NFL Power Rankings: Week 16

1. Carolina Panthers: Running back Jonathan Stewart may have been missing last week, but Cam Newton and the Panthers offense still managed to score 38 points in a win over the Giants. In two of the past three games, the Panthers defense has allowed 35 points or more, where even though Carolina's perfect season is alive and well, there are certain signs of the locomotive slowing down as the playoffs approach.

2. New England Patriots: One by one, Patriots stars are returning from the injuries they sustained earlier in the year, including Rob Gronkowski, Dont'a Hightower, and Jamie Collins. As seen with last week's game when both Chung and McCourty were sidelined, the most important thing for this Pats team is to remain the top seed while staying healthy. The addition of Steven Jackson will certainly help New England's nonexistent run game this season.

3. Arizona Cardinals: The loss of free safety Tyrann Mathieu to a torn ACL will be an incredibly costly injury to one of the best secondaries in football, but with Bruce Arians as the head coach, the Cardinals are still very much in contention. At the age of 35, Carson Palmer is having the best statistical season of his career (4,277 yards, 32 touchdowns, 106.7 passer rating), and he has a shot at amending his horrible playoff record (0-2 with a 66.5 passer rating in the postseason).

4. Seattle Seahawks: In one of the strangest turn of events, the Seattle Seahawks are 5-0 ever since Marshawn Lynch sustained an injury against the Cardinals. Quarterback Russell Wilson has caught fire over the last several weeks, especially when throwing the ball to receiver Doug Baldwin. Seattle has a chance to regain their pride within the NFC West with a win over the Cardinals in Week 17.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers: When quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is healthy, the Pittsburgh Steelers are a legitimate threat to dethrone the Patriots in the AFC Championship game. Receiver Antonio Brown is basically unstoppable, especially with his eye-popping stat line against the top ranked Broncos secondary last week (16 receptions, 189 yards, 2 scores). Many would have expected the MCL injury to Le'Veon Bell would have derailed the Steelers offense, but back up running back DeAngelo Williams has done a great job temporarily replacing the young star.

.@AntonioBrown84 is the 1st player in @NFL history to have 2 games with 15+ catches in a single season. pic.twitter.com/k8ghoOTuLb

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 21, 2015

6. Kansas City Chiefs: The Kansas City Chiefs have won their last 8 games and are likely the hottest team in all of football. With wins against the Steelers and Broncos, the success of Kansas City's football team has not been hindered by the loss of running back Jamaal Charles for the season. Defensively, safety Eric Berry earned Pro Bowl honors for the first time since being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, with two of KC's linebackers making the Pro Bowl as well (Tamba Hall and Justin Houston). The Chiefs could pull off the impossible and make the playoffs after a 1-5 start.

7. Green Bay Packers: After losing four of five games during the middle of the year, the Packers have started to return to their winning ways with a three game win streak. The loss of receiver Jordy Nelson at the start of the year had a larger impact on this team than many people expected, as it shows the lack of depth at the receiver position. With teams focusing most of their efforts on Randall Cobb, and Eddie Lacy struggling to return to last year's form, the Packers offense is just not the same as it once was.

8. Denver Broncos: Brock Osweiler is 3-2 in games when starting this season, but by losing the past two games, the Broncos are currently on track for the third seed in the postseason. Over the past two years, the Broncos are 7-0 when running back CJ Anderson rushes for 85 yards or more, so establishing the run against teams like Cincy will be key for this offense moving forward.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: While AJ McCarron may have been able to win the first start of his career, the entire success of the Bengals hinges upon Andy Dalton's health come playoff time. Cincinnati has a tough game against the Denver Broncos next week, where a win would put Cincy on track for a first round bye in the postseason. Yet with Dalton missing from the lineup, this sort of outcome is unlikely.

10. New York Jets: Now that cornerback Darrelle Revis has returned from the concussion he sustained back in November, the Jets have a legitimate shot at earning a spot in the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Jets do not control their own destiny, as they must win their next two games and hope for at least one loss by the Chiefs, Steelers, or Broncos. This week, the Jets are home against the injury-plagued Patriots, so it would be unwise to count out New York just yet.

The @Patriots are seeking their 6th 13-win season since 2003 (most in NFL). Franchise had none from 1960-2002. Patriots at Jets - 1 ET

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 27, 2015

Drew Brees will start vs Jags despite being questionable with torn plantar fascia. https://t.co/DNVRztDzBd pic.twitter.com/CNmh6ZwKQB

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 27, 2015

Panthers: trying to join 2007 Patriots as only teams to start a season 15-0 in regular season

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 27, 2015

Will the Carolina Panthers Go Undefeated?

While the Carolina Panthers may have been able to defeat the Giants this past weekend to move to 14-0, the win did not come easily. Eli Manning and the Giants led a four-touchdown comeback, with their last score being a pass to Odell Beckham Jr. with 1:46 left in the game. So maybe Carolina's defense was not able to close out the game, but Cam Newton ultimately marched 49 yards in 8 plays to set up Graham Gano's game winning field goal. With two games left in the regular season, the Panthers only need to beat the Falcons on the road next week and then the Buccaneers at home in Week 17 for an undefeated regular season. So let's take a look at these next two games, as well as any potential playoff teams capable of handing the Panthers their first loss of the season.

