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https://www.thenerdelement.com/2021/09/11/thursday-night-football-prediction-updates-and-tomorrows-week-1-predictions/

Hi everyone! Today I am going to make some predictions on some games who I think is going to win, but it won’t be for every game. Before I do that, I want to give you guys and update about the football game on Thursday. So, I predicted that the Buccaneers would beat the Cowboys 27-19, but the final score was 31-29 Bucs over the Cowboys in a very close game. The Cowboys offense was playing really good, but the only thing that made the difference to why the Cowboys lost the game is because the kicker for the Cowboys Greg Zuerlein missed a couple of key kicks that he had to make. Had he made all of the kicks on Thursday night, then I think the Cowboys could have actually would have won the game. The question is would the Bucs still win? Probably, but the game would have definitely been much different.

So, I am 1 for 1 on NFL predictions so far!

Now, let’s get started on week 1 NFL predictions, shall we?! So, the first game I will predict is the game between the Seahawks @Colts. These teams are looking to make the playoffs this season and making it to the Super Bowl, but it is going to be a long shot. I think this is going to be a great game. My prediction on this game is that I think that the Colts will barely come out on top of the Seahawks 30-27 in a very close game. I think that the Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson will figure out a way to come back into the game and try to get lucky as he always does, but it won’t be enough to beat the Colts. I can be wrong, but I do believe in the Colts as of right now even though the Seahawks might be healthy, but I think someone will get hurt. The next game I am going to predict is the 49ers @Lions game. Both of these teams have new quarterbacks. Trey Lance on the 49ers and Jared Goff on the Lions. I think the 49ers may be able to pull this one out in a pretty close game over the Lions 26-21. I just think that the 49ers might be a little bit too much for the Lions to handle on offense and on defense. Of course I can be wrong, but this is what I believe. The next game I will predict is the Cardinals @Titans game. I am excited to watch this game because both of these teams have some good players such as DeAndre Hopkins, Kyler Murray, Derrick Henry, Julio Jones, and AJ Brown. I think that this is going to be a really great game and I think that both defense has some concerns on defense especially on the Cardinals because of the retirement of the corner back Malcolm Butler due to the personal issues. I think both defenses are going to be exposed, but the question is who will come out on top? Personally, I do think that the Cardinals will barely come out on top of the Titans 28-20. I think that the Cardinals at some point will figure out how to stop Derrick Henry the running back and get some pressure on Ryan Tannehill the quarterback. I could be wrong, but I do believe in the Cardinals. The next game I will predict is the Browns @Chiefs game. The rematch of these teams that went to the AFC Championship game last season. I still think that the Chiefs can beat the Browns in this game in a close one 34-31. The Chiefs can still score on you quickly and you are not going to beat them in a shootout. So, if you are the Browns, I would rather try and keep quarterback Patrick Mahomes off the field by having some long drives and running down the clock because you want to rest your defense a lot. I also think that it may not be enough to beat them. The Browns could come out with the win over the Chiefs, but I don’t see them winning as of now. The next game I will predict is the Broncos @Giants game. I think the Broncos will win this game over the Giants 24-17. I just think the Broncos are a bit of a better team than the Giants.

The next game I will predict is the Packers @Saints. I think this game is definitely going to be a great game. Both of these teams are going to be pushing for their playoff spots and go to the Super Bowl, but it is going to be a long way. So, I do think that the Packers will be able to come out on top of the Saints in a shootout 37-29. I just think that the quarterback Aaron Rodgers is going to pick apart the Saints defense. Of course the defense can stop him, but I don’t think that they will do enough to beat the Packers. The next game I will predict is the Bears @Rams game. The rematch of these 2 teams last year during the season. I still do think that the Rams will pull this one off over the Bears 23-16. The last game I will predict is the Ravens @Raiders. These 2 teams are going to be pretty good this season and I think that they might even make the playoffs this year. I think that the Ravens will come away with the win over the Raiders 31-24. The Ravens offense is going to be dangerous in the running game like they were last season and they will be again this season and their defense might be a little bit better than it was last season. I can be wrong but I do believe in the Ravens as of now.

So, what do you guys think about all the predictions I made?! I would love to hear lots of comments, thoughts, opinions, questions, or concerns down below!

Stay tuned for NFL prediction updates.

The post Thursday Night Football Prediction Updates and Tomorrow’s Week 1 Predictions! appeared first on The Nerd Element.

https://blackgirlnerds.com/tiff-2021-review-riz-ahmed-shines-in-encounter/

When reading the plot for Encounter in the TIFF programming guide, it’s easy to see why so many people would be curious about it. The cast alone did it for me. Anytime I can see a Supernatural alum (Misha Collins), even if he does have the tiniest role in the film, I am immediately on board. 

Now, when I say I enjoyed this film, I mean I enjoyed it immensely. There were times I forgot I was watching a movie. Isn’t that the point of watching a movie in a theater? The story, the acting, the pacing, the editing, the special effects were all fantastic. There were a few minor plot holes but I was okay with rolling with it because they didn’t take away from the story. 

