NFL Power Rankings - Week 16

1 (2) Denver Broncos (11-3) - The Denver Broncos have now won nine in a row to put themselves at 11-3 and as things stand in position for a first round bye in the playoffs.  Their last two games are at home to the Browns and the Chiefs so it looks likely that they will secure the number two seed in the AFC.  Peyton Manning has done great things in Denver and the team have come a long way since that 2-3 start when Manning was being written off as finished.  On Sunday, Peyton Manning threw for 204 yards and a touchdown.  Eric Decker led the receivers with 8 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown.  Knowshon Moreno had a good day on the ground, rushing for 118 yards and a touchdown.

2 (5) San Francisco 49ers (10-3-1) - The 49ers picked up a huge win in New England on Sunday night and in my opinion, that win will secure the NFC West title for them.  A defeat in Foxboro would have turned next weeks trip to Seattle into a must win game but the win gives them some wiggle room and I expect they will do enough to win the division.  They almost threw the game away in the fourth quarter, allowing a 21 point lead to slip away but they responded well with 10 quick points of their own to secure a massive victory.  Colin Kaepernick threw for 216 yards, 4 touchdowns and an interception.  Michael Crabtree caught 7 passes for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Frank Gore ran for 83 yards.

3 (3) Houston Texans (12-2) - Houston sealed the AFC South title on Sunday with a victory over divisional rivals, the Indianapolis Colts.  With the division in the bag, the Texans know they will host a game in the playoffs but one more win would guarantee them the number one seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.  The Texans have had a few blips through the season but they were impressive on Sunday and their offense picked up 417 yards.  Matt Schaub threw for 261 yards and a touchdown.  Andre Johnson was the best receiver with 11 catches for 151 yards and a touchdown.  Arian Foster was also back on form and ran for 165 yards at 6.1 yards per carry.        

4 (4) Green Bay Packers (10-4) - Green Bay secured their second NFC North title in a row with a win over divisional rivals, the Chicago Bears.  Green Bay now have the luxury of knowing that they will host a playoff game but I would imagine they will continue to play hard and try to earn the first round bye.  A lot of people don't fancy this Green Bay team this year but I think they will be very tough to beat and right now, they'd be my pick to represent the NFC in the Superbowl.  Aaron Rodgers threw for 291 yards and 3 touchdowns.  The leading receiver was Randall Cobb who caught 6 passes for 115 yards.

5 (6) Atlanta Falcons (12-2) - Anyone else woke up and realised that the Falcons are 12-2 and pretty much everyone is still writing them off as also rans?  The NFC side of the playoffs is going through Atlanta and the Falcons are 7-0 at home.  Nobody is going to go to Atlanta and get it easy.  They have had a soft schedule but they are 4-0 against teams with winning records.  Why is nobody taking this team seriously?  They have a quarterback with over 4000 yards and two receivers with over 1000 receiving yards.  Things like that don't just happen by accident and I am slowly coming round to the fact that this Atlanta team, might just be the real deal.  Matt Ryan threw for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Julio Jones had a good game, catching 6 passes for 74 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Michael Turner ran for 52 yards and a touchdown.

6 (1) New England Patriots (10-4) - The Patriots seven game winning streak came to an end on Sunday night when they lost in a thriller to the San Francisco 49ers.  The Pats looked well beat and were 31-10 down as the fourth quarter started but they fought back to 31-31 midway through the quarter.  The 49ers responded well though and scored ten points to seal the win.  The Patriots offense had 520 yards but they had four costly turnovers that swung the game in the 49ers favour.  Tom Brady threw for 443 yards, a touchdown and 2 interceptions.  Brandon Lloyd had a huge game, catching 10 passes for 190 yards.  Danny Woodhead led the running game, rushing for 61 yards and 2 touchdowns.

7 (10) Seattle Seahawks (9-5) - Seattle kept their playoff march going on Sunday with a dominant display over the Buffalo Bills in Toronto.  The Seahawks appear to have hit form at just the right time although they still have work to do to even secure a playoff place.  Next week they face the San Francisco 49ers in a big clash in the NFC West.  This game had the potential to be one of the games of the year but the 49ers win last week takes a little of the edge from it.  If the 49ers had lost to New England this game would have decided who wins the NFC West but as it is, the 49ers can afford to lose in Seattle and a win at home to the Cardinals would win the division.  I expect Seattle and San Francisco to both win their games in week 17 so this week is probably a bigger game for the Seahawks as 11-5 would guarantee a playoff but 10-6 could put them out of the wildcard places.  On Sunday, Russell Wilson had a fantastic game.  He threw for 205 yards and a touchdown but it was his running that gave the Bills the most problems.  He picked up 92 yards and 3 touchdowns from 9 carries and if he keeps that up he might just hijack the RG3/Andrew Luck battle for Rookie of the Year.  Marshawn Lynch also had a good day on the ground, running for 113 yards and a touchdown.

8 (7) Baltimore Ravens (9-5) - The Ravens have now lost three in a row after a defeat at home to the Denver Broncos.  I've made no secret of the fact that I don't really like this Baltimore team and at 9-2 I felt their record didn't reflect the team’s performances.  Baltimore are 9-5 now and although they are guaranteed a playoff place, they still haven't secured the divisional title.  They have two tough games remaining against the Giants and the Bengals so there is every chance they may have to rely on a wildcard.  Joe Flacco threw for 254 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception.  Dennis Pitta led the receivers with 7 catches for 125 yards and 2 touchdowns.

