Super Bowl XLVIII Preview: Seahawks vs Broncos
Tomorrow is the day we have all been waiting for. Unlike other sports, where there can be a potential seven games to decide the league champion, the NFL needs just one game to crown a winner, and that game is the Super Bowl. Although tomorrow marks the end of the 2013 season, the Super Bowl brings great commercials, incredible foods, and most importantly, the two bests teams playing for the Lombardi Trophy on national television. Peyton Manning just won his fifth MVP Award on the eve of the Super Bowl, and the league's best offense will now be playing the Seattle Seahawks, who have the NFL's best defense. Good luck to both teams, and we wish everyone a great Super Bowl Sunday!
Denver Broncos: Earlier this evening, Peyton Manning won his 5th MVP Award, as he was just one vote shy of a unanimous selection. Manning passed for 5,147 yards and 55 touchdowns this season, both single season records. Manning's incredible season is a result of years of experience, as well as an incredibly talented receiving corp. Demaryius Thomas caught 92 passes for 1,430 yards and 14 touchdowns, and even if he's shutdown by cornerback Richard Sherman in the Super Bowl, Manning has three other options in Wes Welker, Eric Decker, and Julius Thomas. All three wide receivers had more than 778 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 2013, which is why I think the Seahawks will struggle to shut down Denver's passing game, even though Seattle has the best pass defense in the league. Thanks to the incredible passing game, the Broncos have been able to set up a solid running game with Knowshon Moreno, who rushed for 1,038 yards and 10 touchdowns, both of which are career highs. Even if the cold weather hinders Denver's passing game, the Broncos may be able to keep up with Marshawn Lynch on the ground with Knowshon Moreno and Montee Ball leading the way. Denver's run defense has been spectacular during the postseason, where they limited the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game to just 64 yards and 1 touchdown, even though the Patriots rushed for 234 yards and 6 touchdowns the previous week. Marshawn Lynch is clearly one of the best running backs in the league, so it will be interesting to see how Denver's defense will fare against the man known as "Beast Mode". The Broncos' pass defense is nothing special, but as long as the pass rush is able to pressure Russell Wilson, Seattle's passing game will not be a major problem. Also, be sure to watch returner Trindon Holliday, who returned both a kickoff and a punt for a score in 2013.
Prediction: If Peyton Manning were to beat Seattle, the second Super Bowl ring would make him the best quarterback of all time, and he knows that, too. Even though the number one defense normally beats the number one offense whenever the two teams meet, the Denver Broncos have the best offense in NFL history, and their abundance of wide receivers, as well as Manning's ability to throw the ball before the pass rush reaches him, is why Denver will win its third Super Bowl in franchise history.
Broncos over Seahawks 30-23
MVP: Peyton Manning: 305 passing yards, 2 TDs
NFC Championship Preview: 49ers at Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers: The San Francisco 49ers are one of the most streaky teams in all of football; when they're hot, they can go on 5 game winning streaks, where not even the best teams can knock them down. But when they're cold, the 49ers can lose two or three straight by 10 points or more. Luckily for San Francisco fans, the 49ers have won eight straight games, including two playoff wins over the Packers and Panthers. San Francisco's consistency relies heavily on quarterback Colin Kaepernick, where the 49ers are 13-0 when Kaepernick throws for more than 150 yards. Alongside Kaepernick is a talented group of running backs, led by 9-year veteran Frank Gore (1,128 yards and 9 touchdowns), as well as youthful backs like LaMichael James and and Anthony Dixon. Four offensive players from the 49ers were added to the Pro Bowl roster, where two came from the offensive line. Even though the offensive line is considered to be one of the best in the league, they will have their hand's full against Seattle's front-seven. On defense, San Fran's stars like Justin Smith, Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, and Ahmad Brooks makeup the best front-seven in all of football. The 49ers ranked third in the league in points allowed, fifth in rushing yards allowed, and fourth in opposing passer rating. Similarly to San Francisco, Seattle has an incredibly well-rounded offense, but as long as they are able to shut down wide receiver Golden Tate, Seattle's passing game will struggle to create any sort of consistency.
Prediction: The San Francisco 49ers have had trouble with Seattle when the game is being played at CenturyLink Field, and with so much on the line, you know Seattle's 12th man will be deafening in the final home game of the season for the Hawks. Thanks to their consistent offense and stifling defense, we predict the Seahawks to win and advance to the Super Bowl.
Seahawks over 49ers 33-23
AFC Championship Preview: Patriots at Broncos
Nearly two months ago, we wrote about the Tom Brady-Peyton Manning rivalry in preparation for November's matchup between the Broncos and the Patriots. The Patriots went on to overcome a 24 point deficit and beat the Broncos in overtime. Now, Brady and the Patriots will try their luck a second time in order to beat Denver on the road in the AFC Championship Game. If Tom Brady is able to win this game, there will be no disputing his legacy, where a victory over Peyton will put the nail in the coffin regarding the Brady-Manning debate; however, a victory by Peyton will continue the argument, especially if he goes on to win the Super Bowl. The Broncos are the 5-point favorites entering Sunday's game, but it is always dangerous to go against Tom Brady in the playoffs, especially when his Patriots are the underdog.
New England Patriots: Last weekend, the Patriots played the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional round, a team that had beaten the 49ers, Broncos, and Seahawks in 2013 (all three of those teams are still in contention). The Patriots led the entire game, and won by a final score of 43-22; however, New England's running game carried the Patriots offense, where all five of New England's touchdowns came from running the ball. New England's running back LeGarrette Blount rushed for 166 yards and four touchdowns in Sunday's win, but don't be surprised if New England does not give Blount as many attempts against Denver. The running game will still be important for the Patriots so that they can keep Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos' offense off the field. Historically, Tom Brady has done well statistically when facing a team led by Peyton Manning, but Brady will no longer be the most important factor in order for New England to win on Sunday. Defensively, the Patriots picked off Andrew Luck four times on Sunday, but because of Indy's weak running game, a large amount of pressure was put on Luck to have a great game. Now, the Patriots will face a more well-rounded offense in the Denver Broncos, so it is reasonable to believe that Manning will not throw more than two interceptions. The Pats defense have lost star defenders like Vince Wilfork and Jerard Mayo, yet they have managed to apply reasonable pressure on the quarterback, as well as smother even the best wide receivers in the league thanks to cornerback Aqib Talib.
Denver Broncos: Peyton Manning has posted great numbers in the regular season throughout his entire career, but his legacy as a quarterback will be questioned if he finishes his career with just one Super Bowl ring. Manning's career passer rating of 76.7 in the Championship Round is his worst rating of any playoff round, where his completion percentage in the Championship Round falls to just 57.1%, as well as a TD/INT ratio of 1:1 (contrary to his rating of 5.5:1 during the 2013 regular season). There is also the belief that Peyton can not play in cold weather games, but if this myth is actually true, Peyton does not need to worry seeing that the temperature is expected to be 52 degrees at kickoff. With all the criticism against Peyton, as well as the immense pressure to beat Tom Brady in the playoffs, we expect Manning to have a reasonable game by his standards against the Patriots defense. Manning's ability to read defenses quickly, as well as his talented offensive line, helped Denver rank first in the league in sacks allowed during the regular season with 20. The Patriots defense is mediocre when it comes to applying pressure on the quarterback, but they certainly deserve credit after losing Wilfork and Mayo for the entire season. With Manning surrounded by extraordinary talent at the wide receiver position, including guys like Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, and Eric Decker, the Patriots will just have to pick their poison regarding who to focus on shutting down. Pats corner Aqib Talib has a reputation of smothering the best wide receivers in the league, but then again, he can only be in one place on the field at a time.
