Super Bowl XLVII Prediction
Super Bowl XLVII is destined to be a close game up until the very end, and apart from some early jitters, it will be a relatively high scoring game. Both Kaepernick and Flacco have proven to be clutch in big games as seen in the 2013 NFL playoffs. Basically, the team to get the ball last will likely win Super Bowl XLVII. We believe that team will be San Francisco, as David Akers kicks the deciding field goal to win the game after missing a field goal just minutes before.
Prediction: 49ers over Ravens 27-24
MVP: LaMichael James: 105 rushing yards, 1 TD, 30 receiving yards
Super Bowl XLVII is destined to be a close game up until the very end, and apart from some early jitters, it will be a relatively high scoring game. Both Kaepernick and Flacco have proven to be clutch in big games as seen in the 2013 NFL playoffs. Basically, the team to get the ball last will likely win Super Bowl XLVII. We believe that team will be San Francisco, as David Akers kicks the deciding field goal to win the game after missing a field goal just minutes before.
Prediction: 49ers over Ravens 27-24
MVP: LaMichael James: 105 rushing yards, 1 TD, 30 receiving yards
NFC Championship Preview: 49ers @ Falcons
Who would have thought that Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers quarterback who replaced Alex Smith, would be named victor over a more experienced Aaron Rodgers, while posting mind boggling numbers through the air and on the ground with the lights shining bright into the evening last Saturday. Sure, San Francisco's defense allowed 31 points to the Packers offense. However, Green Bay ranked fifth in points per game with 27.1, and clearly, Colin Kaepernick realized the importance of jumping ahead early in the game. San Francisco's next opponent will be the Atlanta Falcons, as Kaepernick must travel to the Georgia Dome, beat Matt Ryan, and then San Francisco will have a shot at its sixth Super Bowl title. Even as number one seed in the NFC, Atlanta has been undervalued by most analysts and football fans. Their quarterback, Matt Ryan, had not won a playoff game up until last Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, so the fact that the Falcons will be battling for a spot in the Super Bowl comes as a shock. Atlanta's defense has struggled against running quarterbacks, so if Matt Ryan wishes to gain the respect he deserves, he will have to out-duel Colin Kaepernick in the NFC Championship Game.
Atlanta Falcons: The Atlanta Falcons almost blew it last Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, where rookie quarterback Russell Wilson overcame a 20 point deficit early in the third quarter. Eventually, the Atlanta Falcons found themselves down 28-27 with a mere 31 seconds left in the game. "Matty Ice" somehow pulled off the impossible with two straight big completions down field. His march led to a Matt Bryant field goal in what appeared to be the end of the game. However, an extremely controversial onside kick gave Seattle amazing field position, keeping them in the game. In the end, Russell Wilson's Hail Mary pass was unsuccessful, and Matt Ryan finally won his first playoff game. Matt Ryan's performance was not perfect; in fact, far from it. Ryan threw two interceptions and was also unable to maintain a consistent lead over Seattle throughout the duration of the game. With weapon's like Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, and Julio Jones, Atlanta will likely rely heavily on the deep ball, and less on their ground game. The deciding factor for this team is clearly the amount of rushing yards allowed against Kaepernick in tomorrow's game. Atlanta allowed a combined 202 rushing yards to quarterback Cam Newton in the two games played against Carolina during the regular season, along with another 60 yards to Russell Wilson in the Divisional Round. Kaepernick may be the most challenging scrambler to contain within the pocket. All in all, Atlanta's defense does not match up against the talented San Francisco running game.
San Francisco 49ers: Similar to future Hall of Famer Tom Brady, Colin Kaepernick was an overlooked quarterback in the NFL draft, who watched as five other quarterbacks were taken before he was selected by San Francisco. After Alex Smith suffered a concussion in a Week 10 game against the Rams, Colin Kaepernick stepped in, just to lead his team down field for a equalizing field goal. From that game onwards, Colin Kaepernick consistently put up exceptional numbers, running his way into the playoffs, and earning San Francisco a first round bye as the number two seed in the playoffs. Once Green Bay beat Minnesota in the Divisional Round, Aaron Rodgers was set to play Kaepernick in one of the more highly anticipated games of the NFL season. Kaepernick's second pass of the game resulted in a Green Bay pick-six, immediately worrying those rooting for the 49ers. Clearly Kaepernick's confidence was not shaken, as he bounced back with one of the best statistical games by a quarterback in the history of the National Football League. The former Nevada quarterback went on to pass for 263 yards with two touchdowns; however, Kaepernick set an NFL record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single game with 181 yards. His four combined touchdowns largely contributed to a San Francisco win over the Packers. Atlanta should be nervous about San Francisco's running game, where head coach Jim Harbaugh has an infinite amount of possibilities in terms of play calling. San Francisco's defense is feared by many for their insane front 7, including players such as Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis, and returning defensive end Justin Smith. Constant pressure on Matt Ryan should be accounted for, similar to the pass rush seen by Seattle in the Divisional Round. The only thing against San Francisco may be the trouble surrounding wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who is being investigated in a sexual assault case. It is unclear how this team may cope with the mystery surrounding one of their best offensive weapons. If Kaepernick were to play as he did against Green Bay, Atlanta does not stand a chance.
Atlanta Falcons: The Atlanta Falcons almost blew it last Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, where rookie quarterback Russell Wilson overcame a 20 point deficit early in the third quarter. Eventually, the Atlanta Falcons found themselves down 28-27 with a mere 31 seconds left in the game. "Matty Ice" somehow pulled off the impossible with two straight big completions down field. His march led to a Matt Bryant field goal in what appeared to be the end of the game. However, an extremely controversial onside kick gave Seattle amazing field position, keeping them in the game. In the end, Russell Wilson's Hail Mary pass was unsuccessful, and Matt Ryan finally won his first playoff game. Matt Ryan's performance was not perfect; in fact, far from it. Ryan threw two interceptions and was also unable to maintain a consistent lead over Seattle throughout the duration of the game. With weapon's like Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, and Julio Jones, Atlanta will likely rely heavily on the deep ball, and less on their ground game. The deciding factor for this team is clearly the amount of rushing yards allowed against Kaepernick in tomorrow's game. Atlanta allowed a combined 202 rushing yards to quarterback Cam Newton in the two games played against Carolina during the regular season, along with another 60 yards to Russell Wilson in the Divisional Round. Kaepernick may be the most challenging scrambler to contain within the pocket. All in all, Atlanta's defense does not match up against the talented San Francisco running game.
Bottom Line: Unless the Falcons somehow found a way to contain both Frank Gore and Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco is bound to be playing in New Orleans this February.
49ers over Falcons 38-23
AFC Championship Preview: Ravens @ Patriots
With 00:31 seconds left on the clock, Baltimore wide receiver Jacoby Jones waltzed into the end zone after catching a 70 yard pass from Joe Flacco, tying the game at 35 against Denver in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. The Denver coaching staff is now under scrutiny for their decision to take a knee, sending the game into overtime. One overtime was not enough, where, with less then a minute left, Peyton Manning threw his 13th interception of the season, and Baltimore went on to kick a game winning field goal in 2OT. This week, they will be preparing to play Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Brady threw for 344 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 41-28 victory of Houston. The score does not properly show the intensity of this game. For the majority of the game, the Texans were losing to New England, but were not too far away from mounting a comeback. In the end, though, Tom Brady earned his 17th playoff victory, an NFL record, and will be battling against the Ravens for his second straight Super Bowl appearance. Be sure to comment, subscribe, or like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/thenflreport! Also, subscribe to us on YouTube, where we create monthly highlight videos for some of the most exciting NFL players!
New England Patriots: Similar to last season, the New England Patriots were dominant in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. After a slow start to 2012, the Patriots finished the season with a 12-4 record, earning the number two seed in the playoffs. Their first opponent was the Houston Texans, where Brady faced off against JJ Watt and the intimidating Houston defense. However, the Houston front 7 was no match for Tom Brady, who was sacked just once, and hit 7 times by the defensive line. Brady was able to find a groove towards the end of the game, and it is likely that the same thing will take place against Baltimore. The last time these two teams played was during the dark ages of the 2012 NFL season, where replacement referees wreaked havoc throughout the league. A controversial field goal sealed the deal for Baltimore, who despite losing for the majority of the game, managed to win 31-30 over New England. However, the loss to Baltimore came after a disappointing loss to Arizona, so clearly the Patriots had not yet reached their full potential. As the season progressed, Brady began to roll, even without his star tight end, Rob Gronkowski. Unfortunately, Gronk returned in Sunday's game against Houston, just to be taken out within the first quarter due to a a new injury to his arm, and the Patriots will be missing Gronkowski for the rest of the season. Running back Shane Vereen filled the void at wide receiver, but it is likely he will not have back to back incredible performances. Baltimore is bound to double-team Wes Welker, leaving Brady targets such as Aaron Hernandez, Brandon Lloyd, and the option of both of the Patriots running backs. New England's defense has proven to get the job done, but a lot of pressure will be on Brady to put a lot of points on the board, and without Gronkowski, it may be difficult.
Baltimore Ravens: Baltimore started off 2012 showing true potential, where the only two losses came against Philadelphia and Houston. However, the last five regular season games went poorly for Baltimore, who lost three straight games, two of which came against playoff teams. Week 16 brought the Ravens reassurance as they entered the playoffs, where Joe Flacco routed the New York Giants defense. Flacco has been under scrutiny for his inability to lead a very talented Baltimore team through the playoffs and into the Super Bowl. However, last Sunday against the Broncos proved Flacco can compete with the best of them. In a rematch of last year's AFC Championship game, the Baltimore Ravens have a chip on their shoulder, where a missed field goal lost them a spot in last year's Super Bowl. The fate of the Ravens all depends on Joe Flacco and his success with the deep ball, which proved to be the ultimate difference maker against Denver. There were two things, apart from Flacco's leadership, that can taken away from Baltimore's performance against Denver: a). Both Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis were dominant forces on the defensive side of the ball, and clearly this team is feeding off of Ray Lewis' last ounce of emotion, as he looks to retire at the end of this season b). Baltimore's special teams looked atrocious, as they allowed two touchdowns on special teams, which nearly cost them a shot at the AFC title. Tom Brady will already be putting points on the scoreboard, and if New England were to add to the lead thanks to kick returns and punt returns, Baltimore would not stand a chance. If Flacco starts off the game with two big scores, Baltimore could be looking at a trip to New Orleans. However, if his bombs were to be intercepted, those turnovers would cause a dramatic momentum shift in favor of New England.
Bottom Line: Even though New England is young and talented, this is likely Tom Brady's last shot at another Super Bowl ring. Baltimore will not be able to pull off a miracle on the road, and once again their season will come to a close at Gillette Stadium.
Patriots over Ravens 31-27
New England Patriots: Similar to last season, the New England Patriots were dominant in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. After a slow start to 2012, the Patriots finished the season with a 12-4 record, earning the number two seed in the playoffs. Their first opponent was the Houston Texans, where Brady faced off against JJ Watt and the intimidating Houston defense. However, the Houston front 7 was no match for Tom Brady, who was sacked just once, and hit 7 times by the defensive line. Brady was able to find a groove towards the end of the game, and it is likely that the same thing will take place against Baltimore. The last time these two teams played was during the dark ages of the 2012 NFL season, where replacement referees wreaked havoc throughout the league. A controversial field goal sealed the deal for Baltimore, who despite losing for the majority of the game, managed to win 31-30 over New England. However, the loss to Baltimore came after a disappointing loss to Arizona, so clearly the Patriots had not yet reached their full potential. As the season progressed, Brady began to roll, even without his star tight end, Rob Gronkowski. Unfortunately, Gronk returned in Sunday's game against Houston, just to be taken out within the first quarter due to a a new injury to his arm, and the Patriots will be missing Gronkowski for the rest of the season. Running back Shane Vereen filled the void at wide receiver, but it is likely he will not have back to back incredible performances. Baltimore is bound to double-team Wes Welker, leaving Brady targets such as Aaron Hernandez, Brandon Lloyd, and the option of both of the Patriots running backs. New England's defense has proven to get the job done, but a lot of pressure will be on Brady to put a lot of points on the board, and without Gronkowski, it may be difficult.
Baltimore Ravens: Baltimore started off 2012 showing true potential, where the only two losses came against Philadelphia and Houston. However, the last five regular season games went poorly for Baltimore, who lost three straight games, two of which came against playoff teams. Week 16 brought the Ravens reassurance as they entered the playoffs, where Joe Flacco routed the New York Giants defense. Flacco has been under scrutiny for his inability to lead a very talented Baltimore team through the playoffs and into the Super Bowl. However, last Sunday against the Broncos proved Flacco can compete with the best of them. In a rematch of last year's AFC Championship game, the Baltimore Ravens have a chip on their shoulder, where a missed field goal lost them a spot in last year's Super Bowl. The fate of the Ravens all depends on Joe Flacco and his success with the deep ball, which proved to be the ultimate difference maker against Denver. There were two things, apart from Flacco's leadership, that can taken away from Baltimore's performance against Denver: a). Both Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis were dominant forces on the defensive side of the ball, and clearly this team is feeding off of Ray Lewis' last ounce of emotion, as he looks to retire at the end of this season b). Baltimore's special teams looked atrocious, as they allowed two touchdowns on special teams, which nearly cost them a shot at the AFC title. Tom Brady will already be putting points on the scoreboard, and if New England were to add to the lead thanks to kick returns and punt returns, Baltimore would not stand a chance. If Flacco starts off the game with two big scores, Baltimore could be looking at a trip to New Orleans. However, if his bombs were to be intercepted, those turnovers would cause a dramatic momentum shift in favor of New England.Bottom Line: Even though New England is young and talented, this is likely Tom Brady's last shot at another Super Bowl ring. Baltimore will not be able to pull off a miracle on the road, and once again their season will come to a close at Gillette Stadium.
Patriots over Ravens 31-27
2013 NFL Playoff Predictions (Full)
Wild Card Round:
AFC: 3. Texans over 6. Bengals
AFC: 4. Ravens over 5. Colts
NFC: 3. Packers over 6. Vikings
NFC: 5. Seahawks over 4. Redskins
Divisional Round:
AFC: 2. Patriots over 3. Texans
AFC: 1. Broncos over 4. Ravens
NFC: 3. Packers over 2. 49ers
NFC: 5. Seahawks over 1. Falcons (OT)
Championship Round:
AFC: 1. Broncos over 2. Patriots
NFC: 3. Packers over 5. Seahawks
Super Bowl: Secretly, everyone hopes to see Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl after a serious neck injury kept him from playing in 2011. However, the Packers will have momentum after rolling past the 49ers, and then the Seahawks, as they take home their 5th Super Bowl title.
AFC: 3. Texans over 6. BengalsAFC: 4. Ravens over 5. Colts
NFC: 3. Packers over 6. Vikings
NFC: 5. Seahawks over 4. Redskins
Divisional Round:
AFC: 2. Patriots over 3. Texans
AFC: 1. Broncos over 4. Ravens
NFC: 3. Packers over 2. 49ers
NFC: 5. Seahawks over 1. Falcons (OT)
Championship Round:
AFC: 1. Broncos over 2. Patriots
NFC: 3. Packers over 5. Seahawks
Super Bowl: Secretly, everyone hopes to see Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl after a serious neck injury kept him from playing in 2011. However, the Packers will have momentum after rolling past the 49ers, and then the Seahawks, as they take home their 5th Super Bowl title.
Packers over Broncos 33-20
2013 Wild Card Round Preview
Bengals @ Texans: The Houston Texans did not finish the season the way they desired, as they lost three out of the four final games of the season. This unfortunate collapse cost them a first round bye, where New England and Denver swooped in for the 1st and 2nd seed. In the last three losses of the year, Houston's offense was unsuccessful in scoring 16 points or more in a single game. Though Arian Foster has been relatively consistent throughout the duration of the season, the most important thing for Houston shall be the passing game, and Matt Schaub's clutch rating in the fourth quarter. On the other hand, the Cincinnati Bengals, Houston's opponent for tomorrow, are 7-1 in the past 8 games, and this amazing streak propelled them into the playoffs. In a rematch of last year's divisional round matchup, Cincinnati is looking for revenge, where this inexperienced team can eventually play for the AFC Championship game. However, the Houston Texans, at home, will likely beat this young Cincinnati squad in tomorrow's game.Texans over Bengals 20-6
Stand-Out Performance: Arian Foster: 105 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
Colts @ Ravens: Very similar to Saturday's game, Sunday's game featuring the Colts and the Ravens has two very different teams, one who has struggled before the postseason, where as the other has been thriving. After losing their star quarterback to a neck injury, and then to free agency, the Indianapolis Colts drafted Andrew Luck out of Stanford. Luck's leadership managed to abolish their disappointing 2011 campaign, and now, as they enter the postseason, Indianapolis starts their run at the perfect time. After losing to the New England Patriots, the Colts are 5-1, and are playing a very frail Baltimore Ravens team. Linebacker Ray Lewis announced his retirement earlier this week, which could potentially be used as motivation for this defense, a motivation that is an absolute necessity at the moment. The Ravens are 1-3 within the past four games, and even though the Ravens clobbered Cincinnati in the season opener, things are not looking great for this squad. However, Baltimore's running game will dominate the weaken Colts defense, and Ray Rice will single handedly lead this team into the divisional round.
Ravens over Colts 27-13
Stand-Out Performance: Ray Rice: 140 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 1 receiving TD
Vikings @ Packers: Last week, when Adrian Peterson came within 9 yards of breaking the single season rushing record, Minnesota managed to beat the Green Bay Packers at home. Peterson led this team into the playoffs, but unfortunately, one can not win into today's playoff system relying heavily on a rushing game, even if it is Adrian Peterson at the helm. Truth be told, Aaron Rodgers and his scary offense in Green Bay will slaughter the Vikings at home. With Greg Jennings back and Jordy Nelson ready to play, Christian Ponder doesn't even come close to Rodgers and the mighty Green bay Packers.
Packers over Vikings 38-17
Stand-Out Performance: Aaron Rodgers: 350 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD
Seahawks @ Redskins: Away from home, Seattle is like a fish out of water. Though this team scored 40-plus points in three straight games, it is unlikely they can repeat that amazing statistic. The Redskins were sensational last week, where Alfred Morris showed the Pro Bowl voters that they made a serious mistake. RGIII also proved he can win big games when the team's Super Bowl chances are on the line. As RGIII matches up against the Seahawks defense, it will be interesting to see how he fares against this amazing pass rush. Seattle's quarterback Russell Wilson has been flying below the radar as two other rookie quarterbacks gain all the attention. Dont't be surprised if Seattle rolls against the Washington Redskins.
Seahawks over Redskins 24-17
Stand-Out Performance: Russell Wilson: 250 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD
Week 13 Predictions
(Abridged Version)
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| J. Meric/Getty Images |
Bills over Jaguars
Bears over Seahawks
Lions over Colts
Packers over Vikings
Panthers over Chiefs
Patriots over Dolphins (OT)
Jets over Cardinals
49ers over Rams
Texans over Titans
Broncos over Buccaneers (OT)
Ravens over Steelers
Browns over Raiders
Chargers over Bengals
Cowboys over Eagles
Giants over Redskins
Ravens over Steelers
Browns over Raiders
Chargers over Bengals
Cowboys over Eagles
Giants over Redskins
Week 12 Predictions
(Abridged Version)
Bears over VikingsBengals over Raiders
Steelers over Browns (OT)
Colts over Bills
Seahawks over Dolphins
Buccaneer over Falcons (OT)
Ravens over Chargers
Cardinals over Rams
Saints over 49ers
Giants over Packers
Panthers over Eagles
Week 12 Predictions (Thanksgiving Day)
Thanksgiving's best tradition, apart from eating and giving thanks, is watching NFL Football with helpings of food in your stomach. Last year's Thanksgiving did not disappointment, featuring the battle of the Harbaugh brothers, along with Ndamukong Suh's notorious stomp. Tomorrow has three games set up, one between the Cowboys and Redskins, one between the Lions and Texans, and one between the Patriots and Jets. All three have the potential to be great games, especially the latter. The NFL Report will fill you in on everything you need to know for tomorrow's match ups.
Texans @ Lions: The Houston Texans survived a Week 11 scare against an unimpressive Jacksonville Jaguars team. The game was surprisingly close up until the fourth quarter, when Jacksonville suddenly took a fourteen point lead. Matt Schaub was not ready to lose to a team with just one win on the season, and was able to march up the field twice, tying the game with 1:34 left on the clock. Then, in overtime, two field goals on either side set up Andre Johnson's 48 yard gain for the winning touchdown. Quarterback Matt Schaub's extraordinary performance (527 passing yards, 5 TDs) comes at a perfect time, with Detroit next on the schedule. However, Arian Foster is coming off of his worst rushing performance of 2012, running for a mere 77 yards and a costly fumble. Detroit's offense on the other hand scored 20 points against the Packers last week in a losing effort. A positive sign to come out of last Sunday's game is Calvin Johnson's hot streak, averaging 160 receiving yards in the past three games. Stafford suffered three turnover against the Pack, and will need to limit his errors if they wish to overpower the Texans defense. Even on the road, Houston is more likely to tame the Lions on Thanksgiving day than suffer their second loss of the season.
Texans over Lions 27-21
Redskins @ Cowboys: The Washington Redskins, though below the .500 mark, demolished the Philadelphia Eagles in their Week 11 match up. The win can be credited to quarterback Robert Griffin III. Last Sunday's match-up was RGIII's first game as Washington's offensive captain, and his performance did not disappointment. RGIII completed 14 passes on 15 attempts, throwing for 200 yards with 4 TDs and 84 rushing yards. The Redskins' defense, normally a unit that struggles against high flying offenses, held Philadelphia to six points. However, it is unlikely the Redskins will shut down Dallas on the road. Tony Romo, a quarterback under scrutiny for his high turnover total, has not thrown a pick in three straight games. Dallas barely made it past the Browns in Week 11, thanks to an overtime kick by Dan Bailey. The Cowboys have a 2-2 record at home, where as the Redskins have a 2-3 record on the road. Thursday's division rivalry is bound to be close, but RGIII is ready to prove himself on America's favorite holiday.
