Week 15 quick fire predictions:

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. 

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

NFL 2012/2013 Playoffs:

This year’s NFL regular season is over and now we know who has made it to the post-season. Week 17 gave us plenty of thrills and spills, mostly spills if your names Tony Romo. The drama and excitement that this week’s matchups brought us has given us high expectations going into the wild card week and the rest of the playoffs.

For this post we'll take a look at each team’s chance in the playoffs with a little hint of how they may do as well as a prediction for the NFC and AFC championship games.

NFC seedings:

1. Atlanta Falcons - South winners - 13-3-0 (Home field advantage and first round bye)

2. San Francisco 49ers - West winners - 11-4-1 (First round bye)

3. Green Bay Packers - North winners - 11-5-0

4. Washington Redskins - East winners - 10-6-0

5. Seattle Seahawks - Wildcard - 11-5-0

6. Minnesota Vikings - Wildcard - 10-6-0

Atlanta Falcons

Can Atlanta's three musketeers come up big when it matters most

During Matt Ryan's time as quarterback for the Falcons he and the team have lost three playoff games with the most recent coming last season in a crushing 24-2 defeat to eventful Super Bowl champions the New York Giants. This season the Falcons have finished the 2012 regular season with the leagues joint best record, 13-3, but despite that many have written them off. Ryan himself has had another productive year throwing 32 touchdowns to only 14 interceptions and with this being his 5th season in the league you can see he is improving but now he has learned the ropes this Atlanta team needs to step up when it matters. They will look to prove the doubters wrong by beating whoever they welcome to the Georgia Dome in the NFC divisional round out of the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Redskins. Despite their recent woeful playoff record Atlanta's offense also has two very good receivers in the shape of Julio Jones who has had a breakout season with 10 receiving touchdowns and Roddy White as well as a defense that finished the regular season sixth in turnover differential with +13. Matt Ryan can take inspiration from Eli Manning who lost his first two playoff games but won his first in his third appearance during his fourth year as a pro so can Ryan make it lucky number four in year number five and take the Atlanta Falcons to the NFC Championship game? Well out of the four teams in the NFL with a bye week the Falcons are the most likely to bust and regardless if they do manage a long awaited playoff win they don't have the type of defense the Giants did on two occasions to help Eli Manning get over the line so Matt Ryan and co will have to wait another year for a shot at greatness.

San Francisco 49ers

Will Jim Harbaugh's decision pay off in the playoffs

It has been an eventful season for the San Francisco 49ers and one mainly filled with positives. The team headed in to the 2012 season as one of the favourites to go to the Super Bowl and that view has not changed among many. The 49ers possess one of if not arguably the best defense in the league and statistically are third in total defense during the regular season giving up only 294.4 yards per game. They have 25 takeaways and a turnover differential of +9 which leaves them ranked 9th in the league in that field and as well as that the possess the likes of outside linebacker Aldon Smith who was in fine form during the regular season as he racked up 19.5 sacks on the season. The big question though still remains at quarterback but for Jim Harbaugh it has been a good dilemma with second year pro Colin Kaepernick coming in to replace Alex Smith following a concussion despite Smith starting to produce some of if not his best form as a quarterback since being drafted as the first overall pick by the 49ers in the 2005 draft. Smith finished the season with a passer rating of 104.1 which made him the third best rated quarterback in the league but young Colin Kaepernick has been considered more dynamic with his ability to move out of the pocket as well as scramble and has shown to have better arm strength. As well as this his abilities have shown in his statistics with the young QB throwing 10 touchdowns for 1,814 yards and just 3 interceptions along with 5 scores on the ground in his 7 games as the teams starter. Kaepernick has also been able to link up with veteran Randy Moss at times and has racked up a very good partnership with his main wide receiver Michael Crabtree who is now starting to look like the big time NFL player many predicted he could be. The decision to switch quarterback has paid off so far as San Francisco went on to clinch a bye in the playoffs taking them straight to the divisional round meaning they are one game away from the NFC Championship but despite us all seeing a season full of many surprises especially at the quarterback position this situation in San Francisco won't see the team replicate a Tom Brady- Drew Bledsoe type scenario in which Brady went on to win the Lombardi trophy in his second year as a pro following him becoming the starter due to an injury to Bledsoe. One way or another Harbaugh's decision will come back to haunt him somehow and the 49ers will fall at some point but when that will happen is a subject open for debate.

