Can Bengals continue to reach new heights with undefeated streak?

   The Cincinnati Bengals are embarking on one of the greatest seasons ever in their franchise history and tonight they will look to get a little bit of revenge against the Houston Texans at Paul Brown Stadium  tonight (830 pm) on Monday Night Football.

Can Adam Jones lead D to the Super Bowl this year? He thinks so            

   The Bengals are 8-0 and are looking to go to 9-0 for the first time in franchise history.

    The Bengals are loaded everywhere there and I'm sure they remember the two losses that they took to the Houston Texans in the playoffs recently.

    Those losses were crushing, in the mere fact that both games were games that the Bengals felt like they should have won.

   I'm sure some "Getback" is in the minds of the Bengals and Who Dey Nation for this opportunity on Monday night as well.
 
      In speaking with defensive leader Adam Jones, he felt like this could be the Bengals year, no doubt about it. With the defense playing at its best, and the offense clicking on all cylinders with Andy Dalton posting MVP like numbers, could this be the year.of the Bengal?
   Can't lose a game like this tonight, expecially with the second part of the season starting tonight.
  Look for a Bengals win tonight;  the question is, will we see the same old Bengals, or have they finally turned over a new leaf?

NFL Top 5 Games in Wk 2

With the opening game in the books, it's time to talk about the hottest games of Week 2 in the NFL.

(1) Bengals  @ Chargers 

The Bengals came out strong @ Oakland, while the Chaaa-gers came back from 17 down to beat the Lions.

Chargers defeated the Bengals in Cincy a couple years ago to stop playoff run.

"WHO Dey" Nation hasn't forgotten. 

We got Bengals winning 30-20. 

(2) Pats   @  Bills

This game featuring Rex vs whoever is on the Pats team he can talk trash to ensure order to hype game up; Only thing is - Ryan probably has his most talented team ever. Can T. Taylor play as good as Brady? If so could be a long day for New England.

We're takin Pats 23-21

(3) Seahawks  @  Packers

In what has become the "Best New Rivalry" in the NFL, can the NFC Champs bounce back after a rough loss last week, and shake off Marshawn Lynch momma to go up in Lambeau and beat the team with the best QB in the NFL? 

Not to mention the Hawks beat the Pack to go to the Super Bowl last season...

We got Packers winning 40-37. 

(4) Cowboys   @  Eagles 

In a game that will have emotions running high, can DeMarco Murray, the NFL reigning leading rusher, haunt the team who let him go? And will Chip Kelly's collar get any tighter if they can't beat a Boys' squad without their best player? (Dez Bryant) 

Were going with Eagles 40-37 in OT

(5) Titans   @ Browns 

In another marquee matchup with two young gunslinger in Marcus Mariotta (Titans) & Johnny Manzo (Browns).  While Mariotta having as perfect a opening debut - in going against Fameous Jameis Winston - in Week 1, won't be fazed by Johnny Manziel or the Browns.
Were picking Browns to win 26-23.
& Johnny will shine today. 

Extra game 

49ers @  Steelers 

NFL Week 1 winners, losers, MVP, LVP, Studs, duds and more.

Now that the NFL has kicked off check out all the highlights, lowlights, and everything in between in Week 1 in the NFL.

  

Top Headlines:

(1) Brady - Gronk combo destroys Steelers
Brady shook off the deflategate accusations, lack of preseason work and all of his haters to perform and throw 4 TD's (3 to Gronk) tefeat the Steelers. Brady for MVP this season?
Hmmm....

(2) Cowboys, Romo, escape with big W over Giants
With no DeMarco Murray this season, another year of disappointment of not reaching Super Bowl & a division rival in week 1, it looked as if Cowboys would let the G-Men  grab a big road W. But a brain fart by Coach Coughlin and a Eli Manning

incompletion  set the stage for a clutch Romo comeback, hitting his main man Witten for a TD in the final seconds,  alleviating a big injury to Dez and avoiding the dreaded 0-1 start.
Romo was magical & looks as ready as ever to maybe get them Boys to the next level.

(3) Mariotta outshines Jameis in rookie QB duel, Titans roll 
In a matchup which featured the top 2 QBs in college last year, Mariotta threw 3 TDs in the first quarter alone, as the Titans defeated Tampa Bay.
While most people think Winston is the better rookie QB, Mariotta proved he will be someone to be reckoned with. And I'm sure he's not too thrilled he lost that Heisman Trophy to Jameis last year.
One up for Marcus in the pros...Stay tuned.


WK 1 OVERHYPE MACHINE AWARD GOES TO: 

EAGLES -  Granted the Eagles have a lot of new pieces, but after the first half? 20-3?
Where's the high powered offense?

