NFL Week 3 Predictions

Falcons over Buccaneers: This victory for the Atlanta Falcons came as no surprise, yet the final score may have shocked many people. Atlanta played incredibly well on both sides of the ball, and with Julio Jones healthy, the Falcons could very well have the best passing game in all of football.

Bills over Chargers: The San Diego Chargers are coming off of an incredible upset over the Seattle Seahawks last week, yet in a typical trap game, they will have to fly to the east coast for a game against Buffalo. The Bills are 2-0 this season, and second year quarterback EJ Manuel has done really well with rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins on offense. Plus, the Bills defensive line continues to get better and better.

Bengals over Titans: The Cincinnati Bengals held the Falcons offense to just 10 points last week, which should come as no surprise seeing how dominant the Bengals are at home. Tennessee will be playing Cincy on the road, so in the mortal lock of the week, we pick the Bengals to beat Tennessee pretty handily.

Ravens over Browns: Since 2000, the Browns have had 19 different starting quarterbacks, but Brian Hoyer is the only one with a winning record (4-1). The Ravens will certainly be tough to beat, even if the game is to be played in Cleveland.

Packers over Lions: The Green Bay Packers are coming off of an epic comeback against the New York Jets on the road, where Jordy Nelson went for 209 yards and a touchdown. The Detroit Lions lost to Carolina on the road in Week 2, where it seemed like Matthew Stafford tried to force WAY too many passes to star receiver Calvin Johnson instead of looking for other options.

Colts over Jaguars: Even with Jacksonville at home, the Jaguars really don't stand a chance to Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts. In just two games, Andrew Luck has already thrown for more than 500 yards and 5 touchdowns, and with the Luck-Wayne connection stronger than ever, the Colts are likely to dominate on the road.

Patriots over Raiders: After their atrocious start to the season in Miami, the New England Patriots responded by trouncing the Minnesota Vikings, even though they were without Adrian Peterson. The Raiders are a slightly more talented team than Minnesota without All-Day, but Oakland will still struggle on either side of the ball.

Saints over Vikings: Last week, we saw how important Adrian Peterson is to this Minnesota Vikings offense, where his absence led to just 7 points on offense against the Patriots. Peterson will not be playing once again, and it doesn't help that the Vikings are set to play the Saints in New Orleans. There is no doubt in my mind that New Orleans will beat the Vikings at home.

Giants over Texans: The New York Giants have yet to win a football game in the 2014 regular season, mostly because they are struggling to put points on the board. Eli Manning has improved his completion percentage from last season, but he is still on track for 32 interceptions if he continues to throw 2 interceptions per game. The Texans are also not faring well at quarterback, and with the game being played in New York, the Giants should be able to get their first win of the season.

Eagles over Redskins: After RGIII left the game with an ankle injury, back-up quarterback Kirk Cousins stepped in against Jacksonville, leading his team to victory. The Eagles will be a much more difficult opponent, especially with the matchup being played in Philly. Plus, Philly's running game has been nearly unstoppable as of late due to the combination of Darren Sproles and LeSean McCoy.

Spartan Nation: A great day for former MSU QBs! Drew Stanton, Kirk Cousins and Brian Hoyer all led their teams to good wins today!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) September 14, 2014

Cowboys over Rams: Ever since Sam Bradford suffered his season ending injury in the offseason, the Rams have been frantically looking for a solid replacement. Back-up quarterback Sean Hill ended up getting injured in the season opener as well, meaning Austin Davis will be the man to step in and hopefully win games for the St. Louis Rams. This matchup against Dallas does not look good for Rams fans, and I expect the Cowboys to win on the road.

49ers over Cardinals: The Arizona Cardinals experienced a shocking development this past week, where running back Jonathan Dwyer was accused of abusing his wife and infant son. These distractions may have gotten in the way of their preparations for the San Francisco 49ers, and I predict the Niners to trounce Arizona, even though the Niners are on the road.

Dolphins over Chiefs: The Kansas City Chiefs have not played well in 2014, which is surprising seeing how Andy Reid managed to send this team into the playoffs last season. Running back Jamaal Charles did not look like himself in Week 1, and the high ankle sprain he suffered in Week 2 will likely mean he is not 100% for the Miami game. As of right now, it looks like the Dolphins are the odds on favorite to win.

