Thursday Night Football - New Orleans Saints (5-6) @ Atlanta Falcons (10-1)

This weeks Thursday Night Football sees a huge NFC South clash between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons.  The game could have huge playoff implications and on paper, it looks like the best Thursday night game this year.

The Saints are 5-6 and need the win to keep themselves in with a chance of a playoff spot.  The Falcons are 10-1 and need the win to maintain their number one seed in the NFC.  Add the fact that the Falcons only defeat of the season came in New Orleans and it looks like we could have a cracker on our hands.

The Saints had a terrible start to the season but they have fought back from 0-4 and won five of their last seven games.  At 5-6 the Saints are still well and truly alive coming into week 13 and although the team may have had higher expectations at the start of the year, after week 4 they would have been delighted with that.

The Saints strength is their passing game and in Drew Brees they have a truly elite quarterback.  He has the Superbowl ring and there's not many better quarterbacks in the NFL.  Brees has a great record in Atlanta since moving to the Saints, winning on five of his six visits.  Brees will undoubtedly lead the passing game and keep the game competitive but he will need help from his team mates.  The running game hasn't been good this year and almost everything positive on offense has been passing.  The defense has been very poor and they have given up more yards than any other team in the league.  The defense needs to step it up tonight as Atlanta have one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL.

The Falcons are also a pass heavy offense and are also led by a top class quarterback.  Matt Ryan has grown in stature in recent seasons and he looks like he has taken the required steps to join Brees, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.  Ryan is helped by the quality of receivers he has to work with.  Roddy White, Julio Jones and tight end, Tony Gonzalez are all great targets and Ryan has been making the most of this.  The running game has been hit and miss this season and starter, Michael Turner is picking up just 3.5 yards per carry.  It might be time for the Falcons to increase the workload of his backup, Jacquizz Rodgers.  Rodgers is averaging 3.9 yards per carry and has been making an impact in recent weeks.

This game looks like it has all the makings of a shootout and could well be decided on who has the last possession.  Both offenses are better than their opponents defense and it should make for a high scoring game.  The Saints need the win more as their playoff hopes are in the balance.  The Falcons could afford to lose and still be at least one game clear as the top seeds in the NFC but they will be desperate to pick up a win over this Saints team.  The Falcons have only one of their last eight games against the Saints and will be hurting that it was the Saints who took their unbeaten start to the season.  The Falcons will believe that they are a better team than the Saints and now is the time for them to prove it on the field.  A win over the Saints would be a huge mental hurdle for the Falcons to get over and it would give them a belief that they've near really had in the playoffs in the Matt Ryan era.

Prediction - Tonight's the night that the Falcons show the league that they are the best team in the NFC South by beating the Saints for the first time since September 2010.

NFL POWER RANKINGS - WEEK 13

1 (1) Houston Texans (10-1) - The Texans picked up a win over the Lions on Thursday and they can count themselves very lucky to have done so.  They had a lot of help from the officials and need to up their game.  They have been poor in the last two weeks and they will hope it's just a minor blip as they won't win many games in the playoffs based on those performances.  It often happens that a team peaks in the regular season and makes little impact in the playoffs and the Texans will be hoping that they're not that team.  Matt Schaub threw for 315 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  His leading receiver was Andre Johnson who caught 9 passes for 188 yards.  The star man was Arian Foster who ran for 102 yards and 2 touchdowns. 

2 (2) Atlanta Falcons (10-1) - The Falcons picked up another win to reach 10-1 for the season but they were pushed all the way by the Buccaneers.  There was never any more than six points between the teams and the game was won half way through the fourth quarter when Michael Turner ran 3 yards into the end zone.  The Falcons are on the verge of sealing the NFC South and then they can look to maintain their top seed in the NFC.  The Falcons have a good home record and will want to ensure the NFC playoffs have to go through Atlanta.  Matt Ryan threw for 353 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  Julio Jones was the leading receiver, catching 6 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown.

3 (3) New England Patriots (8-3) - New England picked up a Thanksgiving win over divisional rivals, the New York Jets.  This rivalry has been heated in recent seasons but the Jets have been poor and the result won't have as big an impact on the division.  When these teams have met in the last few seasons a trend has began to emerge.  There seems to be one tight game a season and one were the Patriots blow out the Jets.  This was the blowout and the tight game was the Pats overtime win in Foxboro.  The Pats look playoff bound and will pose a threat to any opponent.  Tom Brady was as good as always, throwing for 323 yards and 3 touchdowns.  His leading receiver was Shane Vereen who caught 2 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown.  Stevan Ridley had another big day on the ground, running for 97 yards and a touchdown.

4 (5) Baltimore Ravens (9-2) - The Ravens picked up another win and once again it was less than emphatic.  The Ravens are 9-2 and look likely to win the AFC North and as things stand they would have a bye in the first round of the playoffs.  They hold the number two seed but the AFC is tight and there is just two wins separating the four divisional leaders.  They do need to keep winning to guarantee their bye.  On Sunday, Joe Flacco threw for 355 yards and a touchdown.  Torrey Smith was the leading receiver with 7 catches for 144 yards.  Ray Rice played well too and picked up 164 yards from scrimmage.

5 (6) San Francisco 49ers (8-2-1) - The 49ers picked up a good win over the Saints in New Orleans on Sunday.  The 49ers are having a good year and they don't seem to have been effected by Colin Kaepernick replacing Alex Smith at quarterback.  I predicted the 49ers for the Superbowl at the start of the year and I'd be happy enough to stand by that prediction.  They have a great defense, a great running game and whilst it's still early days I think they have upgraded their quarterback.  Kaepernick threw for 231 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  His leading receiver was tight end, Delanie Walker who caught 3 passes for 81 yards.  Frank Gore led the running game with 83 yards and also caught a touchdown pass. 

6 (7) Denver Broncos (8-3) - The Broncos got the win on Sunday over the Kansas City Chiefs but it was far from impressive.  I felt the game could be tight if the Chiefs avoided turnovers and they did until the final play of the game.  Denver will be happy to have avoided the potential banana skin as they cruise toward the divisional title and the win keeps them in the race for a first round bye in the playoffs.  Peyton Manning threw for 285 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception.  Demaryius Thomas was the leading receiver, catching 4 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown.  Knowshon Moreno had a good day on the ground, picking up 85 yards from 20 carries.

7 (8) Chicago Bears (8-3) - The Bears are back in front in the NFC North after a win over the Minnesota Vikings and a defeat for the Green Bay Packers in New York.  The Bears have a soft enough schedule that you could say with confidence that they will be a playoff team but the biggest question will be what seed will they hold.  If the playoffs were today the Bears would be seeded 3 but they are right behind the 49ers in second but are only just ahead of the Packers and they still have to play them at Soldier Field.  Jay Cutler was back in at quarterback for the Bears but didn't have to do much.  He threw for 188 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  The running game didn't do much much and was restricted to 2.9 yards per carry but Michael Bush still managed to get into the end zone on 2 occasions.  Brandon Marshall was the leading receiver, catching 12 passes for 92 yards.  The Bears defense got back on track and forced 3 turnovers.

8 (10) New York Giants (7-4) - The Giants picked up a win on Sunday night at home to the Green Bay Packers and it looks as though the issues, whatever they were, have been resolved during their bye week.  The Packers are a tough opponent and are far from ideal for a team facing questions about their form.  The Giants clearly didn't let it get to them and they ran out easy winners.  Eli Manning was back on form and threw for 249 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Hakeem Nicks led the receivers with 5 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.  The rushers also had a good day and were led by Andre Brown and Ahmed Bradshaw.  Brown ran for 64 yards and a touchdown.  Bradshaw had 119 yards from scrimmage and a rushing touchdown. 

9 (4) Green Bay Packers (7-4) - The Packers suffered a heavy defeat to the Giants in New York.  The game was over as a contest by half time and once again the Giants showed that they have the required tools to get the better of Green Bay.  The Packers are 7-4 for the season and should make the playoffs but the defeat has left them trailing the Chicago Bears at the top of the NFC North.  Aaron Rodgers threw for 219 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  Jordy Nelson was the leading receiver, catching 2 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown.  The Packers got a decent return from their running game.  Their rushers combined for 116 yards from 26 carries.

10 (15) Indianapolis Colts (7-4) - The Colts took another step towards the playoffs with a win over the Buffalo Bills.  There is a great spirit and togetherness in Indianapolis right now and when that happens, teams often play to the maximum of their capabilities.  The Colts should be safe enough for a wildcard place but the division is still within their grasp.  They are three wins behind the Texans but the teams meet in weeks 15 and 17, so two wins would give the Colts a great chance of winning the division.  Andrew Luck had another solid game, throwing for 240 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  His leading receiver was Reggie Wayne who caught 8 passes for 102 yards. 

