NFL Week 13 Predictions

Just when you thought Divisions in the NFL were wrapped up, teams have been playing well and made some comebacks and still have something to play for. We've got some good games that could decide which teams move up in Divisions and Wild Card spots, and BIG one on Monday Night. Let's get right into it.

Tennessee @ Indianapolis

- The Colts all of a sudden find themselves in a battle in the AFC South. The Titans are 5-6 and two games out 1st place of the 7-4 Colts. Indy has dropped their last 2, significantly because of poor play from their offensive line. The thing about the Colts offensive line is that they don't give up too many sacks because Luck is able to get rid of the ball, but there are plays where the Line just crumbles and Luck is pressured, hit, and knocked down. Luck is the most hit QB in the league right now. Their offense isn't even the same without Wayne. Wayne is one of those players that made everybody around him better. Now, there's just Hilton and Fleener and other inconsistent receivers. But somehow, they came from behind on the road against Tennessee and beat them in their last meeting. Their defense comes alive in the second half when the game is close and make a run. They did it against Houston, Seattle, and Tennessee.

- The Titans have been inconsistent as of late. Locker is out for the season and Fitzpatrick is in. He's played well, but he'll need to play better if he wants to make a miracle run in the South. Their defense is still solid, getting good pressure on the QB and disrupting rhythm. But don't underestimate the Colts Defensive Front. Mathis leading that charge makes them a stagnant force up front at getting pressure. They held CJ to just 86 yards rushing in their last meeting. Fitz will have to get rid of the ball quick and make quick decisions. They'll need to get that running game going and take shots down the field. The Colts secondary is quite susceptible to the big play ball. They acquired Corey Lynch to add some depth to the secondary because of injuries and Laron Landry's nagging injuries. 

- The Titans have playing well, but their defense is what seems to keep them in games and Fitz can be inconsistent and make some erratic throws. The Colts need to throw early and impose that will, run the ball with Donald Brown a lot as he's been their most consistent back this season. The Colts surely can't lose 3 in a row and let Tennessee get one step closer to 1st place. The Colts O-Line needs to have a good game and they can't turn the ball over. I can't see the Colts losing a game like this in front if their Hometown.

Prediction: Colts defeat Titans

Jacksonville @ Cleveland

- Did anyone else call The Jags beating Houston? I know I did. But moving on, the Jags playing on the road in Cleveland will be tough. The Browns defense is pretty aggressive and stingy. The Jags have gradually gotten better. Henne is finding his receivers and Jones-Drew has been playing well in the backfield. He hasn't taken off with the running game, but he's been doing well in screen pass plays and receiving. Their defense is still vulnerable, and the Browns offense, even in a loss, played well against Pittsburgh. Josh Gordon has 200 yards receiving. If the Jags can contain Gordon, they'll still have enough offense to put up points on Jacksonville. If this game was in Jacksonville, I'd pick the Jags, but playing in Cleveland is tough. The Dawg Pound, even when their team hasn't been playing well, is hostile territory and the Browns usually play well in front of their home crowd. The Jags definitely have gotten better, but I don't think they can go into Cleveland and beat the Browns. 

Prediction: Browns defeat Jagaurs

Tampa Bay @ Carolina

- Last month, this didn't look like a good matchup for the Bucs, but now it looks to be a very interesting one. The Bucs are 3-0 since starting 0-8. Their defense has played well, with 9 turnovers in their last 3 games. Glennon has been playing amazingly as well throwing 5 TD's to 1 INT in this 3 game stretch and the Bucs offense has averaged 30 points per game in their last 3 games. Their defensive line has gradually gotten better and getting pressure. The Panthers look to be vulnerable last week when Miami was throwing on them in the early going, and forcing some pressure on Cam and containing that offense. The Panthers now face a defense that can consistently stay on him and get some pressure. How will that Bucs defensive line fair when Cam Newton makes plays with his feet? If they can contain Cam in the pocket, and limit his running, that's already half the battle. 

- I believe the Bucs secondary can match up well with the Panthers offensive weapons. How will Carolina's defense fair against the Bucs offense? The Panthers have the 3rd ranked defense overall and against the run, but as we've seen last week, their strength comes from their defensive line and the pressure they can get. Their secondary is beatable and susceptible to the big play ball. With V. Jack and Underwood, the Bucs will have to get the passing game going early and often because Carolina's defensive front will be all over that running game. Screen passes will definitely be utilized by the Bucs. 

- Division Games are always tough. The question is can the Bucs defense stop Cam Newton? He's solidified himself as a playmaker in and out of the pocket and his ability has led his team to 7 straight wins. The Bucs offense will have to be aggressive like how Miami started out, and their gritty defense will have to bring the heat against Cam. But I don't think the Bucs are consistent enough to move the ball against Carolina. The Panthers playmakers are going to struggle initially to get it going, but once they find a rhythm offensively, it'll be an open and shut case. I've got Carolina going to 9-3 setting them  up for a HUGE showdown next Sunday Night against Drew Brees in The SuperDome. 

Prediction: Panthers defeat Buccaneers

Chicago @ Minnesota

- Quite a difference one player can make for a team. Jay Cutler gives the Bears their best chance to win, and without him, the Bears have gone 2-2 in their last 4 games. The Rams defense absolutely dominated them and Austin ran wild once again and that offense put up 41 points. The Bears are still technically in the hunt for the NFC North, but they need to win this game. The Vikings are the worst defense in the league, but they still have Adrian Peterson. As we saw last week, the Bears are poor against the run. They've given up 192.3 yards on the ground in their last 3 games. The way QB's have played against the Bears, Ponder might have a good game against this 13th ranked pass defense. 

- McCown has been playing well in Cutler's absence throwing 7 TD's to 1 INT. He's been making smart plays, throwing on the run, and consistent ball movement. The Vikings secondary is susceptible to big passing plays. I can see McCown moving the ball well on this defense. Only way the Bears win this one is by forcing turnovers. The Bears defense has given up almost 30 points per game this season. They need to go back to aggressive play, get some pressure off the edge and force Ponder into erratic throws and turnovers. If they can force turnovers, and contain Adrian Peterson, the Bears can win, but the way their defense has looked, it'll be a tall task.

Prediction: Bears defeat Vikings

New England @ Houston

- Before this season started, you would think this would be a great game to decide divisional seed rankings, but the Texans are a mess at 2-9. They just lost to the Jags in their own building. Steadily, they're declining. And in come Tom Brady and the Patriots.  The Texans, even at 2-9, still have the top ranked defense and allow the fewest pass yards in the NFL. Crazy, right? But I believe the Texans defense will have problems matching up with the speed of the Patriots offense, the slants, the outs, the quick strikes and such. They'll have to win the battle up front and get the pressure on Brady. The way The Broncos defensive line dominated the Pats O-Line in the firs 2 quarters of play should be a lesson. 

