NFC Wild Card Preview

Tom Brady is out to prove how hungry he is for another title

   Whoever thought Tom Brady and the New England Patriots would be down and out this year have another thing coming. Brady had the Pats sitting high at 1st in the AFC East and has been good enough to win ball games. When I say good, I have to mention the fact that he hasn't been great. But who cares? Just because he doesn't have the same stats as Drew Brees or Peyton Manning doesn't mean he isn't a better leader than the two. And if New England makes it to the Super Bowl, it's hard to pick a team that will beat them(The game is being play OUTSIDE in New York). Regardless of what happens to Bill Belichik and his team the rest of regular season, expect them to make a serious playoff run. The Panthers game was a hiccup that doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. I would actually pick the Patriots if the teams met in the Super Bowl next year and I would be surprised if big time football analysts disagreed with me.

Jason Pierre Paul is proving that he is still an NFL superstar

     The Wild Card spot looks very interesting in the NFC. You have the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers have their spots to lose. Because if the season ended tomorrow, that's exactly who we would see play on Wild Card Weekend. New Orleans and Seattle would get 1st round byes, while there are a few more teams looking to sneak in. Those team include the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals and Chicago Bears...all of whom are possible candidates to take spots away from those who currently "would" make the playoffs. So, which of these teams present the most legitimate chance at getting a spot? What squad has the easiest schedule and who has the most clutch quarterback of the 3? Is it the Giants, sitting at a lowly 4-6 but only 1.5 games out of the division lead? Or is it the Dallas Cowboys who has an awful defense but looks great on offense when DeMarco Murray is healthy? With Jay Cutler appearing to be healthy and Carson Palmer playing like a 1st year QB, I don't expect it to be either of these teams.


     Surpringly, I believe the NY Giants have what it takes to win the NFC East this year. Based off the inconsistency that Philly has shown all year, it's not at all imaginary. The Eagles have a much harder schedule as they have to play Arizona, Detroit, Dallas, and Chicago at home. Away, they travel must travel to Dallas and to Minnesota. In my personal opinion, I believe that Philadelphia doesn't match up well against any of these teams in November. Their defense has yet to show any dominance and they just won't their 1st home game of 2013. The Eagles going 2-4 over this stretch is very believable if the Eagles play like themselves. In the meantime, New York has to compete against the following teams:

Opponent       Prediction
Dallas                  W
@ Washington     W
@ San Diego       W
Seattle                  L
@ Detroit            W
Washington          W

     Dallas' secondary will get torched and the Giants pass rushers are finally stepping up. Washington can't stop the run OR the pass, San Diego has lost 3 in a row and Detroit doesn't stand a chance against NY if both RBs can't stay healthy. In the beginning of the season, we saw a terrible Giants squad that couldn't win a contest for squat. Big Blue lacked a running game and pass rush, but honestly boast the most legit threat with both aspects of the game going forward. I say all that to say this...I believe the Giants will do the impossible, starting the season 0-5 and making the NFL Playoffs this season. Get ready for a great end to the NFL regular season, as always!
 

NFL Week 5 Game by Game Predictions

Ernie Sims is tired of hearing about Peyton Manning. After a couple of series, he will be tired of playing him

   
     Who is the most dominant team in the NFL so far? Denver, without a doubt. They are still missing Champ Bailey and Von Miller, but still look like a team that can win the Super Bowl in 2014. And although Peyton Manning still has a reputation of not winning the bug playoff games, I don't think we have ever seen Manning play this well in his storied career. Well, if Denver is the best team in the league then who is the 2nd best? Seattle? Kansas City? Nope. New Orleans. The reason I say this is because the Saints play in a less competitive division than the Seahawks, and the Chiefs still have to prove that they can compete on the level of the Denver Broncos.With all this said, it's time to pick to pick every game from Week 5 in the NFL.


Denver Broncos @ Dallas Cowboys

By now everyone in the world knows how well Peyton Manning is playing. At some point this season I expect the Broncos to lose a game, but I don't expect it to be on this Sunday. Denver just has too many offensive weapons for the Cowboys to handle for 60 minutes and I don't see Tony Romo being clutch against the Broncos defense. This game might be closer than advertised because of Dez Bryant and Jason Witten, but Dallas won't pull off this upset. Denver by 3

Baltimore Ravens @ Miami Dolphins

This is a very tough game to call. Not only does Miami have a better record, they have a better defense as well. Joe Flacco needs to make sure that he throws accurately instead of tossing 5 picks in one outing as he did against Buffalo last week. In my opinion, Baltimore's defense will force Ryan Tanehill to throw a couple of interceptions and maybe even fumble while getting sacked. Baltimore losing two games in a row? I don't see it. Ravens by 1

Having Ed Reed makes a world of a difference for Houston

Houston Texans @ San Francisco 49ers


 I know the Texans are a good team, but they will be in jeopardy of losing two straight if the San Fran scores 27 or more points. It will certainly help Houston's cause to have Ed Reed in the secondary, who picked off Colin Kaepernick in the Super Bowl. As a matter of fact, I believe that Houston has a better defense than the 49ers and will pull off the upset. Arian Foster might not break 100 yards but he will reach the endzone once or twice. Texans win a shocker in Candlestick Park by 2

Jacksonville Jaguars @ St. Louis Rams

In a tale of what might be the two worst teams in the NFL, Jacksonville visit the St. Louis Rams. I have been reading all week about how Sam Bradford needs to get back on track and they will do so by running the ball on the Jaguars, who have the worst run defense in the league. The problem? St. Louis is DEAD LAST in rushing yards per game. I mean, if it weren't for the Rams pass rush I would call Jacksonville to beat them on the road because of Justin Blackmon's return. Hopefully Chad Henne will play QB so that we can see Blackmon's talents utilized but it won't matter in this one. Rams by 4


New York Jets @ Atlanta Falcons

Who would have thought that the Jets would come into this game with more wins than the Falcons? Geno Smith looks awful but New York still has a defense that can keep their team in the game. If Smith turns the ball over two times in this game, you might see Matt Simms come off the bench for the Jets. Atlanta won't lose this game at home and like I said last week....I'm not picking the Jets away from home until I see Geno Smith win a road game. He might play better against the Falcons' lackluster D but they still don't stand a chance without Stephen Hill or Santonio Holmes. Atlanta by 6

New Orleans Saints @ Chicago Bears

This just in: New Orleans is the most complete team in the NFC. And while they bring a 4-0 record into Soldier field, you can't fail to mention the fact that Drew Brees is 0-4 all-time in Chicago. I don't care how well you expect he Saints to play, they will finally have a bad game against Chicago's stout D. I know the Bears didn't look too good against Detroit last week but it was a small hiccup that every good team will have this season. Bears by 3

Giants fans are sick of DeSean Jackson having big plays against their team

Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants

I am sick and tired of talking about how good Philly's offense is and how bad their defense is. But I am MORE exhausted trying to pick the New York football Giants to win their first game of the season. I predicted the Giants to win at least two games by now but they have shocked the entire football world by laying an egg in every contest to date. If there was ever a game that the Giants could take advantage of an awful defense, it's this one. Still...I am concerned about New York's ability to rush Michael Vick and run the ball on offense. It has led to a dismal season thus far and should continue. Eagles by 1

Carolina Panthers @ Arizona Cardinals

Carson Palmer better be on his A-game against Carolina's D if he wants to keep his team in this one. Palmer has played terrible the past two weeks and is starting to look like he doesn't know the offense that well. On the flipside, Cam Newton is starting to look like the #1 draft pick that torched the NFL during his rookie season. Daryl Washington returns this week, and that is very bad news for Carolina's offense. They already aren't considered elite, so adding a Pro-Bowl linebacker to the Arizona's defense is a very key aspect of this match-up. I think it will be enough to take the Cards over the top and beat Carolina at home. Arizona by 3