DeMarco Murray stats: 8 rushes, 9 yards, 2 TDs

While the Eagles did get it rolling in the second half, it still remains to be seen if Bradford can stay healthy and if the other pieces will fit. If so? Eagles should be flying high by mid-season.
If not?
Chip Kelly could be on the waiver wire.

COLTS -   The Colts were the "Trendy" pick for the Super Bowl adding Gore, Andre Johnson, and others, solidifying their chances to get to the Super Bowl.  

However the Colts got blitzed by the Bills and their stingy D and rejuvenated O. Indy was shut out in the first half and dominated overall. Will be interesting to see how they bounce back.


SURPRISE SQUADS OF THE WEEK

BENGALS -  The Bengals despite having Super Bowl talent on the roster, have been known to not play up to their capabilities.  Well, with a healthy

Tyler Eifert and a seasoned D? A near shutout of the Raiders, a near flawless first half and a legion of "WhoDey" fans who feel this could- & should be the breakout year of the Bengals.

CHIEFS -  KC picked off new Texans QB Brian Hoyer on the first play and never looked back, scoring 26 at the half.. With a healthy Jamaal Charles and a more comfy and relaxed Alex Smith?
Could be a banner year for the Chiefs.

49ers -   After a tumultuous off with  the departure of their coach,  players being suspended, a legend going to other teams, and everything in between, it looks like the 49ers we're going to be headed for a rough season. but with a revamped defense, a quarterback who looks comfortable in the pocket for once, and a new running back in the fold with Carlos Hyde, it could become a good season for San Fran.


MVPs of Week 1 -

BRADY and GRONK -   The dynamic duo once again proved that when healthy, there is no better combo in the NFL.  both are on the early watch for MVP.

Tony Romo -   With his star  receiver injured, Romo led the Cowboys to an amazing drive late in the game to capture the first victory of the season over the Giants. not to mention that he leads the league and come back drives over the last 5 years. this could be Romo's banner year, as he looked as cool and calm as ever in directing the Cowboys to a huge win.

J.J. Watt -  Although Watts Texans team lost, the top Defensive player in the League did what he does best.
Dominate.

LVP (Least Valuable Players) of the week: 

LUCK - Colts   Luck was harassed all day by the Bills, and racked up a couple INTs en route to being shut out in the first half.. This from the front runner for preseason MVP?

BRIAN HOYER - Texans   Hoyer, after winning the job with a nice preseason, unloaded a INT on the games first play, setting the tone for a KC smacking of the Texans. Hoyer was replaced by Mallet, and won't start in game 2.
Talk about a rough start to a season.

BYRON MAXWELL - EAGLES     Maxwell, who left the Legion of boom and signed a youth contract with Philly, was torched by top wide receiver Julio Jones over and over and over again. Maxwell was brought to Philly to be a shutdown corner. If he can't get it done? The Eagles will be hurting.



Best team in Week 1 - BENGALS
Worst team in Week 1 - VIKINGS

Top 5 MUST WATCH Sporting Events this Weekend: Mayweather vs Canelo, Bama vs Texas A & M, and more

This weekend looks to be one of those MONUMENTAL sports weekends that sports heads crave; Interesting that its Friday the 13th, which could lead to some shocking - and possibly killer results which could lead to RIP for some people or teams; So here's SportsEffectLive.com top 5 Sports Events that you cannot miss this weekend:

S.E.LIVE HOT 5  MUST WATCH SCALE:

1 out of  5 - Oh did I wake up and this is still on?
2 out of  5 - Not bad, but im ready for the main event
3 out of  5 - Solid game, nothing spectacular 
4 out of  5 - We got everything set; Bring on the game of the week!
5 out of  5 - Cut the phones, family, everybody off! This IS IMPORTANT!


Boston  @  New York Yankees  -  Fri, Sat, Sun
With the pennant race hitting its final stretch, its for certain that these two powerhouse squads are right in the thick of it; Boston is the division leader, with the Yankess 3 games out of a pennant spot. You know these games are as good as it will get, except that Jeter won't be the star; It'll be A-Rod, which could spark another rumble or two. 
 
