New England Football Journal®

First and Ten is ten quick thoughts on what’s going on in the football world. Today’s focus is Black Monday.  By John Sarianides 1. Normally I would have an issue with a team firing a coach after one season but Jed York had to fire Chip Kelly. He was a bad hire and a bad fit. The Niners needed to move on. 2. Speaking of the 49ers. Owner Jed York…

The bowl season wraps up with four excellent match ups. Here is our preview.  Iowa +2.5 at Florida, in the Outback Bowl: I think this game will be a fist fight in a phone booth. Iowa is the better team offensively while Florida boasts one of the best defenses in the country. Something has to give.  I expect a low scoring affair between these two physical teams. The first team…

The 2016 NFL season wrapped with two teams making the playoffs and two coaches getting fired.  1. The Patriots reinforced the perception nationally that they are the favorite to win it all heading into the playoffs. New England absolutely dominated Miami from the opening kick-off. Sure the Dolphins got within a score but you never felt the Patriots were going to lose the game. 2. The Steelers and Falcons are…

Game Rewind: The Patriots scored on the opening drive of the game and never looked back in a dominate 35-14 over the rival Miami Dolphins. With the win, the Patriots secured the number one seed in the AFC. Here are five thoughts from the game. 1. Got the Win and Left Healthy: Bill Belichick couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. The Patriots played well, got the win and left…

Storyline: The Patriots need to win today in order to secure the number one seed in the AFC playoffs. It won’t be easy against a Dolphins team that is much improved and in the playoffs.  Miami has been a house of horrors for the Patriots through the years. Today will be a tough test for them. Here are five keys to the game. 1. Stay Healthy: The Patriots need to…

By Michael Vallee If I was an NFL GM I would be crossing the name Christian McCaffrey off my draft board. McCaffrey announced that he is bailing on his Stanford team and will not be playing in the Sun Bowl against North Carolina. LSU’s running back Leonard Fournette is also sitting out his bowl game but he has been dealing with an ankle injury all year so at least he…

(Featured image courtesy of Sporting News) The day we have all be waiting for is finally here. The College Football Semifinals are upon us.  Here is our preview of both games. #4 Washington Huskies v. #1 Alabama Crimson Tide Storyline: The Washington Huskies will look to shock the world this afternoon when they face the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first of two semifinal playoff games.  It won’t be easy….

Coach O and the Tigers will try to stop Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson and the Cardinals in the Citrus Bowl.  LSU v. Louisville +3.5, in the Citrus Bowl: This could be the best game of the day. LSU finished strong with a win over Texas A&M and Coach O and his staff hope to ride that momentum to a win today.  It’ll be tough however against Heisman Trophy winner…