The 2016 TransGriot NFL Prognostication Champion Is...

Moi!

Mike Watts won Week 17  with an 11-5 record, but I accomplished my goal of becoming the first ever repeat champion in the TransGriot NFL Prognostication Contest.   The best part about it was for the first time ever, I went through the entire NFL season without a losing week

So yep, gonna pop my collar for a minute, revel in my back to back NFL prognostication supremacy and go for the threepeat when the 2017 season kicks off.

Here's also hoping that Eli can come off of injured reserve, conquer his health challenge  and join the fun with us 2017

NFL Week 17 Results                                                Final 2016 NFL Season Results
TransGriot   10-6                                                       *TransGriot   170-84-2
Mike             11-5                                                         Mike           163-91-2
Eli                ---                                                             Eli                --

TransGriot 2016 NFL Picks- Week 17

This is the last week of the 2016 NFL season, and since there was no Thursday night game, I'm taking the extra days to think long and hard about these final picks of the season for the sixteen games that will happen on New Year's Day.

Short of a disaster, I'm probably going to accomplish my goal of winning back to back NFL prognostication titles.        

Speaking of champions, my fave NFL squad despite losing JJ Watt and still having quarterback issues on offense, persevered to win their fourth AFC South Division title in six years after beating the Cincinnati Bengals (again) 12-10 thanks to former Texan kicker Randy Bullock missing a game winning field goal.

And thank you to the Jacksonville Jaguars for beating the crap out of the Tennessee Traitors 38-17 so that my Texans could have the opportunity to clinch at home.   Now they have the opportunity to do something they have never done in franchise history when they go to Nashville to play the Traitors tomorrow:  Go 6-0 in the division .  

I''m also looking to something I've never done in all my years of NFL prognostication and go through an entire season without a losing week.

Last week Mike and I tied once again  I correctly picked ,the Saints-Bucs game and he got the Bills-Dolphins one right  

So let's get this last week of picks done and see if I can do it.  16 games, teams I'm picking in bold print and home teams in CAPS.    Mike's picks can be viewed via this link.

NFL Week 16 Results                                   2016 NFL Season Results
TransGriot 10-6                                             TransGriot    160-78-2
Mike          10-6                                             Mike             152-87-2
Eli              --                                                  Eli

New Year's Day Early Games
Texans over TITANS
Ravens over BENGALS
Panthers over BUCCANEERS
STEELERS over Browns
Cowboys over EAGLES
Bills over JETS
VIKINGS over Bears
COLTS over Jaguars
Patriots over DOLPHINS

New Year's Day Afternoon Games
Chiefs over CHARGERS
Cardinals over RAMS
Raiders over BRONCOS
Giants over WASHINGTON
Seahawks over 49ERS
FALCONS over Saints

New Year's Day Night Game
Packers over LIONS

TransGriot 2016 NFL Picks - Week 9

The calendar page has turned to November, and we're in the second half on the 2016 NFL season,

I closed out the first half of it the way I started by winning Week 8 and padding my lead in this year's NFL prognostication contest to five games.

Just have to keep grinding our weekly wins for another seven weeks..

We've surprisingly had in this 2016 NFL season our second tie game in the Washington- Cincinnati contest that was played at Wembley Stadium in London.  This is the first time since the 1997 season that the NFL has had in the overtime era two tie games, and this was first overtime regular season tie game played outside the United States.

It was also only the second time since the NFL regular season overtime era started in 1974 that we have had tie games in consecutive weeks.  

There is one more international game left this season, and it will involve the Texans playing the Oakland Raiders on November 21 at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

That's a few weeks from now.   This week my undefeated at home and first place in the AFC South Texans get to chill on the bye week with their 5-3 record.  Hopefully as they do so, they  get Deandre Hopkins and Brock Osweiler on the same page as QNB and number one wide receiver.   Both London game participants along with the Cardinals, Bears and Patriots also join them in watching the rest of the NFL play.

