This is it! The last week of the regular season! Who gets in and who gets sent home? Who is to blame for certain team's disappointments?

• Pittsburgh's Season Ends In Disappointment: A season with Super Bowl aspirations ended in disappointment as Pittsburgh saw their playoff hopes go up in smoke in week 17. They did defeat Cincinnati, 16-13, but had to rely on the Cleveland Browns to get them in the playoffs. While Cleveland did give Baltimore one hell of a fight, they ultimately fell, 26-24. With Indianapolis booking their ticket to the playoffs, Pittsburgh saw themselves get eliminated. Second half collapses during weeks 12 through 14, not the drama surrounding Le'Veon Bell, was Pittsburgh's undoing. Pittsburgh can also blame a secondary that was listless for most of the first half of the season for their missed playoff trip. The Steelers weren't the only team with lofty preseason expectations to disappoint, though...
  
• Minnesota Can't Get the Job Done: Minnesota just had to win to get in, but only mustered 164 yards of offense. As a result, Minnesota got throttled by the Chicago Bears, 24-10. An underachieving offense along with a brutal second half schedule sent the Vikings packing, but Kirk Cousins can't escape the blame himself. In Minnesota's seven losses this season, Cousins averaged 6.5 yards per pass attempt compared to 7.79 yards per pass attempt in Minnesota's eight wins. Cousins also had a TD:INT ratio of ten to six in those losses, compared to 15 to three in Minnesota's wins.
  
• Philly Philly! Nick Foles has done it again! This time, last year's Super Bowl MVP went 28 for 33 for 221 passing yards and three touchdowns in Philadelphia's 24-0 victory over Washington. With the win, Philadelphia gets the last playoff spot in the NFC. Foles may have left that game with a chest injury. However, if Foles can make the wild card game against Chicago, watch out for the Eagles!
  
• Ravens Flock: Speaking of the Baltimore Ravens, the Ravens completed their late-season surge to the AFC North crown. A young quarterback (Lamar Jackson) who is 6-1 plus the league's best defense (4,261 total yards allowed) can create plenty of havoc in an AFC conference that appears to be wide open. Also, Eric Weddle got his $1 million bonus for making the playoffs. Hooray for Eric Weddle!
  

Top Five Rankings:

1. New Orleans Saints
2. Chicago Bears
3. Los Angeles Rams
4. Kansas City Chiefs
5. New England Patriots

There are some honors that I forgot to hand out. I will be awarding the next couple awards to the people who achieved sports excellence this year.

The Sacramento Kings have not won an NBA title since 1951 as the Rochester Royals. In fact, the franchise has bounced around quite a bit, to the tune of four relocations (excluding the Kansas City-Omaha Kings). The franchise last made the playoffs in 2006, marking one of the longest playoff droughts in the NBA today. It's safe to say that the Kings have not been good in a loooooooooooong time.

From superstars with bad tempers to draft busts, the Kings have not been able to make it back to prominence in over a decade. However, the Kings currently hold the eighth seed in the Western Conference. In fact. the Kings are 3.5 games out of the first seed in the Western Conference. How in the world are the Kings doing this in a loaded Western Conference?

One player that has emerged for the Kings that should get serious consideration for the NBA All-Star Game is De'Aaron Fox. The point guard is averaging 7.7 assists per game and is averaging 18 points a game. His quickness also contributes to 1.7 steals per game, making him of a similar mold to Chris Paul. Another player that has been a boon for the Kings has been Willie Cauley-Stein. Initially, Sacramento was hoping to have two big men in their starting lineup: Cauley-Stein and DeMarcus Cousins. Cauley-Stein didn't emerge as a key player until this year, where he's on pace to achieve career highs in rebounds per game and points per game.

Another key for Sacramento will be the bench play, which has shown a bit of promise this year. Bogdan Bogdanovic has been a spark plug for the Kings, as shown by his buzzer-beater against the Lakers last night. Marvin Bagley has also been effective, coming off the bench as a scorer and a rebounder.

Can the Kings continue their ways, even in a deep Pacific division? It's certainly possible. The Lakers are without LeBron at the moment and the Warriors are dysfunctional at the moment. If Sacramento can keep this up, it'll take a king's ransom just to knock them out.

