I'm doing my preview for week 2 but I'm not going to have it finished so just thought i'd post tonight's game so far. The rest to follow tomorrow or Saturday...
Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers
This game looks like being an absolute cracker. The Bears will look to take advantage of a Green Bay defense that struggled against the 49ers. The Bears offense looks good this year. Brandan Marshall will always be a huge threat and the addition of Michael Bush to a running attack that already included Matt Forte makes the Bears a dangerous opponent. The Packers will need to find some support for Aaron Rodgers. Their running attack was virtually non-existent against the 49ers and they won't find it any easier against the Bears. This game hangs on their ability to get some yards on the ground. If the Packers can keep the Bears defense honest by picking up yards on the ground then it will make Aaron Rodgers job easier, if the Bears are able to restrict the running game, then I think they win the game.
Prediction - I think the Bears will edge this one as I don't think the Packers have enough on the ground or in defense to win the game.
Thursday, 13 September 2012
Wednesday, 12 September 2012
NFL Power Rankings
1 (1) San Francisco 49ers - An excellent win in Green Bay keeps the 49ers top of the pile. Their defense had a great day as expected but their offense looked very slick too. Alex Smith had a good game, their running was very strong and their key receivers all grabbed a few catchs each. Special mention for David Akers, 63 yard field goal.
2 (2) New England Patriots - A comfortable win in Tennessee. Brady was solid and Lloyd, Gronkowski and Hernandez all linked up well with him. Stevan Ridley had a great game, running for 125 yards of 21 carries. Coach, Bill Belichick will also be happy with the defense. Pass defense might need some work but they restricted Tennessee to 1.3 yards per carry on the ground.
3 (5) Baltimore Ravens - A fantastic second half performance saw the Ravens blow out the Bengals. Midway throught the 3rd quarter the score was 17-13 to Baltimore. 27 unanswered points later and it was a blowout victory. Flacco had a solid game at quarterback and they barely had to use Ray Rice with him only getting ten carries, albeit he took two of them in for touchdowns. On this form they are a serious contender.
4 (3) Green Bay Packers - A bad day at the office for the Packers. Their running game never got going against a tough 49ers defense and Aaron Rodgers wasn't at his best either. His interception was very poor and completely unlike him. The defense doesn't look to have improved a great deal from the one that gave up the most yards in the league last year.
5 (4) Pittsburgh Steelers - A disappointing start for the Steelers. Roethlisberger was far from his best and the running game never got going at all. Rashard Mendenhall's return within the next week or two should see the running game improve but the passing game will concern the Steelers. The defense didn't have a bad game, they were just beaten by a great quarterback.
6 (6) Detroit Lions - A somewhat unconvincing victory for the Lions. It took a touchdown with 10 seconds left to beat the Rams and if they are going to have as good a season as many people predict then they will have to be much better. Quarterback, Matt Stafford, was intercepted three times and he needs to learn to take care of the football. Stafford did put up some huge numbers, throwing for 355 yards but three interceptions and only one touchdown is not a good stat. The Madden curse doesn't look to have hurt Calvin Johnson yet. He caught six passes for 111 yards.
7 (8) Atlanta Falcons - The Falcons picked up a comfortable win in Kansas and the passing game looked particularly impressive. Matt Ryan threw for 299 yards and even ran for a touchdown himself. Once again his main targets were Julio Jones, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez. If Atlanta can get running-back, Michael Turner more involved then Atlanta will have as explosive an offense as any in the NFL.
8 (9) Chicago Bears - A good display from the Bears who beat the Colts 41-21. Cutler had a good game, throwing for 333 yards and two touchdowns. His only blip, was an early interception that was returned for a touchdown. The running game looks very dangerous. Forte and Bush combined for 122 yards and three touchdowns. If the offense can continue to grow and the defense plays to it's usual high standard then the Bears will be a match for anyone.
9 (7) New York Giants - A poor start for the Giants, as they lost at home to the Cowboys. Eli Manning was let down by his receivers who dropped a few key passes that could have changed the game. The Giants should still be a good side and if any team won't get too carried away by a bad start it's the Giants. No team know better than they do that you don't win anything in September.
10 (12) Dallas Cowboys - The Cowboys looked very impressive in their win in New York over the Giants. Tony Romo had a great game, thowing for 307 yards, three touchdowns and just one interception. Demarco Murray was great at running-back, going for 131 yards off 20 carries. A special mention too for receiver, Kevin Ogletree, who had the best game of his career, catching eight passes for 114 yards, including two touchdowns.
11 (11) San Diego Chargers - A decent start for the Chargers with a win in Oakland. It wasn't a vintage performance but they took advantage of three botched punts from Oakland, scoring three field goals and won the game. The Chargers will have to improve in the Red Zone, as they only converted on one of their five visits. San Diego won't be given such good field position again so will have to be better if they want to reach the post season.
12 (10) Philadelphia Eagles - An extremely unimpressive display from the Philadelphia offense saw the Eagles narrowly defeat the Browns. It took a late touchdown from Clay Harbor to get the Eagles over the line and if Andy Reid's men want to compete in a tough division they will have to solve a lot of problems. The defense looked great but the offense was horrible. All of the Browns points came from offensive turnovers and the Eagles will need to look after the football a lot better.
13 (16) Denver Broncos - Peyton's back. Manning didn't look like a man who hadn't played a competitive game in over a year and a half and he should only get better as the weeks go by. The defense looked solid and the Broncos should be the Chargers closest rivals in the battle for the AFC West.
14 (15) Houston Texans - Houston had a decent start, winning comfortably over the Dolphins. They will face much tougher tasks in the coming weeks but they will be happy to have got the job done against Miami with the minimum of fuss. Schaub, Foster and Andre Johnson all played their part in the win and the defense only conceded 10 points so everyone will be happy.
15 (18) New York Jets - Where did that come from? Everything I thought I knew about the New York Jets, turns out to be wrong. I expected a weak offense and a very good defense. Instead they score 48 points and give up 28. Who knows what to expect from now on but I know if it includes 76 points every week it'll be worth watching.
16 (17) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Tampa Bay got off to a winning start with a 16-10 victory over the Panthers. It was far from a good performance but a win's a win and the Bucs will take any win they get. Running-back, Doug Martin, got off to a good start, running for 95 yards off 24 carries and showed good hands by making 4 catches for 23 yards. If the offense click, Tampa Bay could challenge the Saints for second place in the division.
17 (13) New Orleans Saints - This looks like it could be a tough season for the Saints who look like they will struggle without the leadership of head coach, Sean Payton. They will need quarterback, Drew Brees, to step up and he got off to a very bad start on Sunday. He had two interceptions and his accuracy was under 50%. The defense was also poor, giving up a total of 464 yards.
18 (14) Buffalo Bills - The Bills were well beaten by the Jets but they will take some positives from it. The Jets should be one of the top defenses in the NFL this season and Buffalo managed to score 28 points and had almost 400 yards of total offense. CJ Spiller looks like he will be a key player in fantasy transactions this week after a superb display when Fred Jackson got injured.
19 (27) Washington Redskins - Rookie quarterback, RG3, takes the prize for the most outstanding display of all the rookies, by quite some distance. He threw for 320 yards and added 42 yards on the ground. The most impressive stat, however, is the zero interceptions. So many rookies struggle with interceptions and RG3 has passed his first test with flying colours.
20 (26) Arizona Cardinals - The Cardinals managed to pick up the win in a tight game against the Seahawks. Backup quarterback, Kevin Kolb, took the plaudits after coming in when John Skelton picked up an injury. Kolb led the Cardinals on a game winning drive and if he continues as he started then Skelton could struggle to get his place back.
21 (23) St Louis Rams - The Rams were very unlucky not to have won in Detroit and can take a lot out of the game. They intercepted Stafford three times but struggled at times to pick up yards against a tough Lions defense. The Rams will be lifted by coming so close to a victory in the home of a genuine Superbowl contender.
22 (19) Indianapolis Colts - Rookie quarterback and number 1 pick overall, Andrew Luck, finally made his NFL debut. He threw for over 300 yards but his accuracy was just over fifty percent and he threw three interceptions. There were good points and bad points but there is definitely room for improvement.
23 (22) Tennessee Titans - A tough start for the Titans and nobody will be surprised to see them losing to the Pats. Much of their season will depend on the form of Chris Johnson and he will have to run a lot better if Tennessee are going to do anything. 4 yards off 11 carries is nowhere near good enough.
24 (24) Seattle Seahawks - Rookie, Russell Wilson, had a forgetable NFL debut on Sunday in the Seahawks 20-16 defeat in Arizona. Wilson threw for just 153 yards and his accuracy was just over 50%. If Wilson doesn't improve quickly then I would expect to see Matt Flynn under center in the coming weeks. The Seahawks best performance came from running-back, Marshawn Lynch, who ran for 85 yards off 21 carries.
25 (20) Kansas City Chiefs - A heavy loss at home to the Falcons wasn't the start the Chiefs were hoping for. The Chiefs played quite well and matched the Falcons in most departments but the difference was turnovers. Kansas gave away three turnovers and were punished on each occasion, with the Falcons picked up a touchdown and two field goals.
