Packers Push Past Lions With A Little Help From the Officials | Ticket King Inc.

The Packers entered Monday Night Football at home against the Lions expecting to and six point favorites. Put the non penalties aside, and this game was anything but boring. The Lions came out firing with a “flea flicker” on play number one, and another long yardage pass in series two. The Green Bay crowd was subdued in the middle of the first quarter as the Lions took a 10-0 lead. Meanwhile, the Packers couldn’t get out of their own way. The Packers had been moving the ball throughout the night. Two fumbles and an interception can sink a team most days, but the Lions were giving Rodgers time, packing the secondary and covering the wide-outs. Finally, key players stepped up late in the game, and Mason Crosby made the game-winner as time expired.

Aaron Rodgers seemed to be cool the entire game. The touchdown pass to Allen Lazard will be a career highlight pass, to be sure. Rodgers stayed steady all night long, and found Lazard for four catches and a crucial touchdown. In the huddle and on the sideline, Rodgers lobbied for Lazard to take the game over, and the pair worked in tandem beautifully. Jamal Williams returned to the lineup in great form, becoming a key offensive player on the field tonight. Williams finished the night with a combined 18 touches for 136 yards and a touchdown.  After playing the breakout game of his career, the Packers needed another performance like that in this one. Instead, Jones went the other way, with a costly fumble and a dropped touchdown reception.

Who in the world thought Allen Lazard would be the Packers clutch receiver tonight? Brought back to the roster, and sitting in spot number eight on the depth chart, Lazard stepped in tonight to make some big catches and a key touchdown in the fourth quarter. Rodgers mentioned in the post game press conference that Lazard was calling for a chance to run specific routes in the huddle. This came after Aaron was pulling to have Lazard enter the game. The plan worked beautifully. The Packers needed someone, anyone to hang onto the ball tonight, and Mercedes Lewis stepped up to do just that in two key situations. Darrius Shepherd was responsible for the Aaron Rodgers interception and should have called fair catch on a fumbled punt. He’s a small sized player that just needs to settle into the postion of punt returns. The Packers stand atop the NFC North, with a record of 5-1. As Aaron Rodgers said “Bad calls have a way of evening out by the end of the season.” On this night, they went the Packers’ way.

Packers Win On The Road at Dallas | Ticket King Inc.

The Green Bay Packers went into Dallas, coming off their first loss of the season. They faced the 3-1 Dallas Cowboys in a game that gave the Packers their first true test of 2019. The first 40 minutes of the game could not have gone any better for the Packers, as they held a 31-3 lead towards the end of the third quarter. Packers fans hearts pounded the rest of the way, as the Cowboys staged a furious comeback and got within 10 points. A missed field goal secured the Packers victory 34-24. Let’s review the game.

Aaron Jones/RB- Aaron Jones could not have picked a better day to have the game of his life. The Packers offense was without Davante Adams and Jamal Williams for this one, and they lost center Corey Linsley in the first half due to a concussion. Jones ended up with 26 touches for 182 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns.

Za’Darius Smith/OLB- One of the three big defensive free agent signings and now the Packers defensive captain, Za’Darius Smith dropped Prescott twice and was in his face all afternoon.

Preston Smith/OLB- The other Smith was in Pres

cott’s face all game as well. The Packers are getting more than what they paid for with these two.

Aaron Rodgers/QB-  Aaron is getting more comfortable each week. Without Davante Adams, possibly the best receiver in the NFL at the moment, Rodgers was comfortable all game, finding nine different receivers to throw to.

Tra Carson/RB- In a surprising move, Tra Carson got called up off the practice squad to be the backup running back for this one, not the rookie Dexter Williams. Carson had 10 touches for 32 yards, picked up key blocks, and gave Aaron Jones much needed spells throughout this game.

The Referees- We tend not to complain about the referees as both teams get both helped and hampered by officiating over the course of an NFL game. This game had plays that will certainly be reviewed by the NFL offices. It was that bad. 

Run Game- Aaron Jones is a workhorse back. In this game, Jones showed us why he is so highly thought of, carrying the Packers to a crucial road win. He is a dynamic player, but they cannot rely on him to stay at top form, given his size. They need Jamal Williams back.

Brewers Get One Game Shot in MLB Post Season 2019 | Ticket King Inc.

Our hometown favorites have nabbed a Wild Card spot for the 2019 MLB Post Season. After 162 hard fought games, it all comes down to nine innings to decide if they can slide into the playoffs. If they do make it, there are very high hurdles ahead. For those in the hunt, there are four "100 win" teams to contend with, a powerhouse Dodgers team, a currently hobbled Cardinals team that won't stay down for long, and upstart Braves organization that just might surprise everyone this year. Here we lay out our best guesses for the upcoming MLB Post Season. 

The 2019 MLB regular season has come to a close. The Houston Astros finish the season with 107 wins, tops in either league. Three other teams won 100 or more games: The Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and the stunning surprise of the season, the Minnesota Twins. Speaking of those Twins, they were indeed the surprise of 2019. They won 56 games on the road and set the Major League record for home runs in the season by one team. So how about the postseason?