It's now Week 9, and time to keep the momentum going in my bid to be a repeat TransGriot prognostication champion.  Only 13 games to pick this week, and y'all know the drill.  

The teams I'm picking to win will be in bold print, and the home team will be in CAPS.   Mike's picks can be viewed here.

2016 NFL Week 8 Results                                      2016 NFL Season Record
TransGriot  8-4-1                                                     TransGriot  77-43-2
Mike           7-5-1                                                      Mike          72-48-2
Eli               --                                                            Eli              --


Thursday Night Game
Falcons over BUCCANEERS

Sunday Early Games
Lions over VIKINGS
GIANTS over Eagles
DOLPHINS over Jets
CHIEFS over Jaguars
Cowboys over BROWNS
Steelers over RAVENS

Sunday Afternoon Games
Saints over 49ERS
Panthers over RAMS
PACKERS over Colts
CHARGERS over Titans

Sunday Night Game
Broncos over RAIDERS

Monday Night Game
SEAHAWKS over Bills

Will The Washington NFL Team's October 16 Win Translate To A Clinton One?

One of the interesting election bellwethers in American politics involves our national passion of NFL football and the Washington NFL franchise.  I'm refusing to use the racist nickname of the team in this post and per TransGriot policy out of respect to my Native American friends.

Since the team moved to DC from Boston in 1937, when the Washington NFL franchise wins their last home game before the presidential election, the incumbent party stays in the Oval Office.  If they lose their last home game, according to the rule, the party out of power wins the subsequent national presidential election.

The Washington Rule has been remarkably consistent, and only been wrong once.

In 2012, the Washington NFL team lost to the Carolina Panthers 21-13, but incumbent President Barack Obama won in an electoral landslide over Mitt Romney.

If you count the presidential elections of 1932 and 1936 before the team relocated to Washington DC, it's twice.

In 1932, they beat the Staten Island Stapletons in their last home game before the election 19-6 but Democratic nominee Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated incumbent Republican president Herbert Hoover for the first of his four terms.

In 1936, the first year they competed under their racist nickname, they beat the Chicago Cardinals 13-10 in their last home game before the election, and FDR was reelected in a landslide.

The Washington NFL franchise is playing across The Pond at Wembley Stadium today against the Cincinnati Bengals and because of their subsequent bye week, won't be playing their next home game against the Minnesota Vikings until after the election on November 13.

So what was the result of their last home game?   The Washington NFL team's last home game was on October 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles, who they defeated 27-20.  According to the rule, that means the incumbent party (the Democrats) will keep the White House and Hillary Clinton will become our next POTUS..

Will that result on October 16 be backed up by the election on November 8?   We'll find out in a few days.

TransGriot Update : Nope 

TransGriot 2016 NFL Picks -Week 8

We're now at the halfway point of the 2016 NFL season and I find myself up here in Patriots country for Week 8 of the season.  

The winner of Week 7 came down to the results of the Monday night game between the Texans and the Broncos, and because my local NFL ballers lost 24-9 to Mike's local NFL ballers, my lead is now down to 4 games at the halfway point of the season as I try to repeat as TransGriot NFL prognostication champion.

My hometown ballers also have a short week because of the Monday night game, but they are playing at NRG.  There's also another international game on the schedule as the Redskins and Bengals bump heads at London's Wembley Stadium.

Just wanted to let y'all know that Eli thanks you TransGriot readers for your prayers and warm thoughts as he works hard to conquer cancer.  I also promised you last week I'd reveal what Eli's preseason Super Bowl pick was:

Eli picked Seattle and New England. with the team hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in Houston being the Patriots.

So lets get to this week's NFL games.  Six teams, the Ravens, Rams, Dolphins, Steelers, 49ers and Giants are on their bye week, so only 13 games to pick.

Y'all know how I do this.  My picks will be in bold print, with the home team in CAPS. Mike's picks you can view here.

