Parcells to the Browns?

Mike Florio of pft and others are reporting that Bill Parcells is talking to the Browns about their team president position. Parcells has an out in his contract so he is aloud to do this.

Ok Bill I like you and all but can we stay in one place and build a winner their before we leave. The Dolphins are much better than when you came but still have things to do. Lets get this job done then move on.

That being said Parcells to the Browns would be great for the league. The NFL is a much better place with the Browns as a competitive team. We all know Parcells knows football and he gets players that fit his system and play well. If this happens the Browns will be relevant again.

Week 13 Picks

So last week I went 13-3. Lets keep the winning going. Lets take a look at our week 13 picks.



Jets at Bills



The Jets play good defense and have a great running game. They are working with a rookie qb. The Bills are playing great for their new coach. I see a good game but the Jets edge the Bills 24-17.



Rams at Bears



Two teams struggling and getting ready to rebuild. I see the Rams keeping it close but losing in the end 27-17.



Patriots at Dolphins



The Dolphins had a tough loss against the Bills last week. The Pats are coming off of their Monday night game and most teams have difficulty after playing on Monday night. These two teams always play close games and I see another one. I see the Patriots pulling it out at the end 27-23.



Eagles at Falcons



The Falcons come in all banged up and no Matt Ryan. The Eagles offense continues to fly. I see the Eagles winning this one 31-14.



Saints at Redskins



The Redskins have been playing great but can't seem to hold a lead late. I think the Saints take this one pretty easily 34-17.



Titans at Colts



The Colts have come close to losing. The Titans are playing worry free football. I see a good game but the Colts pull it off 31-24.



Raiders at Steelers



The Raiders have played better with Gradkowski. The Steelers miss Big Ben and Polamalu. The Steelers are a better team and pull it off 27-13.



Broncos at Chiefs



The Chiefs play well at home and the Broncos played really well against the Giants. I think the Chiefs play them close but the Broncos pull it off 21-10.



Buccaneers at Panthers



The Bucs have been playing great and the Panthers seem to always lose because of Delhomme. I see a close game with the Bucs winning 23-17.



Lions at Bengals



The Bengals bounced back nicely after their loss to the Raiders. I see LJ continue to run well against a bad Lions defense and a Lions offense that improves each week. I see the Bengals winning easily 27-10.



Texans at Jaguars



This will be a great game. Two teams hungry for the playoffs coming off of tough losses. I see the Texans with more offense in this game and winning 28-24.



Chargers at Browns



I see the Chargers continue to roll and the Browns continue to flounder. I see the Chargers winning 34-10.



Cowboys at Giants



Two teams that hate each other battling for the division title. The Giants defense is reeling and the Cowboys offense has struggled in recent weeks. I see a close game but the Giants get the benefit of playing at home and win 24-20.



49ers at Seahawks



The 49ers are a weird team but play good defense and struggle on offense. The Seahawks beat who they are supposed to beat and lose when they are supposed to lose. I see this as a game the Seahawks are supposed to lose. I see the 49ers winning 27-17.



Vikings at Cardinals



What a matchup and maybe a playoff preview. Is Warner healthy enough to play? If so I see a great offensive shoot out. If not I see the Vikings winning easily. That being said I'm going with Warner is playing. So I see the Vikings winning a wild one 34-28.



Ravens at Packers



Another good game. Two good defenses and offenses that have shown flashes. Both are battling for playoff positions. I see a close one and the Ravens pulling it out 24-20.

Week 12 Quick Hits

-Atlanta got one with a banged up team. Great job by Chris Redman.





-The Bills played inspire again for coach Perry Fewel and got him his first win. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Terrell Owens who would've thought?





-What a crazy game in Philly. The Eagles offense bailed them out. As for Andy Reid's onside kick. You are better then the Redskins. You do not need to do that.





-The Seahawks beat the Rams. Not much to say. Both teams just finishing out a tough year.





-The Jets did their best to lose this game but Jake Delhomme did better. John Fox time to bench Jake. The Jets keep their slim playoff chances alive especially with losses from teams in front of them.





-The Bengals beat the Browns. LJ had a 100 yard day. The Browns kept it close. The Bengals went undefeated in their division which is huge in tiebreakers.





-The Colts win again. They score 28 unanswered and their offense keeps on rolling. The Texans play well again and lose a tough one.





-The Chargers killed the Chiefs. No surprise here. The Chiefs come off an emotional victory and it is tough going on the road after that. The Chargers offense played great and they keep on rolling.





-Talk about two teams that you do not know who will show up or how they play the 9ers beat the Jaguars. David Garrard had costly turnovers and the 9ers defense played great.





-The Vikings and Favre keep on rolling. The Bears have alot to take care of without a 1st or 2nd round pick this year. The Vikings and Favre are for real and play great in all aspects of the game. If they get home field advantage watch out for them.





-In the game of the week the Titans keep rolling with Vince Young at qb. It took a last second td but the Titans got the win.

-The Ravens play a good one against the Steelers and come away with the win. I wonder if the game would have been different if Big Ben played. Dixon did have a good first half but seemed to be nervous in the 2nd.

-The Saints took it to the Pats. The Pats secondary was exposed. The Saints are for real.

Cowher to the Jets

Mike Florio reported that the Jets maybe looking to hire Bill Cowher at the end of the season. Didn't the Jets just hire a new coach who has shown that he will be a good coach? That is what I thought. Then where did Florio get this information. I do not know. He is a good reporter but this one seems weird to me. It took Cowher a number of years before he won a Super Bowl with the Steelers and teams need to learn that when running a team it is not fantasy. Give coaches time to get their systems in place and build their team. Rex Ryan deserves that.

An exception to what I said above is Eric Mangini in Cleveland. He has shown numerous times he has been out coached and his players are not playing for him. So Randy Lerner and the Browns are allowed to let Mangini go after this season.

Sanchez and Stafford

Just a quick hit on this. Can people stop saying that the Jets and Lions need to change qbs etc. Look both of these guys have looked like rookies. Both of them have a long way to go to be where they want to be but both have shown how good they are or they can be. Let the rookies take their lumps and learn from it. If they are making the same mistakes next year then lets talk about if they were mistakes. Look at the likes of Troy Aikman and Peyton Manning when they started tons of interceptions and very few wins. It is a learning curve let these guys learn.

Rhodes benched

Rex Ryan Head Coach of the New York Jets has benched starting safety Kerry Rhodes. Rhodes was expected to excel under Ryan and his defensive scheme but he does not have an interception, a forced fumble, or a sack. In the game last week against the Patriots he had an opportunity to legally hit Wes Welker over the middle and he let up. I think this was Ryan's last straw. He wants tough physical players and Rhodes has not shown that this year. Eric Smith will start this week.

I think this is a great move by Rex Ryan. Showing his team he wants guys that will give it their all. Too many times coaches are too loyal to players (due to how much they make or the players name) and it hurts their teams. Their are many examples of this but one that sticks out to me right now is that of the Giants and their field goal kicker Lawrence Tynes. Tynes kicked them to the Super Bowl in 07 and had some clutch kicks. Tynes has missed many kicks over the past two seasons and has hurt the Giants and it has hurt them. It is time the Giants find someone else to kick for this team.

More coaches need to do what Ryan does and bench underachieving players for the betterment of their teams.

Friday quickhits from Turkey Day Football

Will we ever get any close football games on Thanksgiving? Boy those three games were pretty brutal.

-Packers at Lions- It's tough to play football when your starting qb and your best offensive weapon are banged up. You add in a safety you signed off the street 3 weeks ago and he is making his first NFL start that says you will be in for a long day. The Packers played an all around good game and I was extremely impressed with the play of Aaron Rogers, Clay Mathews Jr., and Charles Woodson. If the Packers can play like this consistently they may make a deep run in the playoffs.