Redskins over Cowboys 23-20
Jets @ Patriots: Many, including myself, were expecting a very close game between New England and Indianapolis last Sunday. Andrew Luck and the Colts were rolling along, and their streak created playoff talk. However, Tom Brady and the Patriots offense dropped 59 points on the Colts defense, the highest amount yet for New England. Both the running game and the passing game rank in the top 5 in terms of yardage, but it is the defense that fans must worry about. The last time these two teams met, regulation did not last long enough to settle this game, and New England came out victorious after Stephen Gostowski's field goal went on to win the game. Unfortunately, tight end Rob Gronkowski broke his forearm last Sunday and will be out indefinitely for tomorrow's game. The loss of Brady's favorite weapon could be huge against one of the league's best pass defenses. The Jets lost three consecutive games before beating the St. Louis Rams on the road, 27-13. New England has lost just one game at home, and even though this offense is without Gronk, the Patriots are the favorites entering Thanksgiving evening.
Patriots over Jets 28-16
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| Calvin Johnson |
Texans over Lions 27-21
Redskins @ Cowboys: The Washington Redskins, though below the .500 mark, demolished the Philadelphia Eagles in their Week 11 match up. The win can be credited to quarterback Robert Griffin III. Last Sunday's match-up was RGIII's first game as Washington's offensive captain, and his performance did not disappointment. RGIII completed 14 passes on 15 attempts, throwing for 200 yards with 4 TDs and 84 rushing yards. The Redskins' defense, normally a unit that struggles against high flying offenses, held Philadelphia to six points. However, it is unlikely the Redskins will shut down Dallas on the road. Tony Romo, a quarterback under scrutiny for his high turnover total, has not thrown a pick in three straight games. Dallas barely made it past the Browns in Week 11, thanks to an overtime kick by Dan Bailey. The Cowboys have a 2-2 record at home, where as the Redskins have a 2-3 record on the road. Thursday's division rivalry is bound to be close, but RGIII is ready to prove himself on America's favorite holiday.
Redskins over Cowboys 23-20
Jets @ Patriots: Many, including myself, were expecting a very close game between New England and Indianapolis last Sunday. Andrew Luck and the Colts were rolling along, and their streak created playoff talk. However, Tom Brady and the Patriots offense dropped 59 points on the Colts defense, the highest amount yet for New England. Both the running game and the passing game rank in the top 5 in terms of yardage, but it is the defense that fans must worry about. The last time these two teams met, regulation did not last long enough to settle this game, and New England came out victorious after Stephen Gostowski's field goal went on to win the game. Unfortunately, tight end Rob Gronkowski broke his forearm last Sunday and will be out indefinitely for tomorrow's game. The loss of Brady's favorite weapon could be huge against one of the league's best pass defenses. The Jets lost three consecutive games before beating the St. Louis Rams on the road, 27-13. New England has lost just one game at home, and even though this offense is without Gronk, the Patriots are the favorites entering Thanksgiving evening.
Patriots over Jets 28-16
Week 11 Predictions
The streak lasted nine weeks, but Atlanta was unable to continue their perfect season. Within the past five or six years, Atlanta has been unable to defeat their division rivals, the New Orleans Saints. The beginning of the game went well for Atlanta, with a quick touchdown and an interception that resulted in another three points. Throughout the remainder of the game, however, New Orleans dominated, resembling the same Saints team of 2011. The word that best describes Atlanta's performance was sloppy, with many errors late in the game. Matt Ryan had the perfect chance to take a last minute lead, but instead felt rushed by opposing defenders and threw an inaccurate pass to a blanketed wide receiver. Then, on third down with less than 20 seconds remaining, Ryan could have easily rushed for the first down and stop the clock, but he chose to bomb a ball downfield to the double teamed Roddy White, which resulted in an incomplete pass. The return of tight end Jimmy Graham as well as a win over Atlanta may mark the beginning of a hot streak in New Orleans. The weekend before Thanksgiving adds a playoff-like atmosphere to each and every game, where a single loss could set a playoff hopeful off course.
Game to Watch: Bears @ 49ers: For the first time in four years, an NFL game, this time between San Francisco and St. Louis, resulted in a tie. It will be extremely strange to see a 1 underneath the tie column, and this has the potential to affect San Francisco's spot in the playoffs. That said, the 49ers were expected to destroy a mediocre St. Louis team. However, the 49ers defense allowed 24 points against a struggling Rams offense. On the other hand, Chicago is coming off of a low scoring game to the Houston Texans. Defense will clearly be a major part of this Monday Night matchup, so offense will be the difference maker. San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith is ruled as questionable due to a concussion. Even if he were to return to the starting lineup, the Chicago Bears would likely shut Smith down, for the offense is not the only unit capable of putting points on the board in Chicago. The Bears offense, led by Cutler and wide receiver Brandon Marshall, has been too inconsistent, and like I said for last weeks game against Houston, Marshall will have to be involved with this offense if they wish to win.
Bears over 49ers 24-10
Stand Out Performance: RB Arian Foster: The highest scoring running back through Week 11 has been Arian Foster of the Houston Texans. Adrian Peterson's comeback performance has almost out shined Foster in 2012, but the Texans running back has a legitimate shot at Offensive Player of the Year if his spectacular play were to continue. Sunday's game between Houston and Jacksonville is an enormous mismatch, and Foster is projected to be extraordinary. Back in Week 2, Foster rushed for 110 yards against Jacksonville with a score. However, this was not the only poor performance from Jacksonville's defense; the Jags have allowed 10 rushing touchdowns so far, 4 of which came against Detroit in Week 9. Arian Foster will be your fantasy football Week 11 champion, so you should feel very comfortable if Foster is starting for your fantasy team tomorrow afternoon.
Arian FosterL 125 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs, 50 receiving yards
Player to Watch: QB Alex Smith: A concussion kept Smith from finishing San Francisco's game against St. Louis, and now, he is trying to return for Monday night's game against Chicago, a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Smith has finally proven himself in the National Football League, with one of the best passer ratings among starting quarterbacks. If Smith were to watch the Week 11 game from the sideline, the 49ers hopes for a win would be dashed. Apart from Frank Gore, Smith is the only hope this team has offensively to overcome such a powerful defense, but hopefully, the organization does not rush him into playing even if he continues to show signs of a concussion.
Alex Smith: 180 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD, INT
Week 11 Predictions:
Falcons over Cardinals
Buccaneers over Panthers
Cowboys over Browns
Packers over Lions
Texans over Jaguars
Bengals over Chiefs
Rams over Jets
Redskins over Eagles
Saints over Raiders
Broncos over Chargers
Patriots over Colts (OT)
Ravens over Steelers
Bears over 49ers
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| Adrian Peterson |
Bears over 49ers 24-10
Stand Out Performance: RB Arian Foster: The highest scoring running back through Week 11 has been Arian Foster of the Houston Texans. Adrian Peterson's comeback performance has almost out shined Foster in 2012, but the Texans running back has a legitimate shot at Offensive Player of the Year if his spectacular play were to continue. Sunday's game between Houston and Jacksonville is an enormous mismatch, and Foster is projected to be extraordinary. Back in Week 2, Foster rushed for 110 yards against Jacksonville with a score. However, this was not the only poor performance from Jacksonville's defense; the Jags have allowed 10 rushing touchdowns so far, 4 of which came against Detroit in Week 9. Arian Foster will be your fantasy football Week 11 champion, so you should feel very comfortable if Foster is starting for your fantasy team tomorrow afternoon.
Arian FosterL 125 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs, 50 receiving yards
Player to Watch: QB Alex Smith: A concussion kept Smith from finishing San Francisco's game against St. Louis, and now, he is trying to return for Monday night's game against Chicago, a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Smith has finally proven himself in the National Football League, with one of the best passer ratings among starting quarterbacks. If Smith were to watch the Week 11 game from the sideline, the 49ers hopes for a win would be dashed. Apart from Frank Gore, Smith is the only hope this team has offensively to overcome such a powerful defense, but hopefully, the organization does not rush him into playing even if he continues to show signs of a concussion.
Alex Smith: 180 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD, INT
Week 11 Predictions:
Falcons over Cardinals
Buccaneers over Panthers
Cowboys over Browns
Packers over Lions
Texans over Jaguars
Bengals over Chiefs
Rams over Jets
Redskins over Eagles
Saints over Raiders
Broncos over Chargers
Patriots over Colts (OT)
Ravens over Steelers
Bears over 49ers
Week 10 Predictions
Doug Martin has wasted no time in adjusting to life in the National Football League. Martin's 251 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns propelled him into the fantasy football spotlight, removing Arian Foster from the top back in fantasy sports. Within Martin's own division is another major storyline of Week 10, where Atlanta looks to take on the struggling Saints and move one step closer to the undefeated season. Drew Brees, however, has made it his mission to lead New Orleans through this adversity and hopefully hand their rivals a loss. Surprisingly, this matchup is not the game of the week. That award is handed to the Sunday Night showdown between two Super Bowl contenders; the Houston Texans of the AFC, and the Chicago Bears of the NFC. Expect a low scoring game between the two best defenses in the league, but we can also expect another exciting Sunday.
Game to Watch: Houston @ Chicago: Apart from an embarrassing loss to the now red-hot Aaron Rodgers, Houston has been nearly unstoppable, and has played with a new ferocity. This team is now centered around star defender JJ Watt, one of the best in the league at tipping passes and sacking the quarterback. Basically, his side of the field is off limits for any offensive player. The offense has their own backbone in running back Arian Foster, a scoring machine and the main reason why this offense has been able to score so often. On the other side of the football we have an equally competitive defense in Chicago. Historically, the Bears have been extremely intimidating on defense, and this year has been no different. However, for the first time, opposing teams may have to worry about this offense, where quarterback Jay Cutler and wide receiver have picked up from where they left off in Denver. The chemistry at times is inconsistent, but tomorrow will be the most important game for these two offense weapons. Defensively,Houston and Chicago are basically equal, so offense will be the difference maker.
Bears over Texans 17-10
Stand Out Performance: QB Matt Ryan: Playing against the New Orleans Saints defense is a dream for any quarterback, and Matt Ryan would like nothing more than to humiliate their division rivals. Ryan's leadership is no longer questioned by the football world, and another win over the Saints would back up MVP talk. Ryan was likely not happy with his scoring performance last weekend (0 touchdowns) but the yardage total was not a problem. New Orleans has allowed a worrisome amount of passing touchdowns, passing yards, and completions, and I can safely assume this problem will not be fixed by tomorrow. Not only does Matt Ryan have a motivation to stomp this defense, but his success will come easily as well.
Matt Ryan: 295 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TDs, INT
Player to Watch: WR Brandon Marshall: His stellar performance against Tennessee proved the strength of Marshall's bond between himself and quarterback Jay Cutler. Marshall's three touchdowns were huge momentum builders in a dominating 50 point win. Unfortunately, Tennessee is no Houston, and it will be more difficult for Chicago to adapt. Therefore, Marshall's performance will be the clear cut X factor, and the inconstancy of Cutler and Marshall will have to end if they wish to defeat Houston. Ironically, Marshall's lowest yardage mark of the season was Chicago's only loss, an away game against Green Bay. Both teams have had difficulty with the Pack, but otherwise, both season's have been almost flawless. If Marshall were to play his heart out and score at least one touchdown, a win can be expected.
Brandon Marshall: 90 receiving yards
Week 10 Predictions:
Colts over Jaguars
Ravens over Raiders
Broncos over Panthers
Giants over Bengals
Dolphins over Titans
Lions over Vikings
Patriots over Bills
Falcons over Saints (OT)
Buccaneers over Chargers
Seahawks over Jets
Eagles over Cowboys
49ers over Rams
Bears over Texans
Steelers over Chiefs
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| Charles Tillman |
Bears over Texans 17-10
Stand Out Performance: QB Matt Ryan: Playing against the New Orleans Saints defense is a dream for any quarterback, and Matt Ryan would like nothing more than to humiliate their division rivals. Ryan's leadership is no longer questioned by the football world, and another win over the Saints would back up MVP talk. Ryan was likely not happy with his scoring performance last weekend (0 touchdowns) but the yardage total was not a problem. New Orleans has allowed a worrisome amount of passing touchdowns, passing yards, and completions, and I can safely assume this problem will not be fixed by tomorrow. Not only does Matt Ryan have a motivation to stomp this defense, but his success will come easily as well.
Matt Ryan: 295 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TDs, INT
Player to Watch: WR Brandon Marshall: His stellar performance against Tennessee proved the strength of Marshall's bond between himself and quarterback Jay Cutler. Marshall's three touchdowns were huge momentum builders in a dominating 50 point win. Unfortunately, Tennessee is no Houston, and it will be more difficult for Chicago to adapt. Therefore, Marshall's performance will be the clear cut X factor, and the inconstancy of Cutler and Marshall will have to end if they wish to defeat Houston. Ironically, Marshall's lowest yardage mark of the season was Chicago's only loss, an away game against Green Bay. Both teams have had difficulty with the Pack, but otherwise, both season's have been almost flawless. If Marshall were to play his heart out and score at least one touchdown, a win can be expected.
Brandon Marshall: 90 receiving yards
Week 10 Predictions:
Colts over Jaguars
Ravens over Raiders
Broncos over Panthers
Giants over Bengals
Dolphins over Titans
Lions over Vikings
Patriots over Bills
Falcons over Saints (OT)
Buccaneers over Chargers
Seahawks over Jets
Eagles over Cowboys
49ers over Rams
Bears over Texans
Steelers over Chiefs
Week 9 Predictions
Last Sunday was no different for the Atlanta Falcons, who dominated Michael Vick and the Eagles to earn their seventh straight win. Matt Ryan and the Falcons have hit a bump in the road against both Carolina and Oakland back to back, but their dominant win over Philadelphia proves they are not ready to give up their perfect season. Dallas will be matched up against this dominant force tomorrow, but they have a decent shot at handing them their first loss of the season. Finally, we are beginning to get an idea of who are the contenders for this winter's playoffs. However, several talented teams have not started the first half of the season very well (New England, Green Bay, New Orleans), and will need to step up their game if they wish to have a shot at the Super Bowl.
Game to Watch: Steelers @ Giants: Once again, New York had trouble putting away the Dallas Cowboys late in the game. The Giants lost in Week 1 to the Cowboys, but have been almost flawless up until Week 8. Then, last Sunday, they gave up a 23-0 lead in the 2nd quarter, and at one point was losing late in the fourth quarter. As usual though, Eli Manning was able march up the field and set up Tynes for what turned out to be the game winning field goal. Though the defense has struggled slightly, this high flying offense makes up for it. Sunday brings the number one pass defense in the NFL in the Pittsburgh Steelers. Even with the large amount of injuries this Steelers team has suffered, New York will have to plan accordingly if they wish to dominate this game. The Pittsburgh offense has not been able to score as often as New York, but the yards per attempt is almost identical. Defense is key in this Sunday matchup, but it will be extremely difficult for Pittsburgh to snap New York's hot streak.
Giants over Steelers 20-10
Stand Out Performance: RB Arian Foster: The front runner for this season's Offensive Player of the Year without a doubt has been Arian Foster, the highest scoring running back so far. Foster's statistic have been fantasy gold, and he is one rushing touchdown away from matching last year's numbers. His yardage may not be number one in the league, but Foster is able to consistently put up elite numbers. The Buffalo Bills run defense has been absolutely atrocious, something Mario Williams was supposed to fix. Foster should be able to run over this defense all game long, and we may even see some record setting numbers.
Arian Foster: 120 rushing yards, 3 rushing TDs
Player to Watch: DE Jared Allen: After an extremely disappointing start to his 2012 season, reigning sack champion Jared Allen has picked up the pace, and has posted at least one sack in every single game since Week 3. Allen was just one sack away from breaking Michael Strahan's single season record in 2011, and had high standards entering the new year. This year's competition for the title is extremely close, as he competes against two other talented defenders in Clay Mathews and JJ Watt. Both were able to start off the season with a bang, and have begun to fade as of late. Now, Allen has the chance to jump ahead in this race if the other two contenders can't be more effective. As he faces the Seattle offense line, Allen will look to bring down rookie quarterback Ryan Wilson and regain his spot as the number one pass rusher.
Jared Allen: 4 tackles, 0.5 sacks
Week 9 Predictions:
Chargers over Chiefs
Broncos over Bengals
Ravens over Browns
Packers over Cardinals
Texans over Bills
Colts over Dolphins
Lions over Jaguars
Bears over Titans
Redskins over Panthers
Buccaneers over Raiders
Seahawks over Vikings
Giants over Steelers
Falcons over Cowboys
Eagles over Saints (OT)
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| Reggie Wayne |
Giants over Steelers 20-10
Stand Out Performance: RB Arian Foster: The front runner for this season's Offensive Player of the Year without a doubt has been Arian Foster, the highest scoring running back so far. Foster's statistic have been fantasy gold, and he is one rushing touchdown away from matching last year's numbers. His yardage may not be number one in the league, but Foster is able to consistently put up elite numbers. The Buffalo Bills run defense has been absolutely atrocious, something Mario Williams was supposed to fix. Foster should be able to run over this defense all game long, and we may even see some record setting numbers.
Arian Foster: 120 rushing yards, 3 rushing TDs
Player to Watch: DE Jared Allen: After an extremely disappointing start to his 2012 season, reigning sack champion Jared Allen has picked up the pace, and has posted at least one sack in every single game since Week 3. Allen was just one sack away from breaking Michael Strahan's single season record in 2011, and had high standards entering the new year. This year's competition for the title is extremely close, as he competes against two other talented defenders in Clay Mathews and JJ Watt. Both were able to start off the season with a bang, and have begun to fade as of late. Now, Allen has the chance to jump ahead in this race if the other two contenders can't be more effective. As he faces the Seattle offense line, Allen will look to bring down rookie quarterback Ryan Wilson and regain his spot as the number one pass rusher.
Jared Allen: 4 tackles, 0.5 sacks
Week 9 Predictions:
Chargers over Chiefs
Broncos over Bengals
Ravens over Browns
Packers over Cardinals
Texans over Bills
Colts over Dolphins
Lions over Jaguars
Bears over Titans
Redskins over Panthers
Buccaneers over Raiders
Seahawks over Vikings
Giants over Steelers
Falcons over Cowboys
Eagles over Saints (OT)
Week 8 Predictions
Its about time Chris Johnson! Tennessee's speedy running back, the same one who rushed for 2,000 yards several years ago, started off his 2012 campaign very poorly. Though he had his flashes of brilliance, Johnson was unable to score a rushing touchdown, no matter how many yards he gained. Then, in Week 7, Johnson exploded against the Bills defense, rushing for 195 yards and two touchdowns. However, Johnson's extraordinary play was not the only headline we gained from Week 7. Football fans finally got a taste of Houston's dominance in the AFC. The Texans overpowered a very good Ravens team, with a final score of 43-13. Last but not least, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has returned to MVP stature. His six touchdowns against Houston two weeks prior was the beginning of it all, and St. Louis had a difficult time of stopping him as well. Week 8's schedule is not the best we've seen so far, but like always, Sunday's action will be worth tuning in to.
Game to Watch: Falcons @ Eagles: After a bye week kept them from play last Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons are undefeated entering Week 8. Unfortunately for Atlanta fans, their return will not be an easy one. Tomorrow, this high powered offense will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles, a team whose start to the 2012 season has not been exceptional, but they are still a decent enough team to take down Atlanta at home. Apart from his last game, Matt Ryan has increased the quality of his play from last season, so far passing for 1,756 yards, 14 touchdowns, and a passer rating just below 99. His wide receiver corp, consisting of Roddy White, Julio Jones, and Tony Gonzalez, has provided him with many opportunities to gain big yardage. On the contrary, Philadelphia's quarterback Michael Vick has been struggling since his MVP nomination two years ago. Vick has had extreme difficulty maintaing possession, with a whopping fourteen turnovers (8 interceptions, 6 fumbles) through Week 8. His number two wide receiver in Jeremy Maclin appears to be fully recovered from a hip injury, and along side DeSean Jackson, this corp has the potential to be lethal. Atlanta's defense has the edge over Philly's, but the fact that Atlanta is playing on the road hurts their chances at an undefeated season.
Falcons over Eagles 31-17
Stand Out Performance: QB Peyton Manning: Since his return to the NFL this past season, Peyton Manning has proven he has enough left in the tank. Denver stands atop the AFC West, and their quarterback is the main reason why. Within the past three games, Manning has thrown for 3 touchdowns and over 300 passing yards in each contest. Manning's two favorite targets are Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, neither one appearing to have the athletic edge over the other. His Week 8 opponent will be the struggling Saints defense, where the secondary found in Louisiana has been unable to stop the pass. The Saints defense averages exactly two passing touchdowns a game, along with 319 yards allowed per game. The hot streak seen by Peyton Manning is bound to continue when Denver takes on the Saints at home, and fantasy owners should be more than willing to start this star.
Peyton Manning: 400 passing yards, 4 TDs
Player to Watch: RB Chris Johnson: Fans knew there was trouble after Chris Johnson's first game of the 2012 season, where this once shining star rushed for just 4 yards against New England. The following week he added just 17 yards, and the week after that was 24. Then, Johnson surprised everyone by rushing for 100 hundred yards against the Houston Texans. This performance excited fantasy owners everywhere, but once again he del short with 0 fantasy points the following week. Finally, Johnson was able to put together two very good games back to back, one against Pittsburgh, the other against Buffalo. Last week on the road against Buffalo was by far his best outing of the year. His statistics consisted of 195 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, where one of his scores was an 83 yard run. This roller coaster ride of a season appears to be at its apex, the question is, how long will it last?
Week 8 Predictions:
Buccaneers over Vikings
Bears over Panthers
Chargers over Browns
Seahawks over Lions
Packers over Jaguars
Jets over Dolphins
Falcons over Eagles
Steelers over Redskins
Patriots over Rams
Colts over Titans
Raiders over Chiefs
Giants over Cowboys
Broncos over Saints
49ers over Cardinals (OT)
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| Trent Richardson (USP) |
Falcons over Eagles 31-17
Stand Out Performance: QB Peyton Manning: Since his return to the NFL this past season, Peyton Manning has proven he has enough left in the tank. Denver stands atop the AFC West, and their quarterback is the main reason why. Within the past three games, Manning has thrown for 3 touchdowns and over 300 passing yards in each contest. Manning's two favorite targets are Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, neither one appearing to have the athletic edge over the other. His Week 8 opponent will be the struggling Saints defense, where the secondary found in Louisiana has been unable to stop the pass. The Saints defense averages exactly two passing touchdowns a game, along with 319 yards allowed per game. The hot streak seen by Peyton Manning is bound to continue when Denver takes on the Saints at home, and fantasy owners should be more than willing to start this star.
