2017-2018 NFL Playoffs - Wild Card Weekend

I lost my shot at a 2017 TransGriot NFL prognostication threepeat title due to some unforced efforts and a disastrous sub. 500 last week of the regular season that added up to me losing by one game after the regular season was completed, but that's over now. 

Mr. Watts earned it.   Here are his picks for Wild Card Weekend.

It's NFL playoff time, and specifically NFL Wild Card Weekend   So time to get some practice in for when the 2018 regular season resumes and I go for three titles in the last four years starting in September.

NFL Wild Card Weekend 

NFL Saturday Playoff Games

#5 Tennessee (9-7) at #4 Kansas City (10-6)  on ABC/ESPN 

Ugh.  It was bad enough my hometown  team not only failed to make the playoffs, but the Tennessee Traitors did for the first time since 2008   This early Saturday game is one in which I see the team formerly known as the Oilers travel to Arrowhead Stadium to play the Chiefs

The Titans have lost three of the last four games down the stretch, but the one game they won was the divisional one against AFC South champ Jacksonville in the last week of the season that punched their playoff ticket. 

The Titans are a throwback team in that they love to run the ball, and stopping the run is the Chiefs Achilles heel.  The Traitors Titans finished the season with the number 13 ranked defense in the NFL, but has a secondary ranked a pathetic 31st out of 32 teams. 

That Titans secondary will have to confront a Chiefs squad that boasts the number 5 offense in the league even though they don't throw the ball deep that much.

However, AFC West champ Kansas City is on a roll again.   They started the season 5-0, went through a midseason 1-6 slump, and won their last four games going into this playoff game.
And yes, one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL will live up to its rep

Let's just call this one now,  Kansas City to win this game to my delight and move on to the divisional round. 

Yeah, never gonna forgive Bud Adams for moving them to Nashville.

#6 Atlanta (10-6)  at #3 Los Angeles Rams on NBC

The Saturday night game features the defending NFC champion Falcons taking on the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams/   They are hosting their first playoff game at the Coliseum in nearly 40 years and in only its second season back in LA after spending 22 years in St. Louis.

The Rams are gunning for their first playoff win since 2004, when they called St Louis home 

While the Rams were only 2-2 in their last four contests, they were 6-3 after their bye week   They are also a 2017 season worst to first story.  They were 4-12 last year but are a playoff club thanks to first year head coach Sean McVay's offense and their rapidly improving defense under Wade Phillips

Meanwhile the Falcons struggled through several must win games in the competitive NFC South just to qualify for this game,  going 3-1.   But they haven't looked like that offense juggernaut that was 11 minutes from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at NRG Stadium last year and their defense is still questionable.

The biggest question going into this game is more about the LA fans. Will they show up to fill the cavernous Coliseum for this playoff game, and if they do, how loud will it get?

They definitely have plenty to cheer about with a high flying offense ranked sixth in the league that averaged a league best 29.9 points per game . 
But the Rams were a pedestrian 4-4 at home vs 7-1 on the road.

This is going to be a close one, but I'm going to go with the Rams in this one.

NFL Sunday Playoff Games

#6 Buffalo Bills (9-7) at #3 Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6) on CBS

This is an intriguing matchup of two squads that haven't seen any parts of the NFL playoffs for a while.  The Bills last made the playoffs in 1999, only to be ousted by the Music City Miracle vs Tennessee that propelled the Titans to the Super Bowl.

The AFC South champion Jaguars aftes sucking for the entire Obama Administration, captured their first playoff berth since 2007 and their first division title since 1999 when they topped the AFC Central Division.  They get to reward their fans for their patience with a playoff game at EverBank Stadium

Jacksonville and their defense has annoyed and pissed people off in the NFL all season.  Their defense trailed only Pittsburgh in terms of sacking the quarterback, excels at creating turnovers, is the number one ranked pass defense in the league and goading opposing players into fights.

They are legit. I witnessed them beat down my Texans twice and clinch the AFC South title with a 45-7 blowout win in Jacksonville over my fave NFL squad.

Their big question mark in terms of whether they will make a long playoff run of bow out is how will Blake Bortles play?   Will we see good Blake Bortles or bad Blake Bortles?  The other problem with the Jage is them loving to play on the edge to the point they go over it and take stupid personal foul penalties.

Buffalo is only in the postseason because Andy Dalton connected on a 4th and 12 pass play for a TD to stun the Ravens.   They have the number 29th ranked run defense in the NFL, which probably is making  Leonard Fournette salivate just thinking about it 

And after Lesean McCoy sprained his ankle in their game against the Dolphins, if he can't play Sunday, their chances of pulling an upset on the Jags are as likely as me walking the Victoria's Secret fashion show   The  Bills love to run the ball, and stopping the run has been the one thing the Jags defense hasn't done well for much of the season

The Bills also have a -57 point differential they are carrying into this game, and 'Saxonville' is poised to have a wonderful day making Tyrod Taylor's playoff debut and the Bills first playoff game in the 21st Century a miserable one.

