Bryan Paul’s 2013 Puzzling NFL Predictions: Week 9 (Halloween)

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Every year, Halloween conjures up fun and fright with scary stories,  trick-or-treating, and crazy costumes as horror dominates popular culture in the days leading up to Oct. 31.

But can Halloween films, characters and monsters help pick NFL game winners? In honor of its horror, humor and high jinxes, the Week 9 predictions theme is Halloween.

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Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) at Miami Dolphins (3-4)-Oct. 31-8:25 p.m.-NFL Network

This year, the Dolphins will play on Halloween for sixth time in franchise history. Miami is 5-0 on Halloween.

Pick: Miami

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San Diego Chargers (4-3) at Washington (2-5)-Nov. 3-1 p.m.-CBS

The Dolphins played on Halloween for the first time in 1971, the year Vincent Price starred in The Abominable Dr. Phibes. Washington was 92-64-6 in years Price appeared in a horror film. But Price passed away 20 years ago.

Pick: San Diego

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Atlanta Falcons (2-5) at Carolina Panthers (4-3)-Nov. 3-1 p.m.-Fox

Price died in 1993, the year author R. L. Stine published 10 Goosebumps books. Since Stine published his first Goosebumps book in 1992, the Falcons are 175-180-1.

Pick: Carolina

The Michaels and Collinsworth Cliché Carousel: Packers at Vikings

This blog series follows clichés said by Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth in NBC Sunday Night Football games this season, using the following scoring system:

Clichés: one point

(*Clichés that appear in the Snickers Broadcast Bingo advertisement=two points*) are as follows:

he gives 110 percent, they’re playing smashmouth football, he ran out of real estate, they’re playing against the clock, tack on an extra point, time to go out and execute, marching down the field, they’re in the red zone, time to go big or go home, bet they’d like to have that one back, these guys have got to stick to the game plan, he’s their go-to guy, they can practically taste victory, it’s gonna take a miracle, he’s got a quick first step, gonna have to settle for three, it is what it is, they left it all on the field, he’s got all day to throw it, now they’re just running out the clock, they’ve got to control the line of scrimmage, that’s key to the game, this guy just loves football, it’s gut-check time

Bingos: five points

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Game IX: Green Bay Packers (44) at Minnesota Vikings (31)-Oct. 27

1. Two long-time rivals lock horns-Michaels
2. A full house-Michaels
3. Key players*-Michaels
4. Stumbling out of the gate-Michaels
5. Pulling all the strings-Michaels
6. Jump out in front-Michaels
7. Just like that-Michaels
8. Big break-Michaels
9. He’s going to do whatever it takes-Collinsworth
10. Just came up short-Michaels
11. Picks up a first down-Michaels
12. Pick up some of the slack-Michaels
13. A yard shy-Michaels
14. He created something out of absolutely nothing-Collinsworth
15. Rodgers will go to work-Michaels
16. Minnesota has their hands full with him-Collinsworth
17. Sling it away-Michaels
18. They’re not winning those battles-Collinsworth
19. Picks up a first down-Michaels
20. A yard shy-Michaels

Bryan Paul’s 2013 Puzzling NFL Predictions: Week 8 (basketball)

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In 1891, Dr. James Naismith, a physical education teacher at the International Young Men’s Christian Association Training School in Springfield, Mass., created a new indoor game. In this game, players dribbled a soccer ball around a court and earned points by shooting the ball into a peach basket. Today, basketball remains one the world’s most popular sports.

Football and basketball are different. Football stadiums are large structures. Basketball arenas are smaller, more intimate facilities. Football players, shielded by helmets, face masks and pads, perform like Roman Empire gladiators. Basketball players wear a simpler uniform consisting of a jersey, shorts and sneakers and display their talents and skills with the same dramatic flair as Broadway actors.

There is less parity in basketball. Since David Stern became commissioner of the National Basketball Association in 1984, eight different franchises have won NBA championships. Fourteen different National Football League teams have won the Super Bowl.

There are similarities. Lucas Oil Stadium, the Georgia Dome and Ford Field have hosted Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four games. NFL players Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez and Julius Peppers played college basketball. Football and basketball coaches both have a range of interesting characters from the wise Vince Lombardi and Phil Jackson, to the stern Tom Landry and Larry Brown to the zany Jimmy Johnson and Bob Knight.

But can basketball players and teams help predict NFL game winners? In honor of slam dunks, steals, three pointers and technical fouls, the Week 11 predictions theme is basketball.

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Carolina Panthers (3-3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-6)-Oct. 24-8:25 p.m.-NFL Network

The Charlotte Bobcats began play in the NBA in 2004. Since 2004, the Panthers are 6-5 in games played in Florida with all six wins coming in Tampa Bay.

