The Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks met for the second year in a row. Expectations were high after a tightly contested contest a year ago.
Super Bowl defending Seattle looked to set the tone early by forcing a fumble early. Just when you thought they were going to start off where they finished, Wilson tried to force a throw over the middle and paid dearly. The Colts would take advantage and jump out to a huge lead before the Seahawks could respond.
Seattle had chances to close the gap. Down late before the half 28-0, Wilson had the Seahawks driving for a long scoring drive. Getting the ball back to start the 3rd, Wilson had an opportunity to cut the game to 28-14 with a couple strong drives. That thought was premature as the Seahawks turned the ball over and Indianapolis looked to add to the lead. Driving for another score, Luck threw a deep out with less than 30 seconds remaining. The pass was picked and returned inside the 5 before the Seahawks added 7. Was it possible that the Seahawks were about to stage a comeback?
Seattle got the ball to start the 2nd half and Wilson was moving the Seahawks near midfield. Just when you started to think the Hawks had something going, they turned it over. It was the story of the game for Seattle as the Colts evened the Superbowl Series 1-1.
Will we see a 3rd matchup?
Congratulations Colts on a championship run!
Please vote on speed threshold adjustments for EMN.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SzVX0tE5Qeu-X5ACWc0IH79xAUaV6eEC2dhkqzm1Sw8/viewform
The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Indianapolis Colts in a game that delivered to the hype. Both teams had ample opportunities to take the trophy home throughout the game and the last minutes of regulation. Regulation, was not going to decide a Champion in EMN this season. Although the Seahawks scored a TD late in the 4th quarter, the Colts came back and drove inside the redzone with multiple opportunites to score a TD and seal the EMN Superbowl Trophy. However, the Seahawks defense rose to the occasion and held the Colts to a field goal to force overtime. Andrew Luck looked hot from the start of the extra quarter, but heaved a long pass down the sideline that was intercepted and the Seahawks took over possesion of the ball. The Seahawks drove down the field and looked to be setting themselves up for a game winning field goal. The Colts defense took some risks in attempt to stall the Seattle drive, but the Seahawks made them pay as Wilson found an open receiver in stride on the way to the endzone for the EMN Superbowl victory!
EMN Superbowl 4 Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0J3k7mXmruw
Congratulations to both teams on a great championship game.
Congratulations to the Seattle Seahawks on winning the 4th EMN Superbowl.
EMN Owners:
Congratulations on another outstanding season completed. Good luck to those teams still contending to be crowned this season's champion.
In preperation for next season, please review the proposed off season changes that are being contemplated. EMN considers each owner a part of the EMN competition committee. This is your opportunity to influence the direction of the league moving forward.
The links below, reflect possible changes to free agency and sliders. Also there is an owner review to assist EMN in improving moving forward. Please review and submit your votes. Only one submittal will be accepted and no changes are allowed.
EMN Free Agency Schedule
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1rSS2FVCqtu5ceyuPo9o1cinOh3gDSaVz5JH7U2YSQMM/viewform?usp=send_form
EMN Slider Adjustments
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14GwSyQrxY8k6u2dstcFuEPL9Mir4UFreVheLQmXwQ9w/viewform?usp=send_form
EMN Owner Review
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16Ee_vJJkiDgWTOyK6pO4OYWv4Vo7Mv6M2DxsqlivB5g/viewform?usp=send_form
As always, if you have any other suggestions, feel free to reach out to a league representative anytime or comment to this post.
-EMN Management
AFC Outlook
AFC East – The AFC East was a mess last season as the Buffalo Bills ran away with division, even after changing management halfway through the season. The Patriots finished 2nd in the division with 5 wins. It is expected the Jets and Dolphins will rebound. Jenoris Jenkins will be a big addition to the Gang Green as they have missed having a legit CB since Revis dawned the uniform. The Bills should be back, but a repeat season might be too difficult to repeat. The Patriots should be a tough game for an opponent each week, but may have lost some key pieces that may have an impact on their record. The glory years for this division seem to be fading….