   
MUST WATCH FACTOR: 4.5 out of  5;



(1) ALABAMA  @ (6)  TEXAS A&M -  (3:30 PM EST) Sat
In the Regular Season GAME OF THE YEAR, will Johnny Manziel slay down the Goliaths of the college football world once again? Manziel has done any and everything he has wanted to do since he hit the green grass of Aggieland, and that huge upset of Bama last year. And it has irked everyone, especially the Tide, and even non-tide people such as Charles Barkley. Barkley, who is a Auburn Tiger til' he dies, recently said he is so sick of hearing about Johnny Manziel that he might - get this - root for the Crimson Tide. Did he jus say he would be saying "Roll Tide" Saturday afternoon?  WOW

MUST WATCH FACTOR: 5 out of 5






FLOYD MAYWEATHER  VS CANELO ALVAREZ -  (10 PM Est) Sat
This fight is billed "THE ONE" Simply because of these two longstanding great boxers with neither one taking a loss; Mayweather (44-0), with a win, will tie Rocky Marciano in record without a loss, which possibly puts him in the "BEST FIGHTER EVER" category; Make no mistake though; Alvarez is a dog in his own right (42-0-1), and best believe, as much as he has been in the media, knows what this victory would mean for him; Oh, and lets not forget the 60 million dollar purse involved as well, with at least 40 going to Mayweather's already insane bank account.

MUST WATCH FACTOR:  5 out of  5








Denver @  New York Giants    (Sunday 4:25pm EST)

With Peyton dropping 7 bombs on the Ravens last week and Eli bombing against the Cowboys, this game will have an interesting feel as the Manning Bowl continues; Peyton doesn't like playing his little brother, but Eli still has more rings than the elder Manning, which, you know has to motivate him a little; This could be the year for the Broncos, but can Big Bro defeat Little Bro again for the 5th consecutive time? Not so fast....

MUST WATCH FACTOR:  4 out of  5;











STEELERS  @ BENGALS  (MON 8pm EST)
This Monday Night Football clash will feature two teams who desperately need to get a W to avoid going 0-2 to start the season; The Steelers Ben Roethlisberger had held a death grip on the Bengals until last season, will look to rally the troops in which will be a hostile environment down in the Jungle; You know the Bengals will be upset coming off that lackadaisical finish against the Bears. Which team will stay tied for first in the AFC North?

MUST WATCH FACTOR:  4 out of 5






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Monday Recap: NFL Playoffs, Thurgood vs Dunbar, BCS Championship, Gus Maker to Dayton?

We here at SportsEffectLive.com would like to wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

     As we kick off 2013 we will be bringing you MORE DAILY from SELive Hot 5 posts;
But to start off the new year heres the lowdown on last weekends highlights and lowlights:

(1) NFL PLAYOFFS: Bengals lose to Texans again; RG3 nearly leads Skins to victory on 1 leg 

Texans lasso Bengals - again;  Cincy grabbed a early lead on a Leon Hall INT, but Andy Dalton simply couldn't get on track with his recievers, as the Texas rode Arien Foster and JJ Watt to a 19-13 win. There were opportunities for the Bengals to win and get some "Getback" for last years loss to Houston, but a off target passing game, that was climaxed with a missed wide open AJ Green in the end zone on 3rd down in the decisive last series, that doomed the Bengalians. Next up for Houston:  @ New England

Packers repay Vikings; Ponder doesn't play:
 When Adrian Peterson ran roughsod to almost grabbing the single season rushing record held by Eric Dickerson, the Vikings seemed to have the Packers on edge. However, with Christian Ponder not playing, the onus would fall on backup Joe Webb to try to get the job done...However Webb, after the first two series, turned into Joe Schmo and was dominated by the Packers D en route to a easy victory. Up next for Green Bay: @ San Francisco

Ray Ray, Ravens turn up heat on Luck, Colts
    When Ray Lewis announced that he would be retiring effective after this season, the sports world was shocked...How could the leagues most feared defensive player would be hanging it up after this year? Man he only had a triceps tear!...Nevertheless, he came out, with a torn arm, and delivered a signature W in Baltimore vs Indy and Rookie sensation Andrew Luck; 13 tackles, spearheading the D, doing his signature intro (he did it at the end too) and bringing home a playoff W, in classic fashion. Lewis is the greatest defensive player in the NFL in the past 20 years. And possibly the most influential EVER. Can he do it one more time?...Up next: @ Denver

Seahawks rookie QB Wilson outlasts RG3, Seattle wins
  Before Seattle had gotten off the plane, they were down 14-0 and en route to getting ran off the field; However, a re-injured RG3, a lucky recovered fumble by Marshawn Lynch, & a formidable D led the Seahawks back into the game, and Wilson helped finish the Skins' off by scoring the last 24 points of the game in the comeback win. Seattle seems to win, with a little help from above, in some classic finishes this season. Will it continue? Up next: @ Atlanta


Is this the YEAR OF THE IRISH?