11 (11) New Orleans Saints (5-6) - New Orleans dropped to 5-6 after losing to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.  The Saints have come back from an 0-4 start and a win would have put them in a great position to reach the playoffs but it wasn't to be and the Saints will have to do things the hard way.  The Saints have a tough schedule but I certainly wouldn't rule them out of nicking a playoff spot.  They face a huge trip to Atlanta on Thursday night and need to pick up a win.  On Sunday, Drew Brees threw for 267 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.  The Saints have struggled all year with their running game and managed just 2.8 yards per carry.  

12 (9) Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) - The Steelers have dropped to 6-5 after a poor performance in Cleveland against the Browns.  The Steelers were terrible and turned the ball over eight times.  Charlie Batch had a bad game and was intercepted three times but they also fumbled five times and things are starting to look very difficult for Pittsburgh.  Batch threw for 199 yards and the three interceptions.  The running game never turned up and averaged just 2.5 yards per carry.  At 6-5 the Steelers are still in a wild card spot but they won't stay there for long unless they can fill the void left by Ben Roethlisberger. 

13 (13) Minnesota Vikings (6-5) - The Vikings suffered a defeat to divisional rivals, the Chicago Bears on Sunday.  The defeat leaves the Vikings at 6-5, and outside the wildcard places due to their head to head records against Seattle and Tampa Bay.  The Vikings have a tough schedule and I can't see them keeping pace for a wildcard place in the playoffs.  On Sunday, the Vikings were second best and were well beaten in the end.  Christan Ponder had a poor game, completing just 22 of his 43 passes for 159 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  Tight End, Kyle Rudolph led the receivers, catching 5 passes for 55 yards and a touchdown.  Adrian Peterson had another good game, running for 108 yards from just 18 carries.

14 (17) Cincinnati Bengals (6-5) - The Bengals kept their playoff hopes alive with a good win over the Oakland Raiders.  The game was never close and the Bengals led 24-0 at half time.  Oakland got the deficit back to fourteen but the Bengals quickly responded and ran out easy winners.  Their schedule isn't too bad and they have a good chance of the playoffs.  As it stands they are just outside the playoff places due to their week 7 defeat to the Steelers but they play Pittsburgh in week 16 and the Steelers are having quarterback issues so the Bengals have a great chance of finishing ahead of them.  On Sunday the Bengals were led by their running game.  They picked up 221 yards from 34 carries.  BenJarvus Green-Ellis had another big day, rushing for 129 yards and a touchdown.  Andy Dalton threw for 210 yards and 3 touchdowns.  AJ Green was the star receiver again, catching 3 passes for 111 yards. 

15 (14) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) - The Bucs suffered a narrow defeat to divisional rivals, the Atlanta Falcons.  The Bucs were very unlucky and there was very little between the sides but it was Atlanta who took the win by a one point margin.  At 6-5 the Bucs are still in the race for the playoffs but the divisional title looks to be out of their reach.  They still face road trips to Denver, New Orleans and Atlanta so getting a wildcard spot won't be an easy task either.  Josh Freeman threw for 256 yards.  Vincent Jackson was once again, his leading receiver, catching 5 passes for 96 yards.  Running-back, Doug Martin was restricted to 50 yards from 21 carries but did manage to get 2 rushing touchdowns.

16 (12) Seattle Seahawks (6-5) - Seattle drop to 6-5 for the season and 1-5 on the road after a defeat to the Miami Dolphins.  The Seahawks led for large parts of the game but Miami tied the game with 5:14 left and kicked the game winning field goal as time expired.  At 6-5 the Seahawks are still in the race for a wildcard place but their chances of winning the NFC West are almost certainly gone.  Russell Wilson had another good game, throwing for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns.  He also picked up 38 yards from 5 carries on the ground.  Unfortunately for the Seahawks, Marshawn Lynch was unable to match Wilson's rushing display and he picked up just 46 yards at 2.4 yards per carry.

17 (23) Washington Redskins (5-6) - The Redskins got the win in Dallas on Thursday thanks to a huge second quarter when they scored 28 unanswered points.  The Cowboys came back in the second half but were unable to get close enough and the Redskins ran out winners.  The Redskins season will hang on the outcome of their next two games when they host the Giants and the Ravens.  If they can win those two then they have a realistic chance of finishing 10-6 as they finish with the Browns, the Eagles and the Cowboys again.  In Thursday's game Robert Griffin III was the star of the show.  He threw for 311 yards, 4 touchdowns and an interception.  His leading receiver was Pierre Garcon who caught 5 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown.  Alfred Morris had another big day on the ground, rushing for 113 yards and a touchdown. 

18 (16) Dallas Cowboys (5-6) - The Cowboys were beaten by the Washington Redskins on Thursday night.  The Cowboys left themselves too much to do after a bad second quarter and ran out of time in their comeback.  The Cowboys won the second half 28-10 but they lost the first half 28-3 and it was too deep a hole to get out of.  At 5-6 the Cowboys are still alive but need to start picking up wins.  Their remaining schedule isn't too bad but they do face four teams who have at least a small chance of being in the playoffs.  Tony Romo had another mixed day, throwing for 441 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.  Dez Bryant had an excellent game, catching 8 passes for 145 yards and 2 touchdowns.

19 (18) Detroit Lions (4-7) - The Lions are now 4-7 after they suffered a heartbreaking defeat to the officials / Houston Texans on Thursday night.  I thought the refs were very poor and not just on the big issues but on a few of the lesser ones too.  Obviously, the biggest mistake was the Forsett touchdown.  Jim Schwartz deserves the heat he is getting but the refs have to get that call right.  It wasn't even close and his elbow and knee both touched the ground.  The punt in the first half was another bad call and in my opinion those decisions cost the Lions the win.  Lions quarterback, Matthew Stafford was excellent, throwing for 441 yards and 2 touchdowns.  He had two receivers who had one hundred yard games.  Calvin Johnson caught 8 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown.  Ryan Broyles had the best game of his career, catching 6 passes for 126 yards. 

20 (24) Miami Dolphins (5-6) - The Dolphins are up to 5-6 for the season and still have a chance of reaching the playoffs after a win over the Seahawks.  Their remaining schedule is very difficult though and they will have to do it the hard way.  In Sunday's game, they came back from seven behind in the fourth quarter and ended up winning it on a Dan Carpentar field goal as time expired.  Ryan Tannehill threw for 253 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  Davone Bess was his leading receiver, catching 7 passes for 129 yards.  Miami had a good day on the ground and their rushers picked up 189 yards.  Reggie Bush led the way with 87 yards and a touchdown.

21 (20) San Diego Chargers (4-7) - The Chargers drop to 4-7 after a tough overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens.  The Ravens kicked a field goal as time expired to take the game to overtime and then won it courtesy of another field goal with 1:07 left in the extra quarter.  Philip Rivers threw for 228 yards and a touchdown.  Danario Alexander led the receivers, catching 5 passes for 74 yards.  Ryan Mathews led the rushers, picking up 72 yards. 

22 (21) Buffalo Bills (4-7) - The Bills lost on Sunday to drop to 4-7 and all but end their playoff hopes.  They haven't the most difficult of remaining schedules but I have saw nothing from them that makes me believe they can win enough games to get into a wildcard slot.  CJ Spiller has had a bit of a breakthrough year and looks like having his first 1000 yard rushing season.  The Bills could be a team for the future.  I had predicted the playoffs at the start of the year for them but it looks like they aren't there yet but there are signs they are going the right way. On Sunday, Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 180 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  Steve Johnson was the leading receiver, catching 6 passes for 106 yards.  Spiller had another big game and picked up 107 yards from 14 carries.

23 (26) St Louis Rams (4-6-1) - The Rams picked up a win over the Cardinals in Arizona to get their first win since week 5, which was also against the Cardinals.  I can't see the Rams making the playoffs this season but the win sets them up nicely for their last five games.  Their schedule sees them play four teams with winning records so although they are unlikely to be in the post season themselves, they will play a big part in deciding which teams will be.  Sam Bradford threw for 205 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception.  Chris Givens had a good game, catching 5 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown.  Steven Jackson had a big game on the ground, rushing for 139 yards from 24 carries. 

24 (19) Tennessee Titans (4-7) - Tennessee are now 4-7 for the year after a defeat in Jacksonville.  It was the Jags first home win of the year and it almost certainly ends the Titans playoff hopes.  The Titans have a tough schedule and I can't see anything better than a 6-10 finish for them.  In Sunday's game, Jake Locker threw for 261 yards, a touchdown and 2 interceptions.  Chris Johnson ran for 80 yards from 21 carries.  The game was tight and ultimately turnovers cost the Titans their chance of a victory.