*Bills 9-7
Dolphins 7-9
Jets 7-9
Patriots 4-12
AFC North – The Ravens and Steelers have battled it out at the top the last couple seasons. Each has won a division championship so it appears one of these teams will again be at the top by the end of the year, but which will? The Bengals are up to the change after constantly simming through seasons. They will now play to win behind respected new coach Dan. He will have them playing with fire and in competitive games week in and out. The Browns have a nice young defense and QB Manziel leading the offense, but will need to game plan better in this difficult division.
*Steelers 11-5
*Ravens 10-6
*Bengals 9-7
Browns 4-12
AFC South – This division continues to get tougher with the addition of the new Titans owner. Tennessee will have their work cut out as the rest of the division seemed to get better. The Jaguars already boasting a youthful team, added plenty of talent by having one of the best drafts in EMN. The Texans also had a great draft, as they shipped out players to add multiple picks which allowed them to shape the roster as they like. The Indianapolis Colts will be tough to top for the division, however they may be more vulnerable than recent years as ownership has been complaining about a poor draft and Richardson leaving via free agency. Could a GM be heading out the door next, if the Colts fail to live up to expectations?
*Colts 12-4
*Titans 9-7
Texans 8-8
Jaguars 6-10
AFC West – The Chargers splurged in free agency and added quite a few players in the draft. It will be interesting to see how improved they are after Coach Vald shapes it as he wishes. The Raiders may make some noise this year. Each year they find themselves in the thick of a wildcard race, could this be the season they secure a playoff spot? The Broncos watched Peyton Manning finally hang up the cleats. Will they be able to adjust quickly enough to return to the playoffs? The Chiefs are a legitimate contender after adding McCourty on a huge free agent deal. They clearly have to make changes to accommodate. Can they? And is Alex Smith good enough to take them to the big game?
*Chiefs 12-4
Broncos 9-7
Raiders 8-8
Chargers 4-12
NFC Outlook
NFC East – Arguably one of the toughest divisions last year, this division will prove again to be very good. The Giants could be a potent contender if they can get the running game going behind AP. The Eagles and Redskins can both contend for a playoff spot this season. The Eagles return much the same team while the Redskins will have a revamped rb group behind Morris and some new wideouts for RG3 to target. The Dallas Cowboys shipped disgruntled Dez out of town and also lost other key members on defense. However, they looked to improve the secondary which featured Brandon Carr and Barry Church. Newly added Munnerlyn, Jonathan Joseph, Adbullah, Polamalu and young rookies Love and Stokes should offer a new and improved look.
*Giants 13-3
*Eagles 9-7
Redskins 8-8
Cowboys 6-10
NFC North – The Detroit Lions continued to add to a team that won last year’s North. Lynch returns to give the Lions a well balanced offense. The defensive line will be a chore for any offensive line to block as they added Calais Campbell. Will the oline hold up to allow them to repeat? The Packers feature a potent passing attack with Rodgers, Nelson, Cobb, Powers and newly acquired Brandon. The defense may be a bit leaky though after allowing some key veterans to depart such as Peppers. Minnesota added Dez Bryant and JaDeveon Clowney in an attempt to become more competitive. The defense has gained another year of experience and could be considerably improved from last season. Can Bridgewater guide this team to the playoffs? Chicago continues to field a talented but aging offense. The defense also features some cagey veterans that continue to play at a high level as they age. The Bears will score points and by doing so they could be a surprise come playoff time.
*Lions 11-5
*Packers 10-6
Vikings 9-7
Bears 7-9
NFC South – Atlanta and New Orleans seem to have started a rivalry. The Saints ran away with the division a season ago, but the Falcons jumped out of the gate fast. Julio Jones set NFL records on the way to a 8-8 season that found the Falcons tied with the Saints at the top. A considerable improvement as the Falcons went from last to first. However, the Saints took the division and fended the Falcons off for a 2nd straight year. The Saints may regress this season as they will still be competitive as they added some key pieces. Brees being gone could be a factor unless the new face of the franchise drafted 2nd overall can win immediately. The Panthers have the pieces in place to be a factor in this division, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them standing on top when the dust settles. Tampa Bay showed signs of promise by defeating some top competition. However, to be competitive they will have to concentrate on a weekly basis.
