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

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: Defensive Player of the Year

     Unfortunately, many defensive players are overlooked when it comes to Most Valuable Player; however, the Defensive Player of the Year Award honors those defensive players like J.J. Watt who made a difference on the other side of the football. The two players apart from Watt who we believe have a legitimate chance at winning this award are Aldon Smith and Geno Atkins.

J.J. Watt

DT Geno Atkins: Geno Atkins, a third year defensive tackle out of Georgia, has proven himself to be one of the best defenders in the league, even though he did not start off his pro career with a lot of buzz surrounding his future. Atkins sacked the quarterback 12.5 time in 2012, ranking first among all defensive tackles,  as well as earning him a spot on the NFL All-Pro team. Along with his incredible sack total, Atkins forced four fumbles, with 53 tackles. Double teams came often, but Atkins still managed to get the better of the offensive linemen. Unfortunately, it is not a common occurrence for defensive tackles to win this award, so it is unlikely for Atkins to take home Defensive Player of the Year.

LB Aldon Smith: With just two games left in the season, Aldon Smith had a legitimate shot at breaking Michael Strahan's sack record. All though Smith was unable to record a single sack in his final three games of the season, the San Francisco linebacker helped lead the 49ers defense into the Super Bowl. Smith and Watt are the two main contenders for this award, but unfortunately, Aldon Smith is not as well-rounded of a defender as J.J. Watt.

DE J.J. Watt: Not only did J.J. Watt challenge Michael Strahan's sack record in 2012, J.J. introduced the idea of swatting balls down if it  is clear the sack is not there. J.J. Watt blocked a mind boggling 16 passes, causing quarterbacks to second guess the direction of their passes. In both the running game and the passing game, offensive coordinators avoided Watt's side of the field, for not only could he stop the run, as well as apply heavy pressure on the quarterback, but Watt would block the majority of the passes thrown his way. J.J. Watt improved the Texans defense drastically, and his extroidanry abilities deserve him the Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Defensive Player of the Year Prediction: J.J. Watt

NFL Award Predictions: Coach of the Year

     Unlike last year, where Jim Harbaugh was the obvious choice for NFL Coach of the Year, the battle for this award is much closer than in most. When it comes down to it, the three most deserving coaches are Jim Harbaugh, Pete Carroll, and Bruce Arians/Chuck Pagano. Be sure to comment on who you think deserves this award!

Jim Harbaugh: In 8 days, Jim Harbaugh will be battling against the Baltimore Ravens for the Super Bowl, not having time to worry about whether or not he wins this award. However, Harbaugh made one of the most intelligent decisions in the NFL by changing quarterbacks from Alex Smith to Colin Kaepernick. At the beginning, this decision seemed unnecessary, as the San Francisco 49ers were doing perfectly well with Smith. Then, Kaepernick helped San Francisco win the division, as well as leading them past the Falcons for a spot in the Super Bowl. It is unlikely that the NFL hands Harbaugh his second Coach of the Year Award in a row, even though he is most deserving of the award.

Pete Carroll: In 2011, the Seattle Seahawks were 7-9, and would not be playing in January for the Super Bowl title. Once Pete Carroll drafted Russell Wilson, though, and put him in at quarterback, this team was nearly unstoppable. Seattle's defense was one of the best in the league, and Marshawn Lynch maintained a consistent running game. Eventually, the Seahawks lost to Atlanta in the Divisional Round, but the fact that this young, talented squad made a playoff appearance shows off Pete Carroll's incredible coaching abilities.

Bruce Arians/Chuck Pagano: The story of the 2012 Indianapolis Colts is one of the greatest story lines in the history of the National Football League, where head coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with Leukemia, and Bruce Arians stepped in, leading this team into the playoffs. Without Peyton Manning, the Colts went 2-14 in 2011. Thanks greatly to quarterback Andrew Luck, the record improved to 11-5 in 2012. There is no way the NFL will not hand Bruce Arians the Coach of the Year Award on February 2nd.

Coach of the Year Prediction: Bruce Arians/Chuck Pagano

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

NFL Award Predictions: Offensive Rookie of the Year

     Last April's draft class proved to have one of the more talented trio of passers in recent memory. Robert Griffin III, Russell Wilson, and Andrew Luck all wish to take home Offensive Rookie of the Year on February 2nd, but unfortunately, their can only be one winner.

QB Robert Griffin III: Out of the three quarterbacks competing, RGIII appeared to be the most disciplined, where he showed off his extraordinary accuracy by obtaining a 102.4 quarterback rating. Unlike Andrew Luck, RGIII threw just 5 interceptions in 15 games, as well as rush for over 800 yards with 7 scores. The former Heisman winner resurrected the Redskins franchise, bringing them back into contention before being bumped by Seattle in the Wild Card round. RGIII managed to stay consistent throughout the year, and if not for several injuries, he may have won this award in a landslide. 

