With about half an hour to go until week 15 gets underway let me get in some quick fire predictions for today's NFL games:
(8-5) Steelers vs Falcons (5-8)
The Falcons almost did the impossible in Lambeau Field when they were very close to pulling off a comeback against Aaron Rodgers and co from a double digit deficit but fell short at the end. With Julio Jones ruled out it will be hard to replicate the offensive clinic they put on in the 2nd half last week but with the NFC South still up for grabs and their opponents Pittsburgh also right in the mix of the fight for the AFC North title it makes today's games one of the most intriguing. Just because of the unpredictability of the NFL I fancy it to be high scoring with Big Ben and Bell leading the way for the Steelers but with the Falcons somehow pulling out a victory and young wideout Harry Douglas having a big game.
(3-10) Redskins vs Giants (4-9)
In one of the most irrelevant games of this NFL 2014 season the two bottom teams in the NFC East go head to head with just pride at stake. As we know Odell Beckham Jr has shown in recent weeks that he has what it takes to become a superstar in this league and I fancy him to tear apart this weak Washington defense which will pile pressure on the Redskins organisation that is facing many big decisions in this upcoming off-season.
(7-6) Dolphins vs Patriots (10-3)
The New England Patriots bounced back from a tough loss to Green Bay a fortnight ago to win a close encounter in San Diego last weekend on Sunday Night Football. Tom Brady and co will be fired up for today's game against Miami as they can win the division as well as clinch a playoff berth with a win today. With the Pats unbeaten at home this season and Tom Brady 11-0 against the Dolphins when he has started and finished a game at home against them all signs point to a New England victory. Personally I feel it could be tougher than many people expect but ultimately it will end in a Pats win.
(2-11) Raiders vs Chiefs (7-6)
The Oakland Raiders pulled off the shock of the season last week when they defeated the 49ers in the battle of the Bay Area last weekend and will look to cause another upset when they walk in to the cauldron that is ArrowHead Stadium. The Chiefs are brilliant at home and have the playoffs in their sights; with San Diego facing Denver this is the perfect weekend for Kansas City to stake their claim for a wildcard spot and given the fact that they were defeated when they faced Oakland last time out they will want to get some revenge when the two teams face off today.
(7-6) Texans vs Colts (9-4)
The Colts can end the race for the AFC South today with a win against divisional rivals Houston. Andrew Luck vs JJ Watt is a rivalry that will continue to dominate this matchup for years to come and last time out Watt almost led his team to a famous win against the Colts with an inspired defensive performance. The Colts won that game 33-28 and despite the Texans offensive woes I expect a similar close and hard fought game today but with Indianapolis at home I fancy the Colts to grab their 10th win of the year.
(8-4-1) Bengals vs Browns (7-6)
With the AFC North about as predictable as the outcome of the Second World War anything could happen in today's game between the Bengals and Browns. With Cincinnati on the road at 4-2 and Cleveland 4-3 at home it makes this game even tougher to determine but with Johnny Manziel making his first NFL start today as QB of the Browns I expect him and Josh Gordon to combine and make the difference to help complement a talented Browns defense giving them a win that will make AFC North even harder to predict for the final two weeks of the regular season.
(2-11) Jaguars vs Ravens (8-5)
98 times out of 100 the Jags are awful where the Ravens are one of the most consistent teams in football which means one outcome... Jacksonville wins! Okay just kidding Baltimore moves to 9-5.
(10-3) Packers vs Bills (7-6)
Green Bay goes up against a talented Buffalo defense but at the moment it seems impossible to stop this green bay wrecking ball that has racked up 5 straight wins and seen Aaron Rodgers cement himself as the best quarterback in football. Green Bay has been scoring points for fun and even if Buffalo make it tough at times the Packers will come out with the win as they look to secure a bye with home field advantage going in to the playoffs.
(2-11) Tampa Bay vs Panthers (4-8-1)
This game has all the makings to be a real car crash... Okay I could have done better there let me try again! This season has been a real car crash for these two teams and with the Panthers missing Cam Newton after his erm car crash it makes this game tough to predict. Thankfully for Carolina their defense has started to show shades of the 2013 class and took Drew Brees and co to town last week when the Panthers were rampant in their win over the Saints; Panthers win.
(2-11) Jets vs Titans (2-11)
Two 2-11 teams with nothing at stake besides maybe having the number one overall pick next year. Considering the Jets need a new QB more than the Titans as their new starter Zach Mettenberger has shown promising signs I'll go with Tennessee winning a close and uneventful meeting.
