Broncos vs Patriots: Manning vs Brady XVI

Tomorrow sees the 16th installment in the legendary rivalry between two of the greatest quarterbacks to play the game and as always there are high stakes when Peyton Manning's Denver Broncos go head to head against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

With the Patriots on a four game winning streak they have been resurgent after a slow start to the 2014 season but now find themselves at 6-2 after a 2-2 start and with a chance to place themselves in the first seed position for the playoffs if they manage to defeat Denver tomorrow. The Broncos are also on a 4 game winning streak so they will walk in to Gillette Stadium full of confidence especially having beaten the Patriots when the two teams last met in last seasons AFC Championship game.

That victory in January avenged the demons of a 34-31 comeback victory by Brady's Patriots earlier in that season when New England rallied from a 24-0 halftime deficit to knock off the Broncos in their own back yard but with Denver's 26-16 postseason victory a couple of months after that encounter just mentioned Manning tied his head to head postseason record against Brady to 2-2 all-time.

Unfortunately for Peyton history does suggest that the Patriots could well come out as the victors tomorrow with Brady holding a 10-5 all-time winning record over his old foe. With New England's huge 51-23 win over Chicago last Sunday this team is slowly moving through the gears week by week and finding ways to win after winning a narrow one against the Jets 27-25 the week before and knocking off the Bills in their own backyard 37-22.

With a bye week next week for the Patriots a win tomorrow against Denver would set them up perfectly for their remaining 7 games and allow them to focus on their tough tasks ahead as they go in search of claiming home field advantage for the playoffs; something that would definitely benefit the Patriots if they have to play the Broncos in the postseason as taking Peyton Manning out of Mile High stadium would work huge favours for New England.

The most intriguing aspect of tomorrow's matchup is the improved fortunes of both of these teams defenses and that is what makes this game a lot more interesting in comparison to the other meetings we've seen between these two teams in recent years. The Patriots may be without their best pass rusher in Chandler Jones but have made two additions at linebacker before the trade deadline this past Tuesday to cover for the season ending injury to Jerod Mayo and also possess the number one pass defense in the league.

Manning vs Brady Round 16

That will be put to the test by what many considering to be the most devastating offense in the NFL and one that has added a versatile running back to its armory in recent weeks to go along with the ridiculously effective passing game that Manning has going on in Denver. Peyton is tied with Andrew Luck for the most touchdowns in the league with 22 but has to just 3 interceptions to the third years 9. Manning's efficiency will be vital to any success the Broncos want to have tomorrow especially going up against a Bill Belichick defense that thrives on forcing turnovers. 

The Patriots are tied for 7th in the league with 10 forced fumbles and have recovered 8 which leaves them tied for 2nd in that category. They are also tied 8th in interceptions with 8 and 9th in sacks with 21 so you can tell that the Pats defense has been playing at a very high level. Star cornerback Darrelle Revis is back to his superstar best challenging receivers at the line of scrimmage and has locked down star studded wideouts such as AJ Green and Brandon Marshall along with rookie sensation Sammy Watkins in the first half of this season.

Add Revis to a secondary that includes the likes of Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Kyle Arrington, Logan Ryan along with the return of Brandon Browner who made a massive personal improvement last week against the Bears following his debut against the Jets and it is clear to see this team has talent. That is not even including the players at the front of the D such as Dont'a Hightower, Jamie Collins, Rob Ninkovich and Vince Wilfork who are all key contributors to the success of this unit.

They in particular will need to step up in Chandler Jones' absence who is arguably the Patriots best all round defensive player. As for the Broncos defense well they aren't exactly slouches themselves after adding the likes of DeMarcus Ware, TJ Ward and Aqib Talib who left the Patriots for Denver this past offseason. Denver's defense ranks high in key categories too; 6th in sacks with 23, 13th in interceptions with 7 but they are a lowly 31st in forced fumbles with 3 and just one recovery.

On paper despite Brady's historical upper hand over Manning as well as the drastic improvements this Patriots offense has made week by week the Broncos offense is still edges that of New England and I feel that the outcome of this game will be decided by who wins out of the Patriots defense and Broncos offense when these two units go up against each other tomorrow.

As mentioned earlier Manning has 22 TD's to just 3 picks and a host of weapons with the dynamic duo of Julius and Demaryius Thomas with the two having hauled in 15 of Peyton's 22 scores this season. The other 7 are with Emmanuel Sanders who had 3 last week against the Chargers, 4 on the year, along with Jacob Tamme (2) and Wes Welker with just the one this season. Add that with running back Ronnie Hillman, he has broke on the scene in Montee Ball's absence, who has 347 yards and 2 touchdowns in his past 4 games then you can begin to evaluate just how good this Denver offense is.

But as we know the Patriots offense is not looking too shabby either after fantastic performance after performance in October which ended with Tom Brady being announced AFC offensive Player of the month. Brady had a 129.1 passer rating, with 1,268 yards and 14 touchdowns in those 4 Patriots victories and personally I feel this has propelled him in to the MVP conversation along with Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, DeMarco Murray and JJ Watt.

Brady completed 30 of 35 passing attempts for 354 yards and 5 touchdowns last week leaving him with a quarterback rating of 148.4. Rob Gronkowski had 9 catches for 149 receiving yards and 3 TD's and has definitely got back to his devastating best as Gronk now has 7 touchdowns this season leaving him tied for 4th. Brandon LaFell has also built up fantastic rapport with Brady and has 4 touchdowns on the year with 1 last week hauling in 124 yards in the process.

Ever since that Monday Night meltdown against the Chiefs all Brady and co have done is prove the doubters wrong. Anyone who did doubt Tom Brady's abilities is quite frankly an idiot but he did what any fantastic player does and that was silence his critics on the field. The change in fortunes has brought a breath of fresh air along with hope in New England. Brady now has 18 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions on the year which ranks him 5th only behind Manning, Luck, Rivers and Rodgers.

Now that the Patriots have solved offensive line issues and the offense is performing at a high level you would have to say they are one of the best teams in the league due to their all round talent on defense, offense and special teams. Despite the loss of Stevan Ridley on the ground Shane Vereen has continued to be a brilliant weapon for Brady in the running and passing game and is the type of versatile player that Brady and Belichick love.

Vereen has one rushing touchdown for 281 yards giving him a 4.8 average and two receiving touchdowns for 208 yards. Jonas Gray was added to the running game fold last week and put in an impressive debut with the big bodied back racking up 98 yards off 20 carries averaging 4.9 yards a carry. If he can continue to impress he will be the Patriots' equivalent of Denver's Ronnie Hillman and a well welcomed running game addition to a team that possess one of the most efficient passing games in the NFL.