QB Andrew Luck: The most impressive of Andrew Luck's statistics might be his ability to succeed even when the odds are against him. Luck was forced to play while a franchise coped with their head coach, Chuck Pagano, battling cancer. Andrew Luck had seven fourth quarter comebacks in 2012, and was also able to break the rookie record for passing yards with 4,374. The only problem with Andrew Luck was the high interception total (18 interceptions compared to 20 touchdowns). A fantastic rookie season will be followed by many more years of success, but it is unlikely Luck will win Rookie of the Year over Wilson and RGIII.

QB Russell Wilson: Unlike RGIII and Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson was the only rookie quarterback to make it into the Divisional Round of this season's playoffs. Wilson likely has the most talented team surrounding him, meaning out of the three quarterbacks, Russell Wilson had to do the least amount of work in order to lead Seattle back into the playoffs. Wilson did manage to tie Peyton Manning's rookie passing touchdown record at 26, and maintained a 100.0 passer rating throughout the season. Wilson is capable of scrambling when needed, similar to RGIII, but his slow start to the year hurts his case for Rookie of the Year.

Offensive Rookie of the Year Prediction: Robert Griffin III

AFC Championship Preview: Ravens @ Patriots

     With 00:31 seconds left on the clock, Baltimore wide receiver Jacoby Jones waltzed into the end zone after catching a 70 yard pass from Joe Flacco, tying the game at 35 against Denver in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. The Denver coaching staff is now under scrutiny for their decision to take a knee, sending the game into overtime. One overtime was not enough, where, with less then a minute left, Peyton Manning threw his 13th interception of the season, and Baltimore went on to kick a game winning field goal in 2OT. This week, they will be preparing to play Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Brady threw for 344 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 41-28 victory of Houston. The score does not properly show the intensity of this game. For the majority of the game, the Texans were losing to New England, but were not too far away from mounting a comeback. In the end, though, Tom Brady earned his 17th playoff victory, an NFL record, and will be battling against the Ravens for his second straight Super Bowl appearance. Be sure to comment, subscribe, or like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/thenflreport! Also, subscribe to us on YouTube, where we create monthly highlight videos for some of the most exciting NFL players!


New England Patriots: Similar to last season, the New England Patriots were dominant in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. After a slow start to 2012, the Patriots finished the season with a 12-4 record, earning the number two seed in the playoffs. Their first opponent was the Houston Texans, where Brady faced off against JJ Watt and the intimidating Houston defense. However, the Houston front 7 was no match for Tom Brady, who was sacked just once, and hit 7 times by the defensive line. Brady was able to find a groove towards the end of the game, and it is likely that the same thing will take place against Baltimore. The last time these two teams played was during the dark ages of the 2012 NFL season, where replacement referees wreaked havoc throughout the league. A controversial field goal sealed the deal for Baltimore, who despite losing for the majority of the game, managed to win 31-30 over New England. However, the loss to Baltimore came after a disappointing loss to Arizona, so clearly the Patriots had not yet reached their full potential. As the season progressed, Brady began to roll, even without his star tight end, Rob Gronkowski. Unfortunately, Gronk returned in Sunday's game against Houston, just to be taken out within the first quarter due to a a new injury to his arm, and the Patriots will be missing Gronkowski for the rest of the season. Running back Shane Vereen filled the void at wide receiver, but it is likely he will not have back to back incredible performances. Baltimore is bound to double-team Wes Welker, leaving Brady targets such as Aaron Hernandez, Brandon Lloyd, and the option of both of the Patriots running backs. New England's defense has proven to get the job done, but a lot of pressure will be on Brady to put a lot of points on the board, and without Gronkowski, it may be difficult.


Baltimore Ravens: Baltimore started off 2012 showing true potential, where the only two losses came against Philadelphia and Houston. However, the last five regular season games went poorly for Baltimore, who lost three straight games, two of which came against playoff teams. Week 16 brought the Ravens reassurance as they entered the playoffs, where Joe Flacco routed the New York Giants defense. Flacco has been under scrutiny for his inability to lead a very talented Baltimore team through the playoffs and into the Super Bowl. However, last Sunday against the Broncos proved Flacco can compete with the best of them. In a rematch of last year's AFC Championship game, the Baltimore Ravens have a chip on their shoulder, where a missed field goal lost them a spot in last year's Super Bowl. The fate of the Ravens all depends on Joe Flacco and his success with the deep ball, which proved to be the ultimate difference maker against Denver. There were two things, apart from Flacco's leadership, that can taken away from Baltimore's performance against Denver: a). Both Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis were dominant forces on the defensive side of the ball, and clearly this team is feeding off of Ray Lewis' last ounce of emotion, as he looks to retire at the end of this season b). Baltimore's special teams looked atrocious, as they allowed two touchdowns on special teams, which nearly cost them a shot at the AFC title. Tom Brady will already be putting points on the scoreboard, and if New England were to add to the lead thanks to kick returns and punt returns, Baltimore would not stand a chance. If Flacco starts off the game with two big scores, Baltimore could be looking at a trip to New Orleans. However, if his bombs were to be intercepted, those turnovers would cause a dramatic momentum shift in favor of New England.


