Super Bowl XLIX: Patriots vs Seahawks

Destiny, rising in the face of adversity and desire; these are the things that great teams believe in, do and aspire too which is something both the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks possess.

These two NFL heavyweights will lock horns come Sunday evening for arguably the biggest prize in sport, the Lombardi Trophy. The Patriots are looking to capture their 4th championship in franchise history and more importantly their first since 2004. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick will also be looking to exorcise demons from previous Super Bowls as it was in this exact stadium back in 2007 where the Patriots were minutes away from pulling off the perfect season before losing to the Giants and finishing the campaign 18-1.

Despite all their achievements and all the success the Patriots organisation has achieved it appears that Sunday's game is going to define a legacy. If Brady and Belichick win then it is a 4 Super Bowl win and 6 appearances, both have the most playoff wins for a QB and for a head coach and both hold numerous other records that help stake their claim as the greatest ever. If they don't defeat Seattle then other fan bases will continue to jibe the Pats with "Spygate", "Deflate gate" and about any other gate they can think of.

The Patriots are usually the masters of rising up in the face of adversity and punching it right in the throat which is something you could say they've done more so than ever this season but Seattle have had to combat this themselves. After a lacklustre start to the season the defending champions were heavily criticised including the almighty legion of boom and despite the fact that many experts were touting a possible return to the Super Bowl for these Seahawks secretly I believe and from what I saw about 90% of people really did feel that Dallas or Green Bay would knock off Seattle in this postseason but it never happened.

The Seahawks rose from the ashes last week to pull off one of the greatest playoff comebacks in NFL history as they rallied back from 16-0 down to take the game to overtime at 22-22 before Russell Wilson finished off the game to Jermaine Kearse with a beautiful touchdown leaving Green Bay shell shocked and wondering what if (I doubt any of their players will be watching the game tomorrow). So now Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch and this amazing Seattle Seahawks defense, who came up big especially in the red zone last week, will have a chance to repeat against a team who were in fact the last NFL franchise to pull off such a feat.

It's that among many other factors which makes this game so exciting and so damn hard to predict! This will arguably be Seattle and New England's toughest games of the season. The Patriots themselves pulled off a memorable playoff comeback against Baltimore in the divisional round so we know how much heart and determination both of these teams have. They also put in a stellar performance in last weeks AFC Championship game against the Colts to blow out the opposition 45-7 with LeGarrette Blount running wild and the Pats defense coming up big with huge intensity and fantastic play for near enough the entire 60 minutes.

The Patriots defense is probably the second best in the league and the truth is that they are not that far behind Seattle's but with this Seahawks D being so tough and so nasty it just puts them head and shoulders above the rest. Now Tom Brady has faced many great D's in the past and he will have been studying Seattle night and day for the past fortnight so he will be prepared and he has the tools to defeat the legion of boom.

The LOB's and this Seattle defenses kryptonite for me is Rob Gronkowski as despite how good the likes of Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Jeremy Lang and Bobby Wagner are they've never come up against a player like Gronk as this man can do anything. Now despite Gronk's abilities to block, catch and just about to near enough anything my key to the game is this Pats o-line protecting Tom Brady as well as whether they can be effective enough to help get the run game going.

In Brady's past two Super Bowl losses the Giants front 3 was able to create tons of pressure to force a collapse in the pocket and get to Tom. If that happens again on Sunday it will be hard for the Pats to win especially as we've seen how brilliant that the likes of Bruce Irvin and Michael Bennett are in the pass rush. They have the skills to crash up the middle and replicate the success the Giants had against Brady but this Pats o line ranks 4th in giving up the fewest sacks this season so them doing their jobs will be crucial.

If they can indeed hold up strong and give Brady time in the pocket as well as create a successful run game with Blount also being a key factor then the Pats have the tools to win this game. The recipe to New England's success on offense this season has been quick passes, slants and the abilities of their small, nibble receivers creating plays after the catch so Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola will have big roles to play. This is something that Seattle have sometimes struggled against in the past with TY Hilton of the Colts being an example. Edelman, Amendola can both run similar corner routes to this one and because all are so good but with different qualities it makes for an exciting head to head when this Pats offense goes against the Seattle defense. Add Gronk in the mix as mention previously along with the big bodied Brandon LaFell who's having a breakout year at wideout for the Patriots, he has become one of Brady's most trusted weapons, and this Patriots offense will be giving the Seattle defense a few sleepless nights of their own. (Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan fans will appreciate the pun).

The Pats defense will be having a few restless nights of their own as they know how devastating Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch can be. Beast mode is the best running back in the league and thrives for the big games whilst Wilson always seems to keep calm in high pressure situations and also always manages to pull out a big play when needed. Doug Baldwin for me is a very underrated receiver and will pose the Pats defense threats but because of his slant running type nature New England will be well equipped for this. 

Despite Russell Wilson's ability to use his legs and considering how underrated his throwing ability is at times which was something the Broncos underestimated in last years Super Bowl I feel this Patriots defense has all the tools to combat the Seattle offense. Just like Wilson is a new type of QB these Patriot linebackers in the form of Jamie Collins and Dont'a Hightower are new breeds of linebackers and are equipped to disrupt as well as get after Russell Wilson. whilst the likes of Vince Wilfork, Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich definitely have a chance of frustrating beast mode.

Add the Pats secondary to this defense which includes brilliant safety Devin McCourty along with Darrelle Revis wanting to prove he's the best corner in the game on the biggest stage of them all when he goes against Richard Sherman tomorrow and you can see why this is the best Patriots defense since 2007. Remember the last time the Pats were in a Super Bowl Julian Edelman played at corner; now they have key contributors such as Brandon Browner, Logan Ryan, Kyle Arrington and Patrick Chung who all have risen to the occasion thanks to the inspiration and leadership from the likes of Revis and McCourty. For the Seahawks to win they'll need to run the ball effectively through Lynch so that Wilson can try to deceive the Pats D by using his own legs and with his throws but if that doesn't happen they'll become a bit more predictable which will help the Patriots in attempting to stop this Seattle offense.