(2) BCS TITLE  Tonight; Will IRISH EYES be smilin or ROLL TIDE be the theme of the night?
  Notre Dame will try to secure a national title since the Lou Holtz days (80 or 90's) as Coach Kelly and his troops will battle the defending national champions tonight. With Nick Sabans squad being in this position before, you have to give them a advantage; but one thing is for sure; Notre Dame has the horses and formula to run this race with Alabama, with the same type of squad that beat the Bama team this season (Texas A&M); A dynamic QB, who can outright befuddle a defense; a Defense led by Heisman runner up in Manti Te'o; and a coach who has a gamblers mentality, and will not be afraid to match wits with the best coach (Alabama Nick Saban) in the country right now.
Who wins?
                                         Alabama 24-20


(3) Thurgood throttles Dunbar in early season marquee matchup
High School basketball in the Miami Valley is as big as its ever been, and with 2 of the top teams in the State in D 2 basketball matching up, albeit undefeated - it provided for a classic matchup. Thurgood Marshall beat Dunbar 81-62, although the game was closer than the score indicated. Thurgood was better at both ends of the court, as they were led by Fab Frosh Derrick Daniels 20 & Mark Alstork (16) and Rachunn Martin (17), while the Wolves were led by Super Soph AJ Harris with 18. Coach Darnell Hoskins feels like the Thurgood -Dunbar rivalry is like OSU - MICHIGAN in the Miami Valley. And he's probably right, considering the talent, and what the teams have done in the last ten years.


(4) Daequan Cook signs with Bulls
  Local legend and NBA 3-pt shooting champion Daequan Cook has signed a deal with the Chicago Bulls for the remainder of the season. Cook will likely give the Bulls a 3-pt boost the are sorely lacking with the departure of sharpshooter Kyle Korver. Cook could definitely help, and will get the opportunity to get his looks. If he can shoot with confidence, he will be a diamond in the rough for the Bulls come playoff time.


(5) Gus Macker back to Dayton Ohio for 40th Anniversary?
There have been rumblings throughout that the KING OF 3 on 3 is coming back to the city...Gus Macker, in its 40th season, is looking to come back to the city, and there are numerous reports that it will be back dowtown come July....This would be a welcome addition, since the last big sporting event that made it way downtown helped the city profit a million dollars off of it (NCAA FIRST FOUR) and just signed a 3-year deal through 2016. One only wonders if the magic of what the infamous GUS MACKER would do....Look for more on this story as the early year progesses.



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Top 5 Sports Topics of the Weekend

(1) Lakers coach Mike Brown axed after 5 games; D'Antoni sneaks job over Phil Jackson
     When Mike Brown was given his pink slip after only 5 games, it was one of the quickest (and lame duck) firings in history (of any sport)..And once the fans started chanting, "We want Phil, we want Phil" it looked like a foregone conclusion that they would be dusting the amazing Luxury Chair they pull out for Jackson while everybody squishes together on the sideline...But as fast as a Nash steal to a driving Kobe slam, D'Antoni signed a deal (3 years, 12 M) in which he had convinced the Lakers that his offense and his prowess could get them to a NBA Title... Just one question.  What in the hell is Lakers Management doin'?  They sidestep Phil Jackson (and Brian Shaw!) for Mike D'Antoni? Did they not see what happened to him in New York?
    

(2) Trotwood, Thurgood Marshall one step away from state   
   Trotwood continues to show its championship swag by pulling out a late comeback against Winton Woods; Down 20-7, they come back to win 27-20 in OT, (led by RB Israel Green) and a key late pick..Thurgood just dismanted Galia 69-9 to move into a rematch with Springfield Shawnee for a trip to State...This Cougar team is quite possibly the best ever to come out of Colonel White, and depending on how they do this season, maybe better than the Roth teams in their Keith Byars heyday


(3) Bengals end slide against champs; 3 QB's taken out from concussions Week 10 NFL
   The Bengals ended their 4 game slide by beating up on the Giants; Andy Dalton threw for 4 TD's to get them back into playoff race (4-5).. Starting QB's Alex Smith (S.F), Mike Vick (Phi) & Jay Cutler (Chi) was knocked out of game this week;  none of their teams won, while the 49ers and Cards tied at 24....Texans win in the Statement game of the week @ Chicago 13-6 and knocking Cutler out of the game on a vicious hit.
  

(4) Alabama Loses, now opens door for new Champion outside SEC
   Alabama takes a loss at home to the newcomer of the league, as Texas A&M stops the Crimson Tide winning streak. Wonder if the Alabama QB cried after this game too....Not sure why he was crying after a win, but you have to cry after a loss too right? Anyways, now Notre Dame, Kansas St., and Oregon are the only undefeated teams....I can just hear the groans of the Southeast every time I see a shiny helmet and a leprechaun running around after a Irish TD.  Who wins the championship? Im betting on Oregon.