Green Bay Packers

Can Aaron Rodgers guide the Packers back to the Super Bowl

The Green Bay Packers were controversially defeated by the Seattle Seahawks on a Monday night game early in the season which saw the end of the replacement refs taking charge on the field. A win on that night would have given them a first round bye but following their week 17 defeat to divisional rivals the Vikings they only have themselves to blame after missing out on a week off. Despite that recent negative it is only a blip and overall Green Bay's season has been a success so far. Aaron Rodgers has led the way once again by continuing to get it done with an offense which doesn't possess as many weapons that the likes of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning have at their disposal. With Rodgers leading the league with an incredible passer rating of 108.0 as well as 39 touchdown passes to just 8 interceptions the quarterback could be the difference maker for Green Bay to make a playoff run. He's turned Jerry Jones in to a top receiver, he leads the league with 14 scores on the season, and the Packers also have their defense getting healthy again so everything mentioned makes them one of the favourites in the NFC to compete for the Lombard trophy in February. Their journey starts this weekend when they face the Vikings again but this time the game takes place at Lambeau field. Despite wide receiver Greg Jennings saying he would rather play indoors home advantage will set Green Bay on their way in the playoffs but will have a tough road to the Super Bowl as a win this weekend would mean they have to travel to Candlestick Park to take on the 49ers and then would have to beat whoever they face in the NFC title game to get to New Orleans. These days in the NFL nothing comes easy and a number one seed hasn't won the Super Bowl since the 2003 Patriots so don't be surprised in Green Bay are the team representing the NFC at Super Bowl 47.

Washington Redskins

Can RGIII and the Redskins continue to get it done in the playoffs

A seven game winning streak has seen the Redskins make the playoffs as NFC East champions. I bought in to the whole RGIII being black Jesus and he really has been Washington's saviour by guiding them to the post-season. The second overall pick out of Baylor has turned the franchise around and his clutch performance in the win or go home game against the Cowboys this past week has started off Griffin's legacy. Griffin is always graceful and shows veteran type skills on and off the field; he is also keen to praise his team-mates and rightfully so as the likes of Pierre Garcon and fellow rookie Alfred Morris have also assisted in the Redskins transformation. Morris' impressive rookie season has seen him rush for 1613 yards meaning he is second in the league leaving him only behind Adrian Peterson. His 13 rushing touchdowns again leave him second in scores this time only behind Marshawn Lynch so the stats show that the young running back is establishing himself as one of the best in the league. The running game has helped RGIII succeed and with him possessing various skills including his veteran like pocket presence and ability to scramble the options Washington have on offense are a headache for opposing defenses. Griffin's impressive season has put him in the running for rookie of the year; his stats include 20 touchdown passes to just 5 interceptions which is outstanding for a rookie and literally unheard of. He threw 3,200 passing yards and rushed for over 800 yards as well as 7 scores on the season. Washington will host the Seattle Seahawks this weekend who are a pretty similar football team to the Redskins which makes for an interesting matchup as both possess similar offenses and both have defenses that like to force turnovers; Washington are ranked third in the league with a +17 turnover differential and 31 takeaways. The Redskins are on a hot streak and the Seahawks don't have the best record on the road but now that their monster defence is fully equipped it’s pretty much too close to choose a winner. How far Washington can actually go is anyone's call but I think it is safe to say that whoever gets the win this Sunday will go on to knock off the Falcons at the Georgia Dome meaning that a rookie will be starting in the NFC Championship game.

