NFL Week 12 Predictions

Surprise! My predictions are early this morning so you can be ready for a full slate of football this turkey day. With all of the bye weeks behind us, we’re entering the final stretch of the season, and what better way to enjoy the action than with some family and food. After going 9-5 in Week 11, I’ll keep my 65% season success rate going. Let’s take a look at Week 12 in the NFL.

Vikings at Lions

The Thanksgiving tradition begins with a thriller as the 8-2 Vikings visit Detroit to determine the fate of the NFC North. Either the Vikings win and salt the division away, or the Lions keep their winning streak going and get within 1 game of Minnesota. It’ll be fun to watch Detroit’s air raid go up against the Vikings’ “No Fly Zone”. Vikings win 21-16.

Chargers at Cowboys

Whether or not the Cowboys realize it, they are the better team. They have been lost on offense without Ezekiel Elliott, but Alfred Morris is doing just fine in the backfield. If they stick to their original game plan there is no reason to think they can’t beat L.A. Only one of these teams can stay in the playoff hunt, and right now I don’t have faith in the Cowboys to understand that they still have all the tools they need to win. Chargers win 27-17.

Giants at Redskins

The Giants are coming off their best win of the season as they come to Washington to play spoiler again. Meanwhile, Washington just blew a 15-point lead with 3 minutes to go against the Saints. While New York has all kinds of momentum, they have no business winning again… especially on short rest. Redskins win 28-10.

Buccaneers at Falcons

While the Bucs appear to be rolling with Ryan Fitzpatrick, this is the Falcons’ game to lose. Unlike the Cowboys, Atlanta has maintained the status quo without their lead back. I expect their offense to stay in rhythm against one of the worst defenses in the NFL, and Tampa Bay shouldn’t be able to mount a comeback even against Atlanta’s forgiving secondary. Falcons win 41-20.

Browns at Bengals

In a rematch for Ohio, the Bengals look to sweep the season series for the 3rd year in a row and win their 7th straight against Cleveland. They shouldn’t have a problem either as the Browns have played horribly against physical defenses like Cincinnati. While the Browns own D is underrated, they have never been able to hold off the opposition long enough for a Browns win so far. Bengals win 24-7.

Titans at Colts

The Titans dropped a tough one to the Steelers last Thursday, but there is no better way to bounce back than against the Colts. Marcus Mariota’s team goes from facing one of the toughest defenses in the league to one made of swiss cheese, so I expect a blow out. While Indy has played some teams close this year, Tennessee is playing angry and needs a win to keep pace with the Jaguars. Titans win 37-14.

Bills at Chiefs

While Buffalo and KC have no doubt lost their shine, this matchup remains intriguing for the two skidding teams. The Bills look destined to go 8-8, but with Tyrod Taylor back where he belongs, he has the capability to score against an inexplicably bad Chiefs defense. For Kansas City, their offense is yet to show up during this losing streak, and if they don’t come to the stadium on Sunday, that skid might reach 5. Chiefs win 23-20 (OT).

Dolphins at Patriots

Two teams trending in two different directions only means one thing. The Patriots are ready to annihilate their pesky division rival. The Dolphins have one of the worst offenses in the league and the Pats’ D has come up big over the past couple of months. I don’t expect anything different on Sunday. Patriots win 31-3.

Panthers at Jets

After an explosion against the Bills, the Jets are back to losing again and the trend should continue this weekend. Carolina is back in their 2015 rhythm and they should be rested and raring to go in New York. I really don’t like the Jets team right now, and the Panthers are hot in every aspect of their game. The matchup to watch is the Jets defensive line vs. the Carolina run game. Nevertheless, Panthers win 31-10.

Bears at Eagles

More of the same here, too. The Pats and Panthers should smoke their opponents and so will the Eagles. The Bears have a decent team but its no match for the best record in the NFL. Carson Wentz has some great vision for a sophomore QB and his targets have some good hands to keep up with him. Not to mention the help his running backs to provide to keep a tough Bears defense on their heels all day. Eagles win 27-7.

Seahawks at 49ers

The 49ers are certainly capable of pulling off the upset, but I doubt Russell Wilson will that that happen. Even with the L.O.B. out of commission, Seattle’s offense is still red-hot. The 49ers might stay competitive against their arch-rivals for awhile, but in the end, the Seahawks finish off the season sweep in a close one. Seahawks win 28-20.

Broncos at Raiders

The Raiders have been pretty inconsistent to this point, but the Broncos are on a 6-game losing streak with no sings of stopping. Their prestigious defense has crumbled, and Paxton Lynch is in at QB now. I like the move, but I don’t think it’s going to translate to wins yet. Raiders win 21-17.