Now everyone is talking about Seattle repeating or the fact that this is the game to cement Belichick but more so Tom Brady's legacy and to be quite honest it is a little bit. It is incredible that he would have to win this to make on Sunday to have 4 Super Bowl wins from 6 appearances in the big one just to prove the doubters wrong but personally I see this as being the career game for Rob Gronkowski who will help Brady, Belichick and the Patriots achieve their dreams once again. Gronk, the man who played for the university of Arizona, has waited 3 years for this since the Super Bowl loss to the Giants when he hobbled around on one ankle and has missed the past two playoffs with other injuries so it's only fitting that the biggest game of Gronk's career will be played in Arizona, a place he loves and a place where he hopes his dreams will be fulfilled come Sunday night. Seattle may be favourites and I do agree with that assessment but I've been adamant all season that if Gronkowski stays healthy the Patriots will win the Super Bowl so despite the fact that Pete Carroll is up against his former team as well as that the all mighty legion of boom are the best defense to come along since 1985 Bears I am standing by that prediction now more than ever.

Prediction: Patriots 27-23 Seahawks

        

Super Bowl XLVIII

Tonight sees the Seattle Seahawks take on the Denver Broncos in the 48th edition of the Super Bowl. The glitz and glamour of the NFL will take centre stage at the Big Apple tonight when these two teams face off at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

It is the ultimate battle of the unstoppable force vs the immoveable object as the high scoring Broncos offense clashes against Seattle's tough and hard working defense! Who will come out on top when Peyton Manning and his illustrious core of receivers face Richard Sherman and the Seattle's Legion of Boom secondary? Well luckily for all us NFL fans there isn't long to wait.

With the weather being very cold you would automatically expect defense to be favoured as getting your offense going in the temperatures that New York currently has to offer will be difficult. The cold weather element will definitely make this Super Bowl unique as nowadays we are use to seeing the sports biggest spectacle being held in places such as Arizona, Miami or at indoor stadiums.

Peyton Manning's record in the cold isn't exactly great but he has defied the odds many a time in his career especially since joining Denver. The future hall of fame quarterback is seeking a 2nd Super Bowl ring after winning a record 5th league MVP award last night. Peyton will be hoping to hoist the Lombardi trophy high in the air at the stadium his younger brother Eli plays in just like he did back at Lucas Oil stadium a few years ago when the Giants defeated the Patriots. 

Peyton can cement his legacy as arguably the greatest quarterback to play the game tonight by winning the Super Bowl in a season which has seen his team become the first offense in NFL history to score over 600 points. To win the big game on the back of that and against the best defense in the league would shut up any critics he has.

Seattle will be no pushovers though and if they do manage to win tonight it will leave Peyton on 12 playoff losses with an unwanted record of most playoff losses ever by a starting quarterback. We all know about this Seahawks defense with Richard Sherman leading the way. With the likes of himself along with Earl a Thomas and Kam Chancellor along with their talented pass rushers like Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett the a Broncos can expect a tough game will lots of pressure. Denver's offensive like has held up well all year and personally for me was the decisive factor in the teams AFC title victory over New England a fortnight ago as they protected Manning which gave him time in the pocket to make valuable plays.

As mentioned above we all know what the Seattle defense can do. Denver's run defense is very good and hauled LaGarrette Blount two weeks ago but Marshawn Lynch is a whole different kettle of fish! 'Beast Mode' can turn it on at any given moment so the Denver run D needs to be alert and at it's best all night. The secondary has issues but is lead by Champ Bailey who could easily make critical plays against a Seahawks offense which is being questioned a lot by many.

Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson is a great game manager and holds the NFL record for most touchdown passes by a rookie with no other than Peyton Manning. Wilson has all the intangibles to get it done and we've seen him make the deep ball when he needs to but his receiving core isn't fantastic so the Seahakws will be hoping that free agency acquisition Percy Harvin can be the X factor for them tonight!

They gave up high picks to claim Harvin from Minnesota but he has been plagued by injuries all year round. Personally with the Broncos not doing much special teams work due to kicker Matt Prater always clearing the back of the end zone at Mile High I feel this could be a weakness for them tonight in New York and with Harvin's returning skills well he could make them pay.

Ball and Moreno need to play like they did against New England in order for the Broncos passing game to not be obvious therefore giving them a chance to succeed against the tough Seattle secondary. You can expect a lot of slant routes and it'll be interesting to see how the Seahawks play against this. Seattle's defense hasn't come up against such a talented receiving core all year as the Broncos possess both Julius and Demaryius Thomas along with Eric Decker and Wes Welker but the test of NFC West rivals San Francisco last week should stand Seattle in good stead for tonight's matchup.

One things for sure and that is that the two best teams in the league have reached the Super Bowl which these days doesn't happen often so I can't wait! I predicted Seattle to make the big game so I'm going to stick my neck out and say that defense reigns supreme tonight giving the 12th man, Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks franchise their first ever Super Bowl victory!

Prediction: Seattle Seahawks 21-20 Denver Broncos

Championship Sunday!

Tomorrow is Championship Sunday and nobody can argue against the fact that the four best teams in the national football league have made it to what is one of the biggest and most highly anticipated double headers on a NFL Sunday in years! The AFC matchup sees two of the greatest quarterbacks to play the game go head to head once again as Tom Brady and the New England Patriots go on the road to take on the Peyton Manning led Denver Broncos. Then straight after that two arch enemies of the of the NFC West will have a rubber match with a place at Super Bowl XLVIII at stake as the red hot San Francisco 49ers walk in to the cauldron that is CenturyLink Field to face the Seattle Seahawks. Now it is time for me to look at these two games and give you my insight as well as my predictions for these two games.

NFC Championship game: San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks

The NFC Championship game sees the 49ers travel to Seattle for the third matchup of the season between these two bitter rivals. We have the two best defenses in football going up against each other in what is set to be a mouthwatering affair and as well as that both of these teams have two of the best young quarterbacks in the league in the shape of Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson respectively.