Pick: Carolina

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Miami Dolphins (3-3) at New England Patriots (5-2)-Oct. 27-1 p.m.-CBS

Michael Jordan bought the Bobcats in 2010, the year LeBron James signed with the Miami Heat. The Dolphins are 23-31 since 2010.

Pick: New England

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Buffalo Bills (3-4) at New Orleans Saints (5-1)-Oct. 27-1 p.m.-CBS

James made his NBA debut 2003, the year the Syracuse University men’s basketball team defeated the University of Texas and the University of Kansas in the Final Four in New Orleans, La. In years Syracuse has competed in the Final Four, the Bills are 9-6 against NFC teams. Syracuse lost to Michigan in this year’s Final Four.

Pick: Buffalo

The Michaels and Collinsworth Cliché Carousel: Broncos at Colts

This blog series follows clichés said by Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth in NBC Sunday Night Football games this season, using the following scoring system:

Clichés: one point

(*Clichés that appear in the Snickers Broadcast Bingo advertisement=two points*) are as follows:

he gives 110 percent, they’re playing smashmouth football, he ran out of real estate, they’re playing against the clock, tack on an extra point, time to go out and execute, marching down the field, they’re in the red zone, time to go big or go home, bet they’d like to have that one back, these guys have got to stick to the game plan, he’s their go-to guy, they can practically taste victory, it’s gonna take a miracle, he’s got a quick first step, gonna have to settle for three, it is what it is, they left it all on the field, he’s got all day to throw it, now they’re just running out the clock, they’ve got to control the line of scrimmage, that’s key to the game, this guy just loves football, it’s gut-check time

Bingos: five points

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Game VIII: Denver Broncos (33) at Indianapolis Colts (39)-Oct. 20

1. Peyton Manning’s a little bit of a control freak-Collinsworth
2. The quarterback is playing on some other planet-Michaels
3. Regular season games don’t have any more buzz than this-Michaels
4. Two yards shy of the first down-Michaels
5. Third and short-Michaels
6. Just short of the first down-Michaels
7. Manning will go to work-Michaels
8. Right off the bat-Collinsworth
9. Come up short-Collinsworth
10. One of the great stories last year-Michaels
11. A little short-Michaels
12. A little rusty-Collinsworth
13. What a godsend this guy has been-Collinsworth
14. He has carried the load-Collinsworth
15. Control the clock-Collinsworth
16. That couldn’t have been a whole lot easier-Collinsworth
17. Up and down the field-Collinsworth
18. One of those cardinal sins-Collinsworth
19. First in, last out-Michaels
20. Always throwing in garbage time-Michaels

Bryan Paul’s 2013 Puzzling NFL Predictions: Week 7 (baseball)

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In the 1850s, journalists began referring to baseball as America’s national pastime.

Perhaps that’s no longer the case. A Harris Interactive poll of 2,331 adults cited in a Jan. 25, 2011 USA Today article said the National Football League topped Major League Baseball as America’s favorite sport 31 percent to 17 percent.

Baseball shares several connections with football. Yankee Stadium hosted the 1958 NFL Championship, known as “The Greatest Game Ever Played.” Seven announcers have broadcasted both the Super Bowl and the World Series. Deion Sanders, the only person to play in a both a Super Bowl and a World Series, told The Houston Chronicle in 1991 “football is my wife and baseball is my mistress.”

But as the late comedian George Carlin pointed out, baseball greatly differs from football. A baseball manager wears the same uniform the players do. A football coach doesn’t. Baseball season starts in the spring as the weather becomes warmer and daylight increases. Football season begins in the fall as temperatures and daylight decrease. Rain delays or postpones baseball games. Football games often take place in rainy or snowy weather.

Can baseball legends help pick National Football League games? In honor of its tradition of being one of America’s most beloved sports, this week’s predictions theme is baseball.

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Seattle Seahawks (5-1) at Arizona Cardinals (3-3)-Oct. 17-8:25 p.m.-NFL Network

The Arizona Diamondbacks won the World Series in 2001. Since 2001, the Seahawks are 36-61 in road games. The Cardinals are 53-40 in home games.

Pick: Arizona

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-5) at Atlanta Falcons (1-4)-Oct. 20-1 p.m.-Fox

The Diamondbacks played their inaugural season in 1998, the year the Atlanta Braves won their fourth consecutive National League East Division title. Atlanta is 4-6 in Week 7 games when the Braves win the division championship. The Braves won their twelfth division title this season.

Pick: Tampa Bay

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Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) at Detroit Lions (4-2)-Oct. 20-1 p.m.-CBS

Bobby Cox began his second stint as the Braves’ manager in 1990, the year the Cincinnati Reds swept the Oakland Athletics in the World Series. In years the Reds have played in the World Series, the Bengals are 46-28. But the Reds lost in the National League Wild Card Game this season, ending their chance to play in the Fall Classic this year.