On paper, this looks like it's going to be a lopsided game, and we'll see if that plays out after the whistle blows.  I think it will     The Jaguars to move on to the divisional round   

 #5 Carolina Panthers (11-5)  at #4 New Orleans Saints (11-5) on FOX 

This is the only Wild Card weekend game that is a rematch of a regular season game, and it features two NFC South teams playing each other for the third time. 

The NFC South champion Saints have already beaten their NFC South division rivals twice in the 2017 season, smacking them in Charlotte in Week 3 of the season 34-13 and beating the Panthers in the Mercedes Benz Superdome 31-21 back on December 3.

The Saints even with a future Hall of Fame QB in Drew Brees at the helm, have reinvented themselves and developed a devastating rushing attack with tow versatile backs in Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram to complement their passing attack. 

The Saints defense has also stepped it up big time and become adept at taking the ball away.  They forced six turnovers in the two NFC South games against the Panthers alone.

The Panthers are also feeling salty because they are 6.5 point underdogs going into this game and have been an afterthought in the playoff conversation despite being two years removed from their Super Bowl 50 appearance. .  Carolina's inconsistency has also factored into why many pundits think their season will be over on Monday.

Yes, it is hard to beat an NFL team, and especially your divisional rival  three times.  This game is being played in NOLA and the Saints have a team that is quite capable of going all the way to Minneapolis for Super Bowl LI.   Carolina will put up some resistance, but the Saints will definitely want to prove it to themselves, their home crowd and a national TV audience they are a Super Bowl caliber team. ..

Saints to beat Carolina for the third time and move on to the Divisional round.

The Winner Of The TransGriot 2017 NFL Prognostication Contest Is:

Mike Watts

Those two weeks I forfeited two games because I didn't get the Thursday night game picks up in time eventually cost me along with me transposing a NFL Week 5 pick in which I correctly picked Washington to win but when I wrote the official post inexplicably transcribed it the opposite way. 

Nevertheless, I was still in positing to capture my third straight title despite all that drama this season.

I had a one game lead going into today and all I had to do was at least tie Mr Watts to get the threepeat.   Instead I had my third (and fatal to my threepeat) losing week of the season.

Arrgh.   And yeah, I'm going to be thinking about those two missed Thursday night game picks all offseason.

But enough jibber jabber about me screwing up.   Mike went 36-12  over the last three weeks to my 34-14 to capture the TransGriot 2017 NFL prognostication title.

 Congratulating to our new NFL prognostication overlord.   And yeah, coming for you in 2018.


Week 17 Results                                                            Final 2017 NFL Season Record
TransGriot  7-9                                                                    TransGriot         162-93
*Mike          10-6                                                                   * Mike             163-92

TransGriot 2017 NFL Picks-Week 17

It's the last week of the 2017 NFL season,which many of us in Houston considered it ended the day Deshaun Watson went down in practice with a knee injury and Bob McNair decided to do the right wing thing insead of the right thing to help the Texans win by not signing Colin Kaepernick.

But I still had a 2017 NFL prognostication contest to get through and I was playing for a third consecutive title.   There are now sixteen regular season New Year's Eve games tanding between me and the threepeat,

Mr Watts hasn't rolled over.   He's been on a hot streak.  I've just been one game better.   He went 12-4 in Week 16.   I went 13-3. .

The Cleveland Browns are on the verge of joining the 0-16 club when they face the playoff bound AFC North Champion Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field.  If the Browns win that game it'll be the upset of the decade.    They have already clinched the number one overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

I just need to be better for one more week.  So let's get to it.   Mike's picks will be here.   As usual, Team I'm picking to win will be in bold print with the home team in CAPS.

And what's my over/under number for NFL non-playoff teams head coaches and GM's to be fired on Monday? 
7 coaches and 2 GM's 

Week 16 Results                                                              2017 NFL Season
TransGriot  13-3                                                              TransGriot  155-82
Mike           12-4                                                              Mike           154-83

New Year's Eve Early Games
COLTS over Texans
LIONS over Packers
VIKINGS over Bears
STEELERS over Browns
PATRIOTS over Jets
WASHINGTON over Giants
EAGLES over Cowboys

New Year's Eve Afternoon Games
Jaguars over TITANS
Bills over DOLPHINS
RAVENS over Bengals
Raiders over CHARGERS
SEAHAWKS over Cardinals
RAMS over 49ers
Panthers over FALCONS
Chiefs over BRONCOS
Saints over BUCCANEERS

TransGriot 2017 NFL Picks- Week 16

This slog of a 2017 NFL season is almost over and I have this week and next before we tally up the final results and see whether I threepeated or Mr Watts becomes the NFL prognostication overlord again.