Earlier in the season the Niners walked in to CenturyLink Field for the week 2 game and were blown out 29-3. The 49ers offense was manhandled and the defense was blown away in a 4th quarter which saw them give up 17 points. Since then the Niners managed to defeat Seattle 19-17 to tie the series up on the year and when you include the teams two playoff victories over Green Bay and Carolina they have now won 8 straight. Colin Kaepernick is 3-0 on the road in the postseason and for a young QB already has valuable playoff experience after helping the team reach the Super Bowl last season; Joe Montana and Steve Young were 1-7 on the road in the postseason combined!

No team has made it back to the Super Bowl after suffering defeat the previous year to then go on and win it the next since the 1972 17-0 Miami Dolphins and the only other exception was the team who they lost to in that Super Bowl the year before; the 1971 Dallas Cowboys. So it is safe to say Jim Harbaugh's team are up against it statistically tomorrow especially when you consider that the Seattle Seahawks have only lost one game at home since Russell Wilson became the teams starting quarterback and after they defeated the Saints last week his record at home is now 16-1.

The second year quarterback also set a record this year when he recorded 24 years in his first two seasons in the league. Even head coach Pete Carroll holds an impressive 24-8 home record as the teams leader since he took over at the beginning of the 2010 season. When Carroll and Harbaugh face off there are always fireworks as these two head coaches just don't like each other so whether there will be hand shakes at the end of tomorrow nights game is anybody's call. You can guarantee there will be plenty of over dramatics tomorrow night from these two men in the form of jumping, excessive celebrating, shouting and fist pumping but I'm not complaining because passion is what makes sport so amazing and when you have two of the best teams in the league facing off against each other you want it to be a bit personal as it adds that extra bit of spice to the game.

In most games you can pinpoint a certain area that will go a long way to determining the result but in this Niners-Seahawks encounter it is hard to put your finger on the key points. Both defenses are tough, both defenses are hard hitting and both defenses are nasty I mean honestly I would not want to be an offensive player on either team tomorrow. Personally with the Legion of Boom at their disposal I think the Seattle defense is slightly better than that of the 49ers but that's not taking anything away from the likes of Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman of the Niners as those two linebackers are probably the two you'd choose to try and help stop Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch.

As we know the two Smith's Justin and Aldon aren't exactly bad themselves and the Niners secondary has the likes of Carlos Rodgers, Eric Wright and Eric Reid who ain't no slouches. Seattle's defense though as I said is slightly better and not just because of the likes of Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas in the secondary. Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett are great pass rushers and will look to disrupt any rhythm the 49ers offense looks to get going. Despite me giving the Seahawks an edge on defense the thing that makes this matchup interesting is that I believe the 49ers offense is better than that of their NFC West counterparts.

Russell Wilson is very efficient but in recent weeks he has been quiet whereas Colin Kaepernick continues to light it up in the postseason and since the return of Michael Crabtree to this San Francisco offense Kaepernick has looked a lot more dangerous. The passing game of the Niners has got going since Crabtree returned and that has given Kaepernick the ability to effect the game with his legs once again. He outplayed Cam Newton last week and personally I feel he is underrated as a passer and I would even say he is a better passer than Newton. Russell Wilson can make big plays though as he is very talented and not just a game manager so if Seattle need to cut him loose to make things happen I'm sure Pete Carroll will have no hesitation in doing so.

The only downside for Seattle offensively though is that offseason acquisition Percy Harvin has never got going this year due to injury problems and the concussion he suffered last week which rules him out of tomorrow's game pretty much sums up his 2013 campaign. Harvin was signed to be the playmaker that would give the Seahawks a different dimension offensively but that plan hasn't come to fruition. Baldwin, Kearse and Golden Tate are good receivers but in comparison to the 49ers wideouts they are no match. Anquan Boldin, Michael Crabtree and tight end Vernon Davis can cause Seattle problems tomorrow and Frank Gore is a very good running back who's name I haven't even mentioned yet!

With that being said though I feel that on the day Pete Carroll will get the edge over Jim Harbaugh because Carroll knows what it takes to beat the 49ers when his team is hosting them. Harbaugh is a great young coach and has taken his team to three straight conference championships but to get his team back to the Super Bowl could be a step too far. The Niners are hot and are on a very good streak but to walk out of Seattle with the NFC title is such a tough challenge. Seattle got the home loss out of the way during the regular season and have managed to refocus themselves for the task ahead that is the playoffs. It won't be a blow out and it will be a tightly contested affair which will come down to one or two critical plays in a matchup which will decide who takes the ultimate bragging rights in the NFC West and more importantly a trip to MetLife Stadium in 2 weeks time!

Prediction: 49ers 24-27 Seahawks


AFC Championship: New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos

The hype around this matchup is incredible as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning face off in the 15th installment of a quarterback rivalry that has lasted for over a decade. With both of these QB's in the later years of their 30's you would probably say that this could be the last time that these two face off with the stakes being as high as they are for tomorrow.

But as we know you should never count out Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. Manning has finally got to where he wants to be and that is within reach of a third Super Bowl appearance; he is having a monster season having broken Tom Brady's regular season record for passing touchdowns by throwing 55 and breaking Drew Brees' passing yards record by racking up 5,477. These stats will count for nothing though if the season doesn't end with Peyton hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in the air.

Tom Brady is quite simply Peyton Manning's kryptonite and there is no doubt about it because history doesn't lie. Even in recent memory you only have to look back at the week 12 encounter at Gillette Stadium where Tom Brady and co wiped out a Broncos lead of 24-0 to win the game 34-31 in overtime. That victory gave Brady his 10th victory over Manning in their 14 games against each other including the postseason. Let us look at the stats between the two in the encounters:

Now I will be the first to point out that tomorrow's game between Denver and New England is not just about these two men as it is between two teams who are both hungry to play in the biggest sporting spectacle on earth but whoever wins out of Brady or Manning will have their picture posted on websites across the world for the next fortnight. Brady's 10-4 career head-to-head over Manning says it all and his touchdown to interception ratio shows his efficiency. Brady leads in all categories but one and has a passer rating that is higher by 11! The only category that he doesn't lead in is passing yardage and you could argue that it is because Manning is behind in most games so his teams have chased the games meaning he passes more but enough of that.

No offence to Peyton Manning fans but they love to use statistics to fight their corner. I don't want to take anything away from Manning because he is one of the greatest to play at the position but unfortunately for him if the Broncos lose tomorrow that leaves Manning on his own with a record that nobody wants and that is a quarterback with the most losses in the postseason. 12 losses when it matters lost is unprecedented and that does not look good on anyone looking to leave a legacy.

