madelinefresco | February 1, 2013
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Sibling Rivalry! Harbaugh Versus Harbaugh, Fresco Style.

My thoughts on the Super Bowl?

Yaddaa-yadda-yadda. There are two teams, neither of which are the Packers, in the Super Bowl.

Want to ask me what it’s like to be in San Francisco as a Packers fan? I’ll tell you — it’s extremely annoying to be surrounded by unintelligent, know nothing about football, bought my 49ers hat just yesterday, fair-weather fans. It’s rare to find the true fan in San Francisco.

So instead, in honor of siblings playing against each other in the Super Bowl, I post these pictures of my brother and I with what I can only assume are some of the things that the Harbaugh brothers would say to each other.

Enjoy.

So,-we're-in-the-Super-Bowl-Recovered

Niners-are-going-to-win-Recovered

cough-cough-Recovered

Wait,-you're-pretty-good-Recovered

seriouslytwo

 

Here-Recovered

Don't-be-an-idiot-Recovered

I-know-I-know-Recovered

Good-luck-John-Recovered

 

Screw-you-Jim-Recovered

John-and-Jim-argue-Recovered

Dad-Recovered

Green-Bay-Recovered

Category: AFC West, Alex Smith, Baltimore Ravens, Colin Kaepernick, Football sibling rivalry, Green Bay Packers, Harbaugh Bowl, Jim Harbaugh, John Harbaugh, NFC West, NFL, NFL Playoffs, other sibling rivalries, San Francisco 49ers | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Jacqueline | January 31, 2013
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Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh – Hargis Style

jn-11

 

In honor of the Harbaugh bowl, we are honoring our brothers. So here it is Hargis style. For the record, I am John as I am older. My little brosky (Neal) is acting as Jim for this story.

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Category: Harbaugh Bowl, Super Bowl | Tags: ,
Jacqueline | January 18, 2013
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AFC Championship Preview: Baltimore @ New England

Sexy?

Baltimore and New England haven’t clashed this season, but these teams are all too familiar with each other. This Sunday’s showdown is a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship that New England won 23-20. New England has been rolling as of late and Baltimore had an emotion double OT win at Denver last week. Despite recent successes of these teams accompanied by a decade of success, every week in the NFL is a new week.

wilforkLet’s take a glance at the defensive side of the ball. Since last year New England’s defense has gotten younger, particularly with the addition of first round draft picks Dont’a Hightower and Chandler Jones. Defensive tackle, Vincent Wilfork, has a been a leader of this unit keeping it in check.

Sexy?

Sexy or Scary?

The Baltimore defense continues to age. With the announcement of Ray Lewis’ retirement earlier this season, this could be the Raven’s last Super Bowl run for a while. The team will still be competitive, but until they reboot some of the key defensive positions I don’t expect them to go deep in the playoffs.

Much to my chagrin, Joe Flacco has been outstanding when it comes to the big play at the end of the big game. Ray Rice balances out the offense, so unlike the Ravens teams of yore this offense has a shot at keeping this game competitive.

New England’s offense has been ridiculous. Even though Gronkowski just got put on IR, they are loaded with weapons. Shane Vereen popped on to my radar last week and he isn’t even listed on their depth chart.

john-billThese two teams are led by standout NFL coaches in Bill Belichick and John Harbaugh. This game has all the makings of a classic AFC Championship. I believe that it will be close, but New England comes out on top.

New England 31, Baltimore 27

 

Category: NFL, NFL Playoffs, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , ,
madelinefresco | January 17, 2013
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Go For Two: Playoffs! NFC Championship Game.

San Francisco at Atlanta Sunday 3:00PM ET

image courtesy of hinterlandgazette.comColin Kaepernick. Matt Ryan. Michael Crabtree. Julio Jones. Frank Gore. Michael Turner.

If you’re not already excited about this game, there is no hope for you. Everyone wrote-off Atlanta, even this gal. But, some how, some way — they got it done. Yet, that statement will be the focus of many questions going into this game for Atlanta. Why can’t Atlanta get it done sooner in a game? Why is it always down to the wire? Why do the Falcons let teams creep back in?

