In under 12 hours the remaining week 15 games will kickoff as the NFL regular season approaches its climax. There are some big matchups and I am going to go out on a limb by predicted the results.
New York Giants vs Atlanta Falcons
The Giants at 8-5 have two divisional rivals only a game back on them whereas the Falcons are in the playoffs and look like they'll hold on to the first seed in the NFC ahead of the playoffs. Whatever happens it's safe to say this game will be close and it is hard to predict but it is this time of year when the Giants play their best football. With the protection the offensive line has given Eli Manning this season I fancy the Giants to get the win 27-24.
Denver Broncos vs Baltimore Ravens
Peyton Manning, like his younger brother, has a big game this Sunday as the Denver Broncos take on the Baltimore Ravens with both needing a win as they look to get a bye in to the divisional round of the playoffs. The Patriots and the Texans are the current favourites to get the top two seeds in the AFC though and I think a Baltimore win all but confirms that. A lot of people are starting to write them off but not all streaks can last forever so I think with head coach John Harbaugh demanding improvement the Ravens get the win in front of their fans to snap a two game losing streak and halt the Broncos express with a 28-27 win.
Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears
Game by game somehow this week the matchups get bigger and better... somehow! This game has big playoff ramifications though especially for the Bears as with a loss they could easily be missing out on the post-season which would be painful for a team which was being hyped up as Super Bowl contenders midway through the season. Jay Cutler's pass protection has gone and Brandon Marshall's Christmas tree analogy of Bear's season summed up things perfectly. Urlacher is still missing on defense but in a game between two intense rivals with the trash talking and a hostile Chicago crowd I think they win this one and go on to win the NFC North. Aaron Rodgers and co will put up a fight, they can put up high scoring numbers but the Packers lose this one 20-23.
Washington Redskins vs Cleveland Browns
A few weeks ago the Redskins were not in the playoff talk but RGIII and Washington have rallied back to get to 7-6. If they sweep their remaining three games they should almost certainly make the post-season and with the team already on a four game winning streak who's to say their hot run of form won't continue well maybe destiny does as Robert Griffin misses the game through injury. Kirk Cousins takes over at QB this week against the resurgent Browns who have won 3 in a row themselves, yes I said 3 in the row for the Browns. With this being one of the harder games to predict this week it's going to be close but I think Mike Shannahan knows how to inspire a team and I think that the Redskins win and use the ground a bit more in this one not that it's a bad thing when you have Alfred Morris carrying the ball. Washington 24-14 Cleveland.
Indianapolis Colts vs Houston Texans
This is easy to say but it is true and that is the fact that the Houston Texans either blow away the Colts by letting out their frustrations from an embarrassing Monday night loss to the Patriots or they crumble in what is a massive game.These teams meet again in a couple of weeks and if the Colts win their remaining three they would win the AFC South, meaning for me Andrew Luck wins league MVP but that's a whole different story. Whether the Colts fairytale can continue in this game is a tough call I mean they'll make the playoffs even I predicted them to get 9 wins at the start of the season which people laughed at but Andrew Luck is one exceptional talent. I think the rookie gets it done, Indie walk in to Reliant Stadium and get the win thanks to a Luck game winning drive with the score ending 31-28 to the Colts.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Miami Dolphins
There's not much to say about this game apart from it doesn't mean much. The Jaguars are awful whereas the Dolphins may not see it now but it has been a relatively productive season for them. They are at home and will get the win to add to Jacksonville's mystery who won't care too much as it just furthers their case for a higher draft pick. Dolphins win 23-14.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints
I'm a Josh Freeman fan, I've said it on a few occasions but everyone knows regardless of the Saints record how hard it is to walk in to the Superdome and get a win. Drew Brees and New Orleans are hanging on to extremely thin playoff hopes plus it is a rivalry game so they'll be fired up anyway. The Saints get the win and end Tampa Bay's hopes of reaching the post-season meaning that neither of them reach it, this playoff picture is complicated and needs some clearing up which week 15 will bring us. Tampa Bay 30-34 New Orleans
Minnesota Vikings vs St. Louis Rams
The Vikings have been the surprise story of the NFC especially as it was suppose to division rivals the Detroit Lions as the young upcoming team. Minnesota posted a huge win over Chicago last week and Adrian Peterson continues to beast his way through teams as the MVP candidate and potential comeback player of the year hopes to make something special happen for the Vikings this season. Whether they can actually reach the playoffs is one hard question to answer but in the NFL anything is possible I mean ask the Rams because they tied with the 49ers! At 6-6-1 St. Louis shouldn't be underestimated but I think the Vikings take this one and get the road win by a score of 21-17.
