Flea Flicker Final, Pre-Playoffs Power Rankings

Here's a look at how the 32 NFL teams rank following the completion of the 2019 regular season.

1.   Baltimore Ravens (14-2)
2.   San Francisco 49ers (13-3)
3.   New Orleans Saints (13-3)
4.   New England Patriots (12-4)
5.   Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)
6.   Green Bay Packers (13-3)
7.   Minnesota Vikings (10-6)
8.   Seattle Seahawks (11-5)
9.   Buffalo Bills (10-6)
10. Houston Texans (10-6)
11. Tennessee Titans (9-7)
12. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)
13. Los Angeles Rams (9-7)
14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8)
15. Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
16. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8)
17. Indianapolis Colts (7-9)
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)
19  Chicago Bears (8-8)
20. Oakland Raiders (7-9)
21. Denver Broncos (7-9)
22. New York Jets (7-9)
23. Arizona Cardinals (5-10-1)
24. Cleveland Browns (6-10)
25. Los Angeles Chargers (5-11)
26. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10)
27. Miami Dolphins (5-11)
28. Carolina Panthers (5-11)
29. New York Giants (4-12)
30. Detroit Lions (3-12-1)
31. Washington Redskins (3-13)
32. Cincinnati Bengals (2-14)

Until next year.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Bears-Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings hosted the Chicago Bears yesterday for a Week 17 preseason game. The game meant little for the Vikings. They were already locked into the sixth seed. Only their playoff opponent was in question and this game played no role in determining that. The game was a Super Bowl for the Bears. Their season was done the moment the game ended. The Vikings played no starters on offense or defense. The Bears played all healthy starters throughout. The Bears won the Week 17 preseason game on a last-second field goal, 21-19.

This game went from a probable win for the Vikings to a likely win for the Bears on a 4th-and-9 play with 2:36 to play in the game. Leading 19-18, the Vikings defensive backups had forced the Bears offensive starters into that 4th-and-9 situation. Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky connected with a wide-open Riley Ridley for 32 yards. That put the Bears starters at the Vikings 19-yard line with two minutes to play. The only things in question were where and when the Bears would kick a short field goal. They did so from the Vikings 4-yard line and only 10 seconds remained. It looked like Vikings rookie corner Kris Boyd was responsible for coverage of Ridley on the play that turned the game. Boyd was knocked down/fell down and that got Ridley free for his easy catch and run. The unfortunate thing for the Vikings defensive backups is that Trubisky might complete a pass of over ten yards to a wide open receiver only one time in ten opportunities. This was that one time. And the Bears starters had their win over the Vikings backups.

I was disappointed when reports started trickling out of Minnesota last week that Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was thinking about resting the starters against the Bears. The Vikings offense looked way too out-of-sorts last Monday night against the Green Bay Packers to be taking a week off. There's a reason that I'm sitting here doing this and Zimmer and his coaches do what they do. They know what's best for their team moving forward. I just react to it. It's their job. It's my passion. So, what we got yesterday was a fun, somewhat relaxing Vikings football game. That's somewhat unusual for a Week 17 game of a season that includes the playoffs. Actually, the most disappointing about this game was the knowledge that it will be the last time that I see the Vikings play in that damn gorgeous stadium. I miss that place already.

This game was a fun watch for this Vikings fan because the backups played well. They more than held their own against the Bears starters. Those Vikings backups might've walked away with an easy win if Sean Mannion was a little more efficient. Some of his "mistakes" were more unfortunate than mistakes. He was charged with the fumble on what was a slightly low pitch to Mike Boone. Mannion had a pass that was intercepted that was really a bobble by Boone and a fortuitous bounce into the arms of a Bears starter. Alexander Hollins dropped a pass that he probably would've taken for a touchdown. The Vikings had to settle for a field goal. Mannion's second interception was the desperation pass that ended the game. If the first three of those unfortunate "mistakes" could've been avoided it likely would've turned into more Vikings points at the expense of Bears points. The second interception wouldn't have happened simply because Mannion would've ended the game with kneel downs rather than a desperation pass. Another mistake by the Vikings backups led directly to two points for the Bears starters. With the ball at their own 1-yard line, the Vikings offensive line simply didn't block Bears linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski. That allowed him easy access to tackling Boone in the end zone. None of these avoidable "mistakes" were forced. Just a little cleaner game from the Vikings backups and it's a completely different game.

The running game, Mike Boone in particular, carried the offense. Boone opened the game with a 59-yard burst to the Bears 16-yard line. It looked like it was going to be a 75-yard touchdown burst but the Bears starters ran him down. Unfortunately for the Vikings, the low toss that resulted in Mannion's fumble immediately followed Boone's burst. Boone should've secured the toss before he started looking for a lane. Instead of some game-opening momentum for the Vikings, the Bears starters had their first break of the game. The rest of the game for Boone was more like his first carry than the second. He finished the game with 148 yards on 17 carries and a short touchdown run. He was easily the Vikings' player of the game on offense.

Other than the Bears first possession of the second half the Vikings defensive backups played well. Each level played well. The line was able to provide consistent pressure on Trubisky (four sacks and six hits). Defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo had a strip sack and fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown. Despite replay ruling that he was touched down before he started the return it was a terrific all-around play. Odenigbo has really emerged as a pass rusher over the last month. The backup defensive backs allowed the Bears to convert a few too many third (and one fourth) down conversions (the one to Ridley being the most glaring) but their coverage was more often strong than soft. They kept everything in front of them. Kris Boyd, eight tackles and two for loss, was especially active. The glaring negative for the Vikings defense was that first Bears possession of the second half. It was a terrible performance. Considering the play on every other Bears possession it was really surprising. The Bears offensive line just bullied the Vikings defense and running back David Montgomery took advantage. The Bears easily moved the ball 75 yards on nine plays in just over five minutes. The final 14 yards was Montgomery and the line bulling their way for the touchdown. Half of Montgomery's 113 yards rushing came on this drive. The drive was such an anomaly.

Anyway, despite the final score this was a fun game. It was a fun game partly because the result ultimately didn't matter but mostly because the Vikings backups played even with the Bears starters throughout the game. They played with great passion and energy. Most of these players haven't played much during the season and it was fun seeing them take advantage of their opportunity. It came down to a field goal in the final seconds. An opportunity that swung the Bears way on a 4th-and-9 play with just over two minutes to play in the game. While I didn't agree with resting the starters before the game I now know that it was the right decision. The play of the backups was inspiring and I hope that it inspires the starters in the playoffs. If the starters play in the playoffs with the same passion and energy that the backups played with yesterday, it could be a very fun playoffs for the Vikings. Those playoffs start next Sunday in New Orleans. Skol!

Flea Flicker Week 17 Predictions

Week 17. The final week of the 2019 NFL season is here. It felt like Week 1 was just yesterday. Maybe not. The variable effort that the teams will be putting into some of these games make predicting them more of a crapshoot than normal. So, here's a stab at the Week 17 games.

Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings
Pick: Vikings
This game might not mean much but the Vikings have to head into the playoffs on a positive note.

New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills
Pick: Bills

Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals
Pick: Bengals

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions
Pick: Packers

Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Pick: Chiefs

Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots
Pick: Patriots

Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick: Falcons

New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers
Pick: Saints

Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys
Pick: Cowboys

Oakland Raiders @ Denver Broncos
Pick: Broncos

Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Rams
Pick: Cardinals

Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants
Pick: Eagles

Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick: Colts

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens
Pick: Ravens

Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans
Pick: Texans

San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks
Pick: 49ers

NFL 100 All-Time Team: Quarterbacks

The final reveal of the NFL 100 All-Time Team took place last night on NFL Network. Earlier in the series the reveal of 26 players (14 defensive linemen and 12 linebackers) was jammed into one hour-long episode. NFL Network set aside two hours last night for 10 quarterbacks. The defensive linemen and the linebackers deserved their own reveals but that's for another time. This is about the quarterbacks. Everyone loves the quarterbacks. Last night's reveal was the biggie. The ten quarterbacks that will lead the NFL 100 All-Time Team were revealed. Rich Eisen had teased going in that the 10 chosen would cause a great deal of debate. These lists always do. Here are the quarterbacks of the NFL 100 All-Time Team:

1.   Tom Brady
2.   Brett Favre
3.   Peyton Manning
4.   Joe Montana
5.   Sammy Baugh
6.   Otto Graham
7.   Johnny Unitas
8.   Roger Staubach
9.   John Elway
10. Dan Marino

I can understand the selection of each. In my opinion, if you're tackling the issue of the 10 greatest quarterbacks of all-time, there are seven that must be among the 10.

Joe Montana
Tom Brady
Johnny Unitas
Peyton Manning
Sammy Baugh
Otto Graham
Dan Marino

Adding the final three is wide open for debate. There were 22 finalists for the final 10. I can truly see reasons for any of the 22 making it to the final 10. The three that did make it were Brett Favre, Roger Staubach, and John Elway. Those are three of the most entertaining quarterbacks of my lifetime. As a Minnesota Vikings fan, Staubach drove me nuts in the 1970s He would've driven me nuts even if that ridiculous Hail Mary pass had been ruled correctly. No lead was ever safe when he was on the field. Brett Favre? He may have been the single most entertaining quarterback to ever play. The good and the bad. On the field and off. John Elway? He was a bigger, stronger, faster Staubach. I like this quarterback group. I like it even if it isn't the 10 that I would've selected.

My guess at the 10 going into the reveal:

Joe Montana
Tom Brady
Johnny Unitas
Peyton Manning
Sammy Baugh
Otto Graham
Drew Brees
Dan Marino
Aaron Rodgers
Bart Starr

Perhaps it's my Cal-bias as an alum, I really think that Aaron Rodgers is one of the 10 greatest quarterbacks to ever play. He's one of the 4-5 greatest quarterbacks of my lifetime. Unfortunately for him, and Drew Brees, when it comes to making exclusive teams/lists such as this is that he's still scripting his legacy. How a quarterback ends their career is often what gets them on lists and teams such as this one. I don't think that Elway makes this team if he hadn't ended his career with two Super Bowl titles.