25 (28) Cleveland Browns (3-8) - Cleveland picked up their third win of the year with a big win over divisional rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers.  The Browns defense will take most of the credit as they forced eight turnovers.  That's a good performance by any standards and the offense were just about able to complete the job.  The Browns won't make the playoffs but we have saw, in flashes, some good things about this team for the future.  Brandon Weeden threw for 158 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  His leading receiver was Josh Gordon with four receptions for 60 yards.  Trent Richardson was the best performer, rushing for 85 yards and a touchdown. 

26 (22) New York Jets (4-7) - The Jets are now 4-7 after a heavy defeat to their big rivals, the New England Patriots.  At 4-7 the Jets are clinging onto their hopes of a playoff spot but it is looking increasingly unlikely that they will be able to get the wins required to get there.  Their remaining schedule is very weak and they don't have any more teams with a winning record left to play but it would be a big ask for a team who haven't won back to back games all year, to go on a five game winning streak.  Mark Sanchez had a decent game, completing 26 of 36 passes for 301 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  Shonn Greene had a good day on the ground, running for 71 yards from 14 carries.  Jeremy Kerley led the Jets receivers with 7 catches for 86 yards.

27 (29) Carolina Panthers (3-8) - The Panthers got their third win of the season after a 30-22 win over the Eagles in Philadelphia.  The game was always tight but the Panthers stepped things up in the fourth quarter and got the win.  The Panthers dominated time of possession and were deserving winners.  Cam Newton was the star of the show and reminded the NFL of the type of player he is.  He threw for 306 yards and 2 touchdowns.  He also led the Panthers in rushing, picking up 52 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Brandon LaFell was the leading receiver and caught 3 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. 

28 (25) Arizona Cardinals (4-7) - The 2012 Arizona Cardinals must have suffered one of the biggest collapses in NFL history.  Surely there can't be many teams have started 4-0 and then lost seven on the bounce.  I'm sure it's not something the franchise will be proud of but it's certainly an unusual record.  The team have struggled at quarterback since Kevin Kolb got injured and Ryan Lindley struggled on Sunday.  He threw for 312 yards but he was intercepted four times.  In the NFL you can't throw four interceptions and expect to win games.  The Cardinals leading receiver was Andre Roberts, catching 9 passes for 92 yards. 

29 (30) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9) - The Jags got their first home win of the season with a 24-19 victory over the Tennessee Titans.  The win could cost the Jags their chance of the number one draft pick but their fans will just be delighted to have finally picked up a home win.  It's been a bad year for the Jags but they should be picking early in the draft again this year and will get the opportunity to build for the future.  Chad Henne threw for 261 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception.  Cecil Shorts III was the leading receiver, catching 4 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown.  

30 (27) Oakland Raiders (3-8) - Oakland suffered another heavy defeat and drop to 3-8 for the season.  In seven of their eight defeats they have lost by more than seven points and their season looks to be well and truly over.  They have a soft schedule remaining but at 3-8 they are too far back and even five straight wins might not be enough.  On Sunday Carson Palmer had a poor game, throwing for just 146 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  Marcel Reece was their best player, running for 74 yards from 15 carries but it wasn't enough as the Bengals ran out easy winners. 

31 (31) Kansas City Chiefs (1-10) - Kansas lost again and find themselves alone at 1-10 with the NFL's worst record.  The next three games will most likely decide if the Chiefs are going to have the number one pick in next years draft.  They face Carolina, Cleveland and Oakland so there is definitely a good chance of a few wins but they will have to cut out the turnovers.  They only had one turnover this week and it was an interception on a Hail Mary as time expired.  They were able to run the Broncos close so it shows how vital the turnovers have been.  Brady Quinn threw for 126 yards and an interception.  Jamaal Charles had a good game and ran for 107 yards.

32 (32) Philadelphia Eagles (3-8) - The Eagles drop to 3-8 and I can't imagine that anyone is particularly surprised based on their recent performances.  Nick Foles completed 16 of his 21 passes for 119 yards.  The Eagles star performer on the day was Bryce Brown who done a great job at running back.  Brown ran for 178 yards and 2 touchdowns from his 19 carries and he looks to be a good prospect.  Unfortunately for Eagles fans, he was the only positive in another miserable night.  The season is gone now and as a fan I wouldn't be totally opposed to the idea of Philly ending the season at 3-13 and put all our eggs into next season.  Hopefully, Andy Reid will be gone by then and whoever the new coach will be given some decent young talent to work with.  One player they won't have is Jason Babin.  Babin was released yesterday in what I can only describe as the latest in a long line of bizarre decisions made by the Eagles this year.   

MNF - Carolina Panthers (2-8) @ Philadelphia Eagles (3-7)

Monday Night Football, two losing teams at 2-8 and 3-7, play in front of a national audience and presumably nobody really cares who wins.  Realistically, both franchises would be better off losing this one as neither have any chance of the playoffs and every win between now and the end of the year will be a step down the draft board. 

Carolina are 2-8 but I would argue that they are a better team than that record suggests.  They have had a very difficult schedule and their eight defeats have all come against teams who are still in with a chance of the playoffs.  The worst team they have lost to is the 5-6, Dallas Cowboys.  In their eight losses they have lost by less than a touchdown on six occasions.  They have been unlucky and with a weaker schedule they could well be sitting with a better record. 

Philadelphia are 3-7 and I would say that is also an inaccurate reflection of the level they are playing at.  I don't think there is a worse team in the NFL than the Philadelphia Eagles and their 3-7 record flatters them.  I am an Eagles fan and I have never saw them look so bad.  They don't even look like they are trying and they seem to be finding new ways of losing games every week. 

The Panthers come into this game with a relatively clear injury list.  The only player in any doubt is receiver, Steve Smith.  He is listed as probable due to a finger injury but looks likely to play.

The Eagles aren't as lucky and are missing at least three key players.  Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and Jason Avant will all miss out.  The Eagles have been bad enough this year without losing the one bright spark on their offense, LeSean McCoy.  McCoy has been the Eagles best player by quite some distance and his absence will be a huge loss.

The match ups give little away and the two teams are quite well balanced.  Both teams have had turnover issues.  The Eagles have more turnovers than any other team in the NFC with twenty-four and the Panthers aren't a great deal better, turning the ball over eighteen times. 

Many people would have been looking forward to this game hoping to see Michael Vick going up against Cam Newton for the first time but due to Vick's injury it will be Nick Foles under center for the Eagles.  Foles came with a big reputation and has shown some flashes of being a good player but his time on the field so far has been inconsistent more than anything else.  The jury is very much out on the rookie and he couldn't have came in at a worse time with the Eagles in the middle of their worst run of defeats in the Andy Reid era.  There's a lot of apathy around this Eagles team at the moment and Foles won't be getting the opportunity to grow into the role that he should be due to the high expectations and disappointing performances so far this year.

Prediction - I'm an Eagles fan but I have to side with the Panthers.  The Eagles don't look capable of winning games at the minute and I see it going in much the same way as the Redskins game with Cam Newton leading the Panthers to a big Monday night win. 

NFL Preview - Week 12

Minnesota Vikings (6-4) @ Chicago Bears (7-3)

This is a huge game in the NFC North between two teams who are now in the chasing pack.  Both have been ahead of the Green Bay Packers and both now trail them in the race to be divisional winners.  The Bears have lost their last two and need to get a win to get their season back on track.  The Vikings are coming off their bye and got a vital win over the Lions in their last game.  They had lost two in a row and were back to 5-4 after a 5-2 start.  They got the win and are right in the race for a playoff spot at 6-4.  The match ups suggest that both teams are better at running the ball.  The passing games are poor, with the Bears 31st in passing and the Vikings 30th.  Of the two running games, Minnesota's is better.  The Vikings are 3rd in rushing and the Bears are 10th.  Adrian Peterson has been excellent this season and will be a huge threat to the Bears.  The Bears defense are better against the run and rank 6th.  The Vikings run defense is 13th. 

Prediction - This game looks tight and the match ups suggest it could go either way.  I wouldn't be surprised to see either side win but I will side with home advantage and go for the Bears. 


Oakland Raiders (3-7) @ Cincinnati Bengals (5-5)
The Raiders head to Cincinnati on a three game losing streak.  At 3-7 they look done for the season and are playing for pride.  The Bengals are still alive at 5-5 and have four winnable games coming up before they finish with back to back games against divisional rivals, Pittsburgh and Baltimore.  Both sides are better passing the ball.  Oakland rank 7th and Cincinnati are 11th.  The Bengals are the better defense though and should be able to cope better with the Raiders offense.  This game looks perfect for AJ Green to build on his good season so far. 