Game of the Week: Seahawks over Broncos: In what might be the regular season game of the year, the Denver Broncos look to avenge their blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks in this Super Bowl rematch. The Denver Broncos might have Wes Welker return from his suspension, as he will join offensive threats like Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas. The Seahawks are coming off of an atrocious performance against the San Diego Chargers, and they look to respond by beating the Broncos once again, this time at home. The Seahawks managed to beat Peyton and the Broncos in a neutral location last season, so it will be even harder for Denver to win in the most difficult away stadium in all of football.
Seahawks over Broncos 23-21

Panthers over Steelers: Even with Cam Newton playing in his first game since suffering a rib injury during the offseason, the Panthers managed to beat the Detroit Lions in Week 2. The Steelers will be a slightly easier opponent, and I expect to see a similar result as last week.

Bears over Jets: The Chicago Bears pulled off quite possibly the best comeback of the season thus far, as they beat the San Francisco 49ers in the first game at Levi's Stadium. Chicago will now be playing their second straight road game, this time against the New York Jets, who were the victims of a comeback victory by the Green Bay Packers. The Chicago Bears have plenty of offensive weapons, enough to beat this young, talented defense in New York.

#Broncos WR @WesWelker talks return, @Seahawks, Sunday availability: http://t.co/mLm94MT0dS http://t.co/uEq8SkBaI2
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 17, 2014

Cardinals place Jonathan Dwyer on reserve, non-football illness list, ending his season.
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) September 18, 2014

'Gotta make sure we stay level headed' - @MelvinIngram on the win over Seahawks.
— San Diego Chargers (@Chargers) September 15, 2014

Great effort today! Gotta fix some things and get ready for Denver.
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) September 14, 2014

Adrian Peterson Indicted on Charges of Reckless or Negligent Injury to a Child

Earlier this afternoon, All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson was indicted in Texas on charges of reckless or negligent injury towards a child. According to police, Adrian Peterson has cooperated with law enforcement thus far, yet the running back has not been arrested despite the recently released warrant for his arrest. Supposedly, Peterson used a "switch" to spank his son as a form of punishment. The situation is somewhat similar to the Ray Rice beating from several months ago, an issue that was re-energized when the elevator video was released by TMZ during this past week. Within the past several minutes, the Vikings have announced that Peterson has been deactivated before Sunday's game against the Patriots.

Vikings have deactivated Adrian Peterson Sunday.
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) September 12, 2014

UPDATE: An arrest warrant has been issued for Adrian Peterson. He is not in custody in Montgomery County.
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 12, 2014

UPDATE: Adrian Peterson's lawyer, Rusty Hardin, has released a statement on Peterson's behalf. pic.twitter.com/OSEb6zy1Xo
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 12, 2014

Adrian Peterson May Need Surgery on Groin

Later today, running back Adrian Peterson will see a groin specialist in order to decide if surgery is needed. Two years ago, Peterson tore his ACL on Christmas Eve, and yet he was able to rush for 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns the following year. This past season, Peterson ran for 1,266 yards with 4.5 yards per carry, and yet the Vikings finished the year at 5-10-1.

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

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

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

Last Week: 9-5

2013 Season: 51-25 (67.1%)

NFL Award Predictions: Most Valuable Player

     Finally, we have arrived to the most important of NFL awards to be handed out on February 2nd; the Most Valuable Player Award. Out of the many players to be analyzed, there are just three who we believe might take home the NFL's most prestigious award. Those final three players are Peyton Manning, Adrian Peterson, and J.J. Watt. 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!

Adrian Peterson

QB Peyton Manning: One point in favor of Peyton Manning's MVP campaign has been his impact on the team he plays for. Indianapolis went from 10-6 to 2-14 during the year in which Manning was missing with a neck injury. Then, as he moved to Denver, the Broncos easily made the playoffs as the number one seed. Manning's ability to win makes him extremely valuable, but his statistics are not necessarily as mind boggling as Watt's or Peterson's.

DE J.J. Watt: Watt appears to be the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year, but unfortunately, it is extremely uncommon for a defensive player to win MVP. In fact, the last defensive player to win MVP was Lawrence Taylor in 1986. J.J. Watt would be a much more legitimate contender if he had snapped Michael Strahan's single season sack record. Sadly, Watt was unable to gain the two sacks necessary to break Strahan's record; however, Watt managed to rack up 81 tackles over the course of a single season, an extraordinary number considering Watt's role as a defensive end. That being said, Watt was also able to easily bat down passes, a skill that helped the Houston Texans defense disrupt opposing team's passing games. As I mentioned earlier, Watt is unlikely to win MVP due to his inability to break Strahan's record; therefore, the NFL will have to wait for another defensive MVP.

