Super Bowl Contenders

The Super Bowl is in February and we're heading into Week 7 of the NFL Season with the playoff picture beginning to take form just a little bit.

The Broncos and Chiefs lead the AFC South both at 6-0.

The Colts lead the AFC South.

The Bengals lead the AFC North with the Ravens in 2nd place and Cleveland in 3rd place.

The Patriots, lucky enough to be 5-1, lead the AFC East with The Jets and Dolphins looming over them.


As far as the NFC goes, the two dominant teams in that conference look like The Saints and the Seahawks. But there are several dark horses that could come up and challenge for that crown.

The Cowboys and Eagles are both at 3-3 and playing for the NFC East lead on Sunday. The Bears and Lions are both at 4-2 fighting for control of the NFC North.

And then you have the San Francisco 49ers at 4-2 and Green Bay Packers at 3-2.


Question is: who is making the Super Bowl? Right now, here are my standings once the season is over.

AFC:

1. Denver Broncos
2. New England Patriots
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Cincinnati Bengals
5. Kansas City Chiefs
6. Baltimore Ravens

- The Broncos are clearly the best team in the conference so they're gonna grab that #1 seed. I don't even think the KC defense can stop Manning. Unless the Jets come up from nowhere and make some noise, New England wins the East.....again. And gets the #2 seed.....again.

- The Colts only challenge in the South is Tennessee. They aren't going away making the first Colts/Titans game a must watch. The Jags aren't going anywhere, and Houston has fallen off the wagon. The Bengals are playing good Football and I think they can contend for the AFC North crown. The Browns are dead in the water with Wheeden, I don't think Pittsburgh can make up for starting 1-4 and Baltimore has been too inconsistent. Then again, it is a long season.


NFC:

1. New Orleans Saints
2. Seattle Seahawks
3. Chicago Bears
4. Dallas Cowboys
5. San Francisco 49ers
6. Green Bay Packers

- The Seahawks have looked too good. If they get Homefield Advantage, I pray for whatever team has to go up there and try to beat Seattle at home in a playoff game. New Orleans is back to rare form and look like they're gonna capture the South seeing as how Atlanta isn't playing the way they are used to being at 1-4.

- I don't think Detroit can maintain 1st place, the Vikings clearly don't know what they're doing, and with all of Green Bay's injuries, it's hard to see them winning the North. Leaving the door open for the Bears to walk in steal the division if they can manage to beat Detroit and not turn the ball over so many times like in their last meeting.


- The Giants are 0-6, write them off. The Redskins aren't the team they were last season, cross them out too. It comes down to Dallas and Philly. We'll see how both teams match up on Sunday, but if I were to pick one team to take the East, it'd be Dallas.

Right now, this is how I predict the end of the season will look. But again, it is a LONG season. Never know what'll happen.


I'm going to stick with my pick for the Super Bowl: Denver vs Seattle. Seeing Peyton Manning go up against that Seattle defense will be something to watch. But first the Broncos need to get out the AFC. Which means, they can't let things like what happened with Baltimore happen again.

If Seattle locks up the #1 seed and gets Homefield throughout, then they're going to the Super Bowl team. They maybe a poor road team, but they're a Monstrous Home Team. If not Seattle, then New Orleans makes it out.

I see too many inconsistencies with the other teams. The only team that can challenge Denver is probably Kansas City with their defense, and quite possibly New England, but their defense is exploitable. Denver's defense lacks pass rush. They need to fix that if they're gonna get out of the AFC.

The only teams that can challenge Seattle, or New Orleans, is either Dallas or San Fran.

I believe Dallas has the playmakers and physicality on defense to contain New Orleans and stand up to Seattle. And we already know how good San Francisco is, but teams know how to contain Kaepernick now. But that doesn't mean they're not a solid team.


It's gonna be an intriguing playoffs to watch that's for sure. It's also gonna be interesting to see how the season ends.

Let me know who you think will make the Playoffs and Super Bowl.


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By: Gerald "Showstopper" Prophete

NFL Week 5 Predictions

Better late than never. Time to quickly go over these NFL games for Week 5 of the NFL Season.

As far as The Thursday Night game goes, The Browns are 3-2 and in command of the AFC North, but they are now without Brian Hoyer. I don't fully believe in Wheeden. He did good in Hoyer's absence throwing almost 200 yards with 0 picks, but I need to see more. Wheeden never wowed at all last season. The Browns have a chance to capture the AFC North. I hope Wheeden can lead them there. As bad as the Browns have been for all these years, I'm actually rooting for them to pull it off.

Now, let's get to these games!

New Orleans @ Chicago 

- The Saints are undefeated going on the road against The Chicago Bears in a game that The Bears probably need more than New Orleans. Chicago has excelled in turnovers, but Detroit exposed them and they were the ones that forced Cutler in turnovers and Reggie Bush dominated them on the ground. With Payton back, New Orleans is a better disciplined Football team on offense and defense. Brees will have success in the passing game, but I doubt Cutler will have a bad game like he did against Detroit. Saints offensive line isn't perfect, so Chicago will have their way early. It all comes down if the Chicago secondary can't stop Drew Brees. Can they create some zone schemes and make Brees have a rough day? Will Cutler bounce back from his showing in Detroit. I say it'll be a close game, but New Orleans takes in on the road and goes 5-0. The Saints are on a mission this season.

Prediction: Saints defeat Bears

New England @ Cincinnati

UPSET ALERT!

- The Patriots look like they've finally got their offense under control. Other than a little run, The Patriots had the Atlanta game firmly under control. Kenbrell Thompkins has emerged as Brady's favorite target, and of course Julian Edleman has been a nice little slot target for Brady as well. The Bengals defense is vastly different from Atlanta. Their front line is faster, their linebackers play better coverage, and you could argue they have better safety play. I haven't heard anything about Amendola and Gronk, but if they come back, New England takes it easily. If they aren't back, The Bengals can rough them up and throw Brady off his game. Aquib Talib will have a tough test against AJ Green, but Dalton has an array of weapons to throw to and a good running game. They'll definitely give New England a fight. The Bengals already lost 2 in a row, will they lose 3? I say no.

Prediction: Bengals defeat Patriots

Detroit @ Green Bay

- Detroit right now is in control of the NFC North. Their ground game is on fire and the Stafford/Megatron combination is on fire like usual. This all comes down to which defense can stop which. Green Bay can't stop the run and I don't think the Lions' secondary can pull of what they did to Jay Cutler to Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers is going to have his way with the secondary and do what he does best. The tandem duo of Bush and Bell are doing wonders balancing out the Lion's offensive attack. Green Bay's has 2 weeks to prepare and they're playing at Home. The Lions are playing good football, but I think Green Bay gets the job done. After blowing that game in Cincinnati, they're bound to bounce back. I like their chances. Won't be surprised if it's a shootout.

Prediction: Packers defeat Lions

Seattle @ Indianapolis 

- Definitely one of the most intriguing games of the afternoon. 4-0 Seattle travels to Indy. The Colts, on paper, look outmatched. They can't stop the run, their offensive line constantly crumbles, their secondary is inconsistent and against this Seattle defense, I don't think they'll have much success with the running game. Seattle's defense is lethal and ranked #1, their offense is potent, and they're just an overall better team. But the thing is, Seattle is playing on the road and they're notorious for being a bad road team. The Colts, playing at Home, have such energy and passion. It's hard to beat these Colts at Home on their game. Luck is playing good Football. Has been since last season. High Football IQ, ability to extend the play and playmaking abilities. 