Prediction - The Bengals will get it done and reach 6-5.


Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) @ Cleveland Browns (2-8)

The Steelers travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns without their two most iconic players, Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Polamalu.  The backup quarterback is also out and the Steelers will line up with Charlie Batch taking the snaps.  Batch is 37 years old now and I can't see him having a good game so the Steelers will have to rely on their running game.  The Browns are 23rd in run defense so the Steelers should be able to get the chains moving.  The Browns haven't been great offensively, picking up just 312 yards per game.  The Steelers defense are giving up just 259 yards per game and even with the injuries the Steelers should still have enough to win. 

Prediction - Steelers win. 


Buffalo Bills (4-6) @ Indianapolis Colts (6-4)
This is a huge game for both sides and in particular the Bills.  The Bills are clinging in there at 4-6 and have a soft schedule remaining.  After the Colts the only team with a winning record they have to play is the Seahawks.  If they can win out or go 5-1 they could reach the playoffs.  I haven 't saw much from them to suggest they are capable of it but the chance is still there.  The Colts are much better placed at 6-4 to make a run at the playoffs and apart from their two divisional games against the Texans, they have a very winnable
schedule.  The match ups are interesting in this one.  The Colts are 8th in passing and 14th in rushing.  The Bills defense are 18th against the pass and 30th against the run.  The Bills offense are 23rd in passing and 8th in rushing.  The Colts defense are 20th in both passing and rushing.  The Bills can run the ball but the Colts can win the game in the air or on the ground. 

Prediction - The Colts should get the win here. 


Denver Broncos (7-3) @ Kansas City Chiefs (1-9)
The Broncos go to Kansas City on a five game winning streak and they will be expecting to extend that against the 1-9 Chiefs.  The Broncos look playoff bound and in their current form they will be a tough game for anyone.  The only race the Chiefs are in is for the number one draft pick.  The Chiefs are a running team and rank 4th in rushing.  The Broncos are 4th in run defense and should be able to contain the Chiefs.  The Broncos strength is the passing game and they rank 6th in the NFL.  The Chiefs are good in pass defense and rank 6th.  The biggest issue is the Chiefs taking care of the ball.  If they can avoid turnovers, they can win this but if they turn the ball over they will lose comfortably.

Prediction - The Broncos defense will force turnovers and lead them to a win.


Seattle Seahawks (6-4) @ Miami Dolphins (4-6)
The Seahawks are 6-4 and need to be winning games like this one if they are to reach the playoffs.  The Dolphins got themselves to 4-3 but they have lost three in a row to leave their playoff hopes clinging by a thread.  They have a tough schedule though and I can't see them getting the wins they need.  The Dolphins aren't great on offense and rank 24th in passing and 21st in rushing.  The Seahawks are a running offense and rank 7th in rushing.  The Dolphins had started the year well in run defense but they have struggled in recent weeks and will struggle to cope with Marshawn Lynch. 

Prediction - The Seahawks should get the win.


Atlanta Falcons (9-1) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4)
This looks like being one of the  best games of the weekend with these two being in the race to reach the playoffs.  The Falcons are three games clear in the NFC South but they have a tough schedule remaining and haven't won the division yet.  They still have to play the Bucs twice, the Saints and the Giants.  Their two weaker opponents are both on the road, against the Panthers and the Lions.  The Bucs have now won four in a row and have really turned their season around after a 2-4 start.  They also have a tough schedule and every game from now on will be massive for them.  The Falcons are a pass heavy offense and rank 4th in passing.  The Bucs will struggle with their passing game as their pass defense is 29th in the league.  The Bucs are a more balanced offense and rank 14th in passing and 9th in rushing.  The Falcons defense are 7th in pass defense but 25th against the run.  The Bucs need to get the ball into Doug Martin's hands and if they do, he might just win them the game. 

Prediction - This game is the hardest of the weekend to predict and I could make a strong case for either side to win.  If pushed to decide, I'll go with the Falcons. 


Tennessee Titans (4-6) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9)
Neither of these teams look to be in with a chance of reaching the playoffs. The Titans aren't mathematically out but at 4-6 with a difficult schedule remaining, I can't see them getting there.  The Jags are in the race for an early pick in next years draft and I can't see them winning many more games.  These are two poor sides and I can't see this being a great game.

Prediction - Chris Johnson could potentially be the star here and guide his Titans to the win. 


Baltimore Ravens (8-2) @ San Diego Chargers (4-6)

The Ravens picked up a big win last week over the Steelers to put themselves in pole position to win the AFC North.  If the Chargers are to make a playoff run they will have to do it via the wildcard as they look to be too far behind the Broncos in the division.  The Ravens are doing enough to win each week without looking impressive.  The biggest challenge for them will be if they can go up the gears come playoff time or whether they are only capable of playing at a certain level.

Prediction - The Ravens will find a way to get the win. 


San Francisco 49ers (7-2-1) @ New Orleans Saints (5-5)
This game should play a big part in the NFC side of the playoffs.  The 49ers should be in the playoffs but the Seahawks are pushing them in the race for the NFC West so they can't afford many defeats or they will have to go in as a wildcard.  The Saints have been great in recent weeks.  Many people wrote them off after their 0-4 start but they are now back at .500 and in the race for a playoff place.  The 49ers still haven't confirmed who will start at quarterback but it's likely they will concentrate on their running game anyway.

Prediction - The 49ers are one of the best defenses in the league and the Saints are the worst.  I'll take defense and go with a 49ers win.


St Louis Rams (3-6-1) @ Arizona Cardinals (4-6)

The last time one of these two won a game was in week 5 when the Rams beat the Cards.  Neither has won since but at least one side should be celebrating a win on Sunday, unless of course the Rams get their second tie of the year.  I can't see either side winning too many after tonight and both should be heading for top ten draft picks in 2013.

Prediction - I think this will be another tight game and the Rams might just nick it if Steven Jackson has a good game.


Green Bay Packers (7-3) @ New York Giants (6-4)
The Giants started the season well and looked like a playoff team at 6-2.  Since then they have lost two and looked poor.  The Packers have come a long way since their 2-3 start and now lead the NFC North and come into this game with a lot of momentum.  Both sides rely heavily on their passing games, with the Giants ranked 9th and the Packers ranked 12th.  Neither side are particularly impressive in pass defense with the Giants ranked 25th and the Packers ranked 21st.  I expect Aaron Rodgers to do well but I have my concerns over Eli Manning.  He has looked very poor in recent games.  I'm not sure if it's tiredness or an injury but we will find out tonight whether the bye week has allowed him to sort things out. 

Prediction - Until I know what is wrong with Eli I will side with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

NFL - THANKSGIVING PREVIEW

Houston Texans (9-1) @ Detroit Lions (4-6)

Houston travel to Detroit to take on the Lions in the first of Thursday's Thanksgiving games.  The Texans were taken to overtime on Sunday by the Jacksonville Jaguars and will need a big reaction to get back to the form that has got them to 9-1.  The Texans have a strong defense and are giving up just 300 yards per game.  The offense is picking up and they are 12th in passing and 8th in rushing.  The Lions are all about the pass and lead the NFL in passing.  They have had a mixed season on the ground and rank 23rd in rushing.  On a few occasions, Mikel Leshoure has had big games but they don't happen often enough.  This game will come down to the injury report.  Houston's Pro Bowl cornerback, Jonathan Joseph is listed as questionable and will be a game time decision.  If he misses out, Calvin Johnson will win this game for the Lions.  Johnson is a danger to any team in the league, so when he is up against backups, it's a recipe for disaster. 

Prediction - Even if Joseph plays he can't be at one hundred percent and Calvin Johnson will lead the Lions to a surprise win.

Washington Redskins (4-6) @ Dallas Cowboys (5-5)

This years Thanksgiving game in Dallas sees an all NFC East clash, between the Redskins and the Cowboys.  Neither side are at their best but when these two come together you can always guarantee fireworks.  The Cowboys have relied on Tony Romo's arm this year and rank 7th in passing.  When Romo is playing well, he can win games on his own.  When he's playing bad, he plays really bad.  He has had a decent season overall this year but had two disasters against the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants.  He had nine interceptions in those two games alone.  If you take those out, he has had four interceptions in eight games.  The trouble is knowing when Romo will have those games as they do happen a few times every year.  The Redskins are bad at defending the pass and rank 30th in the league.  The Redskins are a run first offense and are second in rushing this year.  The Cowboys rank 13th in run defense and should be able to find a way to stop the Redskins.