A final note on this game. People are saying they don't want Detroit on Thanksgiving day anymore. This upsets me. How can people say this? Have you ever heard of tradition? Yeah the Lions are bad and have been for awhile. I think they are on the right path now and in a few years will be a good team. Also with all the parity in this league you never know who will and will not be good. One final word Tradition.

-Raiders at Cowboys- This game was never close and there is nothing better than correcting a two week offensive slump than playing the Raiders. Miles Austin looked great again and the Cowboys dominated this team. One thing the Raiders do seem to be a better team with Bruce Gradkowski at their starter. I guess you can say bye bye bye Jamarcus Russell.

-Giants at Broncos- This game was over when the Giants started to complain about having a short week and playing on Thanksgiving. Really anyone who complained should be fined. You get played to play a game that many people would love to play and get that money. On the back end you get 10 days off and you are professionals. Get a life.

As for the game itself. The Broncos played well and are done with their four game losing streak. They sit at 7-4 one game out of 1st place in the AFC West and a half game lead in the wildcard race. Five of their last 6 games 3 of them are played against the Chiefs (2 games) and the Raiders. If they win those three they will get to 10 wins and should be able to get into the playoffs with 10 wins. I see them taking care of the Raiders but I see the Chiefs playing two close games against them and maybe even pulling off an upset or two.

As for the Giants their next three games are against the NFC East (vs. Cowboys, vs. Eagles, at Redskins). If the Giants can win those three they are right back in the playoff picture. If they lose any their season is just about done. I definitely see them losing one of the games (maybe even more). This team is not functioning well at all. The linebackers and secondary have hurt this team and without a running game it is easier to stop Eli Manning. The Giants need to do something to shake things up and I would not be surprised to see Bill Sheridan (defensive coordinator) fired this week.

Week 12 Game of the Week and the Tailgate dish for the game.

This one was a no brainer. You have arguably the best AFC team going to the best NFC team. Maybe this will be a Super Bowl preview. It is the 10 and 0 Saints against the 7 and 3 Patriots. The Patriots look to derail another undefeated team. The Saints look to continue their perfect streaks. Being this game is on Monday night I expect both teams to be pumped and give it their all. I expect the Saints to pull off a close battle and win by a touchdown. Drew Brees should have no problem carving up the Patriots secondary.

Here is my dish of the week for this game:

To go along with the Thanksgiving meal and to honor John Madden my tailgate special if the week is a Turducken. A Turducken is a deboned chicken with stuffing on top, then a deboned duck with stuffing on top, and then a turkey. It is delicious and I highly recommend you order it. Now the stuffing can change but this week with the game being played in New Orleans I say you go for the Cajun stuffing. Here is the link on how to order and cook this food http://www.cajungrocer.com/fresh-foods-holiday-dishes-turducken-c-1_15_24.html. Now to enjoy the Turducken you should wash this down with one of New Orleans own a Hurricane. Be careful though Hurricanes have high alcohol content and one of them can knock you out. So sit back enjoy the game and save some Turducken for me.

Survivor Picks Wk 12

With the early week here are my top 5 picks for the week. By far the toughest week to call survivor.

1. Bengals over Browns: With the Bengals coming off the loss and the Browns coming off a close game against the Lions you may wonder why I put this game first. The Bengals are at home and are a better team than the Browns. I do not like picking division games but I am going with the better team here and going against arguable the worst team in the NFL.

2. Cowboys over Raiders: As I said this is a bad week for survivor pools. I am going with the mere fact that the Cowboys always play well on Thanksgiving and know how to prepare for a shortened week. I am also making this my number two pick because the Raiders are a bad road team.

3. Chargers over the Chiefs: The Chiefs put all of their effort last week against the defending Super Bowl champ. Todd Haley used to coach in Pittsburgh and knew the strengths and weaknesses of that team. The Chargers are on a roll and are clicking on all cylinders. I do not seeing the Chiefs upsetting two highly favored teams in a row and you add this one is on the road.

4. Falcons over the Buccaneers: Atlanta is coming off a tough loss against the Giants and have lost key players to injury. The Bucs have been better with Freeman as q. I can see an upset here but I am putting this game down for the mere fact the Falcons are the better team and they are playing at home.

5. Vikings over Bears and Eagles over Redskins: These two are tied. Both division games where the Vikings and Eagles are better football teams but the Redskins have shown life and the Bears are better then they play. Both will be tough games. I see the Vikings having a little bit of an easier time and the Eagles pulling it off in the end but I would steer clear of these two games if I can.

Hope everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving and their football. Tough week to pick.

Roethlisberger questionable

Besides losing two games in a row the Steelers are dealing with two injuries to their top two qbs. Charlie Batch relieved Ben Roethlisberger in the game against the Chiefs and broke his wrist. Big Ben left the game in overtime after being kneed in the while running away from pressure. People believe he had a concussion but the Steelers have not confirmed or denied the report. If Big Ben can not go third year player Dennis Dixon will make his first NFL start. Dixon is a running qb and would bring a different dimension to the Steelers offense. If he starts I would expect the Steelers to simplify their offense and even put plays in for Dixon to run with the ball. Do not be surprised to see the Steelers sign Jeff Garcia. An experienced qb who can win games.

For Big Ben this is his third head related injury and possibly his third concussion. The league is really making an effort to be careful with concussions. Commissioner Roger Goodell is in the process of having independent (of the team) brain specialists on the sidelines during all NFL games to clear players with head injuries. He is also making it mandatory that all players with concussions see these specialists to be cleared to play after a concussion.

Goodell is really focusing his attention to brain injuries and concussions in football. He is looking into making certain helmets mandatory for all football players to wear that would give them more padding. He has spoken to many people about this matter and I will not be surprised if he had a meeting about head injuries. Goodell is being extra cautious because he is becoming more aware of the long term effects of concussions and he wants to protect the players as much as possible.

Week 12 Picks

So this week I went 13-3 with my picks and overall I am 24-6 since writing the blog. With three games this Thanksgiving lets get to the picks early this week.

-Packers at Lions

The Pack are in the playoff hunt. The d played great the last two weeks (though gave up 3 late tds in week 11) and this team really wants this game.

The Lions usually play well on Thanksgiving. The Lions offense played great last week but showed their defense does not exist.

I see a closer game than people think but I see the Packers winning 27-20.

-Raiders at Cowboys

This is a tough decision. You have two teams that have played inconsistent. The Raiders beat a good Bengals team last week and played much better with Bruce Gradkowski at qb. The defense shows up when it wants. A very weird team.

The Cowboys beat the Eagles in Philly and they look like they will take off. They lose to the Packers in Green Bay and score a late meaningless td. This week they score a late td to win the game.

I see the Cowboys winning pretty easily 27-10.

-Giants at Broncos

The Giants d has let them down the last two weeks. Eli is coming off a great game. With the win against the Falcons the Giants kept their playoff and division title hopes alive.

The Broncos are falling fast. They started 6-0 and now are 6-4. They are struggling on offense with or without an injured Kyle Orton and their defense has been playing well but seems to have lost some of their magic.

I see a back and forth game and I give a slight edge to the Giants with Eli and a team that has won these type of games before. I see a 24-20 Giant win.

-Dolphins at Bills

Another tough division game. The Dolphins find themselves battling for a playoff spot and maybe a division title. The defense has played great. The running game is rolling (can Ricky run 20 times a game the rest of the year?) and Henne looks great but his receivers are not that great.