I had the pleasure of watching two science fiction films back to back. It was a night of true nerdiness on my part. I walked away from this film wanting to see it again immediately. Encounter is smart. It made me think. It even swayed my belief a few times as I tried to figure out what was really going on. Encounter is such an engaging film, and I can’t wait for people to see it.

Encounter is about a decorated marine Malik Khan and his two sons. Malik learns that bugs (microorganisms) have landed on Earth and have been using humans as hosts, taking control of them one after another. The government will not alert the public, so Malik sets out on a rescue mission to save his sons. He picks them up from his ex-wife, who may or may not be already infected, in the guise of an epic road trip as he tries to keep them safe. 

The film stars Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal) as Malik Khan, Lucian-River Chauhan (Heartland) as the oldest son Jay, Aditya Geddada as the youngest son Bobby, Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures), and Rory Cochrane (Black Mass). The film is directed by Michael Pearce (Beast) and co-written by Pearce and Joe Barton (The Ritual).

Taking cues from classics like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Puppet Masters, and The Host, the film is infused with the idea of being corrupted by something you can’t see and turns this into a thrilling production enhanced with fully developed characters. 

The story is simple — the character dynamics, not so much. The characters are complex and flawed, yet likable. The relationships explored are complicated, and yet unbreakable. Director Pearce made all the right choices. The little hints here and there that suggest but don’t give away too much were perfect. For a film like this, it’s all about timing and pace. A good reveal is always worth it when the audience doesn’t know what to think. Pearce was able to give us shock and awe with his visuals. 

Ahmed plays Malik Khan perfectly. He is gritty and prone to extremes. His outbursts were precise and fearful at times, but given the circumstances, perfectly valid. Ahmed also plays the loving, tough, and charismatic father. He also is portrayed as the true friend who carries his military team to safety. It makes sense to root for this guy.

The performances of the two young boys are brilliant. Chauhan did an amazing job as the ten-year-old who looks up to his father and would do anything to make his father happy. I teared up at certain scenes because elements of the father-son dynamic reminded me so much of my little nephew with my brother. It was beautiful. 

Geddada as the youngest son Bobby is such a natural. For being this strong in his first film, it’s clear this kid is going places. He’s adorable, funny, and acts like a stubborn little kid (like his father). The dynamic between him and his brother and his father is flawless. He’s that little kid that always wants the other parent when he gets in trouble. We all know that kid.

Like Octavia Spencer’s character, Hattie, we all deem ourselves a good judge of character at some point in our lives. So why is it possible for her to make viewers doubt themselves? Spencer is charismatic and level-headed in her role. It’s unnerving for a character to make us question everything we have seen, to be able to get inside our heads without even realizing it — much like the alien bugs in the film. 

There is also commentary on judging someone by how they look or act. Sound familiar, world? There is a scene where Malik gets pulled over by a cop. Is it because of prejudice and because he looks a certain way, or is it because the cop has alien bugs in his brain? Everyone you encounter in the film could be host to aliens, and the audience alongside the characters are trying to figure it out. It’s fantastic cinematic thrills.

Amazon Prime Video will release Encounter on December 10, 2021. Until then, I’m going to pick up some bug spray, just in case.

For more of our reviews from TIFF check out the following:

The Guilty

Mothering Sunday

Hold Your Fire

Attica

To Kill The Beast

A Banquet

Kicking Blood

Beba

Night Raiders

http://www.afronerd.com/2021/09/the-wires-michael-k-williams-passes.html

 

Afronerd Radio can now be heard LIVE courtesy of Apple Music/Itunes

https://www.thenerdelement.com/2021/09/08/tomorrows-first-nfl-regular-season-prediction/

Hi everyone! Today I want to talk about tomorrow’s first Thursday night football game of the season! I know everyone is excited for the NFL season to start! So, let’s get started, shall we?!

So, the first game tomorrow will be the Dallas Cowboys @ the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers have a total of 22 players returning to the team and they are going to be a really good team again this year and the Cowboys have some issues on defense, but a quarterback Dak Prescott will be returning to the field for the first time after he was suffering a broken leg last year. I think this game will be a great game, but I do think that the Bucs can pull it off at some point over the Cowboys 27-19. I just think that the Cowboys might not do enough to beat the Super Bowl Champions because you have to look at the way this team is fully healthy. When a team is really healthy and fresh like this, look out! It is going to be really hard for a lot of teams to beat them. So, this is why I pick the Buccaneers to win the game tomorrow night. I can be wrong of course, but right now I feel confident about it.

So, what do you guys think about tomorrow’s Thursday night football game prediction?!

I would love to hear lots of comments, opinions, questions, concerns, or thoughts down below!

Stay tuned for NFL prediction updates.

The post Tomorrow’s First NFL Regular Season Prediction! appeared first on The Nerd Element.