- I believe The Colts will have some success in the passing game. Reggie Wayne vs Richard Sherman will be interesting watch. T.Y. Hilton will be the X-Factor in this one. His breakaway speed and ability to get open will be key. With Bradshaw out, Trent Richardson will need to take his chances against Seattle's Front 7. This is gonna be a good one, but Lucas Oil Stadium will be on fire this Sunday. That defense will play its hardest and Luck will need to play mistake free ball and not turn it over. On paper, Seattle should crush them, but this is why we play the games.

Prediction: Colts defeat Seahawks

Baltimore @ Miami

- After a sound thrashing by New Orleans, you would think Miami would come back with some effort, but I don't think they will. The Ravens haven't been looking too good all season and they're the ones coming off a Super Bowl win. Their offense struggles to put up points, but their defense is what keeps them in games where they have no business being in (i.e. Houston, Buffalo) But I think this is the game where Baltimore breaks out and plays an overall balanced game. Mike Wallace is inconsistent, Hartline vanishes within the offense, but they do have flashes of brilliance. I think The Ravens defense gets the better of Miami and Flacco has a good performance.

Prediction: Ravens defeat Dolphins

Philadelphia @ New York

- This is New York's BEST chance at getting a win. The Eagles can't play defense, and The Giants are playing at Home. The Eagles will have success in the running game and Vick will have his way extending the play. Eli's been struggling ALL SEASON and I think this could be the game he makes plays and doesn't turn the ball over. Their offensive line is bad and Philly's defensive line will get to the passer. I can honestly say I don't know what to expect from this game. I can see the Giants exploiting Philly's defense and putting up points. I don't know if the Eagles can keep up with New York at Home. The Eagles defensive liability will be their downfall.

Prediction: Giants defeat Eagles

Jacksonville @ St. Louis

- Two bad teams. Not really much too say about this one. The Jags are just a horrible team overall. The only saving grace is that Justin Blackmon returns and will add another physical receiver in the passing game and if Jones-Drew plays like the tailback in his past days, Jags might have a shot. The Rams defense is still inconsistent, but their Front 7 is still decent. All it takes is one big play to put the game out of reach. I think whatever potential they had this season died in their loss to San Francisco. Jags get their first win.

Prediction: Jaguars defeat Rams

Kansas City @ Tennessee 

- The Titans have a good defense and can match up with the Chiefs receivers. They'll defend Donnie Avery on those inside routes, and they're gonna try and keep Dwayne Bowe in check. The Titans have Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm with Locker out. Fitz is a solid QB, but he'll have his hands full with KC. This team's defense is underrated and causes a lot of turnovers. Their offense isn't up to Denver's standards, but they check the ball down like crazy and tire out the defense. This will be a tough test for The Chiefs on the road. How will Alex fair against the Titans' defense? They're gonna throw all kinds of blitz packages and etc. to take him out of the game. The Titans have a lot of weapons, but The Chiefs have the defense to matchup with the kind of offense Tennessee plays. The Chiefs are playing good Football right now. 

Prediction: Chiefs defeat Titans

Carolina @ Arizona

- The Cardinals are quietly flying under the radar. They've got a solid defense, but their offense is on and off at times. The Panthers offense is good, but they can struggle to put up points themselves. Despite Cam's arm and playmaking abilities, he is mistake prone. I think The Panthers offense is clicking right now. They won't go anywhere, but they're clicking. Newton will make plays, extend the play with his legs and it'll be up to their defense to take Fitzgerald out of the game. If he's out, The Cardinals offense will be stagnant. I got the Panthers in this one.

Prediction: Panthers defeat Cardinals

Denver @ Dallas

- As inconsistent as Dallas has been so far, I think this will be Denver's first true test. The Cowboys have the playmakers to contend with Denver's defense. They have the defense that can rattle, maybe even stifle Denver's offense. A game like this being played in Dallas is gonna be big. If Dallas plays up to their potential, they can match up well with The Broncos and maybe pull off the upset. If they play like they did against San Diego, Denver will crush them. Despite a few bad games here and there throughout his career, Romo is a better QB than people give him credit for. It'll come down to whether or not The Cowboys defense can stop Peyton Manning. The way Peyton Manning is playing right now, he can't be stopped. The Cowboys might be the first team so far that can contain this stacked and powerful offense. I'll say this, if Dallas plays the way I know they can, there is an outside chance they can pull the upset, or even not get blown out. But The Broncos can't be stopped right now. I actually have them going 16-0. 

Prediction: Broncos defeat Cowboys

Houston @ San Francisco

- The Texans will go as far as Matt Schaub takes them. They blew a 20 point lead against Seattle. The same game where Schaub threw a Pick 6 that turned the game around. Their offense has a habit of producing points and being consistent early, but slowly fizzle out later in the game. The Niners have paid attention to what Seattle did to Schaub. Making adjustments, tightening the coverage and just anticipating what the next move will be. The Niners defense is gonna be all over Schaub. The Texans have the potential to be the class of the AFC, but I don't fully believe in Schaub. Too inconsistent, too many mistakes, poor ball control. They won't get blown out. Their defense is good enough to keep it that way. As good as Houston is, The Niners are simply just a better team. Houston is too inconsistent to bank on them. If the game was in Houston, MAYBE, it'd be different.

Prediction: 49ers defeat Texans

San Diego @ Oakland

- Terrelle Pryor is back and The Raiders offense is gonna be better than it was last week. The Chargers seem to struggle with Oakland recently. When San Diego was the power of the AFC West, Oakland would be no challenge, but Oakland is different and the Chargers are an inconsistent team. But I'll take San Diego. Rivers is playing great this season. His receivers are making plays, especially guys like Royal and Woodhead and their defense shows up when they need it. It would be tough for San Diego to win in the Black Hole, but after that win against Dallas, I think San Diego will make just enough plays to win. They can TRY and contain Pryor, but he'll still get his yards on the run and through the air. 

Prediction: Chargers defeat Raiders

New York @ Atlanta

- The Jets are all messed up offensively and defensively. Geno has potential. I'm not ready to write him off, but he's gonna struggle again here. The Falcons are 1-3 and desperate for a win. The Falcons offense is superior to the Jets secondary and will put up points. I don't think Cromartie is a match for Julio and Tony Gonzalez is prime for a good game like he had against New England. Geno is gonna struggle at first trying to figure out this Atlanta secondary and trying to make plays. The Falcons are gonna bounce back from that loss and The Jets simply can't match up. Falcons will be too much for the Jets to handle.

Prediction: Falcons defeat Jets

Enjoy the games!

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NFL Week 4 Predictions!!

Week 4 of the NFL!

Ok, I was wrong about The Rams, but right about The Niners winning the game. I gotta say, I thought The Rams were gonna be at least decent this year. They have the talent and an ok defense, but they're still The Rams. I wanna give Bradford the benefit of the doubt here, but I'm starting to lose faith in him myself. Niners dominated them 35-11. Looking back on what they used to be, The Rams are sad. 

Time to get into Week 4 with my picks! Got some very interesting games on the schedule.