- If the Texans had trouble moving the ball against the JAGUARS, then they'll have trouble moving it against The Patriots. The Texans have had trouble find ways to consistently move the ball by air, or by ground. The Texans need to take advantage of favorable match ups and try to control the clock. That being said, I don't think Houston has a shot. The Patriots secondary has played solid defense the last few games and this will be a test for Keenum. I don't think it'll be a blowout like people are saying. Houston's defense will show up to play against an inconsistent Patriot offense, but it'll up to the offense to put up points. Houston is clinging to some hope of ending this season on a high note, but The Patriots are a better team all across the board.

Prediction: Patriots defeat Texans 

Arizona @ Phildadelphia

- Quietly, this is one of the more interesting games this Sunday. The Cardinals have flown under the radar at 7-4 and are prepared to knock San Francisco out of the #6 seed, but they have to beat Philadelphia to do so. Chip Kelly has this team playing good Football. Nick Foles has been virtually flawless through his starts with 16 TD's and 0 INT's. They've got the #2 ranked rushing attack and the league leading runner, Lesean McCoy. This offense has found some life averaging 33.3 points per game over their last 3 games. But I believe this will be a true test for their offense going up against a stingy defense like Arizona. They've allowed 16.3 points per game in their last 3 games, and they're 3rd ranked rushing defense has allowed 62.7 yards on the ground in their last 3 games. Their defense can get pressure and their secondary has played well, with 15 picks on the season. 

- It'll be interesting to see how the Eagles utilize McCoy against this Arizona defensive line. The combination of Foles/Cooper has been on fire lately and if they come out and throw the ball, I can see them having consistent ball movement. With Patrick Peterson likely covering Desean, it'll leave opportunities for Cooper to make plays, but with Peterson covering Desean 1-on-1, the Cardinals will probably play more man and tight coverage making passes harder for Foles. But I can see the Eagles throwing across the middle and calling some slants. The stats don't show it, but the Cardinals defense has been very effective. They're 4th in takeaways per game, averaging 2 takeaways per game away from Home.

- The Cardinals offense has been getting the job done as well. Palmer has come alive with 8 TD's and 2 INT's in his last 4 games with a passer rating over 100. They're running the ball well, and with Fitz and Floyd on his team, the passing game has gradually found its flow and has gotten better compared to how the season started. They're putting up 31.3 points per game over their last 3 games. They're not flashy, but they can move the ball on this Eagles defense that's giving up almost 300 yards of offense per game. The Eagles pass rush will have to consistent with pressure and make Palmer make erratic throws.

- This should be an interesting one. The Eagles have only won 1 game at Home, and that was against Washington. I believe Foles will struggle against this Cardinals defense and it comes down to which defense can show up. The Eagles need to contain Palmer and that offense and find ways to exploit the Cardinals defense and not turn the ball over. Coming off a bye, and playing good Football, I think the Eagles will find a way to win. 

Prediction: Eagles defeat Cardinals

Miami @ NY Jets

- Two 5-6 teams battling for they're playoff lives in a division rivalry. The Dolphins started out aggressively against the Panthers, throwing the ball down the field and forcing pressure on Cam and generating turnovers. Now, they go on the road and face one of the best defensive lines in Football. The Jets are 4-1 at Home and have played well, beating teams like New England & New Orleans, but losing to Pittsburgh. Dolphins have a habit of starting games out Hot, but fizzling away. Case in point, the game last week and the Patriots game. They come out aggressive and they seem to cool down and blow the lead in the 2nd half. The Dolphins have been progressing, but they need to be consistent in the passing game. Mike Wallace for example; where has that been all season? If he played like that all season long, maybe Miami would be better right now. 

- Only way Miami can win this game is control and the clock and come out throwing the ball on the secondary. But to do that, their offensive line needs to buy Tannehill time. Miami may just have the worst offensive line in Football. Tannehill's been the most sacked QB in the league (44) and they're not going to be able to run the ball on the Jets because they have the top ranked rushing defense in the league. They'll have to take advantage of favorable match ups in the secondary, maybe throw in some screen passes. As far as the Jets go, as a unit, they play better at Home. Geno needs to not force the issue, make smart plays, and not turn the ball over. They'll need to ground and pound and take advantage of Miami's defense, but they shouldn't underestimate them. 

- Both of teams are looking for a win to catch Baltimore in the race for the #6 seed. The Jets have the Homefield Advantage and their defense is what keeps them in games and what ultimately closes games out. Miami's offensive line will need to be prepared, but I've got to give this game to The Jets.

Prediction: Jets defeat Dolphins

Atlanta @ Buffalo

- Even when the Falcons play well, they still struggle to produce on offense and play defense. This game isn't Buffalo though, it's in Toronto. I forgot they actually had games up there. Either way, I don't think it's a true Homefield for Buffalo and we know how good they play teams in their building. The Falcons gave everything they had at the Saints, but still lost by 4 points. They've been on a 6 game losing streak, turning the ball over, not running the ball well, and inconsistency in the passing game. This could be due to the loss of Julio, but they were struggling in games even when they had him. Harry Douglas has really stepped up in his absence though.

- Now, they face a rather underrated Bills team that could easily have 7 wins under their belt if certain things had gone their way. Things went downhill when EJ went out and Bills dropped 4 out of 6 games. Now, that he's back, the offense is flowing better, he's not running as much as Thad Lewis was and throwing from the pocket more, finding players downfield and their running game is ranked 5th in the league with Spiller and Jackson back there. Their defense has been quietly performing well. They lead the league in Sacks AND Interceptions. They can get pressure on the QB and their secondary plays good coverage and utilizes different schemes to make passing difficult. 

- The Falcons are going to have to do a better job at giving Matt Ryan time in the pocket and they've got to get that running game going. They've got the worst running attack in the NFC. Ryan can't do it all by himself. Receivers need to make plays, Ryan himself needs to not turn the ball over and the Falcons defense has to bottle down and make some plays. They're giving up 28.1 points per game and 30.3 in their last 3 games. It's hard to choose. Buffalo is a dangerous team having only lost 2 games by double digits, but Atlanta has to end this streak of losing eventually. Off a coin toss, I got the Bills.

Prediction: Bills defeat Falcons

St. Louis @ San Francisco

- UPSET ALERT!

- The Rams are 5-6, and don't look now, but they're still not out of playoff contention. They need A LOT of things to go their way, but as for now, they're still in it. Their defense has been out of this world amazing. Their defensive line has always been impressive, but their last few games have been dominant. Their pressure and speed off the edge and they make lines collapse and swarm around the ball has been phenomenal. Almost 3 sacks a game and allowing 19.0 points per game over their last 3 games. All this is complimented by their offense. Clemens has come in and played well, but that's not the full story. Tavon Austin is being used properly and Zac Stacy has been great running the ball. The Rams have averaged 186 yards on the ground in their last 3 games. They need to utilize more plays to get Austin in the open field. Once he gets out in the clear field, he's too fast to catch up to. 