Falcons: At this point in the season, the Falcons must win their final two games just to have a chance at a spot in the playoffs. Unfortunately for Falcons fans, Atlanta has lost their last five games against the Panthers over the course of three different seasons, where their most recent matchup resulted in a 38-0 loss for the Falcons just two weeks ago. Even though the Panthers defense allowed 38 points to the Saints the week before, and 35 points to the Giants a week later, this defense managed to play to its full potential against the Falcons. Next week's key matchup will be Panthers cornerback Josh Norman versus star wide receiver Julio Jones, where in their last matchup against one another, Julio Jones caught seven passes for 88 yards but no touchdowns. In two of the last three games where teams have been able to score a lot of points against the Panthers, the offenses were able to get over the top of the Panthers secondary for a couple of big plays. The Falcons just don't seem like they have it in them, so I predict another win for the Panthers next week.

Prediction: Panthers over Falcons

Record: 15-0 

Buccaneers: Now that the Bucs have no chance of making the playoffs, Tampa Bay gains nothing from beating the Panthers in the last game of the season other than a sense of pride; in fact, it would be more advantageous for Tampa to intentionally lose this game in an effort to gain a better position in the draft. If Tampa loses another game, it's likely that they would sneak into the top 10 of the 2016 NFL Draft. Had this game taken place several weeks earlier when Jameis Winston became more comfortable in the pocket, Mike Evans had returned to full health, and Doug Martin emerged as Pro Bowl caliber running back once again, the Bucs had a legitimate shot at giving the Panthers their first loss. More importantly, deep threats Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson would give the Panthers secondary fits all game. Yet since this is not the case, the Panthers will become the third team in the Super Bowl era to by undefeated by the end of the regular season.
Prediction: Panthers over Buccaneers
Record: 16-0

Seahawks: With the Seahawks basically locked in as the fifth seed in the playoffs, a weak NFC East team as the fourth seed, and a likely win by the third seeded Packers in the first round of the playoffs, a Seahawks-Panthers matchup is almost inevitable. Sure, there are a lot of assumptions that must be made to get to this point, but the odds are in favor of this rematch from last year's Divisional Round taking place once more. Even with running backs Marshawn Lynch and Thomas Rawls injured, the Seahawks are one of the hottest teams in football, with quarterback Russell Wilson throwing for 19 touchdowns and no picks in his last 5 games. The Seahawks secondary is good enough to slow down the Panthers offense as they did last year in the playoffs, but the Seahawks are also very talented when it comes to throwing the deep ball (Wilson is 13 of 15 with a passer rating of 125.6 when on passes 31 yards or longer). Lastly, Lynch is expected to make his return come playoff time, so don't be shocked when the Seahawks defeat the Panthers in the Divisional Round for the second year in a row.
Prediction: Seahawks over Panthers
Record: 16-1

2015-2016 NFL Divisional Round Predictions

(5) Chargers over (1) Colts: The Indianapolis Colts have struggled to stop the run throughout the years, so San Diego's addition of talented running back Melvin Gordon may pose certain problems for the Colts defense. In addition, Gordon will be able to take some pressure off of Rivers, who will also be throwing to their recently acquired receiver, Jacoby Jones.



(2) Patriots over (3) Broncos: In what will likely be the final meeting between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, it is highly unlikely that Manning will be able to travel into Foxboro in the month of January and defeat the Patriots. New England's defensive line has an abundance of young talent (Jones, Brown, and Easley), and the passing game is near unstoppable when Rob Gronkowski is on the field.

(1) Packers over (5) Cardinals: It is difficult to see a team who calls the warm and sunny Glendale, Arizona their home traveling to Lambeau Field and knocking off the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs. From a statistical point of view, Rodgers was near perfect last season at home, and a talented Cardinals defense is not enough to stop Green Bay's passing game.

(2) Seahawks over (3) Panthers: The Seahawks beat Cam Newton and the Panthers last season in the Divisional Round, and not much is likely to change this year. The Panthers are very depleted when it comes to their receiving corp following Kelvin Benjamin's injury, whereas Seattle added the elite talent known as Jimmy Graham.

Tom Brady beats NFL in `Deflategate' court case, judge nullifies league's 4-game suspension.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 3, 2015

Reunion: James Jones is signing with the #Packers, source said.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 6, 2015

2015 NFC Playoff Seeding Predictions

1. Green Bay Packers (13-3): The Packers are basically a lock for winning the NFC North for the fifth straight year due to a lack of competition within their division. Green Bay suffered no major losses in the offseason and managed to re-sign receiver Randall Cobb to create a solid receiving corp for Aaron Rodgers. And even though the Packers must play all four NFC West teams this year, the game against the mighty Seahawks will be in Lambeau.

2. Seattle Seahawks (12-4): After appearing in the past two Super Bowls, the Seahawks are poised for a return to the Big Game in 2016. Quite possible the weakest part of Seattle's depth chart was its receiving corp, but by trading for All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham, dual threat quarterback Russell Wilson will lead one of the most productive offenses in the league. The Legion of Boom lost cornerback Byron Maxwell to free agency, but the core of this legendary secondary remains intact. The Seahawks are bound to earn a first round bye for the third year in a row.

3. Carolina Panthers (10-6): Cam Newton suffered career lows in almost every single major statistical category last season after losing receiver Steve Smith. The receiving corp has some great young talent lead by second year player Kelvin Benjamin, along with rookie Devin Funchess. Meanwhile, Carolina's defense is still very solid, especially with the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly being one of the league's best players. The race for the NFC South title last year was more or less a pillow fight, but expect the Panthers to see a lot more difficult competition next season as they look for a third straight division title.