Peyton Manning: 400 passing yards, 4 TDs
Player to Watch: RB Chris Johnson: Fans knew there was trouble after Chris Johnson's first game of the 2012 season, where this once shining star rushed for just 4 yards against New England. The following week he added just 17 yards, and the week after that was 24. Then, Johnson surprised everyone by rushing for 100 hundred yards against the Houston Texans. This performance excited fantasy owners everywhere, but once again he del short with 0 fantasy points the following week. Finally, Johnson was able to put together two very good games back to back, one against Pittsburgh, the other against Buffalo. Last week on the road against Buffalo was by far his best outing of the year. His statistics consisted of 195 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, where one of his scores was an 83 yard run. This roller coaster ride of a season appears to be at its apex, the question is, how long will it last?
Week 8 Predictions:
Buccaneers over Vikings
Bears over Panthers
Chargers over Browns
Seahawks over Lions
Packers over Jaguars
Jets over Dolphins
Falcons over Eagles
Steelers over Redskins
Patriots over Rams
Colts over Titans
Raiders over Chiefs
Giants over Cowboys
Broncos over Saints
49ers over Cardinals (OT)
Week 7 Predictions
It is now the seventh week of football, and just one undefeated team remains. Houston was demolished by Aaron Rodgers (six touchdowns) and the Packers AT HOME. Now that Atlanta has a bye week, they will stay undefeated up until Week 8. Week 7 marks the return of two big names for the first time this season. First is reigning Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs, who is expected to play Sunday against Houston. Second is Jonathan Vilma, who has been activated from the PUP list, and will be vital for New Orleans success. Tomorrow has several highly anticipated games to go along with the return of these big names, and The NFL Report will fill you in on everything you need to know.
Game to Watch: Ravens at Texans: As I mentioned before, Houston is coming off of a devastating loss to a struggling Packer squad, and will look to redeem themselves. Running back Arian Foster has been unstoppable in 2012, with 7 rushing touchdowns in his first 6 games. Baltimore's defense lost two key players, linebacker Ray Lewis and cornerback Lardarius Webb, and may struggle without these two leaders. However, the return of Suggs adds a whole new dimension to their game, and hopefully he can start off his 2012 season with a bang. On the hand, we have Ray Rice, all star running back, going up against an even more talented defense. Rice has not been equal to Foster in terms of consistency, but he is also coming off of a two touchdown performance against Dallas. The difference maker in this game will be the quality of passing for both sides. Matt Schaub and Joe Flacco are having very similar seasons, with the edge likey going to Flacco. This makes up for a very good game on Sunday, and it will be expected that Houston can pull out a tough win at home.
Texans over Ravens: 24-21
Stand Out Performance: QB Eli Manning: Eli Manning has been outshined by the other Manning in the family so far this season, but he is still putting up impressive numbers. Victor Cruz has been extroidanry so far, and is Manning's number one wide receiver in 2012. However, it will be expected that the Washington double teams this star. Luckily, receiver Hakeem Nicks' knee injury is improving, and hopefully he will be ready to go by tomorrow's game. The Redskins defense has struggled when defending their end zone, allowing the most passing yards and passing touchdowns in the NFL. Eli has proven he can pick apart struggling defenses, and this NFC North matchup should not be any different.
Eli Manning: 390 passing yards, 4 passing TDs
Player to Watch: LB Terrell Suggs: Pro Bowl linebacker terrell Suggs could not have chosen a better time to return. As Baltimore goes up against the playoff contenders known as the Houston Texans, this defense will rely heavily on Suggs' leadership. The loss of Ray Lewis is a devastating blow, but his presence proved to be not as important as expected when he missed several games in 2011. Keep in mind though, Suggs was unstoppable at that point in time, and it will be interesting to see how well the award winner can play after a serious injury. Arian Foster will be a difficult test for Suggs and his injury but if he is 90% or above, the Texans may need to change their offensive game plan for Sunday.
Terrell Suggs: 2 total tackles
Week 7 Predictions:
Bills over Titans (OT)
Cowboys over Cowboys
Houston over Ravens
Colts over Browns
Vikings over Cardinals
Giants over Redskins
Packers over Rams
Saints over Buccaneers (OT)
Patriots over Jets
Raiders over Jaguars
Steelers over Bengals
Bears over Lions
Game to Watch: Ravens at Texans: As I mentioned before, Houston is coming off of a devastating loss to a struggling Packer squad, and will look to redeem themselves. Running back Arian Foster has been unstoppable in 2012, with 7 rushing touchdowns in his first 6 games. Baltimore's defense lost two key players, linebacker Ray Lewis and cornerback Lardarius Webb, and may struggle without these two leaders. However, the return of Suggs adds a whole new dimension to their game, and hopefully he can start off his 2012 season with a bang. On the hand, we have Ray Rice, all star running back, going up against an even more talented defense. Rice has not been equal to Foster in terms of consistency, but he is also coming off of a two touchdown performance against Dallas. The difference maker in this game will be the quality of passing for both sides. Matt Schaub and Joe Flacco are having very similar seasons, with the edge likey going to Flacco. This makes up for a very good game on Sunday, and it will be expected that Houston can pull out a tough win at home.Texans over Ravens: 24-21
Stand Out Performance: QB Eli Manning: Eli Manning has been outshined by the other Manning in the family so far this season, but he is still putting up impressive numbers. Victor Cruz has been extroidanry so far, and is Manning's number one wide receiver in 2012. However, it will be expected that the Washington double teams this star. Luckily, receiver Hakeem Nicks' knee injury is improving, and hopefully he will be ready to go by tomorrow's game. The Redskins defense has struggled when defending their end zone, allowing the most passing yards and passing touchdowns in the NFL. Eli has proven he can pick apart struggling defenses, and this NFC North matchup should not be any different.
Eli Manning: 390 passing yards, 4 passing TDs
Player to Watch: LB Terrell Suggs: Pro Bowl linebacker terrell Suggs could not have chosen a better time to return. As Baltimore goes up against the playoff contenders known as the Houston Texans, this defense will rely heavily on Suggs' leadership. The loss of Ray Lewis is a devastating blow, but his presence proved to be not as important as expected when he missed several games in 2011. Keep in mind though, Suggs was unstoppable at that point in time, and it will be interesting to see how well the award winner can play after a serious injury. Arian Foster will be a difficult test for Suggs and his injury but if he is 90% or above, the Texans may need to change their offensive game plan for Sunday.
Terrell Suggs: 2 total tackles
Week 7 Predictions:
Bills over Titans (OT)
Cowboys over Cowboys
Houston over Ravens
Colts over Browns
Vikings over Cardinals
Giants over Redskins
Packers over Rams
Saints over Buccaneers (OT)
Patriots over Jets
Raiders over Jaguars
Steelers over Bengals
Bears over Lions
Last Week: 6-7
2012 Season: 50-39 (56%)
Week 6 Predictions
Entering Week 6, Green Bay finds themselves with a losing record, a rare occurrence since Aaron Rodgers took the reigns as head quarterback. However, Rodgers has been sub-par throughout the 2012 season ( 4 interceptions compared to his 6 in 2011). Their 2-3 record will be put to the test when they face Houston on the road, a highly talented team who has yet to lose this season. Surprisingly, this game has not been named game of the week, which is awarded to the NFC Championship rematch; New York at San Francisco. Both teams have changed since their famous match-up last January. There is a lot in store for Sunday's action, and The NFL Report has got you covered.
Game to Watch: Giants @ 49ers: After an upsetting loss to Minnesota on the road, San Francisco has been mowing through defenses as well as restricting opposing offenses to few points on the scoreboard. Before the loss to Minnesota, the 49ers defeated two other playoff contenders in the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. As they face off against the New York Giants in Week 6, San Francisco enters the game with a chip on their shoulder. Last year's NFC Championship game ended in the most dramatic fashion; a game winning kick. As we all know, New York went on to win the Super Bowl, and some of their luck has rubbed off into the 2012 season. They have not played like champions since their win on the grand stage. Two losses, one to Dallas, the other to Philadelphia, create a record of 3-2, a mark that still keeps them in contention for the NFC North title. The offense has thrived so far, ranking third in passing yards and second in total offense. However, the momentum of San Francisco should make it a decisive win at home against the new found rivals.
49ers over Giants 27-10
Stand Out Performance: WR AJ Green: Sophomore wide receiver AJ Green proved his rookie season was not a fluke, surviving the 2nd year curse. Green and Dalton have a tangible chemistry on the field, which is why this star wide receiver is succeeding in 2012. In each of his last four games, Green has scored one touchdown, two of games in which he surpassed the 100 yard receiving mark. His Week 6 matchup is against the Cleveland Browns, a team who ranked 26th in receiving yards allowed and 28th in receiving touchdowns. Green is bound to be successful in handing his fantasy owners large portions of fantasy points in Week 6. Be sure to start this up and coming star.
AJ Green: 130 receiving yards, 2 TDs
Player to Watch: QB Alex Smith: Who would have thought Alex Smith would be the most well rounded passer in the league after five weeks of football. Smith has a league leading passer rating of 108.7, and though he has not thrown the same number of passes as Drew Brees or Tom Brady, Smith's numbers have improved substantially. The success of Alex Smith has led to a greater success from his team overall. Since 2009, Smith's interception number has gradually decreased, reaching five by 2011. As of today, that number stands at 1, and the New York's pass rush might prove as a challenge for this former first round pick.
Alex Smith: 180 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD
Week 6 Predictions:
Falcons over Raiders
Ravens over Cowboys
Bengals over Browns (OT)
Rams over Dolphins
Jets over Colts
Eagles over Lions
Buccaneers over Chiefs
Cardinals over Bills
Seahawks over Patriots
49ers over Giants
Vikings over Redskins
Texans over Packers
Broncos over Chargers
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| JJ Watt (Tony Gutierrez/AP PHoto) |
49ers over Giants 27-10
Stand Out Performance: WR AJ Green: Sophomore wide receiver AJ Green proved his rookie season was not a fluke, surviving the 2nd year curse. Green and Dalton have a tangible chemistry on the field, which is why this star wide receiver is succeeding in 2012. In each of his last four games, Green has scored one touchdown, two of games in which he surpassed the 100 yard receiving mark. His Week 6 matchup is against the Cleveland Browns, a team who ranked 26th in receiving yards allowed and 28th in receiving touchdowns. Green is bound to be successful in handing his fantasy owners large portions of fantasy points in Week 6. Be sure to start this up and coming star.
AJ Green: 130 receiving yards, 2 TDs
Player to Watch: QB Alex Smith: Who would have thought Alex Smith would be the most well rounded passer in the league after five weeks of football. Smith has a league leading passer rating of 108.7, and though he has not thrown the same number of passes as Drew Brees or Tom Brady, Smith's numbers have improved substantially. The success of Alex Smith has led to a greater success from his team overall. Since 2009, Smith's interception number has gradually decreased, reaching five by 2011. As of today, that number stands at 1, and the New York's pass rush might prove as a challenge for this former first round pick.
Alex Smith: 180 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD
Week 6 Predictions:
Falcons over Raiders
Ravens over Cowboys
Bengals over Browns (OT)
Rams over Dolphins
Jets over Colts
Eagles over Lions
Buccaneers over Chiefs
Cardinals over Bills
Seahawks over Patriots
49ers over Giants
Vikings over Redskins
Texans over Packers
Broncos over Chargers
Last Week: 10-3
2012 Season: 44-32 (58%)
Week 5 Predictions
Two undefeated teams remain in the NFL after Thursday night's upset. Arizona entered the game 4-0 before having to face the St. Louis Rams, a team the Cardinals thought little of. However, the Rams defensive line was able to knock Kolb to the ground multiple times, too many for him to get in a groove. We also witnessed star wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald drop several passes, something rare to be seen from this freak of nature. Entering Sunday, we have the quarterback match-up between Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, a rivalry that has lasted for over a decade. The game of the week between New England and Denver is a highlight of our weekend, and hopefully Week 5 lives up to the hype.
Game to Watch: Broncos @ Patriots: For the first time since Payton Manning's neck surgery, we will see two all time greats square off against each other. Their last match up ended with a final tally of 31-28 in favor of New England, and, similar to most of their games, it came down to the wire. Though 8 games have finished within a touchdown or less, between these two quarterbacks, Tom Brady leads the series 8-4. Denver is coming off of a dominant win over the Oakland Raiders, improving Denver's overall record to 2-2. The main problem for the Broncos has been their extremely rigorous schedule. Houston, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, New England have all been opponents within the first 5 weeks. New England on the other hand did not start 2012 the way they would have liked at 1-2, but a 51 point game over a decent Buffalo defense sets them up perfectly for tomorrow. Brady has not been able to put the same amount of points on the board as he did in 2012, but otherwise, his statistics are almost identical through four weeks. Sunday should not be much of a defensive battle, but Peyton Manning historically has flustered in Foxborough, therefore the Patriots are tomorrow's favorites.
Patriots over Broncos 31-20
Stand Out Performance: Matt Ryan: The quarterback out of Boston College has finally lived up to his first round potential. Atlanta has managed to find success since the 2008 draft, but never in such a dominant fashion as we have seen this year. Ryan has posted MVP like numbers, passing for 1,162 yards with 12 total touchdowns. By far his most outstanding statistic falls under the passer rating category, where Ryan has thrown for a rating above 100 in each of his past four games. His flawless season has allowed Atlanta to start undefeated at 4-0, taking advantage of New Orleans' struggles. Next up in the schedule for Atlanta is RGIII and the Redskins, a large obstacle in the Falcons quest for perfection. Although Washington's offense has done well, the defense has been absolutely atrocious, allowing the most passing touchdowns (11) and the second most passing yards (326.2). Even if Atlanta is unable to come out on top, Atlanta's quarterback will have a heck of a game.
Matt Ryan: 325 yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD
Player to Watch: RB Fred Jackson: After a fractured fibula kept him from playing in almost half of the 2011 season, Fred Jackson suffered yet another injury in Week 1. His return against the Patriots last Sunday was not all that glamorous, and the fact that he will be facing a very good run defense in San Francisco does not help. However, Buffalo does not want to give Spiller many carries due to his own injury, therefore they are handing off the ball to their original starter. If Jackson is able to do well, Buffalo will have the best running tandem in the National Football League. His success would help this franchise reach the playoffs once again, and San Francisco is the first step in doing so.
Fred Jackson: 75 rushing yards, 1 receiving TD
Week 5 Predictions:
Bengals over Dolphins
Packers over Colts
Ravens over Chiefs (OT)
Giants over Browns
Steelers over Eagles
Falcons over Redskins
Panthers over Seahawks
Bears over Jaguars
Vikings over Titans
Patriots over Broncos
49ers over Bills
Saints over Chargers
Texans over Jets
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| Darren Sproles (Streeter Lecka) |
Patriots over Broncos 31-20
Stand Out Performance: Matt Ryan: The quarterback out of Boston College has finally lived up to his first round potential. Atlanta has managed to find success since the 2008 draft, but never in such a dominant fashion as we have seen this year. Ryan has posted MVP like numbers, passing for 1,162 yards with 12 total touchdowns. By far his most outstanding statistic falls under the passer rating category, where Ryan has thrown for a rating above 100 in each of his past four games. His flawless season has allowed Atlanta to start undefeated at 4-0, taking advantage of New Orleans' struggles. Next up in the schedule for Atlanta is RGIII and the Redskins, a large obstacle in the Falcons quest for perfection. Although Washington's offense has done well, the defense has been absolutely atrocious, allowing the most passing touchdowns (11) and the second most passing yards (326.2). Even if Atlanta is unable to come out on top, Atlanta's quarterback will have a heck of a game.
Matt Ryan: 325 yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD
Player to Watch: RB Fred Jackson: After a fractured fibula kept him from playing in almost half of the 2011 season, Fred Jackson suffered yet another injury in Week 1. His return against the Patriots last Sunday was not all that glamorous, and the fact that he will be facing a very good run defense in San Francisco does not help. However, Buffalo does not want to give Spiller many carries due to his own injury, therefore they are handing off the ball to their original starter. If Jackson is able to do well, Buffalo will have the best running tandem in the National Football League. His success would help this franchise reach the playoffs once again, and San Francisco is the first step in doing so.
Fred Jackson: 75 rushing yards, 1 receiving TD
Week 5 Predictions:
Bengals over Dolphins
Packers over Colts
Ravens over Chiefs (OT)
Giants over Browns
Steelers over Eagles
Falcons over Redskins
Panthers over Seahawks
Bears over Jaguars
Vikings over Titans
Patriots over Broncos
49ers over Bills
Saints over Chargers
Texans over Jets
Last Week: 9-6
2012 Season: 34-29 (54%)
Week 4 Predictions
After three weeks of sloppy calls from replacement referees, the lockout has finally ended. Now, the regular referees have returned to make the game as fair as possible. Last weekend's play was one of the most surprising Sundays in recent memory. The amount of upsets seen in Week 3 is unlikely to carry over into tomorrow, but we can always expect a few upsets each and every game day. The largest storyline apart from the return of professional referees is the rumors circling Michael Vick. It is said that Andy Reid will remove Vick from the lineup if he does not get the turnover issue under control. The Eagles are matched up against a very talented pass rush in the New York Giants. The rivalry featured on Sunday Night Football will be this week's game of the week. Along with a preview of the rivalry match-up, The NFL Report follows its usual formatting to supply you with everything you need to know about Week 4.
Game to Watch: Giants over Eagles: Whenever these two teams clash for a regular season battle, there is always a surprise in store. Remember 2010, when DeSean Jackson and the Philadelphia Eagles won on a game winning punt return? Since that match-up, the tension of this division rivalry has transformed into something more, where both teams are out to prove something. Dallas began their 2012 campaign in a disappointing manner, losing to Dallas at home. However, since the Week 1 loss, New York has been able to prove themselves worthy of a divisional championship. They only thing in their way is Philadelphia, a team who is looking to avenge their disappointing 2011 season. Quarterback Michael Vick has been struggling when it comes to turnovers, and his two fumbles against Arizona cost the Eagles the game. By the time Sunday evening rolls around, you will be all knowledgeable on this division rivalry game thanks to The NFL Report's Game of the Week Preview.
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| Larry Fitzgerald |
New York Giants: Last weekend's dominant win over Carolina proved Manning and the Giants are capable of defending their title. Eli Manning threw for over 800 yards in hist first two games, and though his passing game was not stellar in Week 3, the running game picked up the slack. Tight end Martellus Bennett (3 games, 185 receiving yards, 3 TDs) has been more than impressive in the red zone, adding a whole other dimension to this receiving corp. Once starter running back Ahmad Bradshaw left Week 2's game to a neck injury, Andre Brown was able to fill the void perfectly. His 113 rushing yards and two touchdowns helped New York win easily over a reasonably talented Carolina team. Bradshaw has been cleared to play in Week 4, and the offense looks extremely well balanced. New York's defense has recorded 6 interceptions so far, with a mediocre 21.7 points allowed per game. Offensively, New York will have to play consistently on the road if they wish to overtake Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Eagles: In the past three games, Michael Vick has combined for NINE total turnovers. His unreliable play prevented Philadelphia from gaining any sort of momentum. Vick spent too much time in the pocket, and he needs to get the ball off faster, or else his hurried play will create more and more turnovers. Both fumbles against Arizona could be blamed on Vick and the amount of time he needed to get a pass off. LeSean McCoy has anchored this offense throughout Vick's struggles, and it is likely he will have a decent game against New York this Sunday. The defense has proved to be extremely well rounded these past three games, and New York will be the ultimate test. However, a think if they come out firing, they are capable of overwhelming the Giants.
Stand Out Performance: RB Maurice Jones-Drew: After a contract holdout kept Jones-Drew from playing throughout the majority of this past off season, the Jags running back has proven the hiatus will not affect his play. The past two weeks, MJD has rushed for 237 yards with two total touchdowns. Last year, MJD's biggest accomplishment was being handed the 2011 rushing title. Though he doesn't necessarily look the same, MJD is just as lethal. As Cincinnati comes to town for a Week 4 duel, it is projected the star running back runs over this struggling defensive line. Jones-Drew is the lone star of a struggling franchise, and his spectacular performance in Week 4 will help this offense compete against a serious playoff contender.
Maurice Jones-Drew: 125 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 1 receiving TD
Player to Watch: QB Michael Vick: Less than a week ago, head coach Andy Reid stated the quarterback situation will be evaluated by the organization. Though he confirmed Vick will be starting against New York, the fact that the Eagles had to question their quarterbacks consistency puts Vick on the hot seat. His two turnovers last weekend against the undefeated Cardinals was one of the main reasons why Philadelphia was unable to come out on top. Michael Vick's mobility makes him prone to injury, and if he were to suffer an injury of any kind, I believe Andy Reid would be more than happy to replace him long term, even if it isn't necessary. These two issues put a lot of pressure on the Eagles starting quarterback, and a defiant win over the reigning champs would secure his starting job for several weeks.
Michael Vick: 245 passing yards, 1 passing TD, INT
Week 4 Predictions:
Falcons over Panthers
Patriots over Bills
Lions over Vikings (OT)
Texans over Titans
Chiefs over Chargers
49ers over Jets
Seahawks over Rams (OT)
Cardinals over Dolphins
Broncos over Raiders
Bengals over Jaguars
Packers over Saints
Buccaneers over Redskins
Giants over Eagles
Cowboys over Bears
Week 3 Predictions
Six seconds left in the game. Stephen Gostowski lines up for a potential game winning kick. There's no way he misses. The Patriots kicker was 4 for 4 on the day, the largest contributor to the Patriots offense against Arizona. Leading up to this kick, Cardinals running back Ryan Williams fumbled the football with less than 1:10 left to play. Then, Danny Woodhead rushed into the end zone, with what appeared to be the game winner. However, a holding call on Gronk cost them the touchdown. So now, it came down to Gostowski's kick. The ball was snapped and.....he missed! A tragic loss has the potential to put New England at 1-2 by the end of Week 3, as they play the Baltimore Ravens. This rematch of last year's AFC Championship is just one of many spectacular games to take place this weekend, and The NFL Report has got you covered.
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| Brandon Flowers (footballsfuture.com) |
Game to Watch: Patriots @ Ravens: Last Sunday's game was one of the most sloppiest performances witnessed by Patriot fans in recent memory. Tom Brady struggled to put points on the board against Arizona, and his messy play forced Gostowski to make all of his kicks. Sadly, the one kick he missed was with no time left on the clock. Their Week 3 match-up is against a very talented Ravens team, who is also coming off of a Week 2 loss. Similar to Brady, Joe Flacco was not the same quarterback who showed up to play in Week 1. Both teams are highly regarded when it comes to this year's playoff race, but only one can exit Week 3 with a winning record.