Prediction - The Cowboys will pass the Redskins to death and get the win.

New England Patriots (7-3) @ New York Jets (4-6)

This years Thanksgiving games finish with an AFC East clash between the Patriots and the Jets.  These two have had some good battles in recent seasons and the first clash this season went to overtime.  The Patriots were poor that night and tried to throw it away but just done enough to get back into it.  On paper this game should be an easy win for the Patriots but Rex Ryan usually comes up with something to make New England's life difficult.  The Pats are very good on offense and rank 4th in passing and 5th in rushing.  The Jets defense are 4th against the pass and 30th against the run.  Stevan Ridley should get plenty of carries and should be a good fantasy pick.  The Pats weakness is their pass defense.  I can't see Mark Sanchez having enough quality to win this game for the Jets however and the Patriots should be able to pick up the win. 

Prediction - A Pats victory to all but seal the division. 

NFL POWER RANKINGS - WEEK 12

1 (1) Houston Texans (9-1) - The Texans are now 9-1 after a fortunate victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.  The Jags pushed the Texans all the way but in the end Houston managed to find a way to get the win.  A defeat looked on the cards until Garrett Graham caught touchdown passes with 5:39 and 1:34 left in the fourth quarter.  After the teams shared field goals in overtime, Andre Johnson sealed the win for the Texans with a great catch and run into the end zone with just over two minutes left in the game.  Matt Schaub had a huge game, throwing for 527 yards, 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.  His leading receiver was Andre Johnston who caught 14 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown.  Arian Foster was restricted to just 77 yards from 28 carries.

2 (2) Atlanta Falcons (9-1) - The Falcons have some how made it to 9-1 after Matt Ryan done everything he could to try and cost his side the game.  Ryan threw 5 interceptions on Sunday but the Falcons were able to get out of the hole and squeezed home by a four point margin.  Ryan threw for 301 yards but it was the 5 interceptions that will be the cause for concern.  Roddy White was the leading receiver, catching 8 passes for 123 yards.  Michael Turner had a disappointing game running for 46 yards from 15 carries but he did score the game winning touchdown with 6:40 left in the game.

3 (4) New England Patriots (7-3) - The Patriots picked up their fourth win in a row with a dominant victory over the Indianapolis Colts.  The Pats are now 7-3 and their remaining schedule is relatively soft so they should be able to win the AFC East with a bit to spare.  On Sunday the Pats had some help from their defense and special teams.  The defense returned 2 interceptions for touchdowns and the special teams unit also returned a punt for a touchdown.  The Pats offense is good enough on it's own without their other units picking up 21 points.  Tom Brady threw for 331 yards and 3 touchdowns.  His leading receiver was tight end, Rob Gronkowski who caught 7 passes for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns. 

4 (3) Green Bay Packers (7-3) - The Packers picked up a win over divisional rivals, the Detroit Lions to go 7-3 for the season and take the lead in the NFC North.  The Packers are level at 7-3 with the Chicago Bears but their win over the Bears in week 2 has them leading on the head to head.  The teams are due to meet again in week 15, in a game that will go a long way toward deciding the seeding for the playoffs.  The Green Bay defense forced 4 turnovers, taking one interception back for a touchdown and the offense done the rest.  Aaron Rodgers threw for 236 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception.  Randall Cobb was the best receiver, catching 9 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown.  Jermichael Finley also had a good game, catching 3 passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. 

5 (6) Baltimore Ravens (8-2) - The Ravens picked up a huge win in Pittsburgh to give themselves some daylight in the race to win the AFC North.  The Steelers were without Ben Roethlisberger and the Ravens defense were able to force the Steelers to turn the ball over three times.  The Ravens offense weren't great and managed just 200 yards of total offense.  Joe Flacco completed 20 of his 32 passes for 164 yards.  The Ravens were unable to get their ground game going and picked up just 2 yards per carry.  The Ravens leading receiver was Anquan Boldin who caught 8 passes for 79 yards. 

6 (10) San Francisco 49ers (7-2-1) - The San Francisco 49ers took a huge step on Monday night towards securing a bye in the first round of the playoffs by beating the Chicago Bears.  The 49ers got off to a great start and the game was over by half-time.  The 49ers ended up winning 32-7 and it was fully deserved.  Backup quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, in for the injured Alex Smith, had a great game.  He completed 16 of his 23 passes for 243 yards and 2 touchdowns.  His leading receiver was Vernon Davis who caught 6 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown.  The 49ers had a good day on the ground and their rushers combined for 123 yards at 4.2 yards per carry. 

7 (8) Denver Broncos (7-3) - The Broncos are 7-3 now for the season after a comfortable win over divisional rivals, the San Diego Chargers.  The Broncos are now three wins ahead of San Diego and won both games between the two so look almost guaranteed to win the AFC West.  The Broncos have a real chance of getting one of the top two seeds and a bye in the first round of the playoffs.  Peyton Manning threw for 270 yards, 3 touchdowns and an interception.  Brandon Stokley was the leading receiver this week, catching 4 passes for 55 yards and a touchdown. 

8 (5) Chicago Bears (7-3) - The Bears have dropped to 7-3 after back to back defeats.  This week they suffered a heavy loss to the San Francisco 49ers.  The Bears were without quarterback, Jay Cutler.  The 49ers were also without their quarterback and started the game with Colin Kaepernick under center.  The Bears were hoping their defense would lead them to a win but it wasn't to be and the 49ers got the better of them.  Cutler's replacement, Jason Campbell had a poor game, throwing for 107 yards, a touchdown and 2 interceptions.  The running game wasn't much better and picked up just 85 yards from 28 runs. 

9 (7) Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) - The Steelers lost their first home game of the year to divisional rivals, the Baltimore Ravens.  The Steelers were without Ben Roethlisberger and his backup, Byron Leftwich wasn't able to do a good enough job in his absence.  Leftwich completed 18 of his 39 passes for 201 yards and was also intercepted.  Emmanuel Sanders was his leading receiver, catching 3 passes for 82 yards.  The Steelers had a good day on the ground and their rushers ran for 134 yards.  The Steelers might have won but turned the ball over three times which was the difference between the teams. 

10 (9) New York Giants (6-4) - The Giants were on a bye this week and they will have had plenty to work on.  They started 6-2 but lost their last two and have been looking sluggish for a while now.  Right now, I'm putting it down to them being burnt out a little due to the late bye week.  I expect a reaction this week but they do face a difficult task as they host the Green Bay Packers.

11 (15) New Orleans Saints (5-5) - The Saints are now back at .500 after their 0-4 start and look like a team with every chance of reaching the playoffs.  To do it they will have to negotiate a tough schedule as five of their last six opponents will also believe they can make the post season.  The Saints are 5-1 in their last six and will need to be at their best to complete one of the best comebacks in NFL history.  Drew Brees led the offense as usual and ended the game with 219 yards and 3 touchdowns.  The Saints receivers were led by Marques Colston and Lance Moore.  Colston caught 4 passes for 69 yards and Moore caught 2 passes for 53 yards and 2 touchdowns.  The Saints had a good day on the ground and their rushers combined for 153 yards from 28 carries.

12 (12) Seattle Seahawks (6-4) - The Seahawks were on a bye this week and will be feeling happy with their first ten games.  At 6-4 they are right in the playoff race and they are 5-0 at home.  The remaining schedule isn't too bad and at least four more wins would be a fair enough target.

13 (13) Minnesota Vikings (6-4) - The Vikings were on a bye this week and it came at a good time for them.  They have a very difficult schedule in the last six weeks and if nothing else, they will be going into it fresh.  They start off with a trip to Chicago to face the Bears on Sunday in a must win game for them. 

14 (14) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4) - The Bucs are now 6-4 after coming from eleven points behind in the fourth quarter to tie the game before winning it in overtime.  The Bucs are right in the race for a playoff place but they will have to do it the hard way as they have a tough schedule remaining.  Josh Freeman had a mixed day, throwing for 248 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.  His leading receiver was Vincent Jackson who caught 6 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.  Doug Martin had another big game and picked up 161 yards from scrimmage. 

15 (11) Indianapolis Colts (6-4) - The Colts were brought back down to earth after a crushing defeat in Foxboro to the New England Patriots.  The Colts started well and led after the first quarter.  They were still in the game at half-time and were just seven points behind.  The second half was all New England though and the Pats outscored the Colts 35-7.  Andrew Luck had a mixed game.  He threw for 334 yards and 2 touchdowns but he was also responsible for 3 interceptions and a lost fumble.  Vick Ballard had a good day on the ground, rushing for 72 yards.  The receivers were led by TY Hilton who caught 6 passes for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns. 