Seattle Seahawks

Can Pete Carroll and his rookie QB help pull of something special this post-season

The Seattle Seahawks are an intriguing football team and have come a long way under head coach Pete Carroll's guidance. They are a surprise package in some people's eyes but from the start of the season it was clear to see that this team had talent. Seattle haven't lost a game at home his season and their 8-0 record at CenturyLink Field saw them knock off the likes of the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers. Despite being only 3-5 on the road the Seahawks have showed signs of improvement away from Seattle towards the end of the regular season with a win in Chicago and a blowout against the Bills both of which were part of the teams give game winning streak to end the season on a high. The Seahawks travel to the capital to take on the Washington Redskins for wild card week after narrowly missing out on the NFC West title and a first round bye. The game itself is close to call but Seattle have dangerous weapons on both sides of the ball; on offense rookie Russell Wilson justified his selection in the draft and Pete Carroll's decision to name him as the team’s starting quarterback over Matt Flynn. Wilson racked up a passer rating of 100.0 in the regular season throwing 26 touchdown passes which tied Peyton Manning's rookie record for touchdowns in a season and threw just 10 interceptions for over 3,000 yards and also scored 4 rushing touchdowns himself with his impressive performances putting him in the rookie of the year conversation. The ground game has helped the rookie with Marshawn Lynch putting on another great display this season rushing for 1590 yards and 11 touchdowns. The offense has got things going despite any major weapons at receiver but the team’s success has started from its foundations set on defense and the standards have been set high. The return of Browner and Sherman at cornerback is a huge boost as Seattle has had to cope without their two starters at the position but have actually managed fine. Seattle’s pass defense ranked sixth in the league allowing just 203.1 yards per game, finished 4th in the league in total defense only giving up 306.2 yards per game and was fifth in turnover differential with +13 and 31 takeaways. The statistics are all there to suggest that this Seahawks team could go far in the post-season and some do believe they have a genuine shot to reach New Orleans. Their first test will be against the Redskins and a road win will only boost their confidence; if they win and then go on to face the Falcons the pass defense will give the Falcons a torrid time and Seattle could well be in the NFC Championship game come the end of the month.

Minnesota Vikings

Can the one man wrecking machine continue to cause havoc in the playoffs

No disrespect to the Minnesota Vikings but Adrian Peterson has pretty much carried the team on his own this season. It was this time last year when Peterson underwent surgery on a potential career threatening torn ACL injury but he has come back and produced one of the best seasons ever by a running back in the history of the NFL as he racked up 2097 yards leaving him only 9 yards shy of Ed Dickerson's record; he also rushed for an impressive 12 scores on the ground. The Vikings and Peterson himself have been written off many times this season but the team rallied to win their last four games with the last coming against the Green Bay Packers ensuring they got the last NFC wild card spot ahead of the Chicago Bears. The Vikings will matchup against Green Bay again this weekend when the playoffs begin as Peterson and co look to pull off another shock as well as another win over the Packers. This time though they'll have to do it on the road where the team are 3-5 but it would be foolish to rule the Vikings out especially as Christian Ponder even produced in week 17 when he threw 3 touchdown passes in the win and notably no interceptions. Everyone likes a fairytale story but this one will end at Lambeau Field as a playoff run is most likely a step too far for Minnesota but they've made big strides this season and can look back on it with fond memories especially as Peterson should walk away for the regular season MVP award and deservedly so.

NFC title game prediction:

1. Seattle Seahawks vs Green Bay Packers
or 2. Washington Redskins vs San Francisco 49ers
or 3. Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers

Out of the six NFC teams these four are the ones to watch out for and those are my three predictions for the championship game. I reiterate the fact that the Falcons will crumble again in the playoffs meaning that a rookie quarterback will have a shot at the Super Bowl. If it's RGIII the Redskins will lose as a trip to New Orleans is a step too far for a team that is still rebuilding but they won't face the Packers because those two teams rely mainly on offense and one defensive team will be in the title game. I don't see the 49ers losing an NFC title game if they get there to anyone besides Seattle but to be honest the more I think about it the more I am convinced that on January 20th the 5th seeded Seahawks take a trip to Lambeau Field to take on the 3rd seeded Green Bay Packers in a repeat of that Monday night madness from week 3 with both fighting it out to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. All in agreement that the game ends on a last second touchdown again... I thought so.


