Indianapolis Colts (11-5) @ Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
Sunday's AFC wildcard game is similar to Saturday's as the wild card team come into it in better form. The Colts have won five of their last six games and the Ravens have only won one of their last five.
Indianapolis did finish with a better record than the Ravens this season but the Texans were even better and won the AFC South which meant the Colts had to rely on a wildcard. It has been a remarkable turnaround from the Colts after they finished last year as the worst team in the NFL. They got rid of a lot of their older players last year and brought in youngsters in an attempt to build for the future. I'm sure when they were building this team they would have set a target of a playoff place in two or three years time but they have managed to get their within a year and the future looks bright for the Colts and rookie quarterback, Andrew Luck.
The Colts were very good at home, winning seven games and they managed to finish .500 on the road to secure the number five seed in the AFC. The Colts had a decent record against playoff teams in the regular season, winning three of their five games. The one worry for the Colts is that all three wins came at home and their two defeats came on the road. The problem for the Colts is they hold the fifth seed so they will have to go on the road in the playoffs and will find it difficult.
The Colts were all about Andrew Luck. Everything good that they done, involved the rookie. Their passing game was ranked 7th in the NFL. They were in the bottom half in all the other statistics. Their running game was 22nd, their pass defense was 21st and their run defense was 29th. Andrew Luck didn't even get much help from his offensive line as they allowed 41 sacks which was the 10th worst record in the league. This resulted in turnovers and the Colts gave the ball away 27 times. The defense wasn't great either and they only managed to force 15 turnovers all year and sack the opponents quarterback 32 times.
The Ravens are in poor form and a few weeks ago they were in the race to earn a bye in the wildcard round but four defeats in five games has saw them drop to the AFC's fourth seed. The Ravens finished the season with a 10-6 record, which saw them win six at home and four on the road. Against playoff teams they have gone 2-3. Both of their wins came at home and they went 0-2 on the road.
This Ravens team hasn't been great all season and in my opinion they are underusing Ray Rice. Rice is an elite running-back but I don't think he got a big enough workload in the regular season. Having said that, the Ravens have made it to the playoffs without pushing him too hard and I expect him to be busy on Sunday. Rice is built to play playoff football and if the Ravens are to do well, they will have to give him as much of the ball as they can.
The Ravens biggest strength this year was taking care of the football. They turned the ball over on 16 occasions which is tied for the second best record in the league. The Ravens defense isn't as strong as it has been in recent seasons. They rank 17th against the pass and 20th against the run. They have produced 37 sacks this year which is 15th in the league. In recent years the Ravens have always had a tough defense but this particular unit isn't quite at the high level we are used to seeing from Ravens defenses.
Prediction - This will be a tight game between two sides who regardless of Sunday's results, I can't see progressing beyond the divisional round. I think these are the weakest sides in the AFC playoffs and would take any of the other four teams to beat them. The Colts are quite one dimensional and will throw the ball. They aren't great at protecting their quarterback but then again the Ravens haven't been known for their pass rush this year. My worry for the Colts is turnovers. Andrew Luck has thrown 18 interceptions this year and it is a massive problem for the Colts. I have gone on about teams taking care of the football all year and while I was looking at the statistics during the week I found a very interesting one. In both the AFC and the NFC, the five teams who have turned the ball over the least have reached the playoffs. That's five out of the six teams in each Conference which only underlines how important it is to take care of the football in the NFL. For those interested, the two teams who made the playoffs despite being outside the top five in this category were the Colts and the Vikings. If I was coaching the Ravens my game plan would be simple. Give the ball to Ray Rice and let him run all over the 29th run defense in the league. To this point John Harbaugh hasn't given Rice a huge workload but I think he will give him the ball in this game and it will lead to a Baltimore win.
Seattle Seahawks (11-5) @ Washington Redskins (10-6)
The wildcard round finishes with a battle between two of the NFL's most exciting rookie quarterbacks. Russell Wilson and Robert Griffin III have set the NFL alight this year with some spectacular plays and it seems fitting that they should face off for a place in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Seattle have reached this point with an 11-5 record and they have looked excellent in recent weeks, winning seven of their last eight games. Seattle were perfect at home, winning all eight games. They weren't as impressive on the road though and went 3-5. The Seahawks played against five playoff teams in the regular season and won four of the games, with their only loss coming in a tight game in San Francisco. Seattle's five defeats were all tight and their biggest loss was by seven points in that defeat to the 49ers.
Seattle look like a good old fashioned playoff team. They have the strong defense and the strong running game that used to be the criteria to win a Superbowl so it will be interesting to see how they get on in what has become a passing league. The Seahawks finished 3rd in rushing and their defense were 6th against the pass and 10th against the run. The passing game wasn't great and ranked 27th in the league but that was more to do with the play calling. Russell Wilson completed 64.1% of his passes and the Seahawks simply preferred to run the ball and the low rank is not a reflection on Wilson's play. Wilson ended the regular season with 26 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions which is a respectable ratio. The Seahawks also done well in relation to turnovers. The offense gave the ball away 18 times and the defense forced 31 turnovers, both of which were the 4th best records in the NFC.
The Redskins gave up a lot to trade up in the 2012 draft to take Robert Griffin III but he has repaid them with a playoff place and an NFC East title in his rookie season. RG3 is a special player and will surely go on to win multiple titles. He had a bit of a mixed start and although he was playing well, the Redskins weren't getting the results. They were 3-6 and looked to be heading towards another bad season but things clicked into place for them and they won their last seven games to finish 10-6 and take the divisional title. The Redskins faced four playoff teams this year, all at home. They split the four games, beating Minnesota and Baltimore but losing to Cincinnati and Atlanta.
The Redskins were all about the running game this year and rookie duo, RG3 and Alfred Morris led the team to an average of 169 yards per game on the ground. They also done better than any other team in the league in what I would describe as the most important statistic in football, turnovers. The Redskins turned the ball over just 14 times and that is a remarkable statistic for a team with a rookie quarterback. The Redskins defense were good at defending the run and ranked 5th in the league. They weren't so good at defending the pass though and ranked 30th. This was partially because they were unable to get a lot of pressure on the opposing quarterback. They picked up 32 sacks which was 23rd in the league. Their strength on defense was picking off the opposing quarterbacks and they had 21 interceptions.
Prediction - This game looks like being a cracker. Both offenses are a pleasure to watch and if nothing else at least we are guaranteed at least one more week of either RG3 or Wilson. Both sides will favour the run and both also have strong run defenses. Seattle seem to be trusting Wilson more and more as the season goes on and with receivers like Sidney Rice and Golden Tate on the field they can take advantage of a poor Washington pass defense. On paper, the Seahawks are the better team and I think they will get the win to keep their Superbowl dreams alive.
PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS
AFC
Wildcard RoundHouston Texans over the Cincinnati Bengals
Baltimore Ravens over the Indianapolis Colts
Divisional Round
Denver Broncos over the Baltimore Ravens
New England Patriots over the Houston Texans
AFC Championship
Denver Broncos over the New England Patriots
NFC
Wildcard RoundGreen Bay Packers over the Minnesota Vikings
Seattle Seahawks over the Washington Redskins
Divisional Round
Seattle Seahawks over the Atlanta Falcons
Green Bay Packers over the San Francisco 49ers
NFC Championship
Green Bay Packers over the Seattle Seahawks
SUPERBOWL
Denver Broncos over the Green Bay Packers
NFL PLAYOFF CHALLENGE
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Showing posts with label NFL Prediction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NFL Prediction. Show all posts
Saturday, 5 January 2013
Sunday, 30 December 2012
NFL Week 17 - Preview and Predictions
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-9) @ Atlanta Falcons (13-2)
Tampa Bay head to Atlanta to face the playoff bound Falcons hoping to end their five game losing streak. The Falcons are 7-0 at home this year but with the number one seed already wrapped up they will most likely have a lot of backups in the game. I have mixed feelings about the Falcons resting players in this game. I understand that they want to give their players rest and they don't want to pick up injuries but I worry about teams who have a first round bye resting players. If the Falcons rest their starters, it will be three weeks since their last game by the time they take to the field in the playoffs. Personally I think it's too long although I do appreciate that teams want to avoid injuries. If a team is good enough to earn a bye in the playoffs, the likely hood is they will be coming into the playoffs with a lot of momentum. Would a three week break take that momentum away? I think it would but it will always be a cause for debate.
Prediction - The Falcons starters to play a quarter/half and then sit the rest out and the Bucs to win it.
New York Jets (6-9) @ Buffalo Bills (5-10)
The Jets and Bills meet in Buffalo in a game that will only decide draft picks. Both teams have losing records and their playoff hopes died a few weeks ago. The New York Jets have had quarterback issues and Rex Ryan is proving himself to be an even bigger idiot than we already suspected he was by once again overlooking Tim Tebow. He benched Mark Sanchez last week in favour of Greg McElroy. McElroy has a concussion and won't play so Ryan has said that Sanchez will start at quarterback. I just don't understand that decision. Tebow is far from a top quarterback but he would suit the New York Jets. They have had injuries at receiver this year and have had to rely on their running game. Tim Tebow is very capable of playing that role but for some reason, Ryan hasn't even given him a chance to show what he can do. The Bills are 5-10 for the year and they have now gone four years in a row with at least ten losses. The quarterback situation in Buffalo isn't much better and Ryan Fitzpatrick hasn't had a great season. Fitzpatrick is 30 now and it may be time for Buffalo to look for a new quarterback. The one bright spot for the Bills has been the emergence of CJ Spiller at running-back. He has had a great season and has set career numbers in almost every category. Spiller looks like being the future of the franchise and if they can get him some support, then the Bills could push towards a .500 finish next season.
Prediction - I'm not taking Mark Sanchez to win on the road, Bills win.
Baltimore Ravens (10-5) @ Cincinnati Bengals (9-6)
These two are playoff bound and there's even a chance that they could meet again next week in Baltimore. The Ravens have the division wrapped up and the Bengals have a wildcard secured. I expect there to be a lot of backups in this game as both teams will be involved in the wildcard round next weekend. The Ravens know there opponents will be either the Bengals or the Colts. For the Bengals, things are a little more complex and there is still a chance they could face any of the four divisional winners. Games like this one are hard to judge. Both coaches are talking as if they are here to win but I'd be very surprised to see the likes of Ray Rice, Joe Flacco, AJ Green and Andy Dalton battling it out for the win in the fourth quarter.
Prediction - Coin toss, Bengals win.
Chicago Bears (9-6) @ Detroit Lions (4-11)
Isn't football a funny old game. The Chicago Bears need to win this one and then rely on some help from their hated rivals, the Green Bay Packers. If Green Bay can do the Bears a favour and beat the Minnesota Vikings, then the Bears destiny will be in their own hands. I'm sure there hasn't been many occasions over the years when Bears fans were hoping for a Packers win but given the circumstances, Bears fans all over the world will be praying for a favour. Favours aside, the Bears have a tough enough task to do their own part of the bargain. Detroit are a dangerous team with a lot of talent all over their roster and if it clicks, Chicago could be in trouble. The Lions have nothing to lose at this stage of the season. They are 4-11 and their playoff hopes died a long time ago so they can afford to spend all day lumping the ball towards Calvin Johnson and he's not the easiest guy in the league to cover. Johnson has already broke the record for most receiving yards in a season and I would be very surprised if he doesn't pick up the 108 yards he needs to take him to 2000 yards for the season.
Prediction - I don't think it matters what the Packers do as the Lions will end the Bears hopes with a win.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-13) @ Tennessee Titans (5-10)
The Jacksonville Jaguars will most likely pick second in the 2013 NFL Draft. They still have a chance of picking first but it is unlikely as the Kansas City Chiefs would need to beat the Broncos in Denver. The Broncos are the hottest team in the NFL and there is next to no chance that the 2-13, Kansas City Chiefs will go to Mile High and win. Jacksonville played well last week against the Patriots and if they bring that performance to Tennessee, they have every chance of winning. The Titans have had a bad year and will be glad to see the off season. At 5-10 they are well outside the playoff places. The Titans have had quarterback issues in recent years and they still exist. Jake Locker doesn't look like he is the right man and until they address it, it is highly unlikely they will be threatening the playoff places.
Prediction - I think the Jags could nick this one.