Since it's Christmas weekend, we have action today, Sunday and on Christmas Day.   The Texans get to embarrass themselves on national TV at NRG Stadium against the Steelers (bah humbug Bob McNair) because they don't have a quarterback and they rather have a mediocre white one than a Black free agent one who went to a Super Bowl

Rant over,  let's get to this week's picks  I crushed Week 15 despite not having my pick up for the  Thursday night game and had I done so probably would have won the week.  Instead I tied.

But this late in the season a tie is as good as a weekly win for me because it means Mr Watts doesn't gain ground on me.

Let's get to it.   Mike's picks are here.    Mine are in bold print with home team in CAPS.

Week 15 Results                                                             2017 NFL Season
TransGriot  14-2                                                             TransGriot  142-82
Mike           14-2                                                             Mike           142-82

Saturday Games
RAVENS over Colts
Vikings over PACKERS

Christmas Eve Early Games
Rams over TITANS
PATRIOTS over Bills
BEARS over Browns
SAINTS over Falcons
Lions over BENGALS
PANTHERS over Buccaneers
CHIEFS over Dolphins
WASHINGTON over Broncos
Chargers over JETS

Christmas Eve Afternoon Games 
Jaguars over 49ERS
COWBOYS over Seahawks
CARDINALS over Giants

Christ,mas Day Games
Steelers over TEXANS
EAGLES over Raiders

TransGriot 2017 NFL Picks-Week 14

So happy to see Case Keenum blowing up as an NFL quarterback.   Just wish he was doing it in a Houston Texans uniform.   The Vikings are on such a roll with him as the quarterback that even though Teddy Bridgewater is healthy, he's been sitting on the bench as Case's backup.

Anyway, went 9-7 in Week 13 because I forgot to make a pick in the Vikings-Falcons game, and didn't catch it until after the game was over.    Under the rules of our prognostication contest, that's an automatic loss if we don't pick a team in a game 15 minutes before its kickoff or forget to include it in that week's picks.

Fortunately Mike got that game wrong, but he still took the week with an 11-5 record.

You know I'll be paying attention this week after that mistake.   Fortunately I have a lead, but if this costs me the threepeat, I'll be kicking myself over it until next September.

Teams I'm picking to win will be in bold print with the home team in CAPS.  Mike's picks can be perused here via this link.

Week 13 Results                                                           2017 Season Record 
TransGriot    9-7                                                           TransGriot  123-69
Mike           11-5                                                           Mike           119-72

Thursday Night Game
Saints over FALCONS

Sunday Early Games
TEXANS over 49ers
Packers over BROWNS
Lions over BUCCANEERS
Raiders over CHIEFS
Vikings over PANTHERS
BILLS over Colts
BENGALS over Bears
COWBOYS over Giants

Sunday Afternoon Games
Titans over CARDINALS
Jets over BRONCOS
Washington over CHARGERS
Seahawks over JAGUARS
RAMS over Eagles

Sunday Night Game
STEELERS over Ravens

Monday Night Game                                                 
Patriots over DOLPHINS     

TransGriot 2017 NFL Picks - Week 13

In addition to me having a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend hanging out with one of my Houston area homegirls for dinner,  I also had a great NFL week 12 to pick up another game on him and get a step closer to my threepeat.

Now the 2017 NFL season moves into December and the homestretch of games that will determine division titles, seedings and home field advantage in the AFC and NFC playoffs.

Thanks to my owner's racist lack of vision, the only thing the Texans are playing for is draft position in the 2018 NFL draft in Dallas.  The one thing that makes this NFL mediocrity better to deal with it that the Arlington Cowchips are also sucking badly.

Yep, the only teams I dislike more than the Cowchips are the Tennessee Traitors and the New England Cheatriots .

Now that my Two Minute NFL Hate is over, let's get to my NFL Week 13 picks..    Mike's picks can be perused here.  Mine will be in bold print with the home team in CAPS.

So let's get busy.

Week 12 Results                                                               NFL Season Record 
TransGriot   12-4                                                               TransGriot  114-62
Mike            11-5                                                               Mike           109-67

Thursday Night Game
Washington over COWBOYS

Sunday Early Games 
TITANS over Texans
Patriots over BILLS
Chiefs over JETS
DOLPHINS over Broncos
BEARS over 49ers
Lions over RAVENS
Buccaneers over PACKERS
JAGUARS over Colts
Vikings vs Falcons

Sunday Afternoon Games
CHARGERS over Browns
Rams over CARDINALS
RAIDERS over Giants
SAINTS over Panthers

Sunday Night Game
Eagles over SEAHAWKS

Monday Night Game
Steelers over BENGALS

TransGriot 2017 NFL Picks -Week 12

It's Turkey Day, and in addition to us getting our grub on with friends and family in a few hours, we get to watch NFL football.  Still on track to threepeat after Mr Watts and I tied after the Week 11 games were contested.