Gronk (7), LaFell (4), Vereen (2), Amendola (1) and Tyms (1) are the recepients of Brady's passing scores this year but the guy who has been particularly important to the improvements of the passing game is Gronks new tight end partner Tim Wright. He possesses the other 3 Brady touchdown scores and Wright's addition to the offense has given Brady a new tight end duo threat to trouble opposing offenses which has given Brady and the Pats offense to get all of these offensive players mentioned involved.

The rewards are key to see and after analysing both Denver and New England's offenses tomorrows game will be a mouth watering encounter especially as we know the quality of both sides defenses as well. Personally I feel this is the most exciting regular season game since the November 7th encounter in the 2007 season when the 8-0 Patriots faced off against Manning's 7-0 Colts. Despite the quality of both offenses both defenses can force mistakes in the opposing offenses and that is why I feel that it will be a nail biting game for fans of both teams that will end in a close one. I will go out on a limb and say that the Patriots get a repeat of that close win back in 07 and triumph over the Broncos 24-20 setting up a thrilling race for the first seed position come playoff time!

The End Of An Era? Bengals vs Patriots

Following last Monday's humiliation at Arrowhead Stadium the New England Patriots and Tom Brady in particular have come under a lot of criticism. Last week was one of Tom Brady's worst ever performance in the NFL with the future hall of fame quarterback finishing the game sitting on the sidelines looking deflated and just pure angry.

But you see this is when Tom Brady always brings out his best, right in the face of adversity. We all know this fairytale story; drafted as the 199th pick in round 6 back in the 2000 draft to then go on and move up the depth chart from 4th string quarterback all the way to beating out the well established Drew Bledsoe and then go on to new unthinkable heights as Brady made a massive contribution to the Patriots dynasty that won 3 Super Bowl titles in 4 years (2001 season, 2003 and 2004)

Since then he has only furthered his legacy making two more Super Bowl's, winning MVP awards in 2007 and 2010, most playoff wins as a quarterback with 18 playoff wins among many other records so yes the list is endless. Now I or any other NFL fanatic could sit here all day praising Tom Brady's abilities but after last Monday's blowout defeat to the Chiefs the question is that is there any more magic left from Tom Terrific?

Tom Terrific has it all to prove again starting with tonight

Well I say yes there is but there are definitely more concerns around this Patriot's offense now then there have been over the past decade. 2nd year wide-out Kenbrell Thompkins was released yesterday which leaves the receiving core with Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Aaron Dobson and Brandon LaFell along with special teams specialist Matthew Slater and undrafted free agent Brian Tyms who remains inactive.

Edelman is a fantastic receiver but when your best receiver is a former high school quarterback that says it all. Amendola was supposed to be the second coming of Amendola but the realistic scenario happened with him being a flop. Dobson has a lot of potential but injuries have haunted him over this first quarter of the season and I personally feel like LaFell is building up a good rapport with Brady albeit rather slow; he was one of if not the only positive from last week's loss in Kansas.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski remains Brady best and most reliable weapon in this offense as he is a superstar when healthy but unfortunately he'll take time to get back to his best. Brady is not surrounded with the weapons that Peyton Manning has right now in Denver but Colts fans from the past will say Brady had better weapons at his disposal when the two use to face of years ago. That debate is for another day but one things for sure Tom Brady is a man who is known for making average receivers look good.

Sadly for Brady you can't do that when you have a depleted offensive line and the play-calling is terrible. Josh McDaniels was using Vereen as a 3 down back last week which was horrible as every Patriot knows his skills come off screen and trick plays. While I have criticised running back Stevan Ridley in the past there are no denying this young mans talents; he finished last season with 10 touchdowns in the regular season and 2 in the divisional round playoff win against the Colts.

The Patriots need to establish a running game to take the pressure off Brady as at the moment opposing defenses are not afraid of the passing game and a talented group like Cincinnati will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing New England tonight. Despite 9 out of 10 people ruling the Patriots out tonight I personally think they will bounce back and win tonight as the Pats defense has so much talent and will put in a much better performance than last week which will provide a platform for the rest of the team to believe again.

Brady may not have the weapons that everyone believes he deserves but that can't be changed and the Patriots just need to get on with it. Once the team has a offensive line that is starting together regularly then they'll hope that in time it will come good. Many people will be choosing the Bengals to walk in to Gillette stadium and win tonight but I remember last season when the 4-0 Patriots walked in to Paul Brown Stadium against the 2-2 Bengals with all the praise in the world being heaped on the Patriots only for them to lose 13-6 in a game which was contested in monsoon like weather.

A year later and now the tables have turned with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick saying in his press conference that "They [The Bengals] have a lot of good players. They're well-coached. They're tough, they're physical, they're explosive. It's been a while since I've seen a team that's as complete as they are." so yes tonight will be a heavy challenge but the turnover in who is the top dogs in the NFL is what makes it so exciting to watch. That is why Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots deserve so much credit for the level of consistency they have shown for over the past 10 years. They thrive off adversity and will take it head on when it's right in their face, some people say good things can't last forever well I think tonight will prove otherwise and whether it's ugly or pretty the Patriots will move on to 3-2 and leave the Bengals at 3-1 come the end of Sunday Night Football.

Prediction: Bengals 24-27 Patriots

The good, the bad and the ugly

                                                    The Good!

Brady looking happy after the Pats blowout Pittsburgh

                                                      The Bad!

Brady curses after the refs miss a PI call against the Panthers

                                                      The Ugly!

The Pats welcome Manning's forehead to Gillette Stadium on Sunday Night Football

The New England Patriots headed in to their bye week in full spirits after a huge 55-31 win over the Steelers which saw them put up their most impressive offensive display in this 2013 season. With an extra week to prepare for the high flying Panthers it made Monday Night's matchup intriguing and it didn't disappoint as the game went down to the final play with the refs deciding there was no foul on the field when clearly Rob Gronkowski should have had a pass interference call for this:

with the ball in the air you can clearly see Gronk is being held

More evidence to confirm the bad call

The Patriots should have had one shot to win the game but it wasn't to be. The beauty of the NFL is the twist and turns even if sometimes things are so blindingly obvious. After a bye week New England were 10-3 under coach Belichick and on Monday Night Football Tom Brady had a 13-4 record before this defeat. There shouldn't be any shame in this defeat though as the Patriots came up against one of the best front sevens in the league yet they showed they are improving and that when healthy their offense can cause problems for any opposing defenses.

Next up for the Brady bunch is the visit of the Denver Broncos which means we will get the 14th installment of Tom Brady vs Peyton Manning on this weeks episode of Sunday Night Football! The argument over who is better has been a debate that has continued for over a decade and tomorrow nights game will add further fuel to the fire. Brady currently holds a 9-4 record over Manning in their head to head with Brady also holding a 6-2 record over Peyton in games played in New England. Brady has thrown 23 touchdowns to 12 interceptions in their meetings to Mannings' 27 TD's and 19 picks.

