2013 NFL season review and Super Bowl XLVIII preview

 

By: Peter Lewis

Primetime for the National Football League (NFL) may be from the start of the regular season all the way to the first week of February with the climatic end of the Super Bowl, but the NFL is a yearly business whether there’s a game or not.  

The “offseason”

At the end of the 2012 season, coaches Andy Reid, Lovie Smith, Ken Whisenhunt, Norv Turner, Pat Shurmur, Romeo Crennel, and Chan Gailey were fired by their teams on the annual “Black Monday,” the day after the final game of the regular season where underperforming coaches are fired.  A short time later, on February 3, 2013, the Baltimore Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the 47^th Super Bowl.  By then though, the offseason was in full swing and questions arose for the 2013 season.  

In the nation’s capital, the Redskins were put under the microscope as Robert Griffin III recovered from knee surgery for the second time in his young career, with everyone wondering if he would start week one and if he would be one hundred percent.  In New York City, Rex Ryan was seemingly given an ultimatum by the Jets: do well or get fired. With a major quarterback controversy on his hands, it looked like 2013 would be Rex’s swan song season in the Big Apple.  

In the AFC North, the aging Steelers and defending champion Ravens looked to be in trouble as they lost players and had issues replacing them.  It looked as though the Cincinnati Bengals could make a move in the division while the Browns remained in their usual “rebuilding” mode.  Other questions arose as well, such as how would the 49ers be after a Super Bowl loss, what was the fate of the NFC East, were the Broncos a legitimate contender after falling short in 2012, and the seemingly never ending issue for the modern day NFL of concussions.  

Yet, the overwhelming story of the offseason centered on the New England Patriots.  Not only was wide receiver Wes Welker lost and tight end Rob Grownkowski injured until most likely the halfway point of the season, but their other tight end, Aaron Hernandez, was arrested in late June after being accused of first degree murder of friend Odin Lloyd.  Without any targets, it looked like Tom Brady was in trouble when the season began.  After an eventful offseason and a draft that looked not to have produced anything in the eyes of many, the offseason ended and any speculation on who would do well (and who wouldn’t) ended as all 32 teams began to play.

 

THE AFC:

The first game of the season between the Ravens and Broncos saw Peyton Manning and the Broncos put on a show and put the NFL on notice that they were a major contender.  Also, in the AFC West, the Kansas City Chiefs went from worst in the league to one of the last teams undefeated with new head coach Andy Reid completely changing the culture of the team.  The Chargers didn’t look impressive until the very end when they went on an impressive winning streak to return to the playoffs.  The Raiders, however, were their usual futile selves.

 

In the AFC East, the Patriots started off the year looking to be in trouble, as expected, after a rough offseason, but in the end managed to run away with the division and have the second best record in the AFC at 12-4.  The Dolphins started off great, looking to improve even more after their 2012 campaign, but a Monday night loss to the Saints put them on a road where they struggled. Towards the end though, they began to pull through and looked as if they would be able to make the playoffs.  In the final game of the season, all they had to do was win, but they fell to the Jets, ending their season on a sour note like the year before.  Speaking of the Jets, the beginning of the season looked to be confirmation that Rex Ryan would be leaving, as Mark Sanchez went down and the back up quarterbacks failed to win.  In a shocking turn of events, the Jets rebounded, finishing 8-8, and the Jets re-signed Ryan to a multi-year contract.  The Bills continued to try and at least be a wild card contender, but failed and finished 6-10.

In the AFC North, many predictions came true.  The Steelers’ problem with age finally caught up to them and they started 0-5, but miraculously turned it around and nearly made the playoffs.  The Ravens were the polar opposite; they started off well enough and looked as if they would survive all the lost talent from 2012’s Super Bowl team, but they began to stumble and finished 8-8 like their arch rival Steelers.  The Bengals, as expected, took over the AFC North and went on to the playoffs.  The Browns, yet again, set another precedent for futility, finishing 4-12 and saw Coach Rob Chudziniski, the hand-picked and fifth coach in ten years, fired after one year.

In the AFC South, major surprises were everywhere.  After finally turning the team around in previous years, the Houston Texans took major steps back and finished a terrifying 2-14.  The Texans season started with two straight wins, but fell apart quickly.  Matt Schaub, Arian Foster, and Brian Cushing went down with injuries and left the team in disarray.  Coach Gary Kubiak, who had been with the team since 2006 and turned it around, was let go at the beginning of December.  The Titans, on the other hand, stayed in the wild card race and finished 7-9, showing signs of continuing improvement, but not enough to save Mike Munchak’s job as head coach.  The Jaguars, well, were not good.  The team started the season with eight consecutive losses and finished the season at 4-12; it proved to be a disastrous first year for new coach Gus Bradley. The team did improve from their 2-14 campaign in 2012, but like 2012, still had too many unresolved problems.  The only shining light in the AFC South was the Indianapolis Colts.  The Colts, after improving in 2012, showed they were in no way a one hit wonder.  The Colts finished 11-5 and saw head coach Chuck Pagano return after missing most of the 2012 season to fight off leukemia.  With Andrew Luck taking the helm at quarterback, the Colts status of a major player in the AFC was reintroduced and it looks, as in years past, they’ll have a major advantage in the division.