New England Patriots @ Cincinnati Bengals

I tried to tell everyone that the Patriots would be very dangerous once Tom Brady's young receivers got experience. There is just something about Brady's leadership skills that separate him from any other QB in the league. Peyton Manning is a close 2nd but he has ALOT more to work with on his team. I don't care how good Cincinnati is or the fact that they beat the Packers at home. I'm calling the Patriots by 2

Beast Mode is going to have a huge day against Indy

Seattle Seahawks @ Indianapolis Colts

In what should be the best match-up of the day, Seattle hits the road once again for another tough game. First, they beat the Texans in Houston and now they face the challenge of beating Andrew Luck. Not having Ahmad Bradshaw will hurt the Colts more than you think, because Trent Richardson still hasn't broken the 100 yard mark this season. Seattle has one of the best young QBs in the league with Russell Wilson at the helm, but he still isn't better than Andrew Luck. Look for Marshawn Lynch to gash the Colts D as the Seahawks come up with another big road victory. Seattle by 3

Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers

As much as I would like to say that the Lions will beat the Packers, I can't say that win will come at Lambeau field. Maybe at Ford Field, but not in Green Bay.  Aaron Rodgers is coming off a bye week and the Lions haven't won on the road against the Packers in 22 contests. This is an easy game to call. Green Bay by 4

San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders

San Diego might be the most surprising team in the NFL behind Tennessee this year. Antonio Gates is re-emerging as one of the best tight ends on the league and Philip Rivers is finally playing with consistency. On top of that, Ryan Matthews doesn't look too bad himself this season. Oakland has looked better than expected with Terrelle Pryor at QB, but that is by default because Matt Flynn is absolute garbage. How in the heck do you get sacked SEVEN times, fumble TWICE and AND throw an interception? Ayway...Darren McFadden is not playing so Pryor will lead the Raiders in rushing yards. That won't get it done against the new-look Chargers, even is Rivers turns the ball over a couple of times. San Diego by 3

Kansas City Chiefs @ Tennesee Titans

To me, this is the 2nd best match-up of the weekend as two defensive minded teams take the field in Nashville. Jake Locker not paying in this match-up might hurt the Titans more than I believe, but I still think Tennessee has a solid chance of beating Kansas City because of two things: 1) Their defense and 2) they are playing at home. The question is how good/bad will Ryan Fitzpatrick will play in Locker's absence. As we saw in Buffalo, he has the ability to win or lose a game for your team. And that's why the Bills got rid of him. Kansas City wins a nail-biter by 3.

What We Learned After Week 4 in the NFL

Drew Brees has something to say to all you Peyton Manning and Tom Brady supporters

     Week 4 was a wake up call for the public along with the NFL. This league is filled with professional athletes and great coaches who know how to overcome adversity along with adapting to a new "game." Teams have been very consistent for the most part in showing their weaknesses game by game, and after Week 4 we have no reason to believe that our favorite team is going to beat an opponent that it doesn't match up well with. No longer are we stuck with the "luck" game and saying that NFL contests are coming down to penalties, or who can kick the most 4th quarter field goals. Things are becoming very clear for the most part and it is clear as day which franchises know what they are doing on Sundays. With that said, here are the most intriguing story lines from each game played thus far:

AFC East

Tom Brady's rookie receivers are getting better each week

• The Patriots are getting better on offense as everyone expected. When Tom Brady has these young receivers in sync, you can expect a very dangerous team down the road
• Buffalo is riddled with injuries and it is showing. This team gives up too many big plays and doesn't provide enough. If it weren't for Joe Flacco playing so bad yesterday then Buffalo would have lost at home. They look like the 7-9 or 8-8 team I predicted before the pre-season started
• Geno Smith is still better than EJ Manuel. His overall skill set may not show now, but he has the winning mentality that most QB's in the NFL don't have. When Smith stops turning the ball over more than once a game and develops accuracy over the course of this season, the Jets will take off as long as the defense stays healthy. 9-7 is no longer a bold record prediction for New York
• Ryan Tanehill is exceeding everyone's expectations by leading his Dolphins to a 3-0 start. If they can stay healthy for 16 games on offense, this team is certainly in line to compete for a division title with the Patriots. Miami's defense is suffocating and although they gave up plenty of big plays to Atlanta, they did not break at the end of the game. The Dolphins are in store for a surprising season even though I see them losing to New Orleans tonight.

Joe Haden has become a shutdown corner for Cleveland

AFC North

• Cleveland's front office knows what they are doing. We have to trust GM Michael Lombardi and President Joe Banner based off results. They made a trade, trusted their 3rd string QB to start and have gone 2-0 against teams that they were NOT supposed to beat. What a front office, seriously.
• Baltimore has reason to worry. They have looked abysmal on the road not just in Denver, but Buffalo. When Joe Flacco stops playing like Jay Cutler and Ray Rice gets healthy then Baltimore should make a wild-card  run into the playoffs.
• As I said before the season, Andy Dalton is not going to take the Bengals to the Super Bowl. He barely had Cincinnati at .500 and I still believe they should have lost against the Packers last week. The Bengals might win this "average" division but they still look a team that won't win a post-season battle.
• Oh my goodness. Mike Tomlin what in the world has happened to your team? I falsely predicted the Steelers to win the division and now see how bad they really are. Warren Sapp was right...this team's defense is old and slow. There was absolutely no excuse for giving up all those yards to the 0-3 Minnesota Vikings. Tomlin is officially on the hot seat.

AFC South

JJ Watt showed you just how tough he is against the Seahawks last week

• Jacksonville is giving out a voucher for 2 free beers if you attend their home games. Holy cow they suck
• The Colts look like a team on a mission after losing to the Dolphins in Week 2. They are more physical and seem to be a threat to the Texans in this division. Chuck Pagano is one of the best coaches in the league and Andrew Luck is living up to his #1 draft pick status.
• Wait a second, the Titans are 3-1 and tied with the Colts at the top of the AFC South. So why aren't they getting the credit they deserve for this fast start? Because Ryan Fitzpatrick is about to start, and I predicted Jake Locker getting hurt this year before the season started. Tennessee has an excellent defense but every other aspect of their team looks average.
• Houston has a problem on its hands with Matt Schaub throwing pick 6's like it's his job. One of the best passers in the NFL has to show consistency and stop looking like a rookie at times. Houston should be 3-1 and the blame has to be pointed at their QB. However, TJ Yates is not the answer and Gary Kubiak knows it. It looks like the Texans won't make the Super Bowl after all.

Who thought the Broncos would be this dominant without Von Miller?

AFC West

• Peyton Manning is the best player in the NFL this year, hands down. I know that there are 12 games left in the season, but I have to agree with the analysts of NFL Network in their assessment of Manning. He looks better than Tom Brady did when the Pats went 16-0 and that is saying A LOT! Denver's D is still giving up 20 points a game but it doesn't matter as long as the offense can score at will. They MIGHT lose two games this year.
• Boy do the Chiefs have a good defense. Every week it seems like we are mentioning how good their defense is more and more, while the offense is getting better every week. Alex Smith may not be exciting but he is just what the Chiefs needed this year: a quarterback who doesn't get sacked 10 times and throws 2 interceptions per game.
• Oakland's Matt Flynn needs to be released. I don't know what Seattle or the Raiders saw in him to offer those big contracts, but he is not the person you want leading your team in today's NFL. And now the the inevitable injury big has bitten Darren McFadden it's time for the running game to get worse. Add that with the fact that Marcel Reese is hobbled with a knee injury and you can expect Oakland to go nowhere but downhill from here.
• San Diego should be 4-0 but they are 2-2 instead. What they do look like is a team that could earn a wild-card berth and surprise a good team in the playoffs. Antonio Gates and Philip Rivers must have both drank from the fountain of youth, as they look more fresh than any players on the field. The Chargers D is a little shaky but it should be enough to get 8-9 wins this season.