Houston Texans (12-4) @ Indianapolis Colts (10-5)
These two have already wrapped up their playoff places and the Colts know they will be going on the road next week in the wildcard round of the playoffs so I expect they may rest some starters. No matter what happens, Indianapolis are the number five seed in the AFC. The same can't be said of Houston though and it is still possible that they could finish in any of the top three seeds. A win would secure the number one seed and home advantage right to the Superbowl. If they lose though and the Patriots and Broncos both win they would take the three seed, meaning they would host the Cincinnati Bengals in the wildcard round next week. The biggest thing about this weeks game for the Colts is the return of Coach Pagano to the sideline after his successful battle with leukemia. It's great to see him back on the sideline and there's no doubt his return will give the Colts a huge lift.
Prediction - This game means something to the Texans and nothing to the Colts so I will go with a Houston win.
Carolina Panthers (6-9) @ New Orleans Saints (7-8)
These NFC South rivals square off in New Orleans in a game that means little more than pride and draft picks. Both sides started poorly and left it too late to make a playoff push. The Panthers have won four of their last five and the Saints have won seven of their last eleven. Form like that would merit a playoff place but the bad starts had put them in too deep a hole. The Saints have struggled on defense all year and are giving up 434 yards per game. They will need to sort that out in the off season and if they do, Drew Brees will do his part on offense to lead them toward a playoff place. The Panthers will try to run the ball with Cam Newton and if fit, DeAngelo Williams.
Prediction - The Saints should have too much fire power and will finish on a high.
Philadelphia Eagles (4-11) @ New York Giants (8-7)
This game will most likely be the last time we will see Michael Vick and Andy Reid as part of the Philadelphia Eagles. Vick had a good year in 2010 when he led the team to the playoffs but he has been poor since then. Andy Reid gave us a lot of success in his early years, leading the Eagles to four NFC East titles in a row but he was never able to bring a Superbowl to Philly and in recent seasons, we haven't even been close. The time is right to part company and hopefully the Eagles can move forward in the near future. This game means a lot more for the Giants than the Eagles. If the Giants win and the Bears, the Vikings and the Cowboys all lose then the Giants will squeeze into the playoffs. It's not as unlikely as it sounds and when I look at the games on paper, I think it will happen.
Prediction - The Giants should win easily.
Cleveland Browns (5-10) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8)
Pittsburgh loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last week means that this game is another dead rubber and there are no playoff places at stake. The Browns have been out of the race for a while but if anything it has made them play with a sense of freedom and their performances have picked up. Pittsburgh looked certainties for the playoffs when they reached 6-3 but an injury to Ben Roethlisberger in their next game hit the team hard and they have won just one of their last six games. Roethlisberger has been back for the last three but he has been unable to change the teams fortunes. These teams appear to be heading in different directions, with the Browns a young team who are improving and the Steelers an older team who seem to be a downward path. However, if I've learned anything in my time following this league, it's that the Browns will most likely find a way to regress and the Steelers will find a way to get back on the upward curve.
Prediction - The Steelers should win.
Kansas City Chiefs (2-13) @ Denver Broncos (12-3)
In this game, both sides have something at stake, although both will be in a better position if the Broncos win the game. As things stand, the Chiefs will have the number one pick in next years draft and the only way that can change is if they win here and Jacksonville lose to Tennessee. The Broncos have already secured their playoff place but I can't see them taking things easy as a win would guarantee them a bye in the first round of the playoffs. The Chiefs haven't been a bad team this year but they have been absolutely killed by turnovers. They have turned the ball over 37 times this season which is the worst record in the league. It doesn't matter how good you are, if you don't take care of the football, you won't win in this league. Denver have got to this stage thanks to a ten game winning run. The Broncos had a good side last year but the addition of Peyton Manning has turned them into a genuine contender and I wouldn't be surprised to see them make the trip to New Orleans for the Superbowl.
Prediction - The Broncos should win this one easily.
Green Bay Packers (11-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (9-6)
This looks like being one of the most intriguing games of the weekend. If Minnesota win, they are in the playoffs. If they lose, it opens things up for Chicago, New York and even the Washington Redskins to secure the final wildcard place. Green Bay have plenty to play for and a win here would give them the NFC's number two seed and a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Add to that the fact that Minnesota's running-back, Adrian Peterson needs 208 yards to break the record for most rushing yards in a season. I hope I am wrong but I don't think he will break that record although I can see him getting the 102 yards needed to reach 2000 yards for the season. The biggest problem Peterson has is the team still have it all to play for and if he's struggling on the ground, the team will resort to Plan B rather than handing him the ball all day and let him push for the record. Having said that, the Vikings need Peterson to have a big day as I can't see them winning the game with their Plan B.
Prediction - I think this game will be tight but the Packers should be able to edge it and secure a bye.
Miami Dolphins (7-8) @ New England Patriots (11-4)
The New England Patriots are in the playoffs for the ninth time in the last ten seasons and once again they will be many peoples favourites to reach the Superbowl. On their day, they are capable of beating anyone but it looks as though at some stage they will have to go to Denver to face Peyton Manning and the Broncos which will be a very difficult game for them. Miami have had a decent season and at 7-8, it is better than I expected they would do. They can certainly take some positives from the season and look to build on it for next year. If Houston win in the early games, I expect the Pats to be keeping an eye on the score in Denver and if Denver look like winning easily, the Pats will pull their starters and let them rest up before next weeks wildcard round.
Prediction - The Patriots should win the game.
Oakland Raiders (4-11) @ San Diego Chargers (6-9)
These AFC West rivals do battle in another of Sunday's "Nobody Cares Bowls". The Raiders will be well used to being involved in these sort of games and it's becoming a habit for the Chargers too. This is the third year in a row they have missed the playoffs and it should be the final game of the Norv Turner era. There's a lot of talk that Andy Reid will be next in line, if/when the Eagles fire him. As an Eagles fan I'm not sure whether it would be a good move for the Chargers or not. I guess only time will tell whether Andy has lost touch with modern football or things have just gone stale for him in Philly. Either way, if he gets the job, I wish him well.
Prediction - The Chargers should have too much for a poor Raiders side who are giving Terrelle Pryor his first NFL start.
Arizona Cardinals (5-10) @ San Francisco 49ers (10-4-1)
The 49ers need this one to win the NFC West and after their defeat to the Seahawks last week, they will want to secure the division and guarantee that they won't have to go back to Seattle and face that atmosphere. The Cardinals have lost ten of their last eleven games and if the 49ers can't beat them in such an important game then they don't deserve to win the division. I tipped San Francisco to win the Superbowl at the start of the season but I have gone cold on them as I don't think they have helped themselves by creating a quarterback controversy. I will wait and see who they play in the playoffs before making a call but there is quite a few teams in the NFC who I would take to beat them and they might not even make it out of the wildcard round.
Prediction - The 49ers should win this one.
St Louis Rams (7-7-1) @ Seattle Seahawks (10-5)
Ultimately I think this game will end up being a dead rubber as I think the 49ers will beat the Cardinals in San Francisco to win the division and send the Seahawks to a wildcard place but the Seahawks will still want to keep their momentum going and I am sure they will want to finish the season with an 8-0 home record. The Rams have had a decent season too. They have improved a lot from last season and they look like a franchise heading in the right direction under Jeff Fisher. Seattle are the team heading to the post season in the best form and will fancy their chances of making progress. As a neutral fan I would have liked to see them host a playoff game as the atmosphere generated in that stadium is second to none. It doesn't look as though it will happen this year but with Russell Wilson doing so well in his rookie year, I expect him to improve and their will be plenty of home playoff games in the next few years in Seattle.
Prediction - Seattle are the better team and should win.
Dallas Cowboys (8-7) @ Washington Redskins (9-6)
This looks like being the best game of the weekend and it is an old fashioned winner takes all battle. Some of the edge could be taken out of it depending on the earlier results and it is possible that the Redskins could have a wildcard guaranteed by the time they take to the field on Sunday night. As a neutral, I hope results go against that outcome and this game is a straight knockout. These two looked dead and buried earlier in the season but they have both went on great runs and at least one and possibly both of them will be in the playoffs. These two met at Thanksgiving and it was a cracker. The Redskins got off to a great start and led 28-3 at half-time but the Cowboys came back well in the second half but fell short and lost by 38-31. If this game is as good as that one, we are in for a treat.
Prediction - The Redskins will finish the job and reach the playoffs.
Tampa Bay head to Atlanta to face the playoff bound Falcons hoping to end their five game losing streak. The Falcons are 7-0 at home this year but with the number one seed already wrapped up they will most likely have a lot of backups in the game. I have mixed feelings about the Falcons resting players in this game. I understand that they want to give their players rest and they don't want to pick up injuries but I worry about teams who have a first round bye resting players. If the Falcons rest their starters, it will be three weeks since their last game by the time they take to the field in the playoffs. Personally I think it's too long although I do appreciate that teams want to avoid injuries. If a team is good enough to earn a bye in the playoffs, the likely hood is they will be coming into the playoffs with a lot of momentum. Would a three week break take that momentum away? I think it would but it will always be a cause for debate.
Prediction - The Falcons starters to play a quarter/half and then sit the rest out and the Bucs to win it.
New York Jets (6-9) @ Buffalo Bills (5-10)
The Jets and Bills meet in Buffalo in a game that will only decide draft picks. Both teams have losing records and their playoff hopes died a few weeks ago. The New York Jets have had quarterback issues and Rex Ryan is proving himself to be an even bigger idiot than we already suspected he was by once again overlooking Tim Tebow. He benched Mark Sanchez last week in favour of Greg McElroy. McElroy has a concussion and won't play so Ryan has said that Sanchez will start at quarterback. I just don't understand that decision. Tebow is far from a top quarterback but he would suit the New York Jets. They have had injuries at receiver this year and have had to rely on their running game. Tim Tebow is very capable of playing that role but for some reason, Ryan hasn't even given him a chance to show what he can do. The Bills are 5-10 for the year and they have now gone four years in a row with at least ten losses. The quarterback situation in Buffalo isn't much better and Ryan Fitzpatrick hasn't had a great season. Fitzpatrick is 30 now and it may be time for Buffalo to look for a new quarterback. The one bright spot for the Bills has been the emergence of CJ Spiller at running-back. He has had a great season and has set career numbers in almost every category. Spiller looks like being the future of the franchise and if they can get him some support, then the Bills could push towards a .500 finish next season.
Prediction - I'm not taking Mark Sanchez to win on the road, Bills win.
Baltimore Ravens (10-5) @ Cincinnati Bengals (9-6)
These two are playoff bound and there's even a chance that they could meet again next week in Baltimore. The Ravens have the division wrapped up and the Bengals have a wildcard secured. I expect there to be a lot of backups in this game as both teams will be involved in the wildcard round next weekend. The Ravens know there opponents will be either the Bengals or the Colts. For the Bengals, things are a little more complex and there is still a chance they could face any of the four divisional winners. Games like this one are hard to judge. Both coaches are talking as if they are here to win but I'd be very surprised to see the likes of Ray Rice, Joe Flacco, AJ Green and Andy Dalton battling it out for the win in the fourth quarter.
Prediction - Coin toss, Bengals win.
Chicago Bears (9-6) @ Detroit Lions (4-11)
Isn't football a funny old game. The Chicago Bears need to win this one and then rely on some help from their hated rivals, the Green Bay Packers. If Green Bay can do the Bears a favour and beat the Minnesota Vikings, then the Bears destiny will be in their own hands. I'm sure there hasn't been many occasions over the years when Bears fans were hoping for a Packers win but given the circumstances, Bears fans all over the world will be praying for a favour. Favours aside, the Bears have a tough enough task to do their own part of the bargain. Detroit are a dangerous team with a lot of talent all over their roster and if it clicks, Chicago could be in trouble. The Lions have nothing to lose at this stage of the season. They are 4-11 and their playoff hopes died a long time ago so they can afford to spend all day lumping the ball towards Calvin Johnson and he's not the easiest guy in the league to cover. Johnson has already broke the record for most receiving yards in a season and I would be very surprised if he doesn't pick up the 108 yards he needs to take him to 2000 yards for the season.
Prediction - I don't think it matters what the Packers do as the Lions will end the Bears hopes with a win.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-13) @ Tennessee Titans (5-10)
The Jacksonville Jaguars will most likely pick second in the 2013 NFL Draft. They still have a chance of picking first but it is unlikely as the Kansas City Chiefs would need to beat the Broncos in Denver. The Broncos are the hottest team in the NFL and there is next to no chance that the 2-13, Kansas City Chiefs will go to Mile High and win. Jacksonville played well last week against the Patriots and if they bring that performance to Tennessee, they have every chance of winning. The Titans have had a bad year and will be glad to see the off season. At 5-10 they are well outside the playoff places. The Titans have had quarterback issues in recent years and they still exist. Jake Locker doesn't look like he is the right man and until they address it, it is highly unlikely they will be threatening the playoff places.