New England Patriots: Three and a half quarters went by before the Patriots were even able to score a touchdown. The Patriots, a team with one of the most lethal passing games in the NFL, was unable to score more than one touchdown in Sunday's game, which put a lot of pressure on their kicker. Last week's performance made Arizona's defense look like one found in San Francisco or Baltimore. Compared to Brady's 2011 start (2 games, 940 passing yards, 7 TDs), the Patriots' quarterback has not yet found his groove, but it is expected he succeeds later on in the season. Baltimore will truly test this offense, and if prove to us if Brady can overcome such a talented squad. A division title is almost expected from New England, but I doubt they wish to start the year 1-2.
Baltimore Ravens: After an impressive victory over Cincinnati in Week 1, Baltimore fell short of the 2-0 mark by losing to Philly on the road. Baltimore had multiple chances to win the game, whether it be a 10 point lead, a controversial incomplete pass, or an overturned 4th quarter touchdown, the Ravens seemed like the better team throughout the duration of the game. Joe Flacco is projected to dominate this Patriots defense, as is Pro-Bowl running back Ray Rice. Baltimore's motivation will overpower the Patriots team as a whole.
Ravens over Patriots 17-10
Stand Out Performance: RB CJ Spiller: This year's breakout player, running back CJ Spiller of Buffalo, is projected to have another great game against Cleveland. His speed and elusiveness resembles that of CJ2K (or I should say the CJ2K seen in 2009), as does his stat line. 292 rushing yards in 2 games gives him a yards per carry of 10.1, by far the best in the league. The three rushing touchdowns to go along with it makes him a valuable player in fantasy football. Fred Jackson is not excepted to play this week, so the touchdowns will keep on coming. Cleveland's defense has allowed the fourth highest rushing yards per game in 2012, and those numbers are bound to be increased by the end of Week 3. The question is, by how much?
CJ Spiller: 85 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 1 receiving TD
Player to Watch: OLB Clay Matthews: Just a year after defensive end Jared Allen sacked the quarterback 22 times, 1 away from breaking the league record, linebacker Clay Matthews is on track to trump this record with flying colors. His six sacks in two games came against two relatively weak offensive lines, especially when talking about the Chicago Bears. Last year was a relatively disappointing stat line for Matthews considering his spectacular performance in 2010. However, Clay Matthews sent a message to the league when sacking Jay Cutler 3.5 times. It will extremely difficult for him to maintain such a fabulous stat line over the course of the season, for the double and triple teams are expected. However, the Seattle Seahawks had a sub-par offensive line in 2011, and not much as changed in 2012. Keep an eye out for Matthews, as he fights for the single season sack record.
Clay Matthews: 6 tackles, 1 sack
Week 3 Predictions:
Giants over Panthers
Bears over Rams
Bills over Browns (OT)
Buccaneers over Cowboys
Colts over Jaguars
Dolphins over Jets
49ers over Vikings
Saints over Chiefs
Lions over Titans
Redskins over Bengals
Eagles over Cardinals
Falcons over Chargers
Broncos over Texans
Steelers over Raiders
Ravens over Patriots
Packers over Seahawks
Week 2 Predictions
As expected, Week 1 brought us plenty of upsets, last second heroics, and extraordinary performances from players around the league. One of the biggest story lines to take place on Sunday was the show put on by rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III. While playing a very talented Saints team, RGIII posted some impressive statistics, passing for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns. Meanwhile, quarterback Peyton Manning proved his reign in the NFL was not yet over. When taking down the Pittsburgh Steelers, Manning did not look like the one we saw in 2004 per say, but he remains a top 10 quarterback. Last but not least, the New York Jets somehow managed to score 48 points against a highly regarded defense in Buffalo. New York was mocked throughout the preseason due to their three game touchdown drought. Their embarrassing play was a cause for concern among Jets fans, but Sanchez managed to get in a groove at home. Week 2 will separate the men from the boys, and, like always, will make for an exciting Sunday afternoon.
Game to Watch: HEEEE'S BAAACK! The Pittsburgh Steelers were the first team to be defeated by Peyton Manning since his neck injury. Manning looked close to his old self, passing for 253 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 129.2. However, the road ahead is not any easier, for he will go up against the Atlanta Falcons away from Denver. Atlanta is coming off of a monstrous win over the Kansas City Chiefs, a team projected to do very well in 2012. After adjusting their game plan, Matt Ryan has been given more freedom when it comes to throwing it deep to his lethal weapons at wide receiver. Monday's game will not be a defensive battle, so it will be interesting to see who wins in this shootout.
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| Charles Woodson |
Denver Broncos: Last Sunday's game may not have been Manning's best performance, but he is on track to throw for 30-plus touchdowns and 4,000 passing yards. The Broncos somehow managed to make the playoffs in 2011, and though it is only Week 1, they might just win the AFC West for the second year in a row. A loss to Atlanta however would hurt their confidence, and the momentum would no not be as strong. Unfortunately, with Tim Tebow gone, the running game suffered quite a bit, no longer the same unit as in 2011. This entire team will rely on Manning's leadership, who is 3-1 against Atlanta in his 14 year career. If he can stay accurate and consistent, the entire team will feed off of his success.
Atlanta Falcons: What if the Matt Ryan who showed up in last Sunday's game was the Matt Ryan we saw week in and week out. His extraordinary receiving corp, consisting of Tony Gonzalez, Roddy White, and Julio Jones, will always create problems for opposing defenses. Michael Turner's 11 attempts in Week 1 racked up just 32 yards, a mere 2.9 yards per attempt. It appears as if Turner's statistics will not improve much from here, for head coach Mike Smith wants to incorporate more passing into his offensive game plan. Smith won't be relying on this defense to stop Manning on each drive, so that will put even more pressure on Matt Ryan and the Falcons offense. Based on how they played against Kansas City, Atlanta has the edge entering Week 2's biggest stage.
Falcons over Broncos 34-20
Stand Out Performance: RB Adrian Peterson: Entering the 2012 season, it was speculated by many that running back Adrian Peterson would not be the same rusher who has electrified the league for the past six years. His knee injury suffered on Christmas Eve forced him to miss the rest of 2011, and made him unstable for much of 2012. In Week 1, however, Peterson started off the regular season with a bang. The Minnesota Viking running back rushed for 84 yards, and his two touchdowns helped substantially in defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars. His Week 2 game is against yet another soft defense, this time the Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis allowed three rushing touchdowns in Week 1, and had one of the worst overall defenses in the league last year. Peterson looked great in Week 1, and should be able to make his fantasy owners proud.
Adrian Peterson: 75 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs, 1 receiving TD
Players to Watch: QB Mark Sanchez: It is hard to believe that New York was able to be so dominant offensively after their historically atrocious pre season. They did not use Tim Tebow as much as expected in Week 1, and that is due to Sanchez's spectacular performance. His 266 passing yards and three touchdowns made for an easy win over the Buffalo Bills. Sanchez was able to utilize his extremely talented wide receiver in Stephen Hill, a rookie out of Georgia Tech. Sanchez's skills will be put to the test when playing Pittsburgh on the road. The Steelers do not wish to start off their 2012 season at 0-2, so don't be surprised if Sanchez is battered around a bit.
Mark Sanchez: 210 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 2 INTs
Week 2 Predictions:
Packers over Bears
Chiefs over Bills
Saints over Panthers (OT)
Bengals over Browns
Colts over Vikings
Texans over Jaguars
Raiders over Dolphins
Patriots over Cardinals
Giants over Buccaneers
Ravens over Eagles
Cowboys over Seahawks
Redskins over Rams
Steelers over Jets
Chargers over Titans
49ers over Lions
Falcons over Broncos
Adrian Peterson: 75 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs, 1 receiving TD
Players to Watch: QB Mark Sanchez: It is hard to believe that New York was able to be so dominant offensively after their historically atrocious pre season. They did not use Tim Tebow as much as expected in Week 1, and that is due to Sanchez's spectacular performance. His 266 passing yards and three touchdowns made for an easy win over the Buffalo Bills. Sanchez was able to utilize his extremely talented wide receiver in Stephen Hill, a rookie out of Georgia Tech. Sanchez's skills will be put to the test when playing Pittsburgh on the road. The Steelers do not wish to start off their 2012 season at 0-2, so don't be surprised if Sanchez is battered around a bit.
Mark Sanchez: 210 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 2 INTs
Week 2 Predictions:
Packers over Bears
Chiefs over Bills
Saints over Panthers (OT)
Bengals over Browns
Colts over Vikings
Texans over Jaguars
Raiders over Dolphins
Patriots over Cardinals
Giants over Buccaneers
Ravens over Eagles
Cowboys over Seahawks
Redskins over Rams
Steelers over Jets
Chargers over Titans
49ers over Lions
Falcons over Broncos
The NFL Report Predictions:
Week 1: 11-5
2012 Season: 11-5
Week 1 Predictions
The NFL season is underway! Last Wednesday's game starring New York and Dallas shocked everyone, for the Cowboys were able to defeat the reigning champions. Many teams have undergone big changes, and several stars from around the league are in new cities. The free agency shipped players such as Peyton Manning, Tim Tebow, and Vincent Jackson across the country. Upsets, injuries, and thrillers shape the game we know, and are sure to take place in Week 1. The opening week of football is bound to have exciting endings, and The NFL Report has everything you need to know!
Game to Watch: 49ers @ Packers: What better way to start off Week 1 than to watch Green Bay take on San Francisco? Two of the most accomplished franchises in NFL history will start their season's at historic Lambeau Field. Tomorrow's game will be a battle between offense and defense, where it will most likely come down to the final seconds. The 49ers added Randy Moss, Mario Manningham, and Brandon Jacobs in order to enhance their offense, where as the Packers signed running back Cedric Benson. These two teams are the preseason favorites to win the NFC Championship, and rightfully so. Aaron Rodgers is coming off an MVP season, where as the 49ers fell short of the Super Bowl when losing to New York in an overtime thriller. However, it will be too difficult for San Francisco to march into Wisconsin and steal a win from the Green Bay Packers.
Packers over 49ers 24-13
Stand Out Performance: QB Cam Newton: The Carolina Panthers did not know what to expect from Cam Newton when they drafted him first overall, but in no way did he disappoint. Newton now holds 27 different records, all of which in just his first NFL season. In Week 1, the Carolina Panthers will face-off against the Tampa Buccaneers, the worst scoring defense in the league. In 2011, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers allowed a league high 26 rushing touchdowns, as well as 30 passing touchdowns. Cam Newton is capable of throwing a deep ball down field, and rushing for a big gain.Thanks to his exceptional capabilities, Newton's Week 1 will be a fantasy football gem.
Cam Newton: 375 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD
Player to Watch: QB Peyton Manning: A neck injury kept Peyton Manning, one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, from playing all of the 2011 season. The Indianapolis Colts were unable to keep their quarterback, who ended up signing with John Elway and the Denver Broncos. Now, we will see if Manning's neck will restrain him from playing like his former self, or if the injury is just a thing of the past. He will not have the same receiving corp as he did during his prime (Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark), but Manning has a way of making the players around him better. Can Manning bear the burden of Denver's organization, or will it be all too much? We will find out tomorrow...
Peyton Manning: 295 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 1 INT
Week 1 Predictions:
Giants over Cowboys
Bears over Colts
Eagles over Browns
Lions over Rams
Texans over Dolphins
Chiefs over Falcons
Vikings over Jaguars
Saints over Redskins
Jets over Bills
Patriots over Titans
Seahawks over Cardinals
Packers over 49ers
Panthers over Buccaneers
Broncos over Steelers
Ravens over Bengals OT
Chargers over Raiders
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| Justin Smith (Kyle Terada/US Presswire) |
Packers over 49ers 24-13
Stand Out Performance: QB Cam Newton: The Carolina Panthers did not know what to expect from Cam Newton when they drafted him first overall, but in no way did he disappoint. Newton now holds 27 different records, all of which in just his first NFL season. In Week 1, the Carolina Panthers will face-off against the Tampa Buccaneers, the worst scoring defense in the league. In 2011, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers allowed a league high 26 rushing touchdowns, as well as 30 passing touchdowns. Cam Newton is capable of throwing a deep ball down field, and rushing for a big gain.Thanks to his exceptional capabilities, Newton's Week 1 will be a fantasy football gem.
Cam Newton: 375 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD
Player to Watch: QB Peyton Manning: A neck injury kept Peyton Manning, one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, from playing all of the 2011 season. The Indianapolis Colts were unable to keep their quarterback, who ended up signing with John Elway and the Denver Broncos. Now, we will see if Manning's neck will restrain him from playing like his former self, or if the injury is just a thing of the past. He will not have the same receiving corp as he did during his prime (Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark), but Manning has a way of making the players around him better. Can Manning bear the burden of Denver's organization, or will it be all too much? We will find out tomorrow...
Peyton Manning: 295 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 1 INT
Week 1 Predictions:
Giants over Cowboys
Bears over Colts
Eagles over Browns
Lions over Rams
Texans over Dolphins
Chiefs over Falcons
Vikings over Jaguars
Saints over Redskins
Jets over Bills
Patriots over Titans
Seahawks over Cardinals
Packers over 49ers
Panthers over Buccaneers
Broncos over Steelers
Ravens over Bengals OT
Chargers over Raiders
Super Bowl XLVI Preview
For the second time in four years, the New England Patriots and the New York Giants will battle for a Super Bowl title. When Super Bowl XLII arrived in Arizona, the Patriots were heavy favorites after an 18-0 record prior to the big game. However, the Giants were able to get inside Brady's head, bringing him to the ground 5 different times. With 1:15 left in the 4th quarter, Eli Manning eluded several pass rushers, and, in desperation, heaved a ball deep down the field. Somehow, wide receiver David Tyree managed to catch the ball, pin it against his helmet, and not let the nose of the football hit the ground. In the end, New York came out on top, defeating Tom Brady and the New England Patriots 17-14, handing the Pats their first loss of the season. Since that game, Brady has not been able to win in the playoffs...until now. After beating Denver, and then Baltimore, the Patriots look to win their first Super Bowl in 8 years. And who better to play for a championship then the infamous New York Giants. Though the Pats had a better record this season, these two teams appear to be equal in skill, which should result in a close game. Both franchises have a successful history, combined for a total of 7 championship wins. As America's most watched sporting event takes place this Sunday, The NFL Report will give you everything you need to know for what should be a great championship game.
"The Catch"
Eli Manning. Several years ago, the first thing I would think of when hearing that name would be "Oh, that's Peyton Manning's brother." Now, I think of Eli Manning as an elite quarterback in the NFL. As of late, many people begin to speculate whether or not a second Super Bowl win would guarantee him a spot in the Hall Of Fame. On the other side of the field, Eli will face off against Tom Brady, a future Hall of Famer, and in my opinion, the greatest quarterback of all time. Though Brady had a bad game against Baltimore, his 2012 playoff passer rating averages out to 105.8, 2.7 points ahead of Eli. Unfortunately for the Patriots, star tight end Rob Gronkowski has been dealing with an ankle injury these past few weeks, and will be questionable for the big game. If Gronk were to be missing, there would be a large hole in the Patriots offense, for he is a strong and powerful wide receiver capable of trampling defenders. Though a great running game does not necessarily win championships, rushing the ball should be key for both teams this weekend. During both the regular season and the postseason, these two teams were equal when it came to running the ball. Pats running back Benjarvus Green-Ellis has yet to fumble a football in his pro career, so Belichick will use him frequently when needed. As for Tom Coughlin's team, New York has the spectacular running duo of Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs (327 yards 1 touchdown this postseason) which should give New England trouble. When it comes to defense, the Giants pass rush may force Brady to make bad decisions, for they ranked third overall in sacks with 48 during the regular season. New England's offensive line does a great job of protecting their star QB, and they will have their hands full against the Giants. However, if the Giants are able to get to Brady early on like they did in Super Bowl XLII, New England will have a hard time putting points on the scoreboard. Unfortunately for the Giants, their offensive line looked very weak against the San Francisco 49ers, and Manning took many hard hits late in the game. If pass rushers like Vince Wilfork (6 total tackles, 1 sack against Baltimore) are able to hit Manning hard early on, the Patriots will control the entire game. The 18-1 season is still fresh in the minds of Patriots fans, along with those who played for Belichick in 2007. They will be hungry for yet another championship, and a win against New York would bring closure to die hard Pats fans. On the other hand, Manning threw 16 picks in the regular season, yet he has thrown just one this postseason. If he can stay consistent, Eli should give New England a hard time. Otherwise, Brady will win his 4th Super Bowl and be tied with Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw for the most Super Bowl wins in NFL history.
Patriots over Giants 27-24
Super Bowl MVP: QB Tom Brady: 305 passing yards, 2 TD's
PASSING EDGE: Patriots
RUSHING EDGE: Giants
WIDE RECEIVER EDGE: Giants
TIGHT END EDGE: Patriots
OFFENSIVE LINE EDGE: Patriots
PASS RUSH EDGE: Giants
RUSH DEFENSE EDGE: Patriots
PASS DEFENSE EDGE: Giants
SPECIAL TEAMS EDGE: Patriots
OVERALL EDGE: Patriots
Via Stevie436
Conference Championship Preview
We are just two weeks away from Super Bowl XLVII, and it is sure to be a great one. With four teams remaining (Patriots, Ravens, 49ers and Giants), it shall make the games this weekend even better. The Divisional Round had some exciting outcomes, and I would not be surprised if that carried over to the Conference Championship. From 3 o'clock onwards, football fans everywhere will tune into the NFL playoffs in what should be another memorable weekend for football.
Ravens at Patriots: After dominating the highly revered Denver Broncos, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots will move on to the AFC Championship game for the 6th time in 11 years. The offense in New England looked extroidanry against the Broncos, led by future hall of famer Tom Brady (record tying 6 touchdown passes). However, the most astonishing part of last game was how well the Patriot's defense played. Tim Tebow threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns against one of the league's best defenses, the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, in the Divisional Round, Tebow's luck ran out, and he passed for a mediocre 136 yards with no touchdowns against the horrific Pats secondary. It is not like Tebow was running the ball well, either; in 31 dropabcks, the Broncos quarterback was sacked behind the line 5 times, one of which resulted in a turnover. As for Baltimore, the number 2 seed is coming off of a spectacular defensive performance against the Houston Texans (4 turnovers). However, the offense was lacking any sort of stand out performance, especially from star running back Ray Rice. Also, Pro-Bowl safety Ed Reed participated in a limited practice due to an ankle injury. If their star defender were to be missing against the Pats, there is no way the Ravens can beat the outstanding Tom Brady in Foxborough.
Patriots over Ravens: 30-20
Stand-Out Performance: QB Tom Brady: 320 passing yards, 2 passing TD's, 1 rushing TD
Giants at 49ers: Last weekend, the 2 seeded San Francisco 49ers beat Drew Brees in a thriller at home. Though they were ranked higher, the 49ers were considered to be the underdog entering Saturday's game. The main reason they were able to defeat New Orleans (besides with their exceptional defense) was due to their great passing performance from quarterback Alex Smith. Normally, Smith would throw for a mediocre 200 yards each game. However, against New Orleans, he had 299 yards with four total touchdowns. This weekend, they will play the New York Giants at home, a team who is coming off of a surprising win over the Green Bay Packers. Like the defense in San Francisco, the Giants defense was absolutely incredible in the Divisional Round. Traditionally, Aaron Rodgers picks apart defenses, especially in important games. However, New York was able to sack Rodgers 5 times, picked him off once, and recovered a fumble as well. The offense did great as well, led by quarterback Eli Manning (330 passing yards, 3 passing TD's) and wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (7 receptions, 165 yards, 2 TD's). If both teams play to their full potential, the 49ers have the edge. However, in the playoffs, it is all about consistency.
49ers over Giants 34-27 (OT)
Stand-Out Performance: K David Akers: 5 FGA, 5 FGM, 1 Game Tying FG
Divisional Round Preview
Someway, somehow, Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos are advancing to the AFC Divisional Round after an overtime thriller at home. Sure the Steelers were affected by a large amount of injuries, but the fact of the matter is Denver wasn't even supposed to make the playoffs once they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17. Along with Broncos, the three other teams who had home-field won each of their Wild Card games, a rare occurrence in the NFL Playoffs. There are 4 GREAT games taking place this weekend, and The NFL Report has everything you need to know about the 2012 NFL Divisional Round!
Tom Brady
Saints at 49ers: There is no better way to kick off the NFL Divisional Round then with an intense game between the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers. The Saints are coming off of a dominating win over Detroit at home, and have not lost a game since Week 9. Unfortunately for MVP candidate Drew Brees, his team will not be playing at the Superdome this weekend, where their record is an outstanding 9-0 this year. Instead, they will play in windy San Francisco against the rolling 49ers defense. San Francisco has done extremely well at home, with notable wins coming against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants. The Saints have not done very well on the road, losing to mediocre teams whom they should have beaten. However, due to the fact many of the 49ers have never played in a playoff game, the inexperience may come back to haunt them. Quarterback Alex Smith is not considered to be great at his position, so coach Jim Harbaugh must rely heavily on star runningback Frank Gore and the stellar defense as well. The only way the number one offense in New Orleans can defeat the spectacular 49ers defense is if they can finally do well on the road. Otherwise, Drew Brees will fall short of the Super Bowl once again.
Saints over 49ers 24-13
Stand-Out Performance: RB Frank Gore: 80 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
Broncos at Patriots: Tim Tebow has shocked the world; last Sunday night, he led his Denver Broncos to win over the heavily favored Pittsburgh Steeler in overtime. Many believed his inexperience would lead to a Bronco loss, but he was still able to defeat the defending AFC Champions. The road to the Super Bowl does not get any easier, as they play New England away from home. The last time these two teams faced off, Tim Tebow began by trampling the weak Patriots defense. However, by the end of the 2nd quarter, Tom Brady took over and led his team to 41-23 win on the road. Luckily for Denver, their quarterback was able to pass for 316 yards and 3 total touchdowns against the stellar Steelers defense. Though the Patriots are not known for their defense, I do not expect Tebow to come out slinging for the second game in a row. Foxboro is not an easy place to play in, especially come playoff time. Brady has not won a playoff game since 2007, but I believe that streak will be snapped on Saturday night.
Patriots over Broncos 33-24
Stand-Out Performance: QB Tom Brady: 315 passing yards, 2 passing TD's
Texans at Ravens: There is no better matchup than when a great defense battles a great defense. Though Baltimore may not be as strong as in previous years, veteran linebacker Ray Lewis has led his team to a 12-4 record and a first round bye. Now, Baltimore will play the Houston Texans at home, a team who defeated Cincinnati last weekend. Houston ranks in the top five in nearly ever major defensive category, especially when it comes to yards allowed. Arian Foster is coming off of an extraordinary performance against Cincinnati, with 153 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. However, Ravens running back Ray Rice is one of the best in the league, most likely better than the running back in Houston. Rice ran for 1,365 yards plus 12 rushing touchdowns in the 2011 season, also having 160 total yards when Baltimore played Houston back in Week 6. In this defensive matchup, Ray Rice along with the Baltimore defense will be too much for the Texans, and Baltimore will go on to play in the AFC Championship Game.