Panthers expect Kelvin Benjamin to be full go in training camp. The 2nd year WR was limited in participation in OTA's

— Best Nfl Matchups (@best_nfl) July 23, 2015

4. Dallas Cowboys (10-6): The loss of DeMarco Murray to the division rival Eagles could be detrimental to the Cowboys next season, especially with such a massive hole now at the running back position. Murray's incredible season with the help of the NFL's best offensive line took plenty of pressure off of quarterback Tony Romo and the rest of Dallas' offense. Moreover, a successful running game gave the defense more time to rest off the field, so it will be interesting to see if the Cowboys can continue to remain relatively solid on defense without Murray.

5. Arizona Cardinals (11-5): Hopefully, Arizona's defense will still be able to find success as last year's defensive coordinator leaves for the head coaching job in New York. Bruce Arians is one of the best head coaches in football, and if quarterback Carson Palmer is able to stay healthy, the Cardinals will have yet another chance to dethrone the Seahawks from atop the NFC West.

6. New York Giants (9-7): Second year wide receiver Odell Beckham appears to be one of the most talented young players in recent memory, and with Victor Cruz returning from a season-ending injury, as well as the addition of running back Shane Vereen, New York's passing game has the potential to be lethal in 2015. New York's pass rush lacks the same talent seen by the two Championship winning teams of the past, so it will be interesting to see if Eli Manning can succeed with more pressure on the offensive side of the ball.

Best Pictures From Super Bowl XLIX

Super Bowl XLIX Recap: Patriots vs. Seahawks

Super Bowl XLIX had it all. Two of the NFL's most talented teams, a major storyline leading up to the Super Bowl in Deflategate, an aging quarterback looking to cement his legacy, a franchise trying to be the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls in 10 years, and an all around great game that came down to the final seconds. Malcolm Butler's interception in the final minute of the game made Super Bowl XLIX the greatest Super Bowl game in the 49 year history of the event, as it completed a back and forth competition between the NFL's two biggest powerhouses.

Brady's Legacy
Coming into this game, Brady may have had three Super Bowl rings to put on his resume, but seeing how he was ten years removed from his last Super Bowl victory, and had suffered two losses in the Big Game since, the glow of Brady's aura was beginning to fade. In fact, critics of the Patriots began to say things like "Brady hasn't won since Spygate" or "he can't win without cheating." And during the actual game, the Patriots were down by 10 points with 2 interceptions on the stat sheet for Brady. Yet all of a sudden, Brady capped off two excellent scoring drives to regain the lead for the Patriots with 2:02 left in the game, drives where Brady was 13-15, and he even completed all 8 of his passing attempts on the final drive. The comeback kid certainly needed a little bit of help from his teammates, as Malcolm Butler saved Brady and the Patriots with a game winning interception. As a result of this victory, Brady becomes just the third quarterback in NFL history to have four Super Bowl victories, but when taking into account Brady's longevity, incredible statistics, and six Super Bowl appearances, there is no doubt in my mind that Brady is the greatest quarterback in NFL history. I might even argue that he was one win away in 2007 from becoming the greatest player in NFL history, period. Best of all for Patriots fans, Brady's incredible career has the potential for more Super Bowl victories in the future.

Pete Carrell's Controversial Decision
With 26 second left in the game and three possible attempts for Seattle to score the game winning touchdown, Pete Carroll decided to attempt a pass towards undrafted receiver Ricardo Lockette, a pass that Malcolm Butler of the Patriots intercepted to seal Seattle's fate. Many fans argue that Carroll should have relied on their All-Pro running back, Marshawn Lynch, to punch in the game winning score, seeing how he managed to pick up positive yards on nearly every single rushing attempt during that game. Pete Carroll justified his decision by arguing the Patriots were utilizing their goal line defense, and even though he did not mention this, Marshawn Lynch was 1 for 5 on the year when it came to scoring from the one yard line. But at the end of the day, I side with Seahawks fans in saying Seattle needed to run with Marshawn on that second down play, where even if it failed, there was still a potential for two more plays at the one yard line.

Looking Ahead to Next Season
While it is unlikely that either team will go out into free agency and sign a star player, both the Patriots and Seahawks will need to resign several key players that played a vital role in leading them to the Super Bowl this past season. The AFC remains wide open in 2015, easy enough for New England to recapture their title as AFC Champion. Their success next season relies entirely upon whether or not they resign Darrelle Revis, the best cornerback in football. Other Patriots that may hit the market, including safety Devin McCourty and offensive lineman Dan Connolly, will need to be re-signed in order for the Pats to have a shot at a repeat. If New England goes on to restructure both Jerard Mayo and Vince Wilfork's contracts, they may even have a shot at picking up Larry Fitzgerald (if the rumors are true). As for the Seahawks, keeping running back Marshawn Lynch from retiring is 100% the main priority for the front office this offseason, seeing how he is the most important player on this roster. Yet when it comes to free agency, the Seahawks should do their best to keep guys like Jermain Kearse, Byron Maxwell, and Malcolm Smith on the depth chart next season. In conclusion, the Seahawks and the Patriots are both very likely to return to the Super Bowl next season.