Detroit Lions vs Arizona Cardinals
I like many had high hopes for the Detroit Lions. Matthew Stafford has all the qualities to be a very good NFL quarterback and Calvin Johnson is one of if not the best wide receiver in the league. Both teams are at 4-9 but Arizona have lost nine straight which makes Detroit's five defeats in a row look pretty. The Lions want Johnson to break Jerry Rice's record for most receiving yards in a season so expect Stafford to throw the ball and throw it to his main target but the obvious gameplan won't halt the Lions as they walk out with the 31-14 victory.
Seattle Seahawks vs Buffalo Bills
The Seahawks are on a roll and embarrassed Arizona last week in a 58-0 blowout. With them getting defensive players back one by one they are slowly putting the pieces back together on this team. Russell Wilson is also doing very well at quarterback and I think Seattle gets its third win in a row by beating the hapless Bills in a 30-17 victory in Toronto.
Carolina Panthers vs San Diego Chargers
One of the only games this week that doesn't serve any real purpose regarding this season sees the 4-9 Panthers take on the 5-8 Chargers. Both have a streak of one win, that technically isn't a streak right and both will just want to win but San Diego has a habit of beating themselves but not in the good way so I reckon Cam Newton and co get the win for Carolina 27-21.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Dallas Cowboys
Two of the biggest and most historic NFL franchises go head to head this weekend when the Steelers take on the Cowboys. Both at 7-6 have their backs against the wall and need a win in order to have a shot at making the playoffs. The Bengals Thursday night win increased the pressure on Pittsburgh whilst the Cowboys need to keep the pressure on NFC East division leaders the Giants. The battle comes down to the two quarterbacks and who can get it done under pressure; Big Ben returns from injury for the Steelers to give them a major boost whilst Tony Romo looks to do what he always hopes to which is silence the critics. This win won't do that completely but yes I think Dallas get the win, am I buying in to them making the playoffs well no and even if they do they won't pull of an upset. Thankfully the home crowd will get the team going and they'll get the win in a very close one by a score of 28-27.
Kansas City Chiefs vs Oakland Raiders
The 2-11 Chiefs take on the 3-10 Raiders in an exciting game... Sarcasm yes Sheldon if you're reading this is but on a serious note I think both teams awfulness will set up a high scoring game which the Raiders win 40-24 providing Darren McFadden plays.
San Francisco 49ers vs New England Patriots
Sunday night football with cap off the perfect day of NFL action when the Niners travel to Gillette Stadium to take on the Patriots. It is the unstoppable force of Tom Brady and the Patriots offense vs the immovable object in the shape of this nasty San Francisco defense. New England tore apart the Texans on Monday night and have the capability to beat anyone with the momentum they have gathered which comes down to the huge improvement they had on defense with the team forcing a number of turnovers and leading that stat in the AFC. Colin Kaepernick starts at QB again for the 49ers but I think Jim Harbaugh has been over thinking this situation too much by trying to be too clever as he tries outsmart opponents. It will come back to bite the 49ers as they will eventually go back to Alex Smith but with his confidence being hit I think the Niners will miss out on the Super Bowl and start to point fingers at each other. Don't get me wrong this is a potential Super Bowl preview but if you had to choose one of these two teams to make it to New Orleans and represent their conference at this moment in time it would be the Patriots. Bill Belichick's team are the talk and envy of the NFL so I expect New England to put in another big performance and move to 22-0 on their second half of the season record which dates back to 2010. Final score 49ers 24-31 Patriots.
Thanks for taking the time out to read my article. It's 7.15am here so I have a valid excuse if this predicting goes wrong. Catch you all soon! P.S. Check the polls out.
Saturday 15 December 2012
Tuesday 11 December 2012
Houston you have a problem: Tom Brady
Tom Brady and the New England Patriots torched the Houston Texans in a 28 point blowout win at Gillette Stadium. With the Patriots wrapping up the AFC East last week they have now set their sights on the top spot in the conference with the win taking them to a 10-3 record and leaving the Texans at 11-2 following this defeat.In a game that was hyped up to be a potential preview of a future AFC Championship game only one side rose to the occasion and it was no surprise that it was the Patriots who got the win when you consider their recent record on Monday Night Football. Ahead of the game they were 10-1 in the team's last 11 games scoring 33.1 points per game and only giving up 16.2 points per games.
