Primetime Preview: Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants

Primetime Preview: Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants

Featured

by | Nov 4, 2019 | Featured, NFL

 

This divisional matchup has produced a lot of great memories and on Monday night they will look to continue that. Both teams are in need of a huge win with the Philadelphia Eagles moving to 5-4 in the division. We begin with the New York Giants who made the move to go to Daniel Jones early in the season over Eli Manning. Jones has shown a lot of promise in his starts but also has shown that he’s still a rookie trying to navigate through the NFL as there will be bumps in the road. Jones has thrown for 1,466 yards and 10 touchdowns with 7 interceptions. A lot of his mistakes came against that stout New England Patriots defense but other than that game he’s shown a lot of growth and promise. Against the Cowboys, Daniel Jones will have to look to his playmakers Evan Engram and Saquon Barkley in order to be successful. Saquon Barkley is a generational talent and he can change the course of any game in the blink of an eye. The last time these two teams met Saquon went off for 120 yards rushing on 11 rushes. He will look to continue that against the Cowboys tonight in New York. When Saquon is in a zone he can beat you running and receiving out the backfield. The run after the catch for Saquon is incredible because he can hit you with a mean stiff arm and with the combination of his speed it will be tough for the Cowboys to hold that to a minimum. The wide receiver core for the Giants has been banged up all season as it’s pretty much the next man up mentality as Golden Tate will be the number 1 tonight. With Sterling Shepard back in the concussion protocol look for Tate and Engram to soak up a lot of targets against that Cowboys defense tonight. The Giants offense has been okay on the year but the defense has looked suspect at times with teams being able to throw all over the secondary. If the New York Giants are going to win this game they will need for the defense to at least try to slow down the high powered Cowboys offense a little bit if they want to even make this a game. The Cowboy defense will have their hands full with Saquon Barkley all night and if the Giants win this game it will be on his tree-trunk legs for the night.

 

 

Just like the New York Giants have Saquon Barkley the Cowboys have Ezekiel Elliott. Tonight will be the night for Elliott to feast against the Giants defense he hasn’t been able to stop any running backs. The last time these two played Zeke only had 53 yards rushing but that was a Zeke coming in from missing training camp on his holdout. Now that we are halfway into the season the Cowboys will be looking to feed their running back who they believe can bring them to the Superbowl. One thing about Ezekiel Elliott is the fact that he’s grown as a pass-catching back and someone that Dak Prescott can depend on at any moment in the game. Usually, quarterbacks have tight ends as safety blankets but in this case, Dak always looks for number 21 at all times. This has been the season for Dak Prescott as he’s been off to a great start with 2,123 yards with 12 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Dak has been playing like a man that wants/needs to get paid and he’s been running the offense smoother than the past years. Dak should be able to have a field day against the weak secondary of the New York Giants as they give up a lot of passing yards and passing touchdowns. Look for Dak Prescott to find his healthy and ready to go number 1 receiver on the team, Amari Cooper, as he’s been a complete monster all season with or without his injuries. Last time Amari Cooper saw the Giants he had 6 catches for 106 yards and a touchdown. We should see a repeat of that in this game tonight against the Giants as there was no way Jenkins was going to be able to hold him in that secondary. The Cowboys defense has been the biggest question for this team as far as them being complete. If this defense can get it together against the Giants that will be a great sign for moving forward. The Cowboys secondary has been struggling as it was noticeable because they were trying to pry Adams from the Jets.

 

 

Both teams need this game badly but this should be a semi-shootout as the running backs will try to lead their teams. The edge goes to the Cowboys as they have the quarterback, wide receiver, running back trio that can score at any moment of a game. The Giants are banged up and that would make it tough for anyone against the Cowboys who are coming off a bye waiting for you. This division is always close when it’s crunch time and these games do matter in a division that truly hates each other on the field. We should be in for a real treat tonight as NFL fans and it will be a battle either way regardless of who wins this game.