Saints at Rams

The second of the Rams’ difficult double-header pits them against the Saints who boast an impressive 8-game winning streak. After L.A. lost their grip on Minnesota, they have to quickly turn around to battle an incredibly tough Saints team. Don’t expect them to go easy on the Vikings either, as the Saints just came off a thrilling win against the Redskins and look to build off the continued momentum. I think “Big Mo” is a huge factor in the NFL, so Im going with New Orleans. Saints win 30-24 (OT).

Jaguars at Cardinals

Again, two teams.. two different directions. The Jags are rolling as they look for their 5th straight win while the Cardinals’ slide approaches 3 and counting. Jacksonville’s A1 defense will have no trouble keeping up their end of the bargain, and Leonard Fournette should have another 100+ yard game with or without the help of his quarterback. Jaguars win 17-0.

Packers at Steelers

Yep. Two different directions. The Packers face an elite Steelers team that should drop them below .500, but they have the Bucs and Browns on tap to start December, so it’s not all bad. For Pittsburgh, the string of easy prime time games at home continues as they should blow by Green Bay before going to the Bengals. Don’t get caught looking ahead though. Steelers win 38-13.

Texans at Ravens

Finally, the last of our 16-game Week 12 marathon. The Texans may have just knocked off the Cardinals to move to 4-6, but that’s not saying much. The awful Ravens offense will keep pace with the terrible Texans offense, so it’s up to the defense to make the difference. A Will Hill pick-6 should do. Ravens win 20-13.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

NFL Week 8 Predictions

We’re approaching the midpoint of the season, and it’s make or break time for a slew of teams. Almost every matchup has playoff implications which makes for some really exciting football on Sunday. So far, I’m 53-38, but I can do better than 58%. Let’s take a look at what’s going to go down during a crucial Week 8 in the NFL.

Dolphins at Ravens

The Dolphins swim into Baltimore riding an unexpected 3-game winning streak and 4-2 record. A win tonight may not impress the skeptics, but they would remain tied for at least the 4th-best record in the AFC. However, I’m still a fan of Baltimore’s stingy defense. Hopefully for the Ravens, the “elite” Joe Flacco can put up just a couple of touchdowns, and that should be enough to get them back to .500. Ravens win 20-13.

Vikings vs. Browns (in Twickenham, England)

I’m putting the Vikings on upset alert, because the Browns keep on inching closer to that first win. However, Hue Jackson somehow had the guts to put Deshone Kizer back in the saddle, and I won’t be surprised if he gets pulled for a 3rd-straight game. Poor Cody Kessler did the best he could in under 30 minutes of play, but still didn’t do enough to be the starter Sunday morning in Twickenham. A beat-up Vikings team should advance to 6-2 and to put them in the driver’s seat of the NFC North. Vikings win 28-16.

Raiders at Bills

It probably doesn’t matter what I say here because the Bills are just going to do the opposite. I know #BillsMafia want me to go against them again so they can get their 5th win of the season, but I can’t this time. The Raiders were on a sharp decline until an emotional win last Thursday against the Chiefs, but without Marshawn Lynch, they are too one-dimensional and should be pretty easy to stop. Bills win 31-21.

Colts at Bengals

It’s my “Game of the Weak”! The only game that really doesn’t mean anything with regards to the postseason will send one team into panic mode. Both Indy and Cinci had hopes for the playoffs, but without Andrew Luck and Andy Dalton, they have both struggled. Right, Andy Dalton really isn’t there when he is playing. I mean, come on. This will be sloppy, but I’m going to say Bengals win 17-7.

Chargers at Patriots

The Chargers are on a hot streak of their own, but even the most optimistic fans probably don’t see it extending past Sunday. The Patriots thrashed the Falcons in one of the biggest home-field advantages in the league. The Chargers aren’t dead with a loss here, so the goal should be to stay healthy, but also be aggressive and try to steal one. They’ve got nothing to lose. Patriots win 34-7.

Bears at Saints

The Bears’ defense has far surpassed expectations this year. Each week they face a prolific offense and continue to shut them down. Next up, it’s a trip to New Orleans to try to stop Drew Brees’ Saints. I believe they can hold them to 20 points or so, but I don’t trust Mitch Trubisky to outscore them. Saints win 20-10.

Falcons at Jets

The Falcons and the Jets are both trending down at the moment, and only one team can turn it around. While the Falcons offense has left plenty to be desired, my money is on them as the Jets have already surpassed their expectations this year. New York will make it tough on a struggling Matt Ryan, but Atlanta wins a close one. Falcons win 21-17.

49ers at Eagles

The best team in the NFL faces the worst team in the NFL. It won’t be a major blowout, but I don’t think Philly is going to have much trouble. The 49ers finally snapped their streak of heartbreaking losses with a terrible showing against the Cowboys last week, and the Eagles continue to fly high with convincing wins against everyone in their path. They both keep it going. Eagles win 38-20.

