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!


Read. Comment. Share. Please and Thank You.


By: Gerald "Showstopper" Prophete

NFL Divisional Round Predictions

Ok, I didn't do so good on my Wild Card Weekend Predictions and I'll get into those games in just a little bit. I only got one game right, but the rest could've gone either way. The Divisional Round has been decided, but before I get into those games, I'm gonna give my thoughts on each of the Wild Card games.

Be Warned, this blog post will be a little long.


(3) Houston Texans defeat (6) Cincinnati Bengals

I'll make this one quick. I said in my last blog post that the Bengals have a habit of missing opportunities and they did. Dalton missed Green deep for a TD that could've given them a 20-19 lead. I also said their defense would give them chances and they came to play only allowing ONE offensive TD. But the Bengals couldn't capitalize on those opportunities. Other than that, their offense didn't convert one third down, the offensive line couldn't block all game and Foster and Watt helped carry Houston to victory. Too many dropped passes, and too many missed opportunities that could've put Cincy over. Dalton was just inaccurate all game and loses to Houston the second year in a row. For now, they're out of the playoffs and Houston moves on to play New England.

(3) Green Bay Packers defeat (6) Minnesota Vikings

The news of Ponder not playing was definitely big for the Vikes cause although Ponder isn't great, he does help that offense flow along with Peterson. Didn't have a lot of faith in Joe Webb. Green Bay took care of business big time holding AD under 100 yards, and giving Webb a hard time. Green Bay was up 24-3 at one point and you knew it was game. Most people said it was game when they heard Ponder wasn't starting, but I knew Green Bay was going to win regardless. This was the only game I got right. Green Bay moves on to play San Francisco.

(4) Baltimore Ravens defeat (5) Indianapolis Colts

Other than a couple big plays, the Ravens didn't really play that well. Rice fumbled twice, and it took a bad matchup on Boldin for Flacco to get going. As far as the Colts are concerned, Luck played well, but there were WAY too many dropped passes, the line couldn't block most of the time, and too many field goals and not enough TDs when they got in the RedZone. Last home game for Ray Lewis and the Ravens got the job done. The game was close until late in the third and into the fourth. Indy could've won, but again, too many missed opportunities. Colts will be good for years to come. The Ravens now have a date with Peyton Manning and the #1 seed Denver Broncos.

(5) Seattle Seahawks defeat (4) Washington Redskins

The X-Factor going into this game was RG3's health. Early on, he seemed fine as they jumped on Seattle 14-0. But I saw that before they scored the second TD, RG3 looked like he re-injured his leg. Ever since then, his mechanics were all messed up. He couldn't run, plant his feet to pass, or even escape pressure. He ran with a limp on one play in the first quarter. I think after that, he should've been out. With RG3 unable to produce, Russell Wilson led his team back and scored 24 unanswered in Washington to get the win. I knew the Seahawks were legit, but I thought RG3 would be healthy enough to lead them to victory, but that was not the case and Seattle moves on to Atlanta. I'm not making any excuses, but a healthy RG3 wins that game. Once RG3 went down, it was inevitable. Cowboys fans need to relax too saying the Cowboys would've beaten Seattle. No, they wouldn't have. Seattle would've blown them out.....again.



Ok, now that I'm done with that recap, it's time to get to the NFL Divisional Round. And we have some GOOD games lined up. Well, hopefully.

(4) Baltimore Ravens vs (1) Denver Broncos

You remember the last time these two teams played each other? The Broncos beat them 34-17. Ray Lewis coming back gives this defense a new fire and they'll play better this time around. And if anybody can match Peyton Manning's Football IQ and study just as hard as he does, it's Ray Lewis. Joe Flacco struggled against a Colts secondary that wasn't that great and now they're going up to Mile High to play the #2 ranked defense overall and the #3 ranked defense against the run. And more importantly, they're playing Peyton Manning.

Peyton Manning FINALLY has a defense that can get off the field on third down, can stop the run and can for sure create turnovers. They also have a damn good running back in Knowshon Moreno. Ever since their offense got their chemistry going, they've been unstoppable. The reason they've been so good is that they like to jump on their opponents early. If Denver goes up by double digits, they can unleash Von Miller and Company on Joe Flacco and that defense is relentless with their pass rush. The Broncos are no longer the team that spots the opponent 20 points and plays from behind. Now, they can go up by 20 and make their opponent play from behind, and you don't want to play from behind against Denver. It's a battle most teams didn't win.

Peyton Manning knows the Baltimore Ravens inside and out. He's played them time and time again, and knows when to throw on this team and take chances. I don't think the Ravens are going to get blown out again, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did. Joe Flacco needs to protect the football. So that means no wild throws or trying to make a play when there's nothing there. When all else fails, dump it off to Rice, or Pierce and they'll set up the passing game for Flacco to open up better opportunities. If the Ravens play like they did yesterday against Denver, they will get blown out again because Peyton Manning will cash in on touchdowns when he has the opportunity. At the end of the day, I think it's too much Manning and too much Von Miller.