National League Wild Card Game: Nationals vs. Brewers- The Brewers picked the wrong time to lay an egg. The Cubs handed them a gift the final weekend of the season, and the Brewers just couldn’t keep the wins going. Milwaukee heads to D.C. to face Max Scherzer for a one game Wild Card battle.

American League Wild Card Game: Athletics vs. Rays- Two small market teams with unique approaches to the game will face off in this one. Expect both teams to use a lot of pitchers.

National League Postseason

Divisional Round

Dodgers vs. Nationals- The Dodgers cruised through the entire season without much of a test. They will get one here by facing Strasburg twice, and Scherzer once. At the end of the day, this should be a well-pitched series across the board, and the Dodgers should pull it out at the end.

Braves vs. Cardinals- Two weeks ago fans were ready to pick the hard-charging Cardinals to win the World Series. This last week has shown cracks in that consesus. The Cardinals are going in reverse at the wrong time. The Braves have a lot of talented young arms. Braves could pull this off in four games.

Championship Series

Dodgers vs. Braves- This one comes down to those young arms for Atlanta. Can they handle the bright lights of the National League Championship Series? If they can, it’s going to be an amazing series. That is a big “if” though. If not, then the Dodgers cruise back into the World Series. The final result will fall somewhere in the middle. The Dodgers could take this in six games.

American League Postseason

Divisional Round

Astros vs. Rays - This one isn’t going to be much of a contest. The Astros are an awful match up for the Rays. Houston most likely advances in a sweep.

Yankees vs. Twins- The Twins could make this postseason very interesting if they keep up the pace and “ding dongs”. With their ability to win road games and that strong offense, they can take anyone down anywhere, on any day. One missing piece of their “armor” is that they got the voodoo in their head when they go to New York these days. Yankees will probably take the series in five games.

Championship Series

Astros vs. Yankees- The series we’ve been waiting for all season. Two powerhouse teams going head to head in a titanic grudge match. The difference in this series is going to be those two battle-tested hurlers at the top of the Astros rotation, Zach Grienke and Justin Verlander. We pick the Astros to advance in seven games.

World Series

Astros vs. Dodgers- Here Will this be the rematch of perhaps the best World Series of the last 25 years? Fans have to take into account that the Astros went from being baseball’s great experiment, to being baseball’s great prophecy. Can they do it again? These two teams match well. This one is a push that could go either way. Our resident sports “Guru” T.J. Bryce picks the Astros, in seven amazing games.

Packers Look to Improve in Week Two | Ticket King Inc.

The Green Bay Packers are coming off a week one win that was either sloppy or impressive, depending on which side of the ball you examine. On offense, they were as bad as they have been for an entire game since perhaps their 4-12 season under Mike Sherman. We just don’t expect the Packers offense to stall out for an entire game outside of one drive, as they did in week one. So we move on to the defense. According to advanced analytics, the Packers defense had their best game in almost a decade. Next up, they play their home opener against the Minnesota Vikings. So what to expect this week?

Aaron Rodgers- For starters, number 12 has got to be better than he was in week one. Against the Bears, Rodgers was 18 of 30 for 203 yards, over 25% of which came on one throw, and a jump ball touchdown. I can’t remember the last time Aaron was that cold for an entire game. They can’t expect that defense to hold teams to three points every week, no matter how much it has improved.

Aaron Jones/Jamal Williams- This was supposed to be the season these two became the focal point of the offense. In week one they combined for a total of 21 touches for 54 yards. Time to hit the reset button and try again, although running on the Vikings defense over the last 20 years or so has been a lost cause for the most part. The Vikings have always had an overpowering and dominant front seven, as they do right now. Matt LaFleur may need to bluff his way through one more week before establishing the running game.

Davante Adams- By all charts and projections, 2019 was supposed to be the beginning of the three-season apex point of the career of Davante Adams. He is 26, just entering his prime, is a fully developed player, and is already a two-time All-Pro. It didn’t get off to a good start. In week one he had four catches for 36 yards. This week he draws perhaps the best cover man in the game, Xavier Rhodes. Perhaps Adams waits one more week before his season gets going. Maybe, maybe not.

Offensive Line- The offensive line was just terrible in week one. Now, they draw perhaps the best pass rush in the league with the Minnesota Vikings. The news just keeps getting better, doesn’t it? David Bhaktiari is the best offensive lineman in the game, and he is going to have to play like it against the All-Pro Danielle Hunter.

Rush Defense- If the Packers are going to find a way to win this game, they are going to need another dominant defensive performance, specifically from the rush defense. Dalvin Cook blew up and swept right past the Falcons defense in week one. Stopping him is priority number one for the Packers defense.

Pass Rush- Kirk Cousins is outstanding when he has time. But the moment he feels pressure he folds like a paper clip. If they are going to win this game they need to pressure him.

Final Score: The only way we see the Packers winning this game is if their defense comes up with another heroic effort as we saw in week one, and the offense improves. 20-13 Vikings.

NFL Championship Game and Super Bowl Predictions | Ticket King Inc.

We have reached Conference Championship Weekend in our big NFL preview. This very lengthy set of posts is for entertainment purposes only. It's our Ticket King version of which teams in the NFC will take top honors, predicted well before the first snap of the regular season in 2019.