Atlanta better have an answer to those questions this week. San Francisco was on fire during the entire regular season, but now? They are going nuclear. I know it first hand, I’m a Green Bay fan. Colin Kaepernick was clearly the right direction to go in for San Francisco. No hindsight needed. Green Bay could’ve beat Alex Smith. But Colin? Clearly not. Green Bay couldn’t keep their heads on straight against Frank Gore, a hot passing game, plus Colin Kaepernick running all over us. The biggest insult? Oh, just a 56 yard run by Kaepernick for a TD.

Image courtesy of deadspin.comThis is what the Falcons get to look forward to. I only hope that Atlanta learned from our mistakes. We were actually doing pretty well until a muffed punt and Rodgers throwing an interception. Atlanta needs to keep the turnovers at zero. They need to keep Colin Kaepernick in the pocket and make him throw instead of run. The Falcons need to play an entire game, and not take a nap during the third quarter.

Good luck Atlanta. I hope you win.

 

Category: Aaron Rodgers, AFC West, Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Green Bay Packers, Julio Jones, Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, NFC West, NFL, NFL Division WInners, NFL Playoffs, QB, San Francisco 49ers | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Jacqueline | January 11, 2013
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AFC Playoff Preview

Baltimore (4) vs Denver (1) – Saturday January 12 – 4:30 p.m.

This match is between the AFC North and AFC West champions. After coming off of an easy win last week versus Indianapolis, the Ravens appear ready for another playoff run. However, coming into Denver isn’t an easy task and I suspect they may falter.

polamalu-sacks-flaccoThe Broncos are one of the hottest teams in the playoffs winning 11 straight games that landed them the #1 playoff seed in the AFC. Peyton Manning is having one of his best season following neck surgery. They seem to have it all together right now. Winning NFL games is quite a feat and winning 11 in a row is certainly nothing to ignore, however that stretch was a little padded. In that span they beat two playoff teams: Baltimore and Cincinnati. The rest of the teams were pretty much duds.

Keeping that in mind… I still pick Denver to win this game. Denver’s defense is one of the best statistically in the league. They are ranked higher than Baltimore in nearly every category. The Denver D are tied with the Rams for the most sacks this season at 52.0. Already looking forward to Flacco eating some dirt.

Denver’s offense, as you would suspect, is second in the league for total offense. Baltimore’s is… not. They aren’t terrible, but they aren’t putting up the numbers Peyton and his Broncos have been all season.

manning-face

Pending any catastrophic special teams play or an excessive amount of turnovers, I believe Denver runs away with this game. Not a blowout, but they win by a touchdown.

Baltimore 20, Denver 27

Houston (3) vs New England (2) – Sunday January 13 – 4:30 p.m.

I was excited about this matchup when it was played on December 10th. Then the Patriots blew out the Texans ,which Alabama mimicked Monday night versus Notre Dame. Houston didn’t look like it belonged on the same field as New England in their last game. I don’t expect a change, but I am going to naively say that it won’t be quite the blowout as last time.

brady-lose

The Texan’s skid into the playoff still worries me. It may have been enough momentum to beat the Bengals, but not this Patriots team, not in Foxboro, not this year. This team is out for blood after losing the Super Bowl last year and they aren’t going home in the first round of the playoffs.

New England 31, Houston 20

Category: AFC West, NFL Division WInners, NFL Playoffs |
madelinefresco | January 11, 2013
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Go For two: Playoffs! Green Bay at Niners.

Image courtesty of aol.sportingnews.com

Come on Matthews, I want a win!

 

GB at Niners 8:00PM ET

Okay, here’s the deal. I don’t want to play the Niners. Atlanta? Absolutely. Seahawks? Hell, yes. The Niners? I don’t like the way that cookie might crumble.

Green Bay has some flaws. One big one, protecting against the run, was taken care of last week. But it was taken care of because we didn’t have to worry about the Viking’s quarterback, Webb, at all. We won that game, and I’m pumped. The only problem is, the match-up that it now presents. The Packers now get their second, or maybe first, biggest flaw exposed — our inability to protect Aaron Rodgers. Our offensive line is disastrous. Aaron Rodgers is one of the most sacked quarterbacks in the league. Not the distinction the current reigning league MVP was hoping to achieve this year.

Image courtesty of csnbayarea.com

Not these guys again!

