2011 Playoff Predictions

With the halfway point of the 2011 season approaching, the destiny of teams is beginning to reveal itself. Only one undefeated team remains in the Green Bay Packers, the favorite to win the Super Bowl this year. The NFL Report has made their predictions for the 2011 season, and be sure to comment!


AFC: 1. Chargers (13-3)  2. Patriots (13-3)  3. Steelers (12-4)  4. Texans (11-5)  5. Ravens (12-4)  6. Jets (12-4)
NFC: 1. Packers (14-2)  2. 49ers (13-3)  3. Saints (13-3)  4. Cowboys (11-5) 5. Lions (12-4)  6. Eagles (11-5)

AFC 1st Round: 3. Steelers over 6. Jets & 5 Ravens over 4. Texans (OT)
NFC 1st Round: 3. Saints over 6. Eagles (OT) & 4. Cowboys over 5. Lions

AFC 2nd Round: 5. Ravens over 1. Chargers & 3. Steelers over 1. Patriots
NFC 2nd Round: 1. Packers over 4. Cowboys & 3. Saints over 2. 49ers

AFC 3rd Round: 5. Ravens over 3. Steelers

NFC 3rd Round: 1. Packers over 3. Saints

Super Bowl: 5. Ravens over 3. Packers (2OT) 24-23
Super Bowl MVP: Ray Rice


Super Bowl XLV



MVP: Aaron Rodgers

Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers

Defensive Player of the Year: Jared Allen

Offensive Rookie of the Year: AJ Green

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Von Miller

Coach of the Year: Jim Schwartz

Comeback Player of the Year: Matthew Stafford

Greatest Players in NFL History at Each Position

     To be considered one of the  best your position is obviously a true honor. However, to be named the absolute greatest player at your position in the history of the game makes you a god. A select few in the Hall of Fame are considered the absolute best, but The NFL Report has decided to rank the greatest players in NFL history in each position, making the ultimate dream team. The rankings are below, and be sure to comment based on what YOU think.

Quarterback: Tom Brady: Even as Tom Brady ages, he continues to win big games and post incredible statistics. As of 2013, Tom Brady of the New England Patriots has thrown for 47,702 passing yards, 351 touchdowns, and a career passer rating of 95.9. In 2007, the Patriots were one game shy of the perfect season, where Tom Brady broke Peyton Manning's passing touchdown mark with 50. His three Super Bowl rings are tied for second among quarterback, and with 5 trips to the Super Bowl since the start of his career, Brady is without a doubt the best quarterback of all time.

Runner-up: Joe Montana

Fullback: Jim Brown: With out a doubt, Jim Brown is the greatest football player of all time. In a single season, Brown rushed for 1,863 yards and 17 touchdowns in only 14 games, giving him a yards per rush of 6.4. Jim Brown had both speed and power, a lethal combination, which enabled him to tear apart defenses. Not many people expected a 225 pound man to out-run everyone on the field, but that is exactly what Jim Brown did. Brown is the only player in history to average over 100 yards per game and 5 yards in a career. With the statistics, abilities, and smarts that Jim Brown had, he is the clear choice for greatest full back of all time.

Runner up: Bronco Nagurski

 Running Back: Barry Sanders: Though he only played for 10 NFL seasons, each one was a stroke of pure greatness. Every year, he rushed for 1,100 yards or more, something few running backs have done. Sanders did an extraordinary job deking out defenders or bouncing off of a tackle, something no one had ever seen before. Unlike most running backs, avoiding a tackle appeared to be second nature to Barry, almost as if his moves required no thinking at all. Many people criticize Sanders for retiring at age 30, even though he was 1,457 yards from the career rushing yards record (which was later broken by Emmit Smith). Though he did not get the career rushing yard record, Barry Sanders still has great statistics, outstanding athleticism, and spectacular reflexes, making him the greatest rusher of all time.

Runner up: Walter Payton

Wide Reciever: Jerry Rice: What a surprise. Was there any doubt that Jerry Rice was going to be named the greatest wide receiver of all time. For a period of time, Rice was completely unstoppable. Even if teams tried to double cover him, Rice found a way to make a spectacular catch and score. From 1986 to 1996, he had at-least 1,000 yards each year and over 151 touchdowns in that time span. The 13-time pro bowler has three super bowl rings, all of which were with the San Francisco 49ers. With accomplishments like Rice has, he is the clear choice for the greatest wide receiver of all time.

Runner up: Randy Moss

Tight End: Tony Gonzalez: This may come as quite a shock, but I believe Tony Gonzalez is the greatest tight end of all time. Though he may not have had as consistent of a career as most receivers, Gonzalez has outstanding statistics. He has the most career receiving yards (11,760), receptions (994), and touchdowns (82) out of any tight end in NFL history. Amazingly, Tony Gonzalez was at his best while playing on the Chiefs, a team that has not been recently known for having a great quarterback. Many would argue that several earlier tight ends top Gonzalez due to the fact they 'changed the position', but Gonzalez has the statistics and reputation to compete with any tight end in NFL history

Runner up: Jimmy Graham

Offensive Gaurd: John Hannah: Though there are not great statistics that can portray the athleticism of a offensive guard, John Hannah is by far the best guard of all time. Hannah had speed, great reflexes, and size (32' inch thighs), allowing him to dominate the offensive line. Many people considered Hannah and tackle Leon Gray the greatest guard/tackle tandem of all time. However, many people say right before the ball was snapped, Hannah would hit Gray's opponent in the head, allowing Gray to guard him more easily, and Hannah would go back to guarding his own man with ease. In 1978 while playing on the Patriots, Hannah was a major part in the record breaking season, where the Patriots team rushed for a total of 3,165 yards. Hannah's success allowed him to be the first Patriots player elected to the Hall of Fame, and rightfully so.