RB Adrian Peterson: Adrian Peterson proved over the course of 2012 that the running game is still alive and capable of making a dramatic impact on a particular team. In 2011, the Minnesota Vikings were 3-13, with little to no defense, and a star running back recovering from a very serious ACL injury. Adrian Peterson single-handedly led this team into the playoffs, where the highlight of his season took place in Week 17, where Peterson rushed for 199 yards against the Green Bay Packers, clinching a spot in the postseason. Although he was unable to break the single season rushing record, Peterson became the 7th running back to be a part of the 2,000 rushing yards club. Peterson's statistics, along with his importance to the Minnesota Vikings organization, ought to earn him the NFL Most Valuable Player Award.

Most Valuable Player Prediction: Adrian Peterson

NFL Award Predictions: Offensive Player of the Year

     Finally, we are down to the three biggest awards to be handed out by the National Football League; Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and the grandaddy of them all, Most Valuable Player. Due to the large number of possible contenders, we will analyze the four best nominees for Offensive Player of the Year. Those nominees are Adrian Peterson, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, and Calvin Johnson.

Adrian Peterson

WR Calvin Johnson: After a relatively slow start, Calvin Johnson managed to finish the season strong, even though "strong" is a slight understatement. In the final nine games of the season, Johnson's stat line was absolutely incredible, and thanks to a 225 yard performance in a Week 16 game, Calvin Johnson was able to snap Jerry Rice's receiving yard record. If Johnson successfully eclipsed the 2,000 yard receiving record, he would be a more legitimate candidate for Offensive Player of the Year. However, because Calvin Johnson did not eclipse the 2,000 yard mark, he is not the favorite to win this award.

QB Aaron Rodgers: Even though Aaron Rodgers' stats saw a drop off from his stats in the 2011 season, a league leading 108.0 passer rating and 39 touchdowns keeps him in the competition for the Offensive Player of the Year Award. The Green Bay Packers, along with Aaron Rodgers, got off to a slow start in 2012, but the team as a whole built momentum towards the end of the season. Rodgers was sacked a mind boggling 45 times in 2012, but unfortunately, his fellow competition is too strong for him to win back to back offensive awards.

QB Peyton Manning: We believe Peyton Manning will take home Comeback Player of the Year Award, but the odds are not in his favor for Offensive Player of the Year. Manning's statistics were extremely consistent in 2012, where it appeared that after he adjusted to his new team, Manning became close to unstoppable. Manning not only recovered from a neck injury, but he resurrected a franchise in need of an elite quarterback. Manning makes a strong case for Offensive Player of the Year, but the case in favor of Adrian Peterson is even stronger.

RB Adrian Peterson: After Peterson suffered an ACL tear, many believed this talented running back would never be quite the same rusher as we saw earlier in his career. However, Peterson successfully proved history wrong, rushing for 2,097 yards, 12 touchdowns, and an incredible 6.0 rushing yards per carry. Offensive Player of the Year normally goes to the player with the best statistics, and Adrian Peterson's stat line is the best in the league.

Offensive Player of the Year Prediction: RB Adrian Peterson

NFL Award Predictions: Comeback Player of the Year

     Even though our past two entries analyzed the three most legitimate contenders for a particular award, there are truly only two players competing for the Comeback Player of the Year Award: Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson. In the average NFL season, Jamaal Charles would take home Comeback Player of the Year in a landslide; however, with the incredible performances from Manning and Peterson, Charles and his recovery has gained little publicity since his ACL injury took place in 2011. Though a similar battle is taking place for the Most Valuable Player Award, both wouldn't mind winning at least one award as a token for their tremendous play after an injury.

Adrian Peterson: As experts gazed across the list of running backs to suffer an ACL tear, the signs were against Adrian Peterson for a successful 2012 campaign. However, Peterson accomplished the impossible when he rushed for a grand total of 2,097 yards, just 9 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson's single season rushing record. Peterson successfully carried the Minnesota Vikings into the playoffs, even with a more serious injury than Peyton Manning. Peterson's journey was a difficult one, but the outcome was spectacular.