9 (9) Indianapolis Colts (9-5) - The Colts lost on Sunday to kill off their hopes of winning the AFC South but they are still in pole position to reach the playoffs as a wildcard.  They face a trip to Kansas City this week and a win would guarantee them a playoff place.  The Colts have been one of the surprise packages of the season and it has been a remarkable turnaround from being the worst team in the NFL last season.  Andrew Luck threw for 186 yards and 2 touchdowns.  TY Hilton was the leading receiver, catching 3 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown.  Vick Ballard had a good day on the ground, rushing for 105 yards.

10 (8) New York Giants (8-6) - The Giants must be the most inconsistent team in the NFL.  I've never saw a team who jump from a good performance to a bad performance and vice versa, as often as the New York Giants do.  Right now, they need to take a long hard look at themselves because they are no longer a playoff team.  As things stand, they are 8-6 but the Washington Redskins are leading the NFC East and the wildcard places belong to Seattle and Minnesota.  I have to be honest and say I did not expect this to happen but with their remaining games, a trip to Baltimore and home to Philadelphia, I genuinely don't think the Giants will make the playoffs.  Eli Manning threw for 161 yards and 2 interceptions.  Domenik Hixon caught 5 passes for 80 yards.  David Wilson led the rushers with 55 yards.

11 (12) Washington Redskins (8-6) - The Redskins have now won five in a row and this week they done it without RG3.  Kirk Cousins stepped into the void left by RG3 and there was no knock on effect.  The Redskins are now top of the NFC East with an 8-6 record and currently hold the tie breaker with the Cowboys and the Giants.  They have a huge chance of winning the division and if they win their last two against Philadelphia and Dallas they will be NFC East winners for the first time since 1999.  Cousins threw for 329 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception.  Alfred Morris led the running game, picking up 87 yards and 2 touchdowns.   

12 (13) Minnesota Vikings (8-6) - The Vikings picked up a good win in St Louis to keep their playoff hopes alive.  The Vikings are currently in the sixth seed in the NFC playoff race but it is very tight and one mistake could change everything.  If the Vikings make the playoffs, they will have to do it the hard way.  Their last two games are a trip to Houston and then they host the Packers in week 17.  The Texans and Packers have both secured their respective divisions but they do still need wins to secure first round byes in the playoffs so I can't see them doing the Vikings any favours.  The main man for the Vikings was once again running-back, Adrian Peterson.  He picked up another 212 yards and a touchdown, to take him just 294 yards short of Eric Dickerson's single season rushing record.  If anyone can do it, Peterson can but 294 yards is a big ask against Green Bay and Houston. 

13 (15) Dallas Cowboys (8-6) - Dallas kept themselves in the mix for a playoff spot with a hard earned win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Both sides needed the win to boost their playoff chances and it was Dallas who dug that little bit deeper to earn an overtime victory.  The Cowboys face the Saints at home this week and a win would set up a potential winner takes all showdown with the Washington Redskins.  Tony Romo threw for 341 yards and 2 touchdowns.  DeMarco Murray led the ground game, rushing for 81 yards and a touchdown.  Miles Austin had a good game, catching 7 passes for 79 yards.

14 (11) Chicago Bears (8-6) - This Chicago Bears team are right in the middle of one of the biggest collapses in recent seasons.  The Bears were playoff bound and it looked like they were simply playing for a first round bye but five defeats in their last six games has them outside the playoff places and in a dog fight to try to earn a wildcard.  In the Bears defence, the schedule has been hard on them and each of their last six games has been against teams with winning records but if the Bears want to be in a Superbowl, then they have to beat winning teams and right now, a Superbowl is miles off.  Their last two games are trips to Arizona and Detroit.  They are both winnable games but the Bears won't get it easy as the players will be low in confidence and it's hard to win on the road in this league.  On Sunday, Jay Cutler threw for 135 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  Brandon Marshall caught 6 passes for 56 yards and a touchdown but Chicago's best player was Matt Forte.  Forte picked up 133 yards from scrimmage but it wasn't enough to stop the Packers picking up the NFC North title.

15 (16) Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) - The Bengals picked up a comfortable win in Philadelphia on Sunday night to take pole position in the race for the sixth AFC playoff spot.  Pittsburgh lost to the Cowboys on Sunday and this week's game, between the Steelers and the Bengals will go a long way to deciding who gets the final playoff place.  A Steelers win would have the team’s level at 8-7 and Pittsburgh would hold the tie breaker courtesy of the head to head record.  A Bengals win would secure a playoff place for Cincinnati.  Andy Dalton threw for 127 yards and a touchdown.  BenJarvus Green-Ellis had another good day on the ground, running for 106 yards and a touchdown.

16 (14) Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7) - The Steelers have slipped out of the AFC playoff spots after Sundays overtime defeat to the Dallas Cowboys.  The Steelers now must beat the Cincinnati Bengals this week, if they are to reach the playoffs.  If the Steelers can beat the Bengals, they will then have to beat the Cleveland Browns to secure a wildcard.  Pittsburgh had a fourth quarter lead in this game but the Cowboys levelled midway through the fourth and the game went to overtime.  On the second play of overtime, Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted and the Cowboys were able to kick the game winning field goal from the 3 yard line.  Roethlisberger ended the game with 339 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception.  Mike Wallace, Heath Miller and Antonio Brown all had big receiving days.   Wallace caught 4 passes for 95 yards and Miller had 7 catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.  Brown caught 8 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown.