Prediction: Broncos defeat Ravens

(3) Green Bay Packers vs (2) San Francisco 49ers

This one is tough. Back in Week 1, the Niners beat Green Bay 30-22. They even led the game 23-7 heading into the fourth quarter. But now, things are different. The Packers have found their groove since then and the Niners benched Alex Smith for Colin Kaepernick. While I do like Colin Kaepernick, I don't like how they treated Alex Smith. That's neither here nor there, so let's get to the game.

While we're on him, let's start with Colin Kaepernick. He doesn't have the accuracy throwing the football or Football IQ that Alex Smith has, but what he lacks in that, he makes up for in arm strength, the ability to throw the ball down field and extend the play with his legs. Unlike last year, the Niners offense won't have to go through Vernon Davis because now they've got Randy Moss and Michael Crabtree has played well for this team. The Packers secondary is good, but they do give up the big play occasionally and with Kaepernick, they love to throw the ball deep. The only thing is that Kaepernick turns the ball over. He has three interceptions with nine fumbles. He can make the big play, but he's gotta protect the ball.

On the other hand, the San Francisco 49ers are vulnerable on defense. It showed with New England and when Seattle put 40 on them. Green Bay has the receiving core to stretch the field and Rodgers loves to stand back in the pocket and pick apart the defense. The defensive line has missed Justin Smith. If he returns on Saturday, that team gets a much needed boost on the defensive line and can pressure Aaron Rodgers. The Niners defense is so physical and will get their hits and cause pressure. That's what they'll have to do to beat Green Bay. Same way they beat New Orleans last year. That defense really needs to show up cause Rodgers and his weapons will wreak havoc if they have the chance.

All that said, I got Green Bay. My Super Bowl pick was Denver vs San Francisco, but I gotta pick against the Niners here. Just don't trust Colin Kaepernick. Even though Green Bay is on the road, it doesn't matter. I think Aaron Rodgers is going to be too much for the Niners to handle. Niners defense is elite, but if any team can go into San Fran and win, it's Green Bay. People forget how good Aaron Rodgers really is.

(5) Seattle Seahawks vs (1) Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons under Matt Ryan and Mike Smith are 0-3 in the playoffs. The last time they were the #1 seed in the NFC, Green Bay blew them out by 27 points. Nobody is giving them a chance, but I'm going to give them a chance. They have to get over the hump sometime. Here's why I believe in them. You can talk about their explosive, quick strike offense, but the reason they could get the job done is their defense. Mike Nolan has done a masterful job in changing the identity of this defense. They do a great job of confusing the quarterback and changing their defensive schemes, moving around on the line, stack 8 players in the box and drop 4 into coverage, and other things. Also, the pickup of Asante Samuel was HUGE for this team as well. Him and DeCoud are a great cornerback combination on the outside.

Everybody is already giving the win to the Seahawks and they are a dangerous team. Like I said before, their defense is extremely athletic, speed off the edge and versatile and powerful corners that can get aggressive with receivers. Sherman and Browner are gonna have a tall task covering Roddy White and Julio Jones. Russell Wilson played great against Washington and he can spread the ball around to different receivers. He's a pass first, run second quarterback and he can also extend the play. The Seahawks love to eat the clock and get huge chunks of yardage and control the game. They're gonna score their points, but can they stop Matt Ryan? With Jones and White being defended, it leaves the middle of the field open for Tony Gonzalez and open up other opportunities.

I have faith in the Falcons that they can finally get the job done. The Falcons offense can score the points, but the way the defense has been playing, I think they can finally get over the hump. They can't give the Seahawks any chances to allow big plays over the middle. I got the Falcons getting over hump and winning this game and hosting the NFC Championship game. Let's find out if they can silence their critics once and for all.

Prediction: Falcons defeat Seahawks

(3) Houston Texans vs (2) New England Patriots

Ok, in their last meeting, Houston got BEAT DOWN 42-14 and this was against a Patriots team that didn't even have Gronkowski. Gronk is back and Houston is in danger of getting blown out again. To avoid getting blown out again, Houston needs to control the clock with the running game and set up the play action pass. If they can run the ball and control the game, they may stand a chance. Schaub has to play better than he did in that last meeting. On the defensive side of the ball, they have to put pressure and get to Tom Brady. In their last game, Brady had his way with the Texans defense all night long and only got sacked once. With Gronk back in the lineup, that just gives him one more weapon to his arsenal.

