Seventeen Years of the NFL: Ranking the Wild Card Games, Pt. 1

Tier I – It’s Just Bad (sometimes just by one team), Boring Football

68.) 2002 AFC Wild Card – (A5) Colts 0 @ (A4) Jets 41

Review: This is the largest blowout since the new playoff format began. Oddly, it was also the very first playoff game since the new format began, so it really a case of “it can’t get any worse.” In a game that was 17-0 by the time Manning went back to throw his 4^th pass the Jets dominated in every way, outgaining the Colts 396-176, with Pennington going 19-25 for 222 yards and 3 tds. Manning was admittedly bad, but the Colts defense and run game was worse, in a game that marked the high-point of the Herman Edwards/Chad Pennington era. For them, it was mostly “it can’t get any better.”

Interesting/Memorable Fact: This was the Jets last playoff game in the Meadowlands, and the last home playoff win by either team that called the Meadowlands home.

67.) 2010 AFC Wild Card – (A5) Ravens 30 @ (A4) Chiefs 7

Review: To describe this game in one line, it was Matt Cassel against the Ravens defense. It should be no surprise that Cassel went 9-18 and somehow in those 18 passes managed to throw three interceptions. That said, this was the only time that Flacco played well in playoff game in his first three seasons, going 25-34 for  265 yards and 2 tds. The Ravens had a yardage edge of 390-161, and ran 78 plays versus 40 against a horribly outmatched Chiefs team that coasted to the AFC West Title mainly because of god-awful special teams by the Chargers.

Interesting/Memorable Fact: This was the 3^rd straight time the Ravens played the 1pm Sunday game in the Wild Card round. All three were Ravens wins on the road, and in the three, they outscored their opponents 90-30.

66.) 2015 AFC Wild Card - (A5) Chiefs 30 @ (A4) Texans 0

Review: This game was over after one play. One special teams play. We didn't have to see one real 'snap' before the game was essentially over, as Kniles Davis ran the opening kick-off back for a touchdown - running it back 106 yards. The game after that was more sad than anything to watch, an old school blowout where the Texans never really had any life. Brian Hoyer was never removed and left out to suffer a 15-34 game with 4 INTs, for a nice 15.9 rating. The Texans defense did nothing, with JJ Watt triple-teamed most of the game. It wasn't a complete domination to the level of the first two games, but it was more sad that it was being done to the home team.

Interesting/Memorable Fact: This was the earliest into a game the winning score was recorded, so in every other shutout in playoff history, the opening score by the winning team was scored later than this. Not a huge surprise, I guess, this being the opening play.

65.) 2005 NFC Wild Card – (N5) Panthers 23 @ (N4) Giants 0

Review: Stop me if this sounds familiar, this was a snoozefest where one team dominated the proceedings, outgaining the loser 335-132. The scariest part of this one, though, was that the Giants were the 4^th highest scoring team in the NFL in 2005, and the Panthers made their offense look amateurish. Eli Manning was awful in his playoff debut, matching Matt Cassel in throwing 3 interceptions In just 18 throws. Steve Smith was Steve Smith, but the real story was that defense that held Tiki Barber (off of an 1.860 yard season) to 41 yards on 13 carries.

Interesting/Memorable Plays: Steve Smith had a rushing and receiving touchdown in this game, which was the most recent time a receiver has done that in the same game.

64.) 2007 AFC Wild Card – (A6) Titans 6 @ (A3) Chargers 17

Review: For the first time, the losing team wasn’t held to under 200 yards. It might seem odd to rank a game that was only ended at an 11 point difference this low, but all you need to know about the game was that the Titans QB was Vince Young and the Titans RB was Chris Brown. That is how good Albert Haynesworth was in his prime, that his defense could carry a team with those skill players to the playoffs. Rivers had a nice game going 19-30 for 292 yards, but he could have done less and just let Vince Young screw it up some more.

Interesting/Memorable Fact: The Titans actually led this game 6-0 at the half. It is sad they didn’t pull it off, actually, because then the Chargers wouldn’t have beaten Indy the following week, plus we would have gotten that mess of a playoff team in Tennessee against the 16-0 Patriots.

63.) 2012 NFC Wild Card - (N6) Vikings 10 @ (N3) Packers 24

This game was essentially over the second it was announced that Joe Webb was starting in place of Christian Ponder. The only thing that saved this game from being last on this list was the first Vikings drive, where Webb had a nice read-option run and they drove it down and come close to getting a TD to take a quick 7-0 lead. Of course, the Packers held them to a field goal, and then started just systematically taking over the game. What hurt even more for this game was that the Vikings defense did a good job against a listless Packers offense, holding them to seven(!) straight three-and-outs in the 2nd half, not even allowing a fun blowout. 

Interest/Memorable Fact: Joe Webb set a new record for the fewest starts in the regular season for a playoff starter with zero, a rare unbreakable record. Even Rob Johnson, in 1999, started a game, as did Rex Grossman when he came back from injury late in 2005.


62.) 2005 AFC Wild Card – (A5) Jaguars 3 @ (A4) Patriots 28

Review: In classic Dynasty-Era Patriots fashion, what is a close game by yards somehow became a total joke of a game because of some long touchdowns. Asante Samuel, as he is known to do, returned an interception for a TD right after Ben Watson of all people broke a couple tackles for a long TD. Brady, in classic Brady fashion, completed just 15-27 passes, but threw for 3 TDs. In more classic Patriots fashion, Willie McGinest somehow had 4.5 sacks in this game. What I’m saying is that if you could draw up a classic Dynasty-Era Patriots blowout, this is how that game comes out.

Interesting/Memorable Fact: This was the last playoff win by a defending Super Bowl Champion. The 2006 and 2009 Steelers didn't make the playoffs. The 2007 Colts, 2008 Giants and 2011 Packers all had great seasons (13-3, 12-4, 15-1) but lost their divisional round home game, and the 2010 Saints lost to the Seahawks.

Interesting/Memorable Fact: This was the last time a non-Super Bowl Patriots playoff game was called by anyone other than Jim Nantz and Phil Simms (because they couldn’t, because it was on ABC). That streak will end probably sometime around 2020.

61.) 2016 AFC Wild Card - (A5) Raiders 14 @ (A4) Texans 27

Review: This was a game about as dreadful as everyone expected, with the Raiders forced to start Kevin Cook after Derek Carr broke his leg in Week 16, derailing a potential #2 seed, and then backup Matt McGloin, who could have lead a win over a bad Houston team (starting Brock Osweiler) got hurt in Week 17. Connor Cook was every bit as dreadful as people figured he would be - going 18-45 with three picks. The Raiders actually made it 10-7 late in the first quarter, but the Texans scored 17 straight points to remove any bit of drama that the game would have. The Texans weren't great, Osweiler too  was 14-25 with a pick, but at least you had some fun with the Texans defense. In the end, the game was inevitable.

Interesting/Memorable Fact: This marked the fourth time the Texans made the playoffs in their history, and the fourth time they made it as AFC South Winners. Each time, they were gifted the much maligned 4:30pm Saturday time-slot. At least they've made well, going 3-1 in those games.


60.) 2018 AFC Wild Card - (A6) Colts 21 @ (A3) Texans 7

Review: The Colts got three TDs on their first four drives (the other ended in a lucky interception). The Texans started the game with seven drives without scoring (five punts, one pick, one turnover on downs). It was a complete beatdown, so much so the Colts seemed to not truly care to add to their lead in the second half, easily sitting on a 21-0 lead they never even seemed for a second capable of blowing. Luck was good, but the real star was the Colts revived run game, with their great OL paving the way to a 148 yard day for Marlon Mack. The defense hounded Deshaun Watson, ending a season that two weeks prior seemed to line up with a #2 seed for the Texans.

Interesting/Memorable Play: The Colts interception of Watson came on a really sweet defensive playcall, where the Colts showed a clear man defense, complete with nickelback following a tight end across the formation, but switched to zone after the snap and completely fooled Watson. So much great NFL nerdery was borne out of that play.

59.) 2006 AFC Wild Card – (A6) Chiefs 8 @ (A3) Colts 23

Review: We return to Standard Protocol here, with the Colts winning by running 80 plays to the Chiefs 45 and outgaining them 435-126. That was the 3^rd largest differential in NFL playoff history. The big story was the historically shitty Colts run defense limiting Larry Johnson, when he was still good, to 32 yards on 13 rushes. By the way, those other two games ended 41-0 (NYG def. MIN, 2000) and 62-7 (JAX def. MIA, 1999). This was one obviously much closer, and that is because Manning threw three interceptions, marking the first time a QB was ever, half-correctly, criticized in a game where he went 30-38.

Interesting/Memorable Play: Lawrence Tynes, the man who would in his 2^nd career with the Giants make two field goals that won NFC Championship games in overtime, missed a 23-yard field goal; the game was played in a dome.

58.) 2014 AFC Wild Card - (A5) Bengals 10 @ (A4) Colts 27

Review: The Colts won their 2nd straight Wild Card game, but unlike the previous year that needed a furious comeback (a game way, way up this list), this time the Colts walked over a sleepless, overmatched Bengals team. The Bengals were missing AJ Green, and were going back to a place they lost 27-0 earlier in the season. In that sense, I guess you can say the Bengals kept it closer, but their offense was overmatched. Andy Dalton once again had a poor playoff game, completing 50% of his passes for under 10 ypc. Andrew Luck was brilliant, if a little controlled, as the Colts repeatedly got stopped in the red zone, but this game had little doubt in terms of who would win.