Tom Brady has three Super Bowl rings from five appearances in the big game while Peyton Manning has one win and one loss whereas Peyton Manning has four regular season MVP awards to Brady's two. In the playoffs Tom Brady has a fantastic record with 17 wins and 7 losses to Peyton Manning's not so impressive 9 victories and 11 losses which is impressive from Terrific Tom's corner when you consider he has started four more playoff games than Peyton too.

Generally speaking if you had to choose between the two 90% of people would probably accept flipping a coin and taking either because both are two of if not the two greatest quarterbacks to play in the NFL. Brady has Manning's number to a degree but that doesn't mean Peyton won't cause Brady any problems whether that be this Sunday or up until their careers end. In regards to Sunday night's game it will be a mouthwatering encounter as the 9-1 Broncos have looked unstoppable at times this season but you have to take in to account that the Patriots have an amazing record after a loss over these last 6 plus years having won 23 of 26.

The 2013 Broncos offense is devastating as Manning has many weapons from Moreno in the running game to Welker, Decker and Demaryius Thomas in his receiving core and that's not even mentioning breakout star at the tight-end position Julius Thomas. Whilst their defence might let them down at times thankfully for Denver they have the potential to outscore any opponent. New England on the other hand has found ways to grind out victories this season despite many key injuries on defense and an offensive group which has talent but also young or just new players to the system. Now that Danny Amendola, Rob Gronkowski and the versatile Shane Vereen have returned we have seen a real improvement from Tom Brady and this offense plus when you take it to account the talent of rookies Aaron Dobson and Kenbrell Thompkins then you can only imagine how much this offense could improve which will strike fear in to opponents with the playoffs really and truthfully only just around the corner.

Despite the defensive injuries to the likes of Jerod Mayo and Vince Wilfork the Patriots still rank 7th in the league in the least yardage given up which is a good sign for New England especially when you consider Peyton Manning's woes in cold weather games (below 30 degrees): 7 games, 2-5 record, 8 touchdowns to 8 interceptions and a passer rating of 75.8. This is in comparison to Tom Brady who has played 35 games in below 30 degrees in which he has won 33 and lost just 2 throwing 67 touchdowns to 22 interceptions leaving him with a passer rating of 91.2

Not only is information like this crucial to tomorrow's game but it is key to the rest of the season because come the playoffs we know Tom Brady can get it done whatever the weather and despite the high expectations Tom, Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft set you have to admit that there is probably less expectations on them this year when you weigh up everything that has happened. As for the Broncos well Peyton Manning's window for a second ring is closing and when you consider the talent he has around him well you have to say that expectations are sky high for all those involved with the franchise.

Tomorrow's game could have big implications in regards to who gets the home field advantage in the postseason and personally I feel it is more crucial to Denver although even a defeat tomorrow would mean that they could regain control of the first seed and the AFC West with a second victory against the Chiefs next weekend. When you consider that the last three Super Bowl winners, and six of the last eight, opened their title run with a win on wild-card weekend you can play down the importance of gaining a bye in the playoffs as arguably it "kills momentum" but this won't be in either teams mindsets as the world will be watching to see who comes out victorious when Tom Brady and Peyton Manning go head to head once again... Who knows folks we could well see segment 15 of this classic tale in the playoffs come the turn of the year!

Then there's the Patriots' amazing record after a loss the last 6-plus years, winning 23 of 26. Gotta roll with Tommy
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20131122_Brady__Patriots_will_send_Manning__Broncos_back_to_earth.html#hSsXZaWJXZVIvH6B.99

Then there's the Patriots' amazing record after a loss the last 6-plus years, winning 23 of 26. Gotta roll with Tommy
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20131122_Brady__Patriots_will_send_Manning__Broncos_back_to_earth.html#hSsXZaWJXZVIvH6B.99

Then there's the Patriots' amazing record after a loss the last 6-plus years, winning 23 of 26. Gotta roll with Tommy
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20131122_Brady__Patriots_will_send_Manning__Broncos_back_to_earth.html#hSsXZaWJXZVIvH6B.99

Then there's the Patriots' amazing record after a loss the last 6-plus years, winning 23 of 26. Gotta roll with Tommy
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20131122_Brady__Patriots_will_send_Manning__Broncos_back_to_earth.html#hSsXZaWJXZVIvH6B.99

Week 4 predictions:

Last week I got 8/16 correct giving me a 50% success rate but I did well on quite a few scores; Have a look here.

Week 3 saw some upsets and some surprise performances so what can we expect from week 4? Let's have a look at all of Sunday's week 4 games with my predictions for each match:


(2-1) Baltimore Ravens vs Buffalo Bills (1-2)

The Baltimore Ravens have quietly gone about their business after a heavy week one defeat to the Denver Broncos. Three weeks later and the team has won two on the bounce with the Ravens heading in to a week 4 road-trip to Buffalo hoping to make it three straight victories.

Last week saw Baltimore knock off the Texans 30-9 in a game which many people had Houston to win but that wasn't to be. Special teams came up big for the Ravens on a day where defenses were on top with early signs suggesting it was going to be a low scoring encounter. Neither quarterback threw a touchdown pass with both offenses struggling to get it going.

Heading in to week 4 the Ravens will be happy to be above .500 as they look to keep up with the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North and Baltimore will fancy their chances of moving to 3-1 against a Bills team which fell to the New York Jets last week.

The Bills have the fastest offense in the league with an average of 21.4 seconds per play but will this be enough for them to overcome the Ravens? I doubt it but the Bills are making progress and we saw how they made it difficult for the Patriots when they visited Ralph Wilson Stadium for the opening game of the season. This Ravens team is still adjusting to a new era but the teething problems won't be too sore when they face Buffalo and even if it ends up being a close game expect the Ravens to find a way to grind out the win

Score Prediction: Ravens 20-14 Bills


(2-1) Cincinnati Bengals vs Cleveland Browns (1-2)

Despite some heroics from Brian Hoyer and the Browns last weekend they came up against a lacklustre Minnesota Vikings who have failed to find their feet in 2013. That is not taking anything away from Cleveland but in week 4 they face a focused Bengals team who are coming to town on the back of a fantastic display against the Packers which saw them win 34-30.

The Bengals would be silly to take this game as a gimme especially as it is a divisional rival matchup but they should really take care of business as they look to prove that they are taking a step forward this year.

The offense and defense came up big last week against Green Bay so you can expect the same against the Browns. It is safe to say that Cleveland may not have given up on their season after all and Brian Hoyer has a point to prove after being given the starting job. This game may well be closer than most expect but it seems more than likely that the Bengals will win their third straight game.