Since there are three games tomorrow with one kicking off early in the morning, this prognostication post is going up way earlier than my usual noon CST.

So time to get busy either building on or maintaining my lead.  As usual, my Week 12 picks are in bold print with home teams in CAPS.   Mike's Turkey Day weekend picks are here.

Gobble, gobble y'all and Happy Turkey Day! 

Week 11 Results                                                                  2017 NFL Season 
TransGriot     9-5                                                                 TransGriot   102-58
Mike              9-5                                                                  Mike             98-62

Thanksgiving Day Games
Vikings over LIONS
COWBOYS over Chargers
WASHINGTON over Giants

Sunday Early Games
BENGALS over Browns
Panthers over JETS
Titans over COLTS
FALCONS over Buccaneers
PATRIOTS over Dolphins
EAGLES over Beans
Bills over CHIEFS

Sunday Afternoon Games
Seahawks over 49ERS
RAIDERS over Broncos
Saints over RAMS

Sunday Night Game
STEELERS over Packers

Monday Night Game
Texans over RAVENS

TransGriot 2017 NFL Picks- Week 11

Been a crazy week in which I've been focused on stuff more important than the NFL right now.  But since this prognostication contest is part of my self care regimen and I do want to threepeat, that's why you see this post every Thursday. 

And yeah, still pissed at the owner of my local NFL franchise.

In a much better mood after Week 10's games went down.   I built my lead back in the 2017 prognostication up to three games after going 11-3  to end Mr. Watts's winning streak as he stumbled to a .500 week.

I'm ready to get to this week's NFL games.  This week features another international game, but this time in Mexico City instead of in Great Britain, a a clash between the New England Cheatriots Patriots and the Oakland Raiders.

Can I keep the positive momentum going toward the threepeat?    We're about to find out

Another 14 games with the Colts, 49ers, Jets and Panthers on their bye week.   My picks in bold print with the HOME team in caps.   Mike's Week 11 picks are here.

Week 10 Results                                                                2017 NFL Season 
TransGriot  11-3                                                                 TransGriot  93-53
Mike             7-7                                                                 Mike           90-56

Thursday Night Game 
STEELERS over Titans

Sunday Early Games
Cardinals over TEXANS
Jaguars over BROWNS
Buccaneers over DOLPHINS
PACKERS over Ravens
Lions over BEARS
Rams over VIKINGS
Chiefs over GIANTS
SAINTS over Washington

Sunday Afternoon Games
Bills over CHARGERS
Bengals over BRONCOS
Patriots over RAIDERS (Mexico City)

Sunday Night Game
Eagles over COWBOYS

Monday Night Game
Falcons over SEAHAWKS

TransGriot 2017 NFL Picks - Week 10

This 2017 NFL season in which I'm attempting to threepeat in our prognostication contes has not been fun for me like the last two have been in large part because of my racist owner.

With Deshaun Watson out for the season, McNair made it clear by NOT signing Colin Kaepernick  the quarterback who has played in a Super Bowl and is best suited to run the Texans motion offense, and getting two mediocre dropback passing white quarterbacks, signalled to me and every non white Texans fan that he would rather do the right wing thing than win an NFL title

So phuck his Bud Adams 2.0 behind.   I can support the Texans players without loving the owner, but still pissed off he's basically throwing away the 2017 season.

Meanwhile, need to get over my pissivity at the hometown NFL team and focus because Mr. Watts is making a move.   While I had a decent Week 9, his was one game better and that's two straight weeks he's won.

So let's get to the picks.   Mike's Week 10 picks will be here.  Mine will be in bold print, with HOME team in caps.

Week 9 Results                                                                      2017 NFL Season 
TransGriot   8-5                                                                      TransGriot   82-48
Mike            9-4                                                                      Mike            82-48

Thursday Night Game
Seahawks over CARDINALS

Sunday Early Games
Jets over BUCCANEERS
Saints over BILLS
LIONS over Browns
TITANS over Bengals
Packers over BEARS
JAGUARS over Chargers
Vikings over WASHINGTON
Steelers over COLTS

Sunday Afternoon Games
RAMS over Texans
Giants over 49ERS
Cowboys over FALCONS

Sunday Night Game
Patriots over BRONCOS

Monday Night Game
PANTHERS over Dolphins

TransGriot 2017 NFL Picks Week 9

I'm having a great sports week so far.  My hometown baseballers finally won their first title.   The Coogs handed South Florida their first loss of the season, the Dynamo in their MLS playoff game with Portland finished in a 1-1 draw and the Rockets are off to a decent start.