Just too cute... pic.twitter.com/bZnODUTtSk
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) February 4, 2015

New England Patriots Super Bowl Champs!!!!
— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) February 2, 2015

How stupid can u be? @MoneyLynch is the man and you throw it????? You kidding right??? Pay @MoneyLynch to stay and put up with this mess?
— Deion Sanders (@DeionSanders) February 2, 2015

PATRIOTS WIN!! Your New England Patriots are Super Bowl Champions! #FinishedTheJob pic.twitter.com/qJ3t7G20Cc
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) February 2, 2015

Me & TB12. #worldchamps #REVISISLAND #patsnation http://t.co/WlECRB0kEk
— Darrelle Revis (@Revis24) February 3, 2015

The agony of defeat... #SB49 pic.twitter.com/pwrWMVkZwu
— NFL (@nfl) February 2, 2015

This is really hard to take now but in the long run it will make us stronger. Our guys are so strong and our future is bright. #GoHawks #12s
— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) February 2, 2015

Wouldn't be complete without dance moves from Gronk... pic.twitter.com/fvBIjcn9WW
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) February 4, 2015

Good morning, #PatriotsNation! This photo should sum up how you're feeling today: pic.twitter.com/rxzfXUouMi
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) February 2, 2015

Super Bowl XLIX Pump Up Videos

With Super Bowl XLIX just hours away, we have combined the best arrangement of Super Bowl pump up videos into one post. These videos range from quarterback Tom Brady's career in the NFL, to a recap of the Seahawks' season synced to "Uptown Funk." Enjoy, and hear's to an exciting Super Bowl!

Super Bowl XLIX Prediction: Seahawks vs. Patriots

For the second year in a row, the top seeds from each conference will play on football's biggest stage. Tom Brady and the New England Patriots will play in their sixth Super Bowl since 2001, whereas third year quarterback Russell Wilson looks to become the first NFL franchise to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the Patriots did so in '03 and '04.

AZ baby!! Back in action!
— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) January 26, 2015

The Seahawks pulled off a miraculous comeback against the Packers in the NFC Championship Game, and despite Wilson's horrible performance at the start of the game, he is more than capable of extending a play with his sensational scrambling ability, as seen with the successful 2 point conversion ate in the 4th quarter. To make matters worse, the Patriots defense will have to deal with stopping Marshawn Lynch, a running back who is willing to sacrifice his body in order to gain a few extra yards.

2012 @seahawks class at SB 49! & they gave us a F Grade.. Back to Back Super Bowls! #MakeThemNotice #HowBoutNow pic.twitter.com/7LxQxxGCSe
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) January 31, 2015

The Patriots have a physical back of their own by the name of LeGarrette Blount, as seen with his incredible performance against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship. Yet the patriots offense has earned a reputation throughout the years for their consistent passing game pioneered by future Hall of Famer Tom Brady. Brady appears to be one of the most driven players in football, and the fact that he has lost in his past two Super Bowl appearances certainly adds to the significance of Sunday's Game. Seattle's "Legion of Boom," a secondary consisting of players like Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, and Earl Thomas, will give Brady problems throughout the game, especially if they are capable of minimizing Rob Gronkowski's effect on the game.

By far one of our favorite selfies from team photo day... pic.twitter.com/cPS1jG0t9f
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 31, 2015

Brady tends to struggle when facing pressure in the pocket, as seen with the two Super Bowls against the New York Giants. Seattle is quite possibly the most well-rounded team in NFL history considering everything that they bring to the table, and with a win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX, this "Legion of Boom" will be considered one of the greatest defensive units ever assembled.
Seahawks over Patriots: 24-20

2015 NFC Playoff Predictions

1. Seattle Seahawks (13-3): The defending Super Bowl Champions may still have A LOT of talent on their roster, but several relatively important players were lost this past offseason, such as Golden Tate, Brandon Browner, and Red Bryant. Yet with stars like Marshawn Lynch, Russell Wilson, and Percy Harvin on offense, as well as the entire "Legion of Boom" on defense (Sherman, Chancellor, Thomas), Seattle is surely in store for another deep playoff run.

2. New Orleans Saints (12-4): In his first full season back with the Saints since the bounty scandal, Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints went 11-5, thus finishing second in their division. Quarterback Drew Brees was one touchdown away from having three straight seasons with at least 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns. The loss of running back Darren Sproles could potentially hurt both the rushing and passing game, but I'm sure this offense will find a way to survive. The defense has managed to gain cornerback Champ Bailey and safety Jairus Byrd in an attempt to prove the pass defense, so expect the Saints to be contenders once again.

3. Chicago Bears (11-5): Seeing how the Bears were unable to make the playoffs last year, it is pretty risky for us to have them finishing third in the NFC next season; however, this team is very well-rounded. Jay Cutler struggled to stay healthy last season, but assuming he can play at least 14 games, he has the chance to be an MVP finalist thanks to receivers Alshon Jeffrey, Brandon Marshall, and Santonio Holmes. Also, Matt Forte and the running game will be able to take some pressure off of their quarterback. The defense may have lost Juluis Peppers, but defensive ends Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston join Jay Ratliff on the defensive line. Chicago is a surely a sleeper team in 2014, possibly enough to make a run at the NFC Championship Game.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7): While Philadelphia made a quick exit from the playoffs last season, the major storyline for Philly fans was the emergence of quarterback Nick Foles as one of the game's most efficient passers. Foles passed for 27 touchdowns with 2 interceptions, while running back LeSean McCoy also had a career year. The Eagles lost DeSean Jackson after he left for Washington, so it will be interesting to see how Foles is able to adapt to the loss. The main problem for the Eagles is clearly the pass defenses, which ranked last in the league in 2013. While the Eagles did manage to sign safety Malcolm Jenkins, this pass defense is bound to struggle into 2014.