Playing the Patriots at home in the playoffs is always a challenge, and I don't know if Houston has enough firepower and defense to stop New England. Their defense isn't spectacular, but when they come to play, they show up and make some big plays. They had Watt on lockdown in their last meeting. It's really tough to make a case for Houston to go up and beat the Patriots because their offense is so explosive and their receivers are good at getting themselves open. Their defense has to show up. They can't give up so many big plays like they did last time. They need to jam receivers at the line and disrupt Brady's progression throwing the ball. If they can't do that, Brady will have his way.

I got the Patriots in this one. I stated in earlier blogs that if Houston ran into Denver, or New England, they would get eliminated. Here is Houston's chance to prove everybody wrong and pull off the upset. I'm not picking them though. Tom Brady and New England advance to face Peyton Manning in Denver for the AFC Championship.

Prediction: Patriots defeat Texans


There you have it. Hopefully, my picks for the Divisional Round are better than my Wild Card picks. If these picks go the way I think, it sets up a great Championship Sunday.

Once again, your opinion and feedback is welcome. Feel free to Comment.

Who's going to the Super Bowl?

After Monday night and the 28 point beatdown New England gave to Houston, everybody has tooted Brady's horn and ESPN has dubbed New England as the team to win the Super Bowl, but will they get to the Super Bowl?

I say no. New England may look like the juggernaut in the AFC, but there's one person road blocking him from a 6th Super Bowl appearance. Peyton Manning. Peyton Manning and the #3 ranked defense of the Denver Broncos, who have won 8 straight games, are the only team that can spoil The Patriots trip to New Orleans. Not Houston, not Baltimore, not Indy, and not Pittsburgh. Denver isn't the same team New England blew out in Week 5, things are A LOT different now. THIS Broncos team can beat New England in Foxboro. What people are forgetting is that since Brady won his 3rd ring in 2004, he's been 7-6 in the playoffs. Clearly, he isn't the same guy in the playoffs anymore. They got lucky against Baltimore last year with a dropped TD pass and a missed FG.

Houston maybe the #1 seed, but they've proven time and time that they are overrated. If they run into Denver or New England they WILL be eliminated. Only way Houston makes it to the AFC Championship is they meet Baltimore in the Divisional Round. They have a better shot at beating them than beating the Broncos or the Patriots. Baltimore clearly isn't the same team that they were earlier in the season, but they seem to get better come playoff time.

And I can hear the Giants fans now. Relax, I'll get to you people. Technically, The Giants should be favored to go back since they won the Super Bowl last season, but they're inconsistency plays a role. Even after beating down San Fran, Green Bay, and New Orleans, here they are up by just 1 game over Dallas and Washington. There's no guarantee that'll even win their division. They need to play perfect down the stretch to maintain their lead. So far, they're off to a good start. Giants have proven that when they get in, they can make some noise.

Outside of New York, the best team in the NFC is San Francisco. But, I have a problem with them. I don't believe in Colin Kaepernick to lead the Niners to the Super Bowl. They have a better shot with Alex Smith as their starter. You'll see. Colin can't even beat The Rams and he's got a tough match with New England this Sunday night. And, here comes Seattle with their 5-0 home record. If they steal the division from San Fran, WATCH OUT. They don't play around at home. The last time they lost at home in the playoffs was 2004. Since then, they've been 5-0.

Only reason I didn't mention Atlanta is because of their playoff past. They're 0-3 since Matty Ice took over and the last time they were the #1 seed, Green Bay beat them by 27 points. I think even Green Bay can make a push even though they haven't played up to their potential. If RG3 gets in the playoffs, things could get very interesting.

You never know what can happen come playoff time and how teams change their game.

For now, I'll still hold on to the prediction I made before the season: Denver vs San Francisco. I didn't foresee Colin Kaepernick geting the starting job by TYING with the St. Louis Rams and beating a Jay Cutler-less Chicago Bears team.

Then again, New England is the greatest team in the history of the NFL. Let's just call off Super Bowl 47 and give them the trophy. Let's save every other team the embarrassment. Right?


Feel free to Comment.

By: Gerald "Showstopper" Prophete

NFL Week 9 Wrap-Up and look ahead to Week 10

NFL Week 9 is in the books and halfway through the season, and we now have a good idea of who's real and who's not.


Who's Real:

Indianapolis Colts: The Colts are 5-3. That win against Green Bay back in Week 5 has really propelled this team to new heights. They currently own the #5 seed and have surprised a lot of teams. Luck is playing better than people expected and their team as a whole is really playing solid football. Remember when I said that this team could challenge Houston? I think they can.

Pittsburgh Steelers: People had them dead at 2-3 and now they're 5-3 and threatening to dethrone Baltimore in the AFC North.

Seattle Seahawks: That win against Green Bay is still an asterisk, but they've still been playing well. They're unbeaten at Home, have a top 5 defense, and Russell Wilson is a playing very effectively. They won't win the division, but they have a good shot at making the playoffs.