 

Score Prediction: Dallas Cowboys Win (28-17)

Nov 4, 2019 No Comments
Primetime Preview: New England Patriots @ Baltimore Ravens

Primetime Preview: New England Patriots @ Baltimore Ravens

Featured

by | Nov 4, 2019 | Featured, NFL

 

The undefeated (8-0) New England Patriots will be heading to Baltimore to battle the Ravens and their leader Lamar Jackson. This will be the first test for the Patriots defense on the season as they face off against one of the most dynamic players in the NFL. The Patriots schedule hasn’t been tough at all and this will be their first true test so we can see what they’re really made of. One thing we know about Bill Belicheck is that he’s going to try to take away the best player but in this case, it’s the quarterback. The Patriots don’t want Jackson to get comfortable in the pocket at all and want him to try and force throws all night. Jackson has been great at decision making this season as he has shown when to run and when to throw.

 

This season Jackson has a lot of playmakers alongside him as they brought in Mark Ingram for big games like this so they can try to run the ball and clock to keep Tom Brady off the field. Ingram has been able to ground and pound all year which has helped Lamar get his throws off keeping the defense honest. The Patriots will have their hands full as the Ravens have some great receivers as well. Hollywood Brown and Mark Andrews have been huge targets for Jackson all season so they will try to continue that against the best defense in the NFL. The Ravens did improve on the defensive end as they now have Marcus Peters and Earl Thomas in the secondary trying to shut down some of Brady’s weapons in the receiving core. The Ravens and Patriots have always been a good rivalry and the Ravens will do whatever they can to make sure they get the win.

 

 

The Patriots have the best coach and best quarterback in the NFL and they’ve shown that all season with their start. This is the most complete Patriots since the 2007 season and the defense has been unbelievable this season. The way the defense has played this season has been a breath of fresh air for Tom Brady and the offense. This defense has had a light schedule but they have been destroying all the teams in their way. This defense doesn’t allow any touchdowns and they don’t like anyone throwing on them either. The Patriots lead the NFL in takeaways and that has helped Tom Brady be able to have a great field position and also it has put the offense in a better position to win. The Patriots lost Gronk, Gordon, and have a banged-up James White but this hasn’t stopped them. The Ravens will try to make it tough on Brady but the way this run game has been kicking it into high gear with Sony Michel has been a huge turnaround from the beginning of the season. It seems like the Patriots can throw anyone on the offensive side and Brady will make them look like a star.

 

 

 

This Patriots team can beat you in all phases of the game it seems like this season and the Ravens would have to play a perfect game to even have a chance to win. The Patriots offense, defense, and special teams have been excellent all season long and will try to confuse the Ravens throughout the game. The Patriots will be leaning on Julian Edelman heavy in the offseason like they have all season if they want to win this game. Julian Edelman has become the safety blanket for Tom in this offense and the Patriots can’t overlook the Ravens at all as this should be a great Sunday Night Football duel.

 

Score Prediction: New England Patriots Win (34-24)

Nov 4, 2019 No Comments
SR NFL Week 9: Preview and Predictions

SR NFL Week 9: Preview and Predictions

Featured

by | Nov 3, 2019 | Featured, NFL

 

 

9:30 AM EST

Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (London)

 

In a game where both teams need a win to maintain their playoff hopes, this should be a slobber knocker in London. Deshaun Watson’s coming into this game a little banged up but he’s been playing lights out. The team will be without Will Fuller again which means that Watson will be targeting his main receiver, DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins has been soaking up all the targets and expects to get into the end zone in London against a Jags team that doesn’t have Jalen Ramsey anymore. The Texans defense took a big step back as they lost JJ Watt for the season last weekend and will have their hands full trying to stop Leonard Fournette in London. We all know the offense moves the way Leonard does and with Gardner Minshew slinging that football any and every way look for him to get DJ Chark involved as quickly as possible. This should be a great shootout in London and this game will be huge moving forward for playoff implications.