5. San Francisco 49ers (12-4): For the third straight year in a row, San Francisco made an appearance in the NFC Championship Game, but Richard Sherman's tipped ball that turned into an interception late in the game resulted in a loss for the Niners. San Francisco still has a top 10 offense, with quarterback Colin Kaepernick, running backs Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde, and wide receivers Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin, Vernon Davis, and Stevie Johnson. The defense has almost everyone returning, apart from Aldon Smith, who is awaiting a suspension. San Francisco may end up as the fifth seed, but they are a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

6. Green Bay Packers (11-5): The Green Bay Packers' receiving corp has gradually worsened over the past 5 years, where Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb are the only two stars remaining; however, the Packers now have an excellent running game thanks to rookie running back Eddie Lacy. Defenses have struggled to shut down both Green Bay's passing game, pioneered by Aaron Rodgers, and their running game, which is how Lacy has managed to achieve such success. Green Bay's defense is slightly above mediocre, but things got even worse for Green Bay's defense by losing nose tackle B.J. Raji for the entire season. 

Patrick Peterson Contract Leads to Twitter Feud with Richard Sherman

Last night, Patrick Peterson announced via Twitter that he had signed a new deal with the Arizona Cardinals worth $70 million over the course of five years, with $48 million guaranteed. This new deal makes Peterson the highest paid cornerback in NFL history, two million dollars more than Joe Haden and four million dollars more than Sherman. Patrick Peterson has played in all 16 games in each of his first three seasons, where he has played in three Pro-Bowls, and has also been named to two All-Pro teams. 

Happy to announce my 5 year extension with @AZCardinals! $70M and $48M Guaranteed!! #AZCardinals #P2Nation #YearOfTheCardinal
— Patrick Peterson (@RealPeterson21) July 30, 2014

The fact that Peterson has passed Sherman in terms of salary seemingly irritated Seattle's cornerback, as he replied by retweeting the message seen below. This is not the first time that these two cornerbacks have been involved in a Twitter-feud, where Peterson instigated a verbal fight after arguing against Sherman's new contract back in May.

Richard Sherman and Patrick Peterson combined to allow 8 touchdown passes in 2013. Peterson gave up seven of those.
— Cody Swartz (@cbswartz5) July 30, 2014

After seeing Sherman's retweet, Patrick Peterson continued the feud into today with a response of his own, calling Sherman out for being jealous now that he was making less money than Peterson. It was clear that Peterson would respond based on the history of these two players, and football fans knew that Sherman was bound to respond based on his reputation around the league.

Yu mad bro!!!! LMAO😂😂😂😂😭
— Patrick Peterson (@RealPeterson21) July 30, 2014

The final tweet of this feud came from Sherman with the end-all-be-all argument that Sherman possesses a Super Bowl ring, unlike Peterson of the Cardinals. Sherman posted a picture of his ring, and from then on out, Twitter was relatively silent involving these two stars.

Can't ever be too mad lmao... pic.twitter.com/ZHA28B9Tji
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) July 30, 2014

Later today, Peterson tried to downplay the comments made on Twitter, saying he was happy for Sherman following the recent deal with the Seahawks. Whether or not Peterson is worth the money is for you to decide.

2014 NFL Power Rankings: Post-Draft (10-1)

1. Seattle Seahawks: The defending Super Bowl champions had a relatively quiet offseason, but then again, they have enough talent on their roster to repeat as champions. Russell Wilson is developing into on of the league's most reliable quarterbacks, and luckily for him, the Seahawks have running back Marshawn Lynch to assist their young passer. Also, Percy Harvin will hopefully be able to play in more games next season, seeing how the Seahawks were 4-0 in games where Harvin played. Yet the most dominant feature of the Seattle Seahawks is their defense, nicknamed the Legion of Boom. Last season, Seattle ranked first overall in total defense, pass defense, and points allowed per game. Seattle will be a favorite to win the Super Bowl once again.

2. Denver Broncos: After an embarrassing loss to a clearly superior Seattle Seahawks team in Super Bowl XLVIII, the Broncos acquired many big names during the offseason, hoping to win a Super Bowl before star quarterback Peyton Manning retires. Denver's defense will now have Pro-Bowlers like DE DeMarcus Ware, CB TJ Ward, CB Aqib Talib, and talented rookie CB Bradley Roby. The receiving corp will now have Emmanuel Sander to replace Eric Decker. Denver has one or two more years to try for a championship with Manning as quarterback, and 2014 will be a chance for revenge by Manning's Broncos.

3. New England Patriots: Many believe that Tom Brady's game has been degrading as of late, causing his status as an elite quarterback to come into question. New England's receiving corp is on the smaller side, with guys like Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman both under six feet. Yet Brady will be more experienced with these younger targets, and more importantly, tight end Rob Gronkowski will hopefully be healthy for the majority of the season. The Patriots also signed cornerback Darrelle Revis, one of the biggest names in all of football, and it seems that Bill Belicheck has managed to keep the star in check. As for the draft, Dominique Easley at defensive tackle is risky, seeing how he is extremely talented but has a history of injuries.