Pick: Detroit

The Michaels and Collinsworth Cliché Carousel: Washington at Dallas

This blog series follows clichés said by Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth in NBC Sunday Night Football games this season, using the following scoring system:

Clichés: one point

(*Clichés that appear in the Snickers Broadcast Bingo advertisement=two points*) are as follows:

he gives 110 percent, they’re playing smashmouth football, he ran out of real estate, they’re playing against the clock, tack on an extra point, time to go out and execute, marching down the field, they’re in the red zone, time to go big or go home, bet they’d like to have that one back, these guys have got to stick to the game plan, he’s their go-to guy, they can practically taste victory, it’s gonna take a miracle, he’s got a quick first step, gonna have to settle for three, it is what it is, they left it all on the field, he’s got all day to throw it, now they’re just running out the clock, they’ve got to control the line of scrimmage, that’s key to the game, this guy just loves football, it’s gut-check time

Bingos: five points

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Game VII: Washington (16) at Dallas Cowboys (31)-Oct. 13

1. A team still tough to get a read on-Michaels
2. It’s been a mixed bag-Collinsworth
3. In the mix-Collinsworth
4. We haven’t seen the explosive plays-Collinsworth
5. They’ve been locking horns-Michaels
6. Picks up a first down-Michaels
7. Blow this one open-Collinsworth
8. Call Murray’s number again-Michaels
9. At the end of the day-Michaels
10. The nose of the football-Michaels
11. A guy with a world of talent-Collinsworth
12. Slings it-Michaels
13. Big hole-Michaels
14. Picks up a big first down-Collinsworth
15. This young man has become a complete player-Collinsworth
16. He has spent his time doing his homework-Collinsworth
17. That’s where they’re going to have to control the game-Collinsworth
18. Pick up almost where they left off last week-Michaels
19. What a different Brian Waters has made-Collinsworth
20. Here’s one of those explosive runs-Collinsworth

Bryan Paul’s 2013 NFL Puzzling Predictions: Week 6 (hockey)

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Hockey is an intense sport full of tradition. Since 1892, hockey teams have competed aggressively to win the Stanley Cup, the National Hockey League’s championship trophy named after Lord Stanley of Preston. Engravers etch the champion players’ names on the Cup every year, adding to the trophy’s lore and prestige.

Hockey players maintain other traditions including growing beards during the playoffs, shaking hands with opponents at a postseason series’ conclusion and forbidding people from stepping on their team’s logo on their locker room’s floor. Recently, the NHL has established a tradition of outdoor regular games, allowing players and coaches to briefly return to the memories of outdoor games they played in as children.

The sport also has international appeal. International teams have competed for gold medals at the Winter Olympics since 1920. According to NHL.com, more than 33 percent of the league’s players are natives of countries outside of North America.

But can facts about this exciting and gritty sport help predict National Football League winners? In honor of its tradition, history and global popularity, the Week 6 predictions theme is hockey.

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New York Giants (0-5) at Chicago Bears (3-2)-Oct. 10-8:25 p.m.-NFL Network

The Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup this year. In years the team has won the Cup, the Bears are 42-17.

Pick: Chicago

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Philadelphia Eagles (2-3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-4)-Oct. 13-1 p.m.-Fox

The Blackhawks defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2010 Stanley Cup Final. In years the Flyers have lost in the championship round, Philadelphia is 46-47-1. But the Boston Bruins lost in the Stanley Cup Final this year.

Pick: Philadelphia

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Detroit Lions (3-2) at Cleveland Browns (3-2)-Oct. 13-1 p.m.-Fox

The Flyers played their first NHL season in 1967, the year goalie was Curtis Joseph born. Joseph played for the Detroit Red Wings in the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons. The Lions are 14-22 against AFC teams since Joseph played his last game for the team.

Pick: Cleveland

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The Michaels and Collinsworth Cliché Carousel: Texans at 49ers

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This blog series follows clichés said by Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth in NBC Sunday Night Football games this season, using the following scoring system:

Clichés: one point

(*Clichés that appear in the Snickers Broadcast Bingo advertisement=two points*) are as follows:

he gives 110 percent, they’re playing smashmouth football, he ran out of real estate, they’re playing against the clock, tack on an extra point, time to go out and execute, marching down the field, they’re in the red zone, time to go big or go home, bet they’d like to have that one back, these guys have got to stick to the game plan, he’s their go-to guy, they can practically taste victory, it’s gonna take a miracle, he’s got a quick first step, gonna have to settle for three, it is what it is, they left it all on the field, he’s got all day to throw it, now they’re just running out the clock, they’ve got to control the line of scrimmage, that’s key to the game, this guy just loves football, it’s gut-check time

Bingos: five points

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Game VI: Houston Texans (3) at San Francisco 49ers (34)-Oct. 6