26 (21) Cincinnati Bengals - The Bengals were well beaten by the Ravens in Baltimore. They were doing ok until Baltimore stepped it up a gear late in the 3rd quarter. The biggest positive for the Bengals will be the performance of new running-back, BenJarvus Green-Ellis. The former Patriot had 91 yards and a touchdown off 18 carries.
27 (25) Oakland Raiders - The Raiders weren't actually too bad against the Chargers but their special teams unit had a terrible day. Their long snapper got injured and they had no back up plan. Three botched punts cost them the game. The Raiders can be pleased that their defense limited the Chargers to three field goals on those occasions but the fact is they still lost the game.
28 (31) Minnesota Vikings - The Vikings picked up a week 1 victory with an overtime field goal to beat the Jaguars 26-23. The Vikings key man was once again running-back, Adrian Peterson who scored two touchdowns. They will also be pleased at the performance of Christian Ponder at quarterback. Ponder had 20 completions from 27 attempts and 270 yards. He didn't have any touchdowns but his passing got the Vikings into the positions to let Peterson get into the end zone.
29 (28) Carolina Panthers - A 16-10 defeat in Tampa Bay was far from the result the Panthers would have liked in their season opener. I expected Carolina to be better on the ground but 10 yards off 13 carries is far from good enough at this level. The Panthers seemed to rely on the arm of Cam Newton, who threw for over 300 yards but unfortunately for him and the Panthers it was probably his two interceptions that cost them the game.
30 (29) Jacksonville Jaguars - The Jags will feel hard done by after losing a tight game against the Vikings in overtime. The Jags had possession of the ball for almost 38 minutes but were unable to take advantage of it. Running-back, Maurice Jones-Drew was solid in his return and should improve as the season goes on.
31 (32) Cleveland Browns - A tough defeat for the Browns at the hands of the Eagles. The Browns struggled all day on offense but their defense put a lot of pressure on Philly and it resulted in the Eagles turning the ball over five times. The Browns will look to rookies Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden to get their offense firing. If the defense can continue to play as well and the offense gets started then the Browns should pick up a few wins this season
32 (30) Miami Dolphins - An opening day defeat at the hands of the Texans wasn't unexpected but it was the form of rookie quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, that will be the cause of concern for the Dolphins. Tannehill had no touchdowns but threw three interceptions. The NFL can be hard on rookie quarterbacks and it looks like Tannehill will learn that the hard way.
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2 (2) New England Patriots - A comfortable win in Tennessee. Brady was solid and Lloyd, Gronkowski and Hernandez all linked up well with him. Stevan Ridley had a great game, running for 125 yards of 21 carries. Coach, Bill Belichick will also be happy with the defense. Pass defense might need some work but they restricted Tennessee to 1.3 yards per carry on the ground.
3 (5) Baltimore Ravens - A fantastic second half performance saw the Ravens blow out the Bengals. Midway throught the 3rd quarter the score was 17-13 to Baltimore. 27 unanswered points later and it was a blowout victory. Flacco had a solid game at quarterback and they barely had to use Ray Rice with him only getting ten carries, albeit he took two of them in for touchdowns. On this form they are a serious contender.
4 (3) Green Bay Packers - A bad day at the office for the Packers. Their running game never got going against a tough 49ers defense and Aaron Rodgers wasn't at his best either. His interception was very poor and completely unlike him. The defense doesn't look to have improved a great deal from the one that gave up the most yards in the league last year.
5 (4) Pittsburgh Steelers - A disappointing start for the Steelers. Roethlisberger was far from his best and the running game never got going at all. Rashard Mendenhall's return within the next week or two should see the running game improve but the passing game will concern the Steelers. The defense didn't have a bad game, they were just beaten by a great quarterback.
6 (6) Detroit Lions - A somewhat unconvincing victory for the Lions. It took a touchdown with 10 seconds left to beat the Rams and if they are going to have as good a season as many people predict then they will have to be much better. Quarterback, Matt Stafford, was intercepted three times and he needs to learn to take care of the football. Stafford did put up some huge numbers, throwing for 355 yards but three interceptions and only one touchdown is not a good stat. The Madden curse doesn't look to have hurt Calvin Johnson yet. He caught six passes for 111 yards.
7 (8) Atlanta Falcons - The Falcons picked up a comfortable win in Kansas and the passing game looked particularly impressive. Matt Ryan threw for 299 yards and even ran for a touchdown himself. Once again his main targets were Julio Jones, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez. If Atlanta can get running-back, Michael Turner more involved then Atlanta will have as explosive an offense as any in the NFL.
8 (9) Chicago Bears - A good display from the Bears who beat the Colts 41-21. Cutler had a good game, throwing for 333 yards and two touchdowns. His only blip, was an early interception that was returned for a touchdown. The running game looks very dangerous. Forte and Bush combined for 122 yards and three touchdowns. If the offense can continue to grow and the defense plays to it's usual high standard then the Bears will be a match for anyone.
9 (7) New York Giants - A poor start for the Giants, as they lost at home to the Cowboys. Eli Manning was let down by his receivers who dropped a few key passes that could have changed the game. The Giants should still be a good side and if any team won't get too carried away by a bad start it's the Giants. No team know better than they do that you don't win anything in September.
10 (12) Dallas Cowboys - The Cowboys looked very impressive in their win in New York over the Giants. Tony Romo had a great game, thowing for 307 yards, three touchdowns and just one interception. Demarco Murray was great at running-back, going for 131 yards off 20 carries. A special mention too for receiver, Kevin Ogletree, who had the best game of his career, catching eight passes for 114 yards, including two touchdowns.
11 (11) San Diego Chargers - A decent start for the Chargers with a win in Oakland. It wasn't a vintage performance but they took advantage of three botched punts from Oakland, scoring three field goals and won the game. The Chargers will have to improve in the Red Zone, as they only converted on one of their five visits. San Diego won't be given such good field position again so will have to be better if they want to reach the post season.
12 (10) Philadelphia Eagles - An extremely unimpressive display from the Philadelphia offense saw the Eagles narrowly defeat the Browns. It took a late touchdown from Clay Harbor to get the Eagles over the line and if Andy Reid's men want to compete in a tough division they will have to solve a lot of problems. The defense looked great but the offense was horrible. All of the Browns points came from offensive turnovers and the Eagles will need to look after the football a lot better.
13 (16) Denver Broncos - Peyton's back. Manning didn't look like a man who hadn't played a competitive game in over a year and a half and he should only get better as the weeks go by. The defense looked solid and the Broncos should be the Chargers closest rivals in the battle for the AFC West.
14 (15) Houston Texans - Houston had a decent start, winning comfortably over the Dolphins. They will face much tougher tasks in the coming weeks but they will be happy to have got the job done against Miami with the minimum of fuss. Schaub, Foster and Andre Johnson all played their part in the win and the defense only conceded 10 points so everyone will be happy.
15 (18) New York Jets - Where did that come from? Everything I thought I knew about the New York Jets, turns out to be wrong. I expected a weak offense and a very good defense. Instead they score 48 points and give up 28. Who knows what to expect from now on but I know if it includes 76 points every week it'll be worth watching.
16 (17) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Tampa Bay got off to a winning start with a 16-10 victory over the Panthers. It was far from a good performance but a win's a win and the Bucs will take any win they get. Running-back, Doug Martin, got off to a good start, running for 95 yards off 24 carries and showed good hands by making 4 catches for 23 yards. If the offense click, Tampa Bay could challenge the Saints for second place in the division.
17 (13) New Orleans Saints - This looks like it could be a tough season for the Saints who look like they will struggle without the leadership of head coach, Sean Payton. They will need quarterback, Drew Brees, to step up and he got off to a very bad start on Sunday. He had two interceptions and his accuracy was under 50%. The defense was also poor, giving up a total of 464 yards.
18 (14) Buffalo Bills - The Bills were well beaten by the Jets but they will take some positives from it. The Jets should be one of the top defenses in the NFL this season and Buffalo managed to score 28 points and had almost 400 yards of total offense. CJ Spiller looks like he will be a key player in fantasy transactions this week after a superb display when Fred Jackson got injured.
19 (27) Washington Redskins - Rookie quarterback, RG3, takes the prize for the most outstanding display of all the rookies, by quite some distance. He threw for 320 yards and added 42 yards on the ground. The most impressive stat, however, is the zero interceptions. So many rookies struggle with interceptions and RG3 has passed his first test with flying colours.
20 (26) Arizona Cardinals - The Cardinals managed to pick up the win in a tight game against the Seahawks. Backup quarterback, Kevin Kolb, took the plaudits after coming in when John Skelton picked up an injury. Kolb led the Cardinals on a game winning drive and if he continues as he started then Skelton could struggle to get his place back.
21 (23) St Louis Rams - The Rams were very unlucky not to have won in Detroit and can take a lot out of the game. They intercepted Stafford three times but struggled at times to pick up yards against a tough Lions defense. The Rams will be lifted by coming so close to a victory in the home of a genuine Superbowl contender.
