OKC Thunder Lead By Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Beat The Dallas Mavericks (119-104)

OKC Thunder Lead By Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Beat The Dallas Mavericks (119-104)

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The Oklahoma City Thunder opened up their preseason with a 3 pointer from Steven Adams. Yes, Steven Adams and the Thunder worked on that corner 3 pointers in practice. If OKC adds 3 point shooting to Steven Adams already dominate inside game it could be very scary for the NBA. Steven was a beast in the paint and it showed tonight as he scored 17 points. The evolution of his game could be something very special for this season. The Thunder were able to use Steven in the pick and roll with CP3 and Shai to perfection. The chemistry with the point guards and Steven was on full display as Billy Donovan went with the three-guard lineup of Shai, Dennis, and Chris to start the game. This was very effective and it caught the Dallas Mavericks off guard as they sometimes had bigs trying to stop the ball. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a game-high 24 points on the night and his points just sneak up on you. One thing about Shai’s game is the fact that he can get to the basket with ease and he’s shown a lot of growth in creating his own shot. The team has the ultimate confidence in Shai and has put the ball in his hands along with Chris Paul. Both of them together are a nice combination that can work to perfection with the way that Steven Adams has shown that he’s willing to play. This team is playing with house money and they won’t have to worry about the pressure of getting an insane amount of wins.

 

 

Chris Paul only played 17 minutes tonight but showed a lot of leadership and proved why he’s still one of the most elite guards in the league with his basketball IQ. Paul only had 6 points on the night against the Mavericks but this was a night for some of the young guys to shine like Darius Bazley. Darius had an amazing night in his first-ever NBA game and was playing with the utmost confidence. Bazley had 9 points but made the most of his opportunities and time on the court. The fact that he was confident in his jumper and attacking the rim was very key and shows that he can bring multiple things to the table for this team. Terrence Ferguson is another player that stood out in the minutes that he had tonight with 12 points and he was still slashing and defending at a high level. This Thunder team can be sneaky good and really turn a lot of heads in the NBA if they don’t take them seriously. Yes, the Mavericks were without Luka and Kristaps but they were able to still put up some big numbers. One thing that stood out is that the Thunder were in the bonus early and they were able to limit a lot of the Mavericks 3 point attempts and forced them to drive to the basket.

 

The Thunder play against the New Zealand Breakers next at home on Thursday night.

Oct 9, 2019 No Comments
OKC Thunder Blue & White Scrimmage Recap: White Team Wins (76-60)

OKC Thunder Blue & White Scrimmage Recap: White Team Wins (76-60)

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The Oklahoma City Thunder held their annual Blue & White Scrimmage today in Edmond. The scrimmage is a great way to see the new Thunder team for the first time in front of media and fans. We were able to see Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with their new teammates in action. The game was only 3 quarters but the players showed a lot of promise especially Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Darius Bazley, Steven Adams, and Chris Paul. So many people around the NBA have already written the Thunder off after trading away Russell Westbrook and Paul George this offseason. In a way, I think that this could be the chance for the team to build a true identity and it gives Steven Adams a chance to take that next step in his career. The scrimmage was great because we saw how much growth some of the players from last year have grown with the addition of the new pieces that joined this offseason.

 

The Scrimmage was stacked with talent led by Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Steven Adams, Darius Bazley, Dennis Schröder, Hamidou Diallo and Danilo Gallinari. Steven Adams was a man among boys in the paint during the scrimmage as he finished with 21 rebounds. Steven looked really good and he looks to take that next step as he’s even added more ball-handling into his game. There were a couple of plays where Adams was able to bring the ball down the court and start some fast breaks. Now we don’t expect to see that during the season but it was good to see him being more active looking for teammates. Adams has improved on his passing and has polished up his hook shot jumper. If Adams can continue to grow within his game the Thunder should be dominating in the paint this season because CP3 is the type of point guard that will wait for the center to grab the rebound while moving at his own pace. Adams should be able to average at least 15 ppg and 15 rebs per game this season for Oklahoma City. Adams will be a big part of the Thunder’s success moving forward and it was good to see his dominance in the scrimmage even if it was against his teammates.