Score Prediction: Houston Texans Win (38-28)

 

 

1:00 PM EST

Chicago Bears @ Philidelphia Eagles

 

The Chicago Bears have been struggling on the offensive end and will need to figure things out fast. The NFC North Division is stronger than ever and the Bears are being left behind. They will need to continue to use David Montgomery in the running game like they did last week in order to beat the Eagles. Mitch Trubisky hasn’t got the job done throwing the ball this season and he may need to showcase some of that speed with his legs against that Eagles defense. If he can find Allen Robinson and get past that Eagles secondary they could be in good shape. The Eagles have had some locker room issues as of late but will be looking to get back in that winning column ASAP as they need to find a way to get their playmakers the ball in open space. Carson Wentz will need to find Ertz and Jeffrey in the passing game against that Bears defense as it could be tough on the ground for Jordan Howard. Both teams need a win badly and will need to use all three phases of the game to get the win in a matchup that should be rugged and hard-hitting.

Score Prediction: Chicago Bears Win (20-17)

 

Indianapolis Colts @ Pittsburgh Steelers

 

The Colts will be on the road going against the Pittsburgh Steelers who will be without their starting RB James Conner. Conner has an AC Joint Sprain and that will leave the running duties to Jaylen Samuels. The Colts haven’t been able to stop the run but they will try and make Mason Rudolph work hard by trying to beat them in the air. The Colts will be without TY Hilton against the Steelers and this will mean that Jacoby Brissett will depend on his tight ends Ebron and Doyle to come through. The good thing for the Colts is that they will have a healthy Marlon Mack in the backfield. Both defenses have been a little shaky this season and will try to slow down the opposing offenses. This could be the big Juju game that everyone has been waiting on including the Steelers. Without Conner look for the Pittsburgh to rely on the arm of Rudolph if they’re going to get the job done. The Colts are trying to get to 6 wins on the season and the Steelers are trying to stay in the mix in their division so this should be a close one.

Score Prediction: Indianapolis Colts (24-17)

 

Minnesota Vikings @ Kansas City Chiefs

 

Patrick Mahomes has been ruled as questionable for this matchup against the red hot Vikings. With that being said Mahomes has been taking snaps with the 2nd unit and should be ready to go for Week 10. The Chiefs will be going with Matt Moore against the Vikings defense that has come alive in the last couple of weeks. In order for the Chiefs to get a win at home, they will need to get Tyreek Hill involved quickly and in any way they can. Hill should be lined up in the slot and the backfield against Minnesota because they need the ball in their playmaker’s hands. If Moore can find Travis Kelce in the secondary they should have a good outing like last week. This is the Vikings team that we expected especially after last year as they’re playing lights out. The Vikings star wide receiver Adam Thielen will be a game-time but the way they’re playing they might not need him. This Vikings offense has been driven all season by the play of Dalvin Cook. Cook has been able to score anytime he wants and has been a beast in the backfield running/catching. With his play and the addition of Stefon Diggs playing like a pro bowler, it should be a good afternoon for Minnesota fans.

Score Prediction: Minnesota Vikings Win (31-17)

 

New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins

 

 

Both the Jets and Dolphins are struggling this season and it’s been tough to watch as a fan of either team. Combined the two teams have 1 win on the season and they’re in a division dominated by the New England Patriots. The Jets will have the upper advantage in this game as they have the better defense. The Jets were listening to calls on their two best players this past week (Adams & Bell) and they will probably come out pissed off while taking it out on the Dolphins. This should be a huge game for Leveon Bell as he has been asking for more touches and this should be the game the Jets offense does just that. Sam Darnold will have all of his weapons on full display and with the lack of effort on Miami’s side, it should be easy pickings. The Dolphins have been struggling all season and this game should no different on the road or at home, it doesn’t matter. It seems like everyone that leaves Miami gets better just ask Kenyan Drake who looks happy in Arizona. The Dolphins need to hope that they have a lot of Fitz-Magic going on at home in this one because they will need it and they will need a huge game from Mark Walton as well.