Score Prediction: Bengals 24-13 Browns


(3-0) Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions (2-1)

This game could have a lot of playoff implications even if it is so early on in this season. NFC North clashes are never boring and Calvin Johnson added fuel to the flame when he said it is easy to dislike the Bears ahead of Sunday's clash.

Chicago is unbeaten after three successive wins but the trip to Ford Field will not be easy. Jay Cutler has been releasing the ball very quickly this year and that has helped cut out the mistakes with the quarterback throwing 6 touchdowns to 3 interceptions so far which leaves him 10th in league with a passer rating of 94.2.

The Chicago defense is looking good and Matt Forte has proven himself on the ground again as well as made sure he has been a receiving threat out of the back field. The Lions will fancy their chances though after bouncing back from a week 2 defeat against the Cardinals to knock off Washington 27-20 last week meaning they moved to 2-1.

Detroit ranks 4th in net yards per game 410.7 and will expose any lapses in the Chicago defense. Lions QB Matthew Stafford has defied any critics so far this season by throwing for 6 touchdowns to just 2 interceptions in his first 3 games. The improvement in the Lions' running game thanks to Bell and Bush has helped take the pressure off from Stafford's shoulders plus he has targeted other receiving weapons besides Megatron.

The Bears seem more disciplined so far in 2013 but the Lions seem to have matured so that is what makes this game so hard to call. With the Lions at home I'm going to say they end the Bears' unbeaten start to the season and really shake things up within the division which would be good news for the Green Bay Packers.

Score Prediction: Bears 27-30 Lions


(3-0) Seattle Seahawks vs Houston Texans (2-1)

Despite being at home the Texans are slight underdogs after being blown out by the Ravens last week. They would have been hoping that the Colts lost to the 49ers last week so that if they lost this week it would have ensured they were on an even record with their AFC South rivals if they won this week but the Colts got the win in week 3.

With the Seattle Seahawks looking like a new animal in 2013 Houston will not be looking forward to welcoming them to Reliant Stadium when the two teams meet tomorrow. Seattle are looking to improve on their 3-5 regular season record on the road from last year so tomorrow will be a good test especially as they go up against a good Texans defense.

Despite the fact that the Texans have a talented defense they have failed to rise to expectation so far this year which can't be said for Seattle as they have certainly lived up to their billing as the best defense in the league with the Seahawks only giving up 27 points in their first three matches.

Seattle's defense has been on top form in 2013 and on offense second year quarterback Russell Wilson has been very efficient throwing 6 touchdowns to only 2 interceptions so far this year which has led to a passer rating of 109.6.

While the Texans will have Andre Johnson back for Sunday they'll need DeAndre Hopkins to come up big if they are to trouble the Seattle secondary. The Texans won't be pushed over but the Seahawks have been very impressive this season so I expect them to react to the Niners victory on Thursday night by claiming this road win meaning they remain undefeated and move on to a 4-0 record.

Score Prediction: Seattle 31-17 Texans


(2-1) Indianapolis Colts vs Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3)

The Indianapolis Colts limited Jim Harbaugh's 49ers to just 7 points as Colts quarterback Andrew Luck claimed victory in his first meeting with his former high school head coach. Luck was efficient despite not throwing a passing touchdown with the QB completing 17 of his 26 pass attempts.

He came up with a critical rushing score when it was 13-7 late in the 4th quarter to put the Colts up 20-7. The Colts showed determination and a new found belief with new running back Trent Richardson combining well with Ahmad Bradshaw as both backs rushed for a touchdown a piece.

The Jaguars will be dreading the visit of the Colts after defeat to the Raiders last week meant they have now lost three in a row. The only thing Jacksonville appears to have to look forward to is the trip to London in 3 weeks but even then that pits them up against the 49ers which may mean a sour trip when they fly across the pond later in October.

With the Colts firing on all cylinders on both sides of the ball the defense of Indianapolis will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing the Jags whilst Andrew Luck and co on offense will be relishing the chance of putting up big numbers and that is what I expect to happen. The Colts will leave Florida with the victory and a 3-1 record leaving the Jags rooted to the bottom of the AFC South.

Score Prediction: Colts 27-9 Jaguars


(0-3) New York Giants vs Kansas City Chiefs (3-0)

This game for some reason is a tough call for me. The Chiefs defense has been very impressive so far this year with their front seven causing problems and that would seem to be the perfect recipe for defeating the Giants when you consider the fact that Giants QB Eli Manning has thrown 8 interceptions in just three games.

Alex Smith has been efficient and this Kansas offense is starting to jell together but despite some early season woes the Giants defense can still cause problems with the pass rush and could catch the Chiefs by surprise especially if any complacency creeps in.

In all honesty Chiefs head coach will not allow complacency to come in to play but there is only so much a head coach can do as once the players get on the field it is down to them to get the job done. At 0-3 the Giants need to win to have any chance of saving their season even if it appears the chances of doing that are oh so slim right now.

We know that the Giants perform well when they have a chip on their shoulder and although I personally believe their season is over in terms of making the playoffs I do think that they will upset the Chiefs tomorrow by getting a win on the road. This Chiefs team is still growing accustom to being a winning team and the Giants team will not want to become accustomed to being a losing team so I think tomorrow will be one of the shocks of the weekend as Big Blue comes out with the W in a close one.

Score Prediction: Giants 21-17 Chiefs


(0-3) Pittsburgh Steelers vs Minnesota Vikings (0-3)

Both the Steelers and Vikings have flown over to London for the seventh game in the international series with both hoping to make the trip a memorable one by recording a first win of the season.

With both teams lacking any real spark so far this year it is hard to make a case for either winning tomorrow which weirdly enough will be a good for the Wembley crowd as they should see a close hard fought match.

Ben Roethlisberger and Adrian Peterson will both be looking to help their respective teams seal the win tomorrow afternoon but who will actually get the job done? The Steelers offensive line has been awful and when you throw that in with an abysmal running game as well as limited receiving options it doesn't bode well for Big Ben and the Steelers.

It would have been fitting for Big Ben to grab the win with Big Ben itself only round the corner but I think that the Vikings get this win thanks to Christian Ponder's rib injury. Matt Cassel will start at quarterback tomorrow for the Vikings instead of Ponder and I expect him to make the most of the opportunity. My bold prediction is Cassel throwing the game winning touchdown pass to Greg Jennings along with Adrian Peterson lighting it up in the running game for the sold-out Wembley Stadium to enjoy.

Score Prediction: Steelers 21-27 Vikings


(1-2) Arizona Cardinals vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3)

The Buccaneers had playoff aspirations at the start of the season but unfortunately for them even a blockbuster trade for Darrelle Revis has failed to help Tampa Bay this season.

Josh Freeman appear to be on his way out after a falling out with Bucs head coach Greg Schiano which has led to the former starter demanding a trade. Tomorrow Tampa will start with rookie Mike Glennon as their quarterback but it could be a rough day for the former North Carolina State man as the Cardinals defense could cause havoc on him at the rest of the Buccaneers offense.