Ravens over Texans 20-13
Stand-Out Performance: RB Ray Rice: 135 rushing yards, 2 Rushing TD's
Giants at Packers: Aaron Rodgers. Every football fan dreads the name, for it means the invincible Green Bay Packers are coming to town. The Packers lost just once this season, coming against the mediocre Kansas City Chiefs. The MVP-candidate Aaron Rodgers had a passer rating of 122.5 this season, a single season record. Though the offense has been great, the defense in Green Bay has been absolutely terrible (ranked dead last in points allowed per game). The New York Giants on the other hand are coming off of a great defensive performance, limiting the great Falcons offense to just two points. Quarterback Eli Manning has been great, one of the 10 passers to throw for over 4,000 yards. Wide recievers Victor Cruz and Hakeem Knicks have both done very well, and are two great options for Eli. When it comes to the rushing game, New York has a large advantage with running backs Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs, even though they ranked dead last in rushing yards per game in the regular season. The last time these two teams met, Rodgers and the Packers won thanks to a game winning field goal by Mason Crosby. Unfortunately for New York, they must travel to Wisconsin and try to beat the Packers in Lambeau Field. However, I am predicting an upset on Saturday night, and Eli Manning will come out on top.
Giants over Packers 34-30
Stand-Out Performance: QB Eli Manning: 355 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD
NFL Report Wild Card Round Preview
The 2011 NFL playoffs are finally underway, after several hectic weeks of regular season football. There are many great teams with high expectations entering the playoffs, such as the Packers, Patriots and 49ers. However, every year, an unexpected team makes a deep run and upsets at least one highly favored team. As for this year, I suspect that team will be the New York Giants. In Week 13, New York almost pulled off an upset against the heavily favored Packers, losing by just three points. They enter the playoffs with back to back wins against the Jets and Cowboys, two highly regarded teams in the league. The Giants will play the Atlanta Falcons at home in what should be a great game. Out of the AFC, watch out for the deadly Cincinnati Bengals. Though they lack experience, that team has the heart and soul needed to win the Super Bowl. Without further ado, I present the Wild Card Round Preview:
Arian Foster
Bengals at Texans: Sadly for the Texans, they enter the playoffs with three straight losses, one of which coming against the 2-14 Colts. However, the Texans had clinched a playoff spot in Week 14, so they did not necessarily need to try due to the risk of injury. Ironically, the most recent win for Houston came against the Cinciannati Bengals. This weekend, the Bengals must play on the road in order to advance. They have an extremely inexperienced team this season, led by rookies AJ Green and Andy Dalton. However, the same could be said for Houston, who have just clinched their first playoff birth in franchise history. On paper, Houston has the edge with a slightly better defense and a better running game. However, their cold streak may hurt themselves against the determined Bengals. In the end, it should be a close game, but I think the Bengals will upset the 3rd seed this Saturday.
Bengals over Texans 24-17 (OT)
Stand-Out Performance: RB Arian Foster: 105 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
Steelers at Broncos: It appears as if Tim Tebow's aura has faded; like Houston, the Denver Broncos have lost their last three games. What is the problem? Defenses have finally figured out Tim Tebow. However, it will not get any easier for Denver, as they face the intimidating Steelers defense this weekend. Pittsburgh is ranked 1st in passing yards allowed per game (171.9), 1st in receiving yards allowed per game (186.3) and 1st in total yards allowed per game (271.8). The most important statistic in favor of Pittsburgh is the fact they are ranked 2nd overall in rushing touchdowns allowed (7). Against a team like Denver who relies heavily on their running game, the defense will need play with a sense of urgency. This should be an easy win for Big Ben, even without star running back Rashard Mendenhall.
Steelers over Broncos 24-10
Stand-Out Performance: S Troy Polamalu: 7 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD, 1 Sack
Lions at Saints: There is no team in the NFL doing as well as Drew Brees' Saints. In the past three games, the Saints offense averages 44 points per game. The main contributor? Star quarterback Drew Brees. In 2011, the Saints QB set the record for the most passing yards in a single season with 5,476. Not only does Brees have a cannon for an arm, but he is extremely accurate; Brees led the league this season with the highest completion percentage (71.2). The Saints have the most net points in the league as well (208), a combination of points for and points against. Though the Lions have great offense, there is no way they can compete with the rolling Saints. Detroit is coming off a disappointing loss against the Green Bay Packers , even though Green Bay played 2nd string quarterback Matt Flynn (480 passing yards, 6 touchdowns). If the Lions defense can't even control Matt Flynn, there is no way they can handle the amazing Drew Brees.
Saints over Lions: 45-17
Stand-Out Performance: QB Drew Brees: 430 passing yards, 4 passing TD's
Falcons at Giants: After a competitive game against Dallas in Week 17, the Giants are in the playoffs. Sadly, the road is not an easy one for New York fans; Atlanta, led by it's offense, is coming off of a dominating win over Tampa Bay. On paper, the Atlanta defense is better than the defense in New York; they are ahead in nearly every major defensive statistic. The net points are in favor of the Falcons as well, with 52 points compared to -6 for the Giants. However, New York usually is able to match up well against decent teams, and I expect them to make a deep playoff run after defeating the Falcons at home.
Giants over Falcons 27-17
Super Bowl Prediction: Saints over Ravens 34-28
Super Bowl MVP: 375 passing yards, 3 passing TD's, 1 rushing TD, 2 INT
Super Bowl XLVI Preview
For the second time in four years, the New England Patriots and the New York Giants will battle for a Super Bowl title. When Super Bowl XLII arrived in Arizona, the Patriots were heavy favorites after an 18-0 record prior to the big game. However, the Giants were able to get inside Brady's head, bringing him to the ground 5 different times. With 1:15 left in the 4th quarter, Eli Manning eluded several pass rushers, and, in desperation, heaved a ball deep down the field. Somehow, wide receiver David Tyree managed to catch the ball, pin it against his helmet, and not let the nose of the football hit the ground. In the end, New York came out on top, defeating Tom Brady and the New England Patriots 17-14, handing the Pats their first loss of the season. Since that game, Brady has not been able to win in the playoffs...until now. After beating Denver, and then Baltimore, the Patriots look to win their first Super Bowl in 8 years. And who better to play for a championship then the infamous New York Giants. Though the Pats had a better record this season, these two teams appear to be equal in skill, which should result in a close game. Both franchises have a successful history, combined for a total of 7 championship wins. As America's most watched sporting event takes place this Sunday, The NFL Report will give you everything you need to know for what should be a great championship game.
"The Catch"
Eli Manning. Several years ago, the first thing I would think of when hearing that name would be "Oh, that's Peyton Manning's brother." Now, I think of Eli Manning as an elite quarterback in the NFL. As of late, many people begin to speculate whether or not a second Super Bowl win would guarantee him a spot in the Hall Of Fame. On the other side of the field, Eli will face off against Tom Brady, a future Hall of Famer, and in my opinion, the greatest quarterback of all time. Though Brady had a bad game against Baltimore, his 2012 playoff passer rating averages out to 105.8, 2.7 points ahead of Eli. Unfortunately for the Patriots, star tight end Rob Gronkowski has been dealing with an ankle injury these past few weeks, and will be questionable for the big game. If Gronk were to be missing, there would be a large hole in the Patriots offense, for he is a strong and powerful wide receiver capable of trampling defenders. Though a great running game does not necessarily win championships, rushing the ball should be key for both teams this weekend. During both the regular season and the postseason, these two teams were equal when it came to running the ball. Pats running back Benjarvus Green-Ellis has yet to fumble a football in his pro career, so Belichick will use him frequently when needed. As for Tom Coughlin's team, New York has the spectacular running duo of Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs (327 yards 1 touchdown this postseason) which should give New England trouble. When it comes to defense, the Giants pass rush may force Brady to make bad decisions, for they ranked third overall in sacks with 48 during the regular season. New England's offensive line does a great job of protecting their star QB, and they will have their hands full against the Giants. However, if the Giants are able to get to Brady early on like they did in Super Bowl XLII, New England will have a hard time putting points on the scoreboard. Unfortunately for the Giants, their offensive line looked very weak against the San Francisco 49ers, and Manning took many hard hits late in the game. If pass rushers like Vince Wilfork (6 total tackles, 1 sack against Baltimore) are able to hit Manning hard early on, the Patriots will control the entire game. The 18-1 season is still fresh in the minds of Patriots fans, along with those who played for Belichick in 2007. They will be hungry for yet another championship, and a win against New York would bring closure to die hard Pats fans. On the other hand, Manning threw 16 picks in the regular season, yet he has thrown just one this postseason. If he can stay consistent, Eli should give New England a hard time. Otherwise, Brady will win his 4th Super Bowl and be tied with Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw for the most Super Bowl wins in NFL history.
Patriots over Giants 27-24
Super Bowl MVP: QB Tom Brady: 305 passing yards, 2 TD's
PASSING EDGE: Patriots
RUSHING EDGE: Giants
WIDE RECEIVER EDGE: Giants
TIGHT END EDGE: Patriots
OFFENSIVE LINE EDGE: Patriots
PASS RUSH EDGE: Giants
RUSH DEFENSE EDGE: Patriots
PASS DEFENSE EDGE: Giants
SPECIAL TEAMS EDGE: Patriots
OVERALL EDGE: Patriots
Via Stevie436
Conference Championship Preview
We are just two weeks away from Super Bowl XLVII, and it is sure to be a great one. With four teams remaining (Patriots, Ravens, 49ers and Giants), it shall make the games this weekend even better. The Divisional Round had some exciting outcomes, and I would not be surprised if that carried over to the Conference Championship. From 3 o'clock onwards, football fans everywhere will tune into the NFL playoffs in what should be another memorable weekend for football.
Ravens at Patriots: After dominating the highly revered Denver Broncos, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots will move on to the AFC Championship game for the 6th time in 11 years. The offense in New England looked extroidanry against the Broncos, led by future hall of famer Tom Brady (record tying 6 touchdown passes). However, the most astonishing part of last game was how well the Patriot's defense played. Tim Tebow threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns against one of the league's best defenses, the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, in the Divisional Round, Tebow's luck ran out, and he passed for a mediocre 136 yards with no touchdowns against the horrific Pats secondary. It is not like Tebow was running the ball well, either; in 31 dropabcks, the Broncos quarterback was sacked behind the line 5 times, one of which resulted in a turnover. As for Baltimore, the number 2 seed is coming off of a spectacular defensive performance against the Houston Texans (4 turnovers). However, the offense was lacking any sort of stand out performance, especially from star running back Ray Rice. Also, Pro-Bowl safety Ed Reed participated in a limited practice due to an ankle injury. If their star defender were to be missing against the Pats, there is no way the Ravens can beat the outstanding Tom Brady in Foxborough.
Patriots over Ravens: 30-20
Stand-Out Performance: QB Tom Brady: 320 passing yards, 2 passing TD's, 1 rushing TD
Giants at 49ers: Last weekend, the 2 seeded San Francisco 49ers beat Drew Brees in a thriller at home. Though they were ranked higher, the 49ers were considered to be the underdog entering Saturday's game. The main reason they were able to defeat New Orleans (besides with their exceptional defense) was due to their great passing performance from quarterback Alex Smith. Normally, Smith would throw for a mediocre 200 yards each game. However, against New Orleans, he had 299 yards with four total touchdowns. This weekend, they will play the New York Giants at home, a team who is coming off of a surprising win over the Green Bay Packers. Like the defense in San Francisco, the Giants defense was absolutely incredible in the Divisional Round. Traditionally, Aaron Rodgers picks apart defenses, especially in important games. However, New York was able to sack Rodgers 5 times, picked him off once, and recovered a fumble as well. The offense did great as well, led by quarterback Eli Manning (330 passing yards, 3 passing TD's) and wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (7 receptions, 165 yards, 2 TD's). If both teams play to their full potential, the 49ers have the edge. However, in the playoffs, it is all about consistency.
49ers over Giants 34-27 (OT)
Stand-Out Performance: K David Akers: 5 FGA, 5 FGM, 1 Game Tying FG
Super Bowl XLVI Preview
For the second time in four years, the New England Patriots and the New York Giants will battle for a Super Bowl title. When Super Bowl XLII arrived in Arizona, the Patriots were heavy favorites after an 18-0 record prior to the big game. However, the Giants were able to get inside Brady's head, bringing him to the ground 5 different times. With 1:15 left in the 4th quarter, Eli Manning eluded several pass rushers, and, in desperation, heaved a ball deep down the field. Somehow, wide receiver David Tyree managed to catch the ball, pin it against his helmet, and not let the nose of the football hit the ground. In the end, New York came out on top, defeating Tom Brady and the New England Patriots 17-14, handing the Pats their first loss of the season. Since that game, Brady has not been able to win in the playoffs...until now. After beating Denver, and then Baltimore, the Patriots look to win their first Super Bowl in 8 years. And who better to play for a championship then the infamous New York Giants. Though the Pats had a better record this season, these two teams appear to be equal in skill, which should result in a close game. Both franchises have a successful history, combined for a total of 7 championship wins. As America's most watched sporting event takes place this Sunday, The NFL Report will give you everything you need to know for what should be a great championship game.
Eli Manning. Several years ago, the first thing I would think of when hearing that name would be "Oh, that's Peyton Manning's brother." Now, I think of Eli Manning as an elite quarterback in the NFL. As of late, many people begin to speculate whether or not a second Super Bowl win would guarantee him a spot in the Hall Of Fame. On the other side of the field, Eli will face off against Tom Brady, a future Hall of Famer, and in my opinion, the greatest quarterback of all time. Though Brady had a bad game against Baltimore, his 2012 playoff passer rating averages out to 105.8, 2.7 points ahead of Eli. Unfortunately for the Patriots, star tight end Rob Gronkowski has been dealing with an ankle injury these past few weeks, and will be questionable for the big game. If Gronk were to be missing, there would be a large hole in the Patriots offense, for he is a strong and powerful wide receiver capable of trampling defenders. Though a great running game does not necessarily win championships, rushing the ball should be key for both teams this weekend. During both the regular season and the postseason, these two teams were equal when it came to running the ball. Pats running back Benjarvus Green-Ellis has yet to fumble a football in his pro career, so Belichick will use him frequently when needed. As for Tom Coughlin's team, New York has the spectacular running duo of Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs (327 yards 1 touchdown this postseason) which should give New England trouble. When it comes to defense, the Giants pass rush may force Brady to make bad decisions, for they ranked third overall in sacks with 48 during the regular season. New England's offensive line does a great job of protecting their star QB, and they will have their hands full against the Giants. However, if the Giants are able to get to Brady early on like they did in Super Bowl XLII, New England will have a hard time putting points on the scoreboard. Unfortunately for the Giants, their offensive line looked very weak against the San Francisco 49ers, and Manning took many hard hits late in the game. If pass rushers like Vince Wilfork (6 total tackles, 1 sack against Baltimore) are able to hit Manning hard early on, the Patriots will control the entire game. The 18-1 season is still fresh in the minds of Patriots fans, along with those who played for Belichick in 2007. They will be hungry for yet another championship, and a win against New York would bring closure to die hard Pats fans. On the other hand, Manning threw 16 picks in the regular season, yet he has thrown just one this postseason. If he can stay consistent, Eli should give New England a hard time. Otherwise, Brady will win his 4th Super Bowl and be tied with Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw for the most Super Bowl wins in NFL history.
Patriots over Giants 27-24
Super Bowl MVP: QB Tom Brady: 305 passing yards, 2 TD's
PASSING EDGE: Patriots
RUSHING EDGE: Giants
WIDE RECEIVER EDGE: Giants
TIGHT END EDGE: Patriots
OFFENSIVE LINE EDGE: Patriots
PASS RUSH EDGE: Giants
RUSH DEFENSE EDGE: Patriots
PASS DEFENSE EDGE: Giants
SPECIAL TEAMS EDGE: Patriots
OVERALL EDGE: Patriots
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| "The Catch" |
Patriots over Giants 27-24
Super Bowl MVP: QB Tom Brady: 305 passing yards, 2 TD's
PASSING EDGE: Patriots
RUSHING EDGE: Giants
WIDE RECEIVER EDGE: Giants
TIGHT END EDGE: Patriots
OFFENSIVE LINE EDGE: Patriots
PASS RUSH EDGE: Giants
RUSH DEFENSE EDGE: Patriots
PASS DEFENSE EDGE: Giants
SPECIAL TEAMS EDGE: Patriots
OVERALL EDGE: Patriots
We are just two weeks away from Super Bowl XLVII, and it is sure to be a great one. With four teams remaining (Patriots, Ravens, 49ers and Giants), it shall make the games this weekend even better. The Divisional Round had some exciting outcomes, and I would not be surprised if that carried over to the Conference Championship. From 3 o'clock onwards, football fans everywhere will tune into the NFL playoffs in what should be another memorable weekend for football.
Ravens at Patriots: After dominating the highly revered Denver Broncos, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots will move on to the AFC Championship game for the 6th time in 11 years. The offense in New England looked extroidanry against the Broncos, led by future hall of famer Tom Brady (record tying 6 touchdown passes). However, the most astonishing part of last game was how well the Patriot's defense played. Tim Tebow threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns against one of the league's best defenses, the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, in the Divisional Round, Tebow's luck ran out, and he passed for a mediocre 136 yards with no touchdowns against the horrific Pats secondary. It is not like Tebow was running the ball well, either; in 31 dropabcks, the Broncos quarterback was sacked behind the line 5 times, one of which resulted in a turnover. As for Baltimore, the number 2 seed is coming off of a spectacular defensive performance against the Houston Texans (4 turnovers). However, the offense was lacking any sort of stand out performance, especially from star running back Ray Rice. Also, Pro-Bowl safety Ed Reed participated in a limited practice due to an ankle injury. If their star defender were to be missing against the Pats, there is no way the Ravens can beat the outstanding Tom Brady in Foxborough.
Patriots over Ravens: 30-20
Stand-Out Performance: QB Tom Brady: 320 passing yards, 2 passing TD's, 1 rushing TD
Giants at 49ers: Last weekend, the 2 seeded San Francisco 49ers beat Drew Brees in a thriller at home. Though they were ranked higher, the 49ers were considered to be the underdog entering Saturday's game. The main reason they were able to defeat New Orleans (besides with their exceptional defense) was due to their great passing performance from quarterback Alex Smith. Normally, Smith would throw for a mediocre 200 yards each game. However, against New Orleans, he had 299 yards with four total touchdowns. This weekend, they will play the New York Giants at home, a team who is coming off of a surprising win over the Green Bay Packers. Like the defense in San Francisco, the Giants defense was absolutely incredible in the Divisional Round. Traditionally, Aaron Rodgers picks apart defenses, especially in important games. However, New York was able to sack Rodgers 5 times, picked him off once, and recovered a fumble as well. The offense did great as well, led by quarterback Eli Manning (330 passing yards, 3 passing TD's) and wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (7 receptions, 165 yards, 2 TD's). If both teams play to their full potential, the 49ers have the edge. However, in the playoffs, it is all about consistency.
49ers over Giants 34-27 (OT)
Stand-Out Performance: K David Akers: 5 FGA, 5 FGM, 1 Game Tying FG
Ravens at Patriots: After dominating the highly revered Denver Broncos, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots will move on to the AFC Championship game for the 6th time in 11 years. The offense in New England looked extroidanry against the Broncos, led by future hall of famer Tom Brady (record tying 6 touchdown passes). However, the most astonishing part of last game was how well the Patriot's defense played. Tim Tebow threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns against one of the league's best defenses, the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, in the Divisional Round, Tebow's luck ran out, and he passed for a mediocre 136 yards with no touchdowns against the horrific Pats secondary. It is not like Tebow was running the ball well, either; in 31 dropabcks, the Broncos quarterback was sacked behind the line 5 times, one of which resulted in a turnover. As for Baltimore, the number 2 seed is coming off of a spectacular defensive performance against the Houston Texans (4 turnovers). However, the offense was lacking any sort of stand out performance, especially from star running back Ray Rice. Also, Pro-Bowl safety Ed Reed participated in a limited practice due to an ankle injury. If their star defender were to be missing against the Pats, there is no way the Ravens can beat the outstanding Tom Brady in Foxborough.Patriots over Ravens: 30-20
Stand-Out Performance: QB Tom Brady: 320 passing yards, 2 passing TD's, 1 rushing TD
Giants at 49ers: Last weekend, the 2 seeded San Francisco 49ers beat Drew Brees in a thriller at home. Though they were ranked higher, the 49ers were considered to be the underdog entering Saturday's game. The main reason they were able to defeat New Orleans (besides with their exceptional defense) was due to their great passing performance from quarterback Alex Smith. Normally, Smith would throw for a mediocre 200 yards each game. However, against New Orleans, he had 299 yards with four total touchdowns. This weekend, they will play the New York Giants at home, a team who is coming off of a surprising win over the Green Bay Packers. Like the defense in San Francisco, the Giants defense was absolutely incredible in the Divisional Round. Traditionally, Aaron Rodgers picks apart defenses, especially in important games. However, New York was able to sack Rodgers 5 times, picked him off once, and recovered a fumble as well. The offense did great as well, led by quarterback Eli Manning (330 passing yards, 3 passing TD's) and wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (7 receptions, 165 yards, 2 TD's). If both teams play to their full potential, the 49ers have the edge. However, in the playoffs, it is all about consistency.
49ers over Giants 34-27 (OT)
Stand-Out Performance: K David Akers: 5 FGA, 5 FGM, 1 Game Tying FG
Divisional Round Preview
Someway, somehow, Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos are advancing to the AFC Divisional Round after an overtime thriller at home. Sure the Steelers were affected by a large amount of injuries, but the fact of the matter is Denver wasn't even supposed to make the playoffs once they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17. Along with Broncos, the three other teams who had home-field won each of their Wild Card games, a rare occurrence in the NFL Playoffs. There are 4 GREAT games taking place this weekend, and The NFL Report has everything you need to know about the 2012 NFL Divisional Round!