Score Prediction: New York Jets Win (28-10)

 

Washington Redskins @ Buffalo Bills

 

The Buffalo Bills are looking to bounce back in this game against the Redskins at home. Buffalo has the running game going and they came up just short last week. The Bills will look to use Josh Allen, Devin Singletary, and Frank Gore in this game a lot if they want to succeed against the Redskins. Josh Allen has evolved into an amazing young quarterback and he will be looking for his number one target John Brown in the passing game. This Bills team is very complete and they have a defense that can get it done in the passing game and running. The Redskins have benched Case Keenum and went with Dwayne Haskins for this week in Buffalo. This will be a tough task for a rookie to go into Buffalo to get a win but if it’s going to happen he will need to lean on Adrian Peterson and Terry McLaurin to get through the game. The Redskins still haven’t been able to get Trent Williams on the field yet and that will hurt them against a team hungry for a win to stay in the playoff hunt.

Score Prediction: Buffalo Bills Win (24-7)

 

Tennesee Titans @ Carolina Panthers

 

Kyle Allen has led this Carolina team to 4 wins on the season and if he wants to make it 5 wins he will need to keep feeding Christian McCaffrey. Allen has made some great throws off the weeks but got rocked by the undefeated 49ers last week. He will look to bounce back and get his guy Run CMC back in the mix as they play against a Titans team that is trying to get back into the win column. The Panthers have a lot of playmakers on the offense and will need to try to get Moore & Samuels involved early to get things going in the right direction. A lot of teams game plan for CMC and they need to have an alternate route especially if the Titans defense is on their game early. Christian can easily be in the MVP discussion because he means that much to this team and the way he plays dictates their fate. On the flip side, the Titans are still trying to find their identity with Ryan Tannehill at quarterback now. He’s been able to get the job done but they need a complete game on both sides of the ball as a team and that has yet to happen. They need to get the ball into Derrick Henry’s hands and make sure that they ride his hot hand throughout the game. The Titans have a young receiving core but they have emerged while Ryan has been under center. Both teams are scrappy and will try to get this win any way possible.

Score Prediction: Carolina Panthers Win (30-20)

 

4:05 PM EST

Detriot Lions @ Oakland Raiders 

 

This game has shootout written all over it as both teams like to throw the ball. The Lions have been throwing the ball a lot more because of the injury to Kerryon Johnson. Once he went to the IR it seemed like Matthew Stafford was like it’s time to put on the cape and start throwing like 30+ times per game. The Lions have some great receivers in Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. they will be using them to try to throw off the Raiders secondary. The Lions have some playmakers but they need to be able to have them on the field a lot if they want to win. That being said the defense needs to get to Derek Carr and make sure he doesn’t have time to pick them apart. Carr has Williams, Waller, and Jacobs on the offensive end. The Raiders have shown some glimpses of being a team that can have a lot of potential for the future but being 3-4 on the season they will try to outscore the Lions to win. Both defenses have a lot of injuries and they will try to stop these offenses but it will be a tough task as both teams like to throw a lot.

Score Prediction: Oakland Raiders Win (34-31)

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Seattle Seahawks

 

The last time we saw Jameis Winston he threw 2 touchdowns but also had 2 interceptions. If he’s going to lead his team in Seattle he will need to cut down those interceptions and fumbles. Jameis has shown a lot of growth this season but he will need to trust in his line to give him enough time to get the ball to Godwin and Evans. The Bucs have one of the best WR duos in the NFL and will need them both to step up big time in Seattle. The Bucs running game is hit or miss that’s why Jameis forces a lot of throws but they will need to execute almost perfect going into the land of the 12th man. The Seahawks defense has got better over the weeks with Clowney and Wagner being on the same page so it looks like Jameis could be on the run a lot. On the other side of the Seahawks, you have Russell Wilson who has been playing lights out as one of the MVP candidates. The Bucs defense hasn’t been consistent and Wilson will make it tough on them with every run or throw. Wilson has his own talent but he also has some playmakers in Carson & Lockett. Both of them can beat anyone on the defense at any moment and this team will be even scarier when they get Josh Gordon out there in the next couple weeks.