Denver Broncos: 5-3 and in command of the AFC West. And people were saying Peyton Manning didn't have it anymore. Tebow who?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Don't look now, but the Bucs are 4-4 and have found their rhythm on offense. They can shock a lot of teams down the road if they keep playing the way they are.

Houston Texans: I still haven't forgotten about the BEATDOWN Green Bay gave them, but they're still 7-1 and the best team in the AFC. That must count for something.

Atlanta Falcons: 8-0 and still keep finding ways to win. Can't beat that.

Chicago Bears: I personally think The Bears as a whole team is better than Atlanta. They're playing lights out on offense and defense. Who had them in the NFC Championship Game? Oh yeah, I did.



Who's Not:

Arizona Cardinals: They started out 4-0 and have lost 5 straight. They are NOT who we thought they were.

Minnesota Vikings: Started strong, but are slowly cooling down. They're too inconsistent. Can't trust them to beat the class of the NFC North in Green Bay, or Chicago.

New York Giants: When they beat down San Francisco in their hometown, they looked like one of the best teams, but with narrow wins against Dallas and Washington and losing to Pittsburgh, they are slowly looking like the inconsistent Giants that I know.

Philadelphia Eagles: Such high hopes for this team, but they can't protect Vick, can't play defense and struggle to move the ball.

Washington Redskins: Same as Minnesota. Started out strong, but now they're 3-6. Technically, they're not out of it like Philly, but I think this division is gonna come down to Dallas and New York.

San Diego Chargers: They ALWAYS do this. They start HOT and then they just go up and down. They gave up a 24 point lead against Denver, scored 6 points, 6 POINTS, against the Cleveland Browns and beat the lowly Chiefs. Still can't take them serious.



I'll be sure to make a blog post with my updated playoff predictions but that's my opinion on which teams are real, and who's not. Let's look ahead to Week 10.

Matchups To Watch:

Indianapolis at Jacksonville - A chance for the Colts to go 6-3 and make their case for being the second best team in the AFC behind Houston.

San Diego at Tampa Bay - Tampa Bay has a chance to make it 3 in a row and make some noise in the playoff race. The Chargers have a chance to catch Denver in the AFC West.

New York at Cincinnati - Giants need this game to bounce back and if the Bengals want to get back to the playoffs, they need this win too.

Atlanta at New Orleans - 8-0 Atlanta Falcons vs Drew Brees and The Saints in New Orleans. Need I say more?

New York at Seattle - The Jets come off their bye and travel to the toughest place to play: Seattle. The Seahawks can make some people look at them with a win.

Dallas at Philadelphia - This game isn't as attractive as I thought as both teams are playing so poorly, but still a pivotal NFC East match.

Houston at Chicago - Both teams are 7-1 and are the best teams in their respectable conferences (yes, I think Chicago is better than Atlanta). Oh yeah, this should be a good one.



Week 10 is gonna make the playoff race look even more interesting.

Feel free to Comment.

By: Gerald "Showstopper" Prophete

NFL Week 6 Recap and Week 7 Preview

Another weekend of NFL Football in the books, and it's time for the weekly recap and a look ahead to Week 7.

Denver 35

San Diego 24

Peyton Manning and The Broncos were down 24-0 at halftime due to numerous mistakes on special teams, and miscues on the offense. The defense dominated as well returning a pick for a TD on Manning. This was looking at last week all over again. But then, they played the second half.

The Broncos outscored the Chargers 35-0 in the second half. Manning came out and took command of the offense throwing 3 TD passes, the defense adjusted and picked off Rivers 4 times including a Pick 6. Peyton Manning completes the biggest comeback of his career and Rivers and the Chargers have the biggest meltdown I've ever seen.

Peyton makes The Colts look more foolish everyday and now the Broncos sit atop the AFC West.

Oakland 23

Atlanta 20

Whether you want to believe it or not, the Falcons may just be the best team in Football. They just find ways to win. Ryan throws 3 picks in the first half and down 3 with 18 seconds to go in the game, Matty Ice leads his team down the field allowing Matt Bryant to kick the game winning FG. The one thing that stands out about this team now is that their defense has gotten extremely better from last season. They make the big plays, force turnovers, and force pressure. Even when their offense is slow, their defense now has the ability to bail them out. At 6-0, these Falcons are tough to beat.

New York 26

San Francisco 3

Where do I start, The Niners were just beat down. Nobody runs on The Niners, but the Giants ran all over them. Their defense came up big and picked off Alex Smith three times and showed the world their win in the NFC Championship was no fluke. Smith tried to do too much, they didn't run the ball enough, and got embarrassed in their own home town. With Seattle coming in next week, they need to get their act together. 