NFC Championship Game:

Bears (1) vs. Eagles (3)- This will still be a very hard-hitting game, but it will not be nearly as vicious or nasty as the Bears vs.Vikings game from a week prior.

Why the Bears will win: The Bears will win because after a sloppy Divisional Playoff performance, Mitch Trubisky continues his rise, returning to his late-season form, tossing three touchdown passes and makes excellent decisions all game long. Matt Nagy has prepared an outstanding gameplan, and new defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano makes the most out of his superstar linebacking unit, getting in the face of Carson Wentz all afternoon.

Why the Eagles will win: The Bears may be the better team, but the Eagles have the experience. Doug Pederson is becoming a master of playoff upsets, and much like a week before pulls off another one. Carson Wentz somehow finds holes in this talented secondary, and the Eagles do just enough to win.

Prediction: Yes, Doug Pederson pulls off the big upset the week prior, but lightning doesn’t strike twice. The Bears advance to the Super Bowl 27-13, exactly how I laid it out.

AFC Championship Game: (Note, this prediction was before Luck decided to retire. We kept it in, since we enjoyed T.J.'s prediction so much.) 

Colts (3) vs. Browns (4)- Two years ago, if you thought the 2020 AFC Championship game would be the Colts and the Browns, raise your hand. Liar liar pants on fire. But that is exactly what we have here. Somewhere Jim Brown is having flashbacks.

Why the Colts will win: The Colts will win because Andrew Luck continues his late-season and playoff magic. Frank Reich puts together an incredible gameplan, and Luck is too much for that Browns secondary. Luck throws for over 350 yards and four touchdown passes.

Why the Browns will win: I don’t know people. This world has gone crazy, but I don’t think anything can top “The Game That Broke The Internet.” Drunk on celebration, the Browns continue their mojo. Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham continue their late-season and playoff assault on opposing secondaries as Beckham finds the endzone three times, and Mayfield tosses two more for a total of five.

Prediction: As much as I don’t want to say it, the Browns miracle ends here. There’s something special going on with Andrew Luck, and the Colts win 34-30 when Luck finds T.Y. Hilton in the right corner of the endzone with 18 seconds left to win the game and send the Colts to Miami.Super Bowl LIV:

Bears (NFC Champions) vs. Colts (AFC Champions) - Well here we have it. The last two standing. A rematch of XLI.

Why the Bears will win: The Bears will win because it is their time. Mitch Trubisky continues his late season and playoff form. Matt Nagy puts together an offensive gameplan that helps Trubisky find holes in this secondary all night. Tarik Cohen gives the Bears offense balance with a strong performance on the ground, running for 125 yards and a touchdown.

Why the Colts will win: The Colts will win because Andrew Luck will continue his magic and his assent to the top of the mountain. The Bears defense is incredible, but they have yet to see a quarterback this good who is firing on all cylinders like Luck will be heading into this game. The Steelers entered Super Bowl 45 with a loaded defense, and Aaron Rodgers simply tore it to shreds. Something similar will happen here.

Prediction: The magic gets its fantasy ending, as Andrew Luck and the Colts win 38-27, thanks to five touchdown passes by Luck who puts on a Super Bowl MVP performance. Andrew Luck takes his throne and slams it down on top of the NFL Mountain, where it belongs. 

Who Will Win Top Honors in the 2019 NFL? | Ticket King

In our first four parts, we have previewed the entire league all the way up to the conference championships. Let’s take a break from on the field play and hand out some awards. As noted in the previous posts, this is a best guess by T.J. Bryce, our Ticket King prognosticator. 

Coach of the Year

1. Freddie Kitchens/Browns- This award is hard to do in the preseason but I will do my best. Kitchens had the interim tag taken off of him this off season and is now the long-term head coach in Cleveland. Whether or not this actually happens rests on the shoulders of him and his staff.

2. Frank Reich/Colts- Reich will lead the Colts through an early storm and deep into the NFL Playoffs.

3. Doug Pederson/Eagles- The Eagles will now settle down under Carson Wentz, and Pederson will be the reason why.

4. Matt Nagy/Bears- The Bears aren’t going to sneak up on anyone this season, but they will be just as good, if not better than they were a year ago.

5. Anthony Lynn/Chargers- Lynn will lead the Chargers through lots of noise early on in the season, specifically due to the contract status of star running back Melvin Gordon.

Rookie of the Year

1. Nick Bosa/DE/49ers- Much like his older brother and fellow monster pass rusher Joey Bosa of the Chargers, Nick Bosa will take the league by storm.

2. Brian Burns/DE/Panthers- Another top pass rusher, Burns will start for the Panthers right from the start, giving them the best pass rusher they have had since Julius Peppers was in his prime.

3. Darnell Savage/S/Packers- It is the Packers defense that will carry them to eight wins in 2019 while the offense struggles all season. Savage is the fast, instinctive playmaker the Packers have been looking for in the back of the secondary since Nick Collins broke his neck in week two of the 2011 NFL season, which ended his career.