Score Prediction: Seattle Seahawks Win (31-17)

 

4:25 PM EST

Green Bay Packers @ LA Chargers

 

The Chargers are struggling and playing some of their worst football that we can remember in Phillip Rivers era as the quarterback. It’s crazy that the Chargers are 3-5 but they have one of the most stacked teams on both ends of the ball. The Chargers will need to get the running game going against the Packers. Since Melvin Gordon has come back they haven’t run the ball as much and they’ve been behind so much they needed to pass. It’s nice passing the ball to Keenan Allen and Mike Williams but they need to get back to using their running backs properly. The Chargers defense has been banged up and this isn’t the best spot for them going against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers with the run they were on. The Packers are 7-1 and playing the best ball of the season right now. The dynamic duo of the Aaron’s have been on a tear and it hasn’t been fair on defenses. The Chargers will have to try to stop Aaron Jones and they will need to try and stop Adams if he suits up. This is a tough matchup for a Chargers team that needs a win badly but they will need to earn this one and prove they’re still the same team from last year. This game could go either way but it depends on which Chargers team we see on the field and judging by the past couple of weeks it will be tough to watch if you’re a Chargers fan as it will be tough slowing down Mr. Discount Double Check.

Score Prediction: Green Bay Packers (38-24)

 

Cleveland Browns @ Denver Broncos

 

The Cleveland Browns are in need of a serious win and that may happen on Sunday. It all depends on the Denver Broncos Defense because if they can get to Baker Mayfield before he can get the ball to OBJ or Landry it could be a long day. The bright spot for the Cleveland Browns this season has been Nick Chubb and even though he had a tough outing in New England last week look for him to bounce back. This offense is wrapped around Chubb and when he’s running and catching everything the Browns look really good. The Broncos will need Von Miller to get in the face of Baker all day to make anything happen. The Broncos announced earlier this week that Joe Flacco will be on IR and they will start Brandon Allen. The Browns defense should be licking their chops at the new quarterback and they should be able to make it tough on him. Look for the new quarterback to try and get the ball in his running backs hands as much as possible. The Browns should be in full control of this game and they will need it to get back in the mix in their division if they want to catch the Ravens.

Score Prediction: Cleveland Browns Win (24-13)

 

 

Nov 3, 2019 No Comments
Oklahoma City’s Well Balanced Attack Helps Defeat The Pelicans (115-104)

Oklahoma City’s Well Balanced Attack Helps Defeat The Pelicans (115-104)

Featured

by | Nov 3, 2019 | Featured, NBA

The Thunder have been in all of the games that they’ve played this season and it didn’t stop tonight. Coming into this game against the Pelicans they knew they would have to limit turnovers and get back to the ball movement. This was the most complete offensive attack that the Thunder put out tonight as it seemed as though no one on the Pelicans could stop it. One of the bright spots for the Thunder was the fact that Darius Bazley was able to display some of the confidence that his coaches and teammates talk about all the time. Bazley was able to notch his career-high in points tonight against the Pelicans as he was able to beat them inside and outside. Bazley finished with 17 points on the night and 3/6 from the 3 point line. Darius Bazley has a lot of raw potential that has yet to be tapped into this season and if he continues at this rate anything is possible for him. Bazley has developed into a true slasher and has got better on the defensive end as it seems as though the rookie has no jitters at all. Another player that has been able to take his game to another level has been Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. This season SGA has made a huge jump in points as he’s averaging 10 points more per game this season than last season in LA. Coming to OKC has helped his game and he’s been able to have the green light and not slow down at all. The Pelicans tried to stop Shai with Jrue Holiday on the defensive end and it was a clear mismatch. Shai finished the game with 23 points and has shown everyone in the NBA that he’s a bonafide scorer and someone that teams will need to gameplan on. When Shai gets the angle to get to the rim he’s bound to make a beautiful finish at the rim or he’s going to get his teammates involved.

 

 

 

The Oklahoma City Thunder had 6 players in double figures tonight against the Pelicans who couldn’t stop them on defense. The Thunder played without Steven Adams for the second straight game and for the second straight game Nerlens Noel has stepped up. The defense that Nerlens has brought to the table has helped jumpstart the offense in fastbreaks as well. The player that has been consistently helping the Thunder on that second unit has been Dennis Schröder who finished this game with 17 points. Dennis has been one of those players that have been changing the game with his energy and his play. Dennis knows where his teammates are going to be and he also knows when to get his offense going as well. His play has been a huge help to the Thunder as it looks like they have the Dennis Schröder from Atlanta in OKC. The game really changed in a great way for the Thunder when they had the 3 guard lineup of Paul, Alexander, and Schröder. When the Thunder have those three on the court at the same time it seems to be a really good decision for the team. Those three will have to lead the Thunder all season and with the team beating the Pelicans to get their 2nd win on the season anything is possible moving forward.