The Patriots also averaged 396.7 yards per game in their last 11 on Monday Night Football and last night they racked up plenty of yardage too; 419 yards in total. They were 50% on 3rd down completing 6 out of 12 attempts and had 17 first downs in the whole game; overall it's safe to say that the offense was efficient and definitely at its best last night.
Tom Brady himself put on another amazing performance as he continues to be a frontrunner for league MVP. Thanks to his four touchdown passes New England raced out of the blocks and destroyed Houston. He completed 21 out of 35 passing attempts for 296 yards including the four passing touchdowns.
Brady's 2012-2013 season continues to be out of this world. He has now thrown for 3833 passing yards in the team's 13 games. He has only turned the ball over 4 times and has thrown 32 touchdown passes leaving him with a Quarterback rating of 104.2. Finally a passing score in the team's next 3 games means Brady will overtake Johnny Unitas in second place for throwing a touchdown pass in consecutive games giving him a shot at Drew Brees' record next season.
With the win Brady and the Patriots continued their crazy second half of the season record which now stands at 21-0 since the 2010 season. The win over the Texans was their seventh straight victory meaning that they are now just a game behind Houston in the race for the first seed with them still having to play their divisional rivals the Colts twice in the next 3 games.
It has been mentioned many times before but the Patriots offense really is beautiful to watch even without the likes of Rob Gronkowski. They get it done whenever it matters and change it up game by game to combat against any type of defense. This week the no huddle offense and play action passing worked to perfection and on Brady's 37 yard touchdown pass to Bradon Lloyd late in the first quarter Tom Brady should win an Oscar for how well he faked the handoff to the running back.
That touchdown came around 6 and a half minutes after the early touchdown pass to Aaron Hernandez from 7 yards out meaning that the Patriots ended the first quarter 7-0 ahead. Brady hit Hernandez again, this time four minutes in to the second quarter, on a quick slant to his left with the tight end open giving him an easy passage in to the end zone.
At halftime the Patriots were in the lead by a score of 21-0 and any hopes of a Houston comeback were dashed when Brady connected on a spectacular 63 yard deep pass to Donte' Stallworth who announced his comeback to New England in style. Arian Foster got the Texans on the board from a yard out leaving the score at 28-7 going in to the final quarter.
Bradon Lloyd recovered a Danny Woodhead fumble in the end zone giving the Patriots another touchdown early in the fourth and Stevan Ridley ran 14 yards for a score mid-way through the quarter; he had another very productive day rushing for 72 yards from 18 carries and showed why he is one of best young running backs in the NFL.
The Texans got a consolation touchdown late on but it finished with New England winning in style. It was supposed to be close but the Patriots showed why they may be the best team in the league by declaring their dominance. The defense is looking great too with the secondary again putting in another impressive display with the likes of McCourty, Talib and Dennard all stepping up to the plate. Vince Wilfork seems to be everywhere up front and this defense can cause problems for anyone.
On offense they took one of the league's best defense's to town and swatted away the NFL's best pass rusher J.J. Watt despite his best efforts. Now New England will look ahead to another big home game when they take on the league's most talented defense in the form of the San Francisco 49ers. It will be a different type of test for the Patriots on both sides of the ball. On offense they'll have to either deal with Colin Kaepernick or Alex Smith at quarterback, on defense they will face a unit that can pretty much get anything done.
It will be very close and will be a tougher test than this week but with Tom Brady at Quarterback and this team on the roll expect New England to continue their run of form by asserting themselves on both sides of the ball. If they can knock off another heavyweight team ahead of the playoffs this Patriots team could really gather the serious momentum needed by anyone ahead of the post-season. Based on what this team is doing it is safe to say that New England really does have the talent to go on and get to the Super Bowl in New Orleans and dare I say it win Super Bowl 47.
Friday 7 December 2012
New England Patriots: A look ahead.
With a win over the Miami Dolphins in week 13 the New England Patriots clinched their fourth consecutive AFC East title. It may have been closer than they'd have liked but they got it done when it mattered with the team coming out with a 23-16 win at Sun Life stadium.