So, I know! Let’s play the third best team in total defense — the Niners. Yay (insert sarcasm)! Let’s play against the Smith brothers! Yay! Justin Smith will be active for the game, but we can only hope, that after a month off, he’s a little rusty and a bit overwhelmed.

Green Bay needs to hope that Mr. Kaepernick is in awe of the playoffs and is stuck looking at the grand scale of it all instead of putting in a good performance. The Packers also need to be hoping that they got a little practice against the read-option when playing Webb last week. PLUS, one can only hope the ability to stop the run can carry over from the Vikings playoff game to Frank Gore this week, because the Packers won’t get the privilege of playing against such a weak quarterback this time.

Image courtesy of mydualities.wordpress.com

Me, except I have brown hair, and I’m not a cartoon.

 

Ah, the playoffs. The time I pull out my hair, take tums, and can’t decide between sitting, standing, and pacing during the game. I usually do all three.

As always, GO PACK!


 

 

Madeline Fresco is a novelist who lives in San Francisco. She is the author of CROSSED THE LINE, available for Kindle at Amazon.com, for Nook at Barnes & Noble, and as an ePub at other eBook retailers. You can also listen to her novel as a free, serialized audiobook at madelinefresco.com.

Category: Aaron Hernandez, AFC West, Clay Matthews, Colin Kaepernick, Green Bay Packers, NFC West, NFL, NFL Division WInners, NFL Playoffs, QB, San Francisco 49ers | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
madelinefresco | January 4, 2013
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Go For Two: Playoffs! Seahawks at Redskins

courtesy of csnwashington.com

Who will lead their team to victory?

Wow! Rookie against rookie. Both of these quarterbacks have shined in their NFL debut season. It was thought that RGIII could be a star, but nobody new how much. On the other hand, it was presumed during off-season that Matt Flynn, who shined in the 2011 season finale of the Packers versus the Lions, would be the starter for the Seahawks. Then, gasp, Old Pete picked Russel Wilson instead.

But it’s not just the quarterbacks that shine in these two offenses. Both have excellent running backs in Alfred Morris and Marshawn Lynch. Lynch was more of a known quantity, but Morris? Another Washington rookie — but he seemed to come out of the blue (not out of the blue, exactly. He came from Florida Atlantic.)

Washington will have to prepare for Seattle’s ability to put up big points. 58 points against the Cards, 50 against the Bills, and 42 against the 49ers. Those are impressive numbers.

courtesy of articles.latimes.comAnother scary aspect of Seattle is their secondary. Sherman is a tough and talented cornerback although, a little hot-headed. He was the one that started talking smack to Brady as Mr. Bundchen tried to walk off the field when the Patriots lost to the Seahawks. You don’t have to like the guy, which I don’t, but you do have to prepare for him.

 

courtesy of grantland

Sexy, funny, and smart. Oh, and a pretty good football player

So here is what it really comes down to for me. I don’t like Pete Carroll. I don’t like Sherman’s attitude. I don’t like the Fail Mary that got them here and cost my Packers the 2nd seed. On the other hand, I do like RGIII, I do like the fact that Washington is in the playoffs because they beat two teams that I despise — the New York Football Giants, and America’s team, the Cowboys.

GO REDSKINS


Madeline Fresco is a novelist who lives in San Francisco. She is the author of CROSSED THE LINE, available for Kindle at Amazon.com, for Nook at Barnes & Noble, and as an ePub at other eBook retailers. You can also listen to her novel as a free, serialized audiobook at madelinefresco.com.

Category: NFC East, NFC West, NFL, NFL Division WInners, NFL Playoffs, NFL Wildcard, RG3, Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Jacqueline | January 4, 2013
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Wildcard Weekend: AFC Playoff Preview

watt

Cincinatti vs. Houston, Saturday 4:30 p.m. 

Houston was a sexy pick for the 2013 Super Bowl champion (and my personal pick) before the season began.

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Category: Houston Texans, Joe Flacco, NFL, NFL Division WInners, NFL Playoffs, NFL Wildcard | Tags: , ,
madelinefresco | January 3, 2013
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Go For Two: Playoffs! Vikings at Packers

Vikings at Packers Saturday 8:00PM ET

image courtesy of sporthdwalls.com

I’m back baby!

