KarateKen

Patriots become the first team in history to lose six Super Bowls, dropping them to 6-6 in their 12 appearances.  The Seahawks win their second, improving to 2-2 in their four Super Bowl games, and getting even with the Patriots from the first matchup.  

Game was low scoring early on, Seattle was ahead 9-0 at halftime and their defense had a lot of pressure on Maye all game.  Both teams put up some points in the 4th, but the Seahawks get it done 29-13 and are winners of SB 60.  That is a wrap on this NFL season.  Soon we will be seeing free agents, then the draft, ect, before we start it all over again in the fall.  

Thanks for this! 

If the Patriots win, they will be the first team to win seven Super Bowls (Steelers also have six).  If they lose hey will be the first team to lose six Super Bowls (Broncos also have five).  Either way we will see a first tonight! 

NFL Honors have been announced, and the MVP goes to Rams QB Matthew Stafford.  Coach of the Year is Mike Vrabel of the Patriots, and Walter Payton Man of the Year is Travis Kelcie of the Chiefs.  All this on the same day the NFL announced a game between the Rams and 49ers will take place next season in Australia. Many fans are upset about that, but the league has a desire to expand the game outside the USA, and international games will become more common as the NFL continues to aim for a global audience. 

The Olympic men's hockey games start on February 11, and the NHL will take a nearly three-week break during the time of the Olympics as many NHL players will be participating for team Canda, team USA, and others. Teams Canada and USA entire rosters are made up of NHL players, while every team has some NHL players. There is no team Russia, the country was banned because of the war in Ukraine, meaning that Alex Ovechkin and other Russian born players (Russia is a big hockey country) will not be participating in the games. 

On 1/20/2026 at 2:47 AM, DarthPenguin said:

Yeah i have to agree. Can make an argument that Ukemi is the skill you are most likely to use in your life and the one most likely to save you from injury or severe harm. People don't get in that many physical confrontations but everyone has fallen on a patch of ice etc. at some point in their life

I credit it for saving me from a head injury when I fell on some icy steps a few years ago.  Broke a couple ribs but a lot better than hitting my head! 

Another terrible look for the NFL.  It has been discovered that NY Giants co-owner Steve Tisch has been listed in the Epstein files, named over 400 times. Roger Goodell has said that he will "look into all the facts," with rumors that Tisch could be forced to sell, though that remains unknown at this time.  Tish has admitted he knew Epstein but denies any wrongdoing. 

Other NFL owners who were named were Jets owner Woody Johnson, Commander's owner Josh Harris. the team's former owner Dan Snyder, and Patriots owner Robert Kraft, as well as a few others.  Who else is in them? Jay-Z.  Why does that matter to the NFL? Jay Z has a company called "Roc Nation" which is who puts on the Super Bowl halftime show.  The NFL has been in business with Jay Z since 2019. The NFL stuck with Jay Z after serious allegations against him came up in 2024, let's see if they stand by his side again after this one. 

There were also names from other sports leagues, such as the owner of the LA Dodgers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and former MLB star Sammy Sosa.

As of this writing there are no criminal charges pending for anyone I mentioned.  This is a very long and complicated situation with a ton to unpack, but to have these names come out in the files the week of the Super Bowl is not a good situation for the league.  Instead of talking about the game, the news is about owners being in the Epstein files.  Wow! 

The US government approved ESPN buying NFL Network and RedZone.  The NFL has been trying to sell off NFL Network for years since it was not profitable and they finally were able to.  ESPN will now own NFL Network (or whatever the new name might be) and RedZone.  It does not appear that it will change anything leading up to the Super Bowl this week, but next season it could shake up some of the on-air talent and game coverage.  

Maybe it is just in my circles, but I don't hear much talk about the game this year.  We are a week away and almost all the football talk I am hearing is about Belichick and the ESNP/NFL deal I just wrote about.  Usually there is some kind of a storyline leading up to the game.  Maybe it will pick up now that it is game week and not a bye.  I don't have a rooting interest in the game, as of now.  Could change I guess if something were to happen this week.  *shrugs* 

The Raiders are expected to hire Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak as their HC after the Super Bowl.  The Arizona Cardinals have hired Rams OC Mike LaFleur as head coach.  There was an NFL record 10 head coach openings, most have been filled.  