Justin Smith is the best D-Lineman in the NFC West

NFC West

• The St. Louis Rams might be the worst team in football. When the Jaguars come to town next week, I expect a dogfight in what should be a great match-up between two horrific franchises. The Rams have no running game whatsoever and when it's time to rely on the pass, Sam Bradford won't throw the ball further than 6 yards down the field. It doesn't help that St. Louis' defense isn't playing anywhere near the level they performed on last year. You might start to see the heads start rolling if the Rams lose to the Jags next Sunday.
• San Francisco is about to get back on track very soon. Even though Colin Kaepernick doesn't appear to be as dominant as he was last year, it's because of that "oh so real" sophomore slump. Remember, this is only his 2nd year starting and he didn't even start every game last year. Aldon Smith is absent and Patrick Willis continues to fight injuries this year, but that's not stopping their dominant defense. Just one look at the dominance that Justin Smith is once again establishing will show you how serious the 49ers really are.
• Seattle continues to go through their opponents with solid defense and a great quarterback. I can't say enough about Russell Wilson, seriously. Even though he had a down game against the Texans last week, that is to be expected from a 2nd year QB on the road...especially against a defense like Houston's. This team is on a roll and they will steam roll any opponent that doesn't show toughness
• Arizona barely squeaked by Tampa on the road for their 2nd win of the season but they are a much better team than that. Andre Ellington is starting to show people why Mike Mayock gave him a 2nd round grade while Rashard Mendenhall continues to be unimpressive, and the Cardinals get back their best defensive player on Sunday. You think that Pro Bowler Daryl Washington won't make Arizona that much better? You have another thing coming...

David Wilson is NOT the answer at RB for New York

NFC East

•  Dallas is so lucky that the division is awful this year. They couldn't beat Kansas City or San Diego on the road, which means they aren't ready to win a playoff game this year. I know it's early in the season, but there is something to be said about a team that can't win on the road with that much talent. Instead of expecting Dallas to put it all together, you can expect the Cowboys to stay average all season and win an atrocious division.
• Finally, the Redskins got a victory. The problem...it was against a team that allowed 7 sacks, 2 fumbles and a pick six. Don't expect the Skins to win another game on the road unless they are playing a division opponent. And it's not RGIII's fault. It's on the defense. As a result, expect Jim Haslett to be fired on Black Monday
• Boy does Chip Kelly have a good offense. Who knew that Michal Vick and the Eagles would look this good offensively and be SO bad on defense. It's almost like watching the Philadelphia's team last year, except their offensive stars are healthy. Philly's 2014 1st round pick might be an offensive player but hopefully their last 6 picks are on the defensive side of the ball...sheesh
• Tom Coughlin, what in the heck is going on within the Giants locker room? Coughlin always has been and always will be a great coach on the NFL level, so that tells you that there is a serious lack of talent and depth on the Giants roster. The two main problems with the Giants just so happen to be the keys to being successful in the NFL. Running the football and rushing the passer. Does this sound like any NY Giants team you have seen take the field??? Absolutely not. 

Luke Kuechly finally has help on the Panthers "now elite" defense

NFC South

• Carolina has one of the best front 7's in the NFL and you can thank their coach for that. Ron Rivera has always been known to keep great defenses, and it's great to see the Panthers D be so dominant. Now, it's up to Cam Newton to show some consistency on the offensive side of the ball. Even Newton is aware that the key to Carolina being successful depends on his level of play. It's time to step up or shut up, Cam.
• New Orleans is the team that I predicted them to be before the season started, except they have a MUCH better defense. Rob Ryan's talented defense has allowed Sean Payton and Drew Brees to step on the gas against their opponents, forcing them to play catch up all game. This is just what the doctor ordered for New Orleans fans. Who Dat?! Who Dat?! Who Dat say they gona beat them Saints?! LOL I couldn't help myself
• Tampa Bay's record is a direct reflection of how good Greg Schiano's coaching style fits in the NFL. NOT AT ALL. Although this methodology might work in college, it is proven not to work in the pros. There's a difference in being tough and hiding the fact that you didn't know what the heck you were getting into after getting a head coaching job in the NFL. Bucs, please fire your head coach. As good as the defense is, the fans don't deserve to put up with losing this many games in a row dating back to last season
• The Atlanta Falcons are 1-3. Huh? The same Falcons who had a big lead on the 49ers in the NFC Championship last season AT HOME?! Yes. The same Falcons. They carry the same bad defense and average run game that made them beatable last year. You think teams watched a lot of tape of the Seattle and 49ers games that the Falcons played in? You bet...

Nick Fairley is finally living up to his draft status

NFC North

• To be honest, I have never praised the Detroit Lions in my blog because they are my favorite team and that would be biased. And thanks to my passive writing about their season thus far, the Lions have cruised their way into a 3-1 record with dominant defense. Reggie Bush is helping more than anyone expected, but Detroit just simply dominates up front against other teams. Jim Schwartz experienced early success with the Lions 2 years ago so this isn't new territory for the head coach. And neither is losing 4 in a row. I'm holding judgement on Detroit until Week 12.
• Minnesota finally won a game and I believe it was because Christian Ponder wasn't the QB. I don't car what Leslie Frazier says about Ponder still being the starter. Matt Cassell gives this team the best chance to win now by far. Also, the defense looks worse than it has in 10 years. Time for Vikes to trade Adrian Peterson...just kidding.
• Green Bay started last season 2-2 so there is no reason to panic in Cheese Town. Aaron Rodgers is still the 3rd best QB in the NFL and Mike McCarthy is still a top 5 coach. I know that the Packers need to keep their running backs healthy to make a run at the Super Bowl, but I believe the depth will prove to be key in a playoff run this year. Look out NFC North, the Packers are about to get hot.
• Last Sunday Jay Cutler finally looked like, well...Jay Cutler. Now that he has gotten the monkey off his back and played a bad game, Chicago can finally live up to their realistic expectations. The Bears still possess a stout defense and enough play-makers on offense to cause teams headaches.  Last season I predicted 3 NFC North teams making the playoffs, and it's a shame that the Bears had to sit the post-season out with a 10-6 record. This year, I expect that to happen with the abysmal divisions in the rest of the NFC

NFL Week 4 Game by Game Predictions

Jeff Fisher and the Rams have plenty of reason to worry about the 49ers

San Francisco @ St. Louis Rams

The 49ers sure do not look like the team that took the field two weeks ago against Green Bay. And with the losses of Aldon Smith and Patrick Willis on defense, you should expect the Rams to attack the 49ers in the intermediate passing game. You should expect San Francisco to attack St. Louis defense in every way on Thursday and get back to business, because the Rams have looked abysmal on that side of the ball up to his point. The 49ers potent run game should ultimately dominate the time of possession and give them a big road win. Niners by 2

Chicago Bear @ Detroit Lions

Reggie Bush not playing in this game is going to kill the Lions. Not only that, but Nate Burleson just broke his arm in a car accident. Chicago can never seem to shut down Calvin Johnson and they usually don't have to for victories against Detroit. I like Joique Bell and what he brings to the table, but the Bears defense is still beastly on it's worst day. The Lions D-line looks good but they will give up 100 rushing yards because of their average secondary. Brandon Marshall goes for 2 TDs and the Bears win by 3

Jake Locker is playing at a very high level

New York Jets @ Tennessee Titans

Tennessee is really in for ta dogfight against the Jets "tough as nails" defense. Rex Ryan has his team sitting at 2-1 and aims to outplay New York's opponents by playing physical. Tennessee may have more weapons than the Jets coming into this home contest but that doesn't mean anything. The key to this game is Jake Locker not turning the ball over. If he plays well, then the Titans have a chance to show the NFL how good they can really be. With that said, Geno Smith needs to show me that he can win on the road in the NFL. Until then I can't pick the Jets away from Metlife Stadium. Titans by 3

