NFL Wild Card Weekend - Sunday Prognostications

Well, I was wrong on both picks yesterday, which provides me with a dilemma. Do I go the opposite way of which way I think or hope today's games should end. Very problematic as I am rooting for Da Bears.

Anyway, Game 1 today - LA Chargers at the Baltimore Ravens.

My Pick: Ravens 21 - Chargers 17.

Baltimore has a killer defense and quietly dismantled their opponents this year with that defense and rookie sensation Lamar Jackson at quarterback.  Hoping McFarlane makes a Jackson figure next year. In the meantime, they still have Joe Flacco as their back up quarterback.

OK - here is the nerve wracking game of the day in my household.  Philadelphia Eagles at the Chicago Bears.  They say defense wins championships. Bears have the best defense in the league but a young quarterback. Philly got hot at the end of the year with their end of season miracle worker - backup QB Nick Foles. Philly also has a great defense though they struggled at the beginning of the year.

My pick: Chicago 29 - Philadelphia 17.  I am guessing 29 points because Chicago's kicker COdy Parkey set a record this year for hitting the uprights during kicks.  Four in one game.

Check this out: Parkey hits the uprights four times vs the Lions


Because the Bears have sucked for awhile, we don't have any current players from McFarlane so I am going back to the original Brian Urlacher (2018 Hall of Fame) and Brandon Marshall, the last figure McFarlane gave us from Chicago.

NFL Wild Card Weekend - Saturday Prognostications

So the NFL playoffs are here. Best time of year. I love Wild Card weekend and the following Divisional Round Weekend because I can vegetate from 4-11 on Saturday and 1-8 on Sunday with no expectations.

I am also psyched cause my Chicago Bears are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2010. Those were long, cold winters.

Anyway, the first game, around 4PM gives us the Indianapolis Colts against the Houston Texans.

My Pick -  Texans 28, Colts 24.

Both teams started the year horribly and turned things around in spectacular fashion.  In honor of those two team, here are some McFarlane NFL figures from both teams. I will only be showing active figures here (unless a team has no active McFarlane representations).

First, the Colts. I thought I only had Andrew Luck, but lo and behold, Adam Vinatieri is still playing. He is like 64 - actually he is 46 and just passed the record for most points by a kicker in NFL history. If you watch the game, you can see him sporting his white beard. No kidding.

Also, if you really want to know how tough he is, here he is running down superstar Herschel Walker on a kickoff return.

Here are you Texans - the brand new Deshaun Watson figure, JJ Watt, and Deandre Hopkins.

The evening game should be a great matchup as well. It was supposed to be a rebuilding year in Seattle. Instead, they fought tooth and nail and played themselves into the playoffs. Short on talent compared to other years (they'll disagree), but a lot of heart. Dallas has been a bit inconsistent but solid enough to win the weak NFC East. Weak until Philly turned it around mid-season.

My Upset Pick: Seattle 24 - Dallas 14.

McFarlane has produced several Seahawk figures lately. Unfortunately, other than Russell Wilson, most have been traded away or left via free agency.

And Dallas of course has Ezekial Elliott and Dak Prescott, two young super stars.

Should be a fun time.

Tune in tomorrow when I pick who wins the Ravens-Chargers game and the Bears-Eagles match up. Go Bears!

What a Piece of Junk! - No Really!

I don't want to start off 2019 by complaining, but I finally got my hands on the new Millenium Falcon from the Solo Story. I waited until it dropped from $100+ to $29. I get a new figure in my collection ($10) and get $19 of laughter for the size and cheapness of this...thing.  Now, when Luke first called it a piece of junk, we didn't realize we would come to love the ship more than anything else.

There was the original Kenner Falcon which was awesome. There was the BIG Millenium Falcon - that was a piece of art.

And then there is this. Smaller than the Falcon carrying case with room enough to squeeze a figure in lying on its side.  I mean really. Hasbro - aren't you ashamed? Though I've uncovered a few articles about the economics of having the Star Wars license so we shouldn't be surprised.

So immerse yourself in this heinous crime of galactic proportions. Or have a good laugh.

BIG vs Solo Story - Side by Side

BIG vs Solo - Overlay Comparison

BIG Falcon cockpit - seats 4

Solo Falcon - might lay one figure in there if you jam it well enough.

BIG vs Solo vs Hasbro Carrying Case

BIG vs Solo vs Galactic Heroes Falcon

All Four side by side

Happy New Year - Hope Your 2019 is Out of this World!!!

Happy New Year everyone! First and foremost, thanks for reading my blog and checking in every once in awhile. I know it is tough being a blogger these days. Technology changes everything. I still enjoy it and still enjoy viewing yours. It's a fun community. Isn't that what it's all about - fun and community.

Anyway - I'll start off the year with this vintage Lego set, which a good friend of mine sent me. It was just a random gift - we always ship stuff back and forth as a surprise. Unbeknownst to him, this set has a lot of meaning to me, in kind of a funny way.

This is the only Space Lego set I had. I also rode my bike several miles at about age 9 with my brother to the Child World, crossing major traffic roads in our town to obtain this set without my parents' knowledge. It was also the only time they noticed a toy, and said suspiciously - "where did you get that!"

The set was complete and it was great that all the little catalogs were included.

And of course, our cat was adamant on pushing the box off the table.