The Bills played great against the Jaguars but came up short. TO made an appearance. The d played well. Still not a good team though.

I see the Dolphins wanting it more and winning 23-13.

Seahawks at Rams

Two teams that are struggling and are playing for pride the rest of the year. The Seahawks are the better team right now. Many people expected more from the Hawks this year but they have disappointed. The Seahawks seem to win the games they are supposed to win and lose the games they are supposed to lose.

The Rams have played hard the last two weeks and seem to be growing with Steve Spagnola.

I see a hard fought game here but I think the Rams will surprise the Seahawks 17-13.

Colts at Texans

A still undefeated Colts team. The last few weeks they have won some real close games and are flirting with their first loss. Their offense is great. Their defense has been playing real good.

The Texans are fighting for the playoffs and have been playing real well. Their offense is potent and their defense is coming around.

I see another close game between these two teams. I see the Texans finally knocking off the Colts and winning 27-24.

Browns at Bengals

Can the Browns find any other way to lose. It is tough being a Browns fan now. Brady Quinn showed why he was the number 22 pick a few years back last week. Are the Browns allergic to defense though? Boy up 21 and they lose on the last play real bad.

As I said last week be careful getting on the Bengals bandwagon. They showed it last week against the lowly Raiders. Their offense is still good and their defense as well.

I see the Bengals taking their frustrations out on the Browns in a big way. I see a 27-3 Bengals win.

Panthers at Jets

So much was expected of the Panthers. What a disappointing year for them. Their running game has been great but Jake Delhomme has killed this team. Also their defense has had games where they looked great and games where they were run all over.

The Jets are who we thought they were (thank you Dennis Green http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_N1OjGhIFc). With a rookie qb and a rookie coach they are a 500 team at best. Sanchez has had times when he looked great and like last week times when he looked like a rookie. Depending on which Sanchez plays the Jets play that way too. This team has lost 4 games on the last play. I expect this team to play with pride the rest of the way and play well.

I see a close game but the Jets finally getting one of these close ones 27-24.

Buccaneers at Falcons

The Bucs have been playing better with Freeman as qb but he looked like a rookie against the Saints last week. The defense has played so so at best.

The Falcons have struggled as of late. The running game has been good but Matt Ryan has be ok so far. The defense has not been great either.

I see the Falcons getting back on track and winning 28-13.

Redskins at Eagles

The Skins have been playing much better as of late. They almost got one from the Cowboys last week. The defense has been playing great and Jason Campbell has learned how to play without turning the ball over.

The Eagles have had a tough few weeks. The offense has been playing great but their defense has not helped them out. The d has been getting a little better though. Anytime on offense the Eagles can score from anywhere.

I see a physical battle with the Eagles winning 24-14.

Chiefs at Chargers

The Chiefs have won two in a row and have been playing really well. All year I thought Todd Haley and Matt Cassel would get this team playing and show that they will have a bright future which I think is happening now.

The Chargers have found their stride and are about to run away with the AFC West. The defense has been playing great and Rivers, Jackson, LT and company have been great the last few weeks.

I see the Chargers winning this 31-17.

Jaguars at 49ers

The Jags got away with victories the last tow weeks with last second wins. Maurice Jones-Drew and Mike Sims-Walker have lead this offensive attack. The defense has played well most of the year.

The 49ers are missing a play maker at the qb position as well as the wr position. Frank Gore has played great all year when healthy. Their defense has played well at times and have been smoked at times. The team is just too inconsistent. Mike Singletary is building a team in San Fran just a few more pieces he needs.

I see the Jags playing tough and really wanting this one to keep their playoff chances alive. I see a 24-17 Jaguars win.

Bears at Vikings

Is that another penalty, field goal, or turnover by the Bears. This team has shot themselves in the foot again and again. Jay Cutler is to blame but I also think the coaching staff is too. The defense has not been effective as well. Lovie Smith and the coaching staff is looking over their shoulder.

The Vikings have been great. A great offense lead by Favre and a very solid good defense.

I see the Vikings continuing on their winning ways. I see a Vikings win of 31-20.

Cardinals at Titans

To pick this game I want to see the injury to Kurt Warner play out. With Leinhart at qb this team is a different team. Luckily their running game seems to be coming around.

The Titans have been playing great with Vince Young. He has instilled fight in this team.

I see the Titans winning a close one 31-28.

Steelers at Ravens

This game may change depending on Big Ben's head injury. What a way to end a holiday weekend with a great AFC North match up. These are two teams that hate each other fighting for the playoffs. The Steelers have lost two tough ones in a row. Last week against the Chiefs they had some real bad turnovers and the defense couldn't prevent the Chiefs from scoring. The Steelers are really struggling.

The Ravens lost a tough one to the Colts last week. Ray Rice has really helped the offense and the defense is not what it once was but has been playing better.

I see a slobber knocker. A real close smash mouth game. I see the Steelers taking another step towards a playoff run and winning 17-13.

Patriots at Saints

In the game of the week you have the team that wants to attempt what the Patriots did not accomplish a few years ago and go 18-0. This is the real last challenge the Saints will have in the regular season. The Patriots had a tough loss to the Colts a few weeks ago which people are still talking about 4th and 2. Tom Brady to Welker and Moss is a great group. I see them to continue rolling. The defense isn't what it once was but is playing a little better the last few weeks.

The Saints just continue to roll. Brees has been great and the defense is playing very well.

I see a high scoring barn burner here. I see the Saints pulling it off 38-31.

Week 11: Monday Quikhits

Here are my thoughts from Week 11.



-Another nice win by the Dolphins. I question if a 32 year old Ricky Williams can carry 20 times a game for the remaining 6 weeks. If he can and looks like this the Dolphins can make a playoff push.



-Colts and Saints stay undefeated. Saints had a Brees and the Colts had a close one. What a one handed grab by Dallas Clark.



- Dallas pulled off a close victory and stay in 1st place in the NFC East.



-Browns Lions played a great offensive game and the Browns find a way to lose the game with a pass interference and Matt Stafford hits Pettigrew for the win. Crazy game.



-The Pack held off a late push by the 9ers to keep their playoff dreams alive.



-The Jags win in the last two minutes against a tough Buffalo team who played hard for their new coach. Also TO showed he still has games left in the tank.



-The Chiefs had the upset of the week against a turnover prone Steelers team in overtime and the Bengals lost to the Raiders in another upset. All teams in contention in the AFC North lost so this division seems it will come down to the final weeks. I see the Steelers making a push and coming away with the division.



-Favre and the Pack keep rolling. The Giants pulled off an ot victory and their defense lets them down for a 2nd week in a row late. The Giants aren't the team that won the SB a few years back but if they get into the playoffs I wouldn't want to play them.



-Arizona is pulling away in the NFC West. Hopefully Warner is ok and will be back soon as Matt Leinhart starting for the Cardinals would make defenses drool. The only good thing the Cards have going for them is that their running game is doing well.



-The Chargers have staked claim to the AFC West and I don't see them relinquishing it. The Broncos are struggling and I see them not making the playoffs.



-The Patriots now have a two game lead in the AFC East and should run away with it now. They manhandled the Jets and made Marc Sanchez look like a scared rookie. Brady to Welker is lethal.


-The Bears seem to continue to struggle and the Eagles fly out of Chicago with a nice victory. I look forward to see how the NFC East plays out.

Dolphins: Brown out for the year

Bye bye Wildcat? The man who ran the Wildcat to perfection has been placed on injured reserve with a foot injury. Brown was a threat running the Wildcat by either throwing or running. Brown is the Dolphins best player on offense and a team that is very reliant on him with miss him greatly. This will cause the Dolphins to run a more traditional offense which will show why the Dolphins installed the Wildcat. I see the Dolphins having difficulties the rest of the season because of this loss. Ricky Williams will play well in his absence but he is not Ronnie Brown.