AFC seedings:

1. Denver Broncos - West winners - 13-3-0 (Home field advantage and first round bye)

2. New England Patriots - East winners - 12-4-0 (First round bye)

3. Houston Texans - South winners - 12-4-0

4. Baltimore Ravens - North winners - 10-6-0

5. Indianapolis Colts - Wildcard - 11-5-0

6. Cincinnati Bengals - Wildcard - 10-6-0

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Denver Broncos

Can Manning and the Broncos go all the way

From the thrills of Tebowmania and a playoff win last season the Denver Broncos have gone that step further this season thanks to a rejuvenated Peyton Manning who has come back playing some of the best football of his career despite having neck surgery which ruled him out of the 2011 season. It was foolish for anyone to write Manning off and anybody who did has been proven wrong as Manning has thrown 4,659 passing yards this season; his second best season in his 15 years as a pro. As well as this Manning threw 37 touchdown passes and just 11 interceptions meaning he finished the regular season with a passer rating of 105.8 with the stats suggesting he is the frontrunner along with Adrian Peterson to win the NFL comeback player of the year award and possibly league MVP. The future hall of fame quarterback has turned receivers Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas in to big time players with the two hauling in 23 of his 37 touchdown passes giving Denver an offense to be feared as well as a defense that is ranked second in the league for total defense giving up only 290.8 yards per game overall. The Broncos defense also has Von Miller who has been a thorn in many opponents side as the outside linebacker went on to get 18.5 sacks during the regular season and even contributed for an interception which went for a touchdown. All there is to say about this football team is that they are well equipped all round and with them locking up the number one seed thanks to an 11 game winning streak you could forgive Peyton Manning for having one eye on going back to his place of birth for Super Bowl  47. It’s been an emotional ride for Manning and it could end in fairytale fashion with a win in New Orleans which could include a divisional round matchup against his former team the Colts and an AFC championship game against long-time adversary Tom Brady. With Manning at the helm this Denver Broncos team has the tools to go all the way and the road to the Super Bowl in the AFC will go through Denver but in the playoffs anything can happen so expect the unexpected and lots of drama.

New England Patriots

Can Tom Brady and the Patriots go a step further this year by winning their fourth championship

It's always eventful in New England and once again the Patriots are among the top contenders to win the Super Bowl. Quarterback Tom Brady is looking to win the elusive fourth ring which would quite possible cement his place as the greatest quarterback of all time. Thankfully for Brady head coach Belichick has formed a football team which knows how to win games and most of the time win in style. In the 12 games won by the Patriots during the regular season they outscored their opponents 452-215, yes I worked that out myself, which shows how dominant they have been. In the 4 games lost they were only outscored 105-116 so just 11 points were the difference with narrow losses to Arizona by 2 points, Baltimore and Seattle by a point and finally San Francisco by 7 points who lead by a 28 point deficit at halftime. This New England Patriots has all the pieces in place to go on and win a championship as they possess a devastating offense that is ranked first in the NFL with 427.9 yards per game in total offense along with a vastly improved defense and are even dangerous on special teams. The offense has continued to get it done despite injuries to the likes of Julian Edelman who suffered a broken foot in week 13 but key weapon Rob Gronkowski returned this week and with Aaron Hernandez returning earlier on in the season the two headed tight end monster will be on the field for the playoffs and has a bye week to prepare for its divisional round game. Brady threw for 4,827 passing yards in the regular season, second best in his 13 year career, and threw an impressive 34 touchdown passes making it only the fourth time in his career that he has thrown over 30 touchdowns in a season. He also threw just 8 interceptions making it the third time in his career that he has finished a regular season with under 10 picks which is very impressive. Unbelievably Brady is always improving as a quarterback but has the running game established mainly by Stevan Ridley to thank for this latest successful Patriots offense. The running game is something New England have lacked in recent years but now that they have one it gives opposing defenses something else to worry about as well as opening up play action. Shane Vereen, Danny Woodhead and Brandon Bolden are also three very useful running backs who can come in and offer different options at running back so the position offers just as many alternatives to a passing game that includes Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd at wide receiver. This new running attack reminds me of when Terrell Davis joined the Denver Broncos and that helped quarterback John Elway win back to back Super Bowls following three defeats in his other big game appearances. As well as this the Patriots defense has come on leaps and bounds as the team have gone from being ranked 31st in total yardage last season to finishing the 2012 regular season first in turnovers with a differential of 25 and second in takeaways with 41 thanks to an improved secondary as well as good defensive play all round. This Patriots team will at least reach the AFC title game on January 20th with many predicting a New England vs Denver matchup but with this year being a Super Bowl or bust type season you can most likely bank on New England being the team representing the AFC come Super Bowl 47.