Prediction - I think the Jags could nick this one.
Houston Texans (12-4) @ Indianapolis Colts (10-5)
These two have already wrapped up their playoff places and the Colts know they will be going on the road next week in the wildcard round of the playoffs so I expect they may rest some starters. No matter what happens, Indianapolis are the number five seed in the AFC. The same can't be said of Houston though and it is still possible that they could finish in any of the top three seeds. A win would secure the number one seed and home advantage right to the Superbowl. If they lose though and the Patriots and Broncos both win they would take the three seed, meaning they would host the Cincinnati Bengals in the wildcard round next week. The biggest thing about this weeks game for the Colts is the return of Coach Pagano to the sideline after his successful battle with leukemia. It's great to see him back on the sideline and there's no doubt his return will give the Colts a huge lift.
Prediction - This game means something to the Texans and nothing to the Colts so I will go with a Houston win.
Carolina Panthers (6-9) @ New Orleans Saints (7-8)
These NFC South rivals square off in New Orleans in a game that means little more than pride and draft picks. Both sides started poorly and left it too late to make a playoff push. The Panthers have won four of their last five and the Saints have won seven of their last eleven. Form like that would merit a playoff place but the bad starts had put them in too deep a hole. The Saints have struggled on defense all year and are giving up 434 yards per game. They will need to sort that out in the off season and if they do, Drew Brees will do his part on offense to lead them toward a playoff place. The Panthers will try to run the ball with Cam Newton and if fit, DeAngelo Williams.
Prediction - The Saints should have too much fire power and will finish on a high.
Philadelphia Eagles (4-11) @ New York Giants (8-7)
This game will most likely be the last time we will see Michael Vick and Andy Reid as part of the Philadelphia Eagles. Vick had a good year in 2010 when he led the team to the playoffs but he has been poor since then. Andy Reid gave us a lot of success in his early years, leading the Eagles to four NFC East titles in a row but he was never able to bring a Superbowl to Philly and in recent seasons, we haven't even been close. The time is right to part company and hopefully the Eagles can move forward in the near future. This game means a lot more for the Giants than the Eagles. If the Giants win and the Bears, the Vikings and the Cowboys all lose then the Giants will squeeze into the playoffs. It's not as unlikely as it sounds and when I look at the games on paper, I think it will happen.
Prediction - The Giants should win easily.
Cleveland Browns (5-10) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8)
Pittsburgh loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last week means that this game is another dead rubber and there are no playoff places at stake. The Browns have been out of the race for a while but if anything it has made them play with a sense of freedom and their performances have picked up. Pittsburgh looked certainties for the playoffs when they reached 6-3 but an injury to Ben Roethlisberger in their next game hit the team hard and they have won just one of their last six games. Roethlisberger has been back for the last three but he has been unable to change the teams fortunes. These teams appear to be heading in different directions, with the Browns a young team who are improving and the Steelers an older team who seem to be a downward path. However, if I've learned anything in my time following this league, it's that the Browns will most likely find a way to regress and the Steelers will find a way to get back on the upward curve.
Prediction - The Steelers should win.
Kansas City Chiefs (2-13) @ Denver Broncos (12-3)
In this game, both sides have something at stake, although both will be in a better position if the Broncos win the game. As things stand, the Chiefs will have the number one pick in next years draft and the only way that can change is if they win here and Jacksonville lose to Tennessee. The Broncos have already secured their playoff place but I can't see them taking things easy as a win would guarantee them a bye in the first round of the playoffs. The Chiefs haven't been a bad team this year but they have been absolutely killed by turnovers. They have turned the ball over 37 times this season which is the worst record in the league. It doesn't matter how good you are, if you don't take care of the football, you won't win in this league. Denver have got to this stage thanks to a ten game winning run. The Broncos had a good side last year but the addition of Peyton Manning has turned them into a genuine contender and I wouldn't be surprised to see them make the trip to New Orleans for the Superbowl.
Prediction - The Broncos should win this one easily.
Green Bay Packers (11-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (9-6)
This looks like being one of the most intriguing games of the weekend. If Minnesota win, they are in the playoffs. If they lose, it opens things up for Chicago, New York and even the Washington Redskins to secure the final wildcard place. Green Bay have plenty to play for and a win here would give them the NFC's number two seed and a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Add to that the fact that Minnesota's running-back, Adrian Peterson needs 208 yards to break the record for most rushing yards in a season. I hope I am wrong but I don't think he will break that record although I can see him getting the 102 yards needed to reach 2000 yards for the season. The biggest problem Peterson has is the team still have it all to play for and if he's struggling on the ground, the team will resort to Plan B rather than handing him the ball all day and let him push for the record. Having said that, the Vikings need Peterson to have a big day as I can't see them winning the game with their Plan B.
Prediction - I think this game will be tight but the Packers should be able to edge it and secure a bye.
Miami Dolphins (7-8) @ New England Patriots (11-4)
The New England Patriots are in the playoffs for the ninth time in the last ten seasons and once again they will be many peoples favourites to reach the Superbowl. On their day, they are capable of beating anyone but it looks as though at some stage they will have to go to Denver to face Peyton Manning and the Broncos which will be a very difficult game for them. Miami have had a decent season and at 7-8, it is better than I expected they would do. They can certainly take some positives from the season and look to build on it for next year. If Houston win in the early games, I expect the Pats to be keeping an eye on the score in Denver and if Denver look like winning easily, the Pats will pull their starters and let them rest up before next weeks wildcard round.
Prediction - The Patriots should win the game.
Oakland Raiders (4-11) @ San Diego Chargers (6-9)
These AFC West rivals do battle in another of Sunday's "Nobody Cares Bowls". The Raiders will be well used to being involved in these sort of games and it's becoming a habit for the Chargers too. This is the third year in a row they have missed the playoffs and it should be the final game of the Norv Turner era. There's a lot of talk that Andy Reid will be next in line, if/when the Eagles fire him. As an Eagles fan I'm not sure whether it would be a good move for the Chargers or not. I guess only time will tell whether Andy has lost touch with modern football or things have just gone stale for him in Philly. Either way, if he gets the job, I wish him well.
Prediction - The Chargers should have too much for a poor Raiders side who are giving Terrelle Pryor his first NFL start.
Arizona Cardinals (5-10) @ San Francisco 49ers (10-4-1)
The 49ers need this one to win the NFC West and after their defeat to the Seahawks last week, they will want to secure the division and guarantee that they won't have to go back to Seattle and face that atmosphere. The Cardinals have lost ten of their last eleven games and if the 49ers can't beat them in such an important game then they don't deserve to win the division. I tipped San Francisco to win the Superbowl at the start of the season but I have gone cold on them as I don't think they have helped themselves by creating a quarterback controversy. I will wait and see who they play in the playoffs before making a call but there is quite a few teams in the NFC who I would take to beat them and they might not even make it out of the wildcard round.
Prediction - The 49ers should win this one.
St Louis Rams (7-7-1) @ Seattle Seahawks (10-5)
Ultimately I think this game will end up being a dead rubber as I think the 49ers will beat the Cardinals in San Francisco to win the division and send the Seahawks to a wildcard place but the Seahawks will still want to keep their momentum going and I am sure they will want to finish the season with an 8-0 home record. The Rams have had a decent season too. They have improved a lot from last season and they look like a franchise heading in the right direction under Jeff Fisher. Seattle are the team heading to the post season in the best form and will fancy their chances of making progress. As a neutral fan I would have liked to see them host a playoff game as the atmosphere generated in that stadium is second to none. It doesn't look as though it will happen this year but with Russell Wilson doing so well in his rookie year, I expect him to improve and their will be plenty of home playoff games in the next few years in Seattle.
Prediction - Seattle are the better team and should win.
Dallas Cowboys (8-7) @ Washington Redskins (9-6)
This looks like being the best game of the weekend and it is an old fashioned winner takes all battle. Some of the edge could be taken out of it depending on the earlier results and it is possible that the Redskins could have a wildcard guaranteed by the time they take to the field on Sunday night. As a neutral, I hope results go against that outcome and this game is a straight knockout. These two looked dead and buried earlier in the season but they have both went on great runs and at least one and possibly both of them will be in the playoffs. These two met at Thanksgiving and it was a cracker. The Redskins got off to a great start and led 28-3 at half-time but the Cowboys came back well in the second half but fell short and lost by 38-31. If this game is as good as that one, we are in for a treat.
Prediction - The Redskins will finish the job and reach the playoffs.
Sunday, 23 December 2012
NFL Week 16 - Preview and Predictions
New Orleans Saints (6-8) @ Dallas Cowboys (8-6)
The Saints and Cowboys go head to head in Dallas in what could be a big game in the NFC's playoff race. The Saints are technically still alive although there is too long a list of things they need to go their way for their playoff chances to be seriously considered. The Cowboys on the other hand, have a very good chance of a playoff spot. They are part of a three way tie at the top of the NFC East, so they may even win the division. As things stand they are outside the playoffs but two wins would most likely be good enough to see them into the playoffs. Both sides will look to throw the ball on offense. The Saints are 2nd in passing and the Cowboys are 4th. The Cowboys are better in pass defense, ranking 14th compared to the Saints who are 31st. Ultimately the game will be won by whichever quarterback does a better job of taking care of the football. Tony Romo has 22 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions. Drew Brees has 36 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
Prediction - I can't side with Tony Romo against Drew Brees and think the Saints will win this one.
Tennessee Titans (5-9) @ Green Bay Packers (10-4)
This game won't have a huge impact on the season other than deciding what seed the Packers have in the NFC playoffs. The Packers are just behind the San Francisco 49ers in the race for the number two seed. The 49ers face a tough trip to Seattle this week and if they slip up, I expect the Packers to pounce and secure the first round bye. The Titans have had a poor year and I expect we will see changes in the franchise before too long. Green Bay had a bad start but they have come good and have won eight of their last nine games. They clinched the division last week and they should be too strong for the Titans this week. Green Bay will try to pass the ball and if the offensive line holds up, Aaron Rodgers can beat any team in the NFL. The Packers offensive line has been the weakness all year and Rodgers has been sacked 45 times, which is more than any other NFL quarterback. Chris Johnson has had a good year after a slow start and is now averaging 4.8 yards per carry. If Johnson can get the running game going, he can trouble the Packers.
Prediction - The Packers should have enough to win this one.
Indianapolis Colts (9-5) @ Kansas City Chiefs (2-12)
The Colts can clinch a wildcard place with a win in Kansas City over the struggling Chiefs. Kansas have had a bad season and are currently in position for the number one draft pick in 2013. The number one pick will be between the Chiefs and the Jaguars who are both 2-12 at present. The Chiefs strength of schedule is currently weaker and they will therefore get the first pick but it is very close and subject to change. The Colts have got this far thanks to rookie quarterback, Andrew Luck, who has linked up very well with Reggie Wayne. The Colts are 8th in passing but will need to be at their best as the Chiefs are good against the pass and rank 7th. The Chiefs will look to win the game on the ground. They rank 7th in rushing and should be able to get some joy against the Colts who are 23rd against the run.
Prediction - The match ups in this one suit the Chiefs but I would think they are at the stage of the year were they want the number one pick. If the Chiefs put 100% into this one they can win it but I expect they will be half hearted and the Colts will win.
Buffalo Bills (5-9) @ Miami Dolphins (6-8)
The Bills and Dolphins look to be battling it out with the New York Jets for the positions in the AFC East behind the New England Patriots. The Dolphins still have an outside chance of the playoffs but it is a very long shot and I can't see it happening. Miami have struggled with inconsistency this year. They have had some big wins over good teams like the Seahawks and the Bengals. The trouble is the defeats to the likes of the Jets, the Bills and the Titans. A bit more consistency and the Dolphins could have been in the playoff mix. Both sides will look to win the game on the ground. The Bills are 6th in rushing and the Dolphins are 16th. The Dolphins are better in defending the run and rank 8th. The Bills have struggled against the run and rank 30th in the NFL.
Prediction - Miami should win this one.