Brohm signs with Buffalo

In a minor move that I see that could turn into a nice move by the Bills is the signing of Brian Brohm off of the Green Bay Packers practice squad. In a show of no confidence in Trent Edwards, Buffalo has named Ryan Fitzpatrick starter for this Sunday's game against the Jaguars. Brohm was highly touted coming out of Louisville and was a 2nd round pick of the Packers 2 years ago. He was beat out by Matt Flynn as a backup on Green Bay and was not very impressive there. I believe Brohm has potential and I can see the Bills maybe getting lucky here and find their qb of the future. I would not be surprised to see Brohm as the starting qb in the next 2-3 weeks for the Bills to see what they have with him.

Buffalo and Shanahan

The Buffalo Bills have reached to Mike Shanahan to talk to them about their head coaching position. I am not surprised that the Bills did this. I do not however seeing Shanahan taking this job. I think he is eyeing a team with an established qb and who maybe a few pieces from making a run to the Super Bowl. Speculation has been Shanahan to Dallas and that is where I see him going. We'll see how this unfolds.

Survivor Picks for Week 11

Here are my 5 picks for Survivor Pools this week.

Steelers at Chiefs- The Steelers play every game close and the Chiefs do as well. I think the Steelers bounce back with a nice win here but the absence of Palomalu hurts that team.

Seahawks at Vikings- This is a game I am nervous to touch. I can possibly see an upset in this game. The Hawks are a much better team with Hasselback as the qb. The Vikings have been playing close games going into the 4th quarter and one day soon they will be picked off again by a team. I feel this may be one of those games.

Saints at Bucs- Saints have played 3 close games in a row and the Bucs are playing inspired ball with rookie Josh Freeman as the qb. The Saints are too good to lose this one. They may get caught looking ahead but I do not think so. I believe their trap/let down game was last week against the Rams.

Cardinals at Rams- Rams played the Saints tough. The Cards have been great on the road. Maybe a close game though I think the Rams went for it all against the Saints. I see the Cards winning this one big.

Bengals at Oakland- Bengals are good. Oakland is not. I just don't trust the Bengals yet but they will win this one.

Here is the order of the way I would pick them.

1. Cards over Rams
2. Saints over Bucs
3. Bengals over Oakland
4. Steelers over Chiefs
5. Vikings over Seahawks

Week 11 Game of the Week and recipe: Chargers at Broncos

This was a tough decision this week. I went back and forth between the Colts at the Ravens but I have to go with the game that is for 1st place this late in the season. So the game is the Chargers at the Broncos. If the Chargers win I believe that the Broncos definitely will not make the playoffs. As I mentioned in my week 11 picks I see the Chargers winning this one.

So to go with my game of the week here is my Denver Broncos tailgate recipe:

Eric Greene of Durango has the perfect Denver Broncos tailgate recipe and it goes perfectly with Thanksgiving week coming up:

Turkey Hash Patties
Leftover turkey meat, boned, with skin and extra fat discarded Leftover stuffing, about one part to four parts turkey Turkey gravy, just enough to moisten mixture Onion and celery, ground with fine blade in a food processor, to taste Garlic powder Salt and pepper to taste MSG, optional
Using a food processor with a coarse blade attachment, grind the first four ingredients. Add the seasonings and mix on slow speed until blended. Form into oval patties about 2x4 inches.
Note: If the patties are too dry, add more gravy. If they are too moist and fall apart, add breadcrumbs or more ground dressing.
Using heart-healthy oil, (olive or canola), fry patties in frying pan until nicely browned on both sides.

Wash this down with a beer from the Durango Brewing Company http://www.durangobrewing.com/our-beer/ and you will be ready for the Chargers Broncos.

Enjoy the food, drinks and football.

What to look forward to

Just some other things I will add to the blog this week:

-I will pick the game of the week and based on that game I will have the tailgate dish to go with it.

-Also look for the rank of my top 5 picks for survivor pools.

-I will also write about players who I think will have big fantasy weeks.

Chiefs: Bowe Suspended

Dawayne Bowe was suspended for using performing enhancing drugs. He claims it was from a diuretic. This will hurt the Chiefs losing their best rb and now wr in a two week period. The Chiefs are not going anywhere so it will not hurt them this year. Todd Haley had issues with Bowe in the beginning of the year and I think this will not sit well with Haley either. I will not be surprised to see Bowe traded at the end of the year for draft picks as the Chiefs are in the process of rebuilding. If you own Bowe in fantasy keep him as he will return for fantasy playoffs and he will be able to contribute.

Buffalo: Dick Jauron Fired

In not a shocking move the Buffalo Bills fired Dick Jauron. No replacement has been hired yet. This move should have been done at the end of last year. The Bills were underachieving last year and continued that this year. After firing the offensive coordinator a week before this season and trading and releasing starting offensive lineman the Bills had no hope. Whoever the replacement is that person will come in and finish out the year. I expect owner Ralph Wilson and President Marv Levy to be aggressive and go after one of the Super Bowl winning coaches available. It could be a tough sell to them because Buffalo will have to go through a rebuilding process and may have to look for a new qb. Either way it will be an interesting offseason in Buffalo.

Gruden: Staying with ESPN

Well Notre Dame and about 5 maybe 6 NFL teams can take Jon Gruden off their short wish list. He has signed an exclusive rights contract with ESPN to stay on the Monday Night Football telecast for at least 3 more years. When details become available I will report more.

Bengals: LJ Signs

After the injury to Cedric Benson the Bengals signed Larry Johnson to sure up their running back situation. The Bengals struck quickly as the Eagles were probably going to make a move for LJ.

I think this is a good move for the Bengals and LJ. The Bengals get a good proven rb who can take some of the load off of Benson. Plus LJ can help in goal line and short situations. I don't see LJ helping immediately unless Benson can not play. I see this more as a move to help the Bengals in late December and the playoffs. From a fantasy purpose this may help owners during the playoffs when LJ gets more playing time. This will allow LJ a month to get used to the system.

As for LJ he will be on his best behavior. I don't expect him to be tweeting as this is a tryout for either the Bengals or another team next year. I also can see LJ doing well with Marvin Lewis who has been able to deal with Benson as well as Tank Johnson. If LJ does make a mistake he simply will be released by the Bengals and may not get another chance in the NFL.

Bud Adams Fined

Owner of the Tennessee Titans Bud Adams was fined today by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. It comes a day after Adams flipped the bird to the Buffalo Bills. It was one of the biggest fines by the Commissioner. By flipping the bird it cost Adams $250,000.

In a league where Commissioner Goodell is trying to improve behavior and when you go to a game they have recordings on proper behavior inside the stadium Goodell took a hard line stance on inappropriate behavior by an owner. I could not agree with Goodell more on his decision. The NFL has too many issues off the field and the last thing the NFL needs is to see this from an owner. No matter how many times Adams apologizes (which he did) this is truly a black eye for the NFL. To add insult to injury Goodell was at the game and did sit with Adams for some of the game.

Week 11

Welcome to my week 11 write up. Week 10 came and went with a bang and ended with a thud. Who didn't think after Baltimore went up 7-0 the Browns were done.

Thursday: Dolphins at Panthers
The Dolphins seem to play well against the AFC East and then not so good. Whenever the Wildcat works the Dolphins seem to win. When it doesn't they struggle. I like the growth of Henne but am scared off by the receivers with drops, not running the right routes, etc. The defense keeps the Dolphins in games.