Favre and Brady were on the set with Eisen, Bill Belichick, and Cris Collinsworth. That was fun. I will never tire of listening to Favre tell football stories. These conversations between players and Belichick and Collinsworth were the highlight of the entire series. And the Ed Reed-Belcihick conversation was the highlight of those highlights. Followed closely by Favre and Lawrence Taylor tales. The only complaint that I have with this series is jamming the linebackers and defensive linemen into one episode. It was so rushed, especially at the end of the episode, and didn't give proper respect to all members of the team. It would've been best if each of the episodes were two hours long. I could've gone without the hour-long "reaction" shows that followed each position reveal. That complaint aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the NFL 100 All-Time Team series. I love that the voters gave pre-Super Bowl era players the respect that they deserved. Even if it might've kept Adrian Peterson off of the team. Belichick was a star. It was awesome to see him just talk football. Most people have pigeon-holed him as a curmudgeon. I've always seen him as a fantastic football coach that has great respect for the history of the game. His enthusiasm and love for the game was obvious and it was so great to see.

Congratulations to the 100 players and 10 coaches that made the NFL 100 All-Time Team. The series is complete and I miss it already.

Cal 2020 Recruiting Class, So Far

The December signing day has been an NCAA thing for a few years and it's still a surprise when it arrives. The early February signing day has always been "the day." It's tough to adjust. Anyway, December 18th was the first day that high school football players could sign their National Letters of Intent. All 25 of the high school football players that had made verbal commitments to Cal put those commitments in writing.

Ender Aguilar, ATH, 6-5 245, Servite (Anaheim, CA)
Andy Alfieri, LB, 6-3 220, Jesuit (Portland, OR)
Justin Baker, RB, 5-8.5 175, Kennedy Catholic (Burien, WA)
DeJuan Butler, CB, 5-11 180, Antioch (Antioch, CA)
Jaden Casey, QB, 6-1 185, Calabasas (Calabasas, CA)
Tommy Christakos, WR, 6-4 215, Chaparral (Scottsdale, AZ)
Ricky Correia, DT, 6-4 359, Central East (Fresno, CA)
Collin Gamble, CB, 5-10 185, Liberty Christian (Argyle, TX)
Jeremiah Hunter, WR, 6-2 178, Central East (Fresno, CA)
Muelu Iosefa, LB, 6-3 212, Mililani (Mililani, HI)
Everett Johnson, OT, 6-7.5 287, Turlock (Turlock, CA)
Zach Johnson, QB, 6-1, 185, Hart (Newhall, CA)
Aidan Lee, ATH, 6-2 200, Desert Ridge (Mesa, AZ)
Mason Mangum, WR, 6-0, 175, Westlake (Austin, TX)
Stanley McKenzie, DT, 6-2 270, St. Louis School (Honolulu, HI)
Tyson McWilliams, CB, 6-2 170, St. Augustine (San Diego, CA)
Damian Moore, RB, 5-10 190, Bishop Amat (La Puente, CA)
Jake Muller, TE, 6-5 235, Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo, CA)
Trey Paster, ATH, 6-1.5 200, Buhach Colony (Atwater, CA)
Jaedon Roberts, DT, 6-3, 280, Avon Old Farms (Avon, CT)
D’Andre Rogers, TE, 6-4, 230, Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, WA)
Jamieson Sheahan, P, 6-0, 180, ProKick Australia (Melbourne, Australia)
Ethan Saunders, DT, 6-3 275, Orange Vista (Perris, CA)
Chris Street, RB, 5-8 191, Junipero Serra (San Juan Capistrano, CA)
Isaiah Young, CB, 5-9 156, Centennial (Corona, CA)

A 26th player has since committed but has yet to sign his letter of intent.

Nate Rutchena, WR/ATH, 6-3 196, Monte Vista (Danville, CA)

Due to potential departures to the NFL, Cal needed in an influx of defensive backs. The 2020 Class has a few.

Isaiah Young, CB, 5-9 156, Centennial (Corona, CA)
DeJuan Butler, CB, 5-11 180, Antioch (Antioch, CA)
Trey Paster, ATH, 6-1.5 200, Buhach Colony (Atwater, CA)
Collin Gamble, CB, 5-10 185, Liberty Christian (Argyle, TX)
Tyson McWilliams, CB, 6-2 170, St. Augustine (San Diego, CA)

Cal also needed some talented pass catchers.

Tommy Christakos, WR, 6-4 215, Chaparral (Scottsdale, AZ)
Jeremiah Hunter, WR, 6-2 178, Central East (Fresno, CA)
Mason Mangum, WR, 6-0, 175, Westlake (Austin, TX)
Jake Muller, TE, 6-5 235, Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo, CA)
D’Andre Rogers, TE, 6-4, 230, Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, WA)
Nate Rutchena, WR/ATH, 6-3 196, Monte Vista (Danville, CA)

The jewel of the pass catchers, and perhaps the entire 25-member class, is D'Andre Rogers. He was rated as one of the best players in the state of Washington and the #7 tight end in the nation. Cal has been looking for a difference-making tight end for a few years. They may have finally found that tight end.

Speaking of rankings. Rogers is the lone 4-star recruit in Cal's 2020 Recruiting Class. Five players are in the gray area between 3- and 4-star in some ranker's eyes:

Chris Street
Jeremiah Hunter
Chris Street
Andy Alfieri
Tyson McWilliams

More ranking stuff:

Cal's 2020 Recruiting Class is ranked #6 in the Pac-12 and #34 in the nation. Those are pretty good rankings for Cal and an indication that Justin Wilcox and his coaches are building something in Berkeley. They even held every recruit after offensive coordinator Beau Baldwin left to take the head coach job at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Pac-12
1.   Washington: 22 commits
2.   Oregon: 20 commits
3.   Stanford: 20 commits
4.   UCLA: 22 commits
5.   Utah: 17 commits
6.   Cal: 26 commits
7.   Colorado: 22 commits
8.   Arizona State: 15 commits
9.   Oregon State: 20 commits
10. Washington State: 18 commits
11. Arizona15 commits
12. USC: 11 commits

The national rankings is topped by the usual group of talent collectors.

National Top 10
1.   Clemson
2.   Alabama
3.   Ohio State
4.   Georgia
5.   LSU
6.   Texas A&M
7.   Auburn
8.   Florida
9.   Oklahoma
10. Notre Dame

Throwback Thursday: QB Finalists For The NFL 100 All-Time Team

The quarterback finalists for the NFL 100 All-Time Team were released earlier this week. There are 22 finalists. 10 will make the team. Those 10 greats will be revealed tomorrow night during the NFL 100 All-Time Team finale on NFL Network. Here are the 22 finalists.

Troy Aikman
Sammy Baugh
Terry Bradshaw
Tom Brady
Drew Brees
John Elway
Brett Favre
Dan Fouts
Otto Graham
Bobby Layne
Sid Luckman
Peyton Manning
Dan Marino
Joe Montana
Joe Namath
Aaron Rodgers
Bart Starr
Roger Staubach
Fran Tarkenton
Johnny Unitas
Norm Van Brocklin
Steve Young

That's a fine list. The one quarterback that comes to mind that I'd like to see on the list is Y.A. Tittle. But which quarterback is removed? Norm Van Brocklin? A Hall of Famer for a Hall of Famer? Van Brocklin won two titles. Tittle won none. He did lead the New York Giants to three straight title games and nearly led the San Francisco 49ers to one. I don't see either Van Brocklin or Tittle making the exclusive final 10 so I suppose the debate means little. It'd be easier to make it 23 finalists.

So, which 10 quarterbacks do make the NFL 100 All-Time Team? Let's piece it together:

I would think that the following are on every voter's list. At least they should be.

Joe Montana
Tom Brady
Johnny Unitas
Peyton Manning

In my opinion, the following "old-timers" are as deserving to be among the 10 as the above four.

Sammy Baugh
Otto Graham

From there, the following should find a spot.

Drew Brees
Dan Marino
Aaron Rodgers

One spot remains. An argument can be made for Fran Tarkenton as he held all of the career passing records longer than any other quarterback. He held the records for nearly 20 years before Marino started breaking them. Baugh held them for a while but it fell well short of 20. Marino's time at the top was just over a decade before Brett Favre knocked him off of it. Tarkenton's long, strong run as the most prolific passer in the league's history was impressive. All but two of his 18 seasons were during the pre-Mel Blount Rule days. It was tough to pass during his time. It's gotten a whole lot easier every year since. Putting up 4,000 yards in an NFL season is routine now. It was a real challenge to hit 2,500 in the 1960s. Tarkenton's long run was helped by the fact that no youngish quarterbacks were close to his numbers at his retirement. Dan Fouts, Terry Bradshaw, Bob Griese, and Ken Anderson are quarterbacks that come to mind that were youngish in 1978 but they couldn't touch Tarkenton's numbers. He was ahead of his time. Despite all of that and my passion for Vikings football, I can't include Tarkenton in the final 10. I wouldn't be surprised if Favre gets the nod but I wouldn't go that way. Favre was one of most fun quarterbacks to watch play football. And that's coming from a Vikings fan. He also kept at least as many teams out of the Super Bowl with mind-numbing throws as he led to the big game. In my opinion, the final spot comes down to Bobby Layne, Roger Staubach, and Bart Starr. Terry Bradshaw and Sid Luckman are in the conversation but ultimately end up outside of it. Layne and Staubach are two of the greatest on-field leaders and two of the most resourceful quarterbacks to ever play. In the end, I have to go with Bart Starr. I probably wouldn't have gone that way if it weren't for the manner in which the talking heads currently go after Kirk Cousins for his 0-9 Monday Night Football record. If Cousins is solely responsible for his team losing nine Monday Night Football games, then Starr is solely responsible for his team winning five championships. Only Graham and Brady have won more titles and they're automatics for this team.

So, that gives us an All-Time team led by the following ten quarterbacks.

Joe Montana
Tom Brady
Johnny Unitas
Peyton Manning
Sammy Baugh
Otto Graham
Drew Brees
Dan Marino
Aaron Rodgers
Bart Starr

We'll see who actually makes this prestigious team tomorrow night.

Flea Flicker Week 16 Power Rankings

Here's one look at how the 32 NFL teams rank after the sixteenth week of the season.