Now the Texans need to handle their NFL business, but that might be tough after the  Bob McNair 'inmates running the prison' comment uttered during the recent NFL owners meeting went viral and thoroughly pissed off the Texans players before their epic game with Seattle.

That was followed by Duane Brown, fresh off his holdout, ripping McNair in the local press and subsequently being traded to the Seahawks.

Y'all have an AFC South division game coming up, so handle your NFL business.

As for me and Mr. Watts season long NFL prognostication business, I had an excellent Week 8, going 11-2.   My only problem was Mr Watts was better.  He went 12-1 and missed achieving our contest's first ever perfect week because of the Dolphins-Ravens game 

So yep, gots to handle my NFL prognostication business this week since Mr.Watts cut into my lead again and I now only have a one game edge going into the second half of the season. 

Enough jibber jabber.   Six teams, the Bears, Browns, Chargers, Vikings, Patriots and Steelers are watching the rest of the NFL play.  That means only 13 games to pick.   Mike's Week 9 picks are here, with the team I'm selecting to win in bold print.   Home team is in CAPS   

Week 8 Results                                                                       2017 NFL Season 
TransGriot   11-2                                                                     TransGriot   74-45
Mike            12-1                                                                     Mike            73-46

Thursday Night Game
Bills over JETS

Sunday Early Games
Texans over COLTS
SAINTS over Buccaneers
Falcons over PANTHERS
TITANS over Ravens
Rams over GIANTS
JAGUARS over Bengals
EAGLES over Broncos

Sunday Afternoon Games
CARDINALS over 49ers
SEAHAWKS over Washington
Chiefs over COWBOYS

Sunday Night Game
Raiders over DOLPHINS

Monday Night Game
Lions over PACKERS

TransGriot 2017 NFL Picks -Week 8

After my first sub 500 week ince 2015, I definitely did not want to repeat that in Week 7 (or for the rest of the season). and rebounded nicely from that with a 10-5 record.

However, so did Mike Watts,   We ended up tied because I correctly picked the Bills and Jaguars games and he got the Dolphins and Broncos games correct.  The Week 7 tie means I still have a three game lead on him.

We are now at the midpoint of the NFL season, and I'm still on track to threepeat.   My fave NFL ballers come out of the bye week with the tough assignment of facing the Seattle Seahawks in CenturyLink Field.

So far our rookie QB is on pace to break the rookie TD record set by the quarterback he's playing Sunday in Russell Wilson, and it should be a fun game.

Speaking of fun, let's get to this week's picks.    Six teams, the Cardinals, Packers, Giants, Rams, Titans and Jaguars all are on their bye week, so only 13 games to select winners from.

My picks to win this week's games are in bold print with home team in CAPS.  Mike's Week 8 picks are here.

Week 7 Results                                                                             2017 NFL Season
TransGriot   10-5                                                                          TransGriot   63-43
Mike            10-5                                                                           Mike           61-45

Thursday Night Game
Dolphins over RAVENS

Sunday London Game
Vikings over BROWNS

Sunday Early Games
PATRIOTS over Chargers
SAINTS over Bears
Panthers over BUCCANEERS
BENGALS over Colts
Raiders over BILLS
EAGLES over 49ers
Falcons over JETS

Sunday Afternoon Games
SEAHAWKS over Texans
Cowboys over WASHINGTON

Sunday Night Game
Steelers over LIONS

Monday Night Game
CHIEFS over Broncos

TransGriot 2017 NFL Picks- Week 7

We're almost at the halfway point of the 2017 NFL season and the only thing that is certain about this season is that it has been hard to predict from week to week what teams will do.

Week 6 was a disaster and my first losing week since 2015.   Mike Watts also had a bad one, but it sucked less than mine.  Despite the disastrously embarrassing week, he only gained a game on me and I still lead. 

But can't afford any more weeks like that if I'm going to threepeat.

Someone else who had a better week was Deshaun Watson, who is now in the discussion for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.   He paid tribute to Oilers Hall of Fame QB Warren Moon before the game and ten played like him during it by torching the Cleveland Browns in their 33-17 win to even their record at 3-3 and give them a share of the AFC South lead after the Jaguars lost going into their bye week.

The Texans along with the Detroit Lions are watching the rest of the NFL play, so fifteen games to select.  My picks in BOLD print with home team in CAPS.   Mike's Week 6 picks are here. 