Interesting/Memorable Play: The only real highlight from the game was a patented 'Oh My God, Andrew Luck is amazing!' TD that he threw to Donte Moncrief. It was a 40-yard strike thrown as he was getting hit and being taken to the ground. It was an amazing play that got lost in one of the more boring playoff games in recent years.

57.) 2016 AFC Wild Card - (A6) Dolphins 12 @ (A3) Steelers 30

Review: The 2016 Wild Card Playoffs were a disaster, mostly due to the imbalanced QBs. In the AFC, both the losers (the Raiders in the game ranked worse than this) were playing backups. For Miami, making their first playoffs in eight years, it was losing Ryan Tannehill late in the regular season and starting Matt Moore - not as much of a downgrade as Derek Carr to Connor Cook, but it was still dreadful. Matt Moore actually played decently, but most of that occurred after they were already trailing big. The Steelers scored TDs on their opening drives, both catch-and-run's by Antonio Brown, which more or less ended the game right there. Roethlisberger took most of the second half off, with the team just relying on Le'veon Bell. This too seemed inevitable, and it ended up being so.

Interesting/Memorable Play(s): On the Steelers third drive, where they scored a third straight TD to take a 21-3 lead, the Steelers ran 10 plays, each a run by Le'Veon Bell. On the first eight, Bell gained at least 5 yards on each, and gained 82 yards. That took Pittsburgh to 1st and Goal on the 1 yard line. Two Bell plays later and the game was definitely over.

56.) 2004 AFC Wild Card – (A6) Broncos 24 @ (A3) Colts 49

Review: Since I placed the Episode 1 of this two-part movie quite a bit higher than it probably should, I am downgrading this game for being a bad sequel. Instead of accentuating what was fun about the first iteration of this playoff game, the Colts did the opposite. Their long TDs came via YAC instead of bombs by Manning. Manning threw a pick which allowed him to avoid another perfect passer rating playoff game. The Broncos actually played decent against a prevent in the 2^nd half this time, making the game seem slightly closer than it was the first time. All in all, the least enjoyable Manning blowout win ever.

Interesting/Memorable Play: Marvin Harrison did little in this game as Champ Bailey blanketed him (while Roc Alexander did the opposite of blanket Reggie Wayne), but he did lay a hellacious block on Bailey on Wayne’s 2^nd touchdown.

55.) 2005 NFC Wild Card – (N6) Redskins 17 @ (N3) Buccaneers 10

Review: This game happened right before the one right above it, and is easily among the worst one-score playoff games in my lifetime. The Redskins won the game, but did it with a record-low 120 yards, and a record-low 25(!) net yards passing. Mark Brunell went 7-15 for 48 yards, while Chris Simms (remember him – he was the starting QB for an 11-5 team) went 25-38 for just 198 yards. Sean Taylor (RIP) returned a fumble for a touchdown, and that and a disputed non-catch that would’ve been the tying touchdown by Edell Shepard (again, who?) marked the only two interesting things to happen.

Interesting/Memorable Play: Sean Taylor, after his TD, was ejected for allegedly (but pretty clearly) spitting in the face of Cadillac Williams.

Interesting/Memorable Fact II: I was babysitting for a friend during each of these two 2005 Saturday Playoff games. We started playing NFL Blitz in the middle of the Pats game. Way more fun than the alternative.

Tier II – Meh… I won’t rewatch, but at least I didn’t want to stop watching.

54.) 2011 NFC Wild Card – (N5) Falcons 2 @ (N4) Giants 24

Review: Just imagine if the Falcons convert either of those two failed 4^th-down conversion (I believe the scores were 7-2 and 10-2 when they happened), this game could have been higher up. It was oddly defense-heavy in the 1^st half, but the Giants started dominating. Eli Manning finally put up a great playoff game at home, going 23-32 for 277 yards and 3 tds, after two destitute performances in his first two. Hakeem Nicks was the real hero, though, breaking off a long TD to make it 17-2 and slam the door on any chances the Falcons had. One thing: why are there so many QBs that get caught doing illegal grounding in the End Zone?

Interesting/Memorable Fact: This was Matt Ryan’s 3^rd playoff game, and the 3^rd out of those three games that he has failed to have 10 yards per completion or throw for 200 yards. He had 199 yards on 24 completions in this game, after having 186 on 20 in 2010 and 199 again on 26 in 2008.

53.) 2008 AFC Wild Card – (A6) Ravens 27 @ (A3) Dolphins 9

Review: In one of those incredibly predictable games the Ravens did all of those Raven-ish things, like win by forcing five turnovers against a team that had only 13 on the season, and picking off Pennington four times after he threw just seven picks on the year. The Ravens won when their QB completed just 9 of 27 passes. The only reason that this game is high is because watching the Ravens do Raven-type things is usually quite fun. WatchingEd Reed picking off two passes is fun. Watching Haloti Ngata, Ray Lewis andTerrell Suggs dole out hellacious blocks on Reeds TD return was awesome. At their best, the Ravens defense is easily worth the price of admission.

Interesting/Memorable Play: On Ed Reed’s second interception, he basically sprints the second the Dolphins snap the ball to a spot to cut off a slant, and starts this well before Pennington even looks to that side, and easily picks off a pass. If ever you can describe Ed Reed in one play, that one is it.

52.) 2014 NFC Wild Card - (N5) Cardinals 16 @ (N4) Panthers 27

Review: 78. That's the only real takeaway from this game. That number represents the number of total yards the Cardinals had in this game. That's a little skewed as they lost about 20 yards on the game's final play - a lateral-o-rama, but still this was the most dominant defensive performance in a long time. Of course, the Cardinals were starting a hapless Ryan Lindley - who threw his first career TD pass in this game. The Cardinals actually led at halftime because of a bad Cam Newton pick and good special teams play, but it was inevitable the Panthers would take over. The final stats for Lindley was two picks and 82 yards (on 16-28 passing), and with the four sacks they got 51 net passing yards. The star for the Panthers was, unsurprisingly, Luke Kuechly, but it was a total team domination of a hopeless offense.

Interesting/Memorable Play: To me the play of the game was Luke Kuechly's leaping interception near the goal line. This came right after a sack-fumble by Cam and a return by the Cardinals to the 8 yard line. Despite the putrid offensive performance, the Cardinals were 8 yards away from making it 27-21. On the first play of the drive, Kuechly made his interception, capping a brilliant day for him in particular.

51.) 2008 NFC Wild Card – (N6) Eagles 26 @ (N3) Vikings 14

Review: This is the first game on the list that I didn’t watch live and didn’t go back and watch at any point other than brief highlights. Not much to share here. It was a close game in a way, and featured some big plays, like a long touchdown run by Peterson, a 76-yard screen pass for a TD to Brian Westbrook. And of course, like the sun rising and taxes, Asante Samuel returned an interception for a TD in a playoff game. Also, this game was notable for the fact that it provides evidence that Tarvaris Jackson started a playoff game. He had a most-Tarvaris like day, going 15-35 for 165 yards and a pick. The scariest thing is that if he wins the starting job, Tarvaris has a shot at starting another one with Seattle.

Interesting/Memorable Fact: The Vikings leading wide receiver on the day was the one and only Bobby Wade. It is odd that he hasn’t played since 2009, considering he put up decent depth receiver type numbers over the course of his career.

50.) 2003 NFC Wild Card – (N6) Cowboys 10 @ (N3) Panthers 29

Review: I was in Italy during Wild Card Weekend in 2003, so I know little of these games as well, especially this one. What I do know is the Panthers dominated, outgaining the Cowboys 380-202, but were forced into five field goals by John Kasay. Jake Delhomme started his first postseason game and played well, with one perfectly thrown deep fade to Steve Smith for a TD. As for the Cowboys, all you need to know is somehow the combination of Quincy Carter and Troy Hambrick couldn’t score enough points. Actually, given that it was them, I’m surprised they got to 10.

Interesting/Memorable Fact: This game set an NFL record for most sub-40 yard field goals, as all six field goals kicked in the game were from under 40 yards.

(I totally made this record up, This game could very well have it, but who knows – overall, I couldn’t think of anything interesting or memorable about the game).


49.) 2013 AFC Wild Card - (A6) Chargers 27 @ (A3) Bengals 10

Review: Well, they all can't be good. The three other games on Wild Card Weekend in 2013 were all great, and appropriately way higher up the list. This was a sad game, really. Hard to watch. The Bengals were a really good team, with probably one of the 3 most talented rosters outside of their starting QB. Well, sadly for them the starting QB is important. Andy Dalton had his 3rd straight bad playoff game, this time with two awful 2nd-half turnovers including a back-breaking pick when the Chargers retook the lead. The Bengals defense finally seemed to miss Geno Atkins and Leon Hall, as they had no real answer for the Chargers offense, who were at their most efficient. Rivers did not have to do much, but he was solid. Dalton was not. And the wait for a playoff win continues for the Bengals.

Interesting/Memorable Play: The game turned when, tied 7-7, the Bengals were driving for a TD to go up 14-7 and Gio Bernard fumbled at the 3-yard line. The Bengals never got that close to a TD again.

Interesting/Memorable Fact: The Bengals made it a 5th year in a row that a team that went 8-0 at home in the regular season lost a game, joining the '09-'10 Pats, '11 Packers and '12 Broncos.