2016 NFL Week 7 Results                                2016 NFL Season Record
TransGriot     9-5-1                                              TransGriot      69-39-1
Mike            10-4-1                                              Mike               65-43-1
Eli                ---                                                     Eli                    ---

Thursday Night Game
Jaguars over TITANS

Sunday International Game-London
BENGALS over Washington

Sunday Early Games
TEXANS over Lions
CARDINALS over Panthers
Seahawks over SAINTS
Chiefs over COLTS
Jets over BROWNS
Patriots over BILLS
Raiders over BUCCANEERS

Sunday Afternoon Games
BRONCOS over Chargers
FALCONS over Packers

Sunday Night Game
COWBOYS over Eagles

Monday Night Game
Vikings over BEARS

TransGriot 2016 NFL Picks-Week 7

I had a great Week 6 picking NFL games highlighted by the Texans coming back from their somnambulant first half of offense at NRG Stadium to resemble and NFL offense in the second half to tie and eventually prevail in overtime in this critical AFC South Division game against the Indianapolis Colts thanks in large part to Lamar Miller and the Texans defense.

Now they face an interesting Monday night game with the Denver Texans Broncos in which they'll not only be facing their former coaches in Gary Kubiak and Wade Phillips, but several former Texans.

That'll be on Monday night.  

I rebounded from a subpar for me 8-6 to go 10-5 despite the upsets.  Mike on the other hand after cutting my lead in half after his first winning week of the season followed that up with another sub 500 one to give me a five game lead going into this week..

And it's time to build on that momentum and pick this week's NFL games.

Only 15 games on this week's on the schedule, and you long time TransGriot readers know the drill for this TransGriot prognostication contest..

Teams I'm picking to be victorious are in bold print, with the home team in CAPS.   Teams on their bye week are two heading in opposite directions in the reeling Carolina Panthers and the Arlington Dallas Cowboys

There's also another NFL International game happening in London with the Giants and Rams facing off at Wembley Stadium.

Yeah, still hate that NFL franchise up I-45 with a passion  And with them getting off to a 5-1 start, their Harris County Fifth Column is going to be insufferable until they start losing again.
The best Cowboy fan is a silent one.

Focus, Moni..  Eyes on the prize in defending my 2015 title.  Time for this week's picks.   Mike's will be here.

And for those of you wondering where's Eli, he's sitting this season out recovering from a serious health challenge.   Send him your warm thoughts and prayers.  

He did make a preseason Super Bowl pick, and I'll reveal that to you next week.

2016 NFL Week 5 Results                                       2016 NFL Season Record      

TransGriot    10-5                                                      TransGriot    58-34
Mike               7-8                                                       Mike            53-39
Eli                   ---                                                        Eli                 --

Thursday Night Game
PACKERS over Bears

International Game
Giants over RAMS

Sunday Early Games
CHIEFS over Saints
Colts over TITANS
Vikings over EAGLES
BENGALS over Browns
LIONS over Washington
Raiders over JAGUARS
Bills over DOLPHINS
Ravens at JETS

Sunday Afternoon Games
Buccaneers over 49ERS
FALCONS over Chargers
Patriots over STEELERS

Sunday Night Game
Seahawks over CARDINALS

Monday Night Game
Texans over BRONCOS
 

TransGriot 2016 NFL Picks- Week 6

Week 5 wasn't a good one for me or the Texans, and thankfully I was busy with my high school classmates so I didn't have to watch my fave NFL ballers stink up US Bank Stadium

The Vikings are also one of the two NFL squads the Texans have never beaten (now 0-5) in franchise history.  The other is the Philadelphia Eagles (0-4) who they will play next year when the AFC South is matched up with the NFC East.

They are playing a nationally televised AFC South game at NRG Stadium against the Indianapolis Colts, so whatever bad football they played in Minneapolis needs to stay there.

While I went into Week 5 with a four game lead,  it got cut in half because for the first time this season, Mr. Watts won a week outright.