1.   Baltimore Ravens (13-2)
2.   San Francisco 49ers (12-3)
3.   New Orleans Saints (12-3)
4.   New England Patriots (12-3)
5.   Kansas City Chiefs (11-4)
6.   Green Bay Packers (12-3)
7.   Minnesota Vikings (10-5)
8.   Buffalo Bills (10-5)
9.   Seattle Seahawks (11-4)
10. Houston Texans (10-5)
11. Tennessee Titans (8-7)
12. Philadelphia Eagles (8-7)
13. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7)
14. Los Angeles Rams (8-7)
15. Dallas Cowboys (7-8)
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
17. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)
18. Atlanta Falcons (6-9)
19  Chicago Bears (7-8)
20. Cleveland Browns (6-9)
21. Denver Broncos (6-9)
22. Oakland Raiders (6-9)
23. Arizona Cardinals (5-9-1)
24. New York Jets (6-9)
25. Los Angeles Chargers (5-10)
26. Carolina Panthers (5-10)
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10)
28. New York Giants (4-11)
29. Miami Dolphins (4-11)
30. Detroit Lions (3-11-1)
31. Washington Redskins (3-12)
32. Cincinnati Bengals (1-14)

Until next week.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Packers-Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings clinched a playoff spot on Saturday. They played the Green Bay Packers last night like a team that no longer had a reason to play a regular season football game. The Packers took the game 23-10. They also took the NFC North title. In a single word, the Vikings were terrible last night. Actually, the offense was terrible. The defense played great until injuries and being on the field for 3/4 of the game wore them down. Despite appearances, the Vikings had several reasons to play football against the Packers.

1. It's the Packers
2. Improve their playoff seeding
3. Enter the playoffs with momentum
4. It's the Packers!

None of those reasons to play seemed to matter.

On the Packers first possession of the game the Vikings defense forced and recovered a fumble. The defense handed the offense the ball just inside the Packers 10-yard line. They could manage only a field goal. Offenses have to score touchdowns when gifted with such fantastic opportunities. They have to score touchdowns in games like this. The next time the Vikings defense got the ball back for the offense in excellent field position (Packers 26-yard line) the offense did manage a touchdown. Kirk Cousins hit Stefon Diggs for a real pretty 21-yard score. That play was the highlight of the game for the offense. The Vikings offense did nothing when not given a real short field. The defense got the ball back for a third time in the first half. Unfortunately, that turnover was around midfield. There was too much ground for the offense to cover. That opportunity did present a "would've/could've" moments for the Vikings. In an effort to perhaps energize a sluggish offense, offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski brought some trickery to the game. A well-drawn up trick play had Diggs throwing a pass to Cousins. Everything was set up to succeed beautifully until Diggs overthrew Cousins. If that play had been a success maybe it would've been the spark that the offense desperately needed.

There really was something missing from the Vikings offense. The obvious missing parts were running backs Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison. Having Mike Boone as the primary ball carrier appeared to give license to the Packers to rush Cousins without restraint. An ineffective run game and continually being behind the chains further emboldened the pass rush. The entire Packers front seven, especially Za'Darius Smith, found a game-long home in the Vikings backfield. The Vikings offensive line had been making positive strides all season. They had even improved so much that it wouldn't be a stretch to say that they've been a very good offensive line over the past month. Their performance last night was more like the disaster against the Chicago Bears in Week 4. Cousins had no time to throw. But there was more than just poor line play and an ineffective run game. It felt like I was watching an offense going through installs in the spring. It didn't appear that anyone was on the same page. The playcalling felt rough and the players looked unsure of it. Nothing on offense looked connected. Most teams, if not all, go into games with a script of offensive plays. They practice those plays repeatedly and prepare for them mentally. The Vikings first offensive possession was inside the Packers 10-yard line. Their second offensive possession was inside their own 10-yard line. Those two starting situations don't really play into that pregame script of plays. I just wonder if that threw off the playcalling and the offensive script. If it did, that's also a problem. Good teams take advantage of the first situation and deal with the second.

Lost in this terrible game were a couple positives for the Vikings.

1. The defense played great. They took the ball from the Packers three times. Due mostly to Aaron Rodgers rarely making mistakes, the Packers are very good about maintaining possession of the football. The Vikings defense punched the ball out of the typically secure arms of Packers players three times, recovering two of them, and Anthony Harris intercepted Rodgers. The Vikings had three turnovers in the first half and gave the offense prime opportunities to put 21 points on the board. It really could've/should've been 21-9 at the half. The Vikings defense was great for 3/4 of the game. If the offense had done even a little to give them much-needed breathers they might've played great for the entirety of the game. And the Vikings and Packers might be tied at 11-4. The Packers held the ball for nearly 38 minutes of the game. That's ridiculous. It's remarkable that the defense held up for as long as it did. Linebackers Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr left with muscle strains and/or cramps. Probably from being on the field for 3/4 of the game. It's no surprise that Packers running back Aaron Jones ran 56 yards for a score on the play after Barr left the game. Even with both Kendricks and Barr on the field the Packers runners had a few too many 5-9 yard runs. So, it wasn't a complete defensive showing. All things considered, the Vikings defense played great in this terrible game.

2. Punter Britton Colquitt was a star. It's rarely a good thing when the punter is needed to be a star. Colquitt punted eight times for an average of 47.1 yards. Half of those punts were returned for little yardage. Two of his punts were downed inside the 20 and he had no touchbacks. Due to the ineffective offense, Colquitt often had to punt from deep in his own territory and each time he put the Packers at their end of the field. Rodgers and the Packers offense can't be given short fields and Colquitt's punting didn't give them any.

I've spent all season anticipating a game in which the Vikings offense and defense play well. I'm still waiting. Through 15 games of a mostly successful season, the Vikings have yet to play a complete game. Despite last night's game, I still have hope that we'll see the best of both units in the same game. If the Vikings have any hope of playing more than two more games this season, they have to play a complete game. They have to play to their abilities on offense, defense, and special teams. They host the Bears next week to close the regular season. Last night's terrible game locked the Vikings into the #6 seed so they really have nothing to play for against the Bears. But it'd be nice to see something positive before the playoffs.

Centennial Class Finalists

Last week, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 38 finalists for the Centennial Class. The Centennial Class will be a special Class that is part of the NFL's celebration of it's 100th birthday. The finalists were selected by a "Blue Ribbon Panel" composed of some members of the Pro Football Selection Committee, Hall of Famers, coaches, football executives, and several leading historians. This special class has the dual purpose of celebrating the league's wonderful history and doing proper justice to great players, coaches, and contributors that have been overlooked for far too long. No selection process is perfect and a lot of Hall of Fame-worthy people have been missed. The 100th birthday of the NFL is a great time to fix some things. The 38 finalists are made up of 20 senior players, eight coaches, and 10 contributors. The finalists will be deliberated by the "Blue Ribbon Panel" in January. From those deliberations 10 senior players, two coaches, and three contributors will be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2020. Here are the 38 Finalists for the Centennial Class.

SENIORS (20 FINALISTS) - A player who last played more than 25 seasons ago

Cliff Branch, WR - 1972-1985 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders

Harold Carmichael, WR - 1971-1983 Philadelphia Eagles, 1984 Dallas Cowboys

Jim Covert, T - 1983-1990 Chicago Bears

Roger Craig, RB - 1983-1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-93 Minnesota Vikings

Bobby Dillon, S - 1952-59 Green Bay Packers

LaVern Dilweg, E - 1926 Milwaukee Badgers, 1927-1934 Green Bay Packers

Ox Emerson, G/LB/C - 1931-37 Portsmouth Spartans/Detroit Lions, 1938 Brooklyn Dodgers

Randy Gradishar, LB - 1974-1983 Denver Broncos

Cliff Harris, S - 1970-79 Dallas Cowboys

Winston Hill, T - 1963-1976 New York Jets, 1977 Los Angeles Rams

Cecil Isbell, TB/DB/HB - 1938-1942 Green Bay Packers

Alex Karras, DT - 1958-1962, 1964-1970 Detroit Lions

Verne Lewellen, HB - 1924-27, 1928-1932 Green Bay Packers, 1927 New York Yankees

Tommy Nobis, LB - 1966-1976 Atlanta Falcons

Drew Pearson, WR - 1973-1983 Dallas Cowboys

Donnie Shell, S - 1974-1987 Pittsburgh Steelers

Duke Slater, T - 1922 Milwaukee Badgers, 1922-25 Rock Island Independents, 1926-1931 Chicago Cardinals

Mac Speedie, E - 1946-1952 Cleveland Browns [AAFC/NFL]

Ed Sprinkle, DE/LB/E - 1944-1955 Chicago Bears

Al Wistert, OT/DT/G - 1943 Phil-Pitt, 1944-1951 Philadelphia Eagles

COACHES (8 FINALISTS) - Coaches who last coached more than five seasons ago

Don Coryell - 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers

Bill Cowher - 1992-2006 Pittsburgh Steelers

Tom Flores - 1979-1987 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-94 Seattle Seahawks

Mike Holmgren - 1992-98 Green Bay Packers, 1999-2008 Seattle Seahawks

Jimmy Johnson - 1989-1993 Dallas Cowboys, 1996-99 Miami Dolphins

Buddy Parker - 1949 Chicago Cardinals, 1951-56 Detroit Lions, 1957-1964 Pittsburgh Steelers

Dan Reeves - 1981-1992 Denver Broncos, 1993-96 New York Giants, 1997-2003 Atlanta Falcons

Dick Vermeil - 1976-1982 Philadelphia Eagles, 1997-99 St. Louis Rams, 2001-05 Kansas City Chiefs

CONTRIBUTORS (10 FINALISTS) - An individual other than a player or coach

Bud Adams, Owner - 1960-2013 Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Titans

Ralph Hay, Owner - 1918-1922 Canton Bulldogs

Frank "Bucko" Kilroy, Scout/General Manager/Executive - 1960-61 Philadelphia Eagles, 1962-64 Washington Redskins, 1965-1970 Dallas Cowboys, 1971-2006 New England Patriots

Art McNally, Official/Administrator - 1959-2015 National Football League

Art Modell, Owner - 1961-1995 Cleveland Browns, 1996-2011 Baltimore Ravens

Clint Murchison, Founder/Owner - 1960-1983 Dallas Cowboys

Steve Sabol, Administrator/President - 1964-2012 NFL Films

Seymour Siwoff, Owner/President - 1952-2019 Elias Sports Bureau

Paul Tagliabue, Commissioner - 1989-2006 National Football League

George Young, Contributor/General Manager - 1968-1974 Baltimore Colts, 1975-78 Miami Dolphins, 1979-1997 New York Giants, 1998-2001 National Football League

***

It wouldn't be a Flea Flicker Hall of Fame Class post without a guess at that Class. I'll start with my long-time short list of players most deserving of Hall of Fame induction.

Seniors
Duke Slater
LaVern Dilweg
Al Wistert
Mac Speedie
Alex Karras

From there, I'll add

Verne Lewellen
Ox Emerson
Drew Pearson
Donnie Shell
Randy Gradishar

Coaches
Don Coryell
Jimmy Johnson

Contributors
Steve Sabol
Seymour Siwoff
George Young

I don't know a lot about Seymour Siwoff but I do know that his Elias Sports Bureau has impacted sports like very few others.