4. Garrett Bradbury/C/Vikings- An offensive lineman? Yes. The Vikings biggest hole is the middle of their offensive line, and Bradbury will plug it.

5. Josh Jacobs/RB/Raiders- The Raiders are looking for balance offensively, and Jacobs will give it to them.

Defensive player of the Year

1. Joey Bosa/DE/OLB/Chargers- The older Bosa is about to become the best pass rusher in the league. He will lead the league in sacks.

2. Khalil Mack/OLB/Bears- This will be Mack’s first full season with Chicago, and he will return to the monstrous All-Pro form he had with the Raiders.

3. Aaron Donald/DL/Rams- There is not a better or more versatile defensive lineman in the league right now than Aaron Donald. He destroys the opponent’s running game by himself and is also an elite pass rusher.

4. Luke Kuechly/ILB/Panthers- Old reliable will once again lead the league in tackles.

5. Danielle Hunter/DE/Vikings- He will finish second in sacks behind Bosa.

Most Valuable Player

1. Pat Mahomes/QB/Chiefs- This was supposed to be Andrew Luck, but an ankle sprain has moved Mahomes up to number one.

2. Andrew Luck/QB/Colts- I think the sprain will only bother him the first couple of weeks.

3. Ezekiel Elliot/RB/Cowboys- The best running back in the league, and he is about to get paid. He will set the league record for yards from scrimmage at some point, maybe this season, or next, or the next after that.

4. Phillip Rivers/QB/Chargers- We often forget about Rivers when talking about the league’s best quarterbacks over the last 20 years or so. But he doesn’t care.

5. Matt Ryan/QB/Falcons- If the Falcons go 10-6 as I predicted, it will be because Ryan returns to his All-Pro form.

AFC Playoff Picture & Prediction | Ticket King

We continue our big NFL preview, with part four taking us to the AFC Playoffs. This post is just for fun, and actual results may turn out to be completely different. Still, it's T.J. Bryce's job to offer up a guess as to how things will turn out at the end of the NFL season. 

Seed Order - 1: Patriots 2: Chiefs 3: Colts 4: Browns 5: Titans 6: Chargers

Wild Card Weekend

Colts (3) vs. Chargers (6)- Our first AFC matchup of Wild Card Weekend features a future hall of famer and perhaps the best quarterback in the league (when healthy).

Why the Colts will win: After recovering from now what is being called a high ankle sprain, Andrew Luck is finally ready to take the throne that is rightfully his atop the NFL. He fires the football around Lucas Oil Stadium all afternoon, putting up video game-like numbers.

Why the Chargers will win: The Colts may have the home field but the Chargers are the better team. They will flex that muscle in all facets of the game, and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley will pull out all the stops to end Andrew Luck’s Super Bowl dreams.

Prediction: Colts win 35-28 because of the home field.

Browns (4) vs. Titans (5)- Somebody pinch me. The Browns are back in the playoffs. Seriously people, this right here is proof the world has gone stark-raving mad.

Why the Browns will win: After two decades of bad choices, the Browns finally have their quarterback in Baker Mayfield. This is a talented young team on the rise, and they only got better this offseason. Mayfield and Odell Beckham will pick on that suspect secondary all afternoon, and the Browns win a playoff game for the first time since 1994.

Why the Titans will win: The Titans will win because well, it’s the Browns. At some point, the god of everything football will pop out from behind a door and shout “Gotcha” to 20 million Browns fans across the country.

Prediction: Sorry doubters. This world is upside down. Browns win 31-20.

Divisional Playoff Weekend

Chiefs (2) vs. Colts (3)- Oh my word. Do you like superstar quarterbacks that can fire a football? This is the game for you.

Why the Chiefs will win: The Chiefs will win because they have perhaps the best roster in the league at the moment. Pat Mahomes is a superstar who already has an MVP to his name. The Chiefs use their elite passing game to overwhelm to Colts, and advance.

Why the Colts will win: For as great as Mahomes is when Andrew Luck is healthy, he is the best there is. Head coach Frank Reich puts together a marvelous gameplan and the Colts pull off the upset.

Prediction: Once Andrew Luck gets healthy, I have a feeling there is something magical that is going to happen with the Colts towards the end of the season. Colts advanced 42-35 in what is going to be an incredible game. Luck throws six touchdown passes and Mahomes throws five.

Patriots (1) vs. Browns (4)- Who in their right mind ever thought the Patriots Divisional Playoff opponent at home would ever be the Cleveland Browns? That’s exactly what we have here.

Why the Patriots will win: The Patriots will win because they are the Patriots. They have a massive edge in big-game experience and will use that, coasting to an easy victory.

Why the Browns will win: Even though the Patriots have the experience, the Browns have the much better team. Mayfield and Beckham continue their playoff magic from a week ago, and a redeemed Kareem Hunt runs for 150 yards against this suspect Patriots rushing defense.

Prediction: In any other universe the Patriots win this game every time. But, the one we live in has gone mad. The Browns pull the upset of the century 34-27 and 30 years from now, a movie will be made about this game called “The Game That Broke the Internet.”