Brady's legacy will be uncanny if he and the Patriots win the Super Bowl this year. The same applies for head coach Bill Belichick; he claimed his 19th victory as a coach in the playoffs when New England eased past the Colts last week which now leaves him tied in second place with Don Shula. If the Patriots win tomorrow Belichick will tie Tom Landry for the most playoff wins with 20 and if dare I say it the Patriots win the Super Bowl that would be the perfect way for Belichick to break the record and it will leave him on 21.

Back to Brady and his legacy; he is so close to being the greatest quarterback of all-time and if he guides an injury depleted Patriots side that has so many similarities to 2001 Super Bowl winning side it will be the perfect way to cement his name as the greatest to play the game. Brady is tied for Super Bowl appearances with John Elway having played in 5. He and Elway have both won 3 of those which leaves Brady just one shy of Montana and Bradshaw's record of 4 Super Bowl wins. Brady holds the record for playoff wins by a quarterback with 18 so a win tomorrow against Denver and a Super Bowl victory would see Brady end the 2013 season with 20 playoffs wins, 4 Super Bowl victories and 6 appearances in the big game which in my opinion leaves no debate as to who is the greatest quarterback to grace the NFL.

As I have pointed out though this is a team game and it will take a big performance from the New England Patriots to topple the Denver Broncos tomorrow. The Patriots are playing up to the title of underdog and why not because it puts pressure on the opponents. Personally I feel that they are underdogs as despite the fact that Brady can pick holes in a vulnerable Broncos secondary he goes up against a Broncos run defense that has improved in weeks gone by and they know that they have to stop the likes of Blount, Ridley and Vereen in order to win this game. On the flip side Peyton Manning and the Broncos offense is firing on all cylinders and the likes of Welker and Decker along with Julius and Demaryius Thomas will pose problems for a New England defense haunted by injuries.

For Denver to win this game is to score early because taking the pressure off Peyton Manning is a must especially in a conference championship which sees Manning take to the field in a game of his magnitude for the first time since the 2009 season (Brady on the other hand is making is 8th conference championship appearance). Now this may sound silly as it always applies but turnovers are the decisive and key factor for me. My explanation is that if the Patriots turn the ball over I feel they can still win this game but if the Broncos turn it over it'll cost them and they will lose. The more pressure on the Denver Broncos tomorrow and the more likely it'll be that they fall.

New England's defense is led by the defensive mastermind that is Bill Belichick and despite injuries to Jerod Mayo and Vince Wilfork the younger guy on the team like Chandler Jones and Hightower have been big for this team. Last week saw the emergence of Jamie Collins and he will be looking to build on his success from that win over the Colts. Rob Ninkovich and Dane Fletcher also deserve a mention too and then there's the secondary which possesses the likes of Aqib Talib, Devin McCourty, Alfonzo Dennard and Logan Ryan who can all hold their own against the firepower of the Broncos offense.

If the Pats defense can continue to force turnovers it will give them a very good chance of walking out of Mile High as winners tomorrow. Earlier on in the season I predicted that the two would meet in the AFC title game at Mile High and here it is. At the time I didn't anticipate that the Pats offense would become the ground and pound juggernaut that it has done in recent weeks led by LeGarrette Blount who continued wrecking havoc last week when he ran in for 4 touchdowns and 166 rushing yards which tied a franchise record. If the ground game gets going again with the one-two punch of Blount and Ridley it will open up Shane Vereen in the backfield for Tom Brady and also give him plenty of play-action opportunities which we saw tear Denver apart earlier in the season. Julian Edelman will obviously be crucial to any success the Patriots have tomorrow night and it is also the perfect time for Danny Amendola to step out of the shadow of Wes Welker by outplaying his opposite number. I could sit here night and day writing comparisons but the fact of the matter is that this New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos game will be one for the ages and a playoff game that will be remembered for years to come as well as possibly playing a critical role in deciding an argument that has gone on for years. Brady vs Manning part 15: Let the games begin!

Prediction: Patriots 31-30 Broncos

NFL week 11:

After two weeks Skye's NFL predictions have returned! Unfortunately due to internet problems, a hectic life schedule (slight lie) and just other general excuses I haven't been able to blog but after predicting 10/11 results correctly for week 8's games with some very close perfect predictions too it was a very impressive weekend for me regarding the Sunday game predictions so maybe a rest was warranted.

Skye's predictions:                       Week 8 scores:

49ers 28-17 Jaguars                      49ers 42-10 Jaguars
Browns 16-26 Chiefs                     Browns 17-23 Chiefs
Dolphins 20-27 Patriots                 Dolphins 17-27 Patriots
Bills 20-37 Saints                          Bills 17-35 Saints
Cowboys 27-35 Lions                    Cowboys 30-31 Lions
Giants 24-23 Eagles                      Giants 15-7 Eagles
Steelers 20-16 Raiders                 Steelers 18-21 Raiders
Jets 20-27 Bengals                        Jets 9-49 Bengals
Falcons 24-26 Cardinals                Falcons 13-27 Cardinals
Redskins 24-37 Broncos                Redskins 21-45 Broncos
Packers 30-20 Vikings                   Packers 44-31 Vikings


So within the past two weeks there have been many twists and turns throughout the national football league from Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers suffering a serious injury to the Jacksonville Jaguars recording their first win this season last week. Tampa Bay also got their first victory whilst the Kansas City Chiefs remain undefeated at 9-0 as they head in to a huge game against divisional rivals Denver tomorrow with the Broncos only a game behind them at 8-1. The New England Patriots looked like their old selves with a huge 55-31 victory over Pittsburgh in week 9 whereas the San Francisco 49ers look out of sorts and find themselves at 6-3 after defeat last week to the resurgent 6-3 Carolina Panthers who have won 5 straight. In the NFC West the Niners are just a game ahead of the third placed Cardinals and in the distance of the 9-1 Seattle Seahawks whereas over in the NFC East Dallas are in first place at .500 along with the 5-5 Eagles.