Runner up: Bruce Matthews

Offensive Tackle: Anthony Muñoz: For 13 seasons, the NFL was dominated by offensive tackle Anthony Muñoz. Before being drafted, several teams were skeptical about Muñoz due to previous injuries. Once he was drafted by the Cincannati Bengals in 1980 NFL draft (3rd overall), his abilities shined through, and was dominate in protecting the Bengals' quarterback. Munez had the quickness, footwork, and size (similar to Hannah) necessary to block large defensive ends. The 11-time pro bowler is easily considered the greatest offensive tackle in NFL history.

Runner up: Forrest Gregg

Center: Mike Webster: From 1974-1979, the Pittsburgh Steelers dominated the NFL, winning 4 Super Bowls in total. A huge part of that success was due to Hall-of-Fame center Mike Webster. After being drafted in the 5th round by Pittsburgh, Webster shared the starting job with Ray Mansfield. Once he was named starter, Webster played in 150 consecutive games using his strength to over power defenders. Not only did he play in 9 pro bowls, but Webster also won the 1980 Ironman competition, proving the overall athleticism of the All-Pro center. Webster was a key to the Steelers dominance, and is the greatest center to ever play the game. 

Runner up: Jim Otto

Cornerback: Deion "Prime Time" Sanders: A pass to an open receiver; surely it will be a touchdown pass. Out of no where comes a flash of red, and the ball has been pulled out of the air. An interception. This was quite common for wide receivers being covered by Deion Sanders. Sanders is one of the most versatile players in NFL history. He was a wide receiver, a starting punt returner, and an MLB ballplayer. However, what Sanders is most known for is being a spectacular cornerback. He was able to shut down great receivers, taking them out of the game completely. What separates Deion from great cornerbacks is his outstanding speed. When Sanders picked off a pass, he would basically taunt the defender by galloping to the endzone.  In his career, Sanders had 53 interceptions and a total of 22 touchdowns. In 2011, he was inducted to the Hall of Fame, and has been named as the greatest cornerback of all time.

Runner up: Night Train Lane

Defensive End: Reggie White: In the game of football, Reggie White contains each skill set necessary for him to be known as an amazing pass rusher. White was extremely strong, yet surprisingly fast for a 300 pound defensive end. Whenever White powered through a blocker, he would use his sensational agility to demolish an unsuspecting quarterback. Even though teams would double team this tackling machine, that did not stop White from breaking the NFL record for most consecutive double digit sack seasons. His most amazing statistic is by far earning 21 sacks in only 12 games. By the end of White's career, he had a total of 198 sacks (a record at the time) and averaged 13.2 sacks per season, an NFL record. He also won two Super Bowl rings and two Defensive Player of the Year awards, earning the top spot at defensive end. 

Runner up: Deacon Jones

Defensive Tackle: "Mean" Joe Green: In the 1981 NFL draft, a defensive tackle by the name of Joe Green was taken 4th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers, leaving many fans asking Who's Joe Green? In his first year, Green showed his speed, amazing strength and spectacular reflexes, earning him the 1969 Rookie of the Year award (even though the Steelers were 1-13 that year). It was not until 1972 when the Steelers had a winning season with Joe Green on the roster, who went on to win the 1972 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. Then, from 1975 to 1980, the Steelers won 4 out of 6 Super Bowls, mostly due to the defensive presence  of "Mean" Joe Green. Green played in 10 Pro Bowls, was named to the 1970's All Decade team, and won 2 DPOTY's. The athleticism and toughness allowed Joe Green to be named the greatest defensive tackle of all time.

Runner up: Merlin Olsen

Middle-Linebacker: Dick Butkus: In the 60's, no one was meaner then Dick Butkus. His ferocity on the field made him one of the most feared players in the game. What separated him from most linebackers was the ability to rip footballs out of the ball carriers hands. Unfortunately, statistics like fumbles recovered was not kept during that age of football, so there is no way in measuring his specific ability. In 1969 and 1970, Butkus won the NEA Defensive Player of the Year award, and played in 8 Pro Bowl games. Not to mention, he was named to the 60's and 70's All-Decade Team. After a tragic knee injury in 1975, the linebacker was forced to retire from the league. Though his career was short, Butkus was dominate for a period of time, and is the best middle linebacker of all time.

Runner up: Ray Lewis

Outside-Linebacker: Lawrence Taylor: In NFL history, the best defensive player of all time is clearly Lawrence Taylor. Taylor made an immediate impact on the league, winning both the Defensive Player of the Year award, and the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 1981. From 1981 to 1990, there was no one quarterbacks feared more then Lawrence Taylor. Every tackle he made, Taylor intended to tear the ball carrier apart. What LT is most known for is the career ending injury he put on Joe Theismann in a Monday Night Football game, which emphasized the ferocity of Taylor. Offensive tackles could not stop the unstoppable force of LT, forcing offensive coordinators to make plays preventing Taylor from dominating the game. Taylor has won two Super Bowls, an MVP award, three Defensive Player of the Year awards and has played in 10 Pro Bowl games. With the skill set that LT has, he is obviously the greatest Outside Linebacker of All Time.