It was bound to happen sometime, and he was definitely motivated after having his first sub 500 week of the 2016 season.

Well, let's get to  NFL Week 6.  Only two teams, the aforementioned Vikings and the Buccaneers are on their bye week, which means that we get to pick 15 games this week.

Y'all know the drill.  Teams I'm picking to win are in bold print with the home team in all CAPS.  Mike's picks will be available for viewing via this link from his blog.

2016 NFL Week 5 Results                                         2016 NFL Season Record

TransGriot  8-6                                                            TransGriot  48-29
Mike          10-4                                                            Mike          46-31
Eli              ---                                                               Eli               --


Thursday Night Game
Broncos over CHARGERS

Sunday Early Games
Eagles over WASHINGTON
PATRIOTS over Bengals
BEARS over Jaguars
GIANTS over Ravens
SAINTS over Panthers
Steelers over DOLPHINS
TITANS over Browns
LIONS over Rams
BILLS over 49ers

Sunday Afternoon Games
PACKERS over Cowboys
Chiefs over RAIDERS
SEAHAWKS over Falcons

Sunday Night Game
TEXANS over Colts

Monday Night Game
CARDINALS over Jets

TransGriot 2016 NFL Picks-Week 5

We're now past the first quarter of the 2016 NFL season and my fave NFL ballers are not only sitting atop the AFC South Division with a two game lead, I increased my lead at the one quarter of the season mark over Mike to four games.thanks to a 9-6 Week 4 as Mr. Watts had a sub-500 week.

There are only three unbeaten NFL teams left.  The defending champion Denver Broncos ar 4-0 at this point and a surprise to be here at this point.   In the NFC the two unbeaten teams are also surprises in the 3-0 Philadelphia Eagles and the 4-0 Minnesota Vikings.

And in the NFL news of the week that the entire New England region cares about, Tom Brady is coming back at quarterback for the Patriots after his four game suspension.

And I feel sorry for the 0-4 Browns who look like at this point in the season they are cruising to another number one draft pick.

Let me get to this week's NFL picks   Four teams on on their bye week in the Jaguars, Chiefs, Saints and Seahawks so we get to pick only 14 games this week.

The Jaguars and Colts played last week in London, but the Colts elected to take their bye week in Week 10 and not this week.  We'll see if that decision kicks them in the behind as a result.

For those of you who love this weekly feature, y'all know the drill.  Teams I'm picking to win are in BOLD print, home team in CAPS.  Mike's Week 5 picks will be available to view via this link to his blog.

So let's get ready to rumblllllle, er prognosticate.

2016 NFL Week 4 Results                                   2016 NFL Season Record

TransGriot  9-6                                                      TransGriot    40-23
Mike           7-8                                                      Mike             36-27
Eli                ---                                                      Eli                  ---

Thursday Night Game
Cardinals over 49ERS

Sunday Early Games
Texans over VIKINGS
Patriots over BROWNS
Eagles over LIONS
COLTS over Bears
DOLPHINS over Titans
RAVENS over Washington
STEELERS over Jets

Sunday Afternoon Games
Falcons over BRONCOS
COWBOYS over Bengals
RAMS over Bills
RAIDERS over Chargers

Sunday Night Game
PACKERS over Giants

Monday Night Game
PANTHERS over Buccaneers

TransGriot 2016 NFL Picks-Week 4

Week 3 is over, and now it's Week 4 of the 2016 NFL season.  This week means a quarter of the season has gone by.

We now have a rough idea of which teams are contenders for an NFL title, which teams are potential playoff teams, and which teams are cruising towards the 2017 NFL Draft in Philadelphia and the number one pick.

There have been some surprises in this young season.  The Eagles are doing better than expected with their rookie QB Carson Wentz along with the defending champion Broncos and ugh, the Arlington Cowchips.

Something else that turned out to be a surprise was that the Falcons-Saints game, which was a 45-32 victory for Atlanta, because of the first Clinton-Trump presidential debate being televised at the same time, becoming the lowest rated MNF game in history because of the debate's record audience.