Prediction: With the temperature exceeding 50 degrees on Sunday, the great conditions will allow both quarterbacks to successfully throw the ball, which clearly gives the advantage to Peyton Manning. The Patriots will try and keep Manning off of the field for as long as possible, but in the end, we predict Matt Prater to kick the gaming winning field goal, sending Peyton Manning to his third career Super Bowl.
Broncos over Patriots 23-20
Denver Broncos: Peyton Manning has posted great numbers in the regular season throughout his entire career, but his legacy as a quarterback will be questioned if he finishes his career with just one Super Bowl ring. Manning's career passer rating of 76.7 in the Championship Round is his worst rating of any playoff round, where his completion percentage in the Championship Round falls to just 57.1%, as well as a TD/INT ratio of 1:1 (contrary to his rating of 5.5:1 during the 2013 regular season). There is also the belief that Peyton can not play in cold weather games, but if this myth is actually true, Peyton does not need to worry seeing that the temperature is expected to be 52 degrees at kickoff. With all the criticism against Peyton, as well as the immense pressure to beat Tom Brady in the playoffs, we expect Manning to have a reasonable game by his standards against the Patriots defense. Manning's ability to read defenses quickly, as well as his talented offensive line, helped Denver rank first in the league in sacks allowed during the regular season with 20. The Patriots defense is mediocre when it comes to applying pressure on the quarterback, but they certainly deserve credit after losing Wilfork and Mayo for the entire season. With Manning surrounded by extraordinary talent at the wide receiver position, including guys like Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, and Eric Decker, the Patriots will just have to pick their poison regarding who to focus on shutting down. Pats corner Aqib Talib has a reputation of smothering the best wide receivers in the league, but then again, he can only be in one place on the field at a time.Prediction: With the temperature exceeding 50 degrees on Sunday, the great conditions will allow both quarterbacks to successfully throw the ball, which clearly gives the advantage to Peyton Manning. The Patriots will try and keep Manning off of the field for as long as possible, but in the end, we predict Matt Prater to kick the gaming winning field goal, sending Peyton Manning to his third career Super Bowl.
Broncos over Patriots 23-20
2014 NFL Divisional Round Predictions
Saints @ Seahawks: The last time Seattle played New Orleans, the Seahawks absolutely demolished Drew Brees and the Saints, beating the Saints by a score of 34-7. In that game, Russell Wilson passed for 310 yards, 3 touchdowns, and a passer rating above 135, while Brees passed for 147 yards and a score, both being his lowest totals of the season. The Saints are now trying to plan accordingly for the deafening noise within CenturyLink Field, where the Seahawks have lost only one game at home since December of 2011. Even worse for New Orleans, Brees and the Saints have a history of playing poorly on the road. Not only will the Saints' offense try to beat Seattle's 12 man, but Seattle's stingy defense as well. The Seahawks defensive unit led the league in total defense, passing yards allowed, rushing touchdowns allowed per game, and interceptions. Bottom line: the Saints are in trouble. We predict the Seahawks to roll past new Orleans into the NFC Championship Game.
Seahawks over Saints 30-13
Colts @ Patriots: The Indianapolis Colts were down 28 points to the Kansas City Chiefs in last week's playoff matchup, but thanks to an excellent comeback led by Andrew Luck, as well as a resilient defense, the Colts were able to come from behind and win the game. Last Sunday's win marked Andrew Luck's first career playoff win, and even though he threw 3 interceptions that created the deficit, Luck's five total touchdowns, as well as 443 passing yards, allowed the Colts to advance to the Divisional Round. Now, Indianapolis will travel to Foxboro in order to play Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Ever since the Colts lost Reggie Wayne, Luck's number one target in 2013 has clearly been T.Y. Hilton, who will likely be limited by New England's star cornerback Aqib Talib in Sunday's game. This means Luck will have to rely on his other wide receivers if the Colts wish to win through the air. Even worse for Indy, there is a 100% chance of rain in Foxboro on Sunday, meaning passing the ball will become more difficult. The rainstorm favors New England, whose running back trio of Steven Ridley, Shane Vereen, and LeGarrette Blount have all rushed for more than 100 yards in a single game this season. Lastly, Tom Brady's playoff experience makes New England the favorite to win this game.
Patriots over Colts 23-17
49ers @ Panthers: Colin Kaepernick walked into frozen Lambeau last weekend as the favorite and were able to beat the Packers, even though the temperature reached below zero with the wind. Now, the 49ers are favored to beat the Panthers, just the third time since 1990 that a home playoff team was the underdog in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Everyone expected Cam newton to have a great year statistically, but the main reason why Carolina has been so successful is their punishing defense. Luke Kuechly, a second year linebacker out of Boston College, totaled 156 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 2 sacks in 2013. After winning Defensive Rookie of the Year last season, Kuechly is one of the favorites to win Defensive Player of the Year this season, which would mark the second time a defensive player won Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in their first two seasons (only other player was Lawrence Taylor, who won Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season). The Panthers defense as a whole ranked second in the league in both total defense and run defense, where the 49ers were not too far behind in either category. The two defenses in Sunday's matchup will both play very well, but in the end, we predict San Francisco to win this thanks to their playoff experience.
49ers over Panthers 27-20
Chargers @ Broncos: The San Diego Chargers pulled off the upset over the Cincinnati Bengals last weekend, even though Cincinnati was undefeated at home entering the Wild Card Round. Phillip Rivers has a history of choking in the playoffs, and even though his statistic were not incredible against the Bengas, his numbers are bound to increase now that he is going up against a weaker Broncos' defense. Denver lost star outside linebacker Von miller for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL, but this team is 7-0 in games where Miller is not int the starting lineup. Quarterback Peyton Manning finished 2013 with 5,477 passing yards, 55 touchdowns, and a passer rating of 115.1. Because of the first round bye, Wes Welker has had time to recover from his concussion, and he is listed as probable for Sunday's game. Welker, Thomas, and Decker create the best wide receiving corp in the NFL, which is why we predict Denver to beat the Chargers and move on to play Brady and the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
Broncos over Chargers 27-23
Seahawks over Saints 30-13
Colts @ Patriots: The Indianapolis Colts were down 28 points to the Kansas City Chiefs in last week's playoff matchup, but thanks to an excellent comeback led by Andrew Luck, as well as a resilient defense, the Colts were able to come from behind and win the game. Last Sunday's win marked Andrew Luck's first career playoff win, and even though he threw 3 interceptions that created the deficit, Luck's five total touchdowns, as well as 443 passing yards, allowed the Colts to advance to the Divisional Round. Now, Indianapolis will travel to Foxboro in order to play Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Ever since the Colts lost Reggie Wayne, Luck's number one target in 2013 has clearly been T.Y. Hilton, who will likely be limited by New England's star cornerback Aqib Talib in Sunday's game. This means Luck will have to rely on his other wide receivers if the Colts wish to win through the air. Even worse for Indy, there is a 100% chance of rain in Foxboro on Sunday, meaning passing the ball will become more difficult. The rainstorm favors New England, whose running back trio of Steven Ridley, Shane Vereen, and LeGarrette Blount have all rushed for more than 100 yards in a single game this season. Lastly, Tom Brady's playoff experience makes New England the favorite to win this game.Patriots over Colts 23-17
49ers @ Panthers: Colin Kaepernick walked into frozen Lambeau last weekend as the favorite and were able to beat the Packers, even though the temperature reached below zero with the wind. Now, the 49ers are favored to beat the Panthers, just the third time since 1990 that a home playoff team was the underdog in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Everyone expected Cam newton to have a great year statistically, but the main reason why Carolina has been so successful is their punishing defense. Luke Kuechly, a second year linebacker out of Boston College, totaled 156 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 2 sacks in 2013. After winning Defensive Rookie of the Year last season, Kuechly is one of the favorites to win Defensive Player of the Year this season, which would mark the second time a defensive player won Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in their first two seasons (only other player was Lawrence Taylor, who won Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season). The Panthers defense as a whole ranked second in the league in both total defense and run defense, where the 49ers were not too far behind in either category. The two defenses in Sunday's matchup will both play very well, but in the end, we predict San Francisco to win this thanks to their playoff experience.