Baltimore @ Buffalo 

- The Ravens have struggled to consistently score points and produce in the passing game. Last week, they had a spark putting up 30 against The Texans. The Ravens sorely miss the presence of Jacoby Jones. Flacco pretty much just throws in the direction of Torrey Smith as his other receivers aren't a sure thing. I see them trying to get Dallas Clark more involved. Clark has a habit of dropping passes, but I believe he should be involved a little more to provide some stability to that passing game. The Bills looked good in their showing against The Jets. E.J. Manuel is solid young QB, but their team is a liability defensively. Playing in Buffalo will be a challenge because that crowd can get rowdy. I fully believe The Ravens will go into Buffalo and get the job done. Won't be surprised if the Bills don't go down without a fight. 

Prediction: Ravens defeat Bills

Cincy @ Cleveland

UPSET ALERT!

- This game is gonna be a lot closer than people think. Cleveland actually beat Cincy by 10 in Cleveland last season. The Brows always play their divisional foes tough and this in-state rivalry is always fun to watch. At Home, Cleveland's defense gets a much needed boost and plays well. Their pass rush and ability in the secondary can be underrated at times. Nothing special, but a bend, don't break type of defense. The Browns have found bonafide weapons in Bess, Little, and Jordan Cameron. Cameron is gonna be huge for them in this game. Hoyer is gonna throw a lot of passes his way. Cameron might be a difficult match up, even for Cincy's great defensive players. 

We already know how good the Bengals defense is. Hoyer is gonna struggle early on trying to pass on this team, or even get the pass off because of Cincy's Front 7, but it's all about adjustments. I think The Browns, coming off a last second win in Minnesota, are feeling good right now and are ready to take that next step with Hoyer. I'm not saying they'll win the division or anything, but I'll take them to win this game over Cincy. Dalton will get his points throwing to his weapons like Sanu and of course AJ, but in Cleveland, I think this one goes to The Browns. That's my upset pick of the week. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. The Bengals will definitely get theirs back in Cincinnati. 

Prediction: Browns defeat Bengals

Chicago @ Detroit

- Another interesting one. The Bears are 3 years removed from being in the NFC Championship and finishing off Jay Cutler's nice reign as the Bears QB. They haven't even been back in the playoffs since. Now, here they sit at 3-0, heading to 2-1 Detroit, a team that also wants to get back to the playoffs. Most of the Lions receivers are injured. Stafford's primary weapons will be Megatron and Ryan Broyles, who had a good showing last week. I think The Lions will be able to adjust and produce points in the passing game. Cutler has shown that he can produce points and effectively throw the ball down field if he has time in the pocket. I think this game will come down to the battle of turnover. Which team can cause that fumble, or make that interception to put the other team away. The Bears scored 23 points off turnovers against Pittsburgh. I want to give this game to Detroit because they're at home, but I don't believe they can get it done. Chicago has just a better team, and their defense will be the key to this one. If they can stop Megatron, which is HARD to do, they've got this one. I have Chicago going 4-0.

Prediction: Bears defeat Lions

Seattle @ Houston

- Seattle is DOMINANT at Home, but this a true test to see if they can play the same on the road. We've got two hard hitting teams that like to force turnovers, really bring the pressure and close some gaps to bottle up the running game. Matt Schaub will have a hard time against this #1 ranked Seattle defense. They can really rush the passer and their hard hitting secondary is so lethal. The Houston secondary on the other hand is also pretty good. Wilson will get his. He's got the receivers to do so. This is the same Houston team that let Christian Ponder and AP torch them last season. I predict Wilson be rattled at first, but once he adjust to their defense, he'll get his. He can also hand it off to Lynch and let him do this thing if anything. Houston is good home team, but I like the Seahawks in this game. 

Prediction: Seahawks defeat Texans

Indy @ JAX

- The Colts just came off a dominating win on the road against a formidable opponent, The San Francisco 49ers, blowing them out 27-7. They're looking good and Andrew Luck is showing no signs of a sophomore slump. The Jaguars maybe one of the worst teams, but they do play Divisional foes tough. But it's always a safe bet to take the team playing against Jacksonville. The Colts win this one and move to 3-1. I'm really intrigued to see Indy play Houston in Week 9 to really test how far they've come. They need this win because they're next three games are a doozie: Hosting Seattle, on the road against San Diego, and then the BIG one, Week 7 hosting Peyton Manning and The Denver Broncos. A win here could prepare them for the tough stretch and at least keep their record strong.

Prediction: Colts defeat Jaguars

NYG @ KC

-  The Giants have been playing badly. No better way to put it than that. Eli already leads the league in turnovers, and their defensive gives up a ton of points. This resulted in them being 0-3. And now they go to 3-0 Kansas City. The reason I don't fully believe in The Chiefs is because Alex Smith doesn't take a lot of chances. Alex Smith is Mr. Checkdown. He throws those slants, bootlegs, and intermediate passes, he never attempts any passes down the field even though he has a receiver like Dwayne Bowe on his team. He took some chances with The Niners, but not so much with KC. What if The Giants take away those short passes? Smith will have to throw down the field and sometimes he can do it effectively, and sometimes he can't. If Smith just throws 5 yard pass after 5 yard pass and moves down the field, Giants won't be able to win because Smith is efficient in this kind of offense. This is why it works for him. 

It's hard to choose, but if The Giants can't beat a team like Carolina, who probably isn't going anywhere this season, how can they beat a team that's tactical offensively and aggressive defensively like The Chiefs? I'm gonna make a bold prediction and pick The Giants. The Chiefs are a good team, but The Giants are gonna want this game a little more and play with some fire. At least, I think they will. They very well could lay an egg like last week. But I can't see them starting off 0-4. I'll take The G-Men in a close one. 

Prediction: Giants defeat Chiefs

Pittsburgh @ Minnesota

- Oh yes, The London Game. Two teams that haven't played up to their expectations. The Vikings offense runs through Adrian Peterson which makes them one-dimensional because The Vikings passing game isn't as good as it was last season with Percy Harvin opening up more opportunities. The Steelers, on the other hand, haven't looked at least decent. They've had poor showings in all their games so far. You could say Ben has no weapons, or because his lost his Center, he doesn't get the protection he needs. This is a weird game, there's no clear cut one-sided winner in this one. Vikings have an Ace with A.P. but Pittsburgh won't start off the season 0-4. I'll take The Steelers. Ben finds some rhythm in the passing game and he makes enough plays to lead his team to the W.

Prediction: Steelers defeat Vikings

Arizona @ Tampa Bay

- Poor Josh Freeman. Getting benched and a rookie starting over him. I don't really watch College Football anymore so I can't comment on whether or not this kid is good. He'll have his hands full. Arizona definitely has a solid defense and rattle the young guy. The battle between Fitz and Revis will interesting to watch. The kid's got some weapons in Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams, but how will he fare against this Arizona defense? I think it'll be a rough outing for this young guy and Carson Palmer's team gets the win. The Cardinals are just a better Football team than Tampa Bay. The struggles will continue for The Bucs.