17 (21) New Orleans Saints (6-8) - The New Orleans Saints bounced back from their defeat to the Giants last week with a dominant victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Statistically, the game was tight enough, although the Saints had the edge in most key areas but not by a margin of 41-0.  The key difference was turnovers and the Saints defense forced five, and the offense managed to take care of the football and not give any away.  Those turnovers led to 3 touchdowns and 2 field goals for the Saints and it made the game look more one sided than it actually was.  Drew Brees threw for 307 yards and 4 touchdowns.  Mark Ingram also had a good game, rushing for 90 yards and a touchdown.    

18 (17) St Louis Rams (6-7-1) - The Rams are technically still alive at 6-7-1 but their defeat to the Minnesota Vikings has killed off any realistic chance they had of a playoff place.  The Rams like so many before them were unable to come up with a response to Adrian Peterson and he almost single handedly beat the Rams.  Peterson ran for over 200 yards and the Rams defense had no answers.  The Rams offense had a decent game and picked up over 400 yards.  They had two costly turnovers which resulted in the Vikings getting ten points and if they had avoided those, the final outcome may well have been different.  Sam Bradford threw for 377 yards, 3 touchdowns and an interception.  Brandon Gibson was his leading receiver, catching 6 passes for 76 yards.  Steven Jackson also had a good game and picked up 146 yards from scrimmage.

19 (18) New York Jets (6-8) - The Jets playoff hopes were finished on Monday Night Football after a performance from Mark Sanchez that was bad even by his standards.  Sanchez was responsible for five turnovers in the game and I can't understand how Rex Ryan let it get this far.  I know Ryan is a defensive coach but surely he can see how bad Sanchez is and I can only imagine it is a pride thing and he didn't want to admit he had got it wrong by drafting up to take Sanchez in the 2009 draft.  Sanchez ended the game with 131 yards, a touchdown and 4 interceptions.  Shonn Greene ran for 68 yards and Jeff Cumberland led the receivers with 4 catches for 53 yards and a touchdown.  

20 (26) Miami Dolphins (6-8) - The Dolphins beat the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday to reach 6-8 for the year.  Miami aren't quite dead yet but it would take a lot of results going their way for the Dolphins to reach the playoffs.  The most unlikely would be the Dolphins going to the Patriots and winning.  On Sunday, Ryan Tannehill had a good game, throwing for 220 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Brian Hartline led the receivers with 5 catches for 77 yards.  Reggie Bush had a good day on the ground, rushing for 104 yards.

21 (19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8) - The Bucs dropped to 6-8 for the year after a heavy defeat to the New Orleans Saints.  The Bucs turned the ball over five times in the game, which led to 27 points for New Orleans.  When your offense plays as badly as that, there's very little chance of winning a game and the Bucs were unable to get anything going and the game ended 41-0.  The Bucs can take a lot of positives from this season and if they can hang on to their key players, I expect a push for the playoffs next season.  Josh Freeman threw for 279 yards and 4 interceptions.  Vincent Jackson was the leading receiver, catching 6 passes for 81 yards.  The Bucs struggled to get their running game going and Doug Martin ended up with 16 yards from 9 runs.   

22 (25) Carolina Panthers (5-9) - The Panthers got their second win in a row with a blow out victory over the Chargers in San Diego.  I expected a bit more from the Panthers this year but they got a bad start and only now are they starting to enjoy the sort of success I anticipated from their running game.  On Sunday, Cam Newton had a good game in the air, throwing for 231 yards and 2 touchdowns.  The running game was very effective and picked up 155 yards on the ground.  DeAngelo Williams led them with 93 yards on the ground and also caught 2 passes for 51 yards and a touchdown.  Former Charger, Mike Tolbert also done well, running for 40 yards and 2 touchdowns.

23 (20) San Diego Chargers (5-9) - After a big win over the playoff chasing Pittsburgh Steelers, the Chargers responded in a fashion that only they can, a heavy home defeat to a team who came into the game with a 4-9 record.  The Chargers have suffered with inconsistency in recent years and this year’s team are embracing that.  There's a lot of talent in San Diego but something’s not quite right in the franchise and in my opinion it's the head coach, Norv Turner.  Turner's job has been under threat for a few years now and I think this will be the year they finally get rid of him.  In the game, Philip Rivers threw for 121 yards and a touchdown.  Curtis Brinkley led the running game with 42 yards.

24 (23) Cleveland Browns (5-9) - The Browns winning run came to an end with a defeat to the Washington Redskins.  The Browns have shown some good signs of progress this year and if they can continue to go in the right direction, I can see a playoff place in the near future.  There is some good talent in Cleveland and another strong draft could have them pushing for a wildcard place next year.  Brandon Weeden threw for 244 yards, a touchdown and 2 interceptions.  The Redskins done a good job on Trent Richardson, restricted him to 2.5 yards per carry.  Greg Little caught 5 passes for 74 yards.           