48.) 2007 NFC Wild Card – (N5) Giants 24 @ (N4) Buccaneers 14

Review: The Giants started their march to the 2007 Title a lot like how they started their march to the 2011 title, with a solid win over a good but not great team from the NFC South. In both games, the Giants scored 24 points, and Eli Manning had multiple TDs and no picks. The weirdest part of the game was the fact that the Giants had -1 yards of offense in the 1^st quarter, with no first downs, and still won the game rather easily. I guess that is what happens when the other team has an offense that features a guy who the Giants cast off in 2004 (Ike Hilliard) and Earnest Graham.

Interesting/Memorable Fact: Michael Pittman caught 5 passes for 62 yards, being the Buccaneers best receiver on the day. What is interesting about this: Michael Pittman is a running back who had just one carry on the game, and also the fact that I was shocked Michael Pittman was still in the league in 2007.

47.) 2009 AFC Wild Card – (A5) Jets 24 @ (A4) Bengals 14

Review: The Jets have a way of following the Giants. In 2002, they matched the Giants 41-0 playoff score. In 2009, they matched the Giants 24-14 score from two years previous. This game could easily have been tight had Shayne Graham not shanked two field goals from inside 40 yards. Either way, Cedric Benson and Shonn Greene both had good days, but only one of the two QBs did. Carson Palmer was undone by drops and the power of Darrelle Revis. Mark Sanchez was brilliantly efficient, going 12-15 for 182 yards and a TD.

Interesting/Memorable Plays: In the game, Jets punter Steve Weatherford got hurt early, so kicker Jay Feely punted, and didn’t embarrass himself, with 7 punts with a 32 yard average.

Interesting/Memorable Fact: The game was stunningly called by the trio of Tom Hammond, Joe Theismann and Joe Gibbs. Surprisingly, Theismann was better than Gibbs, but overall it worked about as well as the Matt Millen as NBC Football Expert idea. NBC smartly replaced those two with Mike Mayock the next season.

46.) 2016 NFC Wild Card - (N6) Lions 6 @ (N3) Seahawks 26\

Review: The Seahawks went in the Russell Wilson era from playing a slew of great playoffs games to a steady diet of bad ones, this being way up the list. Russell Wilson was great, the Seahawks defense better, and the Lions never really had a chance. They did cut it to 10-6, but the game ended quickly thereafter with two Seahawks TD drives buttressed by two quick punts by Detroit. In the end, the Lions were in no real position to challenge Seattle. The Lions were outscored for the year, easily the worst playoff participant on the NFC half, and played like it.

Interesting/Memorable Play: The only truly memorable play in the game was Paul Richardson's circus catch on an early TD. It was just two yards, but featured a bit of patented Russell Wilson scrambling, him throwing up a lob to a fully covered Richardson, and Richardson going through a player to catch one on the back line. The Seahawks receivers have never been all that great - Doug Baldwin aside - but have made some special catches.


45.) 2012 AFC Wild Card - (A5) Colts 9 @ (A4) Ravems 24

Just like the other two miracle Giants runs, the Ravens started their four-game march to the Super Bowl in a slightly listless game against the Colts. The only memorable part of game was that it was the start of Joe Flacco's amazing playoff run. Flacco wasn't even that good in the 1st half, but facing a 3rd and 19 early in the 3rd quarter, he just threw one up to Boldin for 50 yards. On the next drive, he threw another lob up to Boldin for 46 yards. This would become a recurring theme for the Ravens in their playoffs, as were other things, like Ray Lewis' impending last games (this was his last home game), and Ray Rice fumbling. 

Interesting/Memorable Fact: With this win, the Ravens became just the sixth team to win a playoff in five straight seasons, the most recent being the 2003-07 Patriots (right behind them, the 2000-04 Eagles).


44.) 2012 AFC Wild Card - (A6) Bengals 13 @ (A3) Texans 19

In a rare playoff rematch, the Bengals and Texans met at the same place at the same time on the same network (NBC's kind of black-sheep 4:30 Saturday Wild Card Game), and despite this game being 15 points closer than last year, it was probably a little worse. Instead of the energy of the first playoff game in Reliant Stadium, the fans were dour as their assumed first round bye had slipped through their fingers. Instead of this being JJ Watt's coming out party (2011 Playoffs, when he pick-sixed the Bengals to break a 10-10 game), it was a relatively quiet game by Watt's standards. Instead of a dominant Texans effort, it was more about how awful Andy Dalton was on deep throws. Just a forgetttable game that is propped up because at least it was somewhat close.

Interesting/Memorable Play: It was during a play early in the 2nd quarter when NBC cutaway to Al and Cris at Lambeau to give us the news that Christian Ponder would not play against Green Bay, making this the first game to not only be boring, but to cause people to already dislike the game to come.

43.) 2018 AFC Wild Card - (A5) Chargers 23 @ (A4) Ravens 17

Review: The Chargers led 23-3 in this game before a furious Ravens rally that always seemed a bit too farfetched. In the end, they were given 45 seconds to go 66 yards which unsurprisingly didn't happen. What's weird is the Chargers took their 23-3 lead despite not playing all that well on offense (granted, against the league's best defense), instead capitlizing on a brutal start by Lamar Jackson (fumbling twice) and the special teams (long punt returns). The Chargers defense was great, being able to physically keep up with the league's craziest run game despite playing no linebackers and seven DBs. In the end, the Chargers dream season continued for one more week, and the Ravens lost their first home playoff game in 12 years.

Interesting/Memorable Fact: The Chargers got a lot of plaudits for their inventiveness of playing seven DBs agianst the Ravens. Of course, this was somewhat by necessity and the next week they would simiarly try that against New England, and let's just say it didn't work out so well.



42.) 2015 NFC Wild Card - (N5) Packers 35 @ (N4) Redskins 18

Review: It seemed strange entering the game to see the Aaron Rodgers-led Packers as underdogs on the road against a Kirk Cousins-led Washington team, but it made sense given the way the two teams entered the game, and even more so when through the first 18 or so minutes, the Redskins sacked Rodgers for a safety, and put together two nice drives for a FG and TD to take a 12-0 lead. But 12 is not a huge lead, and by halftime it was gone. Aaron Rodgers finally got some protection, and more than that, relied on a resurrection from his running game. Both Eddie Lacy and James Starks combined for 120 yards on 24 carries, and they even used Randall Cobb out of the backfield. By halftime, it was 17-11 Packers and the game was basically over, a sad slow end for what was a really nice run for the Redskins.

Interesting/Memorable Play: The momentum seemed to turn when following the Redskins TD to make it 11-0, Dustin Hopkins missed the PAT. In the first year of the extended PAT, this would not be the last time it would wreak havoc in the playoffs.

Tier III – It wasn’t close, but it was still a Good Ride

41.) 2016 NFC Wild Card - (N5) Giants 13 @ (N4) Packers 38

Review: We finally finish our tour of awful 2016 games with the Packers stomp over the Giants. I put this in the category of it maybe being a good ride because for a half, it truly was. The Giants ballyhooed secondary was smothering the Green Bay receivers. Unlike the 2011 playoff game where Rodgers couldn't react to this type of coverage and pressure, in this one he was special. The Giants forced the Packers into five straight punts to start the game, but once Rodgers got hot, it was over, as the Packers got four TDs and the field goal in their next seven drives. For the Giants, they couldn't keep up the pressure or the coverage, and they petered out late with two straight TDs on their last two drives. In the end, it was somewhat similar to the game above, the Packers coming back from an early slow start against an NFC East team to eventually steamroll them.

Interesting/Memroable Play: Obviously, it is Randall Cobb's hail mary catch on the last play of the 1st half. Firstly, for Rodgers, this was the third in a three-part hail mary act that started teh year before against Detroit, then followed in the Divisional Round against Arizona. Secondly, it was sweet revenge for the Packers, who got back at the Giants who got a critical hail mary TD on the last play of the first half in their stunning 2011 upset.

40.) 2009 NFC Wild Card – (N6) Eagles 14 @ (N3) Cowboys 34

I remember this game turning on one (admittedly correct) overturned interception. After a back-and-forth dull 1^st quarter, the Eagles, with Michael Vick throwing a laser for a 76-yard TD to Jeremy Maclin, the Eagles appeared to pick off Tony Romo deep in Dallas territory. The stadium was damn silent at that moment, all thinking “here we go again.” In the end, the Cowboys somehow rattled off 20 more points in that quarter. The Cowboys played pretty perfect. Multiple TDs and no INTs by Romo? Check. Long run by Felix? Check. TD reception for Miles Austin? Check. Pound the shit out of the Eagles o-line missing starting center Jamaal Jackson? Check. It really was that simple.

Interesting/Memorable Fact: In what was Donovan McNabb’s last game as an Eagle, the Reid & McNabb Eagles lost their first playoff game for the first time, after not going one-and-done in 2000-2004, 2006 & 2008.

39.) 2009 AFC Wild Card – (A6) Ravens 33 @ (A3) Patriots 14

Review: The only thing wrong with this game was that the Ravens dominated the 1^st quarter so much that the rest of the game was more of a bore than a beatdown of the Patriots should have been. Just a quick reminder: The Ravens scored on the 1^st play of the game with an 80-yard TD. Brady was sack/fumbled, with the Ravens turned into a TD. After trading punts, Brady threw back-to-back interceptions which the Ravens turned into 10 more points, and it was 24-0 before 15 minutes were up. Julian Edelman replaced the ACL-ed Wes Welker admirably. Tom Brady seemingly played with no-ACL as well, as he put up a performance far worse than Manning has in any home playoff game.