Bottom Line: Even though New England is young and talented, this is likely Tom Brady's last shot at another Super Bowl ring. Baltimore will not be able to pull off a miracle on the road, and once again their season will come to a close at Gillette Stadium.
Patriots over Ravens 31-27

2013 NFL Playoff Predictions (Full)

Wild Card Round:
AFC: 3. Texans over 6. Bengals
AFC: 4. Ravens over 5. Colts
NFC: 3. Packers over 6. Vikings
NFC: 5. Seahawks over 4. Redskins

Divisional Round:
AFC: 2. Patriots over 3. Texans
AFC: 1. Broncos over 4. Ravens
NFC: 3. Packers over 2. 49ers
NFC: 5. Seahawks over 1. Falcons (OT)

Championship Round:
AFC: 1. Broncos over 2. Patriots
NFC: 3. Packers over 5. Seahawks

Super Bowl: Secretly, everyone hopes to see Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl after a serious neck injury kept him from playing in 2011. However, the Packers will have momentum after rolling past the 49ers, and then the Seahawks, as they take home their 5th Super Bowl title.

Packers over Broncos 33-20

2013 Wild Card Round Preview

Bengals @ Texans: The Houston Texans did not finish the season the way they desired, as they lost three out of the four final games of the season. This unfortunate collapse cost them a first round bye, where New England and Denver swooped in for the 1st and 2nd seed. In the last three losses of the year, Houston's offense was unsuccessful in scoring 16 points or more in a single game. Though Arian Foster has been relatively consistent throughout the duration of the season, the most important thing for Houston shall be the passing game, and Matt Schaub's clutch rating in the fourth quarter. On the other hand, the Cincinnati Bengals, Houston's opponent for tomorrow, are 7-1 in the past 8 games, and this amazing streak propelled them into the playoffs. In a rematch of last year's divisional round matchup, Cincinnati is looking for revenge, where this inexperienced team can eventually play for the AFC Championship game. However, the Houston Texans, at home, will likely beat this young Cincinnati squad in tomorrow's game.
Texans over Bengals 20-6
Stand-Out Performance: Arian Foster: 105 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD

Colts @ Ravens: Very similar to Saturday's game, Sunday's game featuring the Colts and the Ravens has two very different teams, one who has struggled before the postseason, where as the other has been thriving. After losing their star quarterback to a neck injury, and then to free agency, the Indianapolis Colts drafted Andrew Luck out of Stanford. Luck's leadership managed to abolish their disappointing 2011 campaign, and now, as they enter the postseason, Indianapolis starts their run at the perfect time. After losing to the New England Patriots, the Colts are 5-1, and are playing a very frail Baltimore Ravens team. Linebacker Ray Lewis announced his retirement earlier this week, which could potentially be used as motivation for this defense, a motivation that is an absolute necessity at the moment. The Ravens are 1-3 within the past four games, and even though the Ravens clobbered Cincinnati in the season opener, things are not looking great for this squad. However, Baltimore's running game will dominate the weaken Colts defense, and Ray Rice will single handedly lead this team into the divisional round.
Ravens over Colts 27-13
Stand-Out Performance: Ray Rice: 140 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 1 receiving TD

Vikings @ Packers: Last week, when Adrian Peterson came within 9 yards of breaking the single season rushing record, Minnesota managed to beat the Green Bay Packers at home. Peterson led this team into the playoffs, but unfortunately, one can not win into today's playoff system relying heavily on a rushing game, even if it is Adrian Peterson at the helm. Truth be told, Aaron Rodgers and his scary offense in Green Bay will slaughter the Vikings at home. With Greg Jennings back and Jordy Nelson ready to play, Christian Ponder doesn't even come close to Rodgers and the mighty Green bay Packers.
Packers over Vikings 38-17
Stand-Out Performance: Aaron Rodgers: 350 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD

Seahawks @ Redskins: Away from home, Seattle is like a fish out of water. Though this team scored 40-plus points in three straight games, it is unlikely they can repeat that amazing statistic. The Redskins were sensational last week, where Alfred Morris showed the Pro Bowl voters that they made a serious mistake. RGIII also proved he can win big games when the team's Super Bowl chances are on the line. As RGIII matches up against the Seahawks defense, it will be interesting to see how he fares against this amazing pass rush. Seattle's quarterback Russell Wilson has been flying below the radar as two other rookie quarterbacks gain all the attention. Dont't be surprised if Seattle rolls against the Washington Redskins.
Seahawks over Redskins 24-17
Stand-Out Performance: Russell Wilson: 250 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD

Fiesta Bowl Preview: Kansas State vs Oregon

     Once again, the two teams battling for the Fiesta Bowl are two highly ranked football programs; the Oregon Ducks and the Kansas State Wildcats. Similar to last season, where Andrew Luck and fourth ranked Stanford took on third ranked Oklahoma State, the Fiesta Bowl is likely to be yet another offensive showdown. Back in Week 12, before Notre Dame regained their number one spot in the BCS Standings, both Oregon and Kansas State held the top two spots in the rankings. Then, for the first time in a long time, both Oregon and Kansas State were upset in the same week, and suddenly their championship hopes were dashed in a single moment. Be sure to tune in next Thursday, January 3rd, as the Ducks take on the Wildcats in one of the more high scoring games of the season. Also, be sure to comment subscribe, or like us on Facebook at facebook.com/thenflreport! Lastly, subscribe to us on YouTube, where we create monthly highlight videos for some of the most exciting NFL players!