- The Niners have been up and down this season. They've gradually gotten better and offensively and been playing better defense, getting pressure, and forcing turnovers. Kaepernick has only thrown 7 INT's all season. He's been running a lot like last season and hasn't become a pocket passer. Carolina's defensive line shut down their running attack and when Kaepernick became a pure pocket passer, he only had 91 yards passing on that defense. Kaep and Boldin connected twice last Monday Night. They need to get the ball to Boldin more. The Rams aren't a top run defense but they still haven't given up 100 yards in their last 3 games. The Niners O-Line needs to be on top of their game protecting Kaepernick and giving him time in the pocket. If this is a repeat of the Carolina game, the Niners offense is gonna have a long day producing offensively. 

- The Rams need to focus on ball control and controlling the clock. The Rams need to run the ball a lot and get Tavon Austin going early and start aggressive. That Rams defensive line has been imposing over their last few games and in a division game like this, it's their chance to get a huge win on the road.  Neither team turns the ball over a lot, but the Rams have been on a roll lately. Clemens hasn't been asked to do a lot, but with Austin & Stacy playing well, I believe the Rams have the upper hand in this game. I'm not sure if the Niners can produce and get the ball off against this defense. The Niners have a better team across the board, but the Rams have been playing well as of late and they're looking to play spoiler and move one step closer to the maybe capturing the #6 seed. This will be a slugfest and I've got St. Louis in this one.

Prediction: Rams defeat 49ers

Cincinnati @ San Diego

- The Bengals are slowly beginning to lose control of this division. They're 7-5 and the Ravens are quietly creeping up at 6-6. A win here is almost a MUST. They play the Colts next, then Minnesota, on the road against a Pittsburgh team that is still technically in the hunt and they close out the season at Home against Baltimore. The Bengals are a different team away from Home. Barely winning in Buffalo, barely winning in Detroit, losing by a safety in Miami and losing other road games to Chicago, Baltimore, & Cleveland. Their defense is what's making plays. They're 6th in points per game allowed, averaging almost 3 turnovers in their last 3 games, forcing 4 against Cleveland. Geno Atkins is still a big loss on the defensive side of the ball and we're gonna see if they can generate pressure on Rivers.

- Speaking of Rivers, he just got finished lighting up Kansas City and dropping 41 on them. The absence of Hali & Houston played a big part. When Rivers wasn't pressured, he stepped up and fired the ball down the field, making plays and delivering the ball with such precision. He still leads the league in completion% and he's still been playing well. The Chargers have exceptional playmakers on offense; Woodhead, Allen, Royal, Matthews, etc. How will the Bengals be able to defend against these receivers? It starts up front. If Cincinnati can generate pressure and throw Rivers off his game, they can contain this big play offense. Speaking of which, they need to defend the big play and the slant routes where they might utilize Woodhead. They'll also need to tackle and wrap up these Chargers players as they are dangerous in yards after the catch. 

- The Bengals offense isn't as explosive as the Chargers, but they have the playmakers. They've got AJ, Jones, Gresham, Sanu, Bernard and such. But they're a little inconsistent when it comes to making plays. The Chargers secondary got torched by Alex Smith as well. The Bengals will come out throwing early and attacking this secondary with its playmakers. The Chargers defense will have to step up and contain these receivers. The Bengals are 2-4 on the road, but the Chargers have a habit of blowing leads late in games, especially at Home. If they get a lead, they need to hold on to it. I think the Bengals will struggle against San Diego and without consistent pressure off the edge, the Bengals secondary will have to step up, and I don't think they have against this Chargers offense.

- San Diego is 5-6 with 4 of their final 5 games at Home. If there was ever a time for them to bring it Home and get into the playoffs, this is it. 

Prediction: Chargers defeat Bengals

Denver @ Kansas City

- I was ready to pick the Chiefs to get revenge for Denver ending their undefeated streak, but after what Rivers did to them, imagine what Peyton Manning will do to them. Hali is questionable, and their leading edge rusher and league leading sack leader, Houston, is expected to be out 2-3 weeks. Already, that's a blow to KC's defense. If there's no pressure in Manning's face, he will find receivers and he will annihilate that defense. Even in the cold weather in Kansas City. The Broncos are seething after blowing that game in New England. They knew they should've won that one, but it slipped through their fingers. Moreno has 200 yards on the ground in a loss and the Chiefs have given up almost 150 yards on the ground in their last 3 games. I can see the Broncos running a little more and passing when necessary in those bunch formations they love to run. Rodgers-Cromartie is questionable for Sunday and without him, Denver's pass defense is vulnerable, if it wasn't already. 

- While we're on Denver's secondary, Alex Smith performed well against them up in Denver. A couple of missed opportunities here and there. Look at how New England was able to exploit Denver's secondary when Rodgers-Cromartie went out. Receivers were getting more separation across the field making passing easy. Smith will have to take advantage of match ups, start out aggressive and get the ball to his best players; Charles and Bowe to move the ball down the field. Denver is vulnerable in the secondary. Pounding the ball with Charles is the way to go here and Alex himself will have to extend the play and make some plays with his feet. I posed this same question last time; If the Chiefs fall behind by 14, can Alex Smith bring them back? They didn't come back in Denver, could they keep up with Denver in a shootout? They kept up with San Diego, so it's possible.

- The last time these teams met, Denver won the battle at the line of scrimmage containing that KC pass rush. They'll need to adjust with Houston out there and make up other ways to get pressure on the ball and contain Manning and that offense. But, no pressure on Manning, and that offense will move the ball on the KC defense. I believe this will be high scoring, but I like Denver in this one. This AFC West Showdown is gonna be a good one.

Prediction: Broncos defeat Chiefs

NY Giants @ Washington

- Last Monday Night's game is a clear indication of what the Redskins season has been; inconsistency on offense, poor blocking on the offensive line, and their defense can't make any stops, or force turnovers. The Giants lost a heartbreaker against Dallas on a last second FG. The Giants are still offensively competent enough to put up points against this poor Redskins secondary. Only way the Redskins win is if they control the clock and run the ball. They do have the #1 rushing attack in the league, so they'll have to utilize that. They need to control the clock and their offensive line will need to buy Griffin some time in the pocket. Washington is LAST in the league in points in the 1st Quarter. They've have not gotten off to a Hot start this season with all sorts of problems.

- The Giants have slowed down on the turnovers, but they still turn the ball over a lot, averaging almost 3 a game. The Redskins defense isn't good at forcing turnovers, but average on generating pressure. Eli will have to make smart plays and not throw picks like he's accustomed to. Their offense was contained by Dallas' defense, but came alive in the 2nd half. I can see the Giants pass rush generating pressure and getting to RG3, knocking him down and roughing him up. Griffin is scared to run nowadays and he's being exposed as an average pocket passer. I don't like the Redskins in this game. 

Prediction: Giants defeat Redskins

New Orleans @ Seattle

- This is the BIG one. Monday Night Football with Drew Brees & The Saints visiting Russell Wilson & The Seahawks. Remember the last time Drew Brees was in Seattle? The Seahawks were 7-9 and put 41 on The Saints eliminating them for the playoffs. You have one of the league's best offenses against one of the leagues best defenses. The winner here will have a good chance at locking up the #1 seed and Homefield throughout. 

