Week 10 NFL predictions

Well, to put it lightly, week 9 was excruciating. I was hoping to hit on at least 10 of my 12 picks, but ended up only getting 7 of them right. The 7-5 week brings my yearly record to 82-54. I’m hoping to be able to hit that 90 win mark this week And to be at 100 wins after week 11. 

With that being said, i’m probably not going to make as many upset picks. Ya know, like last week, when I picked the lowly Falcons to beat the Panthers.

Let’s kick things off.

 

Seattle Seahawks vs. Atlanta Falcons

Winner – Seattle

Last week I picked the Falcons to win against the Panthers in Carolina. They went on to lose 34-10. I see this game going a lot like that. Seahawks should win.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens

Winner – Cincinnati

The AFC north is Cincinnati’s to lose. They sit atop of the division with a 6-3 record. A win against the reigning Super Bowl champs would be a big step for the inconsistent Bengals. I’m taking Cincinnati in what could be a statement game for a young, talented Bengals team.

Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears

Winner – Detroit

With Aaron Rodgers out, the NFC north is up for grabs. Expect an absolute battle between the Matt Stafford led Lions and the Bears, who are getting Jay Cutler back. I’m taking the Lions in, what should be, a high scoring affair.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers

Winner – Philadelphia

As I said earlier, Aaron Rodgers is out. If the Packers want a chance to win, they’ll have to lean heavily on the running game. Which isn’t a bad thing. Eddie Lacy has been very good, but will he be able to produce without the threat of Rodgers? Probably, but not to the same extent as he would with Rodgers. I think the Eagles passing attack might be a little much for the Packers today. Philadelphia wins.

St. Louis Rams vs. Indianapolis Colts

Winner – Indianapolis

The Rams are without Bradford. The Colts have Luck. Colts win big at home.

Oakland Raiders vs. New York Giants

Winner – New York

Originally, I had the Raiders as the winner, but I changed it at the last second. The Raiders have the better record on the year, but I feel like the Giants are going to win today. The home field advantage has a lot to do with it. I think Eli will finally step up.

Buffalo Bills vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Winner – Buffalo

The Steelers have been very un-steeler like this season. It’s honestly weird to see a Pittsburgh team that is this bad.I  think they’ll hang around, but will ultimately lose against a young, fast Bills team.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans

Winner – Tennessee

The 0-8 Jags continue to battle the 0-8 Buccaneers for the first overall selection in the upcoming draft. Can they lose another one? Definitely. They can easily lose this game. And they probably will. I’m taking Tennessee over the Jags.

Carolina Panthers vs. San Francisco 49ers

Winner – San Francisco

I’m really excited to watch this game. Cam & Kaep should be able to put on a good show. I just don’t think that the Panthers have the personnel to pull out the W. Niners win at home.

Houston Texans vs. Arizona Cardinals 

Winner – Arizona

The Texans, who have been one of the biggest flops of the year, are coming off of a tough loss at home. In that game, Andre Johnson was able to pile up over 200 receiving yards & 3 touchdowns. I don’t expect a game like that today. Patrick Peterson should be able to contain him, but we’ll see. I have Arizona winning a close one.

Denver Broncos vs. San Diego Chargers

Winner – Denver

The Chargers usually play the Broncos pretty hard.  They also play well against Peyton, but the Broncos are coming off of a bye. Extra preparation isn’t something you want Peyton to have. Manning shreds the San Diego D. Broncos win.

Dallas Cowboys vs. New Orleans Saints

Winner – New Orleans

The Saints lost last week. I don’t think they’ll lose two in a row. The Cowboys have a good enough offense to keep up with the Saints, but is their defense good enough to stop Drew Brees when it matters? I don’t think so. Don’t be surprised if Brees has a big day that includes a late game drive to win it.

Miami Dolphins vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Winner – Miami

The Dolphins have been inconsistent, but the Buccaneers have just been pathetic. The MRSA problem. The Josh Freeman debacle. Pretty much anything that can go wrong, has gone wrong. Expect much of the same on Monday night. Dolphins win and the Bucs slide to 0-9 with the Jags.

 

Week 9 NFL predictions

Week 8 served me pretty well. I didn’t get double digit wins, but I did do pretty solid. 8-4 is okay in my book. My record now stands at 65-47.

Goal record for after week 9: 75-49. (I don’t know if i’ll be able to do it, but i’d be stoked if I could.)