49ers over Panthers 27-20
Chargers @ Broncos: The San Diego Chargers pulled off the upset over the Cincinnati Bengals last weekend, even though Cincinnati was undefeated at home entering the Wild Card Round. Phillip Rivers has a history of choking in the playoffs, and even though his statistic were not incredible against the Bengas, his numbers are bound to increase now that he is going up against a weaker Broncos' defense. Denver lost star outside linebacker Von miller for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL, but this team is 7-0 in games where Miller is not int the starting lineup. Quarterback Peyton Manning finished 2013 with 5,477 passing yards, 55 touchdowns, and a passer rating of 115.1. Because of the first round bye, Wes Welker has had time to recover from his concussion, and he is listed as probable for Sunday's game. Welker, Thomas, and Decker create the best wide receiving corp in the NFL, which is why we predict Denver to beat the Chargers and move on to play Brady and the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.Broncos over Chargers 27-23
2014 NFL Wild Card Predictions
Chiefs @ Colts: After beating the Buffalo Bills in a Week 9 matchup, the Kansas City Chiefs were 9-0 going into their Week 10 bye; however, since Week 10, the Chiefs are 2-5, putting them at 11-5 on the year. One of those losses came against the Indianapolis Colts, where Andrew Luck and the Colts marched into Kansas City and won by a score of 23-7. In the last six games, Justin Houston, outside linebacker for Kansas City (seen on the right), has been watching from the sidelines, but in the 11 games that he played, he recorded 11.0 sacks with a forced fumble. Houston is expected to return in Saturday's game against Indy, along with outside linebacker Tamba Hali, who sat out last Sunday's game as well. The Colts' offensive line is ranked 6th in the league this season, so Kansas City's defense needs all the help it can get. Offensively, both teams have their key weapons that will need to play well in order for them to advance into the next round of the playoffs. Running back Jamaal Charles of Kansas City acquired 1,287 rushing yards with 19 total touchdowns this year, and the Colts have struggled at times when defending the run. Despite their inconsistency, Andrew Luck and the Colts are my pick to win on Saturday.Colts over Chiefs 17-13
Saints @ Eagles: When playing at home, the New Orleans Saints as a team can be compared to Superman: indestructible, intimidating, and capable of disrupting any type of opposition. But just like Superman, the Saints have their kryptonite: road games. New Orleans has yet to lose a home game in 2013, which means all 5 of their losses this season came on the road. Saturday's game will be played in Philadelphia, and following a snow storm projected to hit Pennsylvania by Friday, the conditions will be very poor come Saturday. Poor conditions will mean it will be difficult to throw the ball, which clearly gives Philadelphia the advantage seeing that their running back, LeSean McCoy, is superior to any running back on the Saints roster. McCoy won the rushing title in 2013, as he rushed for 1,607 yards on 314 carries. With the temperature close to freezing on Saturday, Chip Kelly will likely avoid throwing the ball and give McCoy at least 25 carries against the Saints. In the event that both teams will be passing the ball a lot, Philly will still be able to keep up with the Saints' high-flying passing attack. In games where Foles had 15 attempts or more, the Eagles are 9-2, and seeing that Foles has a 119.2 passer rating, New Orleans' defense will have their hands full throughout the game.
Eagles over Saints 20-14
Chargers @ Bengals: The San Diego Chargers were able to make the playoffs following an overtime victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, even though the NFL released a statement saying there should have been a penalty against the Chargers during Kansas City's potentially game winning field goal that they missed. Had there been a penalty on the play, Ryan Succop of the Chiefs would have likely made the easier kick, causing the Chargers to miss the playoffs all together; however, this did not happen, and Chargers will go up against the heavily favored Bengals on the road. Cincinnati is undefeated at home this season, where their offense averages 37.3 points per game, and their defense allows just 16.8 per game. San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers has improved in every major statistical category compared to his 2012 numbers, as he has thrown for 4,478 yards and 32 touchdowns for a passer rating of 105.5 in 2013. Even Ryan Matthews improved in 2013, where he was finally able to play in all 16 games for the first time in his 4 year career. The Chargers were 4-4 on the road this season, and quarterback Philip Rivers is 3-4 in the postseason. We predict the Bengals to win this one with ease.Bengals over Chargers 27-10
49ers @ Packers: Sunday afternoon's game between the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers will be the best game that the Wild Card Round has to offer. The Green Bay Packers will look for revenge following San Francisco's dominant win over the Pack in in last year's playoffs. Last week, Aaron Rodgers returned to the starting lineup for the first time since November 4th, as he led Green Bay past Chicago in order to earn the fourth seed in the playoffs. Both teams are coming off of emotional victories, and this upcoming game will be a testament of their resilience following their emotionally draining victories in Week 17. The San Francisco 49ers are on a six game winning streak, where three of those wins came on the road. In the past three games, Colin Kaepernick has thrown five touchdown passes with no interceptions and an average of 236 passing yards per game. On the other hand, running back Frank Gore is coming off of his worst game of the season, where on thirteen carries he rushed for 14 yards with no touchdowns against the Cardinals. The Niners have relied heavily on their running game, and even though Gore was limited in the final game of the season, he can not be averaging 1.08 yards per carry in the playoffs. The last time these two teams played, the 49ers beat Green Bay in Week 1. We believe the same thing will happen this Sunday
49ers over Packers 30-23 (OT)
Week 17 Predictions
Abridged Version
Bengals over Ravens
Steelers over Browns
Panthers over Falcons (OT)
Lions over Vikings
Titans over Texans
Colts over Jaguars
Jets over Dolphins
Giants over Redskins
Bills over Patriots
Packers over Bears
Broncos over Raiders
Chargers over Chiefs
Saints over Buccaneers
Seahawks over Rams
49ers over Cardinals
Eagles over Cowboys
Bengals over RavensSteelers over Browns
Panthers over Falcons (OT)
Lions over Vikings
Titans over Texans
Colts over Jaguars
Jets over Dolphins
Giants over Redskins
Bills over Patriots
Packers over Bears
Broncos over Raiders
Chargers over Chiefs
Saints over Buccaneers
Seahawks over Rams
49ers over Cardinals
Eagles over Cowboys
Week 16 Predictions
Game to Watch: Saints @ Panthers: Who would have guessed at the beginning of the year that Carolina would still be in contention for the NFC South title as of Week 16? With a win over New Orleans on Sunday, the Carolina Panthers would be in control of the NFC South, leapfrogging them into the second seed of the playoffs. The Panthers are coming off of a 30-20 victory over the New York Jets in Week 15, where Cam Newton passed for 273 yards and a touchdown. On the other hand, New Orleans was blown out by a crippled St. Louis Rams team last weekend, even though Drew Brees threw for 393 yards and a score. The last time New Orleans and Carolina played one another, Carolina was blown out on the road, allowing a season high 31 points on defense. Unfortunately for the Saints, they will not be within the safety of the Superdome, where they remain undefeated so far 2013. The Saints on the road are a completely different team, as they are 3-4 when traveling to the opponents home stadium. This Sunday's matchup definitely favors the Carolina Panthers.