San Diego Chargers (5-9) @ New York Jets (6-8)
This game is a dead rubber between two teams who will have had high hopes at the start of the season but they have underachieved. The Chargers are a bad team and they have not beat anyone with a winning record. The best win they have had came against the Steelers who are 7-7 for the season. The Jets have also had a bad year. I've made no secret of the fact that I don't think Mark Sanchez is a good quarterback. He has had a terrible season and Rex Ryan has finally decided to bench him. However, he still hasn't got it right and for some reason he has decided to overlook Tim Tebow and pick Greg McElroy at quarterback. I can't understand why Tebow is being treated this way. He's not the conventional NFL quarterback but he could do a job for the Jets. From what I can see, it appears that Rex Ryan has wasted draft picks on him as he hasn't used him and the media are reporting that he will be released at the end of the year.
Prediction - This is a tough one to call but I'll side with the Chargers to win this one.
Washington Redskins (8-6) @ Philadelphia Eagles (4-10)
The Redskins need to win this one to keep their place at the top of the NFC East. They should be boosted by the return of Robert Griffin III at quarterback. He is listed as probable but the Redskins are saying that there is a very good chance he will play. The Eagles have had a horrible year. I am looking forward to this game though to see what way the Eagles line up. Most of the players who have missed out in recent weeks are fit again so I am very interested in seeing how much action LeSean McCoy will see. The Eagles have already made it clear that Michael Vick is third on the depth chart behind Nick Foles and Trent Edwards. I think this will be Andy Reid's last game in charge of the Eagles in Philadelphia and I would like to see him receive a positive reception but I do hope that it isn't misinterpreted as a show of support for him getting another year. As an Eagles fan, we have two games left and if I'm totally honest I wouldn't mind losing this one and winning next week to knock the Giants out of the playoffs. Not all Eagles fans will agree but in my time following the NFL, the Redskins have had a bad side so I don't feel the same level of rivalry with them as I do wit the Giants and Cowboys.
Prediction - If RG3 plays he'll have a big day and the Redskins will win.
Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7)
This game is technically a playoff game as it is do or die time for both sides. If the Bengals win, they are in the playoffs. If the Steelers win this one, they will need to beat the Cleveland Browns next week to secure a playoff place. The Steelers have been on a bad run and have won just one of their last five games. The Bengals are in much better form and have won five of their last six games. This will be the best game to watch in the early games and it should be a cracker. The Steelers will be looking to pass the ball as they are 10th in passing and 26th in rushing. The Bengals defense are 12th in pass defense and 9th against the run so they should be able to match the Steelers offense. The Bengals have quite a balanced offense, ranking 17th in passing and 11th in rushing. The Steelers have a good defense, ranking 1st against the pass and 4th against the run. It looks like the game will be quite low scoring and in my opinion will come down to one play. It could be a vital interception, a missed tackle etc. The game is on a knife edge and every play could be the difference in winning and losing.
Prediction - They don't come any tighter than this. My heart says Cincinnati but my head says Pittsburgh. I'm going with my heart and will be rooting for the Bengals.
St Louis Rams (6-7-1) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8)
These two face off in a game that won't effect playoff places. The Rams are still alive but there are too many teams ahead of them in the race for a wildcard. At one stage the Bucs looked likely to reach the playoffs but four straight defeats has killed off their playoff hopes. Both of these franchises are stuck in the middle of the league in the bracket were they aren't quite good enough for the playoffs but they are too good to be getting an early draft pick. There is potential in both franchises though and I have no doubt they will both be looking forward to next season with high ambitions.
Prediction - The Bucs will officially end the Rams playoff hopes with a win.
Oakland Raiders (4-10) @ Carolina Panthers (5-9)
I would imagine the only people who care about this game are people in Fantasy leagues. Neither side got close to the playoffs and both will have relatively early picks in the draft. Oakland have gone backwards this year after consecutive 8-8 finishes. The franchise has been giving away draft picks in recent years but they will have their first rounder this year so I am quite interested in seeing what they do with it. I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to trade down to try and get a few extra picks. The Panthers have been disappointing. I expected more from them as they have some good talent on offense but it took them a while to click. They have won three of their last four games and oddly the defeat came against the 2-12, Kansas City Chiefs.
Prediction - The Panthers should have too much for the Raiders.
New England Patriots (10-4) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12)
The Patriots travel to Jacksonville in the penultimate game of the regular season, needing a win to keep themselves in contention for a bye in the first round of the playoffs. It doesn't look good for the Patriots as the Broncos and Texans have favourable schedules to get the job done but two wins from the Pats would at least put the pressure on them. Jacksonville have had another bad year and are only playing for a draft pick now. As things stand they would pick second as the Chiefs have had an easier schedule but it is tight and still subject to change. The match ups are all favourable for New England and the only place Jacksonville could get some joy is against their pass defense. Having said that I can't see the Jaguars passing game being good enough to trouble the Pats. The Pats offense could win this one in the air or on the ground. They are 3rd in passing and 8th in rushing. The Jags defense are 24th against the pass and 32nd against the run so it's hard to see how they will stop New England.
Prediction - The Patriots should be too good.
Minnesota Vikings (8-6) @ Houston Texans (12-2)
On paper this looks like another very good game. The Vikings need the win to keep their playoff hopes alive. It doesn't get much tougher than going to Houston to face the Texans who need the win to secure the top seed in the AFC. The Texans are very good on the ground and rank 5th in the NFL. As good as the Texans running game is, they aren't as good as the Vikings who have been led by Adrian Peterson. Peterson has a chance of breaking the single season rushing yards record. He needs 294 yards in his last two games to break the record but he won't get it easy as the Texans are 5th against the run. We have already saw Calvin Johnson break the receiving yards record but for me, this record would be more impressive. The league has moved more towards a passing league which accommodates receivers but there has never been a tougher time to run the ball than now. Defenses are bigger, stronger and faster than they ever were but this hasn't stopped Peterson and he has took it in his stride and I for one would love to see him break the record.
Prediction - Peterson to get less than 100 yards and the Texans to win easily.
Cleveland Browns (5-9) @ Denver Broncos (11-3)
The Browns travel to Denver to take on Peyton Manning's Broncos in their penultimate game of the season. It has been another mixed year for the Browns. They are 5-9 and won't be in the playoffs but there has been some positives. They picked up good wins against divisional rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers. Rookie running-back, Trent Richardson has also had a good year. He needs just 103 yards to get 1000 yards in his rookie season and he has 11 touchdowns which is a good return. The Broncos have built on last year's divisional win and with Peyton Manning at quarterback, the franchise has gone from strength to strength. If they win their last two games they will get a bye in the first round of the playoffs and will host a game in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Prediction - The Broncos should have too much on offense for the Browns and will go a step closer to that playoff bye.
Chicago Bears (8-6) @ Arizona Cardinals (5-9)
These two both started well but have since suffered huge collapses. The Cardinals were 4-0 but lost nine in a row before beating the Detroit Lions last week. The Bears were 7-1 but have lost five of their last six to drop to 8-6 and as things stand they are outside the wildcard spots. The Bears have a lot of talent but they have been very poor recently and they need a quick turnaround or they will miss the playoffs which seems remarkable after such a good start. The Bears will aim to run the ball with Matt Forte and Michael Bush sharing the load. The Cardinals are very poor against the run so the Bears should be able to have some success in that area. The Bears will also be hoping that receiver, Brandon Marshall is fit to play. He has been struggling with a hamstring injury but they will need to be at full strength in what is a must win game.
Prediction - The Bears will win this one.
New York Giants (8-6) @ Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
Just like the Bears and Cardinals game, this game is also between two teams who have suffered a collapse in form. The Giants were cruising towards another NFC East title at 6-2 but they have gone 2-4 in their last six and the Redskins and the Cowboys have put together winning runs to reach 8-6. The Giants are currently outside the playoff places and this game is must win for them. The Ravens have hit their own slump and have lost their last three in a row. Luckily for them, they had already done enough to guarantee a playoff spot but they are now in serious danger of losing the divisional title and therefore having to start their playoff campaign on the road. I've made no secret of the fact I don't really fancy this Ravens team and think they are not using Ray Rice to his full potential. If they give Rice 20-25 carries a game, he could win them games but it's almost as if Coach Harbaugh is scared to play him and wants to keep him under wraps for the playoffs.
Prediction - It all depends on Harbaugh, if he gives Rice the ball, he will put up big numbers and win the game. If not, Eli will throw the deep bomb and Victor Cruz will catch enough of them to win the game for the Giants. I'm going with the latter and a Giants win.
San Francisco 49ers (10-3-1) @ Seattle Seahawks (9-5)
This game had the potential to be a cracker and it still might be but a little of the edge was taken out of it with the 49ers win in New England last week. It now means that the 49ers can afford to lose this game and as long as they win next week at home to the Cardinals they will win the division. Seattle have been one of the surprises of the season. When they signed free agent quarterback, Matt Flynn from Green Bay, I didn't know what to expect. He had done well in his few appearances in Green Bay but so had Kevin Kolb for Philadelphia and he is far from a good quarterback. I didn't expect the rookie, Russell Wilson to step in and take the starting job and actually do a very good job of it. Wilson has been very good and obviously time will tell how good he really is but he has certainly shown all the signs of being a top player. San Francisco have their own issues at quarterback. I still don't think they have done the right thing by benching Alex Smith in favour of Colin Kaepernick. Smith isn't a great quarterback but he is a better fit than Kaepernick in the 49ers offense. Kaepernick is a totally different style of player and he changes the identity of the team. The 49ers were doing well with Smith and I don't think it was a good idea to change the team's identity midway through the season.
Prediction - I'm going with Russell Wilson and the Seahawks to get the win here.
Friday, 14 December 2012
NFL Week 15 - Preview and Predictions
New York Giants (8-5) @ Atlanta Falcons (11-2)
This game could be the first of two meetings between these sides this year as both look to be playoff bound and they could meet again at some stage in the post season. They met last year in the playoffs and the Giants picked up a dominant win. The Giants seem to have the edge over the Falcons and have won the last four in the series. New York started the season well and looked to be running away with the NFC East but they had a bad run of results which has allowed Washington and Dallas back into the race for the division. The Falcons have guaranteed themselves a playoff place and regardless of Sunday's results will still hold the NFC's number one seed. They have a great record but the performances have been poor in recent weeks and they will need to improve if they want to give Matt Ryan his first victory in a playoff game. Both sides will prioritise the passing game but the Giants have the better backup if they need to resort to their running game.
Prediction - I like this match up for the Giants and think they will get the win.
Green Bay Packers (9-4) @ Chicago Bears (8-5)
I've been looking forward to this one for a while now. Recent results have gone against the Bears but they have a chance to get themselves equal with the Packers on Sunday. A Bears win at Soldier Field would leave both sides at 9-5 with just two games to go. Both sides should win in week 16 which would mean the Packers would have to go to Minnesota in week 17 and win as long as the Bears win in Detroit. A Bears win would be the best result for the neutral and would lead to an exciting finale. If the Packers win it would secure the NFC North and a guaranteed home game in the playoffs. The Bears would be right in the mix of the wildcard race at 8-6 and would have work to do to secure a playoff place. Two of the most important players in this game are listed as questionable. The Bears need Jay Cutler to play but he left last weeks game with a neck injury and might not be available. In most recent meetings between these teams the best player on the field has been Green Bay linebacker, Clay Matthews. Matthews has a hamstring injury and is also doubtful for this game. He would be a big loss for the Packers as he usually spends this game lying on top of Jay Cutler after yet another sack.
Prediction - If Cutler plays and Matthews doesn't the Bears have a chance but I don't think it will work out for the Bears and the Packers will get the win to clinch the division.
Washington Redskins (7-6) @ Cleveland Browns (5-8)
This game will depend on the availability of the Washington Redskins rookie quarterback, Robert Griffin III. RG3 left Sunday's win over the Ravens late on with a knee injury but thankfully it was nothing too serious and he will be back this season, although there are question marks over his status for this game. At present he is listed as questionable and it seems like the decision will be left until Sunday. The Redskins are on a four game winning streakand it has lifted them into the playoff race but they really do need RG3 to be at his best to keep the run going. The Browns are in the middle of their own winning streak and have won three in a row. It's too late for the playoffs but I do think there could be a bright future in Cleveland within the next few years. The Redskins lead the NFL in rushing and should be able to pick up yards against a Browns defense that ranks 18th against the run. The Redskins are good against the run, ranking 8th in the league but they will have their hands full with Trent Richardson. The Redskins big weakness is on pass defense and they rank 31st. The Browns are 18th in passing and can exploit the Redskins in this area.
Prediction - It's very hard to make a call on this one without knowing RG3's status. I suspect he is struggling and if he plays, he won't be at full strength so I'm going for a Browns win.