Arizona Cardinals @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Tampa Bay is setting itself up for a mid-season explosion that the NFL hasn't seen in quite some time. Their head coach, starting QB and General Manager should all be gone by Week 10 if the Bucs don't get things going very soon. Arizona on the other the hand looks promising even though they have a 1-2 record. They bring in a talented offense that was shut down by New Orleans last week but still has plenty of play-making ability. In fact, I expect the Cardinals to outscore Tampa on the road and win the turnover margin battle. Arizona by 1

Julio Jones needs Roddy White for the Falcons to be dangerous

New England Patriots @ Atlanta Falcons

Tom Brady has to be happier every day that he wakes up, because that means he is one day closer to getting Rob Gronkowski back in his offense. He is managing to keep the Patriots afloat as he is more than the team leader that others personify him as. Regardless of how much talent the Falcons possess in Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez...I still have to go with Brady against Atlanta's awful defense. Patriots by 3

Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns

In what "should" be a tough division game, the Browns will looks to stun the world again this week by beating the Cincinnati Bengals. AJ Green has had a monstrous season to date and I expect that trend to continue Sunday against Joe Haden. Cincinnati should win this game on paper but Brian Hoyer and Jordan Cameron give Cleveland a legitimate chance. When Willis McGahee gets it going the Browns could be a "trap game" team for any opponent going forward. Still, I'm calling the Bengals by 1

Wesley Woodyard is holding down the Broncos D

Philadelphia Eagles @ Denver Broncos

Philadelphia's defensive woes will certainly continue as they have to hit the road and take on Peyton Manning. The future Hall of Fame QB has been the NFL's MVP by a long shot through 3 games and will continue his dominance Sunday. On a side note, Michael Vick might not make it past the 3rd quarter against Denver's physical defense. I still love what Chip Kelly brings to the table from an offensive perspective but this is the game that he has to keep Vick in the pocket. Denver by 9

Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Last week I predicted that the Seahawks would beat Jacksonville by 17 in Seattle. However, I was wrong. The difference in the outcome was actually 28. Until Justin Blackmon returns and MJD gets haelthy, I refuse to write about the abysmal Jaguars. Colts by 7

I can't imagine how disappointed AP is right now

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Minnesota Vikings (London)

In the battle of two 0-3 teams that no one saw coming, the Steelers will look to get rid of this blemish once and for all. They still possess a better QB and defense than Minnesota, and will put a ton of pressure on Christian Ponder. Look for the Steelers to force 3 turnovers and get their first victory of the 2013 season. Pittsburgh by 4

Miami Dolphins @ New Orleans Saints

Miami is 3-0? WOW. The Saints are 3-0? Not a surprise with Sean Payton returning to the sidelines. The Dolphins have a stout defense but apparently so does New Orleans this year. With the absence of Cameron Wake there is more pressure on rookie Dion Jordan to perform at a high level. My guess is that he will be contained against Drew Brees' pass protection and that the Saints will win a close one in the Superdome. New Orleans by 3

Washington Redskins @ Oakland Raiders

Every game it seems that RGIII is getting better and the Redskins defense is getting worse.  In fact, the Skins D is ranked 31st in the NFL against BOTH rushing and passing. Awful. I expect RGIII to have another nice game and hopefully lead Washington to victory, but it will be tough in the black hole. The Raiders are 1st in the NFL in rushing offense and that should control the entire game. Whether Terrelle Pryor plays or not won't make a difference in this one. Raiders by 3

Justin Houstin will look to harass Eli Manning

New York Giants @ Kansas City Chiefs

What in the world has happened to the Giants? They lack a running game, steady pass protection and a the prominent pass rush that they are known to possess. I know they looked like the worst team in the NFL on Sunday, but they still have explosive play-makers on the offensive side of the ball. Kansas City's D-line is nowhere close to Carolina's so Eli Manning should get more time in the pocket. This game should be closer than people expect and Alex Smith can actually mess this one up for the Chiefs. Who am I kidding...Kansas City by 1


Seattle Seahawks @ Houston Texans

If Houston wants to become a Super Bowl winning franchise, they better dig deep on this day against the Seahawks. In what is possibly the best match-up of the weekend, Houston hosts Russell Wilson and the best team in the NFL. I think the Texans will get to Russell Wilson a couple of times but he has yet to show that pressure forces him into making bad decisions. Houston may have the more prominent players on the field but they will certainly be tested, if not beat by the Texans on this day. The key to Houston winning will be the health of Andre Johnson. We have seen that Nuke Hopkins can be a threat on the NFL level but Houston will need two playmaking receivers along with Owen Daniels against the best secondary in the league. Houston wins a nail-biter by 1


Baltimore Ravens @ Buffalo Bills

Buffalo is on the fringe of going off the deep end if they don't start getting some healthy players back on both sides of the ball. Baltimore is getting hot at the right time and looks to steam-roll Buffalo and their rookie QB. EJ Manuel has looked good this season but shows no signs of becoming a top-notch QB before the season ends. The Ravens will force a couple of turnovers and get back on track at 3-1. No Ray Rice. No Problem. Baltimore by 3

Philip Rivers can lead the Chargers to another victory against NFC East competition

Dallas Cowboys @ San Diego Chargers

DeMarco Murray ran the ball very well in his last contest against the Rams and looks to do so against San Diego's lackluster run D. However, Dallas doesn't exactly bolster a great defense themselves. And not having Anthony Spears for the rest of the year doesn't help their cause, either. Tony Romo and Dez Bryant should be the difference makers in this game but for some reason Philip Rivers is playing out of his mind. It's a tough call, but I'm going with the Chargers by 1

Who Believed the Chiefs Would Win Last Night?

Andy Reid is still a good coach in the NFL

  
   After last night's loss, people are wondering is the Philadelphia Eagles are still the real deal or were they a one game wonder...Well, I have to tell you that coaching in the NFL is a learning process just like playing the game. You can talk about it all you want, but until the experience is there you will not see the proper results. Just look at Pete Carroll. The Seahawks were not a very good football team when he took over as the head coach, and they did not have immediate success, either. It was a premiere rushing attack that got Carroll off the hot seat in Seattle, because he already had the defensive schemes in place. And now here is Chip Kelly...who has offensive schemes that will give NFL coaches nightmares for as long as he coaches in this league. Does he have a good enough defense this year to make the playoffs? No. I still see the Eagles on the fringe of an 8-8 season, but they must first prove that they can bounce back after back to back losses, while solving their turnover problem.

   Ahhh...Andy Reid. It seems like it was just yesterday when people were screaming "Fire Andy Reid Now" at the top of their lungs. And now those same individuals cannot believe that Reid has the Kansas City Chiefs sitting at 3-0 in the same division as Peyton Manning. This is what Reid was brought here for. He wanted to get a turnover-free QB, Alex Smith, and be with a team that had a solid defense. Because in all actuality, Reid got to choose which job he wanted to take based off what circumstances HE felt would be a great fit. Well, he found an incredible fit with the Chiefs and vice-verse. Philly lacked a physical defense that could stop opponents over the past two years, while also having QBs who had issues turning the ball over. You think Andy Reid is on cloud 9 after beating his old team and watching the same problems he had with them last year?! You bet! Chip Kelly, it's going to be a re-building process for you in the off-season after perfecting things on the offensive side of the ball this year. I can promise you there will be no magical season for the Eagles where they score 50 points a game and go to the playoffs. Chip, the NFL welcomes your genius tactics on offense but...you have officially experienced a rude awakening. Good luck

Two Reasons Why the Jets Will Upset the Patriots Tonight

If Julian Edelman is your #1 WR against Rex Ryan, good luck

      Tonight the Jets visit the Patriots in Foxborough as they take on Tom Brady and Bill Belichik. The general consensus is to believe that New England will stop out the Jets but I have reason to believe otherwise. Beginning with the absence of Danny Amendola and Shane Vereen, Tom Brady will struggle to get in a rhythm with his receivers in this contest. Rex Ryan ALWAYS has a great defense so look for Antonio Cromartie to lock down Julian Edelman and force Brady to go elsewhere. His options? Kimbrell Thompkins and Aaron Dobson...not good enough. I expect Brady to make accurate throws to his young receivers but there is no way they outplay New York's secondary.