25 (22) Detroit Lions (4-10) - The Lions are 4-10 now after a heavy defeat at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals.  The Lions created a lot of their own problems by turning the ball over four times which led to 28 points for the Cardinals.  The Lions have been a huge disappointment this year.  I expected a lot more from them but it hasn't been a good year and it's maybe time for a change in the franchise.  Matthew Stafford threw for 246 yards and 3 interceptions.  Calvin Johnson caught 10 passes for 121 yards.  Mikel Leshoure ran for 55 yards and a touchdown.   

26 (27) Tennessee Titans (5-9) - The Titans picked up the win on Monday Night Football over a poor New York Jets team.  For as long as the Jets have Mark Sanchez at quarterback, they'd be as well playing with seven players on offense.  Credit to the Titans, they had a lot of luck but they took the chances that were presented to them and they got another notch in their win column.  Jake Locker threw for 149 yards.  Nate Washington caught 4 passes for 62 yards.  Chris Johnson led the rushers, picking up 122 yards and a touchdown.

27 (24) Buffalo Bills (5-9) - The Bills are the latest team to suffer a heavy defeat to the Seattle Seahawks, after Sunday's 50-17 defeat in Toronto.  The Seahawks raced into a 31-7 lead but the Bills got it back to 31-17 before half-time.  Unfortunately for the Bills that was as close as they got and Seattle scored 19 unanswered points in the second half.  Bills quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, had another poor day, throwing for 217 yards, a touchdown and 2 interceptions.  He also fumbled the ball and his turnovers led to Seattle getting 17 points.  Yet again the only positives for Buffalo were the performances of Steve Johnson and CJ Spiller.  Johnson caught 8 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown.  Spiller ran for 103 yards and a touchdown.

28 (32) Arizona Cardinals (5-9) - The Cardinals finally ended their nine game losing streak with a blow out victory over the Detroit Lions.  The game was won mainly because of errors from the Lions.  The Lions turned the ball over four times and each turnover led to an Arizona touchdown.  Credit to Arizona though as they took the opportunities presented to them and got the win.  Ryan Lindley threw for 104 yards and an interception.  The Cardinals best player was Beanie Wells who ran for 67 yards and 3 touchdowns.

29 (31) Oakland Raiders (4-10) - The Raiders got their fourth win of the season on Sunday against divisional rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs.  It was the Raiders second win over the Chiefs this season, having already beaten them in week 8.  Neither side managed a touchdown on this occasion and Raiders kicker, Sebastian Janikowski, was the difference between the sides.  Janikowski kicked five field goals, one of which was a 57 yarder to hand the Raiders a 15-0 win.  Carson Palmer threw for 182 yards.  Rod Streater was the leading receiver, catching 5 passes for 62 yards.  The Raiders had a good day on the ground, rushing for 203 yards.  Darren McFadden had 110 yards and backup, Mike Goodson had 89 yards.

30 (28) Philadelphia Eagles (4-10) - The Eagles got back to their usual form on Thursday with a sloppy display and heavy defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals.  I feel like I've said all I can about the Eagles this year.  It’s time to draw a line under this year and start fresh next season.  On Thursday the Eagles turned the ball over five times and they pretty much summarised the whole year in that one game.  Nick Foles threw for 182 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  Jeremy Maclin led the receivers with 4 catches for 73 yards.  The running game had a bad day and picked up just 42 yards from 19 attempts. 

31 (30) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12) - The Jags lost again, this time in a one sided game against the Dolphins in Miami.  The Jags are 2-12 and with New England at home and Tennessee away still to play, I can't see them getting any more wins on the board.  The number one draft pick will be between themselves and the Chiefs, should both teams records remain the same and as things stand the Chiefs are just in pole position courtesy of strength of schedule.  Chad Henne threw for 221 yards.  His leading receivers were Cecil Shorts III and Justin Blackmon.  They both caught 6 passes, Shorts III for 101 yards and Blackmon for 93 yards.

32 (29) Kansas City Chiefs (2-12) - The Chiefs lost again on Sunday, this time to the Oakland Raiders.  The Chiefs are now 2-12 for the season and they looked every bit as bad as their record suggests on Sunday.  The Raiders are far from a good side but they shut down the Chiefs and restricted them to 119 yards of offense.  Brady Quinn threw for 135 yards and an interception.  Dexter McCluster was his leading receiver, catching 7 passes for 59 yards.  The most disappointing thing for the Chiefs was their running game.  The Chiefs have done well on the ground this year but they managed just 10 yards from 10 runs.  I can't see any more wins for the Chiefs so it looks like they will have the number one draft pick in 2013 as they currently lead the Jaguars on strength of schedule.    

New York Jets (6-7) @ Tennessee Titans (4-9)

This weeks Monday Night Football isn't a great one for the neutral.  Both of these sides have had disappointing seasons and although the Jets can still make the playoffs, I don't think they will. 

The Jets have had a mixed year and were hurt early on when Darelle Revis suffered a season ending injury.  The defense has done well against the pass but they have really struggled against the run.  On offense they have had to rely on the running game.  Shonn Greene has led the team in rushing, running for 883 yards and six touchdowns.  The passing game has been very poor and Mark Sanchez has had a horrible year.  He has completed just 55% of his passes and is averaging just 182 yards per game this season.  He has completed twelve touchdown passes and has been intercepted thirteen times.  No matter how you look at those numbers, it is not good enough for a starting quarterback in the NFL. 