Runner up: Jack Ham

Safety: Ronnie Lott: In NFL history, there is no player more devoted than Ronnie Lott. After his finger was crushed in a 1985 game, Lott decided to amputate the tip of his finger so he would not have to miss another NFL game. In his 14 NFL seasons, he recorded 63 interceptions, 5 of which were returned for touchdowns. He also started in 10 Pro Bowl games and won 4 Super Bowls during the 49ers dominating run. The safety was amazing at making devastating hits, sometimes sacrificing his body in order to make the tackle. Ronnie Lott will go down in history as the heart and soul of the NFL.

Runner up: Ed Reed

Kicker: Adam Vinatieri: Less than 10 seconds left in the Super Bowl. Kicker Vinatieri steps onto the field, hoping to kick the game winning field goal. The ball is snapped with the crowd on its feet. Vinatieri makes contact with his foot, and the ball splits the uprights; the Patriots have one the Super Bowl. This routine has happened not once, but twice in Vinatieri's career. Though he may not be the most outstanding kicker in the middle of the game, Vinateiri is the best to have kicking a field goal with the game on the line. Precipitation clearly does not stop Vinatieri from making field goals; in the 2001 AFC Championship game, he nailed an overtime field goal to win, sending the Patriots to the Super Bowl. In his prime, no kicker is more clutch than Adam Vinatieri. 
Runner up: Morten Anderson

Punter: Shane Lechler: Many football view punters as an unimportant position. However, that is not entirely true; they can be quite key when you need the opponent to be as far away from the end zone as possible late in a game. That is why it is important to have Shane Lechler as a punter. Lechler averages 47.5 per punt in his 11 year career, currently a record in the NFL. The six time Pro Bowler is the best at his position, and is clearly the greatest punter of all time.

Runner up: Ray Guy


Returner: Devin Hester: As a punt returner, no one is better than Devin Hester. Hester is entering his sixth NFL season, and has 11 punt return touchdowns and 5 kick return touchdowns. He also owns the record for career yards per punt return in a Super Bowl. The 3 time Pro Bowler also owns the record for the most punt return yards in a single season with 17.1. Good things are in store for Hester, and he already has been labeled as the greatest returner of all time. 
Runner up: Joshua Cribbs

Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers?

    Both have won a Super Bowl. Both play important roles in their team's success. Both are outstanding quarterbacks who have shown true signs of greatness. In the 2011 season, Tom Brady of the New England Patriots and Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers have been continuously compared by football fans. After Week 6, it appears one has the edge over the other, in terms of statistics, leadership quality, and intelligence. So who is the better quarterback? 

    

Aaron Rodgers

     Aaron Rodgers: In his fourth year as a starter, Aaron Rodgers has made a huge impact on the league. Rodgers has everything you can ask for in a QB; arm strength, accuracy, and leadership. What differentiates himself from top quarterbacks is the ability to move around in the pocket. When being heavily pressured, Rodgers can sprint away from the rusher, and make an accurate throw while on the run. Against Atlanta in Week 5, it appeared like Rodgers would be sacked numerous times. However, he used his agility to escape the threat and make a perfect throw. Rodgers currently leads the league in touchdowns (17), completion percentage (70.2) and passer rating (122.5). With statistics like those, it is hard not to give him the top spot. The Packers are already 6-0, and show no signs of slowing down. If Rodgers can continue to play well, his team may go back-to-back.

     Tom Brady: It is safe to say the New England Patriots is Tom Brady's team. Bellicheck may be the coach, but Brady is well respected by teammates, and appears to make most of the important decisions. In my opinion, Brady is so amazing that he makes the players around him better.  Just look at wide receiver Deion Branch; originally, Branch played for the Patriots from 2002-2005, with somewhat solid statistics. Then, he was traded to Seattle, and went completely off the radar. In the middle of last years season, Branch was traded back to the Patriots, where, under Brady, caught 5 touchdown passes and 706 yards in 11 games. It is quite hard not to put up great statistics as a wide receiver if the ball is thrown straight to your hands. If you were to compare the Green Bay WR corp to the Patriots WR corp, it is obvious how much of an advantage Rodgers has over Brady (Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and Jermichael Finley compared to Wes Welker, Deion Branch and Rob Gronkowski). Besides Brady's ability to throw hard, accurate passes, his outstanding intelligence allows him to be one of the best 2 minute drill quarterbacks in football history. Last weekend against the Cowboys, Brady was able to march up the field with 2:31 seconds remaining in the game, and throw a game winner to Aaron Hernandez, making the Patriots 5-1 this season. Brady currently leads the league in passing yards (2,163), where he is second to Rodgers in just about every other category. He may not be amazing statistic wise, but he makes a winning team out of average football players. He is one of the greatest quarterbacks, if not THE greatest quarterback, in the history of the NFL, and Brady continues to show signs of greatness in his 12th year of football.

     On paper, Aaron Rodgers appears to be the clear pick; he has accuracy, arm strength, mobility, great statistics (etc.). However, Brady does not have a lot to work with, yet he still wins 12 or more games each season. For now, Brady is the greatest quarterback overall. Rodgers will eventually surpass Brady, but I think the Patriots quarterback still has a lot left in him, making him the best QB in the league.

Tom Brady Rating: 99

Aaron Rodgers Rating: 97.5

Week 6 Predictions

It is official; the 5-0 Lions are a legitimate playoff contender. Before week 5, Detroit had not yet faced a competitive football team. However, an outstanding victory against the Chicago Bears last weekend has allowed them to be taken 100% seriously. On the other hand, many teams below .500 will need to start doing well, such as the Eagles, Falcons, Bears and Jets. Although it is only week 6, it will be very important for these teams to fix their problems before the end of the year. Otherwise, they may miss the playoffs. In my mind, Week 6 is one of the most important weeks of football before the halfway point. Teams should be able to learn from their early mistakes so they can go on a winning streak. As usual, the NFL Report has this weeks predictions ready for Sunday!