     Another reason I don't believe that the Pats will win is because they don't have a stout enough defense to keep Geno Smith contained for 60 minutes. The rookie made his first start last week and will only get better over the course of the season. I know the Bills are a bit more talented on offense than people give the credit for, but that doesn't excuse New England's defense almost ruining the game. They might cause a turnover or two tonight, but they won't match the physicality of the Jets tonight. Look for Geno Smith to get his first win against Tom Brady tonight in a very close game.

NFL Week 3 Game by Game Predictions

San Diego Chargers @ Tennessee Titans

After beating the Steelers in Week 1, people now look at the Titans as a formidable foe. I personally think it was more of Pittsburgh offense being deficient because of Todd Haley, but regardless the Titans still got the W. Philip Rivers looked like a shell of his old self in Week 1, guiding the Chargers to a 21-7 lead before blowing it in the 4th quarter. Yet Rivers went on the road in Philadelphia and earned NFL Offensive player of the week honors...which Philip are we getting here? If the Titans are at home, I think they have the ability to pull this one off because of their new-found "defense." I didn't predict this at the beginning of the season, but the Titans should be 2-1 after their first 3 games. Tennessee by 1

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets

Rookie QB vs Rookie QB. EJ Manuel vs. Geno Smith. Buffalo clearly doesn't have as good a defense as the Jets do, but they do have more weapons on offense. It will be interesting to see if CJ Spiller can make any big plays against New York because they won't come very often against a Rex Ryan coached defense. Buffalo could pull this one off, but I'm going to go with the Jets because they are playing at home. I think the Jets will force a couple of turnovers and pull this one off. New York by 3

Brent Grimes has something to prove against Atlanta, his old team

Atlanta Falcons @ Miami Dolphins

Not having Roddy White at 100% will certainly hurt them playing against a good defense like Miami's. Julio Jones, Matt Ryan and Tony Gonzalez should have solid games but will it be enough on the road in Miami? The Falcons' defense still looks average so can the Dolphins take advantage of this weakness? Keyword: MIGHT. My guess is that Matt Ryan manages a better game than Ryan Tannehill and the Falcons pull off a hard fought victory on the road. Atlanta by 2

Arizona Cardinals @ New Orleans Saints

This will be the highest scoring affair of the day, with Carson Palmer and the Cardinals taking on Drew Brees' high octane passing attack. Palmer has more legitimate receivers but they don't have the running game to control the clock like Saints do. Plus, the Saints' RBs have more versatility in the passing game and Arizona's backs. This will be the key to the game as I expect Darren Sproles to run wild on Arizona's D. Saints by 3

Chicago Bears @ Pittsburgh Steelers 

Hopefully by this game the Steelers offense will have gotten their stuff together, because they don't stand a chance in hell if not. Jay Cutler is the type of QB that Pittsburgh dreams about playing at home because of their ability to shut down the running game. This will force Cutler to go to the air, where he is prone to make multiple mistakes against Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark. The Steelers' D forces 3 turnovers and Pittsburgh wins by 5


Detroit Lions @ Washington Redskins

Ndamokung Suh will look to NOT hurt RGIII after his latest fine

Reggie Bush, Reggie Bush. I wrote about his injury concerns all off-season, only to be proven correct after only ONE game. RGIII will still be looking to return to rookie of the year status instead of experiencing a sophomore slump.  His problem: the Lions have shored up their run defense and pass rush with a dominate D-Line. This will force Griffin to make plays outside of the pocket with his feet and really test that ACL. And if you don't think Ndamokung Suh can't wait to get his hands on RGIII, you have another thing coming. If the Lions have less than turnovers, they win by 3. If they have 2 or more, I expect the Skins to win by 3.

Green Bay Packers @ Cincinnati Bengals

Poor Bengals. They had to play Chicago on the road and they will have host the Steelers in Week 2. I think they will be 1-1 after these games, but they still have to host the best QB in the league when Aaron Rodgers comes to town. I know Andy Dalton is at home and this could be a setup game for the Packers, but I would be a fool to pick Dalton over Rodgers. I foolishly picked the Packers over the 49ers in Week...so what. I'm won't be wrong this time. Packers by 4

Kansas City Chiefs @ Philadelphia Eagles

Andy Reid comes back to the city where that fired him just a season ago! To face Chip Kelly and the new high-octane Eagles spread attack? Eagles fans beware. The Chiefs have a very good defense and if you don't watch out then they could injure a couple of your offensive players this game. Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson, Eric Berry, Justin Houston and Brandon Flowers present some huge match-up problems when they are matched up one on one with offensive players. Just ask the Jaguars, who were held to 2 points in their home debut against the Chiefs. Even Dallas, who bolsters a good group of offensive players, was held to 16 points last week against Kansas City's incredible defense. Yet and still, I like Philly's new offensive scheme will score a few more points than Andy Reid's Chiefs. Eagles by 2

Indianapolis Colts @ San Francisco 49ers

Boy, the NFL sure doesn't have any shortages of story lines week-in, week-out. This Sunday Jim Harbaugh gets to play against the QB who ran his pro-style offense at Stanford. Is Luck better than Kaepernick? Probably not...just ask the Oakland Raiders who had Kaepernick ranked as the #1 QB prospect of the 2011 draft, ahead of Cam Newton. Colin looks like a great QB in the making and should lead his team to victory against the Colts poor defense. Andrew Luck will have a tough day against the 49ers D but he won't look too bad. I look for Indianapolis to make this a game for the first 3 periods, with San Fran pulling away in the 4th quarter. 49ers by 6

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Seattle Seahawks

This is the easiest game to write about because Jacksonville doesn't stand a chance against Seattle and the 12th man. Seattle by 17

Cleveland Browns @ Minnesota Vikings

Cleveland gets their #1 receiver back from suspension in Week 3

I had to completely erase my first analysis of this game after learning that Brandon Weeden isn't starting and Trent Richardson just got traded to the Colts. I wanted to say that Josh Gordon coming back was huge for Cleveland, but without both of their 2012 first round picks Gordon won't make a difference on the game's final outcome. Minnesota by 3

St. Louis Rams @ Dallas Cowboys

If Tony Romo thought he saw a pash rush in Week 1 against the Giants, he should be very worried about the St. Louis Rams coming to town. The Rams tied for the lead league in sacks least year and have picked up right where they left off. Dallas has more talent at the receiver position with Dez Bryant, Jason Witten and Miles Austin but Tony Romo will be pressured all day. I see Romo making one too many mistakes, while I also see Bradford making his share of mistakes against a Tampa 2 defense. The Rams also face the problem of HAVING to create big plays on the road or they will be in for a world of hurt. If St. Louis doesn't go into the 4th quarter with a lead, the Cowboys will take care of business. But if Dallas is forced to come from behind against the Rams strong D-Line I'm betting on St. Louis. My guess is that Dallas gets back on track with a victory at home. Cowboys by 3

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New England Patriots

Don't forget something about the Bucs: They still has a stout run defense and last year Tampa Bay actually finished 1st in the league in that category. Fortunately for the Patriots, they have Tom Brady...who happens to be an excellent passer in the NFL. Brady should pass for 2-3 TDs and will most certainly out-duel opponent QB Josh Freeman. Look for Belichick to draw up a good defensive plan against Freeman and the Bucs, forcing Doug Martin to carry the team on his back. That's not good enough on the road in Foxboro. Patriots by 4

