Sunday, 12-16-07
1pm games:
Game of the Week, Pt. 1:
Buffalo Bills (7-6) vs. Cleveland Browns (8-5)
Location: Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, OH
For the Browns, a win this Sunday plus a Titans’ loss will
get them in the playoffs. For the Bills,
a win this Sunday will keep them alive in the playoff hunt in the AFC.
The Browns have too many weapons on offense for the
Bills. The Bills defense is ranked 28th
against the pass. The Browns are ranked
10th in passing offense.
Also, RB Jamal Lewis has been
very effective running the ball. The
Bills defense has their hands full trying to stop the Browns offense. The Bills need to attack the QB and disrupt
the Browns offense at the line of scrimmage.
They also have to take the Browns, receivers out of the game and take
away any weapon from QB Derek Anderson.
The Browns have to stop the Bills on the ground now that RB Marshawn Lynch is back. The Browns cannot allow the Bills to control
the ball with Lynch. The Bills O-line
also has to protect QB Brent Edwards
and give him time to execute the play.
This is a big game for both of these teams with a playoff
spot for grabs. When you match-up these
teams, on paper, they are as even as you can get. But the explosiveness of the Browns offense
and the fact that they are playing at home in the Dog Pound is the difference
maker. The Browns win this game, but it
will be close.
My Pick: Browns
Tennessee Titans (7-6) vs. Kansas
City Chiefs (4-9)
Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
The Titans’ playoff chances are slipping each
week. In their last 4 games, the Titans
have a record of 1-3. This is no time
for a team to start collapsing with two games left in the season after Sunday’s
game against the Chiefs. The Chiefs were
hanging tough in the AFC West for a while and then just dropped the ball. With their playoff chances finished, it’s
time to play some young guys and maybe play the role of spoiler for a few
teams. This game is a good time to start
that trend.
Both teams’ defenses are solid. The Titans are ranked 6th in the
league in total defense while the Chiefs are ranked 14th in the
league. It comes down to offense, and
with that in mind, the Titans have more stability on the offensive side of the
ball. Although the Chiefs will start QB Brodie
Croyle again this Sunday, it doesn’t mean he’ll stay at the starter’s
position for the remainder of the year.
The Chiefs have consistency on their offense and that why they’re
losing.
With the Titans having a stable offense and the
return of DT Albert Haynesworth to the defense this Sunday, look for
Titans to put a hurting on the Chiefs this Sunday.
My
Pick: Titans
Green Bay Packers (11-2) vs. St. Louis Rams (4-9)
Location: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, MO
The Packers are already a lock for the
playoffs. All they have to do is make
sure they keep their 1st round bye.
The Rams have played very hard this season despite their 4-9
record. They continue to give teams
problems because they won’t lie down and die.
They’re one of the few teams in the league that will take it to you
whether the win or lose.
The Packers have to continue to go to their running
game. Last week the Packers were ranked last in rushing offense, this week they
are ranked 24th, that can be attributed to the strong rushing
performances of RB Ryan Grant.
The Rams are ranked 22nd against the rush, so the Packers are
capable to utilize their run game against the Rams D-line. Especially considering the fact that the
Rams’ D-line is beat up.
The Rams have to shut the Packers passing game. In order to do that, they have to go after Brett
Farve
and take him out of the game.We saw what happened in the Packers/Cowboys match-up when Farve was
knocked out of the game. Back-up QB, Aaron
Rogers
did his best to hold it down, but it wasn’t enough for the win. Farve runs that offense, if you take him outof the equation, the packers offense is no good.
With the Rams defense hurting and the Packers
offense flowing like it has for the majority of the season, the Packers will
lock their 1st round bye this weekend.
My
Pick: Packers
The “I Could Care Less” Game of the
Week, Pt. 2:
Baltimore Ravens (4-9) vs. Miami Dolphins (0-13)
Location: Dolphin Stadium, Miami, FL
The
Ravens and the Dolphins are part of a long list of NFL teams who will be glad
when their season is over. The Dolphins’
chances of having a successful season went out the window at the 2007
Draft. The Ravens’ had high expectations
for this season, but fell short due to injuries and age. Both teams will be looking to make major
changes at the end of this season. One
thing that will stay constant is that Ravens’ Head Coach, Brian Billick will return to Baltimore next season to run the
offense. I know everyone is excited in
B-more. That was sarcasm in case you
didn’t catch it.
Although
the Ravens’ offense stinks this season, it’s still better than the
Dolphins’. Actually, the Ravens
outnumber the Dolphins in almost every category. The Ravens’ defense is too strong for the
Dolphins’ offense and at the moment. The
Dolphins will get squash by the Ravens’ this Sunday.