22 (19) Indianapolis Colts - Rookie quarterback and number 1 pick overall, Andrew Luck, finally made his NFL debut. He threw for over 300 yards but his accuracy was just over fifty percent and he threw three interceptions. There were good points and bad points but there is definitely room for improvement.
23 (22) Tennessee Titans - A tough start for the Titans and nobody will be surprised to see them losing to the Pats. Much of their season will depend on the form of Chris Johnson and he will have to run a lot better if Tennessee are going to do anything. 4 yards off 11 carries is nowhere near good enough.
24 (24) Seattle Seahawks - Rookie, Russell Wilson, had a forgetable NFL debut on Sunday in the Seahawks 20-16 defeat in Arizona. Wilson threw for just 153 yards and his accuracy was just over 50%. If Wilson doesn't improve quickly then I would expect to see Matt Flynn under center in the coming weeks. The Seahawks best performance came from running-back, Marshawn Lynch, who ran for 85 yards off 21 carries.
25 (20) Kansas City Chiefs - A heavy loss at home to the Falcons wasn't the start the Chiefs were hoping for. The Chiefs played quite well and matched the Falcons in most departments but the difference was turnovers. Kansas gave away three turnovers and were punished on each occasion, with the Falcons picked up a touchdown and two field goals.
26 (21) Cincinnati Bengals - The Bengals were well beaten by the Ravens in Baltimore. They were doing ok until Baltimore stepped it up a gear late in the 3rd quarter. The biggest positive for the Bengals will be the performance of new running-back, BenJarvus Green-Ellis. The former Patriot had 91 yards and a touchdown off 18 carries.
27 (25) Oakland Raiders - The Raiders weren't actually too bad against the Chargers but their special teams unit had a terrible day. Their long snapper got injured and they had no back up plan. Three botched punts cost them the game. The Raiders can be pleased that their defense limited the Chargers to three field goals on those occasions but the fact is they still lost the game.
28 (31) Minnesota Vikings - The Vikings picked up a week 1 victory with an overtime field goal to beat the Jaguars 26-23. The Vikings key man was once again running-back, Adrian Peterson who scored two touchdowns. They will also be pleased at the performance of Christian Ponder at quarterback. Ponder had 20 completions from 27 attempts and 270 yards. He didn't have any touchdowns but his passing got the Vikings into the positions to let Peterson get into the end zone.
29 (28) Carolina Panthers - A 16-10 defeat in Tampa Bay was far from the result the Panthers would have liked in their season opener. I expected Carolina to be better on the ground but 10 yards off 13 carries is far from good enough at this level. The Panthers seemed to rely on the arm of Cam Newton, who threw for over 300 yards but unfortunately for him and the Panthers it was probably his two interceptions that cost them the game.
30 (29) Jacksonville Jaguars - The Jags will feel hard done by after losing a tight game against the Vikings in overtime. The Jags had possession of the ball for almost 38 minutes but were unable to take advantage of it. Running-back, Maurice Jones-Drew was solid in his return and should improve as the season goes on.
31 (32) Cleveland Browns - A tough defeat for the Browns at the hands of the Eagles. The Browns struggled all day on offense but their defense put a lot of pressure on Philly and it resulted in the Eagles turning the ball over five times. The Browns will look to rookies Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden to get their offense firing. If the defense can continue to play as well and the offense gets started then the Browns should pick up a few wins this season
32 (30) Miami Dolphins - An opening day defeat at the hands of the Texans wasn't unexpected but it was the form of rookie quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, that will be the cause of concern for the Dolphins. Tannehill had no touchdowns but threw three interceptions. The NFL can be hard on rookie quarterbacks and it looks like Tannehill will learn that the hard way.
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Tuesday, 11 September 2012
International Predictions
Last week’s predictions
weren’t too bad, I only got 16 out of 24 results correct but I did predict
correct scores in Malta v Armenia, Holland v Turkey, Azerbaijan v Israel and Lithuania v Slovakia. Here are today’s predictions in the European
World Cup Qualifiers.
Group A
Serbia 1-0 Wales
Belgium 2-1 Croatia
Scotland 1-0 Rep. of Macedonia
Group B
Bulgaria 2-0 Armenia
Italy 4-0 Malta
Group C
Sweden 3-0 Kazakhstan
Austria 0-1 Germany
Group D
Romania 6-0 Andorra
Turkey 3-1 Estonia
Hungary 0-2 Holland
Group E
Cyprus 2-0 Iceland
Norway 1-1 Slovenia
Switzerland 2-0 Albania
Group F
Israel 1-1 Russia
Northern Ireland 2-0 Luxembourg
Portugal 4-0 Azerbaijan
Group G
Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 Latvia
Slovakia 5-0 Liechtenstein
Greece 2-1 Lithuania
Group H
San Marino 0-3 Montenegro
Poland 4-0 Moldova
England 2-0 Ukraine
Group I
Georgia 0-3 Spain
France 2-1 Belarus
Sunday, 9 September 2012
GJSportsBlog's NFL Power Rankings & Week 1 Predictions
Power Rankings
1) San Francisco 49ers
2) New England Patriots
3) Green Bay Packers
4) Pittsburgh Steelers
5) Baltimore Ravens
6) Detroit Lions
7) New York Giants
8) Atlanta Falcons
9) Chicago Bears
10) Philadelphia Eagles
11) San Diego Chargers
12) Dallas Cowboys
13) New Orleans Saints
14) Buffalo Bills
15) Houston Texans
16) Denver Broncos
17) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
18) New York Jets
19) Indianapolis Colts
20) Kansas City Chiefs
21) Cincinnati Bengals
22) Tennessee Titans
23) St Louis Rams
24) Seattle Seahawks
25) Oakland Raiders
26) Arizona Cardinals
27) Washington Redskins
28) Carolina Panthers
29) Jacksonville Jaguars
30) Miami Dolphins
31) Minnesota Vikings
32) Cleveland Browns
Week 1 Predictions
Colts @ Bears - Bears by 10-14
Eagles @ Browns - Eagles by 10-14
Rams @ Lions - Lions by 10-14
Dolphins @ Texans - Texans by 7-10
Falcons @ Chiefs - Falcons by 4-7
Jaguars @ Vikings - Vikings by 1-3
Redskins @ Saints - Saints by 7-10
Bills @ Jets - Jets by 1-3
Patriots @ Titans - Patriots by 7-10
Seahawks @ Cardinals - Cardinals by 4-7
49ers @ Packers - Packers by 1-3
Panthers @ Buccaneers - Buccaneers by 7-10
Steelers @ Broncos - Steelers by 1-3
Bengals @ Ravens - Ravens by 7-10
Chargers @ Raiders - Chargers by 4-7
1) San Francisco 49ers
2) New England Patriots
3) Green Bay Packers
4) Pittsburgh Steelers
5) Baltimore Ravens
6) Detroit Lions
7) New York Giants
8) Atlanta Falcons
9) Chicago Bears
10) Philadelphia Eagles
11) San Diego Chargers
12) Dallas Cowboys
13) New Orleans Saints
14) Buffalo Bills
15) Houston Texans
16) Denver Broncos
17) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
18) New York Jets
19) Indianapolis Colts
20) Kansas City Chiefs
21) Cincinnati Bengals
22) Tennessee Titans
23) St Louis Rams
24) Seattle Seahawks
25) Oakland Raiders
26) Arizona Cardinals
27) Washington Redskins
28) Carolina Panthers
29) Jacksonville Jaguars
30) Miami Dolphins
31) Minnesota Vikings
32) Cleveland Browns
Week 1 Predictions
Colts @ Bears - Bears by 10-14
Eagles @ Browns - Eagles by 10-14
Rams @ Lions - Lions by 10-14
Dolphins @ Texans - Texans by 7-10
Falcons @ Chiefs - Falcons by 4-7
Jaguars @ Vikings - Vikings by 1-3
Redskins @ Saints - Saints by 7-10
Bills @ Jets - Jets by 1-3
Patriots @ Titans - Patriots by 7-10
Seahawks @ Cardinals - Cardinals by 4-7
49ers @ Packers - Packers by 1-3
Panthers @ Buccaneers - Buccaneers by 7-10
Steelers @ Broncos - Steelers by 1-3
Bengals @ Ravens - Ravens by 7-10
Chargers @ Raiders - Chargers by 4-7
NFL 2012 Season Preview
Football is finally back. It's been over seven months since Tom Brady threw that Hail Mary pass into the end zone at Lucas Oil Stadium to officially end Super Bowl XLVI. It has been a long, seven months. A lot has changed in that time but the hunger and desire for football remains. At least, this off season we haven't had to spend our days logging in to ESPN, to see if we are even going to be having football this season. Last year, the lockout dominated a lot of the headlines but this year it was all about football. Anyway, it's time to move onto the preview...
NFC
NFC North
Green Pay Packers - Green Bay went 15-1 last season for the league's best record in the regular season. They were defending Super Bowl Champions and seemed invincible for large parts of the season. Their pass happy offense was led by MVP, Aaron Rodgers and surely it was only a case of turning up in the Playoffs and they would be champions again. Eli Manning and the New York Giants had other ideas. They marched into Lambeau Field in the Divisional Round and beat the Packers, 37-20. Defeats like that will stay with the Packers and the experience should make them stronger. They have made a few additions to their roster, most notably, Jeff Saturday, of the Indianapolis Colts. Saturday has spent the majority of his career snapping the ball to Peyton Manning. He has a lot of experience and is thought of as one of the top center's in the league. Green Bay struggled on defense last season, giving up over 400 yards per game. They have made an attempt to address this by using their first six draft picks on defense. The Packers are a great side and if players like Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson and Clay Matthews stay healthy then they should have another good year.