It should be noted that the modern-era selection process is continuing as it normally does. The 25 semi-finalists were announced a few weeks ago. The 15 finalists will be announced in a few weeks. The potentially 5-member Hall of Fame Class will be announced on the eve of Super Bowl LIV. All of the debating and voting will be done by the Hall of Fame Selection Committee. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020 will have as many as 20 members, 15 members from the Centennial Class and potentially five modern-era members. There will be two enshrinement celebrations next year. The modern-era, coaches, and contributors will be enshrined on August 8, 2020. The 10 senior players will be on hand and celebrated but they won't be enshrined. Their enshrinement will take place during a celebration of the league's 100th birthday on September 16-19, 2020.

NFL 100 All-Time Team: Receivers

The reveal of the NFL 100 All-Time Team continued Friday night with the receivers. These reveal shows with Rich Eisen, Bill Belichick, Cris Collinsworth, and guests have been a lot of fun. Belichick's commentary and conversations with the player guests are highlights. His football chat with Ed Reed was the highlight of those highlights. I've appreciated the voter's appreciation of pre-1950s players. For the most part, I've agreed with players selected to this team. Until now. I have a problem with the receivers that made the NFL 100 All-Time Team. In particular, I have a problem with one great receiver that didn't make the team. Here are the 10 receivers that did make the team.

1.   Jerry Rice
2.   Randy Moss
3.   Lance Alworth
4.   Paul Warfield
5.   Elroy Hirsch
6.   Don Hutson
7.   Raymond Berry
8.   Larry Fitzgerald
9.   Steve Largent
10. Marvin Harrison

That's an outstanding list of receivers. Cris Carter should be on the list. The one thing that a receiver has to do is catch the football. There's no receiver that I've seen that caught the football better than Carter. He could get open like few receivers that I've ever seen and he could catch the football better than any receiver I've ever seen. He's also the best to ever toe the sideline or back of the endzone. Some might tap Raymond Berry as the best to ever toe the line. At worst, Carter was his equal. It's easy to say that a player was snubbed from a list or team of greats. It can be really hard to remove a deserving player to make room for the snubbed player. Well, I'd swap Steve Largent for Cris Carter. And I loved watching Largent play football.

When I think of the great receivers of my lifetime I often think of the Vikings-49ers Monday Night game that I attended at Candlestick Park on Dec. 18, 1995. Sitting in the stands of an NFL game in 1995 was far different than today. The world wasn't as fantasy football crazed. There wasn't a computer in every fan's hand. Stats weren't blasted across flashy score boards. Sitting in the stands of an NFL game in 1995, it was pretty easy to not be aware of player statistics. In this game, Jerry Rice and Cris Carter put on a show. The 49ers jumped all over the Vikings from the start. The 49ers were up 21-0 in the first quarter. From that point in the game to the finish, sitting in the stands, it felt like Carter put his team on his back as the Vikings clawed their way back into the game. They got as close as three points in the third quarter but lost 37-30. With Steve Young throwing to Rice and Warren Moon throwing to Carter, this was a wildly entertaining game. And it revolved around the two great receivers. Since I didn't have access to statistical updates throughout the game, I guessed that Rice had about 10 catches, 180 yards, and three touchdowns and Carter had about 10 catches, 150 yards, and two touchdowns. When the newspaper arrived the following morning, I discovered that the two receiving greats had the following stat lines:

Rice: 14 catches, 289 yards, 3 TDs
Carter: 12 catches, 88 yards, 2 TDs

That's quite a disparity. Sitting in the stands that night I didn't think that there was any possible way that Rice had gained 201 more yards than Carter. The Vikings were in such a hole that every one of his 12 catches meant so much. He carried his team. Every one of his catches moved the chains or put points on the board. That night, I learned that a six-yard catch can be as big as a 60-yard catch. I sat in those stands knowing that I was watching two of the greatest receivers that ever played the game.

As much as I think that Cris Carter should be on this team, I understand how difficult it is to cut the greatest football players in the league's history down to only 10. At any position.

The final two head coaches that lead the NFL 100 All-Time Team were revealed:

1.   Paul Brown

2.   Bill Belichick

3.   Chuck Noll
4.   Joe Gibbs

5.   George Halas
6.   Tom Landry
7.   Curly Lambeau
8.   Vince Lombardi
9.   Don Shula
10. Bill Walsh

I have zero issues with that list.

The quarterbacks are up next week. Since it's the quarterbacks, NFL Network has doubled the time needed to reveal them. 2 whole hours.

Flea Flicker Week 16 Predictions

Two weeks remain in the 2019 NFL season. Week 16 brings some playoff-like games and today's triple-header. Here are some guesses at this week's games.

Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings
Pick: Vikings
All I want for Christmas is a demolition of the Packers. And a Vikings win and Packers loss in Week 17. And a Vikings run through the playoffs. And a Vikings Super Bowl.

Houston Texans @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick: Texans
The Texans are wildly inconsistent. The Buccaneers have won four straight. I guess that I'm siding with the inconsistent team against the hot home team.

Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
Pick: Patriots
The Patriots find a way to win big, late-season games.

Los Angeles Rams @ San Francisco 49ers
Pick: 49ers
The 49ers put an end to the Rams season in tonight's nightcap.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Atlanta Falcons
Pick: Falcons
The Falcons are soaring into the offseason. The Jaguars are stumbling into it.

Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns
Pick: Ravens
The Ravens get an opportunity to avenge the one blemish to their terrific season.

New Orleans Saints @ Tennessee Titans
Pick: Saints
This could be a real fun game between two of the most entertaining teams in the league.

Carolina Panthers @ Indianapolis Colts
Pick: Colts
At one point this season, these teams were two of the most interesting teams in the league. Injuries took the fun out of the season for both teams.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Miami Dolphins
Pick: Bengals
One team wanted the first pick in the draft. The other earned it.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ New York Jets
Pick: Steelers
One team is fighting for the playoffs. The other is the Jets.

New York Giants @ Washington Redskins
Pick: Redskins
Dwayne Haskins looked like a first round quarterback last week.

Detroit Lions @ Denver Broncos
Pick: Broncos
Both teams can be feisty. The Broncos aren't quite as depleted as the Lions.

Oakland Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers
Pick: Chargers
The Chargers can be a pretty good team when they don't turn the ball over seven times. If the Raiders can't win their last game in Oakland, they can't win this game.

Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles
Pick: Cowboys
If the Cowboys can play like they did last week they're in the playoffs. I'm not sure that they can do that in consecutive weeks but they're still better than the Eagles.

Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks
Pick: Seahawks
The Cardinals are often a tough out but the Seahawks should win this must-win game.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Chicago Bears
Pick: Chiefs
The Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes are hitting their stride at the right time.

Pro Bowl Teams Announced

The much anticipated announcement of the NFC and AFC teams for the 2020 Pro Bowl took place on Tuesday. The funny thing about the Pro Bowl is that everybody hates the game but everybody sure cares about who plays in it. The NFL Network even dedicates a bit of their programming to announce the team and then loads of their programming to debate who did and didn't make the team. Fans and media care a lot about the all-star teams now but will question the game's existence in just over a month. All-Pro honors are far more prestigious but there's far more interest in who did or didn't make the Pro Bowl. At least until the game is played. So, about those teams. Minnesota Vikings middle linebacker Eric Kendricks should've made the NFC roster. He's had a much better season than Pro Bowl roster mainstays Luke Kuechly and Bobby Wagner. I could make a case for Kirk Cousins and Stefon Diggs being on the NFC roster but Kendrick's absence is the most ridiculous. Kuechly and Wagner could sit out the season and they'd still make the Pro Bowl. On the positive side of the respective rosters, the AFC quarterbacking trio of Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, and DeShaun Watson represent the dazzling present and future of the league. The Baltimore Ravens had a ridiculous 12 players voted to the AFC roster. The New Orleans Saints paced the AFC with seven players. The New York Giants and Miami Dolphins had no players voted to the Pro Bowl.

The 2020 Pro Bowl takes place at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Jan. 26 at 3 p.m. ET.

NFC Pro Bowl Roster By Position

OFFENSE

Wide receiver: Julio Jones*, Atlanta Falcons; Michael Thomas*, New Orleans Saints; Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tackle: David Bakhtiari*, Green Bay Packers; Tyron Smith*, Dallas Cowboys; Terron Armstead, New Orleans Saints

Guard: Zack Martin*, Dallas Cowboys; Brandon Brooks*, Philadelphia Eagles; Brandon Scherff, Washington Redskins

Center: Jason Kelce*, Philadelphia Eagles; Travis Frederick, Dallas Cowboys

Tight end: George Kittle*, San Francisco 49ers; Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles

Quarterback: Russell Wilson*, Seattle Seahawks; Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints; Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Running back: Dalvin Cook*, Minnesota Vikings; Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers; Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk*, San Francisco 49ers

DEFENSE

Defensive end: Cameron Jordan*, New Orleans Saints; Nick Bosa*, San Francisco 49ers; Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings

Interior lineman: Aaron Donald*, Los Angeles Rams; Fletcher Cox*, Philadelphia Eagles; Grady Jarrett, Atlanta Falcons

Outside linebacker: Chandler Jones*, Arizona Cardinals; Khalil Mack*, Chicago Bears; Shaquil Barrett, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Inside linebacker: Bobby Wagner*, Seattle Seahawks; Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers

Cornerback: Marshon Lattimore*, New Orleans Saints; Richard Sherman*, San Francisco 49ers; Darius Slay, Detroit Lions; Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams

Free safety: Budda Baker*, Arizona Cardinals; Eddie Jackson, Chicago Bears

Strong safety: Harrison Smith*, Minnesota Vikings

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker: Wil Lutz*, New Orleans Saints

Long snapper: Rick Lovato*, Philadelphia Eagles

Punter: Tress Way*, Washington Redskins

Return specialist: Deonte Harris*, New Orleans Saints

Special teamer: Cordarrelle Patterson*, Chicago Bears

AFC Pro Bowl Roster By Position

OFFENSE

Wide receiver: DeAndre Hopkins*, Houston Texans; Keenan Allen*, Los Angeles Chargers; Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns; Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs

Tackle: Ronnie Stanley*, Baltimore Ravens; Laremy Tunsil*, Houston Texans; Trent Brown, Oakland Raiders

Guard: Marshal Yanda*, Baltimore Ravens; Quenton Nelson*, Indianapolis Colts; David DeCastro, Pittsburgh Steelers