Ray Lewis

Game-to-Watch: Texans at Ravens: Unlike the past several weeks, there will not be many even match-ups this weekend. However, at 4:15 on Sunday, make sure to watch a defensive showdown between the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens. Ever since a fluke loss to Tennessee, Baltimore has played almost flawlessly; Ray Rice has been stellar and the defense shows no signs of slowing down. The only problem is the inconsistency of Baltimore's passing game. They rank 19th in total passing yards per game, not quite a stellar statistic. Joe Flacco will need to do remotely well in order for Baltimore to pull off a win. Houston, on the other hand, is coming off of a disappointing loss against Oakland. Not to mention, their defense suffered an extraordinary blow by losing linebacker Mario Williams, who shall be sidelined for the rest of the season. Houston will not be able to recover from these two losses quickly enough, and Baltimore will get the home win this Sunday.
Ravens over Texans: 17-13


Stand-Out-Performance: DE Jared Allen: For the first time in 'The NFL Report' history, a defensive player has been predicted to be the stand-out performer. Jared Allen did not quite meet expectations in 2010, with a decent 60 tackles and 11 sacks. Allen has turned things around, and has been great so far this year (8.5 sacks and 20 tackles). With killer statistics like these, Allen will tear apart the weak Bears offensive line, which is one of the worst in the league.
Jared Allen: 4.5 sacks, 11 tackles


Player-to-Watch: Michael Vick: Vick certainly has been one of the most disappointing players in the league; he has disappointed fans, fantasy owners and teammates. Luckily for Vick, the Eagles are playing the Washington Redskins. The last time he faced off against Washington, Vick threw for 333 yards, 4 passing touchdowns and had 2 rushing touchdowns. However, it is hard to tell how Vick will do this season against the Redskins; Washington (who is 3-1 so far) is clearly not the same team as last year, and Vick has been playing extremely inconsistently. It will be interesting to see how Michael Vick and the Eagles do this weekend, so make sure to keep an eye on the score.
Michael Vick: 280 yards, 2 passing TD's, 1 rushing TD


Week 6 Predictions:


Falcons over Panthers OT


Bengals over Colts


Lions over 49ers OT


Packers over Rams


Bills over Giants


Steelers over Jaguars


Eagles over Redskins


Ravens over Texans


Raiders over Browns


Patriots over Cowboys


Saints over Buccaneers


Vikings over Bears


Jets over Dolphins

Week 5 Predictions

Division rivals face-off. Undefeated teams might be handed their first loss of the year. Players are given their last chance for redemption. Week 5 should be great, with many great teams looking to get a win. Finally, the Detroit Lions are viewed as a legitimate football team, no longer the Loins who, three years ago, went 0-16. Players like Ndamukong Suh and Calvin Johnson have led the team to an outstanding 4-0 record. This weekend will be tough, as they play Brian Urlacher and the Bears in a division rival show down. However, the most anticipated game will be the New York Jets as they square-off against the New England Patriots (see below). No matter what, this weekend will be great for football fans everywhere, which is why the NFL Report has everything you need to know for Week 5!



Drew Brees



Game to Watch: Jets at Patriots: For the first time since a playoff upset last year, Tom Brady and the Patriots will play Rex Ryan and the Jets in Foxborough. The Patriots did extremely well against Oakland last weekend and they lead the league with the most total yards (507.5) and team passing yards (84.8). The Patriots are likely furious at the Jets after they were knocked-out of last years playoffs early on, and will look for revenge at home. The Jets have not yet hit their stride due to back-to-back losses against the Raiders and Ravens. The offense has been mediocre, but the rushing game has been completely atrocious (ranked 30th in the NFL). They will once again depend on the pass-defense, led by cornerback Darelle Revis. They key for New England is to do well on defense, which has been very weak the past few years. Tom Brady's team looks to have an edge, but count on a great rivalry match-up this Sunday!

Patriots over Jets: 33-20


Stand-Out Performance: Calvin Johnson: As I said earlier in the season, Calvin Johnson is the best wide receiver in the NFL. In every game, Johnson has caught two touchdown passes, and is on track for 32 touchdowns by the end of the year! Also, his 80 receiving yards per game prove just how much Stafford loves throwing to him. This weekend, he will play the Chicago Bears, a team known for their defense. However, they have not done very well on pass-defense this season (ranked 28th overall). Unless they can alter this statistic, Megatron will have a monstrous game.
Calvin Johnson: 110 receiving yards, 2 TD's


Player-to-Watch: Arian Foster: The Houston running back played his first game of the season last week against the Steelers (not a great team play against when coming off of an injury). Somehow, Foster ran for 155 yards and 1 TD, and this is against the STEELERS! In week 5, Foster will play a not-very-dominate Oakland Raiders, ranked 29th in rushing yards allowed. Foster probably deserves to be in the "Stand-Out Performance" category, but this week he will try and prove last weekends game was not a fluke. If he does well, his injury clearly is no longer a problem, and fantasy owners can go back to being happy.
Arian Foster: 90 rushing yards, 1 TD


Week 5 Predictions:


Eagles over Bills


Saints over Panthers


Texans over Raiders


Chiefs over Colts


Bengals over Jaguars


Vikings over Cardinals


Giants over Seahawks


Steelers over Titans


49ers over Buccaneers OT

Chargers over Broncos

Patriots over Jets

Packers over Falcons

The Athleticism of Ndamukong Suh

     The Detroit Lions are 4-0! The same Detroit Lions in which three years ago, broke an NFL record in becoming the only team to go 0-16? What type of turn around allowed the Lions to do so well this year? Obviously having Calvin Johnson, the best WR in the NFL, helps (if you don't think so click here ). Otherwise, their offense hasn't changed drastically throughout the past three years. Their is one player however, a 'beast', who has torn apart team's offenses due to his size, strength and speed. Quarterbacks fear him. Running backs don't run his way. How can one player be so influential on a defense? We will never be able to explain the pure athleticism of Ndamukong Suh.