 

 

Chris Paul looked very good in the scrimmage and you can tell that he’s helping the young core grow on a daily. The Thunder knew that CP3 could come in here and help the other guards like Dennis Schröder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with pointers throughout the season. CP3 and his plant-based diet were on full display as he was running up and down the court dropping dimes to his shooters and his bigs on target with ease. CP3 was trying to get his teammates involved throughout the scrimmage using his court vision to find the open man almost every time down the court. The big thing that I noticed about CP3 yesterday was the fact that he was taking the challenge to Shai on the defensive end. They both were battling for positioning and that only helps them both get better as the season continues. Chris Paul is known for his all-around game and he showed everyone in attendance that he can still play at an elite level like other all-star point guards in the league. Paul finished the scrimmage with 9 points and 2 assists but this was more of a scrimmage to showcase the growth in the other players on the team. It was great seeing Paul talk to Shai, Darius, and Dennis on multiple plays to just help them grow as well. Chris Paul was able to attack the paint when he wanted and found his teammates when they were open. The numbers don’t pop out to you in the scrimmage but he did a lot of the things that we looked for him to do as the leader of this team. CP3 wants to prove to everyone in the NBA he can still put up big numbers in the league and this season will be the best time to express that with his actions for the Thunder.

 

 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took over the Blue & White Scrimmage as he used this moment as a platform to let the media, fans, and his Thunder teammates know he’s the real deal. Everyone was excited to get Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the trade for Paul George but no one knew what to expect from the 2nd year guard. Last year Shai averaged 11 ppg in LA but it’s pretty obvious with more opportunity in OKC with the ball in his hands along CP3 that average will go up. Shai was the games leading scorer with 21 points and 6 rebounds. That was my first time watching Shai in person for extended minutes and I was very impressed with what I saw. Shai was able to break down the defense and find his teammates in stride for easy layups and Shai also created his own shot which I didn’t know he had in him. Shai was using his length to his advantage on many drives and with his jumper. One thing I didn’t know that Shai has in his bag of tricks was his floater. The floater was very impressive and you can tell he’s worked on that during the offseason. Shai and CP3 both competed at a high level in the scrimmage and Shai showed everyone that he can score anyway he wants too when given the chance. OKC has something special in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander because if he can play the way that he did in the scrimmage throughout the season it could be epic. The Thunder can use Shai, CP3, and Steven in many ways that can confuse the defenses that they play and this will be a great chance for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to put the league on notice that he can ball at a high level.

 

 

The Rookie Darius Bazley showed up and showed out at the scrimmage. The OKC Thunder knew something that the other NBA teams didn’t know and that is the fact that Bazley is special. Bazley was able to showcase his jumper and also showcased his athleticism in many fast breaks. Bazley’s that wild card that the Thunder hope turns into something special for the present and future. Bazley has hops and proved that on a nice alley-oop finish from Dennis Schröder in the scrimmage. If Bazley can continue to grow his game inside and out he can be the perfect fit for the Thunder like Jerami Grant developed into. Bazley’s like a swiss army knife because he can shoot, rebound, defend, and block shots. He’s a rookie so he’s going to have some growing pains but learning under Steven Adams and Nerlens Noel will help him get better in due time. Darius Bazley finished with 8 points and 7 rebounds in the scrimmage but showed that he’s a great listener and can adapt with his game being put in any situation. One thing that stood out about Bazley was the fact he can guard multiple positions from point guards to centers if need be which is very rare in the NBA nowadays. Bazley has a high ceiling and he’s showed a lot of promise so far and this season he can make some big plays on both ends of the floor that will shock a lot of opponents but will be expected from the OKC faithful. There’s a lot of playing time open in that power forward spot behind Gallinari and I love what Darius Bazley can bring to the table this season.

 

 

The other players that impressed in the scrimmage were Hamidou Diallo, Dennis Schröder, and Danilo Gallinari. Hamidou showed a lot of quickness on the defensive end and was able to use that defense to create offense. Some of the defensive plays that Hami made at the scrimmage stood out and that shows that he’s been improving this offseason. Hami showed a lot of growth in his offensive game too as he pulled up for some jumpers and was confident in his game. The big thing for Hami this season will be the confidence in his 2nd year in the league. One thing that did shock me in the scrimmage about Hami was that he missed a couple of dunks that the NBA Dunk Contest Champion should have made. I’m sure that he will get that together for when the season approaches. Dennis Schröder’s just sneaky good at everything he does and showed that during the scrimmage. Dennis was able to get his offensive game going and was able to find his teammates in the transition game as well. Scrhöder brings that hard-nosed mentality as he never backs down from a challenge as he was guarding Shai throughout the game. We know what Dennis brings to the table and with more opportunity this season I would love to see what he does with the minutes that he will get from Billy Donovan moving forward. Danilo Gallinari looked comfortable in the game and was able to showcase his ability to get to the rim and knock down jumpers. With Gallinari, we will have to see if he can just stay healthy. I think that he has the potential to be one of the top 3 leading scorers on this team but we just need him to continue to be healthy and knocking down shots. He brings that toughness to the team and he will be able to create his own shot whenever he wants to on this team and he showcased that during the scrimmage as well.