- So, what are the match ups and X-Factors in this game? The Seahawks lost Browner and Thurmond. That will prove to be interesting to see if Brees goes at that backup early. So, how will the Seahawks defense matchup vs the Saints offense? The Seahawks have one of the best D-Line's in the league. They're speed off the ball and ability to generate pressure is among the best in the league. That's how Brees and Co. fell to New York. The Jets won off getting pressure with their defensive front and containing that passing attack. The Seahawks hit hard and are the 2nd ranked pass defense in the league. Brees loves working the middle of the field and utilizing those little screen passes. The Seahawks defense love to close gaps and shut those kinds of plays down. Even with Jimmy Graham playing as well as he has been, and with Moore, Colston, Thomas, Sproles, etc. they're going to be cautious in the passing game and not force anything against this beastly defense.

- How do the Seahawks offense matchup against the Saints defense? Wilson has quietly flown under the radar in terms of QB play. He's thrown 8 TD's to 2 INT's in their last 4 games with a 64 completion%. He's been great at extending the play and making plays with his feet, throwing on the run, and his ball release and arm strength on the deep ball just seem to get better and better. Their offense is ranked 12th, but their 2nd in points per game with 27.8 with Saints 3rd in that same category. How about that? The Seahawks are ranked higher in points per game than the Saints. They're running the ball well, ranked #2 in total rushing yards per game. Rob Ryan has had this defense playing well. Their defense line has played well with getting pressure and forcing turnovers, putting them as the NFL's 5th ranked defense. The Seahawks will be able to run the ball and throw the ball on this Saints defense. Their defensive line will have to win the battle of scrimmage and get to Wilson and disrupt his rhythm. 

- The X-Factor in this game is Percy Harvin. Bringing him back a week earlier to get his feet wet was obviously a smart move. When he gets in the open field, he's dangerous and a tough man to bring down and will definitely boost the Seahawks special teams as well. Brees is 6-0 at Home, but 2-3 away from the Super Dome. Saints are averaging 21.2 ppg, compared to the 33.2 ppg they score at Home. Seattle has only allowed 15.4 points per game at Home all season. In Seattle, with the 12th Man, the Seahawks are entirely different team and their energy on both sides of the ball goes up by 20. Their defensive pressure is gonna contain Brees' offense. Saints are more finesse, but the Seahawks are a more physica Football team. At 10-1, the Seahawks have been overlooked and maybe they'll get respect with a statement win over the beloved Saints. I know one thing; I can't wait to see this one. 

Prediction: Seahawks defeat Saints

Enjoy The Games!

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By: Gerald "Showstopper" Prophete

NFL Thanksgiving Day Games

Thanksgiving Football is such a huge tradition, maybe even more so than Turkey and Stuffing. Well, maybe not as big as that, but still a huge part of the overall Thanksgiving Day. We've got 3 good games here, and all 3 have HUGE playoff implications. Let's get right to the preview and breakdown of these games.

Green Bay @ Detroit

Thursday, 12.30 p.m.

- Ever since 1934 when Lions Owner G.A. Richardson set up the first Thanksgiving game between the one loss Lions and the undefeated defending Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears selling out the stadium. To this day, the tradition continues.

- The 6-5 Lions, host the 5-5-1 Packers. The Packers tied with the Vikings last Sunday and have already beaten Detroit once this season. In their defense, the Lions were without Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson, both of whom are back for this game. The Lions have been quietly effective on both sides of the football. They pretty much have the best O-Line Football with Stafford being the least sacked QB in the league and one of the least hit QB's. Their 4th ranked rushing defense has allowed, on average, 33.3. yards per game in the last 3 games. Lacy & Starks are going to have to create opportunities for themselves and find some holes and lanes to run through. One of the Lions main weaknesses is susceptible to the big play ball. They've given up over 288.3 pass yards per game and 12.7 yards per pass completion. Turnovers are what did them in last week. Stafford had 4 picks, one including a Pick 6, and the Lions fumbled 3 times. They've got to protect the Football better against Green Bay. Use the ground game because Green Bay is vulnerable against the run. They've given up 171.3 yards on the ground in the last 3 games.

- But here comes Matt Flynn and the Green Bay Packers. The Packers season looked dead when Rodgers went down, but now since the Lions have dropped 2 in a row, they have a chance to get back in the hunt. People seem to forget Matt Flynn had his best game against these same Detroit Lions a few years ago with 480 pass yards, throwing 6 TD's in the Snow. Flynn probably won't have that same game again, but he'll have have to have a big game to pull this one out. The Lions, like I said, are prone to giving up the big play and even using different zone schemes against Jordy and Jones won't be enough. This is where Green Bay misses Jennings. Giving Green Bay so many deep threats is what made them so dangerous. Their running game is ranked 5th in the league, going up against the 4th ranked rushing defense in the league. Lions have played the run very well in the last 3 games. The Packers secondary is beatable and with Megatron and Burleson back, Stafford still has one of the best arms in the league and will find ways to make plays down the field.

- It begins and ends with Green Bay. Can Matt Flynn put up numbers and move the ball down the field consistently? Can Green Bay's defense stop Megatron & Burleson? How will Green Bay's 5th ranked rush defense stack up against Detroit's 4th ranked rush defense? Green Bay's defense isn't as stingy as the Bucs defense was, but the Lions have averaged 3.0 giveaways per game. If the Lions can hold onto the ball, use their ground game, and make smart plays, Green Bay won't win. The Lions secondary needs to step up and defend the big play and make Flynn use other ways. Rodgers is a long shot to play, and this is Detroit's chance. Detroit hasn't won the North since 1993. If they drop 3 straight and let Green Bay lose, they'll never be the same. They need to beat Green Bay sweep them, and hold on the division. It's about who wants it more. Both teams want it.

Detroit has lost the last NINE Thanksgiving Days Games. Their last win on Thanksgiving was in 2003…..against the Green Bay Packers. I got Detroit.

Prediction: Lions defeat Packers

Oakland @ Dallas

Thursday, 4:30 p.m.

- The Cowboys have been a huge part of Thanksgiving just like the Detroit Lions. Around 1966, Cowboys G.M. Tex Schraumm saw the Thanksgiving Day game as a way to get the team some attention. They broke an attendance on their first Thanksgiving Day Game defeating the Browns 26-14.  Up to this day, the tradition still continues.

- Up until last year, Tony Romo was Undefeated on Thanksgiving. RG3 and his team came in and defeated the Cowboys 38-31. The Cowboys defeated the Giants last Sunday and are now back in 1st place of the NFC East. They can extend their lead with a win here. The last time Oakland played Dallas on Thanksgiving was in 2009, and the Cowboys won 24-10. It all starts with The Cowboys defense. They're DEAD LAST in total defense with over 400 yards allowed per game, ranked 25th in points allowed, and opponents have averaged 204.3 yards on the ground in their last 3 games and are going up against the 4th ranked rush defense averaging 140.6 yards on the ground per game. It is a top priority to Dallas to defend the run and get off the field on 3rd down. They've allowed 5.2 3rd down conversions per game. Dallas is going to be able to move the ball and put up consistent points, but they'll need to defend against the run and control the clock.