New England, Indianapolis, Kansas City and Cincinnati lead their respective divisions in the AFC whilst over in the NFC Seattle, Dallas, Detroit and New Orleans are first place in their divisions. Let us take a look at tomorrow's matchups with some analysis and then I will offer my predictions for all 13 of Sunday's games.


(5-4) New York Jets vs Buffalo Bills (3-7)

The New York Jets had a bye last week after knocking off New Orleans in week 9 giving them plenty of time to prepare ahead of a road trip to Buffalo to face one of their AFC East rivals. The Bills lost to the Steelers last week and are now on a three game losing streak.

Buffalo will be hoping to end this bad run of form tomorrow against the Jets whilst putting a dent in New York's playoffs hopes. Rex Ryan's team have been finding ways to win with good defense which will be needed when they come up against the likes of E.J. Manuel and CJ Spiller tomorrow

Rookie QB Manuel could cause the Jets D unexpected problems, 6 touchdowns: 4 interceptions in 2013, but New York's own rookie quarterback Geno Smith hasn't been too bad himself this season throwing 8 touchdowns to 13 interceptions. The Jets need to win games like this if they are to make the postseason and while I personally feel that Miami could still take second place in the AFC east from the Jets I am going to go for a Jets road win tomorrow with Rex Ryan's team moving on to 6-4 but it will be a scrappy affair.

Prediction: Jets 21-17 Bills


(2-7) Atlanta Falcons vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-8)

As we all know the Atlanta Falcons' Super Bowl or bust season was confirmed as a bust a while ago and the fact that they are on a three game losing streak doesn't help in giving them much of an edge over a lacklustre Tampa Bay side who edged out a win last week against the Dolphins to record their first victory of the 2013 season.

 If the Buccaneers win tomorrow they'll demote Atlanta to last place in the NFC South and with Tampa at home they could quite well win a second straight game. Falcons QB Matt Ryan is still trying his best but without Julio Jones it was always going to be a struggle for Atlanta to get their season back on track.

Roddy White has been unimpressive this year and sadly Tony Gonzalez's last season in the NFL is going to end in irrelevancy. The Buccaneers will be buoyed by their win last week and young running backs Bobby Rainey and Brian Leonard will share the load out of the backfield to help Tampa Bay defeat the Falcons.

Prediction: Falcons 20-23 Buccaneers


(6-3) Detroit Lions vs Pittsburgh Steelers (3-6)

The Detroit Lions gained sole control of the NFC North last week when they defeated divisional rivals Chicago 21-19 in a close encounter. With the Bears and Packers both enduring hard times due to key injuries this Lions team has a real shot of winning the division.

With seven games to go though they need to remain focused as a trip to Heinz Field is never easy despite the fact that the Steelers are suffering right now. This matchup suits Detroit as their passing game should tear Pittsburgh apart especially after they gave up 55 against the Patriots two week ago.

The Steelers did bounce back last week with a 23-10 win over the Bills but they'll have to be at the top of their game to stop the Lions from winning a third straight. You can expect Matthew Stafford, 19 touchdowns to 7 interceptions, and Megatron, 9 receiving touchdowns, to have a field day against the Steelers with Detroit walking out of this one as winners.

Prediction: Lions 34-20 Steelers
 

(3-6) Washington Redskins vs Philadelphia Eagles (5-5)

The NFC East is as tight as ever this season and that is evident by the fact that a win for the 3-6 Redskins tomorrow could put them firmly back in the hunt for the division title. A win for them would see Washington move just a game behind the Eagles and Cowboys with 6 weeks to go.

The Eagles have a monkey on their back at home having not won a single game at Lincoln Financial Field this year but they have been impressive in their last two games with wins over the Raiders and Packers getting them back to .500.

Young Eagles quarterback Nick Foles has been a big part of their revival with the QB throwing 10 touchdowns in his past two games, seven against the Raiders, and has not thrown a pick in his last 136 passing attempts this season. This game is almost too close to call and despite Redskins quarterback RGIII enduring a tough 2013 campaign he could still help this team revitalise their season with a win tomorrow. Personally though I think that the Eagles are overdue a home win and that thanks to their current form they will edge this one.

Prediction: Redskins 30-33 Eagles 


(5-4) Arizona Cardinals vs Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8)

The Arizona Cardinals have won two games in a row to put themselves in the playoff hunt. Bruce Arians' team won at home against the Texans 27-24 last week to get above .500 and move within one game of the second placed San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West.

Now while no matchup in the NFL is a gimme you have to say that Arizona will be more than confident of winning against Jacksonville despite the Jags claiming their first win of the season last week. Arizona has a tough schedule to finish the year but a win tomorrow to put them at 6-4 will give them confidence going in to a challenging run and with them knowing they have something to play for it can only be a good thing.

Jacksonville was always going to win one game and that's despite the fact they are probably a worse football team than the Detroit Lions side that finished 16-0 a few years back but the chances of them recording back to back victories are slim so expect Arizona to get the win even if it does end up being a close game because they have a well organised roster to grind out a result.

Prediction: Cardinals 26-19 Jaguars 


(3-6) Oakland Raiders vs Houston Texans (2-7)

In a game with not much relevance the Oakland Raiders go to Reliant Stadium to take on the Houston Texans. Thankfully new starting quaterback for Houston Case Keenam is the spark this game needs with the former third stringer impressing in his last two games with the Texans losing both in close ones.

Keenam has seven touchdown passes in those past two games and has helped revitalise superstar wide receiver Andre Johnson as a viable threat in the passing game. Keenam is looking to cement himself as the Texans' future starting quarterback and despite posting a passer rating of 105.1 coach Gary Kubiak still isn't ready to commit.

Keenam and Houston will win this one in my opinion as the Raiders look to regroup for next year and move on; speaking of moving on it appears they will be parting with Darren McFadden come next year which is an interesting development but also understandable.

Prediction: Raiders 19-31 Texans


(4-5) Baltimore Ravens vs Chicago Bears (5-4)

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Cincinnati Bengals last week to put them just two games behind them in the AFC North meaning they are back in contention for the division and definitely in the playoff hunt. 