Part Three of NFL 2019 Predictions | The Playoffs

In parts one and two, we previewed the regular seasons for each conference. We now move onto the playoffs, and this season, match ups will mean more than ever. Let’s begin with the NFC.

Seed Order: 1: Bears 2: Rams 3: Eagles 4: Saints 5: Vikings 6: Falcons

Wild Card Weekend

Eagles (3) vs. Falcons (6)- One can hear 20 million Falcons fans around the country right now, shouting out in a collective “WHY?”  Why not New Orleans? Or Chicago? Or Los Angeles? Why the one team the Falcons cannot seem to beat! Well, sorry Falcons fans. Those are the breaks in pro football.

Why the Eagles could win: They will win because they will get the running game going quickly, with Corey Clement and their off season acquisition Jordan Howard. Carson Wentz will find his form quickly in the mid-range passing game with Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor.

Why the Falcons could win: The Falcons are a rhythm team, and they will find that rhythm quickly. Once they get their footing, lookout. They are hard to stop.

Prediction: This game will be in Philadelphia and that will make it much harder for the Falcons to find that rhythm. Right now, this is just simply a bad match up for Atlanta. Eagles win 27-17.

Saints (4) vs. Vikings (5)- This has been 10 years in the making. The famous “Bountygate” game finally gets its rematch. Since it’s been ten years, most of the team won’t know what that means, but fans will.  

Why the Saints could win: Much like the Falcons, the Saints are a rhythm team. This game will be in New Orleans, so it should be easy for the Saints to find that rhythm quickly. Or so it seems. Alvin Kamara will have an outstanding afternoon running to the outside, and Drew Brees will find the holes in this secondary.

Why the Vikings could win: Yes, the Saints are a rhythm team, but the Vikings are the dynamite to that rhythm. To beat a team like the Saints at home, you must go in there, and knock them on their butt before they get an opportunity to find that rhythm. The Vikings are just the team to do that.

Prediction: This game is in New Orleans, and this Vikings organization will never forget what happened to them 10 years ago. For fans, the Vikings will put the Saints on their butts, and finally get their revenge, winning 23-16.

Divisional Playoff Weekend

Rams (2) vs. Eagles (3)- Rams would be the big favorites in this game. But, as we’ve seen in the past, things are not always as they seem.

Why the Rams could win: The Rams are a loaded team on paper. All of that talent will overwhelm to the Eagles, and the Rams will coast into the NFC Championship.

Why the Eagles could win: Doug Pederson is on track to becoming the best head coach in the game, and he already has a track record of playoff upsets. He finds a way to do it again. That’s all I can say because I don’t see how, but somehow, he will.

Prediction: The Eagles do it again, taking out the defending NFC Champions 34-27.

Bears (1) vs. Vikings (5)-  Do you like games matching up snot nose football teams that are mirror images of each other? This is the game for you. This will be played in Chicago, in the middle of January, so this will be one of the coldest and windiest games in recent memory.

Why the Bears could win: The Bears are out to prove that they are not a one-hit-wonder and that they own this division now. They get another opportunity to show why against the Vikings. The Vikings hit hard, but the Bears hit harder, and they will do just that all afternoon.

Why the Vikings could win: the Vikings’ players have not forgotten about Week 17 a year ago, in which the Bears reserves embarrassed them, and knocked them out of playoff contention. The Vikings should use that as motivation and pull off another upset.

Prediction: This is going to be a no holds barred, anything goes, football game. To speak in metaphorical terms, when it’s all said and done, Khalil Mack will be the “last man standing” after what will look eerily similar to a massive brawl at in a crowded bar. Due to my prediction of extreme weather, the Bears make two of four field goal attempts and the Vikings make one of three. Neither team will find the end zone. Final score, 6-3 Bears.

AFC 2019 Final Outcome Predictions - Team by Team | Ticket King Inc.

In part one, T.J. Bryce previewed the NFC regular season. Let’s move onto the AFC regular season now.

AFC East

1. Patriots (13-3)- I know that I have said this for how many years running, but at some point, Father Time is coming for Tim Brady.  Father Time always gets his way. One must wonder if the Patriots would have had this much success in a stronger division.  One could wonder if Brady’s offensive line has kept him in the game for many more years than your average team. We could wonder about a bunch of scenarios, but “tick-tock”.  

2. Bills (5-11) - This is just simply year two in the Bills rebuild. Nothing to see here for this seaons, so move along.

3. Jets (5-11)- Same as above. The division is weak, making the Patriots look strong, and at some point one of these AFC East teams will topple the Patriots. Not this season for the Jets.

4. Dolphins (5-11)- Also entering a rebuild,  I see no difference between the Bills, Jets, and Dolphins in 2019, which is why I give them all five wins.

AFC South

1. Colts (11-5)- I was getting ready to crown Andrew Luck, but as “luck” have it, he injures his leg during offseason workouts. He could be ready to go week one, but nobody knows for sure. Still, this is a good team, and at some point, he will shake off that injury and be just fine. But how long will this injury linger?

2. Titans (10-6)- These young Titans are good, and at some point this will correlate into playoff success. Will that happen in 2019?  10-6 could get them into the playoffs, if the Colts get bogged down.