Prediction: Cardinals defeat Buccaneers

NYJ @ Tennessee

- This is gonna be an interesting one. Both teams are 2-1, both young QB's have been playing well so far this season. The Jets have played well against the run, but they haven't faced a running back like Chris Johnson yet. I believe they'll limit his runs and the game will be in Locker's hands. Locker's receiving core has been inconsistent. Kenny Britt hasn't played like Kenny Britt we've seen in the past, but Nate Washington has come on as a go to guy. Either him, or Kendall Wright. Locker is a young stud of a QB and definitely opened some eyes leading the offense in that comeback win against San Diego. I think Geno has found another weapon besides Holmes, in Hill. 

I see a nice defensive struggle in the early going as it should be. The Titans defense do a great job of rushing the passer and disrupting the QB's rhythm. If The Jets offensive line can give Geno some time, he can expose The Titans soft spot in the defense and make some plays over the middle and produce some points. Can Locker put up points against this team? He'll struggle to put up points because of his inconsistent receivers, but if he can get into a rhythm and make some plays down the field and his guys show up, they can pull this one out. 

Both defenses will be the key in this game. When you have two young QB's, it's all about who makes the first mistake and who makes that one big play. I like the way Geno's been playing, his poise in the pocket, and his arm. I like Locker's ability and efficiency. This is gonna be a good one. But in Tennessee, I gotta give the edge to The Titans. 

Prediction: Titans defeat Jets

Philly @ Denver

- Philadelphia is an inconsistent team that can't play defense. Their offense is fast, they've got a great running attack with Lesean McCoy, and can move down the field. But again, they can't play defense. The Broncos pass rush can also be inconsistent, so Vick may find some lanes to run in and make some plays in the passing game. Denver, on the other hand, looks like they're gonna go Undefeated. They are an offensive juggernaut with Peyton Manning at the helm and that defense is lethal now and they're still missing some pieces. Imagine how dangerous they'll be once everybody's back and healthy. In Denver, Peyton will have his way with this defense. Sure Philly will make some plays and get off the field and rattle Manning in a little, but once all is said and done, it'll come down to whether or not The Eagles defense can stop Peyton Manning. Something no team has been able to do yet. I got Denver going 4-0. Too much offense, too much Manning, and don't underestimate that defense. It's Philly's #1 rushing offense vs Denver's #1 rushing defense. Something's gotta give here. 

Prediction: Broncos defeat Eagles

Washington @ Oakland

- Both these teams have looked bad so far this season. I think it's worse for Washington because their expectations were so high coming off last season's success. But look at them. RG3 looks like he's scared to run and scared to re-injure that leg again and without his running, he can't properly succeed in the passing game like he did last season. Then, right across the field, you have a guy in Terrelle Pryor who's proven to be a QB that can maybe lead Oakland into the future if he becomes more polished and the front office makes the right moves. I'm gonna go ahead and take Washington to finally get a win and beat The Raiders.

Prediction: Washington defeats Oaklan

Dallas @ San Diego

- I remember years ago, people were picking these teams to compete in The Super Bowl. They always fall just short of their expectations. With Washington, Philly, and New York reeling, the Cowboys have a chance to put a little strangehold on this division. Tony Romo is playing well like he has been every year. I don't know why people underestimate this guy. His playmaking ability is up there and he can throw the ball down the field. It also helps that he's got Dez Bryant and Demarco Murray on his side to help balance out the offense. The Chargers are all sorts of messed up. They have such a choke factor. Houston, then Tennessee. San Diego is a good team that just can't seem to close out games when it counts. 

Philip Rivers is also a decent playmaker when he has to. He's got his money receivers and a decent runner in the backfield. This will be a battle of the QB's. Romo vs Rivers. I have faith that Romo will make and extend plays and produce points on this defense. The Chargers are just a weird team whose inconsistency is why I can't really take them seriously going forward. The Cowboys are smelling blood in the NFC East and want to gain a little breathing room. Even on the road in San Diego, I got those Cowboys.

Prediction: Cowboys defeat Chargers

New England @ Atlanta

- Brady is still without Gronk and still without Amendola. But he looks he found a little chemistry with his rookie receivers, Dobson and Thompkins. But he still has Julian Edleman out there making plays as well. But The Patriots are still lucky to be 3-0. They should be 1-2. They narrowly escaped Buffalo, winning on a last second FG and The Jets were one big play away from beating them in Foxboro. They're going on the road against an offensively disciplined team like The Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons haven't looked like The Falcons of last season, but they're still a good Football team. 

Let's be real, The Patriots haven't faced an offense like Atlanta yet. Julio Jones is still a beast on the outside and they have a dangerous tandem set in the backfield with Snelling and Rodgers. Playing Atlanta is one thing, but playing them on their home turf, a place where they almost never lose is something else. The Falcons defense will play them tight, give their receivers no space, jam them at the line and throw off Brady's composure. I don't think the Patriots can consistently move the ball on this offense, but Matt Ryan can surely move the ball on their defense. I'll take The Falcons to get the W. Don't be surprised if it's an easy W as well. 

Prediction: Falcons defeat Patriots

3-0 Miami @ 3-0 New Orleans 

- This one right here. Undefeated Miami vs Undefeated New Orleans. I gotta admit, I was surprised The Dolphins were able to beat Atlanta. The Dolphins are really playing some good Football. Their offense can really move the ball man. Ryan Tannehill has emerged as a stud, with poise in the pocket, and making plays. He's got Wallace/Hartline duo to thank as well. They don't open eyes with the running game, but they're efficient when they run the ball. Lamar Miller will see a lot of time if Tannehill can't get it going early. Watch their defense too. Cameron Wake and the pass rush love to swarm the QB and disrupt the momentum.

With Sean Payton back and running things, The Saints are once again offensively disciplined and their defense is playing well so far. We already know that with Drew Brees at the helm, The Saints will score points. That's a foregone conclusion. Their offense is hard to stop and Brees has got so many weapons to throw to and they've got a three headed running attack. Their defense is ranked #4 right now. Their pass rush is a tad shaky, but still effective and their secondary has improved. 

I think Miami is for real. If they pull this off, then I fully believe they can take the division as well. Bold prediction, I know. But playing New Orleans in the Super Dome on Monday Night Football is quite a feat. I like the way The Dolphins are playing right now. They'll be a hard team to stop going forward, but in THIS game, I gotta give it to The Saints. I don't know if Miami can make enough plays to contend with New Orleans at Home in this one. It'll be a close one, but with Drew Brees at Home, it's hard to pick against them. The party has to end for one of them.

Prediction: Saints defeat Dolphins

Got a lot of good games this week. Gonna be interested to see the outcome of some of them, especially that Monday Nighter in New Orleans. 

Enjoy the games!

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NFL Week 3 Predictions

For the people that know me, you know how much I love my Football! So, I'm here to give my Week 3 Predictions for the NFL Season.

I got 1 pick right so far with The Chiefs' win last night over The Eagles. Alex Smith was efficient. Like I said, he plays an excellent game manager. Checking the ball down, and making simple plays. Jamaal Charles carried the bulk of the offense and their defense was on Vick all night, and forced 4 turnovers. I'm not surprised the Chiefs won, I'm surprised the score was 23-9 at one point. I do believe Alex Smith has to take more chances especially when you have a guy like Dwayne Bowe on your team. I do believe Chiefs will go on a losing streak soon, but for now, they're  one of the more balanced teams in Football.