Panthers over Saints 27-24
Stand Out Performance: QB Andy Dalton: The Cincinnati Bengals offense has been relatively inconsistent so far in 2013, but quarterback Andy Dalton is projected to have a monster game on Sunday. His opponent, the Minnesota Vikings, rank dead last in passing touchdowns allowed, as well as 30th in the league for passing yards allowed per game. Andy Dalton is averaging 252.5 passing yards and 2.5 touchdowns within his last two games, and these numbers are bound to increase following his performance against the Vikings. With rookie cornerback Xavier Rhodes out with an injury, the Minnesota Vikings have no solid cornerback capable of shutting down Cincy's star wide receiver, AJ Green. Both Green and Dalton are sure to have big performances in their game against Minnesota on Sunday.
QB Andy Dalton: 295 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD
Player to Watch: Candlestick Park: This Sunday will be the San Francisco 49ers' last game inside the famous Candlestick Park, where they have been playing since 1971. Originally opened in 1960 for the San Francisco Giants baseball team, Candlestick Park has hosted many important events, ranging from The Beatles final concert, to two MLB all star games, to eight NFC Championship games, and two World Series. On Monday Night, the San Francisco 49ers will play Atlanta on Monday Night Football, and there will surely be a ceremony preceding the football game.
Week 16 Predictions:
Dolphins over Bills
Panthers over Saints
Bengals over Vikings
Broncos over Texans
Titans over Jaguars
Chiefs over Colts
Browns over Jets
Rams over Buccaneers
Cowboys over Redskins
Lions over Giants
Seahawks over Cardinals
Ravens over Patriots
Packers over Steelers
Chargers over Raiders
Eagles over Bears
49ers over Falcons
Panthers over Saints 27-24
QB Andy Dalton: 295 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD
Player to Watch: Candlestick Park: This Sunday will be the San Francisco 49ers' last game inside the famous Candlestick Park, where they have been playing since 1971. Originally opened in 1960 for the San Francisco Giants baseball team, Candlestick Park has hosted many important events, ranging from The Beatles final concert, to two MLB all star games, to eight NFC Championship games, and two World Series. On Monday Night, the San Francisco 49ers will play Atlanta on Monday Night Football, and there will surely be a ceremony preceding the football game.
Week 16 Predictions:
Dolphins over Bills
Panthers over Saints
Bengals over Vikings
Broncos over Texans
Titans over Jaguars
Chiefs over Colts
Browns over Jets
Rams over Buccaneers
Cowboys over Redskins
Lions over Giants
Seahawks over Cardinals
Ravens over Patriots
Packers over Steelers
Chargers over Raiders
Eagles over Bears
49ers over Falcons
Week 15 Predictions
Game to Watch: Patriots @ Dolphins: After a slow start in their game against Cleveland last weekend, the New England Patriots clawed there way back, eventually scoring the final touchdown of the game with 31 seconds left to play, as they went on to win 27-26. Even though the Patriots won the battle, one can argue this team "lost the war", as Rob Grownkowski suffered a season ending injury to his knee early in the game. Gronkowski joins Jerard Mayo and Vince Wilfork on the Injured Reserve, and the Patriots can not afford to lose anyone else if they wish to capture the 1st overall seed in the playoffs. The New England Patriots are 7-0 against the Miami Dolphins within the past five seasons, but tomorrow appears to be somewhat of a trap game for Brady and the Patriots. The Miami Dolphins have won two straight games, where quarterback Ryan Tannehill has thrown for 531 passing yards with 6 touchdowns in those two games. Tom Brady does not his best in extremely warm weather, especially that of Miami, Florida. The Dolphins are very likely to upset New England and the wake of Gornk's devastating injury.
Dolphins over Patriots 24-20
Stand Out Performance: RB LeSean McCoy: Last Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Detroit Lions played in one of the more exciting games of the season. As the snow piled up on the ground, LeSean McCoy rushed for an astounding 217 yards and two rushing touchdowns. This week, McCoy and the Eagles will be playing in the Metradome, completely protected from the environments. Since the running game is what allowed Philadelphia to be leading the NFC East with three games left to play, Chip Kelly will likely stick to his original game plan and run the ball with McCoy. Seeing that Minnesota will not have its two top running backs against the Eagles, Philadelphia is bound to shut down Minnesota's offense, leading to more offensive opportunities for the Eagles to score.
RB LeSean McCoy: 185 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 40 receiving yards
Player to Watch: QB Jay Cutler: Despite quarterback Josh McCown's extraordinary play as of late, the Chicago Bears have decided to start Jay Cutler in their Week 15 matchup against the underrated Cleveland Browns. Cutler had passed for over 1,900 yards with 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions before injuring his ankle back in November against the Lions. Once McCown stepped in, the Bears went 2-2, but the red hot McCown is coming off of his third straight game with at least 300 yards. Marc Trestman's decision to start Cutler is very interesting, and I predict Cutler to be pulled from the field by the third quarter of Sunday's game.
QB Jay Cutler: 195 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Week 15 Predictions:
Broncos over Chargers (Incorrect)
Falcons over Redskins
Browns over Bears
Colts over Texans
Jaguars over Bills
Dolphins over Patriots
Eagles over Vikings
Seahawks over Giants
49ers over Buccaneers
Panthers over Jets
Chiefs over Raiders
Cowboys over Packers
Saints over Rams (OT)
Cardinals over Titans
Bengals over Steelers
Ravens over Lions
Dolphins over Patriots 24-20
Stand Out Performance: RB LeSean McCoy: Last Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Detroit Lions played in one of the more exciting games of the season. As the snow piled up on the ground, LeSean McCoy rushed for an astounding 217 yards and two rushing touchdowns. This week, McCoy and the Eagles will be playing in the Metradome, completely protected from the environments. Since the running game is what allowed Philadelphia to be leading the NFC East with three games left to play, Chip Kelly will likely stick to his original game plan and run the ball with McCoy. Seeing that Minnesota will not have its two top running backs against the Eagles, Philadelphia is bound to shut down Minnesota's offense, leading to more offensive opportunities for the Eagles to score.RB LeSean McCoy: 185 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 40 receiving yards
Player to Watch: QB Jay Cutler: Despite quarterback Josh McCown's extraordinary play as of late, the Chicago Bears have decided to start Jay Cutler in their Week 15 matchup against the underrated Cleveland Browns. Cutler had passed for over 1,900 yards with 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions before injuring his ankle back in November against the Lions. Once McCown stepped in, the Bears went 2-2, but the red hot McCown is coming off of his third straight game with at least 300 yards. Marc Trestman's decision to start Cutler is very interesting, and I predict Cutler to be pulled from the field by the third quarter of Sunday's game.
QB Jay Cutler: 195 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Week 15 Predictions:
Broncos over Chargers (Incorrect)
Falcons over Redskins
Browns over Bears
Colts over Texans
Jaguars over Bills
Dolphins over Patriots
Eagles over Vikings
Seahawks over Giants
49ers over Buccaneers
Panthers over Jets
Chiefs over Raiders
Cowboys over Packers
Saints over Rams (OT)
Cardinals over Titans
Bengals over Steelers
Ravens over Lions
Week 14 Predictions
Game to Watch: Seahawks @ 49ers: The Seattle Seahawks are undisputedly the number on team in all of football. Their win over the New Orleans Saints by a score of 34-7 on Monday Night Football showed that this team is in a league of their own. Especially when they are playing at home. This Sunday, the Seahawks will go on the road to play San Francisco in CandleStick Park. The 49ers have not quite lived up to expectations so far in 2013, especially their starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The 49ers are 8-5 this season, currently the 6th seed if the season ended today. But with teams like Philadelphia and Arizona not too far behind, it is key for San Francisco to beat their division rival at home on Sunday. The last time these two teams played, Seattle absolutely annihilated Harbaugh and the Niners. This Sunday won't be any different.