(10-3) Broncos vs Chargers (8-5)
The Denver Broncos decimated the Chargers last time the two teams met but with San Diego still holding on the prospects of a wild card spot it makes this divisional matchup one of the games of the day. The Broncos aerial attack wasn't at its best last week with Peyton Manning only throwing 20 times but with Manning and Rivers facing off today 9 times out of 10 that means it will be a shootout. Both of these teams have good units on both sides of the ball so time of possession and turnovers will be key to the outcome of the game. It will be one of the closest games of the day but in the regular season teams led by Peyton know how to get it done especially in divisional matchups and that is what makes me think that Denver will win to keep the pressure on New England in the race for the first seed.
(6-7) Vikings vs Lions (9-4)
Minnesota are looking to ruin their divisional rivals hopes of a playoff berth but this Lions team looks different to those in years gone by as they have the know how to win and now that their roster is getting healthy with key players returning to the mix Detroit will find a way to grab their tenth win of the season.
(7-6) 49ers vs Seahawks (9-4) and (9-4) Cowboys vs Eagles (9-4)
These two games are the biggest of the day with all 4 teams in the mix of the NFC playoff battle. The Niners will travel to Seattle as they attempt to do the unthinkable whilst the Cowboys will be looking to make amends for their Thanksgiving Day home defeat to the Eagles. I fancy Seattle to continue their dominant streak setting up a mouthwatering clash for the NFC West Title next week against Arizona and in the other game the Cowboys are 6-0 on the road whereas the Eagles are 6-1 at home so this game will be determined by the flip of a coin... I'm not going to do that but I am going to for a Dallas win. I do think that somehow they will defy the demons of years gone by and win the division to make the postseason.
Showing posts with label Steelers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steelers. Show all posts
Sunday, 14 December 2014
Saturday, 28 September 2013
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
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
Saturday, 15 December 2012
NFL Week 15 Sunday match preview:
In under 12 hours the remaining week 15 games will kickoff as the NFL regular season approaches its climax. There are some big matchups and I am going to go out on a limb by predicted the results.
New York Giants vs Atlanta Falcons
The Giants at 8-5 have two divisional rivals only a game back on them whereas the Falcons are in the playoffs and look like they'll hold on to the first seed in the NFC ahead of the playoffs. Whatever happens it's safe to say this game will be close and it is hard to predict but it is this time of year when the Giants play their best football. With the protection the offensive line has given Eli Manning this season I fancy the Giants to get the win 27-24.
Denver Broncos vs Baltimore Ravens
Peyton Manning, like his younger brother, has a big game this Sunday as the Denver Broncos take on the Baltimore Ravens with both needing a win as they look to get a bye in to the divisional round of the playoffs. The Patriots and the Texans are the current favourites to get the top two seeds in the AFC though and I think a Baltimore win all but confirms that. A lot of people are starting to write them off but not all streaks can last forever so I think with head coach John Harbaugh demanding improvement the Ravens get the win in front of their fans to snap a two game losing streak and halt the Broncos express with a 28-27 win.
Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears
Game by game somehow this week the matchups get bigger and better... somehow! This game has big playoff ramifications though especially for the Bears as with a loss they could easily be missing out on the post-season which would be painful for a team which was being hyped up as Super Bowl contenders midway through the season. Jay Cutler's pass protection has gone and Brandon Marshall's Christmas tree analogy of Bear's season summed up things perfectly. Urlacher is still missing on defense but in a game between two intense rivals with the trash talking and a hostile Chicago crowd I think they win this one and go on to win the NFC North. Aaron Rodgers and co will put up a fight, they can put up high scoring numbers but the Packers lose this one 20-23.
Washington Redskins vs Cleveland Browns
A few weeks ago the Redskins were not in the playoff talk but RGIII and Washington have rallied back to get to 7-6. If they sweep their remaining three games they should almost certainly make the post-season and with the team already on a four game winning streak who's to say their hot run of form won't continue well maybe destiny does as Robert Griffin misses the game through injury. Kirk Cousins takes over at QB this week against the resurgent Browns who have won 3 in a row themselves, yes I said 3 in the row for the Browns. With this being one of the harder games to predict this week it's going to be close but I think Mike Shannahan knows how to inspire a team and I think that the Redskins win and use the ground a bit more in this one not that it's a bad thing when you have Alfred Morris carrying the ball. Washington 24-14 Cleveland.