Remarkably, they are still alive in the playoff race and if they win their last three games then they have a chance of a playoff spot.  After tonight's game, their remaining schedule sees them host San Diego and then they go on the road to play the Buffalo Bills.  All three games are winnable but I just don't see the Jets winning them all and even if they do I expect Pittsburgh or Cincinnati to do enough to finish above them anyway. 

The Titans have had a bad year and will miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.  The one shining light in their season has been the form of Chris Johnson.  He got off to a slow start but his form has picked up and he has now got over 1000 yards for the fifth season in a row.  Johnson is listed as probable tonight and I think his presence will be critical to the outcome of the game.  The Jets struggle against the run and if he plays I would expect him to have a big game. 

Prediction - Chris Johnson to have a big day and lead the Titans to the victory.     

Monday Night Football - Houston Texans (11-1) @ New England Patriots (9-3)

This weeks Monday Night Football should be a cracker and may even be a preview of the AFC Championship game.  The Houston Texans are 11-1 and the New England Patriots are 9-3.  Both sides have clinched their playoff spot and are now chasing one of the top two seeds and a bye in the first round of the playoffs.  As things stand, the Texans are in the number one seed and the Patriots are number three.  A New England win could make things very tight.  The Texans would be 11-2, just ahead of the Patriots and the Denver Broncos at 10-3.

The Texans have the best record in the NFL but it's hard to judge how good they are as they have had a soft schedule.  They have only faced four winning teams but in fairness, they are 3-1 in those games.  They are clearly a good side but I fear they may have peaked too soon.  Their performance levels have dropped in recent weeks and they were quite fortunate to beat the Jaguars and the Lions.

They have a few very good players on their roster.  Arian Foster is an elite running-back and leads the league with 13 rushing touchdowns.  He is in the band of players who would be mentioned if asked who the best rusher in the league is.  At receiver they have Andre Johnson who is not quite in the conversation of who the best receiver in the league is but he's most definitely in the top 5-10 bracket.  At tight end they have Owen Daniels who is right behind Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham as the best in his position in the league.  Their quarterback, Matt Schaub is very underrated.  He doesn't get as much publicity as a lot of other quarterbacks but he should.  Outside the Mannings, Brady, Brees, Roethlisberger and Rodgers, I don't think there's anyone better than him.  He has a different role to those guys but does his job very well.  He has a great running game and doesn't have to throw as often as they do but as far as game managing quarterbacks are concerned, Schaub is in a league of his own.  The stars aren't all on offense.  J.J. Watt has had 16.5 sacks for the seasons which is only bettered by Aldon Smith of the 49ers.  Kareem Jackson is also beginning to make a name for himself at corner back and has intercepted four passes. 

The Patriots got off to a poor start and questions were being asked when they were 3-3.  From then the Patriots have won six in a row which has clinched yet another AFC East title for Bill Belichick's men.  Like the Texans, their record is questionable as they have also only faced four winning teams.  The Patriots are 2-2 in those games. 

The poor start can possibly be put down to the fact Bill Belichick was trying to change the offense and Wes Welker wasn't really being used.  That plan was scrapped and since then Welker has been excellent and leads the Patriots in receptions.  He has caught 92 passes for 1064 yards and 4 touchdowns.  Rob Gronkowski and Brandon Lloyd have also helped out and are having good years.  Tom Brady hasn't shown any signs of slowing down and is having another great year.  He has thrown for over 3500 yards, 25 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.  The four interceptions are a great stat and it is testament to how good Brady is.  There is nobody in the NFL who does a better job of looking after the football than Tom Brady. 

The one difference between this Patriots team and the ones in recent seasons is running-back, Stevan Ridley.  Ridley has had an excellent year and he has already picked up more rushing yards than every Patriots running-back since Antowain Smith in the 2001 season.  Ridley should pass Smith as he is only 147 yards behind him with four games remaining.  Ridley is only in his second year in the league and he looks like one of the next generation of elite running-backs.

The match ups would suggest this should be a tight game.  The Pats are 5th in passing and 8th in rushing.  Their defense is 8th against the run and their one weakness is the pass defense and they rank 29th.  The Texans are 10th in passing and 6th in rushing.  Their defense is 17th against the pass and 2nd against the run.  Both teams biggest weakness is pass defense, so it should come down to Brady v Schaub.

Prediction - I think Tom Brady will exploit the Texans pass defense and guide the Patriots to a much needed win. 

Monday Night Football - New York Giants (7-4) @ Washington Redskins (5-6)

This week's Monday Night Football sees an NFC East clash between the Giants and the Redskins.  This game will have huge implications on the division and the playoff race in general.  A New York win would almost guarantee the divisional title for the Giants but a Redskins win would blow open the race to be NFC East Champions.  The Giants would lead at 7-5 but the Cowboys and Redskins would be right on their tail at 6-6. 