Oregon Ducks: When one thinks of the Oregon Ducks, defense is not the first thing that comes to mind.  Though the defense has shown flashes of brilliance, such as a shutout of Arizona and just 17 points allowed against Stanford, games such as a Week 10 matchup against USC (51 point allowed in an Oregon win), reminds us how vulnerable this defense proves to be in certain moments. It has been the offense, however, who has managed to run its way into the 2013 Fiesta Bowl. Though Oregon's schedule shows little competition from opposing teams, there have been several dominant performances against ranked opponents. After destroying Arkansas State, Fresno State, and Tennessee Tech to start off the season, Oregon shut down Arizona 49-0, ranked 22 at the time. A win the following week led to a 52-21 win over Washington, yet another ranked team. Oregon ran all over USC, and after destroying California, Oregon was set to play 13th ranked Stanford. At the time of kickoff, Oregon was second in the nation behind Kansas State, with a BCS Championship not too far out of reach. A win over Stanford would solidify their campaign for the championship. Unfortunately, the Ducks failed to beat their bitter rivals at home, after a missed Oregon kick in overtime led to a game winning kick by Stanford. Oregon's win over Oregon State was practically meaningless, as they missed out on the Pac-12 Championship, which was eventually won by Stanford. Stanford proved that the most important thing in order to beat the Ducks is to stop the run. This season, Oregon rushed for an average of 323.3 yards per game, ranking third in the nation. Their success on the ground led to an average of 50.8 points per game, but as we saw against Stanford, stopping the run means fewer points for the Oregon offense. Running backs De'Anthony Thomas and Kenjon Barner have been nearly unstoppable this season, where the two rushers have combined for a grand total of 2,310 rushing yards with 37 total touchdowns. Even quarterback Marcus Mariota has found success on the ground. If Oregon were to continuously gain big yards on the ground against Kansas State, the Fiesta Bowl will be practically theirs for the taking.

Kansas State: Kansas State's quarterback Collin Klein slowly but surely led his team towards a shot at the National Championship. A program not known for their football, Kansas State ranked 22 entering the 2012 football season, and were not considered legitimate threats until a game against 6th ranked Oklahoma put Kansas State on the map. Their 24-19 victory over Oklahoma, followed by two easy games against Kansas and Iowa State, led to a stretch of games against difficult teams. West Virginia, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State all lost by a large margin to Kansas State, and their miraculous hot streak was rewarded as number two in the nation. TCU was unable to upset the Kansas State Wildcats, and with two relatively easy games left on the schedule, it seemed as though a National Championship for Kansas State was a safe prediction. Then, Baylor did the unthinkable at home; they beat the Kansas State Wildcats. Baylor's win over Kansas State was not by a small margin either, as they upset the number one ranked Wildcats 52-24. The Wildcats managed to beat 18th ranked Texas, but their final game of the season did not earn them the number one spot back from Notre Dame. At one point in time, Kansas State's quarterback Collin Klein was the favorite to win the Heisman after Geno Smith's collapse. His seven total touchdowns in a Kansas State win over West Virginia was followed by several sub-par games, and eventually players like Johnny Manziel and Manti Te'o became the late season favorites. Klein is the center of Kansas State's offense, especially his ability to run the ball thanks to an athletic 6-5, 225-pound frame. Kansas State ranks tenth in the nation in terms of points allowed, where as the offense does very well in big games. Similar to Oregon, the offense must be consistent in terms of putting points on the board, but defense will be key if they wish to win on January 2nd.

Bottom Line: A shootout is destined to take place in Arizona when Oregon and Kansas State take the field. Though Collin Klein tends to overwhelm opposing defenses, Oregon has more experience with BCS Bowl games, as they run all over the Kansas State defense for the Fiesta Bowl trophy.
Oregon over Kansas State: 40-36

Week 13 Predictions

(Abridged Version)

J. Meric/Getty Images

Falcons over Saints

Bills over Jaguars

Bears over Seahawks

Lions over Colts

Packers over Vikings

Panthers over Chiefs

Patriots over Dolphins (OT)

Jets over Cardinals

49ers over Rams

Texans over Titans

Broncos over Buccaneers (OT)

Ravens over Steelers

Browns over Raiders

Chargers over Bengals

Cowboys over Eagles

Giants over Redskins

Week 12 Predictions

(Abridged Version)

Bears over Vikings

Bengals over Raiders

Steelers over Browns (OT)

Colts over Bills

Seahawks over Dolphins

Buccaneer over Falcons (OT)

Ravens over Chargers

Cardinals over Rams

Saints over 49ers

Giants over Packers

Panthers over Eagles

Week 12 Predictions (Thanksgiving Day)

     Thanksgiving's best tradition, apart from eating and giving thanks, is watching NFL Football with helpings of food in your stomach. Last year's Thanksgiving  did not disappointment, featuring the battle of the Harbaugh brothers, along with Ndamukong Suh's notorious stomp. Tomorrow has three games set up, one between the Cowboys and Redskins, one between the Lions and Texans, and one between the Patriots and Jets. All three have the potential to be great games, especially the latter. The NFL Report will fill you in on everything you need to know for tomorrow's match ups.

