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. 

Atlanta Falcons (12-2) @ Detroit Lions (4-10)

At the start of the season in my NFL Preview (http://gjsportsblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/nfl-2012-season-preview.html) I predicted these two would be playoff teams.  I'm happy with my prediction for the Falcons as most people were taking the Saints in the NFC South but I went with Atlanta and they have done the job.  Unfortunately, I was way off with the Detroit Lions.  I projected a 12-4 season for the Lions and a wildcard place.  I was miles off and they will be closer to a 4-12 finish than 12-4. 

Atlanta have had a good year and a win here would secure the NFC's number one seed which would mean someone would have to come to Atlanta and beat them or the Falcons will be in the Superbowl.  They are 7-0 at home this season, so they won't be beaten easily.  A lot of doubters will say that Matt Ryan has never won in the playoffs which is true but when you look at it, the record isn't as bad as it sounds.  In his first year in the NFL, Ryan guided the Falcons to a playoff place and lost to the Arizona Cardinals who went on to narrowly lose in the Superbowl.  That's not bad for a rookie.  They missed the playoffs the following year with a 9-7 record.  The next year they won the NFC South with a 13-3 record and opened their playoff campaign against the Green Bay Packers.  In that game, Aaron Rodgers played one of the best games I have ever saw and the Falcons lost to a Packers side who went onto win the Superbowl.  Last year, the Falcons reached the playoffs again with a 10-6 record and went to New York in the wildcard round and suffered a heavy defeat to the Giants.  That same Giants team went onto win the Superbowl.  The fact that most people want to talk about is that Matt Ryan is 0-3 in the playoffs but when it's looked at further, he is actually 0-3 against the teams who went on to represent the NFC in that years Superbowl, two of which won the whole thing.  That is more about bad luck than a bad quarterback. 

This year's Falcons have a very strong passing game.  Matt Ryan is a very good quarterback and with targets like Julio Jones, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez his job is made easy for him.  White and Jones have already passed 1000 receiving yards for the season and Gonzalez needs 120 yards from the last two games to pass 1000 yards for the fifth time in his career and for the first time as a Falcon.  The running game isn't great but it's doing enough to keep defenses honest which creates space for their trio of receivers to exploit.  On defense, they are giving up a lot of yards.  They are giving up an average of over 350 yards per game which is 19th in the league.  However, they are making up for that by keeping teams out of the end zone.  They are conceding an average of 18.5 points per game which is the 4th best record in the NFL.  If the Falcons can carry those sort of numbers on defense into the playoffs, they will have every chance of being in the Superbowl as their offense is capable of troubling any team in the league. 

The Lions have been the most disappointing team in the league this season.  They finally ended their long slump by reaching the playoffs for the first time since 1999 but they have not built on that success.  They have a lot of very good players but it just hasn't worked out for them this season.  Matthew Stafford is a good quarterback.  His numbers last year were excellent.  He threw for over 5000 yards, 41 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.  This year he has 4252 yards and could very well end the year with another 5000 yard season.  His interception numbers are similar as he is currently on 15 interceptions for the year.  The one big difference is touchdown passes.  He has only got 17 touchdowns this year which is way below his record last year.  With two games remaining he is 24 touchdown passes behind his record from last year.  That is a massive difference and it is without doubt the reason why the Lions are heading for an early draft pick instead of the playoffs. 

The big plus for the Lions has been the form of superstar receiver, Calvin "Megatron" Johnson.  Megatron has emphatically dismissed the "Madden Curse" and is just 182 yards away from breaking the record for most receiving yards in a regular season.  The record has stood for 17 years and is currently held by Jerry Rice who had 1848 receiving yards in 1995.  I expect Megatron to break that record and there's every chance it might even happen tonight. 

The match ups in this game are quite tight.  Both sides will look to pass the ball.  The Lions are 1st in passing and the Falcons are 5th.  On defense, the Lions are 11th against the pass and the Falcons are 17th.  Neither side are particularly good on the ground.  The Lions are 23rd and the Falcons are 28th.  On defense the Lions are 18th against the run and the Falcons are 24th. 