Center: Maurkice Pouncey*, Pittsburgh Steelers; Rodney Hudson, Oakland Raiders

Tight end: Travis Kelce*, Kansas City Chiefs; Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

Quarterback: Lamar Jackson*, Baltimore Ravens; Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs; Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans

Running back: Nick Chubb*, Cleveland Browns; Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans; Mark Ingram, Baltimore Ravens

Fullback: Patrick Ricard*, Baltimore Ravens

DEFENSE

Defensive end: Joey Bosa*, Los Angeles Chargers; Frank Clark*, Kansas City Chiefs; Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars

Interior lineman: Cameron Heyward*, Pittsburgh Steelers; Chris Jones*, Kansas City Chiefs; Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals

Outside linebacker: Von Miller*, Denver Broncos; T.J. Watt*, Pittsburgh Steelers; Matt Judon, Baltimore Ravens

Inside linebacker: Darius Leonard*, Indianapolis Colts; Dont'a Hightower, New England Patriots

Cornerback: Stephon Gilmore*, New England Patriots; Tre'Davious White*, Buffallo Bills; Marcus Peters, Baltimore Ravens; Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens

Free safety: Minkah Fitzpatrick*, Pittsburgh Steelers; Earl Thomas, Baltimore Ravens

Strong safety: Jamal Adams*, New York Jets

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker: Justin Tucker*, Baltimore Ravens

Long snapper: Morgan Cox*, Baltimore Ravens

Punter: Brett Kern*, Tennessee Titans

Return specialist: Mecole Hardman*, Kansas City Chiefs

Special teamer: Matthew Slater*, New England Patriots

NFC Pro Bowl Roster By Teams

Arizona Cardinals (2): FS Budda Baker*, OLB Chandler Jones*

Atlanta Falcons (2): DT Grady Jarrett, WR Julio Jones*

Carolina Panthers (2): ILB Luke Kuechly, RB Christian McCaffrey

Chicago Bears (3): FS Eddie Jackson, OLB Khalil Mack*, ST Cordarrelle Patterson*

Dallas Cowboys (4): RB Ezekiel Elliott, C Travis Frederick, G Zack Martin*, OT Tyron Smith*

Detroit Lions (1): CB Darius Slay

Green Bay Packers (2): OT David Bakhtiari*, QB Aaron Rodgers

Los Angeles Rams (2): DT Aaron Donald*, CB Jalen Ramsey

Minnesota Vikings (3): RB Dalvin Cook*, DE Danielle Hunter, SS Harrison Smith*

New Orleans Saints (7): OT Terron Armstead, QB Drew Brees, RS Deonte Harris*, DE Cameron Jordan*, CB Marshon Lattimore*, PK Wil Lutz*, WR Michael Thomas*

Philadelphia Eagles (5): G Brandon Brooks*, DT Fletcher Cox*, TE Zach Ertz, C Jason Kelce*, LS Rick Lovato*

San Francisco 49ers (4): DE Nick Bosa*, FB Kyle Juszczyk*, TE George Kittle*, CB Richard Sherman*

Seattle Seahawks (2): ILB Bobby Wagner*, QB Russell Wilson*

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3): OLB Shaquil Barrett, WR Mike Evans, WR Chris Godwin

Washington Redskins (2): G Brandon Scherff, P Tress Way*

AFC Pro Bowl Roster By Teams

Baltimore Ravens (12): TE Mark Andrews, LS Morgan Cox*, CB Marlon Humphrey, RB Mark Ingram, QB Lamar Jackson*, OLB Matt Judon, CB Marcus Peters, FB Patrick Ricard*, OT Ronnie Stanley*, SS Earl Thomas, PK Justin Tucker*, G Marshal Yanda*

Buffalo Bills (1): CB Tre'Davious White*

Cincinnati Bengals (1): DT Geno Atkins

Cleveland Browns (2): RB Nick Chubb*, WR Jarvis Landry

Denver Broncos (1): OLB Von Miller*

Houston Texans (3): WR DeAndre Hopkins*, OT Laremy Tunsil*, QB Deshaun Watson

Indianapolis Colts (2): ILB Darius Leonard*, G Quenton Nelson*

Jacksonville Jaguars (1): DE Calais Campbell

Kansas City Chiefs (6): DE Frank Clark*, RS Mecole Hardman*, WR Tyreek Hill, DT Chris Jones*, TE Travis Kelce*, QB Patrick Mahomes

Los Angeles Chargers (2): WR Keenan Allen*, DE Joey Bosa*

New England Patriots (3): CB Stephon Gilmore*; ILB Dont'a Hightower; ST Matthew Slater*

New York Jets (1): SS Jamal Adams*

Oakland Raiders (2): OT Trent Brown, C Rodney Hudson

Pittsburgh Steelers (5): G David DeCastro, FS Minkah Fitzpatrick*, DT Cameron Heyward*, C Maurkice Pouncey*, OLB T.J. Watt*

Tennessee Titans (2): RB Derrick Henry, P Brett Kern*

Throwback Thursday: A Minor Annoyance

The Green Bay Packers defeated the Chicago Bears 21-13 on Sunday. It was the 200th game in the long rivalry between these two teams. That's a lot of games. It's more games than any two NFL teams have played against each other. Whenever the Packers and Bears play a game in this long, storied rivalry nearly everybody honks about it being the league's oldest rivalry. Packer-Bears isn't the league's oldest rivalry and the insistence of so many to call it that is annoying. This is the 100th NFL season so there's been a great deal of reference to and appreciation of the league's history. It'd be nice if people would appreciate that history accurately. The Packers-Bears rivalry isn't the league's oldest rivalry. All one has to do is pull up the 1920 NFL Standings to see that.

1920 NFL Standings

Akron Pros	8-0-3	1.000
Decatur Staleys	10-1-2	0.909
Buffalo All-Americans	9-1-1	0.900
Chicago Cardinals	6-2-2	0.750
Rock Island Independents	6-2-2	0.750
Dayton Triangles	5-2-2	0.714
Rochester Jeffersons	6-3-2	0.667
Canton Bulldogs	7-4-2	0.636
Detroit Heralds	2-3-3	0.400
Cleveland Tigers	2-4-2	0.333
Chicago Tigers	2-5-1	0.286
Hammond Pros	2-5-0	0.286
Columbus Panhandles	2-6-2	0.250
Muncie Flyers	0-1-0	0.000

In order to be fully factual it has to be pointed out that the National Football League wasn't the National Football League in 1920 or 1921. The professional football league that we now know as the National Football League was called the American Professional Football Association during their first two seasons. 

Back to the 1920 standings. The 1920 APFA Standings. The Decatur Staleys are the Chicago Bears of today. So, what's missing from the 1920 standings? The Green Bay Packers are missing from the 1920 standings. The Packers were around and doing their own football thing in 1920 but they we weren't part of the professional football league that we now know as the National Football League. The Packers joined the league in 1921 and they were real close to not being part of the league in 1922. But that's a story for another day. Today's story is that the Packers have only competed in 99 of the league's 100 season. Who has competed in every one of the league's 100 seasons? The Bears and Cardinals have competed in every one of the league's 100 seasons. 

First Bears-Cardinals game:

November 28, 1920: Cardinals 

Cardinals 7

Staleys 6

First Bears-Packers game: 

November 27, 1921

Staleys 20

Packers 0

The Bears/Staleys played the Caridnals a full year before they played the Packers. In fact, the Bears/Staleys played the Cardinals twice before they played the Packers for the first time. So, the Bears-Packers might be the most contested rivalry in the league's history but it isn't the league's oldest rivalry. The Bears-Cardinals rivalry is the league's oldest. It's a year older than Packers-Bears. If people are going to honk about the league's history it sure would be nice if they honked about it accurately. 

2019 Walter Payton Man Of The Year Nominees

The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award recognizes a player who has shown exceptional character and work on the field and off. It is one of the most prestigious awards that the NFL gives a player. It is also the one award that can't be debated as every player nominated is fully deserving. There are loads of players that aren't even nominated that are deserving. At a time when players doing something stupid gets most of the media's attention it's easy to forget that the vast majority of NFL players are doing great things to make their communities and the world a little better.

Baltimore Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas was the first NFL Man of the Year in 1970. Walter Payton earned the award in 1977. The award was named in Payton's honor in 1999. Cris Carter earned the honor that year. There are currently six active players that have been named the Walter Payton Man of the Year -- Drew Brees, Jason Witten, Thomas Davis, Larry Fitzgerald, Eli Manning and J.J. Watt.

Last week, the NFL announced the 32 nominees, one from each team, for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

The 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year Nominees:

Arizona Cardinals RB David Johnson

Atlanta Falcons DB Ricardo Allen

Baltimore Ravens DB Brandon Carr

Buffalo Bills LB Lorenzo Alexander

Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton

Chicago Bears WR Allen Robinson II

Cincinnati Bengals RB Giovani Bernard

Cleveland Browns WR Jarvis Landry

Dallas Cowboys OL Travis Frederick

Denver Broncos DB Justin Simmons

Detroit Lions LB Devon Kennard

Green Bay Packers LB Blake Martinez

Houston Texans DL D.J. Reader

Indianapolis Colts DB Pierre Desir

Jacksonville Jaguars DL Calais Campbell

Kansas City Chiefs P Dustin Colquitt

Los Angeles Chargers LB Uchenna Nwosu

Los Angeles Rams OL Andrew Whitworth

Miami Dolphins DT Davon Godchaux

Minnesota Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph

New England Patriots DL Kyle Van Noy

New Orleans Saints OL Terron Armstead

New York Giants OL Nate Solder

New York Jets OL Jonotthan Harrison

Oakland Raiders LB Tahir Whitehead

Philadelphia Eagles DB Malcolm Jenkins

Pittsburgh Steelers OL Maurkice Pouncey

San Francisco 49ers DB Richard Sherman

Seattle Seahawks LB Bobby Wagner

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Evans

Tennessee Titans OL Ben Jones

Washington Redskins LS Nick Sundberg

***

Congratulations to all of the nominees and thank you for all that you do.

Flea Flicker Week 15 Power Rankings

Here's one look at how the 32 NFL teams rank after the fourteenth week of the season.