 

 

 

The Thunder will start their preseason off on Tuesday as they face the Dallas Mavericks in Tulsa, OK. 

 

Oct 7, 2019 No Comments
Primetime Preview: Chicago Bears @ Washington Redskins

Primetime Preview: Chicago Bears @ Washington Redskins

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Monday Night Football should be an interesting matchup between the Chicago Bears (1-1) on the season and the Washington Redskins (0-2). The Chicago Bears have the best defense in the NFL and have used that defense and translated it to the offense. Khalil Mack will be a busy man in the middle trying to get to Case Keenum who’s been elusive in the pocket at times. Mack interrupts everything in the run game for the opposing teams and he’s in every single quarterback’s dreams creating nightmares. This Chicago defense and team runs off the energy of Mack and when he makes plays it energizes the team as a unit.

 

 

The Bears defensive line will be trying to eat all night but they will be trying to stop one of the best running backs in NFL history in Adrian Peterson. Peterson has resurrected his career in Washington DC with the Redskins after his short stints in New Orleans and Arizona. The Redskins use Peterson’s angry running style to beat up the defenses that they play and he doesn’t look to have slowed down at all. One thing that Adrian Peterson has improved is his pass-catching out of the backfield. Chris Thompson is still in the mix but Peterson has shown that he has the hands if he needs to use them on a play. The mix of Peterson and Thompson will have to be on full display because Keenum should be under pressure all night long.

 

Case Keenum has 601 yards on the season with 5 touchdowns and has looked extremely well in the pocket showing a lot of patience. One person that Keenum has been able to rely on is the rookie sensation, Terry McLaurin. The rookie has been able to haul in 10 receptions for 187 yards with 2 touchdowns in 2 games. Mind you that’s his first two games of his young career in the NFL. The fact the team has shown a lot of trust and faith in McLaurin this early just shows how much they believe in his ability to get open at any time. The Redskins have their new number 1 receiver in McLaurin and even with a tough Bears defense, he might be able to open.

 

 

On the flip side, the Bears have Mitch Trubisky who has struggled out the gate to get his offensive game going. This could be a huge bounce-back game for Mitch and the Bears offense to get things on track to match the intensity of the Bears defense. Mitch has 348 yards on the season with 0 touchdowns and 1 interception. Mitch Trubisky needs to get back to his game from last season where he used his legs and arm to get the Bears down the field with ease. Look for Mitch to get the ball in the hands of his playmakers Allen Robinson, David Montgomery, and Tarik Cohen. This should be the game where Montgomery goes off and gets things going as the rookie will be playing in his first MNF matchup in his career with the whole NFL and world watching.

 

Both teams will have their hands full tonight in a matchup that should be very defensive. The Bears will lean on Khalil Mack and the Redkins will lead on Josh Norman. Don’t expect much offense in this game unless we see some missed coverages in the secondary. The Monday night matchup could be decided by the defense and special teams something that teams don’t usually prioritize like these two teams. Cohen should be dangerous in the return game and I would look for his impact in this game tonight.

 

Score Prediction: Chicago Bears 17-10

Sep 23, 2019 No Comments
Primetime Preview: Los Angeles Rams @ Cleveland Browns

Primetime Preview: Los Angeles Rams @ Cleveland Browns

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The Cleveland Browns will host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football tonight. The Browns were able to beat up on the short-handed New York Jets on Monday Night last week and want to keep it going. Baker Mayfield didn’t look that well last week against the Jets and will look to capitalize on tonight. Baker had a couple of big plays to Odell Beckham Jr and if he didn’t have those plays it would have been an average outing for the Heisman winner. It’s time for Baker to prove that he can get it done in a big game with the whole NFL fanbase watching. The Browns have been able to make some big plays on the season but they’ve yet to play defense as the Rams possess. OBJ and Landry can beat any cornerback in the league on any given play they just need Baker to have time in the pocket to get it to them.