Terrelle Suggs and the Ravens need to make their mark against Houston

Houston Texans @ Baltimore Ravens

While it seems like a stretch right now, this may be Ed Reed's first return to NFL action since the Super Bowl. Reed is still a dominant player when stepping on the field and looks to return against the team that helped make him a Hall of Fame player. We saw what a smart QB could do the Ravens in Week 1, but you can't expect Matt Schaub to have the same success that Peyton Manning did. I do expect the Texans to keep this game close and the contest should come down to a turnovers game. Both of these teams have a physical style of play but also have offensive players who can create huge gains. And while everyone wants the defending champion Ravens to succeed this year, I see Houston as a team that is just like Baltimore was last year. One that experienced bumps in the road on the way to a Super Bowl. Baltimore by 3

Oakland Raiders @ Denver Broncos

Terrelle Pryor will have his hands full against a defense that will look to get after him early and often. Pryor has shown that he is ready for the big times, but is he ready to play Peyton Manning twice a year? Probably not. But one this is for sure: This kind of competition is only going to make Pryor better in the future. As a matter of fact, because he isn't a pure pocket passer I think he will give Denver's defense hades with the absence of Von Miller. The Raiders will keep things interesting but they won't beat Peyton Manning on the road. No way, no how. Broncos by 10

New York Giants @ Carolina Panthers

Carolina boasts an incredible front 7 but their back 4 will get torched all game long. I see Cam Newton having an OK game but he has yet to look like a QB that can take a team to the Super Bowl in my eyes. He doesn't look like an Eli Manning, who has shown the ability to lead his team to victory in home games AND on the road. The Giants receivers will have a huge day and Carolina will be scratching their heads after an 0-3 start. New York by 4

  


 

FOOTBALL TODAY!!!

Peyton Manning is still the "Sheriff"

           Ladies and gentlemen it is almost time for NFL Sunday Kickoff! We have had the first game of the season as the Peyton Manning and the Broncos dismantled Baltimore Thursday night. Manning tied an NFL record by passing for 7 touchdowns in one game, and I think everyone who watched the game knows he could have tossed 9 by the time the 2nd half rolled around. For the defending Super Bowl champions, Thursday night was miserable to say the least. I picked them to win by 4 point on the road because of the Broncos missing Champ Bailey, Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller. Man was I ever wrong...but, whatever. It was a fun game to watch either way!

     On a random note, my roommate asked me if he should start Denver's D/ST in fantasy football before the game started and I told him absolutely not. Not having their best CB or two best pass rushers would certainly reduce the amount of fantasy football points for Denver's D, right? WRONG! He even said that Wesley Woodyard was a very good player and that the Broncos D wasn't bad without Von Miller. DRC and Tony Carter held it down out on the outside, while Woodyard and Nate Irving (oh, Nate - he's the LB who "fumbled" a pick 6 at the 2 yard line out of excitement) handled the middle. And although the game was close the entire 1st half, I don't think anyone foresaw the dominance of Denver on both sides of the ball during the 2nd half.

Tim Tebow, just change positions already

     Before the dominance of Peyton Manning last Thursday I predicted the Broncos would go 10-6. I have to change that prediction to 12-4 after seeing them dominate Baltimore. I have a tremendous amount of respect for John Elway and the Broncos organization for having a complete team around Peyton Manning. As a Florida Gator fan, I probably shouldn't say this but...thank God Denver let go of Tim Tebow!

     So before I go on even more about how good the Broncos look, I'll go ahead and give you my top 5 games going on today and Monday:

1. Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints
2. Green Bay Packers @ San Francisco 49ers
3. Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins
4. Cincinnati Bengals @ Chicago Bears
5. New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys

Here are the most intriguing storylines of Week 1 heading into Sunday:

• How will RGIII look in his debut after ACL surgery?
• Will Cam Newton make the game competitive against the Seahawks at home or will Seattle and Russell Wilson blow them out?
• There's a reason Terrelle Pryor got the nod as the starter in Oakland. It's because they were on Left Tackle #3, and Matt Flynn simply doesn't have enough running ability to get away from the rush. Unfortunately for Pryor, the Raiders are now on Left Tackle #4. UH OH!
• How many fantasy football points will be put up in the Minnesota vs. Detroit game?! It should be the MOST between this game and the Falcons/Saints match-up
• Can Darrelle Revis get even with his old team on opening day? Revis, like RGII, is coming back from ACL surgery and has a lot to prove after being traded to the Bucs
• The Browns don't have their top receiver, Josh Gordon, for two weeks. That means that the world will see a HEALTHY dose of Trent Richardson. The problem for Cleveland: Miami's defense is solid. This will be a good game because a 100% Richardson will give any NFL defense hell
• How will Alex Smith look against the Jaguars, a team the Chiefs are supposed to beat. And how will MJD look coming off a season-ending foot injury
• Will Philadelphia's up-tempo offense be anything like we have already seen in the NFL?
• Can Jake Locker break out and beat the Steelers in Week 1?! Probably not, but it should be a closer game than people think

NFL Week 2 Game by Game Predictions

Calvin Johnson will have a big day in Arizona but will it be enough?

Detroit Lions @ Arizona Cardinals

This game should be very interesting from start to finish. If Detroit's D-Line can get pressure on Carson Palmer, it the Lions will have their way with the Cards. If not, the Cardinals will be in a shootout with Detroit and might steal a win away in their own stadium. The Lions secondary has yet to be proven so no pressure will allow Andre Roberts, Michael Floyd and superstar Larry Fitzgerald to make plays down field. Detroit doesn't play well on the road and Arizona should be coming off a Week 1 loss to St. Louis. It's a bold pick, but the Cardinals win by 3

Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens

With no Josh Gordon and for one more week and only a running game, you can forget about the Browns beating the defending Super Bowl champs. The trio of Greg Little, Travis Benjamin and Jordan Cameron  simply doesn't sound the least bit threatening to Baltimore's coaching staff. Ray Rice has a good game and so does Torrey Smith. Trent Richardson might score two touchdowns but the Ravens still win by 7

Dallas Cowboys @ Kansas City Chiefs

DeMarco Murray is instrumental to the Cowboy's success

It is very tough to predict the Cowboys season without knowing if DeMarco Murray will be healthy going into the next game. Fortunately for the Cowboys, they still bring plenty of talent on the field and should win this game on paper. However, the Chiefs bolster a stout defense and a quarterback that is known to be turnover-free. Dallas could be caught up in a trap game if they aren't careful on this day, I will say that much. If Jamaal Charles is healthy then I expect the Chiefs to pull off a 3 point upset at home. If not, the Cowboys win by 4

San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seawhawks

Can Colin Kaepernick do what no other QB did last year and win a road game in Seattle?  Tom Brady lost by 1 and Aaron Rodgers lost(cough) by 2. My point is, you have to be an elite QB to bring your team into Seattle and leave with a victory against the Hawks tough D and 12th man. Russell Wilson is outplaying my expectations and staying healthy despite being only 5'10". And if he plays consistent like he has been thus far, it will be a long day for the 49ers defense. Seahawks by 3

St. Louis Rams @ Atlanta Falcons

Stephen only has to wait until Week 2 to play the team that let him walk in free agency. As a result, it will be Atlanta who has the better running game in this contest. By controlling the game on the ground the Dirty Birds should win the Time of Possession competition. The Falcons still have an iffy defense so the Rams might actually keep pace with them until the 4th quarter. Everyone can expect a big day from Tavon Austin and Sam Bradford but Atlanta wins by 3 in a close one

Denver Broncos @ New York Giants

There isn't a CB on Denver's roster who can cover Hakeem Nicks

Per NFL.com this is the "Best Game of Week 2" and everyone should see why. Now that Peyton is healthy again the Manning Bowl can be resumed, except this time he is with the Broncos instead of the Colts. Without Von Miller rushing the passer for Denver's defense, expect to see Eli get more time in the pocket to throw TD passes. This game should be full of fireworks as both teams have explosive offenses and have big-time play-makers. In a high scoring affair, I expect the Giants to play better defense in the Broncos and come away with a home victory. Giants by 3