The New Year's nearly upon us, which will mean resolutions. Lots of them. They usually range from losing weight to eating better to trying to be a nicer person. I've already knocked out one of those past resolutions (the weight loss), but there is one that I would like to knock out this year. That resolution is moving out.

Now many of you back home are wondering, "why would you want to leave?" "Don't you want a family in the Rust Belt?" "What about your family?" Because I am not happy here, no, I do not want my own (at least not yet), and I still love them. Many Michiganders in my generation usually come back home to look for that middle class life and for good reason! The cost of living is low, you can get a home fairly cheap in the midwest and you can get a job while you try to pay off your student loan debt. Besides, you need to establish some roots, right? It's what your elders told you to do. Represent where you're from. However, I'm not particularly interested in buying a home here. My priorities are traveling to new places once I move and taking in new experiences. To me, this is what life should be about. Besides, there is A LOT wrong with Michigan right now.

Now for those of you who moved back, be warned of the various opportunity costs that come with moving back here. For starters, the roads are pretty bad. In fact, they're the "19% of Michigan roads are in good condition" kind of bad. The kicker is that $400 million is being spent on federal aid-eligible roads in southeastern Michigan. Bill Anderson, local government finance and operations specialist at SEMCOG, says that number will have to jump to $1.6 billion a year in order to get 80% of southeastern Michigan roads in good or fair condition in the next 25 years. While having bad roads is a common staple of northern states, especially in a state with brutal winters, this couldn't be more true in Michigan. Your car will be one of the most important expenses in your adult life, barring the fact that you live in a city. It needs constant maintenance and upkeeping in order to make it through the brutal winters and the scary potholes. If a tire goes out or your alignment is messed up, that will cost you a good chunk of money out of your pocket. Speaking of automobiles...

Michigan has the highest car insurance rates for the fifth straight year, according to insure.com. Michigan's average premiums go for $2,239, $874 more than the national average. This is ghastly, especially when you compare it to the average amount in premiums Ohio citizens pay ($944). While that low cost of living does look nice, the car insurance premiums leave a lot less to be desired.

Then there's the Flint Water Crisis, which has yet to be resolved. Detroit public schools also had issues with their water, but they have donors in place to fix the drinking water problem. Then there's Nestle pumping more water out of the Great Lakes with the State of Michigan's approval, despite the public backlash against the ordeal. Then there's the lack of integrity from Michigan's state government, which received an "F" and failed in many areas. In fact, guess where Michigan ranked in transparency and ethics for their government? Dead last! What about obesity? 19th fattest! Now that's Pure Michigan!

Do I want the state of Michigan to succeed in multiple areas? Yes, I do. Is Detroit on the comeback? Yes, it is. Do I think that Michigan will progress with the "Good Ol' Boys Club" running the show? Absolutely not. I want what's best for the state, but if the people don't stop taking in the scenery at the Sleeping Bear Dunes and worry about what's going on in their backyard, then things will only get worse.

These facts about where Michigan's going wrong just scratch the surface. I could go on all day about where Michigan's shortcomings lie. But these aforementioned facts are a big part of why I don't want to move back when I leave. So to my friends and family, I say this. This is how I feel about moving back to Michigan. I don't want to do it and I apologize if this hurts you. I hope that you understand why I want to do this.

It's here. The college football playoff will make its arrival in a couple days. How will things shake out on December 29th? Who will win it all?

My, how the time flies. We're just wrapping up the Christmas slate of games and are approaching the halfway point of the season. The motif of time flying by is becoming a little redundant, but it still holds true, especially in the NBA season. Which teams are holding strong, who deserves the MVP award, and who will make the NBA Finals?

• Pleasant Surprise: Denver Nuggets: The fact that the Nuggets are tied atop a deep Western Conference is a testament to how much the team has grown. Led by the big man, Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets are showing tons of depth and a balanced scoring attack.
  
• Pleasant Surprise, Part Two: Los Angeles Clippers: The Clippers may have taken a bit of a hit in the past couple weeks. However, seeing the Clippers topple teams such as the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and Oklahoma City Thunder is a pleasant sight. The Clippers are fifth in offensive efficiency (1.093) and are getting great mileage from players such as Montrezl Harrell (.634 FG %, 6.6 RPG, 15.3 PPG). Just think of how dangerous this team could be if they got Kawhi Leonard next season...
  