(5) Dayton Knights hold hoop tryouts for new season  
   The Dayton Knights will be playing the UBA this season, (starting in December) and held their first tryout at Vandailia Rec Center; with over 20 players in attendance, the staff was able to grab some key players...However there will be another showcase (Early December) as the Knights prepare for the upcoming season. Go to the Dayton Knights page on facebook for more info.

Weekend Review: NFL Week 1 Recap; Knox Indy vs Ohio Challenge;

SportsEffectLive.com brings you the hottest events going down this past weekend.....With NFL week 1 goin down, the Knox vs Indy Challenge along with the Dayton Revival Festival, there was plenty of great things to do in the Miami Valley and beyond. 

                      Heres our SELIVE HOT 5 SPORTS WEEKEND RECAP

• 1st Annual Knox Pro Am Indy vs Ohio Challenge a HUGE Success

   With local NBA ballers such as Norris Cole, Daequan Cook, and Chris Wright flexing their hoop games, the hoop challenge at Trent Arena was a battle down to the finish. With thousands in attendance, the people was treated to great basketball from not only the Ohio legends, but from the Indy ballers as well. There were live music performances, raffles and giveaways from all of the NBA players in between TV timeouts, with Wolfie Mr. Sportsknowitall providing the commentary. President Carlos Knox felt like that it was a success as well, and looks forward to this being a yearly event in the city.
Look for the SELive TOP 5 plays from the event coming this weekend.


NFL Week 1 goes down 
   NFL week 1 is over, and it brought some of the biggest suprises - and dissapointments - to ever start a season in history. Here are some of the highlights and lowlights of the week:

•   Highlights: Cowboys set the tone: Dallas is the one franchise who has supposedly wasted the most money and talent in trying to get to the elusive Super Bowl. However, with a revamped secondary, they shut down the Giants and won 24-17. Can they do it at the end of the season when it counts?

•  Highlights: Mark Sanchez, Jets  - Sanchez, who has been ridiculed to no end since having a sub-par last season, and pre-season; However Sanchez led the Jets to a 48-point outburst, leaving the haters in the rear view, for a week at least.

• Lowlights: Bengals get smashed by Ravens

  This is the season that the Bengals can change their culture, but if they play like they did against the Ravens Monday night,  the only thing that will be changing is their fanbase. Now granted, the Ravens are Super Bowl contenders, but even without Terrell Suggs in the lineup the Ravens snatched the Bengals up and tossed them around like a fresh salad. The Bengals will have to bounce back next week. Or they could be in some real trouble this season.

• Lowlights: Browns Rookie QB Brandon Weeden 

   I guess you could say that Weeden looked lost from the start, as he inexplicably got swallowed up under the Flag on the field during the pre-game ceremonies. Once the game actually started, looks like Weeden never found his way out. His stats? 12 -34, 4 INT's and a fumble. And when he had a chance to take the Browns down for a Game Winning FG? No chance. Management feels he will get better. I hope so. Because you have a better QB (Colt McCoy) sitting behind him wondering why he didn't get the chance.

• Highlights: RG3 lights up scoreboard, beats Saints

  The only thing Robert Griffin III didn't do on Sunday was wear his Sunday's best at the press conference; He decided that his first interview would be done in his Skins uni, which was fine considering the day he had in it; 19-26, 320 yards, 2 TD's and 0 INT's, and most importantly, leading the Skins' to a 40-32 win over the Saints. In watching RG3 you seen a confident, cool customer who looks like a franchise QB. And yes he will have bad days, but on this day? He showed his worth, outlasting future hall of famer Drew Brees. Redskin fans are foaming at the mouth right now....He definitely outshined #1 pick Luck and his other rookie QB counterparts...And was the only one to get a W as well.

• Highlights: Referees do a good job.

   When it was first announced that there would be "scab" refs due to discussions about the new agreement for the refs, most thought it would be settled by Week 1. Not so. And after all the complaining and whining, it seems that Principal - I mean Commissioner -  Goodell is deciding to stick with the new blood. Although everybody and they mama feels like the old refs are better, the new refs (which includes female refs as well) have been steadily getting better. Question is, how long will Goodell go with the newcomers, as the longer it goes, the more antsy the other refs, along with the coaches and players, get?

• Lowlights: Referees do a bad job.