Their offense wasn't as explosive as usual but thanks to a good running game and a knack of knowing how to get it done the Patriots came out on top. Steven Ridley opened the scoring when he ran in to the end zone from 2 yards out for a touchdown; he racked up 71 rushing yards on the day from 19 carries.
Dan Carpenter kicked a field goal to cut the gap to four just before the second quarter. Tom Brady threw a 7 yard touchdown pass to Wes Welker to make it 14-3 and then a Gostkowski field goal put the Patriots up by 14. The Dolphins didn't make it easy for their opponents all day long and quarterback Ryan Tannehill ran in the end zone for a score just before the break leaving the score at 17-10 to New England.
A scoreless third quarter set up a nervy final one and with just over 8 minutes to go the Patriots were just 20-13 ahead. But that's when Tom Brady and all his experience came in to play. The Patriots ate up the clock by going on a seven-plus minute drive consisting of 16 plays which brought them all the way down to Miami's 20 and with the resulting field goal it was a two possession game with only 1:10 remaining on the clock.
The Dolphins got a field goal of their own with 31 seconds left to cut the gap to 7 points but failed with an onside kick and with the team using all its timeouts on New England's lengthy drive the game was over meaning that the Patriots won. The victory means they will end the regular season as division champions of the AFC East for the tenth time in 12 years.
For the record books it was a pretty good day for New England too, Tom Brady surpassed Joe Montana's record of 9 divisional titles by winning his 10th one as quarterback for the Patriots. By finishing the day with a touchdown pass Tom Brady also edged closer to Drew Brees' record for consecutive games for throwing a touchdown.
As well as that despite it not being his best day in comparison to his useful standards Tom Brady's statistics for the season are still astronomical as he has now thrown 3537 yards on the season for 28 touchdown passes and just 4 interceptions; the fourth interception came in this game and was the first time he had thrown a pick in 203 passing attempts. All of that means Brady's passer rating is at 102.6 with and with four games remaining he will only improve on these impressive numbers.
Wide receiver Wes Welker tied Jerry Rice’s NFL record by making at least 10 receptions for the 17th time. He had 12 catches for 103 yards and a score. The Brady and Welker combination is working well with the Patriots continuing to get it done on offense despite key injuries to the likes of Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman who broke his foot in the win over the Dolphins.
Edelman has become a versatile game changer on offense for the Patriots and will be missed but he and Gronkowski will return for the playoffs which is when the team will need them the most. For now Donte Stallworth has re-joined to help fill the gap at receiver and he will slot in to the system quickly after he previous spells in New England.
Aaron Hernandez has just returned from injury and Bradon Lloyd, whilst looking good, is still getting use to the offense so Brady and Welker are essential in keeping this offense ticking. The Patriots have the league's most prolific offense in terms of scoring and yardage. An added bonus for New England is that they have a strong running game too with Stevan Ridley being the primary runner on the team. He is having a very good season and has now rushed for 1,010 yards on the season with 9 scores as he establishes himself as one of the best up and coming backs in the NFL.
The running game was something the Patriots lacked last season when they just missed out on winning the Super Bowl but now that they have utilised it now they look set to replicate the success of the New England dynasty from the 00's which won 3 Super Bowls in 4 seasons. Tom Brady knows how essential a good running game is in an offense and with the Patriots running the no huddle so well the suspense of whether they'll use the pass or the run as well as the possibility of screen plays to the likes of Danny Woodhead or using the play action once the passing game is opened up all of this is a migraine in the mind of any opposing defense.
With a devastating offense at one of the best quarterback's in the NFL's history at his disposal the New England Patriots are well equipped to make another run to the Super Bowl and compete for a championship. They'll need the likes of Gronkowski back come the playoffs but momentum is well and truly on New England's side as the victory over Miami was their six consecutive win in a row moving them on to 9-3. Bill Belichick's team know how to get it done when it reaches this time of year and since the 2010 season the Patriots are now a combined 20-0 in the second half of the regular season.
With the Ravens losing to the Steelers it left them tied at 9-3 with the Patriots and the Denver Broncos meaning that New England held the second seed going in to week 14. The Broncos beat the Raiders on Thursday Night Football meaning that they now have the second seed but with a matchup against the Ravens in week 15 it means that New England still has control of its own destiny as if they win their remaining games they will surely clinch a bye and progress straight to the divisional round of the playoffs.