Dallas 29

Baltimore 31

The Cowboys ran for over 200 yards on the Ravens defense, Romo and Dez had big games, and they still lost. Their offense in the end couldn't get it together and had bad clock management which cost them a game winning FG. The self destruct in Dallas is on. I don't think they should've lost that game. Dez dropped a 2 point conversion that could've sent the game in OT, and there isn't a doubt that Dallas would've lost.

But the real story is the loss of defensive players on the Ravens defense. First, they lose Suggs and they lost Ray Lewis and Ledarius Webb. Three players that make their defense as good as it is. They only go as their defense takes them. I won't be surprised if they start losing games now.

New England 23

Seattle 24

The matchup between the best defense in the league and the best offense in the league didn't disappoint. Brady and company looked like they were moving the ball just fine leading 14-10, but then it was 17-10, 20-10, 23-10, so the game was never really out of reach for Seattle. Russel Wilson went off and played like a vet making plays in the fourth quarter coming up clutch throwing 2 TD passes and giving his team the 24-23 lead. The Seattle defense finished New England off by dropping Brady and forcing a fumble. 

Things to take in from Week 6:

1) Houston is an overrated team. The first good team they play, they get 40 dropped on them.

2) The title for best team in the NFL is currently up for grabs between the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, and the New York Giants.

3) The NFC West is the most competitive division in Football with some great defense being played. San Francisco is still the class of the division, but if any team can challenge them, it will be Seattle.

4) Peyton Manning proved that he's still got it and that the AFC West is all but his.

Matchups to watch in Week 7:

Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers

The two best defenses in the NFL going head-to-head. I said it before, if any team can dethrone San Francisco, it's Seattle. Either The Niners will rebound in a big way, or Russel Wilson and the Seahawks will prove they are for real and knock off San Fran in their home stadium. First place for the NFC West is up for grabs as well.


New York Jets at New England Patriots

Another battle for first place. The Jets currently have the top spot in the AFC East, but unfortunately for them, they have to travel to New England to face Tom Brady and the Patriots. It's not going to be easy. The Patriots are going to be looking to rebound and it's not often that New England loses 2 games in a row.


Washington Redskins at New York Giants

The Redskins swept The Giants last season and now their team is even better. The Giants always struggle against The Redskins and RG3 and Co. are looking to take command of the top spot in the NFC East with a win. The Giants are looking to continue their path to the Super Bowl again with a win.   It'll be interesting to see if RG3 will run on The Giants.


Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans

After the beatdown Green Bay laid on Houston, they're looking to rebound. I would say Ravens have this easy, but with the losses on defense and the fact that they allowed over 200 yards on the ground, if the Texans run the ball with Foster, it could be a long day. Flacco might have to win the game with his arm. The Texans defense isn't as unbeatable as previously thought. Should be a good one.


Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals

Both teams are coming off loses and are looking to gain some momentum in the AFC North. I say Pittsburgh is a better team than Cincinnati, but I don't know if they'll win this game.



With four to five pivotal division games, we're going to see a shift in the balance of power in the NFL this Sunday.


Feel free to Comment.


By: Gerald "Showstopper" Prophete

NFL Week 5 Wrap-Up and Week 6 Preview

This won't be the usual NFL reaction blog post that I always do because it's a little late in the week to go in-depth with Sunday's games. So, I'm just gonna wrap-up the week really quickly and summarize the week that was.

Things to take in from Week 5:

1) Through five games, Houston may just be the best team in Football, but they aren't unstoppable. Denver did so in Week 3, and the Jets proved that last Monday night. They're the only two teams Houston hasn't blown out.

2) The NFC West maybe one of the toughest divisions in the NFL. People can talk about Seattle's defense all they want, but I think San Francisco has the best defense in the NFL. Their only bane is that their rush defense isn't magnificent, but they have a deadly defensive line. Arizona is still lurking around there as well so this should be an interesting race.

3) Denver's defense needs to be fixed ASAP. Lucky for them, the AFC West is a winnable division, but if they expect to go far, or even get to the playoffs, this defense needs to get fixed. 

4) The Indianapolis Colts have one impressive football team. Coming back from 18 down and defeating Green Bay in exciting fashion is something to be proud of. The jury is still out on whether or not they can challenge Houston for the division, but they don't play each other until December so it's not a topic to talk about right now.

5) Good teams find ways to win: Atlanta, Pittsburgh, New Orleans and New York come to mind. 

- Pittsburgh could barely move the ball in the first half, but they came back to win against Philly in the last seconds. 

- Same thing with Pittsburgh applies to Atlanta, and once they got their act together, they got it going like they only know how.

- The Saints were down 10 in the 3rd, but there wasn't a doubt they wouldn't win, and they came back to win.

- The Giants were down 14 in the first quarter against The Browns and ended up winning by 14. 

Matchups to watch in Week 6:

New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers

A rematch of the NFC Championship game. The Niners will be out for redemption and The Giants will be out to prove that beating them was no fluke. Should be a classic. The Niners have more offense than they did last postseason, and The Giants will be without Nicks again, should be interesting to see.