New York Jets @ New England Patriots

Before I saw the Jets beat the Bucs, I predicted the Pats beating New York by 14 in Week 2. But now that Danny Amendola is already living up to his inury prone reputation, and Geno Smith has shown composure I have to close that gap. It's hard to determine how the loss of Shane Vereen and Danny Amendola are going to positively affect the Patriots offense against defensive mastermind Rex Ryan. I'm going with the upset in Week 2. Jets by 1

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Oakland Raiders

MJD needs to get on track against Oakland if he couldn't do it against Kansas City. And now that Blaine Gabbert isn't playing, the Jags actually stand a chance. Terrelle Pryor has the opportunity to shine against a lackluster defense and I fully expect him to. Since this will be the first home game for the silver and black, I expect Darren McFadden to be impressive and the defense to create a couple of turnovers. Good special teams play from the Raiders should lead to a victory over the Jags on this day. Oakland by 3

Look for Clay Matthews to harass RGIII

Washington Redskins @ Green Bay Packers

With all of the hype surrounding RGIII during the off-season, I bet Aaron Rodgers can't wait to make his mark as the NFL's top signal caller in Week 2. The Redskins should be able to run the ball effectively, but so should the Packers now that DE Jarvis Jenkins is out until Week 5 for the Washington. RGIII and the Redskins make this game interesting but I don't see them pulling off an upset at Lambeau Field. Packers by 4

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals

Why in the heck is Darren Sharper picking the Bengals to represent the AFC in next year's Super Bowl? Although I believe they are a very good team, I don't believe they have the QB or RB play to get that far in the playoffs. Despite my criticism, the Bengals most certainly match-up with the Steelers very well in all phases of the game. Pittsburgh needs to prove that they are the team to beat in the AFC North during Week 2 or they can kiss their divisional credibility goodbye. I'm picking the Bengals to win by 1

Carolina Panthers @ Buffalo Bills

Cam Newton should have a big day because Buffalo has decent pass coverage, ranking 10th in the NFL last season. This means that he will be able to create plays out of the pocket with his legs and make plenty of long first down runs. And it will be those very plays out of the pocket that create big passing plays downfield, because linebackers don't know whether Newton will run or throw...hence, the reason he earned 2011 Rookie of the Year Honors. Buffalo has a pretty balanced attack of their own and won't have a problem scoring with the Panthers. I expect this game to be the highest scoring affair of the week, with Buffalo edging the Panthers by 3 at home

Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears

In Week 1, we will see if Christian Ponder has developed into a competitive QB as he now has enough weapons on the outside. Adrian Peterson will rush for 100 yards but will the Vikings get the same production from Greg Jennings or another WR? I doubt it...Bears by 5

Miami Dolphins @ Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck is beginning to look like the 2nd coming of....himself. I don't remember seeing the play of a tough, gritty QB like that of Luck ever in an NFL uniform. Now, the Dolphins have a solid defense and will make this a competitive game. If Miami can cause a couple of turnovers look for the Dolphins to upset the Colts. However, if Indianapolis only turns it over once(which is what I expect), then the Colts will win by 3.

Can Philip Rivers keep San Diego in the game at Philly?

San Diego Chargers @ Philadelphia Eagles

San Diego will have a real problem on their hands unless someone on their roster can run the ball consistently in this road game. Philadelphia will look to tire out San Diego's lackluster defense and outscore them with a fast-tempo attack. Will Vincent Brown step up and become Rivers' go-to option? Who on the Chargers roster will create big plays? You KNOW the Eagles will create big plays on the outside and in the screen game, so how will San Diego keep up with them? They won't. Eagles by 10 at home

Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans

This game should get out of hand in a hurry. The Titans do not match-up well with their division foe on both sides of the ball, and they should get exposed in Houston. JJ Watt and Brian Cushing will have a monster games for the Texan's D while Nuke Hopkins might have a coming out party for the offense. The Titans have been getting torched by Andre Johnson for years and will double team him until Hopkins lights them up. And all of this will get set up by the running game with Arian Foster...it just isn't fair. It really isn't. Houston by 10


New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Drew Brees is the best QB in this divisional match-up but it might not mean a thing in this game. Because of the Saints' ability to stretch the field, Tampa Bay has to control the clock and run the ball with Doug Martin. Adding, Mike Williams and Vincent Jackson have yet to be stopped by New Orleans' secondary (well, who HASN'T looked good against the Saints' DBs) so look for Josh Freeman to throw for around 250-300 yards. The Saints should have a good day offensively but it won't be enough against the Bucs. Tampa Bay by 3

The NFL Regular Season Starts Tonight!

     It's almost time to watch some REAL football ladies and gentleman. Tonight, the Baltimore Ravens will be visiting the Denver Broncos in a highly anticipated re-match of last year's AFC Championship Game. Unfortunately for the Ravens, they do not get to play at home even though they are reigning Super Bowl Champions. Should it matter? Not really....As a matter of fact, I think the Ravens beat the Broncos by 4 on the road next week. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed may be gone, but Baltimore's defense is still elite as long as Terrell Suggs is on the field with Elvis Dumervil and Haloti Ngata. Peyton Manning is an MVP candidate again this year, but his defense is nowhere as good as Baltimore's. Losing Dumervil to the Ravens and not having Von Miller for 6 games should prove to be very costly. 28-24 Baltimore

Observations from the Pre-season

AFC West

Don't sleep on Eric Decker just because Wes Welker came to Denver

• As I stated in my previous article, Oakland is going to have a horrific year no matter who the starting QB is. If they win 4 games it will be nothing short of a miracle
•  It looks like the Chiefs defense will carry them again this season
• San Diego's 1st team offense doesn't look bad. Every other aspect about the Chargers looks terrible. Mostly, DEPTH
• After looking at Denver's schedule, I believe they will go 10-6. They might go 11-5 but I just don't see them beating the Patiots, Texans, Cowboys(in Dallas), Giants(in NY), Ravens, or the Chiefs(they play KC twice, obviously as a division foe). Those SHOULD be their 6 losses

AFC North

• Don't write off the Steelers until you see them play with Health Miller. Pittsburgh will be a very dangerous team this season, especially after Week 8
• The Bengals are tough as nails on defense. But on offense, they are still just "good." Will Andy Dalton step up and force his critics to shut-up?
• NFL offensive linemen are about to blast Barkevious Mingo. If he doesn't gain weight next off-season, he will be a wasted 1st round pick. You can quote me on that
• Baltimore has great coaching. I have to back off on my previous prediction of how their season would go. The Ravens should make the playoffs this year if Ray Rice, Joe Flacco and Torrey Smith stay healthy. I love how Aaron Mellette is coming on as a small school receiver drafted in the 7th round out of Elon

AFC South

Ahmad Bradshaw instantly improves the Colts rushing attack

• Andrew Luck is going to have a huge year. He should make the Pro Bowl if the Colts make it back to the post-season
• Jacksonville still remains an intriguing team. No one will know how good the Jags are as a whole until Week 5 when Justin Blackmon returns
• The Texans are a really good team but we will see just how tough they really are this year. They have a brutal non-conference schedule that includes Seattle, San Francisco, Seattle, New England, Denver, Balimore and AT Kansas City. Once you factor in that they have to play the Colts twice, you have to realize that is one heck of a schedule. I know Houston might seem a lock to go to the AFC Championship this year, but the best record they could realistically finish with is 11-5. 
• The Titans first two games are on the road in Pittsburgh and Houston. If Tennessee can escape these games with a 1-1 record I will give them the respect they deserve