Intersting/Memorable Play: Brady’s first interception (a scared throw into the middle of the field to an area where two Ravens and zero Patriots resided) was among the worst I have ever seen from a big-QB, yet that great duo of Nantz and Simms never once questioned the shittiness of the throw. Not even once. Had Mark Sanchez, or Philip Rivers made that throw, they would be talking about their "lack of poise" or some other Nantz & Simms derivative crap.

38.) 2002 NFC Wild Card – (N6) Falcons 27 @ (N3) Packers 7

Review: Michael Vick’s first playoff game started in style, with his team taking a 24-0 lead into halftime, courtesy of some solid play on his part, and the harbinger-of-an-upset blocked punt return touchdown (other than the Raiders doing it in Super Bowl XXXVII, I can’t remember a team getting one and not winning). Brett Favre was in top-form, with a 20-42 day with one td and two picks. If I do remember correctly, it was snowing during the game, making the play of the indoor team from Atlanta all the more stunning.

Interesting/Memorable Fact: This was the first time the Packers ever lost a home playoff game. Of course, since then, it has happened three more times (2004 Wild Card, 2007 Championship, 2011 Divisional), and the Packers have won just twice at home in that span.

37.) 2011 NFC Wild Card – (N6) Lions 28 @ (N3) Saints 45

Review: Here’s another game that went from a close game where an upset was brewing to a blowout because of one call, this one not so correct. The Lions sack/fumbled Brees and the ball was returned for a TD, but the play was blown dead. The score was 14-7 Lions at the time, and it would have made it 21-7. Of course, the Saints ended up scoring TDs on 5 straight 2^nd half drives (and ending the 6^th drive inside the 10) so it may not have mattered, but that run game might not have worked so well down 21-10 at the half. In other news: Brees threw for 466 yards and 3 TDs, while Calvin was Calvin.

Interesting/Memorable Fact: The Saints gained an NFL-playoff record 626 yards in the game, with 459 passing and 167 rushing. The game it beat was the Chargers over the Boston Patriots in 1964, where the Chargers put up 610 yards.

36.) 2004 NFC Wild Card – (N6) Vikings 31 @ (N3) Packers 17

Review: The Packers lost another home playoff game, and once again it was because they couldn’t stop a gifted African-American QB while Favre got pick-happy. Daunte Culpepper, fresh off of his 39 TD season threw four more (including a screen pass to Moe Williams, who was one of three interchangeable Vikings RBs along with the Whizzinator Onterrio Smith and Michael Bennett), while Favre answered it with four interceptions. This game was most notable for being the game where Randy Moss scored a TD and then faked mooning the crowd (or mooning the Lambeau Field goalpost).

Interesting/Memorable Play: What is more funny than Moss mooning the crowd was two incidents it led to:
1.) Joe Buck’s hilarious white outrage at that “despicable act” in a move where the only recourse for Buck is to say he was doing a Jim Nantz impression.
2.) Randy Moss’s impromptu interview during the week after the game where he responded that he would pay his fine with “straight cash, homey.”

35.) 2005 AFC Wild Card – (A6) Steelers 31 @ (A3) Bengals 17

Review: We all remember where we were when it happened, whenKimo von Ollhoffen, with great malice, basically ended the upward trajectory ofthe sports fastest rising star at QB. Carson Palmer was once the guy who would inevitably challenge Manning and Brady after a fantastic 2005 season. Instead, Ollhoffen did his thing, and despite a fun 1^st half where the Bengals took a 17-7 lead behind Jon Kitna, Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers won, went on to win the Super Bowl and it was Ben who challenges Manning and Brady to this day. The Kimo hit might be one of the five most memorable, important, “what-if?” plays of the 2000s.

Interesting/Memorable Play: The end-around pitchback TD throw by Ben to Cedric Wilson (who had a monster playoffs in 2005) was eerily similar to the pitch-pitchback TD throw by Warner to Fitz in the 2008 NFC Championship Game. The link: Ken Whisenhunt was the Steelers coordinator – where he earned the now-forgotten great nickname “Inspector Gadget.”

34.) 2017 NFC Wild Card - (N6) Falcons 26 @ (N3) Rams 13

Review: While the best 2016 Wild Card game featured an experienced playoff team beating a playoff newbie (first Giants' playoff appearance in five yearss), so too did 2017's worst, with the Falcons not making any mistakes, and the more talented Rams making all of them. Start with two special teams turnovers in the first half, gifting the Rams great field position. Todd Gurley also had a relatively poor game running into stacked boxes over and over again. The Rams never were able to mount much of a comeback, but kept it within striking distance the entire time, only put away by a great Matt Ryan to Julio Jones TD.

Interesting/Memorable Fact: This was the first playoff game in Los Angeles since 1994, occurring in just the Rams' second season back in Los Angeles. For the Rams, it was the first since 1989. The crowd was surprisingly good, only surprising since even in their big home games late in the year (e.g. New Orleans) the patrons had a higher than normal percentage of road fans.

33.) 2011 AFC Wild Card – (A6) Bengals 10 @ (A3) Texans 31

Review: The first playoff game in Reliant Stadium’s history gets extra points because it was just that. It was also a fun blowout because of the big-play Texans living up to that standard. Andre Johnson caught a long touchdown. Arian Foster had a long touchdown run. JJ Watt made an incredible snag of a Dalton pass and returned it to the house. It was a fun game in a raucous stadium that was built in the hopes it would one day have a game like that. The only sad part was that Matt Schaub (and Mario Williams) was on the sidelines while it happened, and instead we got TJ Yates, making this the first all-rookie QB game.

Interesting/Memorable Play: Marvin Lewis challenged the spot trying to make it 2^nd and 1 instead of 2^nd and 3 in one of the worst planned challenges I have ever seen. Of course, it wasn’t even overturned.

32.) 2006 AFC Wild Card – (A5) Jets 16 @ (A4) Patriots 37

Review: A lot of the talk before the game was about the handshake that would come at the end (yeah, that stuff started well before Spygate). In the end, after a nice victory, Belichick hugged Mangini in a “I’mdoing this to appease people, but you know I still own you” way. During the game, we saw the Patriots effortlessly take down a plucky, frisky Jets team that had the game at 23-16 early in the 4^th quarter. What followed next was pure Patriots football: Vince Wilfork recovers a lateral as he’s the only one who doesn’t think it was an incomplete pass. Patriots score a TD. Asante Samuel gets a pick-6. You can’t script things any better for that team.

Interesting/Memorable Fact: Peyton Manning apparently saw Brady quick-snapping the Jets a lot in this game and decided to utilize it against Baltimore, where it delivered mostly horrible results - Manning threw both his interceptions on plays where  he quick-snapped.

31.) 2007 NFC Wild Card – (N6) Redskins 14 @ (N3) Seahawks 35

Review: This was the final game in the Redskins emotional Todd Collins led run after the death of Sean Taylor. The game is mostly memorable because of the Seahawks relentless pass rush, keyed by the disappeared Patrick Kerney, and a rare back-to-back pick-sixes by Marcus Trufant and Jordan Babineauxm, which turned a 21-14 Seahawks lead into a 35-14 laugher. Of course, what made the game really special was that it was Joe Gibbs final game (and only the 2^nd time he went one-and-done), Mike Holmgren’s final playoff game, and another game for that incredible Qwest Field crowId.

Interesting/Memorable Play: The game was 13-0 before a Redskins TD. On the ensuing kickoff, the ball bounced before the returner caught it and went straight up and was recoverd by the ‘Skins – the rare deep onside-kick in essence. At that moment, who didn’t feel Sean Taylor was hovering over that game.

30.) 2003 AFC Wild Card – (A6) Broncos 10 @ (A3) Colts 41

Review: Yeah, it is high, but if you want to see QB beingplayed as brilliantly as it ever will be played, watch this game. On just 26 throws, Manning threw for 377 yards and 5 tds (on 22 completions). He had just the 2^nd perfect passer rating day in playoff history, and that all come when he had a Giant-sized monkey on his back having never won a playoff game. The game was notable for Brandon Stokley’s brilliance and the fact that the Colts won this game so easily (31-3 at the half) after losing to the Broncos in a meaningful game two weeks earlier in Indy 31-17 where they were outgained 465-183. Again, that was a meaningful game. Denver hammered Indy in Indy. Indy more than returned that favor.

Interesting/Memorable Play: On the game’s 2^nd TD, Marvin Harrison caught a pass around the 25 yard line and went down. A cabal of Broncos surrounded him but argued who should have had the play and none of them touched Marvin down, so Marvin got up and raced for the world’s easiest TD. It was that kind of day.

How Much Player Movement is Too Much?

Sure, it was crazy when a flurry of text messages from my friends group thread awoke me from my slumber of sugar-plum fairies or whatever the shit at 1:50am ET when Kawhi not only announced he was signing with the Clippers, but had stolen Paul George as well. Sure, it was equally crazy when I landed and in my 90 minute flight Russell Westbrook was traded straight up for Chris Paul (w/ some picks). Yes, it was crazy to see monopoly money get thrown out, for KD and Kyrie to take their talents to Brooklyn, and for so much damn else in the NBA. All of that was great.

But what are we left with? Sure, July was amazing (June for some of these deals), and it is patently clear the NBA has become the American sport's world preeminent Hot Stove, but when all the players lace up in October is it good to have so much change?