So let's get busy with this week's picks

Week 6 Results                                                                           2017 NFL Season
TransGriot   3-11                                                                          TransGriot 53-38
Mike             5-9                                                                           Mike          51-40

Thursday Night Game
Chiefs over RAIDERS

Sunday Early Games
BILLS over Buccaneers
Panthers over BEARS
Titans over Browns
Saints over PACKERS
Jaguars over COLTS
Cardinals over RAMS
Jets over DOLPHINS
VIKINGS over Ravens

Sunday Afternoon Games
Cowboys over 49ERS
STEELERS over Bengals
Broncos over CHARGERS
Seahawks over GIANTS

Sunday Night Game
PATRIOTS over Falcons

Monday Night Game
EAGLES over Washington

2018 NFL Draft Will Be In Dallas

See Texas conservafools?   When you don't pass hatemongering legislation like SB 6/3 you get nice things as a result. 

One of those nice things we just received was word that the NFL has finally made a decision on who will host the 2018 NFL Draft, and next April it will be up I-45 from me in Dallas.

Reality is it will be in the Dallas suburb of Arlington, but the city of Dallas is still going to get a chunk of that sports tourist money.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced today that the 2018 NFL Draft will be held in the DFW Metroplex from April 26-28.   

The Jerrydome, AKA AT&T Stadium will host the 2018 NFL Draft's first round in primetime on April 26. The draft's second and third rounds will be conducted on Friday April 27 at the Jerrydome, with the final rounds 4-7 on April 28 at The Star.

The Cowboys became heavy favorites in April to get the draft in large part because of  The Star, their 91 acre headquarters complex in suburban Frisco, TX that contains hotels and a 12,000 seat stadium that the Frisco ISD uses for football, soccer and commencements.

The Texas GOP attempts to pass the unjust SB 6 and SB 3 in the Special Oppression Session nearly derailed the Cowboys effort to bring the draft to the Lone Star State, with this year's host Philadelphia, Kansas City and Green Bay also in the running to host the draft 

Since 2015, the NFL Draft has become a travelling roadshow, with Chicago hosting it in 2015-16 and Philadelphia kicking it up another level last year by hosting it outdoors for the first time and creating a fan fest for it a few months ago. 

The 2018 NFL Draft will break ground as the first one held in an NFL stadium,  A stadium with 100,000 seats in which there will be a nice sized posse of Texans fans sitting there cheering the Texans draft picks when they are announced

TransGriot 2017 NFL Picks-Week 6

Week 5 was very very good for me, and horrible for my fave NFL ballers. 

The Texans defense lost JJ Watt and Whitney Mercilus to season ending injuries, and trailed the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs at halftime in this primetime NFL game 23-7 before making a game of it in the second half. and falling 42-35.

As for moi, I picked up two more games on Mr Watts in our season long NFL prognostication contest by going 9-5 to his break even 7-7 week.

That expanded my lead on him to 4 games in my quest to threepeat as NFL prognostication champion.   

It's time to keep the positive momentum going in Week 6.  Four more teams, the Bengals, Bills, Cowboys and Seahawks get to chill this Sunday and watch everyone else play during their bye week , so Mike and I only have 14 games to pick. Speaking of picks  Mike's picks are here.   

Team I'm selecting to win is in bold print with the home team in CAPS.

Week 5 Results                                                                          2017 NFL Season Standings
TransGriot   9-5                                                                          TransGriot     50-27
Mike            7-7                                                                          Mike              46-31

Thursday Night Game
PANTHERS over Eagles

Sunday Early Games 
TEXANS over Browns
RAVENS  over Bears
Packers over VIKINGS
Lions over SAINTS
FALCONS over Dolphins
Patriots over JETS
49ers over WASHINGTON

Sunday Afternoon Games
Buccaneers over CARDINALS
JAGUARS over Rams
CHIEFS over Steelers
RAIDERS over Chargers

Sunday Night Game
BRONCOS over Giants

Monday Night Game
TITANS over Colts

TransGriot 2017 NFL Picks-Week 5

I can finally go from saying we might have a franchise quarterback to we DO have a franchise quarterback in Houston.

It only took him three weeks, but Deshaun Watson has probably cemented his position as the starter for the Texans after tying an NFL rookie quarterback record with 5 TD's (4 passing, 1 rushing) in their 57-14 rout of the Tennessee Titans Traitors.   The 57 points scored was also a Texans franchise record. easily eclipsing the previous record of 42 points, also set against the Tennessee Traitors in a 42-14 rout in 2014.

Watson's record tying performance also earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Another tough test for Deshaun and the Texans comes in a Sunday Night Football tilt against the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs at NRG Stadium.

As for the prognostication contest with Mr. Watts,  Week 4 saw us tie with identical 10-6 records that helped me maintain my two game lead on him.  I correctly picked the Texans game, he got the Giants-Buccaneers game right

Now it's time to get to the Week 5 NFL contests.    We have four teams, the Falcons, Broncos, Saints and Washington on their bye week, so only 14 games to pick.   As usual, team I'm selecting to win is in bold print, with the home team in CAPS.    Mike's Week 5 Picks are here.

