Cole to Astros makes the defending champs even more dangerous

With just three games left in the 2017-18 NFL postseason, including the Feb. 4 Super Bowl in Minnesota, I'm slowly beginning to shift into baseball mode.

With just about a month until pitchers and catchers report, it's right around the corner if you really think about it.

The defending champion Houston Astros' recent acquisition of Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole has me thinking ... is Houston going to repeat?

The addition of Gerrit Cole makes an already-stacked rotation even scarier.

A quick look at the projected 2018 starters for Houston (according to rotochamp.com, anyways):

((2017 stats))

1. Dallas Keuchel — 14-5, 2.90 ERA, 125 Ks in 23 starts
2. Justin Verlander — 15-8, 3.36 ERA, 219 Ks in 33 starts (w/ both DET & HOU)
3. Gerrit Cole — 12-12, 4.26 ERA, 196 Ks in 33 starts (w/ PIT)
4. Lance McCullers — 7-4, 4.25 ERA, 132 Ks in 22 starts
5. Charlie Morton — 14-7, 3.62 ERA, 163 Ks in 25 starts

If Cole, 27, can get back to his 2015 All-Star form (19 W, 2.60 ERA and 202 Ks), this is one hell of a rotation from top to bottom.

Looking forward to mid-February when the pitchers/catchers report to camp!

Griffen's incredible post-game interview following Minnesota's thrilling playoff win

The 61-yard bomb from Case Keenum to receiver Stefon Diggs as time expired in the NFC Divisional Round game in Minnesota Sunday night may go down as one of the most thrilling postseason finishes in NFL history.

One of my favorite parts of the evening, however, may be a post-game interview with Vikings' DE Everson Griffen, who was trying to process everything that just went down only moments before the interview:

Rest in peace to the legend, Keith Jackson

Long-time, legendary sports broadcaster Keith Jackson passed away early this morning.

He was certainly a great one:

Rest in peace, Mr. Jackson.

NFL Divisional Round kicks off this afternoon!

The NFL playoffs is set to resume today! (what better time to pick this blog back up than right now, the kick-off to the 2017-18 NFL Divisional playoffs, am I right?!).

My picks:

Falcons over Eagles, 17-14.
Patriots over Titans, 38-24.

Steelers over Jaguars, 28-10.
Saints over Vikings, 24-14.