Prediction : 13-3
Detroit Lions - The Lions are coming off their best season in fifteen years. There 10-6 finish was a huge step forward after ten losing seasons in a row. The Lions have had a solid draft and most importantly sorted out the long term future of wide-receiver, Calvin Johnson. Johnson signed a massive $132m, 7 year deal. Johnson, however, has more pressing issues such as the small matter of the "Madden curse". Johnson was voted by the fans to appear on the cover of Madden 2013. Such is the form of Johnson, it would take more than a curse to stop him. The Lions will be looking to build on their recent success. They have a lot of young stars and if they can stay healthy and continue to develop then the Lions will be in the playoff mix.
Prediction : 12-4
Chicago Bears - The Bears will hope to bounce back from a disappointing 8-8 season and have certainly gone the right way about it. They have made some solid moves, trading for receiver, Brandon Marshall. They also snapped up running-back, Michael Bush and quarterback, Jason Campbell, both formerly of the Oakland Raiders. Those three will add to their offense. Marshall will be the number one receiver, Bush will be a quality alternative to Matt Forte and Jason Campbell can be a good replacement for when Jay Cutler, inevitably gets injured. The Bears have always been strong on defense and have made a few key upgrades to the offense so the playoffs are definitely within their reach.
Prediction : 11-5
Minnesota Vikings - The whipping boys in the NFC North look to be the Minnesota Vikings. They have been poor for the last few seasons and they don't look like a team who will make a huge improvement. They did have a decent draft and took Southern California's offensive-tackle, Matt Kalil, with the fourth overall pick. Probably the best thing to happen for Minnesota fans this off season was the news that it looks like the Vikings will be staying in Minnesota. There had been talk of them moving if they didn't get a new stadium. In May, a bill was passed to build a new stadium for the team and it is expected that they will be playing there from 2016 onwards.
Prediction : 3-13
NFC East
New York Giants - The Giants lost a few decent players with Mario Manningham and Brandon Jacobs being the biggest names to move on. They replaced them in the draft by bringing in David Wilson, a running back from Virginia Tech and Rueben Randle, a receiver from Louisiana State. The Giants also made a few signings in free agency to upgrade their defense. New York didn't have the best of starts last season and although they were always in contention for the post season, they never really looked like a serious contender. They had struggled with their running game and defense for large periods due to injuries but they managed to get everyone back and ready for when it really mattered. Credit to the Giants, they certainly didn't get it easy in their run to the title. They had a comfortable win at home to Atlanta but after that, things got tough. They went to Green Bay to face the 15-1, Packers. The Giants didn't let it phase them and they ran out comfortable 37-20 winners. As if that wasn't tough enough, it was a trip to San Francisco for the NFC Championship game. They squeezed home in overtime, winning 20-17. In the Superbowl it was a repeat from four years earlier, against the New England Patriots. Don't anyone think for one second that Tom Brady, Bill Belichik and the entire New England Patriots organization don't hold a grudge after Superbowl XLII. The Patriots were one victory away from joining the immortal 1972, Miami Dolphins, as the only undefeated Superbowl champions. However, the Giants hadn't read the script though and won 17-14 to leave the Pats heartbroken. Belichick will have no doubt tried to use that defeat as motivation but the game was almost a carbon copy of four years earlier. Eli Manning led the Giants down the field for a late go ahead touchdown, that the Patriots could not reply to. That takes guts and Eli Manning has proven himself to be much more than just Peyton Manning's little brother.
Prediction : 11-5
Philadelphia Eagles - My team, the Philadelphia Eagles, face a bit of a make or break season. The Eagles made a big splash last year when they made a lot of high profile signings in free agency. It was a bad time to do it however, as they found themselves with a lot of new players, a new defensive coordinator and because of the lockout, no time for it all to gel. The Eagles started last season 4-8 and only they won their last four games or coach, Andy Reid, would have most likely been fired. Reid has to get it right this time as there is simply, no time left for excuses. Starting quarterback, Mike Vick, isn't getting any younger and his game is all about speed so he won't have many opportunities left at getting to a Superbowl. The Eagles have had a good off season. They had a solid draft, including four guys on defense who will all see time on the field this season. One of the biggest issues last year was stopping the run. The Eagles had a good defensive line and a strong secondary but they were weak at linebacker. Demeco Ryans has been brought in from the Houston Texans to plug that gap. Asante Samuel has left but it shouldn't be a major issue as the Eagles have two Pro-Bowlers at corner back in Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Many pundits are predicting the Eagles will have a good year but the biggest problem will be keeping Mike Vick on the field. Vick has proven to be injury prone throughout his career and his playing style does him no favors at all. Should Vick get injured it looks as though the man to come in will be rookie quarterback from Arizona, Nick Foles. The Eagles picked up Foles in the 3rd round of the draft and he has made a huge impact in the preseason games. Vick will get injured at some point, so it will be very interesting to see how Foles does, if/when he gets the nod.
Prediction : 10-6
Dallas Cowboys - The Cowboys have made a few moves in the draft to upgrade their defense with corner back, Morris Claiborne from LSU, being the pick of the bunch. Kyle Orton has come in as back up to Tony Romo. Dallas will be looking to improve on last years 8-8 record. "America's Team" have only won one playoff game in the last fifteen years and Jerry Jones will be getting impatient. This particular Dallas team could be anywhere between a 10-6 team or a 4-12 team. I don't think there's a lot of consistency and for that reason, I can't see them making the playoffs.
Prediction : 10-6
Washington Redskins - Washington made a big splash by making a trade with the St Louis Rams to enable them to get quarterback, Robert Griffin III, in the draft. The Redskins gave up, three first round picks in total and a second rounder to move up to number two. It was a risky move from the Redskins. Lots of quarterback's have looked great in college but not made it in the NFL. Three first rounders is a huge price to pay on what is essentially a gamble. However, the Redskins have picked up a few weapons for RG3, bringing in Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan. They also made a few moves to bolster their defense with the most notable signing being, Brandon Meriweather. The Redskins look to have taken the first steps to becoming a playoff contender but I think the combination of a difficult division and a rookie quarterback will mean this year is a bit too early for them.
Prediction : 4-12
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons - Atlanta's main move in the off season was bringing in Philadelphia's corner back, Asante Samuel. Samuel is a ball hawking corner and would be an asset to any team. The Falcons have drafted well in recent years and have a potentially explosive offense, featuring Julio Jones, Roddy White and Michael Turner. They have been gradually improving for a few years now and I think they could win back the NFC South title from the New Orleans Saints.
Prediction : 11-5
New Orleans Saints - The Saints hopes for the season ahead have received a boost after it was revealed that Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith's bans have been overturned, making them eligible for this weekends games. It is good news for the Saints who's season has been thrust into turmoil by the Bountygate scandal. The ruling does not effect the coaching staff however and Head Coach, Sean Payton, is still suspended for the season. It will still be a huge loss for the Saints but at least they have their full roster to pick from. The Saints were unable to strengthen through the draft as they had no pick until the 90th overall. While they were unable to spend big money, they were able to sort out contracts for key players such as, Marques Colston, Jonathan Vilma, Lance Moore and Drew Brees. The Saints should still be a strong side but I do think Payton's absence will hurt them and they will lose the divisional title.
Prediction : 9-7
Tampa Bay Buccanneers - Tampa Bay have had a great off season. They have brought in some proven talent on offense. Vincent Jackson and Dallas Clark have arrived and they have also strengthened their O-Line. They also had a good draft and managed to get two picks in the first round. Alabama safety, Mark Barron and Boise State running back, Doug Martin were both selected. Doug Martin has looked impressive in preseason and has been named as starting running-back. The Bucs will be better this year but they still aren't a playoff team, just yet.
Prediction : 7-9
Carolina Panthers - The Panthers were a great watch last year for the neutral but perhaps their own fans had mixed emotions on their season. Rookie quarterback, Cam Newton, had a good year but unfortunately, for Carolina, the defense didn't. Newton put up some great numbers and the offense scored a lot of points but the defense done them absolutely no favors. On paper, Carolina have improved their D this year but it's a well known fact that football games aren't won on paper. The Panthers made an interesting addition to their back field by signing Mike Tolbert from San Diego. They now have three quality players in the backfield with Tolbert joining Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams. When you consider how well those three can run the ball and Cam Newton at quarterback can also run the ball, it looks like Carolina will be putting together some sort of triple option offense. The triple option is quite uncommon in the NFL and is used more in college so it will be interesting to see how the league's defenses deal with it.