1.   Baltimore Ravens (12-2)
2.   San Francisco 49ers (11-3)
3.   New Orleans Saints (11-3)
4.   New England Patriots (11-3)
5.   Seattle Seahawks (11-3)
6.   Minnesota Vikings (10-4)
7.   Green Bay Packers (11-3)
8.   Kansas City Chiefs (10-4)
9.   Buffalo Bills (10-4)
10. Houston Texans (9-5)
11. Tennessee Titans (8-6)
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6)
13. Dallas Cowboys (7-7)
14. Philadelphia Eagles (7-7)
15. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)
17. Chicago Bears (7-7)
18. Atlanta Falcons (5-9)
19  Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
20. Los Angeles Chargers (5-9)
21. Cleveland Browns (6-8)
22. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-9)
23. Denver Broncos (5-9)
24. Oakland Raiders (6-8)
25. Carolina Panthers (5-9)
26. New York Jets (5-9)
27. Arizona Cardinals (4-9-1)
28. New York Giants (3-11)
29. Detroit Lions (3-10-1)
30. Miami Dolphins (3-11)
31. Washington Redskins (3-11)
32. Cincinnati Bengals (1-13)

Until next week.

Vikings-Chargers

Well, there's the Minnesota Vikings defense that we're accustomed to seeing. Midway through second quarter the Los Angeles Chargers held a 10-9 lead. 30 unanswered points later and the Vikings won their last road game of the season 39-10. Those 30 unanswered points could've been much more as the seven turnovers that the Vikings forced resulted in only 20 points. And seven of those were scored by the defense. If the offense had taken proper advantage of the opportunities that the defense gave them, the Vikings probably score 50 points. A win is a win. It doesn't matter if it's by a single point or 29 points. Or 50. A wins count the same and the Vikings got a much needed one yesterday.

Vikings defensive numbers:

4 fumbles recovered

3 passes intercepted

3 sacks

1 fumble returned 56 yards for a touchdown

Chargers last nine possessions of the game:

1. 4 plays, 4 yards-Interception

2. 6 plays, 19 yards-Fumble that Vikings returned for a TD

3. 1 play, 12 yards-End of half

4. 1 play, 5 yards-Fumble

5. 3 plays, -10 yards-Punt (partially blocked punt)

6. 13 plays, 69 yards-Turnover on Downs

7. 1 play, 5 yards-Fumble

8. 4 plays, 24 yards-Interception

9. 7 plays, 52 yards-Intercpetion

Since Mike Zimmer was hired as head coach in 2014, the Minnesota Vikings have been known as a defensive team. The defense controlled games, kept the score low and when the Vikings won the offense often scored just enough to do so. This year has been different. The offense has been scoring and the defense has been frequently exposed by opposing offenses. The defense has had difficulty getting off the field and haven't forced many turnovers. One thing that the defense most definitely did against the Chargers was force turnovers. Hopefully, what we saw yesterday is a defense that's finally playing to the talent that they have. 

The Vikings offense wasn't as explosive as they've been much of the season. Considering how many premium opportunities that the defense provided them, the offense wasn't that explosive at all. Despite those appearances, the offense did seem to do whatever it wanted. They just didn't do whatever they wanted in an explosive manner. The Vikings were re-introducing receiver Adam Thielen into the offense. Without making it a focal point of the offense they clearly wanted to get him some touches. It can be a problem when a team has a priority other than the usual game priorities like converting first downs, scoring points, preventing opponent points. Getting Thielen some touches had to be a priority and he got some touches, positive touches, yesterday and hopefully the re-introduction helps the offense moving forward. The offense is so much better when he's a big part of it. What isn't good and wasn't good for the offense yesterday was Dalvin Cook aggravating his shoulder injury. Zimmer said after the game that the injury was a new one rather than an aggravation of the old one. I'm not sure which is worse as neither is good. Cooks was injured in the third quarter and the Vikings shut him down for the rest of the game. He looked to be in considerable discomfort/pain on the field but appeared to be in good spirits on the sideline after being evaluated by the medical people. This offense needs Cook. With RB2 Alexander Mattison inactive for the game, Mike Boone was the next back up. He ran well and scored two touchdowns. 

Turnovers decided this game. The Vikings forced them and forced them often. Seven total turnovers. Ahead 10-9 midway through the second quarter, the Chargers were probably feeling pretty good about their chances of winning the game. Ifeadi Odenigbo's 56-yard touchdown return of a fumble seconds before the half flipped this game. Down 19-9 coming out of halftime after a less than favorable end to the first half, the Chargers were probably still feeling pretty good about their chances of winning the game if they kept possession of the ball. Instead of protecting the football, the Chargers fumbled on their first play from scrimmage of the second half. Three more turnovers followed. For whatever reason the Chargers seemed fearful of possessing the football and the Vikings defense feasted on that fear. Hopefully, that feasting continues in all games that they play the rest of the way. 

The Vikings are now 10-4. With two games to play they are two games ahead of the Los Angeles Rams for the final playoff spot. One win clinches the playoffs. At the moment, the only game that matters is a home game against the Green Bay Packers next Monday night.

Purple dominated the stadium environment yesterday. Vikings fans have travelled incredibly well all season. It’s been remarkable to see. The scene yesterday further proves that moving the Chargers from San Diego was one of the most idiotic franchise relocations in professional football history. And there have been a few idiotic franchise relocations. Browns, Colts, and the impending Raiders move top that list. Los Angeles doesn’t need two teams. It’s questionable whether they can even support one. 

Flea Flicker Week 15 Predictions

Week 15. Three weeks remain in the 2019 NFL Season. Here's some guesses at the Week 15 games.

Minnesota Vikings @ Los Angeles Chargers

Pick: Vikings

The Vikings control their playoff fate but they have to win these three remaining games. Leave no doubt. 

New England Patriots @ Cincinnati Bengals

Pick: Patriots

The Patriot have to find some offense over the next three weeks.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Detroit Lions

Pick: Buccaneers 

If the Buccaneers had played the whole season like they've played the last month they'd be in the playoff hunt. 

Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers

Pick: Bears

The Bears are getting feisty. The Packers are winning ugly. 

Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans

Pick: Texans

The Titans are starting to roll. The Texans just lost to the Broncos. I'm still picking the Texans.

Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs

Pick: Chiefs

Everyone's jumping on the Drew Lock train. It feels a bit knee-jerky.

Miami Dolphins @ New York Giants

Pick: Giants

Just going with the home team. 

Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins

Pick: Eagles

Carson Wentz and Zach Ertz should be able to pitch and catch their way past the Redskins. 

Seattle Seahawks @ Carolina Panthers

Pick: Seahawks

The Panthers are fading and the Seahawks have to keep pace with the 49ers.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Oakland Raiders

Pick: Raiders

The Raiders sadly close out their time in Oakland. My first Vikings game and first NFL game was in that stadium. 

Cleveland Browns @ Arizona Cardinals

Pick: Browns

A battle of miniature quarterbacks.

Los Angeles Rams @ Dallas Cowboys

Pick: Cowboys

The Rams are surging. The Cowboys aren't. Cowboys are the pick. 

Atlanta Falcons @ San Francisco 49ers

Pick: 49ers

Unless the 49ers are still celebrating their thrilling win over the Saints they should be able to handle the Falcons at home.

Buffalo Bills @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Pick: Bills

The Steelers somehow keep winning. The Bills are a problem for any team. 

Indianapolis Colts @ New Orleans Saints

Pick: Saints

A struggling Colts team get a Saints team steaming from that stunning loss to the 49ers. 

NFL 100 All-Time Team: Offensive Linemen And Tight Ends

The reveal of the NFL 100 All-Time Team continued last night with the big guys. The big guys that make offenses go. The offensive linemen. Tight ends, a position that was once an extra lineman but is now mostly an extra pass catcher, were revealed as well. In all, 23 new players were added to the NFL 100 All-Time Team. Here's the All-Time Offensive Linemen and Tight Ends.

Centers
Mel Hein
Jim Otto
Dwight Stephenson
Mike Webster

Guards
Larry Allen
Dan Fortmann
John Hannah
Bruce Matthews
Randall McDaniel
Jim Parker
Gene Upshaw

Tackles
Roosevelt Brown
Forrest Gregg
Cal Hubbard
Walter Jones
Anthony Munoz
Jonathan Ogden
Art Shell

Tight Ends
Mike Ditka
Tony Gonzalez
Rob Gronkowski
John Mackey
Kellen Winslow

        ***

Unanimous Choices
Jim Parker
Anthony Munoz
John Mackey

Jim Parker probably would've been a unanimous pick at tackle as well.

Perhaps it's my fondness for football's past but Mel Hein should've been on every voter's ballot. He was the league's MVP in 1938. A center was the Most Valuable Player in 1938! Well, he played linebacker as well.

I'm thrilled to see the voters included pre-1950 players on this team. Too many people, fans and media, seem to think that the league started with Super Bowl I. It didn't. This is the NFL's 100th season, 46 of those seasons were played before the first Super Bowl. Of the 18 offensive linemen on the team, three played before 1950:

Cal Hubbard: 1927-36
Dan Fortmann: 1936-43
Mel Hein: 1931-45

As a Minnesota Vikings fan, I'm thrilled to see Randall McDaniel on this team. In my book, he's one of the 2-3 best guards in league history. That makes him an automatic for this team but I wasn't certain that the voters would view McDaniel as I do. Apparently they see him as one of the seven best guards in league history and that gets him a much deserved spot on the All-Time Team.

Four coaches were added to the list of ten coaches that will lead this team. And the four are some of the biggest names in NFL history.

George Halas
Tom Landry
Curly Lambeau
Vince Lombardi

Next week, we get the receivers. There should be two former Vikings in that group.

Pac-12 Football All-Conference Honors

The Pac-12 has become something of an NCAA football afterthought in recent years. Perhaps the talking heads are waiting for USC to waddle their way back to the top of college football. Who knows? What I do know is that while the east coast is tucked in their beds the west is still playing football. Sometimes, unfortunately, the west is still playing football on Sunday morning. Terrific football is played in the Pac-12 and the conference is filled with excellent football players. Many will eventually play on Sundays. Evan Weaver, Michael Pittman, Penei Sewell, Zack Moss, Laviska Shenault, Troy Dye, Bradlee Anae, Paulson Adebo, and Jaylon Johnson are among the best in the nation at the positions they play. The Pac-12 media announced their conference honors this week. Here are the results.

Offensive Player of the Year: Zack Moss, RB, Utah
Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year: Evan Weaver, LB, California
Freshman Offensive Player of the Year: Kedon Slovis, QB, USC
Freshman Defensive Player of the Year: Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
Coach of the Year: Kyle Whittingham

From the Pac-12:

Offensive Player of the Year – Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Moss, a senior from Hialeah Gardens, Fla., led the Pac-12 in rushing, averaging 113.3 yards per game (6.2 per carry) and 15 TDs. He rushed for 100 or more yards in eight of 12 games played as Utah posted a league-best 208.8 rushing yards per game. With 1,359 rushing yards, he became the first Utah player to rush for 1,000 of more yards in three seasons. Moss owns the Utah career rushing mark with 4,010 yards and 38 rushing TDs. In addition to his ground totals, Moss tallied 26 receptions for 374 yards and 2 TDs. This marks the first time Utah has claimed the conference offensive player of the year honor.

Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year – Evan Weaver, LB, California: Weaver, a senior from Spokane, Wash., led the nation in tackles with a school-record 173 (14.4 per game), breaking Cal's 34-year-old single-season record of 167 set by Hardy Nickerson in 1985. He twice posted 22 tackles in a game this season (at Ole Miss, at Utah). Thanks in large part to Weaver, Cal was fourth in total defense (385.5 ypg) and fourth in rushing defense (122.9 ypg). He’s the first Cal player to garner the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honor since Mychal Kendricks in 2011, and the fifth all-time, joining LB Ron Rivera (1983), CB Deltha O'Neal (1999), and CB Daymeion Hughes (2006).

Freshman Offensive Player of the Year – Kedon Slovis, QB, USC: Slovis, a freshman from Scottsdale, Ariz., ranks eighth nationally, and first among all FBS freshman, averaging 294.7 passing yards per game. He threw for 400 or more yards four times during the 2019 season, including a school-record 515 yards in the 52-35 win over UCLA. Slovis finished the regular season having completed 260 of 362 pass attempts for 3,242 yards and 28 TDs. His 71.8 completion percentage ranks fifth nationally and tops among freshmen. Since 2009 when the conference began awarding Freshmen Offensive Player of the Year, Slovis becomes the fourth Trojan to earn the accolade, joining WR Robert Woods (2010), WR Marqise Lee (2011) and QB Sam Darnold (2016). Honorable Mention Freshman Offensive Player of the Year: Jayden Daniels, QB, Arizona State.

Freshman Defensive Player of the Year – Kayvon Thibodeaux, DL, Oregon: Thibodeaux, a freshman from South Central Los Angeles, Calif., had 34 tackles, including 14.0 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks. In the Pac-12 Championship Game, Thibodeaux posted five tackles, 2.5 sacks and blocked a punt. He ranks second in the Pac-12 in tackles for loss and third in sacks. He’s the first Duck to earn the honor since the conference started awarding Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in 2009. Honorable Mention Freshman Defensive Player of the Year: Omar Speights, LB, Oregon State; Drake Jackson, DL, USC; Trent McDuffie, DB, Washington.

Coach of the Year – Kyle Whittingham, Utah: Guided the Utes to a successful defense of their South Division crown with an 11-2 regular season record, 8-1 in the Pac-12 South Division. It was Utah’s fifth 10-win season in 15 full seasons under Whittingham, and most wins in a season since the perfect 13-0 season in 2008. Under Whittingham, the Utes climbed to No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Utes were second in the Pac-12 in scoring (35.9 ppg), first in scoring defense (13.2 ppg), and first in both rushing offense (208.8 avg) and rushing defense (70.3 avg). Whittingham’s record stands at 131-63 in 15-plus seasons. It’s the first time Whittingham has earned Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors.

2019 Pac-12 All-Conference Football Team

First Team Offense
QB Justin Herbert, Oregon
RB Eno Benjamin, Arizona State
RB Zack Moss, Utah
WR Michael Pittman Jr., USC
WR Laviska Shenault Jr., Colorado
TE Colby Parkinson, Stanford
C Nick Harris, Washington
OL Trey Adams, Washington
OL Shane Lemieux, Oregon
OL Walker Little, Stanford
OL Calvin Throckmorton, Oregon

Would it really be an All-Pac 12 Team without a Stanford tight end on it. 

First Team Defense
DL Bradlee Anae, Utah
DL Leki Fotu, Utah
DL Mustafa Johnson, Colorado
DL Jay Tufele, USC
LB Troy Dye, Oregon
LB Colin Schooler, Arizona
LB Evan Weaver, California
DB Paulson Adebo, Stanford
DB Julian Blackmon, Utah
DB Myles Bryant, Washington
DB Jaylon Johnson, Utah

First Team Specialists
PK Jet Toner, Stanford
P Oscar Draguicevich III, Washington State
AP J.J. Taylor, Arizona

Second Team Offense
QB K.J. Costello, Stanford
RB Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State
RB J.J. Taylor, Arizona
WR Isaiah Hodgins, Oregon State
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC
TE Hunter Bryant, Washington
C Cohl Cabral, Arizona State
OL Gus Lavaka, Oregon State
OL Abe Lucas, Washington State
OL Darin Paulo, Utah
OL Penei Sewell, Oregon

Second Team Defense
DL Luc Bequette, California
DL John Penisini, Utah
DL Christian Rector
DL Jordon Scott, Oregon
LB Nate Landman, Colorado
LB Merlin Robertson, Arizona State
LB Jahad Woods, Washington State
DB Camryn Bynum, California
DB Ashtyn Davis, California
DB Thomas Graham Jr., Oregon
DB Darnay Holmes, UCLA

Second Team Specialists
PK Brandon Ruiz, Arizona State
P Steven Coutts, California
AP Britain Covey, Utah

All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention (received votes from four or more members of the media)

Running Back: Max Borghi, WSU; Joshua Kelley, UCLA; CJ Verdell, ORE

Wide Receiver: Aaron Fuller, WASH; Theo Howard, UCLA; Dezmon Patmon, WSU

Tight End: Jacob Breeland, ORE; Cole Fotheringham, UTAH

Center: Jake Hanson, ORE

Offensive Line: Zach Robertson, ASU; William Sherman, COLO; Austin Jackson, USC; Jaxson Kirkland, WASH; Dallas Warmack, ORE

Defensive Line: Thomas Booker, STAN; Jovan Swann, STAN; Levi Onwurzurike, WASH

Linebacker: Palaie Gaoteote, USC

Defensive Back: Aashari Crosswell, ASU; Javelin Guidry, UTAH; Jaylinn Hawkins, CAL; Jevon Holland, ORE; Talanoa Hufanga, USC

Place Kicker: JJ Molson, UCLA

Punter: Daniel Rodriguez, OSU; Ben Lennon, UTAH

All-Purpose: Travell Harris, WSU; Elijah Molden, WASH; Brenden Schooler, ORE; Tyler Vaughns, USC

Throwback Thursday: Dr. Z's All-Time All-Pro Team: Defense and Special Teams

Last week I posted Dr. Z's All-Time Offense. This week it's the defense. This look back at Zimmerman's All-Time Team has been inspired by the ongoing reveals of the NFL 100 All-Time Team.

This Flicker was originally posted on July 3.2016

Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback website spent the week celebrating the great football writing career of Paul Zimmerman. Dr. Z. Part of that celebration was Dr. Z's All-Time All-Pro Team. Yesterday was for the offense. Now, it's time for Dr. Z's All-Time All-Pro defensive team.

Defensive End
Reggie White
Deacon Jones
Richie Jackson
Howie Long

"Tombstone" Jackson. I discovered Jackson years ago through a great NFL Films profile of the former Denver Broncos defensive end. Perhaps because some of his best days were the last days of the old AFL he's been forgotten. Zimmerman has long been one of Jackson's most vocal Hall of Fame supporters. Hopefully, some day.

Defensive Tackle
Merlin Olsen
Joe Greene
Bob Lilly

Linebacker
Ted Hendricks
Jack Ham
Lawrence Taylor
Dave Wilcox
Dick Butkus

Wilcox, despite being in the Hall of Fame, is a player that's somewhat forgotten through time. It took him a long time to be inducted and Zimmerman's support was a big reason for it.

Cornerback
Deion Sanders
Jimmy Johnson

Like Wilcox, Johnson is another 49er Hall of Famer that often gets forgotten. Also like Wilcox, Johnson waited way too long for his much deserved induction. And again, Zimmerman was a big reason for it.

Safety
Ken Houston
Willie Wood
Larry Wilson
Brian Dawkins
Cliff Harris

The differentiation of the roles and traits of free and strong safeties seem quite important to Zimmerman. He mentions Ed Reed but brushes him aside for inclusion on this team because he played both free and strong safety. Often switching between the two on a down-to-down basis. It's good to see Cliff Harris on the team. He should be in the Hall of Fame.

Kicker
Adam Vinatieri

Punter
Tommy Davis

Kick Returner
Gale Sayers

Punt Returner
Deion Sanders

Zimmerman also singled Jack Christiansen as a punt returner but favored Sanders if his team absolutely needed a big return.

Great stuff from Dr. Z. The MMQB includes Zimmerman's reasoning behind all of his choices. It's a great read.

Receivers Taken Before Stefon Diggs

The long list of quarterbacks selected before Tom Brady in the 2000 NFL Draft was considered laughable by 2002. This will never get similar attention but the 19 receivers taken before Stefon Diggs in the 2015 NFL Draft is looking kinda silly after nearly five seasons.

1. (4) Oakland Raiders-Amari Cooper, Alabama
1. (7) Chicago Bears-Kevin White, West Virginia
1. (14) Miami Dolphins-DeVante Parker, Louisville
1. (20) Philadelphia Eagles-Nelson Agholor, USC
1. (26) Baltimore Ravens-Breshad Perriman, UCF
1. (29) Indianapolis Colts-Phillip Dorsett, Miami
2. (37) New York Jets-Devin Smith, Ohio State
2. (40) Tennessee Titans-Dorial Green-Beckham, Missouri
2. (41) Carolina Panthers-Devin Funchess, Michigan
3. (69) Seattle Seahawks-Tyler Lockett, Kansas State
3. (70) Houston Texans-Jaelen Strong, Arizona State
3. (76) Kansas City Chiefs-Chris Conley, Georgia
3. (87) Pittsburgh Steelers-Sammie Coates, Auburn
3. (94) Green Bay Packers-Ty Montgomery, Stanford
4. (105) Washington Redskins-Jamison Crowder, Duke
4. (107) Atlanta Falcons-Justin Hardy, East Carolina
4. (123) Cleveland Browns-Vince Mayle, Washington State
4. (132) San Francisco 49ers-DeAndre Smelter, Georgia Tech
5. (139) Jacksonville Jaguars-Rashad Greene, Florida State
5. (146) Minnesota Vikings-Stefon Diggs, Maryland


Six receivers were taken in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Amari Cooper is on his second team but doing quite well. Kevin White isn't on a team. DeVante Parker has emerged a bit this season but really hasn't produced as the Dolphins expected. Nelson Agholor has managed a modest career with the Eagles. With 28 receptions through 13 games, Phillip Dorsett is having a career year with the Patriots.