Let’s get this thing going.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills

Winner – Kansas City

If Jeff Tuel wasn’t starting for the Bills, I probably would have taken them. I just feel like Kansas City is due for a loss, but i’ll pick them to continue their win streak because of the Bills quarterback situation.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers

Winner – Atlanta

How bad do the Falcons look? I’ll tell you how bad they look. They look awful, absolutely awful. But this game just seems like a trap game for the Panthers if you ask me. They’re on a little run and at home. They almost have to expect to win against a depleted Atlanta team, right? I’m thinking Atlanta wins against the Panthers in my upset game of the week.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Dallas Cowboys

Winner – Dallas

Despite their late-game losses, Dallas has been a pretty solid team all year. If they could fix the back-end of their defense, they could be legitimately good. With that being said, the Cowboys should be able to get a win against a weak Minnesota team.

New Orleans Saints vs. New York Jets

Winner – New Orleans

The Jets have blown away my expectations this season. I never thought that they would be 4-4 at the halfway point. Rex Ryan deserves to be praised for the way he has this football team playing right now, especially that nasty defense! I still don’t think they’ll be good enough to beat the Saints, though. Stopping Drew Brees isn’t easy. Saints win.

Tennessee Titans vs. St. Louis Rams

Winner – Tennessee

I just don’t think that the Rams have a good enough quarterback to be competitive, which is upsetting because Sam Bradford was having his best season as a pro before going down for the year with an injury. I think the Titans get the W.

San Diego Chargers vs. Washington Redskins

Winner – Washington

I’m really conflicted with this game. I feel as if it could go either way. Both teams are incredibly inconsistent. I’m taking the Redskins at home.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Oakland Raiders

Winner – Oakland

Terrelle Pryor makes the Raiders more dynamic on offense. His big-play ability makes defenses have to worry about the threat of him running. The last thing you want to do as a defender is second guess yourself, that’s how you make mistakes. I think Oakland will win, but not by much.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Seattle Seahawks

Winner – Seattle

The 0-7 Buccaneers square off against the 7-1 Seahawks. It should be an easy win for Seattle at home. (It would probably be an easy win for them if they were in Tampa Bay, too.) Seattle should win, and win handily.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns

Winner – Baltimore

The Cleveland Browns are playing hard, but, much like the Bills & Rams, don’t have the QB to close the deal. I have Baltimore edging out the Browns in Cleveland.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New England Patriots

Winner – New England

Is this finally the week that Tom Brady and the Patriots get their offense going? I think it is. Amendola is healthy. Gronk has had a few weeks to settle into the offense. And Brady should be getting used to his new receivers. Patriots over the Steelers in Fox Borough, or at least I think so.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans

Winner – Indianapolis

A lot of people, including myself, picked the Texans to win the AFC South in the preseason. The Texans haven’t lived up to their preseason hype. The Colts on the other hand, have outplayed expectations. The division is truly theirs to lose. Can they continue to play at a high level without Reggie Wayne? We’ll have to wait and see. But for now, I have them winning against the Texans in Houston.

Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers

Winner – Green Bay

The Bears are still without Jay Cutler, which severely hurts their chances against Green Bay. I’m taking Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers over the Chicago Bears.

So, what do you think? Any picks that you would change? Let me know in the comment section!

 

 

 

Week 3 NFL Game Predictions

I was very pleased with my predictions in week 2. I managed to select 11 out of 15 games correctly, with 3 of my 4 losses coming by 4 or less points. A strong week 2 has propelled me to a record of 20-10 on the year.

I’ll be thrilled if I can get 11 correct again this week. Obviously, I’d be even more thrilled if I can get 15 out 15. It’s not likely, but it doesn’t hurt to dream. So, let’s jump into this and see what we can do.

 Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens

 Winner – Houston

 The defending champs will be without their top offensive playmaker on Sunday, as Ray Rice will be riding the pine. The loss of Rice should give the edge to Houston. I think the Texans can close this one out early for once.

 New York Giants vs. Carolina Panthers

 Winner – New York

 Eli hasn’t looked good this year. Actually let me rephrase that, Eli has looked terrible this year. I think Manning and the gang finally get things together today and walk out of Carolina with the W.

 Green Bay Packers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

 Winner – Green Bay

 I believe in this Bengals football team, but I don’t think they’re quite ready to take down Green Bay. I think the Packers escape Ohio with the win, but by no more than 10 points.

 St. Louis Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys

 Winner – Dallas

 I think we’ll see Dallas get things going on offense this week. Bold prediction – Cowboys wins big and Tony Romo throws for 300+ yards with at least 3 touchdowns.

 Cleveland Browns vs. Minnesota Vikings

  Winner – Minnesota

 Starting QB? Out. Starting running back? Traded to Indy. I don’t see Minnesota losing to a weak Cleveland team at home. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Browns don’t hit double-digit points today.

 Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New England Patriots

 Winner – Tampa Bay

 This is my surprise pick of the week. Do I think that the Patriots are the better team? Yes I do, nut I have a gut feeling that the Bucs pull this one out in Fox Borough.

 Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints

 Winner – New Orleans

 The Saints are 2-0 this year, but their offense has yet to hit it’s stride. I think today is the day that Drew Brees and company get things going on offense. Saints win by 2+ touchdowns.

 San Diego Chargers vs. Tennessee Titans

 Winner – San Diego

 I like what Philip Rivers has done so far this season. He looks like the QB that everyone knows he is. I think San Diego will bolt out of Tennessee with the win and advance to 2-1.

 Detroit Lions vs. Washington Redskins

 Winner – Washington

The Redskins can’t afford to go 0-3 & I don’t think that they will. I think today is the day that the Washington offense gets things going in the first half.

 Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins

 Winner – Atlanta

 Atlanta will win this game. Why? Because they have to. Atlanta has to win if they want to stay relevant in the NFC South. (Especially if the Saints win today.)

 Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets

 Winner – New York

 2 New York teams, 2 rookie quarterbacks, & 2 wins for the Jets. Geno Smith outperforms E.J. and leads his team to victory.

 Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Seattle Seahawks

 Winner – Seattle

 The Jags and the Browns are jocking for position of worst team in the league. On the flipside, the Seahawks are one of the best teams in the league. I foresee the Jags going into Seattle and get absolutely hammered by the Seattle defense.

 Indianapolis Colts vs. San Francisco 49ers

 Winner – San Francisco

 The Seahawks defeated the 49ers with ease in week 2. But the Colts aren’t the Seahawks and the 49ers are at home (not in the loudest stadium in the league against a division rival). I think that San Fran plays hard & beats the Colts, and their new running back, in week 3.

 Chicago Bears vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

 Winner – Chicago

 Admittedly, I won’t be watching this game (unless the SNF staff is nice enough to delay the game during Breaking Bad again). Delay or no delay, Chicago should be able to take care of an awful Steelers team, even if they are in Pittsburgh.

 Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos

 Winner – Denver

 Peyton Manning. Peyton Manning. Peyton Manning. Peyton Manning. Peyton Manning. Peyton Manning. Peyton Manning. Peyton Manning. Yeah, I think Denver will win and Peyton will have a fun time in doing so.

 What do you think of my picks? Agree or disagree? Be sure to let me know in the comment section below!

Top 5 tight ends – 2013

With the NFL season quickly approaching, I decided that it’s finally time to get my blog up and running. Over the course of the next few weeks, I will be posting articles of my “Top 5” players at certain positions.  The positions that I plan to write my articles about are quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends.

I hope that you, as the reader, find these articles to be interesting, informative, and enjoyable. If you disagree, or find a problem/flaw in my list, feel free to comment below and tell me what you think!

And without further ado, here are my Top 5 tight ends heading into the 2013 NFL season.

5.) Tony Gonzalez – Atlanta Falcons

— After being in the league for 16 years, Tony Gonzalez is still a big-time contributor to his teams offense. In 2012, the 37 year old vet was able to reel in 93 catches for 930 yards and 8 touchdowns. Gonzalez lead all Atlanta players in receptions last season, which is pretty incredible when you take his age into account. After the 2012 season, there was talk of “The Great Gonzo” retiring, but he ultimately decided to come back for another crack at a title with Matty Ice and company.

4.) Vernon Davis – San Francisco 49ers

— Vernon Davis was incredibly average, maybe even below average, during the 2012 regular season. The All-Pro tight end was only able to muster up 6 receptions over the final 6 games of the regular season. I placed VD at number 4 assuming that his playoff success carries over to the 2013 regular season.

 In 3 playoff games, Vernon Davis was targeted 19 times, turning 12 of those passes into catches. Davis managed to pile up 254 yards, making his average reception 21.2 yards long.

 It’ll be interesting to see how the Crabtree injury effects Davis. The injury to Crabtree, the teams leading receiver last year, will surely free up some balls to be thrown Davis’ way. But at the same time, it will also allow opposing defenses to put more defenders on Davis, possibly slowing and disrupting his production.

 Davis is set to be one of the biggest boom or bust players in the league this year. If he plays like he did during the playoffs, than he’s a lock for the top 5 at the position. If he plays like he did over the final month and a half of the regular season, than he doesn’t deserve to even crack the top 15.

3.) Jason Witten – Dallas Cowboys

— It was a record setting year for Jason Witten in 2012. The 6’6” tight end hauled in 110 receptions last season, breaking a record that was previously set by Tony Gonzalez in 2004. The 11 year veteran was also able to tally up 18 catches in a single game last season, setting another record for the tight end position.