Indianapolis Colts vs Houston Texans
This is easy to say but it is true and that is the fact that the Houston Texans either blow away the Colts by letting out their frustrations from an embarrassing Monday night loss to the Patriots or they crumble in what is a massive game.These teams meet again in a couple of weeks and if the Colts win their remaining three they would win the AFC South, meaning for me Andrew Luck wins league MVP but that's a whole different story. Whether the Colts fairytale can continue in this game is a tough call I mean they'll make the playoffs even I predicted them to get 9 wins at the start of the season which people laughed at but Andrew Luck is one exceptional talent. I think the rookie gets it done, Indie walk in to Reliant Stadium and get the win thanks to a Luck game winning drive with the score ending 31-28 to the Colts.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Miami Dolphins
There's not much to say about this game apart from it doesn't mean much. The Jaguars are awful whereas the Dolphins may not see it now but it has been a relatively productive season for them. They are at home and will get the win to add to Jacksonville's mystery who won't care too much as it just furthers their case for a higher draft pick. Dolphins win 23-14.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints
I'm a Josh Freeman fan, I've said it on a few occasions but everyone knows regardless of the Saints record how hard it is to walk in to the Superdome and get a win. Drew Brees and New Orleans are hanging on to extremely thin playoff hopes plus it is a rivalry game so they'll be fired up anyway. The Saints get the win and end Tampa Bay's hopes of reaching the post-season meaning that neither of them reach it, this playoff picture is complicated and needs some clearing up which week 15 will bring us. Tampa Bay 30-34 New Orleans
Minnesota Vikings vs St. Louis Rams
The Vikings have been the surprise story of the NFC especially as it was suppose to division rivals the Detroit Lions as the young upcoming team. Minnesota posted a huge win over Chicago last week and Adrian Peterson continues to beast his way through teams as the MVP candidate and potential comeback player of the year hopes to make something special happen for the Vikings this season. Whether they can actually reach the playoffs is one hard question to answer but in the NFL anything is possible I mean ask the Rams because they tied with the 49ers! At 6-6-1 St. Louis shouldn't be underestimated but I think the Vikings take this one and get the road win by a score of 21-17.
Detroit Lions vs Arizona Cardinals
I like many had high hopes for the Detroit Lions. Matthew Stafford has all the qualities to be a very good NFL quarterback and Calvin Johnson is one of if not the best wide receiver in the league. Both teams are at 4-9 but Arizona have lost nine straight which makes Detroit's five defeats in a row look pretty. The Lions want Johnson to break Jerry Rice's record for most receiving yards in a season so expect Stafford to throw the ball and throw it to his main target but the obvious gameplan won't halt the Lions as they walk out with the 31-14 victory.
Seattle Seahawks vs Buffalo Bills
The Seahawks are on a roll and embarrassed Arizona last week in a 58-0 blowout. With them getting defensive players back one by one they are slowly putting the pieces back together on this team. Russell Wilson is also doing very well at quarterback and I think Seattle gets its third win in a row by beating the hapless Bills in a 30-17 victory in Toronto.
Carolina Panthers vs San Diego Chargers
One of the only games this week that doesn't serve any real purpose regarding this season sees the 4-9 Panthers take on the 5-8 Chargers. Both have a streak of one win, that technically isn't a streak right and both will just want to win but San Diego has a habit of beating themselves but not in the good way so I reckon Cam Newton and co get the win for Carolina 27-21.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Dallas Cowboys
Two of the biggest and most historic NFL franchises go head to head this weekend when the Steelers take on the Cowboys. Both at 7-6 have their backs against the wall and need a win in order to have a shot at making the playoffs. The Bengals Thursday night win increased the pressure on Pittsburgh whilst the Cowboys need to keep the pressure on NFC East division leaders the Giants. The battle comes down to the two quarterbacks and who can get it done under pressure; Big Ben returns from injury for the Steelers to give them a major boost whilst Tony Romo looks to do what he always hopes to which is silence the critics. This win won't do that completely but yes I think Dallas get the win, am I buying in to them making the playoffs well no and even if they do they won't pull of an upset. Thankfully the home crowd will get the team going and they'll get the win in a very close one by a score of 28-27.
Kansas City Chiefs vs Oakland Raiders
The 2-11 Chiefs take on the 3-10 Raiders in an exciting game... Sarcasm yes Sheldon if you're reading this is but on a serious note I think both teams awfulness will set up a high scoring game which the Raiders win 40-24 providing Darren McFadden plays.