 

 

Baker and the Browns offensive line will have to deal with Aaron Donald all night long. Donald is the reason that Drew Brees has a broken thumb and will be out for 6 weeks. Donald is unstoppable off the line and puts pressure on the QBs on almost every play. The secondary of the Rams has not been what it was last year but they have a chance to bounce back with Baker behind center because he has thrown 4 interceptions so far. The Browns do have a nice safety blanket with Nick Chubb who was able to get going last week against the Jets. Chubb has shown that he can be that every-down back and with his slippery moves out the backfield with pass-catching and running it will be a big game for him. The Rams have something to prove on the defensive end adding Eric Weddle and Clay Matthews but this Cleveland offense has to do the same. Both teams will have the spotlight on them and both teams have amazing followings. We know the Rams defense has been dominant in the past but can the Browns defense match it.

 

 

The Browns defense last week was able to get to the Jets QBs and a huge part of that was Myles Garrett. The Browns will be down a couple of defensive players this game and they will have to deal with Jared Goff/Todd Gurley. This Rams offense has been unstoppable over the last season and they want to continue that tonight. Todd Gurley has had limited touches this season but he’s still been able to get the yards and now some touchdowns. If the Browns can’t contain Gurley and that Rams offense then that passing offense can get going in a hurry. The fact that the Rams have Kupp, Cooks, and Woods lining up against a Browns secondary that will be shorthanded could spell trouble for them quickly. Both teams have something to prove in this game and will have the spotlight on them but only one team can be victorious. The new coach vs the young coach on Sunday Football and this should be a great one to close out the Sunday games for Week 3.

 

Score Prediction: Los Angeles Rams 31- 27

Sep 22, 2019 No Comments
SR NFL Week 3: Preview and Predictions

SR NFL Week 3: Preview and Predictions

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1:00 PM EST

Cincinnati Bengals @ Buffalo Bills

 

The Buffalo Bills are at home and look to go 3-0 as they play the Bengals who have yet to find their identity. Josh Allen and the ageless Frank Gore will be leading the offensive attack today in Buffalo. Josh Allen has been able to get it done in the air and on the ground with ease. The Bengals defense has yet been able to shut down the opposing offense but they do have Andy Dalton who has been throwing the football at a career-high pace so far in the season. The Bengals will have a chance if they can get Joe Mixon going and with his injuries, it can be tough at times especially behind that offensive line. The Bills have shown through the two weeks that they’re a big deal and want to show that to everyone outside of Buffalo New York.

Score Prediction: Buffalo Bills 27-10

 

Denver Broncos @ Green Bay Packers

 

The Green Bay Packers got it going last weekend against the Minnesota Vikings on the ground with Aaron Jones as he rushed 116 yards on 23 attempts with a touchdown. If the Packers can continue to get Jones the ball that will free up the play-action for Aaron Rodgers. The one surprise so far for the Packers is the fact that Davante Adams has yet to score on the season for the Packers. Adams has 11 receptions for 142 in two games and will look to get his first touchdown against Chris Harris Jr in the Broncos secondary. The Broncos on the flipside will have to get the ball out of Flacco’s hands very quick as the Packers defense has improved this season with Martinez in the linebacker spot. The Broncos have a good receiving core but they need to make sure they can make some plays ASAP in this game. Von Miller will also be a huge part of this game for Denver if they will come out of this victorious in the tough Lambo Field.

Score Prediction: Green Bay Packers 31-13

 

Miami Dolphins @ Dallas Cowboys

 

Poor Miami Dolphins…..The Dolphins have got rid of players and have been playing terrible these last two weeks against the Ravens and Patriots. Now the Dolphins head to Dallas in a showdown with the red hot Dallas Cowboys who are 2-0 on the season and primed to feed Zeke. The Cowboys offense has been amazing this season but they will be without Michael Gallup which will give Randall Cobb and Amari Cooper more opportunity in the air attack. Also, Dak Prescott has looked amazing early in the season as he’s right up there with Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes in touchdowns. Dak is showing that he’s worth the money he wants and they will lean on the defense and Zeke to run the Dolphins down to the ground in Dallas. The Miami Dolphins don’t have anything exciting going for them but they will be starting Josh Rosen hoping that he can change the direction that this team has been going. At this rate, the Dolphins should be ready for the NFL Draft right now because they have 3 first-round picks.

Score Prediction: Dallas Cowboys 38-14

 

Atlanta Falcons @ Indianapolis Colts

 

 

The Atlanta Falcons finally got Julio Jones going in Week 2 against the Eagles as he connected with Matt Ryan for 2 touchdowns. If the Falcons want to continue to be successful they will need to keep getting Julio Jones involved and with the emergence of Calvin Ridley in the mix, the Falcons have a great tandem. One person that’s been hiding is Devonte Freeman and this should be the week that he finally gets to go off against one of the worst run defenses in the Colts. The Colts will have a banged-up Marlon Mack but they will need to get that running game going to help Jacoby Brissett behind the center. If Brissett can get some time to throw in the pocket he should be able to find Hilton or Ebron against this Falcons secondary. Both teams are good offensively it will be on the defense and who gets the takeaway that will seal the deal in this matchup.