16 (16) Dallas Cowboys (5-5) - Dallas were poor but they got the job done on Sunday in their overtime victory over the Cleveland Browns.  The Cowboys were behind for most of the game and the only times they ever led were for a five minute period in the fourth quarter and when the game ended after Dan Bailey's overtime field goal.  At 5-5 the Cowboys are still in the mix for a playoff spot but they will have to be better than this.  Tony Romo had a good game, throwing for 313 yards and a touchdown.  His best receiver was Dez Bryant.  Bryant caught 12 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. 

17 (18) Cincinnati Bengals (5-5) - The Bengals seem to have rediscovered their early season form and picked up their second win in a row with a comfortable victory in Kansas City.  At 5-5 the Bengals are still in the hunt but they face a difficult task to reach the playoffs and still have divisional games to play against the Ravens and the Steelers.  Quarterback, Andy Dalton had a good day, throwing for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns.  His main receiver was once again AJ Green. Green caught 6 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown.  BenJarvus Green-Ellis had his best game of the season, rushing for 101 yards and a touchdown. 

18 (17) Detroit Lions (4-6) - The Lions have slipped to 4-6 after a tough home loss to the Green Bay Packers.  The Lions have a tough schedule and I can't see how they can get enough wins to challenge for the playoffs.  Five of their six opponents have winning records and the Lions would do well to reach seven or eight wins.  They ran the Packers close on Sunday but ultimately it was the four turnovers that cost them the game.  Matthew Stafford threw for 266 yards, a touchdown and 2 interceptions.  Calvin Johnson had another huge day, catching 5 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown.  Mikel LeShoure had a good game on the ground, rushing for 84 yards and a touchdown.

19 (20) Tennessee Titans (4-6) - The Titans were on their bye week this week and it came at a bad time for them.  The Titans had their biggest win of the year in week 10, winning 37-3 in Miami and would have wanted to build momentum after that result.  This week they travel to Jacksonville to take on the Jags in a game they have a great chance if winning. 

20 (19) San Diego Chargers (4-6) - San Diego lost in their must win game in Denver.  With that loss goes any chance of the Chargers reaching the playoffs and almost guarantees that the Broncos will win the division.  The Chargers are 0-5 against teams at .500 or better.  On Sunday, they kept the score respectable without ever looking like winning.  Philip Rivers threw for 258 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.  Danario Alexander led the receivers, catching 7 passes for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns.  The running game was restricted to just 2.3 yards per carry. 

21 (26) Buffalo Bills (4-6) - The Bills picked up a much needed win in a scrappy encounter against the Miami Dolphins.  The Bills defense done a great job of closing down Miami and restricted their offense to 184 yards.  The Bills got off to a great start when Leodis McKelvin returned a punt for a touchdown at the end of Miami's first possession.  The Bills were able to move the ball up the field but were unable to get into the end zone and had to rely on four Rian Lindell field goals to win the game.  Ryan Fitzpatrick had a solid game for the Bills, completing 17 of his 27 passes for 168 yards.  His leading receiver was Steve Johnson.  Johnson caught 6 passes for 79 yards.  Bills running-back, CJ Spiller was impressive, rushing for 91 yards. 

22 (28) New York Jets (4-6) - I have been making a habit of going on a weekly rant about how bad a quarterback Mark Sanchez is, so credit where it's due, Sanchez got it done this week.  My opinion of him hasn't changed and I don't think he's good enough to be a starter in the NFL but he had a good game this week.  He completed 15 of his 20 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown.  His main target was Chaz Schilens, who caught 4 passes for 48 yards and a touchdown.  Bilal Powell ran for 42 yards and 2 touchdowns.  The Jets defense had a good day too and forced 3 turnovers. 

23 (24) Washington Redskins (4-6) - The Redskins picked up their biggest win of the season with an easy win over the Philadelphia Eagles.  The Redskins are now 4-6 and look to be too far back to have a run at the playoffs but they will be happy with their season and in particular the form of rookies Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris.  On Sunday RG3 and Morris combined for 160 yards on the ground.  RG3 also completed 14 of his 15 passes for 200 yards and 4 touchdowns. 

24 (21) Miami Dolphins (4-6) - Miami were very disappointing on Thursday Night Football and fell to 4-6 after a loss to the Buffalo Bills.  That defeat killed off any chance they had of the playoffs and it looks like New England will be the AFC East's sole representatives in the playoffs.  The Dolphins offense was very poor and they never looked like winning the game.  The Dolphins were restricted to 184 yards of total offense.  Ryan Tannehill threw for 141 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  Miami's running game was restricted to just 2.5 yards per carry.  Miami's touchdown was caught by Davone Bess. Bess ended the game with 6 catches for 50 yards and the touchdown.
 
25 (23) Arizona Cardinals (4-6) - Arizona had their chances to win this one but were unable to take their opportunity and fell short. They led 13-0 from early on and then led 19-16 in the fourth quarter.  Their defense had 6 turnovers but their passing game was dreadful and they were unable to do enough to get across the line.  John Skelton and Ryan Lindley combined for just 70 passing yards, 29 of which were wiped out by sacks.  LaRod Stephens-Howling tried to carry the Cardinals offense by himself and ran for 127 yards and a touchdown.  If some of his team mates had stepped up and helped him the win was there for the Cards but he had no support and the Cardinals have now lost six in a row. 

26 (22) St Louis Rams (3-6-1) - The Rams drop to 3-6-1 after a heavy defeat to the New York Jets.  At 3-6-1, the Rams look done for the year.  Their remaining schedule is tough and sees them take on three teams with winning records.  On Sunday, turnovers were the killer and the Rams gave the ball away three times.  Sam Bradford had a rough day, completing just over half of his passes for 170 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception.  He also fumbled the ball, which led to a turnover.  Steven Jackson had a decent game, rushing for 81 yards from just 13 carries.  Jackson should have saw more carries but the coach disagreed and as it was the Rams lost by a comfortable margin. 

27 (27) Oakland Raiders (3-7) - Oakland suffered a heavy defeat to the New Orleans Saints.  The Raiders are now 3-7 and look like they are done for the year.  They have a soft schedule from here on but I just don't think they are a good enough team to get the wins they require.  Carson Palmer had another mixed day, throwing for 312 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.  The star player for the Raiders was Marcel Reece who led the team in both rushing and receiving.  Reece ran for 103 yards and caught 4 passes for 90 yards. 

28 (29) Cleveland Browns (2-8) - The Browns will be absolutely gutted to have lost a game that they looked like winning for large periods.  They took a 13-0 lead in the first half and didn't relinquish that lead until midway through the fourth quarter.  Even then, they showed great courage to go up the field and take the lead again with just over one minute left.  It wasn't to be though and the Cowboys got back up the field and Dan Bailey kicked a field goal to tie the game at the end of the fourth.  As if that wasn't enough, he went on to kick the game winning field goal in overtime.  The Browns can be proud of their efforts and if they can carry that form into their last six games, they can definitely get more wins on the board.  Brandon Weeden had a decent game, throwing for 210 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Fellow rookie, Trent Richardson led the rushers, picking up 95 yards.

29 (30) Carolina Panthers (2-8) - The Panthers drop to 2-8 after throwing away an eleven point lead in the last four minutes of Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  The Panthers should have had the game won but ended up losing it in overtime.  Cam Newton threw for 252 yards and a touchdown.  His leading receiver was Brandon LaFell, who caught 5 passes for 93 yards.  The Panthers running game was poor and ended up averaging just 2.9 yards per carry. 

30 (32) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9) - The Jags suffered a heartbreaking loss on Sunday to the Houston Texans.  A fourth quarter touchdown from Justin Blackmon put them fourteen points ahead and it looked like they would get the win.  Two Houston touchdowns in the final 5:39 took the game to overtime and after the Texans scored a field goal on the opening drive, the Jags went straight up the field and kicked a field goal of their own to keep the game alive.  The game looked to be heading towards a tie until Matt Schaub found Andre Johnson for the game winning touchdown.  Chad Henne came in for Blaine Gabbert early on and had a great game.  Henne threw for 354 yards and a touchdown.  Jalen Parmele staked his claim to be the running-back in Maurice Jones-Drew's absence and ran for 80 yards.  However, the star of the show for the Jags was rookie receiver, Justin Blackmon who caught 7 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown.