Prediction : 4-12
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers - The 49ers had a great season last year and it took an overtime field goal in the NFC Championship game to beat them. I expect to see more of the same this season as they have kept all the key pieces in last years success and improved were they were at their weakest. The 49ers passing game wasn't particularly impressive. It seemed as though they didn't really trust quarterback, Alex Smith. In fairness to Smith, when called upon last year he done a good job so perhaps he'll get more opportunities this season. The 49ers have given him a few new targets. Randy Moss and Mario Manningham have arrived and they also drafted Illinois receiver, AJ Jenkins. The 49ers have a weak division and should have enough about them to win it with a few weeks to spare.
Prediction : 14-2
St Louis Rams - St Louis have had two bad years in a row and while I don't think they are going to be troubling the playoff teams, I do think they'll avoid those first few draft picks next season. They have a new Head Coach in Jeff Fisher and that alone should provide them with a boost. The Rams had a good draft after initially trading down twice. They gave the number 2 overall pick to Washington who wanted to pick RG3 and then moved down further in a deal with the Cowboys. By doing this the Rams ended up getting five of the first sixty-five picks. They will also have a few extra first rounders in the years to come as part of the RG3 trade. The future looks bright in St Louis but this season will be a bridge too far for them.
Prediction : 5-11
Seattle Seahawks - Seattle splashed out on former Green Bay quarterback, Matt Flynn and promptly entered him into a quarterback competition with Tarvaris Jackson and rookie, Russell Wilson. Jackson has since moved to Buffalo but it looks as though the rookie, Russell Wilson from Wisconsin, has managed to win the starting job. It promises to be a baptism of fire for WIlson and there will be a lot of extra pressure on him because of Matt Flynn's presence on the bench. Most rookie quarterbacks who are starting in week one have been drafted to start. They are usually in the position were they know the team is theirs to grow into but unfortunately Wilson won't have that luxury. Instead with every bad pass, he'll be reminded of Matt Flynn and with the money Flynn is getting paid, I wouldn't be surprised if the coach is a little more willing to change it than usual.
Prediction : 5-11
Arizona Cardinals - Arizona haven't quite been the same team since Kurt Warner retired. Warner was a very accurate quarterback and he connected perfectly with Larry Fitzgerald. Since then the starting job has been in a number of different hands but it looks as though the Cardinals are starting this season with John Skelton under center. Skelton is a decent quarterback and if he can learn how to take care of the football a little better when passing then he should have a good career in the NFL. With Skelton at quarterback, last season, the Cardinals went 5-2. In the draft the Cardinals picked up Michael Floyd, a receiver from Notre Dame. Floyd should be another decent target for Skelton to look for and he may even take some of the defense away from Larry Fitzgerald.
Prediction : 4-12
NFC Playoff Teams
San Francisco 49ers
Green Bay Packers
New York Giants
Atlanta Falcons
Detroit Lions
Chicago Bears
AFC
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens - Baltimore have been dealt a blow with the injury to Defensive Player of the Year, Terrell Suggs. Suggs himself says he will be back in November but it is widely expected he will miss the full season. Baltimore lost a few players in free agency but had a solid draft and should have enough talent on the roster to have another good season and challenge the Steelers for AFC North supremacy.
Prediction : 12-4
Pittsburgh Steelers - Pittsburgh are another side who lost quite a few of their players in the off season but it was mostly veterans who were on a downward slide anyway so they shouldn't be too badly effected by this. Their O-line and D-line were old and needed to be replaced. They have done that through the draft so as long as the new guys settle in quickly, they should have another good year. Contract talks have broken down with star receiver, Mike Wallace, but he has reported back to training camp and will play this season. With an improved, O-line, and targets like Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown to throw to, I'd expect Ben Roethlisberger to have a big year at quarterback. Running back, Rashard Mendenhall, is coming back from a serious injury and should be back within a week or two. He is another who could be helped by a new and improved offensive line.
Prediction : 12-4
Cincinnati Bengals - Cincinnati have made a few good moves in the off season, bringing in BenJarvus Green-Ellis at running-back from New England. Ellis should help keep defenses honest and help create space for quarterback, Andy Dalton, to find his favorite receiver, AJ Green. Dalton and Green should both have good careers ahead of them. The Bengals had two first rounders and used them to bring in corner back, Dre Kirkpatrick from Alabama and Wisconsin guard, Kevin Zeitler. The Bengals are a young side and I expect them to be a huge force in the AFC North within the next few years but don't think they are quite ready to topple Baltimore and Pittsburgh just yet.
Prediction : 6-10
Cleveland Browns - Cleveland had a good draft and brought in Trent Richardson, a running-back from Alabama. Richardson was excellent in college and I can remember watching him alongside Mark Ingram in the 2009 season when the Crimson Tide won the national championship. Richardson won another national championship last year and finally joins the NFL. I am looking forward to seeing him in action. I think Cleveland's biggest issue is going to be at quarterback. They have named rookie, Brandon Weeden, as their starting quarterback. I would have given McCoy another year at starter as I think he was showing signs of improving but the Browns have decided to go back to square one again with another rookie.
Prediction : 3-13
AFC East
New England Patriots - Bill Belichick has had another great off season in New England and has the Pats in position for another Superbowl run. The Pats were poor on defense last year and Belichick used the draft to address that. The Pats first six picks in the draft were all on improving their defense so they should be better on that side of the ball, this year. Tom Brady is still one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and Belichick has went and got him even more weapons on the offense. Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski are still there and Belichick has added receiver, Brandon Lloyd and tight-end, Daniel Fells. The Pats look set for another big season and a deep playoff run.
Prediction : 15-1
Buffalo Bills - Buffalo have improved on defense, bringing in high profile free agents, Mario Williams and Mark Anderson, from Houston and New England, respectively. The Bills had a good draft too and improved the overall depth throughout their roster. They had a strong start last year but a disappointing second half to the season saw them slip out of playoff contention but I think this could be the year were Buffalo take that extra step and reach the playoffs for the first time since the 1999 season.
Prediction : 9-7
New York Jets - All the news about the New York Jets in the off season revolved around them bringing in Tim Tebow. I'm not convinced it was a good move by the Jets as it increases the pressure on quarterback, Mark Sanchez. Sanchez has already been struggling with confidence issues and I can't see things improving with Tebow on the bench. For a player with limited talent, Tebow, has huge support from fans and the media and you just know that once Sanchez has a few bad series on the field the Tebow chants will start. The Jets have improved on a defense, which was already one of the best in the league. They have brought in Safeties, Laron Landry and Yeremiah Bell and I cannot wait to see how a secondary including Landry, Bell, Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie gets on. I can't see too many teams putting up big passing yards against them. The Jets should go close to being the best defense in the league but all the questions were on the offensive side of the game and I don't think they've answered any of them.
Prediction : 7-9
Miami Dolphins - Miami are another side starting the season with a rookie quarterback. Ryan Tannehill of Texas A & M was drafted, 8th overall. The NFL can be a difficult place for rookie quarterbacks and Tannehill's job isn't helped by the fact he hasn't got a great deal of targets to throw too. Brandon Marshall has left and Chad Johnson had a short spell at the team before getting released after he was arrested after an altercation with his wife. I can't see the Dolphins having a good year and think they'll be a lot closer to a number one draft pick than a playoff spot.
Prediction : 4-12.
AFC South
Houston Texans - Houston have had a mixed off season. They have lost key players in Mario Williams and Demeco Ryans on the defense so that unit will most likely be weaker this year. Quarterback, Matt Schaub, is fit again which will be a boost and they will rely heavily on running-back, Arian Foster and receiver, Andre Johnson. A lot of people are tipping the Texans for the Superbowl but I can't see it. The reason they done well last year was their defense and it isn't as strong his year. A relatively weak division should help them reach the playoffs but I don't expect as big an impact this time.
Prediction : 8-8
Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis had the number one draft pick and used it wisely taking Stanford quarterback, Andrew Luck. This kid has been talked about for years now and very little of the talk has been negative. John Elway is known to be a huge fan and Elway knows a thing or two about being an NFL quarterback. Luck comes into the middle of a rebuilding process in Indianapolis and I believe in the years to come he will be the right man to lead them in the same path as previous quarterback, Peyton Manning. The Colts have kept receiver, Reggie Wayne and also drafted tight-end, Coby Fleener who Andrew Luck had a great relationship with in college. Luck certainly has the targets so it's up to him to find them.
Prediction : 7-9
Tennessee Titans - The Titans season will depend on the form of running-back, Chris Johnson. Johnson's form has been going the wrong way in the last two years since a great season in 2009. Johnson has had a full preseason this year and has been declaring himself, in the best shape in years. It's all well saying that but it's performances on the field that will prove it. Jake Locker, has got the starting job at quarterback. He came in midway through last season and done quite well so it will be interesting to see how he does this season.
Prediction : 6-10
Jacksonville Jaguars - Jacksonville's off season has been dominated by the Maurice Jones-Drew holdout. He has returned but seems set to have a limited role in Week 1 at least. The Jags have upgraded at receiver, drafting Justin Blackmon from Oklahoma State, with the 5th overall pick. I am far from convinced by Blaine Gabbert at quarterback and fully expect to see Chad Henne taking the snaps before too long.