4. San Francisco 49ers: With Pro-Bowl defenders such as Patrick Willis, Aldon Smith, Ahmad Brooks, and Justin Smith, the San Francisco 49ers have one of the most talented defenses in football. San Francisco's offense is dominated by its run game, where the depth chart of running backs consist of Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter, and Carlos Hyde, while quarterback Colin Kaepernick is incredible at running the ball as well. Kaepernick's passer rating dipped slightly in 2013, but with receivers Anquan Boldin, Michael Crabtree, and Stevie Johnson, the 49ers will have one of the more reliable passing games in the NFL.

5. Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers, possibly the best quarterback in football when healthy, missed seven games last season, but in his Week 17 return against the Chicago Bears, Rodgers threw a game winning pass in the waning seconds of the game to clinch a playoff spot. In the 9 games that Rodgers played in, he had a passer rating of 104.9, a positive sign for next season. Running back Eddie Lacy managed to win Offensive Rookie of the Year last season, whereas cornerback Ha-Ha Clinton Dix will be a contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year next season. The Packers added defensive end Julius Peppers in order to have a defense capable of competing against some of the NFC's strongest offenses.

6. New Orleans Saints: Seeing how the NFC South has many talented quarterbacks, the Saints signed free safety Jairus Byrd and cornerback Champ Bailey to improve the pass defense. The New Orleans Saints have one of the league's best passing games, with quarterback Drew Brees leading the way. Brees' receivers are extremely talented, with stars like Robert Meachem, Marques Colston, Kenny Stills, and tight end Jimmy Graham. There is a lot of pressure on Brees to succeed every single game due to the lack of running game in New Orleans, which is the main reason why the Saints are not ranked higher.

7. Indianapolis Colts: Believe it or not, the Indianapolis Colts' passing game will become even more lethal thanks to Hakeem Knicks being a new member of Indy's receiving corp. Andrew Luck has two years under his belt, and even though Luck did not have more passing yards or touchdowns in comparison to his rookie season, Luck almost cut his interception total in half, therefore improving his passer rating. The defense has a few big names, including D'Qwell Jackson, LaRon Landry, and Robert Mathis, but Indy's defense is still not considered to be one of the league's best.

8. Cincinnati Bengals: Since drafting both receiver AJ Green and quarterback Andy Dalton in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, Cincinnati's record has improved gradually with each passing year. Yet even though the Bengals have improved during the regular season, Cincinnati has been getting the same result in each playoff game: a loss in the first round. AJ Green has formed a solid connection with Dalton, and has quickly become one of the best receivers in football. Cincinnati's defense has star defensive tackle Geno Tackle returning from his torn ACL, which will make them even better in 2014. Head coach Marvin Lewis has a 51.4 win percentage during the regular season, but remains 0-5 during the postseason. If the Bengals are unable to win a playoff game in 2014, I could see Lewis being fired on the spot.

9. Arizona Cardinals: The Arizona Cardinals has a sneakily-talented passing game, with experienced, yet undervalued quarterback Carson Palmer at quarterback, and Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, and Ted Ginn for receivers. Andre Ellington is now the number one running back on the depth chart, where during his rookie season, Ellington averaged 5.5 yards per carry. Arizona's defense has several Pro-Bowlers on the roster, including Darnell Dockett, John Abraham, and a possible Pro Bowler for future seasons in rookie safety Deone Bucannon. The Cardinals barely missed out of the playoffs last year, and gained a lot of press by snapping Seattle's home win streak.

10. Carolina Panthers: With veteran wide receiver Steve Smith leaving Carolina, young quarterback Cam Newton has very few talented receivers left on the roster. The Panthers managed to sign Jason Avant from Philly and Jerricho Cotchery from Pittsburgh in order to help out Newton following Smith's departure. Carolina had an incredible turnaround on defense, headlined by star middle linebacker Luke Kuechly winning defensive Player of the Year. Kuechly has become the best defender in football, while simultaneously, the Panthers defense have become one of the best in the NFL.

Best Photos From Super Bowl XLVIII

Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl XLVIII Champions!

After going 13-3 during the regular season, then beating both New Orleans and San Francisco in the playoffs, and lastly, manhandling the Denver Broncos by a score of 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII, the Seattle Seahawks are Super Bowl Champions! Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith took home Super Bowl MVP, and now, the Lombardi Trophy will be traveling to Seattle for the first time in franchise history.

Super Bowl XLVIII Preview: Seahawks vs Broncos

     Tomorrow is the day we have all been waiting for. Unlike other sports, where there can be a potential seven games to decide the league champion, the NFL needs just one game to crown a winner, and that game is the Super Bowl. Although tomorrow marks the end of the 2013 season, the Super Bowl brings great commercials, incredible foods, and most importantly, the two bests teams playing for the Lombardi Trophy on national television. Peyton Manning just won his fifth MVP Award on the eve of the Super Bowl, and the league's best offense will now be playing the Seattle Seahawks, who have the NFL's best defense. Good luck to both teams, and we wish everyone a great Super Bowl Sunday!