Week 4 Results                                                                               2017 NFL Season
TransGriot   10-6                                                                            TransGriot  41-22
Mike            10-6                                                                             Mike          39-24

Thursday Night Game
Patriots over BUCCANEERS

Sunday Early Games
COLTS over 49ers
Jets over BROWNS
STEELERS over Jaguars
GIANTS over Chargers
LIONS over Panthers
Bills over BENGALS
DOLPHINS over Titans
EAGLES over Cardinals

Sunday Afternoon Games
RAIDERS over Ravens
Seahawks over RAMS
Packers over COWBOYS

Sunday Night Game
Chiefs over TEXANS

Monday Night Game
Vikings over BEARS

TransGriot 2017 NFL Picks -Week 4

We're a quarter of the way through the 2017 NFL season, and it has been a tumultuous one so far.

Trump pissed off the NFLPA, Black NFL players and their mothers with his racist comments attacking them and Colin Kaepernick, and they responded with league wide anthem protests that even crossed The Pond for the Ravens- Jaguars game that was played in London.

Meanwhile, Deshaun Watson is proving that it was a wise move for the Texans to trade up in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft and get him as he threw for 301 yards and two TD in a narrow 36-33 loss to the defending NFL champs.

Now our rookie QB gets to take on the Tennessee Traitors, er Titans in a critical AFC South Division hatefest at NRG Stadium.    Nope, not gonna let it go they moved to Nashville.

In Week 3 there were a lot of upsets in this still young NFL season, but I got one of them right in picking the Bills over Denver to win this week and increase my slim lead over Mr. Watts to two games in our season long prognostication contest. . 

It's now time to handle my Week 4 NFL prognostication business.   Once again another 16 games, another one in London and another week of trying to get to my goal of a prognostication contest threepeat.

Team I'm picking to win in bold print.  Home team in CAPS, with Mike's Week 4 picks here.

Week 3 Results                                                                             2017 NFL Season Record
TransGriot  9-7                                                                              TransGriot  31-16
Mike           8-8                                                                               Mike          29-18


Thursday Night Game
PACKERS over Bears

Sunday London Game
Saints over DOLPHINS

Sunday Early Games
TEXANS over Titans
PATRIOTS over Panthers
Jaguars over JETS
Bengals over BROWNS
Steelers over RAVENS
Lions over VIKINGS
COWBOYS over Rams
FALCONS over Bills

Sunday Afternoon Games
Eagles over CHARGERS
CARDINALS over 49ers
Giants over BUCCANEERS
Raiders over BRONCOS

Sunday Night Game
SEAHAWKS over Colts 

Monday Night Game
CHIEFS over Washington

TransGriot 2017 NFL Picks- Week 3

Houston, looks like we may FINALLY after all these years have a starting NFL caliber quarterback in Deshaun Watson.

We're about to find out just how good Deshaun is because he gets to go face the defending NFL champion (boo hiss) New England Cheatriots  Patriots in Foxborough.

 And another interesting stat to chew on in  addition to the fact the Texans have not had much success at Gillette Stadium.  Since Belichick took over, no rookie quarterback has ever beaten the Patriots.  They are 5-0 so far against them.

Another note before I move on to this week's NFL prognostication business.  Rick Smith, please hurry up and sign Duane Brown.

For a moment during NFL Week 2 looked like after the early games were played I was on track to have our contest's first ever perfect week.   Then the afternoon, Sunday and Monday night were played and I went 3-4 in those games to end up tied with Mr. Watts this week to maintain the slim one game lead I have contest wise. .

So let's get to this week's picks  Another 16 games.   Mike's picks are here.  Team I'm picking to win is in bold print with the home team in CAPS.

Week 2  Results                                                              2017 NFL Season Record  
TransGriot  12-4                                                              TransGriot  22-9
Mike           12-4                                                              Mike           21-10


Thursday Night Game
Rams over 49ERS

Sunday Early Games|
PATRIOTS over Texans
Ravens over JAGUARS
BILLS over Broncos
Steelers over BEARS
PANTHERS over Saints
Buccaneers over VIKINGS
COLTS over Browns
Dolphins over JETS
Falcons over LIONS
EAGLES over Giants

Sunday Afternoon Games
Seahawks over TITANS
Chiefs over CHARGERS
PACKERS over Bengals

Sunday Night Game
Raiders over WASHINGTON

Monday Night Game
Cowboys over CARDINALS

TransGriot 2017 NFL Picks - Week 2

While my Texans failed in their opening week mission of beating the Jaguars, I didn't in my quest to threepeat as TransGriot NFL prognostication champion.

Thanks to sweeping both NFL Monday night games, I not only finished above .500 for this opening week, but won Week 1.