I agree with both of you, and it looks like there is going to be a full investigation.  I also agree with what some people have said on TV which is anyone who did not vote for Belichick should publicly explain it.  There has also been talk of former Colts executive Bill Pollion who said he did not remember for sure if he voted for Belichick.  Come on, that is just nonsense.  If he can't remember he should not have a vote.  Then later he said (after the blowback) he did vote for Belichick.  Which is it?  Heads need to roll.  Not only is this clearly a monumental failure but it is shallow and short sighted.  It makes the whole NFL look bad.  It damages the integrity of the HOF.  Jimmy Johnson, Ty Law, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Troy Aikman, JJ Watt, and many others have sounded off about this.  Jimmy Johnson especially did not hold back, same with longtime sportswriter Peter King.  Players, fans, coaches, broadcasters, and more have called this out for what a terrible mistake it was. I have not seen one person who defended it or agrees with it.  Not one.  Have you?  This is an abomination that has created a national firestorm. 

Prediction: Belichick gets in next year and gets every single vote.  

A bombshell on Tuesday night that also has to be one of the most bonehead moves in the history American sports.  Former Patriots and Browns head coach Bill Belichick was not voted into the Hall of Fame, getting less than the 40 votes needed to be selected.  He will get in, probably next year, but to not make him a first ballot HOF coach is beyond asinine. 

My prediction of the Rams winning it all this year has been shot down.  They had chances but Seattle wins it 31-27.  I don't remember what my preseason predictions were for the Seahawks and Patriots, but I know I did not have them anywhere near the Super Bowl.  

Now we have two weeks to hear about how the Seahawks should have given it to Marshawn Lynch on the goal line ten years ago.  Oh yeah 

Edit:

This makes nine times in ten years that the AFC Champion was either the Patriots (4) or the Chiefs (5).  The one other was the Bengals in the 2021 season. 

Seattle is the early favorite

On 1/13/2026 at 5:57 PM, sensei8 said:

That’s quite a lot of HC jobs lost. Maybe the owners can be the GM and HC too.

Raiders might as well court Tomlin too.

Btw the way, I’m available. I sure can’t be worse as them have been. 

I don't know about a coaching job, but since you live in Las Vegas maybe the Raiders would hire you to help players with their footwork. I've heard stories of teams doing that, bringing in a MA sensei to work with players balance, footwork and stances. 

One head coach fired today and a few hours later another coach was hired. The Dolphins have hired Packers DC Jeff Hafley as their new HC, replacing Mike McDaniel who was fired on January 8. 

Well just when I think the black Monday has concluded, here is shows up again two weeks later.  The Bills have fired head coach Sean McDermott after Saturday's OT loss to the Broncos.  Wow.  McDermott had been the Bills coach for nine seasons, getting the Bills to two AFC Championship Games.  He was 98-50 in the regular season and 8-8 in the playoffs. 

Back to nine teams now looking for a head coach.  I think.  I've lost track.  I don't remember this many HC openings before.  This is insane. 

14 hours ago, sensei8 said:

The Rams vs Bears was another back and forth game. That last TD for the Bears was the Rams secondary to force the PAT for going to OT.

Rams get the coin toss but turn over on downs. Then the Bears drive but their red-zone failed. Rams drive to get to FG range and Mevis, the Rams place kicker, who wears number 92, a number usually reserved for linemen, known as The Thicker Kicker, biggest place kicker I’ve ever seen splits the uprights for the win!!

With Nix out, I don’t see the Broncos beating the Patriots. As far as the Seahawks vs Rams, I just don’t want to see my friends Seahawks go to the SB, let alone win the SB. So I’m supporting the Rams in that one just like I did today because my friend, Dwight, didn’t want his Seahawks to meet the Rams.