San Francisco 49ers vs New England Patriots
Sunday night football with cap off the perfect day of NFL action when the Niners travel to Gillette Stadium to take on the Patriots. It is the unstoppable force of Tom Brady and the Patriots offense vs the immovable object in the shape of this nasty San Francisco defense. New England tore apart the Texans on Monday night and have the capability to beat anyone with the momentum they have gathered which comes down to the huge improvement they had on defense with the team forcing a number of turnovers and leading that stat in the AFC. Colin Kaepernick starts at QB again for the 49ers but I think Jim Harbaugh has been over thinking this situation too much by trying to be too clever as he tries outsmart opponents. It will come back to bite the 49ers as they will eventually go back to Alex Smith but with his confidence being hit I think the Niners will miss out on the Super Bowl and start to point fingers at each other. Don't get me wrong this is a potential Super Bowl preview but if you had to choose one of these two teams to make it to New Orleans and represent their conference at this moment in time it would be the Patriots. Bill Belichick's team are the talk and envy of the NFL so I expect New England to put in another big performance and move to 22-0 on their second half of the season record which dates back to 2010. Final score 49ers 24-31 Patriots.
Thanks for taking the time out to read my article. It's 7.15am here so I have a valid excuse if this predicting goes wrong. Catch you all soon! P.S. Check the polls out.
New York Giants vs Atlanta Falcons
The Giants at 8-5 have two divisional rivals only a game back on them whereas the Falcons are in the playoffs and look like they'll hold on to the first seed in the NFC ahead of the playoffs. Whatever happens it's safe to say this game will be close and it is hard to predict but it is this time of year when the Giants play their best football. With the protection the offensive line has given Eli Manning this season I fancy the Giants to get the win 27-24.
Denver Broncos vs Baltimore Ravens
Peyton Manning, like his younger brother, has a big game this Sunday as the Denver Broncos take on the Baltimore Ravens with both needing a win as they look to get a bye in to the divisional round of the playoffs. The Patriots and the Texans are the current favourites to get the top two seeds in the AFC though and I think a Baltimore win all but confirms that. A lot of people are starting to write them off but not all streaks can last forever so I think with head coach John Harbaugh demanding improvement the Ravens get the win in front of their fans to snap a two game losing streak and halt the Broncos express with a 28-27 win.
Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears
Game by game somehow this week the matchups get bigger and better... somehow! This game has big playoff ramifications though especially for the Bears as with a loss they could easily be missing out on the post-season which would be painful for a team which was being hyped up as Super Bowl contenders midway through the season. Jay Cutler's pass protection has gone and Brandon Marshall's Christmas tree analogy of Bear's season summed up things perfectly. Urlacher is still missing on defense but in a game between two intense rivals with the trash talking and a hostile Chicago crowd I think they win this one and go on to win the NFC North. Aaron Rodgers and co will put up a fight, they can put up high scoring numbers but the Packers lose this one 20-23.
Washington Redskins vs Cleveland Browns
A few weeks ago the Redskins were not in the playoff talk but RGIII and Washington have rallied back to get to 7-6. If they sweep their remaining three games they should almost certainly make the post-season and with the team already on a four game winning streak who's to say their hot run of form won't continue well maybe destiny does as Robert Griffin misses the game through injury. Kirk Cousins takes over at QB this week against the resurgent Browns who have won 3 in a row themselves, yes I said 3 in the row for the Browns. With this being one of the harder games to predict this week it's going to be close but I think Mike Shannahan knows how to inspire a team and I think that the Redskins win and use the ground a bit more in this one not that it's a bad thing when you have Alfred Morris carrying the ball. Washington 24-14 Cleveland.
Indianapolis Colts vs Houston Texans
This is easy to say but it is true and that is the fact that the Houston Texans either blow away the Colts by letting out their frustrations from an embarrassing Monday night loss to the Patriots or they crumble in what is a massive game.These teams meet again in a couple of weeks and if the Colts win their remaining three they would win the AFC South, meaning for me Andrew Luck wins league MVP but that's a whole different story. Whether the Colts fairytale can continue in this game is a tough call I mean they'll make the playoffs even I predicted them to get 9 wins at the start of the season which people laughed at but Andrew Luck is one exceptional talent. I think the rookie gets it done, Indie walk in to Reliant Stadium and get the win thanks to a Luck game winning drive with the score ending 31-28 to the Colts.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Miami Dolphins
There's not much to say about this game apart from it doesn't mean much. The Jaguars are awful whereas the Dolphins may not see it now but it has been a relatively productive season for them. They are at home and will get the win to add to Jacksonville's mystery who won't care too much as it just furthers their case for a higher draft pick. Dolphins win 23-14.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints
I'm a Josh Freeman fan, I've said it on a few occasions but everyone knows regardless of the Saints record how hard it is to walk in to the Superdome and get a win. Drew Brees and New Orleans are hanging on to extremely thin playoff hopes plus it is a rivalry game so they'll be fired up anyway. The Saints get the win and end Tampa Bay's hopes of reaching the post-season meaning that neither of them reach it, this playoff picture is complicated and needs some clearing up which week 15 will bring us. Tampa Bay 30-34 New Orleans
Minnesota Vikings vs St. Louis Rams
The Vikings have been the surprise story of the NFC especially as it was suppose to division rivals the Detroit Lions as the young upcoming team. Minnesota posted a huge win over Chicago last week and Adrian Peterson continues to beast his way through teams as the MVP candidate and potential comeback player of the year hopes to make something special happen for the Vikings this season. Whether they can actually reach the playoffs is one hard question to answer but in the NFL anything is possible I mean ask the Rams because they tied with the 49ers! At 6-6-1 St. Louis shouldn't be underestimated but I think the Vikings take this one and get the road win by a score of 21-17.