Prediction - If this game was between two 8-6 teams who were chasing a playoff place, I would take the Detroit Lions based on the match ups.  However, with the records as they are, I have to side with the Atlanta Falcons as they need this one to secure the NFC's number one seed. 

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.     

Thursday Night Football - Denver Broncos (9-3) @ Oakland Raiders (3-9)

This weeks Thursday Night Football sees two AFC West rivals face off in what is more or less a dead rubber.  Denver have won the division and will be in the playoffs.  Oakland are playing for next years draft pick.  Denver are tied with New England and Baltimore at 9-3 so the game will mean more to them as every victory increases their chance of a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

The Denver Broncos have had a great year and the move to bring Peyton Manning to Denver is now looking like a masterstroke.  Manning didn't make a great start to his Denver career but seven wins in a row has more than made up for the 2-3 start.  Manning's numbers are impressive and he is on pace for a career best in passing yards.  His current average would leave him just shy of the 4700 yards he had in 2010.  He should also post the second highest total touchdown passes of his career.  He has 29 touchdowns with four games left and his second best season was 33 touchdown passes which he has done on three occasions.  His pass completion percentage is currently 68% and his career best was 68.8% in 2009.  For a quarterback to be getting close to career numbers at 36 years old is exceptional but to be doing it with a brand new team and after missing a season to what was a potentially career ending injury, is something only one of the truly great quarterbacks of all time could do. 

Every great quarterback needs receivers who can catch the ball and Manning has that in abundance with the Broncos.  Demaryius Thomas in particular has had a great season and he has already smashed his career best in every statistic.  Eric Decker, Jacob Tamme and Brandon Stokley are also playing their part and Peyton Manning is making their jobs as easy as he possibly can. 

The one weakness in Denver is the running game and they are averaging just over 100 yards per game.  Their leading rusher, Willis McGahee is out injured and although he may be back later in the year, it would only be deep into the playoffs.  The Broncos will have to find some sort of a running game to take the pressure off Peyton Manning or they will be out of the playoffs before he is back.  Knowshon Moreno had a decent game against the Chiefs but in the playoffs, the Broncos won't be able to beat the best teams in the AFC unless they can get some help for Peyton Manning. 

Defensively, the Broncos are up there with the best teams in the NFL.  They are giving up just over 300 yards per game, they have sacked the opposing quarterback 38 times, which is 2nd in the NFL and they have 4 defensive touchdowns, which is 3rd in the NFL.  Overall, the Broncos are a very serious contender.  They were a playoff team last year with Tim Tebow at quarterback and even won their first game in the wildcard round over the Pittsburgh Steelers.  They were comfortably beaten by the Patriots in the divisional round but they have significantly improved at quarterback and only time will tell if that is enough to take them to the next level.

Oakland have had a bad year.  Things looked to be improving in Oakland recently with two consecutive 8-8 seasons but they have gone backwards and at 3-9 they are in position for a top 5 pick in the 2013 draft.  They had a bad start and dropped to 1-4 but won two in a row to get back to 3-4 but they have lost five in a row since. 

The Raiders have been very poor on defense and are giving up over 380 yards per game.  They have had a lot of key players out through injury but the performances still haven't been good enough.  The Raiders will pick early in the draft and most of the top guys are defensive players so they should receive a boost as long as they get their pick right. 

The one positive for the Raiders this year has been the passing game.  They are averaging just under 280 yards per game and rank 8th in the league.  Carson Palmer has had a good year and should reach a career best in passing yards within the next two or three games.  Tight end, Brandon Myers has been his go to guy and he has been supported by Denarius Moore, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Marcel Reece.  The passing game is good fine and if the Raiders can hold onto everyone, the passing unit should be every bit as good next year.

The match up in this game favours the Broncos.  As I've said, the Raiders only strength is passing but the Broncos have a good pass defense.  The Broncos should be able to get their passing game going against a Raiders pass defense that ranks 25th in the NFL and should have too many weapons for a struggling Oakland Raiders.   

Prediction - I can only see Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos picking up the win here.  

NFL POWER RANKINGS - WEEK 13

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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