   Although some of the refs did a good job, there were a few instances that were not as good. Like Victor Cruz being held on a obvious play in the Cowboys game, which might have cost them a TD; like the refs giving the Seahawks a extra timeout during crunch time against the Cardinals; And so on; The point is this: The refs are HUMAN, therefore they will make mistakes. It happens. As long as they man (or woman) up, and don't make any amazingly bad mistakes, then the replacement refs will and are doing a good job.

• Highlights:  Fantasy star RB's get their money

 
   If you took one of the 3 best RB's in the game (Arien Foster, Matt Forte, Adrian Peterson) you did well....All three of those performers did their thing and scored TD's and ran for a lot of yards, and caught for plenty of yards. Look to add Maurice Jones-Drew to that list for next week.

• Lowlights: Fantasy Star QB's dissapear

 
  If you took the likes of Mike Vick, Matt Stafford, or Eli Manning in fantasy, then it was a uneasy day for you. Although Stafford and Vick were in Top 5 in yards, they both threw too many INT's for you to capitalize on it. And although Eli was solid, he wasn't spectacular. Vick and Stafford tled their teams to comeback W's, so they will probably come back with vintage games. I'd definitely play em.


Highlights: Serena Williams, Andy Murray hoist US OPEN trophies

Serena Williams is showing why she could be considered the GREATEST FEMALE TENNIS PLAYER EVER. Williams continued her amazing season with a comeback win over #1 Ranked Victoria Azarenka, giving her another Slam this season.On the other side of the spectrum, Andy Murray held off former US champ Djokovic in five sets, giving him his first ever Major Championship, and second consecutive major victory (if you count the Olympics); when Murray lost Wimbledon to Federer, he told the English faithful "im getting close"...well he wasn't playing, and this could lead to Murray making his own spectacular run.

 
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TOP 10 JUICIEST NFL Storylines; 5 - 10 & NFL Season Predictions

 Wassup peoples!!! With the NFL jumping off today with the Cowboys taking on the Champion New York Giants, its clear that the big boys are ready for some football...AND WE ARE TOO!!..With that being said, there are some UNBELIEVEABLE storylines this season for the NFL... So we decided at SportsEffectLive.com  to bring you the: SELIVE TOP 10 JUICIEST STORYLINES in the NFL this season.....
ENJOY!!!

(1)  Will the GIANTS REPEAT?

Will he become the ELI-TE one?

      Before last season started Eli Manning was asked if he was an "ELITE" Quarterback.Without hesitation, in his normal calm voice, he said "YES" and explained why he felt that way. It was a classic moment as you could hear the snickering and laughing from the pundits, experts, and other teams about the comment; Most people thought the Giants beating the undefeated Pats in 2008 was a fluke; Not anymore as Manning led the Giants to another Super Bowl victory over Tom-terrific and the Pats again last season. With all the snickering gone, can ELI move his way to becoming the ELITE QB in the NFL this year? Another Super Bowl, and you have to put em up there...But questions remain for the Champs; Will Victor Cruz have a another great season after doing everything but become mayor of New York?..What running back will step up? And what will become of the injured, depleted secondary?




(2)  Who will be the QB of the JETS come crunch time?
    When the Cult that is Tim Tebow landed in New York after being urshered out the door from Denver, you could feel Sanchize cringe with excitement....After having a down season, now he has to deal with the "BLESSED ONE" smiling in his face and secretly wantin to have his job? And on top of that, the 1st team offense directed a total of - 0 touchdowns - in the preseason? The odds are stacked against Sanchez, but don't bet against him. Hey Eva Longoria is bettin with him as they have started datin. So why not us? Although the pressure is high, look for Sanchez to have his best season of his career. You heard it here first.


(3) Which Packers team will show up this season?
    The Packers absolutely steamrolled the competition in the regular season last season, lookin like a shoo-in for another Super Bowl appearance. However, after a 15-1 regular season, the Packs highly touted offense sputtered against the aggressive Giants, and the D had waaay too many lapses, leaving the cheeseheads with a bad taste in their mouth. This season will be interesting in the fact that when the Pack won the Super Bowl, they were 9-7 and under the radar; Theres no doubt that the Packers could win it all; question is, can they play with the pressure of being a "Favorite" and not the "underdog" in the playoffs? Remains to be seen...



(4) Can Bengals change their CULTURE this season? 
    The Bengals did a bang up job in the draft last season, getting the steal in the draft in pro bowl rookie QB Andy Dalton and drafting the next superstar at WR in A.J. Green; That duo led them to a suprising playoff appearance, and a lot of hope for the future. However one thing that hasn't changed in Cincy is the culture of winning; usually when the Bengals win one season, they lose the next. Check the records. You have to go back to the Ickey Woods, Boomer days in the late 80's - early 90's to find two winning seasons in a row; in order for the Bengals to become a team with a WINNING CULTURE they must find a way to get back to the playoffs. They have the talent, and Coach Marvin Lewis did a great job last season, but this is THE SEASON that could define the careers of Dalton, Green, and Marvin Lewis.