3. Texans (9-7)- Another good young team due for a breakout season at some point.

4. Jaguars (5-11)- Did the Jaguars buy fools gold with Nick Foles this offseason? I don’t think his playoff success with the Eagles translates to the Jaguars.  

AFC North

1. Browns (11-5)- How in the world did this happen? According to the Vegas books, the Cleveland Browns are the top pick to win the Super Bowl. What planet are we on right now? We must be on the wrong planet or something. I would have never possibly envisioned a world where the Cleveland Browns are the best team in the NFL, but that is world we could very well be living in soon. Or, the Vegas oddsmakers are just looking for the windfall that comes with all those crazy enough to put money down on the Browns. I give them a divisin title in 2019, so who knows?

2. Ravens (8-8)- I don’t think Lamar Jackson is going to last in the NFL, and he will get injured at some point like every other running quarterback has, possibly even this season. If he settles into a “normal” quarterback setting, he’s then going to have to change the very nature that got him a spot in the big leagues. That’s not a proven winner either. Still, the Ravens defense is looking solid, and that might keep them in close games.  

3. Steelers (7-9)- It’s one last hurrah for Big Ben, but it probably won’t end well.

4. Bengals (5-11)- What in the world happened to “Red Rifle”? Three years ago, “Red Rifle” Andy Dalton entered the season as the MVP favorite and the Bengals were the best team in the league. They have a new direction, and found a head coach now, so we will see how this goes.

AFC West

1. Chiefs (12-4)- We know one thing about Andy Reid, his teams never underperform during the regular season. This team has everything a team needs to win a Super Bowl. But will they get it done?

2. Chargers (10-6)- Phillip Rivers and his “Renegade Rebels” known as the Los Angeles Chargers are all set for a spectacular season in 2019. They need All-Pro Melvin Gordon, and he is holding out. Unlike the Cowboys, the Chargers can play hardball because of Phillip Rivers, a future hall of fame quarterback who can make up for deficiencies.

3. Broncos (7-9) - I don’t know what they are thinking with the Joe Flacco trade or what they plan on accomplishing. This is not a very good team right now.

4. Raiders (6-10) - Another team you have to ask what happened? A few years ago, the Raiders were the hot young team in the league on the rise. But there was just something about that roster that didn’t fit, so they took it apart and rebuilt it.

Notes

Good Team Most Likely To Fall - Chargers: Yes, Rivers allows them to mask many things. But Melvin Gordon is a superior running back. Without him, the team could drop off.  

Team Most Likely To Rise Above - Bengals: Perhaps a coaching change is just what the doctor ordered in Cincinnati.

Risky Pick - Giving the Steelers 7 wins: The Steelers have been a good team for a very long time. But that is about to come to an end. Ben is old and getting older. If the Steelers have a bad season, it would not surprise me in the least bit if Ben sat before the end the season, and would Mike Tomlin follow him out the door during the offseason?

Dark Horse Teams- Bills/Jets/Dolphins- They all have a super talented second-year quarterback that could take the next big step at any moment.  

Ticket King Asks T.J. Bryce to Predict The Entire 2019 NFL Outcome | Part One

Some NFL football fans like like to think that they can light their magic candle, shake some dried bones, and see visions of the future.  Some of these fans take it week by week, preferring to see who's on injured reserve, who's coming off a terrible game, before they predict the next win or loss. That's not how our “In House” sports fan, T.J. Bryce likes to read the proverbial tea leaves. T.J. has spent some serious time putting together his entire NFL season preview. We also turn to T.J. because so many Ticket King employees are biased Packers fans. With a clear head, T.J. gives us his straight shot when it comes to the NFL.

It’s hard to believe, but the 2019 NFL season is almost upon us. This has been a very precarious preseason, and most teams have been very careful with their star players. As I look at the landscape to begin this season, I see a league that is potentially wide open, thanks to one very important off season injury, which I will get to when I get to that player’s team. Once we get to the playoffs, match ups will matter more than ever.

Part One, the NFC Regular Season.

NFC East

1. Eagles (11-5)- The Eagles elected to let Nick Foles walk away and stuck with their original plan. However, Carson Wentz is one more major injury away from his career potentially coming to an end early and the Eagles will be short one major player, their QB.

2. Cowboys (10-6)- This is a very cautious 10-6 prediction. Ezekiel Elliot is holding out, but the reports are he will sign soon.

3. Redskins (5-11)- We could potentially see four different men start at quarterback for the Redskins this season- Case Keenum, Colt McCoy, rookie Dwayne Haskins, and Alex Smith.

4. Giants (3-13)- The Giants are rebuilding. At some point during the season, they could possibly turn to first-round draft choice Daniel Jones as they look to the future.

NFC South

1. Saints (11-5)- Drew Brees is on his final legs, and the Saints magic they have had the last two seasons could run out at any moment. I know that I have predicted his drop off for the past two seasons, but Brees just keeps ticking along.  

T-2. Falcons (10-6)- This is forgotten team due to their performance since the Super Bowl meltdown. They are ready to put that behind them. Matt Ryan is going to have a really good year.