Prediction : 4-12
AFC West
San Diego Chargers - San Diego lost star receiver, Vincent Jackson but they have added a few other options with Robert Meacham and Eddie Royal coming in. Quarterback, Philip Rivers, on form, is a match for anyone in the NFL. He has been hot and cold in recent years with a few mistakes creeping into his play but the new arrivals at receiver should help him. I would expect a big season from running-back, Ryan Matthews and that too should help Rivers and the Chargers. Their offense should be good and they have added a few good pieces on defense through the draft, so I think the Chargers could make a return to the postseason.
Prediction : 10-6
Denver Broncos - Denver made the highest profile acquisition of the off season by signing former Colts quarterback, Peyton Manning. Manning missed last season through injury but he is believed to be back to his best and it will certainly be a very interesting season in Denver. They have tried to give Manning options on the offense and he has some good targets in, Andre Caldwell, Brandon Stokeley, Jacob Tamme and Joel Dreesen. I am really looking forward to seeing Manning back in action and hope he can get back to his best as it always difficult watching a legend struggle.
Prediction : 8-8
Kansas City Chiefs - The Chiefs have made a few decent signings in the off season, bringing in Kevin Boss and Peyton Hillis to improve the offense. They had a decent draft too and also managed to get receiver, Dwayne Bowe to sign his franchise tender and end his holdout. Running-back, Jamaal Charles should also be back to his best after missing most of last season due to injury.
Prediction : 7-9
Oakland Raiders - Oakland start their first season without Al Davis as owner in 40 years. The eccentric, Davis, passed away during last season but I can't see the team doing anything spectacular on the field this season in tribute to him. The Raiders didn't have a pick in the draft until number 95. I expect a difficult season for the Raiders and believe it will be a year of rebuilding.
Prediction : 5-11
AFC Playoff Teams
New England Patriots
Pittsburgh Steelers
San Diego Chargers
Houston Texans
Baltimore Ravens
Buffalo Bills
Superbowl
In the AFC, I cannot see anyone beating the New England Patriots. The NFC should be harder to predict but I think the San Francisco 49ers look the best placed team to make it to the big game. On paper, it looks like a classic battle between an explosive offense and an explosive defense. As the old saying goes, "Defense wins Championships" and I think that will be the case here. The 2012 NFL Champions will be the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS.
NFC
NFC North
Green Pay Packers - Green Bay went 15-1 last season for the league's best record in the regular season. They were defending Super Bowl Champions and seemed invincible for large parts of the season. Their pass happy offense was led by MVP, Aaron Rodgers and surely it was only a case of turning up in the Playoffs and they would be champions again. Eli Manning and the New York Giants had other ideas. They marched into Lambeau Field in the Divisional Round and beat the Packers, 37-20. Defeats like that will stay with the Packers and the experience should make them stronger. They have made a few additions to their roster, most notably, Jeff Saturday, of the Indianapolis Colts. Saturday has spent the majority of his career snapping the ball to Peyton Manning. He has a lot of experience and is thought of as one of the top center's in the league. Green Bay struggled on defense last season, giving up over 400 yards per game. They have made an attempt to address this by using their first six draft picks on defense. The Packers are a great side and if players like Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson and Clay Matthews stay healthy then they should have another good year.
Prediction : 13-3
Detroit Lions - The Lions are coming off their best season in fifteen years. There 10-6 finish was a huge step forward after ten losing seasons in a row. The Lions have had a solid draft and most importantly sorted out the long term future of wide-receiver, Calvin Johnson. Johnson signed a massive $132m, 7 year deal. Johnson, however, has more pressing issues such as the small matter of the "Madden curse". Johnson was voted by the fans to appear on the cover of Madden 2013. Such is the form of Johnson, it would take more than a curse to stop him. The Lions will be looking to build on their recent success. They have a lot of young stars and if they can stay healthy and continue to develop then the Lions will be in the playoff mix.
Prediction : 12-4
Chicago Bears - The Bears will hope to bounce back from a disappointing 8-8 season and have certainly gone the right way about it. They have made some solid moves, trading for receiver, Brandon Marshall. They also snapped up running-back, Michael Bush and quarterback, Jason Campbell, both formerly of the Oakland Raiders. Those three will add to their offense. Marshall will be the number one receiver, Bush will be a quality alternative to Matt Forte and Jason Campbell can be a good replacement for when Jay Cutler, inevitably gets injured. The Bears have always been strong on defense and have made a few key upgrades to the offense so the playoffs are definitely within their reach.
Prediction : 11-5
Minnesota Vikings - The whipping boys in the NFC North look to be the Minnesota Vikings. They have been poor for the last few seasons and they don't look like a team who will make a huge improvement. They did have a decent draft and took Southern California's offensive-tackle, Matt Kalil, with the fourth overall pick. Probably the best thing to happen for Minnesota fans this off season was the news that it looks like the Vikings will be staying in Minnesota. There had been talk of them moving if they didn't get a new stadium. In May, a bill was passed to build a new stadium for the team and it is expected that they will be playing there from 2016 onwards.
Prediction : 3-13
NFC East
New York Giants - The Giants lost a few decent players with Mario Manningham and Brandon Jacobs being the biggest names to move on. They replaced them in the draft by bringing in David Wilson, a running back from Virginia Tech and Rueben Randle, a receiver from Louisiana State. The Giants also made a few signings in free agency to upgrade their defense. New York didn't have the best of starts last season and although they were always in contention for the post season, they never really looked like a serious contender. They had struggled with their running game and defense for large periods due to injuries but they managed to get everyone back and ready for when it really mattered. Credit to the Giants, they certainly didn't get it easy in their run to the title. They had a comfortable win at home to Atlanta but after that, things got tough. They went to Green Bay to face the 15-1, Packers. The Giants didn't let it phase them and they ran out comfortable 37-20 winners. As if that wasn't tough enough, it was a trip to San Francisco for the NFC Championship game. They squeezed home in overtime, winning 20-17. In the Superbowl it was a repeat from four years earlier, against the New England Patriots. Don't anyone think for one second that Tom Brady, Bill Belichik and the entire New England Patriots organization don't hold a grudge after Superbowl XLII. The Patriots were one victory away from joining the immortal 1972, Miami Dolphins, as the only undefeated Superbowl champions. However, the Giants hadn't read the script though and won 17-14 to leave the Pats heartbroken. Belichick will have no doubt tried to use that defeat as motivation but the game was almost a carbon copy of four years earlier. Eli Manning led the Giants down the field for a late go ahead touchdown, that the Patriots could not reply to. That takes guts and Eli Manning has proven himself to be much more than just Peyton Manning's little brother.
Prediction : 11-5
Philadelphia Eagles - My team, the Philadelphia Eagles, face a bit of a make or break season. The Eagles made a big splash last year when they made a lot of high profile signings in free agency. It was a bad time to do it however, as they found themselves with a lot of new players, a new defensive coordinator and because of the lockout, no time for it all to gel. The Eagles started last season 4-8 and only they won their last four games or coach, Andy Reid, would have most likely been fired. Reid has to get it right this time as there is simply, no time left for excuses. Starting quarterback, Mike Vick, isn't getting any younger and his game is all about speed so he won't have many opportunities left at getting to a Superbowl. The Eagles have had a good off season. They had a solid draft, including four guys on defense who will all see time on the field this season. One of the biggest issues last year was stopping the run. The Eagles had a good defensive line and a strong secondary but they were weak at linebacker. Demeco Ryans has been brought in from the Houston Texans to plug that gap. Asante Samuel has left but it shouldn't be a major issue as the Eagles have two Pro-Bowlers at corner back in Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Many pundits are predicting the Eagles will have a good year but the biggest problem will be keeping Mike Vick on the field. Vick has proven to be injury prone throughout his career and his playing style does him no favors at all. Should Vick get injured it looks as though the man to come in will be rookie quarterback from Arizona, Nick Foles. The Eagles picked up Foles in the 3rd round of the draft and he has made a huge impact in the preseason games. Vick will get injured at some point, so it will be very interesting to see how Foles does, if/when he gets the nod.
Prediction : 10-6
Dallas Cowboys - The Cowboys have made a few moves in the draft to upgrade their defense with corner back, Morris Claiborne from LSU, being the pick of the bunch. Kyle Orton has come in as back up to Tony Romo. Dallas will be looking to improve on last years 8-8 record. "America's Team" have only won one playoff game in the last fifteen years and Jerry Jones will be getting impatient. This particular Dallas team could be anywhere between a 10-6 team or a 4-12 team. I don't think there's a lot of consistency and for that reason, I can't see them making the playoffs.
Prediction : 10-6
Washington Redskins - Washington made a big splash by making a trade with the St Louis Rams to enable them to get quarterback, Robert Griffin III, in the draft. The Redskins gave up, three first round picks in total and a second rounder to move up to number two. It was a risky move from the Redskins. Lots of quarterback's have looked great in college but not made it in the NFL. Three first rounders is a huge price to pay on what is essentially a gamble. However, the Redskins have picked up a few weapons for RG3, bringing in Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan. They also made a few moves to bolster their defense with the most notable signing being, Brandon Meriweather. The Redskins look to have taken the first steps to becoming a playoff contender but I think the combination of a difficult division and a rookie quarterback will mean this year is a bit too early for them.