New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks

The Patriots lead the league in total offensive yards. The Seahawks are statistically the best defense in the league right now. Something has to give. Seattle has always been a tough place to play. New England should keep that in mind.

Green Bay Packers at Houston Texans

Aaron Rodgers vs The Houston Texans defense. We already saw how Rodgers struggles against a tough defense like San Fran. Houston is every bit as physical. The game is in Houston in Primetime. I don't like Green Bay's chances. 

Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets

Andrew Luck takes The Colts to New York to face The Jets. This is a very intriguing game. It's Luck's second road game and this is the same team that beat Green Bay. I think they pose a matchup problem for The Jets. The Jets can't defend the run as good as they use to and with Revis out, I think Wayne is a bad matchup for someone like Cromartie. Besides, Luck has a few weapons to spread the ball around to. A win on the road against a team like The Jets could be something BIG.

Sanchez is throwing to a whole new group of receivers. No Holmes, or Keller. The Jets need this win for themselves. They're struggling to find their identity and win against The Colts could be the thing they need to get back in the AFC East race. A loss is something I don't think they can recover from.

Dallas Cowboys at Baltimore Ravens

Dallas needs to bounce back after that poor showing against Chicago. Baltimore defense isn't as good as Chicago's but Romo is still in trouble. I think Romo will have a bounce back game, but they won't win. The Ravens are a better team than The Cowboys.

Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers

Monday Night Football in San Diego. This is just all bad for Peyton Manning. For starters, it's in San Diego, Peyton Manning struggles against The Chargers, and his defense can't stop a nosebleed. Brady and The Patriots moved the ball at will against Denver. This is a division game, so Denver's defense needs to come prepared to contain Philip Rivers and Ryan Matthews. If they play like they did against New England; allowing 17 yard runs on 3rd and 15, not getting off the field on 3rd downs, not defending slants and underneath passes, and not tackling they're going to get blown out. Without question. Look at Peyton Manning's last appearance on MNF. Nuff said.



Week 6 is going to say a lot about some teams.


Feel free to Comment.


By: Gerald "Showstopper" Prophete

NFL Predictions

You can feel it, you can smell it, you can almost taste it. Ok, let me not get that carried away. But Football season is definitely the most anticipated season of any major sport. I mean, it's really not that close, but let me not drag on that. The season starts Wednesday when the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants take on the Dallas Cowboys. Then Sunday, the first full slate of games begins.

Everybody always makes predictions and I know what you're saying, "The season didn't even start yet. We should wait until they play the games first." Blah blah blah. Although you never really know what to expect from the NFL these days, it's always fun to pretend and make your own predictions on what you think will happen.

So, let's get right to it!






AFC East - New England Patriots

Even with that defense being as bad as it is, we forget The New England Patriots have Tom Brady. The man has yet to miss the playoffs. And now he has a TON of new weapons to throw to.

Let's be real, nobody in this division can stop New England. Miami is starting a rookie QB who'll probably be shown the bench in Week 3, or 4. The Buffalo Bills have an unhealthy habit of starting off strong, but never being able to finish that way. And The New York Jets, well the only reason they even stay in some of their games is because of their defense. The Mark Sanchez project has run its course. I think this team will have a better shot at winning the division if they start Tebow. I mean, did anybody else see how badly this team played in the preseason? Either they're really going to be that bad, or we've all been fooled and this team will surprise everybody.




AFC West - Denver Broncos

Two words: Peyton Manning. People have been criticizing Manning for quite some time as to if he would have any juice left in the tank. I think his play this preseason shut down a good portion of his critics. I mean, come on, it's Peyton Manning. It's not Brett Favre coming out of retirement.....again.

Back to the point, Manning pretty much has everything he didn't have in Indy: a solid running game that finished first last season, a good defense, and an O-Line that will give him time to throw. The Raiders won't be winning again. With Palmer at the helm, they....well let's just say they were better off waiting for Jason Campbell to return from his injuries. X them out. Even though their defense is going to be beastly this season, The Chiefs don't have the offensive consistency to back it up. X them out of the equation as well. And now we have the San Diego Chargers. This may be the one team to give Denver a challenge. Why? Because Peyton Manning doesn't do so well against The Chargers. He's 3-5 against them in the regular season and 0-2 against them in the playoffs. If any team is going to be a threat to Peyton Manning and The Broncos, I think it very well may be San Diego.


