Wudup Doe!

#DaRundown Sports is ready for this coming up NFL season just like everyone else. The “exhibition” season is over. I couldn’t watch it for a variety reasons but the painful watching of 4th quarters with guys that didn’t make the team is done.

Down here in Atlanta the stage is set. College kickoff games in the books and the next big show is the Week 1 game between the Saints vs. Falcons. In my opinion the rivalry between New Orleans is slept on somewhat by the national media. In past years the game has gotten slotted for prime time but it almost seems to be presented as a QB match up between Drew Brees and boring-as-paint-drying Matt Ryan (see Hard Knocks).

For the longest the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens was the unanimous choice for best rivalry. Right when it looked like Falcons Saints would be the premier rivalry series, Seattle found Russel Wilson (Hero to those 6 foot and under) and San Francisco got Jim Harbaugh. The post season success of both franchises catapulted them into the national spot light conveniently after the Saints and Falcons had consecutive sub par years. Saints without mastermind Sean Peyton in 2012 and the Falcons due to injuries to a top heavy team the next year.

While I’m not a fan of the Week 1 divisional match up, the NFL wants you in by Week 1.  So they front load the schedule with interest and back load it too. Both teams have alternating possession of the divisional championship belt starting in 2009 and wasn’t until this past NFL season where neither team held it. There are some similarites in Seahawks-49ers cycle because they have been going back and forth since 2010. You can put a ** on that 2010 season because Seattle wins the division with a  7-9 record.