Prediction : 4-12
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons - Atlanta's main move in the off season was bringing in Philadelphia's corner back, Asante Samuel. Samuel is a ball hawking corner and would be an asset to any team. The Falcons have drafted well in recent years and have a potentially explosive offense, featuring Julio Jones, Roddy White and Michael Turner. They have been gradually improving for a few years now and I think they could win back the NFC South title from the New Orleans Saints.
Prediction : 11-5
New Orleans Saints - The Saints hopes for the season ahead have received a boost after it was revealed that Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith's bans have been overturned, making them eligible for this weekends games. It is good news for the Saints who's season has been thrust into turmoil by the Bountygate scandal. The ruling does not effect the coaching staff however and Head Coach, Sean Payton, is still suspended for the season. It will still be a huge loss for the Saints but at least they have their full roster to pick from. The Saints were unable to strengthen through the draft as they had no pick until the 90th overall. While they were unable to spend big money, they were able to sort out contracts for key players such as, Marques Colston, Jonathan Vilma, Lance Moore and Drew Brees. The Saints should still be a strong side but I do think Payton's absence will hurt them and they will lose the divisional title.
Prediction : 9-7
Tampa Bay Buccanneers - Tampa Bay have had a great off season. They have brought in some proven talent on offense. Vincent Jackson and Dallas Clark have arrived and they have also strengthened their O-Line. They also had a good draft and managed to get two picks in the first round. Alabama safety, Mark Barron and Boise State running back, Doug Martin were both selected. Doug Martin has looked impressive in preseason and has been named as starting running-back. The Bucs will be better this year but they still aren't a playoff team, just yet.
Prediction : 7-9
Carolina Panthers - The Panthers were a great watch last year for the neutral but perhaps their own fans had mixed emotions on their season. Rookie quarterback, Cam Newton, had a good year but unfortunately, for Carolina, the defense didn't. Newton put up some great numbers and the offense scored a lot of points but the defense done them absolutely no favors. On paper, Carolina have improved their D this year but it's a well known fact that football games aren't won on paper. The Panthers made an interesting addition to their back field by signing Mike Tolbert from San Diego. They now have three quality players in the backfield with Tolbert joining Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams. When you consider how well those three can run the ball and Cam Newton at quarterback can also run the ball, it looks like Carolina will be putting together some sort of triple option offense. The triple option is quite uncommon in the NFL and is used more in college so it will be interesting to see how the league's defenses deal with it.
Prediction : 4-12
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers - The 49ers had a great season last year and it took an overtime field goal in the NFC Championship game to beat them. I expect to see more of the same this season as they have kept all the key pieces in last years success and improved were they were at their weakest. The 49ers passing game wasn't particularly impressive. It seemed as though they didn't really trust quarterback, Alex Smith. In fairness to Smith, when called upon last year he done a good job so perhaps he'll get more opportunities this season. The 49ers have given him a few new targets. Randy Moss and Mario Manningham have arrived and they also drafted Illinois receiver, AJ Jenkins. The 49ers have a weak division and should have enough about them to win it with a few weeks to spare.
Prediction : 14-2
St Louis Rams - St Louis have had two bad years in a row and while I don't think they are going to be troubling the playoff teams, I do think they'll avoid those first few draft picks next season. They have a new Head Coach in Jeff Fisher and that alone should provide them with a boost. The Rams had a good draft after initially trading down twice. They gave the number 2 overall pick to Washington who wanted to pick RG3 and then moved down further in a deal with the Cowboys. By doing this the Rams ended up getting five of the first sixty-five picks. They will also have a few extra first rounders in the years to come as part of the RG3 trade. The future looks bright in St Louis but this season will be a bridge too far for them.
Prediction : 5-11
Seattle Seahawks - Seattle splashed out on former Green Bay quarterback, Matt Flynn and promptly entered him into a quarterback competition with Tarvaris Jackson and rookie, Russell Wilson. Jackson has since moved to Buffalo but it looks as though the rookie, Russell Wilson from Wisconsin, has managed to win the starting job. It promises to be a baptism of fire for WIlson and there will be a lot of extra pressure on him because of Matt Flynn's presence on the bench. Most rookie quarterbacks who are starting in week one have been drafted to start. They are usually in the position were they know the team is theirs to grow into but unfortunately Wilson won't have that luxury. Instead with every bad pass, he'll be reminded of Matt Flynn and with the money Flynn is getting paid, I wouldn't be surprised if the coach is a little more willing to change it than usual.
Prediction : 5-11
Arizona Cardinals - Arizona haven't quite been the same team since Kurt Warner retired. Warner was a very accurate quarterback and he connected perfectly with Larry Fitzgerald. Since then the starting job has been in a number of different hands but it looks as though the Cardinals are starting this season with John Skelton under center. Skelton is a decent quarterback and if he can learn how to take care of the football a little better when passing then he should have a good career in the NFL. With Skelton at quarterback, last season, the Cardinals went 5-2. In the draft the Cardinals picked up Michael Floyd, a receiver from Notre Dame. Floyd should be another decent target for Skelton to look for and he may even take some of the defense away from Larry Fitzgerald.
Prediction : 4-12
NFC Playoff Teams
San Francisco 49ers
Green Bay Packers
New York Giants
Atlanta Falcons
Detroit Lions
Chicago Bears
AFC
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens - Baltimore have been dealt a blow with the injury to Defensive Player of the Year, Terrell Suggs. Suggs himself says he will be back in November but it is widely expected he will miss the full season. Baltimore lost a few players in free agency but had a solid draft and should have enough talent on the roster to have another good season and challenge the Steelers for AFC North supremacy.
Prediction : 12-4
Pittsburgh Steelers - Pittsburgh are another side who lost quite a few of their players in the off season but it was mostly veterans who were on a downward slide anyway so they shouldn't be too badly effected by this. Their O-line and D-line were old and needed to be replaced. They have done that through the draft so as long as the new guys settle in quickly, they should have another good year. Contract talks have broken down with star receiver, Mike Wallace, but he has reported back to training camp and will play this season. With an improved, O-line, and targets like Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown to throw to, I'd expect Ben Roethlisberger to have a big year at quarterback. Running back, Rashard Mendenhall, is coming back from a serious injury and should be back within a week or two. He is another who could be helped by a new and improved offensive line.
Prediction : 12-4
Cincinnati Bengals - Cincinnati have made a few good moves in the off season, bringing in BenJarvus Green-Ellis at running-back from New England. Ellis should help keep defenses honest and help create space for quarterback, Andy Dalton, to find his favorite receiver, AJ Green. Dalton and Green should both have good careers ahead of them. The Bengals had two first rounders and used them to bring in corner back, Dre Kirkpatrick from Alabama and Wisconsin guard, Kevin Zeitler. The Bengals are a young side and I expect them to be a huge force in the AFC North within the next few years but don't think they are quite ready to topple Baltimore and Pittsburgh just yet.
Prediction : 6-10
Cleveland Browns - Cleveland had a good draft and brought in Trent Richardson, a running-back from Alabama. Richardson was excellent in college and I can remember watching him alongside Mark Ingram in the 2009 season when the Crimson Tide won the national championship. Richardson won another national championship last year and finally joins the NFL. I am looking forward to seeing him in action. I think Cleveland's biggest issue is going to be at quarterback. They have named rookie, Brandon Weeden, as their starting quarterback. I would have given McCoy another year at starter as I think he was showing signs of improving but the Browns have decided to go back to square one again with another rookie.
Prediction : 3-13
AFC East
New England Patriots - Bill Belichick has had another great off season in New England and has the Pats in position for another Superbowl run. The Pats were poor on defense last year and Belichick used the draft to address that. The Pats first six picks in the draft were all on improving their defense so they should be better on that side of the ball, this year. Tom Brady is still one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and Belichick has went and got him even more weapons on the offense. Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski are still there and Belichick has added receiver, Brandon Lloyd and tight-end, Daniel Fells. The Pats look set for another big season and a deep playoff run.
Prediction : 15-1
Buffalo Bills - Buffalo have improved on defense, bringing in high profile free agents, Mario Williams and Mark Anderson, from Houston and New England, respectively. The Bills had a good draft too and improved the overall depth throughout their roster. They had a strong start last year but a disappointing second half to the season saw them slip out of playoff contention but I think this could be the year were Buffalo take that extra step and reach the playoffs for the first time since the 1999 season.
Prediction : 9-7
New York Jets - All the news about the New York Jets in the off season revolved around them bringing in Tim Tebow. I'm not convinced it was a good move by the Jets as it increases the pressure on quarterback, Mark Sanchez. Sanchez has already been struggling with confidence issues and I can't see things improving with Tebow on the bench. For a player with limited talent, Tebow, has huge support from fans and the media and you just know that once Sanchez has a few bad series on the field the Tebow chants will start. The Jets have improved on a defense, which was already one of the best in the league. They have brought in Safeties, Laron Landry and Yeremiah Bell and I cannot wait to see how a secondary including Landry, Bell, Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie gets on. I can't see too many teams putting up big passing yards against them. The Jets should go close to being the best defense in the league but all the questions were on the offensive side of the game and I don't think they've answered any of them.