Minnesota Vikings (7-6) @ St Louis Rams (6-6-1)
The Vikings head to St Louis on Sunday needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Vikings have got themselves into this position thanks to a fantastic season from star running-back, Adrian Peterson. Peterson is just 160 yards away from his career best and with three games remaining he will be looking beyond his personal best and he will be aiming to get as close to the all-time record as he can. The Rams still have an outside chance of the playoffs but they can settle for no less than three wins. Even that probably won't be enough but the Rams will at least try to push their rivals as far as they can. The Vikings are all about the running game and they rank 32nd in passing. Their Rams defense are 13th against the run so I would expect Adrian Peterson to have another big day. The Rams will also try to run the ball and will be hoping Steven Jackson can play. He is listed as probable but will more than likely play.
Prediction - I think Adrian Peterson will lead the Vikings to a big road win and keep their playoff dream alive.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-11) @ Miami Dolphins (5-8)
Miami and Jacksonville meet on Sunday in a game that means little more than local bragging rights and next years draft order. The Jags have had a bad year and will have an early pick in the 2013 draft. The Dolphins were in with a chance of the playoffs but they have hit a bad run and are no longer in contention. They won three in a row which got them to 4-3 for the season but they have won just one of their six games since then and it has killed off their playoff hopes. Both sides are a bit away from being serious contenders and early draft picks should help in the future.
Prediction - The Dolphins should have enough to pick up the win.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7) @ New Orleans Saints (5-8)
This game between two NFC South rivals had the potential to be a cracker a few weeks ago but both teams have hit bad form and neither will be in this years playoffs. Tampa Bay look like a team on the up. I'm a fan of Josh Freeman and after a slow start, he finally found his form. He has linked up well with Vincent Jackson in recent weeks, who on his day, is one of the best receivers in the league. Doug Martin has also had a great year and if he can improve on his rookie season, he will be a huge asset to the Bucs. This season was always going to be tough for the Saints in the aftermath of Bountygate. They have a lot of good players though and I expect them to be competitive again next year. I like the match ups in this one. The Saints are 2nd in passing and the Bucs are 32nd in pass defense. The Bucs are 13th in passing and 12th in rushing. The Saints defense are 30th against the pass and 32nd against the run. The Bucs are 1st against the run and the Saints are 26th in rushing so it looks like the Saints will have to rely on the pass.
Prediction - This game should be high scoring but I think the Bucs are the all round better team and will win.
Denver Broncos (10-3) @ Baltimore Ravens (9-4)
A few weeks ago this looked like a must win game for the Broncos to give themselves an outside chance of a top two seed and a bye in the first round of the playoffs. The Broncos have kept winning and their streak now stands at eight wins in a row. The Ravens have lost their last two games and it leaves them needing a win here to have any chance of getting the number two seed. In my opinion, the Broncos are the real deal. They were a good side last year and won a playoff game before eventually falling to the New England Patriots in the divisional round of the playoffs. They have made a huge upgrade at quarterback by replacing Tim Tebow with Peyton Manning and right now it looks as though it may be the difference between a good team and a potential Superbowl winning team. The Ravens have not impressed me. They are 9-4 but six of those nine wins have been by a touchdown or less. They deserve credit for winning a lot of tight games but they could so easily have gone the other way. The opponents in those tight wins weren't always good sides either, with the Chiefs, the Browns and the Chargers all taking them the distance.
Prediction - The Broncos have a good defense and should find it easier to stop the Ravens than the Ravens will find it to stop Peyton Manning and the Broncos passing game. Denver will win this one.
Indianapolis Colts (9-4) @ Houston Texans (11-2)
This game will go a long way in deciding who will win the AFC South and guarantee themselves at least one home playoff game. A Texans win on Sunday would guarantee the division and would take them a step closer to the AFC's number one seed. The Colts have had a great year and I don't think there was many people outside Indianapolis who predicted they would be 9-4 at this stage of the season. The Colts have embraced new quarterback, Andrew Luck and the team seem to have a great spirit about them which I imagine has come about due to Coach Pagano's illness. Thankfully Pagano is on the mend and he will be delighted that the Colts are doing him proud. The Texans are 11-2 for the year but their form has dropped in recent weeks. They started off very well and were blowing out everything in front of them but they haven't looked as good since their big win over Baltimore in week 7. If the Texans rediscover their early season form they are Superbowl contenders, if not, then they will not get past the Patriots or Broncos in the AFC.
Prediction - The Texans will clinch the division with a win over the Colts.
Seattle Seahawks (8-5) @ Buffalo Bills (5-8)
The Seahawks head to Toronto to face the Buffalo Bills who look like missing out on the playoffs for the 13th year in a row. The Seahawks on the other hand have a great chance of a playoff place and might still be able to win the division. A win here and a 49ers defeat in New England would leave the Seahawks and the 49ers on nine wins each. The teams meet in Seattle next week and the NFC West would be very much up for grabs. The Seahawks have one of the best defenses in the league and their biggest challenge on Sunday will be stopping the Bills running game. The Bills are 6th in rushing and could be even higher if they decided to go with CJ Spiller instead of splitting carries between him and Fred Jackson. Spiller has 6.6 yards per carry and Jackson has 3.8 yards per carry. The Bills defence will also have to deal with a good running game. The Seahawks are 4th in rushing and Marshawn Lynch has been having a great year. He has ran for 1266 yards this season which is 2nd in the league.
Prediction - The Seahawks will take another step closer to the playoffs with a win in Toronto.
Detroit Lions (4-9) @ Arizona Cardinals (4-9)
Arizona have set an NFL record by becoming the first team to lose nine games in a row after a 4-0 start to the season. Things don't look like improving either if last weeks 58-0 defeat in Seattle is anything to go by. Quarterback, Kevin Kolb has been placed on injured reserve and I would be surprised if they win any of their remaining games. The Lions have been a huge disappointment. They have drafted well in recent years and I thought this would be the year that they moved up the next level and became a serious competitor in the NFC. It hasn't materialised though and they are heading towards another top ten draft pick. The Cardinals offense is very poor and the only thing they do well is turnovers. The Lions lead the NFL in passing but when required Mikel Leshoure is capable of carrying the offense. He might have to do it this week as the Cards are 5th in pass defense and 30th in run defense so it may be in the Lions best interests to try to win this one on the ground.
Prediction - The Lions will extend Arizona's misery to ten defeats in a row.
Carolina Panthers (4-9) @ San Diego Chargers (5-8)
Neither of these teams will be in the playoffs this year but they have both shown glimpses of being good teams. They have both lacked the consistency required to be a playoff contender though. The Panthers have had good wins against potential playoff teams, like Washington and Atlanta but defeats to teams like Kansas City has cost them. The Chargers had a big win last week over the Steelers but the damage had already been done with the seven defeats in eight games that went before it. I expect this to be Norv Turner's last year in charge and if the rumours are true, Andy Reid could be heading to San Diego next year.
Prediction - I think the Chargers are a better team if both play to their potential and they will win this one.
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) @ Dallas Cowboys (7-6)
The Steelers and the Cowboys face off in Dallas on Sunday in a game both sides need to win. Both sides are just outside the playoffs as things stand and can't afford many slip ups if they are to push on and clinch a spot in the post season. The Steelers were in the sixth seed in the AFC until the Bengals beat the Eagles in Philadelphia on Thursday. A win would put them back in a playoff spot ahead of a meeting between the two in Pittsburgh next week. The Cowboys are 7-6 and just a game behind the Giants in the NFC East. They are also just one win behind the Bears and Seahawks in the wildcard race. Both sides will look to pass the ball, with the Cowboys ranked 3rd and the Steelers ranked 11th. Pittsburgh's numbers have suffered a little due to Ben Roethlisberger's injury and they should be higher. Both sides also have decent pass defenses, with the Steelers the best in the league and the Cowboys ranked 10th. It promises to be a tight game and neither side will find it easy to get the win.
Prediction - I trust Roethlisberger more than I trust Tony Romo so I will side with the Steelers.
Kansas City Chiefs (2-11) @ Oakland Raiders (3-10)
This battle between the AFC West's weakest teams will play a big part in deciding the order of the 2013 draft. These two will be picking early and as things stand, they would both be picking in the top three. Obviously one of them will pick up a win on Sunday which could change the order but I can't see either of them winning their week 16 or week 17 fixtures so they should still be in the first few picks. I expect the Chiefs to have a good day on the ground. They rank 5th in rushing and the Raiders are 26th on the ground. If the Chiefs can take care of the ball, there's no reason why they can't pick up a win against an Oakland team who have been struggling this year. The Chiefs have the worst record in the league but I don't think they are the worst team in the league. Their numbers are pretty good in all areas except turnovers. They have turned the ball over 33 times this year and their defense has only forced 11 turnovers so their differential stands at -22 which is tied with the Eagles as the worst in the league.
Prediction - I'm going to take a punt on the Chiefs having a turnover free day and getting the win.
San Francisco 49ers (9-3-1) @ New England Patriots (10-3)
The television companies haven't always got it right this year but on this occasion they are bang on the money. This game will be shown nationally on Sunday Night Football and it looks like being an absolute cracker. These two are polar opposites in terms of style. Sometimes it ruins games but on this occasion I think it will make it one not to be missed. The Pats are an explosive offense and although they will try to pass first, they can also give the ball to Stevan Ridley and attack on the ground. The 49ers are a run first offense and rank 2nd in the league behind the Washington Redskins. Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter were doing a good job. Hunter has since gone down with a bad ankle sprain and the 49ers seem to have changed styles in recent weeks. Since Alex Smith got injured against the Rams in week 10, they have gone with Colin Kaepernick at quarterback. He has had his good moments but I don't think he is the man for the job. I believe if it's not broke, don't fix it. The 49ers offense was fine but Kaepernick is a mobile quarterback and the style of play has changed because of it. The 49ers are still run heavy but Kaepernick is taking carries away from Frank Gore and his passing isn't as good as Alex Smith's so in my opinion, the 49ers are worse off because of it.
Prediction - The Patriots will get another comfortable win over a potential Superbowl rival.
This game could be the first of two meetings between these sides this year as both look to be playoff bound and they could meet again at some stage in the post season. They met last year in the playoffs and the Giants picked up a dominant win. The Giants seem to have the edge over the Falcons and have won the last four in the series. New York started the season well and looked to be running away with the NFC East but they had a bad run of results which has allowed Washington and Dallas back into the race for the division. The Falcons have guaranteed themselves a playoff place and regardless of Sunday's results will still hold the NFC's number one seed. They have a great record but the performances have been poor in recent weeks and they will need to improve if they want to give Matt Ryan his first victory in a playoff game. Both sides will prioritise the passing game but the Giants have the better backup if they need to resort to their running game.
Prediction - I like this match up for the Giants and think they will get the win.
Green Bay Packers (9-4) @ Chicago Bears (8-5)
I've been looking forward to this one for a while now. Recent results have gone against the Bears but they have a chance to get themselves equal with the Packers on Sunday. A Bears win at Soldier Field would leave both sides at 9-5 with just two games to go. Both sides should win in week 16 which would mean the Packers would have to go to Minnesota in week 17 and win as long as the Bears win in Detroit. A Bears win would be the best result for the neutral and would lead to an exciting finale. If the Packers win it would secure the NFC North and a guaranteed home game in the playoffs. The Bears would be right in the mix of the wildcard race at 8-6 and would have work to do to secure a playoff place. Two of the most important players in this game are listed as questionable. The Bears need Jay Cutler to play but he left last weeks game with a neck injury and might not be available. In most recent meetings between these teams the best player on the field has been Green Bay linebacker, Clay Matthews. Matthews has a hamstring injury and is also doubtful for this game. He would be a big loss for the Packers as he usually spends this game lying on top of Jay Cutler after yet another sack.
Prediction - If Cutler plays and Matthews doesn't the Bears have a chance but I don't think it will work out for the Bears and the Packers will get the win to clinch the division.
Washington Redskins (7-6) @ Cleveland Browns (5-8)
This game will depend on the availability of the Washington Redskins rookie quarterback, Robert Griffin III. RG3 left Sunday's win over the Ravens late on with a knee injury but thankfully it was nothing too serious and he will be back this season, although there are question marks over his status for this game. At present he is listed as questionable and it seems like the decision will be left until Sunday. The Redskins are on a four game winning streakand it has lifted them into the playoff race but they really do need RG3 to be at his best to keep the run going. The Browns are in the middle of their own winning streak and have won three in a row. It's too late for the playoffs but I do think there could be a bright future in Cleveland within the next few years. The Redskins lead the NFL in rushing and should be able to pick up yards against a Browns defense that ranks 18th against the run. The Redskins are good against the run, ranking 8th in the league but they will have their hands full with Trent Richardson. The Redskins big weakness is on pass defense and they rank 31st. The Browns are 18th in passing and can exploit the Redskins in this area.