Calvin Johnson

Texans @ Lions: The Houston Texans survived a Week 11 scare against an unimpressive Jacksonville Jaguars team. The game was surprisingly close up until the fourth quarter, when Jacksonville suddenly took a fourteen point lead. Matt Schaub was not ready to lose to a team with just one win on the season, and was able to march up the field twice, tying the game with 1:34 left on the clock. Then, in overtime, two field goals on either side set up Andre Johnson's 48 yard gain for the winning touchdown. Quarterback Matt Schaub's extraordinary performance (527 passing yards, 5 TDs) comes at a perfect time, with Detroit next on the schedule. However, Arian Foster is coming off of his worst rushing performance of 2012, running for a mere 77 yards and a costly fumble. Detroit's offense on the other hand scored 20 points against the Packers last week in a losing effort. A positive sign to come out of last Sunday's game is Calvin Johnson's hot streak, averaging 160 receiving yards in the past three games. Stafford suffered three turnover against the Pack, and will need to limit his errors if they wish to overpower the Texans defense. Even on the road, Houston is more likely to tame the Lions on Thanksgiving day than suffer their second loss of the season.
Texans over Lions 27-21


Redskins @ Cowboys: The Washington Redskins, though below the .500 mark, demolished the Philadelphia Eagles in their Week 11 match up. The win can be credited to quarterback Robert Griffin III. Last Sunday's match-up was RGIII's first game as Washington's offensive captain, and his performance did not disappointment. RGIII completed 14 passes on 15 attempts, throwing for 200 yards with 4 TDs and 84 rushing yards. The Redskins' defense, normally a unit that struggles against high flying offenses, held Philadelphia to six points. However, it is unlikely the Redskins will shut down Dallas on the road. Tony Romo, a quarterback under scrutiny for his high turnover total, has not thrown a pick in three straight games. Dallas barely made it past the Browns in Week 11, thanks to an overtime kick by Dan Bailey. The Cowboys have a 2-2 record at home, where as the Redskins have a 2-3 record on the road. Thursday's division rivalry is bound to be close, but RGIII is ready to prove himself on America's favorite holiday.
Redskins over Cowboys 23-20


Jets @ Patriots: Many, including myself, were expecting a very close game between New England and Indianapolis last Sunday. Andrew Luck and the Colts were rolling along, and their streak created playoff talk. However, Tom Brady and the Patriots offense dropped 59 points on the Colts defense, the highest amount yet for New England. Both the running game and the passing game rank in the top 5 in terms of yardage, but it is the defense that fans must worry about. The last time these two teams met, regulation did not last long enough to settle this game, and New England came out victorious after Stephen Gostowski's field goal went on to win the game. Unfortunately, tight end Rob Gronkowski broke his forearm last Sunday and will be out indefinitely for tomorrow's game. The loss of Brady's favorite weapon could be huge against one of the league's best pass defenses. The Jets lost three consecutive games before beating the St. Louis Rams on the road, 27-13. New England has lost just one game at home, and even though this offense is without Gronk, the Patriots are the favorites entering Thanksgiving evening.
Patriots over Jets 28-16

Last Week: 12-2

2012 Predictions: 102-54-1 (65%)

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%)

Week 10 Predictions

     Doug Martin has wasted no time in adjusting to life in the National Football League. Martin's 251 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns propelled him into the fantasy football spotlight, removing Arian Foster from the top back in fantasy sports. Within Martin's own division is another major storyline of Week 10, where Atlanta looks to take on the struggling Saints and move one step closer to the undefeated season. Drew Brees, however, has made it his mission to lead New Orleans through this adversity and hopefully hand their rivals a loss. Surprisingly, this matchup is not the game of the week. That award is handed to the Sunday Night showdown between two Super Bowl contenders; the Houston Texans of the AFC, and the Chicago Bears of the NFC. Expect a low scoring game between the two best defenses in the league, but we can also expect another exciting Sunday.

Charles Tillman

Game to Watch: Houston @ Chicago: Apart from an embarrassing loss to the now red-hot Aaron Rodgers, Houston has been nearly unstoppable, and has played with a new ferocity. This team is now centered around star defender JJ Watt, one of the best in the league at tipping passes and sacking the quarterback. Basically, his side of the field is off limits for any offensive player. The offense has their own backbone in running back Arian Foster, a scoring machine and the main reason why this offense has been able to score so often. On the other side of the football we have an equally competitive defense in Chicago. Historically, the Bears have been extremely intimidating on defense, and this year has been no different. However, for the first time, opposing teams may have to worry about this offense, where quarterback Jay Cutler and wide receiver have picked up from where they left off in Denver. The chemistry at times is inconsistent, but tomorrow will be the most important game for these two offense weapons. Defensively,Houston and Chicago are basically equal, so offense will be the difference maker.
Bears over Texans 17-10