 

The NFC:

As the confetti of Super Bowl XLVII fell on the Baltimore Ravens, the San Francisco 49ers walked out of the Superdome in New Orleans defeated, but with the talent to easily contend in 2013 and have a shot at returning for another chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.  However, their road in the NFC West would not be a walk in the park by any sense of the imagination.  The Seattle Seahawks looked to be a powerhouse team and were out to show the league they were indeed that. While the Rams and Cardinals both improved, finishing 7-9 and 10-6, neither was a contender in the division.  The Seahawks and 49ers remained in a close contest for division supremacy throughout the year, but the Seahawks pulled ahead of the 49ers with a 13-3 record to the 49ers’ 12-4 record.

The NFC North, the division that had been the face of the NFC for the past three seasons, fell apart.  The Green Bay Packers finished 8-7-1, the Chicago Bears 8-8, the Detroit Lions 7-9, and the Minnesota Vikings 5-10-1.  For the Packers, quarterback Aaron Rodgers going down and missing the majority of the season was their main problem.  The Bears losing quarterback Jay Cutler was like the Packers’ problem.  The Vikings could not back up running back Adrian Peterson on either side of the ball and struggled mightily.  The Lions, on the other hand, showed they had many players who could win the division, but coaching issues and attitude problems held them back from contention.  The Packers won the division, but the rest of the NFC knew full well they wouldn’t be a major contender. 

In the NFC South the Atlanta Falcons fell apart.  After becoming a major contender in years past and being many peoples’ Super Bowl pick out of the NFC, it was a complete shock to see them be so bad.  Quarterback Matt Ryan was very off and doubts about him being a major QB not only resurfaced, but were made much more prevalent.  After finishing 4-12, it will be a long offseason for the Falcons for sure.  Another team with a long off season coming up is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Another shock out of the division, the team looked to be an underdog and had the ability to surprise.  Yet, the season had a different outcome; the Bucs started the season like the Jaguars and ended up the same, 4-12.  The Bucs did away with both their coach and QB after that disastrous campaign.  The Saints, the exact opposite of the Falcons and Buccaneers, welcomed back coach Sean Peyton after his suspension in the 2012 season and all things were seemingly going as planned, as they finished with an 11-5 record.  The final team, the Carolina Panthers, started like the Buccaneers and it looked as if Cam Newton was a bust and Coach Ron Rivera would lose his job.  However, the team turned it around and commandingly took over the division and finished 12-4, while showing that the Panthers still had life in them and were ready to return to prominence. 

The final division, the NFC East, seems to be the most talked about every year and usually the most disliked. The major question in the division centered on the Washington Redskins.  While the team’s name caused controversy, the real problem for the team was quarterback Robert Griffin III and Coach Mike Shanahan.  After a promising 2012 season ended with questions and understandable worry about RGIII’s leg injury, it was unclear what the team would end up like. With RGIII unable to handle the pressure and Shanahan looking as if he’d checked out, the team fell to a 3-13 record and saw RGIII benched and Shanahan fired. The Giants looked to continue success from years past, including a Super Bowl victory just two years earlier, but they started off easily the worst of the winless teams at the start of the season with a 0-6 record.  Somehow though, the team managed to finish 7-9 and had a shot at the division, but the horrific start got the best of them.  By week six, all eyes were on the Dallas Cowboys.  It looked as if they would take the division, but the final games saw their downfall as quarterback Tony Romo went down and the worst luck possible came to them.  Another team snuck in to take the division, the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles, started off badly, just like the Redskins and Giants, to the point where the team was written off.  Yet, with the Cowboys faltering and the Eagles quietly improving, they swooped in to take the division with a 10-6 record over the Cowboys’ 8-8 record.

 

The Playoffs:

In the AFC, the Patriots, Bengals, Colts, Broncos, Chiefs, and Chargers were the final six.  In the NFC, the Eagles, Packers, Panthers, Seahawks, 49ers, and Saints were the sole survivors.  While the playoffs weren’t the most eventful, like years past, there were still good and memorable moments.  The Colts made an almost impossible comeback against the Chiefs in the first round, the Seahawks and 49ers put on a show in the NFC Championship, and Peyton Manning defeated Tom Brady convincingly in the AFC Championship.  With this, the Super Bowl was set.

 

Super Bowl XLVIII:

On Sunday, February 2, 2014, the NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks will play the AFC Champion Denver Broncos at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.  While this will easily be the coldest Super Bowl in recent memory, it will showcase the league’s best defense (Seahawks) against the league’s best offense (Broncos).  With the usual showing of million dollar commercials, hours of pregame coverage, and the halftime show featuring Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Super Bowl XLVIII looks to be one of the most memorable games in recent memory.    