Panthers at Buccaneers

This is a major NFC South battle. The winner hangs close to the top of the division while the other enters panic mode. My division champion Bucs are 2-4 and desperately need this win to keep the peace, and the inconsistent Panthers need this to try to find stability. Cam Newton’s off the field issues definitely aren’t helping matters. Buccaneers win 28-17. (Please?)

Texans at Seahawks

Lost in Deshaun Watson’s heroics is the fact that the Texans are still 3-3. While this is partly due to a very tough schedule, it means Houston needs to step up and win some of these hard ones including against the Seahawks this week at CenturyLink Field. I’m excited to see how the rookie does under the pressure of Seattle’s fans and athletic defense. However, Seahawks win 24-17.

 

Cowboys at Redskins

Speaking of crucial divisional battles, right behind the Eagles are the arch-rivals Cowboys and Redskins. In what’s always a fun game, the Boys are coming to D.C. in desperate need of a win to get back over .500. But they face a Redskins team in the midst of what could be a storybook season. There’s nothing better than some Sunday afternoon rivalry football. Cowboys win 27-24.

Steelers at Lions

Another excellent team from Pennsylvania is the Steelers. While their offense still hasn’t hit their former routine of 30-plus points, their defense has been phenomenal. In what was surely tagged as a shootout in the preseason, the Lions’ and Steelers’ struggling offenses might make for a lower scoring game than some anticipated. I’m giving this one to Pittsburgh, but Detroit is coming off an extra week to prepare and could easily come out on top. Steelers win 25-21.

Broncos at Chiefs

The last game of the series is one final divisional duel. The once-undefeated Chiefs return to Arrowhead Stadium to get back on track and the once-mighty Broncos try to do the same. It has been a bad month for the AFC West, so who can take back control of their season? Chiefs win 17-16.

2017 NFL Previews: NFC

If you have already read my AFC Previews, I’m sure you’ve been looking forward to this post all week. It’s been 3 years since a team from the NFC won the Super Bowl, which is the 2nd longest losing streak in the NFC’s history. Let’s take a look at who has the best shot at ending the drought.

NFC East

This whole division hinges on the Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott suspension hearing. If his 6-game suspension is overturned like Tom Brady’s was last year, it’s incredibly hard not to see Dallas repeating as NFC East Champs. However, if the suspension is upheld, or even just reduced by 2 or 3 games, the division race gets a little murky.

The main contenders are the Giants. With the addition of Brandon Marshall, New York’s air raid will be nearly unstoppable. With proven veteran Eli Manning already developing great chemistry with Odell Beckham Jr., now defenses have to fear two elite receivers on both sides of the field. Unfortunately, that’s about all the Giants have going for them. They’ve never had a sure running back and their defense has been average at best. The NFC East isn’t known for its offensive prowess though, so maybe that’s enough.

The sneaky team is the Washington Redskins. Similar to Manning, QB Kirk Cousins has gelled with Jordan Reed and Jamison Crowder, and now he has Terrelle Pryor. However, there is no doubting that while they are good, they’re no match for the NYG’s core. With everything else mocking the Giants formula, the way the Redskins find their way to the top is by executing better than their counterparts.

Philadelphia is in trouble. Not satisfied with having both one of the worst baseball and basketball teams right now, their football team has joined the others in the cellar. The Eagles have a nice young, developing quarterback in Carson Wentz, but they are very thin. Alshon Jeffrey and Torrey Smith are past their prime, and if they get hurt, there is no one to fill in. Furthermore, while LeGarrette Blount can run like the toughest in the league, he is a terrible fit in the Eagles’ offense. I expect Darren Sproles to take over as the lead back. With all that said, I can’t imagine the Eagles making it back to the playoffs for a little while.

Since I don’t have much confidence in any of the other teams, even with the worst case scenario, Dallas should still win this division. Also, the truth is, Elliott and Dak Prescott probably aren’t even that good together. It’s just that insane offensive line giving Prescott time in the pocket and creating holes for Elliott to run through. So as long as that O-line is intact, it doesn’t matter who is behind them. The Cowboys are winning the NFC East. I promise.

NFC North

The NFC North is projected to be the biggest runaway division on the “Blue Brand”. Like the Patriots in the AFC East, the Packers are the odds-on favorite to advance here. I’m not disagreeing with anyone here, but there are a few reasons not to overlook Green Bay’s rivals.

Well, that is, besides the Bears. Since Mitch Trubisky seems to be the best thing going for the franchise, Chicago has some hard years ahead. While people are saying he’s had a great preseason (which I still couldn’t care less about), he got shut out by the Browns. In fact, he never got his offense past midfield. So, whether you pay attention to preseason or not, he’s still a bust in my book.