- The Raiders are going with Matt McGloin again. He's 1-1 so far, should be 2-0, and has played well. I still believe Pryor gives this team the best chance to win with his dual threat ability, but McGloin is a better pocket passer. He's found a favorite target in Streater and Rashad Jennings has fueled the ground game in McFadden's absence. Their offense starts with running the ball. That's their bread and butter, in my opinion. And as poor as Dallas' defense is, giving up 204.3 yards on the ground, they'll have a chance to control the clock, run down their throat and have consistent ball movement. Their passing game is inconsistent and will need to get better and spread the ball around against Dallas' secondary. I don't think McGloin will have huge numbers, but if they don't overcomplicate the game plan for him and not let him do too much, he can have a good game against Dallas' secondary.

- Dallas' defense has been statistically the worst this season and Oakland has been running the ball very well this season. Pryor's running ability may have helped them out in this game, but McGloin is an effective passer and can be great for this team down the road. Pryor is a runner first, but he can't run forever. At Home, on Thanksgiving, I think Dallas will step up on defense, Romo, despite the record, has played really well this season. The Raiders are 4-7 and their playoff hopes went down after Kendall Wright scored the game winning TD, defeating Oakland. On paper, the Raiders should run all over Dallas, but give me the Home team to win. Wouldn't be surprised if Dallas blew them out either.

Prediction: Cowboys defeat Raiders

Pittsburgh @ Baltimore

Thursday, 8:30 p.m.

- The NFL felt two games weren't enough on Thanksgiving, so since last season, they've added a third game at Night. This year, we get the Steelers and the Ravens, a rivalry that's been well documented. Both teams come in now at 5-6 fighting for the #6 seed. The last time these teams played, Pittsburgh won 19-16. 

- Steelers are on a roll. After starting 0-4, they've won 5 out of their last 7 games behind Big Ben's arm. Their running game hasn't been as explosive, but they've gradually gotten better. They're in the bottom 5 in rushing offense, but have averaged 87 yards in the last 3 games. On both sides of the ball, Pittsburgh has gradually gotten better. Big Ben has playing well, making plays with his feet, effective throwing the ball down the field, tossing 14 TD's to only 5 INT's in this 7 game stretch. Their defense has been better. They're still susceptible to the pass, but they're quicker and more aggressive off the ball, they get to the QB, averaging 3.3 sacks in their last 3 games, and they're getting back to what works for them. Big Ben making plays and playing good defense. 

- The Ravens have been a wreck also. Pittsburgh's won 5 out of the last 7, Baltimore has won just 3 out of their last 7 games. They're running game, like Pittsburgh, has been non-existent. Flacco hasn't been playing up to that contract he got before the season and I constantly forget that this is the team that won the Super Bowl last season. But here the Ravens are at 5-6 fighting for a playoff spot against their division foes. The Ravens defense dominated Geno last week and Flacco had a solid game and the Jets defense is solid. Pittsburgh coming into town should rile up this team. Their defense is still solid and stingy against the run. They've given up 19.5 points per game. If there's any bright spot on this team, it's that their defense plays well and gets to the QB, generating serious pressure. That offense needs to protect the ball. Pittsburgh's averaging almost 3 takeaways per game. They need to be ready to defend Big Ben and his playmaking ability outside of the pocket, and that offense has to be more consistent at moving the ball. Torrey Smith only had 61 yards in their last meeting. Spreading the ball around and not making themselves one dimensional is a good way to go. 

- You can count one thing with these two teams, it'll be a low scoring, gritty, hard hitting game. I personally like that kind of Football between these two teams. Baltimore is just an average team. Pittsburgh is getting better game after game. It'll come down to which defense can stop which QB. Both teams running games are stagnant, and haven't produced well, and Big Ben has been playing better than Flacco. Across the board, even in Baltimore, I'm taking the Steelers. If there's any team that'll nab that #6 seed, it'll be Pittsburgh.

Prediction: Steelers defeat Ravens

Enjoy The Games and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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By: Gerald "Showstopper" Prophete 

NFL Week 12 Predictions

Week 12 started off with the Saints beating the Falcons 17-13. I wasn't too surprised by the score. It's a divisional game and these two teams are strong rivals. The Falcons defense showed up and contained Brees and the offense. He had 228 yards and 2 TD's and put up 17 points with that offense. Matt Ryan and the offense was moving the ball, but failed to cash in on red zone scores, consistent ball movement, a missed FG late in the fourth and they couldn't run the ball effectively as well. Not to mention, the Saints sacked him 4 times and didn't pick him off. All that and Atlanta still could've won in the end, but the Saints held them off. 

People already crowned the Saints as the best team in the NFC, forgetting that the Seahawks are 10-1 and the fact that they mopped the floor with these same Atlanta Falcons back in Week 10. The Seahawks meet the Saints next Monday night. 

In fact, I'm going to make a few blog posts tomorrow about which team I think is the best in the AFC and NFC.

Let's get to these games!

NY Jets @ Baltimore 

- The Jets are barely hanging on that #6 seed in the AFC with teams like Baltimore and Pittsburgh coming up behind them. The Jets offensive strength comes from power running. Geno can make the throws and extend the play, but it's the running game that sets up the passing attack. But mainly, it's their defense that's been keeping them in games, mainly their defensive line led with Wilkerson and Pace effectively getting pressure on the QB, with 28 sacks on the season and ranked #1 in the league in rushing yards allowed. They secondary, though, is where they get beat as they give up the big play more often than not. But Geno normally does well in games after a loss. 

- The Ravens have won 2 out of their last 6 games and the defending Super Bowl Champions are 4-6 on the season. Flacco has been wildly inconsistent and that offense is one dimensional since the focus is clearly on Torrey Smith with Anquan gone and Ray Rice not really producing well this season. Their defense still gives up 21.2 points per game and their defense has 34 sacks on the season. Their offense slowly has finding other options though. Dallas Clark is getting more involved and Tanden Doss has stepped up as a decent receiver as well. With rumors that Dennis Pitta might come back, their offense might just get that spark.

- While I like the Jets and the fact that they have this W-L-W-L this going, I think this will be the first time they lose 2 games in a row this season. With Santonio back and that offense opening up a little more, Geno will make those throws in tight windows as he has the arm to do so. He'll find ways to extend the play and find the open man. People don't realize how well Geno performs in games after a loss. His QBR is 60 or higher, and his completion percentage is 55% or higher in all the Jets wins this season. He even had a 42.11 completion percentage against the Saints and his team still won that game. He's had 7 TD's to 4 INT's in wins, but 1 TD and 14 INT's in his losses. But on the road, against a Baltimore team that knows they're not completely out of it and are hungry for a win, I don't think the Jets can pull it off. It'll be a defensive struggle with both lines really getting after the ball, but once it's all said and done, I'll take the home team.