Houston Texans

Can Watt help stop the rot

The Houston Texans had hold of the number one seed in the AFC for weeks and still held it going in to the last week of the regular season but a defeat to their divisional rivals the Colts along with wins for the Patriots and Broncos saw the Texans slip in to the third seeded position which now means they will play this weekend. In wild card week the Texans will host the Bengals who have won their last 3 in a row and their last 4 out of 5 games as opposed to Houston who are on a 2 game losing streak and dropped to 12-4 following an 11-1 record after 12 games. It's hard to pinpoint Houston's recent decline but they need to fix the problem now that the playoffs are here especially as Cincinnati are a team that shouldn't be underestimated. They need their offense to click again and will look for quarterback Matt Schaub to rekindle his partnership with wide receiver Andre Johnson and will also hope Arian Foster can recapture the sparkling form he showed for the majority of the season which saw him rack up 1,424 yards on the ground and lead the league in rushing touchdowns with 15. Their main goal to recapture that winning formula though should be defense as it was their hard working efforts on that side of the ball that made them so hard to beat early on in the season. In a lot of their big games this season it’s almost as if the Texans have gone missing with defeats to the Packers 42-24 and the Patriots 42-14 standing out as well as the week 17 loss to the Colts leading to them having to play this weekend but if J.J. Watt can step up to the MVP type form he showed for the majority of the season Houston can stop the rot; the defensive end led the league in sacks with 20.5. Whilst the Texans did clinch the AFC South divisional title they and their fans will feel they should be resting this weekend and so will many experts as Houston were predicted as an early season Super Bowl contender. That's not to say they can't make the big game but recent form is not on the teams side but regardless of that the playoffs is a clean slate and anyone's game. A win over the Bengals will mean they travel to Gillette Stadium in the divisional round; that was where they were blown out by the Patriots in week 14 and although they will want a shot at redeeming themselves big defeats always remain in the back of your mind. Overall it is clear to see that Houston have the talent but this young franchise is still learning and will have to do it the hard way to reach New Orleans by going through two of the greatest quarterback's to ever play the game meaning that their task is almost certainly a step too far.

Baltimore Ravens

Can Ray Lewis and the Ravens get it together done one more time

It has been an emotional week for all those associated with the Ravens as it was announced Ray Lewis will retire at the end of the season. The 13 time pro bowler is one of if not the greatest linebacker to play the game and while the news is obviously devastating it was also revealed that he will return for this Sunday's playoff game against the Colts. Having their inspirational leader back on the field can only be beneficial for Baltimore and they need something to reignite them following a roller coaster of a season. The Ravens finished 10-6 and managed to clinch the AFC North but will host Andrew Luck and the 11-5 Colts in what will be a very close and exciting game. This game has all types of stories for Baltimore with Lewis playing and the fact that they use to be known as the Baltimore Colts. Can this team put a playoff run together? Who knows and given their unpredictability it is hard to hazard a guess to whether they can or not. Joe Flacco and the no huddle offense slowly declined week by week but despite injuries the defense still managed to finish 8th in the league for turnover differential and had 25 takeaways on the season. The Ravens are similar to the Texans in the sense that both were predicted to have a genuine shot at the Super Bowl but the regular season has thrown doubt over that and now both teams face young opponents this week end who are both in form. Despite Baltimore being able to rest some key starters in week 17 I think they won't get any luck against Indianapolis resulting in a disappointing end for Ray Lewis and his illustrious career.