Seattle over 49ers 23-13
Stand Out Performance: WR Calvin Johnson: As of Week 13, Calvin Johnson has eclipsed the 100 yard receiving mark 7 times this season, and in one of those games, Megatron caught 14 passes for 329 yards. Calvin Johnson has made a name for himself as the best wide receiver in the league, and as Detroit squares off Philadelphia on Sunday, Johnson is projected for yet another big day. In his past three games, Megatron has caught 19 passes for 395 yards and 3 touchdowns, while the Eagles defense against wide receivers ranks dead last in the NFL. Fantasy football owners, make sure to start Megatron for as the fantasy football playoffs start this Sunday.
WR Calvin Johnson: 125 receiving yards, 2 TDs
Player to Watch: QB Geno Smith: At the start of November, it appeared that the New York was a legitimate threat to nab a spot in the playoffs in 2013; however, all playoff hopes have been dashed as a result of poor play by their starting quarterback, Geno Smith. Smith started the year with 7 touchdowns in his first 5 games, but since Week 5, Geno has passed for just 1 touchdown with a whopping 11 touchdowns. On the year, Smith's passer rating stands at 60.4, and it is surprising that New York has not benched their quarterback. Sunday's game will be a decisive game for Geno Smith, where yet another poor performance will surely have him sitting on the bench for the rest of the season.
QB Geno Smith: 185 passing yards, 1 rushing TD, INT
Week 14 Predictions:
Ravens over Vikings
Bengals over Colts
Patriots over Browns
Jets over Raiders
Chiefs over Redskins
Falcons over Packers
Eagles over Lions
Dolphins over Steelers
Bills over Buccaneers
Broncos over Titans
Cardinals over Rams
Seahawks over 49ers
Giants over Chargers
Saints over Panthers
Bears over Cowboys
Seattle over 49ers 23-13
Stand Out Performance: WR Calvin Johnson: As of Week 13, Calvin Johnson has eclipsed the 100 yard receiving mark 7 times this season, and in one of those games, Megatron caught 14 passes for 329 yards. Calvin Johnson has made a name for himself as the best wide receiver in the league, and as Detroit squares off Philadelphia on Sunday, Johnson is projected for yet another big day. In his past three games, Megatron has caught 19 passes for 395 yards and 3 touchdowns, while the Eagles defense against wide receivers ranks dead last in the NFL. Fantasy football owners, make sure to start Megatron for as the fantasy football playoffs start this Sunday.WR Calvin Johnson: 125 receiving yards, 2 TDs
Player to Watch: QB Geno Smith: At the start of November, it appeared that the New York was a legitimate threat to nab a spot in the playoffs in 2013; however, all playoff hopes have been dashed as a result of poor play by their starting quarterback, Geno Smith. Smith started the year with 7 touchdowns in his first 5 games, but since Week 5, Geno has passed for just 1 touchdown with a whopping 11 touchdowns. On the year, Smith's passer rating stands at 60.4, and it is surprising that New York has not benched their quarterback. Sunday's game will be a decisive game for Geno Smith, where yet another poor performance will surely have him sitting on the bench for the rest of the season.
QB Geno Smith: 185 passing yards, 1 rushing TD, INT
Week 14 Predictions:
Ravens over Vikings
Bengals over Colts
Patriots over Browns
Jets over Raiders
Chiefs over Redskins
Falcons over Packers
Eagles over Lions
Dolphins over Steelers
Bills over Buccaneers
Broncos over Titans
Cardinals over Rams
Seahawks over 49ers
Giants over Chargers
Saints over Panthers
Bears over Cowboys
Week 13 Predictions
Game to Watch: Saints @ Seahawks: As we mentioned in an earlier post, this game is bound to be the same game seen in the NFC Championship Game later in the season. Both New Orleans and Seattle are off to spectacular starts, and a win on Monday Night would almost ensure the number one seed in the playoffs. The game is being played in Seattle, where the Seahawks have not lost a game in CenturyLink Field since December of 2011. Russell Wilson and the Seahawks offense has been absolutely spectacular, which also includes a fabulous running game led by Marshawn Lynch. Clearly the most valuable asset of this team is the defense, who have been impenetrable, particularly at home. Drew Brees and the Saints are leaving the safety of the Superdome to play the Seahawks outdoors. In the past, Drew Brees' spectacular numbers have seen a slight decrease when he plays outdoors, especially in poor conditions. The crowd in Seattle is always a factor in big games, so we predict the frightfully loud fans, mixed with Seattle well rounded team, will lead to a New Orleans Saints loss.
Prediction: Seahawks over Saints 23-13
Stand Out Performance: RB Adrian Peterson: Even though Adrian Peterson will likely fall short of the 2,000 yards rushing mark in 2013, he has already achieved 997 rushing yards with 10 rushing touchdowns. Last week, Peterson rushed for 146 yards and a score, whereas the defense he is facing this upcoming week, the Chicago Bears, allowed a whopping 196 yards and two touchdowns in their game against St. Louis last week. The last time Peterson played the Bears, Chicago forked up 100 rushing yards, but Peterson was unable to register a rushing touchdown that game. That will change on Sunday.
RB Adrian Peterson: 110 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns
Player to Watch: QB Robert Griffin III: The entire Robert Griffin III debate (to play, or not to play?) has taken a new turn following Washington's embarrassing loss to the 49ers. The Redskins are now 3.5 games out of the playoffs, and quarterback RGIII is clearly not playing like the same quarterback we saw last season. RGIII's passer rating in 2013 has dropped almost 20 points compared to his passer rating last season, and his 11 interceptions are currently ranked 9th in the league. Sunday will be a decisive game, as the Redskins coaching staff will need to decide between starting RGIII or Kirk Cousins in the following game.
QB Robert Griffin III: 225 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD, FUM
Week 13 Predictions:
Lions over Packers (Correct)
Cowboys over Raiders (Correct)
Steelers over Ravens (Incorrect)
Panthers over Buccaneers
Browns over Jaguars
Patriots over Texans
Colts over Titans
Bears over Vikings
Dolphins over Jets
Cardinals over Eagles
Bills over Falcons
49ers over Rams
Broncos over Chiefs
Bengals over Chargers
Giants over Redskins
Seahawks over Saints
Prediction: Seahawks over Saints 23-13
Stand Out Performance: RB Adrian Peterson: Even though Adrian Peterson will likely fall short of the 2,000 yards rushing mark in 2013, he has already achieved 997 rushing yards with 10 rushing touchdowns. Last week, Peterson rushed for 146 yards and a score, whereas the defense he is facing this upcoming week, the Chicago Bears, allowed a whopping 196 yards and two touchdowns in their game against St. Louis last week. The last time Peterson played the Bears, Chicago forked up 100 rushing yards, but Peterson was unable to register a rushing touchdown that game. That will change on Sunday.RB Adrian Peterson: 110 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns
Player to Watch: QB Robert Griffin III: The entire Robert Griffin III debate (to play, or not to play?) has taken a new turn following Washington's embarrassing loss to the 49ers. The Redskins are now 3.5 games out of the playoffs, and quarterback RGIII is clearly not playing like the same quarterback we saw last season. RGIII's passer rating in 2013 has dropped almost 20 points compared to his passer rating last season, and his 11 interceptions are currently ranked 9th in the league. Sunday will be a decisive game, as the Redskins coaching staff will need to decide between starting RGIII or Kirk Cousins in the following game.