Alright, I'll get into the other games. No time to break down Xs and Os, so I'll just give quick summaries, followed by my predictions.


Houston @ Baltimore

Baltimore hasn't looked like defending Super Bowl Champions which shouldn't shock anybody. Getting stomped by Denver and barely beating Cleveland. I think Houston is just a more complete Football team than Baltimore is. I expect Houston to force some turnovers, and grind it out to get the win in Baltimore.

Prediction: Texans defeat Ravens



NYG @ Carolina

I'm very tempted to pick Carolina here because they're due to get a win sooner or later and they're playing at home, but with The Giants, they always bounce back strong. Cam and The Panthers will get theirs, no doubt about it. I fully think The Panthers can win this game. The Giants do get overrated at times because of their success in the Super Bowl. But they're an amazingly inconsistent team, with a mediocre offense and defense. But if I were to choose one of these teams to go 0-3, it'd be Carolina.

Prediction: Giants defeat Panthers



Green Bay @ Cincinnati 

The Bengals have a good defense, and a very underrated defensive line. They've actually had one of the best defenses for the last couple seasons. I think The Bengals will stifle and maybe even shut down Green Bay's running game because they know how to close the gaps and give no space to the runner. I believe it'll come down to whether or not the Bengals defense can stop Aaron Rodgers and I don't think they can. Aaron Rodgers is one of, if the not, the best QB right now. Dalton has his weapons and he'll get his points. The Bengals offense can shine when they want to, but even though they're at home, give me Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay.

Prediction: Packers defeat Bengals



St. Louis @ Dallas

I'll admit, I was one of those people saying The Rams were doomed before they even started the season. It is still early, but right now, even though they're 1-1, they've looked pretty good. Bradford finally has some weapons. Some young weapons, but weapons nonetheless. The Rams Front 7 is so good. I saw that defensive line when they played Arizona and when they made that little run in Atlanta. They will be a force this season. But the problem with The Rams is that they're inconsistent. They can't perform like they did in Week 1 all the time, and now they're coming into Dallas against The Cowboys. Dallas has the same inconsistency, but playing them at Home is tough. This is a tough pick. The Rams are no longer that guaranteed win. You gotta grind it out to beat them now. I'm gonna take The Cowboys here, but it'll be a close one.

Prediction: Cowboys defeat Rams



Cleveland @ Minnesota

The Browns have pretty much forfeited the season by sending Trent Richardson to the Colts. I'll take the Vikings in this game. They'll force some turnovers and rattle Mr. Brandon Wheeden. Also, The Vikings have the best running back in Football: Adrian Peterson, and they're at home. Even though I don't believe in Christian Ponder and he looks lost without Percy Harvin, I think Minnesota will get the win.

Prediction: Vikings defeat Browns



Tampa Bay @ New England

Even as bad as New England looked against The Jets last Thursday, I still will take them over Tampa Bay. Josh Freeman looks to be regressing. I think Freeman has some talent, but this season so far is looking like it could be his worst.  He's got a guy he can throw it up to in Vincent Jackson and he's got the best corner in Football on his team in Darrelle Revis. I see their offense struggling to generate points and maintain drives, and I see The Patriots bouncing back and getting the win. The Patriots are gonna struggle with points too. This game is just all sorts of weird, but I'll take New England.

Prediction: Patriots defeat Buccaneers



Arizona @ New Orleans

The Saints are a very quiet 2-0 team. Their offense have struggled so far, but they're due for a breakout game sooner or later, but it won't be against Arizona. Like The Bengals, the Cards have always had a solid defense. Force turnovers, speed off the edge, nice pass rush. The whole 9. I've always said this team is one great QB away from being a playoff team and maybe even going back to the Super Bowl. Carson Palmer could be that guy, but it's too early to tell. If this was in Arizona, I would probably take The Cardinals in this game. I think they're a good team. But with the game in The Superdome, I'm gonna go with The Saints to get the win. It won't be easy, but I got New Orleans. Don't be surprised if The Cardinals get that upset win.

Prediction: Saints defeat Cardinals



San Diego @ Tennessee

UPSET ALERT

The Titans have looked really good this season so far. They shut down Pittsburgh in their own building and came very close to closing out Houston, but let it slip away. I always thought Jake Locker was a stud and he's playing solid football right now and The Titans as a team are flying under the radar with how their defense plays. Gotta watch more film on them, but their defense isn't Top 5, but it's pretty good. The Chargers are up and down for me. They'll look good one week, score 30 points the next, and then cool down. They don't have an All-Star defense, so The Titans will get theirs. Don't look now, but The Titans right now are looking pretty good. I'll take them for the upset.

Prediction: Titans defeat Chargers



Detroit @ Washington

The Redskins have looked abysmal the first two weeks. They got trounced by Philly in Week 1 and they got absolutely demolished by Green Bay although the score didn't dictate that. Green Bay was up 31-0 in the third quarter. RG3 is suffering from not playing in the preseason and his leg looks like it's still bothering him. He doesn't run as much anymore, almost like he's scared to now. I think The Redskins are due in for a win sooner or later, but they way they're playing, it'll hard to tell when they get a win. I wanna say they'll bring it together and pull out a win against Detroit, but I just think The Lions are a better Football team than Washington.

Prediction: Lions defeat Redskins



Atlanta @ Miami

This is gonna be a GOOD game. I'm still shocked that The Dolphins are 2-0. Then again, Week 1 was against Cleveland, and they had a test against The Colts and managed to pull the win out. Atlanta is a whole different beast. Matt Ryan is such a consistent Quarterback and his team is so stacked. They're gonna get their points because Miami's defense isn't really stellar. I wouldn't be surprised if this game is a shootout. Tannehill has some solid weapons on offense to stretch the field. Playing in Miami, I'm very tempted to pick the Dolphins, but I don't know if they can perform this well against a team like The Falcons. Their defense is good. So far, not as good as last season, but still pretty good. I'm excited to see this game and will definitely be watching. This a tough one. On the flip of a coin, I'm taking the Falcons.

Predictions: Falcons defeat Dolphins



Buffalo @ NYJ

Buffalo almost beat New England in Week 1 and E.J. Manuel had a good win against Panthers last week on a last second TD toss. This Bills/Jets game doesn't necessarily interest me. I think Geno looked good against New England. If their offense was better and could actually generate some points and extend drives, they would've beaten New England. But it's early, and I guess they can get better, but it's gonna take time. The Bills and E.J. look good and if the game was in Buffalo, I'd take them in a heartbeat, but only cause Jets have homefield advantage, I'll take them to beat Buffalo.

Prediction: Jets defeat Bills



JAX @ Seattle

The Jacksonville Jaguars vs The Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks are a physically dominating team at Home on both sides of the ball. The Jaguars haven't been good since they got rid of David Garrard. They're the worst team in the league scoring a grand total of 11 points in 2 games. The Seahawks are gonna destroy them. I would actually LAUGH OUT LOUD if Jacksonville shuts everybody up and pulls an upset. But it's not happening. Seattle wins handily.