But then we check out the Lions. Maybe Matthew Stafford isn’t among the elite quarterbacks in today’s game, but there’s a reason he’s the highest paid player in the NFL, right? Sure, that reason might be that Detroit has money left over due to the lack of depth of their roster but… Stafford can still sling it, okay? If the Lions want to be in the postseason, count on Stafford to carry them there.

I think the Vikings are dangerous because of one word: speed. Stefon Diggs has serious wheels, QB Teddy Bridgewater is a well-known dual threat, and now they have Dalvin Cook. Cook is my favorite to win Rookie of the Year because he has a great offensive line and a really easy division to run on. With this offense, it will be no easy task to go win in Minnesota.

All and all, it’s definitely still the Packers’ division. There is no stopping Aaron Rodgers and his deadly weapons. If it wasn’t for Green Bay’s porous defense, they’d probably be a bigger favorite to win the NFC and the Super Bowl. However, with such a predictable one-sided attack, the NFC North crown should be enough. Although, it’s never smart to underestimate Rodgers’ magic to take it further.

NFC South

You might be quick to think the reigning NFC Champs are a shoe-in for the NFC South title… but not so fast. This division is completely up for grabs. Everyone has a high-powered offense, and there is no telling who will come out on top when these foes meet. I’ll shed some light on the rosters.

You’ll notice a trend. First, we have the Panthers. Superstar Cam Newton had a down year in 2016 with injuries and just an overall funk after their previous Super Bowl shortcomings. Now, he’s back with a versatile rookie in Christian McCaffrey and the same sure hands out wide. With an abundance of options and a variety of play opportunities, Carolina’s offense is still very dangerous.

Next, the Saints. Drew Brees has come to be one of the most deadly passers in the NFL. Despite being shorter than some of his offensive linemen, all the man does is rack up yards. Even without Brandin Cooks, Brees has plenty of passing options. Michael Thomas had a phenomenal rookie season and appears to be on track to take New Orleans’ #1 WR spot. However, because Brees’ vision is so good, we can expect seven to nine men to touch the ball throughout the game. I’m excited to see who else will emerge in New Orleans’ explosive attack.

I’ve waited this long to mention Tampa Bay for a reason. They’re my dark horse this year. I’m not crazy! Listen, Jameis Winston survived the sophomore slump with an above average year in 2016, and he made Mike Evans the #1 WR in Fantasy Football. Then the Buccaneers got Desean Jackson, a lethal deep threat. Winston has a cannon, accuracy, and a toughness that improves every game. Plus, he can even run a little bit…oh yeah, and so can Doug Martin after his suspension. I’m telling you, look out for these guys.

That’s a lot of offense. Atlanta has more. Matt Ryan. Julio Jones. Devonta Freeman. Even Tevin Coleman can light it up. So what’s the problem? Well, their offensive coordinator is spending the season in San Francisco. Kyle Shanahan was a huge reason Atlanta’s offense clicked and without his leadership, I have to wonder if they can keep up the pace in 2017. Time will tell, but I imagine the NFC South is up for grabs once again.

NFC West

There is a huge spread of talent in the NFC West. Two of the worst teams in the NFL, the 49ers and the Rams, battle two playoff contenders in the Seahawks and the Cardinals. Unlike divisions like the NFC and AFC South, where anyone can win or at least better their chances next year, here it’s evident that L.A. and San Fran will probably stay at the bottom of the league.

But someone has to be last. The Rams have last year’s #1 overall pick in Jared Goff. He’s a hometown kid from Cal who is itching to make his first start. It won’t happen in Week 1, but I hope that once things start trending south, he’ll get his chance. In the meantime, running back Todd Gurley is a monster. He was injured most of last year, so his durability is an issue, but I think he can be a real dynamic back that is among the elite in the NFL. It’s just a little unfortunate he has to play for the Rams.

As for the 49ers, as mentioned above, they have Kyle Shanahan! Despite having virtually no talent on the field (sorry), they do have one of the best offensive masterminds on the sidelines. If anyone is going to bring out the best in this stale offense… it’s him. However, even if he can work his magic to put up some more points, the defense is still pretty terrible. It’s going to take years to fully bring the 49ers back to their glory days. San Fran is still probably looking at a top 5 draft pick come April.

Finally, we see the two-horse race between Arizona and Seattle. These franchises have gone back and forth for the NFC West crown every year since 2003 besides Jim Harbaugh’s first two years in San Francisco. So who’s got the edge this year? It’s hard to tell.

The Seahawks have the experienced QB Russell Wilson who always performs in big games, but the Cardinals have one of the toughest defenses in the league. Arizona brings elite defensive backs in Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu, but they’re matched by Seattle’s Doug Baldwin and Jimmy Graham. I’m still torn. You’ll have to wait for my 2017 NFL Predictions to find out who I’m picking…