T-2. Panthers (10-6)- Some say that if “Cam Newton is healthy, the Panthers can beat anyone on any day.” or “As Cam Newton goes, so go the Panthers.” Cam didn’t crack the top five in quarterback stats last season, falling below Rodgers, Brady, Big Ben, Matt Ryan, Kirk Cousins, Matt Stafford, and Drew Brees. So is he still a top ten QB in the league? We’ll find out this season.

4. Buccaneers (5-11)- They have never really been able to find their footing with Jameis Winston, and one must begin to wonder if they ever will.

NFC North

1. Bears (12-4)- Are the Bears a one-hit-wonder? Probably not. They have taken control of this division, and that defense is scary. For them to take the next step, so must Mitch Trubisky.

2. Vikings (10-6)- The Vikings are all in for 2019. But how far can they actually go?

3. Packers (8-8)- Aaron Rodgers and new head coach Matt LaFleur have been arguing all off season about this, that, and the other. First it was play calling, then it was joint practises, now, well, who knows. 8 wins could be optimistic, as this could be a car wreck waiting to happen. However, this preseason has shown that the offensive line is giving the back up quarterbacks time in the pocket, and if that keeps up in the regular season, Rodgers will shred opponents with the core of wide outs that the Packers has. I’m sticking with my 8-8 record, but hoping for a nice surprise.  

4. Lions (4-12)- Another year, another bad season in the Motor City. At some point, they are going to have to accept that this is not working with Matthew Stafford, trade him for a load of draft choices, and try something else.

NFC West

1. Rams (12-4)- The Rams are coming off one of the most embarrassing Super Bowl performances by an entire team in recent memory. How much will that affect them going into 2019?   

2. Seahawks (8-8)- Russell Wilson is going to somehow keep this team afloat for another season, but at some point, they are going to have to lay the dynamite and push the lever.

3. 49ers (6-10)- Jimmy G looked bad in his return to the field, posting a 0.0 QB rating last week in limited playing time after a torn ACL caused him to miss almost all of 2018. Is that a mirage, or a bad omen?

4. Cardinals (2-14)- The Arizona Cardinals have become football’s great experiment. They are the first team that is going to try a true “college” offense in the NFL. Will it work, or will it be just another fad that will end up on the wayside of NFL lore? Either way, we won’t know this season.

NFL Side Notes

Good Team Likely To Take A Fall - Rams: The Rams are facing a potential Super Bowl hangover that every other loser of the big game goes through. Do they use the loss as inspiration, or does the team fold like a house of cards.

Bad Team Likely To Rise - 49ers: We shouldn’t put too much stock in six pass attempts in a preseason game. Jimmy G is the real deal, and we know that.

Cautious Optimism Team – Falcons: Looking at this Falcons team over the last 7 or 8 years or so, outside of the Super Bowl run, this team is much better on paper than their performances show them to be. They aways seem to be on the cusp of something great.  

Dark Horse Team - Cowboys: Now that it appears the Ezekiel Elliot situation is about settled, this is a very dangerous team once he gets back on the field, and Jason Garrett is finding his mojo as a head coach.

Packers vs Ravens Keys to the Game | Ticket King Wisconsin

The Green Bay Packers are coming off a successful outing in week one of the preseason, defeating the Texans at home 28-26. This week is important because it will be our first look at the Packers starters along with other key players. Head coach Matt LaFleur stated that all of the starters will play a quarter in this upcoming game.

Aaron Rodgers: This will be our first look Rodgers in the new system. He looked comfortable on Family Night, and now we get to see him in live-action. Expect to see a different version of Aaron Rodgers from this point forward. The new offensive scheme is going to focus on pocket passing. This new version of Rodgers will be more efficient and less big play oriented. Rodgers will just line the Packers up, snap the ball, run the play, and repeat the process. No more street ball, if you can believe that.

Aaron Jones/Jamal Williams: This week will also be our first look at the Packers top two running backs and how they manage in the new system. Jones and Williams are rising stars, and now they just need to stay healthy. As we move forward, they will become the focal point of the Packers offense. Fans would like to see them get about 35-40 touches in regular season games, split between the pair. Matt LaFleur’s offense is run focused, to set up the play action pass.

Back Up Quarterback: Both DeShone Kizer and Tim Boyle had their moments in week one. As far as preseason play, last week we witnessed Kizer’s best performance in a Packers uniform. But still, he did have that interception on Family Night. We’ve been down this road before with athletically gifted backup quarterbacks. Remember Brett Hundley? If anything, Gutekunst and LaFleur have already made their decision and they trying to see if they can squeeze a draft choice out of Kizer at the end of camp, just as they did with Hundley last year.

Third Wide Receiver Battle Continues: This camp saw a four man battle, with J’Mon Moore, Eq. St. Brown, MVS, and Jake Kumerow all making moves to secure the number four spot. Moore has taken a seat at the back of the bus and Kumerow is more than likely going to make this team- as the fifth receiver. This battle is down to two players, St. Brown and MVS. As of this moment, we really can’t tell the difference between the two.

Final Analysis: No score prediction, but devoted Packers fans will be very uneasy if Rodgers and the first-team on offense end their night without marching the field and scoring a touchdown.  