Prediction: Ravens defeat Jets

Tampa Bay @ Detroit

- Detroit ran into a hungry and resilient Pittsburgh team last Sunday. They were down 20-3, came back and scored 24 unanswered, and only managed to score 3 points in the second half while Pittsburgh tacked on 17 more points and won. They doubled Calvin the second half and Stafford looked like quite a different QB back there. He didn't complete a pass in the entire 4th Quarter. And now since the Bears defeated Baltimore, they are tied once again atop the NFC North. They come home to face a strong Tampa Bay team. They've won 2 straight and team with nothing to lose can always shake things up and play spoiler for other teams. Glennon has come alive and has been playing quite well. I was very unsure he would last this long, but he's been very good. He had an 86% completion percentage against Atlanta last Sunday. The offense has learned to include Vincent Jackson more in the offense throwing the ball down field to him. Their running game got a spark with 3rd stringer Rainey. The Lions defensive weakness is giving up the big play and stopping the run. And with Vincent Jackson out there, being susceptible to the big play will be common.

- Bucs are ranked 18th in pass yards per game, so expect Stafford to have some offensive production in this game. Their secondary isn't especially strong, so matching up against Megatron and Pettigrew will be tough. If Burleson is good to go, that's another weapon. Their strength is their defensive line. They can get some pressure and generate sacks. Their ranked 9th overall in rush yards per game giving up just 101.4 yards per game. The Lions have an especially strong running game the way Reggie Bush and Joique Bell have produced this season. It'll be interesting to see how they stack the box and plug those gaps to prepare for those two. You take away the Lions' running game and Megatron, you've got them beat dead to rights. 

- But the Lions, coming off a loss, playing at Home should win this one. The Bucs defense is strong, but I think the Lions pretty much have the best offensive line in Football allowing the least amount of sacks this season and doing a solid job protecting Stafford. I'll go with the home team.

Prediction: Lions defeat Buccaneers

Minnesota @ Green Bay

- The NFC North looks like it'll just come down to Chicago & Detroit. Green Bay have already dropped 2 in a row without Aaron Rodgers. The Vikings are no better. They got stomped on by Seattle last week. The Vikings have the running game working in their favor with Peterson, but Lacy has really come on strong and he's making a case for Rookie of the Year. Tolzien played well in the Giants game. He made some good throws, but he just couldn't close the deal on the road against the Giants, but I think he gets it done here.

- The Vikings are giving up over 30 points per game and they're playing in Green Bay. Ponder hasn't looked great at all compared to last season, and their offensive can't find any consistent rhythm in making plays down the field. Tolzien has 2 games under his belt and he's getting better and better. He hasn't made stupid plays, he's got a good arm, he knows how to make those big time throws, and he's got Jordy and Jones out there to bail him out, not to mention a beast of a running back on his side. The Vikings just don't have it to contend with Green Bay. This isn't just an auto W for Minnesota just because Rodgers isn't playing. The Vikings are not that good of a team.

Prediction: Packers over Vikings

Jacksonville @ Houston

UPSET ALERT!

- The Texans are in a state of total disarray. Going from AFC South Champions one year, to 2-8 the next. They are watching their season fall apart, but there's a small glimmer of hope with Case Keenum making plays. Schaub is likely done in Houston. The fans were booing him when he entered the game last week. Schaub and Andre were even having words with each other, not pleasant ones either. The Jags have been steadily increasing even before their win at Tennessee. They've been running the ball better, playing better defense, and their offense hasn't looked as incompetent as it has in the past. Texans still have the top ranked defense overall and against the pass, but I believe the Jags will be able to move the ball and get some good running plays going, controlling the clock in the process. No doubt Keenum will get his yards. That kid is a solid QB no matter which way you look at it and he and Andre have been a deadly combination since he took over. But divisional games are always tough match ups, and Jacksonville may be a bad team, but they've at least been getting better and Houston has been falling and falling. I've got the Jags in this game.

Prediction: Jaguars defeat Texans

San Diego @ Kansas City

- Kansas City is no longer undefeated. They went up against a stacked offense and gave up over 400 yards of total offense, but still held Denver to 27 points. The Broncos won the battle at the line of scrimmage and didn't allow the team that led the league in sacks to get any consistent pressure or any sacks for that matter. Now, they face another high octane offense in San Diego where Rivers, statistically, is having a great season throwing the football. But the Chargers are quite an inconsistent team and usually give up big leads. They're 2-4 on the road and KC is undefeated at Home. I believe San Diego will be able to move the ball down the field, but they have to score TD's when they get in the red zone. FG's won't cut it. They have to control the line of scrimmage like Denver did and take out KC's defensive line. If they can do that, moving the ball won't be an issue and River can sling it over the middle finding his targets. If his offensive line gets overwhelmed, it'll be a long day.

- But can Alex Smith consistently produce. He was playing well in the 1st half against Denver, but not so much in the 2nd half. That offense is still consistent, and the team as a whole, relies on the strength of their defense to win games. We saw against Denver that when this team falls behind 14, they can't consistently make plays and comeback. But I believe, playing at Home, KC will find it's rhythm offensively and move the ball. The Chargers defense is quite weak itself. If this game was in San Diego, I'd say the Chargers take it, but playing at Arrowhead, in front of their home crowd, this KC defense will get back to what works for them and that's generating sacks and getting pressure. It'll be a close one, but I think KC bounces back and gets the win.

Prediction: Chiefs defeat Chargers

Carolina @ Miami

- Carolina is on a 6 game winning streak, including a win knocking off New England last Monday. I'm going to get in the controversial call here. The ball was uncatchable. By the time Gronk would made an adjustment to the ball it would've either hit the floor incomplete, or sailed out the back on the end zone. Gronk could've been more aggressive to get to the ball, and despite Gronk being held, Lester cut off the route and made a pick. The ball would've never even gotten to Gronk in time, it still would've been an interception. I don't get the issue there. How can there be a penalty on a ball that's uncatchable? The real story of that game is Cam Newton's go ahead drive to put his team up 24-20. That HUGE drive was lost in translation because of a stupid penalty that wasn't a penalty in the first place.

- Getting to the game, Carolina over took KC as the best defense in the league in points allowed per game by a very small margin. This team is playing magnificent football. Their defense is what holds this team together and is making them so good. Cam Newton has always been a great playmaker, it was Carolina's defense that was the problem. This season, their defense is one of, if not, the best in the league and you see the results. Luke Kuechly is making a case for DPOY, their defensive is tied for 2nd for most interceptions this season, and have 31 sacks on the season. Their defensive line is absolutely beastly at getting to the ball and forcing some pressure. Look at how they got after Brady in that game even had a couple of sacks. Cam reminded us how good of a player he last Monday Night with that go ahead drive to put his team up 24-20 late in the 4th. 