My fave NFL ballers suffered a major loss when all everything defensive end JJ Watt reinjured his back in that shutout loss to the New England Patriots and is now on IR for the next 8 weeks and possibly the season.

After two stellar weeks in which I went 22-10 with my picks, cooled off a bit in Week 3 due to some games that didn't go my way, but still maintaining my overall two game lead over Mr. Watts, which is all that matters right now.

It's time to handle my NFL prognostication business.   Only 15 games to select this week because teams are now starting to get the bye weeks, and the  Eagles and Packers are getting to chill and watch everyone else play.

Y'all know the drill.   Teams I'm picking to win this week will be in BOLD print.  Home team will be in all CAPS and Mike Watts' picks can be accessed via this link.

2016 NFL Week 3 Results                                      2016 NFL Season Standings

TransGriot     9-7                                                     TransGriot    31-17
Mike              9-7                                                     Mike            29-19
Eli                  --                                                        Eli                ---

Bye Week
Eagles, Packers

Thursday Night Game
BENGALS over Dolphins

Sunday Early Games
TEXANS over Titans
Colts over JAGUARS (in London)
WASHINGTON over Browns
Seahawks over JETS
PATRIOTS over Bills
FALCONS over Panthers
RAVENS over Raiders
Lions over BEARS

Sunday Afternoon Games
Broncos over BUCCANEERS
CARDINALS over Rams
Saints over CHARGERS
Cowboys over 49ERS

Sunday Night Game
STEELERS over Chiefs

Monday Night Game
Giants over VIKINGS

TransGriot 2016 NFL Picks-Week 3

Week 2 of the 2016 NFL season has come and gone, and my fave NFL footballers are still unbeaten and sitting atop the AFC South Division standings.

But tonight the Texans are about to be tested by the team that many people consider them to be modeled after in the New England Patriots.   They are also catching them with Tom Brady sitting out a four game league imposed suspension for Deflategate and his backup in Jimmy Garoppolo being injured.

Can the Texans knock them off in Foxborough and get a leg up in this clash of AFC playoff contenders for the early lead for home field advantage in the AFC playoffs?   We'll see in a few hours.

Speaking of early leads, after two weeks, my campaign to defend my TransGriot NFL prognostication title and repeat as champion is off to a successful start.   Won the first week, and tied with Mr. Watts in Week 2.    

Translation, I have a two game lead, and want to build on that or at least maintain it.   Have 16 more games to pick this week to keep the positive momentum going.

Y'all know the drill.   Team I'm picking will be in BOLD print.   Home team is in CAPS   A link to Mike's picks will be here.

2016 NFL Week 2 Results                                         2016 NFL Season Standings            

TransGriot   11-5                                                        TransGriot    22-10
Mike            11-5                                                        Mike             20-12
Eli                ----                                                          Eli                 ---


Thursday Night Game
Texans over PATRIOTS

Sunday Early Games
Cardinals over BILLS
PANTHERS over Vikings
Broncos over BENGALS
PACKERS over Lions
Ravens over JAGUARS
DOLPHINS over Browns
GIANTS over Washington
Raiders over TITANS

Sunday Afternoon Games 
SEAHAWKS over 49ers
BUCCANEERS over Rams
COLTS over Chargers
CHIEFS over Jets
Steelers over EAGLES

Sunday Night Game
COWBOYS over Bears

Monday Night Game
SAINTS over Falcons

TransGriot 2016 NFL Picks-Week 2

Picking games during the first week of a new NFL season is always a nerve wracking crapshoot.

Because of all the roster moves, retirements, training camp injuries, suspensions, coaching changes, et cetera, you have no idea until they kick the ball off in the first week's games whether all those changes helped the teams that executed those moves and made them better, worse or kept them at the same level of 8-8  or 7-9 mediocrity.