Stand Out Performance: QB Matt Ryan: Playing against the New Orleans Saints defense is a dream for any quarterback, and Matt Ryan would like nothing more than to humiliate their division rivals. Ryan's leadership is no longer questioned by the football world, and another win over the Saints would back up MVP talk. Ryan was likely not happy with his scoring performance last weekend (0 touchdowns) but the yardage total was not a problem. New Orleans has allowed a worrisome amount of passing touchdowns, passing yards, and completions, and I  can safely assume this problem will not be fixed by tomorrow. Not only does Matt Ryan have a motivation to stomp this defense, but his success will come easily as well.
Matt Ryan: 295 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TDs, INT


Player to Watch: WR Brandon Marshall: His stellar performance against Tennessee proved the strength of Marshall's bond between himself and quarterback Jay Cutler. Marshall's three touchdowns were huge momentum builders in a dominating 50 point win. Unfortunately, Tennessee is no Houston, and it will be more difficult for Chicago to adapt. Therefore, Marshall's performance will be the clear cut X factor, and the inconstancy of Cutler and Marshall will have to end if they wish to defeat Houston. Ironically, Marshall's lowest yardage mark of the season was Chicago's only loss, an away game against Green Bay. Both teams have had difficulty with the Pack, but otherwise, both season's have been almost flawless. If Marshall were to play his heart out and score at least one touchdown, a win can be expected.
Brandon Marshall: 90 receiving yards


Week 10 Predictions:

Colts over Jaguars

Ravens over Raiders

Broncos over Panthers

Giants over Bengals

Dolphins over Titans

Lions over Vikings

Patriots over Bills

Falcons over Saints (OT)

Buccaneers over Chargers

Seahawks over Jets

Eagles over Cowboys

49ers over Rams

Bears over Texans

Steelers over Chiefs

Last Week: 11-3

2012 Season: 83-46 (64%)

Week 9 Predictions

     Last Sunday was no different for the Atlanta Falcons, who dominated Michael Vick and the Eagles to earn their seventh straight win. Matt Ryan and the Falcons have hit a bump in the road against both Carolina and Oakland back to back, but their dominant win over Philadelphia proves they are not ready to give up their perfect season. Dallas will be matched up against this dominant force tomorrow, but they have a decent shot at handing them their first loss of the season. Finally, we are beginning to get an idea of who are the contenders for this winter's playoffs. However, several talented teams have not started the first half of the season very well (New England, Green Bay, New Orleans), and will need to step up their game if they wish to have a shot at the Super Bowl.

Reggie Wayne

Game to Watch: Steelers @ Giants: Once again, New York had trouble putting away the Dallas Cowboys late in the game. The Giants lost in Week 1 to the Cowboys, but have been almost flawless up until Week 8. Then, last Sunday, they gave up a 23-0 lead in the 2nd quarter, and at one point was losing late in the fourth quarter. As usual though, Eli Manning was able march up the field and set up Tynes for what turned out to be the game winning field goal. Though the defense has struggled slightly, this high flying offense makes up for it. Sunday brings the number one pass defense in the NFL in the Pittsburgh Steelers. Even with the large amount of injuries this Steelers team has suffered, New York will have to plan accordingly if they wish to dominate this game. The Pittsburgh offense has not been able to score as often as New York, but the yards per attempt is almost identical. Defense is key in this Sunday matchup, but it will be extremely difficult for Pittsburgh to snap New York's hot streak.
Giants over Steelers 20-10


Stand Out Performance: RB Arian Foster: The front runner for this season's Offensive Player of the Year without a doubt has been Arian Foster, the highest scoring running back so far. Foster's statistic have been fantasy gold, and he is one rushing touchdown away from matching last year's numbers. His yardage may not be number one in the league, but Foster is able to consistently put up elite numbers. The Buffalo Bills run defense has been absolutely atrocious, something Mario Williams was supposed to fix. Foster should be able to run over this defense all game long, and we may even see some record setting numbers.
Arian Foster: 120 rushing yards, 3 rushing TDs


Player to Watch: DE Jared Allen: After an extremely disappointing start to his 2012 season, reigning sack champion Jared Allen has picked up the pace, and has posted at least one sack in every single game since Week 3. Allen was just one sack away from breaking Michael Strahan's single season record in 2011, and had high standards entering the new year. This year's competition for the title is extremely close, as he competes against two other talented defenders in Clay Mathews and JJ Watt. Both were able to start off the season with a bang, and have begun to fade as of late. Now, Allen has the chance to jump ahead in this race if the other two contenders can't be more effective. As he faces  the Seattle offense line, Allen will look to bring down rookie quarterback Ryan Wilson and regain his spot as the number one pass rusher.
Jared Allen: 4 tackles, 0.5 sacks


Week 9 Predictions:

Chargers over Chiefs

Broncos over Bengals

Ravens over Browns

Packers over Cardinals

Texans over Bills

Colts over Dolphins

Lions over Jaguars

Bears over Titans

Redskins over Panthers

Buccaneers over Raiders

Seahawks over Vikings

Giants over Steelers

Falcons over Cowboys

Eagles over Saints (OT)


Last Week: 11-3
2012 Predictions: 72-43 (63%)