The Pelicans were able to keep the game close against the Thunder but they didn’t have Brandon Ingram to finish the game. Ingram looked like he was on his way to having one of those good games that we’ve seen from him recently until his head injury. Once Ingram went out the game the Pelicans were leaning on Jrue Holiday, Lonzo Ball, and Josh Hart to get it done. All three of them combined for 38 points on the night but it wasn’t enough to get over the hump against the Thunder. Jahlil Okafor did play really well tonight as he added 15 points but he had some turnovers and fouls that didn’t help the case for them winning. This Pelicans team has a lot of potential and they will be a force to be reckoned with when Zion Williamson comes back from his knee injury. The Pelicans fell short against the Thunder tonight and now OKC will try to get another win against the Magic as they come to town on Tuesday night.

Nov 3, 2019 No Comments
Dame Time Too Much Down The Stretch As OKC Loses Close One (102-99)

Dame Time Too Much Down The Stretch As OKC Loses Close One (102-99)

Featured

by | Oct 31, 2019 | Featured, NBA, uncategorised

The Thunder have been a scrappy group of guys this season. Everyone has counted them out and that has been the motivation this season. A lot of teams like Portland come into the game not knowing what to expect from this new-look team. One thing that they find out is that this squad has a lot of heart and they have amazing ball movement. The Thunder played against Portland and they were able to execute throughout the game as both teams struggled with scoring. It wasn’t until the second unit when Dennis Schröder was able to give the Thunder spark to help them stay afloat in this game. The way Dennis played was exactly what the Thunder wanted when he came from Atlanta and it seems like he’s able to be free and play his game. Dennis was able to affect the game in all phases as he was able to score, defend, and show energy with hustle plays. The way that he’s played the last two games has been a huge boost to this team as it seems like NBA teams are finally trying to gameplan for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a lot more. Dennis was able to create his own shot and was able to attack while having the hot hand for the Thunder.

 

CP3 struggled in the first half and Dennis was able to fill that void on the team. The second half is when CP3 was able to get more aggressive as he was getting to the basket and drawing a lot of fouls. CP3 was able to get to the line but he also handed out a lot of nice passes that led to the Thunder scoring. Chris Paul can’t be passive on this team and when he doesn’t attack it doesn’t help the others. When Chris can attack it makes the other team focus on him and forces them to stay put defensively. When Chris plays at that All-Star level that we know he has anything is possible. CP3 is the leader of this team and this team will go as far as he can help them go on the season. CP3 finished with 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists against Portland. Nerlens Noel has come up big time in his chances with Steven Adams being hurt and that continued tonight as had a monster game with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Nerlens has shown his quickness and his willingness to defend at an elite level. Noel made it tough on the Trail Blazers tonight and was able to dominate in the paint when he had chances too with and without Whiteside in the game.

 

 

The Thunder played well but this Portland team has been through the trenches together and it showed tonight. Portland had CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard who are two players the Thunder fans know very well after the playoffs. When both of them have their game going it’s tough to actually try to stop them. Tonight it was CJ who went off in the first half as the Thunder tried to put multiple players on him. Even with the improvements defensively of Hamidou and Terrance, he was able to make some tough shots. It’s almost like they take turns in the game especially since it was Dame Time in the second half. This time “Dame Time” was all about his shooting and facilitating with his teammates. Lillard finished with 23 points and 13 assists on the night and was able to create any time he wanted too. The Thunder have been in every single game this season but it’s clear they haven’t found who will be their closer in close games. Lillard was able to execute down the stretch and postgame even admitted that the Thunder have a lot more ball movement.

 

 

The Thunder will face the Pelicans on Saturday without Zion as that’s a game that they need badly to get back into the winning column.

Oct 31, 2019 No Comments