Detroit Lions vs Arizona Cardinals
I like many had high hopes for the Detroit Lions. Matthew Stafford has all the qualities to be a very good NFL quarterback and Calvin Johnson is one of if not the best wide receiver in the league. Both teams are at 4-9 but Arizona have lost nine straight which makes Detroit's five defeats in a row look pretty. The Lions want Johnson to break Jerry Rice's record for most receiving yards in a season so expect Stafford to throw the ball and throw it to his main target but the obvious gameplan won't halt the Lions as they walk out with the 31-14 victory.
Seattle Seahawks vs Buffalo Bills
The Seahawks are on a roll and embarrassed Arizona last week in a 58-0 blowout. With them getting defensive players back one by one they are slowly putting the pieces back together on this team. Russell Wilson is also doing very well at quarterback and I think Seattle gets its third win in a row by beating the hapless Bills in a 30-17 victory in Toronto.
Carolina Panthers vs San Diego Chargers
One of the only games this week that doesn't serve any real purpose regarding this season sees the 4-9 Panthers take on the 5-8 Chargers. Both have a streak of one win, that technically isn't a streak right and both will just want to win but San Diego has a habit of beating themselves but not in the good way so I reckon Cam Newton and co get the win for Carolina 27-21.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Dallas Cowboys
Two of the biggest and most historic NFL franchises go head to head this weekend when the Steelers take on the Cowboys. Both at 7-6 have their backs against the wall and need a win in order to have a shot at making the playoffs. The Bengals Thursday night win increased the pressure on Pittsburgh whilst the Cowboys need to keep the pressure on NFC East division leaders the Giants. The battle comes down to the two quarterbacks and who can get it done under pressure; Big Ben returns from injury for the Steelers to give them a major boost whilst Tony Romo looks to do what he always hopes to which is silence the critics. This win won't do that completely but yes I think Dallas get the win, am I buying in to them making the playoffs well no and even if they do they won't pull of an upset. Thankfully the home crowd will get the team going and they'll get the win in a very close one by a score of 28-27.
Kansas City Chiefs vs Oakland Raiders
The 2-11 Chiefs take on the 3-10 Raiders in an exciting game... Sarcasm yes Sheldon if you're reading this is but on a serious note I think both teams awfulness will set up a high scoring game which the Raiders win 40-24 providing Darren McFadden plays.
San Francisco 49ers vs New England Patriots
Sunday night football with cap off the perfect day of NFL action when the Niners travel to Gillette Stadium to take on the Patriots. It is the unstoppable force of Tom Brady and the Patriots offense vs the immovable object in the shape of this nasty San Francisco defense. New England tore apart the Texans on Monday night and have the capability to beat anyone with the momentum they have gathered which comes down to the huge improvement they had on defense with the team forcing a number of turnovers and leading that stat in the AFC. Colin Kaepernick starts at QB again for the 49ers but I think Jim Harbaugh has been over thinking this situation too much by trying to be too clever as he tries outsmart opponents. It will come back to bite the 49ers as they will eventually go back to Alex Smith but with his confidence being hit I think the Niners will miss out on the Super Bowl and start to point fingers at each other. Don't get me wrong this is a potential Super Bowl preview but if you had to choose one of these two teams to make it to New Orleans and represent their conference at this moment in time it would be the Patriots. Bill Belichick's team are the talk and envy of the NFL so I expect New England to put in another big performance and move to 22-0 on their second half of the season record which dates back to 2010. Final score 49ers 24-31 Patriots.
Thanks for taking the time out to read my article. It's 7.15am here so I have a valid excuse if this predicting goes wrong. Catch you all soon! P.S. Check the polls out.
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