Ndamukong Suh

     Although he has only been in the league for less than two years, Suh has already made his mark in the league even before his first regular season game. The Lions were facing off against the Cleveland Browns in a preseason match-up during Suh's rookie year. As Jake Dehlomme, the QB for Cleveland, was being heavily pressured by the Lions defensive line. Suh was running straight at the Cleveland QB, so Dehlomme decided to pitch it to an open WR. He had clearly gotten rid of the football, but that did not stop Suh from grabbing his facemask, and hurling Dehlomme to the ground. Fans watching the game were shocked by this blatant illegal hit, by a player who has not even played a regular season game. After that moment, everyone knew Ndamukong Suh was one of the most threatening players in the NFL.
     Ndamukong Suh has agility, strength, and bursts of speed which allows him to be a complete pass rusher. Although he is only 307 pounds (I won't be able to say THAT many times in my life), he has the power to play nose tackle. His outstanding athleticism allows him to chase down the best of running backs. In his rookie season, Suh had 66 tackles, 1 interception and 10 sacks. However, these statistics can not accurately describe the all around skill of Ndamukong Suh. He has many years ahead of him, and if injuries do not become a problem, #90 will be one of the greatest defensive tackles in football history.

Week 4 Predictions

Wow. Who would have thought the Bills (yes, the Bills) would be the only remaining team in the AFC East to be undefeated. A surprising turn of events has also left the Eagles, the 2011 Dream Team, 1-2. Many things will not be explained until the end of the season, but so far, it has been a great year of football (I apoligize I haven't done a post in a while). In Week 4, there will be many great matchups, stand out performances, and players to keep an eye on; that is why the NFL Report has you covered!

Greg Jennings

Game to Watch: Jets at Ravens: Talk about complete domination. Last weekend, RB Darren McFadden and the Raiders literally ran over the Jets defense. Not only did they allow the Raiders to average 7.3 yards per carry, but they also had a 17-7 lead at one point! Now, they will be facing the Ravens, who are better than the Raiders at just about everything; defense, passing, and possibly running. The Ravens are coming off of a 37-7 victory over the Rams, a simple win for such a skilled team. Having the game in Baltimore will also give the Ravens team a boost. All-star runninng back Ray Rice (averaging 5.6 yards per carry) will be too much for the Jets defense, but there is always the chance the Jets come out on top.
Ravens over Jets 27-17


Stand-Out Performance: RB Adrian Peterson: Peterson has had a spectacular 2011 season so far, which is no surprise to football fans. Luckily, Peterson has not faced a challenging defense yet, and will definitely not have a problem with the KC defense this weekend (have allowed the most rushing TD's and the 5th most rushing yards out of any team in the NFL). Peterson has put up spectacular statistics in three games, with 3 rushing touchdowns and 296 yards. AP is going to have a great game, and will help the Vikings to their first win of the season.
Adrian Peterson: 140 yards, 2 Rushing TD's


Player to Watch: Chris Johnson: CJ2K has been very disappointing, especially for Fantasy owners everywhere (ahem). I know it is only week 3, but a lot is expected from someone with a 2,000 yard season. This weekend, he will be playing the Cleveland Browns, a team who has allowed the 4th most rushing yards per game (128.7 yards) among the NFL. Surprisingly,  Johnson has not even rushed for over 75 yards in any of his 3 games. Keep an eye out for CJ in Week 4, he may be the difference maker for your fantasy team.
Chris Johnson: 80 rushing yards, 1 TD


Week 4 Predictions:


Bears over Panthers


Bills over Bengals


Titans over Browns


Lions over Cowboys


Steelers over Texans


Saints over Jaguars


Vikings over Chiefs


Eagles over 49ers


Redskins over Rams


Giants over Cardinals


Falcons over Seahawks


Packers over Broncos


Patriots over Raiders (OT)


Chargers over Dolphins


Ravens over Jets


Buccaneers over Colts

Week 3

   Several awful things happened last week, leaving sports fans ripping their own hair out.  The injuries have been piling up, and key player such as Jamaal Charles, Miles Austin and Dez Bryant will not be playing for a while. However, there were many great performances from a variety of teams and players. For example, Tom Brady has set the record for the most yards thrown in 2 NFL games (940 passing yards). Not to mention, the Bills, the Lions and the Redskins are all 2-0. The match ups this weekend should be great, and the NFL Report has everything you need to know about Week 3.