I always call his Seahawks, the buzzards, and Dwight always calls my Cowboys, Cowgirls. I told him that if the buzzards make it to the SB, I’ll not call the Seahawks buzzards for 1 year. But if the buzzards win the SB, I’ll not call the Seahawks buzzards for 2 years…I’ll call them the Seahawks!! 

I see Patriots vs Rams in SB LX with the Rams winning SB LX.

Of course I don’t care for any of those teams anyway because I’m a Cowboys fan, which means I’ve lost my mind.

 

I'm with your prediction here @sensei8 I am going with the Rams to win it over the Patriots.  

Fun fact, either the Patriots or the Chiefs have been in the AFC Championship Game every year since 2011.  The Patriots went 8 years in a row (2011-2018) the Chiefs seven (2018-2024) and now the Patriots in 2025.  That is a lot of appetences by only two teams.  Meanwhile in that same stretch of years the NY Jets have not made the playoffs at al, though they did make the AFC Championship in 2009 and 2010. 

OK, maybe that is not a FUN fact, but it is a fact. 

It was snowing in New England and snowing harder in Chicago, so we get two snow football games today!  The Rams and Bears are at halftime, tied at 10.  This game looks like it could go down to the wire. It is 18 degrees in Chicago, so the weather could play a factor late in the game. 

Edit: The Rams and Bears are in overtime.  You have to see this to believe it. 

Second edit:  The Rams have won 20-17 in overtime and will visit Seattle on Sunday.  The Bears scored a TD with 18 seconds left in regulation to get to overtime, but the same Caleb Williams who made an amazing play to get the late TD throws a pick in OT and the Rams go down the field to win it. 

The NFL final four is set. 

Patriots at Broncos - 3pm EST on CBS

Rams at Seahawks - 6:30pm EST on FOX

1 hour ago, sensei8 said:

I thought for sure that this game would’ve been closer than it was. Patriots win over the Texans 28-16. Patriots advance to the AFC Championship game against the hosting Broncos. With Nix out, the Broncos will have an uphill battle!!

For sure.  The Patriots defense destroyed CJ Stroud and Justin Herbert.  The Broncos will be starting Jarrett Stidham, a former Patriot who was backing up Tom Brady.  Broncos can win this game with defense and not turning the ball over on offense.  

4 hours ago, sensei8 said:

Well, some Divisional NFL games today, January 18, 2025…

The 14-3 Patriots host the 12-5 Texans for the AFC Divisional Playoff, kickoff at 12:00 noon pacific time on ABC. It appears that both teams are an equal across the board with the Patriots are slightly favored to win: Patriots 50.9% and Texans 49.1%. Should be a barn burner of a game.

 

It's snowing in New England, and the Houston offense is struggling.  Four first half turnovers for the Texans and the Patriots lead 21-10 at the half.  The Texans defense has been able to keep them in the game, but they better stop throwing interceptions of they have no chance to win. 

Edit: I don't know if you want to call it great defense or sloppy offense, but the Patriots and Texans combined for eight turnovers, five by Houston, and the Patriots win the game 28-16.  They now will visit Denver next Sunday.  Patriots are in their 16th AFC Championship Game, while the Texans remain the only active NFL franchise to never play in a conference title game, and the four teams that have never played in the Super Bowl (Texans, Jaguars, Browns, Lions) will not play in it this year either. 

Rams and Bears kicking off in a few minutes! 

A wild game in Denver to kick off the weekend.  The Bills lead the Broncos 27-23 late in the 4th, but the Broncos scored a TD with 0:55 seconds left to take a 30-27 lead.  However, the 55 seconds was enough time for Josh Allen to get the team down into FG range, and a 50-yard FG with seconds left to tie it at 30 and send the game to overtime.  In overtime Josh Allen throws a pick, one of five Buffalo turnovers, and the Broncos get the ball, a couple of penalties go their way, and kick a FG to win it 33-30.  The Broncos are onto the AFC Championship Game for the first time in a decade, and do it winning yet another close game, something they have done all year.  For Josh Allen, the Bills, and their fans, the 2025 season ends with yet another brutal, devastation, and heartbreaking postseason loss. 