My
Pick: Ravens
Game of the Week, Pt. 2:
NY Jets (3-10) vs. New England Patriots (13-0)
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA
Why would I make this game my 2nd “Game
of the Week”? The reason why is
because Head Coach Eric Mangini and his J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets were
the ones who tugged on Superman’s cape and started the whole “spygate”
situation back in Week 1. And we’ve seen
how that worked out. That’s what
Man-genius gets for tattle-telling. Now
the Pats are wreaking havoc on the league in their quest for not just a
championship, but for immortality.
Last I checked, the J-E-T-S were a 42 point underdog going
into Sunday’s game. Ouch. The only thing that can help the Jets is the
weather. A nor’easter is scheduled to
hit Foxboro when the game starts, hopefully the strong winds and the bad
weather will be miracle the Jets need for the win. As the French essayist, Jean de La Bruyère
once said “Out of difficulties grow
miracles”. Then again, his favorite
team didn’t come across an angry New England Patriots team. Tomorrow will be a blood bath. God have mercy on the NY J-E-T-S; Jets, Jets,
Jets.
My
Pick: Patriots
Arizona Cardinals (6-7) vs. New Orleans Saints (6-6)
Location: Superdome, New Orleans, LA
The loser of this game is out of the playoff chase
in the NFC. That means both teams will
do whatever it takes to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Both of these teams have been back and forth this
season. One minute their game is on and
the next minute their game is off.
Sunday’s game will be the test to see which team wants it more. It all comes down to which team shows up for
either side.
The Cards have had injuries to key player son their
offense and defense and the same goes for the Saints. The difference maker will be the play of the
QBs in this game. Both QBs have to play
smart this Sunday and avoid any stupid mistakes because the defenses for both
of these teams are coming after them all day long. If I was a gambling man, which I’m not, I
would have to go with QB Drew Brees and the Saints in this game.
With WRs Anquan
Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald’s
status still uncertain, QB Kurt Warner
doesn’t have all of his weapons and he needs them for a game such as this
one. With the Saints pretty much knowing
where they stand and what they have to work with this Sunday, they look to be a
little more prepared for the game. The
Saints are the logical choice for the win this weekend.
My
Pick: Saints
Game of the Week, Pt. 3:
Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-4)
Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
Last year when the Steelers and the Jags faced off,
the Jags won 9-0. That game was all
about defense. Look for the same in this
game. Both teams need to win this game to ensure their spot in the
playoffs. The Jags need it more than the
Steelers. If the Jags win, then they
would jump over the Steelers in the standings.
If the Jags lose and the Browns and Chargers win,
then the Jags will fall behind those two teams in the AFC standings. The Steelers need to win to hold onto their
lead in the NFC North. After this game, their
last 2 games are against a non-conference opponent in the Rams, and a conference
and divisional game against the Ravens.
Don’t look for too much high scoring on the boards
in this game either. This game is all
about defense. The Steelers have the #1
defense in the league and although the Jags defense is ranked 17th
in the NFL, they have stepped up big this season in key spots.
So the difference maker is the offensive side of the
ball. The Jags are ranked 10th
in total offense in the NFL. The
Steelers are ranked 14th in offense in the NFL. That’s the difference. The Jags have a good rushing game and that
will be the key to the Jags success this Sunday.
Also, Steelers haven’t look as intimidating as they
have in the beginning of the season. The Steelers are 2-2 in their last 4 games
and they need to pick it up before the playoffs start. It just doesn’t look like this is the game for
them to do so.
My
Pick: Jaguars
Atlanta Falcons (3-10) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5)
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
This is a big game for both teams. The Bucs need this win to lock the NFC South
and head into the playoffs. The Falcons
need this win so they can move on from a terrible week of bad P.R. Honestly, I want the Falcons to win this
game. Not just for the players, but for
the owner, Arthur Blank.
Yes, he’s one of the people responsible for the
hiring of Petrino, but no one should have to endure the embarrassment he and
his organization have for the past couple of games. In due time, this team will get it together,
but for now they don’t take this lose personally.
The Bucs know that they should have had the NFC
South on lock by now. Injuries and poor
game management has been the reason for some of the Bucs’ loses. That changes
Sunday. Including this game, the next 3
games are against teams with records under .500. That’s just what the doctor ordered heading
into the playoffs.