The Panthers are coming off another nice victory and it is amazing what happens when Jake Delhomme doesn't throw a pick for 3 games. A 2-1 record. If Delhomme plays like he did the last 3 this team has a great running game and a good defense.

I see this as a close game but the Panthers score late to make it look more lopsided. I see Panthers 27-17.

Steelers at Chiefs

The Steelers lost a tough game against the Bengals. The Bengals copied the Steelers and beat them playing Steeler football. I look for the Steelers to bounce back this week and play well in all phases of the game.

The Chiefs had a nice win against the lowly Raiders. The Chiefs had their moments on Sunday but they are still a young team. I expect the Chiefs to have trouble this weekend.

I see a Steelers 27-10 victory.

Browns at Lions

In a game of two teams that are battling for the 1st overall pick. You have two teams that are going in different directions. You have the Lions who seem to have it right. They finally have a qb and an impressive receiving core. Their o-line concerns me and Matt Stafford has suffered from that. Jim Schwartz is molding this team and it may take another year or two but they are playing well.

The Browns on the other hand are going backwards. I wonder if Mangini will announce his qb this week. Randy Lerner went in the wrong direction and now is reaching out to football architects to help rebuild this team. The Browns will have a tough second half.

In a close game I see the Lions winning 17-10.

Saints at Buccaneers

The Saints are 9-0 and coming off two close games in a row. Their offense slowed the other night by the Rams (if you call 28 points slowed). The Saints d is still a solid unit.

The Bucs seem inspired by Josh Freeman. They almost beat the Dolphins last week and their offense seems to be firing now though the defense is still week. That being said I see the Saints winning 28-17.

Falcons at Giants

The Falcons started off great and have lost two tough division match ups the last two weeks. You add in the loss of Michael Turner and this team is going the wrong way. The one thing the Falcons have going for them is that the Giants secondary is hurting.

I see the Giants coming off the bye week and playing real well. As the Giants make a playoff push they could not have gotten more lucky last week. Every team in front of them lost this past week. The Giants still have a great offensive line good running backs, and a receiving core that is building into something special. Defensively the Giants still have a great d-line but are hurting at the lb and secondary positions.

I believe Coach Coughlin has his team ready and the Giants win 24-13.

Bills at Jaguars

The Bills were supposed to be better but with a bad o-line and a qb who did not take the step forward he was supposed to. They have had a tough year.

The Jaguars seem to have figured out to win. After one of the best football moves last week by Maurice Jones-Drew the Jaguars came away with a nice victory. Looking at the Jags the offense is a good one but their defense especially in the pass game puts this team at a disadvantage against good teams.

I see the Jags handling the Bills 31-17.

Redskins at Cowboys

These two teams showed last week why you play the game. The Redskins have looked dead the last few weeks and looked like they would be lucky if they won another game all season. Well their running game was effective, Jason Campbell didn't have a turnover and the d played well (except against Brandon Marshall).

The Cowboys won a huge game against the Eagles two weeks ago and then come back and throw a stinker against the Packers. You do not know what you are getting from the Cowboys and with the loss of Marc Columbo and three others last week this team could have some difficulties going forward.

That being said I do not see the Cowboys having a problem with the Redskins. A little closer than it should but they win 27-17.

Seahawks at Vikings

The Seahawks had a great first half against the Cardinals. Then the Cardinals offense turned it on. Hasselback is still effective and I see him having a nice day against the Vikings. The run game is a non factor and that hurts the Hawks. The defense has flashes but is too inconsistent.

All Favre needed was a familiar offense, his arm to be 100%, and a running game. You add in a defense and you have a great all around team who is a real Super Bowl contender. I see the Vikings pulling away in the second half for a 34-20 victory.

49ers at Packers

So which team is showing up for either one of these two teams. The 9ers have a great running game when Frank Gore is healthy and an average passing game (imagine if they had a good NFL qb). A defense that is developing each week and a team that is a few pieces from being a yearly playoff contender. I think that is why they are inconsistent.

The Packers are inconsistent too. They get beat by a rookie qb against a winless team and then the next week look like world beaters in playing a near perfect game against the Cowboys. The overall team is good but the o-line needs to learn how to protect Rodgers and Rodgers needs to learn how to throw the ball away.

This is a matchup of two teams looking to become contenders. Both teams have people in place
and are taking steps in the right direction. The Packers need this game more and at home so I see them winning a close game 24-20.

Colts at Ravens

The last two weeks the Colts could have lost. From turnovers in the red zone, to missed field goals, and going for it on their own 28 teams have given the Colts every reason to stay undefeated. The Colts have a great offense. Even when Peyton Manning is not at the top of his game the Colts find ways to win. The Colts are suffering in the secondary and it has really hurt their defense.

The Ravens have established a nice passing game for Joe Flacco without much talent to throw too. The o-line is excellent and the run game with Ray Rice has been superb. Defensively the Ravens have taken a step back. That being said the Ravens defense is still a top 5 unit.

I expect the Colts to lose and lose sooner rather than later. It will not shock me if it is this week but I do not think so. I think Peyton and company have too much fire power. I see a 31-20 win for the Colts.

Cardinals at Rams

The Cardinals passing attack just keeps on rolling and seem to be hitting their stride as we speak. They got off to a slow start against the Seahawks but once they started clicking they left the Seahawks in their dust. The Cards defense is the weakness of this team. They are a risk reward type defense. At times they are all over the place and the opposing team is doing nothing. Other times the opposing team is running up the scoreboard on this unit. If the defense can become more consistent and hold a team to 17 points the Cards should win every game. The defense better sure up because where the Cards are going defense wins championships.

The Rams showed some fight last week against the Saints. Steven Jackson is a great running back and with the ball in his hands anything can happen. Marc Bulger played better last week but is not what he once was. The rest of the team is coming along and playing hard for Coach Steve Spagnola.

That being said the Cards offense will be too much for the Rams. I see a Cards victory 38-10.

Jets at Patriots

The Jets have a good team but they do not know how to close out games and win. Each week one unit seems to fail them (Mark Sanchez lost the Saints game, the special teams did not show up for the Dolphins game 2, and last week the defense did not show up in the 1st half and then again on the game winning drive). The offense is lead by a young rookie qb who is showing he has what it takes to play in the NFL. By this time next year he should be one of the top 10 qbs in this league. A defense that has shown it can be great and a very good special teams unit that this team can be a real surprise next year. Rex Ryan did shake things up by mutually agreeing with his d-line coach (Kerry Locklin) to part ways. We'll see if this has an impact on the d-line.

The Patriots are the Patriots. One of the best teams in football. The defense is not what it used to be and that may explain why Bellichek did by going for it on 4th down on his own 28 with 2 minutes left. This could be a season changing move. Fortunately for the Patriots they play in a weak division and should win it without a problem. In the playoffs anything can happen but I see a problem with the d. Tom Brady seems back to his old self and he has been reacquainting himself with Randy Moss and Wes Welker which spells doom for defenses.

I see the Patriots handling the Jets here. The score will be closer than what the game will look like. I see a 28-17 victory for the Patriots.

Chargers at Broncos

Talk about two teams going in two different directions. You have the Chargers with good wins over the Giants and the Eagles. Phillip Rivers is playing great, Vincent Jackson becoming a top receiver, Antonio Gates being one of the to tight ends in the game. The Chargers run game has been anemic at best though LT found the fountain of youth after finding out he will be a father for the first time. The defense has flashed brilliance but still need to finds consistency. It seems to be coming around and at the right time.