Score Prediction: Atlanta Falcons 31-27

 

New York Jets @ New England Patriots

 

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots have had the New York Jets number for the last 20 years. This time the Patriots will be without Antonio Brown as he only lasted for 11 days in their uniform. Brown’s drama off the field got in the way of his availability on the field for any NFL team this season it looks like. Now with that being said the departure of Brown opens the door for Josh Gordon and Julian Edelman to have more targets and you know Tom loves to throw the ball. On the other hand, the Jets are putting out their 3rd string QB Luke Falk and it didn’t look nice against the Browns on Monday. The Patriots defense has been unbelievable these first 2 weeks and will try to make Falk beat them and keep Bell in a stacked box so that he can’t have the 25+ touches that he had last week. The Patriots are in rare form right now and look ready for another Superbowl run but the Jets won’t be in the way of that at all.

Score Prediction: New England Patriots 38-7

 

Detroit Lions @ Philadelphia Eagles

 

Could this be the week Miles Sanders goes off and gets the touches that he deserves in that Eagles backfield? We’re about to find out but the Eagles need to have a steady backfield if they want to be effective in the passing game. The Eagles will be without Jackson & (Jeffrey) is a game-time decision so that means they will depend on Zach Ertz heavily. The Eagles defense is good but needs to bounce back after last weekend against the Falcons. The Detroit Lions will be looking to get Kerryon Johnson going early but have shown that they can get it done in the passing game. Matthew Stafford has been slinging the ball and has been depending on Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr to help him out. Both teams have QBs that don’t mind throwing the ball but Carson Wentz has the better weapons around him but he needs to be able to have time in the pocket to get the victory.

Score Prediction: Detroit Lions 18-13

 

Oakland Raiders @ Minnesota Vikings

 

The Minnesota Vikings have found their identity so far in the young season and it’s simply got the ball to Dalvin Cook. Cook has been explosive this season and has been ripping defenses apart every single week. The Raiders have a tough defense but with the volume that Cook has received, it’s clear that he will help carry the Vikings this season if they will get victories. Kirk Cousins has struggled so far and that’s hurt the production of Diggs and Thielen but they should be able to get on track. The Vikings have way too much firepower on the offensive end and with that stout defense, it should be a long day for the Raiders. The Vikings have a lockdown corner in Rhodes and he will try to stop Williams as he’s not 100% for Oakland. The Raiders have Josh Jacobs but he’s been under the weather and we don’t know what will happen with that situation. The running backs for the Raiders are slim but they will have to try and do it through the air with Darren Waller their mismatch. Overall this should be a decent matchup but the hometown favorites will be dominant in this contest.

Score Prediction: Minnesota Vikings 31-13

 

Baltimore Ravens @ Kansas City Chiefs

 

This will be a SHOOOOOOOOTOUT in Kansas City between two great offenses. Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson will both be putting on a show for the NFL fans all around the world. Mahomes will be at home and he’s coming off a 4 touchdown quarter against the Raiders. Earl Thomas was saying they wanted to eliminate the big plays before they happen. Mahomes will be throwing the ball a little bit more knowing that his running backs are limited and also he’s still without Tyreke Hill. Something that has been special about Mahomes is the fact that it doesn’t matter who’s on the field he will make them better just like Michael Jordan did in the NBA. Mahomes has every throw in the book and will just need his defense to slow down Jackson to get the victory. Lamar Jackson has been nothing less than spectacular this season for the Ravens and he’s shown that he can throw the ball and run the ball with ease. So far heading into week 3 Jackson has silenced the haters and has been able to be efficient in the pocket while delivering some dimes to his good friend Hollywood Brown. Both teams have playmakers that have shown up on the season and it will come down to the defenses making plays. The safety blankets for both these QBs will be for KC (Travis Kelce/Sammy Watkins) and BAL (Mark Ingram/Mark Andrews). This game will be the game of the week and this will be a matchup that we will probably see down the road in the playoffs.