(5) The PEYTON MANNING EFFECT
   Last year Peyton Manning got to watch his team, the Indinapolis Colts, lose so much that he heard the Andrew Luck rumors...Would he be the first pick? Would Peyton and Luck be on the same team? Who would start?..And the later the season played, the more and more obvious it became, that the Colts would be in rebuild mode; Would Peyton want to be a part of that? Well, as it turns out, Peyton, and his shaky neck, was let go in Indy, and after a little courting from teams all over, Manning decided that he would take his talents to the Mile High Club in Denver. Now with Manning running the show with a team who beat the Steelers last playoffs and a guy in the front office who will let him do his thing (John Elway), this season has a all-or-nothing feel to it. Will Peyton make it through the season? Will he be rusty from a full season layoff? Can the Broncos get to the Super Bowl? Will they regret getting rid of Tim Tebow?


(6) Which Rookie QB will fare the best?
    Leapfrogging off of Andrew Luck, this season there will be 5 Rookie QB's  that will be starting in week 1; This hasn't happened since the 60's; When the draft was made, there was a good chance that there would be 2 starters (Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III) coming into Wk 1; But with the Dolphins and Browns liking their two rookies (Tanneyhill in Miami and 28 yr-old Weeden in Cleveland) they moved up the ladder pretty quickly. Add in a suprise player in Russell Wilson in Seattle, who outplayed Matt Flynn, and now you have a youth movement at the position. Which QB will be hurt first? Who will lead their team to a playoff run? Which QB will be benched first?


(7)  What will become of the Saints?
   The Saints were the darlings of the league just three seasons ago, when they upset the Colts in the Super Bowl; Since then, the Who Dat nation have been under the microscope of Roger Goodell and the League for having bounties on players (such as Brett Favre and other players, supposedly). Goodell put the pimp hand down on the Saints, removing their coaches, players, and anybody else involved in the alleged scandal. While there have looong been rumors that coaches and players give money for hard hits or injuries, Goodell felt like the Saints would be "put on blast" for what they did. So now, with a interim coach taking over, still fighting the NFL about the suspensions put on the coaches and players. Can Brees become the ULTIMATE QB and lead his team - on and off the court - to the playoffs?


(8) Is Cowboys, Chargers, running out of time?
    The Cowboys and Chargers have been two of the most talked about teams in the last five years in referring to Super Bowl talent and aspirations. While the Chargers have been closer than the Cowboys in those times, neither team have been able to grasp that moment in order to get to that elusive Super Bowl. The Chargers, led by Phillip Rivers, had a tough season last year. Now with guys getting older, and Rivers entering a crucial time in his career, is it do or die time for the Chargers and coach Norv Turner, who has more lives than Sylvester the Cat. And the Cowboys, who have top level talent, just haven't been able to get over the hump. However, with two new CB's, a budding RB, and Jerry being Jerry, could this be the season that Romo gets the 'Boys to the promiseland?


(9)  Miami Valley Local Lookout

   Just like in Baskeball, there are a load of guys playing in the NFL from the Miami Valley such as A.J. Hawk, Nick Mangold,  Mike Nugent, Jake Ballard, Will Allen, Brandon McKinney, Brandon Saine, and Kurt Coleman just to name a few. With newcomers such as Jerel Worthy (Packers) Michael Shaw (Redskins) trying to get into the league with the current crop of players already established, the Miami Valley continues to show why some of the best Football is played in Ohio, specifially Dayton. Worthy looks to be a star in the making in Green Bay, while Shaw will have to find a way to get on the field. One things is for certain; these guys keep the door swinging wide open for the next group of players to succeed.

(10) Here is SportsEffectLive.com NFL Picks for the 2012-2013 Season

MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Packers  - Rodgers won't have as great as a season as he had last year (45 TD's, 6 INT), but he will be very close. And the Pack will want to get rid of that stinging loss in the Playoffs last season.

Defensive Player of Year:  Patrick Willis, 49ers  - Willis will lead the best Defense in the NFL to another Super Bowl worthy year, as look for the Niners LB to put up incredible numbers this season.

ROOKIE of the YEAR: Russell Wilson, Seahawks - I know this is a stretch with Luck and RG3 out there, but Wilson has played in a pro setting before, and I think with the players he has around him, that he will have a magical season.