QB Robert Griffin III: 225 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD, FUM
Week 13 Predictions:
Lions over Packers (Correct)
Cowboys over Raiders (Correct)
Steelers over Ravens (Incorrect)
Panthers over Buccaneers
Browns over Jaguars
Patriots over Texans
Colts over Titans
Bears over Vikings
Dolphins over Jets
Cardinals over Eagles
Bills over Falcons
49ers over Rams
Broncos over Chiefs
Bengals over Chargers
Giants over Redskins
Seahawks over Saints
NFL Week 12 Predictions
Abridged Version
Saints over Falcons (Correct)
Ravens over Jets
Steelers over Browns
Lions over Buccaneers (OT)
Vikings over Packers
Texans over Jaguars
Chiefs over Chargers
Panthers over Dolphins
Bears over Rams
Colts over Cardinals (OT)
Raiders over Titans
Giants over Cowboys
Patriots over Broncos
49ers over Redskins
Saints over Falcons (Correct)
Ravens over Jets
Steelers over Browns
Lions over Buccaneers (OT)
Vikings over Packers
Texans over Jaguars
Chiefs over Chargers
Panthers over Dolphins
Bears over Rams
Colts over Cardinals (OT)
Raiders over Titans
Giants over Cowboys
Patriots over Broncos
49ers over Redskins
NFL Week 11 Predictions
Game of the Week: Chiefs @ Broncos: I taking a risk by saying that the Kansas City Chiefs will beat the Broncos tommorrow on Sunday Night Football. Yes, you read that correctly. Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs will beat Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. Peyton Manning and Denver's high-powered offense will go up against the best defense in the league, who have allowed just 12.3 points per game, ranking 1st overall in the NFL. Kansas City also ranks first in the league in sacks, which is an extremely helpful statistic considering how immobile Peyton Manning is at this point in time. Manning did not practice on Thursday, but we all know that Manning desperately wants to play in tomorrow's game. The key for Denver will be to give Manning time in the pocket, as they do not want their hobbled quarterback avoiding defenders all game. If Manning was completely healthy, I would say the Broncos would win with no doubt in my mind; however, the Chiefs' pass rush will ruin Peyton Manning's tempo throughout the game. It is Kansas City's time to prove that they are the real deal.
Chiefs over Broncos 26-20
Stand Out Performance: QB Russell Wilson: Luckily for Seattle's offense, the offensive line may have three injured starters returning to the starting lineup in a Week 11 game against the Minnesota Vikings. Russell Wilson has been very consistent over the last few weeks, and with an improved offensive line, we can see him having a monster game against Minnesota. Percy Harvin might in uniform tomorrow as well, so one can say this is a perfect storm for success. The Vikings are having a hard time stopping the passing game so far in 2013, so we predict Russell Wilson to throw for three touchdowns tomorrow afternoon.
QB Russell Wilson: 305 passing yards, 3 TDs
Player to Watch: QB Alex Smith: Tomorrow's game against the Broncos will be Alex Smith's first truly big game as a member of the Chiefs' offense. Smith has a reputation of making few mistakes on the field, and with just 5 total turnovers this year, Alex Smith is a very consistent quarterback that you can count on. His numbers are not mind boggling, as he has just 9 passing touchdowns and a passer rating close to 85.0. Jamaal Charles really is the core of Kansas City's offense, and Alex Smith is there to provide a consistent passing game to bail this offense out on third down. Smith will have a mediocre game against Denver, where Kansas City's defense will be the true MVP in Sunday Night's game.
QB Alex Smith: 200 passing yards, 1 TD
Week 11 Predictions:
Colts over Titans (Correct)
Jets over Bills
Ravens over Bears
Bengals over Browns
Texans over Raiders
Cardinals over Jaguars
Eagles over Redskins
Steelers over Lions
Falcons over Buccaneers
Chargers over Dolphins
Saints over 49ers
Giants over Packers
Seahawks over Vikings
Chiefs over Broncos
Patriots over Panthers
Chiefs over Broncos 26-20
Stand Out Performance: QB Russell Wilson: Luckily for Seattle's offense, the offensive line may have three injured starters returning to the starting lineup in a Week 11 game against the Minnesota Vikings. Russell Wilson has been very consistent over the last few weeks, and with an improved offensive line, we can see him having a monster game against Minnesota. Percy Harvin might in uniform tomorrow as well, so one can say this is a perfect storm for success. The Vikings are having a hard time stopping the passing game so far in 2013, so we predict Russell Wilson to throw for three touchdowns tomorrow afternoon.QB Russell Wilson: 305 passing yards, 3 TDs
Player to Watch: QB Alex Smith: Tomorrow's game against the Broncos will be Alex Smith's first truly big game as a member of the Chiefs' offense. Smith has a reputation of making few mistakes on the field, and with just 5 total turnovers this year, Alex Smith is a very consistent quarterback that you can count on. His numbers are not mind boggling, as he has just 9 passing touchdowns and a passer rating close to 85.0. Jamaal Charles really is the core of Kansas City's offense, and Alex Smith is there to provide a consistent passing game to bail this offense out on third down. Smith will have a mediocre game against Denver, where Kansas City's defense will be the true MVP in Sunday Night's game.
QB Alex Smith: 200 passing yards, 1 TD
Week 11 Predictions:
Colts over Titans (Correct)
Jets over Bills
Ravens over Bears
Bengals over Browns
Texans over Raiders
Cardinals over Jaguars
Eagles over Redskins
Steelers over Lions
Falcons over Buccaneers
Chargers over Dolphins
Saints over 49ers
Giants over Packers
Seahawks over Vikings
Chiefs over Broncos
Patriots over Panthers
Last Week: 9-5
2013 Season: 101-46 (68.7%)
Week 10 Predictions
Game to Watch: Panthers @ 49ers: On Sunday, the two hottest teams in football (apart from Andy Reid's Chiefs) will battle late in the afternoon. The Carolina Panthers, led by quarterback Cam Newton, have flown under the radar, as they sit at 5-3, just one game behind the New Orleans Saints. The competition may be weak, but in their last four games, Carolina's offense has averaged 32.5 points per game, an astounding statistic. Cam Newton's passing statistics are not jaw-dropping, yet they are good enough to get the job done. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers' offense has been rolling ever since their terrible offensive performance against Indy. The running game ranks first in the league thanks to running back Frank Gore and quarterback Colin Kaepernick, as they have averaged 153.0 yards per game. The San Francisco 49ers have always been strong in their own stadium, so we see the 49ers beating Cam Newton and the Panthers on Sunday.
49ers over Panthers 37-31
Stand Out Performance: TE Jimmy Graham: Apart from a terrible performance against the New England Patriots, tight end Jimmy Graham has been incredibly consistent throughout the season. If Graham's incredible play continues, he will record 1,492 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns, where both would be NFL records among tight ends. The Dallas Cowboy pass defense has been absolutely atrocious in 2013, ranking 31st overall in passing yards allowed per game. Be prepared for a monster performance by this monster of a tight end.
TE Jimmy Graham: 145 receiving yards, 2 TDs
Player to Watch: QB Nick Foles: Who would have thought that Nick Foles, a third round pick out of Arizona in the 2012 NFL Draft, would tie the NFL record for passing touchdowns at 7. Sure, it was against the Oakland Raiders' defense, but 7 passing touchdowns is a sensational number that deserves to be discussed. The Eagles offense has been an emotional roller coaster so far this season, with its many ups and downs. The Eagles are going up against a very beat-up Packers defense. Nick Foles will not throw for 7 touchdowns, no how, no way; however, we can see Nick Foles passing for several touchdowns in a narrow victory over Green Bay.