*Falcons 9-7
Panthers 8-8
Saints 7-9
Bucs 5-11
NFC West – Congratulations to the Seahawks again on a Super Bowl Championship. The Seahawks will return as the favorite to repeat. The defense continues to play at a high level and the offense executes the gameplan to perfection. The remainder of the division is tough as nails, but it appears the coaching staff just does not have their teams playing at their best. Each of these coaches could find themselves in the playoffs if they can turn a few plays around each game. The Rams feature a potent defense, especially up front that just destroys opponent’s game plans. SF still boasts one of the league’s best LB corps that can do the same to opponent’s game plans. Ironically, the Cardinals have an impressive secondary that can do the same. Combining these units would create an impressive total defense, maybe one that could perform at the level of the Seahawnks
*Seahawks 12-4
Rams 7-9
49ers 6-10
Cardinals 6-10
The first few days of EMN Free Agency have passed and the action has started to heat up. Wide Receivers seem to be the hottest comodity available as plenty are finding new homes. The Chargers splurged by adding Larry Fitzgerald on a 1 year $8.6M deal. Pierre Garcon might have lost a step, but he now replaces Dwayne Bowe, who was recently released. Jacoby Ford lands in Jacksonville to be a new target for their young rookie QB. The Titans added another weapon on offense by finalizing a deal with Brandon Quick. Julian Edelman and Marques Colston were signed to replace Brandon Quick in St Louis.
Other big signings in the first few days include DT Barry Cofield, accepting an offer from the Bengals new management. The Saints have added MLB Paul Worrilow. The Jacoksonville Jaguars added D'Qwell Jackson, an aging but underrated talent at MLB. Hussain Abdullah, who was among the interception leaders last season, finalized a deal with Dallas. Dwight Freeney will be adding to his sack totals in Minnesota at a slight discount. Atlanta has agreed to terms with kicker Stephen Gostkowski. The Rams gave John Kuhn a 1 year deal valued at 1.1M The Rams also added CB Asante Samuel with hopes to improve the secondary behind a very tough front 7.
More key free agent signings are expected in the next couple days leading up to the draft. Stay tuned!
The Seattle Seahawks win the Season 2 EMN Championship 33-22 over the Indianapolis Colts! Congratulations to Vanking!
-EMN Management
Season 2 has gained full steam and teams are beginning to jockey for playoff position. Will the eventual Super Bowl winner come from the AFC or NFC? Clearly, each conference has a number of potential candidates and this could also be a year in which a dark horse makes a deep run.
Starting with the AFC, the top 3 dogs have resilient defenses and potent offenses that could carry them to a Championship. Currently, top seeded Buffalo has their players full of confidence, even coming off a recent loss to the NY Giants. The loss allows the rest of the conference to gain ground and may also provide a statement that the NFC looks quite potent at the top.
Even with the recent loss, Buffalo has clinched the AFC East and will be looking to lock up a first round bye. Nipping at their heels are the Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs. While the Chiefs currently hold a 2 game lead in the AFC West, the Colts and Titans appear to both be headed to the post season, but Indianapolis holds a 1 game lead and swept the Titans during the regular season. Could KC possibly manage to secure a first round bye? KC currently maintains a 2 game lead in the division and is only a game back from the 2nd seed. The AFC North appears to be a 3 team fight with the Ravens and Steelers tied for the lead, 1 game up on the Bengals. The Steelers and Ravens met in the playoffs last season, and appear to be set to battle for the division with the loser possibly finding themselves at home for the playoffs.