The Ravens' schedule is challenging but there are enough winnable games for the defending Super Bowl champions to make it back to the postseason. This week their opponents are the Chicago Bears who will be looking to immediately bounce back from a critical defeat to the Lions last week.

Josh McCown will start for the Bears this week but he has impressed when playing under centre for Chicago. This result will come down to whose defence manages to get pressure on the quarterback on third downs as in a tight affair like this one of two plays could determine it. Personally I feel that despite injury problems the Bears will win this one as the Ravens still lack top quality and a true identity.

Prediction: Ravens 20-24 Bears 


(4-5) Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals (6-4)

 
What a difference a week makes! The Cleveland Browns will be firmly in the hunt for the AFC North title with a victory over the Bengals tomorrow. Cleveland will move to a game behind Cincinnati with a win and if they win that game they have on the Bengals they'll be in first thanks to sweeping the series between the pair.

Admittedly there are a lot of ifs and it is admirable to this Browns roster and management that there season is still alive after trading away Trent Richardson to the Colts and losing quarterback Brian Hoyer to a season ending injury especially as the latter had such a great effect on the team when he came in.

The Browns have had their bye to prepare for this game while the Bengals are looking to snap a two game losing run after defeats to Miami and Baltimore. A win tomorrow will put them at 7-4 and more importantly comfortable in the division heading in to their own bye which is what I believe they will do with AJ Green having a big game!

Prediction: Browns 20-28 Bengals


(4-5) San Diego Chargers vs Miami Dolphins (4-5)

 This matchup has gone under the radar a bit this week as it could have big playoff implications for both teams as both the Chargers and Dolphins look to get back to .500. With the two teams having good rosters that could well sneak in to the postseason in a wildcard spot this game will be extremely interesting.

In today's NFL it sound obvious in most cases but I firmly believe that this game comes down to which quarterback performs better out of Phillip Rivers and Ryan Tannehill. Rivers has been playing very well in 2013 throwing 18 touchdowns to just 7 interceptions whilst the Dolphins' second year QB Tannehill has improved and thrown 12 TD's to 11 picks.

San Diego have lost two straight games and Miami were defeated on Monday Night Football in week 10 by the previously winless Buccaneers so both will be looking to get back to winning ways. In a game that is close to call it's hard to imagine this encounter exceeding an 8 point margin either way but people have talked about the potential of three teams emerging from the AFC West in to the postseason and I believe the Chargers keep their chances alive with a win in this one as the Dolphins continue to be plagued by off the field distractions.

Prediction: Chargers 28-20 Dolphins


(5-4) Green Bay Packers vs New York Giants (3-6) 

The New York Giants possess probably the most unimpressive three game winning streak in the history of the NFL and somehow are still within a chance of winning the NFC East despite losing their first six games this season.

A couple of weeks ago and all bets would of been off as Green Bay would have been predicted to win this game by all those with even half of a brain but the injury to Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers shocked the league and showed just how quickly fortunes can change in sport. Rodgers is hoping to return on Thanksgiving but he will need his team to get a much needed win tomorrow to keep them in touching distance at the top of the NFC North.

The Giants meanwhile will be hoping that their defence can disrupt Green Bay's third string QB Scott Tolzien by putting him under pressure from the offset. In their past two meetings the Giants have blown out the Packers and despite the Giants being diabolical at times in 2013 I think they will win this home game tomorrow to complicate things even more within the NFC East leaving the Aaron Rogerless Packers needing to pull a rabbit out of the hat.

Prediction: Packers 23-29 Giants
  

(2-7) Minnessota Vikings vs Seattle Seahawks (9-1) 

The Minnesota Vikings have a lot to ponder at the end of 2013 but their QB Christian Ponder looks set to start against Seattle on Sunday after recovering from a dislocated shoulder injury suffered in week 10's Thursday Night Football win over Washington.

The Vikings though face an uphill task of attempting to hand Seattle their first home defeat with Russell Wilson as the team's quarterback; Wilson is 20-6 as a starting QB in the NFL and tied for the third most victories by a player at the the position in his first two seasons as a starter. 3 more wins in the teams last 6 and Wilson will pass Ben Roethlisberger on that list who won 22 games in his first two seasons. Wilson has 17 touchdowns to just six interceptions this year and with the way Seahawks are performing it seems as if the NFC's road to the Super Bowl will be going through Seattle as they look to home in on the number one seed.

You can expect Seattle to win this one even if Vikings running back Adrian Peterson outshines Seattle's Marshawn Lynch. Seattle's defence is monstrous and will create turnovers while the offensive weapons Wilson has at his disposal are impressive plus Percy Harvin returns tomorrow after his long injury to play against his former team so expect fireworks.

Prediction: Vikings 21-31 Seahawks


(6-3) San Francisco 49ers vs New Orleans Saints (7-2)

At the start to the season some expected the 49ers to march back to the Super Bowl but 9 games in and sitting at 6-3 behind the 9-1 Seahawks in the NFC West questions are being asked about this team. Of course the team has had injury problems but so has near enough every franchise this season.

Aldon Smith has had troubles off the field and Colin Kaepernick has been hit and miss throughout the current campaign. The Niners are still a very dangerous team but to go on the road to the Superdome and play the Saints who have the 2nd best offense and 7th best defence in the league is a huge challenge especially as the Niners are coming off a 10-9 loss to the Panthers which is what has caused alarm bells to be rung.

The Saints dismantled the Cowboys 49-17 last week and will be in no mood of slowing down this week especially with Carolina breathing down their necks in the NFC South. While I feel it is ludicrous to say the 49ers will miss the postseason I do feel they have issues that need to be resolved but as for tomorrow's game it could be another brutal encounter for the Niners as they go up against another one of the leagues best defenses and face Saints QB Drew Brees who is no slouch with his 25 touchdown passes this year. This has the potential to be a real thriller; I'm going with New Orleans because Sean Peyton's team are a real threat and at home are almost unstoppable.

Prediction: 49ers 23-33 Saints


(9-0) Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos (8-1)

Our final game this week is the mouthwatering encounter between AFC West rivals Kansas City and Denver. The two possess the best records in the entire AFC with the Chiefs owning one of the best defenses and the Broncos possessing the best offense.