Edit:  Once again, I look like a fool trying to predict NFL games.  I guessed both #1 seeds would lose today, and they both won.  The second game was not close; the Seahawks flushed the 49ers 41-6  ending San Fran's hope of hosting a home SB game, at least for this year.  Just a quick piece of sports trivia, two teams have hosted the SB in their home stadium, the Bucs and the Rams, and both won.  They were SB 55 and 56, so for 54 years no team had one it, then it happened two years in a row.  Anyway... 

Two more games on Sunday to decide the NFL final four. 

Well @sensei8 the Raiders had a terrible season, but your Golden Knights are playing well right now.  They are in first place in their division and have a six-game winning streak steak going. 

This came up once and our instructor said that he teaches his students everything he knows, rank appropriate of course.  He said "any instructor that does not teach their students everything they know is cheating both the students, and the art."  

Not saying I agree or disagree, but that was his take on it. 

What are your thoughts on RAF? There are a lot more eyes on it recently since some UFC fighters have been competing.  I do not know anything about wrestling; I guess this is a different style than college wrestling.  

At the risk of making a fool of myself, I am going to post some predictions for this weekend.  I predict that the Rams will beat the Bears.  I hope the Bears win, but the Rams have been my pick to win it all since August, so I am sticking with them as long as they are still in it.  I do like Matt Stafford though and would be fine with him winning another ring, so either way it's OK.  

Then I am going to predict that the Bills go into Denver and beat the Broncos.  Denver has won a lot of close games this year, and I question just how good the team really is.  One of the things that makes the NFL so tough to predict is the lack of games.  In a 17-game season, teams that are pretenders can look a lot better than they are.  Is Denver that team? Also, don't get too focused on them having a bye week.  There are many examples of teams over the years who get that first round bye then come out flat and lose on their home field, such as the Lions last season.  This will be the Broncos toughest test yet.  I know the Broncos have been great on defense.  I know the Bills are banged up. I am going with the Bills. 

Then I am picking the 49ers to win in Seattle.  This is the pick I have the least amount of confidence in, but I am just going with my gut.  I am picking both #1 seeds to lose.  The 49ers are banged up, and probably should not win this game in Seattle, but again, I am going with my gut. 

The only home team I am picking this week is the Patriots over the Texans.  The Patriots defense last week was impressive, and so was Drake Maye.  Good news for the Patriots is the Diggs hearing has been pushed back to after the Super Bowl.  

It's divisional round weekend, one of the best sports weekends of the year.  Hope you enjoy it. 

On 1/14/2026 at 8:42 AM, DarthPenguin said:

Amusingly Harbaugh actually got 7 calls with 6 vacancies at the time! Was quite amused by this as in essence one team offered him an interview with an incumbent head coach already!

Had an interesting chat today with someone about which of the Steelers and Ravens jobs is the better bet: Ravens are closer to a SB ready team with Lamar and Henry etc. but the Steelers have lots of loyalty to the HC (only ever had 3!!!) so not sure which is the plum job. I think Steelers personally since Henry only has 1 yr left and then their window might close a bit

Harbaugh is now the new head coach of the New York Giants.  A smart hire by the Giants, maybe he can turn that struggling franchise around. Giants have had three losing seasons in a row, and a combined 7 wins the last two years. Their last division title was in 2011. 

Harbaugh was arguably the most accomplished coach on the market this season.  He won a SB with the Ravens in 2012, and his teams were often in the thick of if it, getting into the playoffs including a few AFC Championship Game appetences. 

On 1/13/2026 at 11:27 AM, sensei8 said:

USPS is releasing a forever stamp to honor Bruce Lee on February 18, 2026.

Stamp shows Bruce Lee in a flying side kick with a background of yellow brush stroke that gives respect to the color of the jumpsuit that Bruce Lee wore in “Game of Death”. The flying side kick makes it appear the he is breaking in half the words “Bruce Lee USA Forever”.

I’m guessing that a book of this forever stamp might cost $18, which is a normal price for USPS Forever Stamps.

I’ll be getting at least 2 books for myself.

Thanks for this information, I will probably get some as well.