I can’t believe the Packers couldn’t put away the Vikings last week. Yet, it was clear to see how. The Packers have a serious problem with stopping the run. Especially someone as ridiculously talented as Adrian Peterson. An Adrian Peterson who had the goal of beating Dickerson’s record.

So this week, we get to do it all over again, but we get to do it at Lambeau. The Packers are going to be in front of a home crowd which should help. However, Aaron Rodgers does like playing in domes better, and there was that wildly disappointing game last year, when the Pack had a bye, and home field advantage, but still lost to the New York Football Giants. So, home field advantage may not be such an advantage.

However, it stung last year for the Packers to go 15-1, have a bye, and to lose. They have to be thinking about that right now while going into the playoffs. Especially having lost last week to the Vikings. However, the Packers did get themselves into a 13-0 hole to start the game. That meant that the Vikings got to run the ball all day and exploit the Packers deficiency.

image courtesy of twincities.com

Jared Allen is scary, and scary good. I just wish he wasn’t playing against my Pack

This will be Ponders first playoff experience. The Vikings are white-hot right now. They were counted out as being able to make it into the playoffs just a few weeks ago, and oh how they have proved everyone wrong. They have the drive, they have Peterson, and they have a second year quarterback who is peaking at just the right time.

The Packers are going to have to use their no-huddle offense and get some points on the board fast. That will limit the Vikings ability to just use the run as their only weapon. Don’t forget, the first time these two teams met, despite Peterson again putting up crazy numbers, the Packers still got the W.

courtesy of bossip.comRandall Cobb looks like he will be back, as well as Jordy Nelson. Trusty Charles Woodson will be back, too. The defense could use his on-field leadership.

I’d like to say I’m excited for this game. As anyone who has a beloved team knows, it’s hard to get excited. You’re mostly just nervous. I don’t want the Pack to be out in the first round.

So, as always, GO PACK.


Madeline Fresco is a novelist who lives in San Francisco. She is the author of CROSSED THE LINE, available for Kindle at Amazon.com, for Nook at Barnes & Noble, and as an ePub at other eBook retailers. You can also listen to her novel as a free, serialized audiobook at madelinefresco.com.

Category: Aaron Rodgers, Adrian Peterson, Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers, James Jones, NFL Playoffs, NFL Wildcard, QB | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
madelinefresco | December 27, 2012
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Go For Two: Water Cooler Topics For Week 17

Week 17! There is no need to talk about players, or team personalities, it’s the time of the year of win or go home, win and get a bye, and still for the sorry few — playing for some trace amount of respect.

courtesy of thecensus.wordpress.com

Somehow, the Cowboys managed to do it again. They are like the annoying little brother you have to take everywhere with you, because Mom said so. Why, oh, why do the Cowboys have to be considered the game of the week! Why do they get the prime time slot? Ugh. It’s because it’s win or go home for the Cowboys. But if you don’t like the Cowboys, which a lot of people don’t, we have to watch this game. This is why a lot of us hate the Cowboys — because they are shoved down our throats. I know this is one football fan who hopes they do the latter, and GO HOME!

 

 

courtesy of totalpackers.com

Also, I like Washington. I like RGIII. He’s like Aaron Rodgers, you’re happy he’s your quarterback, not just because he is an exceptional athlete, but because you would want to hang out with the guy. Sorry Andrew Luck, you look like a psychopath. In fact, if I saw Mr. Luck walking on my side of the street, as a woman, I might cross over to the other side of the street as soon as I got a chance. Tony Romo, I wouldn’t cross over to the other side of the street if I saw you, I’d take the opportunity to punch you in your face and wipe away that stupid grin of yours. But I digress.

 

The real game of the week to watch is …

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Category: Aaron Rodgers, Adrian Peterson, AFC West, Andrew Luck, Arizona Cardinals, Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Clay Matthews, Colin Kaepernick, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Eli Manning, Houston Texans, James Jones, Jay Cutler, Kansas City Chiefs, Marshawn Lynch, Miami Dolphins, NFC East, NFC West, NFL, NFL Division WInners, NFL Playoffs, NFL Wildcard, Philadelphia Eagles, QB, RG3, Russell Wilson, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tony Romo, Women | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
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