The Giants come into the game with a lot of confidence after a big win against the Green Bay Packers last week.  The Giants had lost their last two and hadn't really played well since their road win in San Francisco on October 14th.  The bye week seems to have sorted their issues and they look to be ready for another shot at the playoffs.  In recent seasons the Giants have done well when they have reached the playoffs.  Only the Philadelphia Eagles have beat them in the playoffs since 2005.  The Eagles beat them in 2006 and 2008 but on the other two occasions that the Giants were in the playoffs, 2007 and 2011, they went all the way and won the Superbowl. 

The Redskins are having a decent season and are in with a chance of returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2007.  The team has been lifted by their rookie quarterback, Robert Griffin III.  RG3 has had a great rookie season and has shown that he is much more than just a quarterback who can run the ball.  He is also a very good passer and his pass completion percentage of 67.4% is fourth in the NFL.  Griffin is only 22 years old and will improve with experience.  It is still very early to say but at the moment it looks as though the Redskins made the right call to trade up in the draft and pick Griffin.  If he progresses over the next few years they will have the complete quarterback and they should be a serious contender for the Superbowl every year. 

These two met in week 7 and it was the Giants who just edged it.  The game included seven lead changes and there was even two lead changes inside the two minute warning.  RG3 found Santana Moss with a 30 yard pass to put the Redskins ahead with 1:32 remaining.  The Giants weren't to be denied though and Eli Manning connected with Victor Cruz for a 77 yard touchdown that won the game for the Giants.  In that game the Redskins had a lot of success on the ground.  RG3 and rookie running back, Alfred Morris, combined for over 200 yards and the team ended up with 248 yards on the ground.  Washington should follow the same pattern and attack the Giants with running plays.  The Giants will put the ball in the hands of Eli Manning and favour the pass.  Manning was off form before the bye week but played well last week and had 3 touchdown passes. 

Prediction - The game was tight the last time and I think it will be the same tonight.  The only difference is I think the Redskins will be the narrow victors.

NFL WEEK 13 PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9) @ Buffalo Bills (4-7)

Despite having one of the worst records in the NFL there is a bit of a feel good factor around the Jacksonville Jaguars at the moment.  Since Chad Henne has come in they have took the Houston Texans to overtime and followed it up with a win over the Tennessee Titans.  Sometimes a change at quarterback can provide a team with a boost and it has certainly helped the Jags.  Having said that, in the long term, I don't think Chad Henne is the answer and a few good games doesn't make him a good quarterback.  He was poor in his time at Miami and I can't see him maintaining this form for long.  The Bills have had a disappointing year.  I expected more from them but they have struggled and the playoffs look to be beyond them.  The one positive has been the form of running-back, CJ Spiller.  Spiller has had an excellent year and is averaging an outstanding, 6.7 yards per carry.  The Jags are 29th in run defense and I wouldn't be surprised if Spiller has another big day. 

Prediction - Whilst the Jags have looked better in recent weeks, I think the match ups suit the Bills better and it will be a home win.


Seattle Seahawks (6-5) @ Chicago Bears (8-3)

The Bears host the Seattle Seahawks in a big game for both sides and one that will effect the NFC playoff picture.  The Seahawks still have a chance of a wildcard spot and for the Bears it could mean the difference in winning the division or settling for a wildcard.  The Seahawks look like losing their starting corner backs, Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman after they violated the NFL's policy on performance enhancing drugs.  They are appealing the decision though so both will be available for the trip to Chicago.  Both sides have injuries to key players but most are listed as probable so should make it.  The teams are remarkably similar in their style and the match ups are quite intriguing.  They rank 31st and 32nd in passing and in pass defense they are 3rd and 6th so the game should be decided on the ground.  In run defense the Bears are 8th and the Seahawks are 12th.  The Bears running game is 10th and the Seahawks are 8th.  The match ups are very tight and it should lead to a close game. 

Prediction - It's a tough call but the one thing that makes up my mind is the Bears are 5-1 at home and the Seahawks are 1-5 on the road so I will have to side with the Chicago Bears. 


Indianapolis Colts (7-4) @ Detroit Lions (4-7)

Way back in September when I wrote my NFL Season Preview ( http://gjsportsblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/nfl-2012-season-preview.html ), I may have been looking at this as a game between a 7-4 team and a 4-7 team but it wouldn't have been the Lions at 4-7.  I predicted the Lions would reach the playoffs after a 12-4 year and I had the Colts struggling along to finish 7-9.  Sometimes you have to accept you were wrong and in this occasion I have to admit I got these two wrong by quite a bit.  The Colts have been very good to reach 7-4 and are doing Coach Pagano proud.  They are in pole position in the AFC wildcard race and another two or three wins should secure their place.  The Lions have had a disappointing year and have lost a lot of close games.  Only one of their seven defeats came by a margin of more than one score but ultimately it doesn't matter how close the games are and it's only wins and losses that count.  The Lions lead the league in passing and the Colts are 7th.  In pass defense the Lions are 12th and the Colts are 19th.  In rushing, the Colts rank 17th and the Lions are 24th.  In run defense the Colts are 20th and the Lions are 22nd. 

Prediction - This looks like being a very good game and I think the Lions could edge it. 