Saints at 49ers: There is no better way to kick off the NFL Divisional Round then with an intense game between the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers. The Saints are coming off of a dominating win over Detroit at home, and have not lost a game since Week 9. Unfortunately for MVP candidate Drew Brees, his team will not be playing at the Superdome this weekend, where their record is an outstanding 9-0 this year. Instead, they will play in windy San Francisco against the rolling 49ers defense. San Francisco has done extremely well at home, with notable wins coming against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants. The Saints have not done very well on the road, losing to mediocre teams whom they should have beaten. However, due to the fact many of the 49ers have never played in a playoff game, the inexperience may come back to haunt them. Quarterback Alex Smith is not considered to be great at his position, so coach Jim Harbaugh must rely heavily on star runningback Frank Gore and the stellar defense as well. The only way the number one offense in New Orleans can defeat the spectacular 49ers defense is if they can finally do well on the road. Otherwise, Drew Brees will fall short of the Super Bowl once again.
Saints over 49ers 24-13
Stand-Out Performance: RB Frank Gore: 80 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
Broncos at Patriots: Tim Tebow has shocked the world; last Sunday night, he led his Denver Broncos to win over the heavily favored Pittsburgh Steeler in overtime. Many believed his inexperience would lead to a Bronco loss, but he was still able to defeat the defending AFC Champions. The road to the Super Bowl does not get any easier, as they play New England away from home. The last time these two teams faced off, Tim Tebow began by trampling the weak Patriots defense. However, by the end of the 2nd quarter, Tom Brady took over and led his team to 41-23 win on the road. Luckily for Denver, their quarterback was able to pass for 316 yards and 3 total touchdowns against the stellar Steelers defense. Though the Patriots are not known for their defense, I do not expect Tebow to come out slinging for the second game in a row. Foxboro is not an easy place to play in, especially come playoff time. Brady has not won a playoff game since 2007, but I believe that streak will be snapped on Saturday night.
Patriots over Broncos 33-24
Stand-Out Performance: QB Tom Brady: 315 passing yards, 2 passing TD's
Texans at Ravens: There is no better matchup than when a great defense battles a great defense. Though Baltimore may not be as strong as in previous years, veteran linebacker Ray Lewis has led his team to a 12-4 record and a first round bye. Now, Baltimore will play the Houston Texans at home, a team who defeated Cincinnati last weekend. Houston ranks in the top five in nearly ever major defensive category, especially when it comes to yards allowed. Arian Foster is coming off of an extraordinary performance against Cincinnati, with 153 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. However, Ravens running back Ray Rice is one of the best in the league, most likely better than the running back in Houston. Rice ran for 1,365 yards plus 12 rushing touchdowns in the 2011 season, also having 160 total yards when Baltimore played Houston back in Week 6. In this defensive matchup, Ray Rice along with the Baltimore defense will be too much for the Texans, and Baltimore will go on to play in the AFC Championship Game.
Ravens over Texans 20-13
Stand-Out Performance: RB Ray Rice: 135 rushing yards, 2 Rushing TD's
Giants at Packers: Aaron Rodgers. Every football fan dreads the name, for it means the invincible Green Bay Packers are coming to town. The Packers lost just once this season, coming against the mediocre Kansas City Chiefs. The MVP-candidate Aaron Rodgers had a passer rating of 122.5 this season, a single season record. Though the offense has been great, the defense in Green Bay has been absolutely terrible (ranked dead last in points allowed per game). The New York Giants on the other hand are coming off of a great defensive performance, limiting the great Falcons offense to just two points. Quarterback Eli Manning has been great, one of the 10 passers to throw for over 4,000 yards. Wide recievers Victor Cruz and Hakeem Knicks have both done very well, and are two great options for Eli. When it comes to the rushing game, New York has a large advantage with running backs Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs, even though they ranked dead last in rushing yards per game in the regular season. The last time these two teams met, Rodgers and the Packers won thanks to a game winning field goal by Mason Crosby. Unfortunately for New York, they must travel to Wisconsin and try to beat the Packers in Lambeau Field. However, I am predicting an upset on Saturday night, and Eli Manning will come out on top.
Giants over Packers 34-30
Stand-Out Performance: QB Eli Manning: 355 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD
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| Tom Brady |
Saints over 49ers 24-13
Stand-Out Performance: RB Frank Gore: 80 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
Patriots over Broncos 33-24
Stand-Out Performance: QB Tom Brady: 315 passing yards, 2 passing TD's
Texans at Ravens: There is no better matchup than when a great defense battles a great defense. Though Baltimore may not be as strong as in previous years, veteran linebacker Ray Lewis has led his team to a 12-4 record and a first round bye. Now, Baltimore will play the Houston Texans at home, a team who defeated Cincinnati last weekend. Houston ranks in the top five in nearly ever major defensive category, especially when it comes to yards allowed. Arian Foster is coming off of an extraordinary performance against Cincinnati, with 153 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. However, Ravens running back Ray Rice is one of the best in the league, most likely better than the running back in Houston. Rice ran for 1,365 yards plus 12 rushing touchdowns in the 2011 season, also having 160 total yards when Baltimore played Houston back in Week 6. In this defensive matchup, Ray Rice along with the Baltimore defense will be too much for the Texans, and Baltimore will go on to play in the AFC Championship Game.
Ravens over Texans 20-13
Stand-Out Performance: RB Ray Rice: 135 rushing yards, 2 Rushing TD's
Giants at Packers: Aaron Rodgers. Every football fan dreads the name, for it means the invincible Green Bay Packers are coming to town. The Packers lost just once this season, coming against the mediocre Kansas City Chiefs. The MVP-candidate Aaron Rodgers had a passer rating of 122.5 this season, a single season record. Though the offense has been great, the defense in Green Bay has been absolutely terrible (ranked dead last in points allowed per game). The New York Giants on the other hand are coming off of a great defensive performance, limiting the great Falcons offense to just two points. Quarterback Eli Manning has been great, one of the 10 passers to throw for over 4,000 yards. Wide recievers Victor Cruz and Hakeem Knicks have both done very well, and are two great options for Eli. When it comes to the rushing game, New York has a large advantage with running backs Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs, even though they ranked dead last in rushing yards per game in the regular season. The last time these two teams met, Rodgers and the Packers won thanks to a game winning field goal by Mason Crosby. Unfortunately for New York, they must travel to Wisconsin and try to beat the Packers in Lambeau Field. However, I am predicting an upset on Saturday night, and Eli Manning will come out on top.
Giants over Packers 34-30
Stand-Out Performance: QB Eli Manning: 355 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD
The 2011 NFL playoffs are finally underway, after several hectic weeks of regular season football. There are many great teams with high expectations entering the playoffs, such as the Packers, Patriots and 49ers. However, every year, an unexpected team makes a deep run and upsets at least one highly favored team. As for this year, I suspect that team will be the New York Giants. In Week 13, New York almost pulled off an upset against the heavily favored Packers, losing by just three points. They enter the playoffs with back to back wins against the Jets and Cowboys, two highly regarded teams in the league. The Giants will play the Atlanta Falcons at home in what should be a great game. Out of the AFC, watch out for the deadly Cincinnati Bengals. Though they lack experience, that team has the heart and soul needed to win the Super Bowl. Without further ado, I present the Wild Card Round Preview:
Bengals at Texans: Sadly for the Texans, they enter the playoffs with three straight losses, one of which coming against the 2-14 Colts. However, the Texans had clinched a playoff spot in Week 14, so they did not necessarily need to try due to the risk of injury. Ironically, the most recent win for Houston came against the Cinciannati Bengals. This weekend, the Bengals must play on the road in order to advance. They have an extremely inexperienced team this season, led by rookies AJ Green and Andy Dalton. However, the same could be said for Houston, who have just clinched their first playoff birth in franchise history. On paper, Houston has the edge with a slightly better defense and a better running game. However, their cold streak may hurt themselves against the determined Bengals. In the end, it should be a close game, but I think the Bengals will upset the 3rd seed this Saturday.
Bengals over Texans 24-17 (OT)
Stand-Out Performance: RB Arian Foster: 105 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
Steelers at Broncos: It appears as if Tim Tebow's aura has faded; like Houston, the Denver Broncos have lost their last three games. What is the problem? Defenses have finally figured out Tim Tebow. However, it will not get any easier for Denver, as they face the intimidating Steelers defense this weekend. Pittsburgh is ranked 1st in passing yards allowed per game (171.9), 1st in receiving yards allowed per game (186.3) and 1st in total yards allowed per game (271.8). The most important statistic in favor of Pittsburgh is the fact they are ranked 2nd overall in rushing touchdowns allowed (7). Against a team like Denver who relies heavily on their running game, the defense will need play with a sense of urgency. This should be an easy win for Big Ben, even without star running back Rashard Mendenhall.
Steelers over Broncos 24-10
Stand-Out Performance: S Troy Polamalu: 7 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD, 1 Sack
Lions at Saints: There is no team in the NFL doing as well as Drew Brees' Saints. In the past three games, the Saints offense averages 44 points per game. The main contributor? Star quarterback Drew Brees. In 2011, the Saints QB set the record for the most passing yards in a single season with 5,476. Not only does Brees have a cannon for an arm, but he is extremely accurate; Brees led the league this season with the highest completion percentage (71.2). The Saints have the most net points in the league as well (208), a combination of points for and points against. Though the Lions have great offense, there is no way they can compete with the rolling Saints. Detroit is coming off a disappointing loss against the Green Bay Packers , even though Green Bay played 2nd string quarterback Matt Flynn (480 passing yards, 6 touchdowns). If the Lions defense can't even control Matt Flynn, there is no way they can handle the amazing Drew Brees.
Saints over Lions: 45-17
Stand-Out Performance: QB Drew Brees: 430 passing yards, 4 passing TD's
Falcons at Giants: After a competitive game against Dallas in Week 17, the Giants are in the playoffs. Sadly, the road is not an easy one for New York fans; Atlanta, led by it's offense, is coming off of a dominating win over Tampa Bay. On paper, the Atlanta defense is better than the defense in New York; they are ahead in nearly every major defensive statistic. The net points are in favor of the Falcons as well, with 52 points compared to -6 for the Giants. However, New York usually is able to match up well against decent teams, and I expect them to make a deep playoff run after defeating the Falcons at home.
Giants over Falcons 27-17
Super Bowl Prediction: Saints over Ravens 34-28
Super Bowl MVP: 375 passing yards, 3 passing TD's, 1 rushing TD, 2 INT
 |
| Arian Foster |
Bengals over Texans 24-17 (OT)
Stand-Out Performance: RB Arian Foster: 105 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
Steelers at Broncos: It appears as if Tim Tebow's aura has faded; like Houston, the Denver Broncos have lost their last three games. What is the problem? Defenses have finally figured out Tim Tebow. However, it will not get any easier for Denver, as they face the intimidating Steelers defense this weekend. Pittsburgh is ranked 1st in passing yards allowed per game (171.9), 1st in receiving yards allowed per game (186.3) and 1st in total yards allowed per game (271.8). The most important statistic in favor of Pittsburgh is the fact they are ranked 2nd overall in rushing touchdowns allowed (7). Against a team like Denver who relies heavily on their running game, the defense will need play with a sense of urgency. This should be an easy win for Big Ben, even without star running back Rashard Mendenhall.
Steelers over Broncos 24-10
Stand-Out Performance: S Troy Polamalu: 7 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD, 1 Sack
Lions at Saints: There is no team in the NFL doing as well as Drew Brees' Saints. In the past three games, the Saints offense averages 44 points per game. The main contributor? Star quarterback Drew Brees. In 2011, the Saints QB set the record for the most passing yards in a single season with 5,476. Not only does Brees have a cannon for an arm, but he is extremely accurate; Brees led the league this season with the highest completion percentage (71.2). The Saints have the most net points in the league as well (208), a combination of points for and points against. Though the Lions have great offense, there is no way they can compete with the rolling Saints. Detroit is coming off a disappointing loss against the Green Bay Packers , even though Green Bay played 2nd string quarterback Matt Flynn (480 passing yards, 6 touchdowns). If the Lions defense can't even control Matt Flynn, there is no way they can handle the amazing Drew Brees.
Saints over Lions: 45-17
Stand-Out Performance: QB Drew Brees: 430 passing yards, 4 passing TD's
Falcons at Giants: After a competitive game against Dallas in Week 17, the Giants are in the playoffs. Sadly, the road is not an easy one for New York fans; Atlanta, led by it's offense, is coming off of a dominating win over Tampa Bay. On paper, the Atlanta defense is better than the defense in New York; they are ahead in nearly every major defensive statistic. The net points are in favor of the Falcons as well, with 52 points compared to -6 for the Giants. However, New York usually is able to match up well against decent teams, and I expect them to make a deep playoff run after defeating the Falcons at home.
Giants over Falcons 27-17
Super Bowl Prediction: Saints over Ravens 34-28
Super Bowl MVP: 375 passing yards, 3 passing TD's, 1 rushing TD, 2 INT
Week 17 Predictions
This is it, the final week of football. Several teams are in the hunt for a playoff spot, and a loss may ruin their hopes of a championship win this season. Though many teams are looking for a win, three teams may actually want to lose in order to draft Andrew Luck. Indianapolis (2-13), Minnesota (3-12) and St. Louis (2-13) all want the star QB, for he is projected to be on of the best prospects of his generation. A total of 7 teams look to clinch a playoff spot this weekend, and the 2011 regular season should go out with a bang!
Game-to-Watch: Cowboys at Giants: The division rivalry game this weekend decides which team will earn the fourth seed, and which team is eliminated from the playoffs. The last time these two teams played, Eli Manning threw for 400 yards and 2 touchdowns in a win on the road. However, the win did not come easily. In fact, it came down to a blocked field goal attempt from kicker Dan Bailey which would have sent the game into OT. Now, the Cowboys need injured quarterback Tony Romo to lead his team to a win over the rolling New York Giants. The Cowboys have been extremely inconsistent the past few games, losing to the Philadelphia Eagles 20-7 last weekend. The Giants on the other hand dominated the New York Jets 29-14 away from home in Week 16. Eli Manning has not been great the past two games, but he should be able to bounce back against the weak Dallas secondary. All in all, New York has the edge in this one, and they should be a threat in the playoffs.
Giants over Cowboys 31-10
Stand-Out Performance: QB Matthew Stafford: Usually, this quarterback would not be picked as a stand out performer during the regular season. However, with many great players being sat in Week 17 in order to stay healthy for the playoffs, Stafford should be playing in as much of the game as he can. In the past two games, Stafford has thrown for 7 passing touchdowns and a total of 764 yards. The Lions look to clinch a playoff spot as they play Green Bay on Sunday. Green Bay will have many of their star defensive players on the bench, so expect Stafford to come out firing.
Mathew Stafford: 295 passing yards, 3 passing TD's, 1 rushing TD
Player-to-Watch: RB Marshawn Lynch: For the first time this season, a running back was able to score a rushing touchdown against the impenetrable 49ers defense. This running back was Marshawn Lynch, the dominant rusher for Seattle. In the past nine games, Lynch has averaged 97.6 rushing yards per game and scored a whopping 11 total touchdowns. This weekend, he will play the Arizona Cardinals at home, so look to see if he adds on to his rushing touchdown numbers.
Marshawn Lynch: 75 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
Week 17 Predictions:
Lions over Packers
Texans over Titans
Jaguars over Colts
Dolphins over Jets
Bears over Vikings
Patriots over Bills
Saints over Panthers
Eagles over Redskins
49ers over Rams
Seahawks over Cardinals (OT)
Falcons over Buccaneers
Ravens over Bengals (OT)
Steelers over Browns
Broncos over Chiefs
Raiders over Chargers
Giants over Cowboys
Playoff Scenarios:
Bengals: Win or loss by Jets AND loss by either Raiders or Broncos
Raiders: Win and loss by Bengals OR win and loss by Broncos
Titans: Win AND loss by Bengals AND either win by Jets or Broncos win and Raiders win
Jets: Win AND loss by Bengals AND loss by Titans AND either loss by Broncos or Raiders
The NFL Report Projected Playoff Seeding:
AFC: 1. Patriots 2. Ravens 3. Texans 4. Broncos 5. Steelers 6. Raiders
NFC: 1. Packers 2. 49ers 3. Saints 4. Giants 5. Lions 6. Atlanta
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| Cam Newton |
Giants over Cowboys 31-10
Stand-Out Performance: QB Matthew Stafford: Usually, this quarterback would not be picked as a stand out performer during the regular season. However, with many great players being sat in Week 17 in order to stay healthy for the playoffs, Stafford should be playing in as much of the game as he can. In the past two games, Stafford has thrown for 7 passing touchdowns and a total of 764 yards. The Lions look to clinch a playoff spot as they play Green Bay on Sunday. Green Bay will have many of their star defensive players on the bench, so expect Stafford to come out firing.
Mathew Stafford: 295 passing yards, 3 passing TD's, 1 rushing TD
Player-to-Watch: RB Marshawn Lynch: For the first time this season, a running back was able to score a rushing touchdown against the impenetrable 49ers defense. This running back was Marshawn Lynch, the dominant rusher for Seattle. In the past nine games, Lynch has averaged 97.6 rushing yards per game and scored a whopping 11 total touchdowns. This weekend, he will play the Arizona Cardinals at home, so look to see if he adds on to his rushing touchdown numbers.
Marshawn Lynch: 75 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
Week 17 Predictions:
Lions over Packers
Texans over Titans
Jaguars over Colts
Dolphins over Jets
Bears over Vikings
Patriots over Bills
Saints over Panthers
Eagles over Redskins
49ers over Rams
Seahawks over Cardinals (OT)
Falcons over Buccaneers
Ravens over Bengals (OT)
Steelers over Browns
Broncos over Chiefs
Raiders over Chargers
Giants over Cowboys
Playoff Scenarios:
Bengals: Win or loss by Jets AND loss by either Raiders or Broncos
Raiders: Win and loss by Bengals OR win and loss by Broncos
Titans: Win AND loss by Bengals AND either win by Jets or Broncos win and Raiders win
Jets: Win AND loss by Bengals AND loss by Titans AND either loss by Broncos or Raiders
The NFL Report Projected Playoff Seeding:
AFC: 1. Patriots 2. Ravens 3. Texans 4. Broncos 5. Steelers 6. Raiders
NFC: 1. Packers 2. 49ers 3. Saints 4. Giants 5. Lions 6. Atlanta
Week 16 Predictions
The 16th week of football started off with a bang; the 1-13 Indianapolis Colts defeated the playoff bound Texans 19-16 at home. Granted, the Texans were missing both Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub, and they may not have been playing to their full abilities, but this loss shocked many football fans across the country. These past few weeks have been full of upsets, so I do not except this pattern to stop on Saturday. Merry Christmas, and happy holidays from The NFL Report!
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| Reggie Bush |
Game-to-Watch: Giants at Jets: The Battle of New York. This weekend, both New York teams face off in a rivalry game in order to come closer towards a playoff spot. The New York Jets are coming off of a horrendous performance against Philadelphia. The Jets' offense has done well this season, ranked 7th in points per game (24.7). The Jets defense has not been as stellar as in previous years (ranked 21 in points allowed per game with 22.5), so they must step up in order to win against Eli Mannning's team. As for the Giants, the defense may not have spectacular stats (ranked 28th in points allowed with 26.6), but it can be clutch when it needs to be. The offense is led by quarterback Eli Manning, who has done EXTREMELY well this season. The battle of New York should be close, and it will come down to how well the Giants can bounce back from a 1-5 record the past six games.
Jets over Giants: 24-20
Stand-Out Performance: QB Cam Newton: The 2011 Rookie of the Year front-runner has done extremely well in his first year out of Auburn. Newton has thrown for 3,722 yards and 17 touchdowns. However, the most spectacular feature of Cam Newton is his running ability; Newton has rushed for 13 touchdowns, the most by a QB this season. As he plays Tampa Bay on Saturday, it should be an absolutely dominating performance. The last time the Heisman winner played Tampa Bay, Newton scored 4 total touchdowns with 204 passing yards. This weekend should be no different, and I except him to tear apart such a weak defense.
Cam Newton: 250 passing yards, 2 passing TD's, 2 rushing TD's
Player-to-Watch: QB Drew Brees: For 27 years, Dan Marino's single season passing yard record has remained unbroken. However, this record of 5,084 yards may be surpassed as soon as this weekend by none other than Drew Brees. The Saints quarterback already has 4,780 passing yards, leaving him 304 yards away from tying the record. Luckily, Brees averages 341.4 passing yards per game as of Week 16, so there is a chance the record will be snapped even before the 4th quarter against Atlanta. Brees has not missed a game since 2009, and is not prone to injuries. All the signs are in favor of Brees, so watch on Monday Nights as he makes history against the Falcons.
Drew Brees: 325 passing yards, 3 passing TD's
Week 16 Predictions:
Ravens over Browns
Broncos over Bills
Panthers over Buccaneers
Bengals over Cardinals
Raiders over Chiefs
Patriots over Dolphins (OT)
Jets over Giants
Steelers over Rams
Titans over Jaguars
Vikings over Redskins
Lions over Chargers
Eagles over Cowboys
49ers over Seahawks
Packers over Bears
Packers over Bears
Saints over Falcons
Week 15 Predictions
This year's regular season is winding down, and four teams (Texans, Saints, 49ers and Packers) have already clinched a playoff spot. However, many teams remain in the playoff hunt. In the 15th week of football, the 10-3 Pittsburgh Steelers look to defeat the San Francisco 49ers in order to come closer towards clinching home field advantage. However, the 49ers have just as much to play for in this battle of the defenses, so expect them to play 100%. This game is not the only great matchup in Week 15; Tim Tebow and the Broncos take on Tom Brady's Patriots at Denver. The Denver Broncos are the only team Tom Brady does not have a career record above .500, so he will look to change that this weekend. Week 15 should be another great week of football and make sure to watch Pittsburgh battle it out with San Francisco on Monday night.
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| Rob Gronkowski |
Game-to-Watch: Steelers at 49ers: Last weekend, the 49ers waltzed into Arizona expecting an easy win. However, the overly confident San Francisco team were handed their third loss of the season. Luckily for the 49ers, their rush defense has yet to allow a rushing touchdown, so they might be able to shut down Rashard Mendenhall in order to compete with such a highly skilled team. The Steelers on the other hand are on a four game winning streak, with a 2-0 record against non conference teams. Pittsburgh's defense is ranked 1st overall in passing yards allowed, and clearly will not face any sort of challenge against Alex Smith. Both teams have been playing without key players due to injuries (Troy Polumalu for the Steelers and Patrick Willis for the 49ers). The Steelers should be able to overpower the weak 49ers offense, and Big Ben will improve his team's record to 11-3.