Tom Haberstroh had a great stat that 17 of the 24 All Stars in the 2017 All Star Game are no longer on the team they represented in that game. In one year, the two teams that played in teh NBA Finals have been wrecked, the Lakers and Clippers are stacked, the Thunder lost their Big-2, the Celtics lost Kyrie and Horford (the guys that were supposed to build a mini-dynasty). Even smaller things like Brogdaon in Indiana, or Bogdanovic in Utah, or Conley in Utah, or Whiteside in Portland. The league had such a facelift we have to wonder if we can keep up it with it all.

I know I shouldm't complain too much. The league is entering its widest open season in recent memory, definiteyl the most wide open since the 2014-15 season that launched the Warriors dynasty. So many teams have a shot. The Lakers have probably the best 'Big-2' but so little else. The Clips are great. We will probably all sleep on teams like the Nuggets and Bucks that largely kept the band together. It will be a damn fun season. But is so much change good?

There's two angles to answering that question. First is as the fan of the small-market team, who largely saw their stars (both premium or mid-level - like a Bogdonavic) abscond to larger cities and brigther lights. Right now, it is damn hard to the a Pacers fan, or a Thunder fan; the league is not, and likely will never be, built for teams in these markets. The worst may be a Raptors fan. Yes, the flag will fly forever, but as someone who's been a fan of teams that have won the odd titles, flags only help dull the pain for so long. And to see your dream of a repeat go to shit almost immediately has to be crushing - and this is the 5th largest market in North America.

The second angle, though, is assessing if this is even good for a general fan. Is so much rapid change, disturbing the landscape of who is good, of who is bad, good for the common fan? Is it good for a league that struggled with ratings last year when its biggest star went West - and has now seen another mega-star in the Eastern Conference leave for a year of 10:30 start times as well?

The NBA will be fine, but I do wonder at what point too much movement becomes a problem. I'll never take the owners side. I love the fact that players are getting their bag, and forcing things to make them happy - and certainly it should to one of the better front-to-back playoffs in many seasons, but for a place like OKC, who saw their two stars sign long term deals 24 and 12 months ago, to see them both leave within a week is just jarring.

The real fear is that this is repeatable. That Zion will do this in a year (which is his right), that Ben Simmons a year from now after signing his long deal decides he wants to join LeBron in LA, or two years from now KD decides playing with Kyrie is as frustrating as others have found it. All these guys have the full right to have these opinions and act on them.

Maybe this is an overreaction. Maybe it is all these various stars seeing this as their moment now that the Warriors have been knocked down. Maybe this is just a perfect coalescence of factors - just the same way it was when KD went to the Warriors and upset the prior NBA balance. But maybe it isn't. Maybe we have to ask ourselves if there is a natural limit to player empowerment, that maybe it isn't great when guys make commitments and sign deals with teams with full information and ask out a year later. Certainly, the pendulum has swung the other way - the big question is if it went too far and what the natural equilibrium is.

The Best Trips I've Taken

10.) Germany and Poland (2014)

Itinerary Overview: 9 days total, three in Berlin, three in Krakow, two in Warsaw, one for travel

Cities in my Top-50 List: Berlin, Krakow, Warsaw

This was my first trip as a gainfully employed adult, using hard-earned PTO days to go to Europe for a week. When I was in Berlin at the start of the trip, some medum-sized fire flared up on my project and had to spend more time answering e-mails than I wanted to - a beautiful head-first dive into the world of traveling as an adult. Anyway, the trip itself was quite good. The only reasons it wasn't higher are (1) I went in mid-March so it was still slightly cold, and (2) the food in these areas isn't the best compared to others on the list. Remove those two and it was a great trip.

Berlin had a lot more history than I expected even outside the stuff with the Wall and War. The museums detailing Germany's full pre-Weimar history was great. The city is a little big despite having a good transit system, so it made it tough to see too much of the city. Krakow was the opposite, being small enough for almost everything worthwhile to be within a 10-15 min walk of their great main square. That main square is probably my favorite main square in Europe. The history there was both chilling in a good way (stuff related to the Pope) and bad (Auschwitz). Both places were great, and I would go back to either for a qucik hang. As a first trip abroad alone as a gainfully employed adult, this was about as good a start as I could have wanted, knowing that many better were still to come.


9.) Peru (2016)

Itinerary Overview: 8 days total, three in Lima, four in Cusco/Machu Picchu

Cities in my Top-50 List: Lima, Cusco

I took this trip with two friends. As a reminder, this whole list is being judged on how fun, how memorable, how special these trips were, not just how good each city is to travel to. The latter would be basically just some mathematical equation of my Top-50 cities list. This is differnet. For Peru, the two most memorable aspects were the food, and Loki hostel. The food was amazing, with our central meal being at Maido (generally in the Top-10 of the San Pellegrino list of the World's Top-50 Restaurants). That was my first foray into a beautiful tasting menu, and the 13-course Japanese-Peruvian infusion still remains maybe my favorite meal. Even outside of that, the other meals were mostly all great.

Loki is something else. We all were working, and probably could have split a normal hotel, but chose to stay at Loki Hostels because they are known for being a good time. I don't think we knew what we were getting into with it. The one in Cusco is probably the most noted, and for us it basically served as our ngith spot, with the nomadic bartenders serving blood bombs and rounding the crowd into 'Loki, Loki, Loki.... Aye, Aye, Aye!' chants over and over again. The fun in the trip emanated from these things, and the friends I shared it with - this being the first international trip with buddies.

From a travel perspective, Lima is a bit flat for tourism, and while Macchu Picchu is incredible, it takes a whole 1.5-2 days to travel to and fro even if you aren't doing the Inca trail. It is all worth it, but a longer trip than we took is probably more ideal for Peru. I would though highly recommend what we did which was do Macchu Picchu towards the end, because with the hiking and all we were all basically beat up physically for a couple days.


8.) Germany and the Rest (2000)

Itinerary Overview: ~17 days, split between Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic

Cities in my Top-50 List: London, Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Prague

Three of these trips took place before the purview of this blog, and this is the earliest one. This was the second year my family and I went to Europe for our Spring Break holiday. To be honest, I have far less memory of hte first trip (UK, Belgium, Netherlands) than this one, though even if I did, my guess is I would rank this one higher. The best aspect was just the sheer number of countries and cultures. Yes, being 9 at the time they all blended in together, but the difference of seeing the Alps in Swizterland, the open fields in Austria and the classic beauty of Prague and Budapest was fascinating.

I loved this trip because of how large it seemed at the time, how fun it was to drive oin the Autobahn, to eat Goulash (which I still love and want to go back to Budapest at some point to eat again). I still remember the night river cruises in Budapest and Prague seeing the flood-lit gothic buildings on each end of hte river. I still remember all the music-related stuff in Salzburg and touring the Sound of Music house. This trip will always hold a place in my heart because it was the first one that I have a significantly good memory of - even more than later trips that didn't make the list because of how cloudy that memory is.

In the end, it was probably trying to pack a little too much into 17 days to see so many countries, diverse cultures, and see them all well. However, that's how my family rolled back in the day. My Mom and Dad were vigilant in waking my sister and I up every day early so we could see as much as we could, and I couldn't be any more grateful for that.


7.) Italy with Friends (2019)

Itinerary Overview: 9 days, three in Rome, three in Positano, three in Palermo

Cities in my Top-50: Rome, Positano, Palermo

It is hard to judge a trip that just happened, but I think I'm fair in saying this was truly a very good trip edged to great because I went with five close friends. If not for that fact, this probably lands up around #10. What was great about the trip, outside of just hte people we traveled with, was seeing such differnet parts of the Italy, from the megapolis that is Rome (the original megapolis, one would say) to the hills of Positano, to the gritty realness and beauty of Palermo. It was three very different, interesting aspects of Italy.

Despite going to Italy the first time three years after the European trip I detailed at #9, I had little actual memory of that trip, so even Rome with the Vatican and Colosseum and Forum were more new than expected. Positano was interesting given we were literally 7-10 days before the rush season began (and prices would start jumping >50%) but the town was lovely with its perfectly manicured hills, great views, well maintained trattorias and the rest. The real star, for me, was Palermo. I don't know exactly what it is aobut that place, but it was a huge hit with my friends and I.

Palermo had a lovely mix of new urban chic design for newer restaurants and bars, but a very earthy traditional foundation. The food was great. Our AirBNB was conveniently located right above one of the main bar crawl drags, allowing us to mix with throngs of local Sicilians enjoying their Friday night, up to including getting routed in a game of foosball. Turns out they can play that better too. Somehow I haven't really mentioned the food yet, which was great ranging from fancy tasting menus (my favorite: I Pupi in Bagheria) to modern classic to hole in the wall pizza in Naples. This was a great classic one-week trip.


6.) Turkey (2007)

Itinerary Overview: 16 days, split between Istanbul, Capadocia, Anatolya and others

Cities in my Top-50: Istanbul

I wasn't actually supposed to be on this trip. That same Spring Break my school's Orchestra did a tour of Russia, a place I missed out on and still hope to go to (see: it being #1 on my list). Then again, instead I got to go to Turkey and have a fantastic time. The other unique aspect of this trip was this was the first (and so far only) guided tour I have been on, with my family meeting ~40 other people in Istanbul for a 14-day Gate-1 tour program.

There are definitely negatives to this: the speed they operate is slower, you are kind of boxed in to their itinerary, there were a lot of early morning starts to drive on buses. But the positives way outweighed them - primarily in that all the logistics were taken care off, and we got dinners to ourselves. The food in Turkey is execptional, be it the kofta kebabs on the streets in Istanbul, the great many preparations of lamb, or hte fresh fish in Izmir.