AFC North - Baltimore Ravens

This was tough for me to choose. The Ravens had a great season, but came up just a little short against New England. I still think they should've won that game, but whatever. Nonetheless, looking at the schedules of both Baltimore and Pittsburgh, I think Baltimore can make an early run with 3 of their first 4 games being at home. Steelers are on the road in 3 of their first five games. And of course, we have to keep an eye on the one-on-one matchups which are always fun to watch. I think Baltimore has the edge in defense here. I think their defense is every bit as powerful as Pittsburgh's. Flacco has a lot to prove this season when he said he should be mentioned in the main crop of QB's. I think he will be fine, but Pittsburgh will always be right there ready to move up if they make any sort of mistake. The Steelers haven't lost a step like people have said.

The Browns are starting this Brandon Wheedon kid. I still say Colt McCoy is a better Quarterback, but I guess Cleveland will learn from their mistake. The Bengals had a breakout season making the playoffs despite having Pittsburgh and Baltimore in their division. This team is capable of holding their own against those two powerhouses, but winning is a whole other story.


AFC South - Houston Texans

With a healthy Matt Schaub, this team can go places. With a healthy Matt Schaub, Houston might have gone to the Super Bowl last season. They really are that good. They're a complete team: they have the QB, the superstar wide receiver, the superstar running back, and a very, very physical defense that finished in the top 5 last season. They're ready to make it all the way and no team in this division can stop that. It all depends on whether or not Schaub stays healthy.

Jacksonville has Blaine Gabbert. Enough said. The Colts are starting over with Andrew Luck, and as good as he has looked in the preseason, I don't see Indy making the playoffs. The Tennessee Titans may be a viable opponent now that Jake Locker is starting. This guy is the real deal.


Wild Card: Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers


So, here's how I see the overall ratings stacking up for the AFC.

1. New England Patriots
2. Houston Texans
3. Denver Broncos
4. Baltimore Ravens
5. Pittsburgh Steelers
6. Tennessee Titans



NFC East - New York Giants

As much as I hate to admit this, I can't see The Giants not making the playoffs. Their schedule is extremely brutal, but they did win the Super Bowl last season. This entire team now has an identity. They aren't just a team that gets by on luck anymore, but this season will say alot about them. Let's see if they can make it back to the promise land.

As far as competition is concerned, I think it will forever be the Dallas Cowboys. The Redskins are starting over with RG3, but I wouldn't be surprised if they win 6-7 games themselves. The Eagles are good, but Vick can't seem to stay healthy. They finished so strong last season, people had them already winning the division this season. But I don't share everybody's sentiments. Vick is already banged up and the NFC East plays the AFC North this season and that means games against Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Cincy. I don't think Philly is complete enough to get past that. That brings us back to Dallas. Their defense has gotten better and when Romo has all the pieces around him, they can be tough to beat. Dallas, for all we know, should've swept New York last season, but it didn't happen. This is a whole new season. I understand New York are the defending champs, but Dallas can be the team to beat them. But they need to turn up the intensity this season. With all the other good teams in the NFC, Dallas needs to win the division to get in the playoffs.


NFC West - San Francisco 49ers

Jim Harbaugh gave this team an extreme makeover. The defense was outstanding and Alex Smith was a great game manager. He didn't throw for an insane number of yards, but he managed the game with great efficiency. This team was a number of fluky plays away from a Super Bowl bid, maybe even a Super Bowl Championship. They can only go up from here, and I think that's what this team will do. I think alot of people expect this team to hit a slump after such a great season, but I beg to differ, this team has the tools to be a contender for years to come.

The Rams are not even in this discussion. Their season ended before it even got started. The Cardinals have a solid receiving core and an a solid defense, but their only bane is that at the Quarterback position. And I don't know how long it's going to take for them to see that Kevin Kolb is not the answer. The Seahawks have a solid shot, but I figured they would start Matt Flynn, but they chose to go with Russell Wilson. I don't how wise of a move that is, but I wouldn't be surprised if it backfires in their face.




NFC North - Green Bay Packers

As long as The Packers have Aaron Rodgers, they won't be going anywhere anytime soon. The Packers offense is still one of the best in the NFL, one that's hard to stop, and their defense may not be amazing, but they get the job done when they have to. Their promising season ended in disappointment, but they have the chance to rebound this season. They have a good slate of Home games early on in the season, and Green Bay plays well at Home.

The Packers only competition is the Chicago Bears. The main reason Chicago missed the playoffs last season is because Jay Cutler got injured. With Jay Cutler healthy and at the helm, The Bears are dangerous. Cutler is an essential QB that has amazing command of the offense and with Brandon Marshall back with him, the rest of the league better watch out. The Vikings are going to have Adrian Peterson back, but that won't be enough. The Detroit Lions had a good season last season, but I don't think they'll repeat their success.

This division is going to go through Chicago and Green Bay. Chicago has more winnable games that Green Bay, but head-to-head, I'm giving a slight edge to Rodgers and Co. The Bears should win this division, but that's why we play the games.