Prediction: Seahawks defeat Jaguars



Indianapolis @ San Francisco 

The Colts fan in me wants to pick them to win this game, even with the addition of Trent Richardson. But I just don't see it happening. If it was in Indy, it'd be a different story cause they play with a different sort of drive and energy at Home. But in San Francisco, just coming off a beatdown from Seattle, I don't think Indy can win it. I have no faith in their defense and their offensive line is garbage. I don't know if Trent Richardson can find some holes to run through or even create his own runs. And with how good San Fran's defensive line is, Luck is gonna need some time, or else he won't get that ball out fast enough and get sacked a number of times. The Niners offense have so many weapons, and I don't think The Colts can stop them.

Prediction: Niners defeat Colts



Chicago @ Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh clearly has not been playing like themselves all season. Ben's lost his center, Mike Pouncey...AGAIN and they just struggle to put up points on offense. 9 points against Tennessee and just 10 points against The Bengals. They aren't an offensive juggernaut, but they're better than this. Ben looks lost without some of his weapons. Pittsburgh isn't just playing good Football. Ben can still extend plays and buy himself some time, but right now things aren't looking too good. The Bears are coming to town 2-0 and on Sunday Night Football, Pittsburgh is gonna come out strong, play tough and get to the QB. The Bears aren't a scrub team either. They've become more of an offensive minded team. Jay Cutler really shines in this offense and makes some great plays when he was to. But their defense can still force turnovers and get to the QB. I hate to do this to The Steelers, but I'm taking The Bears going 3-0 and Pittsburgh dropping to 0-3.

Prediction: Bears defeat Steelers



Oakland @ Denver

The Denver Broncos are looking like the best team in Football right now. Two back-to-back blowout wins and Peyton Manning has 9 TD's and 0 INT's. This offense is clicking on all cylinders and they can't be stopped. Peyton Manning is playing like the best QB in Football right now, he's got weapons left and right, they've got a 3-headed Monster in the backfield. Their defense on the other hand is a little inconsistent, they can force turnovers and have a lethal secondary, but they have problems getting to the QB. Maybe when Von Miller gets back, their pass rush will improve, but right now, the strength of their defense is the secondary in my opinion. I could see them getting sacks in this game cause Oakland's offensive line isn't exactly the greatest in Football. Pryor can extend some plays with his running, but I'm sure Denver will be ready to shut that noise down. Denver at Home on Monday Night Football with Peyton Manning and that dangerous Broncos Team = Win.

Prediction: Broncos defeat Raiders


There are my picks for Week 2 of the NFL Season! Enjoy the games!


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By: Gerald "Showstopper" Prophete

Week 7 Wrap-Up and look ahead to Week 8

We're almost at the end of October, and we're starting to learn a lot about these teams. Let's go through a few of the games.

Seattle 6

San Francisco 13

If there was any doubt that San Fran was still the class of the NFC West, this game should've quieted down the critics. Russell Wilson and Seattle isn't ready to dethrone San Fran in the NFC West. That defense still continues to make The Niners look strong, but Alex Smith needs to change how he does things. It's not necessarily him, but the offensive coordinator in charge. They're trying to make Alex Smith into Joe Montana. That's not his game, he proved already twice this season, that The Niners can't win games on his arm alone. He's just a game manager, nothing more, nothing less. Last season, he wasn't throwing the ball 50 times, he was just making the small plays to get his team over the hump. They gotta evaluate things cause they have to travel to Arizona Monday night.

Baltimore 13

Houston 43

I mean, this complete domination by Houston. Baltimore couldn't move the ball and they couldn't stop the Texans offensive attack. Not to mention, the defense was all over Flacco all day long. With the Ravens losing, Ray Lewis, Ledarius Webb, Haloti Ngata, and maybe Ed Reed, The Ravens are on the verge of collapsing.

But then again, I just think Baltimore had a bad day and Houston had a really good day. Nothing more, nothing less. The Ravens are on their bye next week so they have time to figure things out. Houston feels pretty good about themselves going into their bye week as well.

Washington 23

New York 27

In one of the more entertaining games of the day, RG3 took on Eli Manning in a great division battle. And to be quite honest, RG3 didn't disappoint. The Redskins, in my opinion, outplayed The Giants, but where they messed was on turnovers. Too many turnovers, too many mistakes that could've given them the win. Not like Eli played better himself throwing 2 picks, but he threw the game winning TD to Cruz for a 27-23 lead with under a minute to go.

The Redskins now know that they can beat The Giants but they can't these mistakes in doing so. They need to shape up because they have a tough challenge at Pittsburgh this Sunday. The Giants have a crucial game against The Cowboys.

New York 26

New England 29

I'll hand it to The Jets, they fought valiantly. I thought they would for sure get blown out, but their defense helped them out a little bit and kept it close. But Brady proved just why he is the man. When the game went into OT, Brady led the Pats down the field from their 20 in about 3 or 4 plays. Sanchez on the next drive got sacked and fumbled the ball giving The Patriots the win.

The Pats continue to prove their overratedness. The Jets defense isn't as good as it used to be when Rex fist started, but they still held Brady in check. Sanchez simply has nobody to throw to. The only trustworthy receiver he has is Jeremy Kerley and now that Keller is back, he'll get more help, but still needs more. Stephen Hill dropped a pass in the fourth that could've given the Jets a first down and a chance to probably win the game. The New England defense again surrendered a lead in the fourth quarter. The Pats pack their bags for London to take on......The St. Louis Rams. That should be fun to watch. The Jets have a strong division foe in Miami coming to town. 

Pittsburgh 24

Cincinnati 17

Down 14-3 on the road to a division foe, The Steelers made just enough plays to come back and get the win. Even when Big Ben threw a pick and fumbled the ball, The Steelers still didn't give up. The Bengals played solid football balancing their passing and rushing game, but it still wasn't enough. They pretty much dominated the first half, but after that, Pittsburgh took control and tipped the game back in their favor. Their defense may be old, but they still found ways to win. The Bengals are growing, but they're still not ready to take down Baltimore or Pittsburgh.

Things to learn from Week 7:

1) So far, Houston looks like the best team in the AFC. After them, the rest of the teams are struggling to find their identity. Most of them are either 4-3, or 3-4. Not bad, but not good either.

2) Arizona isn't who we thought they were. They've got one last shot to prove their still alive in the NFC West with a game at home against San Francisco.

3) The Saints and Packers are slowly getting back on track. Brees is determined to turn this team around, but I still don't believe they'll make the playoffs. The Packers are determined to prove they are still an elite team.

4) I'm still not sold on the Vikings. They're 5-2, but they've only played one division game against a Detroit team that clearly isn't the same team from last season. The jury is still out on Minnesota until they play Green Bay and Chicago.

5) Cam Newton and The Panthers are in quite a slump. Cam looked great last season, but it's not looking too good for him this season. It doesn't get any better for him playing at Chicago on Sunday.



Matchups to watch in Week 8:

Miami Dolphins at New York Jets

The Dolphins aren't the same team The Jets earlier in the season. Miami has gotten better, but playing on the road makes this a tough test. Nonetheless, with the AFC East looking so wide open, this is a must win for both teams.


Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles

Unbeaten Atlanta goes on the road to take on The Eagles. This smells like a trap game. Philly, coming off their bye and with all their problems, are looking to do anything to get a moral victory to keep themselves relevant. They fired their defensive coordinator after blowing another fourth quarter lead to Detroit. The Falcons maybe a heavy favorite heading into this, but with a new defensive coordinator and an offense that can combat Atlanta's, this could be a trap. Then again, I could be wrong, but this is just a gut feeling. Vick needs to watch out because the Falcon's defense has been playing extremely well this season.