Arizona will be looking to bounce back from a 31-7 defeat to the Saints last week and improve on offense after a bad day at the office. New head coach Bruce Arians hasn't done too bad for the Cardinals as he has restored some hope in the fans but the project has just become and Carson Palmer is not a long term fix at the quarterback position for the franchise.

In spite of that Palmer has made wideout Larry Fitzgerald a viable threat again which is not good news for Tampa Bay. With their opposition already lingering around the self-destruct button I think the Cardinals will win tomorrow and pile the misery on Tampa Bay.

Score Prediction: Cardinals 19-13 Buccaneers


(2-1) New York Jets vs Tennessee Titans (2-1)

The Jets and the Titans have both got off to good starts of the season to the surprise of many. The Titans will host the Jets tomorrow with both looking to rack up their third win of the season and stay in contention within their respective divisions.

The Jets know that their two AFC East rivals have tough games while the Titans know a win tomorrow ensures they remain at least tied for first in the AFC South.

My prediction between the Jets and Bills last week came down to a coin toss as I couldn't decide who would win. It ended up with New York winning and me being wrong but this week I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the Jets win just because of their defense.

The Jets D has looked solid so far this season and will cause problems for the Titans. As long as Geno Smith and the Jets' offense doesn't collapse then Rex Ryan's team will grind out the win in a close one.

Score Prediction: Jets 17-13 Titans


(1-2) Philadelphia Eagles vs Denver Broncos (3-0)

After a week one victory over Washington the Philadelphia Eagles have lost back to back games and now they go on the road in what seems to be mission impossible in facing the Denver Broncos. The Broncos have scored 127 points in their first three games as the team have put on an offense clinic with their explosiveness tearing apart the Ravens, Giants and Raiders in recent weeks.

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning now has an incredible 12 touchdowns heading in to week 4 and is still yet to throw an interception; His passer rating is 134.7. Manning also have the highest pass competition percentage with 73% as well as the most passing yards with 1143! It is clear to see Manning is enjoying having an outstanding cast of receivers such as Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker and Wes Welker as well as forming a formidable partnership with tight end Julius Thomas.

The Broncos running game as well as its defense have also contributed largely to the team's success which doesn't bode well for the Eagles as their isn't many weaknesses on show that they could obviously try and target in order to try to pull off an upset. The Eagles are 1-2 and will attempt to put their fast paced offense to use at high altitude when they play at Mile High tomorrow.

That may be the downfall for Michael Vick and the Eagles offense as they are still trying to get to grips with Chip Kelly's new style offense. They have adjusted well and were only narrowly beaten by the Chiefs in week 3 but the challenge they face in the shape of the Broncos appears to be one they will likely fail to overcome meaning that the Broncos roll on to 4-0. The question on everyone's minds will be can Peyton Manning avoid throwing a pick tomorrow as he looks to continue his MVP type start to the 2013 season.

Score Prediction: Eagles 24-41 Broncos


(0-3) Washington Redskins vs Oakland Raiders (1-2)

The Washington Redskins were unfortunate to lose to Detroit in a hard fought battle last week 27-20. RGIII still looks out of sorts and it appears that the Redskins' season will not endure a spectacular turnaround like 2012.

The Raiders on the other hand gave the Broncos a fight despite losing by 16 points in week 3's edition of Monday Night Football. Considering that the Redskins have failed to deal with the run this year it bodes well for Darren McFadden and the Raiders but the Redskins will not want to walk out of the Bay Arena 0-4.

RGIII may not look like being close to being back to his best but with each game he plays he is gaining slow strides in regaining his confidence in the pocket as well as rushing himself. The Raiders will try and pressure Griffin like all opposing defenses who face Washington but I feel that Alfred Morris will come up big tomorrow for the road team.

This will be crucial to any success the Redskins hope to have tomorrow and if he does perform to the high standard we know he can then the Washington offense could finally get something going. If so they will get the monkey off their back and claim a first win of the 2013 season leaving both teams with a 1-3 record when it is all said and done tomorrow.

Score Prediction: Redskins 24-17 Raiders


(2-1) Dallas Cowboys vs San Diego Chargers (1-2)

The Dallas Cowboys were very impressive last week as they claimed a 31-7 blowout victory over the St. Louis Rams with quarterback Tony Romo completing 17/24 passes for 3 touchdowns and 210 yards. DeMarco Murray also rushed for an outstanding 175 yards and a score from 26 carries on the day. Murray is now on 286 rushing yards for the year.

It is clear to see when he gets it going he adds a different dimension to this Cowboys offense whilst giving a new lease of life to the team. The new effective running game has helped take the pressure of Tony Romo which is something he has needed for years and it has reaped the rewards with the QB ranking second in the league in the pass completion category with a percentage of 72.2%. Romo has 6 touchdowns and just 1 interception from his first three games along with a passer rating of 103.9; third in the NFL.

The 2-1 Dallas Cowboys look like they could go a long way this year based on their early season form but the trip to face the San Diego Chargers will not be an easy task. Chargers QB Phillip Rivers has been in fine form as well with 8 touchdowns to just 1 interception so far this year and a passer rating of 116.2 leaving him 2nd in the NFL.

With both QB's having various offensive weapons at their disposal from the likes of Dez Bryant of Dallas to Eddie Royal of the Chargers it promises to be a great matchup when these two face off on Sunday. The Cowboys lost by a point on their last road trip when they faced the Chiefs and considering they are coming off a huge victory last week you would have to back them to win again tomorrow. San Diego will cause problems for Dallas; I feel that whichever team gets their running game going will stand a great chance but in terms of a prediction I'm going for a Cowboys win.

Score Prediction: Cowboys 24-20 Chargers


(3-0) New England Patriots vs Atlanta Falcons (1-2)

Sunday Night Football this week brings us a mouth-watering matchup when the New England Patriots go on the road to face the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Atlanta are 1-2 after being upset by the Dolphins last weekend and will be looking to make amends against their AFC East counterparts tomorrow night.

The Falcons are in need of victory when you consider the fact that if they lose tomorrow and the Saints beat Miami on Monday they will be three games back and in theory four as they lost to New Orleans when the two AFC South rivals faced off against each other on the opening week of the season.

The good news for Atlanta is it looks like Julio Jones will play but the Patriots defense has had a very impressive start to the season as they rank second in points allowed, 11.3 per game, along with being tied for eight in total defense, 309 yards per game. As well as that they are yet to concede a point in the fourth quarter of a game this season.