 It’s safe to assume that Tony Romo will utilize the “Witten button” plenty of times next season. Witten accounted for more than 25 percent of Romo’s completions last season and has averaged 130 targets per year over the span of the last 4 years.

 Simply put, Jason Witten is Tony Romo’s security blanket – he’s more like a security quilt (comfortable, reliable, and there when you need it). This is great news for Cowboys fans and even better news for people that have Romo or Witten on their fantasy squads.

2.) Rob Gronkowski – New England Patriots 

— If Gronk was able to stay healthy, he would have been ranked as the best tight end in all of football. The injury concerns are what ultimately lost him the number one spot on my list.

 Gronkowski only played in 11 games last season, but he was a force to be reckoned with during those 11 games. He managed to grab 11 touchdown passes, that’s more than any another tight end in my top 5. Gronk also logged a 14.4 yard average, as he racked up 790 yards on just 55 receptions.

 It is no secret that the Patriots offense is lacking weapons this year. Hernandez is in jail, Welker is watching Caddyshack with Peyton, and Brandon Lloyd is probably off rapping somewhere. The absence of Hernandez, Welker, and Lloyd means that Brady will most likely be looking Gronk’s way a lot more this year, which is kind of scary when you really think about it.

 Let’s just hope the New England tight end gets healthy and comes back soon, because I, like most people, miss the Gronk spike.

1.) Jimmy Graham – New Orleans Saints

— Coming in at number 1 on my list is, none other than, Jimmy Graham. Graham, like the other players on this list, is virtually impossible to cover. He’s a freakish athlete that has the ability to attack the ball at it’s highest point, a trait that Drew Brees is undoubtedly a big fan of.

 2012 was a down year for the 3 year pro, but was it a bad year? No, not at all. Was Graham able to catch 99 passes for 1,300+ yards like he did in 2012? No, but he was still on the receiving side of 85 passes, nearly 1000 yards, and 9 touchdowns.

 The way that the Saints utilize Graham figures to change a little bit with the return of head coach, Sean Payton. Payton is an absolute mastermind when it comes to play calling, he will find a way to get the most out of Jimmy Graham’s abilities.

Well there it is, my list of the Top 5 tight ends heading into the 2013 NFL season. Did you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments below.

And be sure to check back for my top 5 receivers, running backs, and quarterbacks!

Picking apart the Tim Tebow signing

Tebowmania has officially come to Foxborough. That’s right, the New England Patriots have signed Tim Tebow and expect him to be at mini-camp as soon as tomorrow.

Tim Tebow is undoubtedly one of the most popular athletes to ever suit-up and play the game of football, but it’s that same popularity that has ultimately doomed his professional career. His popularity is far greater than his quarterbacking ability and a lot of casual football fans fail to see that. His abilities to play quarterback are so lacking that there was talk of him being no better than a backup in the CFL. It raises the question: Why sign Tim Tebow?

Here are a few possibilities:

1.) The Patriots are planning to have a read-option package.
— Initial reports have stated that the Patriots have signed Tebow and fully intend to use him as a quarterback. I don’t see New England using him as a QB in the traditional sense, but I do see Belichick drawing up a few read-option plays for Tebow. The read-option is a trend that is currently sweeping the NFL, and I see New England doing everything in their power to capitalize on that trend. The only problem with having Tebow run the read-option is that opposing defenses will stack the box when they see Tebow enter the game, and why wouldn’t they? Tebow has proven time and time again that he is not a legitimate force in the passing game.

2.) He can properly learn the position from Tom Brady
— It’s no secret that Tebow has to work on his mechanics and accuracy as a passer. Sitting behind one of the best QB’s of all-time will allow him to do that. Tebow’s work ethic is the one thing that has never been questioned by scouts and GM’s. He is a player that strives to get better and truly loves the game of football. 

3.) He sells jerseys and tickets.
— Love him or hate him, he sells jerseys and puts people in the seats. Tim Tebow is one of the most polarizing figures in all of sports. Yes, he brings a circus to town, but he also sells a ridiculous jerseys. Last year as a backup on the Jets, a team best known for the “butt-fumble”, Tebow still managed to finish number 13 in jersey sales for the season.

I personally don’t see the Tim Tebow gamble paying off for New England, but what do they really have to lose? They have a perennial pro-bowler in Tom Brady, so that will eliminate the whole “Will Tebow be the starter?” question. It doesn’t hurt that New England also has one of best coaches that the game has ever seen in Bill Belichick. This seems like the best situation that Tebow has had since entering the league back in 2010.

I certainly hope that the moves pays off for both parties involved, because if it doesn’t there is a good chance that New England will be the last NFL jersey we ever see Tim Tebow wear.