QB Nick Foles: 285 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 INT
Week 10 Predictions:
Redskins over Vikings (Incorrect)
Seahawks over Falcons
Bengals over Ravens
Lions over Bears
Eagles over Packers
Colts over Rams
Giants over Raiders
Steelers over Bills
Titans over Jaguars
49ers over Panthers
Cardinals over Texans
Broncos over Chargers
Saints over Cowboys
Buccaneers over Dolphins
49ers over Panthers 37-31
Stand Out Performance: TE Jimmy Graham: Apart from a terrible performance against the New England Patriots, tight end Jimmy Graham has been incredibly consistent throughout the season. If Graham's incredible play continues, he will record 1,492 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns, where both would be NFL records among tight ends. The Dallas Cowboy pass defense has been absolutely atrocious in 2013, ranking 31st overall in passing yards allowed per game. Be prepared for a monster performance by this monster of a tight end.TE Jimmy Graham: 145 receiving yards, 2 TDs
Player to Watch: QB Nick Foles: Who would have thought that Nick Foles, a third round pick out of Arizona in the 2012 NFL Draft, would tie the NFL record for passing touchdowns at 7. Sure, it was against the Oakland Raiders' defense, but 7 passing touchdowns is a sensational number that deserves to be discussed. The Eagles offense has been an emotional roller coaster so far this season, with its many ups and downs. The Eagles are going up against a very beat-up Packers defense. Nick Foles will not throw for 7 touchdowns, no how, no way; however, we can see Nick Foles passing for several touchdowns in a narrow victory over Green Bay.
QB Nick Foles: 285 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 INT
Week 10 Predictions:
Redskins over Vikings (Incorrect)
Seahawks over Falcons
Bengals over Ravens
Lions over Bears
Eagles over Packers
Colts over Rams
Giants over Raiders
Steelers over Bills
Titans over Jaguars
49ers over Panthers
Cardinals over Texans
Broncos over Chargers
Saints over Cowboys
Buccaneers over Dolphins
Last Week: 9-4
2013 Season: 92-41 (69.1%)
Week 9 Predictions
Game to Watch: Bears @ Packers: Even though Jay Cutler has not been cleared to play on Monday Night's game against the Green Bay Packers, Chicago still has a good shot against their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers. The Bears offense can still be a dominant force, even without Cutler present in the starting lineup. Running back Matt Forte has rushed for 533 yards in 2013, averaging 4.6 yards per carry, with an additional 6 rushing touchdowns. The Bears also have wideout Brandon Marshall, who is not on track to top last year's numbers, but he is still resembling a Pro Bowl wide receiver. After a slow start to the season, the Green Bay Packers, Chicago's competition, has been 4-0 since Week 4, putting their record at 5-2. The loss of Cutler hurts Chicago's chances, but we believe it will still be a close game on Monday night.
Packers over Bears 34-24
Stand Out Performance: QB Cam Newton: The Carolina Panthers may not be one of the most successful franchises, but their starting quarterback Cam Newton is an absolute star. Newton scored 27 fantasy points last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as he is averaging 26.3 fantasy points a game these past 3 weeks. Atlanta's pass defense has struggled so far in 2013, as they have allowed the second most passing touchdowns in the league with 16. Newton is also capable of running the ball, which is what makes him such a dangerous offensive weapon.
QB Cam Newton: 290 passing yards, 3 total TDs, 40 rushing yards
Player to Watch: QB Tom Brady: There is no question that quarterback Tom Brady is not playing like he once was, as his passer rating stands at just 74.9. It would be easy to blame the New England Patriots' receiving corp for Brady's poor play, but then again, Brady has 76 off-target off passes in 2013, 15 more than any other player in the NFL. Brady will be playing the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday, and even though the Steelers defense is very old, they are still very experienced. Tom Brady will pass for more than one touchdown against the Steelers for the first since Week 4 in a very close game.
QB Tom Brady: 195 passing yards, 1 passing TD
Week 9 Predictions:
Bengals over Dolphins (Incorrect)
Chiefs over Bills
Panthers over Falcons
Cowboys over Vikings
Saints over Jets
Titans over Rams
Redskins over Chargers
Eagles over Raiders (OT)
Seahawks over Buccaneers
Ravens over Browns
Patriots over Steelers
Colts over Texans
Packers over Bears
Packers over Bears 34-24
QB Cam Newton: 290 passing yards, 3 total TDs, 40 rushing yards
Player to Watch: QB Tom Brady: There is no question that quarterback Tom Brady is not playing like he once was, as his passer rating stands at just 74.9. It would be easy to blame the New England Patriots' receiving corp for Brady's poor play, but then again, Brady has 76 off-target off passes in 2013, 15 more than any other player in the NFL. Brady will be playing the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday, and even though the Steelers defense is very old, they are still very experienced. Tom Brady will pass for more than one touchdown against the Steelers for the first since Week 4 in a very close game.
QB Tom Brady: 195 passing yards, 1 passing TD
Week 9 Predictions:
Bengals over Dolphins (Incorrect)
Chiefs over Bills
Panthers over Falcons
Cowboys over Vikings
Saints over Jets
Titans over Rams
Redskins over Chargers
Eagles over Raiders (OT)
Seahawks over Buccaneers
Ravens over Browns
Patriots over Steelers
Colts over Texans
Packers over Bears
Last Week: 11-2
2013 Season: 82-37 (68.9%)
Week 8 Predictions
Game to Watch: Redskins @ Broncos: The Denver Broncos were handed their first loss of 2013 season by the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football, and now they have a chance to redeem themselves this week at home against Washington. The Washington Redskins (soon to be the Washington Bravehearts??) are 2-5, and a key factor of Washington's poor play is that quarterback Robert Griffin III does not look the same since his injury in the 2012 NFL Playoffs. Luckily for Redskins fans, RGIII is coming off of a dominant performance in Week 7, as Washington's offense scored 45 points in a win over the Bears. The Denver Broncos incredible offense will create problems for Washington's struggling defense, as this game is sure to be high scoring.
Broncos over Redskins 34-23
Stand Out Performance: RB Jamaal Charles: The Kansas City Chiefs are 7-0, as they look to be 8-0 for the first time since 2003. The success of the Chief's offense relies heavily on running back Jamaal Charles, who is just one rushing touchdown away from tying his career high . At this rate, Charles is on pace to rush for 1,280 yards with 14 rushing touchdowns in 2013. Tomorrow, Charles and the Chiefs will play the Cleveland Browns, a defense that has struggled to stop the run. Charles is going to make his fantasy owners very happy with this Sunday's performance.
RB Jamaal Charles: 120 yards, 2 total TDs
Player to Watch: TE Rob Gronkowski: The New England Patriots have been missing a healthy Rob Gronkowski from their lineup for almost a full year. Gronk made his return last week against the New York Jets, as he recorded 114 receiving yards in an overtime loss to the Jets. The Patriots will try to successfully incorporate Gronkowski into their lineup so that the Patriots may return to their winning form. Once Belicheck and the coaching staff are able to figure out their plans with Gronk, the Patriots offense has the potential to be one of the best in the league once again.
TE Rob Gronkowski: 105 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
Week 8 Predictions:
Panthers over Buccaneers
49ers over Jaguars
Chiefs over Browns
Patriots over Dolphins
Lions over Cowboys
Saints over Bills
Eagles over Giants
Bengals over Jets
Steelers over Raiders
Cardinals over Falcons
Broncos over Redskins
Packers over Vikings
Seahawks over Rams
Broncos over Redskins 34-23
Stand Out Performance: RB Jamaal Charles: The Kansas City Chiefs are 7-0, as they look to be 8-0 for the first time since 2003. The success of the Chief's offense relies heavily on running back Jamaal Charles, who is just one rushing touchdown away from tying his career high . At this rate, Charles is on pace to rush for 1,280 yards with 14 rushing touchdowns in 2013. Tomorrow, Charles and the Chiefs will play the Cleveland Browns, a defense that has struggled to stop the run. Charles is going to make his fantasy owners very happy with this Sunday's performance.RB Jamaal Charles: 120 yards, 2 total TDs
Player to Watch: TE Rob Gronkowski: The New England Patriots have been missing a healthy Rob Gronkowski from their lineup for almost a full year. Gronk made his return last week against the New York Jets, as he recorded 114 receiving yards in an overtime loss to the Jets. The Patriots will try to successfully incorporate Gronkowski into their lineup so that the Patriots may return to their winning form. Once Belicheck and the coaching staff are able to figure out their plans with Gronk, the Patriots offense has the potential to be one of the best in the league once again.