It is a game with high anticipation and one both teams need to win as it is almost certain to be a key factor in deciding who wins this division; the best part is they still have another matchup with each other coming up in two weeks. These two teams are also fighting it out for the battle to gain home field advantage for the playoffs as both look to seal one of the two bye week spots.

The Chiefs have been grinding out wins and have managed close wins over the Browns and Bills who aren't two of the best in the NFL but wins are wins and you have to give credit where it is due so props go to Andy Reid and his Chiefs team. Tomorrow against Denver though is a whole different kettle of fish as they go up against Peyton Manning who his having a fantastic season with the future hall of fame quarterback currently on 33 touchdowns to just 6 interceptions in the teams first 9 games.

Defensively the Chiefs are better than the Broncos that's for sure but the Chiefs' offense is still finding its feet to a degree so they will need to up their game tomorrow as this one could possible end up being a shootout. Chiefs QB Alex Smith hasn't fared well against Manning in the past and to go to the conditions that Mile High has to offer is never no easy challenge. Personally it is very tough to call but with the amount of weapons the Broncos have offensively you have to say that being at home they get this win and move in to first place in the division. The Chiefs will learn from any mistakes they make and get back to the drawing board. I feel that the reason they lose this one, despite sounding slightly contradicting, is that although they needed a bye week is has come at the wrong time just because of who they are facing after it and despite some injury concerns around Manning I just feel that the Broncos will have too much to offer tomorrow and will get the win.

Prediction: Chiefs 27-38 Broncos 

NFC West Preview

What a difference a few short years can make! In the 2010 season the Seattle Seahawks became the first team to reach the playoffs with a losing record when they clinched the NFC West title on the final day of the regular season. Now heading in to the 2013 season the Seahawks are one of the powerhouses in the NFC along with their arch rivals the San Francisco 49ers who made the Super Bowl last season. Heading in to this season the two will both believe that they have a good chance of going deep in to the postseason whilst the other two teams in the division, the St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals, are both in their own type of rebuilding process so predicting their fate for the 2013 season is something that will take unique analysis.

One things for sure this division has talent and its matchups are always good to watch so with 2 days to go until the rest of week 1 gets underway let us take a look at all four teams to see where they'll end up come the end of the regular season:


St. Louis Rams

When you look at the Rams you have to say that although they are in a rebuilding process you can see they actually have a plan for the future. They finished 7-8-1 last season and only lost 1 game to a division rival which is impressive considering they have the Niners and Seattle competing with them. On offense they are led by 4th year quarterback Sam Bradford who had his best year to date in 2012 throwing 21 touchdowns and 13 interceptions for 3,702 yards. The rest of the offense is also young and many people are predicting a good future for this group of young men but after improving from 2-14 to 7-8-1 it is being suggested by some that they have a shot at making it in to the playoffs as a wild-card team.

Now I like the job the franchise is doing on all fronts I mean both of the Rams first round picks from this year's draft class have great potential and will benefit them on both sides of the ball for years to come. Tavon Austin was the number 8 overall pick and the wide receiver will fit nicely in to the St. Louis offense and then there's Alec Ogletree who despite some run ins with legal issues has the potential to be a very good linebacker if he keeps his head screwed on and is managed in the right way. The Rams may have lost franchise running back Steven Jackson but Zac Stacy may have been a major steal in the 5th round as he impressed in the combine and made the Dan Walker Award watch list in 2012. He also was a two-time West Alabama Player of the Year and ended his career in college with 5,863 rushing yards and 76 total touchdowns.

How will Jeff Fishers Rams fair in 2013?

Now despite the good work Jeff Fisher has done the Rams need to be realistic in 2013 in the sense that they may take a step back in terms of their season record but if they can keep this group together they have reason to be optimistic for the future. Their downfall will be that the NFC West faces the NFC South which is another division with two front runners and two other teams looking to be that surprise package so the schedule is tougher for the Rams than last year. When you add that together with the fact that they will find it very hard to only lose one game within their division again, I have them winning just one NFC West matchup this year and losing the other 5, then you have to say that 2013 will be another learning experience for this franchise.

Season prediction: 6-10. 4th in NFC West.


Arizona Cardinals

After a surprising 4-0 start in 2012 the Cardinals lost 11 of their last 12 games which meant they finished 5-11 as well as bottom of the NFC West. Following the disappointing season Ken Whisenhunt was fired and replaced by Bruce Arians after he guided the Colts to the playoffs during his time as interim head coach. With Arians now given the opportunity of head coaching his home team he will look to revive the fortunes of Larry Fitzgerald whilst developing the likes of Michael Floyd and Andre Roberts who together create a wide receiver trio that could produce results for Arizona.

Will Fitzgerald put up big numbers this season?

 The talent on this team doesn't give off the impression that the Cardinals are a franchise that it is rebuilding but with new coaches, a new GM and a few new faces it's hard to predict how Arizona will do. With Arians as head coach the Cardinals ship will be steadied and they will make progress but sadly like their divisional counterparts the Rams it will be a tough schedule that hurts their chances especially as they line up in a division with two of the best teams in the entire NFL. Arizona will be tough to beat though as they now have new faces most notable on offense as experienced quarterback Carlson Palmer was brought in to help the offense out and ensure that Larry Fitzgerald is given the chance to show off his superstar talents again. Palmer endured a tough couple of years in Oakland before making the move to Arizona and he will be looking to prove himself as this is probably his last genuine shot at recapturing the good level he played at during his early years as a Bengal.

The Cardinals have potential on offense but on defense is where there season chances lay as they still have pro bowl calibre players in the shape of Calais Campbell, Patrick Peterson and Darnell Dockett despite losing an experienced leader in Adrian Wilson. As mentioned before Cardinals are enduring a lot of changes this year which isn't always ideal but I feel the players and coaching staff will embrace the challenge which will result in a productive year in terms of progressing forward and rebuilding the franchise.

Season prediction: 7-9. 3rd in NFC West.