Washington Redskins at Pittsburgh Steelers

RG3 vs Big Ben. Two guys that can move out of the pocket and make plays with their feet. But who's mobility will help them out in this game? Playing in Pittsburgh is always tough, but with RG3's performance in New York, I can't see them getting blown out. It's going to be close, good game. Both these teams are looking to make some headway in their divisions.


New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys

I think is THE game of the weekend. This is such a crucial division match. On opening night, in New York, after the ring ceremony and all the hype and fanfare, Dallas marched in and beat The Giants. But can they do it again? Eli Manning and The Giants have beaten Romo three straight seasons in Dallas' new stadium, if that means anything. The Cowboys NEED this win for themselves. If they sweep The Giants, I predict that they just might win the division. The Giants already lost to Philly, but I feel like Dallas is the more prominent threat here. Giants fans may think they have in the bag, but I wouldn't be too sure about that. It's hard to predict, but with all due respect to RG3 and Michael Vick, the winner of this game wins the NFC East.


New Orleans Saints at Denver Broncos

Now, THIS is going to a good one. So many storylines heading into this one: Peyton Manning vs Drew Brees for the first time since Super Bowl 46, and you know Peyton still wants his payback from that. After what Drew Brees did to the Bucs, can the Denver defense stop The Saints' offense? Can Denver win a game without spotting the opponent 20 points and have to rely on another comeback win? Can The Saints handle the altitude at mile high? All this and more equal one hell of a Sunday night game. If The Saints want to make the playoffs, they need this win, and with a 3-3 record, The Broncos also need this win.



San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals

The Niners already put down Seattle, and now they face Arizona. The Niners can take full command of this division with a win here. If Arizona wants to remain relevant and prove that they are who we thought they were, they need to win this game.


Pretty much the theme of Week 8 is must win. For most teams, is must win to keep themselves relevant and staying alive hoping to make the playoffs. We'll see just who wants it more this Sunday.

Thoughts on NFL Schedule

This has been a long overdue post, but here it is anyway. The NFL Schedule was released last Tuesday and man, there was A LOT of buzz about it already. Now, I'm not gonna go through the entire schedule. I'm just going to give some feedback on some of the games that I find interesting, along with my thoughts of which team starts 0-2.


Now, let's start with Week 1:

Wednesday, Sept 5th: 

Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants

Sunday, Sept 9th:

Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars at Minnesota Vikings

Buffalo Bills at New York Jets

Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans

New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans

St. Louis Rams at Detroit Lions

Washington Redskins at New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles at Cleveland Browns

Atlanta Falcons at Kansas City Chiefs

San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers

Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos

Monday, Sept. 10th:

Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens

San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders

From top to bottom, looking at every single game from Week 1, the one game that really JUMPS out at me is The Niners heading to Lambeau Field to battle Green Bay. I mean, could you ask for a better match in the first week of the season? This is essentially a playoff game here. The Niners came off a great season and had a case of bad luck and the same can be said for Green Bay. Both teams are clearly going to get better, and it's going to be really amazing to see how Aaron Rodgers competes against The Niners defense. To take it a step further, it'll be even more interesting seeing how Alex Smith connects with his new receivers. We're in store for a treat in Week 1.

Continuing on with the schedule, The Giants and Cowboys open the season. Now, this a BIG statement game for both teams. The Giants already have an insanely tough schedule as it is, and a win against Dallas would make quite the statement. A win for Dallas would be an even bigger statement. It's the fact that they came into the Giants' Home stadium on the night where they raise the banner I believe and if they can escape with a win, that can damage the Giants' psyche. Not to mention, they travel to Seattle the week after which is not an easy place to play. Dallas can't afford to start 0-2.

Let's go a little further with this. The Pittsburgh Steelers start their season in the same place they ended it: Denver. But this time, they're not facing Tebow, they're facing Peyton Manning. That is a different level without a doubt. If Peyton Manning shows up and plays like the Peyton Manning we all know, the Steelers don't stand a chance, and that's putting it nicely. That may sound a bit arrogant, but let's be honest here. Peyton Manning is arguably one the best QBs of all time and can turn nobodys into superstars. Imagine what he'll do with guys like Decker and Thomas. But, if Manning plays like a man that's had five neck surgeries, he could be in for a long season. They start with Pittsburgh and then travel to Atlanta where Matt Ryan is seemingly undefeated. I can't imagine the media coverage if Peyton Manning and the Broncos start 0-2.

What about the rookies? Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. Peyton Manning's old team, The Colts host The Bears and what a game to welcome Andrew Luck into the league. He's gonna have Urlacher, Briggs, and Peppers all coming after him. I'll be watching this one. And then we have RGIII vs The Saints. If they presumably make Griffin the starter, this another Welcome to the NFL game for the rookie, playing against The Saints in the Super Dome. The rookie sensations are in for some tough tests to start up the season.

Another slate of games that people usually can't wait for is Thanksgiving Day. People will make plans weeks or months in advance to make sure they're ready and have everything set when the weekend arrives. Well, this year, this may be the best slate of Thanksgiving games in quite some time. Here's how it looks:

Houston Texans at Detroit Lions

Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys

New England Patriots at New York Jets

My goodness. I mean, you wake up, shower, get dressed and the day starts off with The Texans and The Lions. Two young QBs, two great offenses, and two aggressive defenses going at it. And let's not forget we have the two best receivers in the league facing off: Calvin Johnson and Andre Johnson. The Texans are looking like a team that can get back to the playoffs and the same goes for Detroit. The Lions finally at a stage where they aren't the team that'll be easy to beat anymore. They're now a legitimate threat in the NFC and this should be a slobber-knocker.

But it doesn't end there, RGIII (maybe) leads The Redskins into Dallas to face the Cowboys. The Redskins improved a great deal last season and if they start RGIII and he really lives up to the hype, then this should be an interesting game. Besides, these guys always give Dallas fits.

And then, there's the night game. When the Turkey and Stuffing has been put away, you got The Jets and The Patriots. What a game to close out the night on Thanksgiving. Ever since Rex Ryan took over The Jets, he's made them more a challenge to The Patriots, that is until last season when they got swept and that includes an embarrassing 21 point blowout in New York. But now, there's an interesting story added to this: Tim Tebow. I think it's a foregone conclusion that a lot of people believe Tebow can steal the starting job from Mark Sanchez sooner than later and...well, that would make things very interesting. Tebow vs Brady on Thanksgiving Day? Enough said. It'll be a Zoo and the media will eat it up. Look at how ESPN reacted when Tebow was getting ready to face Brady last season. They talked about Tebow the whole day pretty much and ESPN2 had like a 3-Hour long "Life of Tim Tebow" thing.


Playoff Teams that might start 0-2


Now, another thing I noticed about this schedule is that some teams have a lot of tough back to back games.

The Broncos have The Steelers Week 1 and go to Atlanta to face Matt Ryan where, at Home, he's nearly invincible. It would behoove Peyton Manning and The Broncos to be on their A-Game, it's not going to be good for them if they start 0-2.