Score Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs 38-31

 

4:05 PM EST

New York Giants @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming off a great win against the Carolina Panthers. This defense has shown some great heart and has been able to get turnovers in crucial moments. The biggest question for the Buccaneers offense has been (Where is Mike Evans?) and that’s the guy that can get this team going. Can Winston find his guys OJ Howard and Mike Evans who have been struggling out the gates but their partner in crime Chris Godwin has been able to flourish in those moments. Both of these guys are great talents and if the Bucs running game can’t get going against the Giants it could be a passing exhibit in Tampa. For the New York Giants, this is the start of a new era with Daniel Jones behind center and not Eli Manning. This will be Jones first start and he will have to depend on Saquon Barkley in the check-downs and hope that his receiving core is healthy enough to make it happen. Jones will have to look to hook up with Engram early as he tries to bring a victory to the “Big Apple” on the road.

Score Prediction: Buccaneers 28-13

 

Carolina Panthers @ Arizona Cardinals

 

Kyle Allen…Yes, Kyle Allen will be starting for the Carolina Panthers today as Cam Newton will be out after reaggravating his foot he injured in the preseason. Allen will have to depend on Christian McCaffrey in this game as the offense should be running through him all day long against this Cardinals defense. The Panthers have the weapons to win this game as they have Olsen, Moore, and Samuels but they need to make plays on the defensive end to get those chances. Luke will try to slow down Kyler Murray and that Cardinals college-style offense that has been working for the Cardinals. Murray has been special for the Cardinals so far in the season and has been able to use Fitzgerald, Kirk, and David Johnson to his advantage against opposing defenses. Both teams will have something to prove on the offensive end but it will be the defense and special teams that will determine the game flow for sure.

Score Prediction: Arizona Cardinals 24 – 17

 

4:25 PM EST

New Orleans Saints @ Seattle Seahawks

 

Teddy Bridgewater will be leading the Saints into Seattle as Drew Brees will be out for the next 6 weeks with a broken thumb. Bridgewater will have to deal with being the new starter and also being on the road in the most hostile arena in the NFL. One thing that will be working in Bridgewater’s favor is the fact that he still has Kamara and Thomas to get the ball to whenever he’s in trouble with that Seahawks defense. The Saints defense will be in for a tough matchup going against Russell Wilson who was the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. Wilson has been able to show off the deep ball and he’s been able to find Metcalf and Lockett at the right times. The running game will be important in this game between Carson and Kamara. This game will be won on the ground and it will be interesting to see how the Saints utilize Hill and Bridgewater behind center today in Seattle. The Seahawks defense has not made noise this year but this can be the game that gets Bobby Wagner and the crew back on track.

Score Prediction: Seattle Seahawks 28 – 17

 

Pittsburgh Steelers @ San Francisco 49ers

 

No Big Ben for the Steelers as he’s out for the season but they will have Mason Rudolph under center against the 49ers. This will be a tough matchup as the 49ers defense has been playing lights out behind the energy of Richard Sherman. The Steelers will need to get the ball to Juju a lot more than they have the past 2 weeks and they will need to get Conner involved in the running game very early. The Steelers are ground and pound we all know that and it will be a challenge against that defense on the road. Jimmy G has been able to play amazing the last couple of weeks and has some running backs behind him to support him now. The 49ers have 3 running backs that can take over the game on their end and have some playmakers in the wide receiver position that want to make a name for themselves as well. With the emergence of Deebo Samuels and others, this game will be very interesting especially for the winless Steelers who need a victory badly.

Score Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers 17 – 14

 

Houston Texans @ LA Chargers

 

The Houston Texans went from a heartbreaking loss in Week 1 against the Saints to a pull a rabbit out the hat win against the Jags in Week 2. In Week 3 they will need to get Deshaun Watson back going again as he struggled against the Jaguars. One thing about Watson is he will never give up and he’s shown that time and time again. Watson will have to get the ball to his weapons Hopkins, Fuller, and Stills early in this game as it looks to be a shootout. The Chargers have been able to do whatever they wanted on the offensive end as they have things running through Keenan Allen and Austin Ekler. Phillip Rivers will continue to sling the ball no matter what and that’s what he will need to do against this Texans defense with JJ Watt coming after him. Both these offenses will be making big plays and it will be exciting for the fans but not the defenses. The Chargers will try to get to Watson as he’s been sacked the most in the past couple of seasons and they will try to continue that trend. This game along with the Chiefs/Ravens game should have a lot of fantasy points and look forward to some fast pace offense with points on the scoreboard.

Score Prediction: LA Chargers 34 – 27

 

Sep 22, 2019 No Comments