San Francisco 49ers

After going 13-3 and defeating the Atlanta Falcons 28-24 the 49ers reached their first Super Bowl since 1994 under the guidance of Jim Harbaugh. Unfortunately for San Francisco they fell short of winning the Lombardi trophy by a mere seven yards as a Baltimore redzone stand clinched the win for them. For the Niners it was heart breaking but they had a lot of positives to take from the 2012 season and will look to become the first team to lose a Super Bowl then go on to bounce back by winning it the next season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins; 7/12 Super Bowl loses since 2000 have failed to even make it back to the playoffs after defeat in the big game!

The Niners defense is crucial to any success and even though they endured some playoff woes last season, especially in the Super Bowl against the Ravens, we know that the likes of Justin Smith, NaVorro Bowman, Patrick Willis, Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks are all top notch defensive players who can all be difference makers in their own right. They've added rookie free safety Eric Reid who will be beneficial to this secondary along with the veteran cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. It's scary to think that the 49ers defense could improve when you consider they were in the top 3 for defensive categories such as takeaways, points allowed per game, third down conversions and total yards allowed which overall made them the best defense in 2012; watch out for rookie outside linebacker Corey Lemonier who forced his way on to the roster and could make a big name for himself. The 49ers have a star-studded roster even when you take out a wide receiver like Michael Crabtree who underwent surgery to repair a torn achilles tendon this past May so he won't return for at least 6 months plus Anquan Boldin isn't exactly a bad replacement!

Colin Kaepernick is a real star in the making

The NFC West division is the only one which has given me a headache on deciding who will win it because to choose between San Francisco and Seattle may as well come down to the flip of a coin but personally it comes down to the fact that the 49ers have Colin Kaepernick. With this young man as their QB it makes me think they'll have a great 2013 and progress to the postseason as NFC West champions. He managed to beat out Alex Smith who had a 104.1 passer rating before his injury but Jim Harbaugh saw a unique and dynamic talent in Kaepernick; even in his first start he tore apart a highly rated Bears defense completing 16 of his 23 pass attempts for 246 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the 32-7 win. In Kaepernick's 10 starts he threw 10 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions and he threw for 1,608 yards whilst on the ground he rushed for 238 yards and 2 touchdowns. Now that Kaepernick has had a full offseason to learn the offense you can expect greater success from him in 2013 especially under Jim Harbaugh's guidance as he has full trust in his young QB and will give him the freedom he needs. In the playoffs alone you could see how he had improved in such a short amount of time especially when he tore the Packers to shreds along with leading the Niners to a comeback against the Falcons in the NFC title game. His postseason numbers were impressive and even in the Super Bowl considering it was only his 13th start in the league he more than held his own; 798 passing yards in playoffs, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 264 rushing yards with 3 touchdowns and a combined passer rating of 100.9. Kaepernick can tear it up in the air and on the ground as he possesses fantastic arm strength with good accuracy, great speed and has great scrambling ability. There's so much you can say about the 49ers and their talented young quarterback but I'll finish by saying expect big things from the 49ers especially in the regular season as they'll be looking to prove many people wrong who are suggesting the Seahawks will take their divisional crown. Despite some tough challenges ahead it's safe to say that although it is a long season the 49ers are one of the standout Super Bowl contenders.

Season prediction: 1st in NFC West. 12-4


Seattle Seahawks

In three years Pete Carroll has taken the Seattle Seahawks to new heights. In his first year as head coach they won the NFC West with a 7-9 record then in 2011 they posted a 7-9 record again but finished 3rd. Last season was the turning point as Carroll started to build his own team and prove to the players they had the potential to succeed with the team finishing 11-5 and making it to the divisional round of the playoffs where they lost by the narrowest of margins 30-28 to the Falcons. Their 11 victories was the third best record posted in franchise history and they went undefeated at home for the third time ever.

The expectations have risen in Seattle and now it is the job of the players and coaching staff to rise to the occasions and make this talent count. Now while many people are predicting either the Seahawks or 49ers will dip personally I don't see a dip from either but I do see Seattle not meeting their own expectations which will be to win the NFC West. The only good news for them on this front is that they are a definite playoff team regardless of what happens in the division and it's what you do after January that makes you great so Pete Carroll just needs to keep his players focused and ensure that they get the job done. The reason I don't see them winning the division is due to their schedule as it was home form which helped them last season as the team only managed 3 wins out of 8 on the road. It will be success on the road which determines their fate this year as they travel to Carolina on week 1 which is no easy game then they also have matchups against the Texans, Colts, Falcons and Giants on the road to look forward to. Their home form will be fine and they'll win at least 6 games but I have just mentioned 5 hard road games so let's say worst case scenario was they lost all 5 and won the other 3 that puts them at just a 9 win team which in the NFC may not be good enough.

Can Wilson, Carroll and co go all the way this year?

Thankfully for Pete Carroll he knows how to manage talent and the likes of superstar running back Marshawn Lynch will ensure the Seahawks don't dip drastically. Their defense is arguably the best in the league with the team ranked 1st in points per game only allowing 15.3 along with being tied 4th for turnovers forced with 31; helped by the talented secondary of cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner  along with strong safety Kam Chancellor and free safety Earl Thomas. Now I don't believe sophomore quarterback Russell Wilson will have a sophomore slump but if he did they better hope the defense comes up big once again which I believe they will. Thankfully for Seattle they have near enough ever piece in their jigsaw in place for success and will have one coming back when Percy Harvin returns from injury later on in the season which will be a great boost for them. Wilson won't slump as 2012 saw him tie Peyton Manning's rookie touchdown record with 26 and the fact he only threw 10 interceptions was impressive especially when you consider Manning threw 28 picks in his rookie season. Wilson had a regular season passer rating of 100.0 and from two playoff games had a rating of 102.4 with 3 touchdowns and one interception so it is clear to see this kid has a bright future. His talents helped Sidney Rice produce the second best season to date in his six year career and could help fellow wideout Golden Tate have a breakout year in 2013. When you consider their potential on offense along with an established defense which has added Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril as pass rushers, sacks being maybe the one weak spot for the Seattle D considering their total of 36 ranked 18th, despite the fact I believe they'll finish 2nd in the West with an 11-5 record you have to say considering they're a sure bet for the postseason that this Seattle are a genuine early season Super Bowl contender.

Season prediction: 11-5. 2nd in NFC West.