TE Rob Gronkowski: 105 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
Week 8 Predictions:
Panthers over Buccaneers
49ers over Jaguars
Chiefs over Browns
Patriots over Dolphins
Lions over Cowboys
Saints over Bills
Eagles over Giants
Bengals over Jets
Steelers over Raiders
Cardinals over Falcons
Broncos over Redskins
Packers over Vikings
Seahawks over Rams
Last Week: 9-6
2013 Season: 71-35 (66.9%)
Week 7 Predictions
Game of the Week: Broncos @ Colts: For the first time since Peyton Manning left Indianapolis to play for John Elway, the Denver Broncos will travel to Indiana so Peyton Manning can face-off against his former team. The Denver Broncos are widely considered to be the best team in all of football, but the Indianapolis Colts, thanks to sophomore quarterback Andrew Luck, are 4-2 on the year. After running backs Ahmad Bradshaw and Vick Ballard were placed on the IR, the running game now lies entirely on newly acquired back Trent Richardson. These injuries for Indy likely means that Andrew Luck will have more passing attempts over the course of the season. Even though the Colts offense scored just 9 points against the San Diego Chargers defense, and the Broncos defense have linebacker Von Miller returning for the first time this season, we doubt that Indianapolis' offense will score single digit points 2 games in a row. There is no way Peyton Manning wants to lose against his former team, so we predict Denver to win this game on the road and stay undefeated.
Broncos over Colts 27-24
Stand Out Performance: RB Adrian Peterson: The tragedies that took place last week involving Adrian Peterson's son left the Vikings offense in shambles as they played against the Carolina Panthers. Peterson has assured everyone that he is ready to play this weekend against the New York Giants, a team that has one of the worst run defenses in all of football. The Minnesota Vikings will likely hand the ball off to All-Day consistently throughout the game. We wish Adrian Peterson the best of luck.
RB Adrian Peterson: 120 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs
Player to Watch: LB Von Miller: Outside linebacker Von Miller will be playing for the first time in 2013 since he was suspended by the league for 6 games when he violated the NFL's substance abuse policy. Miller was unquestionably the best defender on the Denver Broncos last season, as he has recorded 30.0 sacks over the course of his two year career. Last season alone, Von Miller sacked the quarterback 18.5 times, along with an additional 6 forced fumbles. It will be interesting to see if Von Miller is rusty in his first game since January 12th.
LB Von Miller: 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
Week 7 Predictions:
Falcons over Buccaneers
Rams over Panthers
Lions over Bengals
Chargers over Jaguars
Dolphins over Bills
Jets over Patriots
Cowboys over Eagles
Bears over Redskins
49ers over Titans
Packers over Browns
Broncos over Colts 27-24
Stand Out Performance: RB Adrian Peterson: The tragedies that took place last week involving Adrian Peterson's son left the Vikings offense in shambles as they played against the Carolina Panthers. Peterson has assured everyone that he is ready to play this weekend against the New York Giants, a team that has one of the worst run defenses in all of football. The Minnesota Vikings will likely hand the ball off to All-Day consistently throughout the game. We wish Adrian Peterson the best of luck.RB Adrian Peterson: 120 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs
Player to Watch: LB Von Miller: Outside linebacker Von Miller will be playing for the first time in 2013 since he was suspended by the league for 6 games when he violated the NFL's substance abuse policy. Miller was unquestionably the best defender on the Denver Broncos last season, as he has recorded 30.0 sacks over the course of his two year career. Last season alone, Von Miller sacked the quarterback 18.5 times, along with an additional 6 forced fumbles. It will be interesting to see if Von Miller is rusty in his first game since January 12th.
LB Von Miller: 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
Week 7 Predictions:
Falcons over Buccaneers
Rams over Panthers
Lions over Bengals
Chargers over Jaguars
Dolphins over Bills
Jets over Patriots
Cowboys over Eagles
Bears over Redskins
49ers over Titans
Packers over Browns
Chiefs over Texans
Ravens over Steelers
Broncos over Colts
Giants over Vikings
Last Week: 11-4
2013 Season: 62-29 (68.1%)
Week 6 Predictions
Game to Watch: Saints @ Patriots: After starting the 2013 regular season at 4-0, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were handed their first loss of the season by the Cincinnati Bengals. Brady had one of the worst games of his career, where his touchdown streak was napped at 52, two shy of the record held by Drew Brees. Rob Gronkowski was expected to play in tomorrow's game against New Orleans, but his most recent status is marked as 'doubtful'. Brady's wide receivers are constantly dropping balls, and if Gronk does not return in time for tomorrow's game, the Patriots' offense will be in serious trouble. The New Orleans Saints, on the other hand, are 5-0, where the return of head coach Sean Payton has had a positive impact on this offense. Sunday's key player for the Saints will be tight end Jimmy Graham, who is off to an extraordinary start in 2013. The Patriots defense has struggled so far in defending big, physical tight ends, so Jimmy Graham will likely have a field day with the patriots' defenders. We predict the Saints to win with ease.
Saints over Patriots 35-23
Stand Out Performance: TE Jimmy Graham: Obviously, Peyton Manning against the Jacksonville Jaguars is the default pick for stand out performance in Week 6; however, the player to have the best week aside from Manning will be Jimmy Graham. Tight end Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints is unquestionably the greatest tight in the league. Graham is tall, strong, and has hands that allow him to catch any ball, no matter what the placement might be. The New England Patriots struggled against Tony Gonzalez, whose style of play is very similar to that of Jimmy Graham. Considering how well Graham has been doing in 2013, there is no way the Patriots will find a way to contain this incredibly talented offensive weapon.
TE Jimmy Graham: 150 receiving yards, 2 TD's
Player to Watch: RB Adrian Peterson: This past week, Adrian Peterson experienced an emotional roller coaster that resulted in the death of his two-year old son. Despite the many emotions Peterson is likely feeling, he insists that he will be playing this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. In the words of Peterson, "I am able to release a lot of stress through sports." If Peterson sees the same amount of carries as a regular game, we expect him to have an incredible performance against the Panthers. Thoughts and prayers are with the Peterson family.
RB Adrian Peterson: 145 rushing yards, 2 TD's
Week 6 Predictions:
Bears over Giants (Correct)
Packers over Ravens
Bengals over Bills
Lions over Browns (OT)
Texans over Rams
Chiefs over Raiders
Vikings over Panthers
Steelers over Jets
Eagles over Buccaneers
Broncos over Jaguars
Seahawks over Titans
Saints over Patriots
49ers over Cardinals
Cowboys over Redskins
Colts over Chargers
Saints over Patriots 35-23
TE Jimmy Graham: 150 receiving yards, 2 TD's
Player to Watch: RB Adrian Peterson: This past week, Adrian Peterson experienced an emotional roller coaster that resulted in the death of his two-year old son. Despite the many emotions Peterson is likely feeling, he insists that he will be playing this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. In the words of Peterson, "I am able to release a lot of stress through sports." If Peterson sees the same amount of carries as a regular game, we expect him to have an incredible performance against the Panthers. Thoughts and prayers are with the Peterson family.
RB Adrian Peterson: 145 rushing yards, 2 TD's
Week 6 Predictions:
Bears over Giants (Correct)
Packers over Ravens
Bengals over Bills
Lions over Browns (OT)
Texans over Rams
Chiefs over Raiders
Vikings over Panthers
Steelers over Jets
Eagles over Buccaneers
Broncos over Jaguars
Seahawks over Titans
Saints over Patriots
49ers over Cardinals
Cowboys over Redskins
Colts over Chargers
Last Week: 9-5
2013 Season: 51-25 (67.1%)