NFC South - New Orleans Saints

Experts and other critics have suspended thoughts of The Saints being as good as they were last season not only because of the scandal, but then we have the absence of Sean Payton, Gregg Williams, and several other players and front office people. But we all forget, The Saints have Drew Brees. Doesn't matter who's coaching him, Drew Brees will continue to put up the numbers that we know he can put up. And let's not forget that they went unbeaten at Home last season. They transform into this super powered Behemoth when they're at Home. They're almost unstoppable.

The other teams in this division have gotten better, but not enough to match up with New Orleans. I think Cam Newton and his boys are going to have a repeat of last season. Newton puts up insane numbers, but defense lets him down in the end. The Tampa Bay Bucs added some new pieces, but they always seem to be the team that "almost made it." I don't see them going anywhere either. The Atlanta Falcons are the only threat, but even then I think New Orleans beats them in every category. As good as Matt Ryan and Co. are, when it comes down to New Orleans and Atlanta, New Orleans has their number.


Wild Card: Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons


So, here how I see the NFC stacking up when all is said and done.

1. Green Bay Packers
2. New Orleans Saints
3. San Francisco 49ers
4. New York Giants
5. Chicago Bears
6. Atlanta Falcons

AFC Championship Prediction: Denver Broncos vs New England Patriots

Let's be honest here, Peyton Manning is the savior of this Broncos team. The Colts team that he consistently led to the playoffs had no solid run game and an aggressive defense. These are essential tools you will need to move forward in the playoffs and if the Broncos could make it to the second round with Tebow, imagine how far they can go in the playoffs with Peyton Manning. There in lies the question, how does Peyton Manning do with this new team against Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and New England? I think they can get to the AFC Championship with this team.

As for the reason as to why I have New England here is because I see Peyton Manning and his crew taking Houston out of the playoffs before they can even see the AFC Championship game. I gave Houston the #2 seed and Denver #3. I see Denver beating whoever they face in the first round and going to Houston. And when it comes down to the Houston Texans vs Peyton Manning, I'm taking Peyton Manning every time.

New England is here basically because I think The Broncos will take Houston down. The Patriots have Tom Brady but they also have an easy schedule. How convenient. They always seem to have an easy schedule. And when it comes to a home game, New England is visibly hard to go up against. I mean look at last year's AFC Championship game. Baltimore should've gone to the Super Bowl, but the Homefield Advantage is a factor because you get those calls when you play at home. And if by some weird twist of fate, Houston and Denver don't make it to the AFC Championship, it's gotta be New England winning again. But not this year, Peyton Manning is out to shut a lot of people up and it starts with this.

Tom Brady vs Peyton Manning, once again, for the AFC Championship. Could you dream up any scenario better than that?

NFC Championship Prediction: San Francisco 49ers vs Chicago Bears

Don't adjust your monitor. Your eyes are not deceiving you. The Chicago Bears will take on San Francisco. Before people jump on me, let's look at this for a second.

I already don't have The Giants repeating, and I have them facing Chicago in the first round of the playoffs. The Bears defense will be more than enough to slow The Giants offense down. And I know how The Giants have a habit of finishing the season strong and getting into the playoffs, but Jay Cutler and these Bears are of a different breed and can overpower The Giants. I think this team is ready to bounce back from the loss against Green Bay in the NFC Championship game a couple years ago. Besides, the last time The Giants entered the playoffs as Super Bowl Champions, they lost in the first round to Philly. Nonetheless, I see them getting past New York and knocking off Green Bay in Green Bay.

The Niners are an exceptionally gifted team and I believe this team can get back to the NFC Championship with this defense, this run game and with Alex Smith managing the game. Like I said before, Jim Harbaugh has changed this team and they are better than people have expected. They upset New Orleans and probaly should've beaten New York. But I see the rematch that everybody wants and that is New Orleans vs San Francisco, and I see the same result happening. The Niners defeat The Saints. I mean, I like Drew Brees and The Saints, and I understand how good New Orleans is at Home, but I think The Niners are that much better.

That being said, I see Chicago traveling to San Francisco for a classic NFC Championship game.

Super Bowl Predictions: Denver Broncos vs San Francisco 49ers

People can call me a Homer all they want, but I understand how good The Broncos are. A lot of people underestimate how good certain teams can be. The Broncos with a good QB probably would've beaten New England and maybe Baltimore. But with Peyton Manning, the possibilities are endless. Manning is going to have a phenomenal comeback season and cap it off with winning his second Super Bowl Championship.

I respect The Niners and Jim Harbaugh for what they've accomplished, but when you face somebody like Peyton Manning, it's a tall task. But their only saving grace is that Peyton is only 1-1 in the Super Bowl. The Niners have that no nonsense, rugged defense, but I saw what Manning did to said defense in the preseason.

The pieces are there. All Denver has to do is make the right moves and hope to not get checkmated earlier than they want.





Feel free to Comment.


By Gerald "Showstopper" Prophete