Adrian Peterson

Game to Watch: Green Bay vs. Chicago: Looking to redeem themselves after an awful loss to the Saints, Jay Cutler and the Bears will face off against their division rivals; the Green Bay Packers .The last time these two team played, Jay Cutler left the NFC Championship game early in the third quarter, and the Bears ended up losing 21-14. Both teams defenses look extraordinary, and the Packers probably have the advantage in terms of offense over the Bears. Plus, the Bears' offensive line allowed the Saints defense to sack Jay Cutler SIX TIMES last weekend. Now, they are forced to battle the Packers defense, which should not end very well for Cutler. In this division match up, the Packers will win on the road, and will improve to 3-0. The key thing for the Bears is the offensive line and the defense. If both can do well, it will be a great game.
Green Bay over Bears 21-13


Player to Watch: Tom Brady: After a historic two games, Brady will try and stay on track for 7,000. As he faces the Bills this weekend, a team that hasn't fully proven itself to be a legitimate contender, we have high hopes for Brady. I doubt Brady will get 400 yards for the 3rd week in a row, but he still will have an outstanding performance.
Tom Brady: 310 yards, 3 TD's


Stand-Out Performance: Michael Turner: The Atlanta running back has had back to back 100 yard games, and will be playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend. The Bucs have allowed the 2nd most rushing yards out of any defense in the league. This will lead to an outstanding performance by Michael Turner. Turner had 1,371 yards last year with 12 rushing TD's. The most underrated running back will do extremely well this week, putting up the best numbers of his career.
Michael Turner: 145 yards, 3 TD's


Week 3 Game Predictions:


Patriots over Bills


Panthers over Jaguars


Bengals over 49ers


Dolphins over Browns


Lions over Vikings


Saints over Texans


Eagles over Giants


Titans over Broncos


Jets over Oakland


Chargers over Chiefs


Ravens over Rams


Packers over Bears


Cardinals over Seahawks


Falcons over Buccaneers


Steelers over Colts


Dallas over Redskins

Week 3 Power Rankings

The Ravens lost to the Titans?! The Colts are 0-2?! The Lions are 2-0?! Two weeks have gone by in the 2011 season, and many things have surprised us football fans. That is why the NFL Report has Week 3 power rankings!

1. New England Patriots: A great start for this years New England Patriots; 2-0, Tom Brady combines for 940 passing yards in 2 games, and a win over the San Diego Chargers. However, the defense is very inconsistent, and the secondary looked extremely sloppy against the Chargers. If Brady can continue to stay healthy, and the defense improves slightly, good things are in store for the Pats

2. Green Bay Packers: Although the Packers have the best all-around team in the league, I was not happy with the Panthers game. In order for the packers to be number one, they can't win by a single touchdown against a team like Carolina. I am also worried about their pass-defense; it has given up 419 yards to Drew Brees and 432 to rookie Cam Newton.

3. New York Jets: The 2-0 Jets destroyed the Jaguars last weekend, after previously beating the skilled Cowboys in a shootout. The defense looks superb this year and even their offense is doing well. Expect a deep playoff run with this New York team.

4. Houston Texans: Surprisingly, the fourth place position is awarded to the Texans. In two games, their offense has let up 13 combined points. Also, they are without RB Arian Foster, (yet Ben Tate has been a great substitute). Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson are connecting very well, and the Texans are on a great streak.

5. New Orleans Saints: A dominating win over the Bears resurrects New Orleans after a close loss to the Packers in week 1.  Drew Brees is doing extremely well, and the offense as a whole is 5th in total yards (429.5 yards) and 5th in total passing yards (330 yards) so far this season. The offense looks great, and the defense is doing well. This could be another great year for Drew Brees and the Saints.

6. Atlanta Falcons: Atlanta pulled off a must win game, and hopefully will put the Bears game behind them. Michael Turner looks stellar this year (6.9 yards per carry), and hopefully Ryan will be able to connect more with his WR's. The defense looks mediocre (ranked 27th in pass-defense), and they are hoping for a division W over the Tampa Buccaneers this week.

7. Philadelphia Eagles: A tough loss against Atlanta has dropped the Eagles down in the rankings, yet they should bounce back to beat the Giants this week. Their running game is doing very well (ranked 2nd) and a 6th ranked passing defense should help over the weekend. We need to wait and see if Vick plays (concussion). It will be a hard season for the Eagles if their QB continues to be injured.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers: The Ravens loss last weekend to the Titans (yes, the TITANS!) definitely  benefited Pittsburgh in the NFC North rankings. An easy win over the Seahawks did not prove a lot, yet both the defense and offense look great, and they are, once again, a threat this year.

9. Chicago Bears: Six. That's how many times the Saints sacked Jay Cutler last weekend. The Bears NEED to improve the O-line, or else Jay Cutler may sprain his MCL again! The Bears face Green Bay on Sunday, which should test Jay Cutler's protecters. Luckily it is at Chicago, and it will be important for them to beat their division rival and prove the Atlanta game was not a fluke.

10. Baltimore Ravens: Are you kidding me! After defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers, they lose to the Tennessee Titans! Although the defense did a great job shutting down Chris Johnson last weekend, they must have completely forgotten about stopping Matt Hasselbeck (358 YDS, 1 TD). I don't expect this to happen again, and they should beat the St Louis Rams at St. Louis.

11. San Diego Chargers: Although I predicted the Chargers to beat the Patriots, I was not surprised when they lost in Foxborough. Unfortunately, they could not follow through in the red zone very well, throwing interceptions at the wrong time. However, the passing game continues to look great, and they should bounce back to beat the Chiefs.

12. Detroit Lions: I would have never guessed; the Lions are 2-0! I am not completely in love with Detroit due to the fact they haven't faced a challenging team yet. Stafford and Johnson are connecting extremely well, and even the defense looks above-average (WOW!). Minnesota should be an easy win, but it will be interesting to see how they do against the Cowboys in 2 weeks.

13. Dallas Cowboys: Ouch! The Cowboys suffered many key injuries in Week 2, such as Miles Austin (out for several weeks), Tony Romo (questionable), Felix Jones (questionable) and Dez Bryant (questionable). Their rushing game has been pitiful, yet their 3rd ranked passing game and 2nd ranked rush-defense are doing very well. It will be interesting to see how they do against the Redskins this week.