• Biggest Disappointment: Golden State Warriors: It seems bizarre that the Warriors, who are tied atop the Western Conference, would be perceived as a disappointment. However, this team has seen a bit of a drop-off this season. From not being able to create turnovers (24th in the NBA with 13.5 opp. turnovers per game) to actually being down on defense (16th in defensive efficiency at 1.062), something isn't sitting right with this Warriors team. With players such as Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant on their way out after next season, will this be the end of Golden State's reign?
• NBA MVP: James Harden (Houston Rockets): Picking up where he left off from last season, Harden is carrying the red-hot Rockets. Averaging 32.3 PPG (!), 8.4 APG, and 2.13 SPG, Harden is a big part of Houston's sudden resurgence this season. You can also make the case for Russell Westbrook since he is having a similar season to Harden. However, Harden's the MVP here for getting the Rockets out of their early rut.
• Coach Of The Year: Michael Malone (Denver Nuggets): Malone has gotten a lot out of a team with only one superstar. Once again, the Nuggets are tied for first in the Western Conference with Golden State and are playing excellent basketball. Utilizing a deep bench along with having seven players scoring in double figures for the season is enough of a reason to give Malone the award.
  
• Sixth Man Of The Year: Derrick Rose (Minnesota Timberwolves): You can make the case for Julius Randle of the New Orleans Pelicans and Spencer Dinwiddie of the Brooklyn Nets as the Sixth Man of the Year. However, it isn't often that you see a former MVP also take the Sixth Man of the Year award. Rose looks to be the perfect candidate for this honor, averaging 18.5 PPG and 4.6 APG coming off the bench for Minnesota. His story is even better considering how pundits (myself included) wrote him off for his decorated injury history. Rose will never be the MVP he once was. But he is relishing in his role as a solid bench player.
• Defensive Player Of The Year: Hassan Whiteside (Miami Heat): I thought about pegging Myles Turner for this award since the center has been played a critical role in Indiana's success this season. However, Whiteside's rebounding prowess alone (13.2 per game) will serve as the reason for his pegging as the winner here. Whiteside is also averaging 2.63 blocks a game, good for third in the NBA.
• NBA Finals Matchup: Toronto Raptors vs. Houston Rockets: Even if Golden State would make the NBA Finals, they would have to worry about trying to stop Kawhi Leonard, who has owned the Warriors in the past. Toronto is playing complete basketball while Philadelphia is still adjusting to Jimmy Butler and Boston is dealing with injuries and is taking some time to gel. The Bucks may be a challenge to Toronto since they have the Greek Freak and have players like Ersan Ilysova that can spread the floor. However, Toronto looks like the better team. As for Houston, they will get to the NBA Finals IF they can get more scoring from their bench. Keep an eye out for the Warriors, even if they're in a bit of a slump at the moment, the Denver Nuggets for aforementioned reasons, and LeBron and the Lakers.

Sometimes, the top seed(s) in each NFL conference go down. A glaring weakness usually rears its ugly head, ending a team's season. Sometimes, the opposing team will be sneaky good and will topple the top-seeded team. Some teams on here don't have many weaknesses, but the NFL playoffs are a different deal. One loss and you go home. Going from the least vulnerable to the most vulnerable, here are the top seeds (current standings) that are ripe for the picking.

• New Orleans Saints: There really isn't much for the Saints to worry about aside from a mediocre secondary. Their front seven is the best in the NFL at stopping the run (1,172 rushing yards allowed this season) and can generate turnovers. Sean Payton has a postseason pedigree, as does Drew Brees. The Saints' running game of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara can be tough to stop. The Saints have been almost unstoppable at home this season. New Orleans seems to be the top team most likely to make it to Atlanta in February. However, anything can happen in the NFL playoffs.
• New England Patriots: Like the Saints, the Patriots don't have much of a secondary (4,014 receiving yards allowed this season, 24th in the NFL). However, you know Tom Brady's backstory and you should know Bill Belichick's backstory. The Patriots have also shown they can run the ball effectively as well, as proven last Sunday against the Bills. If Brady can get some of his receivers to step up in the playoffs, the Patriots will be back on their quest to make it number six in Foxboro.
• Los Angeles Rams: Aaron Donald (19.5 sacks this season) is having a monster year and is an anchor for the Rams' front seven. Cory Littleton (four sacks, 121 total tackles this season) is also effective. However, Jared Goff hasn't looked well in recent memory. In December, Goff has thrown only two touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 59.1% of his passes. If Goff cannot get out of his own way in the playoffs, the Rams could be eliminated quickly.
  
• Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs have gotten quality work from Patrick Mahomes this season and have had an unstoppable offense. However, the Chiefs rank second-to-last in total defense, allowing 6,196 total yards this season. There's also Kareem Hunt being gone, with Hunt's incident in Cleveland costing the Chiefs another offensive weapon. Andy Reid also has not been the most effective coach in the playoffs, sporting a record of 11-13 in his career and a 1-4 playoff record with the Chiefs. The Chiefs even have to worry about their division rival, the Los Angeles Chargers, potentially overtaking them on the last week of the regular season. In short, the Chiefs are in a little bit of turmoil right now.
  

Another team clinched a playoff spot, a Super Bowl MVP is trying to rally the champs back into the playoffs, and a preseason Super Bowl favorite may fall out of the playoff picture. Who got some awesome gifts and who got coal in their stockings?

• Baltimore Suddenly Has The AFC North In Their Hands: The Steelers continue their freefall, losing to New Orleans, 31-28. A costly fumble by Juju Smith-Schuster along with a botched fake punt has Pittsburgh on the brink of missing the playoffs. This is a far cry from the Super Bowl aspirations the team had before the season began, with the team being loaded with talent. Meanwhile, Baltimore went into Carson and stopped a red-hot Chargers team from doing anything. A Ravens defense that caused three turnovers in a 22-10 road win has Baltimore in a win-and-in situation next week. As for the Steelers, they will have to root for... the Cleveland Browns to beat Baltimore next week while beating Cincinnati in the own contest next week.
  
• Can Nick Foles Do It Again? Last year, Nick Foles stepped in for Carson Wentz and led the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl victory. Foles may be doing it again. Last year's Super Bowl MVP threw for four touchdowns and 471 yards as the Eagles edged the Texans on a last-second field goal, 32-30. The Eagles may be able to make the playoffs again: The Minnesota Vikings have a game against a Bears team with an outside shot at a first-round bye, while Philadelphia faces a weakened Washington team next week.
  
• Seahawks Stymie Mahomes And The Chiefs, Look Like A Threat: It cannot be said enough that this Seattle team can be a threat in the NFC. The Seahawks defense held Patrick Mahomes to nearly a 50% completion rate and caused two turnovers as Seattle clinched a spot in the playoffs. A revitalized defense and a dangerous running game can make Seattle a threat in the playoffs.
  
• The Colts Can Actually Make The Playoffs Next Week: Indianapolis, led by Andrew Luck and 357 passing yards and two touchdowns, came back against the New York Giants and won, 28-27. This all leads up to a win-and-in scenario next Sunday night against the Tennessee Titans. By the way, Andrew Luck is 10-0 against the Titans in his career and 4-0 against Marcus Mariota in his career.
  

NFL Top Five:

1. New Orleans Saints
   
2. Chicago Bears
   
3. Los Angeles Rams
   
4. Los Angeles Chargers
   
5. Kansas City Chiefs
   

Welcome to a Christmas edition of Blending Buddy, where I show you the recipes I make for juicing! This edition is called the "Yule Tide".

• Two tomatoes
• A handful of grapes
• A handful of spinach

Not the most fruitful of drinks, the "Yule Tide" is just a simple drink. Santa will certainly like the lycopenes found in the tomatoes, which can help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Santa will also get a great amount of potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin K, helping him to deliver presents to all the children in the middle of the night (yes, I get that Santa isn't real. I'm just trying to get into the Christmas spirit, folks)! Be sure to leave him a nutritious drink to go with his cookies!

The end of the year is rolling around, so it's time to look back on the year and what made it memorable. Who won the year? Who just made 2018 suck? I pick the 2018 Ice Cold Winners.