The tour was great even at its leisurely pace. I loved every aspect of Istanbul (which I sitll have ranked #3 on my cities list). I loved the varied topography of Kapadokya or the day in Ephesus, which set my then standard on Roman ruins. Turkey was such a great place to go at that, even if I still have a 2% regret about missing out on playing Orchestra music in the halls of Russaia. Turkey was a great, excellent, brilliant consolation prize.


5.) Israel + Jordan (2018-19)

Itinerary Overview: 16 days, four in Jerusalem, three in Tiberias, two in Tel Aviv, three in Jordan Coast, two in Amman, two for travel

Cities in my Top-50: Jerusalem, Amman

These top-5 were all tremendous, and it was quite tough to rank them all against each other. Out of these top-5, this is the most recent (and the first one that I painstakingly chronicled on this blog). Yes, this is elevated by emotional chills gained by visiting Jerusalem. As I said many times, I wouldn't classify myself as particularly religion, yet it was still fascinating and exhilerating being there and walking the same streets and steps that Jesus did, both in Jerusalem, and in a more pointed way, in Tiberias near the Sea of Galilee. This was such untapped land.

But even looking at the Jordan half and it was an incredible vacation. Other than maybe the trip I have ranked #1, there were few better back to back days than visiting the magic of Wadi Rum - climbing rock and sand dunes, eating with bedouins - and the lost city of Petra. Jordan also gave us incredible hotels, great food (lamb, lamb and more lamb) amd amazing kunefe. Jordan was just as good as I could have hoped for.

Ultimately, this trip was thrilling and special, and I do see myself going back at least once, maybe in another 5-10 years when they uncovered more hidden gems in both countries. The lasting memory, beyond the tight bond to my faith, is how advanced both countries were at their best (Israel obviously more-so than Jordan). Both show a better side of what we commonly see as the most dangerous, tightly wound part of the wrold. Instead, they are a goldmine for tourism bliss.


4.) Iberian Peninsula (2001)

Itinerary Overview: ~15 days split between Madrid, Andalusia (Sevilla, Granada, Malaga), Lisbon

Cities in my Top-50: Madrid, Granada

This is the other trip from way back in my childhood. It left such an impression that Spain is probably my favorite country to visit (and there are so many more areas of Spain to go to). Portugal wasn't too bad either, with its fado music, rolling hills in Lisbon, a little religion thrown in (Fatima) and incredible food, simply incredible food. This also lined up when I was learning about such things as Ferdinand and Isabella, so that too was a nice touch of symmetry.

Back to Spain though, it left such an impresion that I remember so much of that trip despite it being 18 whole years ago (God, I'm old). I remember the Prado and Reina Sofia, and being enamored by Dali despite not really knowing what it was at the time. I remember so much of Madrid, what an incredible city it was. I remember the brilliance of Andalusia, with the white hills of Costa del Sol, and of course the Alhambra in Granada.

I can certainly say that the Alhambra is somethign I would appreciate a lot more now than I did then, but even the 10-year old me loved walking around those grounds, seeing the incredible views, and of course getting the chance to retreat back to our resort and eat that lamb. Oh that lamb. I have no idea how it was made, or what sauce they used, and who knows if 28-year old me would like it, but man was it one of my favorite meals from my childhood travels. This trip has certainly been played up, but I've been to Madrid twice since, and I remain steadfast in my undying love for everything Spain.


3.) Egypt + South Africa (2018)

Itinerary Overview: 17 days, one in Johannesburg, four in Cairo, four on a Nile Cruise, five in Cape Town, two for travel

Cities in my Top-50: Johannesbug, Cairo, Luxor, Cape Town

It's interesting that this ended up being three different types of trips. This was mainly solo (for Egypt, then with a friend for Cape Town). My #2 was with a large group of friends and my #1 with my family. This was the most complex trip I had done from a logistics standpoint, but also the ressurection of two aborted trips. The most direct connection was me not being allowed to go to Cape Town in 2017. The other was when I decided to move Egypt to Cape Town as the launching point for my 2013 Round-the-World Trip. Finally they both came together, and man was it great.

These were such great contrasting differences. Egypt was all about the history, the legacy of this great Ancient civilization. Cape Town being all about the natural beauty, incredible food and incredible people. One was hot, one was perfectly temperate. They both combined for an excellent vacation. There are so many lasting memories, but the best honestly mght have been the Nile Cruise on the MS Dolphin. Being able to say I sailed down the Nile the cradle of so much civilization. All the temples and tombs were so enriching. So incredible old.

Cape Town was Cape Town, but it was great to enjoy this incredible city with company for the first time. I had more interesting food this time, going for a few medium-sized posh dinners around the Western Cape. Did more hiking this time, getting to see all aspects of that beautiful Table Mountain from way up high to the forests that careen into Kirstenbosch. I may never go on such a complex trip in terms of flights back and forth (I first flew to Johannesburg before then heading up to Cairo via Dubai - did allow me to go to a Lion Park in JoBurg though) but for one 2-week stretch it was amazing.


2.) The Balkans (2017)

Itinerary: 10 days, three in Belgrade, three in Dubrovnik, two in Split and one in Zagreb

Cities in my Top-50: Belgrade, Dubrovnik, Split

As mentioned, this is my highest ranking trip with my friends. It was a group of five of us in Belgrade, and then two others joining us in Croatia. So many memories of this trip. Belgrade is still a little rough around the edges, but that roughness allowed us to get affordable bottle service on a floating club on a barge playing classic hip-hop bangers. This trip launched a thousand running jokes as well.

It really kicked off in Croatia however, which was about as whirlwind a 7-days as you can get between Dubrovnik, Split and a day at Lake Plitvice (a truly stunning experience with such variety of untouched blues). The crazy thing about this trip is how littel we slept, being out till 2-4 AM each night and up by 8 to have seven of us shower in time to make 10am tours. A whole lot of espressos were had sitting in outdoor patio'd coffeeshops in the red tiled main square old towns of Dubrovnik and Split. Somehow, I slept less on that trip than any normal week of work.

The food was great, the views were great, both in teh cities and the drive between them. I got to cross three more countries off the list (I'm including Bosnia which we drove through for a good 30 minutes on the way to Split). It was days and days and days of laughs, our first turly group international trip. And the fact we picked a place that was not too tourist heavy (in terms of sites) and more about fun (club in a castle!) it made it all the better.


1.) Patagonia (2017-18)

Itinerary: 13 days, one in Buenos Aires, two in Punta Arenas, two in El Calafate, two in Puerto Natalas, two in Santiago, two in Wine Country, two for travel

Cities in my Top-50: Punta Arenas, El Calafate, Santiago

It had been a good seven years since our full family took a trip together - that one to Greece in 2010 (probably my #11). We had gone to India together, but that is more about family and what-not. This was pure tourism. My sister and I were old enough to do most of the logistics, painstakingly picking out restaurants (both of us), hotels (mostly her) and flights (me again). In the end, it all came together in probably the most perfect 12-day vacation you can imagine.

Other than maybe the one day we lost just driving form Punta Arenas to El Calafate, but even on that day, we got to see some really cool, open terrain (tons of photos), a bunch of cute sheep and vacuna, and have two great meals. The food was amazing throughout, with such interesting range of cuisines from the more earthy food in Patagonia, to fresh seafood in Vina del Mar (near Santiago) to tasting menus to grab and go ceviche. The drinks were nice too, be it well manicured but not overbearing wineries in the main wine region, to the beer spots I dug out - my favorite being Zorra's Taproom in El Calafate, a truly one-road town.

What makes this trip sing though is the tourism, the indelible images and experiences in Tierra del Fuego - as South as I'll probably ever go, and then the two-day combination of Perito Moreno Glacier and Torres del Paine park. The Glacier I've already ranked as my favorite outdoor site ever, and from both the cantileverd steps on one side, and walking with crampons on its Hoth-like presence on the other, it was amazing. Torres del Paine was just the best National Park I have ever been to. Finally to cap the trip was two days in Santiago, which very quickly jumped to being my favorite South American city. This trip was perfect, and it will be a long time before we recreate anything close.

Re-Post: Nostalgia Diaries on the 2008 Wimbledon Final

I'm not really going to talk about the match here too much. There's no point. Enough has been written. By me. By great sportswriters. By whole damn books and documentaries and the like. Really, there's no point in rehashing the match - back at a time when Roger Federer had 12 majors, Rafael Nadal had five, and Novak Djokovic had one (count since - including this match - is Federer = 8, Nadal = 12, Djokovic = 14). The match was amazing, sure, but I want to talk about how I watched the game. It was at my house, with my late Aunt visiting. I remember her (and her two sons, who both live in the US) watching the match with us, through the rain delays, through the madness. And I remember that this was one of my last memories of her, as she would die about two months later.

I've suffered more loss in my life than I should. Now, I've suffered less than most as well. My parents are both alive and well. My sister is alive and well. So my immediate family is fine.

But when you get past them, it gets a bit more grim. Both my grandfathers died before I was born, one way before (1973), and the other five years before (1986). I met my grandmothers many times, and still have memories of both of them, but my paternal grandmother died in 2002, two days before her 80th birthday, and my maternal grandmother, probably the grandparent I remembered the most, the one we called 'mummy', died in 2007, the year of her 75th birthday.