The 9-3 Patriots next game is on Monday Night Football at home against the 11-1 Houston Texans who currently hold the first seed in the AFC. It is a matchup that will go a long way in deciding who makes the bye week from the conference as well as who can secure home field advantage. With a win the Patriots could be just a game behind the Texans with 3 to play. During that time Houston will have to take on divisional rivals the Colts and rookie quarterback Andrew Luck who has guided his team to an 8-4 record.
New England have a schedule that they feel they can finish strongly on, a win over the Texans will increase momentum their momentum going in to a week 15 heavyweight clash against the San Francisco 49ers before they finish off against the Jaguars and the Dolphins. With their defense improving dramatically over the last month the Patriots are really putting all the pieces together for a championship run; New England's defense is ranked 1st in turnovers in the AFC and after their huge Thanksgiving Day win over the Jets they had an impressive plus-24 turnover ratio.
If Bill Belichick's men can keep this up they will be one of the frontrunners to make it to New Orleans in February. The Texans have more pressure on them in this game as they are a healthy team who wants to put one over one of the league's best teams but they are not use to being the top dog and with the bye week and home field advantage now under pressure by the Broncos, Ravens and Patriots will they be able to hold on come the end of the regular season. The Patriots will go quietly about their business like they always do and know that a win over Houston on Monday could go a long way in helping the Patriots achieve those ambitions as they seek the fourth championship that keeps eluding them. Hopefully now Tom Brady and co has all the pieces in place to go on and lift the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl 47.
Read more at: http://nesn.com/2012/11/patriots-defensive-playmakers-are-finally-emerging-forcing-turnovers-when-team-needs-them-most/
Their offense wasn't as explosive as usual but thanks to a good running game and a knack of knowing how to get it done the Patriots came out on top. Steven Ridley opened the scoring when he ran in to the end zone from 2 yards out for a touchdown; he racked up 71 rushing yards on the day from 19 carries.
Dan Carpenter kicked a field goal to cut the gap to four just before the second quarter. Tom Brady threw a 7 yard touchdown pass to Wes Welker to make it 14-3 and then a Gostkowski field goal put the Patriots up by 14. The Dolphins didn't make it easy for their opponents all day long and quarterback Ryan Tannehill ran in the end zone for a score just before the break leaving the score at 17-10 to New England.
A scoreless third quarter set up a nervy final one and with just over 8 minutes to go the Patriots were just 20-13 ahead. But that's when Tom Brady and all his experience came in to play. The Patriots ate up the clock by going on a seven-plus minute drive consisting of 16 plays which brought them all the way down to Miami's 20 and with the resulting field goal it was a two possession game with only 1:10 remaining on the clock.
The Dolphins got a field goal of their own with 31 seconds left to cut the gap to 7 points but failed with an onside kick and with the team using all its timeouts on New England's lengthy drive the game was over meaning that the Patriots won. The victory means they will end the regular season as division champions of the AFC East for the tenth time in 12 years.
For the record books it was a pretty good day for New England too, Tom Brady surpassed Joe Montana's record of 9 divisional titles by winning his 10th one as quarterback for the Patriots. By finishing the day with a touchdown pass Tom Brady also edged closer to Drew Brees' record for consecutive games for throwing a touchdown.
As well as that despite it not being his best day in comparison to his useful standards Tom Brady's statistics for the season are still astronomical as he has now thrown 3537 yards on the season for 28 touchdown passes and just 4 interceptions; the fourth interception came in this game and was the first time he had thrown a pick in 203 passing attempts. All of that means Brady's passer rating is at 102.6 with and with four games remaining he will only improve on these impressive numbers.
Wide receiver Wes Welker tied Jerry Rice’s NFL record by making at least 10 receptions for the 17th time. He had 12 catches for 103 yards and a score. The Brady and Welker combination is working well with the Patriots continuing to get it done on offense despite key injuries to the likes of Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman who broke his foot in the win over the Dolphins.
Edelman has become a versatile game changer on offense for the Patriots and will be missed but he and Gronkowski will return for the playoffs which is when the team will need them the most. For now Donte Stallworth has re-joined to help fill the gap at receiver and he will slot in to the system quickly after he previous spells in New England.