Steelers over 49ers: 27-10
Stand-Out Performance: QB Drew Brees: If anyone deserves to break Dan Marino's passing record this season, it is Drew Brees. Brees has been absolutely flawless each game, and already has 32 passing touchdowns (one less than last year). In Week 14, the Saints QB tour apart the Titan's defense, passing for 337 yards and two touchdowns. This week, he should do even better against the weak Minnesota defense. The Vikings rank dead last in passing touchdowns allowed with 26. If anyone can exploit their defense's weaknesses, it is Drew Brees.
Drew Brees: 375 passing yards, 4 passing TD's
Player-to-Watch: TE Rob Gronkowski: For the past six games, the unstoppable force in Rob Gronkowski has managed to reach the end zone 10 times. Last weekend against the Redskins, Gronk set the record for the most touchdowns in a single season by a tight end, even with three games left in the season. Gronkowski goes up against the Denver Broncos, a team with a mediocre pass defense. He has been extremely dominant in 2011, and it does not look like this run will stop anytime soon.
Rob Gronkowski: 90 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
Week 15 Predictions:
Cowboys over Buccaneers
Dolphins over Bills
Seahawks over Bears
Texans over Panthers
Titans over Colts
Packers over Chiefs
Saints over Vikings
Giants over Redskins
Bengals over Rams
Lions over Raiders (OT)
Cardinals over Browns (OT)
Patriots over Broncos
Jets over Eagles
Ravens over Chargers
Steelers over 49ers
Week 14 Predictions
With just 4 weeks remaining in the NFL season, three different quarterbacks are on track to surpass Dan Marino's single season passing record (5,084 passing yards); Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Drew Brees. This 27 year old record is clearly going to be ended by the end of the year. However, the question is, which quarterback is going to set the new record? Drew Brees appears to be the most likely candidate for both the new passing record and the 2011 Offensive Player of the Year Award. This weekend, the New Orleans Saints play Tennessee on the road, an easy game statistically for Drew Brees. Week 14 is important for playoff hopefuls, and should be another great week of football!
Game-to-Watch: Raiders at Packers: After a thrilling last second win over the New York Giants in Week 13, Aaron Rodger's Packers remain undefeated. As of December 10th, Green Bay is ranked 4th overall in total offense (405.2 per game) and passing yards per game (308.8 yards). However, even these outstanding statistics can not accurately portray the absolute dominance of the Packers offense. Green Bay has scored more total points than any other team in the NFL, allowing them to have the most net points in the league (158). The Oakland Raiders on the other hand are coming off of an atrocious road loss against the Miami Dolphins. It will be important for the Raider's rushing game to do well (ranked 4th overall) if they want to hand Green Bay it's first loss. Otherwise, this game will be a blow-out.
Packer over Raiders: 34-20
Stand-Out Performance: RB Ray Rice: Last weekend, Ray Rice completely tour apart the Cleveland Brown defense, rushing for 204 yards and a touchdown. This weekend, the star running back will go up against the weak Colts defense. Indianapolis has allowed the most rushing touchdowns in the NFL (17) and the third most rushing yards so far this season (144.2). Rice is one of the league's best when it comes to explosive speed. This weekend, he should have another great game, and lead his team to an easy win over the winless Colts.
Ray Rice: 155 Rushing yards, 2 Rushing TD's
Player-to-Watch: WR Percy Harvin: Finally, the 2009 Rookie of the Year Award has reached his full potential. These past three weeks, Harvin has caught 16 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns. Harvin's skill has been effected by ongoing migraine problems, the main reason he has not had many extraordinary games. If his migraines do not act up again, Harvin should do extremely well this weekend against the Detroit Lions.
Percy Harvin: 65 Receiving yards, 1 TD
Week 13 Predictions:
Ravens over Colts
Falcons over Panthers
Texans over Bengals
Lions over Vikings
Jaguars over Buccaneers
Dolphins over Eagles
Jets over Chiefs
Saints over Titans
Patriots over Redskins
49ers over Cardinals
Broncos over Bears
Packers over Raiders
Chargers over Bills
Giants over Cowboys
Seahawks over Rams
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| Chris Johnson |
Packer over Raiders: 34-20
Stand-Out Performance: RB Ray Rice: Last weekend, Ray Rice completely tour apart the Cleveland Brown defense, rushing for 204 yards and a touchdown. This weekend, the star running back will go up against the weak Colts defense. Indianapolis has allowed the most rushing touchdowns in the NFL (17) and the third most rushing yards so far this season (144.2). Rice is one of the league's best when it comes to explosive speed. This weekend, he should have another great game, and lead his team to an easy win over the winless Colts.
Ray Rice: 155 Rushing yards, 2 Rushing TD's
Player-to-Watch: WR Percy Harvin: Finally, the 2009 Rookie of the Year Award has reached his full potential. These past three weeks, Harvin has caught 16 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns. Harvin's skill has been effected by ongoing migraine problems, the main reason he has not had many extraordinary games. If his migraines do not act up again, Harvin should do extremely well this weekend against the Detroit Lions.
Percy Harvin: 65 Receiving yards, 1 TD
Week 13 Predictions:
Ravens over Colts
Falcons over Panthers
Texans over Bengals
Lions over Vikings
Jaguars over Buccaneers
Dolphins over Eagles
Jets over Chiefs
Saints over Titans
Patriots over Redskins
49ers over Cardinals
Broncos over Bears
Packers over Raiders
Chargers over Bills
Giants over Cowboys
Seahawks over Rams
Week 13 Predictions
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| Maurice Jones Drew |
Game-to-Watch: This season, the spectacular offense in New Orleans has been overlooked due to the undefeated Green Bay Packers. However, Drew Brees and the Saints rank 1st overall in total yards per game (449.6), 1st in passing yards per game (324.2) and 2nd in points per game (32.9). However, this Super Bowl contender has yet to secure a playoff spot, with Atlanta just one game behind in the standings. The rest of the season is not exactly smooth sailing for New Orleans, especially with a tough game against Detroit. Fortunately for New Orleans, Detroit will be without Ndamukong Suh due to a suspension. In order for Detroit to remain a legitimate playoff contender, they must win this weekend against Drew Brees' team, something that does not happen often.
Saints over Lions 38-20
Stand-Out Performance: QB Tom Brady: Most years, when the Colt splay the Patriots, it is a great game. This season, though, Indianapolis is 0-11, with an absolutely horrendous defense. The Colts have allowed 19 passing touchdowns this year, tied for 23rd in the league. However, this week, they must play future Hall-of-Famer Tom Brady, who is coming off of a 360 yard passing game with 3 touchdowns. Obviously, Brady will tear apart this weak secondary, so you can expect a great game out of him.
Tom Brady: 385 passing yards, 4 passing TDs
Player-to-Watch: Laurent Robinson: When you are told a Cowboys wide receiver has caught 7 touchdowns in 5 games, Laurent Robinson is not the name that first comes to mind. However, it is true; Laurent Robinson has been tearing apart team's secondaries the past five games. Ever since WR Miles Austin left early in Week 9 with a hamstring injury, Robinson has been Romo's go to receiver. This weekend against Arizona, Austin will remain injured and has not been cleared to play. Now, there is no reason for Robinson not to do well against such a weak secondary.
Laurent Robinson: 65 receiving yards
Week 13 Predictions:
Titans over Bills
Bears over Chiefs
Texans over Falcons
Raiders over Dolphins
Broncos over Vikings
Patriots over Colts
Steelers over Bengals
Panthers over Buccaneers
Jets over Redskins
Ravens over Browns
Cowboys over Cardinals
Packers over Giants
49ers over Rams
Saints over Lions
Chargers over Jaguars
Week 12 Predictions
For the first time in a long time, the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving game will actually be entertaining; the Lions will face off against their division rivals in the Green Bay Packers. Today's match-up may bring the Packers their first loss of the season. However, if the Packers win today's game, their is a large chance they will remain undefeated by season's end. The other great game this Thanksgiving is the battle of the Harbaughs as the Baltimore Ravens play the San Francisco 49ers. This game will be the first time two head coaches who are brothers play each other in a football game. Today should have many great games, and The NFL Report wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving!
Game-to-Watch: Packers at Lions: There is now way to avoid it; the Green Bay Packers have a great chance at becoming the second team to have a 16-0 regular season record. As they travel to Detroit, however, the Lions may be the only team who can stop the Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Last weekend, Detroit almost lost to Cam Newton's Panthers, which would have been an amazing upset. Luckily, Matthew Stafford passed for five touchdowns in this shootout, rallying past the Panthers to give his team a 7-3 record. On the other hand, the Packer played Tampa Bay at Lambeau Field. Green Bay led the entire game, yet their were times where it looked like the Buccaneers may come from behind. Once again, Rodgers had a spectacular game, winning 35-26. The Packers defense has done well the past few games, but it is clearly not as dominate as last year's. The Lions depend a lot on their offense, but the key for them to come out on top is to stop Aaron Rodgers (5th in passing yards allowed per game this season). The game will be close, but Aaron Rodgers will be too much for Detroit, and his Packers will improve their record to 11-0.
Packers over Lions 23-16
Stand-Out Performance: WR Steve Smith: Four years ago, Steve Smith was considered one of the top wide receivers in the league. Then, Smith began to show signs of aging, as he no longer put up Pro Bowl stats. Once the Panthers drafted Heisman winner Cam Newton, Smith's performance completely game. In the first game of the season, Smith caught two touchdown passes with 178 receiving yards. The football world was shocked, but ever since that game, Smith has been extraordinary (in just 10 games he has 992 receiving yards). This weekend, Smith goes up against the Colts defense, ranked dead last in terms of receiving touchdowns given up (19). Smith should tear apart the weak secondary, so expect 30+ fantasy points from this star wide receiver.
Steve Smith: 145 receiving yards, 2 TD's
Player to Watch: RB Kevin Smith: The most interesting headline from Week 11; Lions back-up running back Kevin Smith scored 3 total touchdowns (2 rushing, 1 receiving) and ran for 140 yards. Before the Week 11 game, no one believed Smith could do so well in his first game as a starter. This weekend, he goes up against the Green Bay Packers, a team with a mediocre rush defense. Smith will try and prove that last weekend's game was not a fluke, so it will be important to keep an eye on him this Thanksgiving.
Kevin Smith: 50 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
Week 12 Predictions:
Packers over Lions
Cowboys over Dolphins (OT)
Ravens over 49ers
Falcons over Vikings
Bengals over Browns
Panthers over Colts
Texans over Jaguars
Jets over Bills
Cardinals over Rams
Buccaneers over Titans
Bears over Raiders
Seahawks over Redskins
Patriots over Eagles (OT)
Broncos over Chargers
Steelers over Chiefs
Saints over Giants
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| Patrick Willis |
Packers over Lions 23-16
Stand-Out Performance: WR Steve Smith: Four years ago, Steve Smith was considered one of the top wide receivers in the league. Then, Smith began to show signs of aging, as he no longer put up Pro Bowl stats. Once the Panthers drafted Heisman winner Cam Newton, Smith's performance completely game. In the first game of the season, Smith caught two touchdown passes with 178 receiving yards. The football world was shocked, but ever since that game, Smith has been extraordinary (in just 10 games he has 992 receiving yards). This weekend, Smith goes up against the Colts defense, ranked dead last in terms of receiving touchdowns given up (19). Smith should tear apart the weak secondary, so expect 30+ fantasy points from this star wide receiver.
Steve Smith: 145 receiving yards, 2 TD's
Player to Watch: RB Kevin Smith: The most interesting headline from Week 11; Lions back-up running back Kevin Smith scored 3 total touchdowns (2 rushing, 1 receiving) and ran for 140 yards. Before the Week 11 game, no one believed Smith could do so well in his first game as a starter. This weekend, he goes up against the Green Bay Packers, a team with a mediocre rush defense. Smith will try and prove that last weekend's game was not a fluke, so it will be important to keep an eye on him this Thanksgiving.
Kevin Smith: 50 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
Week 12 Predictions:
Packers over Lions
Cowboys over Dolphins (OT)
Ravens over 49ers
Falcons over Vikings
Bengals over Browns
Panthers over Colts
Texans over Jaguars
Jets over Bills
Cardinals over Rams
Buccaneers over Titans
Bears over Raiders
Seahawks over Redskins
Patriots over Eagles (OT)
Broncos over Chargers
Steelers over Chiefs
Saints over Giants
Week 11 Predictions
Week 11 started with a surprising upset; The Denver Broncos defeated the New York Jets 17-13 last Thursday night. Now, the Jets' playoff hopes are slowly slipping away as their record becomes a mediocre 5-5. Many teams, the Jets included, must improve their game in order to have any chance of winning the Super Bowl. If not, they must go back to the drawing boards in hopes the 2012 season will be better. Week 11 is extremely important for playoff hopefuls. This Sunday should be great, and The NFL Report has you covered on everything you need to know for the 11th week of football.
Game to Watch: Bengals at Ravens: When you think of the Cincinnati Bengals, a great defense is not the first thing that comes to mind. However, the Bengals are among the top 5 defenses in the league (ranked 5th in points allowed per game and 2nd in rushing yards allowed per game). This great defense has allowed the Bengals to be 6-3; tied for second in the competitive AFC North. This weekend, they will play the Baltimore Ravens who also have a 6-3 record. After this weekend, the winning team will be tied for first place in the AFC North, and the losing team may have their playoff hopes crushed. Both teams are coming off losses, with the Ravens losing to Seattle, and the Bengals losing to Pittsburgh. Baltimore has been extremely inconsistent this season, beating the good teams yet losing to the bad teams. If they can play well, even without LB Ray Lewis (questionable due to a foot injury), the Ravens will win this important division game.
Ravens over Bengals 23-17
Stand-Out Performance: RB LeSean McCoy: So far this season, Eagles RB LeSean McCoy has proved to be the best running back in the NFL. In just 9 games, McCoy has rushed for 906 yards (2nd in the league), 10 rushing touchdowns (tied for 1st in the league), and 5.5 rushing yards per attempt (2nd in the league with a minimum of 125 attempts). This weekend, the Eagles will face-off against the New York Giants at New York. LeSean Mccoy averages 105.75 yards per game on the road, with 6 total touchdowns in four games. As he plays the Giants, a team ranked 26 in terms of rushing TD's allowed (10), McCoy will likely have one of the best games of his career.
LeSean Mccoy: 175 Rushing yards, 2 Rushing TD's
Player to Watch: RB Reggie Bush: It has taken 6 years, but Reggie has finally reached his NFL potential. He has averaged 80 rushing yards in the past three games, the highest yardage average in three consecutive games Bush has had during his entire career. Last weekend, Bush scored twice against the Redskins, just the third time in his career where he ran for two touchdowns in a single game. He has done very well the past three games, so make sure to keep an eye on the "Heisman winner" as he plays against Buffalo this weekend.
Reggie Bush: 65 yards, 1 rushing TD
Week 11 Predictions:
Broncos over Jets (OT)
Ravens over Bengals
Jaguars over Browns
Bills over Dolphins
Lions over Panthers
Packers over Buccaneers
Raiders over Vikings
Cowboys over Redskins
Cardinals over 49ers (OT)
Seahawks over Rams
Falcons over Titans
Bears over Chargers
Giants over Eagles
Patriots over Chiefs
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| James Harrison |
Ravens over Bengals 23-17
Stand-Out Performance: RB LeSean McCoy: So far this season, Eagles RB LeSean McCoy has proved to be the best running back in the NFL. In just 9 games, McCoy has rushed for 906 yards (2nd in the league), 10 rushing touchdowns (tied for 1st in the league), and 5.5 rushing yards per attempt (2nd in the league with a minimum of 125 attempts). This weekend, the Eagles will face-off against the New York Giants at New York. LeSean Mccoy averages 105.75 yards per game on the road, with 6 total touchdowns in four games. As he plays the Giants, a team ranked 26 in terms of rushing TD's allowed (10), McCoy will likely have one of the best games of his career.
LeSean Mccoy: 175 Rushing yards, 2 Rushing TD's
Player to Watch: RB Reggie Bush: It has taken 6 years, but Reggie has finally reached his NFL potential. He has averaged 80 rushing yards in the past three games, the highest yardage average in three consecutive games Bush has had during his entire career. Last weekend, Bush scored twice against the Redskins, just the third time in his career where he ran for two touchdowns in a single game. He has done very well the past three games, so make sure to keep an eye on the "Heisman winner" as he plays against Buffalo this weekend.
Reggie Bush: 65 yards, 1 rushing TD
Week 11 Predictions:
Broncos over Jets (OT)
Ravens over Bengals
Jaguars over Browns
Bills over Dolphins
Lions over Panthers
Packers over Buccaneers
Raiders over Vikings
Cowboys over Redskins
Cardinals over 49ers (OT)
Seahawks over Rams
Falcons over Titans
Bears over Chargers
Giants over Eagles
Patriots over Chiefs
Week 9 Predictions
After an eventful Week 8, the midpoint of the NFL season, football fans are bound for an even more exciting weekend in the 9th week of football. Two playoff contenders, the Patriots and the Saints, lost in conference showdowns last weekend, limiting them both to just 5 wins going into Week 9. Looking ahead to Sunday, great games are in store among championship built teams. As usual, The NFL Report has the Week 9 predictions, and be sure to comment!
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| Michael Turner |
Game-to-Watch: Packers at Chargers: In the past two weeks, the Chargers have been rather disappointing, losing to the Chiefs and the Jets, both of which on the road. Finally, Philip Rivers' team will play in their own stadium against the most dominate team in the league. Though Green Bay's offense has been outstanding, the defense has been below par this year. They rank 28th in total yards allowed per game (391), a statistic they ranked 5th overall in the league. Somehow, the defense is ranked 31st in terms of passing yards allowed per game, yet they have 13 interceptions so far, ranked 2nd overall. It will be important for that defense to shut down Philip Rivers, so Rodgers can control the game. Though the Chargers are in their home stadium for the Week 9 matchup, Green Bay appears to have the advantage. The outstanding offense will dominate the game, and even the Packers' defense will step up their play.
Packers over Chargers: 31-10
Stand-Out Performance: RB Michael Turner: The most overlooked player in the NFL is beginning to gain more and more attention as the season progresses. Michael Turner has been quite consistent for his team, tied for fourth in terms of rushing touchdowns this season. This weekend, Turner faces off against the Indianapolis Colts, a team known for a weak rushing defense. The Colts are ranked 31st in rushing yards allowed per game (144.0), 30th in rushing TD's allowed (10), and 32nd in 1st downs allowed (69). Turner will completely trample the Colts' defense, and will have one of the best games of his career.
Michael Turner: 170 yards, 2 rushing TD's, 1 receiving TD
Player to Watch: Tom Brady: For the first time since the 2007 Super Bowl, the New England Patriots will face off against the New York Giants. Brady was not happy after losing to the Giants because of a last minute game-winning touchdown. Now, he is also coming off of a disappointing loss against the Steelers. Though Brady started the year off strong, he has begun to cool off (the last time he had over 2 touchdowns in a game was in Week 4). These three failures from the past will be used as motivation. Brady will walk onto the field and tear apart the Giants defense. Make sure to keep an eye on Brady, for there may be a spike in terms of fantasy points in Brady's future.
Tom Brady: 330 passing yards, 3 passing TD's, 1 rushing TD
Week 9 Predictions:
Jets over Bills (OT)
Cowboys over Seahawks
Texans over Browns
Falcons over Colts
Chiefs over Dolphins
Saints over Buccaneers (OT)
49ers over Redskins
Raiders over Broncos
Bengals over Titans
Rams over Cardinals
Patriots over Giants
Packers over Chargers
Steelers over Ravens
Eagles over Bears
Week 6 Predictions
It is official; the 5-0 Lions are a legitimate playoff contender. Before week 5, Detroit had not yet faced a competitive football team. However, an outstanding victory against the Chicago Bears last weekend has allowed them to be taken 100% seriously. On the other hand, many teams below .500 will need to start doing well, such as the Eagles, Falcons, Bears and Jets. Although it is only week 6, it will be very important for these teams to fix their problems before the end of the year. Otherwise, they may miss the playoffs. In my mind, Week 6 is one of the most important weeks of football before the halfway point. Teams should be able to learn from their early mistakes so they can go on a winning streak. As usual, the NFL Report has this weeks predictions ready for Sunday!
Game-to-Watch: Texans at Ravens: Unlike the past several weeks, there will not be many even match-ups this weekend. However, at 4:15 on Sunday, make sure to watch a defensive showdown between the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens. Ever since a fluke loss to Tennessee, Baltimore has played almost flawlessly; Ray Rice has been stellar and the defense shows no signs of slowing down. The only problem is the inconsistency of Baltimore's passing game. They rank 19th in total passing yards per game, not quite a stellar statistic. Joe Flacco will need to do remotely well in order for Baltimore to pull off a win. Houston, on the other hand, is coming off of a disappointing loss against Oakland. Not to mention, their defense suffered an extraordinary blow by losing linebacker Mario Williams, who shall be sidelined for the rest of the season. Houston will not be able to recover from these two losses quickly enough, and Baltimore will get the home win this Sunday.
Ravens over Texans: 17-13
Stand-Out-Performance: DE Jared Allen: For the first time in 'The NFL Report' history, a defensive player has been predicted to be the stand-out performer. Jared Allen did not quite meet expectations in 2010, with a decent 60 tackles and 11 sacks. Allen has turned things around, and has been great so far this year (8.5 sacks and 20 tackles). With killer statistics like these, Allen will tear apart the weak Bears offensive line, which is one of the worst in the league.
Jared Allen: 4.5 sacks, 11 tackles
Player-to-Watch: Michael Vick: Vick certainly has been one of the most disappointing players in the league; he has disappointed fans, fantasy owners and teammates. Luckily for Vick, the Eagles are playing the Washington Redskins. The last time he faced off against Washington, Vick threw for 333 yards, 4 passing touchdowns and had 2 rushing touchdowns. However, it is hard to tell how Vick will do this season against the Redskins; Washington (who is 3-1 so far) is clearly not the same team as last year, and Vick has been playing extremely inconsistently. It will be interesting to see how Michael Vick and the Eagles do this weekend, so make sure to keep an eye on the score.
