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Super Bowl Matchups: Every Possible Scenario, Ranked

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Super Bowl Matchups: Every Possible Scenario, Ranked


The NFL’s conference championship weekend is here, and that means there are currently four potential Super Bowl matchups. This season has led to a good place, because none of the four possibilities (the Kansas City Chiefs or Cincinnati Bengals against the Los Angeles Rams or San Francisco 49ers) strike me as boring Super Bowl pairings. Three of the four teams have played in a Super Bowl in the last four years, but they’re all fun enough that they shouldn’t bring about viewer fatigue in the same way that, say, another Tom Brady appearance might have.

 

 

If you care deeply about one of these teams, the most enticing scenarios are probably the ones that involve your team playing. If you don’t, here’s an index of the four possible Super Bowl matchups, ranked by how exciting they’d be to watch.

Super Bowl Matchups: Every Possible Scenario, Ranked

1. Chiefs vs. Rams

As will be frequently pointed out beforehand if these teams wind up facing each other, the last Chiefs-Rams game was one of the most fun regular-season games ever. In 2018, the Rams hosted the Chiefs on Monday Night Football for a 54–51 barnburner that felt more like a college game than the NFL. That game was a watershed moment for the modern NFL; afterward, it became clear that offenses were carrying bigger guns than ever before, and any team that couldn’t chuck the ball around the field with precision would get left behind. (Relatedly, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs have made every AFC Championship since 2018.)

A rematch won’t have that much scoring. The Chiefs’ defense has improved by leaps and bounds since then, the Rams have maybe the NFL’s best cornerback in Jalen Ramsey, and it’s hard to see both defenses looking so overmatched in a Super Bowl. But this would still be pure power against pure power, as Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and company go up against the best football player in the world (Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald) and a solid group of defensive talent surrounding him. Plus, the Rams’ QB-receiver duo of Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp would give Los Angeles plenty of chances to score.

2. Bengals vs. Rams

The Bengals are strange Super Bowl contenders. Their defense is average, their offensive line is probably worse, and they don’t have a great running game. What they do have is an ascendant Joe Burrow, the second-year QB out of LSU who has busted out this year and established himself as one of the league’s most productive passers. He’s had help from a great trio of receivers, headlined by rookie Ja’Marr Chase, who starred alongside Burrow on a national champion LSU team in 2019 and has only become more dominant as a professional. Fellow wideouts Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd have had a lot of great moments this season, too.

This matchup would be compelling because it would feel like a straightforward case of a quarterback and a few receivers trying to win a game by themselves. The Rams’ defensive front (which is No. 1 in both ESPN’s Pass Rush and Run Stop Win Rate metrics) would likely abuse the Bengals’ offensive line, and the Stafford-led offense would probably have a nice outing against a so-so Bengals defense. But Burrow and Chase could be good enough to win anyway, and it’d be fun to watch them try.

3. Bengals vs. 49ers

Everything that’d be fun about a Bengals-Rams Super Bowl matchup would apply in slightly lower measure to Bengals-49ers. The Niners have an excellent defensive front of their own, and while they don’t have Donald, they do have a dominant right side of the line with end Nick Bosa and tackle/end Arik Armstead. They also have one of the best linebackers in football in Fred Warner, who gave the Green Bay Packers all kinds of problems in San Francisco’s recent divisional round win.

A 49ers appearance would mean watching Jimmy Garoppolo play in the Super Bowl for the second time in about two calendar years. That would be fine; there’s something fun about watching an injured, average QB try to navigate his way through the biggest stage in the sport. Garoppolo is better than he looked during last week’s game at Lambeau Field, when he went 11-of-19 for 131 yards. But is he good enough to outscore Burrow and company? Maybe, although it might depend on how well his recently injured right thumb—that’s on his throwing hand—holds up.

4. Chiefs vs. 49ers

Reruns are reruns, and these teams played a Super Bowl in February 2019. It was a good one, though: The Chiefs came back in the fourth quarter to win, thanks in large part to Niners coach Kyle Shanahan coaching too conservatively late in the game.

This would make for a great game, and I stress again that none of the prospective Super Bowl pairings look bad this year. If this matchup happens, I’ll talk myself into believing that San Francisco’s quest to avenge its Super Bowl loss of two years ago is a great plot point. I’d just rather see something else, particularly while Garoppolo plays at a level below the other remaining teams’ QBs.


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10 Best Porters to Drink Right Now

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A bottle of Deschutes Black Butte Porter




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Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength

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Barbell Back Squat


The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.

“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.

If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.

Directions

Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.

Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength

Circuit 1

Marius Bugge

A. Barbell Back Squat

Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts renegade row
Marius Bugge

B. Renegade Row

Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side

Circuit 2

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing renegade row Dumbbell Bentover Row in gym
Marius Bugge

A. Dumbbell Bentover Row

Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised 
Marius Bugge

B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised 

Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps

Circuit 3

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Marius Bugge

A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat

Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Marius Bugge

B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift

Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side

Circuit 4

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing pullup
Marius Bugge

A. Pullup

Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Marius Bugge

B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press

Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top.
Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps

Circuit 5

A. Dumbbell Pushup

Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop
once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps

B. Biceps Curl

Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps


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The Best Jump Ropes for a Killer Cardio Workout

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The Best Jump Ropes for a Killer Cardio Workout




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