Prediction : 7-9
Miami Dolphins - Miami are another side starting the season with a rookie quarterback. Ryan Tannehill of Texas A & M was drafted, 8th overall. The NFL can be a difficult place for rookie quarterbacks and Tannehill's job isn't helped by the fact he hasn't got a great deal of targets to throw too. Brandon Marshall has left and Chad Johnson had a short spell at the team before getting released after he was arrested after an altercation with his wife. I can't see the Dolphins having a good year and think they'll be a lot closer to a number one draft pick than a playoff spot.
Prediction : 4-12.
AFC South
Houston Texans - Houston have had a mixed off season. They have lost key players in Mario Williams and Demeco Ryans on the defense so that unit will most likely be weaker this year. Quarterback, Matt Schaub, is fit again which will be a boost and they will rely heavily on running-back, Arian Foster and receiver, Andre Johnson. A lot of people are tipping the Texans for the Superbowl but I can't see it. The reason they done well last year was their defense and it isn't as strong his year. A relatively weak division should help them reach the playoffs but I don't expect as big an impact this time.
Prediction : 8-8
Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis had the number one draft pick and used it wisely taking Stanford quarterback, Andrew Luck. This kid has been talked about for years now and very little of the talk has been negative. John Elway is known to be a huge fan and Elway knows a thing or two about being an NFL quarterback. Luck comes into the middle of a rebuilding process in Indianapolis and I believe in the years to come he will be the right man to lead them in the same path as previous quarterback, Peyton Manning. The Colts have kept receiver, Reggie Wayne and also drafted tight-end, Coby Fleener who Andrew Luck had a great relationship with in college. Luck certainly has the targets so it's up to him to find them.
Prediction : 7-9
Tennessee Titans - The Titans season will depend on the form of running-back, Chris Johnson. Johnson's form has been going the wrong way in the last two years since a great season in 2009. Johnson has had a full preseason this year and has been declaring himself, in the best shape in years. It's all well saying that but it's performances on the field that will prove it. Jake Locker, has got the starting job at quarterback. He came in midway through last season and done quite well so it will be interesting to see how he does this season.
Prediction : 6-10
Jacksonville Jaguars - Jacksonville's off season has been dominated by the Maurice Jones-Drew holdout. He has returned but seems set to have a limited role in Week 1 at least. The Jags have upgraded at receiver, drafting Justin Blackmon from Oklahoma State, with the 5th overall pick. I am far from convinced by Blaine Gabbert at quarterback and fully expect to see Chad Henne taking the snaps before too long.
Prediction : 4-12
AFC West
San Diego Chargers - San Diego lost star receiver, Vincent Jackson but they have added a few other options with Robert Meacham and Eddie Royal coming in. Quarterback, Philip Rivers, on form, is a match for anyone in the NFL. He has been hot and cold in recent years with a few mistakes creeping into his play but the new arrivals at receiver should help him. I would expect a big season from running-back, Ryan Matthews and that too should help Rivers and the Chargers. Their offense should be good and they have added a few good pieces on defense through the draft, so I think the Chargers could make a return to the postseason.
Prediction : 10-6
Denver Broncos - Denver made the highest profile acquisition of the off season by signing former Colts quarterback, Peyton Manning. Manning missed last season through injury but he is believed to be back to his best and it will certainly be a very interesting season in Denver. They have tried to give Manning options on the offense and he has some good targets in, Andre Caldwell, Brandon Stokeley, Jacob Tamme and Joel Dreesen. I am really looking forward to seeing Manning back in action and hope he can get back to his best as it always difficult watching a legend struggle.
Prediction : 8-8
Kansas City Chiefs - The Chiefs have made a few decent signings in the off season, bringing in Kevin Boss and Peyton Hillis to improve the offense. They had a decent draft too and also managed to get receiver, Dwayne Bowe to sign his franchise tender and end his holdout. Running-back, Jamaal Charles should also be back to his best after missing most of last season due to injury.
Prediction : 7-9
Oakland Raiders - Oakland start their first season without Al Davis as owner in 40 years. The eccentric, Davis, passed away during last season but I can't see the team doing anything spectacular on the field this season in tribute to him. The Raiders didn't have a pick in the draft until number 95. I expect a difficult season for the Raiders and believe it will be a year of rebuilding.
Prediction : 5-11
AFC Playoff Teams
New England Patriots
Pittsburgh Steelers
San Diego Chargers
Houston Texans
Baltimore Ravens
Buffalo Bills
Superbowl
In the AFC, I cannot see anyone beating the New England Patriots. The NFC should be harder to predict but I think the San Francisco 49ers look the best placed team to make it to the big game. On paper, it looks like a classic battle between an explosive offense and an explosive defense. As the old saying goes, "Defense wins Championships" and I think that will be the case here. The 2012 NFL Champions will be the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS.
Friday, 7 September 2012
International Weekend Predictions
As there are no Premier League games this week, I have added
predictions for all of the European World Cup Qualifiers. My predictions have been poor so far so
hopefully the international games are easier to predict.
Group A
Croatia
2-0 Rep. of Macedonia
Wales 1-2 Belgium
Scotland
1-0 Serbia
Group B
Malta
0-1 Armenia
Bulgaria
1-1 Italy
Denmark
2-0 Czech Republic
Group C
Kazakhstan
0-1 Rep. of Ireland
Germany
7-0 Faroe Islands
Group D
Estonia
1-1 Romania
Andorra
0-2 Hungary
Holland 2-0 Turkey
Group E
Albania
1-2 Cyprus
Slovenia
1-1 Switzerland
Iceland
1-2 Norway
Group F
Russia
3-0 Northern Ireland
Azerbaijan
1-1 Israel
Luxembourg
0-4 Portugal
Group G
Liechtenstein
0-2 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Lithuania
1-1 Slovakia
Latvia
0-1 Greece
Group H
Montenegro
2-1 Poland
Moldova
0-2 England
Group I
Georgia
1-2 Belarus
Finland
0-2 France
Thursday, 6 September 2012
International Football - A Radical Change
This week sees domestic leagues take a break to make way for international football. I'm not a huge fan of international football. At least not in it's current format. I love watching the World Cup, the European Championships, the Copa America and the African Cup of Nations but I can't stand the breaks in the domestic season to make way for the qualifiers.
The way I see it, the overall standard of domestic and international football are hurt by the current format. I'm not sure how meeting up for a week, eight or nine times a season to play international games helps anyone. The international sides can't cover a lot in one week and they have no continuity. After a week or so, the players will be starting to develop partnerships and understandings. Just as things are coming together, they go back to their club sides and a month or so later, they come back to start off from square one again. Meanwhile, domestic teams, lose half their team for a week, right in the middle of the season. They get their players back on Wednesday or Thursdays and then only have a day or two to prepare them for a game. It's not fair, especially on the clubs who are paying these footballers hundreds of thousands of pounds a week in wages.
My proposal would be to synchronise the international calendar in such a way that the domestic seasons were shortened by about six to eight weeks and the qualifying campaigns took place at the end of the season. I think it would generate a lot more interest. In international football, when teams are playing the final few group games, you can barely remember what happened in the early qualification games as they were played over a year ago. With my idea there would be the equivalent of a major championship every summer. It just comes down to managing the length of time you have at your disposal in a better way. If the international season was completed in one window over a six week period, teams could be playing a game every five days or so. You could also set up the fixtures in such a way that there is games every day. I've no idea who would be losing if this happened. It really does work out better for everyone. The clubs don't lose their players at key points in the season, international teams get a six to eight week period to prepare and play the biggest games of their season, fans get to watch an exciting tournament and television companies would absolutely love the idea. Wives and girlfriends couldn't even complain as there's not actually more football, it's just organised differently.
2013's summer would be World Cup Qualifying, 2014 would be the World Cup, 2015 European Championship Qualifying, 2016 European Championships and so on. Continents like Africa and South America who hold their Continental tournaments every two years could fit it around the World Cup year or combine qualifying with their continental tournaments.
One thing I am sick of hearing about is footballers complaining about tiredness. Personally, I think it's ridiculous that these players, who are paid obscene amounts of money, complain they are tired after playing football a few times a week. I know guys who work in factories or on building sites and then go and play football. I've never once heard them complain of tiredness. Too many footballers are overpaid prima donnas but just for arguments sake, let's say that tiredness really is an issue. I'm fairly sure, jetting off on international duty every month doesn't help. If continental travel could be restricted to the Champions League and Europa League during the season, then surely players would be coming into these tournaments in better condition. It could even be arranged, were possible, to arrange double headers. Two home games in a row, followed by two away games. I know these wee players are tired so you could even go as far as to arrange the fixtures to minimise the travelling. If there are two trips to Eastern Europe in the group, then try to arrange them for back to back games etc.
Traditionalists won't like it. They won't know why they won't like it, but they just won't. There are a lot of positives in it and as far as I can see, very few negatives. I don't think it's something that will happen any time soon, but it is definitely something that could happen in the future. Football is dictated by money and television. There's a hell of a lot of money in football as it is and if the television companies could guarantee a tournament every summer then you can be sure it wouldn't be long before it happened.
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