Denver Broncos: Earlier this evening, Peyton Manning won his 5th MVP Award, as he was just one vote shy of a unanimous selection. Manning passed for 5,147 yards and 55 touchdowns this season, both single season records. Manning's incredible season is a result of years of experience, as well as an incredibly talented receiving corp. Demaryius Thomas caught 92 passes for 1,430 yards and 14 touchdowns, and even if he's shutdown by cornerback Richard Sherman in the Super Bowl, Manning has three other options in Wes Welker, Eric Decker, and Julius Thomas. All three wide receivers had more than 778 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 2013, which is why I think the Seahawks will struggle to shut down Denver's passing game, even though Seattle has the best pass defense in the league. Thanks to the incredible passing game, the Broncos have been able to set up a solid running game with Knowshon Moreno, who rushed for 1,038 yards and 10 touchdowns, both of which are career highs. Even if the cold weather hinders Denver's passing game, the Broncos may be able to keep up with Marshawn Lynch on the ground with Knowshon Moreno and Montee Ball leading the way. Denver's run defense has been spectacular during the postseason, where they limited the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game to just 64 yards and 1 touchdown, even though the Patriots rushed for 234 yards and 6 touchdowns the previous week. Marshawn Lynch is clearly one of the best running backs in the league, so it will be interesting to see how Denver's defense will fare against the man known as "Beast Mode". The Broncos' pass defense is nothing special, but as long as the pass rush is able to pressure Russell Wilson, Seattle's passing game will not be a major problem. Also, be sure to watch returner Trindon Holliday, who returned both a kickoff and a punt for a score in 2013.

Seattle Seahawks: Immediately after the Seattle Seahawks beat San Francisco in the NFC Championship Game, Fox reporter Erin Andrews pulled aside cornerback Richard Sherman, and his arrogant display of emotion has been seen by most everyone through television and social media. Richard Sherman is able to have self-confidence, seeing that he has become the best cornerback in the league. Sherman's 20 interceptions in the past three years ranks first in the league, five more than other cornerback in the NFL. Sherman will likely be covering Demaryius Thomas throughout the game, which leaves defenders like Byron Maxwell, Earl Thomas, and Kam Chancellor to smother Welker, (Julius) Thomas, and Decker on Denver. In 2013, the Seahawks defense ranked first overall in passing yards allowed, total defense, opposing quarterback rating, interceptions, and points allowed per game. The run defense did not do as well as the pass defense in 2013, but the run defense's most important accomplishment is the fact that they ranked first overall in rushing touchdowns allowed with 4. Defense seems to be very important in the Super Bowl, and in the eleven games where the league's top defense made it to the Super Bowl, the best defense has won nine times. The Seattle Seahawks' offense revolves around star running back Marshawn Lynch. Due to the cold weather, Marshawn Lynch is bound to have many attempts on the ground, seeing that throwing the ball will be slightly more difficult in the Super Bowl. For the third straight year, Lynch ran for more than 1,204 yards and 11 touchdowns, which is why Lynch was named to his fourth career Pro Bowl in 2013. Quarterback Russell Wilson makes few mistakes, which is key to an offense that revolves around the running game. Wilson passed 3,357 yards, 26 touchdowns, and, most importantly, 9 interceptions. Wilson's lack of mistakes allowed him to eclipse the 100 passer rating mark for the second time of his career, but who knows if nerves will get the best of Wilson in the Super Bowl, which would likely destroy any momentum built by Seattle's offense.

Prediction: If Peyton Manning were to beat Seattle, the second Super Bowl ring would make him the best quarterback of all time, and he knows that, too. Even though the number one defense normally beats the number one offense whenever the two teams meet, the Denver Broncos have the best offense in NFL history, and their abundance of wide receivers, as well as Manning's ability to throw the ball before the pass rush reaches him, is why Denver will win its third Super Bowl in franchise history.
Broncos over Seahawks 30-23
MVP: Peyton Manning: 305 passing yards, 2 TDs

This will be the 3rd time Peyton Manning will be playing outdoors in playoffs vs the No. 1 scoring D from reg season (1 TD, 6 Int in prev 2)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 27, 2014

The age difference of 12 years and 250 days between Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson is the biggest ever for starting QBs in the Super Bowl
— NFL Access (@NFL_Access) January 30, 2014

Via @PANYNJ: The George Washington Bridge is lit in @Broncos orange @Seahawks green for the Super Bowl: pic.twitter.com/PKn5l0eEIM
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) January 30, 2014

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 28, 2014

Seattle RB Marshawn Lynch at today's media availability: " I’m just here so I won’t get fined, boss. That’s the only reason I’m here."
— Jane McManus (@janesports) January 29, 2014

NFC Championship Game Recap

     It's official. The Seattle Seahawks will be playing the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. At one point, it seemed as if Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers would pull off the upset against Seattle, but thanks to an interception by outside linebacker Malcolm Smith with just 22 seconds left in the game, Seattle will be going to their second Super Bowl in franchise history. The Seahawks had the best record in all of football, yet people were still questioning whether or not their division rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, would pull off an upset. Seattle's 12th man arrived in full force today, and even though Colin Kaepernick seemed very composed, he could not finish the job at the end of the game.

     The San Francisco 49ers scored on their first possession with a 25-yard field goal after Russell Wilson's fumble on the first play of the game. From there, San Francisco's rushing touchdown put them up 10-0 in the second quarter. Colin Kaepernick's passing game was mediocre at best, but he had a successful game in terms of running the football. His 58 yard gain on the ground set up a touchdown for the Niners, and by the end of the game, Kaepernick had rushed for 130 yards on 11.8 yards per carry in a losing effort.

     On Seattle's first possession of the second half, Marshawn Lynch showed off his incredible talents with a 40 yard touchdown run, very similar to his captivating playoff run against the Saints several years ago. This touchdown led to a 13-point run for Seattle, and the score of 23-16 remained until the end of game.