14. Buffalo Bills: What may turn into this year's Cinderella story, the Buffalo Bills are 2-0. Surprisingly, they are ranked 1st in the league in rushing yards per game (190.0). As they play the New England Patriots this weekend, we will find out if the Bills are a legitimate team.

15. Washington Redskins: Although they have the worst logo in football, the Redskins look like a decent team. They are 11th in total passing yards per game (270.5), 10th in rushing yards per game (123.0) and 8th in rushing yards allowed per game (84.0). As I said earlier, this weekends game against the Cowboys will be interesting, and if Dallas are missing players due to injuries, the Redskins might go 3-0!

Week 2

     Week 1 is in the books and, unlike last year, there were not many outstanding performances by a breakout player (such as Arian Foster in '10). The main headline we drew from Week 1 was Cam Newton, who had one of the best rookie debuts in NFL history (422 yards, 2 passing TD's, 1 rushing TD). I am not sure if this is the start of something huge, but there is definitely potential in Cam Newton. Another shocker from Week 1; Bears DESTROYING the Falcons. The Bears defense looked spectacular, and if it can stay consistent, they might make a run deep into the playoffs. Week 2 has many great match ups, which should lead to another great week of football.

Game to Watch: Patriots vs Chargers. Brady vs. Rivers. Great offense vs great offense. Every football fan is looking forward to the clash of the QB’s, when Philip Rivers and the Chargers take on Tom Brady and the Patriots this weekend. The last time these two teams faced off, the Patriots walked into San Diego and beat the Chargers 23-20. Now, Brady is coming off of a 500 yard performance against the Miami Dolphins, and it looks like he’s in mid-season form. This year, however, the Bolts look better than ever, with a Pro-Bowl QB, two great receivers returning from injuries, and a decent running game.

         The Patriots are coming off a horrendous defensive performance; they gave up 400 yards to QB Chad Henne. Yes, you heard that right. Chad Henne. I can’t possibly imagine what will happen when they play Philip Rivers (4,700 yards in 2010). The Chargers may have had one of the worst defenses in 2010, but last weekend, they allowed the fewest total yards out of any team in the NFL. I know they have only played one game, but this could be the start of something huge. In the end, it will come down to which defense can shut the opposing team’s QB. In their last 7 meetings, the Patriots are 5-2 against the Chargers, and the Pats will look to extend their 26 game home-regular season win streak. As the Chargers walk into Foxborough with a 1-0 record, I think they have the advantage over New England. However, these two teams will likely face each other once more in this year’s playoffs.

Prediction: Chargers over Patriots 31-24

Player to Watch: RB CJ Spiller. This will be Spiller's second year in the pros, and he already has a touchdown this season. Spiller is extremely fast, explosive and elusive. Luckily, he will be playing the Raiders, a team who let up the 4th most yards to running backs. He had an amazing college career at Clemson (Spiller college highlights), and I hope he can have a standout performance this week.
CJ Spiller: 90 total yards, 2 TD's


Stand-Out Performance: Philip Rivers. After missing Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates for most of 2010 (played together only once last season), Philip Rivers will face off against the Patriots in Foxborough. Rivers had a mediocre game against the Vikings, yet Minnesota appear to have a decent defense this year. The patriots on the other hand  are coming off a horrendous defensive performance against the Dolphins, allowing 390 passing yards in their first game. Rivers is 4x better than Chad Henne, and he should have an amazing game against the Patriots.
Philip Rivers: 470 yards, 3 TD's


Week 2 Game Predictions:


Bills over Raiders


Packers over Panthers


Lions over Chiefs


Browns over Colts


Buccaneers over Vikings


Saints over Bears


Jets over Jaguars


Steelers over Seahawks


Ravens over Titans


Cardinals over Redskins


Cowboys over 49ers


Broncos over Bengals


Texans over Dolphins


Chargers over Patriots


Eagles over Falcons


Giants over Rams

Calvin Johnson: No. 1 WR In the NFL?

    There were many great player performances in Week 1, a great start to the 2011 season. One player who always puts up great numbers, day in and day out, is wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Against the Buccaneers last weekend, Megatron caught two touchdown passes and had 88 total receiving yards. However, is he the best wide receiver in the NFL right now? The answer is yes.

Calvin Johnson

     Calvin Johnson's career has been a roller coaster; a mediocre rookie season in 2007, an outstanding year in 2008 (12 TD's, 1,331 receiving yards), a below average year in 2009, and a great year in 2010 (77 receptions, 12 TD's, 1,120 receiving yards), even without QB Mathew Stafford. The important thing for Calvin Johnson is if Mathew Stafford can stay healthy. Stafford has only played 14 NFL games throughout his entire career. When Stafford is healthy, Johnson averaged 75 yards per game and has total of 9 receiving touchdowns. If Stafford can play at least 12 games this year, don't be surprised if Megatron gets more than 15 touchdowns. 

     One name that constantly appears with Calvin Johnson is the other All-Pro Johnson; Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans. Andre Johnson has played in the NFL for 9 seasons, and is a 5-time Pro-Bowler. If you were to look at the statistics, you would see from 2007 to 2011, Calvin Johnson has combined for 33 touchdowns and 4,191 receiving yards, compared to Andre Johnson's 33 touchdowns and 5,211 receiving yards. Although Andre has better statistics, he is aging and will not perform as well as he did in the past.