While that may change tomorrow night the Patriots defense will be hard to break down and that will give Tom Brady and his new look receiving core a chance of winning. Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola won't play tomorrow night Brady's rapport is improving with the likes of Dobson and Thompkins while Julian Edelman is gaining the future hall of fame quarterbacks trust week by week. Although Tom Brady may only have a passer rating of 79.4 he has only thrown 2 interceptions this year he has 5 touchdowns to his name and the pass completion percentage will improve week by week as the offense gets better.

Improving on their red zone woes and having a successful night on the ground will be the decisive factor in whether New England can come out on top tomorrow as they look to remain undefeated and move to 4-0. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have faced many tough Sunday Night games over the years so despite it being tough to call you can expect them to guide the Patriots to victory over Matt Ryan and the Falcons in a close game that could potentially go down as a classic!

Score Prediction: Patriots 28-27 Falcons

Thursday Night Football: Week 3

Chiefs vs Eagles:

Both new head coaches have settled in well for their respective franchises which makes for a mouth watering encounter on Thursday Night Football. Last year both of these teams had poor seasons but 2013 looks bright for both Kansas City and Philadelphia.

Andy Reid returns to his old hunting ground where he coached the Eagles for 14 years before departing after a disappointing 2013 season. Reid will forever have fond memories of his time in Philly as he helped take the team to six NFC East titles, five NFC Championship Game appearences and one Super Bowl which ended in defeat.  He will lead his 2-0 Chiefs team in to Lincoln Financial Field hoping to knock off the new looks Eagles who are led by Chip Kelly.

Kelly's offensive genius has been a breath of fresh air to the Eagles and he has helped Michael Vick recapture the type of form many people had forgotten he was capable off. Vick threw 428 passing yards and two touchdowns in the 33-30 week 2 defeat to the Chargers as well as 203 yards and two touchdowns in the 33-27 week one win over the Redskins. It is well known the Vick's downfall was his turnover ratio but he has thrown no interceptions in his first two starts under Kelly and lost just one fumble. On the ground he rushed for 34 yards and a touchdown from 5 carries vs the Chargers and had 54 yards with a touchdown from 9 carries during the opening weekend.

His 38/61 completed passes is a welcomed site personally and for everyone involved with the Eagles but can they get the in a high stakes emotional matchup so early in the season? This Eagles offense suits the up tempo style Chip Kelly has implemented as it utilizes the threats of running back LeSean McCoy who has had a monster start to the season as well as dynamic receiver DeSean Jackson. Jackson has hauled in 297 yards and two touchdowns already this year so if he can continue this good start with Vick and McCoy then the Eagles could be a surprise package in 2013.

With that being said it is early days and the same can be said for the Chiefs who have matched their 2012 win tally already this season with two straight wins so far in 2013. Alex Smith is thriving in his new environment with the QB yet to throw an interception and helping the Chiefs improve on clock management whilst bringing the best out of their receiving corpse. Jammal Charles has also contributed in both of the teams win and you could argue that Charles Vs McCoy is just as important as Smith Vs Vick come tomorrow night.

The Chiefs first win was straight forward over the Jags but the week 2 win over Dallas showed they have the metal to contend for a spot in the post-season this year. Victory for either team would be beneficial and although it is early days it could go a long way come the end of the regular season. It will be a close call my bold prediction is that you can expect both quarterbacks to throw their first interceptions of the year.

I feel the emotions of facing Andy Reid may be too much for certain players within the Eagles' ranks and keeping their emotions in check will be crucial to any success the Eagles hope to have tomorrow night. As for the result well I'm going to stick my neck out and choose the Chiefs. It will be a close game but I think their defense is more likely to cause turnovers than Philly's which will give Alex Smith the opportunity to manage the game and get Kansas the win on the road with the QB throwing at least two touchdowns tomorrow night.

Predicted Result: Kansas City 27-24 Philadelphia Eagles

NFC East Preview

The NFC East is one of the most competitive divisions in the national football league and if 2013 it is anyone's guess as to who will win the division. Since 2005 it has been a bit of a dogfight as the division has seen all four of its teams claim the title at least once; the Giants lead the way with 3, then the Cowboys and Eagles have two whilst the Redskins claimed the divisional crown last year on the final game of the regular season. Since 2005 only the New York Giants have won a Super Bowl from the NFC East and have managed to triumph on two occasions since then whereas the Philadelphia Eagles have never won the Super Bowl despite dominating the NFC east 2001-2004 where they won four consecutive division titles but fell at the final hurdle at Super Bowl XXXIX; note the Patriots played against the Giants twice and the Eagles in the three Super Bowl's mentioned.

An already tough division has been made harder by the fact that the NFC East will face off against the NFC North this season. With the 2013 NFL season kicking off soon let us take a look at each team's chances within the NFC East:

Dallas Cowboys:

Last season saw Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys lose again on the penultimate game of the regular season when they defeated 28-18 on the road against the Washington Redskins. The defeat was tough to swallow for the franchise considering they lost in similar circumstances the year before to the New York Giants meaning that for two seasons in a row the franchise missed out on the playoffs by the skin of their teeth.

The Cowboys have finished 8-8 the past two seasons so they will be looking to go one step further by posting a winning record and clinching the division. Although the team are 22-26 since they last went to the playoffs and despite the fact that many people consider them chokers down the stretch following recent big game losses head coach Jason Garret and quarterback Tony Romo in particular have a chip on their shoulder as well as a point to prove. The Dallas Cowboys franchise is one of the most well renowned teams in the league and will hope that a healthy roster will see them fulfill the potential they believe that they have. With Garrett heading in to his 4th year as the teams head coach he has no excuses now as this Dallas team does have the talent to succeed.

It's now or never time Romo & co!

The team has a new defensive coordinator and will most likely line up with a 4-3 so the likes of DeMarcus Ware and Sean Lee will need to step up to ensure they improve on that side of the ball as well as develop with the new scheme. On offense running back DeMarco Murray and number one wide receiver Dez Bryant are crucial to helping Tony Romo and the Dallas offense succeed. Romo is an underrated quarterback who comes under individual scrutiny when his team loses like most quarterbacks. He has a regular season all-time career passer rating of 95.6 which ranks him at 5th and 4th among active players leaving him behind just Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and only .1 behind Peyton Manning. He may be prone to a big game interception but all it takes is one season to change people's opinions and the 2013 one could be it; Romo threw for a phenomenal 4903 yards last season. The 8th year quarterback will look to guide the Cowboys to their first divisional since 2009 and now that it seems they have the pieces in place it is time for this team to deliver.

Season prediction: 10-6. 1st in NFC East.


Washington Redskins:

Thanks to the help of rookie sensation Robert Griffin III the Washington Redskins overcame the odds to finish the 2012 NFL season as NFC East champions. Mike Shanahan's team went on a 7 game winning streak in the second half of the regular season to pull off a shock but unfortunately for them RG3 fell victim to injuries on his ACL and LCL ligaments.