Most Underrated AFC Team: Bengals - Although the Bengals did make the playoffs, they have all the tools to reach the AFC Championship game.

Most Underrated NFC Team: Panthers - The Panthers made some good offseason moves, and with Cam Newton running the show, the skys the limit.

AFC Championship -  Ravens    - Texans 
NFC Championship - Cowboys  - Packers

Super Bowl   - Ravens   vs  Cowboys
Champion:    - Cowboys





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Top 5 Games in the NFL this week:

The NFL has been great this year, with a ton of storylines for the final regular season week....While some teams have already reserved tickets to some exotic island for a getaway, others are playing for playoff positions, and also draft positions. Which brings us to our SELive Top 5 NFL Games of the Week:

SELive Watch Factor Rating: 1-5                  
 1- Catch the highlights
 2- Sleep off and on but watch
 3- Flick back and forth but watch when important
 4- Im checkin this game out, hope i get to watch it all
 5- Miss this game? Are u CRAZY! Wheres the remote!
 WEEK 17 Games
(1)  Baltimore (12-3)       at      Cincinnati   (9-6)    (1pmET) -  Normally this game would be a playoff tuneup for the Ravens,  but not this season, as the Bengals have suprised everyone, including themselves, while now having a shot at the playoffs; However, RayRay and the Rave squad also need this game badly, as they are looking to get a bye and a top seed in the playoffs. The Ravens have never had that home field, so i'm sure the Ravens will be ready. The question is, which Bengals team will we see? Andy Dalton and AJ Green have been saviors for the team, and they will have to be in top form today to pull off the win. And on top of that, the whole nation wants to see if Cincinnati can prove the doubters wrong, especially the ones in Cincinnati. Note: Nice to see that Bengals fans decided to get tickets at a 2 for 1 sale price so this game would be on TV..
SELive Watch Factor: 5

Jerome Simpson flips over defender into end zone - LITERALLY

(2)  NY Giants (8-7)      at        Dallas   (8-7)    -  (830pmET)  In this NFC East battle, the winner of this game will move on to the playoffs while the loser goes home. Both of these teams have been inconsistent all year, bringing us to this point. Dallas held a late 12 point lead against the Giants at home three weeks ago, but couldn't seal the deal, while the Giants have been a mystery to most, winning tough games and losing to inferior opponents. Pro Bowler Eli Manning has been, for the most part, a one man show...But with RB Bradshaw healthy, Jacobs seemingly playing with more intensity, and the Defense ramping up its game (along with being at home), it will take a focused Romo for 60 minutes to snap a jinx against the Giants, who have had the Cowboys number for the last 3 or 4 years.   SELive Watch Factor:  4.5

Will Tebow-Mania ride into playoffs?

(3)  Kansas City  (6-9)      at     Denver   (8-7)  (4:15pmET)     -   All year, the Broncos fanbase had been craving for Tim Tebow. When current Chiefs / former Broncos QB Kyle Orton wasn't generating wins, Tebow was given the opportunity. In return he has led the Broncos to a 7-4 record, given life to a franchishe which was looking towards the draft earlier this season, and has become a impossible guy to not like or hate. Even John Elway has bought in to TebowMagic. But 2 losses in a row, and a guy who feels scorned by the way the Broncos treated him (Orton) makes this a magical game in the Mile High City. Orton would like nothing better but to send the Broncos on vacation, and best believe he will do EVERYTHING in his power to make that happen. Will Ortons rage be enough to stop Tebow and his magic touch?   SELive Watch Factor: 5

(4) Indianapolis   (2-13)     at     Jacksonville   (4-11)   - While Jacksonville already have started looking into next season, the Colts have not; Especially Peyton Manning. While it was noted that Manning bought the backup QB a new car after the win last week, they will still need another win to stay out of the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes. Now where there has been all type of scenarios, believe this; Those players want Peyton Manning as the starting QB next season. And they will play inspired ball this game to prove it. Manning doesn't want another QB in his Colts spot next year, but with a loss, he might be battling Luck next year for that spot; or he could be somewhere else, say Jets or Cowboys next year?   SELive Watch Factor:  2

(5)  Pittsburgh    (11-4)     at      Cleveland    (4-11)  (4pmET)    -  While to most fans this game will be nothing special, this has major implications in the Playoff Race. If Baltimore wins, then this game will have as no meaning. However, if the Ravens lose to the Bengals, then Big Ben (on his injured ankle) will try to get the Steelers a first round bye, the division championship, and a chance to rest his body for another week. Last year the Browns beat the Steelers in a late Thursday game, and this will be a battle. Depending on how the Bengals Ravens game play out, of course.
SELive Watch Factor: 2.5