The Broncos are going in the wrong direction. After the injury to Kyle Orton the team looks at Chris Simms to help save their playoff chances. Simms has not played in 2 or 3 seasons. I expect him to be ok (he can't be much worse than 3 of 13) when given the reps with the first team. The Broncos will lose some with Simms at the helm but give it time and I think he will surprise people. He will have a good running game and a great receiver and nice complimentary receivers. The Broncos defense continues to play great. I expect the unit to continue to pressure the qb and make plays.

If Orton was the qb I would say that the Broncos would either keep it close or win this game. I do not see that happening. I expect the Chargers to win it 28-13.

Bengals at Raiders

The Bengals have shocked the world. They have swept both the Steelers and the Ravens. The Bengals are doing this by copying the Steelers formula. Great defense and running the ball on offense. Just because they are the Bengals I am not going to say they have done anything yet. Though I am slowly becoming a believer in this team (remember the 8-3 Jets last year). They have a franchise qb, a rb who seems to be for real (plus adding LJ as insurance), and a smash mouth defense this team is building for a deep playoff run.

Well what can you say about the Raiders. Jamarcus Russell is inaccurate, their receivers drop everything, their o-line is bad, and their defense is Swiss cheese (except for Ashmigou). As I said before and I will say it again Al Davis is holding this team back. Until he lets someone else control this team all we will be saying is how bad this team is (except for one of the best punters in the game Shane Lechler).

I see the Bengals running away with this one 35-3.

Eagles at Bears

The Eagles have had a tough few weeks. I think this team is a good team and the offense showed last week they come to play. McNabb put up 450 yards passing last week and he will probably do more of that with Brian Westbrooke's 2nd concussion this year (I hope Westbrooke and the team realise how serious this is and considers sitting out the rest of the year). The Eagles defense let them down this week but I expect them to be blitz happy and opportunistic against the interception prone Jay Cutler.

The Bears I was expecting so much more from them. Cutler and Matt Forte have really hurt this team. Last week against the 9ers the defense did its job. Lovie Smith is probably coaching right now for his job (and offensive coordinator Ron Turner better watch out too). I see Cutler making the same mistakes that doomed them last week.

I see an Eagles victory 31-20.

Titans at Texans

We'll call this the Bird Bowl. Bud Adams the Titans owner and former Houston Oilers flipped the bird at the fans in Buffalo last week and got fined $250,000. Well the fans in Houston want to do the same to Bud. Too bad this game isn't being played on Thanksgiving it would have been perfect. A great way to start Thanksgiving week though with the Bird Bowl.

The Titans offense has awakened with Vince Young being inserted as the qb. Chris Johnson has been unconscious during the three game winning streak. He is quite possibly the best back in football today (my apologies Adrian Peterson from the Vikings). Young has developed a passing game with this team and the defense has been energized by this as well. Too bad Young didn't start earlier. If the Titans win this game they may have an outside chance to make the playoffs. Either way going forward this is a team other teams will not look forward to play.

The Texans were every one's darling this year. Everyone said that this will be the year they took that step. Well Steve Slaton has had some costly fumbles and the offense has struggled because of that. Their passing numbers have been excellent but the loss of Owen Daniels has and will hurt this team. Andre Johnson puts up big numbers each week and no matter how many people are covering him he still finds a way to get open. The defense is just about there. Mario Williams and DeMico Ryans have helped this team out. The addition of Brian Cushing has helped too. This defense should be a unit that should rank in the top 10 defenses in the coming years. If the Texans lose this one a playoff run maybe out of reach and if that happens Gary Kubiak maybe looking for a job and a job that I think people would jump for with all the talent this team has.

I see a great high powered matchup in the Bird Bowl. I say Bud Adams and the Titans will get the trophy with the middle finger sticking up. I see a 28-24 Titans win.

Week 10 Wrap Up

So after my first week blogging lets see how I did.

It turns out I went 11-3 going into tonight's games. Good football weekend all around.

Some quick hits:

-The Bucs are playing for Raheem Morris and Josh Freeman has given them a lift. The Bucs are not an easy out anymore.

-The Jets need to find a way to win these close games. If they do they could be a real good team from now to the future.

-The Giants had a great week and they didn't even play. All the NFC East teams in front of them lost and all the teams they are battling for the wildcard lost as well.

-The Saints and Colts had huge scares but narrowly escaped to stay undefeated.

-Bill Belichek out coached Bill Belichek. I understand his decision to go for it there. He wanted to ice the game and get the first down. He gets it the game is over. He does not he gives Peyton the ball inside his 30. If you were to poll both college coaches and NFL coaches I would say over 95% of them would say to punt it. Say what you want about Belichek he has gotten here because of calls like this. The only negative is he said to his defense I do not have confidence in you. You just wonder the effect that has on the defense. Luckily for BB and the Patriots they play in the AFC East where the Jets are learning to win and the Dolphins and Bills are not good.

-Everyone is on the Bengals ban wagon. I am with caution. I like them and I think they are a good team going in the right direction but I remember teams like the Jets 8-3 last year and folding. So do I think they are for real definitely but do it carefully. They have a franchise qb, a running game, good receivers and a hard working up and coming defense.

Until later this week with my picks and update on tonight's game. Enjoy MNF!!!

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Week 10 NFL Picks

Hi and welcome to my blog. Though it is late in the 2009 season this will be my first blog of the year. This blog will focus on point spreads, survivor games and fantasy impact. I will look and analyze the game and give you my opinions. So onto this weeks matchups. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and have a nice week.