31 (31) Kansas City Chiefs (1-9) - Kansas took one step forward last week in a good performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers but they undid all that good work this week and took several steps backwards in their defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals.  The Chiefs took an early lead but from then on it was all Cincinnati.  The defense gave up over 400 yards and the offense could only manage 284 yards.  The Chiefs had another turnover to take their total to 31 for the season.  The best performers on the day for the Chiefs were Jamaal Charles and Tony Moeaki.  Charles ran for 87 yards and Moeaki caught 4 passes for 73 yards.  On current form, the Chiefs look like favourites for the number 1 draft pick but they have a few winnable games on their schedule and if they avoid turnovers they might just get another win or two.

32 (25) Philadelphia Eagles (3-7) - I think I've said all I can about the Eagles and as a fan I don't see why I should go to the bother of writing about them, when the players won't go to the bother of putting in the effort on a Sunday.  I genuinely think the Eagles are the worst team in the NFL right now and considering their three victories were all quite lucky and by a combined total of four points, I don't think I'd face many arguments.  For anyone who wants more thoughts on the Eagles, please get a thesaurus and look up the words; horrid, garbage and crap. 

Benfica v Celtic Preview

Celtic head to Lisbon tonight to play Benfica knowing that a win would secure their place in the last 16 of the Champions League.

It's a great position for Celtic to be in, especially as we have been disappointing in Europe in recent seasons. Credit has to go to Neil Lennon who has built an excellent squad. It is a very young squad and if Celtic can build on it, the next few years should be a great time to follow the Hoops.

Tonight's opponents Benfica are in good form. They have won their last five games in all competitions without conceding a goal. In their league they are unbeaten in thirteen games and their last league loss was in April, away to city rivals Sporting Lisbon. This season, they have picked up seven wins and two draws in their first nine games and are sat joint top with FC Porto.

As impressive as Benfica have been domestically, their home form in the Champions League isn't as good. They have won just five of their last ten home games in the competition. They have drawn two and lost three. That record would suggest that the Estadio da Luz is far from a fortress. Teams usually rely on their home form in this competition but teams have been able to get a result against Benfica so Celtic should take positives from that.

Celtic have a respectable record in Portugal in European competitions. They have played on Portuguese soil twelve times and won five. None of the twelve games have finished in a draw and Celtic have lost seven. Obviously the most famous victory was the 2-1 win over Inter Milan in the 1967 European Cup Final. Celtic have also picked up wins against Leixoes, Vitoria SC and Boavista twice. The “big three” of FC Porto, Benfica and Sporting Lisbon have all got a one hundred percent record at home to Celtic and none of them have even conceded a goal. The task is certainly going to be difficult for Celtic but not impossible.

In tonight's game, Celtic are without Emilio Izaguirre, Thomas Rogne and James Forrest. There will be late fitness tests for Scott Brown, Joe Ledley and Gary Hooper. Regardless of the outcome of those tests I think the back five will pick itself. Fraser Forster will be in goal with Mikael Lustig, Efe Ambrose, Kelvin Wilson and Adam Matthews in front of him. The midfield will depend on the fitness tests. If everyone is fit, I'd expect Celtic to line up with Scott Brown, Victor Wanyama, Joe Ledley and Charlie Mulgrew across the middle. Should Brown or Ledley miss out, Kris Commons and Beram Kayal would be the likely replacements. Up front, I expect to see Georgios Samaras in the hole playing behind Gary Hooper or Miku, depending on Hooper's fitness. That formation has got us this far and I'd expect Neil Lennon to stick with it.

This game will be very difficult for Celtic. It's do or die time for Benfica, who face Barcelona in their final game. Benfica need to beat us to have a realistic chance of qualifying and they will come at Celtic straight from the kick off. They will undoubtedly be the better side technically but Celtic will match them with determination and effort. The first twenty minutes will be crucial and if Celtic can get off to a good start the home fans will become impatient. Celtic need to play this game exactly the way they played the two Barcelona games. Sit back, soak up the pressure and launch counter attacks. If they can do those things well there's no reason why Neil Lennon's men can't get a positive result.

MNF - Chicago Bears (7-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (6-2-1)

The Bears head to San Francisco to play the 49ers in a game which could have a big impact on the seeding in the NFC playoff race.  The winner of tonight's game will be in the number 2 spot.  If the Chicago Bears lose the game, they would drop to 5th in the seeding, as the Packers would go top of the NFC North, courtesy of the head to head record. 

A week or two ago, both sides would have been looking forward to this one, knowing that it could have a huge impact on their season.  Since then, both teams have lost their starting quarterback and both will be feeling a bit more nervous about the game, than they would have at full strength.  Of the backups, I think the Bears have the edge.  Jason Campbell is an experienced, NFL quarterback.  His career numbers are only just behind Jay Cutler's, so the transition should be as straightforward as it can be.  The 49ers, on the other hand, face a much more difficult task.  Colin Kaepernick is in his second season in the league and this will be the first start of his career.  A first NFL start is a big deal for any young quarterback, but to have to do it in as big a game as this, and on Monday Night Football, is a huge ask for the 25 year old. 

Both teams have strong running games, which should ease the pressure on the backup quarterbacks.  The 49ers lead the league in rushing, mainly due to the form of running-back, Frank Gore.  Gore has ran for 753 yards this season, at 5.4 yards per carry.  Those are impressive numbers and he has been helped out by Kendall Hunter, who is having an impressive year.  Hunter has picked up 316 yards, at 5 yards per carry.  The Bears rushers haven't quite been at that level and they rank 9th in rushing.  The Bears have two good running-backs.  Matt Forte and Michael Bush are both good enough to be starters at the majority of NFL teams but instead, they are sharing carries in Chicago.  I'm not totally convinced this works and think it can stop a running-back gaining momentum.  Forte and Bush have combined for 6 touchdowns.  Forte is doing the better of the two and has ran for 578 yards, at 4.7 yards per carry.  Bush has ran for 297 yards, at 3.7 yards per carry.  Bush is better than his numbers show and he will need to bring his A-game tonight.

Both sides are among the best defenses in the league.  Although the 49ers have given up less yards, the Bears are the better defense.  The Bears have recorded more sacks, more interceptions, more forced fumbles and most impressively, they have seven defensive touchdowns.  In a game like tonight's, those things are going to give the Bears a huge advantage.  There's not a worse team, a quarterback could be making his first NFL start against, than this Chicago Bears team.  They have made life difficult for much better quarterbacks than Colin Kaepernick and I can't see any outcome other than them making his first NFL start, a day he'd rather forget.

Prediction - The Bears defense will force mistakes and lead the team to a win on the road. 

NFL Week 11 - Preview and Predictions

Arizona Cardinals (4-5) @ Atlanta Falcons (8-1)

The Cardinals face a difficult task to end their five game losing streak, heading to Atlanta to face a fired up Falcons, who are coming off their first defeat of the season.  Atlanta will be liked a wounded animal after losing their unbeaten record and the fact it was to divisional rivals, the New Orleans Saints, will have hurt them even more.  The Falcons have a few key players listed on the injury report and their availability could be key to the outcome of this game.  Julio Jones, Tony Gonzalez and Michael Turner are listed and would all be key players for this Falcons offense.  Arizona will have John Skelton at quarterback as Kevin Kolb has been ruled out.  In my opinion, Kolb is by far the better quarterback in Arizona and his absence will be a big blow.  The Falcons defense isn't great and is giving up 366 yards per game but the Cardinals average 295 yards of offense, so they don't look best placed to get into a shootout with Atlanta.  The Cardinals strength is their pass defense and they rank 2nd in the league.  Passing is Atlanta's strength and they rank 4th in the league, so it should make for a good battle. 

Prediction - The Falcons will get back to winning ways with a win.


Cleveland Browns (2-7) @ Dallas Cowboys (4-5)

I think if any of the teams with losing records, at the minute, are to turn their season around, it will be the Dallas Cowboys.  They are a good side and on their day have the tools to beat any team in the NFL.  Dallas has a roster full of inconsistent players and it shows in their results.  They are capable of wins like the one over the Giants in week one but they also have it in them to lose at home to the 2-7, Browns.  A lot of people are underrating the Cowboys and writing them off but one look at their schedule and suddenly 4-5 is very respectable.  Seven of their nine games have been against teams with winning records.  The Cowboys have a softer schedule from this point on and they could definitely make it to the playoffs.  The Browns are a work in progress and if they have a strong draft, they should take a few more steps in the right direction.  The Browns still have a few games left that they could win but I'd expect to see them pick in the top eight, regardless.  Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson have shown flashes of being good players and in a year or two they should be good assets for the Browns. 

Prediction - The match ups suggest a Cowboys win and I'm not going to argue with that.