Now we get into the second week of the season that starts with the Texans trying to overcome their sorry performance on Thursday Night Football against another team that stunk in their home opener in the Cincinnati Bengals

I also have one other thing to say about the Texans horrid performance against the Jaguars in which they gave up 10 sacks:  Call Duane Brown's agent and pay him!

And it looks like DeShaun Watson will be the starter for this Thursday night game, just hope the Texans line can give him some time to throw the ball.

Well, let's get to this week's NFL picks. 16 teams playing this week after the Bucs and Dolphins came off their unexpected Hurricane Irma bye    Mike's Week 2 picks are here.

Team I'm picking to win in bold print with the home  team in CAPS

Week 1 Results                                                                 2017 NFL Season Record
TransGriot    10-5                                                              TransGriot    10-5
Mike               9-6                                                              Mike               9-6


Thursday Night Game
Texans over BENGALS

Sunday Early Games
PANTHERS over Bills
STEELERS over Vikings
Patriots over SAINTS
CHIEFS over Eagles
BUCCANEERS over Bears
Cardinals over COLTS
RAVENS over Browns
Titans over JAGUARS

Sunday Afternoon Games
RAIDERS over Jets
Dolphins over CHARGERS
Cowboys over BRONCOS
SEAHAWKS over 49ers
RAMS over Washington

Sunday Night Game
Packers over FALCONS

Monday Night Game
GIANTS over Lions

TransGriot 2017 NFL Picks- Week 1

It's that time of the year in which once again, I do battle with Mike Watts to see who will emerge victorious at the end of the NFL regular season as the TransGriot NFL Prognostication Champion!

That was moi last year, and the noteworthy things about my 2016 NFL prognostication title run was that for the first time ever I did so WITHOUT a losing week.  It was also the first time in the history of this blog and our NFL prognostication competition there was a repeat champion.

So can I threepeat?  I'm sure going to try.  And the road to the threepeat starts today.

Eli is sitting this season out still battling cancer, but does like the Seahawks to make the Super Bowl

Speaking of threepeats, my fave NFL ballers will be trying to win a third straight AFC South title, and win more than nine games while doing so.   That will be helped immensely with JJ Watt's return to the Texans defensive lineup, and better quarterback play from either Tom Savage or rookie Deshaun Watson.

Week 1 of a new season is always a crapshoot.   Every team has had lineup changes, and you won't have a clear idea until Week 4 how much those changes impacted the team.

And you don't know what 2016 NFL season playoff team will crash and burn in 2017, or what team that the pundits picked to suck will surprise everyone.

We also start this 2017 NFL season with another franchise moving to a new city.  The Chargers are that team this year, moving back up I-5 from San Diego to the city where they were founded and played one AFL season in 1960 in Los Angeles.

Rules of the prognostication contest are the same.  MIke Watts and I are just simply picking the winners of this week's NFL games and not using a spread.   Our picks will be posted no later than 15 minutes before kickoff of the first NFL game on Thursday

Person with the best record at the end of NFL Week 17, 256 games from now will be the champ and have bragging rights until next season.

Here's Mike's Week 1 picks.   My goal this week is to simply be above .500 and get this 2017 NFL campaign to a threepeat off to a good start.

And now, let's get to my NFL Week 1 picks.  Home team in CAPS, team I'm selecting to win will be in bold print.

Final 2016 NFL Season

*TransGriot  170-84-2
Mike             163-91-2
Eli                  ---

Thursday Night Game
PATRIOTS over Chiefs

Sunday Early Games
TEXANS over Jaguars
Eagles over WASHINGTON
BILLS over Jets
Raiders over TITANS
DOLPHINS over Buccaneers
LIONS over Cardinals
Falcons over BEARS
BENGALS over Ravens
Steelers over BROWNS

Sunday Afternoon Games 
Colts over RAMS
Seahawks over PACKERS
Panthers over 49ERS

Sunday Night Game 
COWBOYS over Giants

Monday Night Games
VIKINGS over Saints
BRONCOS over Chargers

2017 Texans Watch - Texans vs Panthers

They start the 2017 season at NRG Stadium with a AFC South Division game with the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 10.

But before they get to that first regular season game, they leave their comfy West Virginia training camp digs to head to Charlotte to play their first 2017 preseason game against the Carolina Panthers.  
And yes, TransGriot readers, once again I'll be doing my NFL season prognostication when the 2017 season kicks off.

Speaking of kickoffs, Texans fans are watching the quarterback battle between Tom Savage and our first round draft choice in rookie Deshaun Watson.   We're also eagerly anticipating the return of JJ Watt to the Texans stellar defense, and in the wake of NT Vince Woolfork's retirement, all eyes will be on DJ Reader so see if he can replace him.

We'll see what happens in this first preseason game that kicks off at 6:30 CDT.