Bears at 49ers Thursday Night:
In the first Thursday night game of the year it faces two Jekyll and Hyde teams. Both teams have shown flashes of being contenders and have had games where college teams could have beaten them.
Many in the NFL thought with the addition of Jay Cutler the Bears offense would run smoothly and open up an even more effective running game for Matt Forte. Forte seems to be having a Sophomore though with 90 yards and a touchdown last week he maybe coming out of it. With the addition te Greg Olson was supposed to be a force but has not stood out. Though Devin Hester has become a force to be reckoned with. When he gets the ball in his hands he can take it to the house in a heartbeat. Cutler has had issues with throwing picks and Forte has had some fumbling issues which has hurt the offense.
The 49ers started off well and with Mike Singletary calling the shots many people expected to see a smash mouth tough defense much like the ’86 Bears. In the first week against the defending NFC champion the Cardinals the 49ers looked like they have arrived. Then after a blow out loss to the Falcons the 49ers have been up and down. Shaun Hill started the year as the qb but after an ineffective 1st half against the Texans Alex Smith came in and has lead the 9ers offense. With Smith and the return of Frank Gore the 9ers offense has been rolling. Vernon Davis has matured with Singletary and since Smith took over he has become his go to guy. Add in Michael Crabtree as threat on the outside and teams are taking notice.
These two teams are a good matchup. It will make for good football watching. I see the 49ers winning a close game. I see it as a 24-20 victory. I see Cutler with a costly turnover. Both Frank Gore and Vernon Davis will have good fantasy statistics along with Hester and Forte.
Lions at Viking:
With the addition of the number 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford the Lions offense has been more effective. Unfortunately you can’t say that about the Lions defense. The Lions are a young team learning how to play as a team and in the NFL. If Jim Schwartz can continue with the growth the Lions will be a formidable team in the near future. Unfortunately for Schwartz and the Lions the future isn’t now. When healthy Calvin Johnson is a matchup problem and always has great stats. With a healthy Johnson Brian Johnson and Brandon Pettigrew have been effective. The Lions running game still struggles and once they have one the offense could be unstoppable.
The Vikings have proven with the addition of Brett Favre and their great defense that this is a Super Bowl contending team. Coming off a bye week this team will be ready for this game. Favre has been asked not to win games but rather manage them. He has excelled at this. Adrian Peterson comes as advertised. Though the last few weeks he has not put up the numbers people expect Peterson is still having a great year. The addition of Favre could be affecting Peterson’s numbers as well. Favre himself has made the receivers around him better. Vishante Shiancoe has proven again he is a big red zone target as well as a third down tight end. Favre loves throwing to his tight end and Shiancoe fits the mold of the tight ends Favre likes. Percy Harvin has shown he has matured and is a gameplan nightmare for defensive coordinators. Sidney Rice has benefitted from Favre and has shown what he is capable of doing. Bernard Berrian shines as a deep ball threat and a reliable receiver for Favre.
The Vikings are a good team with the potential to be great. The Lions are rebuilding again but finally seem on the right path. At this point the Vikings win big 34-10.
Bengals at Steelers:
This is a matchup for years where the Steelers have owned the Bengals. The Bengals seem to be for real and trying to prove that they can compete for an AFC North title. Carson Palmer seems to be 100% recovered from his knee surgery a few years back and is enjoying the weapons he has. Chad Ochocinco has been Palmer’s favorite target and has been a real difference maker. Lavernaus Coles has been a great addition to the team and Andre Caldwell seems to make a big catch when the game is on the line. Chase Coffman and JC Foschi have helped in the passing game from the tight end position. As great as the passing game has been for the Bengals it is the running game that has turned this team’s fortune around. Cedric Benson has found a home in Cincinnati and is living up to his top 5 selection. With the emergence of Benson the league leader in rushing the Cincy offense has been helped. The Cincy defense has come around as well. With the addition of Rey Maulaga and Leon Hall coming into his own the Bengals have really come into their own. This is the second tough matchup in two weeks after playing the Ravens last week.
What can you say about the Steelers. One of the best run organizations in all of sports. To have had only 3 coaches in 30 years if that isn’t consistency then I don’t know what is. All three have won Super Bowls and the Steelers are usually a Super Bowl contender. Coming off their second Super Bowl victory in five years the Steelers have built off of that championship. The training wheels are off of Ben Rothlisberger and he has been playing great. When you hear Steelers you think of defense and running the ball. The running game has not been great this year but is decent. Rashad Mendenhall seems to have gotten over the fumbling issues and is running well. Willie Parker has been slowed by injury and has lost his starting job to Mendenhall. The Steelers defense has been great as usually. When Troy Palumalau got injured in the first game the Steelers defense missed him but eventually recovered and now Palamalua is back and the defense is even better.
As usual the Steelers win close ugly games and that is the way I see this going down. Though the breaks have gone the Bengals way this year I don’t see it here. A close one but the Steelers 27-20.
Jaguars at Jets
This is another game of two teams that have had up and down years. The Jaguars giving the full time running back duties to Maurice Jones-Drew. MJD has shown he can do the job. David Garrard has had a good year but has been hurt with interceptions. Mike Sims-Walker has broken out this year and has become a difference maker for the Jaguars. More teams are focusing on him and rolling safety help his way so he has had some not as great games the last few weeks. The Jaguars defense has not helped this team and has put them in holes. From a fantasy purpose you have to start MJD and Sims-Walker though I see it as a tough day for this team.
The Jets are a team where they are a win now team but have a rookie qb and coach. Mark Sanchez has had his games where he looks like the real deal and his games where he looks like a rookie. From a rookie qb this is expected. Depending on which Sanchez shows will tell you how the Jets go. The Jets miss Leon Washington who is a difference maker in the offense. Thomas Jones is again having another great year. Shonne Green has shown flashes but hurt the team with a fumble returned for a td last week. The addition of Braylon Edwards has given the Jets a big receiver. Jerrico Cotchery was having a great year for the Gang Green until he was slowed by a hamstring injury, and Dustin Keller and Sanchez seem to be just off but the Dolphins game might of switched that. Keller is a real weapon as a tight end. The Jets defense loss their big man in the middle. Last week without him his replacements played real well. With Rex Ryan’s defensive scheme the Jets defense has shown flashes.
The loser of this game can more or less kiss the playoffs goodbye. Unless the special teams gives up tds I expect the Jets to come off their bye and have a good all around game against the Jaguars. Jets win 24-10.
Saints at Rams
There is not much to say about this game. The Saints are a well oiled machine on offense. With the three headed running attack of Reggie Bush, Mike Bell and Pierre Thomas you don’t know what to expect from them. Are they going to run up the middle, stretch the run out, block, or go out for a pass. All three bring something different to the game and it is tough to game plan for. Not only do the Saints rbs bring that so do the receivers. They have guys that run deep, across the middle, and can do whatever. From Colston, to Meachum, to Henderson, to Shockey to Moore they all are mismatches and cause trouble for defenses and we haven’t even mentioned Drew Brees quite possible the most accurate passer in the game (debatable with Peyton). Then you get Greg Williams attacking defense who is all over the place and really bringing it forms for one great team who is a real Super Bowl contender.
Then you have the Rams coming off a bye week and getting their first win. The Rams are a team in transition. Besides Steven Jackson this team has not done much. They are trying hard but are just over matched. I believe if given time Steve Spagnola can build a winner. When he does it I hope he builds the lines first.
I expect the Saints to just run all over the Rams. I see a blowout. A Saints victory by 35. 45-10.