I had an uncle (my Mom's older brother) die in 1989 (before I was born). I had my dad's brother-in-law (my Autn's husband) die in 1996. I had my dad's brother die in 1999. So I've had to live with my fair share of loss - even if it wasn't my parents or my siblings, it was my parents' parents and my parent's siblings.

Putting aside my Aunt who this story is about, other than mummy (and my Aunt - Uncle's wife - who passed in 2014, after the time period of this story), none of these people I remember. But luckily then, I don't remember the loss either. I don't really remember losing my Uncle Bobby or my Uncle Silvie, and obviously have no memories of my two patriarchs, including the man whose name i still carry - Menezes.

But my Aunt Lolita I do remember. I remember the last time I met her in 2008, the last memory being Nadal's Wimbledon win. Because I remember that, I remember the previous times, be it 2003, or 2001, or in the 90's when we used her flat in Mumbai as a base. It's sad really that I love the fact I at least remember her death, because then I do remember her life with it.

I never knew Auntie Lolita was a sports fan, and I in truth have no idea if she was, but she was a tennis fan, and if memory serves, she rooted for Nadal that day. Of course, so did I, and watching Rafael Nadal conquer Wimbledon, conquer Federer, was such a thrilling experience. Even if Novak Djokovic ends up with 24 majors and is the best male player ever, in any tennis fan's heart (or tennis historian's heart), the 2008 Wimbledon Final will remain the pinnacle of the sport.

The only sporting event I can reasonably compare it to in terms of storylinges and drama was the 2006 AFC Championship Game with Manning's Colts finally beating Brady's Patriots (screw me that a good dozen years later, Brady is still winning Super Bowls!). The ridiculous storylines were similar, with the young buck finally beating the old champion (forget for a moment that Brady is younger than Manning in this analogy). It was a perfect confluence of story and drama in a pre-social media world.

2008 was a seminal year in my life in many ways, the year I finished Junior year with aplomb, and started senior year with drastic senioritis that may not have escaped me through to today. It was the year I was left alone for a summer and grew to love driving. It was the year I rented way too much for Blockbuster (talk about the past!). It was the year I grew to love the NFL more than ever, the year I grew to love soccer more than ever through Euro 2008, and the year that Nadal beat Federer., Not lost in all that wass it being the year that my Aunt came to visit.

She had come before, even recently enough that I remembered previous visits. But from the day she arrived, we all had an inkling it would sadly be her last. She was sick, that all we knew. She was so sick it was a mystery how she made it to the US in the first place. My dad tells a story that despite being warned of her condition, he was so taken aback when she arrived to our house, he immediately called his brother and they cried together. I can't imagine the feeling, the shock, the sadness.

But if anything defined my Aunt's life, it was trying to always see the bright side and experience the best in life. Despite being so ill, she came with us to Manhattan and brought my Dad out to the dance floor in a NYC lounge where an Eagles cover band was playing. The Eagles is the band that defines my family for some reason, and it is not lost on me the beauty of that show being one of her last nights with us.

Even the day of the final itself, she wanted to stay watching the match instaed of turning off the TV in the numerous rain delays. She always wanted to experience the great things in life, and in the Summer of 2008, Nadal v. Federe was about as great as it comes.

I don't know if it is a good thing that sports is the reason I have connections to so many events, that I can instantly go back in time to a memory. Be it the last memories of my Aunt, or my last MUN trip the next March, or the joy of driving when Kansas beat Memphis, or late nights in Bangalore huddled up against a TV.

This whole series, sixteen parts and two years in, has been a series in catharsis, but this is the first time I've connected sports to one of the darkest, saddest events in my life. Sadly, I can do that some more, be it my other Aunt's month's mind (one-month death anniversary) happening the same day here local Patriots beat the Seahawks to win Super Bowl XLIX, or a few others, but this one would always stand out. I don't know if I knew at the time that her days were numbered, but all I knew is I enjoyed watching my Aunt Lolita enjoying watching my favorite tennis player win Wimbledon.

15 Thoughts For the 2nd Half

15.) Can the Red Sox wake up?

They started the year terribly, seemed to rebound, then struggled again. We are now 90 games in, they are on pace for 88 wins, but that is also trumped up by a 4-game win streak over a lowly also-ran heading into the break. The Red Sox were a 108-win dynamo last year, but we knew that wasn't going to repeat. It is a bit strange to see so much fall apart this season however. They remain a sleeping giant, but I still do worry about their pitching beyond Sale. Their bullpen is still a disaster at times. Mookie has gone back to 2017 Mookie - still a very good player but not a legitimate contender to Trout as best player in the world. I should say, in no way do I want them to wake up. I’m very happy with the Red Sox maybe slightly missing the playoffs or being the ALDS fodder they were in 2016-17, but there is a risk they discover their magic.

14.) Can the Nationals pull this off?

Through maybe 60 or 70 games, the Nationals were the biggest disappointments in the league, despite all their good players playing fairly well (something true of last year’s team aside from harper). Scherzer is having arguably his best year yet. Strasburg has an ERA+ of 125, Corbin at 136. Their bullpen needs help, but that pitching combined with Rendon, Turner and Soto should be good enough. They’ve climbed to 6 back of the Braves – who likely are better – but the Nationals have the potential to catch them. It would be fun to watch, especially with them batting the Harper-ed Phillies for 2^nd place at the moment.

13.) Can Clayton Kershaw recover himself?

12.) Will we have the greatest Wild Card scramble ever in the NL

Right now, 11 of the 12 non-division leaders in the NL are either owning a Wild Card spot or within 7.5 games of one (the Mets, at 40-50). If we get rid of them, the Giants (5.5 games back) and Reds (4.5 games back) we are left with 8 legitimate Wild Card contenders all within 2.5 games, from the Nationals at 47-42 to the Rockies and Pirates at 44-45. Throw in the Cubs, who are barely ahead of the Brewers, Cardinals and Pirates, and you have 9 teams fighting for three spots. This could get crazy. Of course, none of these teams are really all that great (maybe excepting the Cubs, whose underlying numbers are better than their record), but they all have fun aspects. From Josh Bell’s ridiculous power season, to Puig on the Reds, to the most ridiculous Coors’ season yet, to the fun Padres, and the less fun Cards. This could get crazy, even if the final outcome is two 85-77 teams getting in.

11.) Can Pete Alonso hit 50 home runs?

I’ll be addressing the home run spike later on, and ys I am very cognizant that Pete Alonso’s run towards 50 home runs is very much aided by the ridiculous home run spike caused by the pill of the baseball or some shit. But all that said, God is he a monster. Yes, we’ll take about Vladito’s Home Run Derby performance for ages, but good God was Alonso showing off in that as well. The Mets are every bit as LOLMETs as any other year, from not realizing players on their 1969 team are still alive during their celebration, to Brody Van Waganen throwing a chair, but at least they have Pete Alonso’s crazy bombs.

10.) Will Bryce Harper really be this bad?

Look, we all knew the downside was there. And while it easy to laugh at the Phillies plight, it is a bit sad as well. Harper is easy to hate, but he is also easy to love, a guy who was catapulted into a star at 16, and actually made it. He still had an 11-win season that equalled anything Trout put up. Yes, it was for just one solitary season, but it was special. It sucks to watch him not even come close, despite him still having positive value with surprisingly good defensive numbers and still a keen batting eye. How he hasn’t been able to translate that eye into contact when he does swing will always be a mystery. You have to imagine it will get better, but Philadelphia turns on overpriced free agents quick (just ask about umpteen Flyers).

9.) Can Mike Trout have his best season yet?

What’s hilarious is that if Trout’s slips by about 20% in the second half, he’ll end up with about a 8-9 win season, and that would only be good for his like 5^th or 6^th best season. What's crazy this year is how much of his value comes from his hitting. He's been so consistently 65-85% better than average as a hitter that we forget just how staggeringly good that is. So now, when his close to 100% better than average, we realize it a whole hell of a lot more. He has no weaknesses. He's firmly into he-will-be-Willie Mays or Barry Bonds or (roids aside) A-Rod. There is a chance we are about to see something truly spectacular, the best single season since prime (roided) Bonds. 

8.) Can Cody Bellinger have a historic season himself?

Through 80 games, Cody Bellinger was the best player in baseball. Trout’s ridiculous finish to the first half (your welcome, says Houston’s pitchers) pushed him ahead of Cody, but it still is close, and Bellinger’s power numbers are still audacious, as are his defense and baserunning, despite his size. Bellinger may not be on pace for a 12-win season anymore, but he’s clearly in the 10-11 which Trout aside, has only been done by Harper and Mookie in the past six years. Bellinger is at 6.6 bWAR already, bouyed by 1.5 WAR on defense. That is insane. He is insane. He is so much better than his journeyman Yankee gnat-father Clay it is hilarious. Think of this as baseball's Peyton Manning vs. Archie - except Clay somehow won a World Series or two. Given he's on the Dodgers, that may remain out of reach for Cody, sadly.

7.) Can Fernando Tatis, Jr., put up a Trout 2012 season?

Look, he won't get to Trout 2012 levels because he won't play as many games, but Tatis is on a 10-win pace if he played 140 games. He's younger than Trout was in 2012 - he'll be 20 all season long. He is ridiculous. The last player this good at 20 was Trout, with maybe Carlos Correa in that argument for his rookie 2015 season. I'm so happy the Padres called him up from day one, not letting a true future stud languise in the minors, injecting some added excitement for a team that needed some. It is weird having watched Fernando Tatis (and Vlad Sr.) and now watching their kids fucking load up in 2019, but here we are. I am old. Fernandito is amazing. That is all.