      But it seemed as if Colin Kaepernick was about to lead a 78-yard drive that would have put San Francisco in the Super Bowl instead of Seattle. A conversion of 4th and 2 in their own end created a huge momentum shift, where it was evident that Seattle fans were becoming uneasy. The San Francisco 49ers cost themselves the game by refusing to use their final two timeouts with 30 seconds left in the game. Had they called a timeout, quarterback Colin Kaepernick would not have felt rushed at the line of scrimmage, which ultimately led to a game-ending interception.

      Not only did San Francisco lose this game, but they also had their All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman suffer a gruesome leg injury that required him to be carted off of the field. Bowman had already forced a fumble earlier in the game, and this injury clearly affected the Niners mindset on defense for the rest of the game. Doctors fear that Bowman may have suffered a tear to his ACl, which would have long term consequences stretching into next season.

Super Bowl XLVIII: Broncos vs. Seahawks

It is official. The Seattle Seahawks will play the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. These two teams are both the number one seeds coming out of their conference, and it will be interesting to see how Peyton Manning fares against Seattle's infamous secondary. Unfortunately, Seattle's 12th man will not be quite as strong in East Rutherford, but Super Bowl XLVIII is bound to be great. We can't wait for February 2!

NFC Championship Preview: 49ers at Seahawks

      Before the regular season even started, it seemed as though the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks were destined to play each other in the playoffs . The Seahawks-49ers rivalry has quickly transformed into the best rivalry in the league, and this matchup in the NFC Championship Game will only add to the history of this rivalry. Back in 2009, Jim Harbaugh, a coach at Stanford, ran up the score against Pete Carroll's USC team, and the Harbaugh-Carroll rivalry was born. The rivalry has carried over into the NFL now that both Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll work for two NFL teams within the NFC West. This season, the series between these two teams is tied at one game a piece; however, the last two times San Francisco played in Seattle, the Seahawks outscored the 49ers by a total score of 71-16. The 12th Man at CenturyLink Field may be blown out of proportion at times, but there is no disputing that Seattle's fans are capable of influencing a game with their deafening noise.

San Francisco 49ers: The San Francisco 49ers are one of the most streaky teams in all of football; when they're hot, they can go on 5 game winning streaks, where not even the best teams can knock them down. But when they're cold, the 49ers can lose two or three straight by 10 points or more. Luckily for San Francisco fans, the 49ers have won eight straight games, including two playoff wins over the Packers and Panthers. San Francisco's consistency relies heavily on quarterback Colin Kaepernick, where the 49ers are 13-0 when Kaepernick throws for more than 150 yards. Alongside Kaepernick is a talented group of running backs, led by 9-year veteran Frank Gore (1,128 yards and 9 touchdowns), as well as youthful backs like LaMichael James and and Anthony Dixon. Four offensive players from the 49ers were added to the Pro Bowl roster, where two came from the offensive line. Even though the offensive line is considered to be one of the best in the league, they will have their hand's full against Seattle's front-seven. On defense, San Fran's stars like Justin Smith, Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, and Ahmad Brooks makeup the best front-seven in all of football. The 49ers ranked third in the league in points allowed, fifth in rushing yards allowed, and fourth in opposing passer rating. Similarly to San Francisco, Seattle has an incredibly well-rounded offense, but as long as they are able to shut down wide receiver Golden Tate, Seattle's passing game will struggle to create any sort of consistency.

Seattle Seahawks: When playing at home, the Seattle Seahawks are clearly the best team in all of football. A trip to New Jersey for the Super Bowl would be a different story, but as long as the Seahawks are in Seattle, they are nearly unstoppable. With just one loss at home since December of 2011, the Seahawks are capable of beating any time in the NFL, which they have proven time and time again. In Seattle's last two meetings against San Francisco at CenturyLink Field, the Seahawks have one both times, one by a score of 29-3, the other by a score of 42-13. On offense, second-year quarterback Russell Wilson threw for 3,357 passing yards 26 touchdowns this season, and a passer rating of 101.2; however, Seattle remains a run-oriented team. This season, running back Marshawn Lynch rushed for 1,2457 yards and 12 touchdowns, where Seattle ranked fourth in the league in rushing yards per game. Seattle will be missing wide receiver Percy Harvin for Sunday's game, but since Harvin caught just one pass during the regular season, the Seahawks' offense should not be too worried. Seattle's front seven does a great job of applying pressure (rank 8th in the league in sacks), but the Hawks are known for their deadly defensive backs. Cornerback Richard Sherman, as well as safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, were all named to the Pro Bowl for their spectacular play in 2013, allowing Seattle to rank first in the league in interceptions. As a whole, the Seahawks rank first in total defense, first in pass defense, and first points allowed per game. This defense is nothing to mess around with, and despite San Francisco's talent on offense, Seattle's defense will best the Niners on Sunday.

Prediction: The San Francisco 49ers have had trouble with Seattle when the game is being played at CenturyLink Field, and with so much on the line, you know Seattle's 12th man will be deafening in the final home game of the season for the Hawks. Thanks to their consistent offense and stifling defense, we predict the Seahawks to win and advance to the Super Bowl.
Seahawks over 49ers 33-23

Jim Harbaugh is first coach in NFL history to take his team to AFC/NFC Championship Game in each of his first 3 seasons, via Elias SB.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 13, 2014

Colin Kaepernick has won first 3 road starts of his playoff career. Only QB to win his first 4 ... Jake Delhomme
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 13, 2014