Aaron Hernandez has just returned from injury and Bradon Lloyd, whilst looking good, is still getting use to the offense so Brady and Welker are essential in keeping this offense ticking. The Patriots have the league's most prolific offense in terms of scoring and yardage. An added bonus for New England is that they have a strong running game too with Stevan Ridley being the primary runner on the team. He is having a very good season and has now rushed for 1,010 yards on the season with 9 scores as he establishes himself as one of the best up and coming backs in the NFL.
The running game was something the Patriots lacked last season when they just missed out on winning the Super Bowl but now that they have utilised it now they look set to replicate the success of the New England dynasty from the 00's which won 3 Super Bowls in 4 seasons. Tom Brady knows how essential a good running game is in an offense and with the Patriots running the no huddle so well the suspense of whether they'll use the pass or the run as well as the possibility of screen plays to the likes of Danny Woodhead or using the play action once the passing game is opened up all of this is a migraine in the mind of any opposing defense.
With a devastating offense at one of the best quarterback's in the NFL's history at his disposal the New England Patriots are well equipped to make another run to the Super Bowl and compete for a championship. They'll need the likes of Gronkowski back come the playoffs but momentum is well and truly on New England's side as the victory over Miami was their six consecutive win in a row moving them on to 9-3. Bill Belichick's team know how to get it done when it reaches this time of year and since the 2010 season the Patriots are now a combined 20-0 in the second half of the regular season.
With the Ravens losing to the Steelers it left them tied at 9-3 with the Patriots and the Denver Broncos meaning that New England held the second seed going in to week 14. The Broncos beat the Raiders on Thursday Night Football meaning that they now have the second seed but with a matchup against the Ravens in week 15 it means that New England still has control of its own destiny as if they win their remaining games they will surely clinch a bye and progress straight to the divisional round of the playoffs.
The 9-3 Patriots next game is on Monday Night Football at home against the 11-1 Houston Texans who currently hold the first seed in the AFC. It is a matchup that will go a long way in deciding who makes the bye week from the conference as well as who can secure home field advantage. With a win the Patriots could be just a game behind the Texans with 3 to play. During that time Houston will have to take on divisional rivals the Colts and rookie quarterback Andrew Luck who has guided his team to an 8-4 record.
New England have a schedule that they feel they can finish strongly on, a win over the Texans will increase momentum their momentum going in to a week 15 heavyweight clash against the San Francisco 49ers before they finish off against the Jaguars and the Dolphins. With their defense improving dramatically over the last month the Patriots are really putting all the pieces together for a championship run; New England's defense is ranked 1st in turnovers in the AFC and after their huge Thanksgiving Day win over the Jets they had an impressive plus-24 turnover ratio.
If Bill Belichick's men can keep this up they will be one of the frontrunners to make it to New Orleans in February. The Texans have more pressure on them in this game as they are a healthy team who wants to put one over one of the league's best teams but they are not use to being the top dog and with the bye week and home field advantage now under pressure by the Broncos, Ravens and Patriots will they be able to hold on come the end of the regular season. The Patriots will go quietly about their business like they always do and know that a win over Houston on Monday could go a long way in helping the Patriots achieve those ambitions as they seek the fourth championship that keeps eluding them. Hopefully now Tom Brady and co has all the pieces in place to go on and lift the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl 47.
 |
| Tom Brady will look to stake his claim as the greatest ever by going on to win his 4th ring this season. |
Read more at: http://nesn.com/2012/11/patriots-defensive-playmakers-are-finally-emerging-forcing-turnovers-when-team-needs-them-most/
plus-24 turnover ratio
Read more at: http://nesn.com/2012/11/patriots-defensive-playmakers-are-finally-emerging-forcing-turnovers-when-team-needs-them-most/
Read more at: http://nesn.com/2012/11/patriots-defensive-playmakers-are-finally-emerging-forcing-turnovers-when-team-needs-them-most/
plus-24 turnover ratio
Read more at: http://nesn.com/2012/11/patriots-defensive-playmakers-are-finally-emerging-forcing-turnovers-when-team-needs-them-most/
Read more at: http://nesn.com/2012/11/patriots-defensive-playmakers-are-finally-emerging-forcing-turnovers-when-team-needs-them-most/
plus-24 turnover ratio
Read more at: http://nesn.com/2012/11/patriots-defensive-playmakers-are-finally-emerging-forcing-turnovers-when-team-needs-them-most/
Read more at: http://nesn.com/2012/11/patriots-defensive-playmakers-are-finally-emerging-forcing-turnovers-when-team-needs-them-most/
Sunday 2 December 2012
NFL playoff picture: NFC
Week 12 saw the NFC playoff picture change once again with some big results. The Giants embarrassed the Packers in a 38-10 blowout; Chicago beat the great pretending Vikings 28-10 whilst Robert Griffin and the Redskins got themselves back in to the hunt with a Thanksgiving Day win over NFC East rivals the Cowboys. After rallying back to a 5-5 record within the last two weeks the Saints fell to 49ers, week 12, and on Thursday night were defeated 23-13 in an NFC South clash meaning they dropped to 5-7 with Drew Brees throwing 5 interceptions on the night! Thankfully for New Orleans and teams like them on losing records the NFC playoff race is so tight that anything is still possible. Remember the Seattle Seahawks in 2011 made the playoffs with a 7-9 record, first time to ever happen, so there is reason for optimism for many. With the rest of week 13's matchups kicking off in a few hours we'll take a look at those who have a shot of reaching the playoffs and predict how the seeding will finish come the end of the regular season.