Peyton Manning: After missing the entirety of the 2011 season, Peyton Manning traveled from Indianapolis to the Denver Broncos, where he improved a mediocre franchise, transforming Denver into a legitimate championship contender. Manning underwent neck surgery towards the beginning of the 2011 season, and once traded to the Broncos, Manning put up extraordinary statistics; the quarterback passed for 4,659 with a 105.8 passer rating. Though Manning's neck injury required difficult rehabilitation, Peterson's injury, an ACL tear, was more difficult to bounce back from. However, Manning will likely win at least won award for his 2012 season, and I think Comeback Player of the Year is that award.

Comeback Player of the Year Prediction: Peyton Manning

Week 17 Records & Accomplishments

     Tomorrow marks the final regular season game of 2012, and several players are looking to break long lasting records. Three players in particular should be watched as they fight to be number one in any given statistic. Calvin Johnson, who broke Jerry Rice's receiving yard record last year, looks to become the first wide receiver of all time to gain 2,000 yards in a single season. JJ Watt needs 2.5 sacks in his final game against the Colts in order to snap Michael Strahan's single season sack record. Finally, the most important of records to be challenged this weekend, will be Eric Dickerson's single season rushing record, where Adrian Peterson hopes to rush for 208 yards against the Packers. So will these three players accomplish what they set out to do? The NFL Report will analyze all three scenarios, along with our opinion on the likeness of the record being snapped. 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!

Calvin Johnson

Calvin Johnson and 2,000 Receiving Yards: With 3:02 minutes left to play in Detroit's game against Atlanta, Calvin Johnson broke Jerry Rice's receiving yard record for a 49-yard gain. Though it may appear as if Johnson has checked everything off of the to-do list as the season comes to a close, Johnson says he is not ready to call it a year. Detroit, after an embarrassing 4-11 record as of Week 17, will not be playing for the Super Bowl in January. Even after surpassing Jerry Rice, Calvin, according to NFL.com, said about the 2,000 receiving yard mark, "(It) would be big--kind of almost put that (record) away for a while." At 1,892 receiving yards for the year, Johnson needs 108 yards in his final game against Chicago in order to become the first wide receiver in the history of the game to acquire 2,000 receiving yards in a single season. Back in Week 7, when Chicago played Detroit at home, Johnson was shut down completely by the Bears defense, catching just three passes for 34 yards (both season lows). Unfortunately for Chicago, the Week 7 game came before Megatron's historic hot streak, and now that Detroit is out of the playoffs, they have no reason not to help Calvin reach 2,000. Charles Tillman, Chicago's number one cornerback, and likely the player to be matched up against Calvin for the majority of Sunday's game, said Johnson was the Lebron James of football. "It would be cool if we did," says Tillman, as he talks about ways to shut down Calvin Johnson. "But I don't know how." Mathew Stafford will consistently fire the football towards Johnson, with little worry of throwing a pick as Detroit's playoff chances are no longer affected. There is little doubt in my mind that Calvin Johnson will become the first 2,000 yard receiver on Sunday.
Calvin Johnson: 7 receptions, 115 receiving yards against Bears 
Record: Broken

JJ Watt

JJ Watt and 22.5 Sacks: If any season deserved to have a defensive MVP winner, 2012 is the year. Three sophomore defenders have wreaked havoc since Week 1, and two are chasing one of the most important defensive records in the book. JJ Watt and Aldon Smith are extremely close to snapping the sack record, which requires a defender to sack a quarterback 23 times in order to be named the new sack champion. Last season, defensive end Jared Allen needed just one sack in order to break the record, but Allen was unsuccessful. However, JJ Watt of the Houston Texans looks to become the king of sacking the quarterback as he plays Indianapolis in the final game of 2012. Watt, nicknamed JJ "Swatt" for his ability to knock down passes, has not focused recently on knocking down passes, which means he is focused more on bringing down the quarterback. Watt has acquired 2.5 sacks or more in three games this season, one against Denver, one against Detroit, and the last one against Sunday's opponent, Indianapolis. Even though Indianapolis has a very spotty offensive line, a group of five ranked 20th in the NFL in pass protection, this team does not wish to give Watt the record. That being said, Luck may prefer to throw the ball away when Watt sprints towards him, rather than let Watt tackle him, becoming one step closer towards the record. Double teaming Watt on Sunday will be expected, so it is unlikely he can reach the quarterback before the ball is thrown away. Maybe Watt does well under pressure, but all the signs point in the opposite direction. Michael Strahan's record will stand for another year.
JJ Watt: 6 tackles, 1.5 sacks against Colts
Record: Intact