1. A night made for a postcard-Michaels
2. A shaky start-Michaels
3. Regain some of his mojo-Michaels
4. Regain their footing-Michaels
5. They’ve been up, they’ve been down-Michaels
6. Begs the question-Michaels
7. Which 49er team will show up tonight?-Michaels
8. Big shoes to fill-Collinsworth
9. Right off the bat-Collinsworth
10. A nice hole-Michaels
11. It’s a nightmare-Michaels
12. The nightmare continues-Collinsworth
13. Just like that-Michaels
14. He must feel it’s the middle of the night and he’s just dreaming this-Michaels
15. They have the ability of winning all those battles-Collinsworth
16. Buys a ton of time-Michaels
17. A yard short-Michaels
18. Picks up the first down-Michaels
19. Settle for a field goal attempt*-Michaels
20. The penalties on Daniels was the killer-Michaels

Bryan Paul’s 2013 Puzzling NFL Predictions: Week 5 (Nickelodeon)

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Nickelodeon stands as a leader in children’s television programming. The network, on-air since 1977, has presented programs such as Rugrats, Doug, Hey Arnold! and SpongeBob SquarePants that remain popular with the viewers that watched them during their childhoods even as they age into adulthood.

While some viewers may feel Nickelodeon’s current programming doesn’t compare with the shows they watched as children, they can relive their Nickelodeon memories in several ways. Many Nickelodeon shows are available on DVD or iTunes. A block of programming on TeennNick, The ‘90s Are All That, allows viewers to watch the network’s classic programs nightly. The book Slimed!: An Oral History of Nickelodeon by Matthew Klickstein, gives readers insight to shows such as Clarissa Explains It All, The Adventures of Pete & Pete and Double Dare with interviews from Melissa Joan Hart, Danny Tamberelli, Keenan Thompson and Marc Summers.

But do Nickelodeon’s wacky characters help predict National Football League games? In honor of the entertainment and memories it provides its viewers of every age, the Week 5 predictions theme is Nickelodeon.  

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Buffalo Bills (2-2) at Cleveland Browns (2-2)-Oct. 3-8:25 p.m.-NFL Network

Nick Bakay, a Buffalo native, voiced Norbert on The Angry Beavers. The Bills are 53-93 against AFC teams since The Angry Beavers went off the air.

Pick: Cleveland

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Baltimore Ravens (2-2) at Miami Dolphins (3-1)-Oct. 6-1 p.m.-CBS

The Angry Beavers went off the air in 2001, the year Nickelodeon Movies released Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. Miami has won 127 games in years Nickelodeon Movies premiers a motion picture. Baltimore has won 147. But the studio hasn’t released a film this year and isn’t scheduled to.

Pick: Baltimore

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New Orleans Saints (4-0) at Chicago Bears (3-1)-Oct. 6-1 p.m.-Fox

Harriet the Spy, the first Nickelodeon film, premiered in theaters in 1996. The Saints are 5-10 in Week 5 games since 1996. The Bears are 11-4.

Pick: Chicago

The Michaels and Collinsworth Cliché Carousel: Patriots at Falcons

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This blog series follows clichés said by Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth in NBC Sunday Night Football games this season, using the following scoring system:

Clichés: one point

(*Clichés that appear in the Snickers Broadcast Bingo advertisement=two points*) are as follows:

he gives 110 percent, they’re playing smashmouth football, he ran out of real estate, they’re playing against the clock, tack on an extra point, time to go out and execute, marching down the field, they’re in the red zone, time to go big or go home, bet they’d like to have that one back, these guys have got to stick to the game plan, he’s their go-to guy, they can practically taste victory, it’s gonna take a miracle, he’s got a quick first step, gonna have to settle for three, it is what it is, they left it all on the field, he’s got all day to throw it, now they’re just running out the clock, they’ve got to control the line of scrimmage, that’s key to the game, this guy just loves football, it’s gut-check time

Bingos: five points

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Game V: New England Patriots (30) at Atlanta Falcons (23)-Sept. 29

1. The schedule’s been very soft-Michaels
2. Their first real test-Michaels
3. At the end of the day-Michaels
4. Shaky start-Michaels
5. In their sights-Michaels
6. The Falcons have dug an early hole-Michaels
7. That’s going to be the key*-Collinsworth
8. That has been the key*-Michaels
9. Right off the bat-Michaels
10. He still has it-Michaels
11. They’re on the move-Michaels
12. Buys a lot of time-Michaels
13. Cost them the game last week-Collinsworth
14. Getting off the schneid-Michaels
15. Fighting through a foot injury-Michaels
16. Have to settle for a field goal attempt*-Michaels
17. They picked up where they left off-Collinsworth
18. Put three points on the board-Michaels
19. Good things are going to happen-Collinsworth
20. It doesn’t get any tougher than that-Collinsworth