manning has a chance to latch on to a new NFL team next year. For the Giants to think they accomplished anything by playing Geno Smith this past weekend and benching Manning is a good indicator of why their season (2-10) has been so bad. Even the front office got it this week by firing head coach Bob McAdoo and GM Jerry Reese.
3. Tiger is back! It makes golf much more enjoyable to watch when one of the greatest returns and Tiger’s successful weekend in the Bahamas sure had a tremendous impact on viewership and interest. Let’s hope he stays healthy.
4. High school basketball begins on Tuesday, December 12, with Bethlehem Catholic at Parkland and Central at Whitehall. Friday, December 15, we will have Central at Liberty and Emmaus at Northampton. Let the games begin! 

Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 10-6; OVERALL – 122-69 – 64%)

Week Fourteen

NEW ORLEANS

DETROIT

BENGALS

INDIANAPOLIS

JACKSONVILLE

KANSAS CITY

VIKINGS

GREEN BAY

HOUSTON

CHARGERS

JETS

TENNESSEE

PHILADELPHIA

DALLAS

PITTSBURGH

NEW ENGLAND