Prediction - It's very hard to make a call on this one without knowing RG3's status. I suspect he is struggling and if he plays, he won't be at full strength so I'm going for a Browns win.
Minnesota Vikings (7-6) @ St Louis Rams (6-6-1)
The Vikings head to St Louis on Sunday needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Vikings have got themselves into this position thanks to a fantastic season from star running-back, Adrian Peterson. Peterson is just 160 yards away from his career best and with three games remaining he will be looking beyond his personal best and he will be aiming to get as close to the all-time record as he can. The Rams still have an outside chance of the playoffs but they can settle for no less than three wins. Even that probably won't be enough but the Rams will at least try to push their rivals as far as they can. The Vikings are all about the running game and they rank 32nd in passing. Their Rams defense are 13th against the run so I would expect Adrian Peterson to have another big day. The Rams will also try to run the ball and will be hoping Steven Jackson can play. He is listed as probable but will more than likely play.
Prediction - I think Adrian Peterson will lead the Vikings to a big road win and keep their playoff dream alive.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-11) @ Miami Dolphins (5-8)
Miami and Jacksonville meet on Sunday in a game that means little more than local bragging rights and next years draft order. The Jags have had a bad year and will have an early pick in the 2013 draft. The Dolphins were in with a chance of the playoffs but they have hit a bad run and are no longer in contention. They won three in a row which got them to 4-3 for the season but they have won just one of their six games since then and it has killed off their playoff hopes. Both sides are a bit away from being serious contenders and early draft picks should help in the future.
Prediction - The Dolphins should have enough to pick up the win.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7) @ New Orleans Saints (5-8)
This game between two NFC South rivals had the potential to be a cracker a few weeks ago but both teams have hit bad form and neither will be in this years playoffs. Tampa Bay look like a team on the up. I'm a fan of Josh Freeman and after a slow start, he finally found his form. He has linked up well with Vincent Jackson in recent weeks, who on his day, is one of the best receivers in the league. Doug Martin has also had a great year and if he can improve on his rookie season, he will be a huge asset to the Bucs. This season was always going to be tough for the Saints in the aftermath of Bountygate. They have a lot of good players though and I expect them to be competitive again next year. I like the match ups in this one. The Saints are 2nd in passing and the Bucs are 32nd in pass defense. The Bucs are 13th in passing and 12th in rushing. The Saints defense are 30th against the pass and 32nd against the run. The Bucs are 1st against the run and the Saints are 26th in rushing so it looks like the Saints will have to rely on the pass.
Prediction - This game should be high scoring but I think the Bucs are the all round better team and will win.
Denver Broncos (10-3) @ Baltimore Ravens (9-4)
A few weeks ago this looked like a must win game for the Broncos to give themselves an outside chance of a top two seed and a bye in the first round of the playoffs. The Broncos have kept winning and their streak now stands at eight wins in a row. The Ravens have lost their last two games and it leaves them needing a win here to have any chance of getting the number two seed. In my opinion, the Broncos are the real deal. They were a good side last year and won a playoff game before eventually falling to the New England Patriots in the divisional round of the playoffs. They have made a huge upgrade at quarterback by replacing Tim Tebow with Peyton Manning and right now it looks as though it may be the difference between a good team and a potential Superbowl winning team. The Ravens have not impressed me. They are 9-4 but six of those nine wins have been by a touchdown or less. They deserve credit for winning a lot of tight games but they could so easily have gone the other way. The opponents in those tight wins weren't always good sides either, with the Chiefs, the Browns and the Chargers all taking them the distance.
Prediction - The Broncos have a good defense and should find it easier to stop the Ravens than the Ravens will find it to stop Peyton Manning and the Broncos passing game. Denver will win this one.
Indianapolis Colts (9-4) @ Houston Texans (11-2)
This game will go a long way in deciding who will win the AFC South and guarantee themselves at least one home playoff game. A Texans win on Sunday would guarantee the division and would take them a step closer to the AFC's number one seed. The Colts have had a great year and I don't think there was many people outside Indianapolis who predicted they would be 9-4 at this stage of the season. The Colts have embraced new quarterback, Andrew Luck and the team seem to have a great spirit about them which I imagine has come about due to Coach Pagano's illness. Thankfully Pagano is on the mend and he will be delighted that the Colts are doing him proud. The Texans are 11-2 for the year but their form has dropped in recent weeks. They started off very well and were blowing out everything in front of them but they haven't looked as good since their big win over Baltimore in week 7. If the Texans rediscover their early season form they are Superbowl contenders, if not, then they will not get past the Patriots or Broncos in the AFC.
Prediction - The Texans will clinch the division with a win over the Colts.
Seattle Seahawks (8-5) @ Buffalo Bills (5-8)
The Seahawks head to Toronto to face the Buffalo Bills who look like missing out on the playoffs for the 13th year in a row. The Seahawks on the other hand have a great chance of a playoff place and might still be able to win the division. A win here and a 49ers defeat in New England would leave the Seahawks and the 49ers on nine wins each. The teams meet in Seattle next week and the NFC West would be very much up for grabs. The Seahawks have one of the best defenses in the league and their biggest challenge on Sunday will be stopping the Bills running game. The Bills are 6th in rushing and could be even higher if they decided to go with CJ Spiller instead of splitting carries between him and Fred Jackson. Spiller has 6.6 yards per carry and Jackson has 3.8 yards per carry. The Bills defence will also have to deal with a good running game. The Seahawks are 4th in rushing and Marshawn Lynch has been having a great year. He has ran for 1266 yards this season which is 2nd in the league.
Prediction - The Seahawks will take another step closer to the playoffs with a win in Toronto.
Detroit Lions (4-9) @ Arizona Cardinals (4-9)
Arizona have set an NFL record by becoming the first team to lose nine games in a row after a 4-0 start to the season. Things don't look like improving either if last weeks 58-0 defeat in Seattle is anything to go by. Quarterback, Kevin Kolb has been placed on injured reserve and I would be surprised if they win any of their remaining games. The Lions have been a huge disappointment. They have drafted well in recent years and I thought this would be the year that they moved up the next level and became a serious competitor in the NFC. It hasn't materialised though and they are heading towards another top ten draft pick. The Cardinals offense is very poor and the only thing they do well is turnovers. The Lions lead the NFL in passing but when required Mikel Leshoure is capable of carrying the offense. He might have to do it this week as the Cards are 5th in pass defense and 30th in run defense so it may be in the Lions best interests to try to win this one on the ground.
Prediction - The Lions will extend Arizona's misery to ten defeats in a row.
Carolina Panthers (4-9) @ San Diego Chargers (5-8)
Neither of these teams will be in the playoffs this year but they have both shown glimpses of being good teams. They have both lacked the consistency required to be a playoff contender though. The Panthers have had good wins against potential playoff teams, like Washington and Atlanta but defeats to teams like Kansas City has cost them. The Chargers had a big win last week over the Steelers but the damage had already been done with the seven defeats in eight games that went before it. I expect this to be Norv Turner's last year in charge and if the rumours are true, Andy Reid could be heading to San Diego next year.
Prediction - I think the Chargers are a better team if both play to their potential and they will win this one.
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) @ Dallas Cowboys (7-6)
The Steelers and the Cowboys face off in Dallas on Sunday in a game both sides need to win. Both sides are just outside the playoffs as things stand and can't afford many slip ups if they are to push on and clinch a spot in the post season. The Steelers were in the sixth seed in the AFC until the Bengals beat the Eagles in Philadelphia on Thursday. A win would put them back in a playoff spot ahead of a meeting between the two in Pittsburgh next week. The Cowboys are 7-6 and just a game behind the Giants in the NFC East. They are also just one win behind the Bears and Seahawks in the wildcard race. Both sides will look to pass the ball, with the Cowboys ranked 3rd and the Steelers ranked 11th. Pittsburgh's numbers have suffered a little due to Ben Roethlisberger's injury and they should be higher. Both sides also have decent pass defenses, with the Steelers the best in the league and the Cowboys ranked 10th. It promises to be a tight game and neither side will find it easy to get the win.
Prediction - I trust Roethlisberger more than I trust Tony Romo so I will side with the Steelers.
Kansas City Chiefs (2-11) @ Oakland Raiders (3-10)
This battle between the AFC West's weakest teams will play a big part in deciding the order of the 2013 draft. These two will be picking early and as things stand, they would both be picking in the top three. Obviously one of them will pick up a win on Sunday which could change the order but I can't see either of them winning their week 16 or week 17 fixtures so they should still be in the first few picks. I expect the Chiefs to have a good day on the ground. They rank 5th in rushing and the Raiders are 26th on the ground. If the Chiefs can take care of the ball, there's no reason why they can't pick up a win against an Oakland team who have been struggling this year. The Chiefs have the worst record in the league but I don't think they are the worst team in the league. Their numbers are pretty good in all areas except turnovers. They have turned the ball over 33 times this year and their defense has only forced 11 turnovers so their differential stands at -22 which is tied with the Eagles as the worst in the league.
Prediction - I'm going to take a punt on the Chiefs having a turnover free day and getting the win.
San Francisco 49ers (9-3-1) @ New England Patriots (10-3)
The television companies haven't always got it right this year but on this occasion they are bang on the money. This game will be shown nationally on Sunday Night Football and it looks like being an absolute cracker. These two are polar opposites in terms of style. Sometimes it ruins games but on this occasion I think it will make it one not to be missed. The Pats are an explosive offense and although they will try to pass first, they can also give the ball to Stevan Ridley and attack on the ground. The 49ers are a run first offense and rank 2nd in the league behind the Washington Redskins. Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter were doing a good job. Hunter has since gone down with a bad ankle sprain and the 49ers seem to have changed styles in recent weeks. Since Alex Smith got injured against the Rams in week 10, they have gone with Colin Kaepernick at quarterback. He has had his good moments but I don't think he is the man for the job. I believe if it's not broke, don't fix it. The 49ers offense was fine but Kaepernick is a mobile quarterback and the style of play has changed because of it. The 49ers are still run heavy but Kaepernick is taking carries away from Frank Gore and his passing isn't as good as Alex Smith's so in my opinion, the 49ers are worse off because of it.
Prediction - The Patriots will get another comfortable win over a potential Superbowl rival.
Thursday, 13 December 2012
Thursday Night Football - Cincinnati Bengals (7-6) @ Philadelphia Eagles (4-9)
Thursday Night Football see's the Cincinnati Bengals head to Philadelphia to face the Eagles. The Bengals need a win to keep themselves in the playoff race. They are level with the Steelers at 7-6 and the likely hood is one of them will enter the playoffs as the AFC's sixth seed. Philadelphia have had a bad year and are out of the playoffs already but the players will be on a high after picking up a good win in Tampa Bay on Sunday.
The Bengals have had a very up and down year. They started well, winning three of their first four games. They followed that 3-1 start with four straight defeats and just when they looked to be done for the year, they went on a four game winning streak. That got them to 7-5 and right back in the playoff hunt. They suffered a last gasp defeat to the Cowboys on Sunday to stand at 7-6 as things stand.
The main reason for the success has been the form of receiver, AJ Green. Green is an elite receiver and has been having a great year. He has caught 79 passes for 1151 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 10 touchdown catches leads the NFL. Green has linked up perfectly with quarterback, Andy Dalton. Both were drafted last year and they have developed a great understanding and the Bengals are reaping the rewards. I liked Dalton in college and personally believe he was underrated. Dalton was the fifth quarterback to be taken in the 2011 draft, coming behind Cam Newton, Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder. I would be fairly confident in saying that Andy Dalton will go on to have a better NFL career than any of those.
Another reason for the success, particularly the recent four game winning streak, has been the form of BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Green-Ellis has 974 rushing yards this season and should pass 1000 yards for the season in tonight's game. He started off slowly but has picked up in recent weeks with four straight games of at least 100 yards from scrimmage. The Bengals are no slouches on defense either and have restricted their opponents to less than twenty points on six occasions. They are a franchise on the up and as their young players continue to improve, they should be competing in the AFC for the next few years.