Snowy situations

By: Brad Tripp

 

Every winter, someplace in the world is hit with some sort of serious precipitation. This precipitation freezes, either before it hits the ground or after it lands, which makes ice or snow. This ice and snow incapacitates us from doing normal things, such as running or driving, and in some instances, even walking. The ice and snow, while beautiful, can be very deadly in the wrong situation. Every year there are instances where someone wrecks, gets stuck or is trapped due to snow and ice.

In recent news, a landslide closed many roads in Valemount, British Columbia with no detours available. In other news, four men were caught in an avalanche in Colorado. Out of the four caught in the avalanche, the grandson of the Vail Ski Mecca’s (a rather large ski resort in Colorado) cofounder died in the avalanche while skiing that day. This (along with getting trapped in your car) may not seem possible, but it is very possible, especially during the winter season.

Every year many get trapped or find themselves in a dangerous situation around their car, due to snow pile up or the fact that there is nowhere close to go and they are stuck with no help nearby. The American Automobile Association (AAA) recommends clearing snow and debris from not only your car’s windshield, but behind and near the tailpipe. If snow builds up near the tailpipe it can trap carbon monoxide that can make its way inside the car and has the potential to do harmful things. 

Getting stuck in the snow can be a catastrophic, even life threating, situation. There are some tips to help if ever you get stuck in snow with nowhere to turn. According to booneyliving.com, you should always carry a shovel and a keep a bag of sand (or cat litter) in the trunk during winter months. A shovel will help to clear away snow and the sand is to gain traction (once sprinkled under a tire). If you do end up stuck, another tip they include is to try and rock the car, which can help gain traction, but should never be done too much, because it can make a bigger problem than you’re already in. Above all, they recommend that you stay calm.

So, what if you get yourself unstuck and make it to the ski resort only to be trapped by an avalanche? What are some things you can do escape if caught in a giant pile of snow? According to the Canadian Avalanche Centre, if you are caught in an avalanche try calling out for help, or try a quick escape to the side. Another thing is to remove any ski equipment; it can keep you from escaping if you become trapped. If you are caught in or buried by the snow, try kicking or digging your way to the top. The longer you are encased in snow, the more chance hypothermia has to set in. All in all, don’t give up if you’re caught by the snow; just try to be prepared for a variety of situations.





The 2014 Golden Globes

 



By: Autumn Hill

       The 2014 Golden Globes had lots in store this year, from the romantic stars or the dramatic stars. Hosts Amy Poehler and Tina Fey kept the audience interested and entertained. American Hustle and 12 Years a Slave were the most nominated and American Hustle ended up winning the most with three Golden Globe awards.

The Best Musical or Comedy winner was American Hustle; the nominees were Her, Inside Llewyn Davis, Nebraska and The Wolf of Wall Street. The Best Drama winner was 12 Years a Slave and the nominees were Captain Phillips, Gravity, Philomena and Rush. Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy winner was Amy Adams from American Hustle and the nominees for that category were Julie Delpy from Before Midnight, Greta Gerwig from Frances Ha, Julia Louis-Dreyfus from Enough Said and Meryl Streep from August:Osage County. The Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical winner was Leonardo Dicaprio from The Wolf of Wall Street and the nominees were Christian Bale from American Hustle, Bruce Dern from Nebraska, Oscar Isaac from Inside Llewyn Davis, and Joequin Phoenix from Her. The winner of Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Film was Jennifer Lawrence from American Hustle and the nominees were Sally Hawkins from Blue Jasmine and Lupita Nyong’o from 12 Years a Slave. The winner of the Best Original Song was Ordinary Love by U2. The winner of the Best TV Series, Drama was Breaking Bad and the winner of the Best TV Series, Musical, or Comedy was Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

As for the attire for the event, Jennifer Lawrence wore a Dior Duvet dress. Lawrence is known for wearing almost all of Dior’s dresses. Reese Witherspoon wore a custom-designed, silk crepe, emerald dress with a T-back from the Calvin Klein Collection. Witherspoon paired her gown with a blunt bob haircut and sparkling Harry Winston jewels. Amy Adams wore a fire engine-red, silk chiffon gown, with a ruby bodice by Valentino Couture. She paired her gown, which included a deep plunging neckline, with Lorraine Schwartz jewels. Margot Robbie wore a custom-designed, cream silk crepe Gucci gown, embroidered by crystal and emerald appliqués, complete with a high slit and plunging neckline. Olivia Wilde, though now pregnant, was able to work it in a gorgeous, emerald green, long-sleeve gown by Gucci Premiere, embroidered with metallic crystals. Wilde paired her dress with Forevermark diamonds and a metallic Emm Kuo clutch. She left her brunette amber locks down in loose waves and went with a bold smoky eye on the red carpet. Naomi Watts was named the Best Dressed at the Golden Globes. She looked like a goddess in an embroidered, white gold halter dress with chain detail by Tom Ford.

The Golden Globes nominees really wowed everyone this year, from performances to dresses.