Of the 19 receivers selected before Stefon Diggs, only DeVante Parker, Nelson Agholor, and Justin Hardy are with the team that drafted them. Kevin White, Dorial Green-Beckham, Jaelen Strong, Vince Mayle, DeAndre Smelter, and Rashad Greene aren't on a team. Ty Montgomery is a running back for the Jets. Sammie Coates plays for Houston Roughnecks of the XFL.

Of the 19 teams that selected receivers before the Vikings selected Diggs, only Seattle might say that they are happy with their selection. The Falcons are probably content with Justin Hardy, a fourth round pick that contributes to his offense.

Diggs' pass catching numbers:

2015 (13 games)
52 catches
720 yards
13.8 yards/catch
4 TDs

2016 (13 games)
84 catches
903 yards
10.8 yards/catch
3 TDs

2017 (14 games)
64 catches
849 yards
13.3 yards/catch
8 TDs

2018 (15 games)
102 catches
1021 yards
10.0 yards/catch
9 TDs

2019 (13 games)
56 catches
997 yards
17.8 yards/catch
5 TDs

Amari Cooper is Diggs' only receiving rival from the 2015 NFL Draft. Here are the stats for Cooper, the fourth pick of that draft.

2015 (16 games)
72 catches
1070 yards
6 TDs
14.9 yards/catch

2016 (16 games)
83 catches
1153 yards
5 TDs
13.9 yards/catch

2017 (14 games)
48 catches
680 yards
7 TDs
14.2 yards/catch

2018 (15 games: Raiders (6) Cowboys (9))
75 catches
1005 yards
7 TDs
13.4 yards/catch

2019 (13 games)
70 catches
1054 yards
8 TDs
15.1 yards/catch

Through nearly five seasons the one real knock to Cooper's career is the 2017 season. That season, it looked like he quit on the Raiders team that selected him with the fourth pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. His apathetic play appeared to continue into the 2018 season. I once saw him drop three consecutive passes in the end zone. His year-plus of questionable effort and likely contract demands led to a midseason trade to the Cowboys. There's no doubt that a happy Amari Cooper is one of the most dangerous receivers in the game but his play from 2017 and into 2018 will forever give me pause.

Amari Cooper and Stefon Diggs are two of the best receivers in the league. One was selected with the fourth pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. The other was selected with the 146th pick of that draft. Other than Tyler Lockett, the 17 receivers selected between those two have had a barely modest or no career at all.

Flea Flicker Week 14 Power Rankings

Here's one look at how the 32 NFL teams rank after the thirteenth week of the season.

1.   Baltimore Ravens (11-2)
2.   San Francisco 49ers (11-2)
3.   New Orleans Saints (10-3)
4.   New England Patriots (10-3)
5.   Seattle Seahawks (10-3)
6.   Minnesota Vikings (9-4)
7.   Green Bay Packers (10-3)
8.   Kansas City Chiefs (9-4)
9.   Buffalo Bills (9-4)
10. Los Angeles Rams (7-5)
11. Houston Texans (8-5)
12. Tennessee Titans (8-5)
13. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5)
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)
15. Chicago Bears (7-6)
16. Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)
17. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)
18. Dallas Cowboys (6-7)
19  Oakland Raiders (6-7)
20. Carolina Panthers (5-8)
21. Cleveland Browns (6-7)
22. Atlanta Falcons (4-9)
23. Denver Broncos (5-8)
24. Los Angeles Chargers (5-8)
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9)
26. New York Jets (5-8)
27. Arizona Cardinals (3-9-1)
28. Miami Dolphins (3-10)
29. Detroit Lions (3-9-1)
30. Washington Redskins (3-10)
31. New York Giants (2-11)
32. Cincinnati Bengals (1-12)

Until next week.

Flea Flicker Week 14 Predictions

This week's games kick off the final quarter of the 2019 NFL regular season. Here's a guess at those games.

Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings
Pick: Vikings
The Vikings have to win out.

Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons
Pick: Falcons
It's tough to pick a team that just fired it's coach.

Baltimore Ravens @ Buffalo Bills
Pick: Ravens
While I believe that the Bills defense might be a challenge it's tough to pick against the Ravens.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns
Pick: Browns
The beautiful battle for Ohio.

Washington Redskins @ Green Bay Packers
Pick: Redskins
Perhaps I can wish it into existence.

San Francisco 49ers @ New Orleans Saints
Pick: 49ers
Of the five 10-2 teams the Saints have been the least impressive of late.

Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets
Pick: Jets
The Jets are ridiculously inconsistent.

Indianapolis Colts @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick: Colts
The Colts need to go on a run.

Denver Broncos @ Houston Texans
Pick: Texans
Despite some Broncos' occasional feisty play and a stout defense not much thought is needed with this one.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick: Jaguars
Just going with the home team

Tennessee Titans @ Oakland Raiders
Pick: Titans
The Titans are playing well. The Raiders aren't.

Kansas City Chiefs @ New England Patriots
Pick: Patriots
I'm not sure how the Patriots are going to score enough to beat the Chiefs but it's tough to imagine the Patriots losing two games in December.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Arizona Cardinals
Pick: Steelers
It's Ducky Time.

Seattle Seahawks @ Los Angeles Rams
Pick: Seahawks
This might be the only time that I ever hope that the Seahawks win a game.

New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles
Pick: Eagles
The Eagles should be able to beat the Giants.

NFL 100 All-Time Team: Defensive Backs and Special Teamers

The reveal of the NFL 100 All-Time Team continued last night with the defensive backs and special teamers. These episodes have been fun and Bill Belichick is the highlight. He's clearly enjoying talking about these players and talking with the players that join the show. It's fun to see. I can listen to Belichick and Ed Reed talk football for as long as they talk football. Here are the 19 players and 1 coach that were revealed last night.

Cornerbacks
1. Deion Sanders
2. Dick "Night Train" Lane
3. Mike Haynes
4. Willie Brown
5. Mel Blount
6. Rod Woodson
7. Darrell Green

I have no issues with those 7 corners. Charles Woodson and Darrelle Revis were my pre-reveal picks over Willie Brown and Darrell Green but that's probably a recency bias on my part. My appreciation of Green came much later than he deserved. Despite my immediate appreciation of Brown while he was playing I've grown quite sick of seeing him return that interception against the Vikings. It was sickening to see it live and thanks to the magic of NFL Films I get to see it for as long as I live.

Safeties
1. Emlen Tunnell
2. Larry Wilson
3. Ken Houston
4. Ed Reed
5. Jack Christiansen
6. Ronnie Lott

As with the corners I have no issues with the safeties. As a Vikings homer, I wouldn't have been disappointed if Paul Krause had made the final cut. His 81 career interceptions is an NFL record that may never be touched. He was a terrific athlete and an interception machine but he was little threat to put a ball carrier on the ground. He's one of the best safeties to ever play but he isn't one of the six best safeties to ever play. Ed Reed most certainly is. He's the best safety that I've ever seen. He's one of the best football players I've ever seen. He also has the best bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

And now for the special teamers:

Kickers
1. Adam Vinatieri
2. Jan Stenerud

Punters
1. Ray Guy
2. Shane Lechcler

Returners
1. Billy "White Shoes" Johnson
2. Devin Hester

I'd have three kickers and Justin Tucker would be the third. Ray Guy is a given but I'm not so sure Shane Lechler. All he did was boom his kicks. I'm sure that was what the Raiders expected him to do but there's a whole host of punters that can do that if their team allowed it. If Lechler ever placed a punt I never saw it. Billy "White Shoes" Johnson was the first player that I ever saw dance and put on a show after a score. And he seemed to dance and put on a show weekly. Devin Hester scared the hell out of me every time the Vikings had to punt to him.

Joe Gibbs was added to the list of ten coaches that will lead this team.

1. Paul Brown

2. Bill Belichick

3. Chuck Noll
4. Joe Gibbs

The offensive linemen and tight ends will be revealed next week. 

Cornerback Finalists

The list of 16 cornerback finalists for the NFL 100 All-Time Team was released earlier this week. The seven cornerbacks that make up the team will be revealed tonight. The running backs, defensive linemen, and linebackers have been revealed. I don't recall the finalists of those positions being released as a group so I have no idea why they did so with the corners. The safety and special team finalists have also been released but it's the deep quality of the 16 corners that's held my attention. When you're talking about the very best to have ever played, the very best among those that are honored in Canton you're talking about some very tough decisions. Whittling the following 16 cornerbacks down to seven is a really tough task.

Herb Adderley
Champ Bailey
Lem Barney
Mel Blount
Willie Brown
Darrell Green
Mike Haynes
Jimmy Johnson
Dick "Night Train" Lane
Patrick Peterson
Mel Renfro
Darrelle Revis
Deion Sanders
Aeneas Williams
Charles Woodson
Rod Woodson

In my opinion, the following are automatics for the seven that make the All-Time Team:

Dick "Night Train" Lane
Deion Sanders
Mel Blount

I don't think that I'm alone in thinking that the following two are right there with the above three.

Charles Woodson
Rod Woodson

Both Woodsons were so much fun to watch. Lane, Sanders, Blount and the Woodsons seemed to routinely make game-changing plays even while they were shutting down the receiver that they were guarding. Lane was ridiculous. He was a huge corner for his day. He'd be a huge corner now. In his day the rules of the game allowed him to fully take advantage of his size. The things that he did on the field would put him in jail today.

Two spots left. I like these players for those final two spots.

Willie Brown
Jimmy Johnson
Mike Haynes
Darrell Green
Darrelle Revis

As an itty-bitty football fan learning the game, Willie Brown and Jimmy Johnson were the first examples for me of how the cornerback position is supposed to be play.

Mike Haynes might still be the smoothest corner I've ever seen.

Darrell Green's speed, consistency, and longevity stand out. It wasn't until Randy Moss, after his 1998 rookie season, said that Green was the toughest corner that he had faced that I thought of him in a whole other light. Green was about 50 years old and a foot shorter than Moss.

Darrelle Revis' three-year run from 2009-11 might be better than any three years of any corner ever. He was still pretty darn good before and after that great three-year run.

It's a mighty tough choice but I'll go with these seven.

Dick "Night Train" Lane
Deion Sanders
Mel Blount
Charles Woodson
Rod Woodson
Mike Haynes
Darrelle Revis

Making decisions such as whittling 16 great corners down to seven are much easier when they are just one fan's opinion. The people making the decisions for the NFL 100 All-Time Team have it rough.