NFC current standings:
NFC
EAST
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
PCT
|
New York Giants
|
7
|
4
|
0
|
.636
|
Washington Redskins
|
5
|
6
|
0
|
.455
|
Dallas Cowboys
|
5
|
6
|
0
|
.455
|
Philadelphia Eagles
|
3
|
8
|
0
|
.273
|
NFC
NORTH
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
PCT
|
Chicago Bears
|
8
|
3
|
0
|
.727
|
Green Bay Packers
|
7
|
4
|
0
|
.636
|
Minnesota Vikings
|
6
|
5
|
0
|
.545
|
Detroit Lions
|
4
|
7
|
0
|
.364
|
NFC
SOUTH
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
PCT
|
Atlanta Falcons
|
11
|
1
|
0
|
.917
|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
6
|
5
|
0
|
.545
|
New Orleans Saints
|
5
|
7
|
0
|
.417
|
Carolina Panthers
|
3
|
8
|
0
|
.273
|
NFC
WEST
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
PCT
|
San Francisco 49ers
|
8
|
2
|
1
|
.773
|
Seattle Seahawks
|
6
|
5
|
0
|
.545
|
St. Louis Rams
|
4
|
6
|
1
|
.409
|
Arizona Cardinals
|
4
|
7
|
0
|
.364
|
Tough at the top
Three of the four NFC divisional leaders could be replaced at the top come the end of the regular season with only the Atlanta Falcons the certain division champions as they are sitting pretty at 11-1 in the NFC South following their Thursday Night win and they also look set to seal the NFC's number one seed for the playoffs along with a bye week in the first round.
The NFC East may be close but following last Sunday's impressive performance by Eli Manning and the New York Giants against the Packers the defending Super Bowl Champions would realistically wrap up the division with a win against the Redskins on Monday Night. A win for Washington though would open things up especially if Dallas win in week 13 too as then two of the Giant's rivals would only be a game back on them and they have some more hard games coming up.
The 49ers are in control in the West and with two red hot quarterbacks jostling for the starting position it is only a matter of time before they win the West but over in the NFC North we have the Bears (8-3) Vikings (6-5) and Packers (7-4) all battling it out for the division title and a shot at the post-season. With it being so close it is anyone's call, so is the hunt for that elusive bye-week in the playoffs and so is the race for who will get the two wildcard spots in the NFC.
Ultimate Opportunity
Some years you get outright divisional winners and other years you get a battle till the end. The NFC this year seems to be one massive brawl between all the teams in the conference and with only a few weeks remaining in the regular season it appears quite likely that a team finishing with a 9-7 record will sneak in to a wildcard spot which isn't ultimately a bad thing as we know the 9-7 New York Giants went on to win Super Bowl 46.
Speaking of the Giants they could end up as a wildcard team but that looks doubtful. At 7-4 a win over the 5-6 Redskins this week would almost definitely wrap up the NFC East for them but as mentioned previously a loss to RGIII as Washington would open the title race. Either way the Giants will make the playoffs, if the Redskins lose on Monday night it is doubtful that there young team will bounce back. It is literally make or break for Washington as a win would give them the momentum shift they need to push on in their last 4 games and make the post-season. As for Dallas well they are literally an unpredictable team and make to beat the Eagles on Sunday Night to keep their playoff hopes alive, if they do then I believe it will come down to the week 17 matchup against the Redskins with the winner determining who possibly makes in to one the wildcard positions in the NFC. All in all it's all about who can put a run of wins together when it matters most.