Speaking of Matt Ryan, he needs to be careful as well. His woes on the road have been his Achilles Heel and he opens the season at Kansas City. A lot of people may not think that this game is that big of a deal, but The Chiefs defense was lethal towards the end of the season when Crennel took over as The Head Coach. If The Falcons fall to the Chiefs, they have to rebound against Peyton Manning.

The 49ers have a tough game against Green Bay, and the week after host the Detroit Lions and if you remember what happened the last time these two teams faced off, you'll understand why this game is even more interesting.

While we're on Green Bay, they came off a disappointing playoff loss to the Giants and start off with The Niners who are every bit as physical. And then, they host The Chicago Bears the week after. With Cutler, Forte, and Knox back healthy and the addition of Brandon Marshall, a win that looked easy, might not be as easy as people think.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are also in a bind as well. Not only do they have to start the season in Denver, but they now have Peyton Manning to deal with and this is no small feat to overcome. The week after, they host The New York Jets. The last time these two played was in the AFC Championship game last year. And in the Regular Season, The Jets beat Pittsburgh IN Pittsburgh. Two must win games indeed.

And since we're on The Jets, they're in a state of total disarray. Some team players don't like Sanchez, and now you have the signing of Tim Tebow. These are two important games for Mark Sanchez, he has to prove himself in order to keep his job. The Bills aren't as easy as people think. The Bills have a habit of coming out of the gate Hot, but cooling down later on in the season. The Jets better take them seriously, because if they don't, Pittsburgh will be waiting for them and it's not gonna be easy for Mark. He struggled at the end of last season and these first few games don't do him any favors: Bills, Steelers, Dolphins, 49ers and The Texans. If the Jets end up 2-3, 1-4, or God Forbid, 0-5, the fans will clamor for Tebow without hesitation. Sanchez won't make it to The Jets bye week and the way this schedule is lined up, it looks like the beginning of the end.


So, there you have it, all my thoughts on the schedule. I can't really say a lot more than this until the Draft, and ultimately until preseason. All in all, this is going to be a fun season like always.


Feel free to Comment.


By: Gerald "Showstopper" Prophete

Offseason Winners and Losers

IT BEGINS IN THE OFFSEASON

"HOPE CAN ONLY TAKE YOU SO FAR" -

Many believe that the new season starts September 5, 2012, but im here to show you that the next season starts right after the superbowl. The NFL is a unstoppable machine that keeps on pushing, the infamous "offseason" is a season on its own. The offseason can either make or break your team before it even starts, many teams have strived through free agency and the draft to help build their dynasties. We've seen Drew Brees arguably the greatest free agency pick up in history and Darren Sproles to Donovan McNabb, and Albert Haynesworth. Drew Brees and Sproles went on to break records while McNabb and Haynesworth went on to many not so great things thus leading to both getting released.
The offseason is a key step to a teams future, the decisions you make can either put your team steps closer or futher to a Superbowl. We will take a look at the top five best and worst offseason moves so far.

THE BEST MOVES

1. Denver Broncos - (Peyton Manning) The Broncos just signed arguably the greatest quaterback in the history of the NFL. The Broncos were a exciting team last year because of Tim "The Chosen One" Tebow but the fact is their passing game was inconsistent and down right embarrasing at times, in two games against the Chiefs Tim Tebow completed eight passes i repeat 8. Denver knows if they want to be true contenters they need a field general, which Peyton Manning is. This team should be in the playoff mix if Peyton Manning can remain healthy and the defense stays focus.
2. St. Louis Rams- (Trading the Second Overall Pick) The Rams traded the second overall pick to the Redskins for a kings ransom. They recieved three number one overall picks and one second round pick from the Redskins.With three number one picks and one second round pick they can perhaps bring back the "Greatest Show on Tuff". they need to draft Justin Blackmon.
3. Dallas Cowboys-(Brandon Carr, etc) "Americans Team" has quietly been making key pick ups to fix that suspect defense. I know they lost Laurent Robinson but they can draft another wide reciever to fill his void. The cowboys have picked up Brandon Carr a dynamic corner with above average man to man skill and just signed a interior guard Nate Livings. A sleeper pick up was Dan O Connor MLB from the Panthers often over shadowed by Jon Beason now has a chance for playing time in Dallas watch out. The D is back in Dallas well on paper atleast.                                           
4. New York Jets- (Laron Landry, Tim Tebow) The Jets will be a media circus but they have just improved their team dramatically. Laron Landry is the dynamic safety Rex ryan has been missing i have some doubts about his coverage skills but i see him being used as a Troy Polamalu type safety/ linebacker in this scheme. Tim "The Chosen One" Tebow will bring third down conversions and a red zone threat. "AS LONG AS TEBOW DOESNT START" the Jets will improve.
5. Chicago Bears- (Brandon Marshall, Michael Bush)  The Bears got a steal for Brandon Marshall from Miami now they have a big time reciever and a solid back in Michael Bush who could start on any team. They just need to sign Matt Forte to a long term deal and draft a saftey and the Monsters of The Midway will be a force. 

THE WORST MOVES

1. Miami Dolphins- They lost Brandon Marshall, didnt sign Peyton Manning and couldnt sign Matt Flynn. they have a rookie head coach, a suspect offense without Marshall and a good defense but we know that wont be enough to stop Tom Brady, also the Bills and Jets just got way better. I see the first overall pick in this teams future.
2. Cincinnati Bengals-  The Bengals offseason stragety is a confusing one, "the guys that played well for us we wont sign back" and then we wont sign anybody at all for weeks. The Bengals just signed Benjarvus Green-Ellis a good running back but flashy and game changer wouldnt be the definition of his game. This team needs to add pieces on defense and offense to have a chance against the Steelers and Ravens.
3. Oakland Raiders-  They showed promise last season then they decided to trade their whole offseason for Carson Palmer, which failed dramatically.  Carson Palmer only had thirteen touchdowns to sixteen Interceptions. Carson Palmer often looked rattled and confused in the pocket, a shell of his former self. The Raiders fired their, head coach, cut their second best linebacker, and cut their best cornerback. The new general manager is trying to start over in Oakland but it seems Raider nation was finally starting to take steps forward to only be moving backwards now. It will be a few years till the Raiders "just win baby". 
4. Jacksonville Jaguars- This team is a mess a quaterback with no heart, many believe it to be a boring franchise, which  failed to bring their most popular player home. Signing Laurent Robinson was good but they failed to make the Tim Tebow trade which cost the team millions in revenue. Jacksonville hands down has the most boring team in the NFL and they did no favors for themselves missing out on Tim Tebow. 
5. New Orleans Saints/ Indianapolis Colts- These teams make the list by defaullt the bounty scandle losing Carl Nicks and not signing Drew Brees to a long term deal shows this team needs to get it together. They found a good replacement for Carl Nicks with Ben Grubbs, but the lost of their head coach and draft picks will hurt this franchise. The Colts releases their greatest quarterback ever and also could have traded the first overall pick for a fortune. Andrew Luck maybe be the quarterback of the future but what if he isnt? 

        We didn't forget about those who over spent such a Tampa Bay Bucs(good moves), Buffalo Bills (good moves). Also Washington trading to get RG3, that can hopefully turn that franchise around. Also Patriots finished just outside the top five for good moves, because Brandon Lloyd signing was huge that offense will be deadly. 

     

 By. Phillip "STATS" Rodney 

Thanks for reading

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