     Johnson, 25 years old, may be one of the most exciting wide receivers to watch. His amazing leaping abilities allow him to out jump just about any cornerback in the NFL. Also, he is extremely fast for a 6 ft 5, 235 pound wide receiver, running past defenders so he can make the easy catch. However, the only problem with Johnson is his route running. From time to time, he might do a poor job of faking the defender on a route, and the play will end up looking really sloppy. Most of the time, however, we can expect a great performance out of Johnson, and hope to see another spectacular catch.

    It is still early in the NFL season, and it is hard to make prediction based on injuries, but if all goes well, Calvin Johnson will have the greatest receiving performance of the year.

Week 1

Peyton Manning not playing in the season opener? Troubled Albert Haynesworth signed by the strict New England Patriots? Are the Eagles truly the dream team of the NFL? This crazy offseason has led to some crazy Super Bowl predictions. Now, the post-lockout season has begun, and Week 1 should have many wild season openers.

Michael Vick

Game to watch: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens. Every time the Steelers face off against the division rival Ravens, you can expect a blood-bath. It is clear neither team likes the other, and both have one of the best defenses in the league. Not to mention it is always a close game. Since 2005, 9 games were decided by a touchdown or less. History shows the Steelers are the better team. They have an all-time record against the Ravens of 19-11. However, with home field advantage, and the new acquisition of WR Lee Evans, the Baltimore Ravens have a slight edge over Pittsburgh.
Ravens beat Steelers 20-17


Player to Watch: Rookie QB Cam Newton. The 2010 Heisman winner will now put on the Carolina Panthers jersey for his first NFL game. Many say he will not do well in the pros and will just become another first pick bust. Luckily, though, he is facing the Arizona Cardinals in his first game, a team who ranked 29th in points allowed per game (27.1).  I don't expect Cam Newton to play like Michael Vick in his first game, but I am projecting him to do moderately well.
Cam Newton: 210 yards, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD.


Stand-Out Performance: QB Tom Brady.  The reigning MVP has a new (possibly lethal) weapon in WR Chad Ochocinco, and he will try to match his outstanding 2010 season. His 9 to 1 TD/INT ratio is an outstanding statistic, and his WR corp of Welker and Ochocinco will certainly  help him against the Dolphins this weekend. As the 2011 kicks off, the expectations are high for this accomplished Quarterback.
Tom Brady: 390 yards, 3 Passing TDs, 75.0 completion percentage.


Week 1 Game Predictions:


Falcons over Bears


Browns over Bengals


Texans over Colts


Titans over Jaguars


Bills over Chiefs


Eagles over Rams


Lions over Buccaneers 


Panthers over Cardinals


Chargers over Vikings


Seahawks over 49ers


Giants over Redskins 


Jets over Cowboys (OT)

Patriots over Dolphins


Broncos over Raiders


Ravens over Steelers

NFL 2011 Predictions

Now that the season is finally underway, the questions linger. Who will be this years breakout player? Which team will be the biggest bust? And most importantly, who will win the Super Bowl? The NFL Report has this years predictions:


AFC:1 Patriots (13-3) 2. Ravens (13-3) 3. Chargers (12-4) 4. Texans (11-5) 5. Jets (12-4) 6. Steelers (12-4)
NFC:1. Packers (13-3) 2. Falcons (12-4) 3. Eagles (12-4) 4. Rams (10-6) 5. Cowboys (12-4) 6. Saints (11-5)

AFC 1st Round: 3. Chargers over 6 Steelers (OT) & 5. Jets over 4. Texans
NFC 1st Round: 6. Saints over 3. Eagles & 5. Cowboys over 4. Rams

AFC 2nd Round: 3. Chargers over 2.; Ravens & 1. Patriots over 5. Jets
NFC 2nd Round: 1. Packers over 6. Saints & 2. Falcons over 5. Cowboys

AFC 3rd Round: 1. Patriots over 3. Chargers
NFC 3rd Round: 2. Falcons over 1. Packers

Super Bowl:Patriots over Falcons 28-17
Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady

MVP Philip Rivers

Defensive Player of the Year Demarcus Ware

Coach of the Year Jim Garret

Comeback Player of the Year Tony Romo 


Biggest Team  Bust: Chicago Bears


Breakout Player: CJ Spiller

The Big Bang

     Tonight, after a long and monotonous lockout, the 2011 NFL season will kick-off, literally. The season opener featuring the Packers and the Saints, is what many people say will be the 2011 NFC Championship game. Although it's hard not to love these two teams, I'm predicting neither team will make the NFC Championship Game.

     Packers Evaluation: The Green Bay Packers have one of the most, if not the most, talented group of  players in the NFL. However, the reigning champions will be the team to beat this year, and everyone will try their hardest against them. I'm not saying they won't make the playoffs, but I don't think they'll be able to win the championship game, let alone the Super Bowl! It's too hard, and who knows, Aaron Rodgers might suffer from concussion symptoms (like Sidney Crosby) and miss the entire season!

     Saints Evaluation: The New Orleans Saints is a great team to watch: Great fans, great QB, and a fun atmosphere. What I don't understand is why all of a sudden everyone thinks the Saints will win the Super Bowl. I think they should be thinking more about winning their division more than the Super Bowl. The Falcons are a great team who has a better defense, a better running game, and a better WR. corp. The only thing the Saints have over the Falcons is a better QB (which is arguably the most important). Then again that's the only thing the Saints have. Period. Drew Brees is the only reason (besides a decent defense) the Saints do so well. I think they'll lock up the Wild Card spot, yet that playoff loss to the Seahawks was a tell tale sign their reign might be over.
     
We will see what happens tonight.
    
Prediction: Packers Win 28-16