Michael Vick: 280 yards, 2 passing TD's, 1 rushing TD
Week 6 Predictions:
Falcons over Panthers OT
Bengals over Colts
Lions over 49ers OT
Packers over Rams
Bills over Giants
Steelers over Jaguars
Eagles over Redskins
Ravens over Texans
Raiders over Browns
Patriots over Cowboys
Saints over Buccaneers
Vikings over Bears
Jets over Dolphins
Stand-Out Performance: Calvin Johnson: As I said earlier in the season, Calvin Johnson is the best wide receiver in the NFL. In every game, Johnson has caught two touchdown passes, and is on track for 32 touchdowns by the end of the year! Also, his 80 receiving yards per game prove just how muchStafford loves throwing to him. This weekend, he will play the Chicago Bears, a team known for their defense. However, they have not done very well on pass-defense this season (ranked 28th overall). Unless they can alter this statistic, Megatron will have a monstrous game.
Calvin Johnson: 110 receiving yards, 2 TD's
Player-to-Watch: Arian Foster: The Houston running back played his first game of the season last week against the Steelers (not a great team play against when coming off of an injury). Somehow, Foster ran for 155 yards and 1 TD, and this is against the STEELERS! In week 5, Foster will play a not-very-dominate Oakland Raiders, ranked 29th in rushing yards allowed. Foster probably deserves to be in the "Stand-Out Performance" category, but this week he will try and prove last weekends game was not a fluke. If he does well, his injury clearly is no longer a problem, and fantasy owners can go back to being happy.
Arian Foster: 90 rushing yards, 1 TD
Week 5 Predictions:
Eagles over Bills
Saints over Panthers
Texans over Raiders
Chiefs over Colts
Bengals over Jaguars
Vikings over Cardinals
Giants over Seahawks
Steelers over Titans
49ers over Buccaneers OT
Game to Watch: Patriots vs Chargers. Brady vs. Rivers. Great offense vs great offense. Every football fan is looking forward to the clash of the QB’s, when Philip Rivers and the Chargers take on Tom Brady and the Patriots this weekend. The last time these two teams faced off, the Patriots walked into San Diego and beat the Chargers 23-20. Now, Brady is coming off of a 500 yard performance against the Miami Dolphins, and it looks like he’s in mid-season form. This year, however, the Bolts look better than ever, with a Pro-Bowl QB, two great receivers returning from injuries, and a decent running game. The Patriots are coming off a horrendous defensive performance; they gave up 400 yards to QB Chad Henne. Yes, you heard that right. Chad Henne. I can’t possibly imagine what will happen when they play Philip Rivers (4,700 yards in 2010). The Chargers may have had one of the worst defenses in 2010, but last weekend, they allowed the fewest total yards out of any team in the NFL. I know they have only played one game, but this could be the start of something huge. In the end, it will come down to which defense can shut the opposing team’s QB. In their last 7 meetings, the Patriots are 5-2 against the Chargers, and the Pats will look to extend their 26 game home-regular season win streak. As the Chargers walk into Foxborough with a 1-0 record, I think they have the advantage over New England. However, these two teams will likely face each other once more in this year’s playoffs.Prediction: Chargers over Patriots 31-24
Player to Watch: RB CJ Spiller. This will be Spiller's second year in the pros, and he already has a touchdown this season. Spiller is extremely fast, explosive and elusive. Luckily, he will be playing the Raiders, a team who let up the 4th most yards to running backs. He had an amazing college career at Clemson (Spiller college highlights), and I hope he can have a standout performance this week.
CJ Spiller: 90 total yards, 2 TD's
Stand-Out Performance: Philip Rivers. After missing Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates for most of 2010 (played together only once last season), Philip Rivers will face off against the Patriots in Foxborough. Rivers had a mediocre game against the Vikings, yet Minnesota appear to have a decent defense this year. The patriots on the other hand are coming off a horrendous defensive performance against the Dolphins, allowing 390 passing yards in their first game. Rivers is 4x better than Chad Henne, and he should have an amazing game against the Patriots.
Philip Rivers: 470 yards, 3 TD's
Week 2 Game Predictions:
Bills over Raiders
Packers over Panthers
Lions over Chiefs
Browns over Colts
Buccaneers over Vikings
Saints over Bears
Jets over Jaguars
Steelers over Seahawks
Ravens over Titans
Cardinals over Redskins
Cowboys over 49ers
Broncos over Bengals
Texans over Dolphins
Chargers over Patriots
Eagles over Falcons
Giants over Rams
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| Ray Lewis |
Game-to-Watch: Texans at Ravens: Unlike the past several weeks, there will not be many even match-ups this weekend. However, at 4:15 on Sunday, make sure to watch a defensive showdown between the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens. Ever since a fluke loss to Tennessee, Baltimore has played almost flawlessly; Ray Rice has been stellar and the defense shows no signs of slowing down. The only problem is the inconsistency of Baltimore's passing game. They rank 19th in total passing yards per game, not quite a stellar statistic. Joe Flacco will need to do remotely well in order for Baltimore to pull off a win. Houston, on the other hand, is coming off of a disappointing loss against Oakland. Not to mention, their defense suffered an extraordinary blow by losing linebacker Mario Williams, who shall be sidelined for the rest of the season. Houston will not be able to recover from these two losses quickly enough, and Baltimore will get the home win this Sunday.
Ravens over Texans: 17-13
Stand-Out-Performance: DE Jared Allen: For the first time in 'The NFL Report' history, a defensive player has been predicted to be the stand-out performer. Jared Allen did not quite meet expectations in 2010, with a decent 60 tackles and 11 sacks. Allen has turned things around, and has been great so far this year (8.5 sacks and 20 tackles). With killer statistics like these, Allen will tear apart the weak Bears offensive line, which is one of the worst in the league.
Jared Allen: 4.5 sacks, 11 tackles
Player-to-Watch: Michael Vick: Vick certainly has been one of the most disappointing players in the league; he has disappointed fans, fantasy owners and teammates. Luckily for Vick, the Eagles are playing the Washington Redskins. The last time he faced off against Washington, Vick threw for 333 yards, 4 passing touchdowns and had 2 rushing touchdowns. However, it is hard to tell how Vick will do this season against the Redskins; Washington (who is 3-1 so far) is clearly not the same team as last year, and Vick has been playing extremely inconsistently. It will be interesting to see how Michael Vick and the Eagles do this weekend, so make sure to keep an eye on the score.
Michael Vick: 280 yards, 2 passing TD's, 1 rushing TD
Week 6 Predictions:
Falcons over Panthers OT
Bengals over Colts
Lions over 49ers OT
Packers over Rams
Bills over Giants
Steelers over Jaguars
Eagles over Redskins
Ravens over Texans
Raiders over Browns
Patriots over Cowboys
Saints over Buccaneers
Vikings over Bears
Jets over Dolphins
Week 5 Predictions
Division rivals face-off. Undefeated teams might be handed their first loss of the year. Players are given their last chance for redemption. Week 5 should be great, with many great teams looking to get a win. Finally, the Detroit Lions are viewed as a legitimate football team, no longer the Loins who, three years ago, went 0-16. Players like Ndamukong Suh and Calvin Johnson have led the team to an outstanding 4-0 record. This weekend will be tough, as they play Brian Urlacher and the Bears in a division rival show down. However, the most anticipated game will be the New York Jets as they square-off against the New England Patriots (see below). No matter what, this weekend will be great for football fans everywhere, which is why the NFL Report has everything you need to know for Week 5!
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| Drew Brees |
Game to Watch: Jets at Patriots: For the first time since a playoff upset last year, Tom Brady and the Patriots will play Rex Ryan and the Jets in Foxborough. The Patriots did extremely well against Oakland New England is to do well on defense, which has been very weak the past few years. Tom Brady's team looks to have an edge, but count on a great rivalry match-up this Sunday!
Patriots over Jets: 33-20Stand-Out Performance: Calvin Johnson: As I said earlier in the season, Calvin Johnson is the best wide receiver in the NFL. In every game, Johnson has caught two touchdown passes, and is on track for 32 touchdowns by the end of the year! Also, his 80 receiving yards per game prove just how much
Calvin Johnson: 110 receiving yards, 2 TD's
Player-to-Watch: Arian Foster: The Houston running back played his first game of the season last week against the Steelers (not a great team play against when coming off of an injury). Somehow, Foster ran for 155 yards and 1 TD, and this is against the STEELERS! In week 5, Foster will play a not-very-dominate Oakland Raiders, ranked 29th in rushing yards allowed. Foster probably deserves to be in the "Stand-Out Performance" category, but this week he will try and prove last weekends game was not a fluke. If he does well, his injury clearly is no longer a problem, and fantasy owners can go back to being happy.
Arian Foster: 90 rushing yards, 1 TD
Week 5 Predictions:
Eagles over Bills
Saints over Panthers
Texans over Raiders
Chiefs over Colts
Bengals over Jaguars
Vikings over Cardinals
Giants over Seahawks
Steelers over Titans
49ers over Buccaneers OT
Chargers over Broncos
Patriots over Jets
Packers over Falcons
Week 4 Predictions
Wow. Who would have thought the Bills (yes, the Bills) would be the only remaining team in the AFC East to be undefeated. A surprising turn of events has also left the Eagles, the 2011 Dream Team, 1-2. Many things will not be explained until the end of the season, but so far, it has been a great year of football (I apoligize I haven't done a post in a while). In Week 4, there will be many great matchups, stand out performances, and players to keep an eye on; that is why the NFL Report has you covered!
Game to Watch: Jets at Ravens: Talk about complete domination. Last weekend, RB Darren McFadden and the Raiders literally ran over the Jets defense. Not only did they allow the Raiders to average 7.3 yards per carry, but they also had a 17-7 lead at one point! Now, they will be facing the Ravens, who are better than the Raiders at just about everything; defense, passing, and possibly running. The Ravens are coming off of a 37-7 victory over the Rams, a simple win for such a skilled team. Having the game in Baltimore will also give the Ravens team a boost. All-star runninng back Ray Rice (averaging 5.6 yards per carry) will be too much for the Jets defense, but there is always the chance the Jets come out on top.
Ravens over Jets 27-17
Stand-Out Performance: RB Adrian Peterson: Peterson has had a spectacular 2011 season so far, which is no surprise to football fans. Luckily, Peterson has not faced a challenging defense yet, and will definitely not have a problem with the KC defense this weekend (have allowed the most rushing TD's and the 5th most rushing yards out of any team in the NFL). Peterson has put up spectacular statistics in three games, with 3 rushing touchdowns and 296 yards. AP is going to have a great game, and will help the Vikings to their first win of the season.
Adrian Peterson: 140 yards, 2 Rushing TD's
Player to Watch: Chris Johnson: CJ2K has been very disappointing, especially for Fantasy owners everywhere (ahem). I know it is only week 3, but a lot is expected from someone with a 2,000 yard season. This weekend, he will be playing the Cleveland Browns, a team who has allowed the 4th most rushing yards per game (128.7 yards) among the NFL. Surprisingly, Johnson has not even rushed for over 75 yards in any of his 3 games. Keep an eye out for CJ in Week 4, he may be the difference maker for your fantasy team.
Chris Johnson: 80 rushing yards, 1 TD
Week 4 Predictions:
Bears over Panthers
Bills over Bengals
Titans over Browns
Lions over Cowboys
Steelers over Texans
Saints over Jaguars
Vikings over Chiefs
Eagles over 49ers
Redskins over Rams
Giants over Cardinals
Falcons over Seahawks
Packers over Broncos
Patriots over Raiders (OT)
Chargers over Dolphins
Ravens over Jets
Buccaneers over Colts
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| Greg Jennings |
Ravens over Jets 27-17
Stand-Out Performance: RB Adrian Peterson: Peterson has had a spectacular 2011 season so far, which is no surprise to football fans. Luckily, Peterson has not faced a challenging defense yet, and will definitely not have a problem with the KC defense this weekend (have allowed the most rushing TD's and the 5th most rushing yards out of any team in the NFL). Peterson has put up spectacular statistics in three games, with 3 rushing touchdowns and 296 yards. AP is going to have a great game, and will help the Vikings to their first win of the season.
Adrian Peterson: 140 yards, 2 Rushing TD's
Player to Watch: Chris Johnson: CJ2K has been very disappointing, especially for Fantasy owners everywhere (ahem). I know it is only week 3, but a lot is expected from someone with a 2,000 yard season. This weekend, he will be playing the Cleveland Browns, a team who has allowed the 4th most rushing yards per game (128.7 yards) among the NFL. Surprisingly, Johnson has not even rushed for over 75 yards in any of his 3 games. Keep an eye out for CJ in Week 4, he may be the difference maker for your fantasy team.
Chris Johnson: 80 rushing yards, 1 TD
Week 4 Predictions:
Bears over Panthers
Bills over Bengals
Titans over Browns
Lions over Cowboys
Steelers over Texans
Saints over Jaguars
Vikings over Chiefs
Eagles over 49ers
Redskins over Rams
Giants over Cardinals
Falcons over Seahawks
Packers over Broncos
Patriots over Raiders (OT)
Chargers over Dolphins
Ravens over Jets
Buccaneers over Colts
Week 3
Several awful things happened last week, leaving sports fans ripping their own hair out. The injuries have been piling up, and key player such as Jamaal Charles, Miles Austin and Dez Bryant will not be playing for a while. However, there were many great performances from a variety of teams and players. For example, Tom Brady has set the record for the most yards thrown in 2 NFL games (940 passing yards). Not to mention, the Bills, the Lions and the Redskins are all 2-0. The match ups this weekend should be great, and the NFL Report has everything you need to know about Week 3.
Game to Watch: Green Bay vs. Chicago: Looking to redeem themselves after an awful loss to the Saints, Jay Cutler and the Bears will face off against their division rivals; the Green Bay Packers .The last time these two team played, Jay Cutler left the NFC Championship game early in the third quarter, and the Bears ended up losing 21-14. Both teams defenses look extraordinary, and the Packers probably have the advantage in terms of offense over the Bears. Plus, the Bears' offensive line allowed the Saints defense to sack Jay Cutler SIX TIMES last weekend. Now, they are forced to battle the Packers defense, which should not end very well for Cutler. In this division match up, the Packers will win on the road, and will improve to 3-0. The key thing for the Bears is the offensive line and the defense. If both can do well, it will be a great game.
Green Bay over Bears 21-13
Player to Watch: Tom Brady: After a historic two games, Brady will try and stay on track for 7,000. As he faces the Bills this weekend, a team that hasn't fully proven itself to be a legitimate contender, we have high hopes for Brady. I doubt Brady will get 400 yards for the 3rd week in a row, but he still will have an outstanding performance.
Tom Brady: 310 yards, 3 TD's
Stand-Out Performance: Michael Turner: The Atlanta running back has had back to back 100 yard games, and will be playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend. The Bucs have allowed the 2nd most rushing yards out of any defense in the league. This will lead to an outstanding performance by Michael Turner. Turner had 1,371 yards last year with 12 rushing TD's. The most underrated running back will do extremely well this week, putting up the best numbers of his career.
Michael Turner: 145 yards, 3 TD's
Week 3 Game Predictions:
Patriots over Bills
Panthers over Jaguars
Bengals over 49ers
Dolphins over Browns
Lions over Vikings
Saints over Texans
Eagles over Giants
Titans over Broncos
Jets over Oakland
Chargers over Chiefs
Ravens over Rams
Packers over Bears
Cardinals over Seahawks
Falcons over Buccaneers
Steelers over Colts
Dallas over Redskins
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| Adrian Peterson |
Green Bay over Bears 21-13
Player to Watch: Tom Brady: After a historic two games, Brady will try and stay on track for 7,000. As he faces the Bills this weekend, a team that hasn't fully proven itself to be a legitimate contender, we have high hopes for Brady. I doubt Brady will get 400 yards for the 3rd week in a row, but he still will have an outstanding performance.
Tom Brady: 310 yards, 3 TD's
Stand-Out Performance: Michael Turner: The Atlanta running back has had back to back 100 yard games, and will be playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend. The Bucs have allowed the 2nd most rushing yards out of any defense in the league. This will lead to an outstanding performance by Michael Turner. Turner had 1,371 yards last year with 12 rushing TD's. The most underrated running back will do extremely well this week, putting up the best numbers of his career.
Michael Turner: 145 yards, 3 TD's
Week 3 Game Predictions:
Patriots over Bills
Panthers over Jaguars
Bengals over 49ers
Dolphins over Browns
Lions over Vikings
Saints over Texans
Eagles over Giants
Titans over Broncos
Jets over Oakland
Chargers over Chiefs
Ravens over Rams
Packers over Bears
Cardinals over Seahawks
Falcons over Buccaneers
Steelers over Colts
Dallas over Redskins
Week 2
Week 1 is in the books and, unlike last year, there were not many outstanding performances by a breakout player (such as Arian Foster in '10). The main headline we drew from Week 1 was Cam Newton, who had one of the best rookie debuts in NFL history (422 yards, 2 passing TD's, 1 rushing TD). I am not sure if this is the start of something huge, but there is definitely potential in Cam Newton. Another shocker from Week 1; Bears DESTROYING the Falcons. The Bears defense looked spectacular, and if it can stay consistent, they might make a run deep into the playoffs. Week 2 has many great match ups, which should lead to another great week of football.
Game to Watch: Patriots vs Chargers. Brady vs. Rivers. Great offense vs great offense. Every football fan is looking forward to the clash of the QB’s, when Philip Rivers and the Chargers take on Tom Brady and the Patriots this weekend. The last time these two teams faced off, the Patriots walked into San Diego and beat the Chargers 23-20. Now, Brady is coming off of a 500 yard performance against the Miami Dolphins, and it looks like he’s in mid-season form. This year, however, the Bolts look better than ever, with a Pro-Bowl QB, two great receivers returning from injuries, and a decent running game. The Patriots are coming off a horrendous defensive performance; they gave up 400 yards to QB Chad Henne. Yes, you heard that right. Chad Henne. I can’t possibly imagine what will happen when they play Philip Rivers (4,700 yards in 2010). The Chargers may have had one of the worst defenses in 2010, but last weekend, they allowed the fewest total yards out of any team in the NFL. I know they have only played one game, but this could be the start of something huge. In the end, it will come down to which defense can shut the opposing team’s QB. In their last 7 meetings, the Patriots are 5-2 against the Chargers, and the Pats will look to extend their 26 game home-regular season win streak. As the Chargers walk into Foxborough with a 1-0 record, I think they have the advantage over New England. However, these two teams will likely face each other once more in this year’s playoffs.Prediction: Chargers over Patriots 31-24CJ Spiller: 90 total yards, 2 TD's
Stand-Out Performance: Philip Rivers. After missing Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates for most of 2010 (played together only once last season), Philip Rivers will face off against the Patriots in Foxborough. Rivers had a mediocre game against the Vikings, yet Minnesota appear to have a decent defense this year. The patriots on the other hand are coming off a horrendous defensive performance against the Dolphins, allowing 390 passing yards in their first game. Rivers is 4x better than Chad Henne, and he should have an amazing game against the Patriots.
Philip Rivers: 470 yards, 3 TD's
Week 2 Game Predictions:
Bills over Raiders
Packers over Panthers
Lions over Chiefs
Browns over Colts
Buccaneers over Vikings
Saints over Bears
Jets over Jaguars
Steelers over Seahawks
Ravens over Titans
Cardinals over Redskins
Cowboys over 49ers
Broncos over Bengals
Texans over Dolphins
Chargers over Patriots
Eagles over Falcons
Giants over Rams
Week 1
Peyton Manning not playing in the season opener? Troubled Albert Haynesworth signed by the strict New England Patriots? Are the Eagles truly the dream team of the NFL? This crazy offseason has led to some crazy Super Bowl predictions. Now, the post-lockout season has begun, and Week 1 should have many wild season openers.
Game to watch: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens. Every time the Steelersface off against the division rival Ravens, you can expect a blood-bath. It is clear neither team likes the other, and both have one of the best defenses in the league. Not to mention it is always a close game. Since 2005, 9 games were decided by a touchdown or less. History shows the Steelers are the better team. They have an all-time record against the Ravens of 19-11. However, with home field advantage, and the new acquisition of WR Lee Evans, the Baltimore Ravens have a slight edge over Pittsburgh.
Ravens beat Steelers 20-17
Player to Watch: Rookie QB Cam Newton. The 2010 Heisman winner will now put on the Carolina Panthers jersey for his first NFL game. Many say he will not do well in the pros and will just become another first pick bust. Luckily, though, he is facing the Arizona Cardinals in his first game, a team who ranked 29th in points allowed per game (27.1). I don't expect Cam Newton to play like Michael Vick in his first game, but I am projecting him to do moderately well.
Cam Newton: 210 yards, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD.
Stand-Out Performance: QB Tom Brady. The reigning MVP has a new (possibly lethal) weapon in WR Chad Ochocinco, and he will try to match his outstanding 2010 season. His 9 to 1 TD/INT ratio is an outstanding statistic, and his WR corp of Welker and Ochocinco will certainly help him against the Dolphins this weekend. As the 2011 kicks off, the expectations are high for this accomplished Quarterback.
Tom Brady: 390 yards, 3 Passing TDs, 75.0 completion percentage.
Week 1 Game Predictions:
Falcons over Bears
Browns over Bengals
Texans over Colts
Titans over Jaguars
Bills over Chiefs
Eagles over Rams
Lions over Buccaneers
Panthers over Cardinals
Chargers over Vikings
Seahawks over 49ers
Giants over Redskins
Jets over Cowboys (OT)
Patriots over Dolphins
Broncos over Raiders
Ravens over Steelers
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| Michael Vick |
Ravens beat Steelers 20-17
Player to Watch: Rookie QB Cam Newton. The 2010 Heisman winner will now put on the Carolina Panthers jersey for his first NFL game. Many say he will not do well in the pros and will just become another first pick bust. Luckily, though, he is facing the Arizona Cardinals in his first game, a team who ranked 29th in points allowed per game (27.1). I don't expect Cam Newton to play like Michael Vick in his first game, but I am projecting him to do moderately well.
Cam Newton: 210 yards, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD.
Stand-Out Performance: QB Tom Brady. The reigning MVP has a new (possibly lethal) weapon in WR Chad Ochocinco, and he will try to match his outstanding 2010 season. His 9 to 1 TD/INT ratio is an outstanding statistic, and his WR corp of Welker and Ochocinco will certainly help him against the Dolphins this weekend. As the 2011 kicks off, the expectations are high for this accomplished Quarterback.
Tom Brady: 390 yards, 3 Passing TDs, 75.0 completion percentage.
Week 1 Game Predictions:
Falcons over Bears
Browns over Bengals
Texans over Colts
Titans over Jaguars
Bills over Chiefs
Eagles over Rams
Lions over Buccaneers
Panthers over Cardinals
Chargers over Vikings
Seahawks over 49ers
Giants over Redskins
Jets over Cowboys (OT)
Patriots over Dolphins
Broncos over Raiders
Ravens over Steelers