Packers vs Texans - Preseason Matchup - Ticket King

It’s hard to believe, but the 2019 NFL season is nearly upon us. Week number one of the preseason is this weekend, and this will be our first chance to see the Green Bay Packers under the direction of new head coach Matt LaFleur. This is a significant moment for the Packers. This will be their first game in this new offensive scheme, and to put it bluntly, this is their first real system change in 28 years. From Holmgren to Sherman to McCarthy, the Packers used essentially the same system at its core. Granted, it was changed, adapted, updated, and altered over the years to fit with the times, but at its core, it was the same system. In this first game, they will take on the Texans. Texas has been in Green Bay all this week, and some highlights included a rookie cornerback for the Texans getting sent to the showers for hitting too hard and J.J. Watt breaking a kids bike. What are we looking for in week one?

How will Aaron Rodgers perform, or will he even play? In recent years, it has been a given that Rodgers sits out week one of the preseason. However, this is a new system, so it is unclear whether he will play. Even if there is a huge need for Rodgers to get his reps in, it’s more than likely that fans will see just Kizer and back ups.

One of the features of camp is the Packers backup quarterback battle between DeShone Kizer and Tim Boyle. Kizer did himself no favors on Family Night. That interception was just horrible in so many ways. Boyle has gotten closer by simply not making any mistakes yet. Now he has an opportunity to seize the moment in actual gameplay. Kizer is going to have to sweat this one out if he wants to keep his job.

The right side of the offensive line still a question mark. This one got a little clearer with the release of Jason Spriggs yesterday. Spriggs, a former second-round draft choice, just never put it together and refused to work on doing so. Now he’s gone, so it is four guys battling for two starting spots, not five. Lane Taylor and Brian Bulaga are holding on for now, but that could change. Actual game play will help us figure this one out.

Kicker Face Off- All of a sudden, there is no guarantee Mason Crosby is the Packers kicker this season. Sam Ficken has looked very impressive so far, which makes Crosby’s age and cap number a little harder to justify. Stay tuned.

Final Score: This is the preseason, and we don’t pick final scores in the preseason.

2019 MLB Standings at the Halfway Point | Ticket King Wisconsin

The 2019 Major League Baseball season is at the halfway mark, and the All-Star break is this week, so let’s take a look at where everything stands at the moment. We will begin with the American League.

In the East, the Yankees have overcome a lot of early-season injuries and currently sit at 57-29, which is good for the league’s best record at the moment. After a hot start, the Tampa Bay Rays are sitting at 50-39, and fading a little bit here as of late. The Boston Red Sox are holding steady at 47-41. They have the look of a second-half explosion in them. At the bottom of this division are the Toronto Blue Jays at 33-56 and the Baltimore Orioles at 26-61.

In the Central, the Twins have come back down to earth after their scorching hot start. They currently sit at 55-32, and their lead is down to 6.5 games, half of what it was a few weeks ago. The Cleveland Indians are 48-38, and getting warm. The Trevor Bauer trade rumors have quieted for the moment. The Chicago White Sox are 41-43 and right on track to finish exactly where we thought they would. The Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals are holding up the caboose at 28 and 30 wins for the season respectively.

Out West, the Houston Astros have grabbed hold of the division after a rocky start, currently sitting at 55-33. In second place is the Oakland Athletics at 49-40, who is warming up after a rough first two months to their season. In third place stands the story of the season, the Texas Rangers, at 47-40. At some point, the Rangers will fade. Right behind the Rangers are the Los Angeles Angels at 45-44, and now have to play the rest of the season with heavy hearts after the death of Tyler Skaggs last week. In last place stand the Seattle Mariners, who got off to a hot start and have gone backward ever since.

National League

In the East, the Atlanta Braves have ascended to the top of this division, currently sitting with a record of 53-36. The Philadelphia Phillies are 46-42, 6.5 games back of the Braves. Right behind them are the Washington Nationals who sit at 45-42, and have had as up and down of a season as any team could have to this point. After a solid start, the New York Mets are fading and currently sit at 39-49. In last place as expected are the Miami Marlins at 32-54.

The NL Central is the toughest division in either league. The difference between first and last place is a mere four games. Currently sitting on top are the Milwaukee Brewers at 47-42, who still need to find another starting pitcher somewhere. Right behind them are the 46-42 Cubs, who are struggling as of late. Those pesky St. Louis Cardinals are right there at 44-32, and they are another team that just smells of second-half explosion. The Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds have been trading places all season, and they both currently sit 4 games back, the Pirates with 42 wins and the Reds with 41.

Out West, the Los Angeles Dodgers own the best record in either league at 60-30 and are 14.5 games ahead. Barring a miracle of epidemic proportions, they have this division won already. In second place are the Colorado Rockies sitting at 44-33, who have climbed out of an early season disaster to enter the Wild Card race. The Arizona Diamondbacks are right behind them at 44-45, and a lot of people are still waiting on their big fade in the standings. The San Diego Padres are 43-45 and have yet to put it all together this season. The San Fransisco Giants are 39-48, and need to be getting ready to unload some of where high-priced players between now and the trade deadline.