- That defense is monstrous up front and they're going up against one of the worse offensive lines in Football in Miami. Miami O-Line leads the league in sacks allowed. Tannehill's line will have to buy him time to find his receivers. His receivers will have to get open and stay consistent. That receiving core has been all but consistent this season. They need to control the clock and run the ball. But the Panthers are even then only allowing 9.1 pass yards per completion. Their secondary knows how to work the receivers on the line. But with good that defensive line plays, Tannehill will be forced into erratic throws. Playing in Miami can be tough, but Carolina has the defense working in their favor. It just feels like their year to make some noise in the NFC.

Prediction: Panthers defeat Dolphins

Pittsburgh @ Cleveland 

- The Steelers started 0-4 and since then, have won 4 out of their last 6 games. Their defense comes off a great performance containing the Stafford/Megatron combination shutting them out in the 4th Quarter.   The Browns turned the ball over way too many times last week against Cincy giving up 31 in the 2nd Quarter, with 24 of those points coming off turnovers. That's something they can't do against this Pittsburgh team. I don't think Campbell will be able to perform consistently against this Steelers team. The Browns have an 8th ranked running defense, but Le'von Bell has been running well for the Steelers as of late, effective in screen plays as well. The Steelers defense will have to take advantage and force Campbell into turnovers and poor throws. 

- I don't think Campbell in general will fair very well against Pittsburgh's defense. I don't believe the Browns will take advantage of the weaknesses in Pittsburgh's defense, take shots down the field, work the middle, and get pressure on Big Ben. They'll have to pound the ball on Pittsburgh and control the clock. Cleveland's defense plays well at Home, and they'll have to defend the run and contain Pittsburgh's receiving core. But more importantly, they'll have to contain Big Ben's playmaking ability outside of the pocket. If the Steelers can effectively balance out the ground game and passing game, and generate turnovers, they'll win. Big Ben usually plays well against Cleveland, and even on their home turf, I don't think the Browns will take advantage of the match ups and move the football at a consistent pace. The Browns at one point were in 1st place, now they're falling and falling. The Steelers are 4-6, playing well on both sides of the ball, and looking to make a playoff push. I've got the Steelers in a low scoring, ugly game.

Prediction: Steelers defeat Browns

Chicago @ St. Louis

- The last time we saw the Rams, their defensive line was dominating the Colts poor offensive line en route to a 38-8 victory. They've got 32 sacks on the season and are extremely successful at getting to the ball and swarming the QB. The Bears offensive line isn't exceptionally strong, so McCown will have to make plays with his feet and avoid pressure. The Rams secondary is beatable, but they only give up 23.4 points per game. McCown has played well in Cutler's absence. He's got an arm and has gotten better and throwing on the run and making plays outside of the pocket. As far as the Rams go on the offensive side of the ball, they've got Tavon Austin and Zac Stacy. For the Rams to produce on offense, it'll have to start with Zac Stacy. He's certainly played well this season and Chicago is 31st in rush yards allowed per game. The Rams are going to exploit this weakness and effectively run the ball to set up the passing game. 

- The Bears will have to control the clock and the offensive line will have to do some work at pass protection. Look at how they destroyed Indianapolis. The Bears O-Line will need to be ready because McCown can't make plays if he's constantly being chased and pressured into bad throws. I think the Bears defense will show up big and Clemens will struggle moving the ball against them. Even on the road, I'll give the nod to the Bears. 

Prediction: Bears defeat Rams

Indianapolis @ Arizona

- The Cardinals have won 5 out of their last 7 games, have the 2nd ranked rush defense in the NFL and are one game back of San Fran for the #6 seed in the NFC. In come the Colts who are 4-1 on the road; 2 blowouts and 2 comeback victories. On paper, the Colts are outmatched. Their offensive line is horrible. Andrew Luck is the most hit and knocked down QB in the league (79 hits), they're defense is inconsistent, and just as they begin to find a pulse with the ground game, they come up against a team that's allowed only 81.4 yards per game on the ground. 

- The Cardinals have flown under the radar for quite some time this season. Palmer and Fitz haven't been lighting it up, but their defense has been playing well, getting sacks and pressure, forcing turnovers, and tie for 2nd with 14 picks on the season. Their offense hasn't wowed anybody, but they're quietly winning games (3 straight W's) and you could argue that they haven't beaten exceptionally strong teams, but they're 6-4 nonetheless. Realistically, the Colts should lose, but here's why I don't think they will.

- The Colts are all about making adjustments, plus they've had 10 days to prepare for these Cardinals. The Colts have allowed 4.4 points per game in the 2nd half in road games, while The Colts have averaged about 17.0 points per game in the 2nd half in road games. These Colts are notorious for starting bad on the road (9.0 ppg in 1st half of road games), but making plays in the second half of the game. They may be down, but once they make those key adjustments, they know how to lock down on defense and start making some plays. We saw it Tennessee down 20-3, and in Houston down 24-6. 

- To win this game, it starts at the line of scrimmage. We saw just how bad of an O-Line the Colts have as they were dismantled by the Rams strong defensive line. The Cardinals defensive line is strong as well. The Colts will have to do a better job at pass protection for Luck and buy him time. You can't expect your QB to make plays when he's flat on his back most of the game. If the Cardinals get off the ball like the Rams did, the Colts offensive line will have a long day. The Cards offense does struggle at times putting up just 21.4 ppg. But against a rather soft Colts secondary, if they get it going, they'll be hard to stop. It'll be a tale of which team shows up. The Colts have beaten Seattle, San Fran, & Denver, but lost to San Diego, Miami, & St. Louis. The Cards will have to make their game on turnovers and pressure on the QB. Luck's receiving core is inconsistent. The Colts have to control the clock and make smart plays. They can't make foolish mistakes against this team in their own stadium and hope to win.

- If the Colts fall behind 20 points, it's tough to say if Luck can bring them back. The kid has a great arm, and succeeds and making plays outside the pocket and on the run. The Cardinals need to take advantage of every opportunity. The lower the score, the more missed opportunities, the better the chance Luck and the Colts make those necessary adjustments and control the 2nd half of the game. I like the Cardinals, but I just have a feeling the Colts might take this one.

Prediction: Colts defeat Cardinals

Tennessee @ Oakland

- The Raiders are 4-6, but they've been quietly been playing solid Football. Matt McGloin came out of nowhere and shocked people with his performance against Houston tossing 3 TD's and 0 INT's against the top ranked defense in the league. The last time we saw Tennessee, they blew a 20-3 lead against Indianapolis and lost 30-27. The Titans defense still plays well, but they aren't consistent at stopping big plays. They're ranked 6th in 3rd down conversions per game, averaging 5.0 conversions on the road and are the best at opposing TD's per game. Fitzpatrick has played well too, despite his team being at 4-6, but the depth of their offense starts with CJ.