Indianapolis Colts

Luck has been more than lucky as his amazing performances have guided the Colts to the playoffs

Last season the 'Suck for Luck' sweepstakes began and following a disappointing 2-14 season the Colts acquired the number one overall pick; via football not through the other type of sucking, I'm sure I am not the only one who thought that campaign name sounded weird. Back to football and one thing the Colts have not done this season is suck as the team have rallied together after head coach Chuck Pagano underwent treatment for leukemia to pull off a fairytale story by going 11-5 on the season with Andrew Luck putting in some spectacular performances as he starts off creating his own legacy in Indianapolis. By going 11-5 the Colts have made the playoffs and will go on the road to face the Baltimore Ravens this weekend with a very good chance of making the divisional round. A win for the Colts would almost certainly match them up against former quarterback Peyton Manning and his new team the Denver Broncos. Of course everyone knows Manning was released when injured to pave the way for Andrew Luck to start the rebuilding process for the franchise as the team's new quarterback. A 28-16 week 17 win over divisional rivals the Texans has proved they can compete against the best and on their day Andrew Luck and these young Colts could beat anyone. Fellow rookies T.Y. Hilton, Donnie Avery and Vick Ballard have also been very impressive for the Colts on offense in their first seasons as pros. The Colts offensive line has also held up and their defense has slowly improved week by week as well as producing big plays when it matters. The Colts are lucky to have Andrew Luck as he is something special and has come in to the league showing great pocket presence, arm strength and also great on the run to the surprise of some. He set a variety of rookie records this season such as the most passing yards by a rookie quarterback in a single season throwing for 4,374 yards. He threw 23 touchdowns on the season and scored 5 touchdowns himself. Luck also got the most game-winning drives by a rookie quarterback with 7, the most fourth quarter comebacks by a rookie quarterback with 6 including the last second touchdown in Detroit, the most wins by a number 1 pick in his rookie season with 11 and when the Colts got to 8 wins on the season he became the first rookie QB to achieve this feat. Will the pressure of the playoffs get to Luck well I doubt that as he showed composure all season long and even I predicted the Colts to get to 9 wins at the start of the season which many laughed at but as we know they surpassed that and have gone on to be the surprise package of the season. Come Sunday against the Ravens the Indianapolis playoff run will begin with a win over Baltimore and they may even pull off a shock in Denver with the emotion of a game against his former team getting too much for Manning setting up Luck vs Brady part 2 in the AFC title game.

Cincinnati Bengals

Will the smiles in Cincinnati continue in the playoffs

By going 10-6 the Cincinnati Bengals reached the playoffs for the second successive season and set up a wild card week matchup against the Houston Texans. The two met at this stage of the post-season last year and the Texans defeated them 31-10 but the Bengals go in to this match full of confidence following three successive wins. Houston on the other hand are have lost their last two and slipped from first seeds to third on the last week of the season so this matchup could be a close one. Any success the Bengals hope of having in the playoffs will come down to three players. First up is second year quarterback Andy Dalton who has had a very good season throwing over 3,500 passing yards for 27 touchdowns; Dalton became one of three players in NFL history with at least 20 touchdown passes in each of his first two seasons along with Peyton Manning and Dan Marino. Dalton continued his good partnership with wide receiver A.J. Green this season who also had a good second season as a pro as he racked up 1,350 receiving yards along with 11 touchdown receptions. Finally the third key player in this team is on defense and his name is Gino Atkins; the defensive tackle had 12.5 sacks on the season and can produce big plays when it matters. If these three guys can get it going the Bengals could get a road win against Houston. Regardless of the result this franchise has improved drastically over recent years and that is great to say as they can take a lot of pride away from this season as the team continues to grow.

AFC title game prediction:

1. Indianapolis Colts vs New England Patriots

or 2. New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos

It is bold to rule out three of the six playoff teams but the majority of people think that the AFC championship game will be contested in Denver at Mile High between the Broncos and the New England Patriots. The Colts and Bengals could easily pull off shocks that won't be so shocking in wild card weekend; if that was to happen then I see the Colts losing to the Patriots along with the Broncos defeating the Bengals to set up the dream matchup in the AFC. That is the most likely AFC title game but in the playoffs there is always some sort of shock and I see the Colts beating the Ravens this weekend then the apprentice Andrew Luck defeating the master Peyton Manning to take Indianapolis to an AFC title game at Gillette Stadium against the Patriots who in this scenario defeat the Houston Texans in the wildcard round. There are bound to be thrills and spills this post-season but I think most are in agreement that the most likely championship game we'll see will be between the Patriots and the Broncos giving Tom Brady or Peyton Manning another shot at another Lombardi Trophy.