QB Jeff Garcia returns this Sunday against the
Falcons and with no real leadership on the Falcons, there is no way the Falcons
will win this game. Look for the Bucs to
get the NFC South and the playoff spot in the win this Sunday.
.
My Pick: Buccaneers
Seahawks (9-4) vs. Carolina Panthers (5-8)
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
The Panthers got their 1st win at home 2
weeks ago against the 49ers. This Sunday
they match-up against a Seahawks squad who are winners of their last 5 games
and are a lock for the playoffs. This is
going to be a very interesting game.
The Seahawks are ranked 12th and Panthers
are ranked 13th overall in total defense. On offense, the Seahawks are ranked 11th
while the Panthers are ranked 29th overall in the NFL. The difference, the Seahawks has a steady QB
in Matt Hasselbeck while the Panthers have no idea who will start for them at
QB on a day-to-day basis.
Although their defense is average, the Panthers have
no stability on their offense. The
Seahawks, who have their running game back as well, are balanced on both sides
of the ball in this match-up. Look for
the Seahawks to hand the Panthers their 6th home loss this season.
My
Pick: Seahawks
4pm games:
Indianapolis Colts (11-2) vs. Oakland Raiders (4-9)
Location: McAfee Coliseum, Oakland, CA
The Colts, like the Packers, are in the playoffs and
are playing to hold on to the 2nd place spot in their conference for
the 1st round bye. The
Raiders’ season is done and they are now playing to see what they have in store
for the future.
The Colts have to protect QB Peyton Manning
and not allow the Raiders D-line to put any pressure on him. Once pressure is applied, Peyton will make
key mistakes and force turnovers. The
Raiders have to control the ball on offense and keep the Colts off of the
field. The Raiders can’t afford too many
“3 and outs”. If that happens, the Colts
will have the ball all day and run up the score.
The Raiders has had some bright moments this year
despite their record. Too bad today
won’t be one of them against a Colts squad that has too many weapons.
My
Pick: Colts
Eagles (5-8) vs. Dallas Cowboys (12-1)
Location: Texas Stadium, Irving, TX
After losing to the Giants last weekend, the Eagles
season is all but done. The Cowboys
almost added another “L” to the los column last weekend had it not been for the
last second heroics of QB Tony Romo.
And as the road to the playoffs continues to slowly arrive to its
destination, old adversaries continue to pop up every now and again. I want to give this game to the Cowboys
outright, but when the Eagles and the Cowboys face off, there’s always
something that gets the fire started and the games are usually good. By the way, T.O. is playing this
Sunday against his old team.
The Eagles have to attack the Cowboys O-line and
take out Romo and T.O. Also, they have
to slow down the Cowboys run game. For
the Cowboys, their objective is to take out RB Brian Westbrook
The Eagles/Cowboys’ rivalry is always good and the
games are always interesting. With the
high the Cowboys offense has been riding and the consistent play of their
defense, look for the Cowboys to get the win.
My
Pick: Cowboys
Detroit Lions (6-7) vs. San Diego Chargers (8-5)
Location: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA
The Chargers pulled out a good win last Sunday that
pretty much gave them the AFC West. The Lions gave up big in last Sunday to
Cowboy that may have shut the door on their playoff chances. The story out of this game is whether or not
QB Philip Rivers and RB LaDainian
Tomlinson are on the same page.
After the way L.T. walked away Rivers on the sideline last Sunday, Head
Coach Norv Turner needs to make sure
his top 2 guys on his offense is on the same page.
For the Lions to win, they need to throw off rivers and
disrupt the offense. On offense, the
Lions have to move the ball on the ground ad wear down the Charges
defense. The Chargers have to get their
offense going against a weak Lions defense.
They have to let L.T. do his
thing and run down the Lions’ 31st ranked defense.
The Chargers offense is too much for Lions’ defense
to handle. It looks as though the Lions
playoff chances are done after this game.
My
Pick: Chargers
8:30 pm game:
(6-7) vs. NY Giants (9-4)
Location: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Like the Steelers/Jags game, this game will be a
defensive showdown. The G-men are ranked
7th in the league in total defense while the Redskins are ranked 11th.
That means the offense for both teams
have to play smart football and the defenses have to put pressure on the QBs.
QB Tood Collins did a solid job last Thursday
for the injured Jason Campbell in the win against the Bears. The question is can he keep it up against one
of the leagues most punishing defenses? Eli
Manning cracks like an egg when teams’ defenses come after him. He has to stay poised throughout this game
and not force any mistakes. This is the
Giants game to win due to the better defense. Look for the Giants to keep it close, but win
in the end.
My
Pick: Giants