- The Raiders don't have that dual threat at QB with Pryor's running ability, but McGloin has the chance to prove last week wasn't just a fluke. Playing at Home with the 4th ranked rushing attack behind him, I think he'll do fine. Tennessee's rushing defense is ranked 21st so running the ball will be a priority for Oakland, setting up the passing attack. Their offense is a tad one dimensional. Their running game may be tops, but who's getting the ball? It'll have to be Streater. Without Moore out, Streater will see most of the balls, and I think Oakland will find a way to move the ball down the field.

- The Titans defense has played well, and their offense has been struggling through the air, averaging 1 passing TD in their last 3 games with a 30% TD percentage in those 3 games. Their running game, however, has averaged 2.3 rushing TD's in their last 3 games making their offense quite one dimensional. If the Raiders defensive line can negate CJ, they can pull out the win. I'll go with the Raiders. 

Prediction: Raiders defeat Titans

Dallas @ NY Giants

- We've got a good one here. The Cowboys/Giants rivalry is becoming a good one as these two teams always have interesting games against each other. Romo and the Cowboys are 1-4 in their last 5 road games against the Giants. That 1 win comes on opening night when the Cowboys beat the defending Super Bowl Champion Giants in Week 1 a couple years ago. The Giants started 0-6, have won 4 in a row and with a win here, they'll be tied for 1st place atop the NFC East. Who woulda thought it? But even I have to admit, the Giants wins came against 3 Third string QB's, and the only starter they beat was Terrelle Pryor and the bulk of their win came from their defense. Now the Giants face a team that's not going to be offensively incompetent and know what they're doing out there. Romo gets Miles Austin back in the offense who adds another deep threat ability to that offense. With Dez, Williams and now Austin back, their offense got a little better. Since 2007, Romo has had a 70% completion percentage in each road game against the Giants, meaning despite being 1-4, he normally does well against them statistically. 

- The Cowboys aren't an elite team themselves, they just finished getting crushed by New Orleans, and had their bye week at a great time. They've had 2 weeks to prepare for this game. Their defensive line can still get pressure and get to the QB, forcing them into bad throws. And for Eli Manning, that's been a theme this season; bad throws, interceptions (leads the league) and poor QB play. Their offense is gradually getting better, but Eli still is inconsistent and the Dallas line will take advantage of that. Both defenses are giving up 25 points per game, so look for some scoring early and often. 

- The Giants obviously need to find ways to get pressure on Romo and make him make bad plays and poor throws and throw him off his rhythm. The Giants need consistent offensive production which means Eli can't throw pick sixes like he's prone to. That defensive line and that secondary is now facing a healthy, and dangerous offense and a QB that's not a 3rd stringer. We'll see how far the Giants have come in that regard. It should be a fun game to watch. With the Giants back in the NFC East hunt and Dallas coming to town, Metlife will be on fire for this one. I would like to say The Giants win on the strength of their defense, but I gonna take the Cowboys for the sweep for the first time since 2007.

Prediction: Cowboys defeat Giants

Denver @ New England

- For the 14th time, it will be Peyton Manning vs Tom Brady. Manning has won 5 of these meetings, Brady has won 8. I won't go into great detail about the Brady/Manning debate. I made a blog post breaking down everything between the two and comparing stats, etc. Be sure to look it up when you have a chance!

- Let's get to the game. I've been looking forward to this one for a while. Last season, Manning and that offense met Brady in Week 7 and still was finding their way and that Patriots defense stepped up and made plays against Manning. Patriots won 31-21, but Tom Brady took apart that defense apart. It was 31-7 at one point. Denver couldn't get back on defense and adjust to the Patriots no huddle fast offense.  This season is a different story. Denver has the top ranked offense in the league averaging well over 30 points per game. Their defense, on the other hand, has been a bit shaky. They have their key players back, but their secondary is still suspect. They've given up over 300 pass yards on the road, but just 184.0 pass yards per game in their last 3 games. Their defense has shown to be exploitable in games like against Dallas, Indianapolis, and at one point against Washington. Their defense will have to be on their game in this one. New England's offense will no doubt utilize that no huddle, quick throws, slants and out patterns and passes over the middle. 

- But how will Denver's offense contend with New England's defense? The Broncos have gotten better and better at using picks on quick slant and crossing patterns to get guys open across the field, eating up chunks of yardage. They've opened up the offense and Demaryius is looking more and more like a top receiver. Wes has emerged as another favorite target of Manning's especially on 3rd down and red zone situations. After all, Denver is the best in the league at red zone percentage and 3rd down conversions. New England's defense can stop the run (ranking 27th overall), giving up 229.2 yards per game, but they've only given up 19.9 points per games. Look at what Peyton Manning did to Kansas City last week. The Patriots secondary can't stop Manning and that receiving core and will have to rely on their defensive line to get some pressure and disrupt Manning's rhythm. They already know not to blitz Manning as he always makes blitzing teams pay. Denver's defense will have to be quick off the ball to get some pressure on Brady. Their pass rush has been inconsistent this season, and that secondary will have to be prepared to defend Gronk, Amendola, and Kenbrell in order to contain this offense. They'll have to defend the short yardage plays. That's New England's bread and butter against a defense like this; short passes and wear them out.

- We're in for another classic between Manning and Brady. As long as the refs don't get in the way and make nonsense calls (the game is in New England) then we're gonna see a good one. The Patriots have averaged almost 5 sacks a game in their last 3 games, Denver has averaged about 3.3. Peyton and that offense will have to exploit those match ups and go for the deep ball often, but utilize those pick plays on slant routes and move down the field. It'll be about which defense shows up. Can Denver's defense contain Brady, and can New England's defense stop Peyton? The game maybe in New England, where the Patriots are undefeated and the home team gets most of the calls, but I'm taking Denver. This isn't last season where they were still figuring out the offense. This offense is a juggernaut.

Prediction: Broncos defeat Patriots

San Francisco @ Washington

- The Redskins have problems upon problem upon problems. They have protection issues, their defense can't seem to stop anybody, giving up 31.1. points per game, but they have the top ranked rushing attack in the league. Even behind the scenes, in the locker room, they have issues. The Niners have their share of problems too, dropping 2 in a row and in danger of falling out of the #6 seed in the NFC with Arizona on their tails. The Niners offense has been very inconsistent, ranking DEAD LAST in passing yards per game over their last 3 games with just 112.7. 

- The Redskins don't have the offensive playmakers to contend with The Niners strong defense. Only way they can come away with the win is control the clock, show the world why they have the top ranked rushing attack, and their defense will have to come up big and make some stops. The Niners offense have to change things up. They need to implement the screen game a little more and less rollouts since Kaep's running ability hasn't caught anybody off guard like last season. Kaep needs to be a pocket passer and limit the running. His arm is strong and with his weapons and that poor Redskins defense, he needs to find ways to make plays.

- The Redskins have locker room problems and are 3-7. They need to play mistake free ball and not turn it over and defend their home turf, but I don't see it happening. The Niners are much stronger and balanced team. I also can't see them losing 3 in a row. 

Prediction: 49ers defeat Redskins

Enjoy The Games!

By: Gerald "Showstopper" Prophete