As I've already said the Eagles have been having a bad year. It's difficult to put a finger on what has gone wrong but it has been an absolute disgrace of a season. It began ok with a 3-1 start but two tight losses before the bye week left the Eagles at 3-3. I wasn't happy with the loss against the Lions but other than, we were more or less where I expected us to be. I was particularly pleased with the wins over the Ravens and the Giants. The biggest problem was our offense. We were averaging just 17 points per game which is nowhere near good enough.
Andy Reid had a look at things on the bye week and in his wisdom decided that the defensive coordinator, Juan Castillo, was the problem and he would have to go. Personally, I would have said the defense was the only thing that was working. They were conceding points late in the game but I would put that down to tiredness as they were spending 35-40 minutes per game on the field due to the failures of the incompetent offense. Up to that point the defense was conceding 20.83 points per game. In the seven games since then we have conceded at least 21 points in every game. In those seven game we are conceding an average of 30.86 points per game. Personally I would say that's enough evidence to show that Andy Reid doesn't have a clue what he's doing.
The offense have turned a bit of a corner but even that has nothing to do with Andy Reid. He was forced to change things when Michael Vick got injured and his replacement, Nick Foles has began to get a bit more out of the offense. He had a slow start but has been improving gradually and as far as I'm concerned, he's the future of the Philadelphia Eagles. I've made no secret of the fact that I'm not a fan of Andy Reid and believe we are at the end of his time in Philadelphia. His position is untenable and it is time for the franchise to go in a different direction. I fully believe he will leave once the season is over and I look forward to finding out who the new head coach will be.
The match ups in this game are extremely tight. The teams are similarly linked in every category and there are no obvious areas were either side will have an advantage. The biggest difference between these sides has been the turnover differential. The Bengals are sitting at 0, with 21 takeaways and 21 giveaways. The Eagles however are -19, with 29 giveaways and just 10 takeaways. It underlines the importance of taking care of the football in the NFL and those turnovers are the difference in a potential playoff team and an early draft pick.
Prediction - I actually believe the Eagles will win this one. Andy Reid is good at two things, failure and winning games when you are playing for nothing other than draft picks.
Monday, 10 December 2012
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.
Sunday, 9 December 2012
NFL Week 14 Preview and Predictions
St Louis Rams (5-6-1) @ Buffalo Bills (5-7)
The winner of this game will still have a slim chance of making the post season but for the loser, it will be the end of their playoff hopes. Both sides are in that bracket were they are close to being .500 teams and a run of four wins would give them a chance of the playoffs but 3-1 would most likely not be good enough. Neither side has a good passing game and the Rams rank 22nd in the NFL. The Bills are even worse and rank 26th. The Bills big strength is their running game. They are averaging 148 yards per game and they rank 4th in the league. The Rams are also better on the ground and rank 13th. It looks as though this game will be decided by the rushers. Of the defenses, St Louis are better against the run but the Bills have improved a lot in recent weeks and should be able to restrict Steven Jackson.
Prediction - Home advantage and the improvement in the Bills run defense, makes me side with them for the win.
Dallas Cowboys (6-6) @ Cincinnati Bengals (7-5)
These two are right in the middle of the playoff race and the winners of this game will receive a boost to their hopes of clinching a wildcard spot. The losers will find themselves in a difficult situation. They will still be outside the wildcard places and have just three games left to put together a playoff push. The Cowboys are a pass heavy offense. They are 2nd in passing and 29th in rushing. The Bengals have a much more balanced offense. They are 13th in passing and 14th in rushing. The running game has improved in recent weeks and BenJarvus Green-Ellis has been very impressive. He has ran for over 100 yards in three consecutive games and is providing a dual threat to opposing defenses which means defenses can't always concentrate on covering AJ Green. Defensively there's not much between the sides. Neither could be described as a shut down defense but they are both strong enough and have no glaring weaknesses. The game will most likely be high scoring and could turn into a shootout.
Prediction - I think the Bengals have more options on offense and I trust Dalton more than Tony Romo not to lose the game for his team. Bengals win.
Kansas City Chiefs (2-10) @ Cleveland Browns (4-8)
The Chiefs got their second win of the season last week in a game that was full of emotion after the tragic events of last Saturday. The Chiefs players deserve a lot of credit for being able to take the field last Sunday and they some how managed to compose themselves enough to win the game. This game also sees a few former Browns returning to Cleveland for the first time. Peyton Hillis, Brady Quinn and Romeo Crennell all return to their former team and it will be interesting to see what kind of reception they get. I imagine it won't be anything like the reception LeBron James got after his move to Miami. The Chiefs have a good running game, ranking 5th in the NFL. The Browns aren't great on offense, ranking 20th in passing and 25th in rushing. On defense the Chiefs are poor against the run and rank 26th in the league. The Browns are 16th against the run and should be able to make things tough for Jamaal Charles.
Prediction - Tough one to call and it will come down to whoever takes care of the football. I'll side with the Browns.
Tennessee Titans (4-8) @ Indianapolis Colts (8-4)
While Robert Griffin III is getting all the headlines, Andrew Luck is quietly going about things in Indianapolis and setting new records for a rookie quarterback. He has already beat Peyton Manning's record for 300 yard passing games as a rookie and he has more wins than any quarterback who was a number one draft pick. Luck looks like a special player and although he isn't as exciting as RG3, he looks like the quarterback more likely to win a title. The Titans won't be in the playoffs this year but I've no doubt they'll still put everything into this game so they might stop the Colts reaching the playoffs too. The Colts are 5th in passing and 18th in rushing. The Titans defense is poor and is ranked 25th against the pass and 27th against the run. The Titans will look to run the ball and Chris Johnson has the potential to win games on his own. He had a reasonable game the first time round, picking up 117 yards from scrimmage. The Colts defense will have to contain him and if they do it should be a routine victory.
Prediction - The Colts should win this one.
Chicago Bears (8-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (6-6)
This is a huge game in the NFC North and it will have big playoff implications. The Bears are currently in the wildcard places but they are tied with Green Bay for the lead in the division and the two meet again in week 15. The Vikings have done well to get themselves into this position but there's not much room for error at this point. They are one of four teams at 6-6 in the NFC and they trail Seattle (7-5) and Chicago (8-4) for the wildcard spots. To have any chance of the playoffs they will need to get to 9 wins and even that probably won't be enough. The Vikings will be looking for Adrian Peterson to have a big day. Peterson is on pace for a career year which is remarkable considering he tore his ACL and MCL less than a year ago. He is a medical marvel but he will have to be at his best to pick up yards against this Bears defense.
Prediction - I sense a spanner in the works of the NFC North playoff race with a Vikings win here.
San Diego Chargers (4-8) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5)
The Steelers picked up a huge win last weekend without Ben Roethlisberger to keep their playoff hopes alive and now the big man is back, the Steelers can put together a serious run for the AFC title. They were in great form before the injury and have managed to keep themselves in the race so I expect them to do enough to guarantee themselves a playoff spot. The Chargers have had yet another bad year and there has been a lot of rumours going around that they will finally fire Norv Turner at the end of the year. Turner had a good team in San Diego but they have definitely underachieved in his time as head coach. The Steelers were a top ten passing offense until Roethlisberger's injury and they should be able to get back to that level. The running game has been hit and miss this season and the Chargers are 7th against the run so the game will be in Roethlisberger's hands. The Chargers have been poor offensively, averaging just 322 yards per game. I can't see them breaking out offensively against the Steelers defense so they will have a tough day ahead of them.
Prediction - The Steelers should win this one.
Philadelphia Eagles (3-9) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6)
The Philadelphia Eagles take their lack of effort and sub par performances to Tampa Bay this week. The Bucs are still in with a chance in the NFC but they are running out of time and need to be winning this one. The wildcard race in the NFC is very tight and one of five teams could clinch that sixth seed. The Bucs are in with a chance of getting it but with trips to New Orleans and Atlanta still to come, it looks like being a big ask. As an Eagles fan I am feeling a bit of apathy towards the team this year. It's hard to put a finger on what happened when it could be so many things. The season has been a disaster and I'm ready for an off season which will hopefully see a lot of change. 2013 is going to be our year... Truthfully, even I don't believe that. The way this season has gone, I can't see how the Eagles are going to stop Doug Martin and Vincent Jackson. The defense can't seem to stop anyone and it's hard to see how they will stop players as good as these pair.
Prediction - Bucs win.
Baltimore Ravens (9-3) @ Washington Redskins (6-6)
This game looks like being a cracker and could be one of the games of the year. The Ravens have lost their number two seed in the AFC after last weeks loss to the Steelers. The Redskins have been a different team after their bye week and sit on the edge of a playoff place. They went into the bye at 3-6 but have won their last three to reach 6-6. Robert Griffin III has been excellent and he has been supported by Alfred Morris who is also having a great rookie year. The Redskins are the leading rushers in the league and the Ravens will find it tough to contain them. The Ravens are 23rd in run defense and will have to do something different to stop the Redskins on the ground. The Redskins are 31st in pass defense and the game will hinge on what Joe Flacco shows up.
Prediction - I think the Redskins will get the win here and continue their push to the playoffs.
Atlanta Falcons (11-1) @ Carolina Panthers (3-9)
The Falcons face a tough trip to Carolina to face the Panthers. The Panthers very very unlucky in week 4 and it took a field goal with just five seconds left to win the game for the Falcons. The Falcons defense struggled with the Panthers rushers. Carolina ran for 199 yards in that game. In the end Matt Ryan was able to lead the Falcons to a win but I expect they will face another tough game this week. The Falcons can afford a few slip ups as they are well clear in the NFC and have a 2.5 win lead over the 49ers in second. This match should be tight and if the Panthers can look after the football, they will have every chance of winning this game against their NFC South rivals.
Prediction - I think the Panthers will get the upset victory here.
New York Jets (5-7) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10)
I've always had my suspicions about Rex Ryan. Some of the pre and post match interviews gave me an idea but it is official, Rex Ryan is completely insane. Just one week after he showed signs of clear thinking by benching him, he has lost the plot completely and decided to stick with Mark Sanchez. When the Jets finally decide to cut Sanchez he won't get another team and will go and talk to Jamarcus Russell about their glittering college careers and how they made millions from their brief NFL careers for not really doing anything. It might be harsh but I just don't think Sanchez is the answer and any success the Jets had in recent years was more to do with the defense. The match up looks like it will come down to the Jets running game against the Jags run defense. Shonn Greene has been having a decent year and he could lead the Jets to the win here.
Prediction - This is a tough one, neither side have had a good year but I think Shonn Greene will be the difference and lead the Jets to the win.
Miami Dolphins (5-7) @ San Francisco 49ers (8-3-1)
These two have had a few good battles over the years as two of the NFL's most celebrated franchises but on this occasion, it looks as though only one of them is a serious contender. The 49ers currently hold the number two seed in the NFC playoff race and another few wins will guarantee their playoff spot. I will be watching the performance of Colin Kaepernick very closely. There has been a bit of a mixed bag from him since he replaced Alex Smith and a lot of people are questioning whether it was a wise move to start a quarterback controversy at a team who had a great chance of a title. The Dolphins are 5-7 and still have an outside chance of the playoffs but even four wins might not be enough. Both teams will look to run the ball and both have good run defenses. It looks as though this game will be low scoring and come down to Frank Gore v Reggie Bush.
Prediction - Gore v Bush? It has to be Gore for me, 49ers win.
New Orleans Saints (5-7) @ New York Giants (7-5)
This should be another great game and it's must win time for both sides. The Saints need four wins to give themselves any chance of a playoff spot and the Giants have dragged themselves down into a race for the NFC East with just one win in their last four. Both teams can be explosive but they can also be terrible too. The game will be pass heavy with New Orleans 3rd in passing and the Giants are 9th. Neither side are good on pass defense with the Saints ranked 30th and the Giants ranked 22nd. This game will be high scoring and could come down to turnovers or who has the last possession. Eli Manning and Drew Brees are similar in the fact they can both single handedly win games and single handedly lose games. For me Brees is the better quarterback and that could be the difference here.
Prediction - I think the Saints can win this one.
Arizona Cardinals (4-8) @ Seattle Seahawks (7-5)
The Arizona Cardinals must be close to a record for the worst turnaround in a season in NFL history. After a 4-0 start they have now lost eight in a row to reach 4-8. Many teams before them have suffered a drop in form but the Cardinals have took that to a new level. They almost ended the run last week but once Rex Ryan benched Sanchez, the comeback was on. The Seahawks will be feeling very good about their chances after last weeks road win over the Chicago Bears. They now return to Seattle to defend their unbeaten home record against a struggling divisional rival. The Seahawks have been led in recent weeks by rookie quarterback, Russell Wilson. Wilson has had a good year, quietly going about his business and getting the job done. I have criticised him in the past but he is showing good form and if he keeps it up he should take the Seahawks into the playoffs.