Bills at Titans
This is a game of head scratchers. Many people felt that the Bills and Titans would be contenders this game. I felt the banwagon for the Bills was a bad idea. Many felt that Trent Edwards would blossom into the qb of the future in Buffalo. Adding TO they believed that they had a bonafide receiver for their young qb. Their defense was a young and up and coming unit. Hopes were high in Buffalo. Things people were blinded by: 1. Dick Jauron as a head coach. Good defensive mind not a great head coach. 2. The decline of TO. TO is a future hall of famer the skills that got him there are diminishing. TO is also a future hall of famer for trash talking. As he has gotten older his trash talking ways have gotten better to make up for his poor performance. 3. You add in Marshawn Lynch’s off field issues. 4. You fire your offensive coordinator the week before the start of the season and you cut starting offensive linemen and you could of seen the trouble brewing from the beginning.
Now onto the Titans. 13-3 last year and mostly everyone returning. Everyone predicted another great year for the Titans. A few bad bounces of the ball and they are a 1-7 team. It has gotten so bad in Tennessee that owner Bud Adams has mandated that Vince Young start at qb. I think Jeff Fischer was going to make the move anyway. Rumors are around that Fischer maybe at the end of the line with the Titans. If that was the case many teams would be at Fischer’s front door with contracts to be signed to be their head coach. That being said Chris Johnson benefits from having Vince Young at qb. No one else though.
I see the Titans playing well the rest of the year because of pride and beating the Bills in this one. 24-14.
Buccaneers at Dolphins
Who would of saw this after beginning 9-3 last year. The Bucs have fallen and fallen fast. They went from the oldest team in the league to the youngest team in the league. They are on their third qb of the year and are looking for their first win of the year. This team is in a major rebuilding year and questions arise if first year coach Raheem Morris is over his head.
The Dolphins are coming off a year where they won the AFC East by shocking the NFL with the Wildcat. Most people have found a way to tame it now. The Dolphins running game is still strong but with 2nd year qb Chad Henne the passing offense has suffered. The defense is still a strong unit.
Look for the Dolphins to run all over the Bucs and win big. I see a 31-7 victory for the Fish.
Falcons at Panthers
This is a tough division battle. You have an up and coming Falcons team lead by one of the best young qbs in the game Matt Ryan. Since Ryan took over last year the Falcons offense has been getting better and better. Ryan has helped with the development of Roddy White into one of the better wrs in the league. The addition of Tony Gonzalez has helped with Ryan’s development and the Falcons in the red zone. You add in the running of Michael Turner and this team is building into a yearly playoff contender. The Falcons defense has been solid and is building a good defensive unit.
On paper the Panthers are a real good team. On the field is a different story. The Panthers are as inconsistent as they come. They live and die with Jake Delhomme and they have died often this year because he can not protect the ball. He has one of the best receivers in the NFL with Steve Smith who has been absent this year. The running game of the Panthers the strength last year has been inconsistent. Because of that the team relies too much on Delhomme which results in losses for this team. Besides the offensive troubles the defense has not been consistent and has hurt the team as well.
This being a division game I see this as a tough matchup. Division games in the NFL are usually closely played and the better team seems to pull it out. That being said I do not see the better team winning this one. In a minor upset I pick the Panthers to win 31-24.
Broncos at Redskins
Two teams going in two different directions. The Broncos are the surprise of the NFL. At 7-1 no one predicted this team to be here. They should of lost week 1 against Cincinnati but due to a hail mary they were able to pull it off. You add in a rookie head coach who came in and rubbed his star players the wrong way many felt the Broncos could be in for a long year. Josh McDaniels trades a qb of the future and now in Jay Cutler and people thought he was crazy. Now look who is laughing. He got Kyle Orton in the deal and all Orton has done is win games and not turn the ball over. The running game of the Broncos has helped the offense as well. Though 2nd year wr Eddie Royal has not done much Brandon Marshall has shown how much of a difference maker is and how he can effect the game. The rushing attack of Moreno and Buckholter has been very effective and Moreno shows he is a game breaker with the ball in his hands which has led to defenses letting Orton beat them which he has. The defense run by Mike Nolan has played excellent. Elvis Dummerville leads the league with sacks and Brian Dawkins has brought leadership to this team. The Broncos have brought into McDaniels system and has resulted in a great year for them.
The Redskins what can you say. Jim Zorn is overmatched as a head coach. The Redskins have not brought much this year. The team is defeated and are not playing for Zorn. Jason Campbell is overmatched as well. Not much to say about this team.
I see the Broncos having a tougher second half schedule and not doing as well. I don’t see it in this game however. Broncos 31-10.
Chiefs at Raiders
One of the many toilet bowl games of the year. I find the Chiefs to be an interesting team. I think the hire of Haley and Pioli and bringing in Cassel was the right move for this team. Pioli and Haley have their hands full with rebuilding. They have to find ways to rebuild the offensive and defensive lines. They have to get weapons around Cassel and they have to get rid of Larry Johnson. I believe these two men can do this but the Hunt’s and other Chiefs fans will have to wait for it.
The Raiders what do I say? A team in disarray. From Al Davis calling the shots. Al you once was a great football mind time to step aside and find someone else to make those decisions. Tom Cable all this off the field issues. How this guy has not been suspended by the NFL or whatever is beyond me. Then you go to what the product is on the field. Boy Jamarcuss Russell could be the worse NFL qb ever. Why did you trade a 1st round pick for Richard Seymour when you are going nowhere. There is too much to say how inept this team is.
As for who wins this game I believe the Chiefs are better than the Raiders and how the Raiders beat them the first time is beyond me. That being said I’ll go with the Chiefs 24-14.
Cowboys at Packers
I do not know what to say about the Cowboys. On paper they are a good team. Then they play and it’s boom or bust with this team. Tony Romo is scrutinized each week. TO leaves and Roy Williams complains like him. Wade Phillips who knows what he is doing. Another coach over matched but because of talent finds ways to win. Miles Austin has exploded onto the scene. The running game when healthy is effective and Jason Witten is one of the best tes in the league. The Cowboys defense has been coming around the last few weeks. Overall a good defensive unit that underachieved in the beginning of the year.
What do you say about the Packers? They should be much better than this. They have a good young qb a decent running game and good receivers. They forgot to address the offensive line. Boy oh boy. The offensive line has killed this team. Hopefully it can learn to protect the qb because if not they will be home in January. The defense has played well under Dom Capers and has been an effective unit.
I see the Cowboys have difficulty on the road in this game. I see a Packers 34-24 victory.
Seahawks at Cardinals
The Seahawks have good players but injuries and bad bounces have hurt this team. I also think the front office and Jim Mora thought they had better talent then they did. The offensive line for a 2nd year is riddled with injuries. Matt Hasselback has stayed healthy and has had some nice game with Houshmazada and Carlson. The running game has really hurt this team. The defense has be hurt with injuries as well. When Lofa Tatupa got injured the defense went with him.
The Cardinals are the defending NFC champion. They have had some great games and some head scratchers. This is still a good team and have a great high powered passing game. This team however has a nonexistent running game. The defense has had flashes of greatness this year.
I see the Seahawks having more trouble than usual with this team. I see the Cardinals getting a big division win 31-10.
Eagles at Chargers
The Eagles have withstood a McNabb and a Westbrook injury. What else is new with them? The Eagles with Andy Reid and McNabb are always playoff contenders. The Eagles have a nice running game but have difference makers at the wr position. Anytime those guys get their hand on ball they can take it to the house. You add in a pass catching te and the Eagles have an offense to be reckoned with. The defense is solid as usual. Everyone thought the loss of Dawkins would hurt but they seem to be ok without him.
The Chargers another Jekyll and Hyde team. They have a great young qb in Rivers and a great receiver in Jackson. Injuries have slowed both Gates and LT. With those two not at 100% it hurts the Chargers. The Chargers defense has not been as good as they once were. Overall a frustrating team. I look at Norv Turner and believe he is in over his head as well. Great offensive mind and coordinator but not a great head coach. Probably one of the few coaches on the hot seat.
Patriots at Colts
Whenever these two teams meet you know you are always going to get a great game. The Patriots have lost some of their defensive prowess. They are still a good defense lead by two young players who will be good in Brandon Merriweather and Jarred Mayo. As for the offense it just gets better. Mr. Clutch Tom Brady is behind center and seems recovered from his knee surgery. His receiving corp is great and the screens this team runs is like their running game. A great inventive offense that keeps them in games if not wins it for them.
The Colts will always be a Super Bowl contender with Peyton Manning. No Marvin Harrison that is fine. Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie will take his place. You add in Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark and Manning has not missed a beat. This offense is rolling. Much like the Patriots the running game is not the greatest but between screens and other plays the offense keeps rolling. The defense lost Bob Sanders and Marlin Jackson two weeks ago. The secondary will suffer with these two losses but with Manning this team will be fine.
This will be a barn burner. I see the offenses having a field day. Probably comes down to who has the ball last. I see the Patriots taking advantage of the Colts missing Jackson and Sanders. I look for Manning to be Manning. I see a 34-31 Colts victory. Could be the best game of the year. These two teams always seem to have classic games.
Ravens at Browns
Two teams going in different ways. You have the Ravens who are re-establishing themselves as a playoff contender though doing it in a different way. The defense is still good but the Ravens offense has really been the difference for this team. Joe Flacco has come into his own and Ray Rice and Derek Mason have been playing amazing for this team. I expect to see this team continue to mature and be a force in the playoffs.
As for the Browns. I don’t know who is in a worse situation. The Browns or the Raiders. I think the Raiders are because I think Randy Lerner sees his mistakes. I don’t see Eric Mangini there next year and Lerner hiring someone else. This team is in disarray. Along the offense they don’t have a qb who can complete a pass and the defense at best is swiss cheese. Lot of rebuilding for this organization.
I see a Ravens roll. 31-3.

(I apologize for grammatical errors I am in the process of finding an editor.)