The NFC North is very hard to predict. Thankfully for Chicago they started the season well, Jay Cutler has been efficient at quarterback and the defense have performed very well for the majority of the season. They'll hold on and win the division. Green Bay will want to bounce back from their embarrassing defeat to the Giants and I think they'll blowout the Vikings today, Minnesota have had a very good season but they are the great pretenders and with the Packers to play twice along with Chicago once as well as the Texans in four of their final five games the Vikings playoff hopes will take a downward spiral after today
The NFC South seems complicated to some but following the Saints defeat to Atlanta on Thursday I see it playing out simply as with a tough schedule the Saints will try their best but not make the playoffs. With Drew Brees throwing five interceptions in the loss to the Falcons he'll want to make amends for the New Orleans self-destruction on Thursday Night and will grab some wins in the teams remaining games which will include a victory over Tampa Bay. I'm a Josh Freeman fan and this young Buccanneers team have a lot to be proud of but if they lose to the Broncos today they need to beat the Eagles in week 14 ahead of the big road game against the Saints at the Superdome in order to have a shot at the post-season.
Finally we take a look at the West. Divisional leaders, the 49ers, have games against all three of their rivals in their final 5 games but with second year Quarterback Colin Kaepernick in red hot form and San Francisco having the best defense in the league I expect them to sweep those three games. The only matchup they may lose is against the New England Patriots but besides that the 49ers are in prime position to take a bye by wrapping up the second seed in the NFC. The Seahawks have one of the best defenses in the league but injuries and suspensions have come at a back time for Seattle and I see them just missing out on the post-season.
Looking Ahead
So in conclusion with everything I have mentioned above here are the six teams who I believe will make the playoffs with predicted records and seedings.
Seed 1: Atlanta Falcons 13-3
Seed 2: San Francisco 49ers 12-3-1
Seed 3: Chicago Bears - 12-4
Seed 4: New York Giants 11-5
Seed 5: Green Bay Packers 11-5
Seed 6: Washington Redskins 9-7
The Atlanta Falcons have played good football all year round and silenced critics on Thursday Night with a win over divisional rivals the Saints. I can see their final four games splitting if some complacency creeps and the fact that they do have some tough games remaining but overall they'll hold on to the number one seed in the NFC and ensure home field advantage as well as a bye week once the playoffs begin.
The 49ers have hit their stride once again and there only possibly defeat in their remaining games will come against the Patriots. So let's say that is the outcome they will finish with a record of 12-3-1 meaning that they edge out the 12-4 Chicago Bears for the second seed and elusive bye week. The Bears are in a good position at 8-3 ahead of their matchup today against the Seahawks but with tough divisional games on their schedule too they'll have to play in the wildcard round when January comes around.
The Giants may fall to the Redskins on Monday Night Football especially as QB Eli Manning doesn't have the greatest history against the capital's team but New York still wins the NFC east and with their week 12 triumph over the Packers it will give them a game at the MetLife stadium against the Packers in the wildcard week.
Overall I think although the first five teams I have predicted for the playoffs may seem obvious choices whether this be at the start of the season or now it is safe to say you can expect to see them in the playoffs one way or another but the sixth seed is a choice that I've been scratching my head over. After looking at the schedules of the contending teams it hasn't made the decision any easier. I'm a fan of young quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Josh Freeman of the Seahawks and Buccaneers respectively but sadly I think they miss out although with both at 6-5 that prediction will be completely turned on its head if they can win their week 13 matchup as they both have to entertain two Super Bowl contenders so a victory would be a big confidence boost. The more likely outcome is one way or another they fall short, the Saints have too big of a mountain to climb and as for the Cowboys well once again it is too little too late.
To finish here is my bold prediction, Dallas (7-8) will head in to FedEx Field ahead of a week 17 game against the Redskins (8-7) and lose like they did to the Giants in the same scenario a year ago meaning that Robert Griffin and Washington reach the post-season. Thankfully for RGIII and co a 24-22 week 4 win over Tampa Bay is what keeps the 9-7 Buccaneers out of the playoffs. There's something extremely special about Griffin and the Colts' Andrew Luck so I think they'll both get a chance to set the playoffs alight in their rookie seasons in the NFL.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)