Week 8 Predictions

     Its about time Chris Johnson! Tennessee's speedy running back, the same one who rushed for 2,000 yards several years ago, started off his 2012 campaign very poorly. Though he had his flashes of brilliance, Johnson was unable to score a rushing touchdown, no matter how many yards he gained. Then, in Week 7, Johnson exploded against the Bills defense, rushing for 195 yards and two touchdowns. However, Johnson's extraordinary play was not the only headline we gained from Week 7. Football fans finally got a taste of Houston's dominance in the AFC. The Texans overpowered a very good Ravens team, with a final score of 43-13. Last but not least, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has returned to MVP stature. His six touchdowns against Houston two weeks prior was the beginning of it all, and St. Louis had a difficult time of stopping him as well. Week 8's schedule is not the best we've seen so far, but like always, Sunday's action will be worth tuning in to.

Trent Richardson (USP)

Game to Watch: Falcons @ Eagles: After a bye week kept them from play last Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons are undefeated entering Week 8. Unfortunately for Atlanta fans, their return will not be an easy one. Tomorrow, this high powered offense will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles, a team whose start to the 2012 season has not been exceptional, but they are still a decent enough team to take down Atlanta at home. Apart from his last game, Matt Ryan has increased the quality of his play from last season, so far passing for 1,756 yards, 14 touchdowns, and a passer rating just below 99. His wide receiver corp, consisting of Roddy White, Julio Jones, and Tony Gonzalez, has provided him with many opportunities to gain big yardage. On the contrary, Philadelphia's quarterback Michael Vick has been struggling since his MVP nomination two years ago. Vick has had extreme difficulty maintaing possession, with a whopping fourteen turnovers (8 interceptions, 6 fumbles) through Week 8.  His number two wide receiver in Jeremy Maclin appears to be fully recovered from a hip injury, and along side DeSean Jackson, this corp has the potential to be lethal. Atlanta's defense has the edge over Philly's, but the fact that Atlanta is playing on the road hurts their chances at an undefeated season.
Falcons over Eagles 31-17


Stand Out Performance: QB Peyton Manning: Since his return to the NFL this past season, Peyton Manning has proven he has enough left in the tank. Denver stands atop the AFC West, and their quarterback is the main reason why. Within the past three games, Manning has thrown for 3 touchdowns and over 300 passing yards in each contest. Manning's two favorite targets are Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, neither one appearing to have the athletic edge over the other. His Week 8 opponent will be the struggling Saints defense, where the secondary found in Louisiana has been unable to stop the pass. The Saints defense averages exactly two passing touchdowns a game, along with 319 yards allowed per game. The hot streak seen by Peyton Manning is bound to continue when Denver takes on the Saints at home, and fantasy owners should be more than willing to start this star.
Peyton Manning: 400 passing yards, 4 TDs


Player to Watch: RB Chris Johnson: Fans knew there was trouble after Chris Johnson's first game of the 2012 season, where this once shining star rushed for just 4 yards against New England. The following week he added just 17 yards, and the week after that was 24. Then, Johnson surprised everyone by rushing for 100 hundred yards against the Houston Texans. This performance excited fantasy owners everywhere, but once again he del short with 0 fantasy points the following week. Finally, Johnson was able to put together two very good games back to back, one against Pittsburgh, the other against Buffalo. Last week on the road against Buffalo was by far his best outing of the year. His statistics consisted of 195 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, where one of his scores was an 83 yard run. This roller coaster ride of a season appears to be at its apex, the question is, how long will it last?


Week 8 Predictions:

Buccaneers over Vikings

Bears over Panthers

Chargers over Browns

Seahawks over Lions

Packers over Jaguars

Jets over Dolphins

Falcons over Eagles

Steelers over Redskins

Patriots over Rams

Colts over Titans

Raiders over Chiefs

Giants over Cowboys

Broncos over Saints

49ers over Cardinals (OT)

Last Week: 11-1

2012 Season: 61-40 (60%)

Week 7 Predictions

     It is now the seventh week of football, and just one undefeated team remains. Houston was demolished by Aaron Rodgers (six touchdowns) and the Packers AT HOME. Now that Atlanta has a bye week, they will stay undefeated up until Week 8. Week 7 marks the return of two big names for the first time this season. First is reigning Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs, who is expected to play Sunday against Houston. Second is Jonathan Vilma, who has been activated from the PUP list, and will be vital for New Orleans success. Tomorrow has several highly anticipated games to go along with the return of these big names, and The NFL Report will fill you in on everything you need to know.