Minnesota Vikings (6-5) @ Green Bay Packers (7-4)

The Vikings and Packers meet in a game that will go a long way in deciding the outcome of the NFC North title.  The Bears lead at the moment with an 8-3 record but they still have to play both of these sides so the divisional title is still very much in the balance.  These two will also meet again in week 17 so the NFC North race should go right to the wire.  Both sides have long injury lists and a few key players could miss out.  Clay Matthews has already been ruled out and could be joined by Donald Driver who is listed as questionable.  The Vikings injury list includes Percy Harvin, Kyle Rudolph, Adrian Peterson and Jared Allen.  Harvin is questionable and the rest are probable.  If the Vikings are going to get a result in Green Bay they will need as many of those to play as possible.  The Packers will trust in Aaron Rodgers to win them the game in the air.  Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks in the league and he should be able to put points on the board.  The Vikings will aim to win the game on the ground and that plan will rely heavily on Adrian Peterson's availability.

Prediction - This should be one of the best games of the weekend and I think the Packers should be able to pick up the win.


Houston Texans (10-1) @ Tennessee Titans (4-7)

The 10-1, Houston Texans travel to Tennessee to take on the Titan's in an AFC South clash.  The Titans look to be done for the year at 4-7 but the Texans can guarantee themselves a playoff spot with a win on the road.  The Texans have a long injury list and have looked tired in recent weeks.  Once they guarantee the playoffs and seal a bye in the first round of the playoffs I expect to see them rest a few players and come back fresh in the playoffs.  The Titans will attempt to win the game on the ground.  Chris Johnson had a bad start to the season but he has picked up over 100 yards from scrimmage in each of his last six games.  The Texans are as close to the complete team as you can get.  They have a great defense and a very good running game.  Their passing game has a lot of potential too.  Matt Schaub is a good quarterback and Andre Johnson is in the elite bracket of receivers. 

Prediction - The Texans should get a win here and guarantee themselves at least a wildcard place in the playoffs.   


Carolina Panthers (3-8) @ Kansas City Chiefs (1-10)

This game will be very difficult for both sides after the sad news regarding Chiefs linebacker, Jovan Belcher.  I'm not going to comment too much on it as I am not well enough informed to know what happened but I am deeply saddened at the tragic loss of two young lives and my heart goes out to the baby who has been left orphaned.  On the game, both sides have had bad years and the outcome will only effect the top of the 2013 draft board.  Both sides will be looking to next year already and making plans on how they can improve.  I wouldn't be surprised if either side changes their coach at the end of the season as both sides have underachieved.  The Chiefs will try to run the ball and although the Panthers have a more balanced offense they will most likely favour the run too. 

Prediction - I thought the Chiefs might have a chance of winning this one but I can't see their players minds being on the game considering the tragic circumstances and will go for a Panthers win.


San Francisco 49ers (8-2-1) @ St Louis Rams (4-6-1)

These two played out a tie in week 10 in San Francisco and this looks like being another close game.  The 49ers are a much stronger side but the Rams matched them in the last game and will no doubt make things difficult for them this week again.  The 49ers look to be playoff bound and should be able to clinch the divisional title and possibly even a first round bye if they can maintain their current number two seed.  The Rams are 4-6-1 and if they are to have any chance of reaching the playoffs, need to win this one.  The teams are quite similar in style and if anything the Rams remind me of a diet version of the 49ers.  They want to play the game in the same way but they just don't quite have the right players yet and aren't at the level the 49ers are.  They are both run heavy and rely on their defense to win them games.  The Rams are still a work in progress though but they have a good blueprint to follow in the San Francisco 49ers.

Prediction - The 49ers will get the win.


New England Patriots (8-3) @ Miami Dolphins (5-6)

The Pats are on the verge of clinching the AFC East and would do so with a win over the Miami Dolphins.  The Pats have won the AFC East for the last three years in a row and regardless of whether it's tomorrow or not, they will win it for the fourth time in a row this year.  The Pats have come to form at just the right time and after a 3-3 start, they have now own five in a row and are chasing the Baltimore Ravens in the race for a bye in the first round of the playoffs.  Technically they are two games behind the Ravens as they lost to them in week 3 so they will face a tough task to get a bye.  The Dolphins are currently outside the wildcard spots in the AFC but they are only one win behind the Steelers who are currently in the sixth seed so they are definitely not out of the playoff race.  The Dolphins will aim to run the ball on the Pats but this New England team are different to any in recent seasons.  The recent sides have all had Tom Brady at quarterback but this side has a running game too.  Stevan Ridley has been in excellent form and needs just 61 more yards to reach 1000 rushing yards for the season.  The Pats can pass or run and the Dolphins will find it hard to deal with them. 

Prediction - The one weakness this Pats team has is their pass defense but I just can't see the Dolphins exploiting it.  Pats win. 


Arizona Cardinals (4-7) @ New York Jets (4-7)

This will not be one for the purists.  Both teams have had poor seasons with little to cheer.  The Cardinals had a great start, winning their first four games but they have now lost seven in a row and they will be wondering where that next win is going to come from.  The Jets have had a bad year too and look set to miss the playoffs for the second year in a row.  The pressure is mounting on Rex Ryan and I think unless he benches Mark Sanchez, he will be unemployed in the not so distant future.  The Cardinals have had quarterback issues and once Kevin Kolb got injured, they haven't been the same again.  Kolb is far from the best quarterback in the league but he suits the Cardinals offense and he was getting it done for them.  The Jets will look to run the ball and let their defense do the rest.  Their defense should be good enough to stop an offense that is averaging just 292 yards per game.  Neither side are good at defending the run and this game could come down to whoever's rushers have a better day.