Adrian Peterson and 2,105 rushing yards: For an average human being, it is nearly impossible to return to full health after suffering from an ACL tear, especially when your job requires you to take constant shots from 275 pound defenders as they dive at your knees at full speed. However, Adrian Peterson is not average, nor is he human. Adrian Peterson is a beast, and defenses are still trying to figure out how to stop him. After suffering an ACL injury on Christmas Eve, Peterson performed serious rehab in order to rehabilitate his knee, and clearly his hard work paid off, as he needs just 208 yards in order to break the single season rushing record. The Vikings running back rushed for over 100 yards in eight straight games, but was bumped around by the Houston defense, rushing for just 86 yards. Minnesota has the potential to earn a spot in the postseason for the first time since Brett Favre and his 2009 playoff run. In an interview, Minnesota quarterback Christian Ponder said about Peterson and the rushing yard record, "That is not really our focus. Obviously, our focus is to keep our wild-card spot that we have right now, and making the playoffs is our number one goal." He went on to say that they do indeed wish Peterson breaks the record, but clearly, Minnesota has a lot more on their plate. As Minnesota looks to beat Green Bay tomorrow, Peterson and his quest for 2,000 may take a back seat to a spot in the playoffs. The last time Peterson played Green Bay, he rushed for a whopping 210 yards with one score. If this outstanding statistical performance were to repeat itself, Peterson would be named king of the running backs. The past four running backs to gain 2,000 yards or more in a single season all had big Week 17 games in order to reach the milestone, and we have seen Adrian Peterson work hard for the things he wants. It is hard to predict the game plan of Minnesota and how many times they are willing to hand off the ball. Either way, Peterson will get the 2,000 yards, but Eric Dickerson's record will likely stay intact.
Adrian Peterson: 22 attempts, 135 rushing yards, 2 TDs against Packers
Record: Intact

NFLR Videos: Adrian Peterson

In our second football video, we cut and paste some of Adrian Peterson's best highlights from his accomplished career and make one big video. Adrian Peterson, as of Week 12, leads the league in rushing yards, on track to have one of his best season's yet. Like, comment, or subscribe to The NFL Report on Youtube!

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.

Adrian Peterson

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

Last Week: 7-6-1

2012 Predictions: 90-52-1 (63%)

Fantasy Football: Running Backs (Week 8)

Alfred Morris (Washington Post)

1. Arian Foster: Houston's number one running back is the undisputed number one fantasy player at his position. His speed, elusiveness, and power makes him an intimidating force on the field. Entering Houston's Week 8 bye, Foster has yet to score less than fourteen points for his fantasy owners in a given week. The road that lies ahead is an easy one for this star running back, and you can count on him to consistently rake in double digit points.
(Stats: 659 rushing yards, 10 total TDs, 127 fantasy points)

2. Ray Rice: Though he is not quite as consistent as Foster, Ray Rice has the ability to alter fantasy football games. With only two games under the ten point mark, Rice averages 14.3 fantasy points per game, which puts him at number two in the league. Though he does not have any receiving touchdowns this season, Rice's receiving skills adds a whole other dimension to his game.
(Stats: 524 rushing yards, 5 total TDs, 100 fantasy points)

3. Adrian Peterson: Even an ACL tear can't keep Adrian Peterson from dominating the league. His 13.1 points per game puts him at fifth in the league, but yardage has not been a problem for this star. Though he only has four rushing touchdowns, the 775 rushing yards is a positive sign for the future.
(Stats: 775 rushing yards, 4 total TDs, 92 fantasy points)

4. Alfred Morris: RGIII isn't the only offensive star in Washington. In the first seven weeks of Morris' 2012 season, he has scored five rushing touchdown, giving him an average of 13.3 fantasy points per game. His consistent play makes him the perfect running back for those who wish to succeed in their fantasy football leagues.
(Stats: 658 rushing yards, 5 total TDs, 93 fantasy points)

5. Jamaal Charles: A slow start to his comeback season left many fantasy owners wondering why they spent so much for this struggling rusher. Then, in Week 3, Charles turned into the old Jamaal Charles, rushing for 233 yards and 1 touchdown. Since that game, Charles has been consistently gaining great yardage, and his Week 7 bye should make him well rested for the road ahead.
(Stats: 591 rushing yards, 3 total TDs, 81 fantasy points)