Game to Watch: Ravens at Texans: As I mentioned before, Houston is coming off of a devastating loss to a struggling Packer squad, and will look to redeem themselves. Running back Arian Foster has been unstoppable in 2012, with 7 rushing touchdowns in his first 6 games. Baltimore's defense lost two key players, linebacker Ray Lewis and cornerback Lardarius Webb, and may struggle without these two leaders. However, the return of Suggs adds a whole new dimension to their game, and hopefully he can start off his 2012 season with a bang. On the hand, we have Ray Rice, all star running back, going up against an even more talented defense. Rice has not been equal to Foster in terms of consistency, but he is also coming off of a two touchdown performance against Dallas. The difference maker in this game will be the quality of passing for both sides. Matt Schaub and Joe Flacco are having very similar seasons, with the edge likey going to Flacco. This makes up for a very good game on Sunday, and it will be expected that Houston can pull out a tough win at home.
Texans over Ravens: 24-21


Stand Out Performance: QB Eli Manning: Eli Manning has been outshined by the other Manning in the family so far this season, but he is still putting up impressive numbers. Victor Cruz has been extroidanry so far, and is Manning's number one wide receiver in 2012. However, it will be expected that the Washington double teams this star. Luckily, receiver Hakeem Nicks' knee injury is improving, and hopefully he will be ready to go by tomorrow's game. The Redskins defense has struggled when defending their end zone, allowing the most passing yards and passing touchdowns in the NFL. Eli has proven he can pick apart struggling defenses, and this NFC North matchup should not be any different.
Eli Manning: 390 passing yards, 4 passing TDs


Player to Watch: LB Terrell Suggs: Pro Bowl linebacker terrell Suggs could not have chosen a better time to return. As Baltimore goes up against the playoff contenders known as the Houston Texans, this defense will rely heavily on Suggs' leadership. The loss of Ray Lewis is a devastating blow, but his presence proved to be not as important as expected when he missed several games in 2011. Keep in mind though, Suggs was unstoppable at that point in time, and it will be interesting to see how well the award winner can play after a serious injury. Arian Foster will be a difficult test for Suggs and his injury but if he is 90% or above, the Texans may need to change their offensive game plan for Sunday.
Terrell Suggs: 2 total tackles


Week 7 Predictions:

Bills over Titans (OT)

Cowboys over Cowboys

Houston over Ravens

Colts over Browns

Vikings over Cardinals

Giants over Redskins

Packers over Rams

Saints over Buccaneers (OT)

Patriots over Jets

Raiders over Jaguars

Steelers over Bengals

Bears over Lions

Last Week: 6-7

2012 Season: 50-39 (56%)

Week 6 Predictions

     Entering Week 6, Green Bay finds themselves with a losing record, a rare occurrence since Aaron Rodgers took the reigns as head quarterback. However, Rodgers has been sub-par throughout the 2012 season ( 4 interceptions compared to his 6 in 2011). Their 2-3 record will be put to the test when they face Houston on the road, a highly talented team who has yet to lose this season. Surprisingly, this game has not been named game of the week, which is awarded to the NFC Championship rematch; New York at San Francisco. Both teams have changed since their famous match-up last January. There is a lot in store for Sunday's action, and The NFL Report has got you covered.

JJ Watt (Tony Gutierrez/AP PHoto)

Game to Watch: Giants @ 49ers: After an upsetting loss to Minnesota on the road, San Francisco has been mowing through defenses as well as restricting opposing offenses to few points on the scoreboard. Before the loss to Minnesota, the 49ers defeated two other playoff contenders in the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. As they face off against the New York Giants in Week 6, San Francisco enters the game with a chip on their shoulder. Last year's NFC Championship game ended in the most dramatic fashion; a game winning kick. As we all know, New York went on to win the Super Bowl, and some of their luck has rubbed off into the 2012 season. They have not played like champions since their win on the grand stage. Two losses, one to Dallas, the other to Philadelphia, create a record of 3-2, a mark that still keeps them in contention for the NFC North title. The offense has thrived so far, ranking third in passing yards and second in total offense. However, the momentum of San Francisco should make it a decisive win at home against the new found rivals.
49ers over Giants 27-10


Stand Out Performance: WR AJ Green: Sophomore wide receiver AJ Green proved his rookie season was not a fluke, surviving the 2nd year curse. Green and Dalton have a tangible chemistry on the field, which is why this star wide receiver is succeeding in 2012. In each of his last four games, Green has scored one touchdown, two of games in which he surpassed the 100 yard receiving mark. His Week 6 matchup is against the Cleveland Browns, a team who ranked 26th in receiving yards allowed and 28th in receiving touchdowns. Green is bound to be successful in handing his fantasy owners large portions of fantasy points in Week 6. Be sure to start this up and coming star.
AJ Green: 130 receiving yards, 2 TDs


Player to Watch: QB Alex Smith: Who would have thought Alex Smith would be the most well rounded passer in the league after five weeks of football. Smith has a league leading passer rating of 108.7, and though he has not thrown the same number of passes as Drew Brees or Tom Brady, Smith's numbers have improved substantially. The success of Alex Smith has led to a greater success from his team overall. Since 2009, Smith's interception number has gradually decreased, reaching five by 2011. As of today, that number stands at 1, and the New York's pass rush might prove as a challenge for this former first round pick.
Alex Smith: 180 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD


Week 6 Predictions:

Falcons over Raiders

Ravens over Cowboys

Bengals over Browns (OT)

Rams over Dolphins

Jets over Colts

Eagles over Lions

Buccaneers over Chiefs

Cardinals over Bills

Seahawks over Patriots

49ers over Giants

Vikings over Redskins

Texans over Packers

Broncos over Chargers

Last Week: 10-3

2012 Season: 44-32 (58%)