Prediction - The Seahawks have to win this one.
Detroit Lions (4-8) @ Green Bay Packers (8-4)
At the start of the season I expected this game to be a battle between two sides looking to win the NFC North. I was half right and the Packers are right in the middle of the battle to win the division but I was way out with the Detroit Lions. The Lions have been poor and although there has been some good flashes, they simply haven't got the wins on the board. Green Bay don't look as good as they did last season but they should make the playoffs and once they get there they are capable of beating any team in the league. Aaron Rodgers has taken a lot of punishment this season and the Packers need to protect him better so he can do what he does best and win football games. This game will be pass heavy and should be a high scoring affair.
Prediction - It looks like a shootout between Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford and for me, there's only one winner. Green Bay Packers to win.
The winner of this game will still have a slim chance of making the post season but for the loser, it will be the end of their playoff hopes. Both sides are in that bracket were they are close to being .500 teams and a run of four wins would give them a chance of the playoffs but 3-1 would most likely not be good enough. Neither side has a good passing game and the Rams rank 22nd in the NFL. The Bills are even worse and rank 26th. The Bills big strength is their running game. They are averaging 148 yards per game and they rank 4th in the league. The Rams are also better on the ground and rank 13th. It looks as though this game will be decided by the rushers. Of the defenses, St Louis are better against the run but the Bills have improved a lot in recent weeks and should be able to restrict Steven Jackson.
Prediction - Home advantage and the improvement in the Bills run defense, makes me side with them for the win.
Dallas Cowboys (6-6) @ Cincinnati Bengals (7-5)
These two are right in the middle of the playoff race and the winners of this game will receive a boost to their hopes of clinching a wildcard spot. The losers will find themselves in a difficult situation. They will still be outside the wildcard places and have just three games left to put together a playoff push. The Cowboys are a pass heavy offense. They are 2nd in passing and 29th in rushing. The Bengals have a much more balanced offense. They are 13th in passing and 14th in rushing. The running game has improved in recent weeks and BenJarvus Green-Ellis has been very impressive. He has ran for over 100 yards in three consecutive games and is providing a dual threat to opposing defenses which means defenses can't always concentrate on covering AJ Green. Defensively there's not much between the sides. Neither could be described as a shut down defense but they are both strong enough and have no glaring weaknesses. The game will most likely be high scoring and could turn into a shootout.
Prediction - I think the Bengals have more options on offense and I trust Dalton more than Tony Romo not to lose the game for his team. Bengals win.
Kansas City Chiefs (2-10) @ Cleveland Browns (4-8)
The Chiefs got their second win of the season last week in a game that was full of emotion after the tragic events of last Saturday. The Chiefs players deserve a lot of credit for being able to take the field last Sunday and they some how managed to compose themselves enough to win the game. This game also sees a few former Browns returning to Cleveland for the first time. Peyton Hillis, Brady Quinn and Romeo Crennell all return to their former team and it will be interesting to see what kind of reception they get. I imagine it won't be anything like the reception LeBron James got after his move to Miami. The Chiefs have a good running game, ranking 5th in the NFL. The Browns aren't great on offense, ranking 20th in passing and 25th in rushing. On defense the Chiefs are poor against the run and rank 26th in the league. The Browns are 16th against the run and should be able to make things tough for Jamaal Charles.
Prediction - Tough one to call and it will come down to whoever takes care of the football. I'll side with the Browns.
Tennessee Titans (4-8) @ Indianapolis Colts (8-4)
While Robert Griffin III is getting all the headlines, Andrew Luck is quietly going about things in Indianapolis and setting new records for a rookie quarterback. He has already beat Peyton Manning's record for 300 yard passing games as a rookie and he has more wins than any quarterback who was a number one draft pick. Luck looks like a special player and although he isn't as exciting as RG3, he looks like the quarterback more likely to win a title. The Titans won't be in the playoffs this year but I've no doubt they'll still put everything into this game so they might stop the Colts reaching the playoffs too. The Colts are 5th in passing and 18th in rushing. The Titans defense is poor and is ranked 25th against the pass and 27th against the run. The Titans will look to run the ball and Chris Johnson has the potential to win games on his own. He had a reasonable game the first time round, picking up 117 yards from scrimmage. The Colts defense will have to contain him and if they do it should be a routine victory.
Prediction - The Colts should win this one.
Chicago Bears (8-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (6-6)
This is a huge game in the NFC North and it will have big playoff implications. The Bears are currently in the wildcard places but they are tied with Green Bay for the lead in the division and the two meet again in week 15. The Vikings have done well to get themselves into this position but there's not much room for error at this point. They are one of four teams at 6-6 in the NFC and they trail Seattle (7-5) and Chicago (8-4) for the wildcard spots. To have any chance of the playoffs they will need to get to 9 wins and even that probably won't be enough. The Vikings will be looking for Adrian Peterson to have a big day. Peterson is on pace for a career year which is remarkable considering he tore his ACL and MCL less than a year ago. He is a medical marvel but he will have to be at his best to pick up yards against this Bears defense.
Prediction - I sense a spanner in the works of the NFC North playoff race with a Vikings win here.
San Diego Chargers (4-8) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5)
The Steelers picked up a huge win last weekend without Ben Roethlisberger to keep their playoff hopes alive and now the big man is back, the Steelers can put together a serious run for the AFC title. They were in great form before the injury and have managed to keep themselves in the race so I expect them to do enough to guarantee themselves a playoff spot. The Chargers have had yet another bad year and there has been a lot of rumours going around that they will finally fire Norv Turner at the end of the year. Turner had a good team in San Diego but they have definitely underachieved in his time as head coach. The Steelers were a top ten passing offense until Roethlisberger's injury and they should be able to get back to that level. The running game has been hit and miss this season and the Chargers are 7th against the run so the game will be in Roethlisberger's hands. The Chargers have been poor offensively, averaging just 322 yards per game. I can't see them breaking out offensively against the Steelers defense so they will have a tough day ahead of them.
Prediction - The Steelers should win this one.
Philadelphia Eagles (3-9) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6)
The Philadelphia Eagles take their lack of effort and sub par performances to Tampa Bay this week. The Bucs are still in with a chance in the NFC but they are running out of time and need to be winning this one. The wildcard race in the NFC is very tight and one of five teams could clinch that sixth seed. The Bucs are in with a chance of getting it but with trips to New Orleans and Atlanta still to come, it looks like being a big ask. As an Eagles fan I am feeling a bit of apathy towards the team this year. It's hard to put a finger on what happened when it could be so many things. The season has been a disaster and I'm ready for an off season which will hopefully see a lot of change. 2013 is going to be our year... Truthfully, even I don't believe that. The way this season has gone, I can't see how the Eagles are going to stop Doug Martin and Vincent Jackson. The defense can't seem to stop anyone and it's hard to see how they will stop players as good as these pair.
Prediction - Bucs win.
Baltimore Ravens (9-3) @ Washington Redskins (6-6)
This game looks like being a cracker and could be one of the games of the year. The Ravens have lost their number two seed in the AFC after last weeks loss to the Steelers. The Redskins have been a different team after their bye week and sit on the edge of a playoff place. They went into the bye at 3-6 but have won their last three to reach 6-6. Robert Griffin III has been excellent and he has been supported by Alfred Morris who is also having a great rookie year. The Redskins are the leading rushers in the league and the Ravens will find it tough to contain them. The Ravens are 23rd in run defense and will have to do something different to stop the Redskins on the ground. The Redskins are 31st in pass defense and the game will hinge on what Joe Flacco shows up.
Prediction - I think the Redskins will get the win here and continue their push to the playoffs.
Atlanta Falcons (11-1) @ Carolina Panthers (3-9)
The Falcons face a tough trip to Carolina to face the Panthers. The Panthers very very unlucky in week 4 and it took a field goal with just five seconds left to win the game for the Falcons. The Falcons defense struggled with the Panthers rushers. Carolina ran for 199 yards in that game. In the end Matt Ryan was able to lead the Falcons to a win but I expect they will face another tough game this week. The Falcons can afford a few slip ups as they are well clear in the NFC and have a 2.5 win lead over the 49ers in second. This match should be tight and if the Panthers can look after the football, they will have every chance of winning this game against their NFC South rivals.
Prediction - I think the Panthers will get the upset victory here.
New York Jets (5-7) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10)
I've always had my suspicions about Rex Ryan. Some of the pre and post match interviews gave me an idea but it is official, Rex Ryan is completely insane. Just one week after he showed signs of clear thinking by benching him, he has lost the plot completely and decided to stick with Mark Sanchez. When the Jets finally decide to cut Sanchez he won't get another team and will go and talk to Jamarcus Russell about their glittering college careers and how they made millions from their brief NFL careers for not really doing anything. It might be harsh but I just don't think Sanchez is the answer and any success the Jets had in recent years was more to do with the defense. The match up looks like it will come down to the Jets running game against the Jags run defense. Shonn Greene has been having a decent year and he could lead the Jets to the win here.
Prediction - This is a tough one, neither side have had a good year but I think Shonn Greene will be the difference and lead the Jets to the win.
Miami Dolphins (5-7) @ San Francisco 49ers (8-3-1)
These two have had a few good battles over the years as two of the NFL's most celebrated franchises but on this occasion, it looks as though only one of them is a serious contender. The 49ers currently hold the number two seed in the NFC playoff race and another few wins will guarantee their playoff spot. I will be watching the performance of Colin Kaepernick very closely. There has been a bit of a mixed bag from him since he replaced Alex Smith and a lot of people are questioning whether it was a wise move to start a quarterback controversy at a team who had a great chance of a title. The Dolphins are 5-7 and still have an outside chance of the playoffs but even four wins might not be enough. Both teams will look to run the ball and both have good run defenses. It looks as though this game will be low scoring and come down to Frank Gore v Reggie Bush.
Prediction - Gore v Bush? It has to be Gore for me, 49ers win.
New Orleans Saints (5-7) @ New York Giants (7-5)
This should be another great game and it's must win time for both sides. The Saints need four wins to give themselves any chance of a playoff spot and the Giants have dragged themselves down into a race for the NFC East with just one win in their last four. Both teams can be explosive but they can also be terrible too. The game will be pass heavy with New Orleans 3rd in passing and the Giants are 9th. Neither side are good on pass defense with the Saints ranked 30th and the Giants ranked 22nd. This game will be high scoring and could come down to turnovers or who has the last possession. Eli Manning and Drew Brees are similar in the fact they can both single handedly win games and single handedly lose games. For me Brees is the better quarterback and that could be the difference here.
Prediction - I think the Saints can win this one.
Arizona Cardinals (4-8) @ Seattle Seahawks (7-5)
The Arizona Cardinals must be close to a record for the worst turnaround in a season in NFL history. After a 4-0 start they have now lost eight in a row to reach 4-8. Many teams before them have suffered a drop in form but the Cardinals have took that to a new level. They almost ended the run last week but once Rex Ryan benched Sanchez, the comeback was on. The Seahawks will be feeling very good about their chances after last weeks road win over the Chicago Bears. They now return to Seattle to defend their unbeaten home record against a struggling divisional rival. The Seahawks have been led in recent weeks by rookie quarterback, Russell Wilson. Wilson has had a good year, quietly going about his business and getting the job done. I have criticised him in the past but he is showing good form and if he keeps it up he should take the Seahawks into the playoffs.
Prediction - The Seahawks have to win this one.
Detroit Lions (4-8) @ Green Bay Packers (8-4)
At the start of the season I expected this game to be a battle between two sides looking to win the NFC North. I was half right and the Packers are right in the middle of the battle to win the division but I was way out with the Detroit Lions. The Lions have been poor and although there has been some good flashes, they simply haven't got the wins on the board. Green Bay don't look as good as they did last season but they should make the playoffs and once they get there they are capable of beating any team in the league. Aaron Rodgers has taken a lot of punishment this season and the Packers need to protect him better so he can do what he does best and win football games. This game will be pass heavy and should be a high scoring affair.
Prediction - It looks like a shootout between Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford and for me, there's only one winner. Green Bay Packers to win.
Monday, 3 December 2012
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.
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