Here in Houston we were quite happy with the outcome of last week's NFL activity. We were pleased to see something we haven't witnessed for a long time here in Texans Nation.

What's that you ask?  A Texans offense with speedy wide receivers like Deandre Hopkins and rookies Will Fuller and Braxton Miller who can stretch the field and cause problems for opposing defenses and a defense with a healthy Jadeveon Clowney playing on the field.

We were also pleased in H-Town to see that the Texans won, and the Tennessee Traitors, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts all lost, which means at this early juncture the Texans are for now in first place in the AFC South Division.

Nope, never gonna let it go that the Oilers moved to Nashville.

Back to this week's prognostication post.

There were a lot of close games during Week 1, many of which I got right.   And thanks to the New York Giants and New England Patriots, my campaign to defend my NFL prognostication title is off to a great start after going 11-5.

But that was last week.  This is Week 2 and have another 16 games to pick   Team I'm selecting to win will be in BOLD print.  Home team is in CAPS.

These are Mike's Week 2 picks.

2016 NFL Week 1 Results                                     2016 NFL Season Standings

TransGriot 11-5                                                       TransGriot 11-5
Mike            9-7                                                       Mike            9-7
Eli                ---                                                        Eli                 --


Thursday Night Game
Jets over BILLS

Sunday Early Games
TEXANS over Chiefs
PANTHERS over 49ers
WASHINGTON over Cowboys
STEELERS over Bengals
GIANTS over Saints
PATRIOTS over Dolphins
LIONS over Titans
Ravens over BROWNS

Sunday Afternoon Games
Seahawks over RAMS
CARDINALS over Buccaneers
CHARGERS over Jaguars
RAIDERS over Falcons
BRONCOS over Colts

Sunday Night Game
Packers over VIKINGS

Monday Night Game
Eagles over BEARS

TransGriot 2016 NFL Picks Week 1

I'm in San Francisco as this NFL season kicks off tonight, and my campaign to defend my 2015 NFL prognostication title and become the first repeat champion begins tonight as well.

Last year was my first title since 2012, and it's ironic I'm here in the wake of 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick's decision to not stand during the national anthem that has gotten him vilified by right wingers and  praise from other people including veterans and other activist athletes like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for being a prominent athlete taking a stand for the Black community.

Should be interesting to see what happens when they take on the Los Angeles Rams down the road from me in Santa Clara on Monday night.

Yep, I said the Los Angeles Rams.  This not only their 80th season since their founding in 1936, they moved back to LA from St Louis in the offseason.  This is their first regular season game as the LA Rams since they bounced for St Louis in 1995.

But back to the fun part.   It's the opening weekend of the 2016 NFL season and the prognostication contest between me and Mike Watts.   Eli's unfortunately not competing this year. and both of us wish him a speedy recovery from the health issues that have him sidelined this year.  He will have the opportunity to guest post his thoughts here about how the season's going and looking forward to doing so when that happens..

We hope and pray you make a speedy recovery and are back tangling with us for NFL prognostication supremacy in 2017.

256 games, 17 weeks, and it all starts with tonight's Super Bowl 50 rematch between Carolina and the defending NFL champion Denver Broncos.  16 games since all 32 NFL squads are in action.
Teams I'm selecting to win this week are in bold print, home team in CAPS.

Mike's Week 1 picks here.

Final 2015 Standings

*TransGriot  166-90
Mike               159-97
Eli                   153-103

Thursday Night Game
Panthers over BRONCOS

Sunday Early Games
TEXANS or Bears
FALCONS over Buccaneers
EAGLES over Browns
Packers over JAGUARS
Vikings over TITANS
Bengals over JETS
SAINTS over Raiders
CHIEFS over Chargers
RAVENS over Bills

Sunday Afternoon Games
SEAHAWKS over Dolphins
Giants over COWBOYS
COLTS over Lions

Sunday Night Game
Patriots over CARDINALS

Monday Night Games
Steelers over WASHINGTON
Rams over 49ERS

I'm Ready For Some 2016 NFL Prognostication!