Prediction - I don't see the Cardinals slide ending this week, Jets to get the win.   


Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) @ Denver Broncos (8-3)

Week 13 is full of big games and this is another one of them.  The Broncos can win the division with a victory and the Bucs need the win to keep themselves in the race for an NFC wildcard spot.  Denver have won six in a row after a 2-3 start and it's almost as if Peyton Manning has been here all his life.  In the first few weeks of the season everyone had an opinion on Peyton Manning.  He was finished, his arm was weak etc.  The only opinion these same people are giving now is whether or not Manning is worthy of another MVP.  The Bucs also have a player who will have to be considered when the awards are being handed out at the end of the year.  Doug Martin will surely have to be considered in the race for Offensive Rookie of the Year.  Martin has already ran for 1050 yards and 9 touchdowns.  He has also caught 29 passes for 332 yards and a touchdown.  Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck are the favourites for the title but Martin has been exceptional and will surely merit consideration at the very least.  The Broncos are 5th in passing and have a strong defense.  They are 5th in pass defense and 9th against the run.  The Bucs are 13th in passing and 11th in rushing.  Their run defense is 1st in the league but their pass defense is 32nd. 

Prediction - Peyton Manning against the 32nd pass defense in the league? The Broncos can't lose this one.       


Cleveland Browns (3-8) @ Oakland Raiders (3-8)

The Browns and the Raiders meet in Oakland on Sunday in a game that will have implications for the 2013 NFL draft.  These sides won't make the playoffs and at this stage it's purely about planning for the future.  The Browns have made a few good moves in recent seasons and have some good young talent on the roster.  Brandon Weeden, Trent Richardson and Joe Haden are all young players who could have big futures in the game.  Another good draft and the Browns could pick up a few extra wins and push towards a playoff spot.  The Raiders don't have as bright a future.  They have had a habit in recent years of trading away their draft picks and it doesn't bode well for the future.  Having said that when they have used their draft picks they haven't usually get that right either.  In recent seasons they have made their picks only to see the team behind them pick Aaron Rodgers, Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson and CJ Spiller.  If the Raiders had picked those four they would be a Superbowl challenger every year.  The match ups in this one show that the defenses should be able to get on top but the big difference is Oakland's passing game.  The Raiders are 8th in passing and the Browns are 21st in pass defense.  If Carson Palmer can keep the ball in the hands of his own receivers, the Raiders could get the win.

Prediction - I'm putting my faith in Carson Palmer and going for a Raiders win.


Cincinnati Bengals (6-5) @ San Diego Chargers (4-7)

The Bengals go to San Diego and know they need to win to keep their playoff hopes alive.  They are just outside the playoffs at the moment based on their head to head record with the Pittsburgh Steelers so they need to keep winning to overtake them.  The Chargers got off to a good start, winning three of their first four games but they have gone 1-6 since then and their playoff hopes are hanging on by a thread.  At present they are two games behind the wildcard spot but they still have to play the Steelers who currently hold the six seed and their last three games are against the Panthers, the Jets and the Raiders, who are a combined 10-23 for the year so the playoffs are certainly not out of their reach.  The Bengals are a better team offensively and are averaging 359 yards compared to the Chargers 324 yards per game.  The defenses are both giving up 334 yards per game. 

Prediction - The Chargers are better in run defense which won't help them when Andy Dalton starts throwing to AJ Green and I think the Bengals will get the win.


Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) @ Baltimore Ravens (9-2)

The Steelers and Ravens meet again just a fortnight after their last meeting and once again the Steelers will be without their franchise quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger.  Charlie Batch will be the quarterback and he had a bad game last week, throwing for just 199 yards and 3 interceptions.  The Steelers should have Troy Polamalu back from injury which will be a big boost for them.  In the last game the Steelers defense done a good job but they didn't get much help from their offense and the Ravens got the win.  The Steelers defense is giving up just 257 yards per game and will make things difficult for a Ravens offense which is averaging 349 yards per game.  The Steelers have had to change their style in recent weeks since Roethlisberger's injury.  They were pass heavy but are having to go with more running plays now.  The running game has been hit and miss all year.  It started badly but has improved but I don't think it will be at it's full potential until they decide who their first choice rusher is. 

Prediction - I can't see the Steelers going to Baltimore without Big Ben and getting the win, Ravens win.  


Philadelphia Eagles (3-8) @ Dallas Cowboys (5-6)

What are the television companies playing at?  One week after two losing teams played on Monday Night Football, Sunday Night Football now has a battle of the two worst teams in the NFC East.  I am pretty sure the national television audience does not want to see this game.  Of the fourteen games being played today, I wouldn't even have this game in the top ten.  I'm an Eagles fan too so imagine how the neutrals must be feeling about it.  Dallas won comfortably in Philly in week 10 and the Eagles have got even worse since then.  This week they are without Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson who have been their best three players on offense in recent years.  The younger players will get more game time and it will help for next season when the Eagles will hopefully have a new coaching setup.  The Cowboys need to start winning again as they have a difficult schedule remaining and need to win games like this one.  The only way the Eagles win this is if Tony Romo goes into an interception frenzy and hands the win to the Eagles. 

Prediction - The Cowboys will get their season back on track with a win.