Winning the division and getting this young team playoff experience was a fantastic achievement for the Redskins but in 2013 they are now the team to beat. It is much harder to repeat success when everyone is hunting for you so head coach Mike Shanahan will need to ensure his team are ready for the battle this year. Robert Griffin will also be a target for opposing defenses after his phenomenal debut campaign which saw him win the offensive rookie of the year award as well as set records for highest passer rating, 102.4, by a rookie quarterback and highest touchdown to interception ratio at 4:1. To throw only 5 interceptions as a veteran let alone a rookie is astonishing so Griffin will be expected to show the same class this year that he showed in 2012.

How will RGIII fair in his sophomore season?

The injury has raised doubts over the young QB as such serious injury issues can often affect a player physiologically. I doubt he will have lost a step at all because he is very talented but you only have to look at Tom Brady's first year back after his ACL injury to see that it takes time to become comfortable again the pocket and what makes it even more of a challenge for RG3 is that his mobility and ability to rush out of the pocket is what makes him so dangerous but unfortunately that dynamic side also makes him vulnerable. Only time will tell as to how he and the Redskins fair but in a competitive NFC East they may suffer from second season syndrome due to a variety of factors. The franchise will be hoping that the likes of sophomore Alfred Morris will also be able to repeat the success of a fantastic 2012 whilst also hoping that the players in their prime such as Fred Davis, Pierre Garcon and DeAngelo Hall all have a good 2013 season.

Season Prediction: 8-8. 3rd in NFC East.


New York Giants:

The Giants must enjoy being written off because every time it happens they seem to go and prove everyone wrong. The team has won two Super Bowls out of the past 6 but failed miserably in defending their title in 2012 as they didn't even make the playoffs. After their win in 2007 they fell in the divisional rivals of the playoffs in 2008 to divisional rivals the Eagles and then missed out of the post-season for two consecutive years before their 2011 triumph.

To put any success in sport down to injuries is simplistic but for both Super Bowl runs the team got healthy at the right time. Unfortunately before the 2013 season has even begun there are injury concerns over the teams O-line and there were questions against the defenses secondary before injuries hit them during the final week of preseason. The Giants will be relying on Eli Manning to step up and get it done for them during the regular season but he has hardly ever managed that in his career so it does look doubtful.

Can Eli & Big Blue prove the doubters wrong again?

The Giants will be hoping they can make the playoffs and will look at past successes for optimism but lightning doesn't keep striking in the same place and it somehow struck twice in 2007 and 2011. I'm not taking anything away from the success of the New York Giants franchise but 2013 is going to be a rocky road for them. They'll still post an 8-8 season at worst but Eli Manning is a post-season quarterback; he ranks at 3rd among active QB's for career passer ratings in the post-season. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but in a competitive division you need a strong roster and although it would be silly to rule them out completely I just think that even with a bit of luck the Giants will chase a wildcard spot at best. Honestly it looks like they will miss out on the playoffs because at least 9 other teams have a legitimate chance of making it the playoffs and New York don't have it in them to post a record good enough of even scraping it through and despite his credentials it comes back to what was mentioned before and that is the fact that despite even the fact that Eli has elevated his play in the past two seasons to a more consistent basis as before he still doesn't have it in him to carry the Giants on his back.

Season Prediction: 9-7. 2nd in NFC East.


Philadelphia Eagles:

I look back to a year ago where despite most of my predictions being accurate I stumble across when I put faith in the Eagles to win the NFC East and like dating a regrettable ex-girlfriend I say to myself... Why!? The Eagles self-proclaimed themselves as a dream team two years ago and last year there was still hope they could mix it with the best but sadly for them Andy Reid's tenure as head coach of the franchise came to the a sour end when the team plummeted to a 4-12 record ending Reid's 14 years on a very low point.

So in 2013 the Eagles have turned to evil genius Chip Kelly to use his offensive creativeness to hopefully bring some sort of spark back to the Eagles. He has two QB's who can run the system and it will be a nightmare for opposing defenses but I still can't get over the fact that Michael Vick said earlier in the off-season that Chip Kelly told him how to "Run with the football and how to carry the football, and I think it's something that you just have to work on". I mean I know Chip Kelly is supposedly a genius but surely he couldn't teach Vick something so difficult, you know something that people are taught from pee-wee... Never mind. It is safe to say there are still doubts over Michael Vick and although this system may be the ideal fit for him this literally is his last chance because it is getting to the point that even if Chip Kelly wanted to stick with him after a say bad year you'd have to say that eventually the franchise would get to the point where they would consider just wanting to cut ties with him instead of throwing him another bone.

The mad scientist is coming for you!

Chip Kelly has plenty of offensive talent nevertheless and during preseason we have seen glimpses of what is to come. DeSean Jackson needs to have a big year regardless of the team's record because he is being paid big money and the franchise should only rightly feel that they want to see results on the field. They have a great tackle duo in the form of Jason Peters and Lane Johnson but 2013 for the Eagles will be about progressing and ensuring that the new era in Philadelphia gets off to a good start so they can start building for the future.

Season prediction: 7-9. 4th in NFC East.

New England Patriots final 53-man roster projection

The New England Patriots wrapped up their preseason with a solid 28-20 victory over the New York Giants last night. Now the team has to cut its roster to the final 53-man squad by 6pm on Saturday. With the likes of Quentin Sims and George Winn putting in very good performances they have given coach Belichick food for thought. Tim Tebow connected with Sims on two great touchdown plays and despite some bad moments this guy showed nothing keeps him down. Ryan Mallett and Josh Boyce both showed off their skills especially on their 40 yard touchdown play. Michael Buchanan almost all but confirmed his roster spot last night whilst Jake Bequette played well in the preseason finale to show he's not giving up hope of making the team.

Roster Selection:

OFFENSE:

Quarterbacks (3): Tom Brady, Ryan Mallett, Tim Tebow

I'm sticking with the three quarterbacks. The Patriots have only kept 2 QB's on their roster in 3 of the past 4 seasons but Bill Belichick would not have signed Tim Tebow for no reason even if that reason is to develop him as a quarterback under the guidance of himself and Josh McDaniels plus you know we will see Tebow score against the Jets on September 12th and that in itself is a good enough reason to select him. Ryan Mallett will hang around for years to come in New England; you can see he's growing thanks to the franchise and that to get the chance to learn from Tom Brady has been very beneficial to this young man. To have 3 talented quarterbacks in a rarity so for the 2013 season its worth keeping these three around.