The NFL season starts next week, and I will be once it starts competing for TransGriot NFL prognostication glory and to see if I can do something no one in the history of this contest has done.

Repeat as the champion.

Unfortunately it's just me and Mike Watts this year.  Eli Blake, the third member of our prognostication trio who was our 2013 champion, is recovering from major health issues, and reluctantly won't be competing for the 2016 title.

What he will do from time to time is be a guest commentator as Mike and I battle for 2016 NFL season supremacy as we both wish him a speed recovery.

The rules are the same.  We pick that week's regular season NFL games, no spread.  Picks are posted no later than 10 minutes before kickoff of the first game of that NFL week.  Person with the best record after the last of 256 regular season games has been played in Week 17 will be declared the winner.

That was moi last year.   And I'm ready for some NFL regular season football.  .  

Houston Texans Open 2016 NFL Training Camp Today

In a sure sign that the start of the NFL football season is rapidly approaching, training camp for my fave NFL ballers the Houston Texans starts today at the Houston Methodist Training Center across the street from NRG Stadium.

Rookies reported on July 25, and the veterans had until July 30 to report.    There's an open practice today, and others are scheduled for August 2, 3, 7, 8 and 18.  The Texans are scheduled to travel to Santa Clara, CA for joint practices with the San Francisco 49ers August 11-13 in advance of their August 15 preseason game at Levi's Stadium, and have another joint practice in Houston with the New Orleans Saints on August 18 in advance of their August 22 home preseason game with the Saints.

The Texans will also face the Arizona Cardinals at NRG Stadium on August 28 before taking on in their final preseason game the hated Arlington Cowchips at the Jerrydome on September 2.

There's a cautiously optimistic air for Texans fans like moi as this season approaches and the clock ticks down to their September 11 home opener at NRG Stadium with the Chicago Bears.

The defending AFC South Division champs will have a new quarterback in Brock Osweiler and Lamar Miller at running back instead of the departed Arian Foster.

There's something else the Texans have desperately needed in more speed on the offensive side of the ball and WR help for Deandre Hopkins that they hope rookie wideouts Braxton Miller and Will Fuller will provide to satisfy both needs in addition to consistent play at quarterback.

The Super Bowl will be played at NRG Stadium this season.  The Texans have a championship level defense anchored by All-everything JJ Watt.  Did they make enough moves in the offseason to improve the offense enough to get them there?  

We'll see.

Super Bowl 50 Musings

In a few hours Super Bowl 50 will kick off between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers to determine who walks away with the NFL title and the Vince Lombardi trophy.

I've already made my Super Bowl prediction like 'errbody' else in media world, but as the clock ticks down to the start of the final NFL game of the 2015-16 season, I have other random thoughts that are percolating in my mind besides the action that will take place at Levi's Stadium starting at 5:30 PM CST.

In addition to the mass quantities of food we Americans consume during that game and the billions we bet on it legally and illegally, corporations spend millions for Super Bowl advertising slots before and during the game and on making the good, bad, indifferent and 'what the hell were they thinking' commercials that will run during it.

I'm parked in front of the TV not only for the game and the armchair analysis of it, but to spend some quality time with my friends.  You haven't lived until you've watched a Super Bowl with a room full of TBLG people and allies.  It's a hilarious and wonderful slice of life where for just a few hours, we LGBT World NFL fans can forget about the reality that on Monday or as soon as the last confetti has been swept off the turf, the rest of America will go back to hatin' us with a foaming at the mouth determination and gleefully working to roll back our human rights.

For that few hours during a Super Bowl, we trans. bi and SGL NFL fans are just like everyone else, rooting for our fave team (,in this year's case either the Broncos or the Panthers) to win and then plotting if you live in Denver or Charlotte where and how fast can you get your championship swag if they handle their Super Bowl 50 business.