AFC East

• New England will face Jeff Tuel in Week 1 and Geno Smith in Week 2. ....small giggle...BBAAAAHHHHHAAAHAHAAAHHAA. I couldn't hold it in anymore...There are some things you "think", and some things that you "know". I KNOW the Pats will go 2-0
• The Bills better hope CJ Spiller rushes for 300 yards every game until EJ Manuel gets healthy. Losing Stephon Gilmore for 6-8 weeks doesn't help, either
• NY needs to give Geno Smith a break. He is a rookie and everyone knew he wasn't in the mold of an RGIII or Andrew Luck from last year. Smith will have his ups and downs but at least give him time to develop
• The Miami Dolphins have yet to show me or the world why they should be considered a threat offensively. Hopefully some chemistry will form during the regular season without Dustin Keller

NFC West

• The Rams look to surprise everyone in the NFL by finishing 2nd in their division. With their defense and an upgraded offense, that just might happen. Look for the Rams to atleast tie for 2nd in the West
• San Francisco has more options at receiver than you think. When Mario Manningham and Crabtree come back, Kaepernick will be extremely dangerous
• Arizona is well respected by analysts across the league, but I'm not buying their win/loss record being better than 7-9. Yes, they have a ton of talent...but who cares
• The Seahawks have the best defense in the league and they showed that they have the most depth as well. On offense, defense and special teams. This might be the best team in the NFL honestly. I haven't seen anything that proves otherwise

The return of a healthy Fred Davis is key for the Redskins

NFC East

• The Dallas Cowboys have a lot to prove on defense this year. Sean Lee and DeMarcus Ware have to stay healthy in addition to the secondary needing to step up
• RGIII is finally cleared to play. Can he have an Adrian Peterson-like comeback? History doesn't say so, but I would like to see him succeed while healthy. He should post good stats against the Eagles and Packers in the first two games of the season
• Speaking of the Eagles, what should we expect from Mike Vick while he's healthy? 2 passing TD's and 1 rushing TD? I'd have to say so with Chip Kelly's up-tempo offense installed in Philly. And now that LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson are back at 100%, Philly becomes a VERY dangerous team entering the season
• New York can't afford for Andre Brown to be gone for long. I like David Wilson as a RB but he is not ready for goal line action in the NFL yet, even entering his 2nd year

NFC North

• The Minnesota Vikings still need Christian Ponder to step up and be more accurate. They won't make the playoffs this year with lackluster QB play
• Green Bay is primed for a huge season after looking at their running backs for 4 games. Aaron Rodgers is going to be the division's, and maybe the NFL's MVP once again
• Detroit's D-Line better shut down Minnesota in the first game if they want to win. The Lions got after the passer in the pre-season but need to convert that to the regular season for success
• Chicago didn't show us anything in the pre-season. They still need to keep the o-line healthy and jake cutler can't make "Jay Cutler" throws into double/triple coverage

NFC South

• Carolina will begin the season as an under-rated team even after a strong pre-season. The Panthers need to show up against the elite Seattle Seahawks for 4 quarters if they want to change that perception
• The Saints kept 5 RBs again...surprise? Hardly. Watch for Kenny Stills and Nick Toon this season as well. And although Drew Brees will be great, it still looks like the Saints have the worst defense in the league
• Atlanta can't just expect to win a division that hasn't seen the same team win two years in a row, EVER. Look for Matt Ryan to put up huge stats this year
• Tampa Bay now has a 100% healthy Darrelle Revis. I don't care what kind of injury he is coming off...he will still dominate the first game up the season against Rex Ryan's rookie led offense

Preseason Observations & Anticipations

Don't get too excited about EJ Manuel's performance

AFC East

• The Miami Dolphin's defense is under-rated, and it should give their iffy offense a chance to win more than I ever expected
• EJ Manuel looked really good against Indianapolis' backups. He showed enough poise to win the Week 1 starting job as a rookie. With that said, he should still struggle like any other rookie QB once the season rolls around
• Wes who? Brady and the Pats will roll on opponents through the air and on the ground this year.
• Mark Sanchez showed why he is one of the worst quarterbacks in the league by throwing a pick-six on the Jets 1st drive of the game

The Bengals have built a solid D around Geno Atkins

AFC North

• Pittsburgh needs their running game and pass defense to improve before the season begins.
• Cincinnati has a solid team. The Bengals will play good defense, good enough offense, and have great coaching
• Brandon Weeden looks better than anyone anticipated. If anyone can develop into a solid target opposite Josh Gordon, look out AFC North
• The Ravens should finish the year at .500 or better. They have too much depth and talent all around the roster

Matt Flynn better not lose his starting job two years in a row

AFC West

• The Chiefs better hope Jamal Charles' ankle gets better sooner than later, or they can kiss an 8-8 season goodbye
• The Denver Broncos are still the best team in the division BY FAR
• If Matt Flynn and Terrelle Pryor both play like they did on Saturday for the rest of the pre-season, Oakland won't win more than 3 games this Fall
• San Diego has an OK quarterback in Phillip Rivers, but a mediocre core of receivers and tailbacks. It will be a very long season for this inexperienced group now that Malcolm Floyd has strained his knee and DX is out for the year

Chris Johnson is poised for another 1,500 yard season

AFC South

• Jacksonville might not win a game until MJD rushes for over 100 yards
• The Houston Texans will contend for the Super Bowl out of the AFC. Strong team defensively, and Nuke Hopkins makes them a very dangerous group offensively
• The Colts have a lot of work to do on defense. A LOT
• Tennessee's offense has more talent than I thought. CJ2K, Kenny Britt, Delaney Walker, Nate Washington, Justin Hunter and Kendall Wright give Jake Locker some serious play-making options. I think they will do better than I originally anticipated if these guys can stay healthy

NFC North

If Matt Forte can stay healthy, the Bears should be dangerous

• Detroit, once again, will be the biggest boom or bust team in the division
• Green Bay's Mike McCarthy can't be pleased by losing 17-0 at home, even in the pre-season.  Don't read into this game as the Packers' crystal ball for the regular season. It will be the complete opposite
• Chicago must have a big year from Matt Forte and Michael Bush. Marc Trestman's pass-happy offense won't go anywhere without a running game
• Minnesota has something special brewing with Adrian Peterson, Greg Jennings, Cordarrelle Patterson and Kyle Rudolph. Let's hope Christian Ponder can show some accuracy this Fall

NFC East

Can RGIII beat all odds and have a healthy 2013 campaign?

• The Giants will make the playoffs this year. I guarantee it
• Dallas has to find a way to play solid defense or they will be fighting for another wild card spot this year
• RGIII is going to get hurt sooner than later. His receiving core is average even with Fred Davis coming back healthy
• As I stated in my article about Chip Kelly's NFL debut, I expect the Eagles to go 7-9 or 8-8 with play-makers LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson. The defense looks bad but expect it to get better over time

Gerald McCoy might lead the Buc in sacks this Fall

NFC South

• Carolina finally has a #3 receiver in Armanti Edwards. Is he going to help Olsen, Smith and LaFell THAT much? We will see...
• We still won't find out if Tampa Bay's pass rush is improved until Week 1 of the regular season
• Atlanta is absolutely loaded on offense, and less than average on defense. Should be an interesting season for the dirty birds
• New Orleans has more depth at the receiver position than you think but their defense is still shaky at best

Colin Kaepernick is going to set the Fantasy Football world on fire this year

NFC West

• Colin Kaepernick is going to have a monster year for the 49ers and should lead them back to the playoffs
• The St. Louis Rams are saving their big plays for the regular season. We will see Tavon Austin in the pre-season but not as much as we would like
• Arizona's defense is going to cause a lot of turnovers this year when Daryl Washington comes back from his 4-game suspension
• Pete Carroll has built a winner in Seattle. His defense will look very vanilla until the season starts...That's when things get hectic for Carolina and other opposing offenses.