The stakes are higher than ever before.
In a new twist designed to truly separate the best from the rest, we have upped the ante here at The Westfield News in this season’s “Beat ‘The Putz’” pro football contest.
For the last several years, each participant who posted a better record than yours truly qualified for our grand prize drawing. That is about to change.
Now, the sole entrant who posts the best record each week – and if necessary, wins a tiebreaker – will claim a gift certificate to The Tavern Restaurant and be eligible for the grand prize drawing, a 40-inch, flat-screen television courtesy of Manny’s TV & Appliances.
One of the season’s 17 weekly winners will be chosen through a random drawing at season’s end. Each weekly winner now has a one-in-17 chance of winning the grand prize TV just in time for the playoffs.
The stakes are much higher this time around for the New England Patriots, as well, who for four weeks will be expected to raise their game playing without the services of quarterback Tom Brady (“Deflategate” suspension).
Backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo will be asked to keep the Patriots’ ship afloat until Brady’s return in Week 5 on the road against the Cleveland Browns.
The Week 1 contest could not get much tougher for New England as the Patriots travel to Arizona to take on the mighty Cardinals in the featured Sunday night NBC time slot, our tiebreaker game. Arizona figures to battle the Seattle Seahawks for NFC West supremacy all season. Good luck Jimmy!
The Sunday afternoon slate features a slew of tough contests, highlighted by a highly anticipated rivalry game – the New York Giants at the Dallas Cowboys.
Dallas gets back Dez Bryant following a lost season in 2015 to injury, but now must play without quarterback Tony Romo, who will be sidelined for several weeks with a back injury.
The Cowboys will still likely give teams a run for their money as backup Dak Prescott (7 TDs to 0 INTs this preseason) looks willing and able, and the most-hyped rookie since Adrian Peterson, Ezekiel Elliott, appears ready to shine.
The expectations for the Giants’ offense is at an all-time high with the return of wide receiver Victor Cruz, the addition of electric rookie WR Sterling Shepard, and arguably the game’s most exciting wide out Odell Beckham, Jr., all led by sleeper Most Valuable Player candidate, quarterback Eli Manning.
Is a Super Bowl rematch in the cards for the Giants and Patriots? That answer may likely begin to take shape in the Arizona desert. – CHRIS PUTZ
Win a 40-inch TV, gift cards!
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