6.) Can Hyun-Jin Ryu keep this up?

His start in Colorado took some sheen of his 1.29 ERA, moving it to only 1.74 – basically a peak Kershaw season. Given Kershaw’s relative struggles, and Buehler not being the immediate stud everyone thought he was primed to be, the Dodgers kind of needed a starter to step up. Well, as most things do for the Dodgers in the regular season, everything came up roses with Ryu becoming Kershaw. He won’t keep it up, but maybe? His peripherals are great, though not Scherzer great. He is durable, he hides his delivery really well. Ryu has been brilliant, and the Dodgers will continue to need him to be.

5.) Can the Twins finish their great breakout?

At this point they are such overwhelming favorites to win their division that saying if they will ‘finish’ the breakout is not really an interesting question. It would take an epic collapse given they’ve played about as well as a 56-32 team. What will be more interesting is if they can keep their underlying metrics as good – can they keep up their historic team home run pace where it currently is? Can Jose Berrios keep up what might be a sneaky AL Cy Young season. There’s a lot of potential here, and they should try to do anything in their power to finish #1 in the AL to avoid the Yankees until at least a potential ALCS. It would be the worst if the Twins finally have ~100-win season only to lose to the Yankees in the playoffs… again. The home run hitting is fascinating given how little power they’d displayed in year past, and the ballpark not historically being a huge home run ballpark. Again, the new ball is a big factor, but it is also the Twins. Their opponents haven’t hit nearly as well at Target Field.

4.) Can the Rangers break-up the inevitable?

The 2018 AL Playoff had no race. It was clear at about this point the Astros, Red Sox and Indians would iwn their divisions, and the Yankees and A’s would be the two wild card teams. This year, it seems clear the Astros, Twins and Yankees will win their divisions, but the Wild Card is a bit open, with the Rays, Red Sox, A’s and Rangers all in there. The first three are all fairly expected, but the Rangers are a shock. Despite them being ostensibly a ‘rival’ to my Astros, it has been fun watching them come out of nowhere, especially when Hunter Pence was involved for a few weeks.

3.) Can the Astros or Yankees go on a tear?

Both teams have dealt, or are still dealing with, terrible injuries. At one point, the Astros were missing Altuve, Springer (who was having an awesome season) and Correa (who is still out). The Yankees were missing the full heart of their lineup as well. The Astros have piece-mealed starters behind Verlander and Cole. The Yankees bullpen remains incredible, but it helps that all their regulars (including the fill-ins) have OPS+'s over 109 (most over 120). Two years ago, they met in the ALCS and it seemed to kick off a rivalry for AL dominance that would last a while. The Red Sox were interesting interlopers last year but we are back. The Yankees are currently one game ahead (two in the loss column). It will be quite the chase on the way out.

2.) Can the Dodgers win 109 games?

This seems more stupid now that the Dodgers had a sub-par end to the first half. They need to go 59-21 in the second half, which to be honest is not impossible for this team. Ok, yes, that is still ludicrous, a 73.5% win percentage for nearly half a season. Of course, they were 91-34 two years ago (then again, that is a 72.7% win percentage). The Dodgers are so well balanced, despite having Kershaw miss a month and a half, despite Seager missing a month, despite having to toss and turn random guys in the bullpen ahead of Kenley, the Dodgers are the best team in baseball by record and by every underlying number known to man. It will suck when they lose the World Series again.

1.) Will the home run spike ever end?

No. The answer is No. Of course, the answer is also yes if MLB quietly changes the baseball back to what it was – which they reportedly did in 2018 when home run rates fell from the then-high of 2017. In the end, the 2018 down-turn will be seen like the bizarre NFL defense resurgence in 2017 after years and years of setting new passing records (which, to no one’s surprise, came back in force in 2018). The home run spike is due to the ball. It is so obvious, especially since the biggest impact seems to be pushing the power floor up rather than turn Stanton or Judge or Bellinger into a 70-home run player.

Celebrating the Montreal Jazz Festival

For each of the last five years, and in general about 12-13 of the last 18, I've traveled to Montreal with my family on 4th of July weekend. Patriotic, I know, to leave the country by choice, by routine, every Independence Day, but there is a reason for this. That reason is the Festival International de Jazz de Monreal, an Annual 10-day event taking place surrounding Canada's Canada Day and our America Day, and the centerpiece of this near Annual trip to North America's most unique city.

In early years (say 2003 - 2011), these trips were with a lot of various family friends, and I was too young to really enjoy the music (or the festival) aspects. Starting with my trip in 2013 (I've gone that year, plus 2015 - 2019), it slowly transformed to mainly being about hte music as the foundation, with incredible food, beer pubs and the rest to fill it in.

Once again, it may be weird to take the same trip over and over again, but for a family (and this is generally a family trip) that travels as much as we do (mostly independently at this point) there is some stunning serenity in taking a trip where we don't have to plan too much. We hit more or less the same restaurants (it helps that dinner is usually at the festival), I increasingly-more-willingly drag my parents to the same brew-pubs. I go to the same crepe restaurant each morning. Same-ness is fine at times.

Of course, the one difference is the music, the rotating cavalcade of artists, none of them huge, nearly all gifted, good enough to perform at the world's largest Jazz Festival, not famous enough to warrant paid indoor shows. The Jazz Festival has its share of those (indoor shows), with this year such names as Peter Frampton and CHVRCHS, but overall it is the atmosphere of these outdoor shows that make it so special.

The festival is housed around the Quartieres des Spectacles - a large area right in the heart of the city. Over the years, they've beefed up this area of land from various make-shift outdoor stages built on top of grass and dirt to a full-fledged spectacle area, well built for these shows. Over the years, the placement of the stages change, a small thing that shouldn't matter, but when you go every year beacuse you expect routine, you get slightly irked by these things.

The festival is about Jazz in name only. There are a lot of Jazz acts (especially the paid shows), including mane hardcore jazz quintets or trios or quartets and the like. But over time the festival has shifted to include a lot of Blues, R&B, afro-beat, asian and middle-eastern stylings, classic singer-songwriter performances, song and dance men and the rest. This variety, howeer, has just added to the fun.

The main parts of the festival are a series of shows each day (it lasts ~10 days) from about 5pm to Midnight, at the series of stages. There's the stage that has mostly hardcore blues, there's the stage with more general singing, there's the stage with strange music from various ethnicities, and then their showcase stage that has more mass-appeal music. Not all are great, almost all are certainly good enough.

Over the years, the festival has added plenty of little touches to make it more user-friendly. There was the addition of the Lounge Heineken stage, a more intimate setting for smaller shows (Heineken, by the way, is sadly the main beer sponsor). There was teh addition of a New Orleans-style stage fit with food stalls selling classic bayou fare. Of course, what really makes this weekend annual excursion isn't the music - though it is great in total - it is everything else about Montreal.

First the food, which is an ever-expanding list of highly curated favorites. Schwartz is probably the most enduring, an annual ritual for almost all of the eighteen years we've been coming here. Their famous smoked meat has never disappointed - even as they 'corporatized' with opening a second takeout only location. That hasn't at all worsened the food - just made the lines more bearable.

Other spots are Robin Square, a fully family owned restaurant where Momma and Pappa are teh cooks, and the kids are the wait staff and sous chefs and all the rest. The food is pristine, even their generally reduced lunch menu. This time we tried a new place in Caribou Gourmand, which had a few 'only in Canada' classics like Deer Ribs (one of the best Ribs I've tasted), and a Seal appetizer. There's places in the past we went to that we didn't this time in Bouillon Bilk and Pyrenees, two fairly simple, refined, European inspired spots. The food in Montreal is consistently great, even if we expand the list of places we've been to ever so slowly.

The brewpubs come next. The most frequent has been NYKS, a dimly-lit dive bar, except it has a great view of the Quartieres des Spectacles, a place that has often been our host to our nightcap. A couple years back, we extended outwards. First was Le Saint Bock, a brewpub on St. Denis (one of the more hip streets in Montreal proper) with its own brew list combined with a great rotating tap list. It has outdoor seating which we usually jump on, a great people watching spot that has given us a view of some pretty interesting nights. Finally, two years back, I added Dieu du Ciel, a dimly lit craft brewery in the Mile End area of Montreal. They have a great tap list, and the place gets crowded around ten and only more crowded way past one (people are coming in when we generally leave, and again this is a standard brew pub). Montreal is truly a great city even if you are just spending time with family.

Montreal is a great city - I'm pretty sure I ranked it #1 on my list of US & Canada cities, and part of that is because I've just spent more time there than other cities. But the reason we keep coming back, the reason we are fine going to the same place year after year is because of how special it is. How consistently great the music and atmosphere is at the festival, sure, but more than that. The consistency of the restaurants, the cosnistency of the brews, the fact that we can just turn our minds off, both during the long weekend and planning around it.

This was the 40th year of the Jazz Festival. By that math, our first year would have been the 24th (2003). I distinctly remember the 30th in 2009, the year I graduated high school. It was probably the first year I truly remember my experience at the festival being about the music. It is crazy we've come here year after year, and while in the beginning we missed a few years, in recent times it's become more and more of a staple. I've missed a lot of parties with friends and cookouts back home for this, and I wouldn't miss Montreal for the world. Hopefully we'll never have to stop coming for this annual weekend of pure bliss.