Running Backs (4): Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen Leon Washington, LeGarrette Blount

I'm sticking with my four running backs from the last roster projection and here are the reasons why: Stevan Ridley established himself as a top running back and despite some fumbling troubles he is number one on this team. Shane Vereen's speed and ability to play at wide receiver make him a sure pick for coach Belichick due to his versatility plus Vereen seems to have built up a good rapport with Tom Brady. Leon Washington can offer the team something new on special teams and LeGarrette Blount beats out Brandon Bolden as this teams power running back thanks to a more productive preseason; Blount lead the way on the ground with two touchdowns. Bolden has pass catching ability but that's not enough for him to make the cut especially when George Winn did more in one game last night than Bolden has all preseason but sadly for Winn it may be a little to late despite his 54 yards from 14 carries and a score but don't rule this young man out just yet as he could be a surprise choice although regardless of what happens he will make the practice squad.

Wide Receivers (6): Danny Amendola, Aaron Dobson, Josh Boyce, Julian Edelman, Kenbrell Thompkins, Matthew Slater,

Last time I had Jenkins and Jones in my roster projection with seven wideouts for New England but now the consensus seems to be on these 6 guys. Jones was cut a day after my last projection and Jenkings had lacklusture preseason. Their replacement Kenbrell Thompkins had a standout game against Lions where we hauled in 8 catches for 116 yards where he helped showcase his abilities. The undrafted rookie out of Cincinnati  has shown he could lock down the 'X' role in an explosive offense. Along with Josh Boyce and Aaron Dobson these three young talented rookies could all have great years especially as they have Tom Brady throwing to them. Danny Amendola has shown throughout preseason that him and Tom Brady are building a brilliant rapport whilst Julian Edelman will look to build on an impressive 2012 before his injury unfortunately brought his season to an end. Finally Slater earns a spot thanks to his solidness on special teams. Quentin Sims but in a great display against the Giants last night to put himself on Bill Belichick's radar and although it may be too late to make the roster cut you can expect to see him on the practice squad.

Tight Ends (4): Rob Gronkowski, Jake Ballard, Michael Hoomanawanui, Zach Sudfield

Superstar tight-end Rob Gronkowski is a surefire bet. Although he is in a race against time to be fit for week one it would be silly for the Patriots to put him on the PUP list as he'd then be unavailable for 6 weeks. Bill Belichick knows how manage his players and has two very capable tight-ends in the shape of Jake Ballard and Michael Hoomanawanui; both will be hoping to thrive in an explosive offense and both can block as well as help with the run game. With the pair both just 25 years old now is the time to make a name for themselves especially if the wake of a certain former Patriots tight-end's departure who shall not be named. Finally the fourth tight end roster selection will be undrafted rookie from Nevada Zach Sudfield. Sudfield has the size and catching ability to be a very effective offensive weapon, ring any bells, and during preseason he was impressive as he racked up 101 receiving yards from 8 receptions and for one touchdown which came against Tampa Bay in week 2 of preseason.

Offensive Line (8): Nate Solder, Logan Mankins, Sebastian Vollmer, Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell, Marcus Cannon, Will Svitek, Chris McDonald

Solder, Mankins and Vollmer pick themselves. They are essential to the Patriots offensive line and the same can be said for the likes of Dan Connolly and Ryan Wendell as they offer the stability and consistency required. Markus Zusevics was my pick last time to make the roster but unfortunately an injury has come at a bad time meaning that Will Svitek all but guarantees his roster spot. Svitek has improved over the course of preseason anyway. Marcus Cannon will be around for another year but the 8th spot will seemingly go to Chris McDonald with the rookie out of Michigan State impressing during the offseason and in a sense beating out the likes of Kevin Haslem and Nick McDonald who both departed.


DEFENSE:

Defensive Ends (6): Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Michael Buchanan, Justin Francis, Jake Bequette, Marcus Benard


Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich were probably the only surefire bets before preseason even began. I'm sticking with Michael Buchanan from my last roster projection especially after a very good performance last night against the Giants. Justin Francis is solid enough to make the cut. Marcus Benard is another player enjoying the ride and his good preseason form gets him a place in the squad whilst Jake Bequette's performance against the Giants last night has done enough in my mind to prove he is capable of being productive for New England.

Defensive Tackles (4): Vince Wilfork, Tommy Kelly, Marcus Forston, Jermaine Cunningham

The Patriots are limited for options at defensive tackle but thankfully the group is led but the outstanding Vince Wilfork. Tommy Kelly helps provide a great 1-2 punch with Big Vince whilst Marcus Forston is good enough to keep around. I have shifted Jermaine Cunningham to defensive tackle after already selecting six defensive end's; Cunningham sneaks on to the roster now that Armond Armstead is out for at least 6 weeks and with Cory Grissom being placed on season-ending IR it makes sense to select Cunningham for the 53-man roster.

Linebackers (5): Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Dont'a Hightower, Jamie Collins, Dane Fletcher

I'm sticking with the same 5 linebackers as they all have unique talents and will all be beneficial to the Patriots. Jerod Mayo is a defensive leader and crucial to any success New England will have on defense. Dont'a Hightower will look to improve on a good rookie season in 2012. Brandon Spikes seems to improve year by year and will look to do the same in 2013. As for Dane Fletcher and Jamie Collins well you can expect the two to get plenty reps on special teams. Collins will be looking to show off his potential whenever he has the chance as the second round pick out of Southern Miss is a player that the Patriots have high hopes for.

Cornerbacks (5): Aqib Talib, Kyle Arrington, Marquice Cole, Logan Ryan, Alfonzo Dennard


Marquice Cole in for Ras-I Dowling is my one change at the cornerback position. Cole is all but in unless the Patriots bring another body in. Logan Ryan's development will continue while the likes of Dennard and Arrington are given another year to try and prove themselves. The Patriots need results in the secondary so they will be hoping someone can step up and help take the pressure off of Aqib Talib who will be looking to lead the group with some stellar performances. Talib came up big for New England during the second half of last season and now is his chance to prove himself as one of the best shutdown corners in the league.

Safety (5): Devin McCourty, Adrian Wilson, Tavon Wilson, Duron Harmon, Steve Gregory

Last time round I had the young Nate Ebner in but sadly I think he will miss out come cut day tomorrow. Although he can offer help on special teams the Patriots already have enough of that so they will rely on the likes of Steve Gregory and Devin McCourty to offer them stability as well as reliability at the position as the groups production increases. The likes of Tavon Wilson and Duron Harmon may be young but their talent will offer the Patriots something different. Adrian Wilson has rumours around him regarding being cut after a lackluster preseason but I think the veteran will get one last chance. The Patriots were hoping he would offer them the defensive leadership they have lacked and craved since the early 2000 dynasty but right now it appears Wilson may have lost a step but hopefully come the regular season Adrian Wilson will start to show his class.


Special Teams (3): Steve Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, Danny Aiken

Gostkowski will be looking to bounce back after a rocky 2012. Zoltan Mesko was given a good run by rookie punter Ryan Allen but as Mesko is one of the best punters in the league he will retain his job. Danny Aiken keeps his job as long snapper.