Poh’s AFC Playoff Seeding Prediction:
Indianapolis Colts: 14-2 (5-0 run to the playoffs)
Kansas City Chiefs: 12-4 (4-1 finish)
Buffalo Bills 12-4 (2-3 finish, win lose tie breaker to Chiefs with common opponents played)
Baltimore Ravens 11-5 (4-1 finish)
Tennessee Titans 11-5 (3-2 finish)
Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5 (4-1 finish, lose wild card tie to Titans based on conference record)
Missing out: Broncos 9-7, Bengals 9-7, Raiders 8-8
The NFC has a pair of elite teams at the top that win in different ways. The Giants boast a prolific offense that has put up more points than any other EMN team. The Seahawks boast a suffocating defense as they have allowed the least amount of points in EMN. It seems like destiny that these two teams will meet in the NFC Championship.
Are there other contenders in the NFC? Or only pretenders? One team that truly is a question mark is the Atlanta Falcons. Ryan has been riding Julio Jones to the top of the NFC South and the Falcons appear to be heading to the post season after a remarkable turnaround from last season. The NFC North is a 3 team race with the Lions, Packers and Bears all clawing for the division to avoid the tight wild card race.
As for wildcard contenders in the NFC, it is quite a murky picture that may get clearer in the next couple weeks. The Redskins, Lions and Bears are in the best position. However, the Eagles, Cowboys, Rams and possibly Saints all have a chance to sneak into the playoffs. Are any of these a threat to represent the NFC?
Poh’s NFC Playoff Seeding Prediction:
Seattle Seahawks: 15-1 (5-0 finish)
New York Giants: 14-2 (5-0 finish)
Detroit Lions: 11-5 (3-2 finish)
Atlanta Falcons: 9-7 (2-3 finish)
Washington Redskins: 11-5 (4-1 finish)
Green Bay Packers: 10-6 (3-2 finish)
Missing out: Bears 9-7, Eagles 9-7, Cowboys 9-7, Saints 8-8
The Minnesota Vikings have been shopping a few players as the Season 2 trade deadline rolls around. A few veteran names have been floated in potential deals. The names that have been linked to potential new landing places are:
HB - Chris Rainey - Elusive Scatback - 94 Speed, 99 AGI, 97 ACC
FB - Jerome Felton - Bruising Runblocker- 87 RBK 88 IBK
WR - Greg Jennings - Ageless Gloves- 86 RTE, 87 CTC, 89 SPC
WR - Jarius Wright - Shifty Slot Receiver - 92 AGI 92 SPD, 95 ACC 83 CIT
WR - Trindon Holiday - Shiftier Slot / KR - 95 AGI, 98 SPD, 97 ACC
DE Brian Robison - Veteran 2-Way Defensive End - 88 FMV, 84 PUR 83 PRC
DT Linval Joseph - Monster Middle DT - 26 AGE, 95 STR, 93 BSH, 84 PUR
OLB Chad Greenway - Route Anticipating OLB - 74 ZCOV, 87 PRC
MLB Dietrich Hyde - FAST KNOCK OUT POWER MLB - 90 SPD, 86 POW over 10K in XP.
SS Antone Exum Jr - Fast, well rounded S - 88 SPD, nearly 80s accross the board.
The Vikings appear to be looking for improvements at , Slot WR, DE, CB and picks for this years draft.
Rivers brought the Chargers back from a 21-3 score by finding the FB out of the backfield on a 2-point conversation to make the score 21-21 with under 2 minutes to play.
Bridgewater then navigated the Vikings to a 28-21 victory by finding TE Rudolph with 8 seconds left in the game on a 33 yard strike, his 3rd TD of the day. Minnesota had shipped Adrian Peterson to the NY Giants for a few high round draft picks and had plenty of new faces. One of those high round picks was rookie RB Pendleton who broke a few tackles on his way to a 100 yard game and added a TD. Larry Fitzgerald returned home to grab a few catches playing for the team he grew up watching as a ball boy.
The Vikings defense looked tough to crack until Rivers got rolling in the 2nd half. Barr and Robison added 2 sacks each and Harrison Smith added 10 tackles and a sack.
Player of the Game - Teddy Bridgewater - 3 TDs nearly 300 yards after throwing a pick in 1st qtr. Led Vikings back by throwing TD on game winning drive.
Watch the Game - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPkIXpdOyc0&feature=youtube_gdata