I love NFL previews. The rush of picking up a thick magazine chockful of predictions and analysis has never left, whether it was the SI Kids in 2007 that got me hooked on football, the Sports Illustrated previews in the mail or the Athlon mega-previews from Barnes & Noble. And as long as I’ve been … Continue reading NFL Preview 2020: 20 Storylines You Should Be Following
I have seen a lot of NFL games in my times. Many times, my team wins. Fewer times, my team loses. But rain or shine, a couple of guys have won my heart as guys I’d want to go into battle with. These guys are A+ dudes, exciting football talents, and, occasionally, Hall of Fame … Continue reading NFL Preview 2020: My All-Time NFL Squad
The concept of a "Golden Age" is fun to debate, and there are few applications more apt than the 2010s being a Golden Age of quarterback play. Some of the game's greats, like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, battled it out late into the winter, while transcendent talents like Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson took … Continue reading The 20 Best Quarterbacks of the 2010s
10 NFL megafans. 32 first round selections. 10 trades. 60 minutes. Zero Jordan Love. Unlimited fun. In the barren landscape of professional sports, the NFL Draft, which starts this Thursday on ESPN, is a tantalizing oasis. But even though the draft goes on, it will be a draft like no other. To prepare for the … Continue reading Where’d the Love Go? The Ultimate Quarantine NFL Mock Draft
Every NFL team has “burn the tape” games. The games where the only positive takeaway is that the game is over. But not every team has a “burn the tape” game in the playoffs. Not every team has a “burn the tape” game after winning 12 straight games and clinching the one-seed. Not every team … Continue reading Catastrophe
I’d be hard-pressed to find two NFL teams that had different trajectories this season than the Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys. They also happen to be my favorite teams. As Baltimore established itself as the best team in the NFL and unbelievably fun to watch, the Cowboys became the most excruciating. For every … Continue reading A Tale of Two Teams
I've seen a lot of great games as a sports fan. I picked my top ten favorites earlier this week in a column, and choosing those brought many smiles to my face. Today's ranking wasn't so cheerful of a chore. Today, I'm selecting the ten greatest games that I never saw. The catch -- they … Continue reading The Ten Greatest Games I Wish I Had Seen
A couple of Saturdays ago, I tuned in to one of the greatest rivalries in sports, the Iron Bowl, an annual battle between Auburn and Alabama (often for SEC supremacy). The game didn’t let me down, as each quarter was packed to the brim with exciting moments and breathtaking plays I’d never seen before … Continue reading The Ten Greatest Sports Games I’ve Ever Seen
Hey guys! I’ve written a lot of series over the years, and their names have ranged the spectrum from cringy (Professor Sports) to clever (Varsity Letter) to fitting (Nostalgia Blast). Today, as I kick of the college era of Johnriker.com, I’m resurrecting one of my favorite formats/names, the Read Option. Quick history lesson -- my … Continue reading Read Option: On the ‘Cats, Cubs, Ravens and Cowboys
Back in elementary school, I frequently read a book about the Baltimore Ravens and one line always stood out. In discussing Baltimore’s tradition of stifling defenses, it described the Ravens’ unit as something to the effect of “tougher a brick wall” and “stingier than cobwebs.” I saw those imposing Ravens defenses for four glorious years … Continue reading Ed Reed: Pick-six king enshrined in Canton
Riker's Block 