Speaking of human rights, hey Mayor Turner and everyone else from Houston observing what is happening in the San Francisco Bay Area this week in advance of my hometown hosting Super Bowl LI in 2017, how about y'all doing us Houstonians a huge favor?   As soon as y'all step off the plane from Cali, how about you and City Council get busy and start working on expeditiously passing HERO 2.0?

World class cities protect the human rights of their citizens, and if you want H-town to ever be considered as a host for another Super Bowl, better get busy with that necessary human rights task.

When I watch a Super Bowl, I'm also cognizant of the possibility that if I'm fortunate, I'll get to watch some Black history being made at the same time while I'm munching on pizza or wings.

I remember bursting with pride when Doug Williams became in 1988 the first African-American quarterback to win a Super Bowl, and Russell Wilson doing so in 2014.   It was why I was so incensed when that boneheaded pass play call in last year's game call cost the Seahawks not the change to win back to back titles, but Wilson the opportunity to become the first ever Black NFL starting QB to win back to back NFL titles.

And it's no secret I want to see Cam Newton join that exclusive fraternity of Black NFL QB's who have hoisted a Lombardi Trophy in a few hours and deliciously shutting up his racist haters.

Because Newton winning the NFL MVP award for 2015 last night, leading the team to a 17-1 record and the franchise's second NFC title and Super Bowl berth won't be enough to silence them.  But I have noticed during my lifetime that winning shuts bigots up.

While as a Texans fans I despise the Indianapolis Colts, I put that rivalry aside when the Tony Dungy led Colts and Lovie Smith's Chicago Bears faced off in what we called in the Black community the 'Soul Bowl'.

Even the NFL officials calling the Super Bowl at times have made Black history.  Mike Carey, the second Black NFL referee when he was hired in 1995 and is now retired, in 2008 became the first Black referee to call the title game.  In 2013 Jerome Boger became the second Black referee to do officiate a Super Bowl.

Looking forward to seeing the day a female NFL official gets to do that and be the referee at a Super Bowl, but that's another post.

Well, hope the players got enough sleep for their busy and career making day.

I'm just hoping for a great game like the millions of people around the country that will be tuned in for it, and that one day I'll know what it is like to see my hometown NFL franchise play in one..
 

TransGriot 2015 NFL Picks-Super Bowl 50

Well, nailed both the conference title games picks which makes me 7-3 in the 2015-16 NFL playoffs to add to my 2015 NFL regular season prognostication title, and now it's time to get to my Super Bowl 50 pick.

Both teams have had a week off since their Championship Sunday tilts, and they are in Santa Clara getting ready to battle for the NFL title this Sunday.

This may be Peyton Manning's last NFL game, and the Broncos have my Houston homeboy Gary Kubiak as their head coach along with several former Texans in their lineup, and a top five defense.

I deeply appreciate them along with every NFL fan who can't stand New England for beating the Patriots 20-18 and ensuring that Tom Brady and Bill Belichick would be sitting at home watching this game.

But I just can't ignore the fact that the Carolina Panthers have been on a season long roll, also have a an amazing defense, finished 15-1, and only got better in the playoffs as they withstood a furious Seattle Seahawks comeback to win 31-24 after sprinting out to a 31-0 halftime lead in their Divisional round playoff game and stomping the Arizona Cardinals 49-15 in the NFC title game.

And yes, I'm rooting for Panthers coach Ron Rivera to make some NFL history as the second Latino head coach to win a Super Bowl after Tom Flores.   I also want Cam Newton to have the opportunity to shut up his racist haters and become the third African-American starting quarterback (Doug Williams 1988, Russell Wilson 2014) to take his team to a Super Bowl win.

Interestingly enough, Williams and Wilson both beat the Broncos to make that Black sporting history.

Enough jibber-jabber, lets get to my Super Bowl 50 pick. .So who will be hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy at the end of this game?

The Carolina Panthers will emerge as the 2015-16 NFL champions.