Green Bay Packers (6-3) @ Detroit Lions (4-5)
Green Bay have turned things around after starting 2-3.  Four wins in a row has them back at 6-3 and right in the middle of the playoff race.  The Texans win was a great result but the performances against St Louis, Jacksonville and Arizona weren't quite so impressive.  They got the job done but they were pushed all the way.  The Packers were struggling with injuries but the majority of their players are back in action now and it should help them.  The Lions are now at the must win stage and they will be relying heavily on Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson to get after the Packers defense.  Johnson leads the league in receiving yards with 974 yards but he hasn't been getting into the end zone enough.  He has just two touchdowns for the season and the Lions will need him to start scoring more often, if they are to make a playoff run.  The Lions lead the league in passing and the Packers are 20th in pass defense so the passing game will be the Lions best chance of victory.  The Packers rank 12th in passing and the Lions are 7th in pass defense so this could be a tough task for Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. 

Prediction - I am going to go with the Lions to spring a surprise this week and think Calvin Johnson will have a big day.


Cincinnati Bengals (4-5) @ Kansas City Chiefs (1-8)
Both of these teams will be disappointed with their seasons so far.  The Bengals were 3-1 at one stage and then had a bad losing run, which they ended last week with a great win over the New York Giants.  The Bengals rely heavily on their passing game and in particular star receiver, AJ Green.  The Chiefs haven't done a lot right this year but they have done well in defending the pass.  Another strength of the Chiefs is their running game.  They are 4th in the league in rushing and the Bengals are 20th in run defense so the match ups are favourable for the Chiefs.  The Chiefs biggest issue is turnovers and they have gave the ball away thirty times in their nine games.  The Chiefs did do well last week against the Steelers and got through four quarters without any turnovers and only lost in the end when they turned it over in overtime.  These things change eventually and I think this is the week they get it right. 

Prediction - The Chiefs get back to 2-8.


New York Jets (3-6) @ St Louis Rams (3-5-1)
Another week of Mark Sanchez and I have absolutely no idea why.  He has been horrible all year and the Jets have a quarterback who led a team to a playoff victory last year, sitting on the bench. Tebow Time was about four weeks ago but Rex Ryan appears to have lost the plot and continues to stand by the least accurate quarterback in the NFL.  The Jets will continue to go backwards as long as Sanchez is starting and for me it's time to cut their losses and the only reason it hasn't happened already is Rex Ryan has an arrogance and a pride that is stopping him admitting he was wrong to trade up for Sanchez.  The Rams were unlucky last week and should have beaten the 49ers.  However, when you get a delay of game penalty on a field goal, you don't deserve to win.  The match ups are fairly tight in this one but the one difference I see is the Rams running game.  They rank 12th in rushing and the Jets are 30th against the run. 

Prediction - The Rams should get the win here. 


Philadelphia Eagles (3-6) @ Washington Redskins (3-6)
I am feeling a whole lot better about this game now that Nick Foles will be starting at quarterback for the Eagles.  He has come in with a big reputation and I liked what he done last week.  He is a lot more accurate than Vick and as he's a pocket passer, he gets rid of the ball quicker, which doesn't put the same pressure on our banged up offensive line.  Another interesting statistic is the Redskins record against rookie quarterbacks.  Since 2006, the Redskins are 0-8 against rookie quarterbacks.  That suggests that they struggle if they don't have a lot of film on players and they will have very little footage of Nick Foles.  I have to be honest and say I do worry about how our defense will deal with RG3.  I watch the Eagles every week and the amount of times I see the defense close down a quarterback and it looks like a sack is imminent, only for the quarterback to scramble loose and find a running back with a short pass and then he runs for a big gain.  The difference here is when the quarterback scrambles loose, it will be the quarterback running down the field with our defense spread all over the place.  I think Griffin could have a huge day on the ground, as his game is everything we struggle with. 

Prediction - I have been going against the Eagles every week and getting it right, so let's stop the slide tonight and get behind Foles on the way to an Eagles win.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-4) @ Carolina Panthers (2-7)
The Bucs have won their last three games and have averaged 37 points per game in the process.  Josh Freeman has found his form and Doug Martin has had some great days on the ground.  The Bucs have a realistic chance of a playoff place and with a tough schedule still to come, they will need to be winning games like this one.  The Panthers are 2-7 and if I'm honest, I expected more from them.  Having said that, their schedule has been quite tough and of their nine games, the only team they have played who are out of the playoff race, is the Washington Redskins.  They have a few games coming up against teams with losing records and a win here would give them a good start toward reaching five or six wins.  The match ups are quite tight in this one.  The Panthers defense are 16th in both, defending the pass and the run.  The Bucs offense are 15th in passing and 11th in rushing.  The Bucs have the most unbalanced defense in the league and rank 32nd against the pass but are 1st against the run.  The Panthers are 17th in passing and 15th in rushing.  This game will come down to Steve Smith's availibility.  Smith is listed as probable and if he starts he will cause a lot of problems for the Bucs defense. 

Prediction - Smith will play and lead the Panthers to a win.


Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8) @ Houston Texans (8-1)

Surely, there's only one outcome here.  Arguably the best team in the NFL, plays arguably the worst team and the best team are at home.  Surely the Texans win this one easily.  Football doesn't always work out like that though.  Shocks happen every week but a Jags win in this one would be on a whole different level.  The latest reports suggest that Maurice Jones-Drew will miss this game and with that news, the Jags only chance has gone.  The Jags offense are bad and average just 264 yards per game.  The Texans are giving away just 282 yards per game, so if the Jags can even score in this game, it will be a notable achievement.  On the other side of the ball, the Jags defense are giving up 389 yards per game and with guys like Arian Foster and Andre Johnson on the field, the Texans should be able to run up a big score.

Prediction - An easy Houston win.


New Orleans Saints (4-5) @ Oakland Raiders (3-6)
The Raiders come into this game with a long inury list and without a lot of key players.  They will have to rely on their passing game to beat the Saints as they are again without Darren McFadden.  The Raiders passing game has been  good this year and ranks, 5th in the league.  The Saints are 31st in pass defense, so the Raiders should get points on the board.  The Saints strength is also passing and they are 2nd in the NFL.  The Raiders pass defense is 24th.  It looks as though this game will come down to Drew Brees v Carson Palmer.  I do like Palmer but think Brees is at the next level and has better options available to him.  This game should turn into a shootout and in those circumstances, I'm in Drew Brees' corner.

Prediction - Saints win.


San Diego Chargers (4-5) @ Denver Broncos (6-3)
Philip Rivers and Peyton Manning meet again and Rivers will be fired up for this one, after Manning led the Broncos to an amazing comeback victory in week 6.  The Broncos haven't lost since and have moved clear at the top of the AFC West.  If the Broncos win today, they will be three games clear of the Chargers, with the tie breaker and just six games left to play.  The Chargers have had a soft schedule and have only played three teams with winning records.  The Chargers are 0-3 in those games and they will face a huge task to win at Mile High.  The Broncos are 3rd in passing and will be against a Chargers pass defense who are 23rd against the pass.  The Broncos have a strong defense and should make Philip Rivers job, a difficult one. 

Prediction - The Broncos to all but seal the division with a win.


Indianapolis Colts (6-3) @ New England Patriots (6-3)
For a brief second, I looked at this game and thought, Manning v Brady.  I forgot myself briefly and it seems weird that the Colts are heading to New England without Manning.  It was always one of the best games of the season and although Manning is no longer a part of it, the Colts recent form suggests that Luck v Brady is going to be every bit as exciting.  On first glance at the match up, I have a feeling that Andrew Luck will come out of this one with the better numbers.  The Colts are 7th in passing and the Pats are 6th.  The Colts pass defense should be able to offer some resistance to Brady.  They rank 15th in the NFL.  The Pats pass defense is still the teams biggest weakness, ranking 29th.  However, Brady will get more support from his rushers and the Pats rank, 5th in rushing.  I don't remember the Pats having too many good running-backs but Stevan Ridley has been excellent for them.  The Colts are 22nd against the run, so Ridley should have another good day.  The Colts are 14th in rushing but the Pats have a good run defense and rank 8th. 

Prediction - The Pats have more options and will win the game.


Baltimore Ravens (7-2) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)
This time last week, I'd have been all over the Steelers to win this one.  However, an injury to Ben Roethlisberger has forced a rethink.  Big Ben was having a good year until the injury and this game suddenly becomes a lot more difficult for the Steelers.  The Steelers have relied a lot on their passing game this season and I just can't see Byron Leftwich leading them to a win.  The Steelers have had some good running performances from Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer.  The Ravens are 26th in run defense and the Steelers only chance of a win is to get a big day on the ground from one of those two.  The Steelers are very good defensively and will stop the Ravens for a while but the biggest problem will be if the Steelers aren't getting many drives going, the defense will tire and the Ravens will take advantage of that.

Prediction - The Ravens will get the win.