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[City Buzz] no. 13 January 31 - February 7
The Mississippi AFL-CIO held a press conference on Monday, demanding the Senate pass two worker-friendly bills sent to them from the House.
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Week 6: Voter ID, Sex Ed, Government Secrecy
As last week came to a close, many 2009 bills met their death in the Mississippi Legislature due to the deadline for passing bills originating in their respective chambers.
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New South Jackson Grocery Store Opening
The city of Jackson is set to dedicate $50,000 to transforming a former Kroger on Raymond Road into a Vowell's Marketplace. The new grocery store, a franchise of the Mississippi-based …
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How To Help
AnySoldier.com's motto, "Freedom isn't free! Just ask any soldier …" speaks volumes. The next words on the Web site explain its purpose: "Want to send your support to a soldier …
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Karaoke Connections
In a darkly lit corner of Fenian's Pub on Fortification Street, an older long-haired man in a T-shirt looks around tentatively as he puts down his pint. His wife, still …
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He Drank, She Drank
I like girlie drinks. There, I said it. I'm not ashamed of it, either. Sweet? Yep. Fruity? The more, the better. And if you buy me a chocolatini, then I'll …
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City & County
OPINION: Mayor Lumumba Attempts to Disarm ‘Our People’ in Jackson, Literally and Figuratively
"During his tenure as mayor, Lumumba has presided over police killing and maiming of black toilers and has strengthened police’s capacity to brutalize and subjugate."
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Civil Rights
NAACP: Gov. Bryant Should Show 'Moral Urgency' on State Flag Change
After South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley signed a bill into law Thursday to bring down the Confederate flag outside the Statehouse—a move that seemed unthinkable only a month ago in …
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It's About You
<b>Can Young Voters Change Mississippi?</b>
If you're under 25, you don't count, at least not for much. Now, before you get huffy, let me explain. Only 42 percent of you voted in the last Mississippi …
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[Herman's Picks] Vol. 8, No. 31
Spring fever is in the air, and you'll find lots going on this week around town.
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City & County
JFP Sunday Report: 10 Local Stories of the Week
It was an enterprising news week at the Jackson Free Press. Here are 10 local stories you shouldn't miss.
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[Herman's Picks] Vol. 8, No. 51
What better reason to get your music and drink on than to celebrate the ending of August and a long Labor Day weekend. Soon the oppressive heat will be gone. …
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[Herman's Picks] Vol. 11, No. 13
Between now and the new year, you have quite a few choice options for getting out of the house.
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Jury Complaint: ‘Curious and Serious' Development
- Listen to MC law professor Matt Steffey on today's events
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Cookin' Up Christmas
The holidays don't necessarily mean you're relegated to spending long hours in the kitchen. Instead, take the time to relax with your family and friends and let a local restaurant …
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[City Buzz] Screw ideology; Mississippians want health care
MOVE OVER, VERMONT: The John C. Stennis Institute of Government announced the surprising results of a statewide poll on Dec. 8, showing that a wide majority of Mississippians want the …
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Community Events and Public Meetings
Monday, April 19
2 p.m., "Global Warming: Attribution, Who is to Blame?" at Jackson State University (1400 John R. Lynch St.) in Just Science Hall, room 209. Dr. Anthony Lupo of the University …
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Eco-Trekking
Whether an all-out eco-adventure sounds right up your alley, or resting your head on an organic cotton pillow at a chic, sustainable hotel is more your style; travel's now the …
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Getting Defensive for Super Bowl LI
By bryanflynnThere is an old saying in sports: “Offense wins games, but defense wins championships.” If that is the case, which defense will lead its team to a victory in Super Bowl LI?
Both offenses in this year’s Super Bowl, which airs Sunday, Feb. 5, at 5:30 p.m. on FOX, are two of the best in the NFL. The Atlanta Falcons have the top-scoring offense, averaging 34 points per game, and the New England Patriots are third, averaging 28 points per game.
The team that plays the best defense should come out on top in this game. There are several ways to rank defenses—most rank defenses by the yards they allowed per game, but some defenses give up yards but not points.
Winning a football game is about who scores the most points, and sometimes, that means forcing a field goal instead of giving up a touchdown.
New England is the top defense by that measurement, allowing just 16 points per game on average. Atlanta is 25th in the league in points allowed, as the Falcons’ defense gave up 25 points per game.
Another great test of a defense is its ability to get off the field on third down. That means forcing punts and field goals instead of giving up long drives for touchdowns.
The Patriots’ defense allowed teams to convert on third down 37 percent of the time for seventh in the league. Atlanta ended up allowing teams to convert 42 percent of the time on third down for 26th in the NFL.
New England allowed teams to convert just 39 percent on fourth down, and the Falcons allowed a whopping 72 percent of fourth-down conversions. This is important if one team is behind late in the game and must gamble for a first down.
The numbers bare out that the Patriots get off the field better on third down so they give up fewer points, and Atlanta struggles at times to get stops, which means its defense gives up more points.
Another factor in this Super Bowl may be how each team responds in the red zone, the area from the opposing team’s 20-yard line to that end zone. This represents a good scoring chance for a field goal or touchdown.
New England allowed its opponents to make touchdowns in the red zone 50 percent of the time, and Atlanta allowed red-zone touchdowns 72 percent of the time. On offense, the Patriots scored touchdowns on 64 percent of their red-zone trips, and the Falcons scored touchdowns on 63 percent of their visits to the red zone.
Good defenses force turnovers, and both teams are great at that. The Patriots forced 23 turnovers, and the Falcons forced 22 turnovers. Both teams only gave the ball away 11 times this season on offense.
But the opponents that a team plays against can skew statistics somewhat. …
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Legislature Status: Bills We're Watching
Lawmakers had a Feb. 3 deadline. Here's what made it and what didn't.
